A book list of my own

So, last year my beloved book club went in a 
direction that I just wasn't interested in going. 
They chose all spiritual/self help/devotion type
books. Honestly, my walk with the Lord was so 
deep and personal and vital all through last year 
that I could not imagine picking up a book and 
having someone tell me how to do it better. I 
wanted to read novels. I wanted literary masterpieces.
 And so I didn't read any of the books they 
selected and I only went to one meeting, because 
I had already read that book in the past. It just 
wasn't my year for book club. But unfortunately, 
there were several months where I also didn't read 
anything. It may have been partly due to what was 
going on in my personal life. Trying desperately to 
take care of my children through a crisis just didn't 
lend itself to lots of curl up on the couch time. 
But the past couple of months I've gotten back into 
reading mode. And so, because it is a new year and 
I love making lists and planning out how perfect my 
life is finally going to be in the coming year, I 
sat down and made my very own reading list. One  book 
for each month (but of course, I'm allowed to read 
MORE than that, and probably will, because I am only 
half-way through the Harry Potter series and also 
only halfway through the Bloody Jack series). So 
without further ado....

TASHA'S BOOK LIST 2012!!!

~January~

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

I've wanted to read this one for a long time - 
ever since I read Everything Is Illuminated two 
years ago and realized what an amazing writer Foer is. 
(BTW, no one else in my book club liked Illuminated - 
I don't think anyone else even finished it. Too much 
sex. >:-P) And now that there is a movie, I want 
to read it before I see the movie. And I want to see 
the movie before Oscars in February. So this one has 
to be first.

~February~

The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson

I have already seen these movies (The Swedish versions) 
and loved them. Plus some of my most trusted reader 
friends highly recommended them. I think I will like 
them the way I liked Robert Ludlum's Bourne series. 
Enough to finish all three in one month. Plus, I will
need some distraction during the dreaded Valentine's 
season.

~March~

How Should We Then Live? by Dr. Francis Schaeffer

A friend recommended this to me several years ago 
when we were discussing moral relativity and nihilism. 
I have been meaning to read it but never have. And its 
not like I NEVER want to read anything spiritual. I 
just don't want to read ONLY spiritual books. This one 
sounds good.

~April~

Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer

Krakauer has become one of my favorite writers. 
Investigative reporting was never really interesting 
to me until I read Under the Banner of Heaven and 
Into the Wild. I don't know anything about Pat Tillman, 
but by the time I read this book I know I will.

~May~

Swamplandia by Karen Russell

Read really great reviews for this one and it 
looks like it will be a fun one for the start of summer.

~June~

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

I've heard its a classic.

~July~ 

Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates by Tom Robbins

I'm trying to read every single book this man 
has written. I haven't loved them all as much as 
the rest, but they are still entertaining.

~August~

Mrs. Dalloway by Virgina Woolf

I've only ever read short stories by Virginia 
Woolf. And by August I should be ready for some 
feminism, I think.

~September~

The Silent Woman by Janet Malcom

I'm a little bit obsessed with Sylvia and Ted. 
Here is one I haven't read yet.

~October~

A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

I'm hoping that the short story style narrative 
of this one will hold my attention. 

~November~

Bad Marie by Marcy Dermansky

I believe I saw this on a book list Knopf 
Publishers posted on twitter a while back. It must 
have sounded good, although at the moment the 
premise escapes me.

~December~ 

Things I Learned About My Dad by Heather Armstrong

Heather Armstrong is a former Mormon like 
myself. Her story is poignant yet common. Her 
blog is irreverent and hilarious. I have every 
expectation of laughing out loud while reading 
her book.

So that's it! Those are the books I've selected 
for myself. If you've read any of them, please 
leave a comment and let me know what you thought 
of it. No spoilers, though! I will try to write 
some reviews as the months go by.