A book update:

As most of you know I had two big resolutions this year. I'm not big on making resolutions as much as I like to have goals. There is a huge difference in my opinion between the two. For example, if I have a resolution to not eat sweets this year I will feel like I have failed it in January when I break and eat a tiny cookie (followed by a bigger cookie, who are we kidding here, I LOVE sweets!). However if I have a goal not to eat sweets I don't feel I've failed after eating a cookie, I just shake it off and try harder. A goal is a challenge, if at first you don't succeed try try again....and all that. With a resolution I feel I have to stay true or fail.
So this year I made resolutions. I wanted to read 100 books this year, hopefully they would be 75% or more new books (as in never read by me, not brand new). I also wanted to make sure my makeup and hair were done every time I left the house.
Funny how my resolutions quickly turned into goals in my head. I think I made it until March before necessity had me running out the door sans makeup. And I found 100 books a daunting endeavor. I like my book goal though because if I fail I can still try again next year. Someday I WILL read 100 books in one year. It just may not be this year.
Part of my book goal required me to write down what I read so I wouldn't forget. I'm glad I did too, because I'm pretty sure I left something off the list already even though I can't remember what it is ( I'm pretty sure I borrowed a few books from you mom, so can you remember what it was I read that's not on the list?). This is a habit I hope to continue forever. I like having a list of my year's reading. It's a nice reference.
I did a little math yesterday (shocking I know!) and found that I was far from my planned path to 100 books. I knew that was coming though. I haven't found near enough time to read this year as I had hoped. Pesky life keeps getting in the way. I have now set a much more achievable goal of 50 books this year hoping to work my way to 100 in the future, however I will not truly give up on the 100 book goal. So 50 I am resolved to hit and 100 is my goal.
With that said here is the list of books I have read thus far:
Books I've read in 2009:
1. The Warrior Heir by: Cinda Williams Chima
2. The Wizard Heir by: Cinda Williams Chima
3. The Dragon Heir by: Cinda Williams Chima
4. Pride and Prejudice by: Jane Austin
5. Mansfield Park by: Jane Austin
6. The Hunger Games by: Suzanne Collins
7. Confessions of a Shopaholic by: Sophie Kinsella
8. Shopaholic takes Manhattan by: Sophie Kinsella
9. Shopaholic Ties the Knot by: Sophie Kinsella
10. Shopaholic and Sister by: Sophie Kinsella
11. Shopaholic and Baby by: Sophie Kinsella
12. Persuasion by: Jane Austin
13. The Princess Academy by: Shannon Hale
14. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by: E. L. Konigsburg
15. Shadow Spinner by: Susan Fletcher
16. The House of the Scorpion by: Nancy Farmer
17. (Placeholder for book I borrowed from mom (about a girl who's parents turn into pigs...)
18. Leven Thumps: The gateway to Foo by: Obert Skye
19. Leven Thumps: The whispered secret by: Obert Skye
20. Leven Thumps: The eyes of the want by: Obert Skye
21. Leven Thumps: The wrath of Ezra by: Obert Skye
22. God's Tomorrow by: Aaron Pogue
23. Ghost Targets- Expectations by: Aaron Pogue
24. The Mysterious Benedict Society by: Trenton Lee Stewart
25. Strange Happenings by: Avi
26. The Shakespeare Stealer by: Gary Blackwood

For those wanting reading suggestions I HIGHLY recommend a few on this list: #1-3, #6, #13, #16, and #22&23. #26 is a cute story, but the writing is poor. I liked many of the others, but am hard put to recommend anyone pay money to read them. If you would like you are welcome to borrow my copies.
I have several books on deck:
The lightning Thief by: Riordan (and it's fellows)
Fairest by: Levine
The Dark is Rising by: Cooper
The Tapestry By: Neff
The Catalogue of the Universe by:Mahy
The Puppeteer's Apprentice By: Love
The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio By: Alexander
The Return of Calico Bright by: Winkler

There are of course many books I plan to re-read this year, but for now that's the list. Have any of you read any of these? Any suggestions of which I should read next? I'm waiting on The Lightening Thief until after I can get the sequels from my mom so I don't have to buy them. Also if you know of a great book or series that I haven't listed please speak up. I LOVE hearing about new books!