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Of course, I read only five of my ten Autumn to-reads. We'll see how I do with winter's.
1. Emily Climbs and Emily's Quest by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I just re-read Emily of New Moon and must, must, must read the sequels.
2. The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson #4) by Rick Riordan. Book three was too hilarious to not keep going with the series.
3. Lilith by George MacDonald. If I keep this near the top of my reading list, someday I might just get around to it.
4. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. While I've never brought home her paranormal romance series, her writing is lovely and the plot of this story looks fascinating.
5. Crossed by Ally Condie. Out of love for Matched, and despite my general dislike of dystopians. I'm simultaneously hopeful and terrified.
6. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It keeps haunting me lately, reminding me that I meant to re-read it in autumn.
7. Something by Tolstoy. Considering that it took my getting the flu to finish the bulky, shadowy ramble that was Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, I think I'd better schedule a week of fever and sore throat and stuffy head for sometime after Christmas if I hope to get through Anna Karenina or War and Peace.
8. Something by Brandon Sanderson; maybe Mistborn. Recommendations, anyone?
9. At least begin Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. I keep telling myself I'm going to do this.
10. Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God. I haven't actually read it through in years, but blogging about it yesterday made me want to.
Also, I've entirely forgotten what my book club's winter books might be. Fortunately, we give over responsibility and have a party in December. No one has to read anything; we just gather around and admire Agnes' Yule log. It's like something out of a magazine.
What do you plan to read during the snows and freezes and flu season?
I didn't realize the sequel to Matched was already out! I just read Divergent last night and was disappointed I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I did Matched. (I generally don't figure myself for a dystopian novel person either, but it seems like all of the good YA coming out is dystopian lately)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read his Mistborn series yet (or A Way of Kings for that matter) but I would recommend Elantris and Warbreaker from Brandon Sanderson; both were fantastic standalones =)
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with Tolstoy! He's an absolutely fantastic author, his scope and depth is just amazing. I would lean more towards Anna Karenina between that and War and Peace because the relationships and interactions were especially intriguing (but that's just my two cents ;))
Here's my TTT for this week if you're interested in checking it out: http://www.rulethewaves.net/blog/?p=3006
Great list! I hadn't realized there were sequels to "Emily of New Moon."
ReplyDeleteI don't necessarily put together a reading list. One, I'm not focused enough to keep to it, & two, I'm not focused enough to keep to it, & three, well, you get the picture. :) I have like 10 or 11 books going on right now & will probably even add in books here & there as the mood strikes me.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to your list, it reminds me I need to work harder at getting through Emma & then jumping into Mansfield Park. And that I need to finish up the Percy Jackson series.
As for Sanderson, he's tricky. If you go one way, you're roped into more long series. I guess I'd go with Li's suggestions. I've read both of those. I'd probably recommend Warbreaker to start off with.
Oh, the Canterbury Tales...I was so glad to only have to read the Prologue for one of my English classes this semester - I just couldn't get into the style of the writing. Hopefully you enjoy it when you get around to it :)
ReplyDeleteGreat top ten!
I love Percy Jackson! The spin-off series, The Heroes of Olympus, and his Kane Chronicles series are also fantastic. Here is my list http://wp.me/pzUn5-Gs
ReplyDeleteThe Ranger's Apprentice is one of my favorites! I came as a surprise to me. I was trying to branch out and read more "boy" books at work and fell in love. The first one isn't my favorite, but if you stick with it they get better and better.
ReplyDeleteI read Crossed this week! If you liked Matched, you will probably like it.
ReplyDeleteHere's my list: Top Ten Books On My TBR List For Winter. And just two more days to enter my monthly giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card!
I love the Emily books. They are deliciously darker and deeper than the Anne books. I always liked Ilse the best.
ReplyDeleteThanks, all, for the comments! Pardon me for responding in random order...
ReplyDeletestonesoupbooks, I love Ilse too. I could never figure out how to pronounce it, as a kid, but just looked it up on behindthename.com and I've been saying it right as an adult at least. :)
rockyriverteen, when I'm done with Percy, I look forward to trying out Riordan's other work! And that's good to know about the Ranger's Apprentice.
Deb, good to hear. Sequels are always uncertain propositions.
YA Book Queen, I'm expecting Chaucer to be a challenge and no two ways about it. :)
George, being unable to keep to a list has never stopped me from making one. :) And thanks, both you and Li, for the Sanderson recs. Maybe I'll give Warbreaker a try soon. Li, thanks for the input on Tolstoy, too. Most people tell me Anna K. is the better one to start with.
Alison, the more I read of dystopian, the less I like it. Divergent worked for me because I used to be part of an outdoor adventure ministry and could sympathize with some of the early Dauntless experiences, but I'm still not sure I'll read the sequel. Matched worked for me because Cassia was a gentler, more emotive heroine than most dystopians sport; I think in its introspection and familial comfort and its love story, it was a more appealing read for some of us. :)
I think you hit the nail on the head regarding Matched vs Divergent. I guess part of my "liking" dystopian YA novels has as much to do with what YA novels I don't like (contemporary novels like Paper Towns or Special Topics in Calamity Physics where I have no reason to want to like the characters involved.)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, Alison, though I haven't read the contemporary novels you mention. The characters nearly always make the story.
ReplyDeleteOoh...Tolstoy! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm actually hoping to try to read a lot of books that I've been avoiding, that others have recommended..so if you have any that are sort of, um..not my style exactly, but that Really Should Be Read, let me know! Winter is my best reading time especially if this winter is anything like last winter, and I end up snowed in half the time! :)
Apart from that, I Really want to read a book on the organic slaughter of pesky garden bugs that my husband bought me this summer, Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, re-read 100 years of Solitude (same guy), Return of the Native (Hardy), and a whole mess of poetry from people I tend to overlook.
Speaking of Tolstoy...
ReplyDeleteI might suggest starting with his short stories. A lot of them will give you the flavor of Tolstoy without necessarily slogging through huge books.
That being said, everyone should read War & Peace sometime in their life. I've already got my one reading in. :)
George is right about starting with his short stories. Except that I'd say everyone should read War & Peace once a year, just to reconnect :) ! The big books aren't so much "slogging" material, if you make sure not to get distracted by Tolstoy's tendency to go on tangents about the peasants, farming, Russian Politics, etc. The story is still there, and it'll come back soon enough! But if you want short stories, he has a collection called "Human & Divine" or "Divine & Human" of wonderful little stories.
ReplyDeleteI'd strongly urge for a start on Tolstoy his novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich.
ReplyDelete