Steph W.'s 50 book Challenge with a triple twist for 2011

[Stephanie]

2010 was the first year I kept track of how many books I read. I was surprised and happy to accomplish reading 46 books, however was slightly bummed at falling just shy of my goal of 50. I did meet my goal though of reading at least 25 books by authors that were new to me. I found this a great way to expand my horizons. I also found that when I fell behind in my numbers,my competitive side would kick in and I would pick up a shorter book and forgo a longer book that I was wanting to read in order to try and reach my goal of 50. Therefore, in 2011 the rules for my challenge will be as follows:
1. At least 10 books by new authors to me
2. At least 10 classics that I have not read
3. At least 10 books from my bookshelves at home that I have not read yet
4. 50 books or 17,500 pages (whichever comes first)

Best of luck and happy reading to everyone!

[Carol]

I haven't visited here for a while and was just browsing, but I like your goals. I just picked up "A Tale of Two Cities/Great Expectations" not because it was an Oprah pick, (found that out later) but because I have never read A Tale of Two Cities. Had to read Great Expectations in High School (ages ago) but may decide to re-read it. Happy Reading!

[Leah]

Stephanie, I think it's so cool that you include additional goals beyond just the number of books to read! I'm impressed. :-) Good luck with all of it!

[Stephanie]

Leah wrote: "Stephanie, I think it's so cool that you include additional goals beyond just the number of books to read! I'm impressed. :-) Good luck with all of it!"

Thanks Leah! Best of luck to you as well.

[Stephanie]

Carol wrote: "I haven't visited here for a while and was just browsing, but I like your goals. I just picked up "A Tale of Two Cities/Great Expectations" not because it was an Oprah pick, (found that out later)..."

Let me know how you like A Tale of Two Cities. I find Dickens to be an amazing writer.

[Rose]

I read A Tale of Two Cities last year as part of the Classics Challenge. I'd read it in high school, but I so clearly did NOT get it! (I was fairly intelligent, too, so I'm going to partially blame my teacher.) Anyway, I was impressed this time around, and am grateful to have changed my opinion.

Rose

[Stephanie]

1. Finished 1/7/11
The House of Mirth by- Edith Wharton 4.0 stars.
(First book of the year is by a new author for me, also first book of the year read from my bookshelves at home and first book for classics that I have not read before)
I really enjoyed this book and was quite surprised by the ending. Edith Wharton was a very skilled writer and really provided an excellent look into high society New Yorkers during the 1890's
319 pages toward year end goal

[Stephanie]

2. Finished 1/23/11 -
The Master Butcher's Singing Club- by Louise Erdrich 3.0 stars
(2nd new author of the year for me)
I have to give the author credit for her wonderful prose, but overall this book frustrated me because I felt there were so many loose ends and characters that we never heard from again. Although my overall feeling for this book was disappointment, especially since I had such high hopes in the beginning, I would still be willing to try another book by this author in the future.
total pages read 2011= 707

[Stephanie]

3. Finished 2/3/11
A Conspiracy of Paper- by David Liss 4 stars.
Read this book in 2010 for the first time and really enjoyed it. Loved the writer's style and ability to bring 1700's England alive on the page. This year I decided I wanted to read the next in the series. However, before I did so, I decided I would go back and do a re-read before moving on to A Spectacle of Corruption. I enjoyed A Conspiracy of Paper as much the second time as I did the first. Can't wait to move onto the next one in the series.
437 pages
total pages read 2011= 1144

[Stephanie]

4. Finished 2/10/11
A Spectacle of Corruption- by David Liss 4 stars

I enjoyed this second installment of Benjamin Weaver as much as the first. I just love David Liss' writing style. His characters seem so much like real people to me.
381 pages
total pages read 2011= 1525

[Stephanie]

5. Finished 2/21/11
Northern Lights- By Nora Roberts. 3.5 stars

First time reading a Nora Roberts book. Picked it up since it was a fictional story taking place in Alaska and I am currently living in the state. Better than I thought it would be.
(3rd new author of the year for me)
652 pages
total pages read 2011= 2177

[Stephanie]

6. Finished 2/24/11
The Gambler- by Fyodor Dostoevsky 3.5 stars
(4th new author of the year for me. 2nd classic read this year for the first time)
158 pages
total pages read 2011= 2335

[Stephanie]

7. Finished 3/3/11
Pride and Prejudice-by Jane Austen 5.0 stars
First time reading an Austen book, and I must say, I have been made a fan. Loved the characters of Mr. Bennett and Elizabeth. I will definitely be picking up another one by Austen in the near future.
(5th new author of the year for me. 3rd classic read this year for the first time, 2nd book of the year read from my own bookshelves)
375 pages
total pages read 2011= 2710

[Stephanie]

8. Finished 3/16/11
Wuthering Heights- by Emily Bronte 4.0 stars.
My first visit with Heathcliff and Catherine and one I won't soon forget.
(6th new author of the year for me. 4th classic read this year for the first time, 3rd book of the year read from my own bookshelves)
326 pages
total pages read for 2011= 3036 pages

[Stephanie]

9. Finished 4/27/11
Outlander- by Diana Gabaldon.
5 stars- re-read for me but just as fantastic as the first time. I love love love Jamie!
627 pages
total pages read for 2011=3663 pages

[Stephanie]

10. Finished 5/5/11
The Secret Life of Bees- by Sue Monk Kidd
Enjoyed this story of a young girl coming of age and all the hurts and pains that come with growing up- would give it 3.5 stars if I could.
(7th new author of the year for me)
302 pages
total pages read for 2011=3965 pages

[Stephanie]

11. Finished 8/17/2011
The Maltese Falcon- by Dashiell Hammett
3.5 stars. Overall good book, but it was not one that I "could not put down."
8th new author of the year for me, 5th classic read this year for the first time,
217 pages
total pages read for 2011= 4182 pages

[Stephanie]

12. Finished 8/21/2011
Term Limits- by Vince Flynn
3.5 stars- engaging read and great premise.
9th new author of the year for me, 4th book of the year for me read from my own bookshelves.
610 pages
total pages read for 2011= 4792 pages

[Stephanie]

13. Finished 8/22/2011
Sea Swept- by Nora Roberts
3.0 stars- good enough to make me want to continue on with the next in the series.
330 pages
total pages read for 2011= 5122 pages

[Autumn]

Stephanie wrote: "2010 was the first year I kept track of how many books I read. I was surprised and happy to accomplish reading 46 books, however was slightly bummed at falling just shy of my goal of 50. I did me..."

I really like these goals! I might steal them! :)

[Stephanie]

Go for it! At least if I don't accomplish the 50 book goal, I may accomplish some of my other goals! Good luck!

[Stephanie]

14. Finished August 27, 2011
Rising Tides- by Nora Roberts
3.0 Stars- a continuation of Sea Swept- I plan on reading the next in the series.
330 pages
total pages read fro 2011= 5452 pages

[Stephanie]

15. Finished August 30, 2011
Inner Harbor- by Nora Roberts
4.0 stars- best one of the series so far or maybe I am just more invested in the characters. One more to go to complete the series and I plan on sitting down and starting the last one tonight.
324 pages
total pages read for 2011= 5776 pages

[Stephanie]

16. Finished September 4, 2011
Chesapeake Blue- Nora Roberts
3.5 stars- satisfying end to a nice series.
364 pages
total pages read for 2011=6140 pages

[Stephanie]

17. Finished September 10,2011
Transfer of Power- by Vince Flynn
3.5 stars- another great book by Vince Flynn. My first book with the character Mitch Rapp. I am excited to continue on with this series.
395 pages
total pages read for 2011=6535 pages

[Stephanie]

18. Finished September 20,2011
Only Time Will Tell- by Jeffrey Archer
3.75 stars. I Love the character Harry Clifton and loved when the story was told through his eyes. I thought it was ambitious for Archer to attempt to show the same events through the eyes of different characters throughout the book. However, I felt like all of their angles fell short and the story would have been better if told through only one or two points of view.
Archer did end his book in a way that keeps me on the edge of my seat and I am anxious for the 2nd book in the series to come out in the spring of 2012.
10th new author of the year for me- met goal 1 of 4 for the year
386 pages
total pages read for 2011=6921

Next up? Either Pope Joan or Brave New World

[Stephanie]

19. Finished September 22,2011
Homeless BIrd- by Gloria Whelan
4.0 stars. Excellent little story- great characters and great look into the Indian culture and the arranged marriage.
11th new author of the year for me
192 pages
total pages read for 2011= 7113

[Stephanie]

20. Finished October 2, 2011
Crash Proof- by Peter Schiff
4.0 stars. Great forethinker. Ahead of his time for 2006 and forecasting what was coming. Can't wait to see what he says in the newer version called crash proof 2.0
12th new author of the year for me
5th book of the year for me read from my own bookshelves.
288 pages
total pages read for 2011=7401

[Stephanie]

21. Finished October 19,2011
Sister- by Rosamund Lupton
3.0 stars. I wanted to like this story more, but the writing was so choppy. Too much going back and forth between past and present and her "letter" to her sister and reality.
13th new author of the year for me
358 pages
total pages read for 2011= 7759

[Stephanie]

22. Finished October 26,2011
A Woman's Life- by Guy De Maupassant
4.0 stars. This was a very sad story but well told. The book was written in the late 1800's by a male author, yet he was able to relate to what it must be like to grow up as a somewhat privileged woman in those times. I am interested in reading more by this author.
6th book of the year for me read from my own bookshelves.
6th classic read this year for the first time
14th new author of the year for me
202 pages
total pages read for 2011= 7961

[Stephanie]

23. Finished November 8, 2011
The Secret History- by Donna Tartt
4.0 stars I am still processing everything that happened in this book. I loved the writing style and the fact that even though you find out within the first three pages the outcome of the story, the writer is talented enough to keep your attention for over 500 pages-just to find out what turn of events actually lead to this conclusion.
15th new author of the year for me
576 pages
total pages read for 2011= 8537

[Stephanie]

24. Finished November 19,2011
The Bronze Horseman- by Paullina Simons
5.0 stars
Fantastic historical fiction/loves story taking place in the Soviet Union during WWII. I could not put this one down. Happy to know that I do not have to leave Tatiana and Alexanders world just yet- The story is spread out into a trilogy so I still have two more books to go.
The author did an excellent job describing the horrors of war and focused on the people of Leningrad that were forced to live in squalor and tried to survive on limited rations due to lack of food which ultimately lead to the death of many of the cities inhabitants.
16th new author of the year for me
637 pages
total pages read for 2011= 9174 pages

[Paula]

Just read your first post listing your additional goals. Thanks for sharing the ideas.

[Stephanie]

Paula wrote: "Just read your first post listing your additional goals. Thanks for sharing the ideas."

Glad you liked them! I don't think I am going to be able to accomplish them all for 2011, but it has really expanded my reading by having all these challenges for myself. I am going to do something similar in 2112. Happy reading Paula!

[Stephanie]

25. Finished December 3, 2011
One Second After- by William R. Forstchen
4.0 stars
Makes you take a good hard look at how easily our "cushy" lives could be taken away from us. The writing was just fair, but the topic and the lesson made this a 4 star book for me.
We all need to wake up!
7th book of the year for me read from my own bookshelves
17th new author of the year for me.
350 pages
total pages read for 2011= 9524

[Stephanie]

26. Finished December 6, 2011
Power Down by Ben Coes
3.0 stars- great action and story line however I feel like the book was littered with way too many characters- many hard to keep straight. Overall, I am interested enough to go on and read the second one in the series.
18th new author of the year for me
449 pages
total pages read for 2011=9973 pages

[Stephanie]

27. Finished December 8, 2011 The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck
4.0 stars The writing is simple but the message is profound! What a great book to read as we enter the Christmas Season.
8th book of the year for me read from my own bookshelves
284 pages
total pages read for 2011= 10257 pages

[Stephanie]

28. Finished December 16, 2011
The Snow Angel- by Glenn Beck.
4.0 stars- Again, simple writing but great message.
9th book of the year for me read from my own bookshelves
279 pages
total pages read for 2011= 10536 pages

[Stephanie]

28. Finished December 16, 2011
The Snow Angel- by Glenn Beck.
4.0 stars- Again, simple writing but great message.
9th book of the year for me read from my own bookshelves