Last year about this time of year I read a column in BookPage magazine where five of the editors selected one book as their reading resolution for the year. (See photo above.) I loved the idea. Why not be honest and just pick one book that I commit to read during the year, a book which has long been calling out to me to be read? I decided right then and there that my one-book-reading-resolution would be Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. It had long been on my TBR but I had avoided starting it because of the length (over 800 pages.) I am happy to report that I finished the book in April and loved it. (Read my review here: Lonesome Dove.)
This year my one-book-reading-resolution isn't so clear. I have many books which have languished long on my TBR but none that seem to peculate to the top. I need your help in making my selection. Please vote for one.
Which should I pick?
- Dune by Frank Herbert. I don't often read Sci-Fi but I understand that this book (and series) was ground-breaking and led to some very popular series like the Star Wars saga and Game of Thrones.
- A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. Several years ago I launched into a personal challenge to read Pulitzer Prize winners. (See my list of Pulitzers here.)This book, the 2011 winner, is one I haven't read yet. There are several others on the list but this one seems to be calling out the loudest.
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Believe it or not, I haven't red this classic. I enjoy every Dickens book I have read though so I am not afraid of its length. Also, I own a big CD set of the book which I could plug into my car stereo to facilitate the reading/listening.
- Watchman by Alan Moore. I am a huge Neil Gaiman fan and I understand that this graphic novel collection is amazing. I wouldn't know. I haven't read it.
- Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. People talk about this book, the first in a trilogy about Thomas Cromwell, as if I have for sure read it. I for sure haven't. Once again I am daunted by the length, 653 pages, but Lonesome Dove was longer. I know I can conquer long books now.
- Off the board. Make a suggestion.
Vote in comments below or on Facebook. Thanks for the help!
-Anne
You know me, science fiction or fantasy. Dune is very good.
ReplyDeleteOne good thing about Dune is that I own a copy of the book. The others I do not.
DeleteThe only one I read is Wolf Hall which was very good; I like historical fiction of that period. So I vote for that one.
ReplyDeleteI'll vote for 2 and since I haven't read any of these, I am basing it on nothing more than my gut feeling. I vote for Watchmen or A Visit from the Goon Squad.
ReplyDeleteI read A Tale of Two Cities in High School. It is very interesting and dramatic. I vote for this one :)
ReplyDeleteI've actually read all five! (Though I haven't read Tale of Two Cities since high school.) Not a bad book on the list, I think. If I had to pick I'll say Goon Squad.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a fabulous idea. The last two years I've participated in Chapter-a-Day, and I've ended up reading two books I never thought I'd read: Moby Dick and War and Peace. This year I'm going to start with Divine Comedy (a prose translation), and I hope to read the other four books selected for the year.
ReplyDeleteI'd go with A Tale of Two Cities. I hope to read that one this year in July.
I’m really interested in Cromwell and that period, but maybe not that interested :). I would probably pick Dune. Mine would definitely be Pillars of the Earth. I got about halfway through many years ago, and then quit. It’s a favorite book of a teacher friend of mine and she re-reads it all the time. But it’s long! Good luck. I would also like to read Lonesome Dove after your recommendation.
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