So much time is spent focused on keeping the body healthy. We obsess over the foods we eat (or don’t eat) and the workouts we do (or don’t do). But being healthy is also about living a balanced life. To balance out all of this physical health, we need to do some thinking about our mental health. Sure, the two can be intertwined (you’ve read about how much running and Yoga ease my anxiety). But just like we lift weights to build muscle power, we need to consciously exercise our brains.
I love to read. I’ve been a reader for as long as I can remember. In my family, it’s pretty standard practice to curl up in a chair and read for an entire afternoon (or longer!). I’m in two book groups, and I do a lot of reading (and listening!) on my own, just for fun. I read before bed, I read to relax, I listen to audiobooks when I run and in the car. I talk about books with my friends and with my family. Books are a huge part of my life.
So, because this blog is about balancing health and fitness with day-to-day life, I’d like to start sharing more about this passion of mine. I hope that’s okay.
I set two reading goals for 2012. The first was to participate in the Mixing It Up Challenge (beware! that link will take you to my old blog) and the second was to read at least 50 books. I tracked my reading on Goodreads. And now, just like I did with my running, I’ve compiled a list (by genre) of the books I read in 2012. Here it is…
Books Read in 2012
Classics (1)
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scot Fitzgerald
Biography & Memoir (6)
- Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
- Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
- Mile Markers by Kristin Armstrong
- What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
- MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche
- Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
History (5)
- A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers
- Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure by Matthew Algeo
- The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
- When Everything Changed by Gail Collins
- The Destiny of the Republic by Candace Millard
Modern Fiction (8)
- The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
- Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
- Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
- Insatiable by Meg Cabot
- The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
- Where We Belong by Emily Giffin
- Unholy Night by Seth Graeme Smith
Graphic Novels (1)
- Homecoming by Meg Cabot
Crime and Mystery (7)
- Four to Score by Janet Evanovich
- ‘Til Death Do Us Part by Kate White
- Hush by Kate White
- The Sixes by Kate White
- High Five by Janet Evanovich
- Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot
- Hot Six by Janet Evanovich
Romance (6)
- Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot
- The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Cruise
- Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
- Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James
- The Villa by Nora Roberts
- The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham
Science Fiction and Fantasy (4)
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
- Cinder by Marissa Meyer
- Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (re-read)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (re-read)
Journalism and Humour (1)
- Drop Dead Healthy by A.J. Jacobs
Children’s and Young Adult(15)
- The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman
- Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
- Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
- How to be Popular by Meg Cabot
- The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
- Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
- The Au Pairs by Melissa de la Cruz
- Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
- The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart
- What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
- A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
- The Agony of Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
- Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Social Sciences and Philosophy (2)
- The Faith Club by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, Priscilla Warner
- Love Wins by Rob Bell
Being more mindful about what genres I was reading really expanded my repertoire this year. Fourteen out of the 56 total books I read were non-fiction, which is a big change for this fiction-loving girl.
Reading Goals for 2013
Goal 1: Read 60 books.
‘Nough said.
Goal 2: Read one classic per month.
Here are the classics I’m planning to tackle this year:
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
- A Farewell to Arms by Earnest Hemingway
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
- Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
- Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
- Moby Dick by Herman Melville
- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
- A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
- The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe
- Dracula by Bram Stoker
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
I haven’t found an “official” classics challenge, but Candice at The Grown-Up YA had a similar idea.
So, while Fit Butt Fabulous is not becoming a book blog, by any means, I will you updated on my Healthy Minds Read Books campaign, as well as track the books I’ve read/am reading in 2013 on my new Books page.
Well, I’m off to enjoy more of my current read: Gone Girl. Anybody else read it?
Do you like to read?
What was the best book you read in 2012?
What is your favorite classic?
1. I feel empty if I’m not in the middle of a book!
2. This is tough. I read all the Harry Potter books because I promised my wife! I loved the movies and loved the books even more. The two best were probably McDougall’s Born to Run and Jurek’s Eat & Run. I’m a HUGE Christopher Moore fan but Sacre` Bleu was horrible so I can’t recommend it. In fiction, Night Circus was spectacularly beautiful. Erin is an amazing writer.
3. My favorite classic is Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea. It’s the book that got me interested in reading!
I’ve had Night Circus on my To-Be-Read list for a LONG time–I’ll have to tackle it this year. Same with Born to Run.
I’d love to read more Hemingway. I’m going to start with Farewell to Arms and then see where that takes me.
So glad to have found another avid reader! I knew this would be a good avenue to take the blog
Oh definitely. I used to write a literature blog too. I just found it too much to keep up with two blogs. I go back and forth with poetry too so I used that as an outlet to write.
I’m always amazed when people say, “I don’t read!” I hate to say this, but I immediately judge them as stupid. That’s kind of harsh, but what kind of person doesn’t read? I look at it as a chance to broaden my mind and continue educating my self. I always love to hear from avid readers and love discussing books.
I “friended” you on Goodreads, although, I don’t update my stats very often.
I have a similar reaction. Most of my friends are big readers, and I think that what makes us close is having that base of things to talk about. When you can connect to a book, and connect to someone else through a book, that really grows a relationship.
I use Goodreads to track what I’ve read and want-to-read, but I’m not an avid page-by-page progress updater, either. I look forward to scoping out some of your favorites!
After our conversation, I believe I will add a book section to my blog! I’m glad I found you! I love it when I find a new ‘book’ friend.
Oh, good! I can’t wait to read what you have to say
I have a hard time picking my favorite classic because it changes. I remember when I read Three Musketeers I didn’t want it to be over (and it’s a long book!). Although, I am always happy to curl up with a Jane Austen too.
In 2012, I think Gone Girl might be the best book I read — really kept me guessing. I also enjoyed The Cutting Season by Attica Locke. At first, it just seems like a mystery (and it is) but I participated in a discussion of it and that made it so much more — questions about what place history has in our present lives and what things do you hold on to for the sake of history/tradition that isn’t good for you?
I also enjoyed J.K. Rowling’s Casual Vacancy. A lot of characters to keep track of but I made a list of them on my bookmark and that really helped!
As you know, I LOVE reading mysteries. Agatha Christie’s Cat Among the Pigeons is the first grownup mystery I read and, for that reason, will always be one of my favorite books.
Ok, I’m going to have to puck up Gone Girl now. I’m just seeing too many good recommendations. I looked at Cutting Season but decided against it for some reason. I’m going to reevaluate that decision.
Casual Vacancy is on my list this year. I’m glad you liked it. It got mixed reviews so I’m glad to hear from someone who has actually read it!
@Sean, I would DEFINITELY recommend Gone Girl. I’m still not quite done, but I cannot put it down. Every time I think I know what’s going on, the author totally throws me for a loop.
Casual Vacancy is next in line for me. I finally got tired of waiting for it at the library and bought it on my Nook!
@Cheryl (Mom–haha), I’ve read only one Agatha Christie so far. I honestly don’t remember which one it was–I know it was set at a boarding school and had something to do with a tennis racquet…
Looks like a great list! I always have 40 or 50 new books stacked up and waiting for me. When I read novels or works of fiction I usually just pull an all-nighter and don’t stop until the book is finished.
The Harry Potter books are the only ones I’ve literally stayed up all night to finish. But one of my FAVORITE things to do is read a novel from cover-to-cover. Long airplane rides are the BEST for this!
Love this post! I totally agree that we need to have balance in our life, especially since we are always learning about health and fitness. Reading a good book is a great way to find balance, that’s for sure! I’m currently reading the Happiness Project. It’s really good and informative. My roommate read Gone Girl and loved it. I think I’ll pick it up once I’m finished with my book. Happy New Year!
I’ll have to look into the Happiness Project. Is it non-fiction?
Yeah, it’s actually considered “self-help” which I usually don’t like but this one is different. The writer wants to be a better person in various aspects of her life and she talks about her changes and the psychology and stats behind different concepts. Definitely recommend!
Hmm interesting! I’ll have to check it out. It sounds like something my Faith Club might be interested in reading. (We veer away from calling ourselves a bible study b/c we like to read all kinds of philosophical-type stuff!)
Gone girl was sooo good! I actually listened to this one on audiobook and it passed the miles quickly to say the least!
You should look into The Book Theif as well…I just (like 10 minutes ago) finished it. Love your list, I will definitely be taking some recommendations, hopefully I can get out of the text books enough to keep up!
I read The Book Thief, too! Actually, I listened to that one on audiobook and that one REALLY made the miles fly too.
Love that I’ve found another runner who listens to books!
I’m trying to be better about tracking on Goodreads what I’ve read. I love that you can go back and look at all the books you read last year. I’m going to try that. I don’t think I can get 60 in, but maybe I’ll try to set some goal for myself.
I have Gone Girl, but I haven’t started it b/c I have so much going on and am afraid I will not do anything once I start reading it!
I was surprised that I could actually read 56 books in one year. It didn’t feel like that many, but the audiobooks when I run help, and also the fact that I read quite a few young adult books. Also, when I have time off from work, I usually read about 5-6 books (except this winter break, I’ve only read two!).