Personal Reading Challenge 2012

Okay, here are the 10 Books I commit to reading in 2012 from 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die book. I skipped the 1700s, because my husband convinced me that the novel didn't truly exist until the 1800s. I only committed to 10, because I over-committed myself to challenges last year. Who knew--- raising a toddler and working is super time consuming!!?!

2000s

The Story of Lucy Gault – William Trevor

What I Loved – Siri Hustvedt

Blonde – Joyce Carol Oates

1900s

Amsterdam – Ian McEwan

American Pastoral – Philip Roth

Siddhartha – Herman Hesse

Night and Day- Virginia Woolf

To Have and Have Not – Ernest Hemingway

1800s

The Idiot – Fyodor Dostoevsky

Silas Marner – George Eliot

Do you have any favorites on this list? What book do you think I should read before I die? What books are you excited about reading this year?

Okay, now I'm off to bed to read. 

Be well! Read On!

New Reading Challenge: Cruisin' Thru the Cozies

It's June, so what better time to start a 2011 reading challenge?!! Since I'm new to blogging about reading, teaching, and books this spring, I didn't sign up for any challenges in January. I just couldn't resist joining in the fun and wait until next January.

I was inspired by another fashionably late blogger, Irregular Silsbee (check out her awesome book blog), to give it a go mid-year.

This challenge is right up my alley! I wasn't sure what the cozies were. But Socrates Book Reviews has a nifty link that explains it all.

According to Cozy-Mystery.com a Cozy mystery is:

• Many cozy mystery readers are intelligent women looking for a “fun read” that engages the mind, as well as provides entertainment 
• The crime-solver in a cozy mystery is usually a woman who is an amateur sleuth. Almost always, she has a college degree, whether she is using it or not. Her education and life’s experiences have provided her with certain skills that she will utilize in order to solve all the crimes that are “thrown her way.” The cozy mystery heroine is usually a very intuitive, bright woman. The occupations of the amateur sleuths are very diverse: caterer, bed and breakfast owner, quilter, cat fancier/owner, nun, gardener, librarian, book store owner, herbalist, florist, dog trainer, homemaker, teacher, needlepoint store owner, etc.
• The cozy mystery usually takes place in a small town or village (click here to read more on the village setting). The small size of the setting makes it believable that all the suspects know each other. The amateur sleuth is usually a very likeable person who is able to get the community members to talk freely (i.e. gossip) about each other. 

Well that just describes every guilty pleasure mystery that I read- PD James being my go to and absolute favorite! Hmmm, I think this challenge may be easier than I think!

I am going to try Investigator level. I am not a fast reader (as compared to many in bloglandia), so I am hoping I can do this! Wish me luck- I know it will be a fun ride!

Investigator Level:

1. And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie

2. Cover Her Face, by PD James

3. Daughters of Cain, by Colin Dexter

4.

5.

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Be Well! Read on!