In Which I Contemplate 100 Books in a Year

22 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment

by meghanandco in 100 Books

It’s a lofty goal to say the least. I set the same goal for last year, and fell short. It’s understandable – I was much busier last year than ever before, and I was hampered by book choices. (Note to self – make sure to put some shorter books in this year!) This year though, it’s personal. Yes, Joe has decided that he thinks he can read more books than me in a year. Me, the same girl who pretty much has a personal book store in the lower level of her home. So this is a pride issue now. I must complete 100 books. In order to achieve this goal, I need to average at least 9 per month. So far, I’m doing ok on that. It’s March, and I’ve finished 25. I need to keep this level of reading up, or he will catch me though. In that spirit, I though I’d take a few minutes to contemplate my journey thus far.

1. The Gift by James Patterson - This is the sequel to Witch and Wizard, the last book I read in 2010. It was one of Joe’s Christmas gifts, and we’ll both probably read the next book in the series when Patterson and his latest assistant writer churn the next one out sometime late this year. Formulaic, but an incredibly fast and easy read.
2. In the Kitchen with a Good Appetite by Melissa Clark – Half cookbook, half food memoir, I enjoyed it, even if I felt that it fell prey to some of the typical New York Food Writer’s pitfalls – focus on organics, slight disdain for non-fresh non-local pre-packaged ingredients. It was a good book, even if I haven’t actually cooked anything from it yet.
3. Eggs Benedict Arnold by Laura Childs - I do love me some cozy mysteries. Laura Childs serves up some lovely charming cozies. I actually prefer this series to her Tea series, mostly because I find this heroine more approachable and likeable.
4. Fundraising the Dead by Sheila Connolly - Really enjoyed this one. It was a great choice to have the heroine be a museum fundraiser. It’s so unique, and allows for plot exposition like crazy, since most fundraisers have limited grasp of what they’re actually raising money for. And I was in the fundraising world, so I know, haha.
5. Meet Me in Saint Louis by Sally Benson - The book that the classic film is based on. It’s one of my all-time favorite movies, and finding out how true it was to the book was heartwarming.
6. The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett - The peril of epic fantasy series is that if you’re reading them in a serialized format, as they’re published, you forget almost all of those small details that turn out to be crucial when you go to read the next book in the series. Therefore, I re-read before I read the sequel. Now, to actually read the sequel before I re-forget.
7. The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder - I do love the Little House books. I’m on a quest to re-read them all.
8. Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle - This cozy about a rare book restorer started a bit slow, but it did pick itself up towards the middle. I’m definitely planning on continuing in this series.
9. One From the Hart by Stefanie Powers - I admit it. I’m a total Hart to Hart fan. Stefanie Powers is also in 2 of my all-time favorite old movies, McLintock! and If a Man Answers. I was unable to resist this memoir, especially since it was discounted so nicely. A very fun read.
10. The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig - I tried to read this on my Thanksgiving trip to Disney but was thwarted by the tropical-in-comparison temperatures. It just felt wrong to be reading about sub-zero England. In any event, it was a lovely romp, and a fitting love story for a beloved vegetable.
11. The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig - It’s not my Very Favorite Willig, but it’s solid and well done. She’s doing a fantastic job at keeping her series fresh and fun, not at all formulaic and rote. Kudos.
12. Dirty Sexy Politics by Meghan McCain - I felt almost dirty buying this. As we drove away from Barnes & Noble, I found myself justifying my purchase to Joe. He pointed out that I didn’t need to do that, and he was right. Despite McCain’s political lean, I enjoyed her account of her time on her father’s failed (thankfully) Presidential campaign. I came away from this book feeling like the best man won the 2008 election, since it seemed like many of McCain’s problems were at the root caused by bad advisors, and these are the same people he would have brought with him to the WH. I think Meghan is a force to be reckoned with in the political world, and someone to watch for the future.
13. My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler - Handler is a funny writer, but this one was much funnier than her second book (which I read previously) Are You There Vodka. I had laugh-out-loud moments on this one that Vodka just never gave me.
14. Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond - The Pioneer Woman’s account of her love story with Marlboro Man and the story of their first year of marriage. It’s been alluded to on the blog, but it was still a great read. I loved the new material, and found much to contemplate.
15. Death at Gallow’s Green by Robin Paige - Another cozy series. Love the characters, and the bucolic English setting.
16. Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie - I was a late Crusie convert. Her praises were sung all over the blogosphere, and yet I resisted. I attempted the first chapter of Bet Me, and was unimpressed. Put it down, tried it again, and loved it. Am working my way through her backlist now. Smart, witty, sexy, funny, with characters who aren’t brought together then wrenched apart by A Horrible Problem That Turns Out to Not Really Be a Problem After All. Love it.
17. Wit’ch Fire by James Clemens - This is my new gym series for my Kindle. Way too dark for me to be reading at night by myself. Much better to read in a well-lit gym, with my boyfriend on the elliptical beside me. It’s going to take me longer to finish it, but my psyche will thank me for the lack of nightmares.
18. Fannie’s Last Supper by Chris Kimball - I wish to God I’d never read the chapter about turtle soup and mock turtle soup. The rest of it was nice, and interesting to read about the social and culinary history of Boston. Don’t read if you have a weak stomach, and don’t read it with lunch.
19. Carney’s House Party by Maud Hart Lovelace - One of her stand-alone books set in the Betsy-Tacy universe. Loved it, it was like a visit with old friends. My daughter will definitely read these books one day.
20. Winona’s Pony Cart by Maud Hart Lovelace - Another Betsy-Tacy stand-alone. This time they’re still young, and it was charming to revisit simpler times for the girls, when boys were just friends not beaux.
21. Death at Daisy’s Folly by Robin Paige - another Sir Charles and Lady Katherine cozy, another solid one as well.
22. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - a classic. I felt a re-read was in order since they’re making it into a film again. It was interesting to re-read it as an adult with different perspectives. I no longer found Gatsby charming and romantic. I found him sad and obsessive. Honestly, he was basically stalking Daisy, and for myself, if given the choice between living as an icon or living as a flesh-and-blood wife, I’d choose reality.
23. Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald - continuing with the Fitzgerald theme. I liked this book better as an adult as well, and saw Nicole’s side of things more this time. Again, Dick Diver was not the romantic figure he once was.
24. Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie - if a romance novel that features ghosts and supernatural stuff can scare the pants off of me, I have clearly made the right choice to read the Wit’ch books by James Clemens in broad daylight and in public. It was definitely a fun book though, and I’m glad I read it. Don’t know if I’ll re-read though haha.
25. The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke - Loved this cozy mystery. I even made the titular cookie recipe – they were delicious btw and I will totally blog about them soon! I’ve decided to bake my way through the series. Each book has several recipes in it, and I want to try at least 1 from each book I read. I definitely need to find somewhere to give my baked goods to though – my waistline just won’t take it otherwise haha.

So that’s where I am as of right now. It’s a daunting task, but I feel up to the challenge. It’s going to be a great year!

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