Shakespeare Challenge 2009

The rules are simple – you can read anything about or related to shakespeare – fiction or non fiction, straight bio or authorship debate – and you can read the plays and sonnets as well.

This time instead of 6 months, I’m going to make this one 12 months (a whole year) and you need to read 6 books instead of 4. That way you read an average of 1 book every 2 months. That shouldn’t be too hard.

Starts January 1st 2009
Ends December 31st 2009

More details here.

My list:

1. Measure for Measure – finished JANUARY 5
2. The Taming of the Shrew – finished JANUARY 19
3. King Henry IV Part 1 – finished JANUARY 22
4. King Henry IV Part 2 – finished JANUARY 27
5. Hamlet – finished MARCH 12
6. Much Ado About Nothing – finished MARCH 19

Series Challenge Season 3

This is my first season with this challenge but since I know I am reading a lot of series I am excited to hear about it.

You can find more details here, hosted by Crazy Cozy Murders. The challenge starts December 1, 2008 and ends November 30, 2009.

I’m going to cover two series this first time around, even though I am reading multiple series.

Alex Cross Series (by James Patterson)

• Cat and Mouse – finished DEC. 28, 2008
• Pop Goes the Weasel – finished MAR 9, 2009
• Roses Are Red – finished MAR 31, 2009
• Violets are Blue – finished APR 20, 2009
• Four Blind Mice – finished AUG 1, 2009
• Big Bad Wolf – finished SEPT 1, 2009
• London Bridges – finished SEPT 6, 2009
• Mary, Mary – finished SEPT 9, 2009
• Cross - finished SEPT 11, 2009
• Double Cross – finished NOV 5, 2009
• Cross Country – finished NOV 8, 2009

Georgia Nicholson Series (by Louise Rennison)

• Then He Ate My Boy Entrancers – finished JAN 17, 09
• Startled by His Furry Shorts – finished FEB 8, 09
• Love is a Many Trousered Thing – finished FEB 21, 09
• Stop in the Name of Pants – finished MAR 5, 09

Away Laughing on a Fast Camel

Title: Away Laughing on a Fast Camel
Author: Louise Rennison
Year Published: 2004
Finished: November 29
Pages: 276
Challenges: From the Stacks, Countdown Challenge

I enjoyed the fourth installment better than the previous one. Georgia is slowly starting to grow into her own and I think she’s slowly starting to act a little more mature and not so much like a little girl.

I’m starting to think in the end she may actually start exclusively dating Dave the Laugh. He’s her only semi-normal relationship and if they could only just see it.

That’s all of my Georgia Nicholson adventures for the year. I’m planning on catching up fully with the series next year.

The Lovely Bones

Title: The Lovely Bones
Author: Alice Sebold
Year Published: 2002
Finished: November 28
Pages: 328
Challenges: Fall Into Reading 2008, Countdown Challenge (extra), From the Stacks

Susie was a normal 14 year old girl when she was raped and brutally murdered not far from her home one afternoon. No body was ever found and no leads to follow.

Now Susie sits in her own Heaven and watches her family move on without her and struggle with finding her killer and letting her go.

This was such an amazing story. In the beginning you think that the story will take place in such a short amount of time, but as you continue you come to realize it takes more than a couple months or years for a person to come to terms with death and completely learn to forgive, though not forget.

After many recommendations and watching it sit on my shelf and call my name for months, I finally picked it up and started reading. It took some time to get through. I almost couldn’t sit and read for a long period of time because of the heavy material but it was so amazing. I wanted it to keep going even after it ended.

other reviews: royal reviews

BTT – Thankful

So–just for today–how about sharing 7 things that you’re thankful for?

I’m thankful for:

1. God for always listening
2. My family who supports me in all my decisions.
3. All the new lives being born into our family this holiday season.
4. My friends who motivate me.
5. Authors for writing new and interesting books for us to read.
6. Netflix for sending me unlimited movies every month.
7. My job for not only motivating me to work harder but helping me support myself during the hard times.