2012 reading goals

Back in 2008, I set out to read books based on monthly themes. I really liked this concept and would love to do it again. However, this year isn't really fitting for that. In 2010, I came up with a booklist of the top books I wanted to read at sometime in my life. I started keeping track on this Booklists page. However, as you can see from 2011's reading list rundown, I read only one book from the Booklist last year. Disappointing. So, in order to try to stay better on track with it, I'm creating a reading list goal for 2012. A lot of these are on the Booklist, but some of these I got over the year at the Friends of Omaha Public Library book sales so, really my Booklist has grown and I need to edit it - and I desperately need to edit the teen one as my priorities have changed there quite a bit. But, I'll get to that another time.

Here they are in no particular order:

First of all, I know, I know. I can't believe I haven't finished "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" yet either. And I call myself a former copy editor. Shame on me.

Four of these books are books I've started reading and really enjoyed but for some reason or another, I got distracted by a different book and I never went back around to them. So 2012 will be the year of finishing things! Sadly, this pile isn't the only pile of books that I own that I've started and not finished but ... baby steps.

In addition to this list, I'm currently working my way through "Why We Broke Up" by Daniel Handler with lovely illustrations by the fabulous Maira Kalman (who also provided lovely drawings for "The Elements of Style Illustrated.") I've also started "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak (author of the brilliant, beautiful "The Book Thief"), which the 8th grade book club I co-host is reading this month.

I don't know how I overlooked adding "Attachments" by Rainbow Rowell to this shot, but that's another one I'm working on finally reading this year (I even got the book signed and everything and somehow it went unread even though I absolutely loved the beginning of it).

Also on the list for 2012 is "Divergent," the hot new-ish YA book that was picked as the Favorite Book of 2011 in the Goodreads Choice Awards and "I Am A Man: Chief Standing Bear's Journey for Justice," which is this year's One Book One Nebraska.

And then of course there's some books on my nook that I'd like to read. And "The Girl Who Played With Fire" which is making its way to me from Paperback Swap. And "The Hobbit" before the end of the year when the movie comes out .... Oh goodness. I need to stop myself somewhere to make room for some of those pesky new books that go and get written and look all exciting to read and everyone's talking about them so I just HAVE to read them right now, too!

Alright, here's the list for 2012 as it stands today:

Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Lynne Truss
In The Woods, Tana French
The Maze Runner, James Dashner
The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson
Assassination Vacation, Sarah Vowell
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Bel Canto, Ann Patchett
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz
An Object of Beauty, Steve Martin
The History of Love, Nicole Krauss
Runaway, Alice Munro
Zeitoun, Dave Eggers
The Heart is A Lonely Hunter, Carson McCullers
Why We Broke Up, Daniel Handler
I Am The Messenger, Makus Zusak
Attachments, Rainbow Rowell
Divergent, Veronica Roth
I Am A Man: Chief Standing Bear's Journey for Justice, Joe Starita
The Girl Who Played With Fire, Stieg Larsson
The Hobbit, J. R. R. Tolkien

Since my goal is to read 40 books this year and I've already got half of that listed here I should hopefully be in good shape. Wish me luck! I'll try my best to provide reviews along the way and would love to hear your thoughts on any of these or other books!