Happy New Year, Everyone! 
So, just by way of clarification (for comers both new and old), guidelines for the Book Challenge Thread are as follows:
1) Post the books you read ... or not
2) Post a recommendation ... or not
3) Number your book ... or not
4) Make a goal for how many books you want to read in 2012 ... or not
5) Have fun with books (This one, unfortunately, is MANDATORY)
Happy reading everyone!
I'm going to try to remember to number my books this year.
1. Right Behind You by Gail Giles
After setting his seven-year-old neighbor in Alaska on fire, Kip McFarland spends four years in a facility for violent juvenile offenders. When he is released at the age of 14, he, his father, and his new stepmother move to Indiana, with new names. For a while, Wade enjoys a normal life. Eventually, however, despite the warnings of his therapist, he sabotages his happiness in a drunken fit of rage. After he reveals his identity, the town turns on him and his family. Now, a coastal Texas town is their final shot at starting over. The cozy community appears to be a perfect haven, but Wade feels compelled to reveal his past to Sam, the beautiful and mysterious neighbor who is winning his heart—and has a story of her own. Will she still accept him once she finds out he is a murderer?
Finished this book at 12:30am! I'm such a New Year's Eve party animal! 
This was an amazing book, especially for me. It weaves my three main passions (working with emotionally disturbed/violent offending adolescents, positive psychology & Buddhism) into one beautiful and honest story.
happy new year! this year I want to remember to keep a running list of books I have read; I did that thanks to this thread in 2010, and enjoyed reading over my list.
would like to have a goal of one fiction and one nonfiction book per week, but i know that's a bit lofty for me. 52 books will be fine.
1. The Upside-Down Kingdom by Donald Kraybill
really enjoyed this. the title refers to the kingdom of God, as described in the gospels and the teachings of Jesus. the author emphasizes the teaching that the hungry will be fed, that the lowly will be lifted up—that, in short, if one follows Jesus the social order gets turned upside-down. pursue love and compassion, rather than power and monetary wealth. my full review is here.
Hey all -- looking forward to another year reading together!
Alright ... here's to a 2012 that was better than 2011. Happy reading everyone!
2. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I will admit I was a bit frustrated as to what was going on in the first 50+ pages. There appeared to be two stories being told and I must have been feeling a bit lazy because I didn't want to invest too much brain energy to the 2nd story. 
But, after realizing there were strong connections between the two stories... I was absolutely captivated! I also loved how everything was explained and concluded so beautifully at the end of the book.
2. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I will admit I was a bit frustrated as to what was going on in the first 50+ pages. There appeared to be two stories being told and I must have been feeling a bit lazy because I didn't want to invest too much brain energy to the 2nd story. But, after realizing there were strong connections between the two stories... I was absolutely captivated! I also loved how everything was explained and concluded so beautifully at the end of the book.
That's sounds good . . just added it to my 'to read' list.
Lunatics by Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel
This book reads like an improv skit from Whose Line is it Anyway? Alternating between the POV's of two New Jersey Jewish men who end up going from one implausible situation to an even more implausible one, and end up setting off a series of Forrest Gump-like events to solve the world's problems . . . while keeping the reader laughing the whole time. Don't expect political correctness, reality or even a lot of logic or plot, but do expect some fun, a lot of laughs and a few too many poop jokes.
1) Someday this pain will be useful to you by Peter Cameron.
http://www.npr.org/2011/12/26/143197825/teenage-struggles-in-a-painful-post-sept-11-world
A very quick read, but I really enjoyed it. A slightly different take on "teen angst" and the transition time between ending your high school years and moving on to college.
Looking forward to a great year of reading!
January
1. Skipped Parts - Tim Sandlin
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Excited about another year of reading and chatting with you good folks! Happy New Year everyone!
I think my goal last year was 75 books. I only made it to 60 something, but I read a lot of non-fiction for work. That's my excuse :)
I'm sticking with 75 books for this year again!
Right now I am reading The Sun Also Rises, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant. The first two are for book clubs. I'm just cracking open the Henrietta book. I had to be convinced to continue with the Hemingway. I find that whole drinking and hooking up all the time and hanging out in cafes lifestyle a little boring.
Anyway, my first book of the year is one I've been plodding along with my daughter on for a few months.
#1 The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Children's chapter book. Almost 300 pages. Fun story, but a little plodding. One chapter at a time at bedtime and it wasn't always the go to book, so it took us a while. I've heard the 2nd book is better.
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I read this book (and the 2nd book) last summer while traveling through Europe with ds and loved it. I'm loved it even more the second time around! Anyway, I wanted to read it again because I was constantly distracted during the first reading, plus the movie is coming out in March. Additionally, I still haven't finished the 3rd book. I got a bit frustrated with it, so hopefully after revisiting the first two, I will be more interested in the 3rd book. 
Mercury in Retrograde by Paul Froelich
Chick lit book about three NY women: a reporter, a socialite, and a lawyer and their adventures in work and in love. Kind of a Sex and the City rip-off (even stole the divorced women turned handbag designer which was in one episode). Okay read.
2) The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson.
Thoroughly addicted. Up VERY late the last couple of nights finishing this. I have the next book and know I will be very sad when I finish knowing there will be no more books to follow.
4. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
On to the one that I struggled to finish, Mockingjay. I must admit, I am still a little less inclined to read it again. I don't like what they do to one of my favorite characters and I did read the last part of the book (
), so I know how it ends and I didn't like that either. Oh well, here I go...
Is anyone else having trouble posting??? Several times I tried to post and it didn't post . . .
Feed by M.T. Anderson -- great futuristic YA
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko -- funny and touching MG novel about a boy living on Alcatraz Island
The Most Dangerous Thing, Lippman
Years ago, they were all the best of friends. But as time passed and circumstances changed, they grew apart, became adults with families of their own, and began to forget about the past—and the terrible lie they all shared.
But now Gordon, the youngest and wildest of the five, has died and the others are thrown together for the first time in years.
And then the revelations start.
I've enjoyed everything I've read by Lippman in the past, but just found this one sort of bland...while the characters were well-developed, no real suspense as to the big secret, and the ending as a whole just really fell flat for me.
#1 The Most Dangerous Thing, #2 Fablehaven Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, #3 The Fault in our Stars, #4 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, #5 Sister, #6 Fablehaven #5 Keys to the Demon Prison, #6 In the Garden of Beasts, #7 Mile 81, #8 A Storm of Swords, #9 Divergent, #10 Graveminder, #11 Darkfever, #12 The Love of our Youth, #13 Bloodfever, #14 Faefever, #15 Hold Tight, #16 Night Road, #17 Dreamfever, #18 Townie, #19 Shadowfever, #20 Lake of Sorrows, #21 When She Woke,#22 Defending Jacob, #23 At Home, #24 False Mermaid, #25 Miss Peregrine's Home, #26 The Replacement, #27 The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, #28 77 Shadow Street, #29 The Great Night, #30 Passage, #31 Insurgent, #32 The Crossing Places, #33 Black Girl/White Girl, #34 Kingdom Keepers ii disney at dawn, #35 Kingdom Keepers III Disney in Shadow, #36 New Rules of Lifting for Women, #37 The Snowman, #38 Make Lemonade, #39 City of Fallen Angels, #40 The Janus Stone, #41 The Cove, #42 The Taker, #43 A Feast for Crows, #44 A Fistful fo Charms, #45 For a Few Demons More, #46 Last Block in Harlem, #47 the Outlaw Demon Wails, #48 A Serpent's Tale, #49 Dance with Dragons, #50 Summer of Night, #51 These things hidden, #52 The Flame Alphabet, #53 Night Swimmer, #54 Grave Goods, #55 Running the Rift, #56 Bird Cloud, #57 A Murderous Procession, #58 Cypress House, #59 True Believer, #60 This Full House, #61 Before I go to Sleep, #62 Orientation, #63 The Last Dragonslayer, #64 Tales of the Madman Underground, #65 Will Grayson Will Grayson, #66 Kingdom Keepers Power Play, #67 The Vanishers, #68 Light Between the Oceans, #69 Devil in Silver, #70 State of Wonder, #71 Snow Child, #72 The Watchers
Is anyone else having trouble posting??? Several times I tried to post and it didn't post . . .
I hadn't tried recently....maybe system was glitchy the day you tried?
It actually happened on 2 different days, but seems to be fine today.
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