My Reading Goals for 2014

Hi everyone!
I recently updated my 2014 reading goals and thought I would spend this post sharing this with you, as well as updating you on my current reading.

In 2013, I read and finished 42 books, two over my goal of 40.  And honestly, that was pretty amazing as I didn't even start tracking until the summertime.  I do read like a fiend though in the summer, as I am off work, am home for nap time (every mom loves nap time), and overall just have more free time.  Right now I am a little behind (I've finished one book so far).  I think that's for a few reasons.  One being I am struggling to find a book I love.  If I get into a book, I find a way to read it and usually finish it very quickly.  That hasn't happened in about a month.  I've just been pitter-pattering through books instead of devouring them.  Also, I am currently teaching Fahrenheit 451 so I am rereading that again along with my CLC/1A students so that I can have good conversations with them about their reading.  This takes away my school independent reading time.

And I am ashamed to admit, but the reviewers were right about The Woman Upstairs.  Despite the plot sounding so intriguing, I am embarrassed to admit that I had to abandon this book.  Every time I went to read, I had to go back to remember what happened because, well….it wasn't very memorable.  The writing craft was not memorable.  The plot was not memorable.  The characters were not memorable.  I never made it past 15%.  Then I tried another book I had downloaded from the library.  That wasn't a good fit either.  Next I tried The Round House by Louise Erdrich.   It was another Good Reads recommendation, and so far I really like it.

The Round House starts with a shocking scenario: An Indian family's mother is late coming home one day.  The father, Bazil, and their young son, Joe, go out to look for her and finally pass her on the road, where they catch a glimpse of her gripping the steering wheel and flying home in a panic.  It is soon discovered that she was attacked by a man.  This book (so far) covers the family's struggle to be a family again and regain normalcy as well as finding the man who attacked the mother and bringing justice to him.

So far, so good.  The character development is realistic and round.  The setting is well-described.  The American Indian customs are something I'm no familiar with, but Erdrich does a nice hob explaining these to the reader without interrupting the flow of the plot development.  I am about 30% through just in a couple of days and have no doubt I will finish this one!

Here is an interview with the author you can check out if The Round House sounds interesting to you!