Challenge: 50 Books discussion

Finally this challenge might prompt me to read some of the 480+ books I've downloaded to my Kindle. I want to focus mainly on classical literature. Wish me luck for 2013!

1. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys 24/12/2012

2. Aspergirls: Empowering females with Asperger Syndrome. by Rudy Simone

I know I've started my 2013 book reading challenge early. I couldn't wait until January 1! So I will finish early in Dec 2013. 2 books down, 48 to go! :-)

3. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

4. Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson.
A woman with amnesia has to relearn who she is every day, but gradually uncovers the mysteries of her past and present. Fascinating to read; what a clever idea for a novel. I read it almost in one sitting.

5. Air Kiss and Tell: Memoirs of a Blow-Up Doll by Charlote Dawson.
Autobiography by Charlotte Dawson, Australian and New Zealand TV personality, which provided some light relief from my list of classics to read, although maybe I shouldn't describe the book this way as she has had a lot of traumatic events in her life. But written in her witty self-deprecating honest style, making it an interesting read.

6. He's Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt Jan 5, 2013
A light, easy, amusing read. Wish I'd known all the warning signs decades ago.

Suzanne, I love Wilkie Collins, and his Woman in White is magnificent! Last year I purchased an old set of his novels, and will read them all eventually. His writing is brilliant.

Rose

7. 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James
Never thought I'd read this! I like the writing, a bit distressed by the subject matter at times.

8. 50 Shades of Black and Blue: A Parody by I.B. Naughtie
Great fun to read straight after reading 50 Shades of Grey. The book is a bit silly really, but then maybe 50 Shades of Grey is too. Now onto the next 2 books in the series.
So much for my plan to read the literary classics this year!!

This is my first year doing the 50 Books challenge and I may have made a mistake by saying I would read ALL classics, judging by some of the lightweight books I have been reading lately. I see that some people have set themselves sub-challenges, so I figure maybe I could go for 22 classics in 2013, leaving me room for some of the many more-contemporary books I have on my Kindle. So I will try to alternate: 'classic', 'contemporary', 'classic'......

Im shooting for 5 classics again! btw would you consider The Princess Bride a classic??

4. Maurice by E.M. Forster 1/22 of literary classics for the year.
I read almost all of Forster's works so long ago, but this one was hard to locate because of the subject matter (homosexuality). Glad I've finally read it, and I plan to go back and read all his other wonderful works.

Alison wrote: "Im shooting for 5 classics again! btw would you consider The Princess Bride a classic??"

Well, I tend to think of classics as 50 years or older. I understand that 'The Princess Bride' was written in 1973, so not that old. Then again, it was written by a classic author, so I think it's your choice if you want to consider it a 'classic'.

I was going really well on my 50 Books Challenge until...... I tried reading Scoop by Evelyn Waugh. The joke wore thin halfway through so I have stopped reading it. And I was reading QF32 about a plane crash that was averted. It was an interesting story on TV on Air Crash Investigations (called MayDay in the U.S.) but too technical in an extended book version. I will have to go back to my literary classics.

Suzanne wrote: "I was going really well on my 50 Books Challenge until...... I tried reading Scoop by Evelyn Waugh. The joke wore thin halfway through so I have stopped reading it. And I was reading QF32 about a ..."

When I saw the title of the Evelyn Waugh story, I got really excited, thinking it was the work that Woody Allen's movie was based on, then profoundly let down.

I'd like to throw some classics into my mix of books as well!! Good luck.

7. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
This book was very long and I almost gave up halfway through but glad I finished it. It is the story of 4 generations of a family throughout the 20th century. Just a very pleasant family saga.

8. 50 Shades Darker
Still trying to stick with my plan of alternating reading a contemporary book and a literary classic.

That's a great idea. How are you defining classic? [How old does it have to be?]

Denise wrote: "That's a great idea. How are you defining classic? [How old does it have to be?]"

I think of a classic as a book more than 50 years old, but that is not an "official" definition, just what I go by. I am mainly aiming to read the 'famous' classics.

I think I might like to read Aspergirls!

9. 50 Shades Freed

10. The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan.
I've always wanted to read this. It had me interested all the way through but I was very confused by the ending, which came all of a sudden.

Did you find the language very dated ? It was obviously a classic when written, and for years since, but i found it very stuck in the past when reading it lately

Brian wrote: "Did you find the language very dated ? It was obviously a classic when written, and for years since, but i found it very stuck in the past when reading it lately"

Yes, the language was definitely very formal. Some books like that I find hard to read, but this one just kept me reading and reading, so I think it must still have been well-written. The ending was just too abrupt for me, and I'm still puzzled by it. By I have downloaded some more John Buchan books and will give them a go.

11. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
This was a very long book and I found it hard going in many places. But there were some interesting mysteries and they kept me going to see what the answers were. It jumped around quite a lot in time, which was confusing at times.

12. The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell
Thanks to GoodReads.com for recommending this book. It was an intriguing story of 2 teenage sisters whose parents die, which they keep secret, and they are supported by an elderly neighbour. It is told from their three points of view, which makes it all the more interesting.

13. The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington.
Set in the late 19th century, this classic novel which won a Pulitzer Prize tells the story of a wealthy family over several generations. It focuses mainly on the arrogant grandson, and how he learns some life lessons. There were some quite humorous parts in it, including the development of the automobile and how people thought it was just going to be a passing fad. I enjoyed it, and give it 4 stars.

14. Look Away Silence by Edward C. Patterson
A very moving story of 2 young men touched by AIDS. Funny, sad, moving, and very well written. I enjoyed it, if enjoyed is the right word. It was also very educational.