Books I couldn’t put down in 2014
Last year I got a new tablet for Christmas, downloaded a library app and have been checking out all sorts of books. I started the New Year reading the Divergent series. Here are a few of my favorites from this year and a little one-liner of my thoughts.
Fiction
Typically my favorite genre. I feel like I read more of these but these stand out the most.
Divergent Series (3 books): I couldn’t put the first couple books down. Very fun to read.
Matched Series (3 books): Also very good, it’s hard for me to choose a favorite between these two. Both were post-apocalyptic society-type books.
Gone Girl: I read because it was recommended to me based on the books I’d been reading. I was seriously frightened and disturbed at some parts but it was an unexpected mystery book that I enjoyed.
Non-Fiction
One of my goals was to read more auto-biographies this year.
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me: A hilarious way to start my attempt to dive into biographies.
Diary of Two Mad Black Mormons– I bought this book before the publishing company sent me one because my friends wrote it. It’s hilarious, and uplifting, and a great read. You don’t need to be mad or black or Mormon to enjoy it.
5 Love Languages: My first “self-help” book and wow… I loved it, still reference it, and I just bought it so I can read it again with my husband.
Children’s Books
This category isn’t as long because we have so many classics and favorites that we read over and over. But there are still a few new ones that jump out at me.
Of Thee I Sing: A historical book with gorgeous illustrations. Written by Barack Obama. The book tells short stories of boys and girls who grew to be miraculous men and women who changed our country. I love hearing Lil’ J talk about Jackie Robinson, Neil Armstrong, Jane Addams and Helen Keller. I want to find more books like this one.
The Boxcar Children: Lil’ J was so excited to show me a new movie she discovered on Netflix. As she described it to me I realized she was talking about the Boxcar Children. I surprised her and downloaded a digital copy of the book so we can read it together at bedtime. I’m amazed at how interested she is in the story, and how she notices subtle differences from the movie. I’m hopeful we can continue to read this series together.
I’m also re-reading Maya Angelou’s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, reading the Maze Runner series, the latest Percy Jackson book (I know, I’m a dork), and a book a friend from church wrote and is letting me read before some big publisher picks it up. I’m rooting for her!
Depending on who you are (and how much you get to read) you may be wondering where I find the time. I don’t feel like I read THAT much. If I had it my way I’d plow through way more books. But the fact is I typically get to read after my work is done and the kids are occupied or asleep. But most often I’ll read while working out on a cardio machine at the gym or while I’m rocking each kid to sleep.
Nothing beats the smell and feel of a physical book… Unless you’re a mom who loves to read but lacks the time. Then a tablet beats that hard-cover book. I have yet to really get into audio books, I feel like they’re great for long drives and I don’t take those very often. I want my kids to grow up with a love for books no matter what format it’s in.
Our latest digital device is the Samsung Galaxy Tab® 4 NOOK®. It’s easy to hold with it’s 7-inch vibrant display. My son loves watching Elmo song videos on it, and my daughter has enjoyed sharing stories with me.
I can read in the dark while my kids are dozing off in my arms, or on the elliptical when I can’t steady a book. It’s also nice because I can put in some headphones and turn on background music, or even watch a show when I’m done. I always have it with me, and I can pick up reading where I left off while I’m waiting for dance class to end, or stuck in a long line.
This isn’t meant to argue paper books vs digital books, just stating some of the benefits I’ve enjoyed and noticed this year since it’s been my first year as a portable tablet owner. Hopefully next year will be full of just as many or more enjoyable books.
What have you been reading lately? What books do you recommend?
Visit this page and tell me what feature you like most about the New NOOK by Samsung, then leave a comment by Monday November 17th and you’ll be entered to win the New NOOK by Samsung which comes in black or white, and loaded with $200 worth of entertainment. The device also has front and rear cameras for picture-taking and epic selfies, GPS, and it’s a fraction of the cost of other popular tablets. My Facebook Fans, Pinterest Followers or Google Plus Followers get one extra entry.
**Winner Alert 11/19** Cynthia who said “I am new to the Nooks. I’ve never own one but looks the information on the BN website I am excited about the parental controls. My daughter is constantly using my Ipad and going to other things that she is not supposed to go to. This feature will definitely keep her from going on Youtube etc.” Is the lucky Random.org winner of the New NOOK by Samsung. Thank you everyone for entering!
Big thanks to Barnes & Noble and The New NOOK by Samsung for sponsoring this giveaway. Samsung sent me a tablet to test for the purpose of the review. All opinions expressed are my own. 
I love that it does so much more than just books now.
Love the option for 2 apps at once!
I love the design and apps. I’m a Samsung user, that’s another plus!
Love the design and books you can get
I like the cameras and the great display!
I also need to get some of those books you featured!
I love that it’s so versatile. I don’t get to read as much as I’d like, so to be able to use it for movies, apps, and more would be nice “backup” if the reading doesn’t happen 🙂
Love the cameras!! And that it’s Samsung
im hete because I want to know what you are reading! Some excellent choices! Bit ok I’ll enter love features that allow me to read anywhere. Even while walking the kids to school. Read in the dark is cool too! No more flashlight under the covers!
I read The Boxcar Children to my daughter (6) earlier this year, but my son (4) wasn’t interested. When the movie came on Netflix, my kids watched it, and now I’m in the middle of reading it to my son. I love that the words are so simple. It’s a great early reader, too. My daughter devoured the first eight books. (Much beyond that and they just get repetitive. Only the first 19 were written by the original author.)
One of the picture book gems that we’ve discovered is Barnum’s Bones. It’s about the guy who discovered the T-Rex. Also the Man Who Walked Between the Towers. I love picture books that share the stories about real people. The Princess and the Pizza and Would I Ever Lie to You are two silly picture books we’ve loved as well.
And for the giveaway, I love that I would be able to read in bed without having to have the light on for my early-to-bed husband. I know, that could be said about all e-readers, but that’s my favorite part.
love that its a lighted tablet
What a great giveaway! Thank you. This tablet looks like fun for the whole family. Reading is one of my all time favorite things to do and I hope to pass on that love to my kids too! In every medium! 😀
I love that not only can you read books, but watch movies on it as well! This would be nice for long car rides!
I love the multi window mode.
I LOVE the five love languages. It has changed our marriage, and so many of my relationships outside of marriage as well. It just makes so much sense!
I’m a Facebook fan
The display looks awesome and I like that you can add a micro SD card for more memory!
I’m a Facebook fan
I follow on Pinterest
I love that the book will know where I left off – I hate it when I can’t remember what page I was on with regular books. The display on Samsung is always excellent.
Love the versatility…books, movies, and apps!
I like the Nook’s 10 hour battery life when watching videos.
I love that I can create different profiles for each family member.
I like all the apps and the fact that you can watch movies with it is pretty cool.
Fan on facebook.
I like all the apps available on it
I actually played with one of these in my local B&N, and I loved it! The screen is great and I love the option for different profiles. I’m on the 3rd book in the Outlander series and loving it!
I’m also a fan on facebook and follow you on pinterest!
Front- and rear-facing cameras
I like that you can have 2 apps open at once- and the two cameras!
I love the built in GPS and the cameras!
I like the 10 hour battery life and the cameras.
I follow you on pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/lazybones344
I like the Front- and rear-facing cameras
I am a New Facebook Fan- Tanya White
I like the Expandable memory with optional microSD™ memory card, up to 32GB
I follow you on pinterest as sweetums82
What is not to like the 7 inch screen battery life expandable memory
I really like the idea of the multi window feature. That is something new that I have never seen before and it seems pretty awesome.
I am a fan on Facebook 🙂
I love that it comes with a camera. I also like that you can watch movies on it too. This tablet looks great.
I’m a FB friend (Margaret E. Smith)
Pinterest follower (rickpeggysmith)
Google Follower (Margaret Smith)
I like that it allows using two apps at once!
I’m a Google+ follower! Shannon Finer
i really love the fact that you can also watch movies and tv on it. i would use it mostly for reading but that is still awesome!
i am a fan of yours on facebook as danielle marie!
I like the pesonal profile for each family member. I like that you can watch tv and movies. I especially like the instore free books.
Love the versatility! I could see myself and my children using so many features. Love the profile for each family member.
I like the multi window mode.
Pintrest follower (nickieisis30)
I love that it could be used by everyone in the family, the size is perfect and I love that you can use it to watch videos and read! Awesome giveaway! 🙂
I am also a facebook fan, pinterest follower and google plus follower! 🙂
I love that I can read books or watch movies…anywhere!
I follow on Pinterest 🙂 #happyreading
The feature I liked the most is the personal profiles for each family member. Its a tablet we can all use.
I have been reading The Reconnection by Eric Pearl. My girls have been reading Frozen books.
I follow via facebook (Kenia P) via pinterest (twinkies25) and via google + (texasbargainmom)
I like that you can use two apps at once with the multi window feature
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
google + follower: tabathia b
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
I love the versatility! Books, movies, and apps all in one!
I love the built in GPS and the front and rear cameras.
Easy to read and easy to hold!
I have too many books, so this would be great to help me declutter!
I like that the Nook has cameras and has apps, videos and especially books! I can totally see my son using it and I can read stories with him.
I’m a FB Fan.
Being able to add a micro SD card for more memory is a huge bonus. Love that!
Easy to read and easy to hold.
I like that the memory is expandable and that you can have more than one profile. Keep the kids out of my books!
I love the portability and how it so user friendly.
I love personal profiles!
I’m a facebook follower, love the blog especially the first birthday planning tips 🙂
I love the camera…and the lighted capablities. I hope I win this. Also I can’t wait to read the black Mormon books sounds hilarious. ..
I love the parental controls!
I love that it has options for multiple users. I think that is the annoying thing for our family- we would love to have one device we can both use, but with the iPad, we don’t have that option. Also awesome to have the option for additional memory. Had no idea about this new device until I read your post… I’m not as on top of it as I should be with technology right now!
I’m an avid Samsung user (phones, tablets, tvs) I’m really loving that they made the new Nook. I like the multiple windows option.
I love reading and e-books! So being able to just be able to read books on the device is my favorite feature. I also like that it has expandable memory.
I love that you can have 2 windows open at the same time!!! And the parental controls. 🙂
I really like that it has a 2-window feature allowing you to use two apps at once.
I love the two window feature and nook support seems so much nicer compared to other tablets my friends have had
2 apps at once! That’s the best.
I love that you can have open 2 apps at once!
I also follow you on facebook!
It’s totally cool how you can also watch movies and shows on it! The GPS feature is cool too!
I love that it has a camera!!
love the size of the tablet, perfect for those of us that have little hands, also love the fact that you can have 2 apps open at the same time!
I love the front and back camera for skyping with my fam! Right now we have to use the desktop since we don’t have a tablet or smartphone, which makes capturing a toddler much harder.
I also follow on FB, pintrest, and Google +.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
I love everything about it!
I love that it has a camera and can do so much more than just books!
I like that you can use it for more than just reading. My older style kindle can ONLY do books.
I just got finished with the Eternal Eden series, I read all three books in 3 days and had a hard time putting it down. I’m definitely a sci-fi/fantasy girl!
I love that you can watch movies and TV shows on it!
I’m a facebook follower.
I’m a pinterest follower.
I’m a Google Plus follower.
I am a Facebook follower. I love everything about the new tablet but the best is the expandable memory. That allows you to do so much more with the tablet.
Love the Camera and 2 app feature!
Watching movies and TV shows would be awesome!
A Facebook fan.
I’m a Pinterest follower
I’ve been debating getting into digital books, because I love the feel of real books! But honestly I’d probably read a whole lot more if I did it digitally. … As for the Nook, I like the whole Barnes & Noble integration. That’s pretty sweet. 🙂
I love the cameras. I had a 2010 Nook color and that is one major lacking feature.
Annnd, I’m a FB follower. Of course. 🙂
I would LOVE to be able to read in bed without disturbing hubby! Love your blog, facebook posts, and Pinterest boards!!
Having an SD card you can use in a tablet?? Nice! I have an iPhone and we have an IPad for movies and games, but the memory is what you get! Also, I love that there are personal profiles on it! I don’t think I can do that with my apple products, so this would definitely make it easier to keep our little girl from getting to things she is not supposed to and so we don’t have to supervise the whole time!!
My kids are always taking pictures with my phone. They’d love the two cameras and an extra memory card space would be awesome.
Facebook fan.
I am new to the Nooks. I’ve never own one but looks the information on the BN website I am excited about the parental controls. My daughter is constantly using my Ipad and going to other things that she is not supposed to go to. This feature will definitely keep her from going on Youtube etc.
I love that the camera features! Looks like it will be a great tablet!
I like the size and compatibility with my Samsung Note 4!!!!
I like that you can watch movies on it too.
Facebook follower as well
Being able to have apps opened at the same. You are able to do more at one time. Love all the options for kids!!
My favorite genres are Mystery, Thriller, and Horror.
I’m currently reading my first Dean Koontz and I absolutely love his style. The first of many to come. I recommend Gillian Flynn and Chevy Stevens. ( <—she has a new book coming out next year that I am so excited about!!)
My favorite feature about the Samsung Nook is that it is just like a regular tablet. Very versitile and can really be used by the entire family for many different purposes.
I have never read a book on a device but like the idea of book lending and borrowing.
I love that the price is right for all that you can do with this device: camera, books, apps, movies!
I love that it has the ability to have separate profiles for each family member! My husband and I have such different preferences when it comes to how we like things set up/arranged. He gets frustrated using my profile on any device and vice versa. I also love that it’s a Samsung product and the $200 worth of free content is a huge plus as well.
I’m a facebook fan!
I love that it has parental controls and different profiles for each family member!!
Oh, and I follow on Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter 🙂
I love that it has personal profiles. Everyone will be able to use it!
i love that everyone in the family can use it. My Pre-K girl is SO into reading.
I’m still suggesting Americanah to everyone as far as reads go.
The NOOK? I’m here for the rear facing cameras. I hate having to be at my desktop or drag my laptop around to Skype, and I have ~budget-conscious~ smartphone, so it’d be nice. Plus, I don’t have a tablet right now!
I have heard a lot of people say they were a bit traumatized after reading parts of Gone Girl. As of lately, I’ve been reading the Duggar Family books. They’ve shared a lot of helpful tips on parenting, relationship and just general stuff like house chores.
I love that you can watch movies on it too!
I follow you on Facebook
I follow you on Pinterest
I follow you on G+
I love the idea of parental controls! Awesome giveaway, thank you!!!
I am a Facebook fan!
I follow on Pinterest!
I love the display, the picture is amazing! And I really like how you can personalizes for each family member. That was a great idea for multi member sharing.
Facebook and pinterest follower 🙂
I’ve heard such rave reviews about this, I would love to win one. I love reading, my kids love movies, my husband loves games…put them all on one little device to keep everyone happy, sounds like I winner to me!!
Thanks for the opportunity to take part in this giveaway! I love that fact simply that it’s a electronic device. I have three daughters and they are drawn to anything electronic! I find that this alone would result in more reading time for them vs reading a traditional book.
-Shannon (Facebook and Ointerest follower)
I love the size, not too big for little hands and not too small for adults. GPS feature will be awesome for trips, kids can participate in navigating while we explore new cities. The dual camera will also make it super easy for them to take photos and selfies with their cousins, friends and family. Great giveaway, Thanks!
parental controls! And the personalize profiles are two great features!
Pinterestfollower!
I bought the older Nook for my husband a few Chritmases back and it is nothing compared to the features this one has available! Maybe Christmas gift this year? 😉
I like that you can Expand the memory by up to 32GB with microSDTMcard2 and there are Millions of books and magazines to choose from
I love the Duel screen being able to use two apps at once. and the million’s of books to choose from my mom was just telling me she was hoping to get kindle or something like it for christmas soooo hope I can win this for her
I absolutely love the fact that it can hold so many books, and also provides access to tv shows and movies. I have a chronic condition, and spend a great deal of time flat on my back, fighting a horrendous headache. I counteract the pain by reading. Having the ability or access multiple books at any times without having to leave the house is a good thing. Plus, entertaining the three year old would be easier too! Lol.
In love the reading light which allows you to read without disturbing anyone.
I like you on FB – Robin Trexel
I like the multi-profile option for each family member. We have an iPad, but that gets a bit annoying when my daughter is messing with where I left off in a book or changing things around. This is a great feature!
Follow on Facebook!
And I follow on Pinterest!
The cameras are great!
Love the multi window mode! Great idea!
I also follow on Facebook too!
I’m a Pintrest follower too!
I like that it has parental controls and profiles for each family member.
Facebook fan.
i like the nook support that they have
i follow on google plus
i follow on pinterest
I like the front and back cameras!
I follow you on facebook (Sarah P Nuetzel)
I am a pinterest follower (nuetzels312)
Google Plus follower (nuetzels312)
I love that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook is GPS enabled, has a expansion slot for a SD card and has so many downloadable apps for my kids.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I am a fan via Facebook, follow via Pinterest and follow via Google+ as Jill Myrick.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I love that it is an Android device.
I like the light weight of the Nook and the Multi Window™ Mode. That would be great for some web browsing activities.
I like the big screen.
i like the apps and long battery life
I like the multi-uses of it.
I love that not only can you read books, but watch movies on it as well! This would be nice for long car rides!
I love the front and rear facing cameras and the built-in GPS. I like to read and would love to have a Nook.
I like that the kids can watch videos on one!!!
i like it has built in gps
I love that it’s very light and comes with $200 worth of Entertainment!! How nice is that!!
I didn’t know that this Nook had a camera. Very cool.
I like the expandable memory.
its a lighted tablet
The $200 in free content is awesome! What a great deal! Would love to have one of these to share with my 4 year-old daughter. Thanks so much for the chance!
I like that it has Free NOOK Cloud™ Storage
like you fb
Richard Hicks
follow pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/brich2222/
follow google plus
Richard Hicks
I like that you can use two apps at once.
I am currently reading The Fault In Our Stars. My favorite feature of the Nook by Samsung is the expandable memory with optional microSD so that I can store more ebooks on there.
I like that each member of the family can create their own profile.
I just started 12 Years a Slave and love it!
I love the fact that it can do more than my kindle. Oh, and the current book I am reading in Insurgent.
I follow you on facebook
I like the expandable memory
I follow you on Facebook.
I like that it is lighted.
Pinterest follower. ladyt64
I like that you can do more than just read. I am a big Samsung fan. Have 3 of the TVs! thanks for the opportunity to win a quality product.
The features I like about the New NOOK by Samsung is that it has Front- and rear-facing cameras. Not only can I read, watch movies and experience apps but I can take pictures as well.
I love the parental controls on the NOOK! So important for our young ones in the house! Would love to win. 🙂
I am a facebook follower.
I am a Pinterest follower.
My favorite feature is the expandable memory with optional microSD™ memory card. (up to 32gb)
I follow you on FB as Tara Woods.
I love the camera and the overall size
Love the versatility and expandable memory
Follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Google+
I love that it has a front and rear view camera!
I like the multi window mode.
I love the Duel Screen feature. Being able to have two apps open at once is a big deal.
I really love the camera and that you can take a photo from the back or front.
I love the 7 inch screen battery life expandable memory
I like that you can expand the memory without a problem.