2011 Wrap Up Post

My goal for this year was 67 books. I managed to read 69. I read 24,324 pages which is about 500 more than last year (even though I read 6 less books this year).


Here are the goals I set for myself for 2011 and how I feel I did.

1. I want to keep writing about what I'm reading and try to improve it. Accomplished at least continuing to write. Don't feel like I improved.
2. I want to try to be more open-minded about when I read something. Like when a book I've requested comes in from the library, I want to make a better attempt to read it even if I don't especially feel like reading it right then. Definitely didn't do to well with this, but I'm OK with it.
3. USE THE LIBRARY MORE! I'm kind of running out of space. Once we get our house in better order I won't worry as much but right now I don't know where to go with books. I think I did all right on this one. 27 library books this year (last year was only 11).
4.  I know I posted a list of books I want to read in 2011, but I think I'm going to make a short list (maybe 10-15) of books that books/authors I want to read but have avoided reading or that I have tried reading and ended up putting down. I would like to believe that my 50-page rule won't apply to these, but I'm not promising anything. I only read 3 off of this but I'm am more than OK with this. I kind of can't believe The Great Gatsby wasn't on this list.
   1. Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
   2. The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris
   3. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
   4. The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood  
   5. Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
   6. Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell
   7. Blankets by Craig Thompson

And last but not least, my faovrite books from what I read this year, in the order I read them. Not all of them published in 2011. 

1. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
2. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
3. The Metropolis Case by Matthew Gallaway
4. Divergent by Veronica Roth
5. Graceling by Kristin Cashore (and Fire)
6. Blood Red Road by Moria Young  
7. True Grit by Charles Portis
8. When She Woke by Hillary Jordan