58. Booked to Die-John Dunning

This book has been on my reading list a long time because it is about a tough, gritty detective that is also a collector of antique books. The book selling parts of the book were interesting and it was cool reading about the competitive cut-throat book scouting world, but some of the dialog and phrases were appalling. I may read the second book in the series-Bookman's Wake, but only because I bought it and I feel a certain obligation.

Speaking of certain obligations, that is also why I am still keeping track of what I finish here. But make no mistake, I have all but accepted failure in regards to the 100 books. I feel great about it though; no more guilt when I peruse my favorite magazines or, heaven forbid, just want to play a video game or watch a movie.

I can linger over one sentence for an hour and even make the decision to just stop reading a book if I don't like it. When I was so concerned with the numbers, I would beat myself up for not finishing a book if I already had committed 50 pages; after all, those pages could count...

So today, I am going to enjoying cleaning up my apartment, test my hand at Risotto, go to the market and buy veggies for the week, and IF I feel inspired I will do a little lounging and slowly read a big, fat, wordy novel.

57. Entre Nous, something something inner french girl

I read this book a long time ago, and there was a recipe I was trying to find, so I just re-read the whole thing. And that my friends, is why this "challenge is a total bust" I will do pretty much anything to just rack up a number. I have a huge stack of neglected magazines just rotting away, and I have even tried to devise a way to make them add up to a book somehow. Surely, my J. Peterman stack counts for at least 2 books.

I wanted to measure a year in books, and I still think that that is a wonderful idea. I remember my 11th year perfectly because my best friend Rhonda and I read the first 3 Dragonlance books. I have no idea how long it took to read them, but I remember laying on my couch in our dingy apartment above a store, pretending it was a tree house and that any minute I would set off for some big adventure. As a teenager, I read all of De Sade, The Decameron and Geek Love by Katherine Dunn all in the same year, a year that I was determined to seek after the seedier elements of my tiny southern town. At 21, I discovered my love of all things WASPY with The Secret History by Donna Tartt and Franny and Zooey by Salinger. My mid-twenties were consumed by Proust, Baudelaire, Rimbaud and Against the Grain by Huysmans.

I was crazy to think that a year could be measure in the amount of books I read instead of the content of the books I read. When I look back on this time, I will remember that I read a few good books, Middlesex...I cant really think of any others of hand, but I know I read a few good ones in a row.

Everything but books

I have been reading my mother's hand me down Woman's Day magazines, my favorite blogs: Peterman's Eye and Pink of Perfection , I have been re-reading some old books here and there, and I have been watching many a subtitled film lately. That being said, I am in the middle of seven books and I am not really enjoying any of them, I am re-reading 2 that I will absolutely count towards my 100 IF i finish them, this doesn't bode well. I have reading ADD. If I could harness this voracious reading in one direction, I could actually finish a book or two more, but, alas, I can not be tamed.

56. Chocolat-Joanne Harris

This book was very similar to the movie, sweeping scenes of grinding spices and folksy French people hanging out with the gypsies. I love it, I watch that movie over and over, it makes me want to go buy a billowy red trench coat and traipse though the hills.

54 & 55

54. Cradle and All-James Patterson: this book was another quickie. I really don't have much to say about it either. It wasn't bad, but again, it has already begun to fade from my memory.

55. Wear More Cashmere-Jennifer "Gin" Sanders: I am such a sucker for these types of books. This one was great with helpful tips on where to search for antique monogrammed linen
and how to make your undies minty (tea packets). There were also the usual lame tips on how to keep a dream journal and a perfumy bath , but my favorite tips were the awful ones, like: get a glamour shot and building a throne room.

Wear More Cashmere did give me plenty of ideas for decorating and reminded me of my old obsession with other people's initials on my stuff. There is just something about mix-matched silver with dozens of different monograms, it makes me feel like I am descended from silver thieves, a feeling I cherish.

53- The Body Farm-Patricia Cornwell

I read this book in a day, so that felt pretty satisfying, but there is nothing memorable about it at all. In fact, it is already blurred with other killer books I have read, but it was nice while I was doing it, that's what she said.

52. Marvel 1602-Neil Gaiman

I am pretty sick of several of the books I am reading, so I keep getting half way through one book(Mishima). Then I pick up another(Obama)and I get about half way again, and decided to pick up yet another. All the books I am half way through are good, Mishima is fantastic, but I don't want to be distracted while I read it, so I put it down until I am completely focused, but I never seem to be completely focused. So I need to slip in easy reads sporadically.

Last night I picked up The Body farm-Patricia Cornwell. I have never read any of her books, I read 80 pages before bed, I like that immediate gratification right now.

Spring Break!

I love free time! I have been cooking and taking pictures. I cleaned my apartment until it sparkles and today one of my good friends is coming to town for sushi and girl talk.

In light of all this excitement, I haven't finished even one book. Whoopsey-daisies. But I am almost done with the Marvel book, so that is something.

Here is my to-do shelf

Guess what?

I got a camera! I am so excited about taking pictures to accompany my mesmerizing stories. Sadly, I have no stories to tell at this moment. But here is a really ugly picture of my dog.

Midterm Hell

It is Midterm season around these parts so instead of spending my days lounging in the lovely breezes I am drilling my brain with details that will be quickly forgotten the moment I turn in the exam. I have an exam in 2 hours and I am bored to tears with the subject matter. I can't wait until it is over!

I have been reading bits and pieces of Chocolat, Spring Snow and another book about making friends. I am all over the place these days!

51. The Secret-Byrne

I am on a bit of an Oprah book kick, oh well. I thought part of this book were super hokey. I wouldn't say mumbo jumbo because I think that it is always a great thing to remind someone that they can still be whoever they want when they grow up. If you are like me, and can enjoy a self-help vook for what it is, then it is good. I thought it was just fine.

My spring break is coming, it is the last big push before my home stretch (not really, but I always thought that spring break could turn things around if I got hell bend on reading my 100) I am into it again, like I said I might be. I am visualizing myself finishing my 100the book on July 3rd at 11:59 pm......