A Quick Rundown

Like I said before, when I got this list, I had already read about 25 of the books. While there are some books on the list I wouldn't mind re-reading, there are some I don't feel the need to pick up again. So, I figured that I should write a quick thought about all of the books I had read before starting this blog. When talking to a friend of mine about this blog, he suggested that I should add 25 more books to the list and read those instead. I figure I should get some credit for the books on the list I've read already, so I'm going to compromise. This time, I'm going to write about the books I've already read. However, since I NEVER read one book at a time, I'll also come on here and write about other books I've finished while on my reading adventure. But first, a quick rundown of the books I've already read.

1.  Harry Potter series - JK Rowling 

I was one of those people who hesitated starting the series. I remember getting a gift card to Crown Books and deciding that I would go ahead and buy the first 2 in paperback and go from there, but I didn't see myself being one of those ones that waited in line the day the next book came out to get my copy. Boy was I wrong!! I loved the whole series and cried myself silly reading the last book. 

2. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee 

One of my favorite books I read in highschool. I remember walking up to Mr. Sebastian (my sophomore English teacher) when he said it was time to read the next 2 chapters. I went up and said, "Ummm, Mr. Sebastian, I'm done." He looked at me and said, "Ok....read the next two chapters." I said, "No, I'm done with the book." He just looked at me, said with serious surprise, "But, we started the book two days ago!" When I just looked at him and told him I liked the book he sent me to the library.

3. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens 

Maybe it was because I read this my freshman year of highschool, but I HATED this book!

4. Little Women - Louisa M Alcott 

Loved this book! I think Laurie was my first literary crush, and I hated Jo for years because she turned him down. Never could figure out why she did that. 

5.  Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier 

I was really young when I read this one, so its one that I will read again at some point. But, I remember thinking it was pretty creepy and wonderful all at the same time.

6 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger 

So incredibly tragic!!! I loved this book so much. Its such a gorgeous story of true love and the things one will do to keep that one relationship that you know is THE relationship. Love truly conquers all in this one. 

7 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald

I just read this one recently and thought it was pretty great. A piece of cake to read, it was just a great story. 

8 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck

Another book I read in highschool and just didn't like at all

 

9 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis 

I must have walked to the back of every wardrobe, closet, armoire I could get my hands on and couldn't figure out why I never ended up in Narnia with Tumnus!

10 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden 

Beautiful story. The history of it is just amazing and hard to get your head around. The art of being a geisha is amazing!

11 Animal Farm - George Orwell 

Another highschool book I just didn't like reading

12 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown 

Was I the only one who had this ENTIRE book figured out in the matter of 3 chapters??

13 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I just recently read this entire series. I grew up on the miniseries that was on TV, but had just never read the books. After reading them, my opinion has not changed, I will alway and forever be in love with Gilbert Blythe. 

14 Lord of the Flies - William Golding 

Not a fan!

15 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen

Once I saw the movie, and could actually follow the wordiness that is Jane Austen, I loved the book. Before I saw the movie and tried to read it, I probably read the same page 7 times!

16  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon 

This guy truly knows how to get in the head of someone with autism. This is an incredible book if you want to try and understand how these brilliant people think. The subject matter isn't easy, and some parts made me sick to my stomach, but its an amazing book. The mind of a person with autism is a brilliant thing, and this guy somehow cracked the code.

17 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

I loved this book so much as a kid, I pretended my backyard was a secret garden. I would bury keys just so I could find them and pretend I could hear crying from the back of the house. I've played Mary Lennox in college, (yes, I did look 12 when I was 17), watched all kinds of the movies, and have reread the book numerous times. Its definitely one of my favorites.

18 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens 

Once I got through the 4 paragraphs of the fact that Jacob Marley was dead, how long he'd been dead, how dead he was, and how they knew he was dead it was an easy read! Maybe its because I've seen so many versions of the movie I had basically heard every part of the book before I read the book, but I still enjoyed it!

19 The Color Purple - Alice Walker 

I was so young when I read this book, I'm sure I didn't understand as much of it as I should have. But I do remember it being eye opening and tragic.

20 Charlotte’s Web - EB White 

The only time in my life I was sad when a spider died!

21 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom 

I love Mitch Albom. I've read all of his books and normally do so in a couple hours. This was no exception. Made me look at the whole idea of being in limbo a whole new way. Its an interesting concept to think that there are 5 people in your life that will show you the aspects in your life that decide where you end up when you die. 

22 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas 

I read this book in highschool and was naively surprised that it was nothing like the Disney movie! I loved it, still and even named my dog d'Artagnan. This book has action, mystery, history, comedy, and romance......can't beat it!

23 Hamlet - William Shakespeare 

My favorite Shakespearian tragedy. I even wrote an entire paper in college comparing Hamlet and Disney's The Lion King. (think about it, a young prince's father dies and his uncle takes over the kingdom. The prince leaves for a while, comes back to avenge his father's murder and finds out his uncle killed him, it's the same story!) Hamlet is full of crazy people, all of whom have an entirely different agenda. 

24 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl

I read the book, looked out of the back door of my childhood home and was legitimately disappointed that I had a plain old tree; not one that grew gummy bears or gum, just leaves. Also was pretty disappointed when I looked at the creek that ran along the side of my house and realized that it was brown because it was dirty, not because it was made of chocolate. 

So, I know what those of you who know me well are thinking, "Ummmm.....genuis, you missed one. And its a big one." You're right, I skipped one that I've read. Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. But, I've skipped it on purpose. This being my all time favorite book and the subject of a serious obsession of mine...... that one deserves a blog all to itself, my friends!