who’s with me?
i am reading like mad these days. so, i challenged myself to read 50 books in 2007. if you do a wee bit of math, you’ll realize that this is just shy of a book a week. um, yeah…there’ s NO way on god’s green earth that that’s going to happen. i mean, i have three kids. and full-time job. and two part-time jobs. need i go on? so, i gave myself a little break and decided that 30 was a realistic goal.
so far in 2007, i’ve read:
A Million Little Pieces
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter
Love in the Time of Cholera
Little Children
and i’m in the middle of reading two books – The Photograph by Penelope Lively and The Singing Fire by Lilian Nattel.
not bad…considering i am not counting the 450 children’s picture books and novels i’ve read and reviewed for grade 4 read-alouds. seriously, that’s how many i’ve read.
the problem now is that my "to-read" list has grown exponentially. New books kept coming out while i was on a little reading hiatus. while i was gestating, birthing and mothering my three young children. they kept coming out. something fierce. There are at least 50.
so…i’m challenging anyone who wants to take this on with me. there will be prizes for anyone who reads 30 in 2007. i also want some recommendations. i know, i know. it’s really the LAST thing i need. more books to add to my list. but, i love hearing about books that people like. and ones they didn’t.
currently at the top of my list are:
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures
The Jade Peony
The Other Boleyn Girl
Jesus Land
okay…so…here we go…anyone wanting to take this challenge on with me…come on, i’ll even spot you 2 books since it’s already close to the end of February. i’ll only make you read 28….you can email me or leave a comment. and please…anyone who reads this…recommend one book. just one. i mean, you can feel free to recommend 20…but all i’m asking is for one measly little one….
song of the day: Phantom Limb by the Shins.
video of the day: one of my most favorite movie scenes. ever.
Have you seen my – some of them embarrasing – answers yet???
Alright. I’ll attempt it. I’ve already read two this year, so I’ll even do the 30!
I have only read one new book lately – and the others are all favorites that are older.
Dear John – Nicholas Sparks
Virgin Suicides – jeffrey Eugenides
Bitter Is the New Black – Jen Lancaster
20 Times a Lady – Karyn Bosnak
🙂
I’d love to join the quest — but, I can’t seem to read much lately…you know…
I read Million Little Pieces and loved it. I find so many people that refuse to read it now because “he lied”……well….too bad, it is still an amazig account of rehab. I want to read “Five people you meet in heaven” and I have a whole list of books that I am looking forward to. I just finished “A boy of good breeding” by Miriam Toews…..I have read all three of her fiction books…..I liked them……they are interesting to me.
Sad news is that I haven’t read a good book in a long time. I am too lazy to get to the library and rent one, and too cheap to buy one in case I hate it and wasted my money.
I read about 30 blogs a day.. can that count? LOL
Good on ya Ali, I hope you complete your goal!
Oh! I thought of another book you absolutely must read. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. It’s so fantastic in so many ways.
And I’m in for the challenge. I’ll be writing about it on my blog later today. This is going to be fun!
Well I don’t tend to read the books that ‘others’ do.
I mostly read sci fi and fantasy.
I am supposed to be REVIEWING Two books right now and don’t know how I will do it.
Hi Ali- wondering what you thought of “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter”? I read that one last month and found it sort of dissapointing. I liked the premise but just couldn’t really care about any of the characters. You? My suggestion is a new find for me: Jodi Picoult. I suggest “My Sister’s Keepter” and “The Pact.” Both excellent, but both tear jerkers! As a bonus, Jodi has an excellent website with discussion questions and message boards to discuss the books (tip: don’t go to the message boards until you have finished the book!). Enjoy!
THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL!!! You must read this novel! And other Philippa Gregory books, especially The Queen’s Fool. Love. LOVE. LOOOVE! I am a voracious reader, to the point that I will gladly forgo sleep in order to read. Presently I’m hooked on historical fiction, and I’m having a bit of fun with Ancient Egypt, at the moment! As for Outlander, yeah, been there, done that (twice!). Oh, and don’t forget, there’s the final Harry Potter book due out this summer. Ahh…to read. Don’t forget to add Sweetness in the Belly to your list. It was spectacular.
I just finished (as in, today at 4:00) White Teeth by Zadie Smith. It was well-written and humorous, with an interesting story to boot! Definitely would recommend it.
I’ll have to think about how many books I’ve read so far this year and see if 30 is an attainable goal. I’m thinking it just may be…
i actually really enjoy Maeve Binchy. 🙂
K…I don’t have enough time to sleep let alone read but I will try! I love reading and lately have been on the whole escape-the-chaos-of-my-life thing…you know, the Maeve-Binchy-type-easy-to-read-character-driven-books? Well, my latest is the HOTT and SEXY Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon – YUMMY!
Good luck with your quest!