One of my new lifestyle adjustments (previously known as resolutions) is to restart my goal of reading 100 books in one year. Turns out my goal is small since I saw Oklahoma author Jennifer Lynn Barnes had read 260 books last year. I have to start somewhere.

Last year I thought I would write down the titles that I read as I read them. This worked great for the first five or six books. I realized several books later that I have a habit of finishing a book and immediately picking up a new one. The last thing I wanted to do was write anything down. I’m changing strategy this year and using my iPod Touch. I downloaded a book shelf application, iBookShelf. The application searches by title or ISBN, pulls in the author, genre and cover picture. I can set the status and rating. There’s also a comment field where I copy and paste book reviews from the Barnes and Noble application.

I’m currently reading Bloodhound: Beka Cooper book 2 by Tamora Pierce and Hate List by Jennifer Brown.

Books I’ve read so far: (my year started in November)

Breathless by Jessica Warman
Swimmer Katie has a mentally troubled older brother. Her parents enroll her in private school away from home and she tells her new friends her brother is dead.
Rating: 3/5: High School

How to Steal a Car by Pete Hautman
Kelleigh acts out by stealing cars. Yep, that’s about it.
Rating 2/5: High School

Kit Feeny #1: On the Move by Michael Townsend
Kit Feeny and his family move to a new house. Kit worries about making friends and keeping his old friends.
Rating 1/5: Primary Reader note: my 3rd grader loved it and read the sequel immediately. 3rd – 5th grades will love it. If you love BabyMouse and Diary of a Wimpy Kid…

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Steampunk science fiction set during WWI. Story is a mixture of real history and science fiction. Story told in alternating chapters by the two main characters.
Rating 3.5/5: Intermediate

Liar by Justine Larbalestier
Frustrating book told by a liar. Good luck not believing her.
Rating 4/5: High School

Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor
Three fantasy short stories all involving the beauty and fatality of a kiss. The artwork is not to be missed.
Rating 3/5: High School

Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardinge
Enthralling story that weaves colonization, race, social relations, religion and fantasy. Recommended to readers of Isabelle Allende.
Rating 3.5/5: Intermediate

Books started but did not finish…

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Girl meets werewolf.
Book is touted to be Twilight for werewolves. Whatever the charm is I didn’t see it. The author made a book trailor.

We Were Here by Matt De La Pena
Miguel is sent to juvenile detention and has to write in a journal to figure things out. In the meantime he escapes detentions with two other boys.
I like the plot it was the story that was taking too long. Much too long.

When the Snow Fell by Henning Mankell
Companion book to A Bridge to the Stars and Shadows of Twilight. Joel makes three resolutions that he tries to make come true.
I thought I was interested in the story until I started reading a realized I wasn’t.

Whole Nother Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup
An inventor and his three kids are on the run from government, corporate and international baddies because of an invention.
Remember reading Lemony Snicket for the first time? Remember how much you liked it? This isn’t it. There is a great plot. The story moves right along. The cutsey writing kills everything.

So, what are you reading?