Sunday, March 01, 2009

Sunday Salon: Reading, Read, To Read #9


Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you had a good week. A productive week. I personally feel a great sense of accomplishment at finishing Don Quixote. This is a monster-of-a-book that took me all of January and almost all of February (minus two days) to finish.

I've managed to finish three reading challenges so far this year: the Sci-Fi Experience, the 1% Well Read Challenge, and the Young Adult Challenge.


I also decided on the new layout/header for the blog. These are changes that have long been in the works--though blogger isn't always cooperative. I'd been playing around with everything for weeks. But it all came together last week.

How about you?

Well, it's a new month--you can catch up on my February wrap-up post if you like. What was YOUR favorite read of the month? Did you discover a new author? Reread an old favorite?

One of my favorites of the month was Kathryn Fitzmaurice's novel The Year The Swallows Came Early. I participated in her blog tour--I do believe in her book! I would never promote a book I didn't believe in! You can vote for me if you think I did a good job. The voting is open through March 6th! And I'd appreciate your show of support. (But only if you think I did good. If you thought I was awful, obviously vote where your heart is!) Two more things semi-related to this one...the first is the WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY. There were nineteen entries, but there can only be one winner....and random.org has selected Shirley; I've emailed her to let her know. The second is that Kathryn Fitzmaurice will be posting her interview with me this week--on Wednesday, I believe. (I'll let you know when it's up most likely.) I interviewed her last week, you can read that here.

What I read in a previous week, but reviewed this week:

The Year The Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice. 2009. HarperCollins. 273 pages. (J Realistic Fiction)
The Composer is Dead by Lemony Snicket. HarperCollins. 2009.

What I read this past week and reviewed:

Pemberley Shades by D.A. Bonavia-Hunt. 1949/2008. Sourcebooks. 376 pages.
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. 1605/1615. (1998 Modern Library Edition) 1240 pages.
Silas Marner. by George Eliot. 1861. 186 pages. Bantam Classics.
The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King. 2009. Flux. 330 pages. (YA Adventure/YA Fantasy)
Just Another Girl by Melody Carlson. 2009. Revell. 221 pages. (YA Realistic Fiction/YA Romance)
Heart Of A Lion by Gilbert Morris. 2002. Bethany House. 344 pages.
Wycliffe New Testament. 1388/2002. British Library. 528 pages
Sword of the Ramurai. by Becky Ances. Illustrated by Ryan Wilson. 2008. 70 pages
Everyday Prayers edited by Jennifer Frantz. 2008. Early Reader. (Harper Blessings) 24 pages
Bedtime Prayers edited by Jennifer Frantz. 2008. Early Reader (Harper Blessings) 24 pages
My Dance Recital by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. 2009. Random House. (Board Book)
Old MacNoah Had An Ark by Sally Lloyd-Jones. 2008. Harper Blessings.

What I read this past week and haven't reviewed yet:

The Squad: Killer Spirit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. 2008. Random House. 324 pages.

What I've read and really really need to review:

Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba by Margarita Engle. 2009. Henry Holt. 198 pages. (YA Historical Fiction/Verse Novel)

What I'm currently reading:

Chocolat by Joanne Harris
The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
Riding by H.S. Cross

What I'm semi-reading:

Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

What I've abandoned:

Dune by Frank Herbert


I just read on Callapidder Days that the Spring Reading Thing challenge is coming soon--March 20th is the day to sign up. This one was the very first reading challenge I ever did...and so it's always happy to see it come around every year. Her site is great, and you can help out. Vote for her blog... it is a finalist in Scholastic Parent & Child’s 2009 Mommy Blogger Awards!

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
If you're reading this post on another site, or another feed, the content has been stolen.

6 comments:

samantha.1020 said...

Congrats on finishing such a big book! I've read and loved The Book Thief so I will be interested in hearing your thoughts on it when you finish.

Unknown said...

Hey Becky! Love the new blog design. It's nice to change it up now & then.
Btw, you should pick up Dune another time, that is - if you haven't already read it. I loved it. Herbert was an amazing guy. However, he lost me in the sequels...people turning into giant worms...not so much!
See ya :)

Kailana said...

You didn't like Dune, huh? I have had that on my TBR pile forever and never picked it up! I am not even totally sure what it is about anymore, but I will get to it one of these days...

Kathryn Fitzmaurice said...

Yes, my interview of Becky will be posted this Wednesday. And Shirley's book is on its way!

Melissa said...

Favorite book last month? Indigo's Star. That, and probably Trouble at 8.

How are you liking Chocolat?

Vasilly said...

I love your blog's new look!