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Jo's 2011 Reading List
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hi Jo. Seems like lots of us want to read our already owned books in the new year. I tried this year and failed miserably but I will try again in 2011. Of course, many more to chose from since I bought so darn many this year !
Interesting list Jo. Nice mix of contempory and classic fiction. I have only read a few from your list ( Pullman, McCarthy, Tolkein and HG Wells ) You won,t regret time spent on any of these four. Anyhow, good luck with your list. I may even do one myself.
Norm
Hi Jo,What an interesting list that you've compiled! I've read six of them and loved "Her Fearful Symmetry" and "Northern Lights".
I've listed 12 books that I plan to read, for a different group, but might try to extend it and post it on here. My trouble is that I'm quite a slow reader - managed 40 this year; wish it could be more!!This doesn't stop me buying yet more books though.!
Angela, you think you are slow at 40 for the year? I've only managed 22!
It's not about the number, it's about enjoying the reading. I never read as many books as I'd like & I generally get over 150. Some are short - a few hours of reading only. It's one of the things I always appreciated about Wells. He could write a good, complete story in 200 pages or so. If you read King, that's like reading 6 of Wells' books. So don't worry about the number. It's just misleading.
Diane D. wrote: "Angela, you think you are slow at 40 for the year? I've only managed 22!"Hi Diane,
I suppose that I expected to read more once I retired from teaching, but find there's lots of other things that need doing and never enough hours in the day! I have soooo many unread books in my home, but they are my treasures - I'd just like to be able to read them all!!
Jim wrote: "It's not about the number, it's about enjoying the reading. I never read as many books as I'd like & I generally get over 150. Some are short - a few hours of reading only. It's one of the thing..."Actually, Jim, I do agree with you really - reading has to be about enjoyment. I just get a little frustrated that I can't read more of the wonderful books that I want to. Also agree about H.G.Wells - a satisfying experience, without taking weeks to complete! I often wonder why I choose such lengthy books - will need to be a little more careful in future!
Angela, I agree about the frustration in not reading more. If it helps put it in perspective, there's something like 1/2 million books published yearly now. I've been reading about 150 books per year for 40 years. That means I've read just over 1% of the books published in a single year over my entire lifetime.Frustrating? It could be. Let's make a pact to be optimistic about it, though. We'll never run out of things to read! It gives us something to look forward to.
Jim wrote: "Angela, I agree about the frustration in not reading more. If it helps put it in perspective, there's something like 1/2 million books published yearly now. I've been reading about 150 books per ..."I had to smile at your last paragraph! Yes, I'm all for optimism - so many wonderful books to read! Aren't we lucky?
And I got a chuckle out of Jim's reference to only have read 1% of books published in a year!Mary - so true so true about not enough hours in the day!! At least 'out of work' hours in my case :)
So many books, so little time. I wish all my problems were that tough.;-)
Jo wrote: "Angela, I would be interested in seeing what books you would pick for your list! I agree with the others, quality not quantity and all that! I got a lot read this year because I had my hours reduce..."Hi Jo,
I was thinking about extending my 2011 list today, but will have to give it a lot more thought, or I'll end up "shooting myself in the foot" - too many long books etc!
The ones I've chosen already for a different group are:
-The Victory by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (part of a really long historical series)
-Bleak House by Charles Dickens ( got up to page 153 a couple of yrs ago...MUST finish it!!)
-The Last Fighting Tommy by Harry Patch (a bit of non-fiction!)
-Hurting Distance by Sophie Hannah (been on the TBR pile for ages!)
-A Changed Man by Thomas Hardy (short stories by one of my favourite classic authors)
-Brethren by Robyn Young ( I love historical fiction)
-Winter in Madrid by C.J.Sanson ( again, I've had it for ages)
-Travels With My Aunt by Graham Greene (read a lot of his books when I was younger)
- One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson (love her Jackson Brodie novels)
-In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (looks interesting)
-One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (have put off reading this for some reason)
-Magician by Raymond Feist (again, I've had this for years!)
As well as those - one a month- there'll be the easy peasy book group read, which is voted for monthly....so, I think I'll look for one more a month, but maybe aim for 2 more! Decisions! Have also got several more Charlaine Harris books to fit in, as well as.....!!The list is endless :0)
Jo wrote: "I see you are attempting One Hundred Years of Solitude as well! I hope it's not as difficult to get through as everyone makes out."I've heard lots of good things about it, so need to think positive!! I started to compile my 2011 list this morning and have got O.H.Y of S. down for May. Having a good time thinking about what I hope to read!
Just put my 2011 list out. Thanks for inspiring me to have a go, this is the first time I have been so organised with my reading.
Jo wrote: "Angela, I would be interested in seeing what books you would pick for your list! I agree with the others, quality not quantity and all that! I got a lot read this year because I had my hours reduce..."Quick comment about In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. After you have read it try to see the DVD 'Capote' from 2005. It stars Phillip Seymour Hoffman and is about the writing of In Cold Blood. Harper Lee, a friend of Capote is also featured. Very good film which missed the radar of most people.
Thanks for the tip Norm. I'll definitely check the film after I read In Cold Blood in 2011.
Hey Norm. Thanks for the tip! I'm am going to try to read 6 non-fictions in 2011 (in addition to a 12 book general read of books that have been on my TBR for over a year). I have In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences and I'll put it on as one of my non-fiction reads then watch the movie. I know he got the best actor award for it.
Norm wrote: "Jo wrote: "Angela, I would be interested in seeing what books you would pick for your list! I agree with the others, quality not quantity and all that! I got a lot read this year because I had my h..."Thanks for that Norm - I'll look out for the DVD!
I didn't like fearful symetryI have Afraid by Jack Kilbourn and the brutal art by jesse Kellerman on my extended tbr list
Jo- have you read the last survivors trilogy by susan beth pfeffer?
Congrats on your first book of the year Jo!Alese - my daughter read the Last Survivors trilogy and she absolutley loved it. I'd be interested to hear what others thought about it too.
Norm wrote: "Jo wrote: "Angela, I would be interested in seeing what books you would pick for your list! I agree with the others, quality not quantity and all that! I got a lot read this year because I had my h..."agreed!! Fabulous movie! Even better, if haunting, book.
Jo wrote: "So this is subject to change. I never know what I'm going to be in the mood for at any given time so I will switch about more than likely. Also I might read some of the books on the list before the..."Jo...I want to read The Beach this year too...I am reading The Pearl for my BIO challenge.
Hey.....you've got 10 days to hit the stuff on your list.............plenty of time!!!!!!!!!
Jo, me too about the lists- I'm only on my second book this month, and the second one is not on my lists, except for classics.
i never make lists as i would never be able to keep to them so i just read the books i feel like reading at the time. i am nearlly finnished a child called it by dave pelzer. it's hard for me to get some books as i have to rely on audio books but now i have an ipod touch i have the ibooks applecation so i am hoping that might give me more of a choice of stuff to read.
I see you have The Raw Shark Texts on your list, Jo. I've come across that a couple of times.....have you heard much about it????
Jo, when you get ready to read Fight Club, let me know... I'd like to read that one too! I think it may be easier to read it with someone else. Oh and Out too!City of Ashes and City of Glass are really good. Heart Shaped Box was really good too! I LOVE thrillers/mysteries/horror movies and usually don't get spooked...... this one spooked me!
Kat (LvnEvryMin) wrote: "Jo, when you get ready to read Fight Club, let me know... I'd like to read that one too! I think it may be easier to read it with someone else. Oh and Out too!City of A..."
I want to read Fight Club too!
Throw me in on that one, too.....September is fine with me.
Jo wrote: "I gave up on Blood and Ice because I just couldn't get into it at all."Well...I won't add that one!!
Shelli wrote: "Jo wrote: "I gave up on Blood and Ice because I just couldn't get into it at all."Well...I won't add that one!!"
Me either.
Jo....I finished the series! I really liked the last book, but I wish a few things had been handled differently....overall I loved the series and will miss these characters....I wish the author would write one more and follow through with more of the characters....not just Rose!
Do you plan to read Forever anytime soon?? I'm anxious to start seeing the reviews come in on that one.
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Good luck with your challenge!