Emily DB's Serious Booklist for 2010

[E]

Okay, so this year my goal isn't just to read 50 books, but to read 50 serious, challenging books. In 2009 I read more than 50 books, but a bunch of them (15 or 20) were YA or chick lit or graphic novels--all worthy, but not very "serious.: I don't have a problem with reading for pleasure (indeed, I have every intention of continuing) but this year my goal is to read 50 serious, challenging, classic (or whatever) books in addition to less challenging material.

Let the battle begin!

[E]

So in order to do this I need to read about one serious book per week. I'll list each book as I finish:

1. "The Sixties" by Jenny Diski

[E]

2. "It's Our Turn To Eat" by Michela Wrong
3. "Zoo or Letters Not About Love" by Viktor Shklovsky (translated by Richard Sheldon)

I do write up reviews for all these books! They can be found via my Goodreads profile.

[E]

4. "Animal Farm" by George Orwell

[E]

5. "Fairy Tale as Myth, Myth as Fairy Tale" by Jack Zipes

[E]

6. "Romantic Comedy: Boy Meets Girl Meets Genre" by Tamar Jeffers Mcdonald

Analyzes films and their ideologies.

[E]

7. "Why Fairy Tales Stick: The Evolution and Relevance of a Genre" by Jack Zipes

[Jennifer]

Was "Why Fairy Tales Stick?" good. I have been reading a lot of tales new and old plus other books about them since I took a storytelling class. I would love to add this book to my list if it was any good.

[E]

Why Fairy Tales Stick is one of Zipes' best books (and that's saying something--they're all good). I think it's very accessible and interesting. I would definitely recommend reading Zipes generally, although it might be better to start with one of his others (like perhaps Fairy Tale As Myth, Myth As Fairy Tale), as he tends to be pedantic and assume the reader has certain background knowledge of the history of the evolution of folklore and the literary fairy tale.

[Jennifer]

Thanks for the reccomendation. I really appreciate it. I am going to add both to my reading list.

[E]

8. Ain't No Makin' It: Aspirations and Attainment in a Low-Income Neighborhood by Jay MacLeod

9. The Interpretation of Fairy Tales by Marie-Louise von Franz

[E]

10. "Sexing the Cherry" by Jeanette Winterson

[E]

11. "Without a Net: The Female Experience of Growing Up Working Class" by Michelle Tea

[E]

12. "Men, Women, and Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film" by Carol Clover

This informed and insightful analysis of 70s and 80s low-budget horror films is one of my new favourite books!

[E]

13. "Civilization and Its Discontent" by Sigmund Freud

Totally rules. Obviously.