The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 4,300 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 7 years to get that many views.
I know the questions overlap and it’s beginning to sound like a broken record. But I love doing these things! Feel free to do it also. Link back so I can read them. 
1-Your favorite Book: Jane Eyre forever. For non-fiction, it’s Generation Kill. I will read both of these books at least once every year. This year, I’ve already read AND audio’d both of these books.
2-Least Favorite Book: I’m assuming that I have to pick from my Favorites pile, right? I don’t have much in that shelf. Just because I devour a book, doesn’t mean it’ll be a favorite. I think it’ll have to be Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery. It is my favorite children’s book but I’m not falling over myself to read it again.
3-A Book that completely surprised you: (bad/good) A book that surprised me because it is so GOOD: A Song of Ice and Fire series by George RR Martin. I admit, the thickness of each book is a bit discouraging but once you start reading, I dare you to stop! A book that surprised me because it is so BAD: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. She didn’t even try. Shame to end a great book series like that. A book that surprised me because I liked it: Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan. I am not the biggest fan of young adult literature, as many of you know. But I loved this book.
4. – A Book that made you laugh out loud: There are some parts of A Clash of Kings by George RR Martin that made me howl in laughter.
5- A Non-fiction book that you actually enjoyed: Generation Kill by Evan Wright and One Bullet Away by Nathaniel Fick. I have immeasurable love for both of these books.
6- A Book that makes you cry: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Did you miss me?
I’m sorry that I completely disappeared during the month of September. I needed some time off of books and reading and book blogging. Also, I’m sorry for not telling you guys about this impromptu sabbatical of sorts. I still read a couple of books during that month and I will have those reviews up eventually. It just all became too much on top of work stress, real life, and my other interests mixed in together.
September, as you may know, is my birth month. I turned 24. Also, September proved to be very exciting for me and my other interest as of the moment, namely KPOP. Especially the Korean boy band BIGBANG. Sales for their North American tour opened – and sold out – on September 22 and from the moment they announced it, it was the source of irrational stress for me. LOL. Now that it’s over and done and it’s finally sunk in, I can attend again to my reading.
If you want to keep track of my life, please feel free to check out my personal blog at http://catey-cakes.blogspot.com.
Here is a list of books that I still need to review:
Thank you and happy October!
Hi everyone!
I am so very sorry for the severe lack of posts this month. August is on its last legs and would you believe is this my first post for August? Whoa. I admit the reason for this is partly because of laziness and somewhat a lack of drive to write up full reviews for every book I finish. Lately, I’ve been working my way through the A Song of Ice and Fire series. As you know, they are monsters, really long and thick volumes; by the end of each book, I feel exhausted. Usually, I would take breaks in between books to review them or reflect on them but I got so sucked into GRRM’s world that I start the next book as soon as I flip the last page of the previous one. I know there is no excuse for laziness but I think we all have lapses in interest, even though we are passionate about that one thing.
Also, other interests. I love books and reading to death but the world out there is big and there are so much to love. For the past month, I’ve been so into KPOP. Actually, I just experienced my first KPOP concert last night (2NE1, I will write up on that on my other blog very soon). I’ve been listening non-stop to the likes of Big Bang, 2NE1, and f(x). They’ve pretty much taken over my life. Hee!
But… I will try to post more starting next month. I’ve partied a portion of KPOP out of my system, finished another ASOIAF book with the next one waiting for me. I’m ready to get back in the game. I hope you’re still right here with me.
Thank you!
I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.
Happy 4th of July!
Thank you so much for sticking with me these past twelve months. I hope the books I am featuring here are interesting to you. I also hope that the reviews are entertaining and informative.
I wish I could do something special – a giveaway, a freebie, an author interview – but life is happening faster than I can read. I will try to do more in the coming weeks and months and I hope you come along with me.
Here’s to many more good readings to come!
“We’re all fools,” said Clemens, “all the time. It’s just we’re a different kind each day. We think, I’m not a fool today. I’ve learned my lesson. I was a fool yesterday but not this morning. Then tomorrow we find out that, yes, we were a fool today too. I think the only way we can grow and get on in this world is to accept the fact we’re not perfect and live accordingly.” (The Illustrated Man)
——-
I picked up The Illustrated Man because upon hearing about it on an episode of Criminal Minds. I ended up liking it very much. I thought it was imaginative, thought-provoking, and definitely one of the best collections of short stories that I’ve ever read.
Can you believe it? We’re halfway through 2012! Who knew? 
A little update on my book-reading life: my theme right now is hype. First, I shotgunned The Hunger Games 2 and 3. Then the first two in the Fifty Shades trilogy. I still have to post my review of Fifty Shades Darker. I just came from the True Blood season 5 red carpet premiere and all I see is Alexander Skarsgard as Christian Grey. What can I say? Hype can be a powerful thing. Also, I’m thinking of starting a sort of a personal reading challenge slash series where I try to complete a book series. What do you think?
Guh, my last “look-back” post was back in February. Slacking! There are just two more after this so we’re still good. Good news is I’m commuting to and from work now so I have more time to read. And as you know, traveling on trains is my favorite reading situation. It’s choosing the next book that is getting more and more difficult.
So for this bunch of books… out of all of these, I only bought two. All the others, I got for free. Some, I even got paid to read and review. I mean, I’m still going to say it like it is whether you pay me or not. It’s all fun and exciting for me regardless.
37. Effie at the Wedding by Tracy Marchini *
Self-published work – whether they be a full novel or a short story – is often hit or miss. This one is a hit. It’s a cute read and I could definitely see Effie in a series of short stories about going through her life.
38. Dirty Little Secrets: Breaking the Silence on Teenage Girls and Promiscuity by Kerry Cohen *
I was so disappointed with this book. I loved Cohen’s first book, Loose Girl. But this one I found so preachy and I was having none of it.
39. Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan *
I loved this. LOVED THIS. I am not the biggest fan of young adult literature and The Hunger Games but man, please tell me the 2nd book is as good (or better) than this one.
It’s not the best parody/comedy type book but it was entertaining.
41. Blaze of Glory by m. garzon *
Having the opportunity to speak with an author about her book is always a wonderful thing. Miss Garzon has been kind enough to exchange some e-mails with me. I genuinely liked her book very much. It’s one of those silent, under the radar books that a lot more people should read.
42. The Taste of Salt by Martha Southgate *
For the life of me, I can’t remember much about this book. But I remember it being a fast read and quite emotional.
“There is no mistaking a real book when one meets it. It is like falling in love.”
—-
QUESTION:
What book have you judged by the cover? What book did you pick up because of the cover and totally fell in love with after reading it?
I wasn’t supposed to stray over to the book aisle at Big Lots but I saw a familiar name: Thomas E. Ricks. I have another one of his books, Making the Corps. I like reading anything military-related, plus he’s the sort of mentor of one of my favorite people in the world, Nathaniel Fick. I just had to get it.
I’ve been meaning to get a copy of The Good Earth and Miracle at St. Anna. So there you go. As for The Secret Supper, well… I’m fascinated by The Da Vinci Code and the likes so I’ll try this out.
By the way, all these books are $0.50 each.
