2012 = A Poor Excuse for an Avid Reader

I just did not read much this year. I'm not sure why...though I will say much of my reading time was taken up by Game of Thrones Books 2 and 3, which are hefty tomes.

Here's what else I read in 2012, and a quick review of each:

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
The last in the Hunger Games trilogy. A fitting ending, albeit a little too neatly tied up for my tastes. 4 out of 5 stars

The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy - E.L. James
Yes, yes I did. These were alright. The writing is a bit annoying, read any review and you'll get an earful of all the times Anastasia chews her lip or refers to her "inner goddess." But obviously there was something keeping me interested, and it wasn't the sex scenes. The first book is a cliff hanger, of course...so one must pick up the second. The plot is pretty far-fetched, but as the trilogy wore on I did find myself getting a little more attached to the characters, and rooting for them. Definitely not fine literature, but worth of a beach read (but careful who's looking over your shoulder, because there are some pretty steamy scenes).  2.5 out of 5 stars

On Island Time: Wildlife, Windsleds, and a Wedding on Madeline Island - Patricia Spaulding
A book club friend of mine gave me a hard copy of this memoir, because it was written by someone in her local writing class. It tells the story of a middle-aged couple who decide to build a home on  Madeline Island, and the assimilation into "island life" It's a charming recollection of their day-to-day adventures and family events. I really enjoyed it. 4 out of 5 stars

Light in August - William Faulkner
I tried, I really did..but in all honesty I did not finish this book. The writing was captivating but the story was not, at least not at the time. I hope to try this again sometime, but for now it remains unfinished and I won't rate it.

A Visit From the Goon Squad - Jennifer Egan
Now this, this was a highlight of 2012. I realize this might not say much given some of my selections, but I would recommend this book any day. It weaves the stories of Bennie, an aging record exe and former punk rocker, and Sasha, a young woman he hires, along with a host of other eclectic characters. As we start to learn more about Sasha, "troubled" doesn't seem to cover it. Each chapter focuses on a different character across various decades, and music plays a large part in the whole story. One chapter is even written entirely in PowerPoint form, which seems odd, but I found brilliant. Another thing I loved is that the characters are not revealed entirely in the past and present, but we also get a glimpse into their future, and the future of how social media and electronic devices are used to promote and listen to music in the future. Some in my book club found this part a little too strange, but I found it fascinating. I haven't read any other book like this one. 4.5 out of 5 stars

So that was 2012, plus the Game of Thrones books which I already reviewed.

Yes, I know. I need to do better in 2013.