44 out of 101: Sweet Love

When I initally picked up this book in Barnes and Noble, I'll admitt I was judging it based off of the pretty pink cover with the delicious looking cupcake on the cover. But I sure am glad I chose this book. The story line is one that many people can relate to: life, love, and the complicated yet beautiful relationship between a mother and a daughter, and the love of food... all wrapped up into one wonderful story!

This book was great. Easy to read... touching... and you really began to care for the characters and all of their unique personality traits. I enjoyed this book very much, and I hope that the next book I read will be just as wonderful!

43 out of 101: A Child Called It

So I borrowed this book from a friend, and started it the other day. It's a really short read, however because of what the book is about it's not necessarily an easy read. Honestly it's pretty disturbing what this man went through as a child. How a mother could ever be so sick to do the things she did is just beyond me.

It's a sad story, and it is inspiring to know that he managed to survive his horrible childhood. I think I'm gonna move on to one of my own books though before I read his next book.

42 out of 101: The Bastard of Istanbul

After nearly two long months I have finally finished this book! Woo Hoo! It's been tough for me to read as often as I would like because life has been so wonderfully busy for me lately. I did come to the realization however, that had I liked this book more I probably would have been able to finish it a lot sooner. It was a good book, but I didn't think it was necessarily great. It was a rich, complicated story, and the characters were closely interwoven, even more than they necessarily realized.

Here is the synopsis from B&N.com :

In her second novel written in English, Elif Shafak confronts her country’s violent past in a vivid and colorful tale set in both Turkey and the United States. At its center is the "bastard" of the title, Asya, a nineteen-year-old woman who loves Johnny Cash and the French Existentialists, and the four sisters of the Kazanci family who all live together in an extended household in Istanbul: Zehila, the zestful, headstrong youngest sister who runs a tattoo parlor and is Asya’s mother; Banu, who has newly discovered herself as a clairvoyant; Cevriye, a widowed high school teacher; and Feride, a hypochondriac obsessed with impending disaster. Their one estranged brother lives in Arizona with his wife and her Armenian daughter, Armanoush. When Armanoush secretly flies to Istanbul in search of her identity, she finds the Kazanci sisters and becomes fast friends with Asya. A secret is uncovered that links the two families and ties them to the 1915 Armenian deportations and massacres. Full of vigorous, unforgettable female characters, The Bastard of Istanbul is a bold, powerful tale that will confirm Shafak as a rising star of international fiction.

Hopefully I'll finish my next book much faster than this! I'm a little behind on my reading....

41 out of 101: Yoga Chick: A Hip Guide to Everything Om

So It's been a while since I've done any reading. I started this book back in April, and although it is a very short and easy read, I had a lot of personal stuff going on and just didn't make the time to finish it. But I went to Barnes and Noble today and bought a few new books, so I knew that I had to make the time to finish it, so that I can move on to all the new books I have waiting to be read and enjoyed.

I thought this was a great book about yoga, and it covered all the basics. Perfect for anyone who is new to yoga. It does show a lot of the same poses, with the same exact descriptions, but it also had a lot of useful information as well. A great, quick read!

Here is the synopsis from Barnesandnoble.com :


Synopsis
Roll out your mat, breathe deeply, and chant "Om." A book of portable calm for the girl on the go, YOGA CHICK holds the key to balancing mind, body, and spirit. Its six unique, fully illustrated sessions will help you build strength and flexibility, and its easy-to-follow practices will help you relieve stress, increase energy, and manage your moods.
Throughout this handy book, wellness tips, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques give you much-needed breaks from a hectic day, while hearty recipes and bite-size guides to chakras and aromatherapy nourish the soul. For both beginners and blossoming yoginis, Yoga Chick is all you need for total well-being.

40 out of 101: Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

Haha... so like I said in my last blog post, I really enjoyed Confessions of a Shopaholic. And as a result the day I finished reading it, I went out and bought the second book in the series. This book follows Becky's adventure in New York, the ups and downs of her new life and career, and of course more SHOPPING!

It was another fun, light read. I really enjoyed this book, and I was satisfied with the ending. I thought it was just perfect. I can't wait to read the next book in the shopaholic series. Although it may be a few weeks because I have a nice stack of books right here just waiting to be read.

Happy Reading everyone!

39 out of 101: Confessions of a Shopaholic

From b&n.com:

Rebecca Bloomwood just hit rock bottom. But she's never looked better....Becky Bloomwood has a fabulous flat in London's trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season's must-haves. The only trouble is that she can't actually afford it -- not any of it.

I LOVED this book!!! Seriously, what could be better than a book about shopping?! It was a light, easy read, and it was really easy to get attached to the characters, especially Becky. And I could definitley relate to Becky when it came to the powers of retail therapy---there is nothing better! I can't wait for the movie (yup, there is one in the works!). And there are like 4 other books in the Shopaholic series... Yeah, you can find me at Borders today after class picking up the next book in the series. LOL

38 out of 101: The Tenth Circle

From Barnesandnoble.com :

Synopsis
Fourteen-year-old Trixie Stone is in love for the first time. She's also the light of her father, Daniel's life -- a straight-A student; a pretty, popular freshman in high school; a girl who's always seen her father as a hero. That is, until her world is turned upside down with a single act of violence. Suddenly everything Trixie has believed about her family -- and herself -- seems to be a lie. Could the boyfriend who once made Trixie wild with happiness have been the one to end her childhood forever? She says that he is, and that is all it takes to make Daniel, a seemingly mild-mannered comic book artist with a secret tumultuous past he has hidden even from his family, venture to hell and back to protect his daughter.
With The Tenth Circle, Jodi Picoult offers her most powerful chronicle yet as she explores the unbreakable bond between parent and child, and questions whether you can reinvent yourself in the course of a lifetime -- or if your mistakes are carried forever.

I thought this was another great book from Jodi Picoult. I started it on Friday and finished it up early this morning, dispite having tons of homework and studying to do this weekend. It was just engrossing. While I'll admit this wasn't necessarily her *best* book, it was still really good. She is just an amazing author and is probably my absolute favorite... I could go on and on about how much I love her books, but it just wouldn't do her justice.

Thanks to my friend Maddy for sending me this book!!!!