Reading Goals: 2015
Reading for me is a passion, it’s simply a non-negotiable, some people must eat chocolate, I must read, well I must consume chocolate too;) I learnt to read at the age of four (so my mother informs me) and I’ve devoured print ever since. I’m a fast reader and I’m voracious, reading an average of 200+ books a year. Once upon a time I used to be more choosy in my selections, or at least included some substance with the fluff but for the last few years I’ve, um been reading less substantial matter, so it’s time to give myself some direction to aid in ‘taking it up a notch or two’.
I’m a keen list maker yet surprisingly I’ve never written a list of ‘books I’m going to read this year’ although for the past couple of years I have recorded ‘books read’ on Goodreads. As I set out to plan at least 72 books (6 books for each month) I discovered this was no easy feat, finding new(to me) titles that I felt happy to commit to reading; a few of the books selected are re-reads (though most read decades ago), a few I’ve begun and not completed, so beginning again.
Pip‘s challenge of reading only Australian Writing for 2015 ‘pipped’ my interest as I’m a huge Australian literature and history fan and I love Aussie bloggers too. Whilst I’m not committing to only reading Australian fare, I’m assuming due to the amount I’ll consume read, I qualify for the ‘read as much Australian literature as I can’ and so I’ll be able to join the chat:) I’ll certainly read more than the following Aussie books but it’s a start.
* Marking through as I read
Australian Authors
Jasper Jones – Craig Silvey
The White Earth – Andrew McGahan
White Gardenia – Belinda Alexandra
Shiralee – Darcy Niland
The Secret River – Kate Grenville
The Lieutenant – Kate Grenville
Sarah Thornhill – Kate Grenville
Dark Heart – Tony Park
Adam Loveday – Kate Tremayne
Charlotte’s Angel – Carol Preston
Burning Lies – Helene Young
I Came To Say Goodbye – Caroline Overington
Araluen – Judy Nunn
I’ve selected books from my shelves and my local library’s for a variety of genres. As my brain appreciates categorising I’ve set the books under different headings and I will simply read my way through the list. I considered ‘assigning’ books to read for each month but decided to leave as is to allow for flexibility. I’m intending to read a book from each of the non-fiction categories per month, and one from each fiction categories. All doable.
Faith
The Little Oratory – Leila Lawler
How the Reformation Happened – Hilaire Belloc
Signs of Life – Scott Hahn
Listening to God With Children – Gianna Gobbi
History’s Golden Thread – Sofia Cavalletti
Handbook Christian Feasts & Customs – Francis X Weiser
Around the Year with The Trapp Family – Maria Von Trapp
Parenting
5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter – Vicki Courtney
Grace Based Parenting – Tim Kimmel
Rescue, Raising Teens in a Drowning Culture – Candy Gibbs
The Heart of Motherhood – Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle
Good Manners for Today’s Kids – Emilie Barnes
Five Love Languages of Children – Gary Chapman
Please Don’t Drink the Holy Water – Susie Lloyd
Health
Heal Your Gut Cookbook – Hilary Boynton
Education/Philosophy
The Core: Teaching Your Children the Foundations of Classical Education – Leigh Bortins
Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child – Anthony Esolen
Consider This: Charlotte Mason and Classical Education – Karen Glass
The Living Page: Keeping Notebooks with Charlotte Mason – Laurie Bestvater
Latin Centered Curriculum – Andrew Campbell
Homeschooling the Early Years – Linda Dobson
Mommy Teach Me – Barbara Curtis
How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way – Tim Seldin
Working in the Reggio Way – Julianne Wurm
How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare – Ken Ludwig
More Book Lust – Nancy Pearl
Fiction/Classical/Historical
Crossing the Borders of Time – Leslie Maitland
Stealing Jenny – Ellen Gable
Rapunzel – Regina Doman
Alex O’Donnell and the 40 Cyberthieves – Regina Doman
The Year of Miss Agnes – Hill Kirkpatrick
Erin’s Ring – Laura Pearl
Past Suspicion – Therese Heckenkamp
A Gathering of Angels – Katherine Valentine
Cross Stitch – Diana Gabaldon
Herb of Grace – Elizabeth Goudge
Gentian Hill – Elizabeth Goudge
Keeper of the Bees – Gene Stratton Porter
A Daughter of the Land – Gene Stratton Porter
The Turquoise – Anya Seton
Kristin Lavransdatter – Sigrid Undset
Persuasion – Jane Austen
Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh
The Road – Cormac McCarthy
The Mill on the Floss – George Eliott
Kidnapped – R L Stevenson
Treasure Island – R L Stevenson
Silver Lake – R M Ballantyne
Around the World in 80 Days – Jules Verne
A Tale of the Western Plains – GA Henty
Farenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury
Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Caroll
David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis de Bernieres
A Prayer for Owen Meany – John Irving
A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khaled Hosseini
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan – Lisa See
The Bonesetter’s Daughter – Amy Tan
Daughter of Fortune – Isabel Allende
5 Comments
Marijke
I’m always on the lookout for books to try. And still trying to make a dent in all the Australian literature. You’ve got some beauties on your list, but some new for me as well. Those will keep me busy for another couple of weeks… Thanks for the list Erin, have fun reading!
Angela
I wonder how many of those Australian writers I could find here in the States? I've been meaning to read more about Australia/Australian literature for a while now… any suggestions as to where an American ought to start?
I admire your listmaking :-). My problem with making lists is that I start to see them as assignments and that makes me not want to read anything off the list. (I'm such an unschooler.) But I do have some of the same books in my mental "To Read" file — Kristin Lavransdatter is one I am planning to tackle soon, once I get over this flu and can concentrate again. Also noticed The Time Traveler's Wife on your list… I read that one back when I was on modified bedrest with the twins. I blew through it quite fast, but at the end, found it pretty unsatisfying… Then again, I have high standards for SF-ish books, and I think the problem I had with TTW was that it was pretending to be "literary".
Erin
Marikje
Our library has some excellent Australian literature.
Angela
Love to know too. To answer your question, can you give me an idea of what genre within Australian lit appeals? I know you like ScF do you want recs there?
Yes I was worried about that aspect too so I was sure to only pick books I'm likely to read. Really not sure that I will read the Lavransdatter as my own daughter who inhales books didn't like it. and the Time TW is a new genre for me as I'm not a ScF reader.
Theresa
Have you heard of the Stella Maris book group (started by Micaela whose blog is California to Korea)? It's a CAtholic women's Facebook group – they read a book a month (approx) and then set up a time to "chat" about it on facebook. I participated in the last one and really enjoyed it. I thought to mention it to you b/c I saw Elizabeth Goudge on your list and her name had come up as an author we might read next. I don't know if the discussions would work for you given the time difference, but you never know! Check it out if you're interested 🙂
Erin
Theresa
Didn't know about it, love to join, thanks for the heads up!! My type of chat:)