Books, books, books...

One of my most favorite things about turning the calendar to a new year is the natural opportunity to set some goals for myself.  Most people call these resolutions, but I call them goals -- I do MUCH better when I set goals, with a deadline.  If I have a deadline and a million things to do, you can bet they'll all be accomplished.  But if I just have a million things to do and no deadline, well, they'll probably NEVER get done.  

One of my goals this year is to read 31 books.  I'm always chatting with friends and family about great books to read and often say, "Oh!  I can't wait to read that book!"  But somehow, someway, I forget about that book or life gets in the way.  This year I'm trying something new.  I've chosen, ahead of time, the books that I want to read in 2011.  

One of the things I look forward to each month is my book club.  We call ourselves the Hot Tamales.  I only recently joined (a little over a year ago), but I look forward to each monthly meeting with such anticipation and excitement!  So included in my list is the 10 books we'll read this year (which are mostly undecided).  One of the best things about book club is that we each take a turn choosing the monthly book, which results in the opportunity to read books I might not have otherwise thought to try.  The remaining 20 books on my list I've already chosen and am so excited to read!  

Here's a peek at this year's list. (If you click on the title, it will take you to a synopsis of the book on Amazon.  Simply scroll down a bit to find the summary and editorial reviews.  Maybe you'll find one you'd like to read, too!)

1.) The Atonement Child, by Francine Rivers

2.) Bringing up Girls, by James Dobson

3.) Sarah’s Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay

4.) Twilight, by Stephanie Meyer

5.) Twilight: New Moon, by Stephanie Meyer

6.) Twilight: Breaking Dawn, by Stephanie Meyer

7.) Twilight: Eclipse, by Stephanie Meyer

8.) February Book Club: The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay

9.) March Book Club: The Room, by Emma Donoghue

10.) April Book Club: tbd

11.) May Book Club: tbd

12.) June Book Club: tbd

13.) August Book Club: tbd

14.) September Book Club: tbd

15.) October Book Club: tbd

16.) November Book Club: tbd

17.) December Book Club: tbd

18.) Wish You Well, by David Baldacci

19.) Little Bee, by Chris Cleave

20.) Page From a Tennessee Journal, by Francine Thomas Howard

21.) Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese

22.) Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson

23.) True Grit, by Charles Portis

24.) A Reliable Wife, by Robert Goolrick

25.) The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant

26.) The Hunger Games: Book 1, by Suzanne Collins

27.) Hunger games #2: Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins

28.) Hunger games #3: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

29.) Decision Points, by George W. Bush

30.) Savvy, by Ingrid Law

31.) Rescue, by Anita Shreve

To be honest, in the last two days, I've read 3 of the 31 books on my list -- I finished The Atonement Child in a morning, and then started in on the Twilight Saga.  I have finished Twilight and New Moon.  My husband was teasing me that I have a whole year -- 365 days -- to read all 31 books, not 31 days!  But I love to read, and when I have the chance to sit down and read, I take it!  (And if it seems unreal that I could have read all 3 books in 2 days -- simply ask my husband and any other family member whether or not it's possible.  I LOVE to read...did I mention that?!)

So what do you think of my list?  What's on your list to read this year?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!