The 2013 Book List {Draft}

 

The 2013 List of Possibilities, no particular order.

Stats: In 2012 I read 36 books. 2011: 18 books. 2010: 31 books. There are 143 books on my TO READ shelf at Goodreads. This time last year, there were 147. Disclaimer: Books will be added + deleted. I update this list throughout the year.

Past lists: 2009 List + 2010 List + 2011 List + 2012 List

Background: Each year I look back at the books I've read, books I want to read, and update my stats. I do this because I love reading books but unless I constantly remind myself, I get busy doing other things and forget to read. It's getting to be more of a habit, which is good. One new aspect of "reading" for me this year is joining Audible and listening to books in the car. That is a great use of time spent in the car. I started listening to two chef memoirs and now I'm into scandi murder-mysteries.

Books to Read in 2013

Art + Creativity

Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World, Miller {finished Jan 2013}
Cultivating Delight: A Natural History of My Garden, Ackerman
Collage, Assemblage, and Altered Art, Diane V. Maurer-Mathison
Artist's Journal Workshop, Johnson
Color: A Natural History of the Palette, Finlay
The Art of Urban Sketching, Campanario
Making Handmade Books: 100+ Bindings, Structures & Forms, Golden
Raw Art Journaling, McDonald

Fiction

Behind the Scenes at the Museum, Atkinson
The Redbreast: A Harry Hole Novel, Nesbø {finished audiobok}
Nemesis: A Harry Hole Novel, Nesbø {finished audiobook}
The Devil's Star: A Harry Hole Novel, Nesbø {finished audiobook}
The Snowman: A Harry Hole Novel, Nesbø {finished audiobook}
The Leopard: A Harry Hole Novel, Nesbø {listening now}
A Conspiracy of Faith, Adler-Olsen
Not the End of the World, Atkinson
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Chabon
Gift from the Sea, Lindbergh
The Eyre Affair: A Thursday Next Novel, Fforde
Wolves Eat Dogs, Smith {reading now}
The Mysterious Benedict Society, Stewart {finished audiobook w/kids}

A Short List of Wonderful Creative Books

 {♥ = extra super duper amazingly special}

Art + Creativity

The Creative License and An Illustrated Life by Danny Gregory ♥
Spilling Open: The Art of Becoming Yourself by Sabrina Ward Harrison {a journal} ♥
1,000 Artist Journal Pages by Dawn DeVries Sokol 
Kaleidoscope: Ideas & Projects to Spark Your Creativity, Simanaitis
Creative Illustration Workshop for Mixed-Media Artists, Dunn 
Journal Spilling, Trout
An Illustrated Life (Artist Journals + Sketchbooks), Gregory
The Art Journal Workshop by Traci Bunkers
Color Mixing Bible, Sidaway ♥
Good Mail Day: A Primer for Making Eye-Popping Postal Art, Hinchcliff ♥
How to Be an Explorer of the World, Smith ♥
Personal Geographies: Explorations in Mixed-Media Mapmaking, Berry
Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists, Sonheim 
The Journal Junkies Workshop, Scott, Modler

Writing + Prompts

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, Lamott
4 A.M. Breakthrough: Unconventional Writing Exercises, Kiteley
The Right to Write, Cameron
On Writing, King ♥

Comments

[iHanna]

Thanks for the reminder Tammy, I need to update what I've read in 2012! Love that you have a book reading plan and stick to it (with changes) as a way of finding inspiration to read. Love it!

{Tammy}: Hanna, I like to have a plan but have the freedom and flexibility to change my mind and add books based on new interests (i.e. bookbinding) and this year I actually re-read two books, Creative License and Understanding Exposure.

[Carol]

Do you read non-fiction besides art and Creativity? Sometimes I think I read more non-fiction. . . I think my to read is as large as yours . . . but my actual reading is more like 1/3 of yours. Definitely something I like but a hard habit to keep up with. I applaud your efforts and your success.

{Tammy}: Carol, Yes I do read other non-fiction, stuff like Chef's memoirs, cookbooks, psychology books, photography books. You can see everything on my list at Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/gypsy999.

[Andria]

I can vouch for your Art + Creativity list...it's a reflection of the book shelf in my craft room! Some wonderful titles. I have so many things on my "to read" list, I couldn't get to them all in a lifetime. Plus, I really want to go back and spend more time with titles that I've only done a quick pass-through with. I love how you have a plan but keep it flexible. I've never planned my reading ahead of time in that sort of organized way...it might be good for me to try!

[anna maria]

I just found you through the Imagination Soup blog, which I found through the Strathmore FB page, whew!
I'm seeing a lot of interesting information and I can tell you I really like this idea of the book lists. It's something I should do. I have banned myself from buying any more books, because I have at least 30 unread books, some dating back 4, 5 or more years ago. I found it so funny that you said you sometimes forget to read, because I realized I do exactly the same thing, sometimes for months and months at a time!
Will keep visiting.

[Lesley L]

Wow, I wish I only had 143 books on to-read on GR, mine unfortunately has taken on a life of its own.

Thanks for the reminder, I need to do a year in review as sad as it will be, as I unfortunately didn't make my GR reading challenge for this year. Ahh well, will try again for 2013.

[Lorinda @ Everyday Endeavours]

This is a wonderful idea Tammy and you have some great books on there. I read a ton (I'm on my 6th book this month) so a list for the entire year would be really interesting. Thanks for the idea. I have an entire shelf devoted to the books I haven't read yet, my goal is to get through that before I start loading up the Kobo my m-i-l gave me for Christmas. Some of them have been sitting there waaaay too long. Happy reading!!

[Jen]

Fabulous list! I've just re-activated my Goodreads, now that I have a wonderful little ebook reader and I am reading a whole lot more because of it... Look forward to checking out some of your book lists to add to my ever increasing 'to read' shelf :)