Hello 2012

Cross-posted with 4MA: I read 77 books in 2011. This is better than the previous year but overall down from the norm. These are the books that I marked as "A" and in the order read:

• WHERE SHADOWS DANCE by CS Harris 6th of 6 in series featuring Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, an investigator in Regency England
• BODY IN THE THAMES by Susanna Gregory 6th of 6 in series featuring Thomas Chaloner, a spy in Restoration London
• BURY YOUR DEAD by Louise Penny 6th of 6 (at the time) in series featuring Armand Gamache, Chief Inspector of the Sûreté du Québec, in the village of Three Pines, in southern Quebec
• PROPHECY by SJ Parris 2nd of 2 in series featuring Giordano Bruno, a monk, philosopher, and astronomer on the run from the Roman Inquisition, serving as an agent for Queen Elizabeth I, in late 16th century England
• A KILLING FROST by Patricia Wynn 4th of 4 in series featuring Gideon St. Mars, a viscount who becomes the highwayman Blue Satan, and his friend Mrs. Kean, in early 18th century England
• FALLEN by Karin Slaughter 4th of 4 in series featuring Will Trent, an agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, in Atlanta OR 9th of 9 in series featuring Dr. Sara Linton, a pediatrician and coroner
• PRINCE by Rory Clements 3rd of 3 in series featuring John Shakespeare, an investigator and older brother of Will, in Elizabethan England
• THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy by Suzanne Collins (non-mystery but simply blew me away, stayed with me for days, couldn't read anything else for a while because it paled in comparison)
• A TRICK OF THE LIGHT by Louise Penny 7th of 7 in series featuring Armand Gamache, Chief Inspector of the Sûreté du Québec, in the village of Three Pines, in southern Quebec
• NEW YORK TO DALLAS by JD Robb 41st of 41 (if you count novellas) in series featuring Eve Dallas, a homicide lieutenant in futuristic New York City
• A PLAY OF HERESY by Margaret Frazer 7th of 7 in series featuring Joliffe, the member of traveling players and sometimes spy/agent in 15th century England
• LORD JOHN & THE PRIVATE MATTER by Diana Gabaldon 1st of 4 in series featuring Lord John Grey, a soldier and gentleman, in mid-18th century London

Disappointments:

• BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP by SJ Watson stand alone, over-hyped, the middle went on too long
• BETRAYAL OF TRUST by Susan Hill 6th of 6 in series featuring Simon Serrailler, a police Chief Inspector in Lafferton, England.

Top nonfiction:

• THE SECRET KNOWLEDGE by David Mamet

Yesterday was a setback for both Steve and I with this stupid flu. We both took it easy, ate what we could, watched the marathon of The Walking Dead and a smattering of Dog the Bounty Hunter and The Big Bang Theory. We turned out the lights before midnight but were still awake the fireworks went on and on and the dogs were restless. Oy.

And I am just flabbergasted that there is no Rose Bowl Parade this morning. What??? I understand it's Sunday and people would like to go to church and there are NFL games but come on!! Tomorrow??? Some people have to go to work tomorrow (I'm still optional). Who planned this? It's just wrong.

Apparently, my only other function this weekend is to open and close the door to the backyard for Coda and Ryker.

I still absolutely hate my haircut and wish I had the guts to call the salon. The owner is an acquaintance/friend.

Feeling better, I hope to accomplish some things and not let the day(s) go to waste. Again.

Much love and Happy 2012,
PK the Bookeemonster