Xysea's 50 Books

[Xysea]

1. Pillars of the Earth xx
2. Water For Elephants xx
3. The Interpreter of Maladies xx
4. Sister of My Heart
5. The Sparrow
6. Blindness xx
7. Journey To The End of The Night xx
8. The Coffee Trader xx
9. Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close xx
10. Left-Handed, Son of Old Man Hat
11. The Golden Notebook xx
12. The Magician's Assistant
13. Winter's Tale
14. Sea of Glory xx
15. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell xx
16. Runaway
17. Night xx
18. The Red Queen
19. The Brooklyn Follies xx
20. New York Trilogy xx
21. Elizabeth Costello
22. On Beauty xx
23. Cloudsplitter
24. Cloudstreet xx
25. Dispatches From The Edge xx
26. The Moor's Last Sigh xx
27. Falling Leaves
28. Greensleeves
29. On Ugliness xx
30. On Chesil Beach xx
31. Suite Francaise xx
32. Stardust
33. The Yiddish Policemen's Union
34. The Curious Incident of the Dog In
The Night xx
35. The Year of Magical Thinking xx
36. The Golden Spruce
37. Into The Wild xx
38. Pope Joan xx
39. Plainsong
40. Reservation Blues
41. A Mind of Its Own
42. Snow Flower & The Secret Fan xx
43. Musicophilia xx
44. The Book of The Dead xx
45. The Book Thief
46. The God of Small Things xx
47. Garden Spells
48. A Canticle For Leibowitz xx
49. The Lucifer Effect
50. A Rum Affair xx

Books denoted by 'xx' are read. Book titles in italics are books I have. The ones in bold are books I am looking for/need to acquire.

[Xysea]

Since January 1, 2008, I have finished:

Pillars of the Earth (#1)
Water For Elephants (#2)
and
Into the Wild (#37)

(Not a bad start, though all but POTE were short books!)

[Kate]

Wow you decided your 50 in advance?? Color me intimidated.

I can't WAIT for you to read Jonathan Strange!!

[Patrick]

Xysea,

Is the first post what you intend to read in 2008? If so, wow. That's great discipline! I'm not that disciplined...I always keep finding new books that I want to read, so I'd be challenged to commit to a list like that.

However, I like a lot of books on your list and will probably be referring back to it foten as I prepare for my bookhunting adventures.

[[deleted user]]

Xysea,

Oooh, you have some great books listed. If you manage to read all these (and why not?) you'll have a great reading year. Good luck!

Actually, this got me thinking. Listing your reading goals like this, in black and white, could be pretty motivating. I think I may try it.

[Xysea]

Hi,

Yes, I'm a list-maker from way back! It's one reason Goodreads is the place for me! lol

Actually, a lot of these are books I've been wanting to read for a while. I figure if I have a list, I can tick 'em off. It helps with goal-setting, etc.

And boy am I chagrined! I have two posts out there. I hope the mods delete one! :) Xy

[Patrick]

Personally, Xysea, I'm betting that if you just stick to only this list you could finish everything in six months. But, as do all readers, you'll encounter other books along the way you want to read as well (especially with all of the neat ideas we get from being on Goodreads every day).

I liked your five star review of Water For Elephants. One of my favorite people here on GR recommended that as well. I'll check it out.

[Xysea]

Thanks, Patrick.

That is one of my most popular ones lately. A lot of people seemed to be interested in it. lol I'm happy to be of service.

I know some of the books aren't that long, but I am also planning a trip to NYC in March, etc, so I've built in what I think (a) I can reasonably manage and (b) things I've been meaning to read but never seem to get around to doing.

A couple of these are 'multi-purpose' reads; 1001 Books to Read Before You Die, and of course 5Q, as well as this one. But not many - maybe 5?

:) Xy

[Danine]

Wooooow. I have the utmost respect for a fellow list maker. What if you are seduced by other books??

I've been wanting to read 38. Pope Joan for quite some time. I will be waiting for that review. You rock!

[Xysea]

If I am tempted,I will put them on my list for next year! lol

If I don't read these books soon, I may never. There are a bazillion out there, and I only have what short time we are given here... ;)

[Xysea]

#3 The Interpreter of Maladies - done!

(I'm reading Blindness now - I got off track while moving but Mondays are usually slow at work...)

[Judith]

Great list! I've also been using the 1001 Books To Read Before You Die list as a resource. I've read just three of the ones you've listed, but I enjoyed each of those very much. Others are on my To Read List as well.

Happy reading!

[Xysea]

Okay, as of 02/04/08,

Finished #6, #7

Starting on #42, #43 which came from library recently. :)

[Xysea]

Since February 25, 2008, I have finished:

#14, #42, #43

[Xysea]

As of March 1, 2008, #38.

[Xysea]

As of March 10, 2008, #25.

[[deleted user]]

What did you think of Journey to the End of the Night?

That is one of the best books I've ever read in my life.

[Xysea]

Hi Mike,

You and my boyfriends said that! It's one of his favorite books ever!

I thought it was fantastic, I loved the humor in it and I thought the writing style was pretty easy to read!

[Xysea]

As of July 4, 2008

#24, #29, #48

[Xysea]

Finished #17