Week in Review and Sunday Book Coveting

Random Thoughts

As I write this, it is Saturday night and I have decided to have a mini-read-a-thon because I feel like I hardly had time to read all week. I am trying to find a new job and it is really stressing me out! I mean, the holidays are almost here and I am unemployed. So, reading took a backseat to me freaking out. Tonight, though, I am going to read and periodically update this post. Hopefully I will finish a book or two to bring my numbers for the week up a bit. That would be nice! I think I am going to go back to reading more than one book at a time. This year I have been mainly reading one book at a time, but I am getting a bit bored of that method. We will have to see if the multiple book idea works.

Don't forget about the unofficial November reading challenge. The goal is to read World War I, World War II, etc books in honour of Remembrance Day (or whatever it is called in your country). I am currently about halfway through Tatiana & Alexander by Paullina Simon. I read the first book, The Bronze Horseman, a couple years ago and it is about time that I finished the trilogy. I love these books, too, so there is really no excuse for being so slow! So far I haven't finished anything, though. Cath read Not so Quiet by Helen Zenna Smith. It actually sounds really good, but my library doesn't have it! Let me know if you finish anything and I will be sure to link to your reviews in these posts so that people can enjoy!

Weekly Reads

This was a nice read. I really need to read more Orson Scott Card because he really is a good author. And, yes, it is a Christmas read, but since it is a library book I had to read it when it came in! I enjoyed it, though!

I listened to the audio version of this and I have to say it was really well done! I wish my library had the rest of the books in this series in audio, but they don't... I am so glad I listened to it, though. The story was fun, too, and I plan to read the rest of the series, but the narrator really made the story.









I have been compiling a list of series that I have on the go. I came to Madeleine L'Engle and discovered that there were still a couple books in the Austin family series I hadn't read because they are for young readers. The library had this one, so I decided I might as well cross one off the list!








I told Chris if he read this and really liked it I would buy it with the gift card I received for my birthday. He really liked it (although, I found out yesterday I am finished and he is not...) so I bought it! Since he hasn't reviewed it yet we are going to review it together!









I have seen a few reviews of this book, so figured I should give it a try eventually. I have read a lot of comic books this year, so wanted to read what McCloud has to say about the history. It was interesting, but it was finished in I think 1992. Would be interesting to see what he says about the next 20 years or so since he finished the book.







Another series that I started a really long time ago and think I should get around to finishing. Mind you when I started it there were a lot less books! As I get my series-on-the-go post updated you will probably see more random books appearing so I can get the list down smaller. Mia still annoys me, but we will see what happens! After I finish this I want to try a few of her other series, but I have to finish this one first!

Weekly Posts

Once Upon a Week: Review: Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
Once Upon a Week: Buddy Interview: Interviewing Caitlyn
Joining the Christy Challenge: Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone
3rd Canadian Reading Challenge: Mini-Reviews
Graphic Novels: Mini-Reviews
Saturday Mini-Reviews: A Catch-up Post

Challenges

3rd Canadian Reading Challenge: I posted that I finished this challenge, but didn't share the entire list. Thought I would now.

1. Living with the Dead by Kelley Armstrong
2. Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
3. Sweetness in the Belly by Camilla Gibb
4. The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
5. The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade
6. The Outlander by Gil Adamson
7.Forests of the Heart by Charles de Lint
8. Haunted by Kelley Armstrong
9. The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
10. As Nature Made Him by John Colapinto
11. War Brides by Melynda Jarratt
12. The Iambics of Newfoundland by Robert Finch
13. The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys

I think my only challenges that I am still participating in are the Japanese Challenge (read at least 1 book), the Christy Challenge (read 3-4 books), and the Women Unbound Challenge (haven't decided how many to read yet). I successfully completed all the other challenges I joined in 2009!

Library Loot

After Dark by Haruki Murakami (Japanese Reading Challenge)
Let it Snow: three Holiday Romances (Buddy read with Amy from My Friend Amy)
The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore (Recommended by Cat)
The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt (My first Byatt!)
The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas by Madeleine L'Engle (Read)
The Great Women Superheroes by Trina Robbins (Women Unbound Challenge)
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud (Read)
Princess in Waiting by Meg Cabot (Read)
The Magicians by Lev Grossman (Lots of reviews of this one)
Rose in Bloom by Louisa M. Alcott (About time I read this)
Zanna's Gift by Orson Scott Card (Read)
Heaven to Betsy by Maud Hart Lovelace (Carry on with the series)

Sunday Book Coveting

I have wanted to read Byatt for a very long time. I am about 50 pages into this so far. I have three weeks to read it, so figured I would try to average about 50 pages a day.












An author that I have a lot of on my TBR pile, but never seem to actually read. This is her newest book and it is really good so far! I am about 100 pages in... I am enjoying the weaving of history with fiction.







Yes, this book is still here. It was due back to the library yesterday, so I really must finish it. I am hoping to either finish it or read a good part of it today.










Going to be buddy reviewing this, so I need to try and read it soon!










And those are just some of the books I want to try and read in November! What about you? What are your reading goals for November? The year is almost over, are there books you have wanted to read all year and haven't got around to so you feel you should hurry up and get to them now?

Have a great week!