Here is an abstract of my literary doings in July.
Books Read
The Fires, by Alan Cheuse – 7/6/2008
The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart – 7/13/2008
Mariposa, by Candis C. Coffee – 7/15/2008
The Questory of Root Karbunkulus, by Kamilla Reid – 7/16/2008
Stardust, by Neil Gaiman – 7/20/2008
The Post-Birthday World, by Lionel Shriver – 7/24/2008
Monique and the Mango Rains, by Kris Holloway – 7/28/2008
Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer – 7/30/2008
New Moon, by Stephenie Meyer – 7/31/2008
July Total = 9
Year-to-Date Total = 38
Two five-star books this month: Twilight and The Mysterious Benedict Society. Wow. I probably wouldn’t have guessed that I would feel that way about Twilight on this reread. I think I gave it five stars because of the foundation it set for the rest of the series. The Mysterious Benedict Society is also the first of a series and quite delightful. The rest of the line of up received three or four stars. That’s a pretty good reading month – no duds.
Book Club
Stardust, by Neil Gaiman – Meeting: 7/22/2008
Our selection for this month, Stardust, was appreciated by the members of my book club. The discussion generally focused on a comparison of the book and the movie. We also briefly discussed The Host, by Stephenie Meyer and ruminated on whether it gave insight into the ending of Breaking Dawn. The selection for next month is, of course, Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer.
Challenges
I completed the Novella Challenge this month!
The Novella Challenge – 6/6 COMPLETE!
The Wind-Up Book Chronicles Challenge – 0/4 [ends 11/15/2008]
The Classics Challenge 2008 – 0/6 [ends 12/31/2008]
Book Awards II Challenge – 0/10 [ends 6/1/2009]
The Pulitzer Project – 6/91 [perpetual]
The Newbery Project – 12/87 (+7 Honor books) [perpetual]
Miscellany
In other goings-on on this blog, I participated in two blog tours: Farworld: Water Keep, and The Questory of Root Karbunkulus, with accompanying interviews of J. Scott Savage and Kamilla Reid, respectively. I also reviewed two other ARCs: Mariposa and Monique and the Mango Rains. I changed my blogroll, leaving my top 15 favorite book blogs on the sidebar, and creating a List o’ Book Blogs for the rest of the gang. I also created three new Blue Leafs: Stardust, by Neil Gaiman, The Gathering, by Anne Enright, and The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale. All of the Blue Leafs available for download are listed in the right sidebar. And, as always, I participated in Weekly Geeks and Booking Through Thursday.
I was also touched to be nominated for a blog award by three of my favorite book bloggers: Suey at It’s All About Books; Nari at The Novel World; and Unfinished Person at Just a (Reading) Fool. Thank you to each of you for your thoughtfulness and great blogging.
Finally, I had three giveaways this month! Suey at It’s All About Books won a signed copy of The Questory of Root Karbunkulus, and Shana at Literarily won a signed copy of Farworld: Water Keep. AND, the GRANDPRIZE WINNER of MY 100th POST CELEBRATORY GIVEAWAY is Rebecca Reid at Rebecca Reads!
Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog this month!
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{ 8 comments }
Wow! Way to go on your reading! The more I hear about the Meyer books, the more tempted I am to jump on the bandwagon and read them!
Hey thanks! I’m so excited!
38 books to date? Ha! I’ve seen that many movies this month!
Oh the end of another month – I should probably do a round up too – I enjoyed reading yours. I love the way you do a speed rating on your reviews too – so clever!
Jessica, nice wrap up of the month. Myself, I only got in four books this month, because it was an incredibly busy month. So I’m up to books for the year…I like your adding the List o’ Book Blogs. It can be so difficult keeping up with everyone, can’t it?…and oh, thanks for including me in your Top 15. Hopefully, I continue to live up to your expectations (said half-jokingly, but also of course, half-seriously, because I respect your opinion).
Wow! such a productive month. i’m in awe.
thanx for visiting
Great summation! Doesn’t it feel great to have accomplished so many bookish things! ?
ACK! I totally missed this post! You rock on completing the Novella Challenge! And that other stuff…woowee! You been busy!
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