One of my resolutions in 2012 was to read more. Specifically, I challenged myself to read 25 books, which is essentially one every two weeks, with a bit of leeway. All in all, I managed to read 29 from beginning to end!
This is not including the 5 or 6 books currently in progress that I imagine I will finish in early 2013, nor does it account for the German books that M. and I have read together, so I am pretty pleased for not only reaching my goal, but completely surpassing it.
The only question now is what to aim for next year. Do I dare to try and read 52? I already know I want to read Pulitzer winners, as well as embarking upon a “food-themed” journey, with a handful of non-fiction books on my list.
That said, here are the books I read, beginning with the most recent finished, and going down to the first book of the year. Of all the books this year, I have to admit that Middlesex and The Marriage Plot were my absolute favorites, securing Eugenides as one of my favorite authors. I also enjoyed Winterson’s writing quite a bit, and look forward to checking out more of her writing. Honorable mentions also include Junot Diaz and Amy Tan, for the wonderful and authentic melding of cultural experiences in their writing.
Promiscuities: The Secret Struggle for Womanhood by Naomi Wolf
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
The Kill Order by James Dashner
The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan
The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson
One Day by David Nicholls
Love the One You’re With by Emily Giffin
What is the What by Dave Eggers
American Dervish by Ayad Akhtar
Birds of America by Lorrie Moore
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Not a Star and Otherwise Pandemonium: Stories by Nick Hornby
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Invisible by Paul Auster
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling