February 01, 2010

January reading update

As many of you know, one of my 2010 New Year's resolutions is to read 3 books per month. I say is because resolutions are supposed to be something you remember to strive for all year.

I first made this resolution in 2009, but fell short at 20 books for the year.

So far I'm a book short in reaching my goal. Boo.

JANUARY:
SUITE SCARLETT by Maureen Johnson (Young Adult)
THE TEMPTATION OF THE NIGHT JASMINE by Lauren Willig (Historical Fiction/Spy Thriller/Romance)

SCARLETT FEVER, the sequel to SUITE SCARLETT, and BETRAYAL OF THE BLOOD LILY, the latest book in the PINK CARNATION series (of which NIGHT JASMINE belongs) were both released recently. I am so invested in these worlds right now, I just want to go pluck them from Barnes and Noble and devour them. As such, I am dragging my feet on starting the next book.

After all, I am the person who, while reading the LEFT BEHIND series several summers ago, would finish one book at 11 o'clock on a weeknight and ask Bear to take me to Wal-Mart to get the next one. Amazingly, he would do it. Right then. Happily.

What can I say? I'm blessed. My husband supports my reading habit.

My next choice (which is always updated on the sidebar at right) is a strategic one - the third installment in C.S. Lewis' CHRONICLES OF NARNIA series, THE HORSE AND HIS BOY. At less than 250 pages, it's length should help me catch up.

As Bear (and my aunt) like to remind me, some of the books I most stubbornly refused to read ended up being my favorites. Some of these include the previously mentioned LEFT BEHIND series. TWIIGHT. WORLD WAR Z. And, oh yeah... HARRY POTTER.

Guess I better get to reading. Wish me luck for February!

What are YOU reading right now?

6 comments:

Debbie Barr said...

Just finished "The Looking Glass Wars" which I did not enjoy because I've suddenly become extremely picky about writing. To help me feel better I'm indulging in the next Percy Jackson book (#4) since those are fun and I already know I like the writing.

Abby Stevens said...

Debbie - I bought THE LOOKING GLASS WARS a while back but have yet to read it. I'm fascinated with Alice in Wonderland, so I hope I like it! What bothered you specifically about the writing?

I have not read any of the Percy Jackson books, but as a lover of fantasy, I'm sure I will check it out at some point.

Erik said...

Nice blog - now following it.

I'm currently reading Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman :) Recommended!

My goal is to read 50 books (started Jan 20th). I'm afraid it might be hard to keep up the pace for an entire year, especially as I'm prone to quit projects I've started, but we'll see.

#1: Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
#2: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
#3: Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman (almost finished)

Abby Stevens said...

Erik - Thank you. :) That is a very impressive pace. Good luck and keep me posted! I am honestly a little daunted by my goal of reading 3 per month. I enjoy reading immensely and am a pretty fast reader, but I only read before bed unless I'm heavily absorbed in a book.

I've read that Nicholas Sparks reads over 125 books per year - crazy, huh? As a writer, reading is very much a part of my job, but I enjoy it as leisure far too much to pressure myself. I will try to reach my goal, but if I don't... well, that's okay, too.

I will add FRAGILE THINGS to my list of recommended reads.

Erik said...

I mostly read before bed too, but I tend to read half the night. Oh, and on the bus, too - that's nice.

Yeah 125 books per year is what.. slightly more than 1 book every 3 days!?

Oh, I should probably mention that FRAGILE THINGS is a collection of short stories, and not a novel. They are pretty amusing, though.

Chandra Brinkley said...

Nothing. I am not reading anything right now, and my life is empty. On that note, when I finish reading your blog, I am going to library in a to pick up books that I have on hold :)

I recently finished two different vampire series (Charlaine Harris, Sookie Stackhouse and J.R. Ward, Black Dagger Brotherhood) which I fell into after my obsession with the Twilight Saga abruptly ended 5 nights after picked up Twilight while in the check-out line at TJ Max on a whim. Like you, Abby, I requested that my boyfriend, Rob, take me to Wal-Mart at 11 p.m. to buy the next book in the series (for the record, he took me). I have not read Harry Potter but have been thinking very seriously about it.

I really enjoy reading your blog. I am always looking for new books to read and have already added a few you have mentioned here to my list! :)

You might also like...

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...