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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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?

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.  :)