Sunday, August 24, 2008

turn the page

This past Thursday I earned the right to cross a big goal off not only my original 2008 goals list, but also my more comprehensive 101 in 1001 list (making that 23 things completed). Read 10 books in 2008. I'm super excited about achieving this goal well before the end of the year because, while I read lots of books every year, I don't usually get (or make) the time to read just for me. No kids books, no technical manuals, no design theory or academic books—just a good old-fashioned novel that sucks you in and leaves you wanting more.

I read some great books this year and I really think I owe a lot of that to setting this goal for myself. I read some classics and got swept away by a band of contemporary vampires. As I finished each book I couldn't wait to pick the next one to immerse myself in. I've become a library junkie and find myself wondering how many books I'll actually finish this year.

Several of the books on my list were chosen based on recommendations by all of you. Please keep them coming. Vegas Princess emailed me a huge list today and Shades twittered several titles last night (which I really need to write down or something). Of course there is always Good Reads but I have yet to add a book I've read, much less peruse what you've all read. It's so much easier when you bring the information directly to me. So just leave your suggestions in the comments for me won't you?

What's that? You want to know which 10 books I read to complete my goal? Well, okay…since you asked.
  1. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (finished 1.30)
  2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (finished 2.3)
  3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (finished 2.8)
  4. Animal Farm by George Orwell (finished 2.15)
  5. Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (finished 4.12—my least favorite of the bunch)
  6. 1984 by George Orwell (finished 6.24)
  7. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (finished 7.8)
  8. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (finished 7.30)
  9. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (finished 8.14)
  10. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (finished 8.21)
Have you read any of these? What did you think of them?

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Emily Giffin's
Something Borrowed
Something Blue
Babyville

Anne Bishop's
Black Jewels Trilogy
Dreams Made Flesh
Tangled Webs
The Invisible Ring


Mary Kay Andrews:
Savannah Blues
Savannah Breeze
Blue Christmas


Nora Roberts' Chesapeake Bay series:
Sea Swept, Inner Harbor, Rising Tides, Chesapeake Blue

Holly {ArtistMotherTeacher} said...

shades—You're a doll!

Cupcake Blonde said...

I am glad Shades covered the Emily Giffin and Black Jewels books. I left them off my momentous list I emailed you and they are fabulous.

Also, the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella is an absolute joy to read. Start with "Confessions of a Shopaholic." Kinsella has actually written two others I love apart from the Shopaholic series one called "The Undomestic Goddess" and "Can You Keep a Secret?"

I have oodles more but don't want to overburden you with too much. Let me know when you need something new and I am sure I can supply some more titles of interest. :)

In your list I have read each book except the bees one and since you said you did not like it as much perhaps I won't try it myself.

Blogarita said...

I have a running list on my blog (sidebar link). I think I need to update it with a couple more titles, but it's otherwise current.
My favorite novel on the list is probably The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. The list is definitely not all novels, though.

From your ten, I have read Brave New World, Animal Farm, 1984, and Secret Life of Bees. Like you, I liked Bees least.

Holly {ArtistMotherTeacher} said...

vegas princess—I read "Confessions" several years ago. That was a cute one. I haven't read any of her other books though. "Bees" wasn't terrible, the others were just far better.

blogarita—No Harry Potter or Twilight Saga? They are excellent.

Anonymous said...

Claire Cook has some cute stuff, too.
I didn't like them all, but really enjoyed Life's a Beach, and Summer Blowout.

Also, Ann Brashares' "Traveling Pants" series.

If you can find it, Amy's Eyes by Richard Kennedy.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi. One of my all-time favorites.

Anonymous said...

Hey doll! You should have Stephanie Kuehnert's "I Wanna Be your Joey Ramone" any day now- I mailed it Monday. One pristine page was folded down, as my 12 yr old got to it before realizing it was not an "our house" book.:) I hope you like it!

I LOVE the Twilight Series...read em all this year too. Very fun. If you like YA (which I do) I also like ALly Carter's "I'd tell you I love you but I'd have to Kill you" series. Who woudn't want to be a girl spy in training???
xoxo, Lindsay

Holly {ArtistMotherTeacher} said...

lindsay—I just sent you a tweet about a half an hour ago that the book came today! Thanks again…and thanks for the new suggestions.

Lisa Armsweat said...

I recommend Octavia Butler's "Kindred";
Peter Straub & Stephen King's "The Talisman";
Laura Whitcomb's "A Certain Slant of Light" (unfortunately out of print but I found it at the library--it's excellent in a Twilight kind of way);
Brady Udall's "The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint".
I feel like I should have more to recommend, but these are the ones that come to mind. :)

Have fun!

Anonymous said...

...was just thinking... you'd probably enjoy Jessica Conant-Park's
Gourmet Girl mysteries:

Steamed, Simmer Down & Turn up the Heat

and I'm almost done with Mary Kay Andrews' Deep Dish, which I am loving and think is one of her best. I keep forgetting I'm not reading Claire Cook, that's how much I enjoy it! Very witty!