I want to thank you all so much for your comments yesterday. I never hesitate to keep you updated on Ben’s health because I always receive a flood of support. I really appreciate the kind words, long distance hugs, and prayers. And I’m happy to hear how many of you already organ donors! If there is any more news to share in Ben’s journey, I’ll be sure to let y’all know.
On to the next! Can you believe it is already February? In my experience, January is usually one of those months that just draaaags on, but not this year. I hope it flew by for you, too. I’ve loved reading people’s progress on their monthly goals and New Year’s resolutions thus far. I didn’t have any resolutions this year, but I did decide to set a goal for myself: I want to read 50 books by the end of the year.
One month in, I’m doing pretty-pretty good. I’ve already read 6 and I’m halfway through numero 7. Books I’ve completed in 2013:
- Lost At Sea by Jon Ronson
- Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever by Bill O’Reilly
- Second Helpings (Jessica Darling #2) by Megan McCafferty
- Charmed Thirds (Jessica Darling #3) by Megan McCafferty
- Fourth Comings (Jessica Darling #4) by Megan McCafferty
- Do Less, Achieve More: Discovering the Hidden Power of Giving In by Chin-Ning Chu
Currently reading – Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power by Rachel Maddow.
Three of the books I read are part of a five book series that I read in college. (I skipped the first and last book because I don’t own those and I don’t really like them as much.) Some may think that the JD series is childish, but I loved re-reading the books. McCafferty is wickedly witty, and I enjoy the self-discovery sans mushiness that the books provide. Plus, some of the books take place just long enough ago to provide some nostalgia. (References to boy bands, Miss Cleo, James Frey, the W. years, oh my!) I can never have too much JD in my life, and it had been a while since I read those. Definitely worth the re-visit.
All the other books on the list are non-fiction! I like to mix it up, and I feel like I’m doing that. I’ve even got opposite ends of the political spectrum on my list from O’Reilly and Maddow. (I can tell you that both of them have very distinctive voices, which totally come through in their writing.)
I’m a little bit stuck in the mud with this Maddow book. I’m still in the middle of it, but I can tell you that so far some of it I found fascinating (like the portion about Vietnam) and some of it I have found snooze-worth (Iran-Contra, not as sexy as Vietnam). I’m hoping to suck it up and plow through to the finish soon.
I’ve got a few books on their way to me in the mail (huzzah!) and I plan to hit up the post library after I finish Drift to see what else it out there that might tickle my fancy. Project: read 50 books in ’13 (catchy name, right?) is off to a swell start.
Do you re-read books you’ve already read? or are you a one-and-done kind of reader? I re-read a lot of the books I love; they are just too good not to!*
Good job on reading so many books already! I dont think I could read the Rachel Maddow book…I cant stand her on tv lol
Haha, yeah Rachel is an acquired taste!*
The Power of Five Books Collection is now available at snazal wholesale books.
I re-read Harry Potter ALL THE TIME.
Other than that, once I’m done, I’m done. Good luck on your 50 books goal! You are off to a good start!
Harry Potter is a series that I would consider timeless. Anyone can read it and relate to it and love it. Definitely worth re-reading!*
It makes me smile to see that you have the family love of reading!! And I am always impressed withe the breadth of your selections! I have only reread a few books as there are so many out there. I have read Gone With The Wind at least 3 times. It was my first adult read when I was about 12.
You read Gone With The Wind when you were 12! Wow! I gave it a real go once, but I couldn’t get all the way through it. Maybe I’ll give it another try now.
I’m so glad that reading has always been huge in our family. I know I’m fortunate to have grown up in a literature-rich home. That’s why I’m always buying books for the little kids in my life. (Children’s books were the first thing I bought Mary Beth when I found out she was pregnant with Whitley!)*
I almost never re-read either, but Gone With The Wind is one I have also read about 3 times! I can remember hiding it inside my text book during Mr. Kloha’s 9th grade history class! I never knew that Aunt Kathy and I were about the same age when we read it. One thing I miss about living in Michigan is family book exchange – we would all trade books back and forth with each other. I did go through Grandma’s stash when I was home at Christmas and brought about a dozen books back to Texas with me.
I’m a huge re-reader. I am a speed reader and consider books to be friends. So it’s nice to revisit old friendships again and again. That said, I have to balance it so that I read new books too.
I love that you said the books are like friends. Yes! Some of the books I associate with a certain moment in my life, or they comforted me, or they opened my eyes. Definitely worth re-reading to recapture those feelings.*
I never re-read. Even the books I love. But I still keep them around for some reason. I’ve been thinking lately if I should get rid of them or not. Some are hard cover and it’s hard to part with them! I’m so glad the Nook was invented because I have more space in my house because of it.
I love the look of a bookshelf full of books. Moving with a ridiculous number of books is kind of a pain, though. Where to put them all? I’ve sold some to Half Price Books in the past so that other can love them and I can use the cash to get a frappuccino.*
Reading is something I can’t wait to get more into. Have you ever read Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas series? It’s one of my favorites. He has five out so far and the sixth is expected to be out this year
You’re ahead of schedule; good job!! I read the first three JD books in junior high? high school? Don’t remember. But I didn’t know there’s a fourth so when I saw on goodreads that you were reading it, I added it to my list.
I think you probably already know that I’m not a re-reader. I’m also not an audio book kind of person. I feel like that’s cheating on actual books!
Soooo little miss “hey Janelle you should write more book reviews,” where have YOUR reviews been?!?
Please post if you read anything amazing!
I want to read those J.D. books! They sound right up my alley. The only book I’ve read this year is Tangerine… I keep trying to read Harry Potter (I’ve read the first 2 and seen almost all of the movies), but I get stuck because for whatever reason I can’t just start with the third book, and reading the first one is making me bored because I already know what happens! I guess I’m kind of a one and done reader.
I don’t usually reread books, my husband does though. I think he’s read all the Harry Potter books at least 10 times, and the Hobbit series a half dozen or so.
I usually re-read. Once I find a book/genre that I like, I tend to stick with it. The truly timeless books that I’ve read several times now never feel boring. They’re like old movies where you notice something new every time you see them. Who knows how many times I’ve gone through Sun Tzu’s The Art of War…
I love that you’re reading from both sides of the political spectrum- very well-rounded of you!
50 books!!! That is a great goal for the year! I’m not much into reading books because I don’t really have the patience – I’m much more about magazines and periodicals, etc. But when I do read books, generally I’m a one and done reader. Although, I have heard SO much recently about the Rhonda Byrne series of books (e.g. The Secret, The Magic, et al) so I just put in an interlibrary request to have them sent to my local library!
That is an awesome goal! I wish I could relax enough to read more books. I’m proud of you! And honestly I would never ever re-read a book, but that’s probably cuz I haven’t read that many that there are so many on my list that I want to read and never make the time. LOL