I like putting these booklists together each year. They’re not writ in stone – I generally tweak them as the year goes on – but they do give me an idea of what to shoot for. So without further adieu, here’s a sample of my reading list for 2013:
LES MISERABLESby Victor Hugo THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOVby Fyodor Dostoyevsky THE SOUND AND THE FURYby William Faulkner MOBY DICKby Hermann Melville OF MICE AND MENby John Steinbeck ONE FLEW OVEW THE CUCKOO’S NESTby Ken Kesey A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCESby John Kennedy Tool CATCHER IN THE RYEby J.D. Salinger THE CALL OF CTHULHU AND OTHER DARK TALESby H.P. Lovecraft
THE YELLOW BIRDSby Kevin Powers CROOKED LETTER, CROOKED LETTERby Tom Franklin HOMEby Marilynne Robinson DANDELION WINEby Ray Bradbury MYSTIC RIVERby Dennis Lehane CHILDREN OF MENby P.D. James ANATHEMby Neal Stephenson NEUROMANCERby William Gibson THE DARKTOWER SERIESby Stephen King WOOLby Hugh Howey OLD MAN’S WARby John Scalzi CORALINEby Neil Gaiman
CONSIDER THE LOBSTER AND OTHER ESSAYSby David Foster Wallace LIBERAL FASCISMby Jonah Goldberg JOHN CALVIN edited by Burk Parsons UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand THE GRAY MATTERby Dr. David Levy ACCOMPANIED BY ANGELSby Lucy Shaw WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDSby Shel Silverstein HAVING DECIDED TO STAYby Bryana Johnson
INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGIONby John Calvin BONDAGE OF THE WILLby Martin Luther THE GOD WHO IS THERE by Francis Schaeffer IDEAS HAVE CONSEQUENCESby Richard Weaver THE FEMINIST MISTAKEby Mary Kassian GOD IN THE DOCKby C.S. Lewis THE CHRISTIAN IMAGINATIONby Leland Ryken PREACHING AND PREACHERSby D. Martyn-Lloyd Jones THE CROSS AND CHRISTIAN MINISTRYby D.A. Carson WHY WE LOVE THE CHURCHby Kevin DeYoung & Ted Kluck UNPACKING FORGIVENESS by Chris Brauns THE HOLE IN OUR HOLINESSby Kevin DeYoung FATHER HUNGERby Douglas Wilson FUTURE MEN by Douglas Wilson GOD’S WISDOM IN PROVERBSby Dan Phillips A SHOT OF FAITH (TO THE HEAD)by Mitch Stokes THE CREEDAL IMPERATIVEby Carl Trueman TOTAL TRUTH by Nancy Pearcey HOLLYWOOD WORLDVIEWS by Brian Godawa
You have inspired me to make my own (visual) book list. Somehow, mental ones don’t seem quite as binding. :-D Les Miserables has been on it forstinkin’ever, but I loved looking through yours to get ever so many more ideas – I have stolen some. I hope you don’t mind. ;-) Here’s to a happy year of reading!
I am, but I really haven’t done anything with it yet…I am excited to check it out some more though! It sounds like great fun – will make a point to do so soon! :-)
Another book to add if you like- Edith Schaeffer’s Forever Music- a tribute to her husband Francis and a tribute to Creativity and music. My Mom is reading it now.
I have long wanted to read One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. It’s a great movie, and I’m told it’s narrated from the perspective of the big Indian in the story.
A bit of both. :) I already own some of them, and those I don’t own I’ll borrow from the library or purchase from Amazon (or a bookstore like Barnes & Noble).
Total Truth has been on my TBR list for a long time, and since I recently a won a copy in a giveaway, I figured now would be the perfect time to dig in. :)
My only goal this year is to find a daily read through the Bible plan that I will actually FINISH! I will consider any you may wish to recommend:)
Blessings to you an yours! charisse
Hey Charisse! :) I highly recommend Professor Grant Horner’s reading plan, which you can download for free here. Following this plan, every year you’ll end up reading through all the Gospels four times, the Pentateuch twice, Paul’s letters 4-5 times each, the OT wisdom literature six times, all the Psalms at least twice, all the Proverbs as well as Acts a dozen times, and all the way through the OT History and Prophetic books about 1 1/2 times.
Challies recommends it as well, and even though I only just started using it, I love it.
Hope this helps, and Happy New Year to you and your family! :)
Dear Ink, I am so excited! This may come as a shock, but I am really technologically challenged:) However, I was looking at the YouVersion Bible App. on my android and it is amazing! It actually has the Bible reading plans and you just choose the one you prefer (it does have Prof. Horner’s) and it will actually send you daily email reminders and tracks your progress!
I notice that Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series is not on here. Why is an incredibly long 14 book series not on here??
In all seriousness, awesome list. I’m fairly certain you read my mind, because half of those are on my list. I especially look forward to your review, (there will be a review, right??) of “The Brothers Karamzov”.
Darn it! Jordan’s series should be on there, actually – I just forgot. I doubt I’ll get to the entire series this year, but I’ll certainly try to hunt down the first book.
As for a review of The Brothers Karamazov… yes, I think you can count on it. :)
Happy New Year!!
Wow…this is quite the awesome reading list, Corey! I do believe I’m gonna have to add a number of these to my own reading list for this year :)
That’s quite a list! I’m always concerned making a list longer than about one book long. ;) I’ve been thinking of picking up “Mystic River” as it’s cheap at the NOOK Store. Hmm…
I read Lehane’s Shutter Island last year – great story, great writing, but the amount of language and the explicit sexual content were off-putting. I’ve heard Mystic River is his best work, so I added it to the list. Isn’t there a movie based on it?
Looks like an interesting list for sure. I hate to be “that guy,” but I’m pretty sure Ernest Hemingway didn’t write Moby Dick ;) I’m assuming you’re just checking to see if we’re paying attention, right?
Happy reading!
-Ben
"But words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think." – Lord Byron
LES MISERABLES by Victor Hugo
THE YELLOW BIRDS by Kevin Powers
CONSIDER THE LOBSTER AND OTHER ESSAYS by David Foster Wallace
INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION by John Calvin
THE INK SLINGER 
Wow, there are some pretty ambitious books there. Epic list. Let us know how you get on with it. :D
Oh, you’ll know. ;)
I’m impressed with your reading list. Happy reading!
(Oops. The previous comment with the wrong name was from me. Please delete.)
Thanks, Persis! Happy reading to you, too! :)
Wow! Now that is a reading list! Keep us all updated! We will be looking forward to some good quotes as you post them!
A flood of quotes is inevitable… “Brace yourselves!” ;)
You have inspired me to make my own (visual) book list. Somehow, mental ones don’t seem quite as binding. :-D Les Miserables has been on it forstinkin’ever, but I loved looking through yours to get ever so many more ideas – I have stolen some. I hope you don’t mind. ;-) Here’s to a happy year of reading!
Why would I mind? :) Here’s to another year of paper, ink, and bookwormishness!
Are you on goodreads yet? It really helps me to keep my reading lists in order. I highly recommend it and would love to see you over there someday! :)
I am, but I really haven’t done anything with it yet…I am excited to check it out some more though! It sounds like great fun – will make a point to do so soon! :-)
You just added a number of books to my must read list. Thank you!
Glad to oblige!
Of Mice and Men is a very good (albeit short) book. :) Hope you like it! :)
Steinbeck’s book has been recommended to me so many times I’ve lost count. Can’t wait to read it!
Another book to add if you like- Edith Schaeffer’s Forever Music- a tribute to her husband Francis and a tribute to Creativity and music. My Mom is reading it now.
Thanks, Faith! Add it I shall. :)
We got our copy for one dollar, hard cover, on Abebooks.com. 2.63 for shipping. I think it is out of print- not sure though. : )
I have long wanted to read One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. It’s a great movie, and I’m told it’s narrated from the perspective of the big Indian in the story.
I haven’t seen the film, but I’ve heard great things about it. I’ll try to rent it once I’ve finished the book.
/Wow. Are you going to buy all these or get them at the library?
A bit of both. :) I already own some of them, and those I don’t own I’ll borrow from the library or purchase from Amazon (or a bookstore like Barnes & Noble).
Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey is excellent! Hope you enjoy. I also want to read The Creedal Imperative and The Hole in Our Holiness.
Total Truth has been on my TBR list for a long time, and since I recently a won a copy in a giveaway, I figured now would be the perfect time to dig in. :)
Fascinating. I’m too impromptu to make a list, but I loved snooping at yours. :D
Angel Fall by Coleman Luck is not on this list, though. Fix that! You said you would read it! *insistent face*
Right you are – thanks for catching that! I knew I’d forgotten something. :)
Dear Inkslinger,
Happy New Year! Thanks for the list.
My only goal this year is to find a daily read through the Bible plan that I will actually FINISH! I will consider any you may wish to recommend:)
Blessings to you an yours! charisse
Hey Charisse! :) I highly recommend Professor Grant Horner’s reading plan, which you can download for free here. Following this plan, every year you’ll end up reading through all the Gospels four times, the Pentateuch twice, Paul’s letters 4-5 times each, the OT wisdom literature six times, all the Psalms at least twice, all the Proverbs as well as Acts a dozen times, and all the way through the OT History and Prophetic books about 1 1/2 times.
Challies recommends it as well, and even though I only just started using it, I love it.
Hope this helps, and Happy New Year to you and your family! :)
Dear Ink, I am so excited! This may come as a shock, but I am really technologically challenged:) However, I was looking at the YouVersion Bible App. on my android and it is amazing! It actually has the Bible reading plans and you just choose the one you prefer (it does have Prof. Horner’s) and it will actually send you daily email reminders and tracks your progress!
Cool! :)
I notice that Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series is not on here. Why is an incredibly long 14 book series not on here??
In all seriousness, awesome list. I’m fairly certain you read my mind, because half of those are on my list. I especially look forward to your review, (there will be a review, right??) of “The Brothers Karamzov”.
Darn it! Jordan’s series should be on there, actually – I just forgot. I doubt I’ll get to the entire series this year, but I’ll certainly try to hunt down the first book.
As for a review of The Brothers Karamazov… yes, I think you can count on it. :)
Yes, that’s what I said, “I’ll just read the first book…” That plan failed epicly. :)
Good, I look forward to it.
LOL!
Happy New Year!!
Wow…this is quite the awesome reading list, Corey! I do believe I’m gonna have to add a number of these to my own reading list for this year :)
Have at it, Allie! Great minds read alike. ;)
That’s quite a list! I’m always concerned making a list longer than about one book long. ;) I’ve been thinking of picking up “Mystic River” as it’s cheap at the NOOK Store. Hmm…
I read Lehane’s Shutter Island last year – great story, great writing, but the amount of language and the explicit sexual content were off-putting. I’ve heard Mystic River is his best work, so I added it to the list. Isn’t there a movie based on it?
There is and I’ve seen it. Really well put together but not exactly uplifting…
Ah. :)
Looks like an interesting list for sure. I hate to be “that guy,” but I’m pretty sure Ernest Hemingway didn’t write Moby Dick ;) I’m assuming you’re just checking to see if we’re paying attention, right?
Happy reading!
-Ben
My mistake. Hermann Melville is the guy I want. Thanks for that! ;)
The Children of Men is a great book. Don’t judge it by the movie (horrible in my opinion). Loved Moby Dick.