My Reading List for 2013

These are the books that I started reading in 2012 and never finished as I got side tracked by school and other books that were simultaneously being read. Thus they are getting top priority now!

1. The God Delusion- Richard Dawkins

In a nutshell its about atheism. Recommended by my bro and my bf. I wanted to understand the atheist perspective. It was a foreign concept to me. I started this book and stopped it so many times because of exams that I think now it probably doesn't matter anymore. It does though and while I do understand atheism a bit more because of my constant questioning, I still feel as if I should read it so I can understand fully what convinced some people about the author's opinion.

2. The Prince- Niccolò Machiavelli

I bought this book for myself while shopping for some books for my Daddy for Christmas. It was a thin book and I thought it would be an interesting and quick read about politics and philosophy. My dad is a great reader and is the one who encouraged my love of books as well. When I showed him this book, he was more interested in  it than my other purchases for him. He said it was because of his background in politics in his younger years and that it was said that Machiavellian tactics were a favourite of some of our former politicians and read some of his work. He also said if I had asked him about it, he could have told me more (lol). Maybe I unconsciously bought it with his Christmas presents because I knew he would like it? Who knows, but my dad and I have similar reading habits. I started reading it but did not finish because I gave it to him to finish first.

3. One Hundred Years of Solitude- Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez

A birthday present. This book has been praised by millions. My bf's sister read it in Spanish and said it was a beautiful thing. I think I started reading it when I was on vacation at a Queen's Bay Beach Resort at Mayaro. I guess I did not finish it because the vacation was over. It was a slower read because of the language. I stopped and re-read things hundreds of times just to savor the imagery that the author painted. He is a master and I really must finish some more of his books.

4. Anna Karenina- Leo Tolstoy

A classic story that I've heard about but never read. What really pushed me to want to read it last year was the fact that it was being made into a movie. I still haven't seen it because it only was released in T&T's cinemas recently AND its ONLY showing in MT POS at 7:30pm. I hope it doesn't stop showing before I get to see it. Brilliant actors and production. I love Kiera Knightly, and director Joe White (of Pride and Prejudice). I watch almost all of her movies.



I had an e-book but refused to read it because I thought this was one book that I would not be doing justice too if I read there. I couldn't find a single copy at the time in any of the major bookstores. Luckily for me, months after they became more popular for stores to carry because of the movie. Even luckier for me, my birthday was in February and my bro bought me a copy :D I started reading it the day after my birthday on the sandy shores of the Dominican Republic.

What I've read so far has been phenomenal. I don't want to sound cliché but the characters are so REAL as well as their story. It really is a timeless story of love and the different types that we sometimes experience for one another. I understand exactly what the reviewers meant and I appreciate how well the movie was made. Or at least what I saw about it on trailers :D






I made a German friend in DR, and she recommended that I take my time and enjoy this book. So I shall and I definitely am!

5. Les Misérables- Victor Hugo

Another book made into a recent movie. I was told I should just watch the movie alone and skip the 13 page description about the sewers of France. I still want to read it and watch the masterpiece of a movie. Musicals are amazing. Must purchase book at the bookstore soon. (After I clear out some of the books on this list)

6. The Iliad- Homer

After buying and reading Homer's The Odyssey translated by Robert Fagles some years ago, I have been dying to add his translation of The Iliad to my library. I love Greek mythology but I had mixed feelings about reading a book solely in prose form, especially since I wondered if I would be able to understand it. I had doubts about my literacy. Doubts were chucked straight out the window after I started reading it. Robert Fagles did a superb job mixing the old with the new. If the Iliad is anywhere as entertaining as the Odyssey, I know that I would enjoy it fully.

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This is not my completed reading list for 2013, but it is a start. I'll be editing it in the future. I am a fast reader so I should also say that these are the books which require less speed and more in depth analysis. I sometimes feel that I read too fast, and when I buy books the joy I have is short lived because I finish it in less than a day!

I am currently trying to update all my reads on my Goodreads account. I am currently encouraging all my bookworm friends to join! Simply because it is a great way to connect with other friends about books and find out their recommendations and opinions. The website also helps recommend books based on your bookshelves, i.e what you've read, or want to read, or genre, etc. A feature that first attracted me to the website.

You can add ME as a friend by clicking this link: Goodreads

Let me know what you have been reading and what are your recommendations. Are there any books or series that I should check out? Also do you have a reading challenge for 2013?