Wednesday, January 30, 2008

reading rainbow

I've finished my first book for my 2008 goal list. Remember? I set a goal to read 10 non-academic books that aren't geared toward babies. My first book was Brave New World. I'm sure you are all dying to know what I thought of it. I have to tell you...

I liked it.

Especially the last several pages. And the last paragraph? Spectacular. It really painted the scene in your head. The book may have been written in 1937, but it could have just as easily been written in 2007. Good stuff.

My second and third books are going to be ones I've already read. I planned on reading only books that I hadn't read before—but I had to make an exception for these next two. JQ is reading the Harry Potter series for the first time through and he is now on book six. I've decided that I'd like to read the last two books in the series along side of him so we can discuss them like the true nerds we are. This is going to be tricky, seeing as how I get tired and stop and he wants to keep on reading. I'm already forty pages behind him. We don't want to get too far ahead of each other so it looks like I'll have to take the book in the bathroom with me—if you know what I mean.

Those books read really fast so I expect to be done with them in just a couple of weeks. After that I plan on reading (in no particular order):
  • The Secret Life of Bees (thanks to Shades for reminding me of this one again)
  • 1984
  • Animal Farm
  • Twilight (thanks to rave reviews by Vegas Princess)
  • Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
We are anticipating 4 to 6 inches of snow tomorrow night into Friday. IF we get it—Toledo always seems to get missed—I'll have lots of time to read. If not, well there is always the bathroom.

15 comments:

Hillary said...

1984 and Twilight are both great reads. And I know my husband loved Wicked. Good luck with your reading. And thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I'm new to the bloggy world so it's great to have new readers.

R2 said...

Animal Farm= Awesome.

Mel said...

I loved the secret life of bees. I have read all those books LOL. I am a big reader. My problem is my memory. I know I read them but if its been a few years I couldnt tell you anything about them so rereading is something I do all the time :)

mrstrace said...

1984 is one of those books (I can think of a few) I struggled to enjoy in the beginning but by the time I was finished I immediately flipped back to page one and started over again. Animal Farm is good, too, for an afternoon or so, lol ;) Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

I read The Secret Life of Bees almost straight through... damn bathroom breaks... and I loved Wicked!

I'm constantly re-reading books so my goal this year is to read 2 new books each month. Today's the last day of January and I haven't done it yet... better get busy!

JQ said...

"Butterfly in the sky...." You better catch up to me or I'll tell the library you had their book in the bathroom!

Holly {ArtistMotherTeacher} said...

hillary—Anytime! The blogosphere is a wonderful place.

rr—You=Awesome ;)

mel—I'm the same way. That's why I don't mind reading the last two Potter books again.

blackbyrd—So many people have read them, they can't be that bad.

fig—Good luck with that January goal.

jq—Oh noes! Please don't tell.

Lisa Armsweat said...

So weird...last night I got the Reading Rainbow song in my head for no reason and sang it before I went to bed. I didn't know I still knew the whole thing. And now I come on here and it's your title. Spookiness!

I'm a big fan of Twilight (the whole series, actually) and Wicked, too. I hope you like them! I've never read Brave New World and now I'm thinking I might get that on my list. Thanks for the endorsement! :)

Alex said...

We just read 1984 in Klever...

Truly great book.

Holly {ArtistMotherTeacher} said...

cruel shoes—"I can do anything"

alex—I heart Klever. I wonder why we never read that when I had him?

Anonymous said...

If you ever get the chance, try The Gum Thieves by Doug Coupland (Generation X). It's a really great novel about the mediocrity and disappointment most of our lives become. At least that's what I thought it was about. It was really good.

Silicone Alley said...

The Secret Life of Bees is a great book.

You should also read:

Until I Find You by John Irvin

A Milllion Little Pieces by James Fry

She's Come Undone and I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb

Those are a few of my faves.

Cupcake Blonde said...

Read Twilight. ASAP. I am trying to turn more people on to these books because they are just so amazing. And what a great goal, simialr to the one I set for myself and will be posting about today. I am anxious to see how you and hubby like the HP books too. And don't forget to update your Goodreads page! :) I have found so many great books through everyone else's lists. What a great site.

cerberus70 said...

I really enjoyed Brave New World and 1984. There is something about an Antiutopian novel that just sets my heart aflutter.

I do have to say I read Wicked and was unimpressed.

One of my favorite books of all time is Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. It is written for a younger audience, but I re-read it about once a year.

Good luck on your goal!

Holly {ArtistMotherTeacher} said...

vp—I loved the Harry Potter books. That's why I'm rereading the last two with JQ. He has really enjoyed them as well. I can't wait to find out what he thinks when it's all over.

cerberus—I think you are the first person I've heard a bad review of Wicked from.