This is a difficult list to make. I sort of have two lists in my head. One with the books I really want to read – and the other with books I ought to read because they are part of my goal for the year. Even though there’s not much left of 2013, I’m not willing yet to give up completing my goal so I’ve chosen to write the second list (with bits from the first list thrown in!).
As always, the Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
- John Irving: Widow for One Year. Each year I set a goal of reading a book by each of my favorite authors. I only need to finish this one to have completed this goal and I’ve already read about a third of it and so far I love it.
- Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. I have been postponing this for years. I’m not sure why I keep on procrastinating on this one but I think I have to read it this year or I never will. And it’s one of those books that you really ought to read and I think I will appreciate it so there’s really no reason to not just get on with it.
- Doctor Who and Philosophy. I try to read some non-fiction every year and I haven’t been doing very good this year. So I’m currently working my way through this one. It seems fitting since it’s the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Year to be reading this book.
- VC Andrews: Flowers in the Attic. So when I saw that my book twin Heather had joined the Insatiable Book Sluts blog and was hosting a readalong, I was immediately interested. Of course. So I plan on reading this book even though I’ve never heard of it before. It sounds like a great read and something that will give me a breather before I tackle some more of the leftovers from my list of reading goals.
- Thomas Ligotti: Teatro Grotesco. Every year my boyfriend, my best friend and me challenge each other and decides a book for each of the others. I have already read the one my boyfriend chose for me (Martin Amis: Lionel Asbo) but I need to read this one as well. And I have to admit – I have zero interest in it. It’s short stories, it’s horror. Sighs.
- Don DeLillo: Underworld. And if that one wasn’t bad enough, there’s this huge novel by Don DeLillo. I have a hard time with DeLillo. I really don’t get him. I sense there’s something – but I can’t quite understand what he’s bring to do with his novels. And this one I’ve already tried to read but failed. And I never fail at finishing books. So I dread this one. A lot!
- Frederick Copleston: A History of Philosophy. And there’s this one … I was intimidating to begin it and I’m still intimidated by it … I’m really not sure if I will get through this one this year!
- Margaret Atwood. I have on my list that I have to read something from Margaret Atwood this year and I really want to! I just don’t own anything by her so I’m hoping to receive some of her books for Christmas.
- Arthur Conan Doyle: The Complete Sherlock Holmes. So I have read – and enjoyed – about 30% of this one. But – I still have to read 70% more. And it’s been a long while since I read it so I am actually planning to start at the beginning… I’m starting to feel like I have been a bit too optimistic about what I was able to read this year!
- Some sort of non-fiction. At this point I’m not sure what this last book will be about – or whether I will even make it this far…
So that’s it for me. If I’ll make it through these books this year, I will be thrilled and absolutely ecstatic. Unfortunately, the chances of that happening are really very low indeed. But I’ll try! Luckily there’s not that many work days left this year and I have a rather long Christmas holiday so if I just prioritize reading every day for the rest of the year, maybe I have a small chance… Well, not really, but it’s fun to try!
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The Literary Bunny 
I loved the phrase ‘a bit too optimistic’ about your reading plans – that’s a perpetual state for me so I sympathise!!!!! Hope you like the John Irving and Anne Frank – I thought both were great. Went to Anne Frank House when visited Amsterdam couple of years ago – really poignant experience. Like you I am struggling with Underworld – I’ve picked it up to start a 1000 times and put it down again – I recently read DeLillo’s Falling Man and liked it – but even that didn’t make me start Underworld. So it’s on my overly optimistic list for next year!!!
I am always a bit too – or even overly – optimistic about my reading. When traveling I always bring too many books and I always have high hopes for what I can do in a year – even though I have scaled it down from 100 books a year to 52…
I bought my edition of Anne Frank at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam when we visited a couple years ago. It was a sobering experience.
I’ve read two DeLillo books, including Falling Man, and while there were parts I loved, for the most part I just didn’t get it. Or that’s how it feels, at least. Maybe I’m expecting too much from it…
I’m so happy that you’re joining the FitA readalong, book twin! I’m looking over your list(s) and giggling about how similar our reading tastes are. 🙂
Ah yes I recognise that dilemma between what I want to read and what I should read. So I really should be reading some of the books I got from net galley but. One of them appeal right now. Virginia Andrews is someone I read when I was much younger and enjoyed. Doubt I wd enjoy it as much now though.
Anne Frank will be good, and you will like Atwood! I’ll be interested to see which title you read eventually. You are very optimistic indeed, wow.
I don’t know that you can call FitA a great read, but it’s certainly an experience. When I was 13, my best friend was obsessed with those books and made me read them. I think it scarred me for life. 🙂
I have Margret Atwood on my list and I can’t wait to read some of her work! You will love Anne Frank – it’s one of those books that stay with you forever. Enjoy!