30 while 30

I set a goal last year to read 30 good books while 30 years old.

I missed the goal with 25 books read.
(well, 25 books that I remembered to jot down).
I can't say they were all good, though...

Some were less than stellar...some were great.
While I won't offer any recommendations
(read at your own risk)
 I will give you my reading list
and a little critique or tid bit about each one.

First the good, then the bad:

1. Think and Grow Rich
by: Napoleon Hill

A must read for everyone.
Simple and anyone could learn a lot.
May sound too stuffy/business-y or boring but is not.
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2. The Help
by: Kathryn Stockett

Fantastic!
You may have seen the movie,
which was geat, but the book is ALWAYS better.
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3. The Devil Wears Prada
by: Lauren Weisberger

My first job out of college bore a
strange likeness to the one in this book.
You think I joke, but I don't.
(I was asked to leave work
to both babysit and pick up dry cleaning for my boss...
for what seemed like pennies an hour.)
So, I have a fondness and connection
with this fictional character and her work tasks.
I can look back now and laugh,
and this story makes me remember to do so,
and be thankful
for my much more normal job.
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4. 90 Minutes in Heaven
by: Don Piper

Both an amazing story and tough to read.
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5. Lone Survivor
by: Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson

My favorite book.
A truly unbelieveable story.
This is a tough book to get through, has a good bit of language,
and you will shed tears, but it is fantatic. I've read it three
times and will probably continue to read it every year.
Whatever I say will not do it justice...
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6. Unbroken
by: Laura Hillenbrand

Another amazing story,
that is hard to believe really happened.
This will make you aware of the cushy lives we lead.
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7. My Heart Remembers
by: Kim Vogel Sawyer

eh...meh
Randomly picked this up.
Light read...didn't love it.
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8. The Business of the 21st Century
by: Robert Kiyosaki

Good and pretty interesting.
Definite read if getting into a home-based business.
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9. The Hunger Games
by: Suzanne Collins

I was a fan of the series.
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10. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
by: Stieg Larsson

Intense and a bit long.
Not sure what to say...
 I really liked some parts of this book
and how the story played out,
but also really disliked some parts of it
and the character development at the beginning of the book.
Haven't seen the movie.
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11. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
by: Dale Carnegie

A++
Perfect for someone that is type A or a worriwort!
I am both, of course :)
Lots of great stories, examples and motivation.
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12. Catching Fire
by: Suzanne Collins

Again...was a fan!
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13. The Mockingjay
by: Suzanne Collins

Ditto of the above.
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14. Made to Crave
by: Lysa TerKeurst

Well thought out book with a good message.
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15. Playing for Pizza
by: John Grisham

Light read, so-so
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16. The Rockstar's Daughter
by: Caitlyn Duffy

another so-so...beach read book
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17. Bloom
by: Kelle Hampton

Loved it!
I am a huge fan of Kelle Hampton
and read her blog often, so I knew
the story of Nella's birth and their story.
Still loved it and wish I hadn't read it so fast.
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18. Filming God: A Journey From Skepticism to Faith
by: Darren Wilson

Interesting...thought-provoking...would love to hear yours
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19. Confessions of a Scary Mommy
by: Jill Smokler

Ha!
Over the top honesty,
but so good to hear that every one else in the world
isn't as "perfect" as they appear to be.
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20. Something Borrowed
by: Emily Giffin

Started this once and lost interest.
Saw the movie and it was ok, so went back and read the book.
Beach book but wouldn't re-read.
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21. Water for Elephants
by: Sara Gruen

Actually didn't like this book...read it because of the rave reviews,
but I thought there were a lot of dark and strange parts.
Saw the movie the other day and actually liked it a lot better.
Might be the first time that has ever happened.
Usually the back story and dialogue that you don't see
in a movie is a shame, but this time it was a good thing.
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22. Shanghai Girls
by: Lisa See

Another book that got great reviews...
I thought it was alright.
The story seemed to drag on and was sad.
Not that sad is always bad, but this was just...eh
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23. Bossypants
by: Tina Fey

If you know Tina Fey
and are expecting the kind of off color humor
you are getting yourself into...it is quite funny.
If not, stay away!
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24. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
by: Rebecca Skloot

Another highly rated book.
Presented a good debate and interesting story
but very scientific and of course a bit sad.
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25. The Book Thief
by: Marcus Zusak

This book was so highly rated
and even appeared on a reading list
for a Chrisian women's book club.
I finished it, but really didn't like it.
I almost quite reading it a few times...
Of course the story was sad,
but there was just something else about it
that turned me off. I thought it odd,
and the book club recommendation odd as well.
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However, I don't want to end this post on a bad book note.
I did read quite a few Elmo books to Makayla,
and we did lots of picture dictionary looking and pointing.
Maybe that can count as my number 26-30?

I love to read, but sometimes I put off starting a new book
just because it might turn into "one more thing to do."
Sad, I know!
But we all lead very busy lives,
and reading like I do on vacation just doesn't
happen in a normal week.

This "30 while 30" goal really spured me to keep on reading...
pick up a new book...watch less TV...
put books on hold and visit the library more.

There is ever more learning
to do, so 31 while 31 has now begun!

I'm taking out the "good"
in the title because that is so hard to judge,
but hoping they
will all be great reads.

Hope you happily have your noses in books this year as well!