I hope all of you had as wonderful a Christmas as we did. We had expected to have a very meager Christmas, and had even warned the kids so that they wouldn’t be disappointed. Instead, thanks to the generosity of friends and people at our new church, we had one of the best Christmases ever. The kids were given very thoughtful gifts, things that they have been enjoying ever since. We are so very grateful.
Aside from playing games, eating too much, and watching Christmas movies, I did manage to finish Stay by Allie Larkin; Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl; and Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card in print, and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak on audio – reviews to come after the New Year. I’ve spent some time figuring out my end-of-year reading stats, as well as making some reading plans for the New Year, and will be posting about that tomorrow.
I will probably be staying home from church this morning, unless Josiah wakes up feeling a lot better from his cold. I will definitely be watching the Seahawks/Rams game this afternoon, and then this evening some friends are taking Kevin and I to dinner. If I have any chance to read at all, it will be The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin and Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery that will be keeping me company. And tomorrow, Natalie, my mom and I, and some friends are heading to Spokane to see Les Miserables – can’t wait!
Did you receive any books for Christmas? Are you reading anything wonderful?
On the blog this week:
~ 2013 “I’ve Always Meant to Read That Book!” Challenge – details and schedule
~ Book Review: Cascade by Maryanne O’Hara
~ Wrapping up 2012′s reading challenges
~ Favorite audiobooks of 2012
~ Favorite speculative fiction of 2012
Books finished in December:
Daddy’s Girl
Prized
Cascade
Rainbow Valley
Stay
Beautiful Redemption
The Book Thief
Ender’s Game
Twitter: unfnshdprsn
says:
I’m especially interested in hearing what you think of Les Mis. My wife soooo wants to see it. Me? Not so much…really want to see Django.
I don’t know if it’s wonderful yet but I am reading 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. It probably will be the first book I finish reading in 2013.
unfinishedperson´s last post ..The Top 10 Books I Read In 2012
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Bryan -I want to see Django, too, but will probably be seeing that one with my dad, rather than my mom.
Twitter: baystateRA
says:
I’m reading The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout which isn’t out yet, and listening to Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel as narrated by Simon Vance. Both seem wonderful in their own ways so far!
Laurie C´s last post ..My Favorite Reads of 2012: #Books & #Audiobooks
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Laurie C – I loved Strout’s Abide With Me a few years ago! Looking forward to hearing about her new one.
Twitter: BethFishReads
says:
I’m going to wait for Les Mis to come out on disc, I think. Though I bet it’s amazing! You had a great month — December is always a bad reading month for me.
Beth F´s last post ..Weekend Cooking: Best of 2012
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Candace – it was an okay month – I’m still having a hard time with reading time in our new living arrangement – just different schedules, etc.
aw, I’m so glad you had a good Christmas! <3
Amy @ My Friend Amy´s last post ..2012: The Year in Books
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Thanks, Amy!
Twitter: Vasilly
says:
I hope Josiah feels better soon. I didn’t receive any books for Christmas but I think I have too many anyway!
Happy New Year.
Vasilly´s last post ..Sunday Salon: 2012 Favorites
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
V – that was me, too! I didn’t get any books, but I would have felt guilty if I did.
Twitter: bermudaonion
says:
My reading has been minimal this holiday season. Our nephew and son are here and I’ve been enjoying them while I can. I’m glad you had a wonderful Christmas. Happy New Year!
bermudaonion(Kathy)´s last post ..2012: The year in review
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Kathy – I’m glad you’ve been enjoying your family – that’s much more important than reading!
I am so glad you had a good Christmas, Carrie. And I hope Josiah is feeling better!
I can’t wait to read your thoughts on Ender’s Game. It’s one I would like to eventually read, but imagine it won’t be anytime soon.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Wendy – Josiah is feeling a bit better today, thanks.
I didn’t get any new books for Christmas (gasp!) but I did get the new Kindle Paperwhite which I’m loving. It’s lighted so you can read in bed and not disturb your “hubby.”
For my first book to read on it, I’m got World War Z. I saw the preview of the movie and wanted to read the book “first.” 
Just finished Beautiful Creatures (I know I’m late on that one….but at least I got it read before the movie comes out). 
Glad you had a good Christmas….ours was wonderful. My oldest got to come home for 9 days! She went home today so I’m in “sad mom” mode now. 
Happy New Year! Almost forgot…we went to see Les Mis today. It’s very good and very long. 
Beverly Sizemore´s last post ..Best Day Ever Card
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Beverly – sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas! I’m glad you got to read Beautiful Creatures – I finished the last book of the series, and loved it.
And I need to read World War Z before the movie, too! Happy New Year!
What did you think of Les Miz? I talked a little bit about it over at http://www.thecuecard.com/. Happy 2013. Your Seahawks are looking good — as well as my Broncos. We will see what happens next.
Susan´s last post ..The Sunday Salon: Last Days of 2012
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Susan – I LOVED it! I am definitely the intended audience – I’m kind of a Les Miz freak.