Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about mid-year reading…Now that we’ve come to the middle of the year, what do you think of your 2009 reading so far? Read anything interesting that you’d like to share? Any outstanding favourites?
My goal this year is to read 100 books for the 100+ Challenge. I'm fifteen books away from meeting that goal and it's just the middle of the year. I've been expanding my reading horizons a bit this year and stumbled on a theme - first time author reads. I've read some really interesting books and discovered some really good and also some I considered not so good authors. But some of those not so good are really, really popular which makes me scratch my head and wonder what I'm missing. So, I'm taking a tip from Shanra who recently posted Shanra's Tips for giving new to you authors a second chance and giving some of those not so good authors a 2nd chance. Such as James Patterson....any recommendations?
Out of all the books I've read so far there are some that really stand out. For instance War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. I actually enjoyed reading the story which surprised the heck out of me. Which makes me look forward to reading Anna Karenina at some point this year. Others that stand out and made an impression were The book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meisner, A World I Never Made by James LePore, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe and The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruis Zafon
Authors that stood out and I will definitely be looking for and reading more of including the ones above are Aimee Thurlo, Robyn Carr, Patricia Briggs, Harlan Coben, J.T. Ellison, Brandilyn Collins and Iain Pears to name a few. Of course I have my old favorites such as Nora Roberts, and Cindy Gerard.
Through my Modern Lit class, I read Virginia Woolf and James Joyce for the very first time, which will also be the last time. Stream of conciousness narratives give me a headache.
I discovered I really enjoy historical fiction and art mysteries, rediscovered science fiction / fantasy and that there are really many different types of romance stories out there. I'm looking forward to reading the books that are currently on the shelves and whatever may come my way during the year.
What are your favorites this year?
I'm a Robyn Carr fan and have enjoyed a few of hers this year.
ReplyDeleteGreat progess so far this year. I've got The Shape of Mercy sitting on my stack, glad to know you liked it.
ReplyDeleteWithout knowing which Patterson books you have read, I ask, have you read the early books?
my recommendation would be to not give Patterson another chance. The guy is working a scam, author wise, in my humble opinion. Too many books, too little time...
ReplyDeleteWar and Peace...you know, I never read it. I should.
I once started a James Patterson novel and made it about 10 pages in before giving it the flick. He's definitely a head-scratcher.
ReplyDeleteWell done on almost 100 books! And let me know what interesting romance stories you find around the place. ;)
You're doing fantastic so far!! I can't even begin to think of my favorites this year so far...that would require too much thinking tonight!! :)
ReplyDeleteWar and Peace...I'm impressed! The Book Thief is one that I'm very anxious to read. Kudos on your progress thus far! Good job!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading A World I never Nade!
ReplyDeleteHere is my Monday post
I've blogged on the best ones I've read so far this year on my Wednesday reviews, but of them all I'd say you have to read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It's just lovely! The other I'd recommend is The Book Thief, but you already read it. For those who haven't, it's a must read.
ReplyDeleteOh, I do hope you read more Tolstoy! I love Joyce and Woolf, but I like most classics. Thanks for some ideas, and good luck! I have such a hard time finding time to read these days...
ReplyDeleteFirst -- wow!!! I'm only on book 52, so good for you to be so close to 100!
ReplyDeleteOf your books that stood out: I've read two of them (Book Thief and A World I Never Made) and I have the last two on my TBR for this summer.
I will looking closer at your author list, since there are some authors on it that I've been meaning to read.
Good summary post.
*scuffs feet* I don't want to be responsible for making you read an author you disliked a lot again... 'course you're the only one who can decide whether they're an author whose works you want to give another chance.
ReplyDeleteSometimes an author is just popular because they got published at exactly the right moment and marketed in exactly the rightvway, even through they're not good authors at all. (Sad, but true.)
It does sound like you're doing great on your 100+ challenge, though! And that you've had a good reading month on the whole.
And your comment on War and Peace is heartening. I don't know what I did with copy. No, rephrase. I know what I did with it. I just don't know where I put it. Unless I do and am just disbelieving it. Erm, anyway. It's somewhere on my TBR pile, looking gigantic and daunting. It's good to know you enjoyed it so much when you weren't expecting to.