Last week I made five goals for myself in 2013. The first was to read one new book each month. It's a modest goal as far as reading goes {at least for someone who still likes to brag about the fact that she first read Gone With the Wind when she was 12}, but I'm taking a slow-but-steady approach to my goals this year.
I've always considered myself a reader {I am one who reads}, and then about two years ago I read an amazing book and afterward kind of just stopped cold. I can't explain it, it's inexplicable. But just because I can't put a name to a problem doesn't mean the problem can't be fixed. Reading is important to me, so in 2013 I will start trying to read again.
I've decided I'm going to start out the year by finishing Life of Pi in January. {If you're thinking, I thought everyone had read that book already, then I'm pretty sure you're right. Everyone else has, just not me.} I started it for the second time several months ago, and so far I absolutely love it, but I'm still only 46 pages in. Yikes.
Subsequently, I've planned: The Corrections {February}, The Kite Runner {March}, A Thousand Splendid Suns {April}, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time {May}, Mystic River {June}, The Architecture of Happiness {July}, A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy {August}, The Right Stuff {September}, On The Road {October}, One Hundred Years of Solitude {November}, and A Visit from the Goon Squad {December}.
I'm marking my progress and I'll be posting my reviews on Goodreads, if you'd like to follow along.
Have you read any of the books on my list for this year? {I'd love to hear your thoughts! Just no spoilers, please.} And do you have any recommendations for me, should I finish my list early and find myself with extra reading time?
I too made some modest goals for myself this year. I decided to go with the monthly goals instead of the whole year (given my track record sticking to short term goals seems to be in my favor).
ReplyDeleteI love to read as well and haven't yet finished Life of Pi (shame on me). I hope to finish sometime soon...it is my next book to finish after John Grisham's latest book (that i am about 75% through). I have read both The Kite Runner and A Thousand Spendid Suns. Both are terrific...yet they tore a hole in my heart while reading.
I cant wait to see what you think....sorry about the long winded comment.
I would skip "On The Road". Not worth all the attention that gets paid to it. I can heartily endorse One Hundred Years of Solitude. I just read Lonesome Dove and thought it was probably the best book I've read in several years, in case you're looking for more recommendations.
ReplyDeleteI had On the Road on my list because I thought that Christian had recommended it to me; I check with him, and he absolutely did not. He agreed {reading in between the lines of your comment} that it would be a waste of time. So maybe that one will get switched out. And thanks for the new recommendation! I'll keep in mind.
DeleteI love that you have your goal fully mapped out. That's the way to get it done! I haven't read a single one on your list! I have only read a handful of books since moving to Texas. Mostly because our library is an epic kind of terrible.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely be following along on goodreads.
Im with you on Life of Pi, I started it last year but I just couldnt get into it. I keep meaning to go back to it. Maybe I quit too soon since I stopped just after the boat sinks. A thousand splendid suns was fairly good, Im not in love with the ending though.
ReplyDeleteI'm in a great bookclub with Rochelle Mikkelsen if you like the pressure of reading by a due date and then discussing (it helps me finish the books), it's a very friendly group.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend Night Circus be on your list. Love it! And have you read These Is My Words... i think that was one of my favorites from last year.
I have several of those on my shelf but have not read them. It's a problem of mine. I'm curious to know how you like them. I've read A Curious Incident of a Dog in the Night. It was a very interesting, unique read. Apparently there is a lot of language, according to my book club who rejected it b/c of the language. I apparently am not as sensitive to language in books b/c I didn't note that from reading it. Just a heads up.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of classics. I think it's where real literature always lies, before there was such a thing as New York Times Bestsellers and Oprah's book club.
Such a great list. I read (and loved) A Visit from the Goon Squad, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, Life of Pi, and One Hundred Years of Solitude. Though that last one I read in college course - perhaps time to dust it off again for a re-read!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great goal! I really need to get back to reading more often!
ReplyDeletethis is a great list. i've read. i've read all of these but mystic river, the corrections, and the right stuff, and they are good picks, a nice mix of challenging and enjoyable texts. i especially like visit from the goon squad! can't wait to hear what you think of them. xx tania formerly of wwanw
ReplyDeleteI have not read Life of Pi. And I kind of think I never will.
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