Smugglivus 2011 Guest Blogger: April of Good Books and Good Wine

Welcome to Smugglivus 2011! Throughout this month, we will have daily guests – authors and bloggers alike – looking back at their favorite reads of 2011, and looking forward to events and upcoming books in 2012.

Who: April of Good Books and Good Wine. April is an educator and a driven book reviewer with a preference for Young Adult and Fantasy novels.

Please give it up for April, everybody!

Being invited to do a Smugglivus guest post is kind of like scoring an invitation to a VIP party, meaning I want to run around and show everyone the invite and do a little jig, because I dance when I am thrilled.

2011, you were totally AWESOME.

One of the best books I read in 2011 that is TOTALLY under appreciated and should be read by more people is The Aviary by Kathleen O’Dell.

Friends, The Aviary is a middle grade historical fantasy — with birds and healthy friendships. Clara, 12, lives in the Glendoveer mansion with her mother who is a nurse, a maid and elderly Mrs. Glendoveer. One day a bird says ‘Elliottttt’ and, well Clara is on the track to solve a 50 year old murder mystery.

I also discovered a little known TV series called Downton Abbey. Maybe you have heard of it? Thanks to a post by Angie at Angieville (everything she says, TRUST) and a few tweets from Lisa The Nerd and I spent a whole weekend devouring the drama between Matthew Crawley and Lady Mary and hating Edith’s stupid face and practically clapping my hands every time Maggie Smith pops up like a boss. Seriously, as soon as the opening title bit comes on with the music and the bells I start bouncing up and down singing DOWNNNNTON ABBEYYYYYY! Because that is how I
roll.

And then I had an affair with audiobooks, and friends, that affair has blossomed into full on LOVE. I learned that a fantastic narrator can take a mediocre story and dial it up to 11. Seriously, I kind of fell in love with the narration of Tim Curry in the first Series Of Unfortunate Events book: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket and the narration of Nick Podehl in The Name Of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (be still my beating heart).

2012, you better not make the world end because I will be very upset if I miss these things:

The Hobbit.Okay, so like a total winner, I screamed my face off and started jumping in my desk chair at work when the trailer came out. Yes, I was smart enough to close my office door. GUYS when Richard Armitage starts singing about the Misty Mountains you know shiz is about to get real.

The Wind Through The Keyhole by Stephen King. Yo, The Dark Tower is the best series EVER. It ties with Harry Potter in my brain, so if I can spend more time with Roland Deschain I will happily do so.

The Masque Of The Red Death by Bethany Griffin. Plagues and Debauchery clubs and Edgar Allen Poe? I think I just found the recipe for winning.

Thanks, April!