50 Books Project
Wherein I attempt (and, so far, fail) to read 50 books each year.
Here’s the list from 2008:
The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, Book 2)
The Passion of Mary Magdalen: A Novel (The Maeve Chronicles)
The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, Book 3)
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
The Hollow (Book Two of the Sign of Seven Trilogy)
Nickel And Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
I Gotta Crow: Women, Voice, and Writing
Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking
Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Ancestors of Avalon
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder
Moral Disorder and Other Stories
Final Journeys: A Practical Guide for Bringing Care and Comfort at the End of Life
Son of a Witch: Volume Two in the Wicked Years
Thank You for All Things (Bantam Discovery)
Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion
The 2009 List
(Wherein I failed even more than last year, having only read 28.)
Dune, 40th Anniversary Edition (Dune Chronicles, Book 1)
Dune Messiah (Dune Chronicles, Book 2)
Fifty Things to Do When You Turn Fifty: Fifty Experts on the Subject of Turning Fifty
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
Introduction to Tantra : The Transformation of Desire
God Emperor of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 4)
Voodoo Dreams: A Novel of Marie Laveau
House of Sand and Fog (Oprah’s Book Club) (Vintage Contemporaries)
Heretics of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 5)
Chapterhouse Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 6)
Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Prodigal Son: A Novel
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: City of Night: A Novel
Aesop’s Fables (Oxford World’s Classics)
Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles (Myths, The)
The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession (Ballantine Reader’s Circle)
The 2010 List
(Wherein I did okay — made it to 39 this year)
Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness
Icy Sparks (Oprah’s Book Club)
The Pagan Stone (Sign of Seven, Book 3)
The White Queen: A Novel (Cousins’ War)
The Book of Lost Things: A Novel
Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Dead and Alive: A Novel
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader’s Circle)
Adventures in the Rocky Mountains (Penguin Great Journeys)
All Quiet on the Western Front (Pacemaker Classics)
Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, Book 2)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Vintage)
Aloha Surf Guide A Beginner’s Guide for the Vacationing Surfer
The Girl Who Played with Fire (Vintage)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Sweeping Changes: Discovering the Joy of Zen in Everyday Tasks
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel (P.S.)
Dead Until Dark (Original MM Art) (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood)
The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap
Living Dead in Dallas (Original MM Art) (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood)
The 2011 List
(Wherein I did okay again. 32 this year.)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: 10th Anniversary Edition (Harry Potter)
Club Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 3)
Dead to the World (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 4)
Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera
The Road (Movie Tie-in Edition 2009) (Vintage International)
The Lotus Eaters: A Novel (Reading Group Gold)
Green Mars (Mars Trilogy, Book 2)
Dead as a Doornail (Original MM Art): A Sookie Stackhouse Novel (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood)
Heaven and the Afterlife
The Tudor Rose: The Story of the Queen Who United a Kingdom and Birthed a Dynasty
One Day My Soul Just Opened Up: 40 Days and 40 Nights Toward Spiritual Strength and Personal Growth
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2)
New Menopausal Years : The Wise Woman Way, Alternative Approaches for Women 30-90 (Wise Woman Ways)
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible
Definitely Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 6)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat–Not a Sour Puss
The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession
The 2012 List
(Wherein I decided I will probably never make 50, but that’s okay. It’s fun to try.)
All Together Dead: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
My Body Is A Temple: Yoga As a Path to Wholeness
Courage: Overcoming Fear and Igniting Self-Confidence
Drop Dead Healthy: One Man’s Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection
From Dead to Worse (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood, Book 8)
An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)
Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything
A Clash of Kings (HBO Tie-in Edition): A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Two
Life in the Bogs 
I attempt and fail each year as well. I only ever make to 20-25. If I had more time, and more interesting books that really catch my attention.
You read a Salty Piece of Land?!? I love Jimmy Buffet books!!! When we were little, my dad used to read us JollyMon. It’s a kid’s book, based on one of his songs, but I loved it SOOOO much. And then I found out that he wrote grown up books and that was way too exciting. It’s funny because he’s such a great story-teller, and you can find bits of his songs work their way into the book. Like “cowboy in the jungle”, something about riding a pony on a beach, and all kinds of stuff.
Anyway, sorry to ramble, I just really love that book but nobody takes me seriously when I tell them that I like Jimmy Buffet’s books. Big shocker, huh?
lol! Thanks, Meredith. You brightened my day. 🙂
Yes, I read the book and enjoyed it. I’ve been meaning to check out more of his books (especially the one he wrote when — and about — he turned 50.
Why 50 books a year? Why put a number to something you enjoy and try to froce it. For me this only makes it unenjoyable. I would rather read and enjoy 1 book a year than try and read 50 just because that is a number that sounds good.
John
Hi John 🙂
It’s an arbitrary number and I never meet it or expect to meet it so there is no forcing. I borrowed the idea from another blogger because I noticed I was spending less time reading books (oddly enough, correlating with spending more time reading blogs). Having a challenge helps to motivate me.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. 🙂
Though I’m not going for any specific number, I’ll probably hit 50 books this year, I’m up to 18 since March 11th when I started my blog about books. I also read several books this year before I started keeping my blog so I’m probably at about 25-30 for the year. Best of luck in reaching your goal of 50 for this year.
Thank you, Adam. 🙂
This is a great effort, I don’t read enough! but I want to…Would love to know what your favourite books to read were? Two books I aim to read are Norwegian Wood and The Art of Racing in the Rain 🙂 Thanks again!!!
Oh gosh, Siannaphey. I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite book. There are so many wonderful books. Norwegian Wood was certainly one of those wonderful books. The House of the Spirits was another. I found Jitterbug Perfume quirky and funny, and The Graveyard Book was fabulous.
I’m so glad yo see that you’re reading the Outlander books! I’m obsessed! It’s the driving passion behind my desire to visit Scotland! I’m having a hard time finishing the 5th book, though.
Scotland is a gorgeous country, Ashley. I’ve been there a couple of times, and particularly love the Highlands. I wish I could afford to live there. 🙂
The only thing more fun than reading books, for me, is reading other people’s reading lists! Your’s are very interesting and we have quite a few in common. I liked Buffet’s book, too.
I know this is an old post, but I just came across it. Hope you don’t mind! What are you reading now? I just finished “A Trick of the Light” by Louise Penny, my favorite mystery writer.
Hi Melissa 🙂
I like reading other people’s lists too. It’s interesting to see what people are reading and I often find some new books to add to my reading list.
I’m currently reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. If interested, you can (usually) find what I’m currently reading listed in the side bar (over to the right, somewhere near the top). I added “usually” because sometimes I get behind in updating it.
I’ll be moving my current list (also in the side bar, near the bottom) over to this page once we change over to 2012 and I start a new one.
Thanks for stopping by. I don’t think many people look at the pages on my blog (just the posts) which is okay, but it’s nice when someone does. 🙂
What a great challenge! And I love your taste in books 🙂 You have some pretty wonderful ones on your list!
Thanks, Tara! 🙂
Wow! Your lists are amazing! I’ve been wanting to read some of the books on your lists myself, but only managed to do some. We’ve got some books we both like though! 🙂
Warm regards,
Subhan Zein
Thank you, Subhan. There are so many good books to read, it’s difficult to decide what to read next. 🙂
I think I’m going to list my books too. Thanks for the idea. I’ve read many of the same fiction books you’ve read, but very little non-fiction.
I just finished The Book Thief. I thought it was very good and it went fast. Now I’m slipping in a Nora Roberts book. I read them like candy when I want a light easy read that I know won’t make me cry or have to think. I have The Snow Child on my kindle to read next for the Goodreads Book Addicts group.
Good luck with your reading. I’ll enjoy seeing what you do.
Thanks, Christine. I look forward to seeing what you’re reading. 🙂
I tried this for the first time in 2012. I got to 67 books! My goal for this year is 75. Ambitious but if I keep reading only books I absolutely love, it should go quickly. If I read books just because they are the current title to read even if they aren’t my cuppa tea, they drag and drag and drag me down.
I know what you mean, Corina. There are some books I have to slog through, and then find I’m glad I did. Others, not so much. I instituted a 50 page rule. If something about the book hasn’t grabbed me by page 50, I give up. The only exception to that are the books on the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list. I’m working my way through the list. Sometimes it’s slow going. I find the classics often require me to slow down and think about what I’m reading. Not all of them. Some go fast and I wonder why I’d never read them before. And some are work and I get to the end wondering why I bothered.
Lately I’ve been reading books with a lot of pages so I’ve been putting short, quick, “brain candy” type of books in between. 🙂
fun and varied reading lists. I wish I had more time to read. It’s just that with all the exercise my eyes get when I’m creating something the last thing I want to do is read. I usually find myself just closing my eyes and listening to music. I do listen to audio books once-in-a-while. I’m looking forward to what 2013 holds for you.
Thanks, Terry. 🙂
I don’t read as much as I used to, for similar reasons. Sometimes my eyes are just too tired, usually from staring at the computer screen.