my books. my life.

When I look at the books I am most looking forward to this year, I see a lot of series on that list. At the same time, I find myself – as usual – behind on some series and wanting to start others. Thus, 2012 is looking like the year of the series for me. Authors/Publishers: Stop releasing new series until I catch up, ok?

I thought I’d share all of these books I want to read with you, starting with the books I am anxiously awaiting.

Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready
#3 in the Shade Trilogy
(This is the one I am most excited about although I am still not a fan of the cover redesigns at all.)

Blackout by Mira Grant
#3 in the Newsflesh Trilogy

Endlessly by Kiersten White
#3 in the Paranormalcy Series

Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh
#2 in the Nevermore Series

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
#2 in the Divergent Series

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
#2 in the Delirium Trilogy
(Is this same girl from the Shine cover?)

Next week I’ll share which series I need to catch up on, and the following week I’ll tell you which series I hope to start.

Which books from series are you looking forward to this year?

I know I’ve been lamenting my lack of reading/blogging a lot lately. Part of the reason that it is so frustrating to not be reading is that there are SO MANY good books out there right now. So I figured that since I am being a slacker and not reading or writing reviews, I could at least share the books I WISH I were reading and reviewing.

So, if I still read books, these are the books I would be reading.

Sadly, I’ve actually had to return several of these to the library unread. Are there any books you wish you had the time or energy to get to right now but just don’t?

Welcome back. I have another Armchair BEA post for you.

Last year, I learned that you can’t take every book that is handed to you at BEA. You will never read them all. You will have to carry them around all day. It doesn’t end well. If I could go to BEA this year, I would be much more selective. And, if I only walked away with 6 books (unlikely), it would be these 6. Most of these ended up being the next in a YA series and I am probably most excited for Crossed.

• Crossed by Ally Condie
• Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
• The Death Cure by James Dashner
• The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson
• The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides (no cover available)
• Habibi by Craig Thompson

What books are you looking forward to? Which ones would you grab at BEA?

You may remember a long, long time ago, when I used to regularly read book blogs, note the books I wanted to read, and then share them with you. And then I went into a really long blog-reading slump. I was still out there but not reading blogs through google reader much and thus not noting the books I was interested in. Well last weekend I got to do some good-old-fashioned-google-reader-blog-reading and I can finally share some new additions to my TBR:

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
Recommended by Michelle at Galleysmith

The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer
Recommended by Jennifer at The Literate Housewife

Miss Hildreth Wore Brown: Anecdotes of a Southern Belle by Olivia DeBelle Byrd
Recommended by Jennifer at Mrs. Q: Book Addict

Other People We Married by Emma Straub
Recommended by Rebecca at The Book Lady’s Blog

I feel hopelessly behind on reading all of the wonderful series out there. Some of these have been on my TBR list for YEARS. I even own the first of all but one of these (and sometimes I own the whole series). If I had all the time in the world, these are the series I would finally sit down and read.

(1) Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

(2) Vampire Academy by Richellel Mead

Note: I have heard from many others that this is the best vampire YA series out there. I know a lot of you are groaning at the thought of more vampires in YA lit but I still love em. And I know Michelle will back me up.

(3) The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

(4) If I Stay by Gayle Forman

(5) Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness

(6) Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

(7) The Immortals by Alyson Noel

(8) Luxe by Anna Godberson

What series are you dying to read? Which one of these should I start with?

I slept for 9 1/2 hours last night after spending the day at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I woke up to a very quiet house. I have my tea and a few hours before yoga. Perfect Sunday Salon time.

Harry Potter was pretty great. I think it deserves its own post, so look for that this week, but a quick summary is: hot, crowded, still worth the trip.

I haven’t been able to read a lot this week/weekend, but I have some hopes about today. My sister-in-law, Melissa, is visiting us right now and she is among my favorite visitors. Her trips always include a lot of sitting around and reading (maybe to balance out the trip to an amusement park we always end up taking). And when she leaves, we send her home with books. I’m still thinking of which books she should take with her tomorrow. I’m on a YA kick as her pile so far includes The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, The Disreputable Histpry of Frankie Landau-Banks, and Before I Fall. She has already started and finished the third Mysterious Benedict Society.

As for me, I:

Just Finished (and by just, I mean two weeks ago):

am Currently Reading:

am Currently Listening to:

have On Deck:

and Recently added to my TBR:

Recommended by Galleysmith

Recommended by Chick Loves Lit

Recommended by Devourer of Books

Recommended by KellyVision

As I was writing this post, Melissa woke up, came out to the living room, grabbed a drink, and sat down with The Hunger Games. Best guest ever, right?

What are you reading today?

Question: do you guys like when I incorporate my TBR books into this post or do you prefer they get their own post? I’m still deciding which I like better.

Please note: For work-related reasons, I will be putting up the construction sign this week on the blog (and protecting my twitter account as well).  I expect to keep it in hiding from Monday through Wednesday or Thursday. But I will be back  as soon as possible. I still love you all.

And now for a reading update.

Just Finished:

Currently Reading:

Currently Listening To:

Books Other Bloggers Made Me Want (yes, I’m a little behind on this one):

(via Devourer of Books)

(via Linus’ Blanket)

(via Coffee Stained Pages)

(via Live through Books)

(via Take Me Away)

(via Presenting Lenore)

(via Devourer of Books)

Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam by Lauren Lichenberg
Recommended by: Bina at If You Can Read This

Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins
Recommended by: Julie at Booking Mama

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Recommended by: Trisha at Eclectic/Eccentric

My Name Is Memory by Ann Brashares
Recommended by: Jennifer at Mrs Q: Book Addict

Dismantled by Jennifer McMahon
Recommended by: Jenny at Take Me Away

Day for Night by Frederick Reiken
Recommended by: Julie at Booking Mama

Light Boxes by Shane Jones
Recommended by: Dominique at Coffee Stained Pages

After wandering the floor for a few hours, Emily, Ben and I walked by the Norton booth and saw that Nicole Krauss had a new book coming out: Great House. The three of us adored The History of Love so we were psyched just to have that knowledge. Then I spotted copies of the book. They weren’t really out for grabs but Emily went in search of a Norton rep and snagged us some copies.

Later that day we were (again) wandering and we stumbled upon a line of  people and overheard the words “Sara Gruen.” The three of us also adored Water for Elephants so we went in search of the back of the line. We got to meet Sara Gruen and get copies of her new book, Ape House.

And finally, we saw that Justin Cronin was signing at 4pm. I know The Passage comes out on Tuesday and I wouldn’t have long to wait to buy it, but I’ve been jealously watching everyone else read this so meeting him and getting a copy of  his book was a nice surprise (I thought I had already missed him).

I have more to say about BEA itself, but I wanted to share the books I’m most anxious to read and review. Which one should I read first?

I imagine that by this time next week, I will have way more books than I can ever read (not that I don’t already), but I’m still going to share a few that made it on my TBR list this week.

The Singer’s Gun by Emily St. John Mandel
Recommended by Rebecca at The Book Lady’s Blog

Illyria by Elizabeth Hand
Recommended by Nymeth at Things Mean A Lot

Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution by Neil deGrasse Tyson and Donald Goldsmith
Recommended by Swapna at S. Krishna’s Books