I’ve always thought of my reading as a journey. I can look back at my journals and lists of books read over the years and see clearly the books and ideas that have influenced me the most. This year my journey took an enjoyable turn onto a blogging road. I’ve loved this route and the people I’ve met along the way, and look forward to another year of reading and blogging.
Inspired by the reader friends I’ve met in the blogging world, I read 79 books in 2007, which is pretty good for me considering much of my time and energy are consumed in a 2nd grade classroom. Of those 79 books, I read 24 of them as a direct result of reviews and discussions from those blogs. I participated in and completed 5 reading challenges (no more the non-joiner!), and have joined two others, not yet completed. I’ve also used and enjoyed the library more this year than ever before.
I don’t usually set reading goals for myself, or plan out a year of reading, because I like to see where the journey of discovery takes me. I’m looking forward to my 2008 reading journey!
2007 – Favorites Along the Way:
Out of Africa, by Isak Dinesen
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel García Márquez
One Writer’s Beginnings, by Eudora Welty
2007 – Reading Challenges:
Once Upon a Time Challenge:
Stardust, by Neil Gaiman
The Moorchild, by Eloise McGraw
The Sword and the Circle, The Light Beyond the Forest, and The Road to Camlann, by Rosemary Sutcliff
The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde
Warriors, Gods & Spirits from Central and South American Mythology, by Douglas Gifford
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare
Southern Reading Challenge:
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Big Fish, by Daniel Wallace
Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Nora Zeale Hurston
Readers Imbibing Peril, II Challenge:
The Red House Mystery, by A. A. Milne
A Study in Scarlet, by Arthur Conan Doyle
The Woman in Black, by Susan Hill
Strange Happenings, by Avi
The Melancholy Death or Oyster Boy, by Tim Burton
Book-to-Movie Challenge:
The African Queen, by C. S. Forester
The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lamhiri
The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo
Hometown Challenge:
The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale (My hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah)
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, by Sherman Alexie (My adopted hometown: Seattle, Washington)
FAVORITE BOOK READ IN 2007: Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel García Márquez
A Fondness For Reading 
Love in the Time of Cholera is one of my all time favorites, but my sister-in-law is having a time getting through it.
Did you marry your first love? I wonder if that makes a difference in liking this read…
Thanks for doing some Southern reads and Happy New Year! ;D
LikeLike
A journey really is a perfect metaphor for reading. One of my favourite things about 2007 was having found companions for this journey. I didn’t count how many, but a lot of the books I read in 2007 were the direct result of recommendations by fellow bloggers too.
LikeLike
Looks as if your journey is one that is broadening your horizons and inspiring you. One Writer’s Beginnings has been on my TBR list since I read a biography of Welty in 2006. As I read the year end evaluations of other Bloggers, I keep finding books on my list that I have still not gotten around to. That results in another kind of evaluation.
I’ve certainly enjoyed reading your reviews this year and keeping up with your classroom adventures. Have a wonderful 2008 in the classroom and out!
LikeLike
Congratulations on your great year of reading! I’m glad to see your good reviews of Love in the Time of Cholera as I’ll be reading it this year for bookclub.
LikeLike
There are definitely some wonderful books I wouldn’t have read if I hadn’t started reading so many book blogs. It’s great!
LikeLike
What a journey! Looks like 2007 was a good reading year for you. Me too! I’ve so enjoyed getting to know you this year. Happy reading in ’08!
LikeLike
Oh, book blogs have been a tremendous influence on my choice of books this past 6 months or so. And on the size of the tbr pile! Congrats on so many books read, can’t be easy with a fulltime job.
And I really must get around to Love in the Time of Cholera.
LikeLike
Hi Maggie, I think this is a book that people react to very strongly one way or another. It’s not for everyone, I’ve discovered. Your question about whether I married my first love, and whether that would make a difference in liking this read, is a very interesting one! I’ve been married to B for 36 years, so those old loves don’t seem like the real thing in retrospect. So, I guess I have to say that I married my first REAL love! Does that mess up the theory?
Also, I loved your Southern Reading Challenge and hope you are going to host it again this year!
Hi Nymeth. I agree–it’s so nice to have found such nice companions for this journey…and your reviews have added a great number of books to my TBR list!
Thanks, Jenclair. I always enjoy reading your reviews and stories, too. I’ll be interested in hearing how you enjoy One Writer’s Beginnings when you get to it.
Thanks, Tara! I’ll be interested in hearing how you like Love in the Time of Cholera. It’s definitely a book that would lend itself to some really good bookclub discussions because people have such strong feelings about it, one way or another!
Hi Heather. I’ve really enjoyed reading about so many good books that people have read. It’s really nice to be introduced to books and authors I might not have discovered on my own.
Gentle Reader, I always enjoy going to your blog to see what you are reading and what else you are up to. And, yes, it was a very enjoyable reading year for me, especially because of the new companions on the journey.
Cath, I know what you mean about the TBR pile. It’s beyond ridiculous!…but I love hearing about all these books and authors I haven’t gotten to yet.
LikeLike
I just bought Love In The Time of Cholera, so I’m really glad to see it’s your very favorite. I was a little less eager to read it after hearingn horror stories of One Hundred Years of Solitude, but now I’m revved up. Your analogy to the journey is perfect. It’s been a great pleasure to blog with you, and I’m especially glad you decided to join the Japanese Literature Challenge.
LikeLike
It’s been a pleasure going down the reading road with you this year, Robin! I’ve found that this whole blogging thing adds an amazing aspect to reading. I love the discussion and recommendations and just the whole experience. It’s been a great year 🙂 And I couldn’t agree with you more on Love in the Time of Cholera. Amazing book. Looking forward to 08!
LikeLike
Thanks, Bellezza, I hope you enjoy Love in the Time of Cholera. Some people do and some don’t; I haven’t heard of anyone in the middle!
Thanks, Chris. I’m looking forward to our 2008 reading and sharing, too.
LikeLike
I like how you describe reading as a journey. Very apt. Book blogs and reading challenges have definitely influenced my reading, in a positive way. Here’s wishing you another year of great reads!
LikeLike
Thanks, Tanabata.
LikeLike