Listing, slightly

[trishtrash]

[x-posted to trishtrash / 90in09Posted as proof of geekiness, rather than proof of reading prowess: my full list of books read in 2009, rated for your edification. I've reviewed these in past entries, as I've read them, but if you want a synopsis, opinion etc, on any of them, feel free to ask

Comments

[kirke]

94.

FAIL.

[trishtrash]

... on many grounds, I'm sure.

[edith_jones]

That's a big challenge you're taking on - all that non-fiction! I don't think I'd enjoy reading all that much under those conditions! I hope you make your goal, and am really impressed by the books you've read this year. Well done!
-A.

[trishtrash]

Thanks... I'm already wondering if I've announced the unachievable. I currently don't have that many unread non-fiction/classic fiction books :/ I have, however, plenty of sci-fi, fantasy and WWII fiction, many of which are young adult and fall utterly in the 'easy' category of reading.

[edith_jones]

Young adult fiction is one of my favourite things to read. Your list does sound like a good one, but the lack of non-fiction can be daunting, as it's never what I want to purchase when I get to a bookstore, on or off-line. John owns almost solely non-fiction except for books by Terry Pratchett and some horrible-looking sci fi, and I've asked that he list books that might interest me. That way I've got a lending library just across the hall from our bedroom. [John converted James' room into a study when James moved into Diana's vacated room; John's old study is in the process of becoming a sewing/storage room for Aislinn, and I've got a study just off the front hall.]

This year I'm determined to read from my TBR list instead of buying books every five minutes. No more purchases unless someone wants to buy books FOR me!!

[birdgirl_1107]

I love your list - interesting AND informative with the ratings and genre descriptions. I'd also give five stars to "Regeneration," "The Eye in the Door," and "Ghost Road" - and you're the first person I've ever come across who has actually read and loved all three!

I'll be curious to hear whether you manage to stick to your resolution to read one non-fiction or classic/literary fiction work for every easy read. I make a similar resolution almost annually and so far have never been able to keep it! Maybe 2010 will be my year ... although it looks like I have some catching up to do as I just realized my total sits at: 18 easy reads, 1 non-fiction, and 2 literary/classic fiction. Yoicks.

I'm going to add you as a friend so I can keep up with your public posts. If you felt like adding me back, I'd be thrilled.

Garet/birdgirl_1107

[trishtrash]

I've friended you back, since you seem nice, interesting, and - probably most important of all - book oriented ;) The Regeneration trilogy solidly slayed (slew?) me; it hadn't been recommended, the first book was part of a 'penguin fiction' deal that I happened to buy, and the quality of writing really came out of left field (mainly because I really do have an awful habit of choosing the 'easy' reading option).

So far this year the ratio is pretty even, and I'm really glad I made myself stick to it thus far because I've read some really interesting non-fiction and a couple of missed great classics. Seriously Villette by Charlotte Bronte and The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins... if, like me, you've let these two straggle behind unread, (assuming you enjoy classic fiction, of course) pick them up at once... I can't recommend them enough.

LOL @ '18 easy reads'... hey, there's nothing wrong with reading for pleasure; I'm just trying to address years of laziness, without actually doing anything difficult, ROFL.

[birdgirl_1107]

*beams* Thanks for friending me back. You made my day. And I'm delighted to be your second birdgirl - I knew there must be some others on LJ when I had to get numeric with the username. And how geeky is that ...

I stumbled on Regeneration by accident as well. Did you know it was made into a movie? I think it must have gone straight to video (back in the day when it was video and not DVD) but I was so captivated by the story - Wilfred Owen's Dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori is a favourite poem of mine - that I ferreted out the book. I'm sure you can imagine my delight when I realized it was the first in a trilogy!

I'm impressed that your record is fairly even for 2010. Your example will inspire me! And thank you for the recommendations; oddly enough, I read both of them in 2008. It was the second time around for Villette and I'm so glad I re-read it as I enjoyed it much more than I did when I was younger and longing for a second Jane Eyre. Have you read Shirley? Also a 2008 read but one that was new to me - I'd been rather

[trishtrash]

I heard it was a film from the nice man in the bookshop when I went in to get the sequels and couldn't resist saying 'have you read this?' in tones of awe. The info has been ferreted away at the back of my mind until I can ask someone who's seen it whether it's a well made film... ?

I think I've read all the other Brontes; I only know that I was surprised to find one I hadn't read, and doubly shocked to discover it was excellent; Lucy Snowe is by far my favourite romantic/period fiction character now :) Outstripping even Count Fosco who had taken that post just the week before, ha. I can't figure out what took me so long, either. Everyone recommended TWIW to me O_O

Are you in the US or the UK or somewhere else entirely, btw? I tend to default to assuming people on the internet are in the USA, despite living in the UK myself, and having a f-list full of Europeans so I thought I'd ask now rather than, five years hence, ask you what it's like where you live only to discover you're in Worcestershire, and right around the corner :)