This time last year I was summarizing what I read in 2011, which appeared to be a fairly impressive list at 34 books. I can’t say I was accomplished this year as I wasn’t traveling full time and I was launching a new website. Most of the books I did read were on my trip to Portugal, Austria, and Germany.
But enough excuses. My goal was to beat last year, but it just didn’t happen. Here are the (few) books I did read and even a few I enjoyed! Don’t even get me started on that Fifty Shades crap…
My friends Candice and Kristin were a bit more productive this year when it came to books, so be sure to see what they read and liked. Follow me on Goodreads for more literary geekiness.
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Travel Books
Every Day in Tuscany: Seasons of an Italian Life, Frances Mayes– I really wanted to like this book, I swear. I got a copy to review and while it definitely makes me want to return to Italy, there are too many things going on here to make it a good read. There’s anecdotes and recipes and tales of renovations without any clear theme.
Radio Shangri-La: What I Discovered on my Accidental Journey to the Happiest Kingdom on Earth, Lisa Napoli– This book, on the other hand, is exactly what I wanted out of a female driven travel narrative. Napoli finds herself in Bhutan, a place that instinctively terrifies her, but it soon grabs hold of her like one destination does for every person. This was another book I reviewed. See: Inspiring Reads: Radio Shangri La.
Chick Lit
Something Borrowed, Emily Giffin– For someone who doesn’t care for chick lit, I sure seem to read a lot of it. I borrowed this one from the library over the summer and I will admit that after reading others by Giffin, this one is her best. You start to bend your ideas of morality of the characters and can’t judge which ones are the “good guys” or “bad guys.” Long story short: girl hooks up with best friend’s fiance. Drama ensues.
Heart of the Matter, Emily Giffin– This one was not quite as good, but still readable. Woman’s husband is a doctor who treats a child badly burned. Husband falls for mother of burned child. Drama ensues. Sound familiar?
Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darkerand Fifty Shades Freed, EL James– I read the first one to see what all the fuss is about and the second and third for lack of English language literature. Yes, some things are “shocking” to the average reader of the bargain shelf at Target, but the writing is terrible. I have no idea how I managed to read three books about an obsessive, codependent relationship. Avoid.
Love the One You’re With, Emily Giffin– Easily my least favorite of Giffin’s, whiny and unlikeable characters from start to finish. Married woman runs into an old boyfriend, questions whether she wants to be with him. Drama ensues.
Summer Rental, Mary Kay Andrews– I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one as it was an extra on my mom’s iPad, but it was a decent read. There were surprises for this type of beach read, even if the relationships were predictable. Three friends get a summer beach house on the coast of North Carolina. They meet the landlord, a handsome surfer type, and rent a room to a mysterious woman on the run.
Fiction Books
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins– I read all three within a week as soon as I got home from Australia. If you don’t read any other books on this list, read these. They suck you in and you won’t put them down until you’re done. If you haven’t heard about them, a futuristic world bets children from separate districts to battle to the death in The Hunger Games.
The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho– I picked up this book at Goodwill before my Europe trip and absolutely loved it. Although it’s fiction, the book has so many parallels with travel.
Room, Emma Donahue– Another book that sucks you in, Room is written by a child who has never left his room that he shares with his mother. They are victims of kidnapping and plan an escape. It’s a very intense read, like The Lovely Bones in that way.
Non-Fiction Books
3,096 Days, Natascha Kampusch– This was the only English language book I found at my hostel in Vienna. It’s another book about a girl who is kidnapped and held captive for 8 years. This story, however, is true and definitely made me paranoid.
Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer– I stole this from my hostel in Frankfurt but didn’t get around to reading it until my London trip. As someone who knows nothing about climbing this book was captivating. Krakauer talks about his trip to Mount Everest when many people in his crew died.
The Art of Non-Conformit, Chris Guillebeau– I’ve had this book for a few years now and seen Chris speak twice but hadn’t gotten around to reading it until now. Chris has a great manifesto for “alternative lifestyles,” but in a good way. It’s about doing what you want, whether it be travel or in work.
Humor
Lies Chelsea Handler Told Me, Chelsea Handler– I know I read this book last year but I needed something funny after all the heavy reads.
Classic Books
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee– I read this classic as a child but wanted to give it another chance as an adult. I enjoyed it much more the second time around.
For more beautiful books and bookstores, check out my post on Lello Livraria in Portugal and my Bookstore Heaven board on Pinterest.
So there you have it, all 19 books I read this year. What did you read? What should be on my list for 2013?
My rate of reading has accelerated massively since going full-time on this travel malarkey, which shouldn’t be too surprising.
It’s good to see what else other peers are reading to help me assess what to read for the future.
I JUST finished reading To Kill a Mockingbird for the same reasons too!
Yeah same for me last year. Traveling full time in Australia gave me plenty of time to read but not so much since I got home.
Wow! 19 books is quite a handful, the only one I have read on your list is Hunger Games. I think I’ve only read like 5 books this past year – mostly learning German language.
Hunger Games was amazing! Thanks for reading.
I read Room as well and couldn’t put it down! I recently finished reading The World According to Garp and thought it was really good.
As usual, I read half of what you did. SOMETHING BORROWED is like one of the best chick-lit books out there. And it was Giffin’s FIRST! It’s been downhill since then, let me tell you.
And I just read 50 Shades. Seriously, worst thing ever. Usually I feel like I have to read everything once I pick up an author, but I am not going to bother past the first.
Agreed! I liked Something Borrowed but the rest have been terrible. And Fifty Shades was eh. Not big on reading about codependent relationships, even if they are into kinky sex.