Wednesday 14 January 2015

Read 20 books recommended by others - Day Zero Project update

A bit of an update on my Day Zero Project list. I'm afraid that I've been slacking a bit lately. It was an ambitious list, and although when I started it back in November 2012 it seemed as though I had all the time in the world, I've suddenly realised that I only have until August this year to complete everything! I'm not sure how likely that is going to be, so I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't tick everything off, but instead reflect on how much I've enjoyed taking part in it!

The challenge to Read 20 Books Recommended by Others was one of the first that I started, knowing that it was a long term one. I asked for book recommendations across various social media channels, and ended up with a long list. I started reading ones that were easy to get hold of, and tracked down other ones that I liked the look of. I'll be honest that I did pick and choose the books, but I still read plenty that I wouldn't have otherwise. I've included in the list books that I was sent to review, in particular as part of the BritMums book club, as I felt that this falls into the scope of the challenge and I only have so much time in the day available to read.

I found some fantastic new books, and there was only one that I didn't get on with and couldn't finish. I also didn't get through the entire list of suggestions, so I have more waiting when I'm looking for inspiration to read!

So here are the books that I read:

1 - Shades of Grey - Jasper Fforde (Anna).

2 - Freakonomics - Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner (Joanne).

3 - The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed out of the Window and Disappeared - Jonas Jonasson (Lucy)

4 - The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde (Cat)

5 - How to be a Woman - Caitlin Moran (Joanne)

6 - Room - Emma Donoghue (Sarah)

7 - The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern (Merry)

8 - The Help - Kathryn Stockett (Sarah)

9 - Me Before You - Jojo Moyes (Kate)

10 - A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry (Cherry)

11 - The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd (Sarah)

12 - The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks (Aly)

13 - The Buddha in the Attic - Julie Otsuka (BritMums)

14 - The Passage - Justin Cronin (Alistair). This was the one that I couldn't finish unfortunately, although I gave it a very good go. It had an interesting plot but I just found it too long.

15 - My Animals and Other Family - Clare Balding (BritMums)

16 - Quiet - Susan Cain (BritMums)

17 - Above All Things - Tanis Rideout (BritMums)

18 - The Judas Scar - Amanda Jennings (BritMums)

19 - Peaches for Monsieur le Cure - Joanne Harris (Mum)

20 - Travelling to Infinity - Jane Hawking (review copy from publisher)

Do you set yourself reading challenges? I'm finding that I have more time for reading now that the children are older and so I'm wondering if I should come up with something new to challenge myself with.

2 comments:

  1. Fab list and fab idea! I will read and enjoy pretty much anything, so like to have recommendations from others. I've read six of your list (well, I'm on the last few pages of the 100 Year Old Man).

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  2. Oooh, well done you! I'm still working my way through my list of 20 books for my day zero project! It has certainly given me a huge variety of books that I would never have picked myself :-)

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