Monday, January 23, 2012

Books

I set a goal of reading 100 books in 2012. I joined Goodreads last year when Paul was born, because I figured I’d read a lot of books on maternity leave and that my brain would be so shot I wouldn’t be able to remember which ones. I was right on both counts. Per my account, I read 66 books after he was born roughly halfway through the year (June 23). I had a hard time translating that to a goal for this year. I would like to read that much, but being back at work makes it hard. I do read three times a day when I pump, which adds up pretty fast, so when I stop pumping at work my reading time will go down even further. I have a feeling 100 books is going to be a stretch. Apparently I’m already 2 books behind (way to be encouraging, Goodreads).

It seems all the books I read now come from recommendations. When someone mentions they liked a book, I almost always add it to my library hold list. It’s great, but the books are often not the kind I’d usually pick out (also I'm having a terrible time keeping up with my holds!). While I enjoy them, I miss reading suspenses/mysteries. I just read The Snowman (which Holly recommended) and loved it. I finished it in two days. Two WORKDAYS. Do you have any mystery/suspense recommendations?

6 comments:

  1. DO I EVER!!!

    Do you read Sophie Hannah? She's my newest mystery/suspense obsession.

    Have you read all of the Tana French novels? Wonderful - although The Likeness was my favorite.

    What about the Stieg Larssen Millenium trilogy?

    Hmm. What about Patricia Cornwell? She has a great series of mystery/suspense books with Kay Scarpetta as the heroine. While I think they went downhill a few years ago, there are PLENTY of great ones in the beginning of the series. The books are pretty gory though. But well written and interesting and easy to read.

    Crap! These are all old news! But I feel such URGENCY to help you get back on track!

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  2. Ohhhh! I just started (like, 20 minutes ago since our internet and entire network were down) a book called "The Night Strangers" by Chris Bohjalian and so far so good. He's written a number of other titles and his book "The Double Bind" was pretty interesting too.

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  3. wow!! 100 books in a year is so many!! you would average one every 3 or so days!!

    http://www.thehunsblog.com w/ giveaway!

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  4. I tried to start The Snowman last month and couldn't get into it. This made me decide to pick it back up at the library today and try again. :) I read 108 last year and I planned on at least 100 this year, but I've gotten a slow start and have only read 3 so far.

    I haven't read any really good mystery/suspense in awhile, possibly not since Stieg Larssen. I just finished The Inside Ring, which wasn't bad ... but it was free. Not sure I would have paid money for it. Hmm. I'll have to get back to you. (PS - If you HAVEN'T read Tana French, do so immediately. She has three books, that will get you through a couple weeks. Maybe. They were excellent and went by really quick. Too quick. Wanted more. Can't wait for more.)

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  5. Have you read Tess Gerritesen's Rizzoli and Isles series? I am devouring them. They made a TV series out of the basic premise, but I've barely watched any of that. (not because it's not good, but my husband and I try to pick and choose our prime time TV together and it doesn't impress him for whatever reason.) I find her mysteries to be well thought out, intelligent, well-written and rarely predictable. You can read them out of order, but if you prefer to start at the beginning (which I know you do!) the first one is The Surgeon. I don't think Isles is actually in that one, but Rizzoli is and so are the rest of the supporting characters.

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  6. My problem with book goals is that sometimes I just don't feel like reading, but a lot of avid readers don't feel that way, I suppose! My personal best is about 80. I don't think I'll ever top it. I'm not the biggest mystery fan, sadly, but I've heard good things about The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson (in my queue but unread).

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