A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Miserable Mill

Book #153 (Unique books*)
Book #7 in 2012

A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Miserable Mill
by Lemony Snicket

"Dear Reader,
I hope, for your sake, that you have not chosen to read this book because you are in the mood for a pleasant experience. If this is the case, I advise you to put this book down instantaneously, because of all the books describing the unhappy lives of the Baudelaire orphans, THE MISERABLE MILL might be the unhappiest yet. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are sent to Paltryville to work in a lumbermill, and they find disaster and misfortune lurking behind every log.

The pages of this book, I'm sorry to inform you, contain such unpleasantries as a giant pincher machine, a bad casserole, a man with a cloud of smoke where his head should be, a hypnotist, a terrible accident resulting in injury, and coupons.

I have promised to write down the entire history of these three poor children, but you haven't, so if you prefer stories that are more heartwarming, please feel free to make another selection.

With all due respect,

"

February 27th - 1 day - 194 pages

Notes:
*I have read these lots of times but I'm counting it in my total because it's never been published here.

A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window

Book #152 (Unique books*)
Book #6 in 2012

A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window
by Lemony Snicket

"Dear Reader,
If you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read even one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted, but their lives, I am sorry to say, are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched, and the one you are holding may be the worst of them all.

If you haven't got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signaling device, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this book will probably fill you with despair.

I will continue to record these tragic tales, for that is what I do. You, however, should decide for yourself whether you can possibly endure this miserable story.

With all due respect,

"


February 26th - 1 day - 214 pages

Notes:
*I have read these lots of times but I'm counting it in my total because it's never been published here.

A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room

Book #151 (Unique books*)
Book #5 in 2012

A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room
by Lemony Snicket

"Dear Reader,
If you have picked up this book with the hope of finding a simple and cheery tale, I'm afraid you have picked up the wrong book altogether. The story may seem cheery at first, when the Baudelaire children spend time in the company of some interesting reptiles and a giddy uncle, but don't be fooled. If you know anything at all about the unlucky Baudelaire children, you already know that pleasant events lead down the same road to misery.

In fact, within the pages you now hold in your hands, the three siblings endure a car accident, a terrible odor, a deadly serpent, a long knife, a long brass reading lamp, and a reappearance of a person they'd hoped never to see again.

I am bound to record these tragic events, but you are free to put this book back on the shelf and seek something lighter.

With all due respect,
"


February 25th - 1 day - 190 pages

Notes:
*I have read these lots of times but I'm counting it in my total because it's never been published here.

Slaughterhouse-Five

Book #150 (Unique books)
Book #4 in 2012

Slaughterhouse-Five
by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

"Slaughterhouse-Five, an American classic, is one of the world’s great antiwar books. Centering on the infamous firebombing of Dresden, Billy Pilgrim’s odyssey through time reflects the mythic journey of our own fractured lives as we search for meaning in what we fear most."

February 14th to February 21st - 8 days - 190 pages

The Book Thief

Book #149 (Unique books)
Book #3 in 2012

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak

"It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul."

December 26th to February 14th - 51 days - 552 pages

The Fault in Our Stars

Book #148 (Unique books)
Book #2 in 2012

The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green

"Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love."

January 13th - 1 day (about 9 hours) - 318 pages

Notes:

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings."

--Julius Caesar, Shakespeare

oh my god sobbing forever. literally had me on the floor bawling. asdfuogyiaqo;sdhigsl

What I Wish For You

Book #147 (Unique books)
Book #1 in 2012

What I Wish For You: Simple Wisdom For a Happy Life
by Patti Digh

"In the tradition of Dr. Seuss’s Oh, The Places You’ll Go! and Anna Quindlen’s A Short Guide to a Happy Life comes this gathering of wisdom ideal for any person, young or old(er), facing a transition. What advice do you wish you had heard—really heard—when you were graduating from high school or college? What words could you benefit from hearing again? When Patti Digh asked her readers this question as her own daughter was starting college, the resulting flood of pithy, heartfelt wisdom sparked the idea for this book. What flowed in was beautiful, thoughtful, poignant, and funny. Out of the hundreds of essays, six themes emerged:

• Remember who you are
• Know what matters most
• Make peace with time
• Let go of certainty
• Learn every single day
• Open up your hand

What I Wish for You features meaningful stories from Patti as well as illustrations and essays submitted by readers of her blog from around the world, resulting in a vibrant, intriguing, and life-affirming book ideal for the young graduate and beyond."

December 26th to January 9th - 15 days - 143 pages

Let It Snow

Book #146 (Unique books)
Book #25 in 2011

Let It Snow: Three holiday romances
by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

"In three intertwining short stories, several high school couples experience the trials and tribulations along with the joys of romance during a Christmas Eve snowstorm in a small town."

December 11th to December 25th - 15 days - 352 pages

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Re-read)

Book #24 in 2011

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky"Standing on the fringes of life... offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor. This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a provocative new voice in contemporary fiction: The Perks of Being a Wallflower. This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up. "

December 10th to December 11th - 2 days - 213 pages

Notes:
♥ ♥ ♥
Love this book so much.

InterWorld

Book #145 (Unique books)
Book #23 in 2011

InterWorld
by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves

"At nearly fifteen years of age, Joey Harker learns that he is a Walker, able to travel between dimensions, and soon joins a team of different versions of himself, each from another dimension, to fight the evil forces striving to conquer all the worlds."

November 22nd to December 9th - 18 days - 239 pages