Amethyst’s Reading Lists

[Amethyst]

No, that is not a mistake. I have two reading lists. One for fiction and one for non-fiction.

For Non-Fiction

This year I have finished reading Ray Bradbury’s Zen in the Art of Writing and am currently working my way through Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces (I have a feeling I’m going to have to read this one two or three times before I catch everything in it).

On the list are:

Writing the Character-Centered Screenplay by Andrew Horton
On Writing by Stephen King
The Midnight Disease by Alice Flaherty

For Fiction:

This year I’ve already read (well, actually reread): Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, and Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. I’m about to start Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

On the list is:

Siddhartha by Hermann Hess
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
finishing the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz
finding something new

This morning, I decided what I want what would be my characters favorite novels for the characters in my 2YNC thread. So while many of the books on my list (and I will add to them) are books that I have read or want to read, I’ll be reading with a different purpose. I’ll be reading with my characters in mind and what do they like. Which ones would like my book choices and which ones would like something different. I picture them arguing with me over my choices like Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan argued over Pride and Prejudice in You’ve Got Mail.

[Amethyst]

Okay, I’ve finished Sense and Sensibility bringing my completed total to four, and I’ve started The Hunger Games. I think I should have that finished tonight or tomorrow sometime.

Still plugging away slowing on Hero. That is a thick read and I really need to be in the right frame of mind to manage it. I could just skim through it, but what good would that do me. I’d rather read it thoroughly, and then when I reread it, it will be easier and more will stick. Just glad I don’t have a time limit on it.

[Amethyst]

I’m not at a total of 5, having just finished The Hunger Games. I think I might as well read the other two books, especially since I have my daughter’s Kindle for another day or so.

[Amethyst]

The farther I get in The Hunger Games trilogy, the more I think I need to put Animal Farm on my list to reread, and 1984 on my list to read. I love dystopian stories, and my next attempt at writing will be set in a dystopia, but 1984 has always been hard for me to get into, when it should be the one story that I want to read the most.

Has anyone else had problems reading 1984? Any suggestions for reading tactics? I usually just sit and read the first time, unless I’m reading for a specific purpose. Maybe I should try reading it from the perspective of one of my characters for my 2YNC.

[Amethyst]

Time to organize a bit differently:

Books I’ve read this year:

Fiction:

Odd Thomas
Fahrenheit 451
Speak
Sense and Sensibility
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay

NonFiction:

Zen in the Art of Writing

Reading in Progress:

Hero with a Thousand Faces (nonfiction)

Still to Read:

NonFiction:

Writing the Character Driven Screenplay
On Writing
The Midnight Disease

Fiction:

1984
Siddhartha
To Kill A Mockingbird
Great Expectations
the rest of the Odd Thomas series, next is Forever Odd

Total Read: 8
In Progress: 1
To Read: 11

Though, I’m sure I’ll add more

[Amethyst]

Need to add Island of the Aunts by Eva Ibbotson to my list. My son has been begging me to read, and we made a deal that he’d read something I suggested, and I read this. Since he read his book, I know need to read this.

[Amethyst]

Books I’ve read this year:

Fiction:

Odd Thomas
Fahrenheit 451
Speak
Sense and Sensibility
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay
Island of the Aunts
Animal Farm

NonFiction:

Zen in the Art of Writing

Reading in Progress:

Hero with a Thousand Faces (nonfiction)
My Antonia

Still to Read:

NonFiction:

Writing the Character Driven Screenplay
On Writing
The Midnight Disease

Fiction:

1984
Siddhartha
To Kill A Mockingbird
Great Expectations
the rest of the Odd Thomas series, next is Forever Odd

Total Read: 10
In Progress: 2
To Read: 11

Though, I’m sure I’ll add more

[Amethyst]

Well, my list is about to get some major adjustments. I’ve decided to take on a non-fiction project, and have quite a bit of research to do for it. Luckily that research entails lots of reading, and reading of novels. Unfortunately, it means adding the Twilight Saga to my list.

Books I’ve read this year:

Fiction:

Odd Thomas
Fahrenheit 451
Speak
Sense and Sensibility
The Hunger Games (x2)
Catching Fire (x2)
Mockingjay (x2)
Island of the Aunts
Animal Farm
Forever Odd

NonFiction:

Zen in the Art of Writing

Reading in Progress:

Hero with a Thousand Faces (nonfiction)
[strike]My Antonia[/strike]
The Secret Life of Bees

Still to Read:

NonFiction:

Writing the Character Driven Screenplay
On Writing
The Midnight Disease

Fiction:

1984
Siddhartha
To Kill A Mockingbird
Great Expectations
the rest of the Odd Thomas series, next is Brother Odd
The Twiligt Saga

Total Read: 15
In Progress: 2
To Read: 16 or more

I will be adding more

[Amethyst]

Well, I’ve not been online as much as usual. I’ve been doing lots of reading, but not as much writing.

Here’s an update on my reading list:

Books I’ve read this year:

Fiction:

Odd Thomas
Fahrenheit 451
Speak
Sense and Sensibility
The Hunger Games (x2)
Catching Fire (x2)
Mockingjay (x2)
Island of the Aunts
Animal Farm
Forever Odd
To Kill A Mockingbird
The Secret Life of Bees

NonFiction:

Zen in the Art of Writing

Reading in Progress:

Hero with a Thousand Faces (nonfiction)
Queen Bees and Wannabes
Writing the Character Driven Screenplay
Twilight

Still to Read:

NonFiction:

On Writing
The Midnight Disease

Fiction:

1984
Siddhartha
Great Expectations
the rest of the Odd Thomas series, next is Brother Odd
The Twiligt Saga

Total Read: 16
In Progress: 4

[Amethyst]

And another update:

Books I’ve read this year:

Fiction:

Odd Thomas
Fahrenheit 451
Speak
Sense and Sensibility
The Hunger Games (x2)
Catching Fire (x2)
Mockingjay (x2)
Island of the Aunts
Animal Farm
Forever Odd
To Kill A Mockingbird
The Secret Life of Bees
Twilight
New Moon

NonFiction:

Zen in the Art of Writing

Reading in Progress:

Hero with a Thousand Faces (nonfiction)
Queen Bees and Wannabes
Writing the Character Driven Screenplay
Cultural Literacy

Still to Read:

NonFiction:

On Writing
The Midnight Disease
The Heroine’s Journey

Fiction:

1984
Siddhartha
Great Expectations
the rest of the Odd Thomas series, next is Brother Odd
The Twiligt Saga, next Eclipse

Total Read: 18
In Progress: 4

To Read: 11

Total: 33

[Amethyst]

And another update:

Books I’ve read this year:

Fiction:

Odd Thomas
Fahrenheit 451
Speak
Sense and Sensibility
The Hunger Games (x2)
Catching Fire (x2)
Mockingjay (x2)
Island of the Aunts
Animal Farm
Forever Odd
To Kill A Mockingbird
The Secret Life of Bees
Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn

NonFiction:

Zen in the Art of Writing

Reading in Progress:

Hero with a Thousand Faces (nonfiction)
Queen Bees and Wannabes
Writing the Character Driven Screenplay
Cultural Literacy
HP Sorcerers Stone

Still to Read:

NonFiction:

On Writing
The Midnight Disease
The Heroine’s Journey

Fiction:

1984
Siddhartha
Great Expectations
the rest of the Odd Thomas series, next is Brother Odd (3)
The Harry Potter series (reread) (6)

Total Read: 20
In Progress: 5

To Read: 15

Total: 40

[Amethyst]

Well, I’ve been reading quite a bit lately …

Books I’ve read this year:

Fiction:

Odd Thomas
Fahrenheit 451
Speak
Sense and Sensibility
The Hunger Games (x2)
Catching Fire (x2)
Mockingjay (x2)
Island of the Aunts
Animal Farm
Forever Odd
To Kill A Mockingbird
The Secret Life of Bees
Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn
HP & the Sorcerers Stone
HP & the Chamber of Secrets
HP & the Prisoner of Azkaban
HP & the Goblet of Fire

NonFiction:

Zen in the Art of Writing

Reading in Progress:

Hero with a Thousand Faces (nonfiction)
Queen Bees and Wannabes
Writing the Character Driven Screenplay
Cultural Literacy
HP & the Order of the Phoenix

Still to Read:

NonFiction:

On Writing
The Midnight Disease
The Heroine’s Journey

Fiction:

1984
Siddhartha
Great Expectations
the rest of the Odd Thomas series, next is Brother Odd
HP series, books 6 and 7

Total Read: 24
In Progress: 5

To Read: 13

Total: 42

[Amethyst]

Okay, I think I’ve done well with fiction, time to focus on my non-fiction, in progress reading. I’d really like to get those finished before the end of the year.

Books I’ve read this year:

Fiction:

1 Odd Thomas
2 Fahrenheit 451
3 Speak
4 Sense and Sensibility
5 & 6 The Hunger Games (x2)
7 & 8 Catching Fire (x2)
9 & 10 Mockingjay (x2)
11 Island of the Aunts
12 Animal Farm
13 Forever Odd
14 To Kill A Mockingbird
15 The Secret Life of Bees
16 Twilight
17 New Moon
18 Eclipse
19 Breaking Dawn
20 HP & the Sorcerers Stone
21 HP & the Chamber of Secrets
22 HP & the Prisoner of Azkaban
23 HP & the Goblet of Fire
24 HP & the Order of the Phoenix
25 HP & the Half-Blood Prince
26 HP & the Deathly Hallows

NonFiction:

27 Zen in the Art of Writing

Reading in Progress:

Hero with a Thousand Faces (nonfiction)
Queen Bees and Wannabes
Writing the Character Driven Screenplay
Cultural Literacy

Still to Read:

NonFiction:

On Writing
The Midnight Disease
The Heroine’s Journey

Fiction:

1984
Siddhartha
Great Expectations
the rest of the Odd Thomas series, next is Brother Odd (then Odd Hours & Odd Apocalypse)

Total Read: 27
In Progress: 5

To Read: 8

Total: 40

[Amethyst]

Real life has hit hard, and it has affected my reading.

Books I’ve read this year:

Fiction:

1 Odd Thomas
2 Fahrenheit 451
3 Speak
4 Sense and Sensibility
5 & 6 & 7 The Hunger Games (x3)
8 & 9 & 10 Catching Fire (x3)
11 & 12 & 13 Mockingjay (x3)
14 Island of the Aunts
15 Animal Farm
16 Forever Odd
17 To Kill A Mockingbird
18 The Secret Life of Bees
19 Twilight
20 New Moon
21 Eclipse
22 Breaking Dawn
23 HP & the Sorcerers Stone
24 HP & the Chamber of Secrets
25 HP & the Prisoner of Azkaban
26 HP & the Goblet of Fire
27 HP & the Order of the Phoenix
28 HP & the Half-Blood Prince
29 HP & the Deathly Hallows
30 Ender’s Game

NonFiction:

31 Zen in the Art of Writing

Reading in Progress:

Hero with a Thousand Faces (nonfiction)
Queen Bees and Wannabes
Writing the Character Driven Screenplay
Cultural Literacy
Jane Eyre

Still to Read:

NonFiction:

On Writing
The Midnight Disease
The Heroine’s Journey

Fiction:

1984
Siddhartha
Great Expectations
the rest of the Odd Thomas series, next is Brother Odd (then Odd Hours & Odd Apocalypse)

Total Read: 31
In Progress: 5

To Read: 8

Total: 44

Well it doesn’t look like I’m going to hit my total, but even if I finish half of my In Progress reads it is not too bad.

[Amethyst]

Books I’ve read this year:

Fiction:

1 Odd Thomas
2 Fahrenheit 451
3 Speak
4 Sense and Sensibility
5 & 6 & 7 The Hunger Games (x3)
8 & 9 & 10 Catching Fire (x3)
11 & 12 & 13 Mockingjay (x3)
14 Island of the Aunts
15 Animal Farm
16 Forever Odd
17 To Kill A Mockingbird
18 The Secret Life of Bees
19 Twilight
20 New Moon
21 Eclipse
22 Breaking Dawn
23 HP & the Sorcerers Stone
24 HP & the Chamber of Secrets
25 HP & the Prisoner of Azkaban
26 HP & the Goblet of Fire
27 HP & the Order of the Phoenix
28 HP & the Half-Blood Prince
29 HP & the Deathly Hallows
30 Ender’s Game
31 Jane Eyre

NonFiction:

32 Zen in the Art of Writing

Reading in Progress:

Hero with a Thousand Faces (nonfiction)
Queen Bees and Wannabes
Writing the Character Driven Screenplay
Cultural Literacy

Still to Read:

NonFiction:

On Writing
The Midnight Disease
The Heroine’s Journey

Fiction:

1984
Siddhartha
Great Expectations
the rest of the Odd Thomas series, next is Brother Odd (then Odd Hours & Odd Apocalypse)

Total Read: 32
In Progress: 4

To Read: 8

Total: 44

[Author]

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