To add another layer of challenge to the whole experience, I've also signed up for the 2011 GoodReads Reading Challenge (thanks, Phoena). Basically, the GoodReads challenge requires you to choose a number of books for the year, but doesn't require that you say what they are. So, for now, my goal is a nice, moderate 20 books. That's more books than I read last year, but I figure that with school being what it is, I should be able to pull it off, especially with my Directed Readings class!
To make this whole experience easier, I'm getting a Kindle 3G! I've been dying to have one, so I decided on getting one after reading up on all of the options. It's getting less expensive at only $189, has free 3G WiFi, and is easy on the eyes. I especially like that you can one-click order books and that it's possible to make notes and bookmarks on the books themselves -- I really like that part! I can make notes without defacing a book, that's awesome to me. Also, Amazon offers thousands of free classics, which I really like. It's a huge step for me, buying an e-reader, especially since everyone I know seems to be adamantly opposed to it, but I think it's the right decision. Post all about my rationale for getting the Kindle later, this post is about reading challenges!
So here's my list for the 2011 Busy Bookworm Challenge:
- Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate #1) by Gail Carriger
- Changeless (The Parasol Protectorate #2) by Gail Carriger
- Blameless (The Parasol Protectorate #3) by Gail Carriger
- Heartless (The Parasol Protectorate #4) by Gail Carriger
- The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs
- Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
- Need (Need #1) by Carrie Jones
- Fallen (Fallen #1) by Lauren Kate
- Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
- Outlander (Outlander #1) by Diana Gabaldon
- The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner
- Bossypants by Tina Fey
- Spooky Little Girl by Laurie Notaro
- I love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies): True Tales of a Loudmouth Girl by Laurie Notaro
- The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber
- The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch
Well, that's what I've got so far. I really need to think through the last one. I don't have a ton of time to read, but I'd really like to get these ones read in addition to my classwork. I think the biggest trick is going to be to convince Matt to leave me alone long enough to read a book. I actually spent the entire break doing nothing but gaming with him, which was fun but has left me feeling so disappointed in not getting anything else done. Really, really disappointed.
So there you have it, those are the books I hope to get done this year. Wish me luck, I may need it with all of my classwork, studying for the comps, and working on my thesis. With all that going on, I need all the me-reading time I can get!
***QUICK UPDATE(S): I added Tina Fey's book, Bossypants, to my list of reading for the year. The woman is hilarious and she makes me laugh, what more could you want? It's not out until April, so I have time to get a head start on some of the other books before it comes out.
I also added Spooky Little Girl and I Love Everybody by Laurie Notaro because she's hilarous. One's fiction, one's non-fiction, and I can't wait to get them!
The list just keeps growing and growing.
***QUICK UPDATE 2: I added yet another book to the list.. or rather, two! I saw The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker and The Hangman's Daughter on Amazon and I had to buy them. I figured that if I'm going to read them, they might as well go on the list. I ordered them for Kindle, so it should be on my Kindle when it comes, along with Gail Carriger's Soulless.
