It wasn't my best reading year. Maybe it was the eReader, which makes it so easy to abandon books because the physical presence of a book doesn't guilt you into picking it up and muscling through early pages.
Maybe its somehow that I'm changing as a reader, turning prematurely snobby against best sellers. But more than anything, it was probably due to a too busy schedule and too little time; if a book didn't grab me instantly, if I didn't make early progress, more than likely I wouldn't make it through.
I should note that I did this with the Dragon Tattoo books. I had at least three false starts before one day, I started focusing on them and then made it through all three in a month
Here's a rundown.
India becoming -- A well acclaimed book that I recommend constantly too others but I did not read yet. Moved to the 2013 list.
Alif the unseen -- Picked up the hardcover at a bookstore in Penn Station, which has now actually become my main bookstore ever since Borders closed. 100 pages in, you'd think I would make it the rest of the way; but I just wasn't getting into it. Paused.
Player one ready - Right up my geeky alley. Read it and enjoyed it.
Gone girl --- Fun read (sort of). Liked the snappy writing. Good stuff.
Canada --- Made it all the way through, and thoroughly impressed myself. But not sure I got this one either, other than that it made me very very sad
The Power of Habit -- A great nonfiction read. Covers the spectrum of personal to corporate habits. The corner stone habit is the key takeaway. Maybe worthwhile to read twice. Its a life changer.
You are not doing it right -- Impulsive buy. An easy read, humorous and any married guy can relate.
Steve jobs bio - Probably my most impressive read of the year. Got through every word of it; and I recite the crazy stories about Steve often.
Wolf Hall -- I wanted this to be my most impressive read of the year. I couldn't keep up with the odd use of pronouns. Need some serious uninterrupted time to get through this, and I hear the author has a follow-up out to. Moved to 2013.
Train dreams - A little wonderful novella about a hard-working man back at the turn of the century. Goes to show its not how big the book is that matters. Worth a reread - very good.
Broken harbor -- A clear-cut eREeder abandon. Punched out after first ten pages. Just not my thing.
The Great Gatsby -- I was such a horrible student, I missed all the classics in my youth. I was excited to find this at Target! Read it and loved it. Beautiful prose. Does anyone write this well anymore ? Excited for the upcoming movie.
I am sure there were others but I clearly need to do better than this. I've penciled out my 2013 list - we'lll see how it goes.
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