Almost halfway through the goal year!

[BoiseSauves]

August 25^th

Well, tomorrow is my ½ way point for my reading goal for this year-50 books from birthday to birthday.

Here's an update on what I've read (again, thank you all for your suggestions, if you don't see anything you suggested on here, it's most likely because I haven't gotten to it or haven't been able to procure it from the library yet).

 

In no particular order:

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (interesting, probably wouldn't read more of his books, but might if one fell in my lap. Looking forward to watching the movie with Humphrey Bogart next month when I've got a couple hours to spare).

 

Seeing Emily by Joyce Lee Wong (written in free verse poetry about the turmoil of being a teenager but also about being a Chinese-American teenager caught between cultures. Very good)

 

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (loved it, about being a first generation Indian-American, bittersweet)

 

The Minstrel's Tale by Berit Haahr (not bad, young adult literature, about a young woman who is about to be wed to a much, much older man and how she manages to escape her fate and find a better life. A bit predictable though.)

 

Mr. Darcy's Daughters (can't recall the author, a bit predictable as well and follows a similar plot to Pride and Prejudice, but fun to read anyway!)

 

Me and Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter (ditto, but a more modernized telling, sort of, of Pride and Prejudice, fun read)

 

Wicked, Son of a Witch and Confessions of an Ugly Step-Sister all by Gregory Maguire (interesting look at the other side of the Wizard of Oz-and continuation from that side-and also of Cinderella. Kind of goes into the politics and motivations of the "villains.")

 

Heidi by Johanna Spyri (sweet classic story, feel-good read)

 

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (Ditto)

 

The Saving Graces (can't recall the author, fun story about friendship in older women and how they help each other through tough times)

 

The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot (I read the final 3 during this stint, I love Meg Cabot's books even though these are official YAL or teen fiction. The Mediator is a tuff teen girl who is blessed/cursed with the ability to deal with the dead who haven't crossed over yet and hopefully help them finish their business and move along.)

 

The Wrinkle in Time Series by Madeline L'Engle (read all 4 of these as well, really enjoyed these children's/young adult classics about space and time and family and friendships)

 

The Extraordinary Mrs. R. (can't recall the author, but he was a pastor and a serious name-dropper. Aside from that, this is an interesting view of Eleanor Roosevelt's post-FDR life and her friendships)

 

Between Worlds by Bill Richardson (this is the New Mexican governor's auto-biography, interesting guy, interesting life, would like to see him as Obama's running mate, c'est la vie!)

 

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (okay, I've been putting off reading anything of hers for years and finally did it-wow! Fun, fast mystery, great characters. What was I thinking to have waited so long?)

 

Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome (again, can't recall the authors, but interesting read about, well, title says it all)

 

I am currently reading: In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig and a book on Nutrition for people with Down Syndrome (I work with people with disabilities, so that's research for work, but its pretty interesting in a general sense as well). Next up, if I can get it renewed, is On the Road with Jack Keroak (sp?). That puts me up to 23 books finished, working on 3 more-should be done with at least one of those by the end of this week. I'm a little behind, but I think I'll catch up nicely and the books about Down Syndrome are kind of slowing me down as they are about 400 pages of semi-dry text-good info, just slow to read.

[BoiseSauves]

Sep. 18, 2008 at 6:42 PM

Okay, so now in September I've finished the Nutrition book and had to return Zen and the Art of MC Maint, again, before finishing it (I am going to have to break down and buy that book!) and am currently reading "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri and "On the Road" with Jack Keroac--both interesting, both very different. Not sure where my reading journey will take me next, but someone recommended Rebecca Pritchard? I think that's her name. I'm brain dead and cannot think of what the titles of the books are--Winter Solstice might be one? IDK. Anyway, my next goal will be to head out to Rainbow Books and some other used book stores and find a copy of Zen and the Art . . . Oh, and I want to read Brideshead Revisited as well. And I've been trying to find some more Meg Cabot books--the ones written for adults, but the library doesn't seem to have many of them, at least not when I'm looking for them! :-)

(Original Poster)