February Reading Challenges Summary

Well, I did it. I finished two books in two days. I just finished Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann. It counts as my book recommended by a blog for the 4 Month Challenge. The cover kept popping up on coverspy and I liked the descriptions of all the people reading it, so I decided to check it out. I didn't like it as much as I thought I would, but it wasn't bad.

Off the Shelf (Making a Dent, 30 books): 10/30, 3 read in February
The 4 Month Challenge: Points for February: 40; Points total: 230

I didn't read any Shakespeare this month and I'm doing OK on the TBR Dare. I did so little reading this month though, it wasn't hard (I even tried to cheat, but failed at that).

2011 progress:
Books: 10
Pages: 2,662

Four days left in February. It's gotten cold here. I'm feeling depressed because I have no job and I haven't finished a book in three weeks. I know I can read two books in four days, and I'd like to but in reality, that's probably not going to happen. I have started up my quote books again though. That's really the only good thing to come out of February. I hate this month.

Ugh. I have done no reading lately. I got super sick on Sunday and I hate February. Hopefully I'll get back on the ball soon or, you know, in March.

February Reading Challenges Updates

Off the Shelf (Making a Dent, 30 books)
1. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
2. The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood
3. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann

Total for February: 3
Total: 10

The 4 Month Challenge
1. Read a book that is the first in a series, The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book One) by Rick Riordan; 15 points
2. Read a book you've been meaning to read for ages, The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood; 10 points
3. Read a book recommended by a blog, Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann; 15 points

Total for February: 40
Total: 230

The Shakespeare Reading Challenge (Desdemona, 6 plays)

January Reading Challenges Summary

I know the month isn't over for two more days, but I don't want to wait.

Shakespeare Reading Challenge: 1/6
The 4 Month Challenge: Points for January: 115; Points total: 190
Off the Shelf Challenge: 7/30
TBR Dare: Going strong.

2011 progress:
Books read: 7
Pages read: 1,711

Every book I read this month came from my TBR pile. I have a very loose definition of TBR... it's basically any book I own that I haven't read yet. For the Off the Shelf challenge, all of the books counted must have been purchased before 2011... I think it might be the same for the TBR Dare? But this month my reading didn't include any books I've bought this year so it was easy keeping track.

Today I finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. I loved it. It is beautiful. I think my favorite thing about it is the story could be incredibly depressing, but Smith writes in such a matter-of-fact way (when it could be very sentimental) that that's not the case. The story flows like life; things happen - good and bad - and the characters get on with it.

I read this book incredibly slowly. I'm not sure why. When I would sit down with it, I could read pages and pages, but then I'd put it down for a few days before picking it up again. Maybe it's because I was sick. Maybe it's because I didn't want it to end. Maybe the book demanded to be read in small chunks rather than devoured over two days. I don't know.

Now I'm reading St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell. It's short stories. I've read two so far. They're interesting. I think I'll reserve judgment until I finish all of the stories.

I read Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli today. It's a book that I often looked at, thought about reading but never did. I don't know why. It was very good, as every Jerry Spinelli is (that I've read anyway). I like that he deals with heavy topics, like race and death, without being heavy handed about it.And his characters are always interesting. Maniac Magee reminded me in bits and pieces of Stargirl. They're both larger than life characters who seem to exist outside the world they're placed in.

I'm counting this as my "read a book by your favorite author" for the 4 Month Challenge. I don't think I technically have a favorite author, but I have enjoyed all of Jerry Spinelli's books, so I figure that's good enough.

PS As I was writing the bit about heavy topics, I was struck by a sense of déjà vu. I wrote something similar in my review of When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt. I'm sure I'll write it again at some point, as I think this is one indication of great YA literature.