I am an overachiever. So when I did not reach the 60 books goal I set In Goodreads last year, I was a little bummed. Granted, I still read 48 books, and I’m sure I read the equivalent of the remaining 12 books in blogs.
This year I set a more realistic goal of 50 books, and I’m kicking ass so far with five books under my belt. Did I mention I’m competitive, too? With myself, anyway. I’ve read five books this year, so look for a book review post sometime in February. In the meantime, check out my picks for the Top Ten Books of 2013. You’ll also find a few good recommendations in my Literary Junkies Q & A.
1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it.
I finished The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty yesterday morning, just in time for book club tonight. In 1922, thirty-six year old Cora volunteers to chaperone fifteen-year old Louise Brooks to New York for a dance class that will eventually catapult Brooks into stardom as a silent film star. Yet the true story is about Cora and the real reason she ventures out of her comfortable life in Wichita to head to New York City. The time period is such an interesting one, and watching Cora discover who she is and what she wants out of her life made for an enjoyable read.
2. Out of the 16 books that will be turned into a movie adaptation, which one are you most looking forward to seeing this year?
I have read six of the sixteen books, and I’d like to see most of the movie adaptations. But the one I will definitely see is Jonathan Tropper’s This is Where I Leave You. I actually laughed out loud as I was reading the book, and casting Jason Bateman as the main character is a brilliant move. And Tina Fey? I love that woman. If you haven’t read the book, or anything by Tropper, you should.
3. What was the worst book you’ve ever read?
I don’t remember, because it was that bad. I used to finish every book I started regardless of how awful it was. Then I realized that life is too short, and there are too many great books out there – why waste my time reading one I don’t like? So I don’t anymore. I give every book at least 100 pages before I ax it, and that happens rarely.
4. What foods or beverages have you spilled on a book while reading? Anything good?
I’ve smeared some chocolate on a few books. And they’ve been library books. I’m sure the next reader wondered what exactly that brown smear was on page 172…
5. Do you picture characters as popular film or tv actors? Or do you create a whole new person in your head?
I don’t really create any image of a character in my head. I’m not that visual of a person, I suppose. That’s why I hate seeing movies first, or even knowing who the cast is in a movie before I’ve read the book. I prefer to know the characters solely through the words on the page.
6. Out of all the authors you’ve read books by, whose brain would you want to pick the most?
I’m not particularly into brain picking. I think I prefer the mystery; I don’t need to know the process of writing or what the author was thinking as he or she wrote the book. Even when novels end ambiguously, I would rather draw my own conclusions than ask the author what his or her intentions were. Once a book is in my hands, it’s mine, not the author’s.
Have you read any books yet in 2014? Let me know if you have one to recommend!
Happy SITS Day!!
I just checked out your list of top ten books for 2013 and I haven’t read any of those yet – I love when I have more books to put on my Goodreads To Read list. Good luck on reaching your reading goal in 2014 – I can’t wait to read more from you!
Thanks, Jenny – I hope you found a few to add to your list. My to-read list just keeps getting longer, but at least I never run out of new books to try!
I adored The Chaperone. I felt so bad for Cora throughout the book but loved how things ended for her. I set a goal of 25 books in 2013 and didn’t make it so don’t feel too bad about not making 60!
I loved how The Chaperone ended too. I know I set the bar high, but I didn’t realize how much blogging would cut into my reading. I know better now!
48 books is still a big deal! I signed up for 24 as my goal on GoodReads this year. That’s big for me. I love, love, love to read but I am a slow reader. So I want to push myself even if some are audiobooks. I’ve dropped a few books in the tub. Now that’s a real stain for you. Congrats again on your SITS Day, Dana!
In the tub – uh oh! That’s something I haven’t done, but at least it wasn’t an iPad or a Nook! Twenty four is a good goal, Kimberly – about one every two weeks. Good luck reaching your goal and thanks for the SITS day love!
CANNOT wait for Tropper’s movie. Was one of my top books in 2012. I’ve done well with my 50 books goal in 2012 an 2013. I’m way behind already for this year though.
I started strong, but that’s because I’ve spent so much time waiting for my kids in the car. There’s not much else to do but read while I wait. Although if I’m reading a really good book, I actually look forward to driving them around.
Hi! I love to read but I struggle to find the time. I have a Goodreads account and I need to start it back up. I’m one of your SITS blogging tribe members. I enjoyed reading through your posts and I look forward to reading more! Have a great week! 🙂
Thanks, Tonya – you too. Thanks for stopping by!
Love this! My goal is to just read more. I don’t make enough time for me, and I need to get better at that, so reading will be one of the ways I achieve that. I just finished This Is Where I Leave You, and just started reading The Monuments Men. (see a theme here yet? haha)
I’m on Goodreads as well, but really don’t utilize it. But I will look for you there!
I do see a theme – there are so many good books being made into movies this year. Yes, look for me on Goodreads (use my full name) – it’s a great resource.
My problem with my Goodreads goal is that when they tell me I am ahead of schedule, I get cocky and increase my goal. And then I don’t get a chance to read and fall short of the goal by the end of the year. The last time I actually reached my goal was 2011.
I was bummed out, too. So I set a goal of 50 this year. I’d rather annihilate that number then not reach it again this year. Bring on the books!
Ha – don’t increase your goal! My goal is 50 also, and if I surpass it I’ll just reward myself with a new pair of shoes. 🙂
i finished the hunger games trilogy. i am such a loser, compared to how much i read in a previous life. so proud of you and all that you’re reading!
It may be awhile before you get your reading groove back on, Catherine, but it will come back eventually. I read a ton when my daughter was an infant – she would nurse and then fall asleep on my lap, and I just stayed there and read for as long as she napped.
LOL at #4. I admit, I’ve left Doritos stain on books. Even my first Kindle had orange stains. I hate it when I see if movie first and didn’t know it was a book. I like to imagine what the characters look like and then see how well they are matched in the movie. I did read a terrible book last year and I’ve already forgotten what it was. I’ve never finished a bad book before. It was a huge disappointment kinda like with Dallas when Bobby didn’t die and it was all a dream :-/
See – you can’t remember horrible books either! Why waste brain space on them anyway, right? Doritos stains – at least it’s clear what the stain is from.
You had me at Jason Bateman and Tina Fey…
I know…they’re a pretty awesome pair!
Just added This is Where I Leave You to my list. Love Tina Fey! So will definitely want to read that first. You’re beating me in the reading!
I’m sure you’ll catch up, Kate. Just one long flight for business (or pleasure) will do it!
Lovely to see that The Fault in Our Stars is becoming a movie! I read it on the recommendation of my favourite book recommender – my son. It is an amazing book. Difficult at times and so read worthy. I’ve read two books so far this year – Lady Catherine and the Real Downton Abbey by Lady Carnarvon. Found it very difficult to get into and ploughed through it. Probably because I was expecting more action. It’s very slow paced. Currently reading Maeve Binchy’s Selected Readings from the Irish Times. They are some of the pieces that she wrote for the Irish Times. Some are laugh out loud funny. Some are quietly poignant. Most are brilliant.
Fault in Our Stars is my daughter’s favorite too. I don’t think I’ve read any Maeve Binchy – I’ll look into those. Thanks Kelly!
Wow! 5 books already?? I’ll be lucky if I read 5 hole novels in 2014! I’m a slow and very distractible reader. It seems to take me forever to get through books. Maybe I’m just reading the wrong ones!
Maybe…or maybe you’re just easily distracted! The house could fall down around me if I’m reading a good book.
that is why I hate to use library books… never know what you will find on page 172! 🙂
Ha – I know a few other readers who think library books are too germy and gross. I don’t mind, unless I find a hair in one. Then I’m done!
48 books! You are amazing! Why has it never occurred to me to keep track of how many books I read per year? I’m organized! I’m competitive! I love books! This year I’ll totally do it. Loved the Chaperone, by the way. Also- so cool of you to link to the HSP post- thank you! 🙂
Yes, you should do it, Stephanie. Use Goodreads if you aren’t already – you’ll love it.
I LOVE to read! I go through spurts where I inhale books and have them lined up to devour one right after the other. I have never kept track like you’re doing. Maybe I should! Going to find you on Goodreads so I can check out your recommendations too.
You should – I’ll look for you too.
How interesting that you don’t visualize characters. I don’t get a full picture of all of them, either. Some are just impressions. Some are quite detailed. I guess it depends on the story/writer. It doesn’t matter to me if I do or don’t, the story is what matters. I agree with you on not needing to know about the author’s intentions, etc. I do enjoy knowing about the author sometimes. If I’m obsessed with the book I like to know a little about the author.
I never heard of Tropper but will check him out! I knew nothing of that book or the movie, but LOVE funny books, LOVE Fey and Bateman!
I don’t even think I read ten books last year. It was a slow reading year for me!
You would love Tropper, Beth – check him out! They are fast reads too, so you can best your 10 books in 2014.
A friend of mine loves books that become movies. Because I seem to always be behind on reading stuff there are times that I’m reading the book and she already knows who will be playing the characters – she wants me to imagine them as I read but that really isn’t how I read. I make up my own image as I read but it is rarely a specific person.
I just downloaded The Chaperone on my Nook!!
It’s a fast read, Kim – let me know what you think!
Yes, I cannot WAIT for This Is Where I Leave You. I love his books. I’ve read them all. They always make me smile.
Me too, Amber. And the casting is perfect.
I used to give awful books the benefit of the doubt and trudged through them. That’s time that you never get back 🙂
I used to read a lot, then I became a mom and now I read books by Robert Munsch every day.
I really do need to start reading more. I don’t think that I could compete with your goal though. It’s a fun one!
I remember those days of reading Robert Munsch – you could do worse! You’ll age out eventually and be able to return to grown-up books before you know it, Kimberly.
Dana, I’m with you- life is too short, and there are too many wonderful books, to spend time on one you don’t like. I definitely try to give each book a good chance- 100 pages is a good rule. One book that I almost gave up on was Code Name Verity. The first half is very confusing, but because my book club girls told me to hang in there, I did, and it was well worth it. I also agree that a book club will help you find books that you might not normally read.
Good luck with your goal! I’m currently reading Where’d You Go, Bernadette, and loving it. Humor is great in this dark time of the year; I’ll have to check out Jonathan Tropper’s books.
I enjoyed the Bernadette book – quirky and fun. I’ll look into Code Name Verity, and definitely look at Tropper’s books.
Wow – that is impressive! I’m an avid reader as well – I just wish I had more time to indulge. I’m in the middle of two books at the moment – Dare, Dream, Do by Whitney Johnson – hopefully it will offer a little inspiration to kick off 2014. I’m also almost finished with Malcolm Gladwell’s David and Goliath. Not one of my favorties by him, but OK. I’m super competitive too, so perhaps I need to set a book-reading goal for the year. I have no idea how many I read last year, but I definitely don’t think I hit 50.
If you use Goodreads it’s easy to set a goal, Kerry. I’m not familiar with the books you mentioned – I will check them out!
I’m reading “And The Mountains Echoed.” I’m slow through it. I know it’s happened in which I’ve started books and didn’t finish, but it’s rare. Can’t think of any!
And this is a bit weird but one of my blogging friends to me, would make a perfect Louisa from “Me Before You.” And she is an actress.
Really? Very cool. It would make a good movie, but I do get a little tired of all these novels being turned into movies. Aren’t there any screenwriters out there?
I’m just like you, Dana. I had vowed to read 100 books last year on GoodReads (I’d done 80 the year before) but just couldn’t do it. I was so devastated at my failure, I didn’t even set a goal for this year yet and I may not!
I’ll have to put “The Chaperone” on my list. I *love* Jonathan Tropper’s books! I had no idea there were any movie’s coming out. I’ll have to be on the lookout!! –Lisa
100 books is tough! I read 74 the year before I starting blogging, and that was a lot for me. Yes – try The Chaperone. And we’ll have to compare notes after we see the Tropper movie. Looks so good.
You already know that I am so enjoying reading and I have the book, This Is Where I Leave You on my list to read, too. And I loved The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty, so might have to put this book you read for your book club on my list now, too. Also, I am so enjoying being able to read again and I know what you mean about blog reading and I am trying to set time limits for it though now this year, because I seriously was reading to many blogs last year and not enough books.
I just read Husband’s Secret too, Janine – it’s for my neighborhood book club. That discussion should be interesting!
Putting Tropper on my to-read list! I’m finally getting around to the Divergent series & polished off the first two books on my two-flight, ten-hour trip to California yesterday. I’ve got the last book loaded to my Kindle, so I’ll finish it on the way home. I love to read and want to make more time for reading this year. When I start a good book, I get sucked in and can’t put it down until I finish!
Long flights are a great way to catch up on your reading. I’m jealous – it is snowing here today and you’re in sunny and warm (I hope) California. Have a great trip!
Nicole, I got through the first two books of Divergent, but everyone keeps telling me how bad the third one is, so I’m holding off spending time on that one for now. I’ll be interested to hear what you think if you get to it on the ride back.
Julia and Nicole – the third one was the worst. I didn’t like how she concluded the trilogy, but the more I thought about it, the better it sat with me.
I am in love with Liane Moriarty’s work, and I know both of her sisters are authors as well. Their names are Jaclyn and Nicola. I wonder if Laura is yet another sister of theirs?? I am a book lover, but I don’t put numbers on it because I’m also very competitive–with myself and no one else! Crazy our similarities, Dana–although you probably don’t want to hear that! I’m not sure it’s a compliment to be just like me. Haha!
I will take it as a compliment, Shay! I wondered about Laura too – I just read The Husband’s Secret for my other book club. I’m not familiar with the other sisters; I’ll have to check them out!
I’m kind of shocked to read that you don’t visualize characters in your head when you read? I guess I’m super visual (I already knew that) b/c I have a whole ensemble cast in my head when I read…and it’s never famous people or anything – just who I think the characters might look like. Kudos to you on reading so much!! I’m doing a better job this year too. I wrote down the Tropper book. I think I started reading that one a while ago. I’ll have to search my Nook library!
Yes – go back to it, Allie. I loved all his books. And I know it’s strange – I just don’t see the characters in my head. I’d be hard pressed to describe any character to you. Maybe I should let you tell me what they all look like!
Competitive you may be, but that was a high bar to reach! Here’s to 2014.
Cool answers, and fascinating to learn more about how you experience books 🙂
I do tend to set the bar (too) high – I’m trying to make my expectations more realistic – in all areas of my life.
Sensible. And probably very hard work. Good luck with that 🙂