The sun came out today. 

You may not think that this is a wonderful thing but it is. It is, I swear. Especially if the day before it was cloudy and cold. 

It is always interesting to my how books affect how you think. They allow you to experience the world in a different way - walk a mile in someone else's shoes and all that. They also have this great ability to sneak up on you and before you know it you see the world in a different way. 

It's funny that as you get older you realize the world is less black and white and more... colour. Life is richer, deeper, and wider then first thought but I think it is important to grow into these thoughts like Liesel Meminger, in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Her life is narrated to us by Death, who describes her life (from a book that Liesel herself wrote) as she grows up in Nazi Germany, where Hitlers words are shaping a nation, and where The Book Thief is just finding hers. 

I picked up this book because I came across the title in a magazine and wrote it on my list. I thought it would be about someone stealing books, and it was, but it was so much more. It was actually quite beautiful. It has wonderful metaphors and you get wrapped up in the story without even trying. 

It also makes you think about the war from another perspective... sneaky, no? 

As you think about the weekend coming up, I hope you enjoy every moment...

The Wakeful Dreamer
 
I'm sure as you have probably guessed (if you have read this blog at all before...) that I'm a little bit of an information junkie. I just really like learning new things and the internet is an endless information source. Like all things it can lead you on a very dangerous path (mindlessly surfing for hours, anyone?) and then every once in awhile if you are very good it will offer you something wonderful...

Today my wonderful things combines two of my great loves: books and music! I really like Mumford and Sons and their new album came out today! YAY! So, while I was reading about it and I came across this fact: That Marcus Mumford (the lead singer) has a book club through the main website! So far it looks like he has a major love for John Steinbeck...

Also for all you photography lovers Ted posts pics and Ben talks about food! So enjoy the sweet sounds of Mumford and Sons and read books! 

Be excited.

The Wakeful Dreamer
 
Fall is here again! I know I'm a few days later but this week was busy. Fall always reminds me of school because I kind of feel like the year starts now, mostly because some of the things I'm involved in started this past week...

Like my book club! The book on the list was The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak. It is a novel that is supposed to be about Catherine the Great and when I say "supposed to be" I mean I expected it to be about her because it says so on the front of the book. Yes, she is in the book but I wanted it to feature her more. I was under the assumption that it would be about her rise to power and her actually being in power but it was more like a description about everything that happened before that.

And by everything, I mean everything. Four hundred and fifty pages too long of everything! I know there should be room for description and even lengthy description is fine (I do happen to love some Russian novels) but I think the book could have easily pressed upon the reader the heaviness of being in the royal court by being half the length. 

The book did illuminate the idea that spying in the palace was something everyone did - the book was narrated by a palace maid - and the idea of being under that type of scrutiny all the time definitely seemed unbearable. 

After reading The Winter Palace I needed to find something lighter, possibly funny to read... I got sidetracked by Divergent by Veronica Roth. I'm not sure about anyone else but throw the words "dystopian society" out there to describe a book and I am there. Something about the whole genre just makes me want to read it. I like the different ideas people have out there about how society will be or could be...

This one was no different: though only taking place in Chicago, people have been separated into factions that place a high value on different virtues. At sixteen they get to choose which faction they would like to be apart of after taking a test showing them which one they would be best for and they are part of this faction for life.

I'm sure you can guess that not everything is perfect especially because I already gave you the key words: dystopian society. I don't want to give the book away because I thought it was interesting but the one thing that bothered me was the fact that I've come across the reoccurring theme that the main character is usually a girl and there is always a love story. 

Not that I mind either it was just something that kept popping up in my brain... mostly I kept thinking what would have happened if the main character was a boy? 

I guess I can't be too upset because most of the newer dystopian novels are made for teenagers. I guess I should read some H.G. Wells to balance it all out...

The Wakeful Dreamer
 
This blog was started just over a year ago, in the beginning of August 2011, to keep track of all the books I read in a year. And although I haven't been always faithful about posting when I should (summer was so hard!), I have enjoyed this past year and have come to discover more and more books that I like... and a few that I'm okay never to read again. 

So the question on your mind is: How many books did I read? 

Well I'm starting from the beginning of last August to the end of this August. My husband informs me this is actually 13 months but how about we call it a nice baker's dozen?

That makes the grand total of *insert drumroll here* 56 books! 

And of course, there are always more to read. I have a pretty great idea for a plan for this year so keep on the look out for more blog posts because now that it is the fall I'll be back on track... right? 

The Wakeful Dreamer 

Amendment: I missed a book! The real total is 57!