Reading Progress: January

As I mentioned at the start of the month this year I have decided to do the 50 Book Challenge again.  As a result of this I've decided that I will do a monthly update on my progress because well... 

So what was my grand total completed books for January 2012?  Three.   I read three books, and started five.  I liked all of them but to be honest I wasn't very 'into' them.  I had been hoping that by now I would be really wrapped up in the reading, but I'm not.  I read a disappointing Neil Gaiman book that in retrospect was a bit of a door stopper, but I decided to run with it because every other one of his books that I have read I read very fast.  I will be doing a review on that in the near future. 

I read 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and thought it was interesting, but not much else, hence I didn't even bother with a review.  In my opinion, because of it's classic status it would be a tough one to review anyways, and at the end of the day I think everyone should try as many classics in their lifetime as possible, irrespective of reviews.  The classic book lover in me also screams that reviews (unless from the actual time period) of the classic genre are at best a bit pointless, and at worst a bit... I suppose the word would be wrong.  To me it feels wrong.   I did review 'Heart of Darkness' by Conrad before, and that was probably the hardest review I've written so far.  It just felt wrong.  I know I'm rambling (lack of sleep) but my point is that I just don't see myself doing many (if any) reviews on such books in the future.  I know I am probably coming across as a book snob, and I am probably insulting some bloggers out there.  I don't mean to offend in any way.  I've just never once actually read a review of a classic prior to reading it, and I like it that way.  I like figuring out for myself why the book is so special (or in some cases overrated).  However, I do like reading reactions to those kind of books, and obviously I am doing the classics challenge, and enjoy how that is being done.  It is nice to discuss classic books. 

The third book that I read in January was 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'.   It was a re-read after several years (four and a half to be exact) and I loved it like I always do.  Like most readers my age, Harry Potter was one of my childhood favourites, and so it was a nice re-read.   I also started reading 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' which is going well. 

Finally I also started 'Crime and Punishment' which so far I am enjoying.  It's very engaging to read about a mind that is so apparently ill and fractured.  In the past I tried to read the book, and got quite far in, so I know what is to come for a good part of the book.  My reading mood right now is probably on the dark, gloomy and gritty side of the scale.