A brief Summary

I can’t believe that my last post here was written more than one year ago!

For those of you who are interested here it’s a brief summary of my 2011:

* in february I moved back to Milan and for a while we had been renting a VERY little place in Milan;

* in may I had a baby, her name is Carola and she is almost six month old, here it’s a picture of us on vacation:

I had a natural childbirth because by the time I arrived to the hospital it was too late for an epidural, it was better & faster than expected…would I do it again? Next time I’ll make sure to be on time for my epidural 🙂

* I read a TON of books about babies (The baby whisperer by Tracy Hogg, a book by William and Marta Sears, Your Baby and Child by Penelope Leach and many others) , currently I am exclusively breastfeeding but weaning will be staring soon.  I am lucky because my little Caro is a very sweet baby who sleeps  through the night and sometimes takes a long nap in the early afternoon;

* during the summer we moved again (this time it’s our place, no more renting!) and we are currently decorating, we bought paint & stencils on-line, it’s hard work but great fun:

Right now I am on maternity leave but I don’t really have too much time for reading and reviewing,  here are a few books that I recently read:

Jane by April Lindner, Angie was right, I really enjoyed this retelling of Jane Eyre, although I am not crazy about the original one

You don’t have to say you love me by Sarra Manning, surprisingly I did not love this one, Neve and Max sort of got on my nerves but I must admit that I still haven’t come across a book by Sarra Manning that isn’t utterly compelling and somehow juicy

Pug Hill by Alison Pace, not my kind of story… I was bored from the beginning to the end

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, I completely agree with a few reviews that I found on Goodreads: THIS BOOK IS LIKE CRACK

The Help by Kathryn Stockett, a keeper! Now I understand what all the fuss was about, I loved it

My one and only by Kristin Higgins, I regard myself as a very picky reader when it comes to contemporary romance… I love the concept but actual books often disappoint me, this was not the case with My one and only, it’s really really fun

Ciao

Em

Book Blogger Appreciation Week — Unexpected Treasure

Today’s treasure is an unexpected one. Please share a book or genre you tried due to the influence of another blogger. What made you cave in to try something new and what was the experience like?

I read most of my books based on bloggers’ recommendations, one genre I could never really appreciate is Urban Fantasy (while I love Fantasy), I think I was unlucky with my first selection and gave up far too easily.

The book that made me change my mind is Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews and of course I decided to pick it up because I read this review on Angieville.

I am also not really into historical romance and I haven’t changed my mind on this but following Sara’s advise on GoodReads I read The Viscount Who Loved me by Julia Quinn and absolutely adored it.

What’s your unexpected treasure?

Em

A challenge! Oh what a Challenge!

Sometimes I find book reviews that are so passionate that physically hit me with their enthusiasm (in a good way) and make me restless, I am left with an immediate urgency of reading the book.

I usually spring into action ASAP, I have an account on amazon and one on bookdepository, every single book it’s just “one click away” (mostly) and this is how I ended up with more books that I can possibly read from here to Christmas.

Here in Dublin I share an apartment (my italo canadian family):

it’s great but I have very little space for my books, this is why

I solemnly promised that I won’t buy more books until I read everything that’s already in the apartment

What a challenge! Those are the sort of reviews responsible for my compulsive behaviour:

Jane by April Lindneer reviewed by Angie

The absolutely true diary of a part time indian by Sherman Alexie reviewed by Katie

Freak Magnet by Andrew Auseon reviewed by Carla

Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos by Lit Snit

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier reviewed by Holly

Before I fall by Lauren Oliver reviewed by Jen

Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith reviewed by Chachic

The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice reviewed by Meg (this one I read and is simply amazing, all I want is for you to read Meg’s review and consider reading this beautiful novel)

Just so you know,  I blame all of you 🙂

Em

We Love Ya: Emily

Today I am over at Chachic Blog who was  is hosting a great meme “We Love Ya”

in which  a fellow YA-lover (today I am the fellow) is featured and asked to answer the following questions: Why do you love YA? What are some of your favorite YA books? What can you say to encourage other people to read YA?

At end readers are requested to recommend books based on the featured person’s answers.

Come over and leave a comment, I love recommendations and I do follow up on them 🙂

Happy Weekend

Em