I began drafting this blog on July 1st in
hopes of posting right after the July 4th vacation week. My plan was
to have finished half of my Goodreads Reading Challenge for 2018 of 100 books
and list them along with the reason I chose to read them. Not reviews, or even
if I liked them, just the circumstances that led be to pick it up, download,
borrow, buy or listen to a particular book.
Now, it’s Labor Day and I finally finished the 50th
book. (According to Goodreads, I’m 17 books behind in my Reading Challenge, so
I’ll try to keep this short and get back to reading).
Without further ado and/or Columbus Day, the following
is the first half of my 2018 Goodreads Reading Challenge:
Title - Author - Why I Chose
Little Fires Everywhere- Celeste Ng - Peer pressure, I saw ‘everyone’ reading it
How to Find Love in a Bookshop - Veronica Henry - It sounded cozy. About books & writing
Sisters First - Jenna Bush Hager - Needed an audiobook for cleaning house
Tell Me More - Kelly Corrigan - By Glitter & Glue author, I’d been anticipating
The Hideaway- Laura K. Denton - My book club’s January pick.
Graduates in Wonderland -Jessica Pan - Downloaded from library late-night
So Far Away- Meg Mitchell Moore - Waiting for new & realized I missed this one
Icing on the Cake - Ann Marie Roache - New release from a friend
The Dry - Jane Harper - My book club’s February pick
I’ve Still Got It… - Jenna McCarthy - Wanted something funny after The Dry
Party of One… - Dave Holmes - Was in mood for a funny audio memoir
The Captain’s Daughter - Meg Mitchell Moore - New release I was waiting for
The Truth According to Us - Annie Barrows - I can’t remember why I picked this
Digging In - Loretta Nyhan - New release from a friend
An American Marriage - Tayari Jones - Christmas gift. Oprah’s pick
Alternate Side - Anna Quindlen - I never miss her new releases
Educated: A Memoir - Tara Westover - Read great reviews and saved for vacation
Every Note Played - Lisa Genova - Recommended by a friend
Frat Girl - Kiley Roache - Daughter of friend’s first book
Townie - Andre Dubus III - Wanted a memoir audio book for plane ride
Welcome to Night Vale - Joseph Fink - Recommended by my daughter
Hot Mess - Emily Belden - My book club’s April pick
Boys in the Trees - Carly Simon - Wanted another memoir for audio
My Dear Hamilton - Stephanie Dray - Bought the day of release, loved previous book
Force of Nature - Jane Harper - Liked first book, decided to try second
Less - Andrew Sean Greer - Gave in to Amazon & Goodreads rec’s
Etched in Sand - Regina Calcaterra - My book club’s May pick
The Address - Fiona Davis - Recommended by a friend
Girl Unbroken - Regina Calcaterra - Sister’s version of Etched in Sand, HAD to read
Lawn Boy - Jonathan Evison - Lucky Day shelf at library. Like the cover
All the Little Lights - Jamie McGuire - Follow the author, new release
As Bright at Heaven - Susan Meissner - Recommendation from book club friend
The Woman in the Window - AJ Finn - My book club’s June pick
Beartown - Fredrick Backman - It was finally available at library!
Everything I Never Told You - Celeste Ng - Heard it’s better than Little Fires (true)
I Have Lost My Way - Gayle Foreman - My daughter wanted me to preview
Truly Devious - Maureen Johnson - I follow her on Twitter and was intrigued
The Divorce Papers - Susan Reiger - I thought I had to read before Heirs (false)
The Heirs - Susan Reiger - Recommened thru Goodreads
Designing Your Life - Bill Burnett and Dave Evans - My daughter’s college’s reccomendation
White Houses - Amy Bloom - My book club’s July pick
Now That You Mention It - Kristan Higgins - I follow her on Twitter, sounded good
I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter - Erika L Sanchez - Recommended by book club friend
Lilac Girls - Martha Hall Kelly - My book club’s August pick
The Perfect Couple - Elin Hilderbrand - Eagerly awaited to read on vacation
The Summer Wives - Beatirz Williams - Sounded good for vacation
Crazy Rich Asians - Kevin Kwan -Movie looked great and I Always try to read book first
Clock Dance - Anne Tyler - New one from her, chose audio
Good Luck with That - Kristan Higgins - New release by author I read recently
Next Year in Havana - Chanel Cleaton - Recommended by a friend (not Reese)
That’s 50! For a sneak peek at the next 50, I am currently reading China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan because it's the second in the trilogy and super fun. I am also listening to Curtis Sittenfeld’s newest release: You Think It I’ll Say It because I love her style and quirky storytelling.
I try to review everything I read on Goodreads so catch me there and send me some recommendations. I hope to update this before NYE!
Ally
