Today the Spring Reading Challenge comes to an end. About a month into it I realized that I was definitely not going to get through all my books. What with last semester being so stressful, and joining another book club, I just didn’t have the time. I only read 3 1/2 of the books on my list, which is kind of sad. I did read a few that weren’t on my list, though:
Promise Me by Harlan Coben
The Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
The Color of Water by James McBride
Can You Keep A Secret? by Sophie Kinsella
I guess 7 1/2 books in three months isn’t so bad, considering that I had lots of school and work going on there as well.
What was the best book you read this spring?
That’s a tough one. They were all pretty good. The Stranger Beside Me affected me the most, though.
What book could you have done without?
The Little Chinese Seamstress. The end left me flat.
If there were books you didn’t finish, tell us why.
I think I already told you. But I do want to mention that I am halfway through Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, and I like it a lot. But it is 846 large pages long, so it is taking awhile.
What did you learn–about anything–through this challenge?
-To be suspicious and extra cautious (Stranger Beside Me)
-Chick lit can be enjoyable sometimes (Can You Keep A Secret?)
-I don’t read as much as I thought I did
-Reading Christian books when I’m not in the mood isn’t very helpful
From Katrina (Callapidder Days):
I think seven and a half books plus school, etc. is pretty decent, if you ask me. And being halfway through Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell should count as at least a full book, right? :) Thanks for being part of the Spring Reading Thing!
From Barbara H.:
I think 7 1/2 books in three months is great, especially with school going on!
From Nise':
You did well on the challenge! I enjoy reading Harlan Coben. The 846 page book should be counted as 2-3 books don’t you think?
From Nise':
You did well on the challenge! I enjoy reading Harlan Coben. The 846 page book should be counted as 2-3 books don’t you think?
From Nise':
You did well on the challenge! I enjoy reading Harlan Coben. The 846 page book should be counted as 2-3 books don’t you think?
From doc:
i’m seriously impressed with the quality and quantity of your spring reading.
i’d like to recommend Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie, if you haven’t already read it. it reads in about 3 hours if you haven’t got anything else to do, and 6 hours if you spend as much time laughing at Rushdie’s witticisms zs i did. solid saturday afternoon book. a very quick read, and a fun book all the way around…
2 more points in its favor–
1) i’d say it borders on being good bedtime reading for practically any young adult, but it’s ‘old’ enough for a 25 year-old guy to read without feeling like an idiot man-child.
2) it’s a story about stories, and i like stories about stories, like that x-files episode about the guy writing a murder mystery whose fictional character has actually been killing people in real life.
From David the Elder:
Way to go Kat. Glad you’ve got the Stagg love of reading in you. You Dad and I would live for summertime when we could devour as many books as we could. Yes – even with a flashlight under the covers sometimes :)
From Katy:
Man, sometimes when my brain is full I’m so tempted to go into my sister’s room and grab a chick-lit book. Hmm.
Also, reading Christian books when I’m not in the mood usually just pisses me off.
You should join the Novellas Facebook club! We’re reading through the 100 best contemporary novels from 1923 to the present according to Time Magazine. =)
From Scott:
For you next list, I strongly recommend “The God of Small Things” (http://www.amazon.com/God-Small-Things-Arundhati-Roy/dp/0060977493/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-4860357-6195337?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182538748&sr=8-2) by Arundhati Roy.
From Katy:
I think they played Houston the night before they played Dallas, didn’t they? Hmm. Maybe John Mayer was the closer for all of it, in which case I’m even more irritated! I really thought they switched off each night, but I’ve been wrong before.