1.07.2013

Goal One


{ print by Emily McDowell on Etsy }

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?

11 comments:

  1. 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).

    I 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.

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  2. 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.

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    1. I 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.

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  3. I 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.

    I will definitely be following along on goodreads.

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  4. 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.

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  5. I'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.

    I 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.

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  6. 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.

    I'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.

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  7. 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!

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  8. That's a great goal! I really need to get back to reading more often!

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  9. this 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

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  10. I have not read Life of Pi. And I kind of think I never will.

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