Reading something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue
Posts tagged reading challenge
Chunkster Challenge
May 5th
I’ve been meaning to join the Chunkster Reading Challenge ever since my book blogger friend Jo blogged about it, and because I’ve just started a real chunkster of a book (Roberto Bolaño’s 2666, in case you’re wondering), I’ve decided to formally join the challenge.
I’m an escapist reader by nature so I like thick, meaty reads, which is perfect for joining the Chunkster Reading Challenge, a challenge for “readers who like their books fat and chunky.” The challenge defines a chunkster as “450 pages or more of ADULT literature (fiction or nonfiction).”
Counting
Feb 16th
Because I’ve just gotten through my 2009 backlog, I realize the end-of-the year summary is in order. I’ve been blogging for over a year now, and I can’t believe how fast it’s gone! Blogging been an awesome experience (and I was a finalist for the Philippine Blog Awards, too!) that led to new friends and new discoveries, and I’m sure this year will be even more fun.
Here’s 2009, in figures… and photos!
Trivia, trivia #2
Feb 12th
A few months back, I did a review of a series of trivia books and I’ve finished a bunch more since then. I have a habitual vice of poring into tomes of useless information, especially when I’m too stressed to read continuously, or when I need a break from long narratives.
This time around, I have another set of four trivia books on a variety of subjects, from general information to language to etiquette and combat: Why Don’t Penguins’ Feet Freeze? and 114 Other Questions edited by Mick O’ Hare; Red Herrings and White Elephants: The Origins of the Phrases We Use Everyday by Albert Jack (illustrated by Ama Page); Directions to Servants by Jonathan Swift; and The Action Heroine’s Handbook by Jennifer Worick and Joe Borgenicht (books 237-240 of 2009).
A-Z Challenge
Feb 7th
Flipper friend Gege started the A-Z reading challenge this year (check out the full mechanics here), and I’m participating, because it’s a fun way to start reading authors I haven’t read before, and make a substantial dent in my TBR.
Basically, the objective is to read 26 authors with surnames from A to Z between January 1 to December 31, 2010. The more obsessive-compulsive participants are reading in alphabetical order, but I’ve always gone against the rules when it comes to reading so I’m striking off the names on my list as the mood strikes, until I finish the list off before the year ends.
Here’s my list, and my progress, so far (reviews to follow)
Atwood, Margaret
Bolano, Roberto
Camus, AlbertDunn, Mark
Eugenides, Jeffrey
Fitzgerald, F. Scott
Gavin, Jamila
Hornby, Nick
Irving, John
Jin, Ha
Keyes, Daniel
Le Guin, Ursula
McEwan, Ian
Nix, Garth
Orwell, George, Ondaatje MichaelPeju, Pierre
Q
Rushdie, Salman Stewart, Trenton Lee
Tartt, Donna
Udry, Janice May
Vonnegut, Kurt Willingham, BillXiaolong, Qiu
Yoshimoto, Banana
Zola, Emile
As you can see I’m still missing a Q (not feeling Quindlen), a U and an X. Let me know if you have any suggestions!
*cover photo courtesy of sxc.hu
World War II Challenge Wrap-Up
Jan 2nd
I successfully finished the War through the Generations World War II reading challenge this December, but I haven’t been able to blog properly in the last ten days or so, with the holiday rush. Hopefully this entry still makes it.
For 2009, I’ve read:
1) The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
2) Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
This month, I finished Stones in Water by Donna Jo Napoli, and A Separate Peace by John Knowles.
Sarah’s Key
Nov 1st
A few months back, I signed up for the War Across the Generations World War II Reading Challenge, because I’d read a lot of Holocaust-themed books this year, and had a bunch more waiting in mye in months, and after the flood TBR.
I realized I haven’t read anything for the challenge, and after the flood left my TBR (arranged in order of priority) in wild disarray, I spotted Sarah’s Key (#151 for 2009) in one of the stacks I was reshelving and I was reminded that I had two more books to read this year, so I decided to make some headway in completing the challenge.
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