Author Archive

I actually managed to do quite a bit of reading in December.  I focused on the liesure aspect of reading and took my time to really enjoy my selections.  I didn’t even think about reviewing them after I read them.  I told myself that task can wait til the new year.  And so here I am with a small stack of books to review at the start of a new year.

I did not make a “Best Reads of 2011″ list because I didn’t feel like I read enough in 2011 to warrant such a list.  Even more, there weren’t many selections that really stood out to me in 2011.  But if I did make such a list, this book would definitely be on it if not at the top of it.

I loved reading this book.  I felt like every time I picked it up, I was unwrapping a gem.  Jonathan Safran Foer is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers.  I loved his language in this book.  He captured so many intense emotions in this book.

The story follows 9 year old Oscar Schell post September 11th.  Oscar’s father died on that horrible day but he left Oscar with an urgent mission, a mystery of sorts.  Oscar must find the lock that matches a mysterious key.  His only clue: the last name Black.  And so Oscar travels through New York in the hopes that the key will not only open a lock somewhere for someone but will also lead him to discovering more about his father.

As I sit here trying to describe exactly why I loved this book so much, words escape me.  Oscar is an amazing character.  He is adventurous, curious, caring, kind, but also fragile.  He feels pain.  He mourns.  But he carries on.  He is troubled but there is so much hope in him as he embarks on this journey.

And then there is the backstory of his grandmother.  At first, I just got lost in the words.  But as the story become clearer and clearer with each turn of the page, I was shocked, surprised, and satisfied all at the same time.

All I can say is that if you haven’t read this book yet, you should definitely make it a high priority.  It is an amazing story and beautifully written.  I don’t usually re-read books but I know that this book is worth re-reading and I will make it a priority to re-read it in the future.  I am also going to be making it a priority to read more of Foer’s work in the near future.  I already read his nonfiction piece of work entitled Eating Animals, which I enjoyed a lot.  He is a very talented writer!

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I have been contemplating what to include in this post for quite some time now.  I alway start the New Year off with a list of reading and blogging resolutions.  I have an increase in ambition at the end of December and the beginning of January.  And then the reality of my hectic schedule sets in and all of my resolutions to be better, healthier, more organized, more productive … they fall into a heap of forgotten wishes.  And when I do remember my original goals and the fact that yet another year wen by with so few accomplishments, a huge wave of guilt washes over me.  But every year has a different story to unfold.  2011 was an incredibly difficult year.  I accomplished a lot of truly fantastic things.  I graduated from college.  I started grad school.  My reading and blogging life came to a bit of a standstill as I focused more and more of my time on developing into a professional getting ready to enter the workforce.  In many ways, I took on way more than I could properly handle.  But I have grown a lot.  I have learned a lot.  I have been blessed by the presence of some truly incredible people in my life.  And so I prepare to enter 2012 with my head held up high.  I have been reading a lot of truly fabulous end of 2011 reading reflection posts.  I am sad that I missed so many truly fantastic reads this year but I look forward to getting around to reading many of these gems in 2012.

Instead of leaving you with my best of 2011 picks (I honestly did not read many books this year), I will be leaving you with my hopes for 2012.  I am not making resolutions like I usually do.  Instead, I’m sharing with you my “love list” for 2012: a list of things that I would love to do in 2012.  They are an attempt at outlining what I would like focus on this year.  They will change as the year progresses.  I will work at defining and refining them as I come across new experiences, but for now, they are a general reflection of what matters to me, of what is in my heart as I enter 2012.

• I would love to make the time to read a book every week in 2012.  This will hopefully lead me to reading somewhere close to 50 books in 2012.  I know that many of my fellow book bloggers read a LOT more than this, but I’m trying to be realistic to my circumstances and kind to myself.  Making plans to get through a HUGE number of books stresses me out and makes reading less enjoyable for me.  I want to read with a purpose.  I want to take my time to enjoy the books that I’m reading.  I don’t want to turn reading into a chore.  It should continue to be my refuge; my place to find whatever I’m looking for.
• I would love to make time to write more in 2012.  I am not good at creating a writing schedule and sticking to it.  I have tried this several times and every time I failed miserably.  Writing is one area where pressure does not motivate me to work harder.  I want to just make an effort to create liesure time where I can write whatever tickles my fancy.  I signed up for and failed NaNoWriMo again in 2011.  I think that before I embark on the NaNoWriMo journey again, I need to be prepared.  I want to start getting my writing process into something more organized and organic.  More on this to come (hopefully) ….
• I would love to exercise more in 2012.  I have an awesome bike that I got for my birthday that I have been neglecting.  I also got some awesome athletic wear for Christmas.  These items must be put to good use!  And so, for this item on my love list, I am adopting a challenge (because fitness challenges actually do inspire me!).  I am enrolling in the Get Moving Fitness Challenge which runs from Jan. 1, 2012 to March 31, 2012.  I have challenged myself to exercise (walk/run/bike/yoga/weights) for 30 hours in the time frame.  Wish me luck!
• I would love to be more productive in 2012.  I want to be more purposeful in my work ethic.  I am already working at creating new routines and regimens in the hopes that this will become my best year ever.  I’m going to be starting the year off teaching 2 classes of seniors.  In between my other jobs and graduate classes, this is going to be an incredibly taxing year for me.  I want to be prepared for whatever the future brings.  I don’t want to run into the same problems I hit this year.  I want to find meaning in all the work I do so I don’t get burned out and unmotivated.
• I would love to focus on making more friends and rekindling lost friendships.  Self explanatory.

This is where my heart is as I enter 2012.  I will undoubtedly be writing more about these areas of my life in the new year.  I look forward to hearing about what you all hope to achieve in the New Year as well.  Happy New Year to you all.  I hope that it is filled with love, friends, and many blessings.

From the slightly cluttered desk of Justice Jennifer:

Happy Holiday wishes from the bottom of my heart.  I feel very blessed that this holiday season was filled with friends, family, and love.  I believe that 2012 is going to be a spectacular year and I am already gearing up for it.  Don’t expect to hear much of me this next week but starting on January 1st I plan to make a comeback (finally) in a big way.  I’m working on getting all my ducks in order to ensure that 2012 turns out to be a better blogging and reading year for me.

+ Finished with Winter quarter.  Ready to enjoy the Holidays.
+ Preparing lesson plans for January 2012 when I official take on my first two classes.  We are starting with Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  As I plan, I find myself rediscovering my love for everything about the play.  It is amazing.
+ Reading Harold Bloom and discovering new complexities in Hamlet that I had never noticed before.
+ Reflection on new adulthood for a guest post @ Reclusive Bibliophile.
+ I am currently obsessed with the BBC’s Merlin.  I have been watching it nonstop on Netflix.
+ I’m looking forward to the Christmas episode of Doctor Who.  It looks awesome.
+ I’m also really looking forward to the New Year and Season 2 of the BBC’s modern adaptations of Sherlock.  Three new episodes!
- I have been watching too much TV lately and avoiding any work.

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+ I found the batteries to my camera and I’m thinking it’s time to get back into photography.
+ I’m reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer.  So far I am loving it.
+ Today, Monday, December 5th marks the final week of Fall quarter.
- I need to get some exercise ASAP.
- Even though it is the start of Winter break, I still have loads of work looming over me.
- Pinterest is habit forming.
+ I rediscovered Say Anything and have been listening to them nonstop this weekend.
- I desperately need to clean up my apartment.
- I need a day where I can just shut myself off from the world.
- I need to get started on Christmas shopping.  I have been avoiding the malls.
- My TV/cable broke right before Pan Am came on last night so I missed it.
- I’m behind on my own reading and writing schedule.