Sunday, December 21, 2008

Fall Into Reading Challenge Wrap Up

I did NOT read all the books on my list. Granted, I had a huge list. I read 10 of the 40 books I listed. I read 9 additional books during that timeframe. So basically, I read half the number of books I expected to read, but only 1/4 of the books that I picked. I really enjoyed picking books that I was going to read for the challenge. Part of the reason some of them didn't get read, is that they weren't readily avaialable. I didn't make it to the library as frequently as I thought I would. I also picked some of the books that were more of a "challenge" for me, and I found that I couldn't read them as quickly as I normally do. Or I couldn't get the motivation up to start them (or continue). I've discovered that I need a good mix of "edifying" reads and "pleasure" reads.


I think my favorite books that I read this fall were the Queen of Babble books by Meg Cabot. I've read a few of her other books, and I just really enjoy her style. I ended up listening to these on audiobook, and I also really like the person who read the books. I've been through a lot the past few months, and I found that I needed fun, upbeat, light books that could distract me. Not to say that these books were "fluff", because they weren't. One of the reasons that I love to read is because I can "escape" into the story.

I would definitely be interested in more challenges sponosored by http://callapidderdays.com. :)

I read the following books from my list:
  1. Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
  2. Scarlett, Alexandra Ripley
  3. Calico Palace, Gwen Bristow
  4. The Husband, Dean Koontz
  5. The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, Lilian Jackson Braun
  6. Queen of Babble, Meg Cabot
  7. Little Lady, Big Apple, Hester Browne
  8. Fearless Fourteen, Janet Evanovich
  9. Salvation in Death, JD Robb
  10. The Pagan Stone, Nora Roberts

I also read the following books that weren't on my original list.

  1. Wicked
  2. Queen of Babble in the Big City, Meg Cabot
  3. Queen of Babble Gets Hitched, Meg Cabot
  4. Midnight, Dean Koontz
  5. Tribute, Nora Roberts
  6. A is for Alibi, Sue Grafton
  7. Candy Cane Murder, Joanne Fluke
  8. The Danger of Candy Canes, Laura Levine
  9. Candy Canes of Christmas Past, Leslie Meier

Friday, December 19, 2008

whew

no work for 9 days. and for once, we aren't traveling for the holidays. we really have a rather open schedule. i think we need it to recover. from everything. work, school, the miscarriage, the wisdom teeth, the weight loss that isn't happening. everything.

i do have a lot of "nothing" planned though. i'm going to admit failure on the reading challenges, and start some new ones. i'm going to play with my blog settings. i'm going to find a bunch of new books to read. i'm going to spend the next 9 days doing nothing that i don't want to do, and everything that i do. (don't worry, i want to do some good things like exercise, etc) i'm not going to feel guilty about anything. my spirit will heal. i will feel good about myself and my life and everything in it. it is refreshing. all around.