It is time to look back on my reading year 2012:
Total: 16 books
This is not an impressive number for an avid reader. Many days, weeks and months were spent on trying to get a reading knowledge of the French language. This took time and effort.
Ravensbruck (G. Tillion) 6 weeks
Mme Bovary (G. Flaubert) 11 weeks
Bel-Ami (G. de Maupassant) 7 weeks
Lettres de Mon Moulin (A. Daudet) 4 weeks
Maupassant (F. Martinez) 3 weeks
Classic Reading List:
Target: Reached my goal of 10 books for 2012 ( 3 in French, 3 in Dutch and 4 in English)
Best: Mme Bovary: This was a formidable read and tested my determination to learn French
Worst : Rituals ( C. Nooteboom) Struggled to get through this “existential” book. Just awful.
Surprise: Lettres de Mon Moulin (A. Daudet) Unknown to me and am glad I discoverd this gem of a book!
Regret: Did not finish Battle Cry of Freedom ( history of US Civil War) . It is on the list for 2013.
Working:
L’enfant grec ( V. Alexakis), Iron Curtain ( A. Applebaum), 1914-1918 Les Temps de nous Aimer ( T. Secretan) and Les étrangers ( S Marai)
Happy New Year 2013
Gelukkig Nieuwjaar 2013
Je souhaite une Bonne Année 2013 à ce qui m’est cher!
Karen (at Curate's egg)
December 31, 2012 at 17:51
I don’t think it’s the number of books we read that counts, but rather what we get from them. To read a novel in a foreign language is no mean feat and does wonders for your language skills.
All the best for 2013.
N@ncy
December 31, 2012 at 18:01
I agree. I saw a blog about someone who read 120 books in 2012. Being curious, I glanced through her list. There were only 8 books that I would even consider reading. It only goes to show, quality not quanity!
Claire 'Word by Word'
January 1, 2013 at 11:36
Well done Nancy, you are an inspiration, reward yourself with a visit to France!
All the best for 2013 with your challenge.
Amy
January 2, 2013 at 00:31
Absolutely quality over quantity! You took on some absolutely formidable reading this year, and have been an inspiration to me, for sure. And I have you to thank for introducing me to Maupassant and Daudet. Here’s to another fruitful reading year.