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On My Bookshelf

in Life, Odds and Ends

books to read in 2013

I have a confession to make, and it’s quite a source of embarrassment for me. (Trust me, I would rather admit to something to effect of shoplifting or picking and ingesting one’s boogers than what I’m about to tell you.)

Breathe, Sarah.

I only read 5 books last year, and three of them were the Fifty Shades trilogy.

O.

M.

G.

5 books. 5 MEASLY BOOKS IN 365 DAYS. WHAT A DIPSHIT.

I’m mortified.

Listen, I’m not calling YOU a dipshit if you didn’t read many books last year. D does not enjoy reading at all, and probably hasn’t read one book since college, yet, not a dipshit. I get it – it’s just not his thing, but me? I LOVE to read. I live to read. I have been a voracious reader my entire life. I started reading at three years old. I can speed read with ease. There is nothing in this world that excites and/or terrifies me more than becoming completely engrossed in a novel. Do you get me? I AM READER, HEAR ME ROAR.

So what happened? Random Internet Surfing happened, that’s what. (R.I.S. is a disease and must be taken seriously. See your doctor.) If I would have opened a book instead of opening my laptop during my free time, my book count would have been drastically different.

Let’s summarize. I only read 5 books last year, and three of them were poorly-written mommy porn. (The other two were Gone Girl and Mockingjay, if you were wondering.) My unnecessary internet surfing is to blame. This kind of pathetic behavior must not be repeated. Ever again. You know where this is leading, don’t you?

BOOK LIST!

Here are some books I want to read this year.

1. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking – Susan Cain

2. The Blind Assassin – Margaret Atwood

3. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen (I have never read this. I KNOW.)

4. The Passage – Justin Cronin (Books like this freak me out…will I want to build an underground shelter and never come out?)

5. Dark Places – Gillian Flynn

6. The Happiness Project – Gretchen Rubin

7. Columbine – Dave Cullen

8. The Paris Wife – Paula McLain

9. The Dream: A Memoir – Harry Bernstein

10. Cutting for Stone – Abraham Verghese

11. The Light Between Oceans – M.L. Stedman

12. The Invisible Bridge – Julie Orringer

What else? What should I add to the list? What’s the best book you read last year? What are you reading right now? Do tell.  (p.s. – I also have a Good Reads account which I opened in 2007 and just visited yesterday for the first time in several years. Let’s connect over there.)

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click a link to purchase a book, I will receive something like 25 cents and, if lucky, be able to buy some froyo, which will keep me happy while writing posts. Thank you for your support of this website!

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86 comments

  1. Joy

    February 6, 2013 at 9:24 pm

    You are absolutely cracking me up right now! 5 books and 3 were the Shades?! (heehee) I love your genuineness in sharing that.
    Last thing I read was The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. It was truly fascinating and part of my son’s AP Biology reading requirement, so all the kids are talking about it.
    Just started Divergent yesterday, so far so good.
    You have Pride and Prejudice on your list, what about Little Women? I think you would really love it.

  2. Tracy

    February 6, 2013 at 9:53 pm

    Check out everything by Tana French

  3. Kimberly

    February 7, 2013 at 4:32 am

    The Light Between Oceans is one of the best books I have read in pretty much forever. L-O-V-E, LOVE IT. I am currently reading The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis and it’s also phenomenal. Happy reading!

  4. Tiera

    February 7, 2013 at 6:13 am

    I am so happy to see Margaret Atwood on your list. Of all of her books this is the one I would recommend most as some of her subject matter can be a bit out there and I think can deter some people.
    Another Canadian to try is Anne Marie MacDonald, I really enjoyed The Way The Crow Flies.

  5. Allison

    February 7, 2013 at 11:08 am

    When you are in the mood for light reading, the Divergent trilogy, the Matched trilogy, and the Maze Runner trilogy are really fun. They are really similar to Hunger Games (dystopian societies) and are easy, compelling reads.

  6. Lynne

    February 7, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    I love book posts, the comment section always gives me such great ideas. Thanks everyone!

    The Passage is fantastic. I’m a big wimp and could handle it. There was a night or 2 of leaving the light on but so worth it.

    Unbroken is the best book I’ve read in a long time.

    Dublin Murder Squad books by Tana French are enthralling.

    I just looked at Goodreads and realized I spent at lot of 2012 reading Game of Thrones. Wow, who knew?

  7. kawai

    February 7, 2013 at 3:46 pm

    Where’d you go Bernadette is a quick, clever read: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12611253-where-d-you-go-bernadette

    Language of the Flowers is SUCH a sweet story. Giving/receiving flowers will never be the same: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10032672-the-language-of-flowers

  8. Est

    February 8, 2013 at 4:23 am

    Me before you by JoJo Moyes, it is a brilliant powerful novel. It was one of the five books I read last year. I think it has just come out over there. Sure it will get made into a movie.

  9. Susannah

    February 8, 2013 at 7:23 am

    I thought of a couple more than I meant to have on my list!!

    The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
    Steps and Exes by Laura Kalapakian
    Gatsby’s Girl by Caroline Preston

  10. Kate

    February 8, 2013 at 4:55 pm

    Move Blind Assassin right on up to the top of your list, and don’t leave out Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo.

  11. Alexis

    February 9, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    Wild by Cheryl Strayed

    The Rules of Inheritance by Claire Bidwell Smith

    The Invisible Circus by Jennifer Egan

    Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo

    Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

    I could go on and on, but will spare you. I’ll look for you on Goodreads.

  12. Elizabeth

    February 10, 2013 at 1:13 pm

    I, for one, did not like the Blind Assasin at all, but would recommend Atwood’s Cat’s Eye as one of my favorite books of all time. I would also highly recommend Little Bee by Chris Cleave and Hillary Mantel’s Wolf Hall. I don’t know a thing about British history and still I loved this book.

  13. melanie

    February 10, 2013 at 5:08 pm

    I second ( or whatever) Bernadette – it was awesome. Also loved The Age of Miracles and The Kitchen Daughter…. and if you haven’t readThe Night Circus, please do. SO good. I think we’re goodreads friends already so I’m happy to see you back! I am an obsessive reader myself.

  14. Bonnie C

    February 12, 2013 at 9:37 pm

    Hey! Long time stalker, first time poster! I actually skipped all the comments because I had to let you know you *MUST* read “Columbine”. It’s insane in its raw intensity. It should be required reading, end of story. /soapboxrant ;p

  15. Home Sweet Sarah

    February 13, 2013 at 12:00 pm

    I am familiar with R.I.S and I too was a total dipshit in 2011 (which is INSANE, because I was on maternity leave for three months, which should have meant I had a ton of time to read, but alas.) Anyway, this is why I set out to read 12 books last year (made it to 11 1/2.) Twelve is also my goal for this year (not going stellar, but it’s only February.)

    ANYWAY, I have tried to read Pride & Prejudice (in 2011, natch) and failed. It is a tough book. My high-school English teacher BFF suggested I watch the movie first (either the Firth or Kiera versions), that way I wouldn’t be so consumed with the language and getting through that and could just focus on the story. It did work (except I didn’t finish the book, so…maybe not?) and that’s what I’d recommend.

    My goal is to get a frigging library card and read more Gillian Flynn this year.