What I'm Thinking About - December 1, 2013

1. Book Committees
I have been quietly busy on the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction committee and have been perusing the CYBILS Middle Grade Fiction nominations (2nd round judge) and worndering:

How do librarians (school and public) or classroom teachers use these lists? 

Or any award/best of list.


2. Christmas Shopping
I just had a $1,000 problem fixed on my car. And that was the bare minimum to keep the car running.  That was money I was going to use for Christmas gifts and a real Christmas tree.  Luckily, I have a fake tree in reserve. But the presents, no clue.

3. #Nerdlution - December 2, 2013  - January 20, 2014
I'm jumping on the Nerdlution bandwagon. I'm committing to 30 minutes of blogging and 30 minutes of exercise for the next 50 days.  See here, here, and here if you want more information.

My 30 minutes are up.

The Sunday Salon - Monthly Update - April 2011

Wow, April flew by. Plus I missed the March update. So, here they are together. I'm looking forward to things slowing down for summer!

Challenge Update

POC Reading Challenge (15)
Warp Speed by Lisa Yee
Trash by Andy Mulligan
The Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon
Sidekicks by Dan Santat
Tall Story by Candy Gourlay
Red Glove by Holly Black

Debut Author Challenge (9)
The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
Sidekicks by Dan Santat

Graphic Novels Challenge (9)
The Odyssey by Gareth Hinds
The Loser List by HN Kowitt
Sidekicks by Dan Santat

Overall

6 Adult
13 Young Adult
9 Middle Grades

Best Book: The Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

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The Sunday Salon - Working My Way Back You - February 2011

I've been insanely crazy busy this past month and I'm still reeling! I've read some but mostly I've watched movies.  But I'm staging a comeback starting with a wrap up of February!

Here's to my success!

Challenge Update

POC Reading Challenge (9)
Lost and Found by Shaun Tan
Voices by Ursula LeGuin
Camo Girl by Kekla Magoon
Taking Sides by Gary Soto
Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch

Debut Author Challenge (7)
Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge
Sudden Moves by Kelli Sue Landon
Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
The  False Princess by Eilis O'Neal


Graphics Novel Challenge (6)
Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel
Lost and Found by Shaun Tan
Knights of the Lunch Table by Cammuso
Empire State by Jason Shiga
Janes in Love by Cecil Castelluci
Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch

Overall (23)

3 Adult
6 Middle Grades
14 Young Adult

Best Book - Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt

Numbers-wise, I'm doing ok on my challenges but I'm failing miserably on the review front and that needs to change. So I'll work on that.

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The Sunday Salon - Monthly Update - January 2011

It's Superbowl Sunday!  Admittedly, this means nothing to me.  This year, I am going to a friend's house but normally I just put the tv on in the background and read.  I try to watch the commercials though, so I know what's going on at the water cooler!

Just like the Superbowl is wrapping up football, I'm going to wrap up my month of reading!

Challenge Update
POC Reading Challenge (4)
The Firefly Letters by Margarita Engle
The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Shang
The Blind Side by Michael Lewis
Split by Swati Avasthi

Debut Author Challenge (3)
The Great Wall of Lucy Wu
Water Wars by Cameron Stracher
Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

Overall (19)
13 Young Adult
2 Adult
4 Middle Grade

Best Book - Scrawl by Marc Shulman

How was your reading this month?

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The Sunday Salon - Are You Up to the Challenge?

I usually avoid entering challenges because I never complete them; I'm a better sprinter than marathoner. (sorry Dana Reinhardt)

But this year I'm focused on Generosity; including cutting myself some slack.  Doing #bookaday has reminded me that the journey counts just as much as the outcome.  So, here are some challenges that I'm joining in 2011:

POC Challenge - it's important that I continue to diversify my reading but in addition i need to write about the books I read.  I'll be joining at Level 5  and here are some of the books I plan on reading:

1. Latte Rebellion
2. The Trouble With Half a Moon
3. Great Wall of Lucy Lu
4. What Can't Wait
5. Vanished
6. Red Scarf Girl
7. The Kayla Chronicles
8. Revolution is not a Dinner Party
9. Hole in My Life
10. Flygirl
11. A Girl Named Mister
12. Windup Girl
13. Does My Head Look Big in This
14. Shine
15. We Could Be Brothers
16. Where the Streets Had a Name
17. Bitter Melon
18. Standing Against the Wind

update 12/12/11 Terrible. Only 3 titles.

Books I Should Have Read In School - Each year the 8th graders have to read and debate whether a known classic should continue being read.  It's been a long time since I've had to read these and I need a refresher and I need to expand my knowledge so that I can book talk more choices.  I'm entering this one at the Graduate School level.

1. Little Women
2. A Tale of Two Cities
3. Adventures of Tom Sawyer
4. Anne of Green Gables
5. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
6. To Kill A Mockingbird

update 12/12/11 NONE!

Graphic Novels Challenge - This a tough format for me because I don't come across them as much as I do ebooks since not all books make good graphic novels.  I know many students become hooked once they discover this area so I need to bone up for book talks. I'm going for the Expert level.

1. Copper
2. Spacehaedz
3. Hereville
4. Secret Science Alliance
5. Resistance
6. Ghostopolis
7. Cloud Searchers (I've read and loved the first two)
8. Athena
9. The Unsinkable Walker Bean
10. The Sons of Liberty

update 12/12/11 only 40% - fail.

Debut Author Challenge - I like new: new clothes, new books, new authors.  This is purely for fun! Finding new writers and then watching their careers is mighty awesome let me tell you.  This list will change the most! 

1. The False Princess
2. Water Wars
3. Great Wall of Lucy Liu
4. Here Lies Bridget
5. Ten Miles Past Normal
6. The Latte Rebellion
7. Trouble with Half a Moon
8. What Can't Wait
9. Vanished
10. Sequins, Secrets and Silver Linings
11. ?
12. ?

UPDATE: 12/12/11 actually read more - they are just not listed! Will plan better next year.

One,Two Theme - seems like an interesting way to learn more about things.  This will also help me increase my nonfiction readings.

1. Education 1 book
2. Race Relations 2 books 
3. Poverty 3 books

update: another fail.

NOTE: All reading lists are subject to change as I learn about other offerings and start reading for Mock Newbery and Mock Printz clubs.  I will also try to increase my nonfiction reading.

12.12.11 Update - All in all - I need to plan out this better.  I know what my reading normally looks like - I just need to expand in some areas and pull back in others. I'll join these same challenges if they are open next year. 

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The Sunday Salon - Monthly Updates - November 2010

Busy month!  Didn't get a lot of reading done.  But that's ok, since I got caught up on some other stuff. 

November Reads

Tween/Middle Grades (7)

Heart of a Samurai by Preus
Saving Sky by Stanley
The Hole in the Wall by Fraustino
Finding Family by Bolden
Bink and Gollie By DiCamillo and McGhee
What Happened on Fox street by Springstubb
Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z by Messner

Young Adult (7)

They Called Themselves the KKK by Bartoletti
Lockdown by Myers
Heist Society by Carter
As Easy as Falling off the Face of the Earth by Perkins
Yummy by Neri
Revolution by Donnelly
Dirt Road home by Key

Other (2)

Of Bees and Mist by Setiawan
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Bender

Total Read in November: 16
Best Book Read in November:  Heist Society by Ally Carter

Best book was a tough call since I'm reading lots of books that have had starred reviews and/or appeared on a "Best of 2010" list this month.  But, I've been hawking this ever since my intern forced me to read it.  It makes you want to know more about another aspect of the Holocaust, even though that probably was not the intention. 

Upcoming Reads

Blog Tours

Wishing and Hoping by Lamb
Keeper by Appelt
Joey Fly 2 by Reynolds
Sugar and Ice by Messner
The Alchemist - Graphic Novel by Coehlo
Mock Newbery/ Mock Printz Clubs
Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Cushman
A Million Shades of Gray by Kadohata
Scumble by Law
War to End All Wars by Freedman
Finally by Mass
Turtle in Paradise by Holm
Matched by Condie
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by King
Fat Vampire by Adam Rex

Holiday #Bookaday Reading

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Smith (must finish!)
The Pathfinder by Card
Foundling by Cornish
Hero by Lupica
Batboy by Lupica
Maze Runner by Dashner (reread)
The Things a Brother Knows by Reinhardt
Wildfire Run by Garretson
Sons of Liberty by Lagos
The Mockingbirds by Whitney
The Ugly Truth by Kinney
 Where Men Win Glory by Krakauer
The Blind Side by  Lewis
Knights of the Hill Country by Tharp
Payback by Carl Deuker

  Holiday Bookaday is much like summer Bookaday. You read a book each day you are not at work during the winter holidays and you tweet about it using hashtag bookaday. My break starts on December 18 and ends January 2 which gives me 16 days.  This list represents my plans, but you know how that goes!

Do you have any holiday reading plans?

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The Sunday Salon - Monthly Update - October 2010

I haven't done one of these since June or July! Which is when I finished all of my fake challenges and my one real challenge, NO Summer Slide.

I'm now working on a new real challenge - read a good portion of the books that are Newbery Contenders.  I'm working off a list so that makes it a little easier.  The hard part is writing something about each book as I finish it.  I'll update my progress next week.
  
October Reading
Tween/Middle Grades (10)
Night Fairy by Schlitz
Kick by Myers and Workman (2011 release from NetGalley)
The Search for Wondla by DiTerlizzi

The Familiars by Epstein and Jacobson
Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Viorst
The Lost Hero by Riordan
Jake by Couloumbis
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Angleberger
Griff Carver, Hallway Patrol by Krieg
Vordak the Incomprehensible by Seegart

Young Adult (13)

Water Seeker by Holt
Prom and Prejudice by Eulberg (2011 release from Scholastic)
Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs by Koertge
Stuck on Earth by Klass
Reckless by Funke
Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Green
Bamboo People by Perkins
Beastly by Flinn (audio)
Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Matson
Ship Breaker by Bacigalupi
Black Hole Sun by Gill
Scorch Trials by Dashner
Cool Beans by  Mangum

Picture Book (1)

Bad Kitty by Bruel

Other

Blank my Dad Says by Halpin

Total Read in October - 25
Best Book Read in October - The Search for Wondla by Tony DiTerlizzi

Decent but my school year challenge calls for some classic and nonfiction reading.  Luckily, I have until June for that.

Upcoming Reads

Blog Tours

Hole in the Wall by Faustino
Bees to Mist by Setiawan
The Walk by Alexander
Wishing and Hoping by Lamb
Keeper by Appelt
Joey Fly 2 by Reynolds
Sugar and Ice by Messner
The Alchemist - Graphic Novel by Coehlo

Requests
Selling Hope by Tubb
Spray by Edge

Print and Newbery Book Club Reads

Forge by Anderson
Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Cushman
Touch Blue by Lord
A Million Shades of Gray by Kadohata
Scumble by Law
War to End All Wars by Freedman
Finally by Mass
Turtle in Paradise by Holm
The Danger Box by Balliett
Easy as Falling Off The Face of the Earth by Perkins
Revolution by Donnelly
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by King

I still need the two reads from our teacher book club, but hopefully they will choose something I'm already planning to read or have read!

The Sunday Salon - Epic Summer of Reading - August 29, 2010

I had a wonderful reading summer! I participated in Donalyn Miller's invitation to average one book per day during your summer vacation.  I also read a few professional books in order to prepare for the TV Studio class I'm in charge of.  I had a great time driving The Amazing Dancer to and from her summer PE experience since it afforded me time to listen to a few books.  I would also make a point of being there early so that I could read in the car.  Our library was awarded a grant to purchase 10 e-readers.  I'd written the grant for Kindles because of how I could see it beign used by student's with special needs as well as by teachers and small groups. But, alas, due to purchasing issues we got the Nooks instead.  So I spent the summer learning how to use the Nook and read a fair number of books on it.

Anyway, I need to do a July Monthly Update and my final NO Summer Slide both of which are late!

July Monthly Update
12 Young Adult
12 Middle Grade
3 POC
8 Library

Total books read in July - 26
Best Book Read in July - The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

NO Summer Slide
Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (A) - re-read these in anticipation of Mockingjay release.

The Magician (E), The Sorceress (E), and The Necromancer (E) by Michael Scott - must read series.  Did you know John Dee is based on a real person?  I will be booktalking the heck out of these books. There's action and adventure and history.  So good.

The Adventures of Jack Lime by James Leck - short, fun book of mysteries.  Our 6th graders read Don't Feed the Bully and are usually looking for another short mystery and this is the one I'll be pushing.

Manifest by Artist Arthur - reviewed.

Mockingbird by Katherine Erskine (N) - interesting story of a student with Asperger's dealing with the death of her brother who was killed as a result of a school shooting.  Told from the point of view of the student, it gives insight into how people with Asperger's struggle with emotions and feelings.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl - been meaning to read this one since December.  I finally received an audio copy from HB and started listening.  I stopped cleaning so I could read it.  My daughter then borrowed it to read, she loved the audio too!

Sit in: How Four Friends Stood up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney (N) - great way to bring this story to a younger audience.

Premiere and Catwalk by Melody Carlson -great new series that combines fashion and faith. Reviewed.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (E, P) - Mock Printz contender.

Sapphique by Catherine Fisher - sequel to Incarceron.

Rae by Chelsea Swiggett - great story by a teenager that many of us can relate to. Reviewed.

Flipped by Wendalin Van Draanen - in anticipation of movie release.  Really liked this one and loved the flip at the end.  Told in alternating voices that were very distinct.  Fun to see what each person thinks really happened.

Over the End Line by Alfred Martino (A) - found this one through SYNC YA Listening.  Great story of what how it feels to be on the fringe as well as the cost of keeping quiet.  Johnny was a little bitter though.  The ending was fantastic.  Great audio.

How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway - adult read. Reviewed.

So that was 19 books and it brings my NO Summer Slide total to 63, just two short of goal.  That was an insane amount of reading and though I'm proud, I'm not sure I could do it again!  May actually work next year...

Happy Sunday!  Must get some reading done before I have to do my August update!

Sunday Salon - Monthly Update - June 2010

I'm trying to keep up with my fake reading challenges and it's going well so far.  Maybe one day I will actually join!  I've also included a 1/2 year reading update.  What are your reading challenges? (yes, i mean that the way you think!)

Fake Challenge Updates

Debut Author Challenge (11)

Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien

In The Middle Challenge (35)

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Countdown by Deborah Wiles
Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn
Alvin Ho by Lenore Look
Benjamin Pratt and The Keepers of the School by Andrew Clements
The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan
Dork Diaries by Rachel Russell
Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry
The13th Reality by James Dashner
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood

Young Adult Reading Challenge (57)

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz
Very Far Away From Anywhere Else by Ursula LeGuin
The Green Witch by Alice Hoffman
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
Paper Daughter by Jeannette Ingold
The Horse and His Boy by CS Lewis
Emma by Jane Austen
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
Genesis by Bernard Beckett
Birthmarked
Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco Stork
Eternal Smile by Gene Yang
Mercury by Hope Larson

POC Reading Challenge (26)

One Crazy Summer
Out of My Mind
Prince of Mist
Paper Daughter
The Dreamer
Last Summer of the Death Warriors
Eternal Smile

Loving Your Library (34)

Out of My Mind
One Crazy Summer

Dreamland
The Prince of Mist
Alvin Ho
Genesis

Eternal Smile
Mercury
Ubiquitous
Dork Diaries

Note: These lists do not encompass all reading just YA/MG.

Total Books Read: 27
Best Book of June: Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork

Midyear Totals
Read: 114
Reviewed: 41
Abandoned: 2

Goals for July - December

I know my reading will pick up as the Mock Printz book club and Mock Newbery book clubs pick up.  I will continue to review my Printz reads here but my Newbery reviews will go to St. Joseph County Public Library Mock Newbery blog, which I'm co-hosting.  I also have some blog tours scheduled.

My goal will be to post 3 reviews a week as well as the Sunday Salon and some huge book on Saturdays.

Did you make any blog goals?  How did you do?  

Will you be changing them for the rest of the year?  

Link to your goals in the comments and I promise to check them out!

Sunday Salon - The Past Two Months - May 31, 2010

I'm back! These last two months have been crazy busy for me!  I think I've finally recovered enough to start actively blogging again!

I will be "joining" The Book Whisperer, Donalyn Miller, as she tries to read one book a day for summer vacation. I'll post as soon as my list is complete! For now, here are my fake challenge updates for April and May.

1. Reading Challenges - short updates on my unjoined challenges

Debut Author Challenge (10)
The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Happyface by Stephen Emond

In the Middle Reading Challenge (24)
The Red Umbrella
Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale
The London-Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
Tighty-Whitey Spider by Kenn Nesbitt
100 Cupboards by ND Wilson
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling

Young Adult Reading Challenge (43)
Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti
Asking for Trouble by Sandra Byrd
After the Kiss by Terra Elan McVoy
Heaven by Angela Johnson
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Sweet, Hereafter by Angela Johnson
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott
Happyface
Gimme a Call by Sarah Mlynowski
Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve
She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott
The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

POC Reading Challenge (18)
The Red Umbrella
The Heaven Trilogy
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Loving Your Library (24)
The First Part Last
Sweet, Hereafter
Rapunzel's Revenge
Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter
Happyface
Gregor the Overlander
100 Cupboards

2. Book Buying -I will still keep track of this but, clearly, I have a problem that I'm not willing to give up yet.

I'm on an HP kick so I bought all 7 Harry Potter books in the Adult Edition from the UK. Thought it would be fun to see if there are significant differences. Yes, I do own all 7 Hardcovers. Your point?

14 US books - ~$108
7 UK books - £64.82 (I'll let you figure this out!)

Total books read in April and May - 32 (16 each month)
Best Book of April - Happyface by Stephen Emond
Best Books of May - Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

Sunday Salon - Monthly Reading Update - March 28, 2010

It was a busy reading month for me and I may have forgotten to write down some books. I've been following the SLJ Battle of the Kid's Books which will be ending April 5th. I've also been doing some picture book reading for the upcoming Mock Newbery club. This coming month will see me doing more Mock Newbery and Mock Printz reading as well as participating in the Dewey ReadAthon.

Read on for my fake challenge participation and how my book buying squeeze has gone this past month.

Debut Author Challenge (8)

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

In the Middle Reading Challenge (15)

Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan
Meanwhile by Jason Shiga
Mirror, Mirror by Marilyn Singer
Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Young Adult Reading Challenge (29)

Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
Mia the Magnificent by Eileen Bogess
Runaway by Meg Cabot
Being Nikki by Meg Cabot
Before I Fall by Lauren Olier
Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
King of Attolia by Megan whalen turner
Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan
Versus by Steve Stone
Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Material by Rosalind Wiseman

POC Reading Challenge (12)

Fiddler on the Roof

Loving Your Library (16)

Book Buying

I am appalled at the amount of money I spent on books this month!  It was so bad, only $4 less than this time last year!  And more than last month!  I am really trying to reel it in but it's been faster than waiting for the library.  But I did buy some awesome books:
Green by Laura Peyton Roberts
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
The Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by Green and Levithan
Changeless by Gail Carriger
Fiddler on The Roof
Tales from a Madman Underground

Total: ~$87.00

Total books read in March - 22
Best Book of March - Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

One quarter of the year has passed!  I've read a grand total of 56 books! So much for slowing down...

Sunday Salon - Monthly Reading Update - February 28, 2010

I've been doing well with my staying off the computer but my book buying was off the charts! I've also been doing some aimless reading and here's how it all panned out:

1. Reading Challenges
Short update on my unjoined challenge participation.

Debut Author Challenge (The Story Siren)(7)
Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony
Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemison
The Beautiful Dead by Eden Maguire

In The Middle Reading Challenge (O.W.L.) (9)
The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade
14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
The Greatest Moments in Sports by Len Berman
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve

Young Adult Reading Challenge (J. Kaye)(18)
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
For Keeps by Natasha Friend
Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony
Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan
Soulless by Gail Carriger
Copper Sun by Sharon Draper
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemison
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
The Beautiful Dead by Eden Maguire

Support Your Local Library (J. Kaye)(8)
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade
Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve

POC Reading Challenge (POC Reading Challenge) (11)
Copper Sun by Sharon Draper
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemison

2. Book Buying
I got my taxes and went a little crazy. Hopefully this will hold me over the next few months!

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork
A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore
Beautiful Creatures by Garcia and Stohl
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (preorder)
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemison
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in The Moon Marigolds by Paul Zindel (school)
Paper Daughter by Jeanette Ingold (ARC from Netgalley to Kindle)

Total: ~$85.00

That's about 3 months worth of budget book buying! Not good. That means I have to try to refrain from buying until MAY!! ARGH!

Total books read in February (16)
Best Book for February - Going Bovine by Libba Bray and Soulless by Gail Carriger

Looking forward to making some changes going forward as I try to rein in my reading while fostering more reviews.

Sunday Salon - Monthly Reading Update - January 31, 2010

I'm on a quest to cut back on my reading and spend more time making my house into a home. Along with that comes spending less time on the computer and less money buying books. Here's an update on my progress.

1. Reading Challenges
I vowed to NOT officially join any challenges this year but to keep track of my pretend progress every month anyway.

The Debut Author Challenge (The Story Siren)(3) includes release date:
Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore (YA, Jan 2010)
Numbers by Rachel Ward (YA, Feb 2010)
Eighth-Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich (MG, Jan 2010)

The In The Middle Reading Challenge (The O.W.L.)(4)
Camp Club Girls by Renae Brumbaugh
Sydney's DC Adventure by Jean Ferris
The Year The Swallows Came Early by Katherine Fiztmaurice
Eighth-Grade Superzero

Young Adult Reading Challenge (J. Kaye's Book Blog)(9)
Take Me There by Susane Colasanti
Marcelo in the Real World by Fransisco X Stork
Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate
Carbon Diaries by Saci Lloyd
Magic under Glass
Numbers
Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
Body Scoop for Girls by Dr. Jennifer Ashton
On The Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison

The Support Your Local Library Challenge (J. Kaye's Book Blog)(4)
The Year the Swallows Came Early
Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby
Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging
On The Bright Side...

The POC Reading Challenge (POC Reading Challenge) (8)
Marcelo in the Real World
Camp Club Girls
Sydney's DC Adventure
Magic Under Glass
Numbers
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Eighth-Grade Superzero
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

2. Budgeting Book Buying
I'm trying to keep my book buying to $30 or less each month. Here's what I purchased for January:

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta (preorder)
Very Far From Anywhere Else by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman
Total: $29.95

I could argue that Finnikin doesn't count but to keep the accounting simple, I'm including preorders the month I order them.

Pretty good month. I'm working on reviewing more of the books read since I'll be reading a little less, but we'll see!

Total Books Read in January (17) - Books Read in 2010
Best Book for January - Numbers by Rachel Ward