My Favorites I Read This Last Year --

Sadly, I only read 93 books in 2011 and I wanted to read over 100. Life gets in the way sometimes. Here are some of my favorite titles that found themselves tucked in between my hands.

1.) Divergent by Virginia Roth. Wow, this was a tremendous book and words cannot describe how captured I was by the characters. I found myself not able to put the book down. This is one book I think everyone could enjoy, no matter what age. A MUST READ.

2. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I was a little behind on the trend train. I heard this series was spectacular but I never picked it up. Eventually, I jumped aboard. This book was fantastic. Another        great page-turner. I am soo looking forward to seeing the movie, and reading the remainder of the series.

3. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. This is another book I was behind on the trend. I read this book in only a few hours, and its a good 500+ page book. I NEVER put it down. Not to get anything to drink, or go to the ladies room, NOTHING. I read entirely front cover to back. If that does not prove the quality of a book, I do not know what does.

4. Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys. There are no words that can do this book justice. PICK IT UP.

I'm sure I have missed tons of amazing books that took a piece of my heart, but some stand more than others. If you have not read any of these books, you must run to the nearest bookstore or library and take them home.

Interview with Ruta Sepetys

If you are thinking about reading Between Shades of Gray, this is an interview with the Author Ruta Sepetys. I hope you do find yourself turning the pages of that heart-wrenching tale.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

All I can say after just completing this book is that Ruta Sepetys told a heart-wrenching tale. In the first 20 pages I found my eyes filling with tears and this continued until the very end. At some points I was so angry at the NKVD. I found myself absorbing all of the emotions from this book. Don't let the fact that this story is so heart-wrenching stop you from reading this. It is an amazing and well written book and I believe everyone should read.

I had no idea that this happened to the people of the Baltic and I'm sure I am not alone. Sepetys wrote brilliantly, without flair. She wrote so straight-forward and just let the reader create the pictures of Lina's daily life. I found myself NOT able to put it down, even when my eyes filled with tears I would just wipe them away and continue to read. I would recommend this to about anyone. I do not feel like I could explain this book to anyone. No words can do it justice. Just read it.