I started off the New Year doing my favorite 2 of my favorite activities - running and reading - not only books, but tons of blogger "best books read in 2011" lists! I now have a LONG list of books that I want to read this year.

Weekly Reading at The Monster's Corner with Imaginary Girls

Recently Finished Reading
Imaginary Girls, Nova Ren Suma. Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby. But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await.

Ooh ... this book is a good one. It's really a story about obsession on many levels - but especially siblings obsessed with each other, and how that can go very, VERY wrong. The book is well written, the story, intriguing and suspenseful, but when I finished reading, I was left with many unanswered questions about the story ... I don't know if this was intentional - but a follow up "prequel" could answer some of my questions - like why Ruby is the way she is - and what is up with her mom?!

The Monster's Corner: Stories Through Inhuman Eyes, Christopher Golden. An all original anthology featuring stories of monster's from the monster's point of view.

I love short stories and this collection is on point. The monsters telling their side of the story are sometimes the obvious "creatures of the night" type things, and sometimes it's people that are monsters because of their evil deeds - and it's not that the stories were "drop your pants and run scary" but they made me go ... hmmm. Some of the stories I really liked include, The Awkward Age, Torn Stitches Shattered Glass, Big Man, The Screaming Room, Breeding the Demons, Specimen 313, The Lake and Wicked Be. There were only a few stories that I didn't quite get into - And Still You Wonder Why Our First Impulse is to Kill You, Rattler and the Mothman, Jesus and Satan Go Jogging in the Desert, and The Cruel Thief of Rosy Infants.

Currently Reading and Next

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, Michelle Hodkin. This book started off my New Year reading, and so far, so good.

Next Up
Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake. I've been looking forward to reading this for the past few months, and of course - I hope it's going to be as fantastic as everyone says.

What are you looking forward to reading this week? And what book did you start off the New Year reading?

- via Book Journey's What are you reading meme.