No, as the title suggests, I did not have some type of mental/nervous/experimental breakdown over books. In June 2011, I did a 6-month book recap, bemoaning the fact that Stephen King reads 80 books a year (80!) and I apparently can’t keep up like the Slacker McSlackerson that I am.
Since 2012 is approaching very soon I figured I’d post my final tally — ahem, breakdown – for 2011. Prepare the drum roll…
17 books. Maybe 16.5 if you want to get all technical about it, ya frickin heathens.
"READ US ALL OR PREPARE FOR DESTRUCTION."
Not bad. I am pleased with this figure. I’d render the verdict that my favorite from this list has been Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by HST. Nothing can quite compare to the goldmine of quotes in this gem of a novel (as I dissected in a prior post). That’s followed by The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (I sense a pattern developing here, don’t you?), then Cunt (changed my life), rounding out my top three.
The three main things I have gleaned from this list are that: I have an affinity for Stephen King, an obsession with Rob Lowe and I say the word cunt a lot.
And so we go—
The List – In Order of Having Been Read:
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson
- Doomed Queens by Kris Waldherr
- The Lady in the Tower – The Fall of Anne Boleyn by Alison Weir
- Damn Sure Right by Meg Pokrass
- Sweet Valley Confidential by Francine Pascal et al
- Light in August by William Faulker – I quit this book on page 50 so it doesn’t really count. As painful as it was to quit I couldn’t do it.
- The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
- What May Have Been by Gary Percesepe and Susan Tepper
- Stories I Only Tell My Friends by ROB LOWE
- The Electric Acid Kool-Aid Test by Tom Wolfe
- Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
- The Dome by Stephen King
- Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg
- Full Dark No Stars by Stephen King
- Cunt by Inga Muscio
- Ayiti by Roxane Gay
- American Gods by Neil Gaiman
This is how I pretty much read all my books. Minus the pre-teen adolescent boy and stoic glare.
How did everyone else do? What was your number? Your list, your faves? Your rejections?
Am I the only nerd who keeps a book journal and names it Jeeves?
Only time will tell.
That’s a great list, so diverse!
And your list is huge compared to mine. My excuse is “but I read lit mags”.
Hey! Berit Ellingson’s book is on the list of books I’ve read in 2011! How do ya like them apples?
Very funny post. You’ve just thrown down the gauntlet, and I’m gonna pick it up and keep a book journal for 2012, but it won’t be named Jeeves – maybe something like Winston, Alice B. Toklas or Frida – Fear and Loathing – possibly my all time favorite book and that may be my starting point for 2012 – in the Stephen King category – I am re reading “On Writing” and it’s almost like I’ve never read it before – great book!
See Berit, Lit Mags are a great excuse tho! I read quite a few but I definitely need to take a lesson from you and read MORE. So much reading, so little time. *sigh*
Michael – I definitely like Alice B Toklas for your book journal’s name. I cast my vote. Oooo, and I LOVE On Writing…I try to read that once a year, but now that you mention it, I see I didn’t read it at all in 2011. Must add to 2012′s list. Thanks for reading – pass on any good books you read next year.
my wife has CUNT sitting on her shelf. she told me forever ago to read it.
Your wife has good taste. I like her. Go read it (if you haven’t).
yeah, she’s pretty swell
will put it on my to-read list!
Fantastic list! GO YOU. By that count, more than a book a month. Well done. There’s great applause over here. I just discovered John Green the second half of the year and have developed an unhealthy obsession. I follow him on twitter, but can’t look directly into his eyes, or mention him, lest I start to hyperventilate.
I started with Looking for Alaska and three more of his. He’s coming to my town next month and I WILL GO TO THERE.
Jules, I’m so happy to see mine and Gary’s book on your list, thank you!!! I believe the “c” word came up a few times in that book, and not by Gary but by me. Just goes to show– we women have no problem with our “c”… tee hee…
Thanks, Harley! Hmm, I may have to read a little John Green one of these days. When you meet him, resist the urge to bow.
Susan, I LOVED What May Have Been. But you already know that. And yes, you are so right. We can say the c-word with relish.
Love your list! Love any book list! For me, Denis Johnson’s Train Dreams was number 51. It was clever and strong and quick and short. My goal was 50. Love goals, too! Favorite Find: Kate Walbert: especially liked her story Sick Chicks in Our Kind. Would sure read more of her if she writes more! Happy New Year & Happy reading!
http://books.google.com/books?id=iFsWUY5yZOUC&pg=PA100&lpg=PA100&dq=kate+walbert+sick+chicks&source=bl&ots=qcvnWwKrsj&sig=0SrthzwywI92YL-3Iqkt5vKoKzg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1dz8TqvXGea42gX0_ey1Ag&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
Hi Ann – thanks for the read! Wow – 50. Kudos to you! Thanks for the rec and I will check out Walbert’s book.
& Thanks for Inga info & links. . .will add to my to-read list for 2012! p.s. Multitasking on the exercise bike one hour per day = 50 books per year