Book Project 2012

Monday, March 26th, 2012 | Posted under Books

Late last year I mentioned that I had started a book reading project that required me to read most of Jane Austen’s novels. I finished in time for the end of 2011. I asked for your help for my book reading project for 2012.

Thanks to Grace for her suggestion! My reading project author for 2012 is Mark Twain.
I’m currently reading through some of his major works and travel writing. I realized that I’d never read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which many consider to be one of the greatest American novels ever. I’ve finished both of those books so far this year.

Right now, I’m slowly making my way through A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, which is highlights Twain’s more political side. I wasn’t expecting that. After this book, I”ll be starting either The Innocents Abroad or Following the Equator, some of Twain’s major pieces of travel writing.
I’ve got a lot of travelling coming up in the next few months, and I’d like to ask for your help again with some reading choices. This time I’m looking for light reading. I’m still not interested in the Hunger Games (sorry!), but I like romances (quality stuff like The Time Traveler’s Wife, which I wasn’t interested in finishing but thought was fine), memoirs, food writing and just good storytelling. If I’ve seen the movie, it might be hard for me to want to read the book (I’m lazy). This means no Water for Elephants because we just saw the DVD. I just started using Good Reads, so any tips on how to use that effectively would be great, too (I just started using the app, but I haven’t had much time to play with it).
What do you recommend for some lighter reading? What are you reading right now?

4 Comments »

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/07935358515483251477 Heidi

    For light travel reading I always look to Bill Bryson. Neither Here Nor There is fun but there are a million others…

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/06759536187045093908 Dead Flowers

    I really enjoyed Mindy Kaling’s book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

    I second the Bill Bryson rec. He’s one of my favorite authors! He’s written travel books on a ton of different places. Also, have you read anything by Dave Barry? His book about traveling in Japan was really funny.

    I use Good Reads to track what books I’m currently reading, as well as keeping a list of “to read” books. I also created a challenge for 2012 on there that helps me keep track of how many books I’ve read for the year. When you add a book you’ve read, be sure to add the date you read it or the challenge won’t recognize it as being read this year. :)

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/08382072019860756437 Diana

    What a great reading project, so you’ve never read them in school either (The Adventures of Huck Finn)? I really loved those books. Right now Im actually reading The Hunger Games…and Im loving it. But sometimes it does give me nightmares!! Emily Giffins books are really great, I read “Heart of the Matter” and “Baby Proof”. Really great.

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/02290850060791887878 Monique

    I’m in a book club but having a hard time keeping up. I’m just not in the mood to read some of the books other members choose. Instead I want to read what I want to read like great travel writers and food writers and about wine. Maybe we should start a virtual book club…

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