1. 52 Down, 0 To Go

    52books:

    When I went to go post a review for what I thought was my 52nd book of the year, I realized that I made a mistake. In true Laura fashion, I learned that I can read, but I can’t count. Turns out that somewhere in the mid 40’s I messed up a little, thinking that I was a book behind myself. It seems I’ve been finished with the project for about a week now. I had saved a book especially to be the last and now it will just be a little extra.

    In any case, this project has meant the world to me. I didn’t expect anyone to read my reviews or care about my progress, but surprisingly, it received more attention than was intended. Because of 52books, I have met many wonderful people and have been able to share a journey that came out of a place of longing and need. Thank you for following along, sending me your suggestions, and becoming a friend. I can’t wait to do it again next year.

    1. Atonement by Ian McEwan
    2. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
    3. Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris
    4. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
    5. Love is a Mixtape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield
    6. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
    7. The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman
    8. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
    9. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
    10. Imagining Robert by Jay Neugeboren
    11. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
    12. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
    13. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris
    14. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
    15. The World to Come by Dara Horn
    16. An Unsuitable Job for a Woman by P.D. James
    17. White Noise by Don DeLillo
    18. Half Life by Shelley Jackson
    19. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
    20. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
    21. Seeing by José Saramago
    22. Rant by Chuck Palahniuk
    23. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
    24. Killing Yourself to Live by Chuck Klosterman
    25. Dracula by Bram Stoker
    26. Straight Man by Richard Russo
    27. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
    28. No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July
    29. The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster
    30. Spy Wars: Moles, Mysteries, and Deadly Games by Tennent H. Bagly
    31. Glamorama by Bret Easton Ellis
    32. If on a winter’s night a traveler by Italo Calvino
    33. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
    34. The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank
    35. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
    36. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
    37. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
    38. The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World by Michael Pollan
    39. In My Skin by Kate Holden
    40. The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox
    41. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
    42. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
    43. The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
    44. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
    45. Emma by Jane Austen
    46. Murder on 47th Street by Beulah Poynter
    47. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
    48. Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
    49. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
    50. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
    51. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
    52. Blink by Malcom Gladwell

    UPDATE:

    53.  Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer

    54.  The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum

    i’m reblogging this to make this my list for next year. plus some extras stowing away on my bookshelf. i’m sure i won’t read all of these, but maybe i’ll surprise myself and do some extra. this is my early new years resolution: make a dent in this list. plus the one i have on my desk.

    1 year ago  /  116 notes  /  Comments

    1. grin reblogged this from 52books
    2. thelistbookclub reblogged this from 52books and added:
      this isn’t inspiring!!
    3. briehope reblogged this from 52books
    4. fattypatty- reblogged this from 52books and added:
      WANT TO DO THIS.
    5. incessantlove reblogged this from 52books and added:
      list belongs to 52books!
    6. jstlikeheaven reblogged this from 52books
    7. ohmylashes reblogged this from 52books
    8. whatscookin reblogged this from knifelight
    9. knifelight reblogged this from 52books
    10. lamebot reblogged this from 52books and added:
      plus some extras stowing away on my bookshelf. i’m sure i won’t read all...these, but...
    11. childhooddreamer reblogged this from alcachofa and added:
      i’ve only read five. looks like i’ll have to work on that.
    12. shetoldmesomemore reblogged this from alcachofa and added:
      can’t believe that i’ve only read 13 of these, and the last one for me was everything is illuminated as well. i really...
    13. alcachofa reblogged this from 52books
    14. dddanielle reblogged this from noahkai and added:
      i’m so proud of you!
    15. gaseousbrain reblogged this from 52books
    16. noahkai reblogged this from peterwknox and added:
      I’m gonna see bout reading these books myself, not in 52 weeks but whenever I get the chance.
    17. kateskute reblogged this from peterwknox and added:
      i will start my own quest on january 1st.
    18. emilyboots reblogged this from 52books
    19. emilyinternet reblogged this from peterwknox and added:
      i have read some of these, but now i want to read ALL of these.
    20. tinycastles reblogged this from missworld and added:
      I have decided to adapt this format and take this on for myself next year. Great idea. I am going to pick 26 of my...
    21. holeysoley reblogged this from peterwknox
    22. markyb reblogged this from peterwknox and added:
      Awesome Laura, one the first I followed and it’s been a pleasure.
    23. peterwknox reblogged this from 52books
    24. isay reblogged this from missworld and added:
      So proud that you read my suggestion. I hope you enjoyed.
    25. restlessruminations reblogged this from 52books and added:
      The final list from...along with links
    26. vivalicious reblogged this from 52books and added:
      graduate from high school, besides going on...tour (most importantly France, Australia,...
    27. missdeets reblogged this from 52books
    28. killingbambi reblogged this from missworld
    29. slaughtered reblogged this from 52books and added:
      sooooo amazingly awesome. i’d like...find out about #104.
    30. missworld reblogged this from 52books
    31. writinggirl2writingwoman reblogged this from 52books and added:
      such an excellent idea. reblogging mainly so i...reviews eventually.
    32. rosamour reblogged this from 52books
    33. roads2roam reblogged this from thumbwrestlinginbaltimore
    34. peggyanne reblogged this from 52books and added:
      Congradulations!! This really is quite an accomplishment....doing something similar..
    35. thumbwrestlinginbaltimore reblogged this from themattsmith and added:
      An Unsuitable Job for a Woman by P.D. James WRITER, APPARENTLY Rant by Chuck Palahniuk NOT FIGHT CLUB Straight Man by...
    36. themattsmith reblogged this from 52books
    37. outtheother reblogged this from 52books and added:
      Wow - I’m super impressed with this… my goal this year is 38 books and...little less...
    38. balltillifall reblogged this from 52books and added:
      Congratulations! This is awesome. The books
    39. alilbit reblogged this from 52books
    40. ackb reblogged this from 52books and added:
      Congratulations! What an inspiring list! (reblogged...wonderful reviews)
    41. drunkbrunch reblogged this from 52books and added:
      so inspiring. I must make reading...priority in 2009.
    42. pema reblogged this from 52books and added:
      these. Except I think I’ll need...each. And I’m also adding Jpod
    43. thumbwrestlinginbaltimore reblogged this from 52books and added:
      with my new year’s resolution...finish writing my own novel looming only
    44. 52books posted this
  2. blog comments powered by Disqus