Sunday, January 8, 2012

Stack Attack

That stack of books represents my reading list for 2012. A few I received as Christmas presents this year. Some I've had for months. Some I've had for years. Yes, years. Only one will be a reread. I am determined to get through this pile. I am going to try really hard to resist the siren's call of book reviews, book recs, book stores. That said, I already know one book that I must have this spring:  Trail of the Spellmans. It's the fifth book in the Spellman series by Lisa Lutz. Love. That. Series.

Here's the list. Sorry, no links. I'm typing fast and furiously while my vat of Three-Bean Pumpkin Chili with Turkey simmers on the stove (another endeavor: try more new recipes) and while Mr. Mark and the girls are playing some sort of dungeons and dragons game on his phone.

Sanctuary - William Faulkner (saw the B/W movie Temple Drake awhile back. It was made from this book. Love me some Willie F.)
The Scarlet Pimpernel  - Baroness Emmuska Orczy (read a excerpt while I was tutoring 7th graders; up my alley)
Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins (third book in The Hunger Games series)
The Help - Kathryn Stockett
Basic Teachings of the Buddha - Glenn Wallis (I find the basic concepts on Buddhism interesting.)
Selected Letters of Martha Gelhorn - Caroline Morehead (Love me some Martha G.)
The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin (reread)
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
The Wonders of Solitude - Dale Salwak
Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins (second book in The Hunger Games series; 50 pages left to read)
Hobby Farm: How To Create and Maintain Your Hobby Farm or Great Estate - Kristen Hampshire (gardening is a hobby that I'm going to cultivate this year - pun totally intended)

I am fighting a big SHOULD with this endeavor, as in "I should be reading all sorts of Young Adult literature so I can make great recommendations to my students." But I don't want to. And I'm wondering if that's a sign that teaching is no longer where I'm supposed to be. Or maybe it's just a sign that I am burnt out.

Whatever you do this week, wherever you are, whatever you read - keep it real!


2 comments:

  1. As always, love your post. You are an inspiration. I, too, am making a list. I took a picture of a stack of books I was to go through last year, and the ones I finished were the ones you recommended. Lisa Lutz is becoming one of my favorites. LOVED Heads, You Lose. My Senior Project in college was on William Faulkner, so I'm staying away from him for another 20 years. I did love the Happiness Project and highlighted and flagged some pages in there. Maybe I'll go back and re-read. I want to start the Hunger Games and Girl With a Dragon Tattoo series and a few others. I think I will make my Sunday afternoons time when I read. Things are calmer at our house now. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I hope my comments are going to show up. NOt that they were brilliant, but I get on here so rarely. I wanted to give you some moral support! :)

    ReplyDelete