Here is an abstract of my literary doings in April.

Books Read – April 2012

Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone, by Dene Low – 4/2/2012
First Love, Last Rites, by Ian McEwan – 4/3/2012
The Maze Runner, by James Dashner (Audio) – 4/12/2012
Watership Down, by Richard Adams – 4/18/2012
Shanghai Girls, by Lisa See – 4/23/2012
The Sisters Brothers, by Patrick deWitt – 4/26/2012
Snow in April, by Rosamunde Pilcher – 4/27/2012
Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day, by Ben Loory – 4/30/2012

April Total = 8
Year-to-Date Total = 41

The Sisters Brothers was the best read of the month. It’s such a good book. An almost perfect book. Read it.

Book Club

The Highland Book Club read Shanghai Girls, by Lisa See this month. It’s the story of two Chinese sisters who survive the Japanese invasion of China in the 1930s and eventually immigrate to the United States. It was really good. I can’t wait to read the follow up, Dreams of Joy. Up next month is one of my favorite books, The Road, by Cormac McCarthy.

The Third Thursday Book Club read Watership Down, by Richard Adams. Not many of us finished, and I think I was the only one that liked it. Yes, it’s long. And yes, it’s about bunnies. But I liked it. Next month we’re reading Precious Bane, by Mary Webb.

Challenges

No challenge progress this month.

The Pulitzer Project – 11/84
The Printz Project – 8/13 (+7 Honor books)
The Newberry Project – 24/91 (+11 Honor books)

April Highlights

• The 2012 Pultizer Prizes were announced, but there was no award for fiction.
• I hosted a mini-challenge for Dewey’s Read-a-Thon on Rereading.
• My brother and I released the inaugural episode of our new podcast, Film/Lit.
• I held a random book giveaway.
• In The Sunday Salon, I reported back on the bookish podcasts I’ve been listening to that you recommended.
• I also posted a set of mini reviews and my reviews of First Love, Last Rights, the newest TOON Book, and On the Road.

That’s it. That’s what happened in April. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog this month!

Here is an abstract of my literary doings in March.

Books Read – March 2012

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, by Oliver Sacks – 3/4/2012
The King of Attolia, by Megan Whalen Turner (Audio) – 3/6/2012
Clair de Lune, by Jetta Carleton – 3/6/2012
Shadow Tag, by Louise Erdrich – 3/9/2012
Story of a Girl, by Sara Zarr – 3/12/2012
The Getaway Car, by Ann Patchett – 3/17/2012
M.C. Higgins, the Great, by Virginia Hamilton – 3/19/2012
Moon over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool (Audio) – 3/20/2012
Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White – 3/22/2012
A Conspiracy of Kings, by Megan Whalen Turner (Audio) – 3/31/2012

March Total = 10
Year-to-Date Total = 33

A Conspiracy of Kings takes the prize this month.

Book Club

The Highland Book Club read several “nostalgia reads”: Charlotte’s Web, The Secret Garden, and Anne of Green Gables. I read Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White. I really enjoyed rediscovering it. And this time, I noticed some of the subtext about how writers are often ignored. Up next month is Shanghai Girls, by Lisa See.

The Third Thursday Book Club read The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, by Oliver Sacks. I had to miss the meeting, but I wasn’t overly fond of the book. Next month, we’re reading Watership Down, by Richard Adams.

Challenges

More progress this month! I read one Newbery honor (reread), and two Newbery winners.

The Pulitzer Project – 11/84
The Printz Project – 8/13 (+7 Honor books)
The Newberry Project – 24/91 (+11 Honor books)

March Highlights

• I hosted a mini-challenge for Bloggiesta!: Five Ways to Spiff Up Your Book Reviews.
• I posted a show down: Sense & Sensibility VERSUS Persuasion. Right now, Persuasion has the popular vote.
• I participated in Louise Erdrich month by reading and reviewing Shadow Tag.
• In The Sunday Salon, I posted about my adoration for The Tournament of Books, requested podcast recommendations, and resolved to be less critical about books.

That’s it. That’s what happened in March. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog this month!

Here is an abstract of my literary doings in February.

Books Read – February 2012

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle – 2/2/2012
When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead – 2/3/2012
First Light, by Rebecca Stead – 2/5/2012
If I Stay, by Gayle Forman – 2/10/2012
The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner (Audio) – 2/13/2012
Atonement, by Ian McEwan – 2/16/2012
The Queen of Attolia, by Megan Whalen Turner (Audio) – 2/23/2012
The Princess Bride, by William Goldman – 2/26/2012

February Total = 8
Year-to-Date Total = 23

Even though it took me forever and I enjoyed a number of the others on this list, my favorite book of the month was Atonement.

Book Club

The Highland Book Club read The Princess Bride, by William Goldman. I really enjoyed the book. And I was surprised that, though the movie tracks the book almost plot point for plot point, they have completely different tones. And the back-stories on all of the characters are more textured in the book. Up next month, a group of nostalgia reads: Charlotte’s Web, The Secret Garden, and Anne of Green Gables.

The Third Thursday Book Club had a good discussion of Atonement, by Ian McEwan. Only three of us got through it, but we all agreed it was worth the effort. And effort it took. I haven’t had to slog through a book like that in a while. But the last page made it all worth it. It’s books like these that make me particularly grateful for book clubs. I likely would not have finished it otherwise. Next month, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. I’ve started it already, and it’s very different from what we usually read.

Challenges

More progress this month! I read one Newbery honor (reread), and two Newbery winners (one was a reread). So a net of one new challenge book.

The Pulitzer Project – 11/84
The Printz Project – 8/13 (+7 Honor books)
The Newberry Project – 22/91 (+11 Honor books)

February Highlights

• I got to meet Rebecca Stead and gave away a copy of When You Read Me.
• I finally got a new installment of Readers Uncovered posted.
• I participated in a meme!
• And, I posted a gazillion reviews (for me). They included two sets of mini reviews: set 1 and set 2, books I read to prep for meeting Rebecca Stead, and a review of Paranormalcy (in which I kind of ended up lashing out at the paranormal romance genre).

That’s it. That’s what happened in February. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog this month!

*Update* Edited to add one last book I finished today.
Here is an abstract of my literary doings in January.

Books Read – January 2012

How Reading Changed My Life, by Anna Quindlen – 1/1/2012
River in the Sea, by Tina Boscha – 1/5/2012
Scarlet, by A.C. Gaughen – 1/7/2012
War Horse, by Michael Morpurgo – 1/8/2012
The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green – 1/10/2012
Emotional Geology, by Linda Gillard – 1/11/2012
I Am Not a Serial Killer, by Dan Wells – 1/16/2012
Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta – 1/18/2012
Persuasion, by Jane Austen – 1/21/2012
Sense & Sensibility, by Jane Austen – 1/23/2012
Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson – 1/26/2012
Why We Broke Up, by Daniel Handler – 1/26/2012
Paranormalcy, by Kiersten White – 1/27/2012
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, by Gary D. Schmidt – 1/30/2012
One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams-Garcia – 1/31/2012

January Total = 15
Year-to-Date Total = 15

Yay! Fifteen books in one month is my personal record since I started tracking my reading. And most of them were so good, I can’t even begin to pick a pick of the month. Lots of amazing reads here; War Horse, The Fault in Our Stars, Sense & Sensibility, and Bridge to Terabithia, Lizzie Bright, and One Crazy Summer stand out the most to me though. Great reading month!

Book Club

The Highland Book Club read In the Woods, by Tana French. Unfortunately, I didn’t get this one read in time for the meeting. I’m still working on it though. Up next is The Princess Bride, by William Goldman.

The Third Thursday Book Club had a good discussion of I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith. I haven’t read it in a few years, but I remember liking it. And it was fun to discuss it with the others. In February, we’re reading Atonement, by Ian McEwan. I can’t wait to read it. I’m so enchanted with my book club experiences lately, that I blathered on about them for a bit here.

Challenges

I’ve FINALLY made some progress on my challenges! This month I read one Newbery winner, two Newbery honors, one Printz winner, and two Printz honors! Awesomeness.

The Pulitzer Project – 11/84
The Printz Project – 8/13 (+7 Honor books)
The Newberry Project – 21/91 (+11 Honor books)

January Highlights

• I announced the winners of the 2012 ALA Youth Media Awards.
• I started doing a few Sunday Salon posts here and here.
• And, I posted as many reviews as I could for the books I read this month. See the list above.

That’s it. That’s what happened in January. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog this month!

September 1, 2011 – October 31, 2011

I’m a little late on this post, but I wouldn’t miss Carl’s Readers Imbibing Peril Challenge. This will be my fourth year of R.I.P., and it has become entrenched as a lovely tradition each fall.

Head over to the challenge post for a rundown on the challenge options. I’m doing Peril the Second again this year, which entails reading at least two scary/gothic/mystery-ish type books.

Here’s my current reading pool:
Dracula, by Bram Stoker
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson
Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen
Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte (reread)

I can’t wait to get started! Are you R.I.P.ing this year? What books are in your pool?

*UPDATE: This was a complete fail this year. I didn’t even get one R.I.P. book read. At least there is always next year!

Here is an abstract of my literary doings in May, June, and July.

Books Read – May, June, & July 2011

May 2011
Something Borrowed, by Emily Giffin – 5/9/2011
A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. Le Guin – 5/18/2011
The Hip Girl’s Guide to Homemaking, by Kate Payne – 5/18/2011
May Total = 3

June 2011
The Soldier’s Wife, by Margaret Leroy – 6/20/2011
Moonwalking with Einstein, by Joshua Foer – 6/30/2011
June Total = 1

July 2011
Sink Reflections, by Marla Cilley – 7/1/2011
A Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin – 7/28/2011
July Total = 2

Year-to-Date Total = 25

I’ve read some great books over the last few months. My favorite was probably A Game of Thrones.

Book Club

My new neighborhood book club read Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier in May, I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith in June, and took a break in May. Princess Academy, by Shannon Hale is up in August.

My other book club read The Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursual K. Le Guin in May and takes a break during June, July, and August. Middlemarch, by George Eliot is up in September.

Challenges

This year, I’m not officially joining or tracking progress in any challenges other than these three perpetual challenges.

The Pulitzer Project – 11/84
The Printz Project – 7/11 (+5 Honor books)
The Newberry Project – 20/89 (+8 Honor books)

That’s it. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog during these slow months!

Here is an abstract of my literary doings in April.

Books Read – April 2011

The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin – 4/17/2011
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley – 4/19/2011
NurtureShock, by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman – 4/22/2011
The Tapestry of Love, by Rosy Thornton – 4/25/2011
Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson – 4/27/2011

April Total = 5
Year-to-Date Total = 18

It was a solid four-star month across the board! Everything was great and interesting in its own way.

Book Club

My new neighborhood book club read These Is My Words, by Nancy E. Turner. I think this one makes the rounds of all book clubs eventually, and I can see why. Up next month is Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier.

My other book club had a good discussion of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley. It was a quaint British mystery with a great heroine, Flavia. Up next month is The Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursual K. Le Guin.

Challenges

This year, I’m not officially joining or tracking progress in any challenges other than these three perpetual challenges.

The Pulitzer Project – 11/84
The Printz Project – 7/11 (+5 Honor books)
The Newberry Project – 20/89 (+8 Honor books)

April Highlights

• The Pulitzers were awarded. A Visit from the Goon Squad won the award for Fiction.
• I reviewed Rosy Thornton’s The Tapestry of Love. But mostly, I read.

That’s it. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog this month!

Here is an abstract of my literary doings in March.

Books Read – March 2011

These Is My Words, by Nancy E. Turner – 3/12/2011
The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls – 3/16/2011
I Am the Messenger, by Markus Zusak – 3/19/2011
Getting the Girl, by Markus Zusak – 3/21/2010

March Total = 4
Year-to-Date Total = 13

While I enjoyed every book this month, I Am the Messenger was my favorite! I love that Markus Zusak.

Book Club

My new neighborhood book club read The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls. Our meeting was pretty small, but the two of us that read it, enjoyed it. It’s interesting and sad, without being too depressing. Up next month is These Is My Words, by Nancy E. Turner.

My other book club had a good discussion of These Is My Words, by Nancy E. Turner. Most people enjoyed the book, and most of us loved Captain Jack in particular. Up next month is The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley.

Challenges

This year, I’m not officially joining or tracking progress in any challenges other than these three perpetual challenges.

The Pulitzer Project – 11/84
The Printz Project – 7/11 (+5 Honor books)
The Newberry Project – 20/89 (+8 Honor books)

March Highlights

• It was a slow month around here. I reviewed and held a giveaway of Table of Contents. Lorren from The Story Girl was the lucky winner.
• I also got to spend an evening with Markus Zusak. There will definitely be more about that later. For now, check out Suey’s excellent posts (with video!) here and here.

That’s it. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog this month!

Here is an abstract of my literary doings in February.

Books Read – February 2011

84, Charing Cross Road, by Helene Hanff – 2/8/2011
The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom – 2/10/2011
Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson – 2/13/2011

February Total = 3
Year-to-Date Total = 9

84, Charing Cross Road is a perennial favorite of mine, as well as my pick of the month. If you haven’t read it yet, you really need to.

Book Club

My new neighborhood book club read Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson. Every single member gave it a solid four star review, and we had a lovely discussion about slavery and the irony of the Revolutionary War. Up next month is The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls.

My other book club had a good discussion of 84, Charing Cross Road, by Helene Hanff. I’m always surprised at the diversity of the responses to the books we read. Up next month is These Is My Words, by Nancy E. Turner.

Challenges

This year, I’m not officially joining or tracking progress in any challenges other than these three perpetual challenges.

The Pulitzer Project – 11/84
The Printz Project – 7/11 (+4 Honor books)
The Newberry Project – 20/89 (+8 Honor books)

February Highlights

• I powered through some reviews of books I read in January: Mockingbird, Getting Things Done, and Peace Like a River.
• I posted about the upcoming Winter 2011 Utah Book Bloggers Bash. Are you coming?
• I matched up Tinkers and Lord of Misrule and asked you to pick between the two. After a week of voting, Lord of Misrule carried the day. Watch for more showdowns in my new Versus feature.

That’s it. That’s what happened in February. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog this month!

Here is an abstract of my literary doings in January.

Books Read – January 2011

The Stone Diaries, by Carol Shields – 1/2/2011
Mockingbird, by Kathryn Erskine – 1/2/2011
Getting Things Done, by David Allen – 1/6/2011
Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger – 1/24/2011
Bright Blue Miracle, by Becca Wilhite – 1/29/2011
A Friend of the Family, by Lauren Grodstein – 1/31/2011

January Total = 6
Year-to-Date Total = 6

Yay! Six books. I’m back. My pick of the month is Peace Like a River. It’s really excellent. Really really.

Book Club

Ah. I had two book club meetings this month. :)

I started a neighborhood book club at the request of a women’s group I belong to. We read Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger. I’ll be tracking that club’s info at it’s very own little site.

My other book club had a good discussion of When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead. In February, we’re discussing one of my favorite books ever, 84, Charing Cross Road, by Helene Hanff.

Challenges

This year, I’m not officially joining or tracking progress in any challenges other than these three perpetual challenges.

The Pulitzer Project – 11/84
The Printz Project – 7/11 (+4 Honor books)
The Newberry Project – 20/89 (+8 Honor books)

January Highlights

• I announced the winners of the 2011 ALA Youth Media Awards.
• I posted a review of The Stone Diaries, by Carol Shields, a Pulitzer Prize winner.
• Finally, I posted about some cool stuff.

That’s it. That’s what happened in January. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog this month!