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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Bookworm's Corner: Summer Reading Challenge 2010

I've decided to join Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for her Summer Reading Challenge 2010. You can click on the link HERE to read her post and see if you want to join in! The challenge begins June 21 and ends Sept. 21.


So, here are my list of books that I want to put on my Reading List.

* A Gate at the Stairs---Lorrie Moore
* Homer & Langley---E.L.Doctorow
* The Canterbury Tales----G. Chaucer
* Wuthering Heights---Emily Bronte
* Duma Key---Stephen King
* Just After Sunset---Stephen King
* Thomas Jefferson---R.B. Bernstein
* John Adams--David McCullough
* An Incomplete Education---Judy Jones and William Wilson
* George Washington's Sacred Fire--Peter Lillback

A strange mix, to be sure...........but I have always had eclectic reading tastes. Wuthering Heights is one of the very few 'classic' novels that I have not read, which surprises me that I could have gone on this long and not read it.  I threw in a couple Stephen King novels because I am woefully behind reading his new stuff. I've been a fan of his novels since age 13 and I own all of them (except the latest ones!). I've been reading mostly biographies of historical figures in the past couple years; I think I've read about most of the French, Russian and English monarchy by now!
You'll notice that I have three biographies on my list; I am most looking forward to reading John Adams by David McCullough, who is, in my opinion, THE best biographical research writer out there. I have his book 1776 and I love it so much! The story is so inspiring and never ceases to amaze me.
I am hoping to find The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer at the library in an 'un-translated' edition. It was written in Middle-English at the end of the 14th century, so it's bound to be difficult to read, but I always consider that a worthy challenge. When I read The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, which was published in 1850, but took place in 17th century Puritan Boston, I was about junior high school age and loved the challenge of making my way through the difficult thees, thous,wouldsts, prithees and odd archaic vocabulary.

I guess I better get to the library!
Thanks for stopping by!

8 comments:

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Katie, this sounds like a perfect reading list to me! Loved the selections, and I have to tell you that the bio of John Adams is one of the best biographies I have ever read. You will be amazed at all he did to secure the liberties of this nation. And I adore Abigail, too. An amazing twosome, and she very much had a mind of her own. AND he listened to her. They were a formidable team that did much good.

Hope you enjoy this. I love Susan so I know this will be a lot of fun.

XO,

Sheila :-)

Her Boudoir said...

Penguin classics was publishing Cantebury Tales in Middle English as of a couple years ago, so they may still be - I used to have a copy. I also had a copy in "modern" English that I could refer to if I was stumped on the Middle English.

alisa said...

thanks for posting this! happy summer reading, thankfully the library is only a hop, skip and jump away...

Anita@ Far Above Rubies said...

It does look like a great list! Thanks for stopping by too. I feel like I have been missing everyone. but I'm trying to do some visiting today! LOVE your peonies below:-)

Needles Everywhere said...

First, I LOVE the picture on your blog. I also admire your reading list. I guess I'd better ad a classic or two to mind. You will enjoy the John Adams biography. It's good.. I haven't ready 1776 so I may add that one!

Laura @ The Shabby Rabbit said...

I like your list! I dont think its an odd mix, last year I read Jane Eyre and Lisey's Story back to back :)

Good luck with your reading and enjoy!

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Hi Katie! I am trying to visit everyone today... and I really like your list! Mine needs a little variety so I am adding 1776 and John Adams from yours! Happy Reading!!

Nanna said...

sounds like a great list, happy reading! I'm still tweeking mine
Helen