Week in Review

Random Thoughts

Note to self, do not get really excited about reading weeks! The next week generally turns out to be rather bad after that... I have only finished three books this week. Count them, THREE! How depressing is that! It means several books are going to have to go back to the library unread, though, and that makes me sad!

I am still coughing from when I was sick. I get like this every year, but with the swine flu worries I feel like everyone thinks I am going to die! I really do get a bad cough every year... I mean, just ask the charming comedian! For our first date we went to the movies and I coughed for the first half and he kept asking me if I was okay. I was really regretting saying no to the drink, but he gave me gum and I managed to make it through the rest of the movie cough-free! That is probably why he just is my mini-pharmacy and doesn't complain... It is also why I am now required to have a drink at all movie viewings.

November Reading Challenge

I don't think there are any new reviews for my unofficial reading challenge, but if there are feel free to leave the URL in the comments and I will post about it next week! I hope to read at least one more book for the challenge, but I wouldn't hold my breath...

Virtual Advent

Can you believe that this starts in just over a week? I am so excited! There has been an amazing turnout of sign-ups and I can't wait to read all the posts! There is still plenty of time to sign-up and there will be a post soon with last-minute details. To sign-up, just head over to the blog! There are still some people I was hoping would sign-up that haven't... Hint, hint!

Dewey Reading Challenge

In December there will be a mini-challenge as a bit of a wrap-up to the challenge! It's all about doing things in Dewey's memory, so I hope that people will sign-up. There will be an official place to post your links in December, but for now you can read all the details on this post.

Other Challenges/Events

I have a big post scheduled for Thursday to talk about all the challenges I am planning to sign-up for so far in 2010, so be sure to check it out! In the meantime, I am hosting a read-along in 2010 to read The Time Quartet by Madeleine L'Engle. There has been a decent amount of interest so far, so I hope others will join in. I was just posting to see if there is any interest. Since there is, should I put up a place to offically sign-up or something?

Also, don't forget about The Alphabet in Historical Fiction that is being hosted by Historical Tapestry. The letter is 'A'. You still have another week to post for it. I know what my post is going to be, but I seem to have forgotten to post it. I will have to try and squeeze it in this week somewhere.

Weekly Reads

I read Peter & Max by Bill Willingham. I am reviewing this with Heather, so my review will be up on Tuesday! Then, I read Avalon High Coronation - Volume 2: Homecoming by Meg Cabot. This is manga series. Apparently there is a novel that they spin-off of and I have it from the library now, too. Lastly, I finished Ash by Malinda Lo. If you are doing the GLBT challenge next year this is a good book for it! It's supposed to be a fairy tale retelling, but it is not what you would generally expect...

It's not like I don't have good books on the go! I am reading Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver, The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt, and Flappers by Joshua Zeitz. I just need to settle down, read, and finish something! That's the plan, anyway! Instead, I am thinking about all the books I want to be reading...

Weekly Posts

Music Munday - Guest Post: SoundRelief
Review: The Wild Things by Dave Eggers
Dewey Reading Challenge: A Mini-Challenge
Random and Some Reminders
The Time Quartet Read-Along

Library Loot

Avalon High Coronation - Volume 2: Homecoming by Meg Cabot (read)
Day After Night by Anita Diamant (like the author)
Truckers by Terry Pratchett (Terry Pratchett Challenge)
Ash by Malinda Lo (read)
Avalon High by Meg Cabot (carry on with series)
The Passion by Donna Boyd (someone said I should try it...)
Flapper by Joshua Zeitz (Maybe Women Unbound...)
Princess in Pink (carry on with with series)

Week in Review and Sunday Book Coveting

Random Thoughts

I was a bit slack with my blog posting this week! I missed yesterday because of writing emails for the Holiday Swap. I got a late start because of some technological issues, but then I wanted to finish because there are so many things I want to accomplish this week! Actually, there is so much I want to talk about in this post that I think I will do it in more sections than normal!

Virtual Advent Calendar

One of the most important things about today is that sign-ups have started for the 4th Annual Advent Calendar! It is hard to believe it has been four years. My blogiversary is coming up and I will have been blogging for four years at that time. Crazy how fast time goes! Anyway, it is hosted by Marg and myself again this year and I hope that lots of people will join up! The calendar officially starts on December 1. To sign-up just head over to the blog. I look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with this year!

November Reading Challenge

How is everyone making out with my unofficial reading challenge? I finished one book this week: Tatiana & Alexander by Paullina Simons. I even reviewed it! Nymeth read a book for it, too, and you can read her review by heading over to her blog. Anyone else? It is not too late to do so. The goal is to simply read a book that is related to World War I, World War II, etc in honour of Remembrance Day (or whatever it is called where you live!). Hope to see a few more reviews before the month is over with.

Dewey Reading Challenge

It was planned back at the beginning that I would do the mini-challenge in December for the Dewey Reading Challenge. I still plan to do so! There will be an official post about it on either Wednesday or Thursday. Basically, though, the point of the challenge is to do things you would likely do anyway. Dewey was all about the blogging community, and even her own community, so all you have to do is do something for either the blogging community or your own community and post about it. Easy, right? When I announce it formal I will set-up a Mr. Linky. I hope people will join in!

Other Reading Challenges/Events

I also just wanted to take a moment to mention Historical Tapestry. Believe it or not, I do still blog there! We have launched a new feature this week called The Alphabet in Historical Fiction. The details are as follows:

Each fortnight you have to write a blog post about an historical fiction book of your choice (it might even be something you already read before), but it MUST be related to the letter of the week.

You have several possibilities:

- the first letter of the title
- the first letter of the author's first name or surname
- the first letter of a character's first name or surname
- the first letter of a place where an historical event took place

You just have to choose one of them and participate.

The fact that you can reuse old posts is a very big draw for me. I might actually manage to participate! This week is brought to you by the letter 'A'. Sorry, I couldn't resist! Tell me you know where I get that from... At least, it is sort of quoted correctly. I haven't watched Sesame Street in a number of years...

I also wanted to do some advertising for Marg and her reading challenge. She has decided to do a Terry Pratchett one. I have been working on Terry Pratchett this year. I read Nation, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, and The Tiffany Aching trilogy. That means that it will be soon time to read the actual Discworld series. Since I plan to be reading it anyways it makes sense to make it a challenge! I actually have three Pratchett books on hold for me at the library, so I will just hold on to them until December 1 when the challenge starts. Head over to Marg's blog for all the details.

hm, I am starting to think I should have made this two posts!

Weekly Reads

At time of posting I managed to finish 8 books!

Wintersmith (Tiffany Aching Trilogy, Book 3) by Terry Pratchett - Speaking of Terry Pratchett, I finished the third book in this trilogy just this week! It was a fun book. I really enjoy Tiffany. I am also very happy to finish a trilogy! (This usually means I start another one... The sad thing is I did all ready. You will soon see!)

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett - I read this book because it was blogged about a lot for a bit and I thought it looked interesting. It is about a man that is obsessed with stealing books and the people that book stealing concerns. Nothing ground-breaking, but it was a good read.

Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle - I read this because John Green has a story in it, of course! Although, I really like Maureen Johnson so far, too. I have never read Lauren Myracle before. I am going to be buddy reviewing this with Amy from My Friend Amy, so stay tuned!

Bone - Volume 2: The Great Cow Race by Jeff Smith - The second book in the Bone series. I am really enjoying this series so far! It is about time I got around to reading it. It's a lot of fun! I look forward to book 3 when it comes in for me at the library.

Tatiana & Alexander (Bronze Horseman Trilogy, Book 2) by Paullina Simons - I read this for my unofficial reading challenge. I have even reviewed it all ready! Go me!

Project Princess (Princess Diaries, Book IV and a half) by Meg Cabot - As I said last week, finishing up this series is a priority for me. I have too many series on the go! Mia kind of annoys me, that's why I stalled in this series, but they are still fun books... I have the next book on hold for me at the library.

Avalon High Coronation -Volume 1: The Merlin Prophecy by Meg Cabot - See? I finished one trilogy and started a series! It has Arthurian connections, though. I was looking for the book above and found this one and decided to give it a go. It is manga. Apparently there is a novel that is technically book one, so I have that and the next manga on hold for me at the library. I like Arthurian re-tellings...

The Father Christmas Letters by J.R.R. Tolkien - I love Tolkien, but yet I don't read him. I was looking for Christmas-related books and this one popped into my head. I had a total fangirl moment because one of the letters in the book mentions Nova Scotia! I live in Nova Scotia. I mean, Tolkien actually knew that Nova Scotia existed! That made me unnecessarily excited, but I feel the need to share. I even got the cc to read that letter! (The cc doesn't like Tolkien! Mind you, he has only tried to read The Hobbit, so I don't think he has given him a fair chance.)

Currently Reading:
Peter & Max by Bill Willingham
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt
The Dragon Book: Modern Tales from the Masters of Modern Fantasy edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois

Weekly Posts

Music Munday: Review - To the Limit: The Untold Story of the Eagles by Marc Eliot

A Bookish Day
Remembrance Day 2009
Review: Tatiana & Alexander by Paullina Simons

Library Loot

The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices by Xinran (Women Unbound Challenge)
Letters from Burma (Women Unbound Challenge)
When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmerelda Santiago (Women Unbound Challenge)
Blue Noon by Scott Westerfeld (Carry on with series)
Prelude by Madeleine L'Engle (Finish off a trilogy)
Avalon High Coronation -Volume 1: The Merlin Prophecy by Meg Cabot (Read)
Project Princess (Princess Diaries, Book IV and a half) by Meg Cabot (Read)
Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer (Carry on with Series)
Death Ship of Halifax Harbour by Steven Laffoley (Canadian)
The Father Christmas Letters by J.R.R. Tolkien

Since this is all ready a really long post, I am going to skip Sunday Book Coveting for this week! Okay, I think I am going to go read or something because I just stared at the computer for a really long time writing this post!