Bookish ideas

Well, the Kansas City Chiefs just broke my heart after they threw away an amazing first half and sizable lead to the Indianapolis Colts (what the heck happened?!?), so I figure my neglected blog and books will be a nice distraction.

I read some books in 2013. Thirty-three to be exact. You can track me down on GoodReads, if you're interested in exactly what I read. Among my favorites were (Forgive the lack of links. You can search http://www.indiebound.org to find books locally and support local book sellers, or you can find all of these on Amazon):

Non-fiction:
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Zealot by Reza Aslan
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Fiction:
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (sci-fi)
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez (historical fiction)
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (mystery/page turner)

Honorable mention:
Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (young adult)

LEAST Favorite:
Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Favorite kid's book:
Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald

MOST Favorite:
Watership Down by Richard Adams
The Alloway Files by E.J. Roller (full disclosure: my good friend authored this book. I'm almost finished, but not quite. I love it on many levels. It's great AND I know the author AND I have a signed copy. Favorite all around!)

I read SOME of the books on my 2013 reading list, but not nearly as many as I would have liked. I am a sucker for classics, and 2013 was lacking in that department. Moving from the 2013 to the 2014 list are: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway and Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I'd like to add some Russian lit, Graham Greene, and some Evelyn Waugh in 2014. I also see G.K. Chesterton popping up on some of my favorite Catholic blogs. I'll see what I can fit in!

I really enjoyed non-fiction and I want to make room for it in my future lists. Parenting books and education books are pretty applicable to my life at the moment, and I'm lacking biographies. Biographies seem like a must for a well-read person, right? Oh, and poetry. I'm so intrigued, but  overwhelmed. Where does one start with poetry? Helpful comments appreciated.

Wrapping up the Game of Thrones series is high on priority list, too.

A succinct list of what I want to read in 2014 is proving difficult. I can't hold myself to a list this year. Too many good books and whims pop up. Just this morning I opened an email from my competitive father proclaiming that he will read more that I will read this year. It's possible, but I like a good a challenge! We will see where the libraries take me. :)

Happy Reading in 2014.