2014 To-Read List

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I read this article and it inspired me to make a 2014 To-Read List in which I must read all of the following books from start to finish and review them before the end of the year. I've added some of my own picks to this list for some variety. Also, for those that apply, I will discuss how the movie compares to the novel.

1. Labor Day by Joyce Maynard

I'm mostly finished with this one, so you can expect a review soon.

2. The Monument's Men by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter

3. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Honestly, I'm not really looking forward to this one. I guess I skipped the whole vampire fad because it doesn't interest me at all. Yea, I didn't like Twilight... so sue me. But I'm a stickler for lists and if I'm going to set out to do this, I think I should read every one.

4. Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin

5. A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

6. Divergent by Veronica Roth

7. The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais

8. This is Where I Leave You by Johnathon Tropper

9. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

10. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

11. Serena by Ron Rash

12. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

13. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

14. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

15. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

I've already read Gone Girl, Dark Places, The Giver, Wild, and the Fault in Our Stars from the original list, all of which were great reads by the way! I like the idea of doing this because it's forcing me to step out of my usual reading genres and try something different.

Have you read any of these? What did you think? What other books make the grade for your 2014 to-read list?

Book Review: "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail" by Cheryl Strayed

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I cannot get over how much I love this book. I could not put it down.

My Rating (via GoodReads): 5/5 stars
Kobo Price: $10.99

This book is a memoir, a genre that honestly isn't usually "my cup of tea". A journey of a woman who decides to hike 1100 miles to resolve her past and find her future. I went back and forth from questioning Cheryl's decisions and wondering why anyone would do such a thing to wanting to go out there and hike the Pacific Crest Trail myself.

In a lot of ways it made me reconsider the differences between failures and accomplishments and how one can lead to another. A concept which is obviously  totally relevant to me right now in the middle of training for my first full marathon. I saw this diagram earlier this week and it makes me think a lot about what I took away from this book:

You don't have to like hiking or the outdoors or even exercise to appreciate this book and what it has to offer.

If you've read it, did you like it? Would you ever attempt what Cheryl did?