A stolen car, broken dishwasher, and 3 books down...

My new year hasn't kicked off with the greatest of starts - so far I've had my car stolen, and my dishwasher has broken down. Just waiting for the next thing, they say bad things happen in threes right?
But, as far as this challenge goes I'm not fairing too badly!
Since the clock ticked over midnight and called in 2010 I have made my way through:

This Charming Man - Marian Keyes
Huge huge book! But conversational, 'chatting with your girlfriends' style makes it very easy to get through quickly.
I didn't even own this one! But have always been meaning to try out a bit of chick lit and didn't own any of my own. Besides it was living in my apartment so according to my rules I think that means I have to read it!

The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
I remember reading the hard cover, colored, illustrated version as a child and watching the TV series, and have been meaning to re-read this for ages.
I was completely in awe of the beauty, creativity and originality of this book, letting it transport me back to the magic of childhood. I had forgotten (because I was probably about 8 when I last read it!) how beautifully Grahame describes this bizarre little world where besties, Ratty and Mole, embark on adventures with the eccentric millionaire, Mr Toad!

Shopping for buddhas - Jeff Greenwald
This book follows the author's obsessive search through the shops and markets of Kathmandu for the perfect Buddha statue.
I bought this book in Kathmandu around this time last year when I trekked to Mount Everest base camp. I really fell in love with Nepal and have been planning my next escape so this was perfect book for reminiscing!

turning a new page in 2010

So another new year and of course another set of new year’s resolutions. Well this year I’m taking it seriously.

I resolve to read every book in my apartment!

Why? Because I have a lot of books in my apartment…and I keep buying more.

Some have been read, some have never been touched and some (ok most) have been started but never finished. And that’s why I’m doing this.

My new year’s resolution is to cleanse myself of this habit I have of not finishing things, of becoming distracted and moving onto something else before I have achieved anything. I do it with everything from hobbies to sports to jobs. I waste so much money on clothes that sit in my cupboard, art supplies that sit in my shed, food that goes off before I eat it, and books books books everywhere.

But in 2010 I will take the first step towards stopping this! How? By committing to read every book in my apartment before I turn 30 – that’s December this year. And I’ve banned myself from buying any books until I reach this goal.

In my apartment I have close to 200 books (I’m in the middle of a stock take at the moment!) and I have to admit, on new year’s eve I had a bit of a panic at the prospect of not buying any more books for a year…and I hit Book Depository in a big way…so there will be some additions to the collection arriving within the next 72 hours.

So stay posted! …and I would love to hear of any reading challenges you are organising or are involved in that you think I might be able to incorporate into my own challenge.