A Baker's Dozen: Books for 2010

I love making lists.  If only I stuck to reading the books on the lists I'd really be quite proud of myself.  I tend to get distracted once the new year gets going, but that never stops me from doing a little planning anyway.  I've made these lists for the last couple of years: 2009 and 2008, so I'll stick with the tradition and make one for 2010 as well.  I only read three books from my 2008 list (and one was read just this year--ack!) and three from the 2009 list.  I'm not improving, am I?  Of course my ultimate goal is to read all the books on my list, but I'll settle for reading at least six.  This time around I tried to think of the books I've really been wanting to finally pick up but I seem to keep putting off, rather than books I feel like I should be reading--if that makes any sense.  All the books (except one) are already on my shelves.  So as one year is quickly winding down, I'm already thinking about next year's reading.

1. No Name, Wilkie Collins -- I think a few people read this as part of the Classics Circuit, and both Darlene and Rachel both recently read it, as well as Litlove earlier in the year.  I will be in good company.  I read one or two of his works a year and this is the last "big" (both in size and content) novel I have left.  After that it will be only his lesser works, and then rereading can start--of course.
2. Suite Francaise, Irene Nemirovsky -- I've been in the mood to read this for a while, so here's my 'excuse' to pick it up sooner rather than later.
3. Mark of the Lion: A Jade del Cameron Mystery, Suzanne Arruda -- Although there are lots of mysteries I've been eying for a while now, this one seems to have been waiting for a long time.  It's set in East Africa after WWI and the sleuth is a woman who drove an ambulance during the war.
4. The Go-Between, L.P. Hartley -- I've heard many good things about this one and it seems to end up on lots of my lists. 
5. A Room with a View, E.M. Forster -- I went through a phase years ago where I read several of his novels close together and I've lately been thinking it's time to start rereading (and reading the few I didn't get around to at the time).
6. Loving; Living; Party Going, Henry Green -- Three novels in one volume, these are set between the two wars, I believe (should fit in with my interwar reading).
7. East of the Sun, Julia Gregson -- I've already got this one by my bed ready for my upcoming holiday break from work!       
8. Daphne, Justine Picardie -- I'm intrigued by this book which has several different storylines woven together at the heart of which is author Daphne du Maurier at the time she was writing her book on Branwell Bronte.  
9. He She It, Marge Piercy -- I really like this author and have wanted to read this book for a long time now.  It is actually science fiction, a genre I rarely read, but it sounds so good I think I will enjoy it.  As a matter of fact I'd like to try a few more sci fi books next year, too.
10. Ross Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall, Winston Graham -- A novel set in 18th century Cornwall--what  more can you ask for.  This is the first in a series of books that were recommended to me ages ago.
11. Harnassing Peacocks, Mary Wesley -- I had planned to have a little Mary Wesley reading binge earlier this year, but it never happened.  Mary Wesley is another author I devoured when I first came across her years ago. I've read nearly all her books, though a few still remain unread.  And I think enough time has passed to reread the others as well.   
12. 1939: The Last Season, Anne de Courcy -- Another book about England in the 1930s--in particular women's history.
13. Ripe for the Picking, Annie Hawes -- I used to read loads of travel narratives, but in the past few years I've not read a single book.  I'd like to get back to them again (if nothing else but to 'get away' mentally).  Annie Hawes has written about three books about moving to the Ligurian region of Italy.  I've already read the first, and this is the second.

There's nothing like a fresh list of books to read from.  As so many of these are books I think of reading very often, hopefully my mood won't change too much!  So now I'll print this out and tuck it into the front of my reading journal.  I'll check back mid-year to see how I'm doing.