50 books in 2010 update

I officially know there is no way on God's green earth that I will finish 22 more books in about 3 weeks. I tried. I blame "Wicked". That book was so boring. I absolutely loved the play (like seriously love) but I've been reading the book for like 5 years and just cannot get through it. I tried it again, determined to like it (or at least finish it). I read it for 6 weeks and just couldn't stand it anymore. I'm about half-way done. Maybe next year.

I also blame "Alice I Have Been" by Melanie Benjamin. I borrowed the audio book from the library, and listened to it at night while I cleaned or folded laundry. I even put it in my iPod and tried to listen to it on the plane ride to Texas. I didn't like it. It made me super uncomfortable, and was just really weird to listen to. I wasted another 3 weeks on that audio book, and didn't even finish it.

I also blame my Droid X. It's really sad, but I noticed that I stopped reading as much after I got a Smartphone (sooooo ironic, right!). It turned my brain to mush. Instead of reading before class starts (Oh yeah, I also blame going back to school!) I check my Facebook. Instead of reading on long car rides, or in the doctor's waiting room, or while I eat (or sometimes, instead of talking to my poor Huz ::sadface::) I played Angry Birds/ Sudoku/ Abduction!/ Alchemy. Instead of reading a chapter before bed, I caught up on the blogs I follow. My Smartphone made me a dummy. I feel sad about that. I've seriously only read like 4 books since I got the phone (in July). That sucks.

I guess I'll just have to finish out the year strong (I'm reading "No Greater Love" by Mother Teresa right now and really love it!) and start over again in 2011! That sounds like a good year to read books. And now, I'm warmed up! :)

50 Books in 2010

My goal this year is 50. I've already made use of my library card, and I have some of my own sitting on my shelf that I haven't yet cracked open, so I think I'm set for now. But, I'm always taking recommendations! Maybe I'll come back and use this post to keep track of what I've read. So far this year I've finished:

1. The Princess Bride by William Goldman (Love)

2. The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham (Ok, Chick-Lit beach read)

3. Wifey by Judy Blume (kinda smutty)

4. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (interesting, but felt long)

5. Celebutantes by Amanda Goldberg & Ruthanna Khalight Hopper (this book was just as stupid as it sounds. It was painful to get through. I hated it)

6. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks (Dislike)

7. sTORI telling by Tori Spelling (don't judge me!)

8. The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

9. Rumors: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godbersen

10. Envy: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godbersen

11. Splendor: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godbersen

12. What to Expect Before you're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

13. The Idiot Girls' Action Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro (I freakin love her!)

14. I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley (meh)

15. An Idiot Girl's Christmas: True Tails from the Top of the Naughty List by Laurie Notaro

16. Balcony People by Joyce Landorf Heatherley (very sweet)

17. Spooky Little Girl by Laurie Notaro (she rocks)

18. In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan (definitely an eye-opener)

19. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (a great book)

20. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin (looooooved it!!!)
21. City of Thieves by David Benioff (such a great, well written book)

22. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

23. Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress by Susan Jane Gilman

24. We've Been Waiting for You by Carolyn Arends

25. Jesus Loves You This I Know by Craig Gross and Jason Harper

26. Unprotected: A Campus Psychiatrist Reveals How Political Correctness in Her Profession Endangers Every Student by Anonymous M.D. (refreshingly honest and thought provoking)

27. The Heart Reader of Franklin High by Terri Blackstock (quick YA read)

28. Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (::blushes:: It was okay.)

Yikes! I'm already getting behind! Read faster Marissa! Faster!

1/13/10

My parents gave me The Princess Bride for Christmas. The movie is one of my all time favorites (It may be tied for 1st place with Wayne's World), but I'd never read the book before. I'm right smack in the middle of it, and I love it! Love Love Love Love it! I can totally imagine each scene, and I hear the music playing and everything. Those crazy loud trumpets whenever Humperdinck has a scene. Soft, pretty, instrumental "Storybook Love" when Westley and Buttercup are together (my bridesmaids walked down the aisle to that song. I totally love it!). It also seems very fitting that I'm reading it while I'm sick. It just adds to the experience.