12 Books

I love reading. I used to read book after book after book, sometimes two or three books at a time. I've been reading since I was old enough to read. (I still remember the excitement and pride I felt when I finished reading my very first 'big' book - Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel, illustrated by Blair Lent, in second grade.) In third grade to probably fifth or sixth grade, I was Babysitters Club daft; I owned and had read every book in the series multiple times and was always on the lookout for the next book in the series to come out in stores.



(And I was actually gutted to learn only a couple of years ago that most of Ann M. Martin's BSC books were ghost-written. Innocence of childhood DESTROYED.)

Then I grew into the Fear Street series and then, in high school, started reading actual literature - often out of force from teachers, but I enjoyed the books anyway.

In University, I was an English major and read even more good literature. By that time, I rarely got the chance to read anything for pleasure, due to the requirements by all the various lit classes I was taking, but I still tried fitting in a sneaky personal pick here and there.

Then I graduated, moved to Scotland, had copious amounts of reading time again and got back into reading for fun. By then I was a classics snob (and still pretty much am), and got to read and re-read all the best classic novels I ever wanted.

Then I had kids and my reading list became the likes of 'The Mommy's Survival Guide' and 'Breastfeeding 101'. Not quite classic, but then, there was no time for anything else.

A couple of years ago, I made a New Year's Resolution to read a book a month for the year, but that went abso-freakin-no-where. I realised the problem; I hadn't made a plan.

So this January, I am making a plan. Below are the books I want to read or re-read this year. I don't have all 12 decided yet - am leaving some room for inspiration - but here are the next few months lined up:

Jan- Beloved by Toni Morrison
Feb- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Mar- Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Apr- Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
May- Ada or Ardor by Vladimir Nabokov
Jun- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy*
Jul-
Aug-
Sep-
Oct-
Nov-
Dec-



I am a third the way through Beloved. Judging by the placement of the bookmark from the last time I attempted it (second year of University, I think), I hadn't even made it this far, so I'm enjoying it. I think I also 'get it' more than I would've then anyway. I bit o' life experience and a' that. Maybe I'll even use my reading as a writing opportunity. Book reviews, anyone?

Better yet, Book Club, anyone???

*So not happening the month before the baby is born! But there will be a bit of a childminding break, as one of the children will be leaving in June, and if I am ahead on the other books, maybe I can manage the 349168 words (about 23 hours) of this incredible book!