2011 Reading List

Something about me... I like to read. I used to read all the time but in college it just didn't happen. Once in awhile of course but not nearly as much as I would have liked. Last year I tried to break the busyness by reading all of the Chronicles of Narnia books. I've always wanted to say I've read them all, they're small and an easy read (that's because they're children books... I have no shame!) so why not! I got my reading fix in for the year, I was able to cross something off my bucket-list and I got to enter the world of Narnia seven times!

My preferred form of reading is fiction. I like to escape to other worlds, other adventures, other mysteries, etc. Once in awhile I get intrigued by a biography but I have yet to actually read one. Maybe that will be my book list next year... THIS YEAR'S book list is an assortment of recommendations, gifts, books that I have started and need to finish (yup... I used to have to only read ONE book at a time but in college with limited time I ventured into the world of "I'll read what I'm in the mood for... mmmk? ok!" and would jump around from book to book. Some kept my attention longer and were finished but others came and went with interest but I don't like NOT finishing things) and books that I have gotten that I want to say I have read.

So here is my reading list for the year. Feel free to join in! I'll blog about each book after I have read them. My plan is to finish each book every 3-4 weeks. Now if you are not the fan of reading any of these books but you are just DYING to have a book discussion with me, I suppose I could read Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss and we could discuss why he would not eat them in a box with a fox :)

Big Cherry Holler by Adriana Trigiani (recommended by my aunt: this is at the top of the list because she lent me this book to read when our families got together for thanksgiving... in 2009!)

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (also recommended by my aunt and needs to be returned ASAP)

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (given to me by a favorite friend, co-worker and roommie, Dione. She gave it to me because it "has a lot of heart and human emotion." I started it when she gave it to me but it was kind of depressing so I lost motivation but then a bunch of people that worked with me read it and loved it; so I've decided to get back into it plus I wanted to finish anyways for Dione.)

The Work and the Glory Vol. 7 No Unhallowed Hand (I started reading the Work and the Glories my senior year of high school. I have loved them. I think I learn better with fiction characters who you get attached to but have realistic events happen to them. I know the Work and the Glory isn't factual but it has been nice to get personaly attached to my church's history and understand where it began, grew and moved. I got through the first ones way fast but I have been on the 7th book for about 3 years (oops!), I'm not even sure who I borrowed it from (BIGGER OOPS). It's just that they have developed SO MANY characters now that the story is moving a lot slower because they have to cover everyone's story but I still want to be able to say that I have read the whole series eventually but it is at least time to finish this one.)

Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (another children's book... heck yeah! This is the second book in a series about how Peter Pan becomes Peter Pan. I LOVED the first one and am excited for this one. I kind of have a romantic connection to the Peter Pan story. I grew up playing "Peter Pan" in the backyard of my friend's (from the diaper days) backyard. To this day we talk about not growing up, finding some fairy dust and going to Neverland)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (When I read the Princess Diaries books the grandmother (who unlike in the movie is pretty scary, strict and mean) makes the princess read Jane Eyre because she says that royalty, especially princesses, should read Jane Eyre. Ha, well I like to imagine myself as royal so why not ;) That is what first put my mind to it but as I have gotten older I just thought it would be neat to read a classic)

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (So, about 5-10 years ago my dad said he would give 50 bucks to each of his children who read this book... haha clearly the $50 was an incentive to me because I still haven't read it. But I've decided it's good to read something that makes you reflect once in awhile and gives you ideas to improve in your life... so I'm finally going to read my dad's recommendation and hey! now I get to buy 50 Jr. Bacon Cheese Burgers)

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (I've never seen the movie or play... I KNOW... SHOCKER! But I think it is another classic that would be cool to read. Plus I asked for the book for Christmas in 2009... it's time to read it)

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas (Love Love Love the movie... I've heard the book is way different but I still want to read the book because I'm an avid believer that is better to read the book then just see the movie... even though I LOVE my movies)

Utopia by Sir Thomas More (This is the book that Danielle reads in Ever After, over and over again and I love that movie so I wanted to read the book... see what she's talking so passionately about)

The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas (Another classic I think would be able to say I've read and it's another one given to me for Christmas in 2009 and I'm thinking before I can ask for more books I need to read those ones)

Twenty Years After by Alexander Dumas (The sequel to The Three Musketeers... who knew?!)

Mount Vernon Love Story by Mary Higgins Clark (Not a mystery or murder mystery... for realsies. Just a love story about Martha and George Washington recommended by some lovable friends at USU. I visited DC this year and loved it and loved my visit to Mount Vernon and loved learning about George Washington.)

IF THERE IS TIME....
The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins (Recommended to me by my cousin and his awesome wife... I promised them I would read it ASAP! But then I realized my stack of books already waiting ever so patiently to be read.... so if I don't make it to them in 2011... then HELLO 2012!)