50 Book Challenge
My mom told me about a blog she read where the girl had challenged herself to read fifty books. I don't know the exact details (if she had a list, time limit, etc...) but I thought this sounded like a good idea. I thought I would set a time for myself to have all fifty books read and have friends and family make up my list of books to read. Anyway, I want to read all fifty within a year and each person who wants can give me one book to put on my list. I'm limiting it to one for now because I don't know how many inputs I'll have and because I have a few to add to the list myself. Plus, since my mom gave me this idea and she's such an avid reader, I thought I'd let her put five books on my list. Please choose wisely and pick one of your favorite books to add. I'll post my thoughts on each of the books on this blog. I'm going to start with A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving. I've actually already read it, but it's one of my favorites and I've been wanting to reread it.
I also thought I'd post a list of books I have read so that you don't suggest one of them. Here they are (in no particular order and not all inclusive):
1. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
2. The Lord of the Ring series by J.R. Tolkien
3. The Work and the Glory series by Gerald N. Lund
4. The Children of the Promise series by Dean Hughes
5. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
6. The Rainmaker by John Grisham
7. MacArthur's Undercover War by Wiliam Brewer
8. The Partner by John Grisham
9. Cider House Rules by John Irving
10. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
11. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
12. The Testament by John Grisham
13. The Street Lawyer by John Grisham
14. Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard
15. The Firm by John Grisham
16. Bag of Bones by Steven King
17. A Widow for One Year by John Irving
18. Before I Say Goodbye by Mary Higgins Clark
19. The General's Daughter by Nelson DeMille
20. Reckless Homicide by Ira Genberg
21. Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King
22. The Talisman by Stephen King
23. Runaway Jury by John Grisham
24. The Brethren by John Grisham
25. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
26. Embryo by Charles Wilson
27. The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger
28. The Winner by David Baldacci
29. Timeline by Michael Crichton
30. Absolute Power by David Baldacci
31. 1984 by George Orwell
32. The World According to Garp by John Irving
33. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
34. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
35. Cat and Mouse by James Patterson
36. Violets Are Blue by James Patterson
37. Hide and Seek by James Patterson
38. Pop Goes the Weasel by James Patterson
39. Roses are Red by James Patterson
40. Cradle and All by James Patterson
41. 1st To Die by James Patterson
42. 2nd Chance by James Patterson
43. The Peacegiver by James L. Ferrell
44. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
45. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
46. A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemmingway
47. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
48. Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
49. Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
50. Charlie by Jack Weyland
Wow! That's a pretty long list already. It's a good thing I had started a list of books I've read, or that list would be a whole lot shorter. There's a couple of books on there that don't even sound familiar. That's pretty bad. It's actually 65 books since the first four are series (6,3,8,4 respectively). I'm sure there's more, but if you suggest something I've already read, I'll let you know and let you suggest something else (I also retain the right to veto suggestions if I feel/need to) Have at it! Let me know what your favorite books are. I'll post the list here so you can all know what I'm reading. Plus, if anyone would like to join me for this challenge (it's not a contest) then you're free to use my list, or make one of your own.
posted by Alyson @ 12:12 AM
17 comments
17 Comments:
Wow, Aly, what fun! I must say I am thrilled to be allowed 5 books to reccommend, but it was tough picking only 5. With you in mind, I read over the list of reccommendations I made on my blog. I chose seven. I snooped in your reading journal and saw that you have Poisonwood Bible already on your list of 'to read', so now I'm down to six! Here's my list.
1. Kite Runner
2. My Sister's Keeper
3. Girl in Hyacinth Blue
4. Tuesdays with Morrie
5. Forever Odd
Two of my most recent favorites are:
l. Kitchen Table Wisdom
2. My Grandfather's Blessings
both by Rachel Naomi Remen
BTW
That's a very impressive list you have there. I've never been able to get into Steven King, but the rest all intrigue me.
I love James Patterson but I haven't read the ones you listed. I'll have to check them out. Right now, I'm reading "The Island at the Center of the World." Fascinating, if you like history. I own it so you're welcome to borrow it. You're welcome to borrow any of my books if you'll bring them back. That way I could recommend more. Right?
BTW Love the cool colors of your blog.
Thanks about the colors. They were the colors that came on the template, so I can't too much credit for them. ALthough, the colors were one of the things that helped me decide on this template; I really like them too.
Thanks everyone so far for your suggestions. I'm at 15 books on my list, I think. Shaneen, you can probably suggest a few more, but I want to leave room for suggestions from lots of people. I figure that way I'll get a wide variety of books, and probably some I wouldn't normally read.
My new favorite books at the moment are Memoirs of a Geisha and if you haven't read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen you should read that. It is by far my favorite of hers.
My three favorite books:
1. Pride & Prejudice (already mentioned by Cassie)
2. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
I know you only wanted one suggestion per person, but you don't have to read all my suggestions; you can pick one from the three. If you need more, just let me know! :)
I think I'll join your challenge. I tend to read 50 books or more a year, but I often repeat. I can read Agatha Christie mysteries over and over and over again! I think it will be fun to read 50 NEW books this year. I'll probably read a lot of the books your mom mentions and that others suggest to you.
What a fun challenge!!
Thanks Cassie and Julie for the suggestions. I think I read Les Mis in high school. It's been a long time and I'm not sure; maybe I've just listened to the soundtrack and watched the play/movie one too many times. Anyway, I'd love to read it again, but I think I'll wait. I'll take Pride and Prejudice from Cassie and Farenheit 451 from Julie. Thanks again.
Please get my suggestions off of Booklogged's blog. I (or rather my family) suggest those to almost anyone, but be careful of the questionable book. It could offend.
So I don't read a whole lot, but here's my suggestions
Not Without my Daughter You may remember that Sally Field played the leading role in this movie the book is co written by the woman who actually lived the story. It is a pretty intense book. I read it a long time ago I think in JR. High.
One Ive read more recently is In her Shoes Candice Cameron played in that movie It is an easy light read one of those books that won't make you smarter, but will keep you entertained.
Janelle has read my sister's keeper and loved it along with anything by that author. I forget the authors of the books I suggested, but I'm sure you can look them up if you're interested.
Sorry my post is so long. Good luck with the challenge
rjs
I just finished reading one of your mom's books. "The Little Country" by Charles de Lint. I was put off at first because I usually don't like books that jump around in the storyline very much, but this is a great book. My visiting teachers and I started discussing books we read last night. It was great. We read a lot of the same trashy mysteries. (I told you all I wasn't worthy, but now I'm spreading it to the ward members.)
Could someone explain the word verification thing to me? Who are they protecting and why?
Shaneen,
The word verification is to prevent spam comments. There must be a program out there or something that people can use to send out a comment to thousands of posts at a time. The comment usually links to either some commercial webpage or some inappropriate webpage. The word verification ensures that the people leaving the comment are only leaving a comment for one blog specifically. I hope that made sense.
Verification Note: When Katie 1st started her blog she immediately got a nice comment to visit someone's blog. I clicked on it and WHOA! I was shocked!
Thanks, I will quit complaining since I'm all for stopping unnecessary e-mail and pop-ups, etc on the computer. Now that I understand I find it all very ingenious.
Please read "THE PEACEGIVER" by Ferrell first.....I just read it and if it is not the best book it may the most important.
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