Can spring be over already? The calendar tells me summer starts tomorrow, and Molly's Summer Vacation Reading Challenge is in full swing, so it must be so. The Spring Reading Thing, hosted by Katrina at Callapidder Days officially ends today. It's time to take stock and see what was accomplished. This was the plan:Read 7 books:
1. The Wapshot Chronicle by John Cheever - completed, but did I forget to post a review?
2. The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry - nearly finished, review pending
3. The Home-Maker by Dorothy - complete, reviewed here
4. The Shack by William Paul Young (April book club selection) - complete, reviewed here
5. May book club selection: The Big House by George Howe Colt (non-fiction) - complete, reviewed here
6. June book club selection: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows - previously completed, pre-blogging days
7. one non-fiction book: Novel Destinations by Shannon McKenna Schmidt and Joni Rendon - reviewed here
Additional goals:
1. Read at least one short story per week and participate in Short Story Monday - goal reached. Links to short story posts found in the sidebar. I did miss one week, and there were a couple Short Story Tuesdays, but I think that's close enough!
2. Listen to three audio books - goal reached
The Help by Kathryn Stockett - reviewed here
Brooklyn: A Novel by Colm Toibin - reviewed here
The Clothes They Stood Up In by Alan Bennett - review pending
3. Whittle down my stack of New Yorker magazines - goal reached, sort of...the stack present when I started the challenge is gone, but somehow a new one has accumulated!
4. Inspired by a Booking Through Thursday question, I conducted my own graphic novel experiment. Heather recommended a how-to book on reading graphic novels, and I was off. My favorite, so far, has been Ethel &Ernest by Raymond Briggs.
In summary:
Though most of the goals were met, I'm disappointed all the reviews weren't done in time. Perhaps the Bloggiesta event would have been a good idea!
Also, that cute button so prominently displayed in my sidebar has made me smile whenever I've looked at it. Thank you so much, Katrina, for hosting this event.
Good job, Joann! I'm really horrible about writing reviews, so I'm impressed by all the ones you managed to do.
ReplyDeleteI tend to listen to audiobooks while I'm cleaning (to help motivate myself to clean more!), and I'm thinking about getting The Help in audio form -- I've heard so many good things about it and your review just makes me want to listen to it all the more.
Thanks for being part of Spring Reading Thing 2009!
I didn't do very well with this challenge either. I signed up for 10 books. I read more than that, just not the ones I listed for the challenge!
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty productive Spring! I have never signed up for any challenges before but reading a short story a week does sound tempting. My selection of Saki short stories is being neglected, sigh. By the way JoAnn, my copy of When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs came in today, can't wait!
ReplyDeleteKatrina - Audiobooks are great motivators, aren't they? I usually listen while driving, but I'm going to try listening while I walk. Maybe I'll walk even longer!
ReplyDeleteBeth F- I keep getting sidetracked. Another blogger will mention a book and I'll want to read it right away. Oh well, challenges are still a lot of fun!
Darlene - Thanks. I'm still surprised at how much I'm enjoying the short stories. Why don't you join in with a Saki story one Monday? I'll be anxious to hear what you think of When the Wind Blows!
You did a great job on the Spring Reading Challenge. I love how you tried to whittle down one pile only to find another take its place..how does that happen? I find it occurs to me quite frequently!! Have fun with the Summer Vacation Reading Challenge!!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job! I have found that I walk longer while I listen to audio books!
ReplyDeleteStaci - Thanks. It seems that no matter how fast I read them, I can never keep up with the New Yorkers! I've finally come to accept that as a fact of life...
ReplyDeleteNise' - I sure hope that audiobooks can keep me walking longer, too! There have been several times that I've stayed in the car a few extra minutes to listen, so why not walking?
I feel compelled to review everything I read too, now that I've started blogging.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on this challenge! The potato peel book is on my tbr list too.
Janet - The reviews are time consuming, but I remember the book so much better after I've written my thoughts down. Hope you enjoy the Guernsey book when you get to it.
ReplyDelete