Who’s on Goodreads? I have an ancient account, but I’ve never been much for keeping it updated. In theory I love the idea of keeping track of what I’ve been reading, but somehow I never manage to do it. This year though, I’ve decided to try and keep a running list of things I’ve read. Hopefully I’ll eventually enter them in Goodreads, but for the time being I’m doing it the old fashioned way and keeping a list in a notebook. It’s early in the year, so I expect this list to grow quite a bit, but here’s what I have under my belt so far:
Damned, by Chuck Palahniuk: Imagine The Breakfast Club if it were set in hell, with a little smidge of Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret and some gross-out humor, and you have this book. This is my first foray into Palahniuk’s work, and I suspect it may not be his best effort, but the writing was compelling enough that I’ll probably be picking up some of his other works to give them a try.
The Marriage Plot, by Jeffrey Eugenides: This novel follows three young adults, two of whom are involved in a relationship and a third who has unrequited feelings for the heroine of the story. It was an entertaining read, although fairly bland. Eugenides is another author who I picked up for the first time this year, and while I wasn’t blown away by this novel, it was enjoyable enough reading that I plan on reading more of his novels.
The Truth About Girls and Boys: Challenging Toxic Stereotypes About Our Children, by Caryl Rivers and Rosalind C. Barnett: I absolutely loved this book, which critically examined popular notions of differences between the sexes, particularly in learning styles. The authors sift out the pseudo-science from the science in this heavily researched book, writing about the issue with a notably unbiased voice.
Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi by Anna Hrachovec: It’s hard to say I’ve “read” a knitting book, but I’m including this anyway! As a knitter, I’m always a little envious of the cute amigurumi crochet designs I see. Sure, I could just learn to crochet, but for some reason I’m much more fond of knitting. This book has lots of cute little stuffed creatures to make that can rival the cutest crocheted amigurumi.
That’s my count so far for 2012. Do you keep a list? Do you prefer a social list, like Goodreads, or do you jot down titles in a notebook?
-Irene
Eleventh Stack 