Top Ten Books I Read in 2011 (er…Top 8)

1. Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
I haven’t posted a review of this book, but expect one soon. I think this book goes down as my favorite book of the year. It’s got so many things I love– strong female characters, steampunk themes, political unrest, and zombies.

2. Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon
The book was full of beautiful language and the mystery kept me guessing all the way through. I devoured this book almost in a single sitting, so it’s a no-brainer for me to put this on my list. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book!

3. Textual Healing by Eric Smith
This book was filled with memorable characters, but it was the fact that this book actually made me laugh out loud like no other book has done that earned it a spot on this list.

4. Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maeberry
This zombie story was unique to all others I’ve been introduced to. It’s not all about the blood and guts, and Maeberry successfully humanizes the flesh-eating monsters. Awesome characters like Nix and the Lost Girl also help!

5. The Great Perhaps by Joe Meno
This was the book that started it all. Kinda. It was the first book I ever reviewed here at B&T. Plus, I’ve not read a Joe Meno book yet that has let me down.

6. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
This is another book I haven’t reviewed here at B&T, but the awesomeness of this book really goes without saying. I can’t believe I waited this long to read it!

7.  The Candidates by Inara Scott
Ohmygosh! I miss Dancia and Jack and the secrets of Delcroix Academy. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next installment.

8. Any Witch Way by Annastaysia Savage
The world created in Any Witch Way was wonderful, and I loved learning about all the magical creatures and all of the magical items. But, world building and back story didn’t outshine all of the wonderful characters. That’s what made this book such a wonderful fantasy novel.

Top 10 in 2011 is hosted/co-hosted by Confessions of a Bookaholic, Fiktshun, A Life Bound by Books, and Two Chicks on Books .

TGI(A)F – Thankk God It’s (Almost) Fall

The weather here is waffling.  It wants to be chilly most of the time, but warm weather tries to sneak in every now and then.  At the beginning of the week there are frost advisories, and Michiganders who have the misfortune of having to wake up early to go to work, scrape frost off their windshields with ice scrapers (or if they’re unprepared, they use credit cards or driver licences).  By the end of the week, the sun tries to triumph over the cold front, and it’s about 75 degrees for a day.

I love Autumn.  It’s my favorite season even though it’s a sign that six months of freezing cold will soon be upon us.  Until then, this is what I get to look forward to for the next three months:

Orange and red and yellow leaves creating canopies
over the roads I drive, dancing as they fall off the trees, and
carpeting the once green lawns ++ the scent of dried leaves
burning in metal barrels along the side of the road ++ crisp
mornings and cool afternoons ++ scarf, sweater, and
mitten weather ++ an excuse to make soup and chili a
staple in my diet ++ pumpkin pie, pumpkin latte, and
pumpkin bread ++ apple cider (mixed with rum for those
who are of legal drinking age) ++ Halloween costumes
and Thanksgiving feasts ++ Snuggling under blankets
to keep warm on those particularly cold nights ++
holiday themed TV episodes

What are you looking forward to this Fall?