Monday, February 28, 2011

Books, books and more books!

Books, books, books -- oh how I LOVE thee!  Of the 31 books I intend to read this year, I have already finished 12!  And I'm currently working on Persuasion, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Bringing up Girls.  


I have to say that I was blown away by the Hunger Games Trilogy.  I started the first book six times before I finally got past page 10, but once I was in, I was hooked.  Just as with the Twilight Saga (which I read in a very short period of time), I read the entire trilogy in a day and half.  (And if sleep hadn't been a necessity that week, I would have finished it in 24 hours!)  They are a bit graphic, so prepare yourself for that if you intend to read them, but I was quite surprised by the ending and that is not something I say often!  I think they are well worth the read.

I also recently read Little Bee.  It was an interesting read -- unlike any book I've read.  It left me with several thought-provoking questions, namely, "What would you do to save the life of a stranger?"  Few books leave me MAD when I have finished them -- this one did.  I was mad -- at the writer, at the characters, at the lack of a sequel (which is, perhaps, the key to a good book -- it leaves you wanting more).

Sarah's Key was a good read, but I admit that it left me wanting "more" -- more connection between the characters, more of ... something.  Most of my friends have RAVED about this book, so perhaps I had such high expectations that I could only be disappointed when I read it.  But I was just slightly disappointed -- I would definitely read it again.

The Power of One was one of the most challenging books I've ever read.  Had it not been a book club selection, I would have put it down and never picked it up again.  But I gave it 5 tamales when I finished reading it.  Yes, it was VERY hard for me to read, and I moaned each time I picked it up.  But I hit a point where I couldn't put it down and I was so glad I did.  Like Little Bee, this book left me thinking about many things.  It left me wanting more...and there IS a sequel to this one, called Tandia.  I will be adding this to my list of books to read this year.  I know in advance that it will be a challenge for me to read, but I will push through it!


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: Persuasion, by Jane Austen
11.) May Book Club: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson
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
32.) Tandia, by Bryce Courtenay

So there you have it -- I am so glad I chose books in advance to read this year and have set a goal for myself.  I have become passionate about reading again, and I didn't realize just how much I had missed it!

Guess what?  Spring is just around the corner....Happy Monday!