Worthwhile Books Reading Challenge

A few days ago I mentioned a reading challenge at another blog, challenging us to read 100 books in 2009. I mentioned that quantity was not, unfortunately, a problem for me.
Quality is. I said I was going to try to read 12 worthwhile books in 2009, and asked if anybody else wanted to join. I got a few responses expressing interest and asking what I meant by worthwhile books.


First of all, let me clarify that I did not mean to set myself as an arbiter of somebody else's reading standards, nor is it my intention to assign books. I would like to assign certain books to read when I am Empress, but my plan for world domination has not yet come to fruition, so that will have to wait.

My original idea was that those like me, who wanted to read a few heavier books but needed a bit of a nudge to do so, would pick their own twelve titles, and we'd mainly support and encourage one another in following up. I also figured the list of books we choose would be guidelines, not rigid rules that we should feel guilty about if we read something else instead or if something else comes up and interferes with our goal. I didn't want to be the cause of any more guilt in people who are already afflicted with enough of that.
Nor should your list be viewed as a contract- it's just a list of some books you aspire to read- maybe your list, like mine, will include books you've started and dropped a dozen times, and it can even include a reread or two (mine does).

So... worthwhile books- what do I mean? Basically, I mean something a little more challenging than your normal, comfortable, regular reading fare. Not to be a floppy relativist, but this will mean one thing for me and something else for you. I explain a little more about that in this post.

So... twelve books that are a little (or a lot) meatier than the books you or I wallowed in this year- that's what I mean by 'worthwhile.' I don't mean I won't keep wallowing in the less than worthwhile books- I expect to read at least thirty paperback mysteries of no longterm value whatsoever this coming year, and probably a half dozen or so Grace Livingston Hill books because I like them when I am sick and do not wish to think. I will probably also read a dozen or so other worthwhile books that aren't on my list.

I just mean I want to add something more nutritious to my diet of cotton candy. I've been slacking off the last two years and something has to change or my brain will be as full of fluff as any Valley Girl's and that's an appalling condition to consider.

The books that I chose (with the exception of one or two) are there because these are books I don't think I'll finish without the prodding of sharing this goal publicly and then having to confess it when I don't read my assigned book for the month but do read a dozen mysteries, five kiddie novels, and two or three Grace Livingston Hill books that same month. THAT would be embarrassing. I hope that it's so embarrassing to me that the mere thought of it will prevent it from happening. My self-discipline is flabby, out of shape, and pitiful, y'all, and I need all the help I can get.

Another post will follow shortly with a Mr. Linky widget thingie and my list of books, and later I'll add the link to that post here (I know that's frustrating to those who read via feed, as it means they'll see this post twice. Sorry about that, really I am).

Updated to add:

Here's my list of the Baker's Dozen I hope to read this year (I cheated. A Lot. Some of my books are actually trilogies). Add your thoughts, ideas, titles, and links there.