read 100 books by this time next year

OK well resigned to the fact that this goal is truly impossible, I think getting a quarter of the way there isn’t bad. 10 days to go, I might make it to 27 perhaps but for now,

23-Fynn – Mister God, This Is Anna
24-Ali Smith – The Accidental
25-Jon McGregor – If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things

All really enjoyable, for different reasons. Currently reading Bill Bryson’s ‘A Walk In The Woods’.

Have a list of recommended reading as long as my arm, many classics to get through before I head off to uni next september to study English Literature and a whole gap year so I’m not stuck for choice or time. Anyway, reading the books I own shall remain a goal for the time being, too in-need of money at the minute to be buying more.

20, Irvine Welsh – Trainspotting
21, Jean-Dominique Bauby – The Diving Bell & The Butterfly
22, Yann Martel – Life of Pi

Ok. So i’ve realised I’m not going to complete this goal – somehow I only have 2 months left to go (these last three books have been fantastic, though). Despite the fact I’m on holiday and that I have no concrete plans for these next two months I still can’t see myself fitting in reading 78 books, somheow! Been a good run though and good to get back into reading- perhaps the pressure of this goal being gone might make me speed up subsconsciously. Got into university to study English & German so maybe I should locate a reading list and get going with that :)

18, Alice Sebold – The Lovely Bones
19, Nick Hornby – About A Boy

Really glad I finished The Lovely Bones, it was a beautiful and sometimes difficult read, I was discussing it with a friend and sufficient words escaped her when describing it. Definitely recommended though.

About a Boy was somewhat ruined by the fact I inadvertently saw some of the film beforehand and therefore knew the gist of the plot (hate it when that happens) However there were some differences in story and Hornby’s style is so enjoyable and full of witty observation that it was still a worthwhile read.

Need to finish God of Small Things and two Margaret Atwood books I’d put off during exam time. Freedom is nice :D

14. George Orwell – Animal Farm

15. Giles Foden – The Last King of Scotland.

16. George Orwell – 1984.

17. John Simpson – 20 Tales From The War Zone

been a while since i updated and I feel I’ve missed one out perhaps. But those four have been superb reads, all. Glad to have finally read what are regarded as Orwell’s best two works, really impressed. Looking forward to watching the film of Last King of Scotland, I hear the portrayal of Amin is excellent. The last was a short read but equally interesting, huge variety of experiences Simpson has had; inspiring and shocking in equal measure.

Exams are fast approaching so this goal may slow down for a bit, but thinking of finally starting on some Dostoevsky or Hemingway.

12 – Tennesee Williams – A Streetcar Named Desire
13 – Allen Carr – Burning Ambition

Currently reading

Giles Foden – The Last King of Scotland
George Orwell – Animal Farm (finally)

9 – Henrik Ibsen – A Doll’s House
10 – Audrey Niffenegger – The Time Traveler’s Wife
11 – Aldous Huxley – Brave New World

Loved all of them, particularly the latter two. Not to say Ibsen’s play isn’t exceedingly clever, but it’s a relatively simple read. BNW and Time Traveler’s Wife have been very thought-provoking experiences, and it has been great to talk to people who have read them both.

More ideas – will be reading Tennesee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire soon, the last text to study for my IB English literature course.

Also want to read 1984 by Orwell asap, got a good pile of other stuff to be getting through including a couple of books given to me by friends. Interested in getting “Reading Lolita in Tehran” having seen that in the bookshop and having been recommended it.

6. The Hitch-hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy – Douglas Adams

brilliant. Hilarious!

7. The Good Person of Szechwan – Bertolt Brecht

Read it just because I should read some German literature and was really pleasantly surprised, a thought-provoking play. Going to do some more work on it later so might read it in the original German soon!

8. Homage to Catalonia – George Orwell

for my Spanish Civil War college history coursework. Loved it, so readable. Need to pull my finger out and read 1984 and others already!

also begun The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger and soon to begin A Doll’s House – Henrik Ibsen.

I feel I might be going a bit slowly with this task…huge piles of books building up on every horizontal surface in my room though!

The Grim Grotto

And that, friends, is 50 books (keeping in mind my reduced goal…). So I’ll count this complete. However, I will continue counting books, as my goal is to read 75 books in 2008.

The Slippery Slope

I am the Messenger