Favorite Books of 2012

I read a lot, or I try to read a lot, but it's all relative. I want to read more than I do. I planned to read 40 books in 2012, and came up short with 35. Something about having a baby during the middle of the year really slowed me down. I think it was the I'm-so-pregnant-and-can't-hold-my-eyes-open syndrome that really lost the game for me. Of the 35 books, I've chosen my top 10.  I may be back in a few days with my reading list for 2013.

1. Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron
I loved this socially conscious book, and you can read about it and my review of it HERE. It tied for my favorite read of 2012.

2. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

3. The Every Boy by Dana Shapiro

4. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffery Eugenides

5. The Purity Myth by Jessica Valenti
I tried to add a little bit of non-fiction to my reading repertoire in 2012, and plan to continue to build my non-fiction library in 2013. The Purity Myth focuses on women and sexuality in our society. I found it to be extremely interesting, especially after growing up in a very conservative area of the country. Valenti forced me think about women's issues that I might not have considered otherwise.

6. Divergent & Insurgent both by Veronica Roth (I'm going to count them as one.)
This series tied with Running the Rift for my favorite reads of 2012. Divergent is about a dystopian society of the future where everyone is divided into factions. The protagonist, Tris, has a secret she must hide, and she and her "people" must decide how to navigate in this divided world. This series is very reminiscent of The Hunger Games, but I thought it was better. *gasp* I know, I know, but it really was. It was a little bit tweeny with some romance, but I loved a good romance, tweeny or not. Book #3 should drop sometime this year and I. Can't. Wait.

7. Storm of Swords (Game of Thrones #3) by George R.R. Martin
I take this series slow, because I know there are only 5 books and their is no conclusion. I kind of hate suspense, if I know I can't get to the resolution. Installment #3 did not disappoint, and all of my favorite characters are in precarious situations (Jon Snow, Danerys Targaryen, Arya Stark for any of you GoT fans out there).

8. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
I'm excited for this movie to come out!

9. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
2012 brought about lots of goals and an obsession with simplifying. I've kind of fallen of that bandwagon, but this book helped me realize that small changes can add up to big gains.

10. The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons WWII tragedy/love story--I'm a sucker for them.

Honorable mention: The Book Thief by Mark Zusack, The Paris Wife by Paula McClain, and Bloom by Kelle Hampton

Happy reading in 2013!