January's Books

I think I mentioned that I like to read.  Love to read.  Spend as much time reading as I think I can get away with.  I've decided to share what I am reading with all of you--all three of you that read my blog. ;)  This is what I read in January:

The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Not bad. I think I liked Strangling Your Husband Is Not an Option by Marrilee Browne Boyack better.

Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
Sequel to Princess Academy--loved this one, but I love pretty much everything by Shannon Hale.  I think the only one she's written that I probably will not read again was The Actor and the Housewife.  Still good, just not a favorite.

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale
Here she is again, I really do love her books.

Janitors by Tyler Whitesides
Young/Teen fantasy about the creatures in schools that only janitors can see.  They suck kids' brain waves, and the janitors fight them.  It was cute.  I passed it to my 8-year old.  He likes it too.

The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker
This is the author of The Frog Princess (made into a Disney movie). I think her writing is getting better.  It's a young read, but still fun.

Cybele's Secret by Juliet Marillier
Juliet Marillier is another of my favorites.  This is the second book she has written for teens (as far as I know, the first was Wildwood Dancing).  I loved this one.  I love her other books as well, but there are parts in them that are definitely not for kids.  I often prefer reading younger fiction.  I like my books PG-ish.

The Satan Bug by Alistair MacLean
I always think of my dad when I read Alistair MacLean. :)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Don't let the name throw you, this book is a rare find.  A truly charming read, I cannot recommend it highly enough.  I am just so sad it is the only thing Mary Ann Shaffer published before she died.  She has an amazing voice.  I am definitely going to look into whatever her niece (Annie Barrows) has written.

Unlocking The Spell: A Tale of the Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker
These books are just great for when you want a quick, cute read.  My 10-year-old loves them.  I would say readers as young as 5 or 6 would enjoy this as a read aloud.  (Or read alone, depending on reading level.)

Aaahhh.  It was a lovely month for reading.  Sadly, February is not so promising.  I am trying to force myself to get some cleaning (blah) and taxes (double-blah) done.