Thursday, July 8, 2010

My Summer Reading List....

Yeah, yeah, yeah...Summer is like 1/2 over. Well, not here in Texas...it feels like summer for like 3 more months...lots and lots of hotness.

I'm challenging myself this summer to not buy any new books. Reason numero uno: no mucho dinero. Reason #2: Why buy when I probably have 50 books on my shelf that I haven't read AND there is this thing called a LI-BRA-RY. (Even tho I have issues with libraries...I don't know what it is...something about so many people having touched the book I'm reading...icky, so I try not to think about it.) So... I went thru my shelves and picked out the books I would like to read or read again this summer.
(please ignore the smudges on the mirror...as you can see, I'd rather read or sew than clean!)
First off...I do have to say that I just finished a book from the library called The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet by Colleen McCullough, which took me FOREVER to read for some reason. But it was a fun, easy read...set 20 years after Lizzie meets Mr Darcy.

On to my list:
Book #1: Enders Game by Orson Scott Card. This is a sci-fi series that James has been trying to get me to read forever...and I'm finally giving in. I started it last night (after FINALLY finishing the Mary Bennet book) and it's very good so far. I have a sneaking suspicion that it's a lot like The Hunger Games...a series that has become just as popular as Twilight, the 3rd book, Mockingjay, comes out on Aug 24th! Anyways, back to Enders...Orson Scott Card is one of my fave authors by far. His book Enchantment should be on your must-read list!

Book #2: Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery. I've always wanted to read the ENTIRE Anne series. I recently read Anne of Green Gables for the first time and LOVED it. Because I saw the movies before I read the books, I can just see the exasperating little Anne and her Lake of Shining Waters. I found the 2nd and 3rd book at the thrift store, so I'm determined to get thru those this summer!

Book #3: Sitka by Louis L'Amour. I chose 2 Louis L'Amour books to read this summer, in honor of my PopPop Jones. He gave me his collection of L'Amour books maybe 4 years ago...because he knew I loved them so much! When I was 12 or 13, I read my first L'Amour book, Lonigan at his house when we were visiting for the summer. I have such good memories of talking about Westerns with him!

Book #4 is my #2 western pick: Comstock Lode. I read this one a LONG time ago, so I'm looking forward to revisiting the adventures in the silver mountains of Nevada!

Book #5: Harry Potter book #2. I'm probably the only person left who hasn't read the Harry Potter series. Stinks because I KNOW they are good books...I read the first one and loved it. But I am at least going to read the second book this summer!

Book #6: Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes. I've had this book forever with the intentions of reading it. But it seems like every time I notice it there on my shelf, I have just watched the movie! I just adore the movie...so I'm hoping the book is just as good!

Book #7: Midwives by Chris Bohjalian.  I read this book when I was preggo with Bella (bad idea) and it fast became one of my favorite books. I'm excited to read it again because I can barely remember the characters!

Books #8 and #9: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and Sherlock Holmes by Doyle. These two are iff-y. I'm not a big fan of "older" books....as in, written before the 80s. I have a hard time with them....my brain doesn't want to work that hard! Which is why I've never read a Jane Austen book (only spin-offs, such as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies...heck yeah!). So, we'll see how these go...I tried reading Sherlock Holmes when the movie came out last year....but no go. Better luck the second time around, I'm hoping.

And last, but not least...Book #10: The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I'm a huuuuuge Stephenie Meyer fan, and read this book when it first came out over 2 years ago. I love the way she writes, even tho the literary genius' hate her writing...its so EASY to read and she pulls you in with her characters, it's fantastic. For me. And my brain that doesn't like to work hard. Also, I'm not picky about what I read....as long as I can understand the language, I'll probably read it!! I extremely enjoyed her most recent book, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, and I have hopes she'll come out with something new soon!

Then I have a list of books I want to find at the Library, including: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (mainly because Rob Pattinson is going to be staring in this movie that comes out in 2011, squeee....), 3 books by Sarah Addison Allen: Garden Spells, The Sugar Queen and The Girl who chased the Moon (I suggested these to some friends recently and they loved them, so I'm excited to read them again!) and the next Sookie Stackhouse book, Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Funny that you'll buy a used book from half-price books no problem, but you hesitate to get a library book.

Simply Sarah *K* said...

Funny?? As in HAHA?
Half-priced books may have had ONE owner, Library books have probably been handled by THOUSANDS of booger-picking people. AND, I'm getting over it...doofus. Ü

Bell Family Blog said...

You're not the only one, I haven't read the Harry Potter books either, but I really want to. Aaron has and he says they're so much better then the movies. He said the first few are exactly like the movies, but after that they have so much more in them that isn't in the movies.

That Girl said...

Um, how have I not been to your site before? I LOVE YOU.

Our taste in books is remarkably similar. I find that's a good basis for friendship. ;o)

Simply Sarah *K* said...

Welllllll...HELLO, That Girl ;). Isn't blog-land marvelous!?
I've told my husband before that I would totally be friends with you if we were closer! lol. Also, he served his mission in Sao Paolo, so I liked reading about your adventures there.
It's so nice to meet you!!

Anonymous said...

I think you meant Joao Pessoa, right Sarah?

Simply Sarah *K* said...

Whatever, husband.

Camille @ Camille's Casa said...

Hey there! Thanks for stopping by my blog, it's nice to get some hellos from sugardoodle. I'm a book nerd too, except I go strictly library to keep from going bankrupt and being overtaken by bookshelves. And yes, I often munch on popcorn while I read and turn the pages with greasy fingers, lol, oh confessions. Love your blog:)