Alanna & Company

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Books I Want to Read in 2016

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Ahhh a new start! Alright so as I lay out my plans and goals for this year, I obviously need to set reading goals, right? I participated in the Modern Mrs. Darcy reading challenge last year and I am super excited to participate again this year! I carefully am planning out which books to read though so it’ll be easier to accomplish.

 

The total books I want to read this year is 30. A lot less than my 50 books that I wanted to read last year. I ended up only reading 24 books by the end of the year.
Without further ado, here are the books I plan to read for the MMD challenge in 2016.
A Book Published This Year: TBD because we’ve only had fifteen days for books to be published!
A book you can finish in a day: Shopgirl by Steven Martin
A book you’ve been meaning to read: The Rosie Project By Graeme Simsion
A book recommended by your local librarian or bookseller: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
A book you should have read in school: ?
A book chosen for you by your BFF, partner, or significant other:  ?
A book published before you were born: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
A book that was banned at some point: Looking for Alaska by John Greene
A book you previously abandoned: Yes Please by Ame Poehler
A book you own but have never read: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
A book that intimidates you: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
A book you’ve already read at least once: Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walters
Is it bad that I wanted to put the Goldfinch in about four categories? Previously Abandoned, Own but not read, intimidating, a book that I’ve been meaning to read. Sadly, no cheating allowed here. I’m curious how the intimidating book from Neil Gaiman is going to go as well as one that was published before I was born. I’ve tried to read Neil Gaiman before (American Gods) and couldn’t stand it. I feel bad though because he’s been consistently the winner of the best fantasy books on Goodreads, so I’ll push myself to try this one that was selected as the 2013 fantasy winner.

Let me know if you are participating in any other reading challenge that I can join in on or if you have a suggestion for a book that will be published this year! Or if you have any suggestions for the categories that I’m still missing books for.

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About Alanna

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  Hi! I'm Alanna. I'm obsessed with food, wine, travel, and dogs. I adore street food and dive bars just as much as Kate Spade and champagne. Originally hailing from Washington, D.C., I moved to Chicago in

  • I haven’t read any of those books, but they look intriguing! This is a super fun challenge to get you to read more. I have a goal set this year for reading, now i just need to get the books 🙂

  • I’m so excited about the challenge–but yea some of the prompts are stumping me. I have ideas but trying to take it one month at a time. I just finished Me Before You which I put in “Book I’ve Been Meaning to Read” category. I have The Rosie Project on my list too as “Book You Can Read in a Day”. Are you doing one a month?

  • You are going to LOVE The Nightingale!! The Goldfinch is on my list to read this year as well 🙂

    • Thanks Amanda! Have you joined any challenges or just taking it as it comes?

      • I’m doing the Goodreads challenge, which you just set a number for to hit by the end of the year. But I know a lot of what I am reading would fall into some of these categories as well 🙂 Maybe I will have to give it a try too!

        • You should! It’s fun, and that way you can branch out into some topics/genres that aren’t your usual.

  • I can’t remember if I set a goal of 40 or 50 books this year, but I have an entire page dedicated to finish some books on my site because last year I was such a S.L.A.C.K.E.R. I’ve heard really good things about “The Nightingale”!

  • Challenges like this are so fun! The Rosie Project and Beautiful Ruins are on my Amazon list to buy once I get through some of the other books that have been sitting on my bookshelf!

  • I have read a bunch of these books – I heard mixed reviews about The Goldfinch, so I’ll be curious to see how that goes. As for a book you should have read in high school, for me that would be The Great Gatsby (not my favorite) or I’m reading Pride and Prejudice right now. Jane Eyre is also one of my favorites and one I read later in life. The Nightingale is fabulous!

    • I’m curious about the Goldfinch too because of the mixed reviews. It’s just such a mammoth of a book. We shall see how it goes.

  • The Rosie Project and Looking for Alaska are good picks. Enjoy! Maybe check out The Things We Keep for the book published in 2016. It comes out 1/19. I read the eARC, and I really enjoyed it. It’s a unique love story about two Young patients suffering from dementia.

  • Really good choices! I LOVED the Nightengale and the Goldfinch!

  • the ocean at the end of the lane is a super easy read from what i remember. it’s a bit odd, and as long as you go into it with a bit different expectations, you’ll be fine. it’s not ‘normal’. i enjoyed it. i also loved the nightingale. good luck with the goldfinch, i’m so intimidated by that book lol

    • Me too. I tried to start it this summer but had to put it down. I love reading your reviews of books on goodreads. So informative.

  • For the book you should have read in school, let me list the ones I did read in school that were good; maybe there’s one you haven’t read?
    A Wrinkle in Time
    The Phantom Tollbooth
    Treasure Island
    To Kill a Mockingbird
    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
    The Grapes of Wrath

  • This looks like an awesome challenge! I’ll have to join in for sure!

  • Runwright

    Hey, I found you via Simply Alexandra’s blog and I love your page and am going to follow you now 🙂
    I am doing a few reading challenges this year, some of which are posted here: http://runwright.net/2016/01/04/goals-vs-resolutions-whats-the-difference/

    Last year, I read about 70 books but didn’t record them all so I’m not quite sure of the number. This year, I am aiming for 100 and am already behind in my schedule because I’ve only finished 2 books so far.

    • Awesome thanks for stopping by. Have you signed up for goodreads? It so nice to track reading and you can see tons of reviews too!

      • Runwright

        Yes. I use Goodreads. My user name is RUNWRIGHT if you’d like to add me as a friend.

  • Lori Lyons Luhrman

    Hi, I just popped in from the MMD link up! You have a great list going…I am currently reading Yes Please and I’m loving it! Also, I really enjoyed The Goldfinch, although it is quite a mammoth to get through. The Nightingale is also on my list for this year! I’m also running a 2016 Reading Challenge if you’re interested in checking it out. Thanks for sharing and good luck with your reading! http://www.thenovelendeavor.com/2016/01/2016-reading-challenge/

    • Yes! I tried reading the Goldfinch this summer and even my arms were gettin g sore. I’ll have to check out your challenge. Thanks for stopping by.

  • The Get Fit Diva

    This is such a cool book challenge…I may have to join you on this! I have about five books waiting for my attention and an Amazon wish list with about ten! Time to read and add these cool challenges to it!

    • The challenges are great because they help you step out of your typical reading boundaries! You should definitely join.

  • The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is my FAVORITE book. It’s poignant, heartbreaking and beautiful. I definitely cried but it’s so incredible.

  • I read the Rosie Project and thought it was really cute! Are you going to be reviewing all of these as you finish them?

  • What an interesting challenge! I’ll have to check out Modern Mrs Darcy blog!

  • I loved The Nightingale. This challenge sounds like so much fun.

  • Becky @Disney in your Day

    This is such a fun idea! I might have to try this challenge out myself.

  • I feel like everyone is setting reading goals around me and meanwhile I have trouble finishing the Express every morning! The only book I seriously need to pick up already is Mindy Kaling’s book, because I’m years late

  • Looooove The Goldfinch, one of my favorite books ever! I also really enjoyed Beautiful Ruins!

    • I just need to get into the Goldfinch, I tried to start it this summer and it wasn’t happening for me.

  • Looks like a good list!!!

  • This is such a great idea and an exciting challenge! I think I should join you in on the challenge too 🙂
    xx, Kusum | http://www.sveeteskapes.com

  • Ah, Neil Gaiman. I want to like him – he was on Arthur! It was adorable (yes, I watch cartoons while I get ready). But I read the Ocean at the End of the Lane and didn’t care for it. I’ve been meaning to give American Gods a go but now I’m discouraged.

    Goldfinch is large enough to count for multiple entries, that’s for sure.

    (and you can always link up with the Reading Lately group *shameless plug*)

  • Don’t be intimidated by the book you chose for “published before you were born.” I loved The Alchemist and just wish I’d read it sooner. Let me know what you think once you’ve read it!

  • Runwright

    I just finished JoJo Moyes Me Before You. Loved it. Starting another one of her books tonight. One Plus One

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