December lies ahead and definitely t'is the time for making lists. Gifts, food and for book bloggers lots of lovely lists to read , create and write about. I've never been a listmaker , have always relied on my mental list until I began book blogging. It took only a couple of months to realise if I didn't want to be buried beneath a deluge of little notes I'd better get some organisation going. Now I have great fun making lists.........lists of books.......lots and lots of lovely books.
Books read in November = 14
The Greenlanders by Jane Smiley
Showdown at Yellow Butte by Louis L'Amour
Breathless by Dean Koontz
Courtesan by Diane Haeger
The Turn of the Karmic Wheel by Monica Brinkman
Room by Emma Donoghue
The Wedding Shroud by Elisabeth Storrs
The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
The Colour by Rose Tremain
The Wild Zone by Joy Fielding
The People's Queen by Vanora Bennett
Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman
The Cypress House by Michael Koryta
Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa ( second half for readalong)
DNF
Vlad , The Last Confession by C C Humphreys.....................after The Historian readalong I wanted to read more about Vlad Dracula and I chose this one in the knowledge that there would likely be some unpleasant parts. It is well written and very interesting but..............be aware - there are extremely graphic descriptions of torture! Too much for my vivid imagination and sensitive stomach and I actually thought I was going to throw up at one scene .........which is when I stopped reading.
Readalongs
Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa - the readalong which began at the beginning of October ended On Nov.22. A fantastic reading experience.
Challenges
Completed two more challenges:
Colourful Reading Challenge
Chunkster Challenge
I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel..............although I still have five more to officially complete all but one of the books are read and only the reviews to do. At least this last minute scurry is holding me firm to my intention to not sign up for too many for 2011.
The Tournament of Reading Challenge - I read 5/9 so that's a fail!
2011 Challenges
I've signed up for one so far - the What's In A Name 4 Challenge and when I find a few minutes to write the posts will be adding
Aussie Author Challenge
Femme Fatale Reading Challenge
Read-A-Myth Challenge
netGalley
I signed up at netGalley back in September but hadn't planned on using it until next year. Reading on the computer doesn't really appeal but having access to books that I can't find here in NZ, especially from the smaller publishers, definitely does. At odd moments I've been browsing and making a list of what I might like and then I spotted The Cypress House by Michael Koryta and could resist temptation no longer. I read his So Cold the River earlier this year and loved it and this new one is equally as good. I was so engrossed in the story that the fact I was reading on the computer didn't bother me at all.
So it's on to the last month of the year......and those lists. I look forward to poring over all those Top Ten choices that will soon be making their appearance . I know I can't do it.........too hard to choose from so many good books read. I already have a 10 best historical fiction list so I think I'll do another 10 for thriller/suspense..........and another for the 10 that wowed me most.
I hope everyone finds some time to relax and read in the hectic rush towards the festive season.
Oh, wow! Vlad was a tough read? Oh, my -- I do have it as a book that I was going to track down, but now I'm nervous!!
ReplyDeleteThis post reminded me that I tried to post on your review of Courtesan and freakin' Blogger tossed my comment again. Here's hoping the new spiffy PC and operating system will cure that problem *fingers crossed*
ReplyDeleteI had the same problems as you, and that book had been a group read over at Goodreads and most of us felt the same. More fun than historical, if you can get your hands on an old copy of Dumas' The Two Dianas you might get a kick out of it.
Oh, NetGalley just rocked my world -- but I got an eReader for my 30th bday last summer so it was a really delicious treat. I'm so glad you listed your reading challenges as I'm picking out my 2011 challenges right now!
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