Sunday, November 15, 2009

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

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!

15 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:48 AM

    Looks like you had quite a productive week--eight books is great!

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  2. I read the final book in Avalon High series, but I found it only sort of "meh." My stepdaughter, however, really liked it. I'm glad I got her to read something with Arthurian connections. Maybe one day she'll want to explore more. :)

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  3. The Advent Calendar blog looks wonderful, Kelly!

    And I'm going to have to think about that Pratchett challenge...

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  4. A great list of books - and I see that you have Uglies and Pretties on one of your challenge lists. I have just purchased those (and Specials as well), but haven't gotten around to read them just yet.

    The Advent Tour button is so pretty and I am signing up now. I joined last year for the first time, and am looking forward to do it again this year.

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  5. Yay for Discworld. That challenge looks awesome :)

    I loved Wintersmith and can't wait for I Shall Wear Midnight to come out.

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  6. Anonymous1:12 PM

    Oh! Oh! Oh! Me! Me! Me! I read a book for your unofficial challenge last week! (On Armistice Day, actually, so I realised later.)

    You sound so excited. ^-^ I hope you've been having a good weekend and will enjoy the new arrivals on your TBR stack!

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  7. I'm looking forward to this year's Virtual Advent Tour!

    I am hoping to one day read The Man Who Loved Books Too Much. I am glad you enjoyed it.

    I hope you have a great week, Kelly!

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  8. You had a great reading week! I haven't read any Terry Pratchett before so I'm going to sign up. Happy reading!

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  9. This easily could've been 3 posts!! So much great info!! I think I'm going to join in the Pratchett fun. I have the Tiffany Aching books upstairs in my scrap/book room just waiting for me so this would be a great place to start. I also requested the first book in the Bronze Horseman Trilogy because of you...can't wait to read it!!!

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  10. Oh lots of good stuff here. Unfortunately I won't be able to participate in the blog advent tour but you guys really do such a good job with it. I'm looking forward to reading the entries!

    And, thank you for the reminder of the new feature over at Historical Tapestry. I love reading that blog but haven't had a chance to visit in a while. Must do that!

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  11. What a productive week you've had!

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  12. wow - you are amazing. You remind me that I've been a slacker with the Dewey Challenge and must focus on that for Dec - THANKYOU! so I eagerly await more info on a mini-challenge as I dig up whichever books I committed to finish for that.

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  13. I'm totally impressed that you read 8 books!

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  14. May have been long, but it was positively fun to read!!! :D

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  15. Congrats on blogging for 4 years!

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