*If it kills me

The problem with studying English Lit is that at the end of the day, I don’t really fancy reading more books and more often than not I just settle down with some guilty TV – Gossip Girl anyone? But I’m determined this year to read some more out of my course, and whether this is in the evenings, on days off or on holiday, I am determined to read the following books which I’ve been meaning to read for ages.

1)

This has been ordered and I’m excited to start it. I’ve heard such great things about this book and I liked Looking For Alaska so I have high hopes for this.

2)

Sylvia Plath is an incredibly fascinating woman and I have wanted to read this for so long that I’m annoyed with myself for not having done so. But it’s not too late! This too has been ordered and I can’t wait to start it.

3)

There’s something I find compelling about this book but I’ve never got round to reading it. I’m not sure how I’m going to feel about it but I guess we’ll see.

4)

I feel like a terrible English Lit student having not read this so now is the time to rectify this. Just before the film comes out too.

5)

This has been sitting on my bookshelf for far too long but my friends moaning about it for their GCSE put me off. I absolutely loved Atonement too so it’ll be interesting to see how it lives up.

6)

The reviews tell me that this will be an exhausting read but that it will be worth it. I read an extract of this in my creative writing class last year and was taken in by it. I might leave this one until the holidays when I can give it my entire attention.

7)

I’m so late to the party when it comes to Oscar Wilde that it’s not even funny. I’m currently introducing myself to his works with The Importance of Being Earnest and hope that this will be my next venture. I’m a terrible English Lit student, I know.

I could definitely put a hundred more books on this list but I have to be realistic. For example, I really want to read The Pillars of the Earth but I’m just not sure I have the time or patience at the moment (big books and I don’t fair well – Anna Karenina was a nightmare). By telling myself that I have to read something, I often don’t enjoy it as much and I hope that by limiting my list to these 7 that I’ll actually be able to achieve my goal and finally get around to reading these books. With one on my bookshelf and two in the post, the future’s looking bright for broadening my literary horizons in 2013 and I’ll of course post my responses on here. Bring it on.