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With only nine days left in the year, it's time to make a realistic evaluation of my 2010 reading goal. I made a valiant effort, but I won't have reached it. In all fairness, the goal I set -- to read 50 books in 52 weeks -- was arbitrary, because I had no idea how many books I generally average reading in a year, nor did I know how many I could read. Some bloggers were signing on to the 100 Books in a Year challenge back in January, and I knew that was too lofty a goal for me. So I set my mark at half that. The goal definitely kept my reading momentum high all year. Here's what I did read:
1. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - by Stieg Larsson (2005, Norstedts Forlag [Swedish] -- ISBN 978-1847242532) Read my discussion here.
2. The Almost Moon -- by Alice Sebold (2007, Little, Brown and Company -- ISBN 0316677469)Read my review here.
3. The Hunger Games - by Suzanne Collins (2008, Scholastic Press -- ISBN-13: 978-0-436-02348-1) Read my review here.
4. The Giver - by Lois Lowry (1993, Dell Laurel-Leaf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books -- ISBN: 0-440-23768-8)
5. Among the Hidden - by Margaret Peterson Haddix (2000, Aladdin Paperbacks -- ISBN-13: 9780689824753)
6. Hush Hush - by Becca Fitzpatrick (2009, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing -- ISBN-13: 9781416989417)
7. Animal Farm - by George Orwell (copyright 1945, Current Pub. Date 1996, Penguin Group (USA) -- ISBN-13: 9780451526342)
8. The Shack - by William P. Young (2008, windblown Media -- ISBN-13: 9780964729230)
9. A Christmas Memory, One Christmas, and The Thanksgiving Visitor - by Truman Capote (copyrights in order the short stories are listed here: 1956/1984 by Capote; 1982/1983, by Capote; 1967 by Capote, renewed 1995 by Alan U. Schwartz, Current Pub. Date 1996, Modern Library Edition, Random House, Inc. -- ISBN-0-679-60237-2)
10. Sula - by Toni Morrison (copyright 1973; Reprint Pub. Date 2004, Knopf Doubleday Publishing, ISBN-13: 9781400033430)
11. The Pearl - by John Steinbeck (copyright 1947, Reprint Pub. Date 2002, Penguin Group (USA), ISBN-13: 9780142000694)
12. Breakfast at Tiffany's: A Novel & Three Stories (Modern Library Series) - by Truman Capote (Original copyright 1958; Current Pub. Date January 1994, Random House Publishing -- ISBN-13: 9780679600855)
13. Pickles to Pittsburgh - by Judy Barrett (1997; Simon & Schuster Children's --ISBN-13: 9780689801044)
14. Charming Billy - by Alice McDermott (2009; Picador USA -- ISBN-13: 9780312429423)
15. Catching Fire - by Suzanne Collins (2009; Scholastic, Inc. -- ISBN-13: 9780439023498)
16. And Murder for Dessert - by Kathleen Delaney (2009; Poisoned Pen Press -- ISBN-13: 9781615950416)
17. Among the Imposters - by Margaret Peterson Haddix (2002; Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing -- ISBN-13: 9780689839085)
18. Among the Betrayed - by Margaret Peterson Haddix (2003; Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing -- ISBN-13: 9780689839092)
19. Among the Barons - by Margaret Peterson Haddix (2004, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing -- ISBN-13: 9780689839108)
20. Among the Brave - by Margaret Peterson Haddix (2005, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing -- ISBN-13: 9780689857959)
21. Among the Enemy - by Margaret Peterson Haddix
22. Among the Brave - by Margaret Peterson Haddix
23. The Town That Forgot How To Breathe - by Kenneth J. Harvey
24. The Mistress - by Philippe Tapon
25. Mockingjay - by Suzanne Collins
26. Paranormalcy - by Kiersten White
27. Devil Bones - by Kathy Reichs
28. Fallen Knight - by DL Hammon
29. Enzo's Mamma - by Wendy Ramer
30. On Writing - by Stephen King
31. Housekeeping - by Marilynne Robinson
And, I'm in the final chapters of book #32, Nightshade City by Hilary Wagner.
Fun stats from my 2010 Reading Challenge:
Novels read in my genre (literary fiction) = 9
Books by debut novelists read = 6
YA novels (I never read this genre before 2010) = 5
MG novels (I never read this genre as an adult) = 9
Novels read that are over thirty years old = 5
Books I read that I would recommend to friends = 23
Books I read that I would have quit reading if I weren't so stubborn = 3
I'm definitely planning to challenge myself with reading goals in 2011. What those will be, I haven't decided. I may set a more reasonable number so that I don't feel like I'm rushing through each selection. Perhaps I'll add reviewing to my goal sheet.
One thing's for sure: I still have a stack of To-Read books on my nightstand, to kick off the new year!
Do you set reading goals for yourself? And Must-Read recommendations for me?
23 comments:
I missed the 100 mark by a long shot but I can't write and read at the same time. Maybe next year.
I've read in the mid-60's this year, I think. My reading slows considerably when I'm writing, but I'm trying to get Evan to join me in developing a reading before bed habit.
I never set reading goals, but given that I read an average of a book a weekend...
:-)
I never set reading goals, but given that I read an average of a book a weekend...
:-)
The Shack was amazing. I devoured that book in one afternoon, laughing and crying all the while. Sounds like you had a productive reading year, Nicki!
Oh, this is too cool! Thanks for the post - I will definitely do something like this for next year.
You did really well! I've read a few of these and am now off to check some of your reviews.
Wow! Great list! I do not have a goal list but I read what I can,. when I can. You should check out YOU by Charles Benoit. It's fab.
That's an awesome list and the Almost Moon was definitely haunting.
I don't typically set goals, but I'm thinking I should this year.
You read a lot of really great books this year! I don't have any reading goals because I always make time to read. It's writing goals I need to stick to! :) I like the idea of reading a certain amount of books for the year. That'd be fun!
hi miss nicole! wow you did pretty good on your goal. i didnt ever set a goal but im gonna try it for in the new year. im not gonna make it to high cause i got lots of other stuff i wanna do and i dont wanna think yikes i cant go play baseball or got swimming cause im gonna get behind on my reading goal. i hope you could do a good goal for you.
...hugs from lenny
i did not set a reading goal for 2010 because i, like you, had no idea how many books i typically read in a year.
I think i'll set a goal for 2011 though
Wow, you've done fantastically!
I didn't set any goals, but I should at least keep count of how many books I've read. Maybe next year.
Wow thats alot of books, but I'm there with you in the reading area. each semester I have a reading goal to meet through college. If you don't mind reading older books you may enjoy some like "The Monk" by Matthew lewis. He's a great author from times past. He wrote his book in 6 weeks. Its not perfect but if you can get to the end you will be glad you did. also "Poor things" by Alasdair Grey. Hes a more recent Scottish author and did a fantastic job on his novel. very literary and very fun read.
So fun to see your stats! I didn't keep track, but maybe I will for 2011 just to be curious.
And I LOVE that you tried out some MG and YA. :)
Only three you would've stopped reading? That's really good out of thirty-two!
Congrats on your reading accomplishment, Nicole. :)
I will be doing a similar post next week, but I shall give you a couple book recs right now.
Keep in mind I read all genres for all ages, but have a passion for literary fiction. The criteria for me to recommend a book means it must be stellar. It must stay with me long after I've turned the last page. The writing, the story and the characters all need to be radiant.
So, for a change of pace for you, I shall suggest the 2 best YA books I read in 2011...and they both also happen to make my top 10 list for favorite fiction of the year... o fall genre/age categories.
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
and
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Have a very Merry Christmas and here's to a freaking spectacular 2011!
Love,
Lola
Wow! Impressive!! I haven't read a "fun" book in AGES!! I would say I don't have time, but I suppose I could spend less time blogging and Facebooking! :) Would love to know what you thought about The Shack. Did I send that to you? I know I bought a copy for you, but I can't remember if I ever got my butt to the PO to send it to you!
I don't set any goals, really. Reading is my fun / escape time. I don't want to feel like I *have* to do it. I'm going to keep track in 2011, though...to see how many I normally read.
Merry Christmas!
Okay...I'm just gonna say it...it's so cool to be included on your list! That just gives me all kind of warm fuzzies! :)
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You might not have reached your goal, but you got some great reading done!
As far as recommendations, I think everyone should read Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier. Have you read that one?
I am not sure how many books I read, but normally I dont's set goal and I don't usually stick to one genre. Last year for example it was mostly spent reading Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, so that took up most of my year.This year however there was a lot of variety and I read two books that stood out for me. Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen and most recently, If I Stay by Gayle Forman both beautifully written.
Happy Reading in 2011!
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