Live, Learn, Read, Zen, Heal.
a year in the life of me, circa 2011
katielove
I'm Katie. I'm 19 and I live my life one year at the time.
This year's theme is Live, Learn, Read, Zen, Heal.
This year I am going to...

Live each day to the fullest. I will stop to smell the roses and take the time it takes to truly enjoy being alive. I'll take tons of pictures, make loads of memories and I promise to spontaneously be spontaneous.
Learn new things every day. I'm going to college to study Psychology, Music, Photography and whatever else tickles my fancy.
Read over 100 books between 12/22/2010 and 12/22/2011. I've already made a list of 130 books and as 2011 moves along, this list will continue to grow.
Zen my entire life. I am going to meditate, get in touch with my spiritual self and find equilibrium and peace in all aspects of my life. This year I will love and be loved.
Heal inside and out; others as well as myself. I will continue my goal from last year; to become a healthy, athletic individual with focus, strength and flexibility in mind and body. I'm going to take care of myself this year and help somebody if I can.

If somewhere along the way I happen to find out where I fit into this world... that would be fantastic. If not, no biggie.
I've got all the time in the world.

know me
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I still live in the house where I grew up in North Carolina.
I love to sing, write, read, play with horses and take pictures.
I spend most of my time in solitude or with my family and animals.


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archive
January 2011

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The Host
Sunday, January 16, 2011 8:38 PM
The Host by Stephenie Meyer really exceeded my expectations.

This book is now in my top five favourite books of all time. (:

Read it!

Blast it!
Thursday, January 13, 2011 1:05 PM
I read through The Summoning in like two and a half hours because it was so bloody fantastic and I thought I had checked out the sequal along with it.. But right as I'm about to dive into The Reckoning... I realize it's the THIRD book in the series and so I piss and moan all night, wake up this morning and hightail it back over to the library and guess what?



They only have The Summoning and The Reckoning. The second book, The Awakening was stolen.

BLAST IT ALL!



Oh well. I'll have to buy the series now, of course but it's good enough to own so it's all good.

I now have 16 books checked out from the library. -snort-

I AM NOT GOING TO BUY AND OR CHECK OUT ANOTHER BOOK UNTIL THESE HAVE BEEN READ AND RETURNED.

I solemnly swear it!

Well, I'm done ranting.

Check out the updated booklist (Third post on this blog, I believe.) I've added two books and changed a few around.

I decided I don't feel like reading Shutter Island or Feed (I started Feed and I was annoyed by the third sentence.) So they were replaced with other books. (: There are now 123 books total and I have read 23 of them so far.
Off to read some more!

Katie.

it's good for you.
Monday, January 10, 2011 12:53 PM

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There's a first time for everything...
12:02 PM
So, I guess I'm the only person in my county who isn't head over heels for the Alex Cross series.
I got about 50 pages in and just could not get into it to save my little life. They're coming off the list.
Oh well. Sorry, James Patterson!
Eat, Pray, Love is off the list as well because I've seen the movie and I simply don't feel like reading it at all.
But there are some new additions to our little list, as the rules state. Don't fret!

Newly Added:
The Summoning - Kelley Armstrong
The Reckoning - Kelley Armstrong
Winter - John Marsden
Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
Falling From Grace - S.L. Naeole
Bird Song - S.L. Naeole
Skellig - David Almond
The Adoration of Jenna Fox - Mary E. Pearson

As of today, the booklist has grown to include 120 books.
Out of these I have read 19.
I have in my possession the following books either from my own personal collection of from the library:
A Simple Plan - Scott Smith
Deep - Susannah Vance
Godless - Pete Hautman
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey
Winter - John Marsden
Graceling - Kristin Cashore
Hatchet - Gary Paulsen
The Host - Stephenie Meyer
Before I Die - Jenney Downham
The Summoning - Kelley Armstrong
The Reckoning - Kelley Armstrong
Feed - M.T. Anderson
Deadly Little Secret - Laurie Stolarz

Hatchet, Godless & Feed have to go back pretty soon so I'll read those first.
Then comes the rest of the library books which I have until the 31st.
I'm just glad I've got books to read while this ice and snow hits us.

Katie.

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New Goals, New Books, Horray!
Sunday, January 02, 2011 8:52 PM
I had a long conversation with the 'rentals last night about how I really wanted to go back to college and whether I should go back to Wake Tech CC in the summer or apply to Phoenix University for an online program in the next few months. We weighed the pros and cons and we agreed that the best plan was for me to follow through with an online program at Phoenix U and then in the summer if I want to pick up some classes on music, art, photography, archery etc. I can do so at WTCC.

I'm wicked excited because I miss school and in the program I'm applying for, I get to mix in Psychology classes and college transfer courses straight away instead of spending two years on just the Transfer courses and then pursuing Psych. (which is what I would have had to do at Wake Tech.) I'm a sucker for fast tracks!

Depending on how much focus this program requires, I'm thinking about picking up a little weekend job. Maybe at Starbucks or a bookstore, ya know? I could be in school and have a little cash flow for books, DVDs and whatnot. Speaking of books, I added a few books to the list and I bought a few books today as well!

Newly bought:
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Project 17 by Laurie Stolarz
Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Stolarz

Newly added:
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
All the books from the Chronicles of Narnia except The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The lion,witch&wardrobe isn't included on the list because I've already read it, but in truth I have my eye on this giant paperback edition at Border's with the entire Chronicles of Narnia in it so I'll be reading that book as well.. It's just not on the list.
I just finished Fablehaven #4 by Brandon Mull and as good as the series is, I've decided to wait on reading the fifth and final installment of this series for a while. I've also decided to hold off on reading anymore death-themed books for a little bit. (I sort of overloaded on teen tragedy thanks to Hate List, If I Stay and Thirteen Reasons Why)

As for the next books I'll be reading, I currently have the Alex Cross series from James Patterson checked out from the Library so, that's coming up. I think I'm going to read Project 17 first then the Alex Cross series, Life As We Knew It, Graceling and then Deadly Little Secret is last since it begins a new series and by then I'll hopefully have the other books in the series.

My Favourite book so far would have to be a tie between Looking For Alaska by John Green and Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer by Patrick Süskind.

Green's book is so different from everything I've read before. It's just unusual enough to escape being normal, it's raw and so glaringly real. I usually drench myself in fiction because I like to escape into distant worlds with magic and monsters and love so strong that it blinds, but this book was in my world. Not the one where I'm reading.. But the world I go when I see something really beautiful like leaves in the Fall. This book to me was like the leaves changing in the Fall. A fleeting glimpse of ephemeral beauty. Alaska was that for me. I rented this book from the library but I'm definitely buying this book and I'll be reading it over and over again just to get in touch with my favourite kind of reality.

Süskind's book makes my favourite list because it is simply the strangest book I have ever read. The movie is great too. If you're into strange, shocking, gross, murder, ugly, dry and sarcastic humour. Read this and then rent the movie.

I'm going to go read! (big shocker, right?)

Katie

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Book Challenge, 2011
Saturday, January 01, 2011 8:13 PM
The List:



  1. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
  2. The Count Of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
  3. Prism - Faye & Aliza Kellerman
  4. Bones of Faerie - Janni Lee Simner
  5. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
  6. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
  7. Elsewhere - Gabrielle Zevin
  8. Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell
  9. Lord Of The Flies - William Golding
  10. A Certain Slant Of Light - Laura Whilcomb
  11. Madapple - Christina Meldrum
  12. The Disreputable History Of Frankie Landau-Banks - E. Lockhart
  13. Delirium - Lauren Oliver
  14. The Boy In The Striped Pajamas - John Boyne
  15. The Replacement - Brenna Yovanoff
  16. You Are Not Here - Samantha Schutz
  17. Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver
  18. Half Brother - Kenneth Oppel
  19. Zombies Vs. Unicorns - Holly Black & Justin Larbalestier
  20. Room - Emma Donoghue
  21. Ship Breaker - Paolo Bacigalupi
  22. A Simple Plan - Scott Smith
  23. Going Bovine - Libba Bray
  24. Life As We Knew It - Susan Beth Pfeffer
  25. Deep - Susannah Vance
  26. Farenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
  27. Ariel - Sylvia Plath
  28. Pucker - Melanie Gideon
  29. Flowers For Algernon - Daniel Keyes
  30. The Monstrumologist - Rick Yancy
  31. Under The Dome - Stephen King
  32. The Forest Of Hands And Teeth - Carrie Ryan
  33. Ophelia - Lisa Klein
  34. Project 17 - Laurie Stolarz
  35. Elska - Catherine Hopka
  36. Blue Is For Nightmares - Laurie Stolarz
  37. White Is For Magic - Laurie Stolarz
  38. Red Is For Remembrance - Laurie Stolarz
  39. Daemon Hall - Andrew Nance
  40. The Love Curse Of The Rumbaughs - Jack Gantos
  41. Hold Still - Nina LaCour
  42. Wings - Aprilynne Pike
  43. Wintergirls - Laurie Halse Anderson
  44. Bliss - Lauren Myracle
  45. Black Pearls - Louise Hawes
  46. Soulless - Christopher Golden
  47. The Host - Stephenie Meyer
  48. Newes From The Dead - Mary Hooper
  49. Such A Pretty Girl - Laura Wiess
  50. Before I Die - Jenny Downham
  51. Alabama Moon - Watt Key
  52. Sunshine - Norma Klein (out of print)
  53. The Minister's Daughter - Julie Hearn
  54. Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson
  55. Go Ask Alice - Anonymous
  56. Right Behind You - Gail Giles
  57. Year Of Wonders - Geraldine Brooks
  58. Witch Child - Celia Rees
  59. Dead Connection - Charlie Price
  60. Shattering Glass - Gail Giles
  61. Dr. Franklin's Island - Ann Halam
  62. Backwater - Joan Bauer
  63. Godless - Pete Hautman
  64. The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time - Mark Haddon
  65. The Giver - Lois Lowry
  66. Hole In The Sky - Pete Hautman
  67. The Tooth Fairy - Graham Joyce
  68. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey
  69. Watership Down -Richard Adams
  70. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
  71. The Dark Light - Mette Newth
  72. Hatchet - Gary Paulsen
  73. Deathwatch - Robb White
  74. Spider - Patrick McGrath
  75. Beautiful Malice - Rebecca James
  76. Defiance - Carole Maso
  77. Tithe- Holly Black
  78. Valiant - Holly Black
  79. Ironside - Holly Black
  80. 33 Snowfish - Adam Rapp
  81. The Silenced - James Devita
  82. High Spirits - Dianne K. Salerni
  83. Cut - Patricia McCormick
  84. The Devil's Arithmetic - Jane Yolen
  85. Ash - Malinda Lo
  86. Deadly Little Secrets - Laurie Stolarz
  87. Deadly Little Lies - Laurie Stolarz
  88. Deadly Little Games - Laurie Stolarz
  89. Graceling - Kristin Cashore
  90. Winter - John Marsden
  91. The Summoning - Kelley Armstrong
  92. The Awakening - Kelley Armstrong
  93. The Reckoning - Kelley Armstrong
  94. Good Omens - Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
  95. The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia) - C.S. Lewis
  96. The Horse and His Boy (Chronicles of Narnia) - C.S. Lewis
  97. Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia) - C.S. Lewis
  98. The Voyage of The Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia) - C.S. Lewis
  99. The Silver Chair (Chronicles of Narnia) - C.S. Lewis
  100. The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia) - C.S. Lewis
  101. Birthmarked - Caragh M. O'Brien
  102. Everlasting - Angier Frazier
  103. Breathless - Jessica Warman
  104. Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
  105. Skellig - David Amond
  106. Fire - Kristin Cashore
  107. Falling From Grace - S.L. Naeole
  108. Bird Song - S.L. Naeole
  109. The Adoration of Jenna Fox - Mary E. Pearson
  110. Fablehaven #1 - Brandon Mull
  111. Fablehaven #2 - Brandon Mull
  112. Fablehaven #3 - Brandon Mull
  113. Fablehaven #4 - Brandon Mull
  114. Fablehaven #5 - Brandon Mull
  115. Impossible - Nancy Werlin
  116. Looking For Alaska - John Green
  117. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
  118. Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer - Patrick Süskind
  119. Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher
  120. Pegasus - Robin McKinley
  121. Hate List - Jennifer Brown
  122. If I Stay - Gayle Forman
  123. The Body Finder - Kimberly Derting
The books that are Marked have been read. I'm going to repost an updated version of this list every month. Plus, I'll post what books I've read every now and then. This list will continue to grow!

The Rules



  • A book can not be on the list if I have read it before. All these books are new to me.
  • The length of this challenge is exactly one year and marks books read in between the dates of 12/22/2010 and 12/22/2011.
  • I have to read each book all the way through or it will not count. If I get into a book and decide that I hate it, it will be removed from the list and another one added in it's place.
  • I have to read at minimum one hundred books in the allotted time period.
  • I have to enjoy myself (and I promise, I will!)
Let the games BEGIN!

Katielove


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Note to self:
7:48 PM

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I am alive and therefore I shall live.
7:40 PM

Goodbye, 2010.

I'd like to say it's been fun, but you weren't easy on me.
Now the clouds are parting and I will leave you as a new being.
I look toward the future with hopes, dreams, plans and a couple of new lessons learned.
Thanks for making me stronger.

no longer yours,
Katielove.

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