The Broke and the Bookish ask us to list the top ten books we "resolve" to read in 2013. I hereby solemnly swear that in 2013 I will read the following books*:
1. Heyday by Kurt Anderson- I've had this for so long I've forgotten what it's about. I think it's length has deterred me, so apparently it's going to be become the Underworld of 2013.
2. Reading and the Brain by Stanislaus Dehaene- Another one I've had for a long time, this one touts the neurological importance of reading.
3. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson- I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo quite a long time ago and have had no real desire to continue the series. I already own the second and third books, though, so I'm going to have to suck it up.
4. The Problem of Pain CS Lewis- Religion and the existence of God is something I really struggle with. How and why does God let horrible things happen to good people? Why were 20 little kids killed in Connecticut? Why do countries blow each other up? Why hasn't Rage Against the Machine put out a new album in years (kidding, really)? My Uncle, a pastor, recommended this book to me so maybe it's time I gained some perspective.
5. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann- I am fairly positive that I will love this book. That being said, I've owned this for quite some time and haven't read it yet. Lame.
6. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov- I've always wanted to read it (obviously, I own it) and a student just read it and suggested it to me (and acted a tad snotty when she learned I've never read it).
7. The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling- Time to make up my mind for myself!
8. Big Girls Don't Cry- The Election that Changed Everything for American Women by Rebecca Traister- I had wanted to read this during the election to get in the spirit of things but I didn't. I think as Obama is inaugurated again (yay!) and Hilary steps down from Secretary of State (boo!) this may feel a little more relevent.
9. Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon- I know this may be a bit of a challenging book for me, which can be a good thing.
10. Fathermucker by Greg Olear- I hear this book if pretty hilarious- there will undoubtedly be a time this year where I need a laugh.
*I'll probably only read 4 of these.
Have you read any of these? What are you planning on reading this year?
I don't know whether I'd be willing to solemnly swear on my list...When you say the Underworld of 2013, that strikes fear into my heart because Underworld is on my list! I read Lolita a looooong time ago and liked it a lot. Here's my list:
ReplyDeletehttp://annabelsmith.tumblr.com/post/39359194653/top-10-tuesday-the-first-ten-books-i-plan-to-read-in
I honestly don't know how I got through the rest of Larsson's books, I too wasn't compelled to read on anyways but I did; if I remember correctly, I found #2 the most interesting...
ReplyDeleteOoh, I also hope to get around to The Casual Vacancy at some point this year...
Great list! Best of luck getting to them this year =) Here's my reading list for 2013 =)
The Millenium series are some of my favorites! I then watched the Swedish movies and was impressed that they stuck so close to the books! They do get better, though...the first one is the hardest because of the first half being so dry and boring...
ReplyDeleteI also want to finally read The Casual Vacancy for myself. I am unbiased, though, as I never read any of the HP books - so if I hate it, it's not because I'm of that fan base. LOL!
Thanks for dropping by my blog! I've subscribed to your RSS feed!
I love Russian literature. I haven't read Lolita, but I own a 1920's version of that book. I really need to read it.
ReplyDeleteAll of these look really good. I hope you enjoy them!
Happy New Years and happy reading.
Here's the books I resolve to read
~Danica Page
Taking it One Page at a Time
You've got some good reading on that list. The brain book sounds interesting. I've read The Problem of Pain, it'll give you some things to think about but read it slowly, in small portions if you can. I've heard only great things about Lord of Misrule and I enjoy Nabokov, but haven't read Lolita. I look forward to your thoughts on those you get to. Happy reading in 2013. My first Top Ten Tuesday Post:
ReplyDeletehttp://freshinkbooks.blogspot.ca/2012/12/top-ten-tuesday-jan-2013.html
I feel like I'm the only person in the world who hasn't read Larrson...
ReplyDeleteI have read the Stieg Larsson books, but I read them in Swedish... something must have happened in translation IMO, because most people I know who read them in English didn't like them very much. I think there might be a loss of wordplay in the English translation, that was very present in the Swedish original. Also, since a lot of the action happens in Sweden, I could picture a little bit where Kalle and Lisbeth were. I hope you'll like the next books, if you do get to them.
ReplyDeleteHere's my TTT post.
I read Lord of Misrule and Lolita. Lolita I picked up for an eighth grade book report (props to the teacher for letting me, but I wish she had encouraged me to pick it up again when I had a real brain), so my memory is a bit clouded. Lord of Misrule was a bit of a struggle, but it's short.
ReplyDeleteI made it halfway through the Girl Who Played with Fire before announcing that no, I just can't. Umm but good luck.
This year I'm tackling the two Hilary Mantel books. They are a billion pages long.
Oooooh I have now added "The Problem of Pain" and "Reading and the Brain" to my TBR list. They sound positively brilliant. I hope you manage to read them! I've also been meaning to read Lolita and "The Girl who Played with Fire".
ReplyDeleteHappy 2013 to you!
Let the Great World Spin. You will not regret reading it.
ReplyDeleteHere's my list of Ten Books I Resolve to Read in 2013. I hope you will stop by! And Happy New Year!
"*I'll probably only read 4 of these" Truth. I make lists like this all the time and I'm lucky if I get half.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your list!
Happy New Year!
New follower! I need to read The Casual Vacancy and The Girl Who Played with Fire too. I've had TGWPwF for two years. I literally got it for Christmas in 2010 or 2011. REALLY need to read that one. I've kind of forgotten about it.
ReplyDeleteCheck out my TTT.
Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know
I've read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and liked it well enough, and even made it through The Girl Who Played with Fire, though I liked it less, so one of my books to read this year is The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, especially since I've bought it all ready.
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to read Loita too but never got around to it. I read the Casual Vacancy as soon as I could. It is a good novel, but dark and twisty and nothing like Harry Potter! Good luck reading all the books on your list!
ReplyDeleteMy list:
http://itisabooklife.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-ten-tuesday-3-top-ten-books-i.html
I'm currently halfway through Lost at Sea by Jon Ronson. It's a good read. When I finish, I have quite the stack to chip away at. Even with all the books I already have, I'm currently lusting after Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It looks really good! Good luck reading these books and more! May there be more winners than duds among them!*
ReplyDeleteI think I should check out the CS Lewis book.
ReplyDeleteObviously you read more than ten books a year, so why are you likley to read only four of these? Is it that the list is made of books you've meant to read but also don't want to read, or just a tendancy towards whim reading?
Definitely a whim reader- I'll probably read 5 or 6 times as many books on the list, but when I tend to think "I have to" read something the urge gets sucked out the window. I do definitely want to read them all at some point. We'll see!
DeleteInteresting list! I've been meaning to read Lolita and I can't quite decide about reading the Casual Vacancy. Here's Ours
ReplyDeleteThough it is slow to start, I really like The Casual Vacancy. If you like literary, adult fiction, definitely give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI also need to read Lolita and The Casual Vacancy in 2013. I actually started both of them last year but never got around to finishing them. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteThe Top Ten Books I Resolve to Read in 2013!
The 2nd and 3rd books in Stieg Larsson's series are WAY better than The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I didn't like that one that much and then I got really into the 2nd and 3rd ones.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Years! Like you I read "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and couldn't get through it, so I don't know if I'll pursue reading the entire series.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to reading "The Casual Vacancy" I want to see how JK Rowling translates to writing for Adult Fiction.
Here's my Top Ten Tuesday list.
I loved your list...and you have an great blog title!
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