I love reading. From the time I learned to read on, I have just loved it. I would spend a large part of my summer break and spring break reading. When I was little, before the homework load got too heavy, I read every evening.
In adulthood, I couldn’t read unless I had a huge block of time because I would get sucked into the book and have to finish it before I did anything else. And then, well, then I had kids. And I think in the 6 years since I had my first child I have perhaps read 5 books. Pitiful. Pathetic.
So, this year, I am joining Life as Mom in Booking It in 2011. Here is my tentative reading list:
January:
–Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin.
–Working Writer Happy Writer: How To Build a Thriving Business from Nothing by Sue Lapointe
February:
–The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
–The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Commercial Freelancer in Six Months or Less by Peter Bowerman
March:
–Blogging Heroes: Interviews with 30 of the World’s Top Bloggers by Michael A. Banks
–Resilience by Elizabeth Edwards
–Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking by Jeff Herzberg and Zoe Francois
April:
–Secrets To Getting More Done In Less Time by Donna Otto
–The Money Book for Freelancers, Part-Timers and the Self-Employed: The Only Personal Finance System for People with Not So Regular Jobs by Joseph D’Agnese and Denise Kiernan
May:
–The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child’s Heart for Eternity by Sally Clarkson
–One Thousand Gifts: A Dare To Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp
June:
–Raising Boys: Why Boys Are Different – and How To Help Them Become Happy and Well-Balanced Men by Steve Biddulph and Paul Stanish
–How To Survive Without a Salary: Learning To Live the Conserver Lifestyle by Charles Long
July:
–The Help by Katherine Stockett
–What Happy People Know: How the Science of Happiness Can Change Your Life For the Better by Dan Baker, Ph.D. and Cameron Stauth
August:
–A Separate Peace by John Knowles
–Organized Simplicity: The Clutter Free Approach to Intentional Living by Tsh Oxenreider
September:
–Not Your Mother’s Casseroles by Faith Durand
–365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Gratitude Changed My Life by John Kralik
October:
–True Compass: A Memoir by Edward Kennedy
–The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
November:
–On Secret Service by John Jakes
December:
–The Hundred Secret Senses: A Novel by Amy Tan
Notice how early in the year my book choices are focused more on self-employment and finances? That is because I have until June to officially quit my job, and I want to have at least a small income stream coming in before I do that. Otherwise, I am afraid that I won’t feel secure enough and will feel like I can’t quit.
Later in the year my choices become more relaxed and more about self-fulfillment, enjoyment and mothering. I am so excited to finally make time for myself to do something I really used to enjoy: read.
To save money I plan to borrow as many of the books as I can from the library. For the ones that are not at the library, I plan to use Paperback Swap or use my Swagbucks to buy them for free on Amazon.
Your list looks interesting. There are a few on it that I might have to look for at the library. I have a copy of Your Money or Your life and I think I need to re-read it. Also, I have Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day and I love it. I am planning on doing a post about it later this month.
I’ll come to your site and check it out. I can’t wait for the Artisan Bread book!
I loved your post and your honesty! (You can find here post here: http://purplebookbloggingmommy.blogspot.com/2011/01/big-changes-for-my-family.html)
Your list looks interesting. I still have to complete mine. Will be posting it when done. Already read my fiction ( Vince Flynn thriller ) now need to read my non fiction for the month. ” The Irish American Family album by hoober.
Thanks for choosing our book as one of your 2011 reads. We hope you enjoy it.
Best wishes for the New Year,
Joe & Denise
authors, The Money Book for Freelancers…
I love the reading list. My mom once told me the way to a lazy mind is one that is not filled with good thoughts (She ment reading a good book). I try to read as much as four kids let me. I hate to admit it but there are times I hide in the bathroom to read. Good luck on your list. By the way have a box of tissue handy when you read your second book in May.
I have to have my tissue ready almost every time I log in to A Holy Experience, so I can only imagine what her book will do to me!
Your Money or Your Life is my favourite finance book..ever. it changed the whole way I think about time and money. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did 🙂
That’s a full, interesting list! I might have to check out the one on raising boys. I like getting my books from PBS, too!
Wow! You have a great list! I am so reading 1000 Gifts and Organized Simplicity. I cannot wait to read The Happiness Factor too!