Manic Monday

Monday.
Who likes Mondays?
In a strange world, sometimes, I do. Mondays mean the start of the week.... the day before some new book releases- sometimes books that I've been anticipating... and usually I do my book shopping on the weekends, so a Monday sometimes mean getting to pick up one of my new books to start "devouring".

I did go do some book shopping this past weekend. It was lovely. Walking into any bookstore usually is something I enjoy doing. I love the smell of books, new or old. And the quiet hum of a bookstore is inviting and relaxing. It takes all the previous weeks' stresses away within a matter of minutes as I slowly walk down each aisle to browse.

My frequently visited bookstore is Books-A-Million, and it's about a forty-five minute drive from where I live. That's because I live out in the middle of nowhere. LoL. There's a Hastings about five minutes from that store as well that I go to sometimes, too. Most of the time, due to recent rise in gas prices, I'm ordering online, though. That's also where I'm finding my best bargains, too. Since I have such a hardcore book-buying addiction (Sorry, libraries, I don't rent, I buy), I have to look for the best deals I can get so as not to go into too much debt. Haha.

Anyways, I bought a few books and I'm looking forward to reading them.

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyvesky (to go for my Classics Challenge)
Angelology by Danielle Trussoni
The Tempest by William Shakespeare- (bought to go for my Shakespeare Challenge, which will be a re-read, but has been years since I've read it. I also already own this one, but had to buy another edition because the copy I own is in a special Collector's Edition that includes ALL of Shakespeare's works. Very difficult to read out of that huge volume. I've bought several "double" editions of other works in order to read and enjoy, so that the Collector's Edition is just for show on the shelf. :P I told you, I'm a Shakespeare dork/fangirl.)

Later this week, I plan to buy "My Booky Wook" by Russell Brand. I'm a huge fan and have been anxious to read his autobiography.

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Upcoming book releases for this week (March 29th):

Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward
Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later by Francine Pascal
Come To The Edge: A Memoir by Christina Haag (The love story of JFK Jr. and Christina Haag)
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Book by Joss Whedon

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Question of the Day:

What has been your favorite read so far in 2011?

Challenges

This year is about reading challenges for me. I'm trying to read more outside my usual boundaries. Of course, I'm still enjoying a lot of my favorite genres as well, but at the same time, I'm planning on delving into others that I normally wouldn't find myself picking up, too.

While planning through my lists of to-reads, it got me to thinking. There are some classics that I've been meaning to read for a long time, that I've just never got around to read. You know, those types that we all say, "Oh, I've heard so much about that, but honestly I've never read that." Then the person standing there looks at you in shock because of it. haha. Well, I've decided to start my own reading challenge because of this.

There's the 50 book challenge where everyone participating reads 50 books in a year. That's a challenge I've been active in since hearing of it last year. There's the e-book challenge if you're a participator in that (and I'd like to add that I'm not- I don't own an e-reader and in no rush to get one). I honestly don't know of many of these challenges at the moment because I'm just an obsessed reader for myself mostly.

So here's the stitch. My apologies ahead of time if there's already a challenge out there somewhere in the networld like this. My challenge, for myself, and for anyone else who is interested in participating is to read FIVE classic books that you have never read before, but have been meaning to read, by December 31st. That's right, I'm only saying FIVE.

Mostly I'm only saying five because it's already about the end of March, so a bit of a late start for the challenge. I also didn't want to tack on a high number to anyone who's participating in other reading challenges as well. Five is reasonable- and it adds to your reading count if you're doing the 50 book challenge.

So, what will your five be?

Mine will be:

1. True Grit by Charles Portis
2. 1984 by George Orwell
3. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinback
4. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
5. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

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Challenge # 2 that I've decided on as well:

I call it "The Shakespeare Challenge".

As of April 23, it marks the anniversary of William Shakespeare's death. I am a very BIG Shakespeare dork... and well, it's been quite some time since I've picked up any of his work, sadly. I own every piece. :) Quite a collection... like I said, I'm a dork. :P

So, my challenge for this is to read FOUR Shakespeare plays of your choice by December 31st. With this challenge, it can be a re-read, seeing as how I understand that it may have been some time since someone has read something, and may want to re-read one of their favorites. But I'd recommend reading something you haven't, if you haven't read all of his work yet, too. :)

Anyways, enjoy! Drop some comments here if you're participating in the challenges. I'd love to see any reviews you may post on your own blogs!

And if you want me to, I can make some buttons for these two challenges if you want buttons for your blogs or anything. Just let me know. :)

<3

Thursday Thoughts

XVI

by:

Julia Karr

Genre: Dystopian YA

In the future, the legal age is sixteen. To mark this event, everyone gets the required law-issued "XVI" tattoo on their wrist.

Most girls can't wait to be sixteen, to be legal.

Nina isn't one of them. There's a nagging voice in the back of her mind that constantly tells her something isn't right with the world and that she is different. But, she can't stop herself from turning sixteen and all she can do is hope that her life continues being as normal as it can be for the situation the world is in.

Then, with one brutal strike and life-changing event, Nina's normal life is shattered. She discovers that nothing she believed about her life is true.

This novel is full of very realistic politics, society, and technology. It makes you think. The plot is rich and wonderfully developed. The characters are realistic and easily connected to, and details are nicely done to provide great imagery. For me, this was more than just another entertainment novel... but an intellectual reading material as well. I highly recommend this.

4.5 stars

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My apologies that it took me awhile to make a new post. I've been quite ill the past couple of weeks and then my laptop recently had a virus that put it out of comission for a bit until I could get it fixed. Things seem to be getting back in order now, though, I believe. I appreciate the patience. :)

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Currently reading:

Radiant Shadows

(Melissa Marr)

March's reading list:

Bones of Faery - Janni Lee Simner

Iron Witch - Karen Mahoney

Lover Mine - J.R. Ward

Thinking Back Thursday

I do not like them,
Sam-I-Am.
I do not like
Green eggs and ham.


I was four years old when I started reading on my own. And I still remember my first book: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. It had been a Christmas gift from my father, who had helped teach me to read by reading to me every night before. That book became absolutely precious to me... and later the memories even moreso due to more personal reasons. To this day, it is still listed as my favorite childhood story. I can recite it from memory. Haha!

Today's "think-back" question:

What was your first childhood book when you learned to read? Did it become a lifetime favorite/hold a special place in your heart?