100 Books 2014: 1-8

I didn't make a resolution this year, but I thought it would be fun to give myself a goal. My goal for 2014 is to read 100 new to me books! And part of that goal is to get most of them from the library instead of spending tons of money on books. So here we go, here is MOST of what I read in January. I had already taken one book back, and since I took these photos I finished 1 more. So I'm up to 9/100. I might have made this goal a little too easy for myself!
Are any of you big readers? I would love some recommendations! I like to read pretty much anything. You can check out my goodreads page here. Are you a member? Let's be friends! I really enjoy that site.

1. The Child Catchers: Rescue, Trafficking, and the New Gospel of Adoption by Kathryn Joice: I don't read much non fiction but this was a really interesting look at international adoption. I read a blurb about it somewhere online and found the topic really fascinating. It gets a little repetitive but I learned quite a bit.
2. The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan: This one was a Christmas present from Travis because he knows I love Amy Tan. I have read most of her books multiple times. This one is just ok, which was a disappointment. I found myself wanting to skip ahead a few times. It is a story about mothers and daughters, China and America, her usual themes, but it isn't quite as engaging and it didn't make me want to stay up all night reading.
3. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: This book was all over the place last year, and I've had it on my to read list forever! I wish I hadn't waited so long! It is amazing! Thrilling and surprising and not like anything else I've read in a long time. The story starts with a man coming home to find his wife gone and the house in disarray. I don't want to give anything away, because the story really did shock me multiple times! I would definitely recommend it!
4. The Whole Golden World by Kristina Riggle: This was recommended by a fellow blogger and for the life of me I can't figure out who! I thought it was Jen, a fellow Nashvillian, but now I can't find it on her blog. Anyway, I guess it doesn't matter. This is the story of a teacher/student affair told from both points of view. A good quick read, and I really liked the way the author wrote the characters.
5. Redshirts by John Scalzi: Another gift from Travis. This is a science fiction book I guess, based around the idea of anyone in a red shirt with a small backstory on Star Trek is destined to die! I loved this one! A blurb on the back said "pee your pants funny!" and while I don't think that is accurate, the story was fun and I loved all the little Star Trek references. I think any science fiction fan would like it, even if you aren't a trekker.
6. In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunnant: This one has been sitting on the pile of books next to my bed for a few years! The cover makes it look like a historic fiction romance but it isn't really. It is by the same author of The Birth of Venus, which I loved! This is the story of a famous, successful courtesan who has to flee Rome and re-establish herself in Renaissance Italy. It is told from the point of view of her faithful servant/friend a dwarf. It is more a story about loyalty, friendship, and betrayal than sex like you would expect. I was actually sad when it was over, I wanted to stay in that world a little longer.
7. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut: I LOVE Kurt Vonnegut and there are  a few of his books on our shelves that I haven't read yet. This one was good, if a little fatalistic and dark. I love his sense of humor and wit and I can't wait to make it through all of his books! I think I'll read Sirens of Titan next.
8. NOS4A2 by Joe Hill: The best book of the month is this one! I would NEVER have picked it up just seeing it or reading the blurb, but I read a great description of it on a book critics personal top ten of last year. This book is almost 700 pages and I read it in three days, I couldn't put it down! The story is so CREEPY at one point I was walking around my house at night and had to RUN back to bed because I was scared. That hasn't happened in a long time! Joe Hill is a wonderful writer and I'll probably try to read all of his novels this year.