I confess that I have some type-A tendencies. For example, I generated a grocery list on my computer, and I keep printed copies of it in the kitchen. When I realize I need something, I circle the item on that week’s list- why reinvent the wheel every Thursday?
So, when I sat down with my Book Club last week, and we decided on our ENTIRE Reading List for 2012, I felt ecstatic! We’ve NEVER chosen for the whole year before, but we had so many intriguing book suggestions, we couldn’t stop ourselves! I hope this becomes standard procedure.
So, here’s our Reading List for 2012. Please join us next year as we cover lots of historical fiction, a few classics, and an atypical Nicholas Sparks. If you click on the title of each book, it will lead you to a page on the Amazon website where you will find reviews and purchasing information.
· January: Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. Two sisters reunite after their father’s death to care for their difficult mother, and they learn new and startling things about her past in Russia.
· February: Run, by Anne Patchett. This novel covers 24 hours in the life of a Boston family after a heated argument and an accident in a blizzard.
· March: Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. This is a true story about a delinquent turned track star turned Army hero and his amazing war time journey after his plane crashes over the Pacific.
· April: The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern. Two magicians compete and fall in love in the dazzling setting of a night circus.
· May: The Kitchen House, by Kathleen Grissom. A white servant girl struggles to find her place in plantation society.
· June: Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens. An orphan mysteriously inherits a fortune, which dramatically changes his life.
· July: ” “
· August: Little Bee, by Chris Cleave. No one wants to say much about this book except that it involves an African girl, a wealthy British couple, and a brutal scene on a beach.
· September: The Johnstown Flood, by David McCollough. The story of the tragic flood in 1889 that killed 2000 people and caused a national scandal.
· October: Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte. The story of a courageous woman and her stormy relationship with the brooding Mr. Rochester. The first feminist novel- before feminism ever existed!
· November: Three Weeks with My Brother, by Nicholas and Micah Sparks. A memoir that chronicles a three week trip during which the brothers recall their childhood and learn what matters most in life.
I’ll keep this Reading List posted as a separate page that you can refer to throughout the year. You’ll find it next to the “About Me” tab at the top of the blog.
I know we left off December; life’s too busy then.
And, if anyone knows of any potentially disturbing content in the Reading List, please warn me. Well ahead of time.
After my monthly book club meeting, I’ll post a review for each book. Please add to the on-line discussion by posting comments and questions. Happy reading!
Sarah, What a great idea! I will try to remember to print up the book list and get it to our library!
Julia, I think there is another phrase for women like us who keep their grocery list on the computer, print off a few copies, and highlight items throughout the week as we run out.
Should we give this list, not the grocery list, but the book list, to our local library so they will have copies of each book as we need them? At one time the library requested book clubs to do that for them so they could be prepared.
That’s my hope!
Wow, Julia – you’re really on top of things! I’m happy if I’m a couple of weeks ahead on blog posts, so I’d probably die of delirium if I had a year of anything planned out!
Those look great, and I’d love to read along. Especially Great Expectations. I’ve had that on the shelf for ages. Maybe if I start it now I’ll be finished by June 😉
Great idea to make list available on your blog. We can have more discussion with a larger number of people.