Saturday, February 02, 2008
Sunday Best: Reading Challenges
The Tour Manager was kind enough to give me, an asthmatic, his upper respiratory infection. So I feel lousy and am keeping this week's Sunday Best simple.
WAY back in November, I joined this challenge. The idea was to read five books from your To Be Read pile between November and January 30.
I thought I'd let you know how I did.
Here is my last post, checking in and talking about what I'd read so far.
And check out what I did between December 15 and the end of January.
The Sex Club -- LJ Silvers (read my review at Front Street Reviews!)
The Garden of Eve -- KL Going
Spin Some More -- Red Garnier
White Bicycles -- Joe Boyd (read my review at Front Street Reviews!)
The Historian -- Elizabeth Kostova
The Loop -- Joe Coomer
Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil -- Nancy Atherton
Visions of Sugar Plums -- Janet Evanovich
The Reluctant Swordsman -- Dave Duncan (no link because Powell's only links to the e-book version and I did not read this version.)
July 7th -- Jill McCorkle
State of the Onion -- Julie Hyzy (watch Front Street Reviews for my review!)
A couple of cool things of note:
1. There are NO books in here that I disliked and refused to finish. This is a super-long stretch for me. Maybe I'm finally getting better at picking books.
2. That said, I don't get what all the fuss over The Historian was about.
3. Pleasant surprises? The Reluctant Swordsman, a fantasy novel from the 80s. The Loop, a quirky read that had been on my Wishlist since my Grad School days. See? Patience does pay off.
3. Lots of reviews, possibly more than I intended. Yes, reviews keep me from writing, but it's also good to stretch and discipline my brain, which likes to be about as disciplined at times as Trevor's. (and yes, he's yowling a protest at me for that dig.)
4. I really like Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity series. They are fun, smart, and just right. I really like KL Going, too. Even though The Garden of Eve is aimed for a younger audience, it still kicks. I've got a few more of each of these authors' books on the Mountain Range that is TBR.
5. I'm already eager for the next in the new Julie Hyzy series that was kicked off by State of the Onion.
6. Despite this list, it's still not enough. In fact, one more book arrived in January than I was able to read. At this rate, I'll be caught up in 2011. Maybe.
7. I've begun reading for the Jewish Lit challenge. Just wait to see what I'm about to blitz you with.
See ya later for the Poetry Train. And keep an eye out for Trevor. He's escaped my grasp and is leaving comments on the blogs owned by friends of mine. I think he's going to take this getting-his-story-published business into his own hands. Watch out!
WAY back in November, I joined this challenge. The idea was to read five books from your To Be Read pile between November and January 30.
I thought I'd let you know how I did.
Here is my last post, checking in and talking about what I'd read so far.
And check out what I did between December 15 and the end of January.
The Sex Club -- LJ Silvers (read my review at Front Street Reviews!)
The Garden of Eve -- KL Going
Spin Some More -- Red Garnier
White Bicycles -- Joe Boyd (read my review at Front Street Reviews!)
The Historian -- Elizabeth Kostova
The Loop -- Joe Coomer
Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil -- Nancy Atherton
Visions of Sugar Plums -- Janet Evanovich
The Reluctant Swordsman -- Dave Duncan (no link because Powell's only links to the e-book version and I did not read this version.)
July 7th -- Jill McCorkle
State of the Onion -- Julie Hyzy (watch Front Street Reviews for my review!)
A couple of cool things of note:
1. There are NO books in here that I disliked and refused to finish. This is a super-long stretch for me. Maybe I'm finally getting better at picking books.
2. That said, I don't get what all the fuss over The Historian was about.
3. Pleasant surprises? The Reluctant Swordsman, a fantasy novel from the 80s. The Loop, a quirky read that had been on my Wishlist since my Grad School days. See? Patience does pay off.
3. Lots of reviews, possibly more than I intended. Yes, reviews keep me from writing, but it's also good to stretch and discipline my brain, which likes to be about as disciplined at times as Trevor's. (and yes, he's yowling a protest at me for that dig.)
4. I really like Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity series. They are fun, smart, and just right. I really like KL Going, too. Even though The Garden of Eve is aimed for a younger audience, it still kicks. I've got a few more of each of these authors' books on the Mountain Range that is TBR.
5. I'm already eager for the next in the new Julie Hyzy series that was kicked off by State of the Onion.
6. Despite this list, it's still not enough. In fact, one more book arrived in January than I was able to read. At this rate, I'll be caught up in 2011. Maybe.
7. I've begun reading for the Jewish Lit challenge. Just wait to see what I'm about to blitz you with.
See ya later for the Poetry Train. And keep an eye out for Trevor. He's escaped my grasp and is leaving comments on the blogs owned by friends of mine. I think he's going to take this getting-his-story-published business into his own hands. Watch out!
Labels: books, challenge, Front Street Reviews, Sunday Best
Comments:
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Get well soon, Susan. You've got some good books on that list, I'll have to give some of them a try. :)
Hope you're feeling better now! A nice list of reviews. I'll be reading well into the dark of night.
I'm sorry about the respiratory infection! I've escaped that so far this winter, and if I make it through to spring without bronchitis it'll be the first time in something like three years.
The asthma always makes these things worse, although at least gals like us are used to not being able to breathe, right?
PS- If you see Trevor, be sure to tell him I'm not really a rabbit. The avatar is misleading!
The asthma always makes these things worse, although at least gals like us are used to not being able to breathe, right?
PS- If you see Trevor, be sure to tell him I'm not really a rabbit. The avatar is misleading!
I'm sorry you've been feeling poorly, Susan -- I hope you're better soon!
And I agree with you about The Historian -- I didn't dislike it per se, but it just wasn't compelling enough for me to finish.
Tell Trevor I said he's likely to become a Blog Star as well as a Rock Star! :)
And I agree with you about The Historian -- I didn't dislike it per se, but it just wasn't compelling enough for me to finish.
Tell Trevor I said he's likely to become a Blog Star as well as a Rock Star! :)
# posted by 
: February 03, 2008 1:41 AM
: February 03, 2008 1:41 AM
I've just got rid of one of those nasty chest infections so you have my sympathy - hope you feel better soon!
I like the sound of the Reluctant Swordsman, think I might check it out when I have time!
I like the sound of the Reluctant Swordsman, think I might check it out when I have time!
The last day in November or the 1st?
That is more than challenge enough for me!
Well done dearie.
Cheers
That is more than challenge enough for me!
Well done dearie.
Cheers
# posted by : February 03, 2008 11:11 AM
: February 03, 2008 11:11 AM
LOL ... I thought all books that I read were from my TBR pile. :-)
You know, it'd be really cool to see a list of Jewish fiction, with maybe some suggestions. I haven't read any, except a phase with some of the holocaust books. It'd be cool to discover some contemporary stuff.
I did just pick up a book on the shelf and tell myself I should check it out, but then I forgot about it. I'll have to go searching again.
You know, it'd be really cool to see a list of Jewish fiction, with maybe some suggestions. I haven't read any, except a phase with some of the holocaust books. It'd be cool to discover some contemporary stuff.
I did just pick up a book on the shelf and tell myself I should check it out, but then I forgot about it. I'll have to go searching again.
I can certainly do that for you, Spy. Start by checking out the challenge's blog; there are reviews there. And I've got a TON more.
Hope you feel better, Susan. Asthmatic over here, too. I get a flu shot every year, and I take echinacea at the first sign of a virus going around - from being the kid with the most sick days from school, I now hardly ever get an upper respiratory infection. Never would have imagined that could be me.
As for reading all those books, I'm such a slowpoke, it would take me two years to read what you did in a few months...
As for reading all those books, I'm such a slowpoke, it would take me two years to read what you did in a few months...
Hope you're feeling better SHG!
I read The Historian BEFORE all the hype (before it got to me, anyway) and liked it just fine. But I didn't have the great expectations that I think other's had AFTER all the marketing.
I had that 'meh' feeling about Audry Niffenegger's (SP?) The Time Traveler's Wife. There was SO MUCH hoopla, and I didn't dislike it, but couldn't understand all the fuss. The premise was cool but I don't think it was brilliantly written.
I read The Historian BEFORE all the hype (before it got to me, anyway) and liked it just fine. But I didn't have the great expectations that I think other's had AFTER all the marketing.
I had that 'meh' feeling about Audry Niffenegger's (SP?) The Time Traveler's Wife. There was SO MUCH hoopla, and I didn't dislike it, but couldn't understand all the fuss. The premise was cool but I don't think it was brilliantly written.
I think I'm the only person who adored "The Historian." It was hard to get into but once I did I was ga-ga over it. But then, I enjoyed it not as a paranormal but as a piece of historical fiction. I'm a bit of a history geek, particularly in the areas where the story took place.
I love the Stephanie Plum books. I still haven't read The Historian. It's so big and that daunts me plus I gave it to my mother in law read. She still hasn't read it either. LOL
I still think State of the Onion sounds like a great read. ;)
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I still think State of the Onion sounds like a great read. ;)
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