After reading somewhere in the vicinity of 40 books in 2011, I determined to challenge myself to read at least 52 in 2012 - yes, that makes one book per week. I knew that I wanted (and needed) a better way to track my progress than a simple list. Part of the joy I find in reading comes from digesting the material. Writing a short review forces that response. A blog seemed the natural way to do that. After all, if you read a good book, you want to share it with someone.
I am proud to say that I not only accomplished, but surpassed the goal which I set for myself. In 2012, I read a total of 54 books. Before you picture me as someone who lays at home and does nothing but read and write this blog (wouldn't that be the life?), keep in mind that I have a full-time job, a part time job, and got both engaged and married during 2012. Throughout the year, I have seen my TV time decrease significantly and have noticed a marked difference in the way that I read. I pay more attention to what the author is saying between the lines and how he/she is saying it. I have always loved reading, but this year, this challenge, helped me to rediscover the joy and excitement I felt for reading as a child.
To read more about my challenge along the way, check out these posts, or make your way through the list below.
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- My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business - Dick Van Dyke
- A Clash of Kings - George R.R. Martin
- A Daughter's Walk - Jane Kirkpatrick
- The Duchess of Windsor: The Uncommon Life of Wallis Simpson - Greg King
- A Storm of Swords - Geore R.R. Martin
- A Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America - Erik Larson
- Divergent - Veronica Roth
- In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin - Erik Larson
- Captivating:Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul - John & Stasi Eldredge
- Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef - Gabrielle Hamilton
- The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
- Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
- 11/22/63 - Stephen King
- Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
- The Giver - Lois Lowry
- Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry
- Messenger - Lois Lowry
- Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer
- Erasing Hell - Francis Chan & Preston Sprinkle
- The Queen Jade: A New World Novel of Adventure - Yxta Maya Murray
- The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
- A Feast for Crows - George R.R. Martin
- Insurgent - Veronica Roth
- Cinder - Marissa Meyer
- The Litigators - John Grisham
- The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan
- First Families - Bonnie Angelo
- Four Kitchens - Lauren Shockey
- The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake - Aimee Bender
- The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
- The Company - K.J. Parker
- Let's Pretend This Never Happend: (A Mostly True Memoir) - Jenny Lawson
- Common Sense - Thomas Paine
- Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
- The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand
- Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
- The Testament of Jessie Lamb - Jane Rogers
- The List - Siobhan Vivian
- The Plot Against America - Philip Roth
- Angels & Demons - Dan Brown
- The Most Important Year In a Man's/Woman's Life - Wolgemuth & DeVries
- Anne of Avonlea - L.M. Montgomery
- Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
- The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
- Son - Lois Lowry
- Reading Lolita in Tehran - Azar Nafisi
- Anne of the Island - L.M. Montgomery
- Atonement - Ian McEwan
- The Casual Vacancy - J.K. Rowling
- Thomas Jefferson's Crème Brûlée - Thomas J. Craughwell
- Wench - Dolen Perkins-Valdez
- I Am America (And So Can You!) - Stephen Colbert
- My First Ladies - Nancy Clarke
- A Dance With Dragons - George R.R. Martin
Pages Read in 2012: 22,806
