Operation Bookworm: Complete!

Well, I did it. Not only did I do it, I completed the project a full month ahead of schedule. My goal was to read 50 books this year, and somehow I did it. Don't ask me how, what with school breaking my brain this fall and watching all that Doctor Who. Nevertheless, I managed to read 50 books in less than 52 weeks. Here's a rundown:

1. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
   I read this book based on the recommendation from one of the numerous bloggers I read and having read Philippa Gregory's The Queen's Fool last year. I recently found out that the book is going to be made into a movie, so I'm curious how that will turn out.
   
   
2. Diary by Chuck Palahniuk (reread)
   Oh, Chuck. How I love you. And how well you hold up to multiple readings.
   
   
3. You're the One That I Want: A Gossip Girl Novel by Cecily von Ziegesar
   I...uh...OK, you know what? I never said it had to be a high class book or anything. Sometimes a girl needs to read fluff about snobby New York brats, their fabulous clothing, and sophisticated bitchery.
   
   
4. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris
   Oh god. Remember how I made an ASS out of myself when I met David Sedaris in October? Good times, y'all, good times.
   
   
5. Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood
   Hot damn, is Margret Atwood a good writer. I can't decide if this book or The Handmaid's Tale is my favorite by her. One thing I will say, is that Cat's Eye perfectly captures how vicious and rotten girls are to one another.
   
   
6. Macbeth by William Shakespeare (Witchcraft in Literature)
   OK, so Justine objected to Renee and I using books that we had to read for school in this project. Renee and I both essentially told her to kiss off. Tough. It's a book and it counts.
   
   
7. Secret Lives of Men and Women: A PostSecret Book compiled by Frank Warren
   
   
8. The Witch by Thomas Middleton (Witchcraft in Literature)
   Christ. Tolkien couldn't follow the plot of this play, there are so many ridiculous threads and characters.
   
   
9. The Witch of Edmonton by William Rowley, Thomas Dekker and John Ford (Witchcraft in Literature)
   
   
10. The Portable Dorothy Parker by Dorothy Parker
    Becky bought this for me and I devoured it in a weekend. I wish I was witty and clever and lived in the 1920s so I could be apart of the Algonquin Round Table.
    
    
11. Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne
    Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman
    April Witch by Ray Bradbury (Witchcraft in Literature -- short stories, together I'm counting them as a "book")
    Ehhhh, a bit iffy here. I'm bending the rules with my definition of "book." But if you have a problem with it, I did some extra credit (see bottom of list).
    
    
12. Night by Elie Wiesel (Reread, for Creative Nonfiction)
    I forgot how devastating this book is in its simplicity. Killed me.
    
    
13. The Crucible by Arthur Miller (Witchcraft in Literature)
    
    
14. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (Reread)
    "It was really cool getting to meet you!" I hate myself.
    
    
15. The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike (Witchcraft in Literature)
    Dear Mr. Updike: You don't understand women at all. Still an interesting read though.
    
    
16. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (Reread, Witchcraft in Literature)
    
    
17. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (Reread, Witchcraft in Literature)
    
    
18. Kathy's Story: A Childhood Hell Inside the Magdalen Laundries by Kathy O'Beirne
    Number 472 on the List of Bones I Have to Pick With The Catholic Church
    
    
19. Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins by Emma Donoghue (Witchcraft in Literature)
    I really really loved this one. Got me all interested in reading other works by Donoghue.
    
    
20. Charm School Book One: Magical Witch Girl Bunny by Elizabeth Watasin (Witchcraft in Literature)
    Graphic novels totally count.
    
    
21. Harry Potter and The Prisioner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (Reread, Witchcraft in Literature)
    
    
22. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (Reread, Witchcraft in Literature)
    
    
23. Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix by J.K. Rowling (Reread, Witchcraft in Literature)
    
    
24. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (Reread, Witchcraft in Literature)
    JESUS. I got a little burned out on Harry Potter, having to read it for school. I had thought that it would be all fun, and that I wouldn't have to reread for class. But then I became discussion leader for the books and I had to and read them in a completely different light. Truthfully, it was kind of hard.
    
    
25. Girl With A One-Track Mind by Abby Lee
    Pure smut. Awesome.
    
    
26. A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown
    So, disappointed by the lying antics of James Frey? Read this -- it's non-fiction, well written, AND 100% true.
    
    
27. The Cider House Rules by John Irving (Reread)
    
    
28. Drawing Down the Moon by Margo Adler
    I am well on my way to becoming a Pagan! I would like to point out that this book was impossible for me to read in a linear fashion. I have no idea why.
    
    
29. Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue
    
    
30. The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits by Emma Donoghue
    
    
31. Touchy Subjects by Emma Donoghue
    I've become quite the fan. Donoghue is one of my new favorite writers.
    
    
32. Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth (Irish Novel)
    
    
33. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (Irish Novel)
    I couldn't help but think of the KitH and Monty Python sketches while reading this.
    
    
34. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
    Aww. The end of an era, you guys.
    
    
35. Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce (Irish Novel)
    I had a deal with my Dad: If I had to read Joyce during the summer, so did he. He agreed. We shook hands and everything. Guess which one of us welched on the deal?
    
    
36. At Swim, Two Birds by Flann O'Brien (Irish Novel)
    Crazy, Post-modern, deconstructionist book. I hated it whilst reading it (my kingdom for a quotation mark!), but loved it given a few days distance. The book sticks with you and months later I find myself pondering passages.
    
    
37. The Commitments by Roddy Doyle (Irish Novel)
    Book is WAY better than the movie.
    
    
38. At Swim, Two Boys by Jamie O'Neil (Irish Novel)
    
    
39. In the Forest by Edna O'Brien (Irish Novel)
    
    
40. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
    
    
41. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
    
    
42. Ant Farm by Simon Rich
    
    
43. Bad Behavior by Mary Gaitskill
    
    
44. Only in Your Dreams: A Gossip Girl Novel by Cecily von Ziegesar
    They made a TV show out of it. So it can't be all bad.
    
    
45. Paula Spencer by Roddy Doyle
    
    
46. The Know-it-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become The Smartest Man in the World by A.J. Jacobs
    From a recommendation by Charlie McCormick
    
    
47. Pope Joan by Donna Cross
    
    
48. His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
    Gee, thanks Stephanie. Because I needed ANOTHER dorky obsession.
    
    
49. His Dark Materials: The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman
    
    
50. Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
    Based on a recommendation from Mikey Likes It and indirectly for my Visual Literacy Class.

EXTRA CREDIT
The Alphabet Versus The Goddess by Leonard Shlain (for Visual Literacy)
His Dark Materials: The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman
Doctor Who: The Sick Building by Paul Magrs
That Huge Honkin' Compilation of Philosophy I had to read for Critical Theory
Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella

You guys, I'm pooped. And curiously, on the lookout for new reads. Start recommendin'. 2008 is just around the corner.