The other day I realized that I forgot to mention, in my June update, that I read Winter Kiss by Deborah Cooke. I had added the book to the master reading list for 2010, but I failed to update total pages/books read for the year. Winter Kiss brought the yearly book total to 13, and the page total up to 4,275.
I actually devoted some time to reading in August. I re-read Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen). I kept it on my nightstand so I could read a chapter or two before bed, and I took it with me if I went out to eat. I hadn’t read the book since 2006. I remember that my goal was to rotate through the six novels in two-year intervals (three the first year, the other three the following, rinse, repeat). Obviously, it didn’t happen that way: I read three in 2006 and three in 2007, but I didn’t read any of them in 2008 or 2009. I would like to give the goal another try — without the two-year gap between. This means I need to read Sense and Sensibility and Northanger Abbey by 31 December in order to stay on track. We’ll see how that goes!
I mentioned that I had started reading Georgette Heyer’s Why Shoot a Butler? I leave that book at work. I’m making good progress with it (we’ve been having connectivity issues at work and a couple of times it’s brought us to a stand still in the office, so I’ve got more reading time on those days than I normally would have gotten). I’ve thought about bringing it home to finish up, but I recently unearthed In For A Penny, which I started way back on 4 June. I should focus on that book first, so it’s not hanging over my head when Ilona Andrews’ Bayou Moon comes out later this month. I plan to read it as soon as it arrives.
I’m now way behind with my reviews. I don’t know whether to make an attempt to get caught up, or just start fresh with Winter Kiss or In For A Penny. Two books and a short story were read as part of last year’s Fall Read-a-Thon. This year’s is just around the corner.
Speaking of which, I plan to participate in the Read-a-Thon. However, I don’t know how much time I will devote to the on-line portion. My internet service has been wonky lately (digital cable that kicks me off line more than my dial-up service ever did). This write up had to be written in a text program, just in case. Anyway. . .if for some reason I haven’t gotten the problem fixed, there’s no telling when and for how long I can access the internet. The other issue is the fact I’m no longer surfing wirelessly (yeah, no kidding). My reading spot will NOT be my home office. Not comfortable for reading. I’ll either camp out in the basement were all the books are, or I will park myself on the couch in my living room — a more comfortable spot and close to the kitchen for munchies. As to what books I plan to read, I haven’t decided yet. Much will depend on what I finish this month.
2010 Books/Reviews
- Pride and Prejudice (Austen, Jane) — no review planned
The backlogged 2009 reviews posted:
What’s still pending:
- Duel of Hearts
- Time Raiders: The Seduction (Cindy Dees)(Nocturne Bite)
- For the Love of Pete
- Three Bags Full
- “Falling for Anthony” (Meljean Brook), Hot Spell(anthology)
- The Battle Sylph (McDonald, L. J.)
- Magic Bleeds (Andrews, Ilona)
- Secretive Stranger (Greene, Jennifer)
- Winter Kiss (Cooke, Deborah) – Countdown
Below is my status regarding the various challenges.
Challenges Completed this month:
NONE
Incomplete (Ended in August):
NONE
2009-2010 Challenges:
101 Fantasy Challenge: 2/6
Countdown 2010: 19/55
2010 Challenges:
Contemporary Romance: 1/10
Harlequin/Silhouette: 1/6
“In Death” Challenge: 0/??
New Author: 3/20
Pub 2010: 6/10
Romance Reading: 2/5
What’s in a Name 3: 2/6
Year of the Historical: 2/12
Perpetual Challenges
Georgette Heyer:
~~ & ~~
Total (Month): 1
Grand Total (Year): 14
Total Pages Read (Month): 482
Grand Total (Year): 4,757
notice
Packing. Moving. Unpacking. And more unpacking. And even more unpacking.
Reading?
Officially . . . no.
However . . .
As I unpack the books, I’ve been known to stop and sometimes read a few pages (or more) of a book that’s caught my eye. I read the first two chapters of Georgette Heyer’s, Why Shoot a Butler?, and decided to take it to work and read it during lunch.
With all this non-reading going on, a couple of incomplete challenges ended this month. Instead of individual wrap-up posts, I’ll take care of that here:
What: Harry Potter Reading Challenge
When: 1 August 2009 – 31 July 2010
Who: Galleysmith
Rules: Read, or listen to, the seven books by the end of July 2010 (Harry’s Birthday!!). She’s giving away box sets of the books, plus other HP related stuff to be determined. Stop by her site and sign up using Mr. Linky.
I really did want to do this one. I could say that I “kinda-sorta” completed this challenge. My mother LOVES listening to these books on CD while she crochets or does needle work. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard Deathly Hollows in the last twelve months. Now that I’ve moved, I might have to invest in the set on CDs, just because I’ve lived with Jim Dale talking about Harry nearly ever night for the last two years. Thankfully, he has a nice voice.
~&~
What: Random Reading Challenge
When: 1 August 2009 – 31 July 2010
Who: Caribousmom
Rules: Randomly select books from TBR and assign a number. Using Random.org, pick a book to read. Visit her site for more precise instructions.
I’ll be doing LEVEL III – 12 Books
- Duel of Hearts (Diane Farr) — Announced // Reviewed
- Storm Born (Richelle Mead) — Announced //DNF
- Secretive Stranger (Jennifer Greene) — Reviewed
I thought this one would be any easy one to complete. Oh well.
~&~
Now, for some pictures of the progress I’m making with unpacking and setting up my library:
Stuff to the gills
The picture above: the hutch on the right is stuff with Harlequins (Nocturnes, Superromances, Bombshell, Historicals, etc.). All unread. I had my keepers in there initially, but I saw at once that I was running out of room. The all-purpose media rack (center) is the temporary holding area for keepers (less Star Wars novels) and Georgette Heyer trade paperbacks.
Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Jane Austen
Above: Taller of the two cases house my read and un-read Star Wars novels. No attempt was made to put anything in order (other than the keepers stacked on the top). On the top of the shorter shelf is my Harry Potter books (minus the Deathly Hallows). I have two sets: hardcover and the young adult trade paperback. At the time, I hadn’t found either edition of Deathly Hallows. I also have two sets of Jane Austen’s six novels (the red books and the stack under them). When I took this picture, there were still too many unpacked boxes in the middle of the room, so I couldn’t get a decent shot of the shelf in the extreme left hand side of the picture. The case has four shelves, each crammed with three rows of 15 books each, plus what ever else could fit on the end. I have another bookcase (similar in size to the one the SW books are in) plus a small book shelf made by one of my brothers. Once I’ve done more unpacking, I’ll be able to place them with the ones pictured.
View from Across the Room
Above: After I took the middle picture, I turned and took the above picture (I may have had to step a little to the side to get past the boxes).
Since taking these pictures, I have emptied more boxes and moved stuff around. Once I’ve charged my camera, I’ll take some updated photos.
With the packers coming in less than thirty days and the move itself less than 50, I’m pretty sure I’m not going to get caught up before I leave for Kentucky. That might be good thing, as I really want to do a spoilerific write-up on Magic Bleeds. If I get it posted by Independence Day, I’ll be surprised.
I did better this month as far as number of books and total pages read. The last book, Secretive Stranger, was a random pick. I had finished the Andrews book and I hadn’t decided what to read next. My order from Harlequin come in, and as I was going through the box, I just picked up the book and started reading. I could have finished it in a day, but I put it aside. I kept coming back to Magic Bleeds, re-reading scenes and catching stuff I missed the first time. If it wasn’t for that, I could have squeezed in another book. Maybe. 
2010 Books/Reviews
- A Wicked Liaison (Merrill, Christine) — Countdown, Year of the Historical
- The Battle Sylph (McDonald, L. J.) — Countdown, Pub 2010, New Author
- Magic Bleeds (Andrews, Ilona) — Countdown, Pub 2010
- Secretive Stranger (Greene, Jennifer) — Pub 2010, Countdown, Contemporary Romance, New Author, Random Reading, Romance Reading
FROM APRIL
The backlogged 2009 reviews posted:
What’s still pending:
- Duel of Hearts
- Time Raiders: The Seduction (Cindy Dees)(Nocturne Bite)
- For the Love of Pete
- Three Bags Full
- “Falling for Anthony” (Meljean Brook), Hot Spell(anthology)
Below is my status regarding the various challenges.
Challenges Completed this month:
NONE
Incomplete (Ended in March):
NONE
2009-2010 Challenges:
101 Fantasy Challenge: 2/6
Countdown 2010: 18/55
Harry Potter: 0/7
Random Reading: 2/12
2010 Challenges:
Contemporary Romance: 1/10
Harlequin/Silhouette: 1/6
“In Death” Challenge: 0/??
New Author: 3/20
Pub 2010: 6/10
Romance Reading: 2/5
What’s in a Name 3: 2/6
Year of the Historical: 2/12
Perpetual Challenges
Georgette Heyer:
~~ & ~~
Total (Month): 4
Grand Total (Year): 12
Total Pages Read (Month): 1,173
Grand Total (Year): 3,886
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