Okay, so I haven’t exactly been posting prolifically so far this year, but I have been reading! Besides, you have to cut me a break — today’s my birthday

I can’t say that I did a whole lot for my birthday, but that’s generally the way I like it. Scott and I went out to eat (Olive Garden), and I had a fairly low-stress day of work (worked from home). I also got a new toy to play with. I finally got my hands on a netbook. Most people think they’re too small, but this one is a good size. I spend 6-8 hours a week sitting in a bar or bowling alley for pool league, and it’s nice to be able to throw it in my bag and take it with me. Probably 50% of my reviews last year were written that way. We’ve managed to get access to wi-fi networks at almost every place we play. Also, I bought myself a group-on ticket to go see One for the Money, so I’ll probably do that this weekend.

I’ve been quite pleased with my reading so far this year. I’ve finished 9 books:

• A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison
• Moloka’i by Alan Brennert
• Shakespeare’s Champion by Charlaine Harris
• Stitches by David Small
• Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks
• The Dead Girls’ Dance by Richelle Mead
• Half-Assed by Jeanette Fulda
• Hardly Knew Her by Laura Lippman
• Dogs & Goddesses by Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart and Lani Diane Rich

Now that I’ve finally finished off my 2011 reviews, I can start on these!

I have just two books in progress right now: Anil’s Ghost by Michael Ondaatje and Before She Dies by Mary Burton. I’m still trying to decide what audio book I want to listen to next. I’m leaning towards Faithful Place by Tana French, but it’s possible that Real Murders by Charlaine Harris could sneak in there instead. So hard to decide!

It’s not apparent from the reviews I’ve posted, but I’m really not all that far off my reading pace from last year. Life and work have hurt me a bit, especially in February and March when I got super bogged down by book club reads. But now, it’s summer, my big work project is done, and things are looking up! Maybe I’ll actually get the 8 reviews I haven’t written posted soon

Last week was particularly productive. Over Memorial Day weekend, I listened to I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle in its entirety. The light-hearted adventure was perfect to listen to while painting my bathroom. I also finished The Cold Room by J.T. Ellison. Turns out, this is a series I shouldn’t have jumped into the middle of. Not that I couldn’t follow the story — there was just a lot of (apparently important) background alluded to that I was missing. Finally, I finished Hush by Kate White. This turned out to be just okay. The main character drove me nutsy, something I’ll elaborate on in my review.

I also gave up on a book. I was offered a galley of a book called Hotel Angeline, which was the result of a live writing experiment in Seattle last year. I hate to say much bad about it, because the proceeds of the book go to charity, but the book and I didn’t click. It was a little too disjointed for my tastes, but it’s certainly interesting in an experimental fiction sort of way. In addition, the Kindle-compatible galley from NetGalley was ATROCIOUS. I’m getting very very very tired of NetGalley’s half-assed Kindle conversions. VERY. It does an extreme disservice to the author. If you can’t provide a half-decently formatted version for the Kindle, then don’t offer one at all.

Whoops! Tangent.

This week, I have three books on the go, as usual. On my nightstand is an ARC of Karin Slaughter’s Fallen. I’m more than half-way through, and think it’s great so far. On my Kindle I’ve started Bloodline by Mark Billingham, another ARC from NetGalley. At least the formatting on this one is 90% there. And on audio, I’m listening to Madapple by Christina Meldrum. It’s really intriguing so far.

So that’s what I’m reading! What about you?

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

This isn’t a meme I regularly participate in, but I felt the urge to wax poetic this morning! First, the business. Here’s what I have going this week:

Kindle: The Raising by Laura Kasischke

Audio: The Likeness by Tana French

Non-fiction I pick through occasionally at work: Left Back: A Century of Battles over School Reform by Diane Ravitch

On hold while I finish The Raising: Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Normally, I’d have a hard copy on my nightstand, but my copy of The Raising "expires" tomorrow (I’m unsure what this actually means or how it’s actually going to work), so I’m trying to get that finished. I’m not 100% sure which hard copy I’ll pick up next, but I’m leaning toward Michelle Moran’s Madame Tussaud.

This winter has been a strange one for me, reading wise. I feel like I spent most of January and February mired in book club reads. The Pickup and The Sound and the Fury, specifically. But I’ve been moving through my audio books quicker than usual. Way quicker. I’m already on my 5th audiobook of the year. I’m thoroughly enjoying The Likeness in audio. Narrator Heather O’Neill’s Irish brogue is beautiful, and gives the book a wonderful musical quality. Before that I sailed through Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison, which I haven’t yet reviewed because I haven’t had time to distill my love for this series into a couple of paragraphs. I think I’ll be moving on to the latest book, Pale Demon, once I finish The Likeness.

Time has definitely been a factor for me in the past few months.  Work is CRAZY right now.  We’re doing a from-the-ground-up redo of the college web site, and we’re about 6 weeks out from the testing deadline.  My free time at work has diminished considerably. Add to that the 2 graduate classes (3 credits) I’m taking this spring, and the 2 nights a week I play pool, and the book I wish I was writing, and I feel like I have no time at all.

BUT! There is a light at the end of my tunnel, and it is the week of July 4th. We’ll be heading to Gulf Shores, Alabama with my parents for a week of golf and sun and beach and relaxation.  I can’t wait. There’s a possibility we’ll be going to Utah the week before that, too. Because when it comes to vacation planning, we are clearly insane.

Have a great week!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is hosted by Book Journey.

This is my first time joining this meme, hosted by One Person’s Journey Through a World of Books.

Last week, I finished…

Last week was one of those weeks where the stars aligned, and I managed to finish every book I had in progress. So, between Friday and Sunday I finished:

• Broken by Karin Slaughter
• Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown (audio)
• Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie

Last week, I reviewed…

• Standoff (Sandra Brown) 
• See Jane Write (Sarah Mlynowski & Farrin Jacobs) 
• Dead in the Family (Charlaine Harris)

This week, I’m reading…

• Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (for next month’s book club)
• Heat Lightning by John Sandford (audio)
• Flirt by Laurell K. Hamilton

Flirt is super short, so I expect I will finish it by Wednesday. Not sure what I’ll pick up after that.

What are you reading this week?