Kristen's 12 Favorite Books of 2012

I love reading. This year I read 55 books according to Goodreads. I picked out some of my favorites, twelve to be exact, to share with you, along with my favorite book of the year. Most of the books are best sellers in their respective genres, but hopefully you find a new book to read. Also, read to the bottom for a chance to win a copy of my favorite book of 2012! Note: Some of the books listed below I reviewed in my monthly book review posts.

My Favorite Book of 2012

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus is about two magicians, Celia and Marco, who are dueling through the arena of a circus. But, Celia and Marco fall for each other during the game which has to end with a winner. The imagery is absolutely stunning in this book and Morgenstern switches point of view throughout the book, along with the timeline so pay attention as you read. But, somehow she brings it all together with an incredible ending.

General Fiction Picks:

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach - The Art of Fielding follows a young shortstop, Henry, through his college career. Henry is destined to be a major league player until he makes a big mistake one game which destroys his confidence. Although the backdrop to this novel is baseball, the novel is centered on character development and relationships. The book is very well written. The only downside is its length.

The Magician King by Lev Grossman - The Magician King is the sequel to Grossman's The Magicians. I was curious to see where Grossman would take Quentin, the protagonist, and the story of Fillory after a shaky start in the first novel. In the sequel, the characters grew up and matured and I liked Quentin much more. I found the Magician King flowed much better than the first and I flew through the second half of the book, anxious to see what would happen next. If you like fantasy (Game of Thrones, LOTR, etc), this series is worth a read.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin - I jumped on the George R.R. Martin bandwagon due to the success of the HBO series. I read the book before seeing the first season and I loved it. A Game of Thrones is a great fantasy epic filled with sex, violence, and power plays, but it's a ton of fun to read. There are many characters and plot lines to follow, but I didn't have a tough time following along. Martin keeps you guessing and you never know who he will kill off next. The second in the series is next on my to read list.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - The plot revolves around a married couple- Amy and Nick. On their 5 year anniversary, Amy goes missing. The plot follows the search to find Amy. Quickly, the suspicions turn to Nick. But the story is much more complicated and Flynn surprises readers every step of the way. Gone Girl is well-written and a great read, but the book is very dark and twisted. If you don’t mind dark and twisted, definitely pick this up.

The Redeemer (Harry Hole Series) by Jo Nesbo - This is the fourth and my favorite book in the Harry Hole crime thriller series by Jo Nesbo, a Norwegian author. The Redeemer has a perfect mix of clues, twists, and turns to keep you guessing on who hired the hit man and why. I also enjoyed this book because we see growth of Harry’s character. Harry learns he can fight his alcoholism and survive. If you like Steig Larsson’s writing, pick up this series and start with the first book: The Redbreast.

Young Adult Picks:

Divergent by Veronica Roth - Divergent is the first of a dystopian young adult trilogy. The novel has all the elements of a great story- intriguing characters, suspense, mystery and conflict. Roth’s novel isn’t perfect though. At times, I disliked the main character Tris. I wanted more backstory to the factions and more character development for the secondary characters. But, I finished the book wanting more. And for me, that means the story was a great one.

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard - I read the book after seeing the first two seasons of the television show (not sure I should admit that). I definitely liked the book better than the television show. Pretty Little Liars has an element of mystery that kept me reading and it’s a very quick read. Plus, the book tackles teen issues such as bullying, lying, homosexuality, drugs, and cutting. It’s worth a read if you are interested in the contemporary young adult genre.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - If you haven't read this series yet, it's worth the hype. The first book in the series, The Hunger Games, is my favorite, but the whole trilogy is great. And the movie is pretty good too.

Faith Based Books:

The Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans - I followed Rachel Held Evans on and off for the past few years through her blog. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. Her story of living biblically is laced with humor as she attempts activities outside her comfort zone. But, behind the humor and funny stories, Rachel Held Evans tells the stories of women in the Bible, celebrates women of all types, and finds truth in her year of biblical womanhood.

Love Does by Bob Goff - Bob Goff's book is a refreshing read about faith and following Jesus. This book's style and message reminded me greatly of Donald Miller who is a good friend of Goff's and helped him write this book. These similarities are a good thing and I flew through the book and finished feeling refreshed. Goff mixes the interesting stories from his life that shaped him to be different and follow Jesus in a radical way. I recommend this book for both believers and seekers.

Heroes & Monsters by Josh Riebock - I picked up Riebock's book on a kindle daily deal for $1.99. I had not heard of Riebock but Heroes and Monsters looked like a memoir I would enjoy. By the end, I was surprised how much I enjoyed the memoir. Heroes and Monsters deals with regular issues that we all face and wrestle with such as love, grief, depression and faith. Riebock separates Heroes and Monsters from other faith based memoirs with his unique voice and narration. It reminded me of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers because of the openness and honesty throughout. I look forward to reading more by the young author in the future.

The End of 2012 Giveaway

What was your favorite book of 2012? Why?

Leave me a comment on this post for a chance to win a free book! One lucky commenter will win a copy of the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (paperback or ebook version - winner's choice). Spread the word and happy commenting!

The November Book Reviews

Today's post is the latest in the monthly book review series. At the end of every month, I write short reviews of the books I read in the previous month. I hope you find a new book to read and share what you've read lately.

I only read 4 books this month (compared to 6 in October and 7 in September). Basketball season has started and I've noticed practice time cuts into reading time. Here's what I read:

1. Greater by Steven Furtick - I have followed Steven Furtick and Elevation Church for several years. I think Furtick is one of the best church visionaries currently so I was excited to pick up his latest book. Greater is an easy and enjoyable read. Furtick weaves jokes and personal stories throughout the book to relate to his readers. My favorite part was the study of the prophet of Elisha throughout the book. The Elisha sections had depth and weight compared to the rest of the book which was filled with a bit too too much fluff and filler. But overall, it's a good book for anyone looking to ignite their faith.

2. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - Gone Girl is a tough book to review without giving away spoilers, but I will try. The plot revolves around a married couple- Amy and Nick. On their 5 year anniversary, Amy goes missing. The plot follows the search to find Amy. Quickly, the suspicions turn to Nick. But the story is much more complicated and Flynn surprises readers every step of the way. Gone Girl is well-written and a great read, but the book is very dark and twisted. If you don't mind dark and twisted, definitely pick this up.

3. Insurgent by Veronica Roth - Insurgent is the follow up to Divergent, which I highly recommended last month. But, Insurgent suffers from the middle book of a trilogy syndrome- it's slow and nothing seems to happen in portions of the book. The pace picks up the last quarter of the book, but overall the book's plot goes in circles. On the character front, I grew tired of the strained Tobias and Tris relationship. But, the overarching dystopian theme and the secrets kept me reading and I will pick up the final installment when it is released this spring.

4. Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo - I had a tough time reading this book because the author definitely makes you think about the world's poorest, corruption, and capitalism in a new light. The author tells the story of a few families lives over the course of a few years. They live in a slum just outside the Mumbai airport. On the positive side, the details in this book are incredible. I could picture the sewage lake, the slum, and the airport. However, at times, I wished the author focused more on the narrative of the families. I think the author could engage the readers more by less details and more emotion in her writing.

Those are my four books I read this month. I'm not sure what book I am going to pick up next. My to-read list on Goodreads currently has 67 books on it and I'm always adding more. Yikes!

What have you read lately?

The October Book Reviews

Today's post is the second in the monthly book review series. At the end of every month, I write short reviews of the books I read in the previous month. I hope you find a new book to read through this series and will share what you've read lately. Also, read to the bottom to learn about the book giveaway!

I read 6 books in October, one less than my September count.

1. The Redeemer by Jo Nesbo - This is the fourth and my favorite book in the Harry Hole crime thriller series by Jo Nesbo, a Norwegian author. The Redeemer has a perfect mix of clues, twists, and turns to keep you guessing on who hired the hit man and why. I also enjoyed this book because we see growth of Harry's character. Harry learns he can fight his alcoholism and survive. If you like Steig Larsson's writing, pick up this series and start with the first book- The Redbreast.

2. The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau - I've been a follower of Chris Guillebeau's blog, The Art of Nonconformity, for the past few years. The $100 Startup is his second book. He uses his own experience and case studies to outline a plan for you to start a small business. Many of the ideas in the book were not new or revolutionary. However, the book was helpful and encouraged me to start brainstorming. I wish he included more practical information and numbers. Overall, it's a great read for someone who is looking to start a small business or recently started one and needs some pointers.

3. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard - Since I write young adult novels, I try to read at least one young adult novel. This month, I read Pretty Little Liars, the first in a very popular series. I read the book after seeing the first two seasons of the television show (not sure I should admit that). I definitely liked the book better than the television show. Pretty Little Liars has an element of mystery that kept me reading and it's a very quick read. Plus, the book tackles teen issues such as bullying, lying, homosexuality, drugs, and cutting. It's worth a read if you are interested in the contemporary young adult genre.

4. Divergent by Veronica Roth - I loved this book!!  Divergent is the first of a dystopian young adult trilogy (think Hunger Games). The novel has all the elements of a great story- intriguing characters, suspense, mystery and conflict. Roth's novel isn't perfect though. At times, I disliked the main character Tris. I wanted more backstory to the factions and more character development for the secondary characters. But, I finished the book wanting more. And for me, that means the story was a great one.

5. Farther Along: The Writing Journey of Thirteen Bereaved Mothers by Carol Henderson -I picked up this book knowing I am not the target audience for the book. But I have a personal connection to one of the mother's featured in the book. I made my way through the book and enjoyed reading the stories and learning about these brave women. In addition, the writing prompts are a great resources for writers and writing groups. If you know someone who has lost a child, share this book with them.

6. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - As I write this post, I'm halfway through this collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories. I've enjoyed the stories much more than the first two novels. I find myself paying closer attention when I read which is a nice change of pace for me. I also enjoy reading the short story format. I can sit down for fifteen minutes and read a story and save the next one till later. With a good novel, I become engrossed and don't want to stop reading which can have unfortunate side effects. Overall, I'm loving the Sherlock stories.

The Book Giveaway

I am giving away a free book of your choice to one lucky winner!!!

Here's how you can win.

1. The first qualification is to be an email subscriber. You can sign up here. If you decide you don't like this blog a month later, you can unsubscribe at any time.

2. Leave a comment below or send me an email (kristenotte1 @ gmail.com) telling me a book you are looking forward to reading and why. All responses must be in by 6:00pm on Halloween. (eastern standard time).

I will pick a winner from the responses. The winner will have the "most compelling" response. The winner will receive a copy of the book he or she is looking forward to reading in kindle or paperback form.

For example, I am looking forward to reading Insurgent, the sequel to Divergent, because the protagonist is a courageous and intelligent young woman.

Spread the word and tell your friends they can win a free book!

What are you looking forward to reading and why?

The September Book Reviews

Today's post is the first of a new monthly series on my blog. At the end of each month, I will write a short review of the books I read during the month. I read a wide array of fiction and nonfiction and I'm sure you'll find a new book recommendation through the series. I also hope you will interact with the monthly book review posts by leaving comments on what you have read recently, both the good and bad books. It's a simple way for us to connect each month!

In September, I read 7 books which is a high number for a month of reading. But the high number is due to the number of shorter works I read this month. Before I tell you about the books, I recommend you check out Goodreads.  I use Goodreads to track my reading, find new books, and review books. It's a wonderful site and I've discovered many new authors through its recommendations.

1. Uprising by Erwin McManus - McManus is the lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Los Angeles. He has written many books and I've read many of them. I picked this one up off my husband's bookshelf in his office at church. This book wasn't my favorite McManus book, but it's a solid read on building your character with Jesus as a model.

2. Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich - This is the 16th book in the very popular Stephanie Plum series. I've read all fifteen earlier novels over the past several years. I enjoy reading the Plum books as a break from some of the heavier reading I do whether it's literary fiction or nonfiction books. If you are looking for a funny, enjoyable and quick read, I recommend starting from the beginning with One for the Money.

3 & 4. A Study in Scarlet & The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle - Brian and I discovered the BBC series Sherlock on Netflix a few weeks ago and we were hooked. It's a great series and lots of fun to watch so it inspired me to read the Sherlock Holmes series. I read the first two short novels in the series. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed, but I hear the next book in the series, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, which is a collection of short stories, is better. I'll tell you my thoughts next month!

5. Missional Youth Ministry by Brian Kirk - Brian and his friend Jacob run the popular blog, Rethinking Youth Ministry.  This book was released awhile ago, but I finally picked it up. For my youth ministry friends, it's a great book on doing youth ministry differently than the traditional model of programs, games, and pizza. It's a combination of blog posts and new material so even as a blog follower, there was fresh material. For my friends in ministry, pick it up. For my friends who go to church, pick up a copy for your youth pastor!

6. Where the Truth Lies by Jessica Warman - I'm writing a young adult novel, so I'm intentionally reading more young adult literature, especially contemporary young adult. I found this book through my Goodreads recommendations. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I especially liked the mystery aspect of the novel which the protagonist's nightmares. Overall, it's a solid contemporary young adult novel and I'm looking to read more by Warman in the future.

7. Living with Less: An Unexpected Key to Happiness by Joshua Becker - Living with Less is an easy, but great read. It's geared for students, and as a youth pastor, it's a great book to read in a small group setting. I love the message of living with less and it's a message that needs to be taught in our consumer society. Highly recommended for teachers, youth pastors, students, parents, and all others who work with teens.

That's what I read this month, but I want to know what you have read lately. So start talking (or commenting)!!

What have you been reading?

Have you read any of the books above and what were your thoughts?

What are you looking forward to reading this month or in the near future?