Theme of the Month

So you know how there are just soooo many books out there? And there is just not enough time in a day {or week or month or year} to read them all?

Anybody else have this problem?
That's what I thought.

Part of the problem, I know, is me. I'm just interested in such a variety of things! I have a craving to read all the classics--Dickens, Tolstoy, Stevenson, Kipling. I have a desire to read all the new books topping the fiction {and nonfiction} charts. 

And I have lists. 
Lists upon lists upon lists. 
Some are lists of my own making, like the two page {small pages, like a notepad} list of nonfiction books and biographies recounting the Revolutionary War and our Founding Fathers, not to mention my equally-impressive Civil War, World War II, and women's history lists.

Then there are the Pinterest lists that I can't help pinning.
"30 Books Every Woman Should Read Before 30"
"Missing Downton Abbey? These books will put you in the mood!"
"If you Loved Outlander, try this next!"

And then there are the books that I buy {because I'm basically a bookstore's best friend}--books that I really do want to read but just haven't had the time for it. Plus, all of my favorite authors just keep writing books, and I just can't keep up with reading them all.

It's. All. Too. Much.

And then I had an idea. An awesome idea. The Grinch had a wonderful, awesome idea...okay, so I'm only the Grinch one day a year, but that green face paint gives me the right to use that line.

I've decided to help whittle down my list of books to read, I am going to give each month a theme. And, because I love alliteration, I'm going to name each month, make a list of books to read along that theme, and then review them here when I'm done. {See, I told you it was an awesome idea.}

I've already started, too. I have most of the rest of this year planned out {and yes, I have even accounted for spontaneity and whimsy...kind of}. So, without further ado, I welcome you to the first annual {probably}...

Austen-Inspired April!
{oh, please...like you didn't see that coming}
I also decided to start small. I've only included 5 books on my first list. If I get through them, then I have plenty of pinned lists to pull from. 
Here's where it gets super-fun. If you want to read along and discuss, that would obviously be amazing and wonderful. BUT I'm thinking this month would be an amazing time to do my first ever....
RAMBLINGS OF A TWENTY-SOMETHING GIVEAWAY!
{are you excited? I'm excited!}
I'm still working out the rules, but here's what I'm thinking. Reading my post is great {obviously...please continue to do so...it makes me feel better knowing my words are just being lost out in cyberspace}, but that's hard for me to keep track of, so if you like or share the Facebook link or retweet the Twitter link or comment below, then you will be entered to win one of many fabulous prizes {now I'm really getting excited}. Bloggers do this all the time {or at least the bloggers I follow do}.

Better yet...read one of the following books and add to the discussion! I want this to be fun {I hope this is actually something some might call "fun"}.

AUSTEN-INSPIRED APRIL LINEUP!
1. Austenland by Shannon Hale
2. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
3. The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su
4. Unleashing Mr. Darcy by Teri Wilson
5. Lady Susan, The Watsons, & Sanditon by Jane Austen

Here's the other thing that makes my choices fun for the month...they have all been made into movies {or were inspired by a web series...number 3} so even if you don't want to read the book {which you totally should anyway}, you could join the discussion after watching the movie {or the web series...it's only 160 episodes of about 3 minutes in length...guess what I did over spring break?}

So grab your books {or e-readers, if you prefer}, and let's start crossing things off our lists!

~Stay Gold!

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