A booklover's dream come true...

 "A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner of Island Books, has recently endured some tough years: his wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and his prized possession--a rare edition of Poe poems--has been stolen. Over time, he has given up on people, and even the books in his store, instead of offering solace, are yet another reminder of a world that is changing too rapidly. Until a most unexpected occurrence gives him the chance to make his life over and see things anew."

I have always been partial to books that are written about bookstores. And this Gabrielle Zevin book is no exception.I truly enjoyed and savored every bit of this book. It was entertaining and just felt real. It's a perfect read for book and bookstore lovers. I immediately went to see other books written by this author, because the writing style was unique and the characters felt like people I could be friends with. I would highly recommend this book! 

*I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Why I started

So far, 2014 has brought some great reads!  I've finished 26 books so far and my goal was 50, so I am pretty sure I will surpass that.  I have really loved the books I have picked recently.  As much as I love to finish a book, I absolutely dread the process of picking what book to read next because the options are overwhelming. 

About a month ago, I hit a bit of a reading slump.  I'm not entirely sure why, but at the time I was signed up for several Buddy Reads and I realized that as much as I love discussing a book, I can't plan this out ahead of time.  Because once the time came to read something, I wanted to read something else.  So I have determined that my Buddy Reads in the future need to be less structured.  So I have cleared my reading calendar and just started reading whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted and I am back in my element.

I started this blog as a sort of outlet to talk about what I am reading, and also because I get asked a lot for book recommendations from friends and family.  It's sometimes hard on the spot to remember what all I have read and then to take into account the type of books the person might enjoy.  So hopefully this will help in the future. 

I would love to follow other bloggers as well to get book recommendations from them.  I am a pretty eclectic reader, although I tend to stay away from sci-fi, fantasy and erotica.  Just not for me.  I also keep an up-to-date record on Goodreads of what I have read for the past several years.  Along the way, I hope to revisit and write reviews for some of my favorites.

Until next time...