Kindle Review and Books I Read in 2010

I've really enjoyed my Kindle, especially because I live in Germany where the supply of English books is limited. I used to go to the library once or even twice a week back in Colorado. So not having access to that many books was hard for me.

The Kindle e-ink screen is superb. I can't stand staring at a computer screen forever. It hurts my eyes. But the e-ink is just like paper.

It's really easy to get books on the Kindle. They've even made it possible to search the web (it's slow because of the e-ink) and buy books right from the Kindle.

One problem I have is that it's not very intuitive to move around and do things. I haven't used the notes feature or highlighting because it's actually a bit intimidating to me.

My sister bought me a first generation in 2008 but I returned it. I didn't think I would use it. Back then I probably wouldn't have, but I really like having it now. (And now even Borders will be gone so it's even more important.)

Books I read in 2010. The last set. I rate on a scale of 1-5.

Persuasion by Jane Austen - 4

Of all her books this is my favorite. There's some depth to the characters that the other books just don't have.

Why Men Don't Have a Clue and Women Always Need More Shoes by Pease

Serpent by Clive Cussler - 3

He's always a great escape into an adventure novel.

Uglies by Scott Westerfield -2

I wrote a review here. Great ideas. Good writing. Horrible ending because it's so open waiting for the next in the series. END your books please, don't leave me hanging. There can be an open-ended hook, but end the story. I don't want to feel like I'm reading a chapter and now have to wait years to read the next chapter.

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer - 4

I wrote a review about this one here. I felt everything. I thought we didn't have any food in our pantry because the character's food supply was running out. The emotional impact of this book is incredible.

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines - 3

Ran a little dry for me. Was a quick read but didn't get as deep as I was hoping for.

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher - 4
If you want to understand what it's like to be bullied as a teenager, read this book. If you did the bullying, read this book. But it's not for the faint of heart. It will make you hurt.

The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson - 3

Lovely novel.

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard - 3

Really great wit. Such dry humor. The characters were very real.

Clair de Lune by Christine Johnson - 3

Cool concepts.

Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard - 2

I was hoping for another like You Wish, but this one fell flat for me. It was a little too girly and silly.

Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning - 4

My secret indulgence...these books are so fun.

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater - 4

She writes love so well. It's so natural. And the revelations in this book, wow! I absolutely can not wait for the last one.

That's the end of my 2010 reading list. I'm a little worried about next year as I've been reading a ton more. I'll figure something out!

Giveaway Winner and Books Read in 2010

Congratulations to Andrea for winning the Amazon gift certificate to celebrate 200 followers! Thanks to those who entered.

Another installment of books I read in 2010. We're getting down to the bottom of the pile. But still quite a few to go! I rate on a scale of 1-5.

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides - 4

Definitely a book that will go down as literature to be read by future high school kids.

Julie and Julia by Julie Powell - 3

She's very witty. The movie was wonderfully done as well.

Letters from Africa Isak Dinesen

Heard of the movie Out of Africa? These were the actual letters written between Baroness Karen von Blixen-Fineke and her family. Sometimes a little boring (as normal life is) but enlightening.

The Help by Karen Stockett - 3

The story was nice, the dialect was horribly difficult to get into. I don't enjoy stories written in dialect, I try to correct the grammar as I read.

So You Don't Want to go to Church Anymore by Jake Colsen

Gave me some fresh ideas.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith - 2

I found it a bit trite. It was fun and all, but basically taking most of someone else's work word for word and adding in your own element...I don't know. It just didn't hit me right.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater - 4

Very engaging writing and characters. Lovely stories. (Even if there is a lot of kissing :))

Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman - 3

I watched the movie first and was intrigued. The story was wonderful. I liked the movie as well, even though it ended differently.

The Vampire Diaries 1 by LJ Smith - 2

Fun and quick read. A little silly though. I like young adult, just needs to be believable and have some depth to it.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson - 3

I couldn't put it down...because I was scared half to death. The writing was good, but the story was gripping! The movie is awesome (the Swedish one). I'm worried the English remake will horribly ruin it.

Selected Stories by Alice Munro - 3

Every once in a while it's nice to read short stories. Hers are all a bit confusing, but good.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - 3

I didn't know where she would go with this second book, but I liked it!

Reckless by Cornelia Funke - 3

A little high fantasy. It's like a breath of mountain air when high fantasy doesn't seem silly.

Grimms Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm - 4

I had to read these, I do live in Germany!

Night Probe by Clive Cussler - 3

I'm not much for adventures, but ever since I was given a stack of books with one of his, I like to read them here and there. Funky, fast, and definitely alluring.

Books Read in 2010

Another installment of what I read in 2010. I rate on a scale of 1-5.

The Nature of Monsters by Clare Clark - 2

I was really hoping for more from this book. It takes an intriguing idea (an 18th-century apothecary obsessed with deformities) and just bored me. There was no meat; it was superficial.

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown - 2

I reviewed this book, just click here.

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning -3

If you can get your hands on this series do it. So much fun. Sexy, adventurous, fantastical, and just plain hilarious. It's about faeries, and Dublin, and the world falling apart.

Treasure of Khan by Clive Cussler - 3

What can I say about Clive Cussler besides the fact that he's awesome?

A Place Called Here by Cecilia Ahern - 4

I really love the movie P.S. I Love You, but this was the first book by Cecilia Ahern I have read. ( She wrote P.S. I Love You.) It was exactly what I like. Literature with a little bit of magic thrown in. I wrote a review, click here.

The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood - 3

Again, literature and magic. My favorite mix. I wrote a review, click here.

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning - 3

Read above.

Faefever by Karen Marie Moning - 3

Read above.

On the Fifth Day by AJ Hartley - 2

Honestly, I don't really remember it. I think it was good.

German Short Stories

Can't rate this. Just something I picked up at the library because I was interested.

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver - 3

I didn't like the Poisonwood Bible, but was convinced to try Kingsolver's other books. I wrote a review on this one, click here.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer - 2

I wanted more. I did like how well connected it was to the other books. I wrote a review, click here.

That's it for today. I'll keep posting about the books I read in 2010. There are still 27 left. Next year is going to be hard to do like this. It's only April and I've already read 25 books. Sheesh.

Books Read in 2010

Starting with the first books I read this year and plowing through to the end. I won't bore you with the whole list at once. I rate on a scale of 1-5.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore - 3

Good but I don't quite remember it, so either it was a really fast read and I breezed through, or it was not significant enough for me to remember. I would reread it though.

Fire by Kristin Cashore - 3

I liked this one better. Now I can't wait for the third.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman - 2

Strange. Good, but strange. Seemed to mix fantasy with literature...strange.

Zoe by Dirk Wittenborn - 2

About a model. Not my thing.

Dune by Frank Herbert - 4

My first experience of this. Wow.

Hopeful Monsters by Nicholas Mosley - 2

Long, long, interesting, but long.

Culture Smart Germany by Barry Tomalin - 4

Wonderful short snippet on how German culture works and why. Really helped me understand better.

The Other Hand by Chris Cleave - 3

Took a while to get interesting, but man is the end surprising.

Marie Antoinette The Journey by Antonia Fraser - 4

I love a history book that doesn't bore me.

Teach Yourself German

Can't really rate this. It probably shouldn't be included in my book count, but it is a book, and I read all the way through it!

Reread Books in 2010

I read two more books the last week of 2010. So my total for the year is now 59. I'd say that's pretty good considering I didn't have access to a lot of books. I'm trucking through this year already with 5. (Loving the Kindle.) With last year's list I read 60 in 2009 and read 5 books by January 28.

So I'll start with the books I reread in 2010. I rate on a scale of 1-5.

La Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery - 5

I read this in both German and English. My mother used to read it to me in the original French. Wonderful children's classic with a depth unfathomable by children. Definitely something to read as an adult.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein - 5

Read this one with Albert. He liked it and wants to read the Lord of the Rings. I can't say much about the Hobbit except that it's awesome.

Harry Potter 4 by J.K. Rowling - 4

This is my absolute favorite Harry Potter. I bought a fancy signed version in London.

Harry Potter 7 by J.K. Rowling - 2

I don't like this one as much. The movie was awesome. (I hate you Hollywood for splitting it into two, grrr.) It's too psychological and philosophical instead of constant action for me.

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon - 3

Love love love this series. Especially the first one, Outlander. Anyone who can keep me hooked for 1,000 pages and never let up on the humor, love, and action is amazing.

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer - 2

I don't like these books very much. The Host is so much better. But the movies are fun so I reread before the movies. They are quick easy reads when I just want to relax.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - 4

Amazing.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - 3

Good book. I struggle with her writing. It doesn't quite hook me. But the story is wonderful.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer - 4

This book grabs from the beginning and doesn't let go. The world is well developed and interesting. The characters are heart-wrenchers.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - 3

Had to reread before Mockingjay came out!

And those are my rereads for 2010. I will keep listing what else I read this year in small chunks. Also, I'll have a Kindle review at some point.

Books Read in 2010

It's time to count up the books I read in 2010. It doesn't feel like that many since it was hard to find English books here, but I think it's actually a pretty good number. I'll give a list of the books I read with a little review of what I thought. Also 1-5 stars depending on how much I liked it. We'll start with a count, and in a later post I'll begin the reviews.

I still have one week left to add some to the list!

Reread books: 11
Non-Fiction: 8
YA: 30
Fiction: 50
Total: 57

Last year I read 60 books. So 57 is actually pretty good. I think I could have read a ton more if I had the Kindle way earlier, as I've breezed through a lot of those books in the last month. I will mix in a review of my Kindle somewhere in the blog posts of what books I've read this year.