Plan-to-Reads: 2012
About ten or so years ago, I had a revelation about how I read and my depression. Simply put, if I don't want to read, it's a sure sign I'm depressed. Generally, the feelings that are a signal for this problem aren't little things like, "oh, I don't have time for this right now" upon looking at a book. Instead, it's the vague feeling of dread when I pick something up and say to myself, "I'll never get this done." And not just one book, but one book after another. Usually around the fifth or so book, I tell myself I need to get some mental shit sorted because I'm missing out on some good things.
Anyway! I can think of no better way to begin 2012 with optimistic plans about how and what I'm going to read!
The list, in general:
Fiction=
Zoo City, by Lauren Beukes (It has some excellent reviews on several sites I enjoy and the first few pages alone have already captured my attention.)
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, by Sloan Wilson (To understand "Mad Men" a little better.)
Swamplandia!, by Karen Russell (A coming-of-age story set in a dilapidated Florida-themed amusement park.)
20 Under 40: Stories from the New Yorker (I am fully prepared for half of these to annoy me with their pretentiousness, while the other half are all kinds of amazing and awesome.)
Also, I will finish Naruto... if it doesn't drive me crazy first.
Nonfiction=
Create Dangerously: The Immigrant Artist at Work, by Edwidge Danticat (My cool Uncle got me an autographed copy of this after hearing her speak in NYC!)
Tesla: Man Out of Time, by Margaret Cheney (I will finish this! It's all Sanctuary's fault!)
Angels and Ages: A Short Book about Darwin, Lincoln, and Modern Life, by Adam Gopnik (It was highly recommended by a friend of mine.)
Half Broke Horses, by Jeannette Walls (If it's even half as good as her first one, I'll be more than satisfied.)
Rereading Projects, on the Kindle=
The Adventures/Memoirs/Return of Sherlock Holmes: I've been meaning to reread these for a while now. They're actually fairly fast reads, although I will say that so far, I've muttered "Holmes, you bastard!" about once a story or so. Conan Doyle's thoughts on women bother me.
Poems of Emily Dickinson: Another reread I've been planning for a while. I need a better knowledge of her than one course in college and "Poems of Emily Dickinson for Young People" from when I was 10. (Which is a lovely book, by the way.)
The Iliad/The Odyssey: It's been too long.
There are also various titles from Charles Dickens, the Brontes, Virginia Woolf, and Jane Austen in the mix.
Any suggestions for other titles, in any category, are welcomed! :D
Anyway! I can think of no better way to begin 2012 with optimistic plans about how and what I'm going to read!
The list, in general:
Fiction=
Zoo City, by Lauren Beukes (It has some excellent reviews on several sites I enjoy and the first few pages alone have already captured my attention.)
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, by Sloan Wilson (To understand "Mad Men" a little better.)
Swamplandia!, by Karen Russell (A coming-of-age story set in a dilapidated Florida-themed amusement park.)
20 Under 40: Stories from the New Yorker (I am fully prepared for half of these to annoy me with their pretentiousness, while the other half are all kinds of amazing and awesome.)
Also, I will finish Naruto... if it doesn't drive me crazy first.
Nonfiction=
Create Dangerously: The Immigrant Artist at Work, by Edwidge Danticat (My cool Uncle got me an autographed copy of this after hearing her speak in NYC!)
Tesla: Man Out of Time, by Margaret Cheney (I will finish this! It's all Sanctuary's fault!)
Angels and Ages: A Short Book about Darwin, Lincoln, and Modern Life, by Adam Gopnik (It was highly recommended by a friend of mine.)
Half Broke Horses, by Jeannette Walls (If it's even half as good as her first one, I'll be more than satisfied.)
Rereading Projects, on the Kindle=
The Adventures/Memoirs/Return of Sherlock Holmes: I've been meaning to reread these for a while now. They're actually fairly fast reads, although I will say that so far, I've muttered "Holmes, you bastard!" about once a story or so. Conan Doyle's thoughts on women bother me.
Poems of Emily Dickinson: Another reread I've been planning for a while. I need a better knowledge of her than one course in college and "Poems of Emily Dickinson for Young People" from when I was 10. (Which is a lovely book, by the way.)
The Iliad/The Odyssey: It's been too long.
There are also various titles from Charles Dickens, the Brontes, Virginia Woolf, and Jane Austen in the mix.
Any suggestions for other titles, in any category, are welcomed! :D