Best Books 2012

I posted this yesterday on my book blog; but didn't want anyone to miss it.  I would love to hear what the best book you read last year was!!

 Here is the list of the best books I read in 2012!  This year I am going to start with #1 and go forward from there.  You can click on the title and it will take you to the Amazon.com page for it.

 

1.  What is the What by Dave Eggers.  I read this book at the beginning of last year and the story stays with me to this day.  That is the mark of a great book.  Highly recommended!!!!!

2.  Pure by Julianna Baggott.  Another book that has stayed with me.  Also, this is part one of a trilogy.  Part two just came out.  I am going to re-read Pure first and then read part two.  I liked this even better than Hunger Games (so that is saying a lot).

3.  The Fault in our Stars by John Green.  Wow.  Another one that has some staying power.

4.  Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  Talk about a page turner!!!!

5.  By the Iowa Sea by Joe Blair.  Amazing.  Could not put it down.  Highly recommended. 

6.  The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan Evison.  Totally fabulously wonderful.

7.  Home Front by Kristin Hannah.  I admit it.  I was a snob and thought Kristin Hannah books were subpar.  But since two of her books on my end of year best lists I have to admit I was wrong. Very wrong.  She writes great characters and stories.  Stories you are swept up in and can't wait to get back to. 

8.   Wild by Cheryl Strayed.  Quite a story.  Great writing.  Very good.

9.  Bloom by Kelle Hampton.  A beautiful book about a family.  

10.  American Dervish by Ayad Akhtar.  Love this book cover.  Great story and writing. 



Would love to hear if you have read any of these and what you think of the list!


Hope 2013 is a great reading year for everyone!

February!

I am back! I just lost my blogging mojo there for awhile; but I think I have recaptured it.  I have been stitching a lot and my recent finishes show that I am still in a Christmas mood.   Above is the BBD ornament from the 2009 Just Cross-Stitch annual magazine.  I saw it done up at my friend Karin's house and I just had to stitch it.

Then I stitched the latest Lizzie Kate ornaments.  Love the colors in these two!

Now I am working on Poinsettia Place by Country Cottage Needleworks.  It is part of a darling series called Santa's Village.  I want to do each one and then have them finished as cubes and set them on the mantle at Christmas.  So cute!!!  So fun to stitch!  There are four designs out so far, but I started with this one as the colors were so much fun!

The latest issue of Antique Needlework and Sampler Quarterly has this beautiful chart featured.  I really want to convert it to wools and stitch it!!  This is something I am going to dream over for awhile before I stitch it!

I am looking forward to a weekend spent hanging out with Mike and then watching the Oscars tomorrow and stitching while watching the red carpet coverage.

I vow to be back soon.  I have missed you all!!!