read 52 books in 52 weeks

Now that I have completed this goal, I have been debating whether to vote this goal as worth it or not. I already had a habit of reading so this was more a goal to see how many I do read. On the one hand, I ended up reading books more for shorter length after about September, although I usually prefer longer works. Other other hand, I made some wonderful discoveries since I was looking ‘outside the box.’ So, I would say it is worth it once but I would not have this goal every year. Perhaps as valuable as all that reading was recording my thoughts here and keeping track of books I read for a year. So, if you choose this goal, enjoy!

The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell

The shortest book and the 52nd of the year. A wonderful sweet tale with the characters from Mutts. We bought it for a 2 year old family member since we enjoyed it immensely ourselves. Well illustrated with a message about what’s important in life.

The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists by Gideon Defoe

Bought this for the silly title, but it was just a little too silly for me.. crossing the fine line into stupid. Maybe it was just me, others might enjoy it more.

The Stupidest Angel, Version 2.0, by Christopher Moore

Just plain silly. And raunchy. After a great start, it slows a bit until the zombies show up, when it picks up until a deus ex machina ending. If you like Moore and read and enjoyed his other books, you will enjoy this one. I would recommend him as a wonderful comedic writer, but it would be better to start with one of his other books first (see my review of Fluke near the beginning of the year).

(Two more books, and three days, to meet my goal!)

Across the Nightingale Floor: Journey to Inuyama by Lian Hearn

Second in the series but bringing to a close several of the story lines from Sword of the Warrior. Again, interesting and well-written in a clear style with likable and complex characters. Recommended for those who like fantasy but who are looking for somethinng a little different.

Across the Nightingale Floor: The Sword of the Warrior by Lian Hearn

First of a series of six fantasy books set in a fictional world based on Japan. Interesting beginning and well written.

Music for Mechanics by Los Bros Hernandez

Interesting graphic novel, but sexist and dated. I can see how it was innovative in the 1980s but perhaps I should try some of their more recent work.

Castle Waiting by Linda Medley

Enjoyable but light. Really not much more to say about it.

[Note: I now have 6 books to read in 15 days. Plus all that Christmas shopping to do. Yikes!]

The Gate to Women’s Country by Sheri S. Tepper

I read this 15 years ago or so and was pleased when it was chosen for our book club. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed reading Sheri Tepper. It has some weak portions, mostly when she gets too polemic, but it is not such a problem in this book as it is in her later works. Enjoyable and thought-provoking science fiction.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi

Outstanding graphic novel of a child growing up in Iran in the 1970s. Sad, humorous, historical. Highly recommended.