52 Books in 52 Weeks

Jan 1 - Dec. 31

The goal is to read one book (at least) a week for 52 weeks.  The rules are very simple:

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.  **
2. Participants may join at any time.
3. All forms of books are acceptable including e-books, audio books, etc.
4. Re-reads are acceptable as long as they are read after January 1, 2010.
5. Books may overlap other challenges.
6. Create an entry post linking to this blog. 
7. Come back and sign up with Mr. Linky in the "I'm participating post" below this post.
8. You don't have a blog to participate.  Post your weekly book in the comments section.
9. I'll be adding a post with Mr. Linky for participants to post book reviews. ***

Here's my 52

1. Fearless (by Max Lucado)
   
2. The UltraMind Solution (by Mark Hyman)
3. Don't Sweat The Small Stuff...and It's Small Stuff (by Richard Carlson)
4. Her Fearful Symmetry (by Audrey Niffeneger)
5. The Winter Rose (by Jennifer Donnelly)
6. Still Alice (by Lisa Genova)
7. The Blackmail Marriage (by Penny Jordan)
8. Iron Cowboy (by Diana Palmer)
9. Everyone Is Beautiful (by Katherine Center)
10. Secrets of Self-Healing (by Maoshing Ni)
11. Playing with Fire, Tales of an Extraordinary Girl Series #1 (by Gena Showalter) 
12. Evermore, Immortal Series #1 (by Alyson Noel)
13. Plain Jane's Secret Life (by Cathy Gillen Thacker)
14. The Sheik's Chosen Queen (by Jane Porter)
15. If I Stay (by Gayle Forman)
16. Kite Runner (by Khaled Hosseini) 
17. The Thing About Jane Spring (by Sharon Krum) 
18. Spellbinder (by Helen Stringer) 
19. I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have To Kill You (by Ally Carter) 
20. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments Series #1) by Cassandra Clare
21. The Accidental Mistress (by Tracy Anne Warren)
22. Greek Boss, Dream Proposal (by Barbara MacMahon)
23. The Winter Man: Silent Night Man/Sutton's Way (by Diana Palmer)
24. A Northern Light (by Jennifer Donnelly)
25. The Kyriakos Virgin Bride (Silhouette Desire #1822) (by Tessa Radley)
26. Marked (House of Night Series #1) by P. C. Cast, Kristin Cast 
27. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl
    
28. The Pretender (Liar's Club Series #1) by Celeste Bradley
29. Violets Are Blue by James Patterson
30. The Barons of Texas: Jill by Fayrene Preston 
31. Twice as Hot (Tales of an Extraordinary Girl Series #2) by Gena Showalter
32. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks 
33. City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments Series #2) by Cassandra Clare
34. City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments Series #3) by Cassandra Clare
35. A Reason for Marriage by Penny Jordan
36. Texas Millionaire by Dixie Browning
37. Guilty Pleasures by Cathy Yardley 
38. If He Only Knew by Debbie Rawlins
39. Hired: Cinderella Chef by Myrna Mackenzie
40. She Did a Bad, Bad Thing (Harlequin Blaze #338) by Stephanie Bond 
41. One Night with the Tycoon by Lee Wilkinson 
42. Sleeping With Her Rival (Silhouette Desire #1496) by Sheri Whitefeather
43. If You Don't Know By Now (Silhouette Romance #1560) by Teresa Southwick
44. To Seduce a Sinner (Legend of the Four Soldiers Series #2) by Elizabeth Hoyt
45. Power Play by Deirdre Martin 
46. Tithe (Modern Tale of Faerie Series #1) by Holly Black 
47. With a Twist by Deirdre Martin
48. Call Me Wicked (Harlequin Blaze #328) by Jamie Sobrato
49. One Night Standards (Harlequin Blaze #332) by Cathy Yardley 
50. Fortune's Vengeful Groom (Silhouette Desire #1783) by Charlene Sands
51. Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy Series #1) by Richelle Mead
52. Silver Angel by Johanna Lindsey

~ WRAP-UP ~

Did you reach the goal of 52 books?: Yes I did!  I was really surprised to see my list go up!  I still can't believe I have outdone myself.

What was the last book you read?:  Silver Angel by Johanna Lindsey

Did you read from a list and fly by the seat of your pants choosing a different book each week?: I'm so lousy with list and trying to follow a format.  I've been randomly selecting from my TBR and what I 'feel' I want to read.  Just looking at a list of TBR made it so boring for me that I have to steel myself and read, to my gladness. (I was a lazy reader).

Did you learn something new about yourself, an author, an topic?: I learned that I can learn to read through several genres without putting it down, I learned to finish a book I've started even if it's not what I'm most likely to read, I've develop a sense of variety in my author choices as I've learned to read other authors as well and I'm still trying to push myself to read certain topics that I would normally not pick.

How many classics did you read?: Classics?  Are you kidding me?  I have no classics genre in the list even though I have it in another list.  I am quite interested in reading those classics as Jane Austen, I have books from Shakespeare but it's dusting away.  Got to read those in time.

Did you discover a new author or genre?  Did you love them or hate them?  I was able to discover two new authors that made me laugh and cry (as in their first novels); and discovered series that I have finished and looking forward to further installments, some that I would rather not read again and those I would love to reread.  SO many great authors out there!

Name your top ten favorite reads: In random order - Still Alice, Everyone Is Beautiful, Secrets of Self-Healing, City of Bones, Vampire Academy, Marked, The Winter Rose, Iron Cowboy, Twice As Hot, Spellbinder.

Name your bottom ten least favorite reads: Tithe, The UltraMind Solution, If I'd Stay, I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I Have To Kill You, Power Play.

Name a book you expected to like but didn't: I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I Have To Kill You (I guess this is too high school for me).

Name a book you expected to not like but did: The Winter Rose.  I'm not really a historical buff, but this one is so good I ended up smiling and laughing and crying.  It's kind of thick but it's worth it.