I’m excited to share with you the books I plan to read in 2011. My goal was to read 12 books in 2011, but I’ve already finished by January book choice, Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks, so I’ll be moving on to February’s choice. After I found out I was pregnant last year, I didn’t read for two months, so I know that I need to leave room to take breaks if I need them.
All of the books listed below are sitting on my desk and my night stand. I have owned some for years– I’ve mentioned my problem of buying books and never reading them and then buying more books and reading those. And some of the books were Christmas gifts or just books I’ve picked up along the way to read.
My “extras” list is a little long, but I read 19 books in 2010 so I know that I could go over 12 books again this year. So check out my list. Are you planning to read (or have you already read) any of the books on my list?
January
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
February
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
March
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
April
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
May
Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan
June
The House on First Street by Julia Reed
July
The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
August
Radical by David Platt
September
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
October
The Girl Who Kicked the Hortnet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson
November
The Overnight Socialite by Bridie Clark
December
South of Broad by Pat Conroy
Planned Extras: (I know I will pick up a few books here and there that also get added to the extras column)
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Sullivan’s Island and Return to Sullivan’s Island by Dorothea Benton Frank
Sundays at Tiffany’s by James Patterson
Decision Points by George W. Bush
Spoken From the Heart by Laura Bush
The Kite Runner by Kahled Hosseini
Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp
Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger
Summer Island by Kristin Hannah
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Uncharted TerriTori by Tori Spelling
Some of you have asked, in the past, how I find time to read. Maybe I don’t watch as much TV as you think I do. Or maybe I never sleep. But I find time during the day to sneak in a couple of chapters during nap time. And I love to read before bed. TC likes to read, too, as long as he has a book that he’s interested in. So we read after we turn off the TV. And I read once I’m in bed, too. I don’t spend a lot of time in the car, so I don’t do the audio books thing unless we’re on a road trip. When I have two babies that are on different schedules, I may be longing for the days when I was able to squeeze in time to read. But for now, this is what works and I hope I don’t have to give up my hobby!
I LOVED American Wife. I can’t wait to hear what you think of it!
I loved The Glass Castle! It’s one of my all-time favorites. Great reading list!
This is a great idea – I want to make a list like this also – thanks for the book suggestions. 🙂
I’m a huge Pate Conroy fan, but it took me a while to get into South of Broad. It’s not my favorite of his novels (which reminds me… must reread Beach Music!) but I was glad I stuck with it – I enjoyed it very much in the end! I also loved Little Bee! And, oh, The Kite Runner… SUCH an amazing novel!
I’m reading Safe Haven as well at the end of this month. I think you’ll enjoy Prep. I started reading American Wife, but never finished it… it’s quite lengthy and I just didn’t have the time, but look forward to finishing it some day. However, if you get to Spoken From the Heart I think you will love love love it! That is my new favorite book. I look forward to hearing what you think of it. Thanks for sharing your list because I see a few books that I would be interested in reading now! I love hearing about new books.
I loved American Wife, Sundays at Tiffany’s, and The Glass Castle. I’ve read several of Benton Franks’s books and loved them all! Enjoy! This looks like a great list and I might have to try some of them too. I just finished House Rules by Jodi Picoult — amazing.
I have been wanting to read the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. I hope to start it after I finish The Hunger Games series. And I usually would read when I was up at night feeding the baby. It helped to keep me awake.
I loved American Wife, The Glass Castle and Kite Runner! All excellent choices. I’ve also read Crazy Love, which I enjoyed but felt like towards the end that Chan was belaboring the same ideas over and over again. I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts!
I read Tori’s latest book not that long ago and it was a really quick and easy read!
I read the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo a couple of months ago, and while I enjoyed it, I will say that it took a bit to get into it. So if it seems slow at first, stick with it a little bit longer! Hopefully I’ll be getting to the rest of the trilogy soon. Also, I read the Kite Runner a couple years ago and enjoyed it as well.
Great list! Mrs. Bush read a few chapters on a television show one day that I watched at the gym. After that I was even more excited about reading her book… actually I wish she could read the whole book to us. ha!
I’m excited to read the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series this year, too! So excited to be friends with you on GoodReads 🙂
Your will LOVE The House on First Street–it’s a completely charming read and I was sad when it was over…LOVE Julia Reed!
Great list! I’ve read The Glass Castle (LOVE!) and The Kite Runner (also excellent!). I’m planning to read The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo (and the others…) and Crazy Love. I’m reading Decision Points (love it so far!). I have a long list, too!
Great list! I know some people prefer to break up The Millenium Trilogy but if you’re anything like me, you won’t be able to read a book inbetween the second and third books. The first book wraps up nicely but the second left me needing to know more right away! I enjoyed the books and hope you will too!
Glass Castle, Prep and Little Bee are on my to-read list also. I’m interested to hear what you think about Last Night at Chateau Marmont. It wasn’t my favorite Lauren Weisberger book.
PS – You inspired me to read Hunger Games and I started two days ago. I LOVE it!
I’ve only read ONE of the books on your list – so I’m excited to have some new ideas!
Sundays at Tiffanys – It did keep me somewhat interested to see how he would make sense out of this strange story, but it was way too far fetched to get completely emersed in. After I was done, I felt as though I’d wasted some time on it = And I usually LOVE James Patterson’s books!
I am so excited you are reading Crazy Love & Radical. Those two are both on my list as well. I’ve started both…but I had to put them down until I could focus a little more and be prepared to actually follow through with what God is showing me through them. Be prepared for huge conviction and a whole new perspective on life. Really really good… it’s just intense.
i just finished American Wife not too long ago…i have to say, i really enjoyed about 75% of it and thought the other 25% could have been cut out. still, a great and VERY interesting read!
“Kite Runner” is sooo good! I also loved “The Art of Racing in the Rain” and “Little Bee”. You have some great ones on there!
I haven’t read *any* of the ones on either of your lists. I think I’m going to pick up a few. I love reading so much! It was all I did as a kid outside of climbing trees. I’m sure it’ll be a good year for you!
The Glass Castle is one of my all-time favorite books. I also enjoyed South of Broad and LastNight at Chateau Marmont (not one of her best, but still an easy fun read). Have you used the website goodreads? I love being able to see what my friends/family/book club members think of books that I am interested in reading.
Just found your blog from Amy @ Chapter’s. The only one I’ve read on your list of 12 is The Glass Castle. The Kite Runner is fantastic (one of my all time favs) and my husband has been pestering me incessantly to read The Art of Racing in the Rain (he loved it). I also want to read Crazy Love- I heard Francis Chan speak last February in Colorado Springs, and if his book is as convicting as his speech, you are in for a great one!
The Glass Castle was one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read! It was so moving and heartbreaking but inspiring. I’m reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series this year too, so I’ll be looking forward to seeing what you think of it!!
I read American Wife… I’m interested to see your thoughts on it! And crazy love is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I’d also highly recommend Shepherding a Child’s Heart. I read that one when my little boy was about Hudson’s age! You’ve added to my ever growing list of must-reads!
You have a great list here! I love American Wife. It’s a great story! Prep wasn’t one of my favorites, but maybe that was just me. I found her to be so selfish. Laura Bush’s memoir is great too. To me, it read like two books – one before W was president, and a second during the presidency. I want to read his book this year. If you like memoirs and since you live in SC, you should consider reading Jenny Stanford’s memoir. It was very interesting. Happy Reading!!
I’ll be bookmarking your list to come back to–it sounds like you’ve made great choices, especially after hearing comments from other readers! I really want to read the Stieg Larsson trilogy, so hopefully I’ll join you in that journey! I read South of Broad last year and really enjoyed it. It’s pretty dark, but a captivating read. I’ve also read Sullivan’s Island, which I LOVED. I started reading Return to Sullivan’s Island, but I was a bit burnt out on constant reading at the time, so I put it down. I’m planning on picking it back up again when the weather gets warmer. I’m looking forward to your thoughts on all of these!
I see you have a Pat Conroy selection on your list – his “Prince of Tides” is my hands down favorite read of all time. It was written years and years ago, but he is such a gifted writer, it doesn’t matter. If you happen to see it in an old book bin or sale, pick it up. Its subplots have haunted me all this time.
This list, with your friends’ comments, have really given me a starting point to get into good books again. I was just lamenting that I haven’t read a good book in a long time, and I used to love to read. I’m going to grab a few of these titles and get going – I need less computer time and more reading time! Thanks to all for your great suggestions, but especially to Erin, who provides such a nice place to visit through her blog.
You will love Glass Castle- we are reading that for my book club and it made my number 3 out of 24 books read in 2010. Have you tried The Book Thief? It was my number 1. Happy reading!
The American Wife is such a great book. I really enjoyed reading it. Your list is great. Happy reading.
Great list. I just started The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It was a little difficult to get started, but I’m loving it! I own Little Bee if you decide to read it, let me know and I can send it to you. Just a warning–it’s not a light read.
I *loved* American Wife. So much so that I bought Laura Bush’s autobiography and am slowly reading that.
Also, Sundays at Tiffany’s was pretty good. It’s an easy read. I think I read it in an afternoon.
Great list! I’ve read quite a few on your 2010 list and your 2011 list. I think I’m going to work off of your lists and fill in my gaps, we seem to have similar taste in books. Jeanette Walls’ other book “Half-Broke Horses” about her grandmother was also VERY good, I think better than “Glass Castle.” Might be a good one to throw on your “If I ever find the time list.”
Happy Reading!
I liked The Glass Castle a lot, and the other girls in my book club did as well. What a fun list! I’m currently reading The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. It’s really good so far…maybe tuck that name away for a later list! 🙂
American Wife is so good. It has stayed with me since I first read it and I have given it as a gift to several people. I hope you love it!
I have read The Glass Castle, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire (starting The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest this week), South of Broad, Little Bee and The Kite Runner – all great picks! You’ve got a great year of books ahead of you. 🙂
The Kite Runner may be my favorite book of ALL time, truly amazing. Definitely a couple on here I have never heard of and am excited to try. Happy reading!!!
I just read Safe Haven and it was great! I’ve also read Prep (I enjoyed it), American Wife (LOVED it), and I am reading Crazy Love right now and love it so far! You’ve created a great list of books for this year!
Hey…just warning you. Prep is NOT good. I read it when I was in college, but it is nothing like the plot summary. Anyway, I enjoy your blog and reading all kinds of books. Thanks for your list. I may have to pick some up from the library today!
American Wife is really good. It gets a little slow at some points but worth reading through. As for his other book, I just couldn’t get into Prep so I ended up passing it along. I have a huge stack of books to read right and am currently working on A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire. It is the third book in the Wicked Series.
P.S. I love reading the comments and seeing what people think about all these books. Looks like I need to finish my stack so I can add some of these.
LOVED American Wife. I liked it MUCH better than Prep, but you’ll see what you think. I couldn’t get into the Stieg Larsen books (well, the first one…so I haven’t read the rest).
Curtis Sittenfeld is one of my favorite authors, I’m sure you’ll enjoy both of her books on your list!
The Glass Castle ranks as one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOKS! Disturbing, but fabulous book!! Hope a movie is in the works! Prep was also great!!! Here are some of my 2011 books: A Reliable Wife; I’d Know You Anywhere; Freedom; The Distant Hours; Matched; An Object of Beauty; Decoded; The Ask; The Imperfectionists; Room; The Unnamed; The Big Short; The Emperor of all Maladies; The Lonely Polygamist; Skippy Dies; One Day; Rich Boy.
I read American Wife two summers ago. Once I got started, it was hard for me to put it down. I finished it in three days while we were on vacation in Seattle. Nope, I didn’t sleep much!
I hope you’ll do a short review when you complete it. Let us know when you start it, and I may read it again.
Erin- I’ve followed you for a long time but don’t comment very often (or, ever- ha!). I LOVE how you set reading goals and I’m excited about the books you’re reading in 2011! I love Pat Conroy and just got done reading Crazy Love with my Bible Study- we liked it so much, we’re starting on Francis Chan’s next book this semester! I have to agree with everyone else, though…I wasn’t a huge fan of Prep! I think I might pick up American Wife…thanks for doing this, it’s a great way to get book ideas!
I read Safe Haven and it was great, but the best word to describe it is intense.. It is hard to read some parts without becoming angry at certain characters, but I loved the book and love Nicholas Sparks!
I read American Wife, The Glass Castle and South of Broad last year and all were really good. I was especially suprised by The Class Castle because when I read the back I didn’t think I would like it but I really enjoyed it.
Crazy Love, Radical, American Wife & Prep are all books i want to read, oh and Decision Points too!!!
i’m like you…i read before bed and some during nap time!!!
i absolutely love it and it is very relaxing =)
As soon as you read The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo, you will immediatley dive into the subsequent books. They are amazing!
Prep is one of my three favorite books of all time (and my favorite book of the last 50 years). By comparison, American Wife was disappointing; in fact, I didn’t finish it.
I’m interested in The Overnight Socialite–sounds like a light, fun read.
Great list! Our tastes are very similar. First of all, I LOVED Prep. It’s one of my favorites. I thought it was really character-driven, and it’s a great story about how we all can sell ourselves short. It was a fun read, and I’m eager to hear what you think. That said, I really thought I’d be able to get into American Wife, but I couldn’t get past the first few pages for some reason. It may have been because I was on an airplane. Maybe I’ll give it another chance later on. Decision Points was also a great read. I think presidents, regardless of party, are often misunderstood and it’s only after their administrations, when they can talk candidly, that we really see who they are. I thought this was the case with My Life by BIll Clinton as well, but Decision Points was such a warm and touching book. It gave me hope that at some point in the future, George W. Bush will be given the credit he deserves for his leadership and integrity.
Happy reading!
You’ve got some great ones on your list! I should work to plan out my year…I’ve got tons on my nightstand and bookshelf and I just randomly choose one.
I’ve read American Wife, which I LOVED and Prep, which was really good. And I’m reading the Steig Larsson books now. Hard to get into, but good once you start. The Glass Castle was so interesting and really made me think. If you like memoirs, I’m reading Perfection by Julie Metz and I cannot put it down! The Kite Runner is really good and so is A Thousand Splendid Suns (the follow up to The Kite Runner). The Art of Racing in the Rain is on my nightstand – maybe you’ll get to it before me!
Great choices! I love to read and now I want to quit working and read some more. I went to the DMV this morning and was actually kind of excited to be able to sit and read for an hour! Ha!
You picked some great books! I really liked Safe Haven. But then again, I love anything by Nicholas Sparks. I tried reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo but I couldn’t get into it. Although, later I had friends tell me that after you pass a certain point, you just can’t put it down. So I may need to give it another chance!
I’m totally with Kate on South of Broad, but Pat Conroy is one of my all time favorite authors, so perhaps my standards were too high. I did enjoy My Reading Life, which has prompted my renewed determination to read War and Peace- my goal from now til March. I loved American Wife and The Overnight Socialite is intelligent fun chick lit. Last Night at Château Marmont was okay- a good bit of fluff. Like Melissa, once I finished Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, I flew through the rest of the trilogy. They are so interesting and unlike anything that I have read previously. This weekend I had a movie marathon and watched the Swedish movies of each book (I was barely moving after all the energy expended throwing my NYE party). Oh, and I also really liked My House on First Street (especially being a Louisiana girl, I think you will like it). Have you read Julia Reed’s other books?
Oh, and Kite Runner is wonderful, and will make you bawl. I liked Prep, although it left me vaguely depressed.
You will get through the girl with the dragon tatoo series really fast… they are amazing!
The Girl with….books are really good. When you start the first one, don’t give up. It takes 50 pages or so to really get into it.
Ha! I made myself notes on the list, and forgot my second post it. Have you read anything by Kate Morton or Jennifer Donnelly? I adore historical fiction set in Britain, and both authors’ books are perfect for the gloomy days of January and February. You just want to curl up with them and a cup of hot tea!
Also, when it comes to making time for reading I never get that. How do you make time to eat? Or exercise? Or talk to friends? It’s such a peeve of mine. I keep a book in my bag at all times. What do people do when they wait for the doctor? Or anywhere else? What do they do before they go to sleep? Haha, sometimes I take it to extremes (I read while I blowdry, while stuck at stoplights, and sometimes would rather eat by myself with a book than with company).
I have the same habit as you of buying books when I see them in B&N and not reading the (literal) hundreds I have that haven’t been read. I’ve given myself a ban on book buying until at least some of those I have are read. I’ve started taking a quick photo of books I see when browsing with my phone or adding them to a list in my MyAgenda.
This looks like a great list! I’ve read a few on your list, and plan to read a few, too – Radical and Crazy Love. Laura Bush’s Spoken from the Heart was great as is George’s Decision Points (I’m half way through). If you haven’t read any Dorothea Benton Frank, you’ll love her!
I love the American Wife and the The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series by Stieg Larsson is on my too read list. I have Prep on my bookshelf, but after I read The Man of My Dreams by Sittenfield after American Wife, I sort of lost interest. Several other people have read Prep so I’ll be interested to hear what you think about it!
If you haven’t read The Shack yet, I highly recommend it. It will totally captivate you.
I tried reading The Art of Racing in the Rain and before a got more than 5 pages into it, I was bawling and so depressed that I pitched the book. My husband ended up reading it and told me that while he did think it was a good book, it was incredibly depressing as well.
I really want to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Can’t wait to hear what you think!
Did you read any of Tori’s other books? But more importantly…do you watch her show? I love to watch especially for the parties and her home decorating….but….sometimes Dean gets a little too much air time!
I need to read more….maybe I will try some of yours! I just need to get into a nice schedule now that i am staying home with my baby!
Loved, loved, loved American Wife!
And thanks for your list — I love to read, even more so since I got my iPad and am always looking for great suggestions!
You wil love Crazy Love!!! My small group read this book awhile back and it is one of my favorites! It will challenge you in the best ways in your walk with Christ!!
I read The Art of Racing in the Rain while Fin was in the hospital. All of the nurses commented when they saw me reading it… and everyone loved it. I thought it was neat to read a book from the dog’s perspective. Very good book… kind of sad but a great ending.
I read The American Wife last year and it’s pretty good…little longer than it should be. I LOVE all of Tori Spelling’s book and Uncharted will not disappoint, it’s a fun and easy read. I just finished The Art of Racing in the Rain a couple days ago for my book club. It’s a very fast and easy read. I was immediately sucked into the book when I ready the first few pages. It’s depressing,but still good. I did cry several times during the book.
I loved Prep….I didn’t read it during high school or college, so maybe it’s good that I was far removed from that time period in my life and, as a result, appreciated it (social pressures, high school issues, etc.) more? It seems like people who have commented either really liked it or hated it. I was hoping the book we read for book club, Commencement, would be like Prep and wasn’t-if that’s any help. Can’t wait to hear what you think!
p.s. I, too, have to read before bed-it helps turn my brain off from the day.
I loved The Kite Runner! It was a very powerful book. You should also add the other book by Kahled Hosseini if you haven’t already read it (A Thousand Splendid Suns). I really liked that as well. Happy reading 🙂
Erin – I just read The Glass Castle and you will love it! It’s SO GOOD. Her other book, Half Broke Horses, is on my list for 2011.
I read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo a few months ago and I loved it! I enjoyed the whole thing, but I really got into the second half of the book!
I love the idea of making a list of to-read books, one for each month.
Only I’m dreadful at doing anything that’s planned, so it’s probably for the best I’m too lazy to write one down!
I just posted what I read last year on my blog….a lot more “prepster” novels than I expected, but I read several that are either on your list this year or last. I do think you’ll be reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series one after the other as they all play into each other. Have fun!! I’ve added some of your choices to my 2011 list!
The Glass Castle and Kite Runner are 2 of my favorite book! I have to Laura Bush book I need to read and I also want to read Radical and Crazy Love. But I do the same where I have stacks and stacks of books I buy and don’t read and then buy more. I also borrow tons of books too that I need to read and get back to people.
(I don’t know how often you frequent thrift stores and Goodwill, but I always pick up books there. When they’re $1.50, I don’t feel bad about not reading them immediately!)
I absolutely adore all of Curtin Sittenfeld’s work. My all-time favorite is The Boys of My Youth by Joann Beard — if you like Curtis’ work, you should definitely pick up Joann’s — stunning autobiographical short stories. Kazuo Ishiguro and Jhumpa Lahiri are favorites too. I love to hear what people are reading!
Don’t let Little Bee get away from you… make that one a “for sure.” It’s disturbing but a GREAT write.
I read safe haven and loved it!
American Wife is a GREAT book. I read it last year and I still think about it from time to time. Crazy Love is another good one! Nice picks!
I have a few of those on my Busy Bookworm Challenge list! You should join my challenge; you have the format down already (1 (or 2 depending on time) books per month). I just got married and I am trying to find the time to read again. I can’t imagine how you do it with a baby too!
I love your idea to pace your book reading for a year. I haven’t ready any of the others, but Crazy love is a great book. It definitely makes you think about a lot of things, at least it did for me. Very challenging, but great perspective.
You’ve got a great list for 2011!!! I have The Glass Castle and American Wife on my list too. Being a dog person you will love The Art of Racing in the Rain, it’s one of my all-time favorites!
I love, love, loved The Glass Castle and The Kite Runner. Both were such great books! By the same author of The Kite Runner….a book called A Thousand Splendid Suns is fantastic as well!
Love your list – good choices! I can personally assure you that you will like February, March and June! I love, love, loved The House on First Street (super easy read).
Laura Bush’s memoir is great and a quick read, too. I liked Kite Runner but would read some of the others on your extra list first 🙂
I have a tendency to stick to mindless chic lit so I haven’t read too many of these but Nicholas Sparks is my all-time favorite author and I read Safe Haven a couple months ago and LOVED it! Did you like it?
Also, I think I read Sunday at Tiffany’s a few years back and I remember liking it but don’t remember much else about it. 🙂
I’m attempting to read 30 books this year but so far I only have about 15 on my list. Need to work on that so I can blog it soon! 🙂
One of my goals is to read more this year… Maybe I’ll check out a few that are on your list. 🙂
American Wife is truly one of the best books I’ve ever read!
I’m in the middle of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo right now, glad to see I’m not the only one who waited a long time to jump on the bandwagon. I absolutely loved The Art of Racing in the Rain. Being a dog person, it will make you cry (grab a box of tissues when you sit down with it), but you’ll be so happy you read it.
South of Broad is one of my most favorite books!!! It took me awhile to read it (1.5 years exactly, but who’s counting!?!?!?). I was so sad when it was over because the characters were so well written and by the end i really felt like i knew them, i love when books do that to me!!! Also, i love what you said in a previous post about less TV and more reading, i’m also going to attempt that this year!!! Thank you for your wonderful blog and for always being yourself!!
Hi Erin! I think I’ve been in a hole because I had no idea you were pregnant again! Congratulations! Great news that you are feeling great, too. What a treat. That little guy will be blessed. I like your reading list and how you make it a monthly goal to read one book. That is attainable. Thanks for the list. I’ve read Prep and am reading Crazy Love.
Loved Little Bee and The Kite Runner, but hands-down loved his 2nd book A Thousand Splendid Suns a million times more. Seriously, my favorite book probably of ALL TIME! I just started White Oleander and am loving it so much. Radical is also on my list for 2011, too.
I hope you realize what a FANTASTIC example you’ll be setting for your boys when they see you reading for enjoyment. I credit that as being the reason my 2 school-age boys are the top readers in their classes. What a great bonus for you, huh?
American Wife is an amazing book. A real page turner.
Let me know what you think about it.
the girl with the dragon tatoo trilogy is excellent… the second book is better than the first. the art of racing in the rain made me cry… like big huge sobbing tears on my honeymoon by the pool… just a warning it is a tear jerker FOR SURE. i loved the glass castle.
we have very similar reading tastes!
I’ve always been a big reader and I just got a color Nook for Christmas. I had read the first two of the Girl w/ the Dragon Tattoo / Millenium series via traditional book and did the last one on the Nook. I’ve got Safe Haven, Little Bee, GW’s book, American Wife and the Pat Conroy book on my list. I read Chateau Marmont recently . . . fun, easy-breezy read.
I’ve tried to read Prep several times and just can’t get into it. Right now I’m reading Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet.
I’m reading Radical by David Platt right now. 🙂 I finished South of Broad in December. Once you get into it, you realize that it’s not your typical Southern/Charleston type of book. The storyline and characters are really intriguing and the book will keep you up all night!
I LOVED American Wife. Regardless of the political angle, it’s just a beautifully written book. Also loved Prep!
The Glass Castle is an amazing, agonizing, beautifully spun autobiography that will keep you awake at night.
Future recommendations for fun reads:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton
I’m tagging this post for when I need more book ideas. I’m reading the third of Larsson’s books and have really liked them, I have a hard time keeping track of the Swedish names and places, but they’re good (and tough to put down!).
I loved The Kite Runner
I really did not like Prep, I thought I would but just hated it. Commencement was more like what I wanted Prep to be
You have LOTS of good books on your list!! Here are some that you mentioned that are my favey faves: American Wife, Glass Castle, Art of Racing in the Rain, Kite Runner (and A Thousand Splended Suns by the same author). I’m pretty sure ALL of those made me cry. I just read Safe Haven and it’s just safe to say that I love anything by Nicholas Sparks. I don’t even read the back of his books anymore – I just buy them as soon as they come out and read them in about 1 day. I read Sunday’s at Tiffanys too and it’s cute – nothing groundbreaking or world-changing, but similar to Nicholas Sparks’ writing style. I do have to say that Prep was absolutely awful, and I’m not usually one to hate on a book. It was just pointless. :/
I just recieved a copy of Safe Haven so we’ll be reading it at the same time 🙂
You do have LOTS of great books on your list. My faves were The Art of Racing the Rain, The Kite Runner, The Glass Castle, and the Dragon Tatoo series. I too did not like Prep, but loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society!!!
Happy Reading! 🙂
I LOVED the overnight socialite. I bought it when it was on sale on Gilt.com, and I thought it would be a cheesy read, but I truly LOVED it. 🙂 Enjoy! I’ll have to check out a few you have on this list! I just downloaded The Glass Castle to my kindle the other day!