“Wish I’d Read That” Challenge

Found this cool challenge thanks to miss Corra over at from the desk of a writer.

So for 2010, I’m going to aim to read 10 books I’ve been wanting/meaning to read for a while.  For the most part, these are all books that have been sitting untouched on my bookshelf for a while since I purchased or borrowed them.

There are four levels to the challenge:

— Curious – Read 3 books.

— Fascinated – Read 6 books.

— Addicted – Read 12 books.

— Obsessed – Read 20 books.

I’m going to aim for somewhere between Fascinated and Addicted, so here’s ten for starters:

1.) The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (my mom has been begging me to read this FOREVER)

2.) The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce

3.) Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote (my cousin bought me this for Christmas last year!)

4.) Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (the largest book on the list- it’s DAUNTING.  No wonder I haven’t read it yet!)

5.) The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis (borrowed from my brother a LONG time ago.  He probably doesn’t know I still have it!  It’s okay though, he doesn’t really read 🙂 )

6.) The Wings of the Dove by Henry James

7.) Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

8.) The Choice by Nicholas Sparks (a bit of a guilty pleasure, but I don’t honestly feel guilty about it… another recommended read by my mother- who has asked me not to mention her on my blog.  Hmmm… I’m not a very good daughter, I guess)

9.) The Bostonians by Henry James

10.) Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy (started this one after my semester as an English Lit semi-grad student, and couldn’t get into it.  Here’s hoping I’ll have better luck this time around!)

As always, this is probably a bit of a lofty goal for me, considering that I need to re-start querying Twenty-Five, get started at a new job (oh, I have some prospects, keep your fingers crossed for me), and finish at least one of the other five books I’ve started writing, but I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t put all kinds of crazy pressure on myself!

4 thoughts on ““Wish I’d Read That” Challenge

  1. Wow, that is an ambitious list. The only one I’ve read it The Pillars of the Earth–loved it, but I think I liked the second one even better.

    We had a competition at school to see who could read the most in one year. Sadly, I lost, but I managed to read 31 books in 2009, including Nicholas Nickleby, Fahrenheit 451 and Wuthering Heights (currently). Stephen King admitted to reading about 80 books a year–geez. I wish I could get through that many.

    You’ll have to keep us updated on which ones you like the best.

  2. I might finish ‘Jane Eyre’ before the challenge starts and have to add another! LOL. 🙂

    I’m adding all of these to my Goodreads list.

    I can’t believe it took me so long to try the classics, and to view them with a respectful eye.

    Thanks for your recommendations over at my place, Rach! I added them all and can’t wait. I’m especially excited about ‘Portrait of a Lady.’

    Ooh! ‘Girl With a Pearl Earring!’ I’m adding that one, too.

    I have to think all this reading can only improve the quality in a writer.

    Best to you,
    Corra 🙂

  3. I read Pillars. It was the best book I ever read. I haven’t started the second one yet but I’m sure it will be a close one.

    I read 21 books this year! (plus 4 I started and didn’t like) That’s huge for me since I never was much of a reader. I think reading really helps you write.

    Have fun with yours. Just be careful not to make it a burden otherwise you won’t enjoy reading anymore.

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