A Reading Challenge; Help!
I used to read two or three books a night. That was after school, after homework, after playing outside, after swim practice, after watching TV and after practicing piano. (When I was young, I used to spend two hours watching TV after school. I’d play along with commercials or practice during commercials.)
So how is it that I seem to have less time to read now, and definitely have a lighter schedule than above?
I have been envious of Lauren Baratz-Logsted, ever since I learned she reads a book a day. Jealous in a good way: I like her, and am grateful because she was instrumental in getting me my first gig at BenBella Books. (As an aside, she has a great series going on at BiblioBuffet: “The Seven Stages of My Reading Life So Far.” Here’s Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, which is my favorite. I dream of working on the floor of a bookstore, even though the pay is abysmal!)
I have been wanting to do this for a long time, but I’ve decided it’s time. Between August 18, 2009 and August 17, 2010, I want to read 365 books.*
But now I need suggestions. Will you help? Feel free to answer none, one, a few, or all questions here or treat it like a meme and answer on your own blog. If you answer on your own blog, paste the link here, and I’ll link to you in the post.
- What book(s) made you a better writer?
- What book(s) made you cry?
- What book(s) made you laugh until you were in tears?
- What book(s) made you feel like you could conquer the world?
- What book(s) have you read three times or more?
- What book(s) kept you up all night reading?
- What book(s) do you want to read again?
- Any other recommendations?
- Michelle posted a list on Magical Musings.
- Kath posted a list on her blog, Writeful Mumblings.
- Rachel posted a list on Facebook.
- Katie also posted a list on Facebook and on her newly-designed, very pretty blog—check it out!
- Starving Write Now has a list up on her blog.
- Valerie posted a list on her blog, too!
- Alyson Noel posted a list on her blog.
- Aerin recommends all the 5-stars on her goodreads list.
- Bee Nagel has a great goodreads list, too!
*If I get freakishly behind, I reserve the right to change it to 5 books per week (weekends off), for a total of 260 books. Don’t you love this fine print? Do you think I’m nuts? Okay, I am. I mean, I’ve read entire books backwards, just because I was curious to see what they looked like that way…
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats. She is currently enjoying the lizards and desert heat in Arizona.
Without any specific categorization, here’s a running list:
-Requiem for a Dream
-The Good Tolkien: The Silmarillion, The Children of Hurin, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings
-The Waxman Report (fascinating look at Congress)
-The Outliers (and anything else Malcolm Gladwell writes)
-Blood Dazzler (yes, it’s Patricia Smith’s poetry…but it’s all about the same topic, so it’s kinda book-like!)
-The Handmaid’s Tale
-You have read Watchmen by now…right?
-Song of the Silent Snow (collection of short stories by the author of Requiem for a Dream…you might also want to look at Last Exit to Brooklyn, though I myself haven’t yet read it.)
-Isaac’s Storm (the book that made me realize non-fiction can actually be cool!)
-The Glass Castle
-The Natural (surely you’ve read it…?)
Yeah…basically, I don’t read a lot, so four of those were books I read for school. Oh, well. I wish I read more. I’ll try to do better soon, I swear. I have a whole list! Really! But I guess they’re worth reading. Yeah. Check ‘em out. (And I didn’t list authors for the most part because we live in the age of Google and Amazon, for crying aloud! XD)
Hope this helps, even if only a little! ^-^
It does help!
I wonder if I should revisit Tolkien. Hmm, that’s a thought. The Waxman Report sounds interesting! I’ve read Outliers (also interesting!). Definitely going to have to put Blood Dazzler on the list. And I haven’t read Handmaid’s Tale! That’s a definite.
Um, oopsy. No, I haven’t unpacked Watchmen yet!
I love short stories! I will check that out, especiall since I LOVE the sound of snow, that muffled silence!
I’ve never heard of the Glass Castle. That sounds a little freaky. Will I like it?
The Natural? The baseball book (and movie)? Okay. I like the movie; I’ll have to check the book out!
You should revisit Tolkien.
You must read Watchmen. And soon!
Some of the short stories are a tad weak, and a few will rip your heart out in just a handful of pages. Selby is probably (at least word-wise) one of the most powerful writers of the last century. (And it’s no longer just me [of the people I personally know] who believe this! Yay!)
As evocative and sweet a title as The Glass Castle is, it really isn’t relevant to the book, which is just (haha, JUST) an incredible memoir. (Basically, the Glass Castle is just a symbol of broken promises [and no, that's really not giving anything away, LOL].)
Yes, the baseball book. Unlike the movie with it’s Hollywood ending, however, the book is actually an example of quality story-telling. (If you can’t tell, I myself am not a fan of the movie.)
I never knew there was a book to the movie!
I have all the Tolkien listed. I haven’t read the non-trilogy ones, so I’m looking forward to that!
I’m so excited for this year of reading!
Here are three of my favorite books – all of them kept me up at night and all of them I would read again:
Rebecca – Daphne du Maurier
The Thirteenth Tale – Diane Setterfield
Other Side of Midnight – Sidney Sheldon
I also really enjoyed the Glass Castle, the Giant’s House, Water for Elephants, Lottery, the Great Gatsby, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, and A – T of Sue Grafton’s novels.
Happy Reading!!
Oh, Nadine, I love Rebecca! I’ve read it twice.
I’m in the middle of The Thirteenth Tale, and will cheat a little and finish it, definitely, during this year. I also love Sidney Sheldon! I’ll have to see if I’ve read that one.
Another one recommends The Glass Castle! Okay. I’ll have to put that on the list. The Giant’s House looks fantastic! I need to read Water for Elephants: I’ve picked it up at least a dozen times! I’ve heard great things about Lottery, but I’ve always hesitated. Is it like Forrest Gump? I need to re-read the Great Gatsby!
Wow, I love that title: Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-Time!
Yes, you’re nuts. And I am jealous.
Okay… some oldies: House of the Spirits, Isabelle Allende
The Horse Whisperer, Nicholas Evans
100 Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Stephanie Plum always makes me laugh out loud.
Umm… more recent stuff. Give my friend Hank Philippi Ryan a shout. Start with Prime Time, then Face Time, then Air Time. I’ve only read the first so far (the other two are here, waiting for me) and yeah. Totally recommend.
Colleen Gleason. Yum.
I’ll think of more, I’m sure.
I haven’t read, House of Spirits. I saw the movie and loved it. That’s definitely going on my list, Susan!
Loved The Horse Whisperer and 100 Years of Solitude. And you know my feelings on Stephanie Plum!
I’ve heard a lot of good about Hank Philippi Ryan, but I haven’t read it. Putting it on the list. And I had all of Colleen Gleason’s books, waiting to be read, but I gave them away. (Wouldn’t fit on the camper.) Must put them on the Kindle!
I recently read “East of the Sun” by Julia Gregson and “The War Against Miss Winter” by Kathryn Miller Haines. Liked them both very much. Of course you know I love Deanna Raybourn. And I like “Persuasion” better than “Pride & Prejudice.” I’m planning on re-reading “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand; perhaps the fountainhead as well. One of the creepiest books I’ve read in a long time is “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson. Edgar Allan Poe also wrote fantastic gothic creepy shorts if you are interested.
Not to get off topic, but do they celebrate Halloween at campgrounds? Do people trick or treat?
Oh! And there’s a bunch of juvenile/teen stuff I could recommend… but I’ll have to come back later for that. Need to get the spawn off for practice.
Elizabeth, those titles sound awesome! I didn’t know that you loved Deanna Raybourn! I’ll have to check her out. The Haunting of Hill House sounds fabulous. Just last year, I read a bunch of Poe.
Ohmigosh, I don’t know, Elizabeth! I sure will be celebrating Halloween!
I’d love to hear your teen recommendation! I think I’m going to need a few shorter books in order to get this done, LOL!
Okay, I copycatted you and posted the meme!
I think two of the most memorable teen books I’ve read have to be “Unwind” by Neal Shusterman and “Feed” by M.T. Anderson. They’re both futuristic novels with dark twists to them. “Born to Rock” by Gordon Korman was good also, funny. Some of the cooler juvenile fiction I’ve read lately has been “The Mysterious Benedict Society” by Trenton Stewart, “Coraline” by Neil Gaiman and the Enola Holmes mysteries by Nancy Springer. There are so many excellent titles in juvenile and teen literature.
By the way, are you a Lord of the Rings fan at all? If so, Paul Stewart wrote a book called “Muddle Earth” that is a nutty takeoff on that whole theme.
Yes, I think you’re nuts.
Wow!
I recommend The Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg, and The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. If I think of any other stellar titles, I’ll come back.
Ooh, Janna, I’ve been thinking of reading both of those! I’m a little afraid of Racing in the Rain. I just can’t bear it when dogs die! Does he die?
I did the meme on my MM blog. Here’s the link: http://magicalmusings.com/?p=5687
I loved it, Michelle, thank you! What’s great is I didn’t know a lot of those books!
Okay, this will take too much thinking after being up all night! I’m going back to finish my coffee. Morning Natasha.
LOL, Rick! Good morning!
Little Women, Lord of Scoundrels, Pride & Prejudice are some of my favorites that I’ve read more than three times. Michelle asked these same questions on Magical, so I’ll have to answer there, too.
The Horse Whisperer made me cry. The accident scene in the beginning… I listened to the book on tape as I was speeding down the expressway, going to work, in the fast lane with tears running down my cheeks. They should’ve put a “Do not drive while listening” warning on the tape. The ending was another tear-jerker. I hated that they changed it for the movie.
Good luck reading! I used to read a book a day, at least. Not any more.
Oh, Edie, DON’T get me started on the movie!!! I sat there in the movie, BRACING myself for the tragic ending. I didn’t cry when she left because I knew the worst was coming.
And then the credits rolled.
It was SUCH a letdown. Oh man, such a letdown!
Why do I have such a hard time with book lists?
I’ll also throw in my vote for The Glass Castle. I keep mentioning a lot of the same books, but:
1000 Splendid Suns
Kite Runner
Time Traveler’s Wife
Water for Elephants
Lucky
Poisonwood Bible
Life of Pi
Under the Banner of Heaven
Why I Wore Lipstick to My Masectomy
Department of Lost & Found
White Oleander
I’m trying to remember ones that have made me bust out laughing, but I’m drawing a blank…
Okay, see, Melanie? I’ve had those on my “I should read those” list FOREVER. I definitely want to put them on my list NOW!
Maybe if you tell us your preferred genres to read it would help? I pretty much stick to sff, and my favorites include but are not limited to
Frank Herbert – anything, really, but the best are the 1st three Dune books, Whipping Star, and Godmakers
Ilona Andrews – the kate Daniels series, so far three volumes, another due out in 2010.
Laurel K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake Series – the first 8-10 are great (and then it because pretty much a sexual free-for-all and might not appeal to you.)
Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time Series (all eleven volumes, although I haven’t yet gotten through 10 and 11)
Guy Gavriel Kay’s Fionavar Tapestry – a trilogy fantasy with an arthurian theme.
Michelle Sagara’s Chronicles of Elantra
Patricia McKillip’s Riddlemaster of Hed trilogy and The Forgotton Beasts of Eld
Anything by Lord Dunsunnay
Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar books (do start with the Heralds of Valdemar Queens’s Own (books 1-3) and Last Herald-Mage trilogy (books 4-6), and then Kerowyn’s Tale. These, IMO, are the best of the bunch, although they are pretty much all great reads.)
Patricia Brigg – Mercy Thompson series (book 4 to be released soon)
Lois McMaster Bujold – Miles Vorkosigan series, all funny, endearing, rereadable masterpieces of science fiction
Charlaine Harris – The Sookie Stackhouse/ Southern Vampire series
David Weber – The Honor Harrington series, all wonderful military sf with a female lead character.
Do you want more? I’ve got a lot more, but these are some of my favorites which I have reread multiple times.
Written, I love ALL genres. No kidding. Yeah, there’s not really a single genre I don’t read and love. I haven’t read as much romance in the past couple years, so I’m a bit out of touch with them, but I read everything.
I’m totally writing these down! I used to read SF a lot, but for some reason, I just stopped. I love Charlaine Harris, and the Anita Blake series was great. (Just wrote an pop culture essay on it, so in addition to reading it as the books came out, I read the whole entire series twice through in the last year.)
I also thought I’d meantion that while I applaud your goal to read more, I think 365 in a year may be overdoing it. I do read a lot, and I generally am around 150-200 books a year–some years more, some less. Three books a week is 156 a year; four is 208; five is 260. Isn’t that plenty?
LOL, Written, probably! Remember, I’m only writing and not working a second job. I have no kids, either.
I need to keep myself busy!
I answered on Magical and thought of a few more I wanted to mention. A book I cried and laughed over was Marley & Me. Proof by Dick Francis has the best hero. I think Zenna Henderson wrote her “People” books in the 1960′s, but they’re still wonderful. If you haven’t read one, try her. I read an ARC for The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, which will be released in Sept. I LOVED it. It has a mythical Gothic feel. I know I’ll be rereading it.
I’m scared to read Marley & Me! I loved the movie, and could barely stand the ending. Proof… that’s not what Gwyneth Paltrow’s movie was based on, is it? I’d have to read that!
I don’t know the People books! Sounds like I need to explore. And I’ll add The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker just because that’s an awesome title and I love a Gothic feel!
I put my answers at my blog. I’ll also answer at Michelle’s Magical Musings, just in case no one wants to see my answers at my blog.
Thanks, Kath! Great list! (I’ll comment more on your blog.
What book(s) made you a better writer? Essay collections by E.B. White like The Points of my Compass and One Man’s Meat
What book(s) made you cry? We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
What book(s) made you laugh until you were in tears? — The Throwback by Tom Sharpe; Tristram Shandy by Laurance Sterne; Any essay collection by Robert Benchley; The Burnt Orange Heresy and Miami Blues by Charles Willeford (well black humor….)
What book(s) made you feel like you could conquer the world? Lord of the Rings
What book(s) have you read three times or more? Parts of Montaigne’s essays (and E.B. White, Benchley, James Thurber); Bester’s The Stars My Destination
What book(s) kept you up all night reading? Michael Moorcock’s Elric series (They were short, and I sometimes literally spent the night reading them)
What book(s) do you want to read again? The Deep Range — Arthur Clarke (Because I recall it fondly yet it doesn’t seem to have much of a reputation); The Caves of the Vatican by Andre Gide
Any other recommendations?
The King of Elfland’s Daughter by Lord Dunsany; A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller; I the Jury by Mickey Spillane; The Travis McGee novels by John D. MacDonald; The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson and The Beckoning Fair One by Oliver Onions (kind of a dead heat for best ghost stories); The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant; Any Maigret mystery by Georges Simenon (and they are short — pad your total!); Jealousy by Allain Robbe-Grillet.
I should add that, boring as it sounds, I have had extremely good luck this year reading classics from Moby Dick to To the Lighthouse. Even when the books are not exactly to my taste I can usually appreciate whatever it was that gained them their reputations over the years. There are reasons people have remebered the books and continued to read them. Current books tend to be hit and — more often — miss with me.
Thanks, Eric! I wrote a bunch of those down. I still have one you recommended a while back, too. (You said it had weird sex, or something, and so I was all over that, LOL!)
Wow, that’s a lot of books in one year. I’m only up to 57 books read this year. I’m not that fast of a reader though. I saw on Librarything, this one woman read about 900 books in two years. I have to admit I’m deeply impressed. If I could do that, I’d be caught up on all my reading, but my TBR pile is just getting bigger and bigger at the moment.
Christina, I’m so excited about all these books I’ll get to read! Wow! I feel like I’m in a candy shop!
Natasha, the book Marley & Me is much better than the movie. You’ll love it. Proof by Dick Francis isn’t the Gwynneth Paltrow movie.
Oh, okay, Edie! I still put it on the list. Not Marley and Me, but I’m getting brave and I’m putting that on the list right now.
My reading taste is pretty similar to Writtenwyrd’s. To laugh, I love Woody Allen or David Sedaris. I also loved all of Erma Bombeck’s books.
I get into young adult fiction, because my boys recommend things. I love Garth Nix’s Abhorsen Trilogy. It’s soooo cool. Brandon Sanderson’s “Mistborn” series is terrific, too.
I love anything Steven King. Is it dumb to say “Harry Potter”? Well, I’m saying it! Loved each and every one.
You recommended those before, Robin! I’ve had Garth Nix in my TBR pile for a while. I’m going to read him this year!
And I’m re-reading Harry Potter, of course.
Great meme!
I posted this in my blog here:
http://valeriekwrites.blogspot.com/2009/08/fun-book-meme.html
Awesome! I’m headed over to take a look, Valerie!
wow. really? for REAL? i am SO jealous of you. it usually takes me a week to finish a book–when i’m working hard at making time for reading!!
Moonrat visited me? That is so cool, LOL!
My reading has deteriorated in the last year. I want to get the love back! I recently closed my piano studio, so I have all the time in the world, and I have no kids. The only thing I have to do is write, and I may as well learn something about that through reading!