Friday, November 2, 2012

Quick Update

I cannot for the life of me get my list on the sidebar to update...

So, a quick update here: 
Just finished Happier at Home.  Loved it. 
Read The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton.  Not on my fall reading list.  Pretty good.  Not my favorite of hers but good. 
Re-read Gone Girl for book club.  Enjoyed it a second time. As expected, it was good for discussion.  I learned yesterday that the audio version is read by both a male and female reader...intriguing.
Next up is The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny.  Also not on the fall reading list, but I love her mysteries and this is the perfect time of year for them.
Just ordered Dies the Fire for book club.
Counted this morning...I think I've finished 9 of my list of 17.  Not bad.  I have two more fiction books on the list and 6 more non-fiction.  A little unbalanced perhaps. 

That's all. 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

A Quick Update

Well, I've accomplished some reading the last week or so. 

I finished I Will Carry You and Cutting for Stone.  Then, I knocked out Where We Belong and Let's Pretend This Never Happened.  And over the weekend, I flew through Dinner: A Love Story.  (That's one I'll be buying). 

I'm making progress on Dare Me.  And started The Praying Life. 

So, not quite a month in to the challenge, I've finished 6 out of 17.  That's not bad...but it's not a good sign that I'm already through 3 of my 7 fiction books.  And, I've got a couple on hold at the library that aren't on my list.  And a couple that are on my list but have such LONG waits.  So, we'll see how this next month goes. 

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

New books & Library Fail

So, I returned my unread books to the library yesterday, on their due date.  But, I forgot the one book I had read that needed returned.  And I thought I was being so organized.  More fees for me, please.  :)  And another trip to the library. 

I haven't even been letting myself go in when I return books.  It's just too dangerous.  The last time I went in (during this fall reading challenge, when I shouldn't even be looking at the new release shelves), I managed to come out with only ONE extra book, The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns by Margaret Dilloway. 

Where We Belong is waiting for me at the library.  I can wait 5 more days before picking it up. 

I went to a conference this last weekend.  They sold books there.  Just like last year, I walked away with more than I needed, including Looking for God by Nancy Ortberg and Wisdom Chasers by Nathan Foster.  I bought a third book but can't remember the title off the top of my head. 

Monday, October 1, 2012

More RWR...ughh

Another Returned Without Reading post.  Not that anyone who reads this (Hi Tylie) cares, but I like to keep track just in case I want to go back and check them out again, ie, keep them on my shelf for 12 weeks, preventing anyone else from reading these fine books. 
So, tomorrow I will return These is My Words, Backseat Saints and The Summer We Got Saved.  I was tempted to hold on to the last one, since I actually have it for another week.  But, since it didn't make my Fall into Reading list, it needs to go back. 

Speaking of Fall into Reading-
I'm nearly done with I Will Carry You.  It's so good but always causes tears.  So, I can't read all that much of it at a time if I want to be able to open my swollen eyelids the next morning.
As for fiction, I'm currently reading Cutting for Stone.  I like it.  I'm intrigued by it.  But, I'm so tired at night that I'm not getting through it very quickly. 
Also in progress - The Resolution for Women
Waiting to be picked up at the library - Where We Belong...I better get after Cutting for Stone if I'm going to have time to finish this one before it needs returned. 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

One Down

I finished my first Fall into Reading book...just a few more to go.  :)

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks was a fun but clever YA read.  I really enjoyed this book and flew right through it.  If you were ever a fan of the Gilmore Girls, I think you would like this book and its boarding school setting and secret society pranks.  If you're looking for a light, fun and quick read, check it out...from the library, once I return it.

Next up is Cutting for Stone.  This one doesn't look to be quite such a quick read.  And with no trip to SW Kansas in the near future, I'm not sure when I'll get the reading done. 

I need to make sure that I'm plugging away at the non-fiction as well or this challenge will not end well.  Right now, I'm reading The Resolution for Women for group.  And, I need to finish I Will Carry You and start on The Praying Life. 

Got my game plan.  Just need time to read.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Fall into Reading 2012

I'm excited to once again participate in Callapidder Days Fall into Reading challenge.  I think this is my third year...nope, I just went and checked.  It's my FOURTH year.  Wow.   As always the best part of the challenge is seeing what others are reading.  In fact, the very first year I participated, I kept seeing "The Hunger Games" on peoples' lists.  Checked it out at the library (there wasn't even a wait...I was ahead of the curve on that one) and devoured it.  So, go HERE to check out all the great reading lists.  Get inspired and get reading.

So, what am I going to read this fall?  I have so many books I would like to get to, but it seems like this fall is just packed full.  No leisurely Saturdays on the horizon for reading...hmmmm. So, what's it going to be?

Let's start with the non-fiction.  I think this list is a little ambitious, but it does include some easier reads, i.e., Let's Pretend This Never Happened. 

Non-fiction:
1. The Praying Life by Paul Miller
2. The Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas (reading this with my husband, but not nearly often enough)
3. Give them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson
4. The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer (reading this in my small group)
5. Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin
6. No Easy Day by Mark Owen
7. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
8. Dinner: A Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach
9. I Will Carry You by Angie Smith (I just have a few chapters left to finish in this one)
10. Mended by Angie Smith

The fiction list is much shorter and almost entirely dependent on when books become available at the library.  I will add a couple book club books to it as they come about.

Fiction:
11. Tumbleweeds by Leila Meacham
12. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
13. Where We Belong by Emily Giffin
14. The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling
15. Dare Me by Meg Abbott

I really wanted to end the list at 15, because that seems like a good number.  But I am just started a new book on Friday. 
16. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
and for good measure, our October book club selection (it will be a re-read for me)
17. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Happy Reading!  I would love to hear what's on your list.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Out of Renewals

Lately, I have been checking out more books from the library than I can possibly get read.  Today, I checked my account and was discouraged to see that I am out of renewals on almost everything.  Bummer.  So, a couple will go back without being read:
The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain
The Ambition by Lee Strobel (Phil's been reading this one...he has until Tuesday to finish).

Still have (thanks to one more renewal):
Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson
The Summer We Got Saved by Pat Devoto
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E Lockhart
These is my Words by Nancy Turner

What I need to be reading:
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (for book club)

What I should finish soon:
You Will Carry Me by Angie Smith

What I just started:
The Resolution for Women (for my small group)

What I'm excited about:
Making my reading list for the Fall into Reading Challenge
I'm going to have some good stuff on there. 

What are you reading?

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Reading Rampage

So, if you read this blog, you likely already know that reading is my number one coping mechanism.  So, with the last month being rather traumatic to say the least, my reading has taken off. 

I have a big stack from the library and four more waiting for me.  Plus, I went on a bit of a book buying binge as well.  Ack.  Amazon makes it far too easy.

So, what's on my shelf:
What Alice Forgot - just finished this one.  Good book, bad timing for one of the main sub-plots.
I've Got Your Number - listening to this on audio book and loving it.  It makes me smile all the way to work.  The reader's accent is delightful.
The Beginner's Goodbye - just started this one.  It's one of my (many) fourteen-day holds, so I need to put some time into it.
Beach Season - four short(er) stories
Wedding Season - not related to Beach Season, not sure I'll actually read this one...or the other
The Gilly Salt Sisters
The Song Remains the Same - picked this up right after reading What Alice Forgot and put it back down when I realized it was also about memory loss.  We'll see if I get back to it.
State of Wonder
These is my Words
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

What's waiting for me at the library:
Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews
Make the Bread, Buy the Butter
Porch Lights
Imagine

What I'm still waiting on the library for:
Summerland
The Fault in our Stars

What I bought:
Tumbleweeds by Leila Meacham
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Defending Jacob by William Landay - finished this one.
Let's Pretend The Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
I Will Carry You by Angie Smith
The One Year Book of Hope by Nancy Guthrie - so, so good.

I think this is sufficient to keep me reading for quite some time.  :)

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Spring Reading Thing

Ahhh, spring. I can hardly believe that everything is already so green. Our very mild winter caused spring to appear quite early this year.

Spring (as I've mentioned in the past) is the season during which I read the least. And, I've had a hard time figuring out what exactly is on my must-read list for the next few months. But, I love these reading challenges by Callapidder Days, and I still want to participate.

To see what everyone else is reading, go here.

So, we'll start with books I've requested from the library:

1. Night Circus (I read this in February, but it is the book club selection for April, so I'm checking out the audio book to refresh my memory).

2. Home Front by Kristin Hannah

3. Insurgent by Veronica Roth (comes out in April)

What's next? How about some non-fiction?

4. The Praying Life by Paul Miller

5. Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas (Phil and I have been reading this together, but we haven't made much progress).

6. Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton (I've started this one just briefly and would love to finish it this spring).

How about some more fun stuff?

7. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (loaned to me by a co-worker)

8. Heart of a Killer by David Rosenfelt (his new, stand-alone legal suspense novel)

9. V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton (in my box of Christmas books)

10. The Distant Hours by Kate Morton (in last year's box of Christmas books)

That's probably enough. I'll have two more book club books to add to the list before the end of the challenge. And, I'm just not getting all that much reading done these days.

Monday, March 19, 2012

What I wish I were reading

My reading drought has continued. I didn't realize how much reading I had been doing at home prior to going back to work a month ago. Wow. I must have spent a lot of the day reading. Now, that I'm gone for 8-9 hours a day, it is just not happening. (And I can bring a book to work, but I often don't get much reading done there either).

So, I recently finished The Tiger's Wife for book club. It was very good. I read The Kitchen Counter Cooking School immediately after that. It was a fast read. And, it may have convinced me to never buy processed food again. Now, I'm working on David Rosenfelt's new legal suspense Heart of a Killer (not sure that I think much of a the title).

So, tomorrow kicks off Callapidder Day's Spring Reading Thing. I haven't even really given much thought to what's on my reading list for this spring. Ack. I have a few things from the library and a few things I'm waiting on.

Any suggestions?

Monday, January 30, 2012

A Quick Update

I have piles of books everywhere, but so little time to read these days!!

Before I start taking stacks of unread books back to the library, I thought I better record some of them here, just in case I want to bring them home again. :)

Recently Finished:
When You Were Mine by Elizabeth Noble
7 by Jen Hatmaker (wow-za...I will be writing more about this one soon)

Currently reading:
Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

Need to read:
Unbroken (a re-read for book club)

Sitting in a stack in my bedroom just waiting:
The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain
Always Something There to Remind Me by Beth Harbison
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
The same two books I keep checking out by Lynn Austin, Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night

From my son's school library:
Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

For the kitchen:
Ruhlman's Twenty

That is a lot of books. And that includes only one, no, two books that I actually own. (Oops, went back and counted again...and we do own Unbroken, along with Sacred Rhythms and 7).

What's on your list?

Monday, January 2, 2012

Kicking off the New Year

Welcome 2012! I've been excited for the new year. Often I rather lament the quick passage of time and the turning of the page to the new year, but this year I was ready. A fresh start sounds wonderful after a rather roller-coaster of a year in 2011. So, here we are.

What are you reading in 2012? I haven't given too much thought to my reading list yet. Right now, I'm reading Still Alice by Lisa Genova. And, I have a stack from the library, plus my Christmas books.

You might notice that the list of books read in 2011 is no longer in the sidebar...well, it actually is, but now it is a link instead of the whole list. So, if you want to see what all I completed this past year, click on the Books 2011 link. The grand total was 93, I think. I really enjoyed keeping track this past year. As I look back over the list, I can remember what was happening around the time I read most of the books.

So, once I finish a book in 2012, you'll see the new list in sidebar.

I would love to hear what's on your list for this year!!