Reading
Total: 53
Non-Fic: 17
Audio: 3
New Authors: 34
Women Authors: 21
African Lit: 0
East Asian Lit: 0
Auto/Bios/Memoirs Read: 6
Five Star Books: 18
One or Two Star Books: 8
Blogging
Reviews Published: 38
Entries Made: 73
Challenges Completed: 4
Challenges Participated In: 13
Whew! Well, on the reading front I read more than I have previously. I stayed pretty steady on new authors and women authors, which is good. Since I didn't start my non-fic challenge until August, I'm still not maintaining a very high nonfic:fic ratio. That's ok though-at least I'm reading more non-fic! I did awfully on the African and East Asian lit front; checking my Reading Across Borders II list, I only have one book for each on there. Maybe I'll be able to find some more at the library, or on bookmooch. I didn't like 15% of the books I read, which is higher than usual, but almost all of them were non-fic. I guess I don't have my guaranteed non-fic authors the way I do fiction. I did give a whopping 33% of the books I read 5 stars, which is pretty awesome. :)
The biggest changes this quarter were on the blogging front. I went from 18-19 reviews/quarter to 38, which is double! I also went from averaging around 40 posts/quarter to 73. I'm not sure why this blog suddenly became an almost daily thing in August; I actually became busier then than I'd been during the rest of the summer. Perhaps all of those challenges are spurring me on to do reviews. Either way, I'm pretty happy that I'm reviewing so many more books (72% of the ones I read). Part of it has to do with the fact that now I'm willing to do multiple shorter reviews, which seems an effective way of talking about some of the books.
Now, for what you've been waiting for! I went to B&N tonight, and I completely intended to just curl up in a comfy chair and read the book I brought with me. Somehow, these books hopped in my bag!
First up is Tithe by Holly Black. I've heard good things about this one, and I'm collecting YA lit in preperation for Dewey's 24 read-a-thon. Plus, it's this gorgeous trade paperback book for a mere $7! Gotta love the YA section; I saw several other books that I'll probably be going back for soon.
Then there's Nocturnes by John Connolly. I've seen his latest novel, The Book of Lost Things reviewed on several blogs, but Meli's review really got me hooked. Of course, us poor Americans have to wait a couple of weeks for it to come out in paperback. So I was browsing B&N's popular fiction table (which had a very interesting collection of international crime/mystery that I was coveting), and came across this. Isn't the cover awesome? It's a collection of short stories, and the back describes it as "a daring, utterly haunting anthology of lost lovers and missing children, predatory demons, and vengeful ghosts...In these stories, Connolly ratchets up the tension to almost unbearable0and irrestible-levels." Um, does this sound like a challenge we all know and love? That's what I thought! Have a sneaking suspicion Connolly will become a new favourite author, so I'd better start collecting now.
Finally, I've been craving George Eliot lately. I was orginally going to grab Middlemarch, which I read earlier this year, for a reread. But, it made more sense to get Daniel Deronda, since I hadn't read it before. I'm loving the pink colour, and the delicious 710-page-before-endnotes length.
And that's my latest booklust...the three poppets had to wander in and see what all the fuss was about. :) Now y'all need to post some pics of your latest book buys so I don't feel so guilty!
10 comments:
Instead of a book buy I made a computer game buy this week. *sigh* Not wise. I'm getting very tempted by the poppets, too.
I stumbled into B&N myself last night :p I'll probably post pics later. I picked up The Arrival by Shaun Tan, Some book in a new series called Edgar & Ellen that looks like a cross between Tim Burton and a Series of Unfortunate Events for kids, and Northanger Abbey and Persuasion by Jane Austen...Love those B&N classics editions!
I almost bought Nocturnes last night! I love the cover, it's incredibly cool!! I've read the Book of Lost Things and it's a favorite of the year. I highly recommend it when you get the chance to read it. The cover has to be by the same artist.
I've been wanting to read Daniel Deronda too ever since I saw the Masterpiece Theatre production of it. Have you ever seen it? It's incredible! I went out and bought it after I saw it.
Great post, I love these :)
I love Daniel Deronda. And the adaptation is also quite fun (it made me want to re-read the book). I'm in a George Eliot groove right now anyway....
I actually went to Borders today - B&N is farther away and more expensive, IMHO. Anyhoo - I bought Pretties and Specials by Scott Westerfield. I already have Uglies. I also picked up The Photograph by Penelope Lively, which I've heard is good. Enjoy your new ones!
You read 53 books in three months? That isn't the total for the year, is it? That's a lot! I love Daniel Deronda too -- I've read it twice.
Heather, don't you hate tradeoffs?!
Chris, that series sounds interesting-I'll be looking for your review. I like the B&N classics too, at least for English classics. I worry about the quality of their translations, though! I'll check to see if my library has the Masterpiece Theatre production.
Sarah, I'm so excited to read it!
Susan, thanks for making me feel less guilty. :) The only Lively I've read is Moon Tiger, but I loved, loved, loved it! I keep meaning to read more of her.
Dorothy, I read pretty fast, but I've noticed that blogging and participating in challenges as increased by reading. Last year I think I only read 105 books all year. This year, I'm already at 136. Gosh, all this praise for Daniel Deronda makes me want to jump it to the head of the line! I think I'll make it my last Book to Movie challenge pick. :)
Wow -- you DO read fast. I'm going to manage about 60-70 this year.
Dorothy, I probably have less responsibilities in my life. :) And I'm a nanny, so I always have a couple hours of work time when I can read (while my niece is napping).
The cover of "Nocturnes" really is amazing. I am another one of those people who recently read and completely fell in love with "The Book of Lost Things", and now I really want to read more John Connoly.
Have you read Tithe yet? It's one of my favorite YA books! Ironside is the sequel and it's pretty good too. I posted a review of it awhile back.
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