On my trek toward one hundred books this year, I thought it would be fun to occasionally discuss my current reads. And, wow, have I been enamored with a few books lately.
Usually I can only read non-fiction in small doses. With that in mind, it’s interesting to see how much non-ficiton I’ve already read this year. My past few weeks have been consumed with author Malcolm Gladwell.
OUTLIERS: A fascinating look at what makes people successful and the things successful people have in common. Think opportunity and lots of practice.
TIPPING POINT: What makes one person’s fashion statement become a world-wide fad? How are bestsellers created (the word-of-mouth kind)?
BLINK: I’m half-way through this one. It’s a look at how we think, the unconscious decisions we make, and the biases we carry.
I’ve been full of Gladwell’s anecdotes for the last few weeks. My family appreciates you listening to me here. 😉
What are you reading right now?
I keep hearing how good Outliers is. I’m going to have to add that to my reading list.
I just finished Flygirl by Sherri Smith which was really good. It’s an historical YA about a black girl passing for white so she can fly with the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots.
I just finished the entire Twilight series in less than two weeks. I need to come up for air! I read them because it felt like I was the only one who hadn’t and I wanted to be able to weigh in on discussions with some knowledge.
I’ve started Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. I guess I’m in a junk food book mood with all this snow.
I’m trying not to read much right now, though, because between Twilight and the Olympics, I’ve lost a lot of writing time I’m trying to gain back!
I’m reading Facing your Giants by Max Lucado and I cannot wait to finish this book. I am sooo loving it!!!
Ooh, Sherrie I’ve been dying to read Flygirls! Yesterday I was sick, so I re-read Catching Fire, neglecting all the other books in my tbr pile.
Tipping point sounds interesting!
Tonight after I get to meet Author Ally Carter I’ll be reading my signed copy Heist Society! I’m really excited about!!!
I’m working my way through the Percy Jackson series currently– after that I’m going to reread Beowulf and The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (one of my all time favorites). I like to break up the new stuff with some oldie-but-goodies.
First of all–Hi!
I just found your blog today and I’m so excited because I love connecting with other writers–especially ones who write Middle Grade like me. So I hope you don’t mind that I’m following you now. I promise, I mean that in the most unstalkerish way possible.
As far as what I’m reading, I just finished Perchance to Dream (Lisa Mantchev’s sequel to Eyes like Stars. It comes out in May, somehow I was lucky enough to snag an ARC. It is WONDERFUL) And now I’m starting Time Quake, the third book in the Gideon Trilogy that just came out a few months ago.
Sadly my TBR pile is out of control thanks to revision (I think it’s teetering somewhere around 25 unread books) so I have some SERIOUS reading to do once I start querying.
Anyway, thanks for a great post and I look forward to getting to know you a little better. Have a great weekend!
Hey – you’re beating me by two books on your challenge list! lol. I’ve just finished Captivate by Carrie Jones after I devoured her first book Need. A fun voice.
I’m reading the Best American New Voices 2010 short story collection. It’s fabulous.
I just finished WIDE SARAGASSO SEA by Jean Rhys, which is the story of the mad wife in the attic from Jane Eyre. It was fascinating, dizzying, and such amazing sensory detail.
Also SHIVER by Maggie Steifvater. Comparable to Twilight and I enjoyed it a lot. Now I’m on to THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING by Joan Didion, a memoir which won the National Book Award. My tastes are all over the map!
Those are great book selections! I am currently reading “Kindred” by Octavia Butler and next will be “Possession” by A.S. Byatt 🙂 I’m making more time to read this year and am loving it so far!
I’m currently reading Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie. BTW, if you haven’t read Haroun and the Sea of Stories, you should. My kids loved the story when they were young–it’s a lovely fairytale about what happens when the “story water” is ruined.
I don’t read a lot of nonfiction for pleasure – but those sound good.
Currently I’m reading Black Hills by Nora Roberts – good romantic suspense 🙂
I’m reading my first adult book in a long while. Green by Ted Dekker. So far, it’s really good.
I’m reading A WRINKLE IN TIME again. It’s been so long that I forgot many details. I also just finished SOULLESS. I adored it. Made me wanna start carrying a parasol.
I’m reading like five books at once — it’s so sad. Ha.
Four of them are writing craft books but the one fiction book I’m currently reading is INCARCERON by Catherine Fisher. It’s really fascinating.
I like reading non-fiction books if they deal with something interesting. BLINK was one of those types of books. He’s a great writer.
I’m reading TOKYO VICE by Jake Adelstein about an American reporter working for a Japanese newspaper in the ’90s and early 2000s. It’s fascinating and at times a bit disturbing since it’s the police/crime beat.
I’m reading MARCELO IN THE READ WORLD and listening to EMPIRE by Orson Scott Card on audio (so good).
I’m aiming for 75 books this year!
It is hard to write the first word, or the first sentence…but as you sit down and think..and let the words pour out on a white sheet of paper…the journey has already began..
I am reading Dante’s “Inferno”.
regards,
wanderer
Shannon, Welcome! So glad you’re following and joining the conversation.
Julie, Possession ties for first as my favorite book (the other is The Count of Monte Cristo).
I love the variety here, everyone.
Ah, The Count of Monte Cristo. I’m trying to get through Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln which I first learned about through an interview with the author on Tavis Smiley. Seven-hundred pages is a lot for a non-history buff.
I also just started Fantastic Mr. Fox and I hope to finish Black Beauty with the kids very soon.
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Good to meet you at HighCallingBlogs.com, Caroline. I hope to come back here!
Sam, welcome!
Always glad to hear about parents reading aloud. Dahl is a favorite of mine.
I’m becoming a fan, too.