I decided that I would read 16 books this year (an increase over 12 from last year). I'm at 12 already so I'm feeling like a champ.

I haven't been reviewing them, but that's ALL ABOUT TO CHANGE.

Spirits of New Orleans by Kala Ambrose
I took a really great vampire tour in New Orleans, and really I should have just re-read all the Anne Rice books. Instead I picked this up at the airport, a little heartsick at leaving New Orleans and really in love with the story of the Ursuline nuns I heard during the tour. The book is fine, though the “research” she did was pretty much her going to the place once and maybe seeing a ghost or maybe not. It did not have the delicious creepiness of the tour, but then it wasn't Friday the 13th as I wander the French Quarter with my goth bosom buddy. Are any of these “scary local ghost story” books any good? Shoulda got the original accounts from the 1800s book.

Children of God by Mary Doria Russell
Um, this was fantastic. If you've read The Sparrow, read this. The themes of fate, God, faith, cultural/social change, genocide–oof. It's incredible.

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker
This book will sometimes make you want to punch things, but some of those times, you'll want to punch yourself. It was recommended to me and I'm glad I read it, even with the rage fits. It's pretty much an extended pep talk, but I like a good pep talk.

Amethyst Destiny by Pamela Montgomerie
The follow-up to Sapphire Dream sadly did not live up to my high expectations of Scottish romance time-travel hilarity, but it was still pretty great. The moment of relief and belonging our heroine feels when she arrives in a Scottish castle decorated by a fellow time traveler in the most basic fashion imaginable? Priceless.

Get Clients Now! by C.J. Hayden
This is the #1 book I recommend to anyone working as a service provider. Don't judge a book by its cover; it's really fantastic.

Annihilation and Authority by Jeff VanderMeer
Loved these two. The only reason I haven't finished the trilogy is the library not having sufficient copies. Annihilation is like the opening scene of an X-Files episode, full of weird terrifying moments and no answers. Authority is a darker version of the rest of the episode, our hapless narrator at the mercy of a conspiracy above him, super weird colleagues, and a world-ending threat. It's spectacularly weird–creepy but not in a horror-y way. Feels a little Lovecraft-y in the way the horror is just slightly off-page, never in full view.

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
I really enjoyed the heck out of this book. It's way longer than the movie, and so much better. Watched the movie after I read the book and eventually just told Paul I would let him know when something on screen actually matched the book.

Gather the People by Sarah J. Bray
I really enjoyed this book. Sarah's work is interesting, though I'm always a little confused about how she makes money. The basic premise is to share your work early and often, to let your community guide your process and your product. That thesis guides a lot of what I'm doing with this 100 Day project, which is why I'm always yelling at you to vote for entries you like and leave comments and stuff. By the way, vote for this entry if you like it!

Breaking the Time Barrier by Mike McDerment
Quick, easy read that will make you think you can solve all your financial problems. Then you will try and find it's much harder than he implies.

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Another recommendation. Lukewarm on this one–if you have big relationship problems, this may help. But mostly it's a long explanation about how to love people in the way they need to be loved, not in the way you want to be loved. Could have been a killer blog series; a full-length book is just too much.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
YES. I loved this. I want to read the whole series. I love historical fiction, or whatever you want to call this. I love Wolf Hall in the same way I love the Baroque Cycle, just not quite as much. I feel like I'm buds with Henry VIII, which is great.

Okay! Til I finish one of the six books I've started but not finished!