Do the 2009 TBR challenge

1. ‘An Autobiography of a One Year Old’ by Rohan Candappa
2. ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khaled Hosseini
3. ‘Milleneum People’ by JG Ballard
4. ‘Things I Want My Daughters to Know’ by Elizabeth Noble
5. ‘Northern Lights’ by Philip Pullman
6. ‘The Subtle Knife’ by Philip Pullman
7. ‘The Amber Spyglass’ by Philip Pullman
8. ‘Brick Lane’ by Monica Ali
9. ‘Join Me’ by Danny Wallace
10. ‘The Zombie Survival Guide’ by Max Brooks
11. ‘Generation X’ by Douglas Coupland
12. ‘Fearless Fourteen’ by Janet Evanovich
13. ‘Plum Lovin’ by Janet Evanovich
14. ‘How To Talk About Books You Haven’t Read’ by Pierre Bayard
15. ‘What About Me Too?’ by Kate Figes
16. ‘Shockproof Sydney Skate’ by Marijane Meaker
17. ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ by Audrey Niffenegger

I picked ‘What About Me Too’ from the library on a whim, namely as the protagonist has three children (like me), a stressful job (like me) and a border collie (like me). She also struggles with a difficult husband who shares my husband’s name and a wayward teenage daughter (you guessed it…like me).

I really enjoyed parts of, particularly the teenage girls self-centred, boy obsessed ramblings….so familiar! However, I found the book to be overwhelmingly depressing. I believe the author intended to illustrate how divorce is sometimes inevitable and how life will invariably go on, but the pain was just too raw. Perhaps that was the intention but it just left me feeling rather sad.

I wont be reading the prequel given I know the outcome of the relationship. Nevermind.

Another that is not on my original list but I read a great review of it and it was on offer in the bookshop!

When I started this book I really struggled through it. I found it very dry material with little incentive to turn the pages. It didn’t help that the subject matter is all the reasons not to read books. I wondered why indeed I was reading this one.

I persevered by considering the book as an essay then I found it more digestible. It certainly provided lots of food for thought regarding books we have skimmed, forgotton, heard of or just not read and how our opinions on these can still be valuable. I also enjoyed the concepts of our ‘inner books’, ‘collective libraries’ and ‘phantom books’.

Strangely throughout this book I found my mind wandering to many other places, particularly all the books in my life that have been significant or memorable. The aspect of this book I enjoyed most was the recognition of the subjective books we remember. I also loved the idea of authors not recognising their own work, this is something I have often thought about.

Despite having to drag myself through this book I found it rewarding and satisfying. Worth not reading!!

Should anyone decide they would like to read it then PM me and I’ll send it to you!

Ok, so this isn’t on my list, but I was in the library and thought this would be a fitting Valentine’s day read!

I love the Stephanie Plum books and this little novella was no disappointment. A nice bit of lighthearted escapism peppered with black humour and sexual tension. Perfect for Saturday afternoon with a cuppa.

This was quite an amusing little book that Father Christmas bought me!

It is written from the perspective of a one year old and provides a perpective that proved surprising and funny. At times I felt the author was trying just a little too hard to sound intellectual but given that the book is written in the voice of a child it was still a giggle.

I loved that he refers to his Mum and Dad as ‘Smooth and Hairy’ and some of the anecdotes and explanations of baby behaviour had me laughing.

If anyone else fancies reading this PM me and I’ll pop it in the post!

I’ve just finished my first book of the year (a pressie from Santa) but there are many more eagerly awaiting on the shelves:

1. ‘An Autobiography of a One Year Old’ by Rohan Candappa
2. ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khaled Hosseini
3. ‘Milleneum People’ by JG Ballard
4. ‘Things I Want My Daughters to Know’ by Elizabeth Noble
5. ‘Northern Lights’ by Philip Pullman
6. ‘The Subtle Knife’ by Philip Pullman
7. ‘The Amber Spyglass’ by Philip Pullman
8. ‘Brick Lane’ by Monica Ali
9. ‘Join Me’ by Danny Wallace
10. ‘The Zombie Survival Guide’ by Max Brooks
11. ‘Generation X’ by Douglas Coupland
12. ‘Fearless Fourteen’ by Janet Evanovich

Anything else that I read this year (that I haven’t read before) will also go under this list. Under a seperate goal will be books I am re-reading. I do want to increase my non-fiction reading but I am undecided whether that will come under a third goal or not.