52 in 52?

Okay, so remember when I said that I would get back to my promise of posting about the books I was reading in my quest to read 52 books in 52 weeks?

Yeah, I lied.. I failed to post.. SO, with must delay (aka known as 25 books behind.. uggggh) I will post about some of the books I have read (and for the record, I am on 51 of 52 in LESS than 52 weeks!!)

27) Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain - David Eagleman (Oct)
***** out of *****
http://www.amazon.ca/Incognito-Secret-Lives-David-Eagleman/dp/0670063924/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330559593&sr=8-1
The product description from Amazon.ca:
If the conscious mind—the part you consider you—is just the tip of the iceberg in the brain, what is all the rest doing? In Incognito, neuroscientist David Eagleman plumbs the depths of the subconscious brain to illuminate surprising questions: Why can your foot jump halfway to the brake pedal before you are consciously aware of danger ahead? Why do strippers make more money at certain times of the month, although no one is consciously aware of their fertility level? Is there a true Mel Gibson? What do Odysseus and the subprime mortgage meltdown have in common? How is your brain like a conflicted democracy engaged in civil war? Why are people whose name begins with J more likely to marry other people whose name begins with J? Why is it so difficult to keep a secret? Why did Supreme Court Justice William Douglas deny that he was paralyzed? This subsurface exploration includes diversions into brain damage, drugs, infidelity, synesthesia, criminal law, the future of artificial intelligence, and visual illusions—all highlighting how our perception of the world is a hidden and awe-inspiring construction of the brain.

Very interesting read!  I REALLY loved it!

28) My Stroke of Insight - Jill Bolte Talyor (Oct)
*** and a half out of *****
http://www.amazon.ca/Stroke-Insight-Jill-Bolte-Taylor/dp/0452295548/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330559821&sr=1-1
This is an autobiography of a Harvard-trained brain scientist  who experienced a massive stroke and her experiences.  Very amazing read.  Some parts tended to get a tad too much into the medical side verses telling her own story, but still wonderful.

29) UnSweetined - Jodie Sweetin (Oct)
** and a half out of *****
http://www.amazon.ca/unSweetined-Jodie-Sweetin/dp/1439152683/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330559940&sr=1-1
Yes, I read the autobiography of Jodie Sweetin (aka Stephanie Tanner).  It WAS touching to read the struggles she went through trying to fit into the Hollywood world, but not the best read.

30) A Thousand Sisters: My Journey Into the Worst Place on Earth to be a Woman- Lisa Shannon (Oct)
***** out of *****
http://www.amazon.ca/Thousand-Sisters-Journey-Worst-Place/dp/1580053599/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330560105&sr=1-1
A true story of a woman and her firsthand accounts of experiences visiting the Congo,  and of the the women she's met and helped.  IT truly makes you appreciate living in North America and the freedom we have.

31) God's Behaving Badly - Marie Phillips (Oct)
**** out of *****
http://www.amazon.ca/Gods-Behaving-Badly-Marie-Phillips/dp/0307355934/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330560282&sr=1-1
A fiction novel about the Greek gods and Goddesses living in a rundown house in modern-day London.  Very amusing read!

32) On the Outside Looking Indian - Rupinder Gill (Oct)
*** and a half out of *****
http://www.amazon.ca/Outside-Looking-Indian-Childhood-Changed/dp/0771035934/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330560570&sr=1-1
A non-fiction novel/memoir about an East Indian girl who sets out to relive the childhood she missed out on growing up in a strict Indian household.  Very sweet and amusing!

33) Left Neglected - Lisa Genova (Nov)
** and half out of *****
http://www.amazon.ca/Left-Neglected-Lisa-Genova/dp/1439164657/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330560734&sr=1-1
A fiction novel about a woman who suffers a brain injury and her recovery.  Interesting read, but not greatly written in many parts.

That's all I will post for now - more to come shortly!

Why do I need titles when it is just rambles?

I really don't have anything of interest to talk about right now, but I felt like I was overdue for a blogpost..

After my last post, things took a change for the better.  I ended up talking to a friend that evening, and met up with them and a few others for a drink to get out of the house and get my mind off of the crummy day I had had.  All 3 of the people who I had texted texted back and offered up some great words of encouragement.. HOWEVER, the friend who bailed on me without warning never actually got back to me to explain what happened or apologize for their behaviour.  What can ya do?

I did realize that the power of these situations IS in my own hands.  I really don't like the fact that I tend to be a 'tad' over emotional at times and tend to let situations get out of my control pretty quickly when I am feeling strongly.  I am not saying that being an emotional person is a BAD thing - in my line of work it is a benefit as I work with people who need someone to REALLY care about them and their well being.  In my personal life though - sometimes caring too much can be the wind on a house of cards..

Never the less, I am feeling much better and trying to take things with a grain of salt.

On a different note, the reading challenge I decided to partake in is going amazingly well!  I just finished the 13th book last night (in one day at that - once I got started after work I just couldn't put it down!)..

Here are the next chunk of books that I have read:
June:
9) 90 Minutes In Heaven - Don Piper
http://www.amazon.ca/90-Minutes-Heaven-Story-Death/dp/0800759494/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309188306&sr=8-1


10) Girl Interrupted - Susanna Kaysen  ((one of my favorite books that I have read a million times))
http://www.amazon.ca/Girl-Interrupted-Susanna-Kaysen/dp/0679746048/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309188357&sr=1-1

11) Notes to Self - Andrea Buchanan
http://www.amazon.ca/Note-Self-Hardship-Humiliation-Heartbreak/dp/143919114X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309188400&sr=1-2


12) She's Come Undone - Wally Lamb
http://www.amazon.ca/Shes-Come-Undone-Wally-Lamb/dp/0671021001/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309188429&sr=1-1


13) The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls  ((the one I couldn't put down))
http://www.amazon.ca/Glass-Castle-Memoir-Jeannette-Walls/dp/074324754X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309188456&sr=1-1

Books!

I am an avid reader, to say the least. 

When I was a young gal, my mom frequently took my sister and I took the public library and allowed us to take out books to our hearts desire., and I remember the stacks being HUGE.  I actually recall when the library closest to my parents house left its small location and moved into a brand new building around the corner - I was beyond excited and babbled my excitement to the librarian when it opened. 

I loved taking trips downtown (and still do) to the main library - 3 floors of books!!

As a young teen, I continued to lose myself in Sweet Valley High and Sleepover Club books.. As an older teen I really developed a love for sci-fi..  Despite what my writing style MAY look like (and I know it tends to be disorganized) I excelled in JR High and High school English - I have looked back at some essays I wrote when I would have been around 15 and the books I was reading were far beyond what someone my age would normally be reading..

As I got older, the love of reading never left me.. As an adult, I read way more than most people I know (Other than my mom).. I read in the evenings before bed and when I am doing my cardio at the gym.. and I read fast.

WHAT do I read?  Fiction, non-fiction.. you name it.  I have read some amazing works in both categories and in so many genres.

I am actually attempting to read 52 books in 52 weeks starting from May 1st.. I have no doubt that I can complete this task (and even surpass it) and look forward to the challenge!

Here is what I have read  so far:
May
1.Heaven is for Real - Todd Burpo
http://www.amazon.ca/Heaven-Real-Little-Astounding-Story/dp/0849946158/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307579047&sr=1-1

2. Poser: My Life in Twenty-three Yoga Poses - Claire Dederer
http://www.amazon.ca/Poser-Claire-Dederer/dp/0374236445/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307579120&sr=1-1

3. Memory Palace - Mira Bartok
http://www.amazon.ca/Memory-Palace-Mira-Bartok/dp/1439183317/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307579142&sr=1-1

4. The Year of Magical Thinking - Joan Didion
http://www.amazon.ca/Year-Magical-Thinking-Joan-Didion/dp/1400078431/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307579187&sr=1-1

5. Still Alice - Lisa Genova
http://www.amazon.ca/Still-Alice-Lisa-Genova/dp/1439102813

6. Cockeyed - Ryan Knighton
http://www.amazon.ca/Cockeyed-Ryan-Knighton/dp/0143051857/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307579211&sr=1-1

June
7. Your Voice Inside My Head - Emma Forrest
http://www.amazon.ca/Your-Voice-Head-Emma-Forrest/dp/030735931X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307579238&sr=1-1

8. Fragile - Lisa Unger
http://www.amazon.ca/Fragile-Novel-Lisa-Unger/dp/0307393992/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307579266&sr=1-1

Not too bad so far!  8 books (and the 9th under way) in 5 weeks..

Where do I find the books I read?  I actually like to go onto Amazon, do a search for a book I really enjoyed then look at the recommendations they list of similar books and randomly take them out from the library.. I have found some great reads (and all the above listed books are excellent) and some not so great reads...

I plan to keep posting the books I have read.. I am just not too sure in what format I will do it - one post that I will keep updating?  I will see...