Two Reading Lists

I LOVE to read! I mean, love it, love it, LOVE it!!! 
I grew up watching my mother read ALL the time so it ended up becoming a beautiful habit of mine as well.  Unfortunately, as I’ve gotten older I’ve devoted less and less time to reading.  
I figured the best way to get back into reading would be to create a book list for the year.  I sent out a message asking for some good books to add to my list and received so much feedback that I have created my list for this year and the next!
My initial plan was to read one book per month.  But, being the thinker that I am I’ve included the approximate number of pages for each to determine how realistic that would be and decided that ten (10) books per year might be more doable.  That will give me a little extra time for the longer books like Anna Karenina (one of my favorite’s) and The Fountainhead (one I’ve never read and am a bit nervous about)!  So take a look at my lists and let me know what you think!
2014 Reading List
  1. Made to Crave by (225 pgs.) – Currently Reading
  2. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (534 pgs)
  3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Gree (318 pgs.)
  4. The Joy of Less by Francine Jay (296 pgs.)
  5. The Creature from Jekyll Island : A Second Look at the Federal Reserve by G. Edward Griffin (608 pgs.)
  6. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (864 pgs.)
  7. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (298 pgs.)
  8. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg (416 pgs.) 
  9. Brainwashed by Tom Burrell (314 pgs.)
  10. A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix by Edwin H. Friedman (260 pgs.)
2015 Reading List
  1. The Miseducation of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson (146 pgs.)
  2. Democracy at Work. A Cure for Capitalism by Richard Wolff (220 pgs.)
  3. A Child Called It: One Child’s Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer (184 pgs.)
  4. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (400 pgs)
  5. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown (256 pgs.)
  6. How to Be Interesting by Jessica Hagy (272 pgs.)
  7. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand (720 pgs.)
  8. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (190 pgs.)
  9. Lean In by Sheryl Sanberg (240 pgs.)
  10. Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense by N. T. Wright (256 pgs.)
Through this exercise I’m hoping to rekindle my passion for reading while increasing my knowledge, awareness, vocabulary and writing skill!  I’m also hoping to encourage Madison to read, by example, just as my mother did!

Check out my Couples Reading Lists as well.
Do you have any must read books that I should add to my 2016 list?
Add them in the comments below :)!

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9 Comments

  1. February 11, 2014 / 12:01 pm

    I love to read as well, and like you, have not put as much time into it lately. I need to do that. I'm reading the Night Circus right now. It's really good while I'm reading it, it's not one of those books that I'm waiting every second to get back to, you know?

    I really want to read Anna Karenina!

  2. February 11, 2014 / 1:20 pm

    I love to read. I'm always reading at least one book. Most of the time I'm reading cozy mysteries or fluffy romance novels because I read to unwind more than anything.

    It looks like you are trying to read some classics. To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorites and worth the read if you haven't read it already. I love Shakespeare and would recommend one of his comedies (Much Ado about Nothing and The Taming of the Shrew are my favorites) if you haven't read any of those (most people only read dramas and histories in high school). Les Miserables is another story that is worth tackling (and it does take some tackling).

    I'm glad you are reading A Tale of Two Cities. It's another one of my favorites. 🙂 Happy reading!!!

  3. February 11, 2014 / 4:25 pm

    I love to read and read more in the Summer. I only read novels and the books I read will make your toes tingle. LOL..

  4. February 11, 2014 / 11:31 pm

    Thanks for this book list! Now I'm adding books to MY book list. 🙂

  5. February 12, 2014 / 4:41 am

    Definitely adding some of your list to mine 😉 I'm currently reading The Fault in Our Stars. So far so good. I try to read atleast 2 books a month when I have time. I'm a part of a book club so that holds me accountable to read atleast one a month! Enjoy your selections!!

  6. February 12, 2014 / 3:48 pm

    Yes, yes, yes! I have Lean In by Sherly Sanberg on my list. For one of my final reports at UNCC I chose to investigate the disparity of gender in upper level leadership positions and I referenced a lot of her work! Her TED talk is what originally drew me in. It was phenomenal. Probably the best one I've seen. As a woman, and as a mother, I found myself nodding along with her and having so many "ah-ha" moments.

    I was suppose to pick it up from B&N last weekend, but forgot to grab it as I left. Let me know when you read it. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this.

    P.S. Word on the street is that they are turning it into a movie, maybe a documentary? I'll keep you posted.

    • February 12, 2014 / 3:52 pm

      BTW, looking for the hardest read you'll ever attempt? Try Finnegans Wake. It'll keep you busy for a while. I made it to page 5 before I just gave up. You've been warned…

  7. February 13, 2014 / 7:25 pm

    If you read like your mom, you'll be done with both lists by the end of the year! I really would like to get in 1 book this year!
    -Aunt T

  8. March 19, 2014 / 4:11 pm

    This is a great list! I'm always looking for a good book read. I'm currently reading a few inspirational and self-help books. I will check out a few books on your list.

    Nakia

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