Yet, as I am learning, life still happens, even when in school. I made a conscious effort to read anyway. I may add this if I retained any semblance of sanity during the past three years, it was largely in part to these recreational reads.
But, as is always the case, sometimes I bit off more than I could chew, ie bought more books than I could read at the time. Thus, there are books on my bookshelf, that I have NOT read! The little OCD angel on my shoulder in NOT okay with this.
So, as part of my larger goal, to Enjoying and Being Happy with what I have, this year's (first annual) book list is comprised solely of books already on my shelf, or in my audible account.*
Without further ado [in no particular order], I present to you:
Heidi's Books she WILL read (or listen to [A]) in 2012!!!
Till We Have Faces, CS Lewis [A]
How: Purchased with gift card from Audible.
Why: I mean, Lewis? Allegory? What's not to like?
Skippy Dies, Paul Murray [A]
How: Audible credit.
Why: Intriguing title. Good reviews.
Indiscretions of Archie, PG Wodehouse [A]
How: Audible gift card.
Why: I love Wodehouse, and am particular fond of his non-Jeeves stories lately.
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens [A]
How: Free from Audible - Narrated by TIM CURRY!
Why: How could I not have read this book by this point in my life?
The Innocent Mage, Karen Miller [A]
How: Audible credit.
Why: Fantasy. Good review. Wanting to branch out if possible.
At Home, Bill Bryson [A]
How: Audible credit.
Why: An attempt to appease guilt for not enough non-fiction. The premise of looking at the histories of everyday items was appealing.
Nicholas Nickelby, Charles Dickens [A]
How: Audible.
Why: Love me some Dickens. Enjoyed the movie adaptation and thought I'd go to the source.
The Book Thief, Markus Zusak [A]
How: Mum's Audible.
Why: She recommended it, and I really really enjoyed, I Am the Messenger.
Howard's End, EM Forster [A]
How: Mum's Audible.
Why: I liked the latest Room With a View adaptation. Thought I'd try reading one of the books.
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, Helen Simonsen [A]
How: Mum's Audible.
Why: Good reviews. Good recommendation. Liked Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (no relation, other than name.)
Out of the Silent Planet, CS Lewis [A]
How: Audible gift card.
Why: Lewis again, this time, SciFi.
Les Miserables, Victor Hugo [Both]
How: Mum's Audible. Paperback from probably High School.
Why: Partly, To say I have. Mostly, Because of the Bishop of Digne.
A Christmas Story, Jean Shepherd [A]
How: Mum's Audible.
Why: Who hasn't watched a Christmas Story, and not laughed? At least a little? Plus, Sarah has been to his house!
The Tolkien Reader, JRR Tolkien
How: Bought during Freshman year of college.
Why: I think I've come to terms with my LOTR obsession, so that I can tiptoe back into the pool of all that is Tolkien. This is necessary, as The Hobbit (Part 1) will be out in December 2012.
The Scapegoat, Daphne du Maurier
How: Random used bookstore purchase.
Why: Recognized her name from Rebecca.
Desert Solitaire, Edward Abbey
How: Gift from a good friend.
Why: Interested in the book. Seems a bit to be a modern Walden set in the southwest.
The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Muriel Barbery
How: Birthday book purchase.
Why: It's about time I read this book.
Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift
How: Library book sale.
Why: Ugh. Because every time I see this book, I feel a sharp stab of guilt. I fear this reading will be completely like eating vegetable. The yucky kind. Ooo, like celery. I dislike celery.
[EDIT: I just looked at my copy. I have had this sitting on my shelf since 2000. It's time. Celery by derned.]
A Brief History of the Smile, Angus Trumble
How: BYU Bargain Book.
Why: I like to smile. Another attempt to up my non-fiction intake.
Olive's Ocean, Kevin Henkes
How: Birthday book purchase.
Why: Looked interesting.
keeper, kathi appelt
How: Birthday book purchase.
Why: Looked interesting. Pretty cover.
How to Be a (Bad) Birdwatcher, Simon Barnes
How: BYU Bookstore
Why: Purchased soon after my 'Appreciation of Nature' class, sophomore year. Best Class Ever.
A Guide to the Birds of East Africa
How: Not sure. I'm guessing BYU Bargain Books.
Why: Birds. Compared to Alexander McCall Smith's books.
Dr Bridell's Logical and Rational Diet, Dr Bridell
How: Gift
Why: Little stab of guilt, though not as sharp as with Swift's book. Plus, there might be some good information? And, not too long, so it won't kill me, no?
The Gun Seller, Hugh Laurie
How: Amazon impulse purchase.
Why: Umm, Hugh Laurie? Compared to Wodehouse?
A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula K LeGuin
The Tombs of Atuan, Ursula K Leguin
The Farthest Shore, Ursula K Leguin
How: Gift.
Why: From many Christmases ago. And I haven't gotten around to reading these yet, even though I've meant to. Came highly recommended, too.
Boy, Roald Dahl
Going Solo, Roald Dahl
How: Costco Roald Dahl 15 book set purchase!
Why: I love autobiographies by authors. If you haven't read Agathat Christie's, just go and do it. Fascinating. I assume Dahl's will be as well.
Flower Confidential, Amy Stewart
How: BYU Bargain Books
Why: Flowers. Non-Fiction intake increase.
Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
How: BYU Bargain Books
Why: Not sure why. Usually I'm anti feminist literature, but this one intrigued me. And then I realized she was LDS. Extra intrigued. And then, a friend in Greensboro actually knows the lady, and spoke highly of her! So, well, why not?
The Promise of Discipleship, Neal A. Maxwell
How: Gift
Why: A bit of guilt. I felt I should have at least some church-y books here. I'm not so good at reading any church books outside of the scriptures. I figured this book was worth the effort.
To Draw Closer to God: A Collection of Discourses, Henry B. Eyring
How: BYU Bookstore
Why: I really like his 'A Child of Promise' talk. It has meant a lot to me.
Keeping Bees, Pauline French
How: Gift!
Why: I
The Epic of Gilgamesh
How: BYU discontinued textbooks
Why: Intrigued.
There you have them. All thirty-six books I will be reading this year.
Anyone who has read these books, a pep talk is greatly appreciated. Especially the non-fictions. And MOST especially Gulliver's Travels.
That is all.
* I am not going to limit my reading to these books. I will allow myself to purchase books in continuing series. I have found goals that punish the goal setter, never work, and just end in unnecessary guilt. Moderation in all things...even moderation!
[EDIT: Notice the purdy little list off to your right? Well, this is my attempt to keep track of the books read this year. On this list, and in general.]
2 comments:
Ah, so many good ones here! Don't lists of books just make the coming year seem that much brighter? I joined a challenge to read books I already own this year, too, and I'm really looking forward to feeling good about myself as I check them all off my list.
Till We Have Faces is right at the top for me too- Rachel Shirley let me borrow it months ago, and I'm looking forward to it. I also really want to read At Home- Brooke and I have Notes from a Small Island in the car for trips. I love Bill Bryson.
Lots of hearts for Howards End and Elegance of the Hedgehog, but I'm afraid I can't offer any words of support for Gulliver's Travels or any of your nonfiction, since I haven't read any of them. I am curious to hear what you think of my friend Laurel Thatcher Ulrich!
(p.s. - I miss you!)
I read Gulliver's Travels. It actually wasn't bad- just long. And a little preachy at times, especially once he got to the Yahoos. And you think he'd learn a lesson and stop going on sailing trips if he's going to crash all the time, but that's what it is. (And if I remember right, there's a really weird voyage crash, but then I might be thinking of Sinbad, so I'm not sure. It involves caves and something like the Indian death burning of spouses).
Also, I really like the Wizard of Earthsea, they're nice and short, too. I read Howard's End, I don't remember liking it as much as a Room with a View. (I know, that's not much of a recommendation). I liked Miss Pettigrew Lives for a day, but I know that's not really related. I randomly picked it up at the library, and then directly after I read it, the trailer came out for the movie. It was like fate.
Good luck on your reading! Now perhaps I should make some reading goals.
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