The Spring Reading Thing 2009 hosted by Katrina at Callapidder Days. The challenge is pretty simple: write a list of books you want to read between March 20 and June 20, try to read and review all of your books, then post about your experience during the challenge sometime in June.
I participated in Katrina’s Fall Into Reading 2008 challenge and, sadly, failed miserably, even though it was a fun one to try. This time, I’m hoping to do much better.
Like last time, I’m trying to grab books from a lot of different genres that are currently sitting in my apartment on my To-Read bookshelf. Here’s my list, what do you think?
Poetry:Billy Collins, Sailing Alone Across the Room Billy Collins is by far one of my favorite poets, but, shamefully, I have three unread collections of his poetry sitting on my shelves. It’s time to remedy this situation. |
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Nonfiction:Simon Winchester, The Professor and the Madman I bought this book on a whim just before I left for vacation and want to read it. I have high hopes for a book about the making of the Oxford English Dictionary, a book I am a huge nerd about. |
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Fiction:Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close I started this book back in 2008, but found that reading it in short bursts wasn’t effective because all the changing narration got confusing. I decided to put it away until I had a chunk of time to just read it straight through. I should have that between now and June 20, right? (Ha ha |
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Memoir:Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking This is another book that I’ve been hesitant to read because it sounds so sad. But I love Joan Didion, so I want to finish it. Once school is out I should have the time to get into this one too. |
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Comic Book:Scott McCloud, Understanding Comics I skimmed the first few pages of this book — a comic book about how to read comic books — before vacation and fell in love with it. I can’t wait to get back into it. I’m also excited for how much I think reading this book is going to help me review comic books better. |
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
you’re quite ambitious! i read TYOMT a few years back–it was an interesting read. i didn’t know that foer had a new book out–i listened to his last book on an audio cd. it was a bit rambling…but the language was nice.
on my reading list are two arcs that i’m not-so-patiently waiting to receive–perfect fifths by megan mccafferty and pretty in plaid by jen lancaster. i’m frothing!!! hee hee.
Kim, you’re list is so good! The McCloud and Foer books are some of my favorites. I should add poetry to my list too. Next month is National Poetry Month. Happy reading!
I bombed the Fall into Reading challenge too. Good luck with this one.
Last summer Billy Collins came to the campus I was attending and gave a poetry reading for about an hour. It was fabulous — and the book you have selected to read is my absolute favorite. ENJOY
Wow…what a wonderful eclectic mix you’ve got there! Makes me wish I’d put a little more thought into putting together my list.
I’ve got a book of Billy Collins poetry sitting on my coffee table. Looking forward to digging in.
I read Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close earlier this year and enjoyed it quite a bit. I agree that it’s a book that lends itself to longer periods of reading, rather than short snippets, so hopefully you will find the time for it! I definitely plan to check out Foer’s other novel Everything is Illuminated, too.
Another blogger wrote about Billy Collins awhile back. I’m going to have to try him.
Twitter: TooFondOfBooks
March 30, 2009 at 8:01 pm
I read the book about the OED a while back (a long while back … 8 years or so!); the OED is a fascinating book(s) … wouldn’t you love to own one volume?!
The Jonathan Safron Foer book is my favorite of the two I’ve read (the other EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED, didn’t grab me as much)
And THE YR OF MAGICAL THINKING is on my wish list, too.
You’ve really mixed it up with a great selection across genres … enjoy!
I just checked out a Billy Collins poetry book from the library. I’m not usually a poetry fan (I tend not to “get it”), but when I leafed through the book, it seemed like I might actually be able to understand what he’s saying. I’m encouraged to read that he’s one of your favorites. Maybe there’s hope for me yet.
Yes, what I read of the Foer book was rambling but lovely to read; I’m looking forward to when I have a long couple of afternoons to get back to it. Good luck getting your ARCs
Thanks Vasilly! I’m glad to hear both books are good, it’s making me more excited to have some time to read. I didn’t know about National Poetry Month; maybe I will try to get through all my Billy Collins in April.
Oh good, although I was confident this one would be awesome since it has poems from so many of his collections. Hearing him in person would be fabulous, I’m so jealous of you!
Since we can pick our own books, I thought I’d spread the love. Plus, I tend to get distracted easily and want to switch books drastically, so if I have a variety of books hopefully I’ll be distracted into reading each one of them
He’s so good. I love the way he turns ordinary moments into poetry, it’s just cool.
Good, I’m glad my strategy for the book makes sense. I’ve read great things about Everything Is Illuminated too.
Billy Collins is the first poet that I ever liked and felt like I understood; his writing is accessible while still being quite lovely.
I’m glad to hear about Jonathan Safron Foer — I’ve seen Everything is Illuminated everywhere, but not as much about Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.
I think Billy Collins is an easy poet to “get.” That’s why I like him!