The books I read in 2012

Happy New Year, dearest blog readers!

Here’s wishing each and every one of you the most wonderful things for the year ahead 😀

It’s time for another blog post sharing the books I managed to read over the course of the past year (you can also see my posts for 2009, 2010 and 2011).

In 2011, I set my initial goal as 100 books and eventually totalled 145. For 2012, I decided to ease into things by again setting my goal at 100 books, especially since I knew how crazy-busy the second half of the year would be with work deadlines (lack of sleep for days on end is no fun…)

And despite all the madness, I still managed to beat my initial goal and bump my reading for the year up to 160 books!

So, below follows the (looong) list of all the books I read. If you’re not in the mood to scroll through and peruse it now, you can always download the PDF version thereof: Books Read 2012

Oh, and if you want me to recommend any of the books on the list or highlight some of the ones I enjoyed the most, you only need to ask. I’d also love if you’d like to share some of the books you found worthwhile. Happy reading!!

BOOKS I’VE READ THIS YEAR:

* American Gods – Neil Gaiman

* Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen

* Angelology – Danielle Trussoni

* The Ultimate Book of Jewish Jokes – David Minkoff

* Incarceron – Katherine Fisher

* The Book with No Name – Anonymous

* The Private Life of the Cat Who…: Tales of Koko and Yum Yum – Lilian Jackson Braun

* The Eye of the Moon – Anonymous

* The Cat Who Came to Breakfast (Cat Who… #16) – Lilian Jackson Braun

* The Cat Who Blew the Whistle (Cat Who… #17) – Lilian Jackson Braun

* The Cat Who Said Cheese (Cat Who… #18) – Lilian Jackson Braun

* The Cat Who Tailed a Thief (Cat Who… #19) – Lilian Jackson Braun

* The Cat Who Sang for the Birds (Cat Who… #20) – Lilian Jackson Braun

* The Cat Who Saw Stars (Cat Who… #21) – Lilian Jackson Braun

* The Cat Who Robbed a Bank (Cat Who… #22) – Lilian Jackson Braun

* The Cat Who Smelled a Rat (Cat Who… #23) – Lilian Jackson Braun

* The Cat Who Went up the Creek (Cat Who… #24) – Lilian Jackson Braun

* The Cat Who Brought Down the House (Cat Who… #25) – Lilian Jackson Braun

* The Cat Who Talked Turkey (Cat Who… #26) – Lilian Jackson Braun

* Cinnamon Roll Murder (Hannah Swensen series #15) – Joanne Fluke

* The Cat Who Went Bananas (Cat Who… #27) – Lilian Jackson Braun

* Through the Woods: The Final Catdown – Troy Blackford

* The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell (Cat Who… #28) – Lilian Jackson Braun

* The Cat Who had 60 Whiskers (Cat Who… #29) – Lilian Jackson Braun

* Plugged – Eoin Colfer

* Praying for Sleep – Jeffery Deaver

* Delirium (Delirium #1) – Lauren Oliver

* Hana (Delirium #1.5) – Lauren Oliver

* Pandemonium (Delirium #2) – Lauren Oliver

* Matched (Matched #1) – Ally Condie

* Grimms’ Fairy Tales – Brothers Grimm

* Crossed (Matched #2) – Ally Condie

* Wither (The Chemical Garden #1) – Lauren DeStefano

* Fever (The Chemical Garden #2) – Lauren DeStefano

* Birthmarked (Birthmarked #1) – Caragh M. O’Brien

* Extras (Uglies #4) – Scott Westerfeld

* The Last Dickens – Matthew Pearl

* Treasure Island – Robert Louise Stevenson

* Tortured (Birthmarked #1.5) – Caragh M. O’Brien

* Prized (Birthmarked #2) – Caragh M. O’Brien

* The Invisible Man – H.G. Wells

* The Iron Thorn (Iron Codex #1) – Caitlin Kittredge

* The Nightmare Garden (Iron Codex #2) – Caitlin Kittredge

* Possession (Possession #1) – Elana Johnson

* The Wind Through the Keyhole (Dark Tower #4.5) – Stephen King

* Insurgent (Divergent #2) – Veronica Roth

* Hollowland (The Hollows #1) – Amanda Hocking

* Hollowmen (The Hollows #2) – Amanda Hocking

* The Goddess Test (Goddess Test #1) – Aimée Carter

* The Goddess Hunt (Goddess Test #1.5) – Aimée Carter

* Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2) – Aimée Carter

* Asphodel (The Underworld Trilogy #1) – Lauren Hammond

* Prophecy of the Sisters (Prophecy of the Sisters #1) – Michelle Zink

* Guardian of the Gate (Prophecy of the Sisters #2) – Michelle Zink

* Circle of Fire (Prophecy of the Sisters #3) – Michelle Zink

* Switched (Trylle Trilogy #1) – Amanda Hocking

* Torn (Trylle Trilogy #2) – Amanda Hocking

* Ascend (Trylle Trilogy #3) – Amanda Hocking

* Entwined – Heather Dixon

* Aftertime (Aftertime #1) – Sophie Littlefield

* Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) – Cassandra Clare

* Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) – Cassandra Clare

* Revived – Cat Patrick

* The Selection (The Selection #1) – Kiera Cass

* Unearthly (Unearthly #1) – Cynthia Hand

* Hallowed (Unearthly #2) – Cynthia Hand

* The Woman in Black – Susan Hill

* Virtue – Amanda Hocking

* The Book Thief – Markus Zusak

* Awaken (Awaken #1) – Katie Kacvinsky

* Mercury Swings (Mercury series #0.5) – Robert Kroese

* Mercury Falls (Mercury series #1) – Robert Kroese

* Mercury Rises (Mercury series #2) – Robert Kroese

* Surrender (Possession #2) – Elana Johnson

* City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) – Cassandra Clare

* City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) – Cassandra Clare

* City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3) – Cassandra Clare

* The Giver (The Giver Quartet #1) – Lois Lowry

* The Forest of Hands and Teeth (Forest of Hands & Teeth #1) – Carrie Ryan

* Fallen (Fallen #1) – Lauren Kate

* Torment (Fallen #2) – Lauren Kate

* Passion (Fallen #3) – Lauren Kate

* Fallen in Love (Fallen #3.5) – Lauren Kate

* Simon’s Cat (book #1) – Simon Tofield

* Simon’s Cat: Beyond the Fence (book #2) – Simon Tofield

* Simon’s Cat in Kitten Chaos (book #3) – Simon Tofield

* Rapture (Fallen #4) – Lauren Kate

* City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) – Cassandra Clare

* The Dead-Tossed Waves (Forest of Hands & Teeth #2) – Carrie Ryan

* Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card

* Bonded (Law of the Lycans #0.5) – Nicky Charles

* The Dark and Hollow Places (Forest of Hands & Teeth #3) – Carrie Ryan

* Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian (Artemis Fowl #8) – Eoin Colfer

* Welcome to Moon Hill – Anthony J. Rapino

* The Siren – Kiera Cass

* Critical Incident – Troy Blackford

* Kill You Twice – Chelsea Cain

* Ascent (The Party series #1) – Amy Kinzer

* White Cat (The Curse Workers #1) – Holly Black

* Red Glove (The Curse Workers #2) – Holly Black

* Black Heart (The Curse Workers #3) – Holly Black

* The Heroes of Olympus: The Demigod Diaries – Rick Riordan

* UR – Stephen King

* The Kill Order (Maze Runner #0.5) – James Dashner

* Mercury Begins (Mercury series) – Robert Kroese

* Others – James Herbert

* Empty – Suzanne Weyn

* The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles #1) – Rick Riordan

* The Throne of Fire (Kane Chronicles #2) – Rick Riordan

* Forbidden – Syrie James

* The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles #1) – Kady Cross

* The Serpent’s Shadow (Kane Chronicles #3) – Rick Riordan

* The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (Steampunk Chronicles #0.5) – Kady Cross

* The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles #2) – Kady Cross

* Breathless – Jessica Warman

* The Body Finder (Body Finder series #1) – Kimberly Derting

* Princess of the Midnight Ball (Princess series #1) – Jessica Day George

* Desires of the Dead (Body Finder series #2) – Kimberly Derting

* The Last Echo (Body Finder series #3) – Kimberly Derting

* Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1) – Veronica Rossi

* Between – Jessica Warman

* Princess of Glass (Princess series #2) – Jessica Day George

* Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker – Syrie James

* First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson #1) – Darynda Jones

* Second Grave on the Left (Charley Davidson #2) – Darynda Jones

* Third Grave Dead Ahead (Charley Davidson #3) – Darynda Jones

* Song of Seduction (Seduction #1) – Carrie Lofty

* Nocturne – Syrie James

* The Frenzy – Francesca Lia Block

* The Casual Vacancy – J.K. Rowling

* The Musician’s Daughter – Susanne Dunlap

* The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus #3) – Rick Riordan

* Ruled (Birthmarked #2.5) – Caragh M. O’Brien

* Promised (Birthmarked #3) – Caragh M. O’Brien

* Poison Study (Study #1) – Maria V. Snyder

* Magic Study (Study #2) – Maria V. Snyder

* Fire Study (Study #3) – Maria V. Snyder

* Power Study (Study #3.5) – Maria V. Snyder

* Storm Glass (Glass #1) – Maria V. Snyder

* Sea Glass (Glass #2) – Maria V. Snyder

* Spy Glass (Glass #3) – Maria V. Snyder

* Dangerous Lover (Dangerous #1) – Lisa Marie Rice

* Dangerous Secrets (Dangerous #2) – Lisa Marie Rice

* Dangerous Passion (Dangerous #3) – Lisa Marie Rice

* Enclave (Razorland #1) – Ann Aguirre

* Endurance (Razorland #1.5) – Ann Aguirre

* Outpost (Razorland #2) – Ann Aguirre

* Portrait of Seduction (Seduction #2) – Carrie Lofty

* Reached (Matched #3) – Ally Condie

* Middle Ground (Awaken #2) – Katie Kacvinsky

* Betrayal (The Descendants #1) – Mayandree Michel

* Sacrifice (The Descendants #1) – Mayandree Michel

* The Bar Code Tattoo (Bar Code #1) – Suzanne Weyn

* The Bar Code Rebellion (Bar Code #2) – Suzanne Weyn

* The Bar Code Prophecy (Bar Code #3) – Suzanne Weyn

* The Night Dance: A Retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” – Suzanne Weyn

* Water Song: A Retelling of “The Frog Prince” – Suzanne Weyn

* Simon’s Cat vs The World (book #4) – Simon Tofield

* Masque of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #1) – Bethany Griffin

* Golden: A Retelling of “Rapunzel” – Cameron Dokey

Time to celebrate

So despite the fact that I’ve spent four hours of the working day in meetings and have been assisting on other people’s titles (can I help if I’m efficient & eager to help out? I like keeping busy), I’m feeling very much like this LOLcat:

And why might that be, you ask? Well, perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I wrote my learners licence test this morning and passed with 100% 😀

Now there’s just the matter of buying myself a small car and (re-)learning how to drive… oh, and getting over my overwhelming FEAR of driving, of course. Really big hurdle, that. Just thinking about it causes my palms to sweat a little bit *nervous twitch* I would strongly advise you to reconsider ever getting into a vehicle with me when I’m the driver… unless you don’t place great value on your life/ mental health… or if you’re a thrill seeker who enjoys life-threatening events 😉

In all earnest, though, I’m rather excited at the prospect of being independent. When in the unfortunate situation of being caught in traffic, it’ll present me with a sort of ‘window of opportunity’ to channel any anger/frustration I may have experienced that day while also providing a ‘safe space’ where I can timeously contemplate my murders… There’s an upside to everything, right?! Perspective sure is a refreshing thing…

Scattered Brainings XVI

* Anyone else have a routine they follow when they first arrive at work? For me, it’s simple: I go through my e-mails, have a mug of tea… and have a look at some comics & memes on my favourite sites. It only takes about 5 minutes, if that, which makes me feel a little less guilty about going onto these sites in the first place. At least I’m a diligent worker for the rest of the day.

* Smudgy might be against healthy snacking. Why else would she steal the apple I wanted to take along to work from the kitchen counter… twice? Oh, wait, that’s right – (a) it was small enough to be considered a toy, and (b) she’s a cat, so she does whatever she wants. Like sleeping on my brand new coat before I even wear it.

* Not having drowned thus far during aqua aerobics feels like a great accomplishment to me. Yeay exercise!

* I know you’re supposed to feel flattered when people think you’re younger than you really are. I’m just wondering at what point in your life this is supposed to be complementary and when the guesstimated difference is a bit too extreme or even astonishing. The women in my aqua aerobics class thought I was only 15 or 16 years old! (I’m told it’s because I’m so small & ‘skinny’.) Now imagine their expressions when they hear that I’m married and how old I actually am. The shock value / surprised faces are really quite amusing.

* The weather is cold, and for the past week I’ve been wearing not-really-heat-inducing jerseys at work with the sleeves rolled up because I feel warm & semi-claustrophobic. I’m too young to be getting hot flashes, right?

* Pink macaroons taste like Bakers Zoo Cookies. If you live in South Africa, go buy one at a Limnos Bakery and tell me I’m wrong. They are awesome!

* We’re watching the second season of GAME OF THRONES at the moment. While interesting, I can’t help but want to groan in joint despair and annoyance when we have to see another person’s naked form and all that hoo-ha. Get on with the story already!

* Also, has anyone else joked that Jon Snow and Samwell Tarly are like Frodo Baggins & Samwise Gamgee in LOTR? Come one: Samwell – Samwise? Both a bit portly, well-meaning, supportive and a true friend? Jon and Frodo each with their own type of burdens to bear and roles to fulfil / adventures to go on? No? Just me, then…

* Is it weird that I find it weird that people don’t think it’s weird to have a whole conversation while in cubicles/stalls at a public/work restroom? Weird.