2008 wrap-up.

I went way past my goal of reading 50 books this year...but the past two months have been so crazy I haven't really read anything at all. I would pick up a book, start it, and then put it back. I'm ashamed of myself!

I'm going to start 2009 with Brideshead Revisited, which I started and put away a month ago (hangs head in shame) and Agnes Grey (which has to go back to the library next Monday).

My goal for 2009 will be 60 books. I don't think I'll be able to read 80+ again, unless I count cooking and craft books! And I'll remember to actually post updates on my reading. This blog has been a bit neglected since October.

Yes, I'm still reading!

I just finished Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates. It's a rather depressing tale of an unhappy suburban couple in the 1950's. Their fanicful plans to escape their monotonous life confuses their children and neighbors, and leads to tragedy.

It was hard to enjoy this one. The Wheelers aren't very likable people, and it's a little hard to feel bad for them. It's still very well written and has a lot of truth to it, even nearly fifty years after it was published. I look forward to seeing the upcoming movie!

RIP, Michael Crichton...

I wasn't sure where to put this, because the doctor/ writer also director and creator of quite a few movies (Coma) and television shows (E.R.). But writing is where he started, so I'll put it here. I had no idea he was sick. :( I wasn't a huge fan of some of his books, but I enjoyed the movies made of some, like Jurassic Park.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/11/05/obit.crichton/index.html

Other book news- I'm still reading. I put some books aside because I had some craft and cooking books to look through, but I'll finish Brideshead Revisited this week, at least!

Something from live journal...

This is their daily "Writer's Block". My answer is below...

From Judy Blume to V.C. Andrews, there's always a book circulating among teens that their parents don't want them to read. What favorite book did you have to hide from your parents?

View other answers

Never had to hide anything from my parents. My mom is a librarian, and saw no reason to censor what I was reading. If she thought something was objectionable, she would tell me why she thought so, but not tell me I couldn't read it.

I read at college level in junior high. Mom didn't have a problem with me reading stuff like V.C. Andrews as long as I read more substantial stuff!

I read anything I could get my hands on. *confession time* The folks I baby sat for when I was in high school had a bunch of books like "Joy of Sex" and Dr. Ruth stuff...very accessible. I learned quite a bit from those babysitting jobs...O_o (and Mom had been in their house, so she knew what was on their shelves...) Seriously, though, if it was a book, I would read it. And my parents had no problem with that.

Finally, I have cracked open my books again!

I started listening to Brideshead Revisited on my mp3 player last night. So far I'm enjoying it- that fact that Jeremy Irons is the reader helps! I also finally started to read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. And I have checked out some "Inspector Lynley" novels- Well Schooled in Murder, For the Sake of Elena, Missing Joseph, and Playing for Ashes. I don't know when I'll get to them, but some are on cassette.

Three new Torchwood novels coming in November (they're already out in the U.K.), and three more next May! *is very happy*

A week without books?

I didn't read for a whole week. I'm ashamed of myself! I still have a huge stack of books to go through. I just added Brideshead Revisited, and a few of Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley novels. I'll get back to reading this week!

Another classic read...

Wuthering Heights. I actually liked it, despite the unlikable characters, especially the rather cruel and mad Heathcliff . It's a great story, and hard to forget. Obsessive love leading to madness, desire for revenge, innocents hurt, it's all there. No wonder this is considered a classic.

The BBC is filming a new version of Heights, starring Tom Hardy as Heathcliff. I wonder how good it can be.

So now I'm up to 71 books...

I just listened to the audio of Death of a Gentle Lady, even though I'd already read it. I just wanted to listen to a humorous Hamish Macbeth story after the gloom and doom of Heights!

Up next- Tennant of Wildfell Hall and Agnes Grey, then Villette and Middlemarch.