2011 Reading Challenge: 55/60

Posted on by

After devouring 11 books very early in the year, I ramped up my challenge for 2011 to 60 books. I ended at 55. I’ve gone ahead and challenged myself to read 50 this year. I figure this way I can continue reading a high amount of books without it being the only thing I do in my free time (haha).

For kicks, here are the 55 books I read in 2011. My favorites are bold and italicized.  Have you read any of these? Thoughts?

23 thoughts on “2011 Reading Challenge: 55/60”

  1. Permalink  ⋅ Reply

    londonchoirgirl

    January 3, 2012 at 3:42pm

    Good luck with your challenge. Having managed around 34 books last year, I’ve gone crazy and challenged myself to read 196 in 2012 – one from every sovereign state in the world. I think reading will be the only thing I do in my spare time this year!

    • Permalink  ⋅ Reply

      MutantSupermodel

      January 4, 2012 at 4:32pm

      Oh wow you went for gold! I’ll definitely take a look at your blog and see how you’re doing, plus it lets me bulk up To-Read list!!

  2. Permalink  ⋅ Reply

    Cassie

    January 3, 2012 at 4:21pm

    First I was like, “she’s reading all the classics,” and then it became, “oh she’s reading all the popular YA.” This list is awesome because it has a bit of everything. Good luck with your challenge for next year!

    • Permalink  ⋅ Reply

      MutantSupermodel

      January 4, 2012 at 4:32pm

      LOL yes I guess I’m a bit obessive with book genres and jump all over the place. It really depends on what I see recommended elsewhere.

  3. Permalink  ⋅ Reply

    BigLittleWolf

    January 3, 2012 at 5:38pm

    So impressed! (Wish I could make more time for reading. Trying to get through 2 books right now – will be thrilled if I manage by month’s end!)

    And happy new year!

    • Permalink  ⋅ Reply

      MutantSupermodel

      January 4, 2012 at 4:33pm

      Happy New Year to you!! I never really paid attention to how much I read until Goodreads. Joining that website and giving myself a challenge last year was the single biggest contributing factor to increasing my reading and letting me see what I accomplished. It is SO easy on there. I highly recommend it.

  4. Permalink  ⋅ Reply

    Niki

    January 3, 2012 at 6:46pm

    Great list. I started The Hunger Games trilogy and I am loving it. My daughters love it too. I am going to start The Kane Chronicles after I am done. I know I should be reading more “adult” books but these are amazing reads.

    I have Why Smart People Make Big Money Mistakes on my list. Did you not like it? Or was it just because it was about finance.

    Good luck with your reads next year.

    • Permalink  ⋅ Reply

      MutantSupermodel

      January 4, 2012 at 4:36pm

      I am hoping to get my hands on Hunger Games this year. The Kane Chronicles are fun and my son has a few more I need to catch up to. I like to mix it up. Sometimes, I just need some easy to digest books.

      Oh I didn’t not like it. I actually found it pretty interesting and suggested it to my dad who is a psychologist. I just bolded and italicized the ones I would like to buy and add to my collection. It has a LOT of statistics and research and facts. Sometimes it’s overwhelmingly numberish. But again, I really thought it was neat and my dad is enjoying it.

  5. Permalink  ⋅ Reply

    Carl D'Agostino

    January 3, 2012 at 7:48pm

    That’s a lot of reading. (UNDERSTATEMENT) I get through about 20 a year. My mother,88, reads 3 books a week for 25 years. That’s 3,750 minimum.

  6. Permalink  ⋅ Reply

    Captain Sweatpants

    January 4, 2012 at 8:09am

    How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe this really caught my eye! Thanks for the recommend! :)

  8. Permalink  ⋅ Reply

    Maytina

    January 4, 2012 at 3:22pm

    I *love* that your list is all over the place. You and my sister have totally inspired me to read more!! I am a sucker for classics, YA fiction and of course, rando motivational books. I also read Rabbit Run this year!

    • Permalink  ⋅ Reply

      MutantSupermodel

      January 4, 2012 at 4:41pm

      This list probably better reflects my all over the place personality than anything else I can think of. If you sign up for Goodreads and do a Reading Challenge on there, find me here so I can be your cheerleader and spy on your reading habits ;)

  9. Permalink  ⋅ Reply

    Patti

    January 4, 2012 at 4:16pm

    I’ve read all the Percy Jackson books and liked them very much – also “The Girl Who…” books. I also really liked the Poisonwood Bible and have been thinking about reading it again. I’ve been interested in V for Vendetta – I will have to check that one out.

    • Permalink  ⋅ Reply

      MutantSupermodel

      January 4, 2012 at 4:42pm

      V for Vendetta is incredible for its wordcraft. I mean there’s no other way to explain it. Not to mention, it is chilling how relevant it is.

  10. Permalink  ⋅ Reply

    Sharon

    January 4, 2012 at 7:20pm

    My list is so much smaller! GREAT job…wow 55 books!! Nice selection too! I’ve read some of the finance books, and my kids have read some of the others…

    How was “The girl who kicked the Hornet’s Nest?” That may be on my list of books to read this year! :) !

    • Permalink  ⋅ Reply

      MutantSupermodel

      January 5, 2012 at 10:15am

      I’m telling you, Goodreads has really made a difference in my reading life. It’s awesome.

      I loved the whole Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy. I mean I just couldn’t inhale those books fast enough. They second and third are slightly different-feeling than the first but I like them.

  12. Permalink  ⋅ Reply

    Grace

    January 10, 2012 at 2:19pm

    I’m a tad surprised at how many books we have in common on our reading lists. Though “A Visit From the Goon Squad” disappointed me–such a great plot device that didn’t really wind up and not a single character that I actually liked. If you start “The Hunger Games” just know that the first book is wonderful, the second book is OK, and by the end of the third book, you will want to throw it against the wall–a total waste of great characters. I think “The Lonely Polygamist” is one of the best books I read in 2011. Udall’s first book “The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint” is even better–why doesn’t that guy write FASTER?

    • Permalink  ⋅ Reply

      MutantSupermodel

      January 10, 2012 at 3:08pm

      Don’t be surprised, great nerds think alike!

      I didn’t really like any of the characters in the Goon Squad either, but for some reason I found them readable. That’s a big difference to me. Especially something I came to appreciate at the end of the year when I read things like Rabbit, Run and Lolita. Then again, after getting some distance from the book, I find it’s not one I think to recommend to others. So even though I enjoyed the experience of reading it, I don’t think it was really well-written overall. I also got much stricter with my ratings as the year wore on so it may have just been read at the right time!

      I keep getting mixed reviews on The Hunger Games. Half are just like you, and the other half worship the whole thing. The latter always makes me skeptical.

      The Lonely Polygamist was incredible. I’ve never read Edgar Mint. It’s added to my queue!