Renald's 2010 reading list

Ok, so last year I tried with a challenge and I felt way too pressured to finish my goal...this year I am doing something different, I am just going to keep track of all the books I read this year

I finished the first book of the year yesterday, it was The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest and I must say I was glued to the book near the ending. It was an amazing book and I loved the trial part. It was a wonderful way to finish the Millenium Trilogy.

Books read: 1

Hey, Renald!
Just checking into your new thread. Congrats on finishing a book already. I still have not finished one. But I am working on it! :) I think that just keeping track of the books you read is a good idea. I had two challenges last year that I did not finish, so I am going to take it easier this year, too. Happy New Year!
--BJ

#2: Hi Billiejean! Happy new year to you too!, Yeah like you put it I am going to take it easier this year, I would love to see your reading list (if you have one) for this year and hear your thoughts on the books you read during 2010! Happy Reading! and thanks for stopping by.

I finished The Strain and it was a very interesting book, very dark and twisted, it kept me on the edge of the seat (sort of) on some parts and I loved how I could totally see the zombies/vampires as they were described.

Right now I am reading several different books, but not near the end of any! I am reading The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, World Without End, Moby-Dick, and The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian. I am really hoping to finally read those Harry Potter books this year. Everyone just loves them.

Here is my list of books:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/81561

The Strain sounds pretty interesting. I am going to add it to my wishlist. Have a great day!
--BJ

I finished reading Chocolat which I loved, it's a very nice story, short and light, I really liked all of the characters and I suffered and celebrated with all of them. I can now watch the movie, let's just hope they did a good adaptation.

I have been wanting to read this book for a while. My kids read it and really liked it. I liked the movie. Usually it is better to read the book first like you are doing. I would like to see how you think they compare. Have a great day!
--BJ

I just finished Fragile Things, I haven't had much time to read, busy with college and life in general...I must say that this book is strange, there were some stories that I liked, some that I didn't understand and some that I'm sure were lost in translation (I read this book in Spanish). All in all my favorite stories were "the Sunbird", "Other People" and "October in the Chair", right now I am going to read a classic (I should read more classic books) and rest a little bit of Mr. Gaiman's books now.

I just finished The Catcher in the Rye and I enjoyed it. I understand what the author tried to write about but still I am not a fan of teen angst. I'm really glad I got to read it but to be honest I don't think it is a book I'll reread.

I finished Harry, A History and I loved it, it brought back some of Harry Potter's magic! I highly recommend it to any HP fans.

Books read: 6

I finished The Secret Garden, it was wonderful and I enjoyed it a lot.

Books read: 7

Hi, Renald!
I am also hoping to read The Secret Garden this year. I am glad to see that you liked it.
--BJ

#11: Hi Billiejean! Yeah I highly recommend it, but I have to warn you, it is a little bit slow paced but a very nice story after all.

I finished El Quinto Mago (The fifth magician) and it was too simple and bland for me, not horrible but not brilliant either.

Books read: 8.

I finished The Last Lecture and it was really really good, I truly admire Randy Pausch

Books read: 9

I just finished reading Siete Pasos para Convertir tus Sueños en Realidad (seven steps to make your dreams become realities) for the University and it was an OK book.

Books read: 10

I finished The Graveyard Book which was a wonderful book, it took me a while to finish it because I haven't had much time to read between college and work stuff. Highly recommended!

Books read: 11

I finished One Fifth Avenue and really really disliked it, I was never attached to any of the characters and all of them were too egocentric...oh well, I can't like every book I read....

Books read: 12

Hey, Renald!
I finally, finally started Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone today. I am enjoying it quite a bit.
--BJ

By the way, hope your next book is better.

#17: Yayy!! And another potter fan is born! Hope you love the series as much as I do.

I just finished re-reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone today, we are doing a re-read of the series for the movie and the first book should have been read in May...but I was kind of busy...now to start the second one...

Books read: 13

I finished Graceling and it was awesome, different from what I thought it would be, but really really good

Books read: 14

I finished City of Bones which I absolutely devoured and loved a lot, I couldn't put it down...my friend who lent me this one has the second one in the series and I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Books read: 15

I added City of Bones to my wishlist. It looks pretty interesting. Have a great weekend!
--BJ

#21: I'm glad you put it on your wishlist! Hope you'll like it! Thanks for stopping by, BJ!

ETA: Billiejean, I just fixed the touchstone for City of Bones...I read the one written by Cassandra Clare...not the one from Martha Wells

I just finished Blue Bloods which was really good, I liked the second half better...couldn't put it down almost at the end...

Books read: 16

Thanks for the info on City of Bones. Now I have the right one in my wishlist.
--BJ

I finished City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare and it was amazing!! the bad part is that I don't have the third book in the series right now...so now I have to wait till I get my hands on the third one...

Books read: 17

I finished The Alchemyst which I thought was ok, not amazing but fairly good, somehow I didn't feel like I got to know the characters and didn't feel like they were very real...

Books read: 18

I finished City of Glass and I thought it was amazing and very very entertaining, even though I kinda knew what was coming I was on the edge of my seat waiting for it to happen

Books read: 19

I just finished Dead Until Dark which was pretty good, very light and fresh...now I can finally watch True Blood's first season without spoiling the book...

Books read: 20

I just finished the rerereread of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, I really need to hurry the HP series if I want to finish them all before the seventh movie comes out in November...

Books read: 21

Is the movie for sure coming out in November? Seems to be taking a long time.
--BJ

Yep, the movie is coming out on November 19th, the theatrical trailer was just released yesterday and it's here if you want to check it out, billiejean, I saw it and it gave me goosebumps how good it looks!

Thanks!
--BJ

Ok, I forgot to update this...

I finished rerereading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, I am now working on the reread of the fifth book, I need to hurry up if I want to reread the whole series before November 19th :P....

Books read: 23

I just finished Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Books read: 24

Finished rereading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Books read: 25

Finished my whole reread of the series, just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows...going to watch the movie tonight!! woohoo!!

Books read: 26

Is the movie out already? Maybe I can watch it over the Thanksgiving holidays!
--BJ

Finished The Warrior Heir and it was just ok, not brilliant but not awful either...

Books read: 27

Just popping in to say that I was able to see the Harry Potter movie over the Thanksgiving Break here. I am excited about seeing the last one. Even though I have only read the first book so far, I have enjoyed the movies. I am planning to read all of the books now for sure.
--BJ

Hi, billiejean! I'm glad you got to see the movie! I have seen it 3 times now :D...What did you think of it? and I'm happy you want to read the books! can't wait to comment on them with you

I thought it was a terrific movie. My daughter said that she thought it was the best one yet. I couldn't decide if I thought it was the best one, but I have noticed how much I have been thinking of it ever since I saw it. That is a sure sign of how good the movie was. I thought that the stopping point was interesting. :) Quite the cliffhanger!
--BJ

I finished The Hunger Games and what an amazing book! I couldn't put it down, I loved every minute of it!

Books read: 28

My daughter just bought that book yesterday. I will tell her how much you liked it.
--BJ

I just finished The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, it was ok...I think that reading these books at my age and in Spanish takes away some of its magic...:/

Books read: 29

Hope you have a Happy New Year 2011!
--BJ

PS I have never read these C. S. Lewis books, but I do hope to sometime.

#44: Hope you have a Happy 2011 too, billiejean!

@43: R, I was in college (in the 70's) when I first found these books, having already read Tolkien. The contrast helped me see Narnia as I might have when younger. However, they don't seem to wear as well on re-reading. And as the world moves further away from the worldview at the time they were first written, the charm fades as well.

However, some of the magical ideas, images, dialog, and even whole stories remain magical and fresh. People find it easy and amusing to criticize, so Narnia is yet another victim for amateur critics just now.

I would have to search my memory for examples, but I still recall a special "glow" at certain ideas, expecially in the later books. Just the way the main characters react to newcomers, and how their behavior tells you so much about both sides. But you get to figure it out yourself, not have it explained to you. Some readers might still find that too preachy, but it is done well; and I need such things to be obvious before I can see them. The whole experience of becoming a dragon, the physical difficulties, and realizing how big a problem this makes for everyone--that was new for me.