New Year Read-a-thon Commencement

Well I was going to wait until tomorrow to begin the read-a-thon, but since I have zero plans for tonight, I decided I should just ring it in by reading. I mean there are worse ways to ring in 2010 than with a good book, right? There's being with someone you don't like, being in a car accident, prison- just to name a few.

Anyhoo, I am going to start off with the book I started the other night, The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran, which will be released in February. Here is the synopsis:

When Henry Oades accepts an accountancy post in New Zealand, his wife, Margaret, and their children follow him to exotic Wellington. But while Henry is an adventurer, Margaret is not. Their new home is rougher and more rustic than they expected—and a single night of tragedy shatters the family when the native Maori stage an uprising, kidnapping Margaret and her children.

For months, Henry scours the surrounding wilderness, until all hope is lost and his wife and children are presumed dead. Grief-stricken, he books passage to California. There he marries Nancy Foreland, a young widow with a new baby, and it seems they’ve both found happiness in the midst of their mourning—until Henry’s first wife and children show up, alive and having finally escaped captivity.

Narrated primarily by the two wives, and based on a real-life legal case, The Wives of Henry Oades is the riveting story of what happens when Henry, Margaret, and Nancy face persecution for bigamy. Exploring the intricacies of marriage, the construction of family, the changing world of the late 1800s, and the strength of two remarkable women, Johanna Moran turns this unusual family’s story into an unforgettable page-turning drama.

So far I feel like the writing is kind of modern for a historical novel but we will see how it goes. I am just at the part where the first wife, Margaret, and the children have been kidnapped and everyone but Henry has given up on them.

So, New Year's Read-a-thon....Commence!!

Wrap-Up Post: 21 Cultures Challenge

At the beginning of 2009, I created a personal challenge for myself called 21 Cultures. Loving different cultures as I do I thought this would be a fairly simple challenge for me. However, I did not even get halfway through it.

What do I think were the obstacles to finishing it?

1) My reading was absolutely ALL OVER THE PLACE this year. Which, in and of itself is not that unusual considering I am ADD and I myself am all over the place. But, not many challenges overlapped and I had to finally come to terms with the fact that I wasn't going to complete all of them. This one was one that didn't make it.

2) I was unable to procure some of the books that I wanted to read for the challenge. Either the library did not have them or something. And it seems most of my other culture reading is really based in Asian culture. Most of the books I own were Chinese, Japanese, African-American, Italian, Hispanic, or Indian.

3) I got hung up on select titles I wanted to read and therefore did not substitute as much as I should have. That did not help. There were other books I read that could have counted, had I just allowed it.

4) I got in way over my head with that 999 Challenge. Not only was that a ton of books to read, but I made the categories too diverse. I had a category for Asian Lit, which did not help me meet my goal of DIVERSITY, hello. And I didn't even finish the 999 Challenge anyway.


So, I have learned some lessons from not finishing this challenge. And I did read some great books for it. So it is not a total loss at all.

Here was my list and what I finished. I finished 11 of the 21 and reviewed 10 of them:

AFGHANISTAN: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (Jan. 2009)

AFRICA: Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan (five stories set in 5 places in war-torn Africa)

AFRICAN-AMERICAN: What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day by Pearl Cleage (Apr. 2009)

ALGERIA: The Stranger by Albert Camus

ARABIC: The Arabian Nights or The Thousand and One Nights

BURMA: The River of Lost Footsteps: A Personal History of Burma by Thant Myint-U

CHEROKEE: Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney

CHINA: Wolf Totem by Jiang Rong and Howard Goldsblatt

DOMINICAN-AMERICAN: How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez

HAITI: Away from You by Melanie Finn

INDIA: A Passage to India by E.M. Forster (August 2009)

ITALIAN: I'm Not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti (recommended by Rob of robaroundbooks) (November 2009)

JAPAN: Princess Manako: Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne by Ben Hills (March 2009)

NAVAJO: The Scalpel and the Silver Bear: The First Navajo Surgeon Combines Western Medicine and Traditional Healing by Lori Arviso Alvord and Elizabeth Cohen Van Pelt (May 2009)

NIGERIA: A Worthy Legacy by Tomi Akinyanmi (July 2009)

PAKISTANI-AMERICAN: Saffron Dreams by Shaila Abdullah (Sept/Oct 2009)

RURAL AMERICA: Way off the Road: Discovering the Peculiar Charms of Small Town America by Bill Geist

SIERRA LEONE: A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah (August 2009)

SLOVAKIAN ROMA: Zoli by Colum McCann

SRI LANKA: A Disobedient Girl by Ru Freeman (September 2009)

SWEDEN: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (December 2009) (not reviewed)

VARIETY OF CULTURES: Christmas Around the World by Mary D.
Lankford

New Year Read-a-thon!!

Kristen of Bookworming in the 21st Century is hosting a New Year Read-a-thon! So what is it all about? "Promoting reading in the new year - 2010!" How great! I love reading! :)

Details:

Starts: 5 pm on Thursday, December 31st
Ends: 10 pm on Sunday, January 3rd

You can read as little or as much as you want! Also, I'm planning on having a smaller event called Reading Into the New Year - where us bookworms can read as it turns midnight! I will be posting the sign up for that event next. Please partake in either or both!!!

As you're thinking about what books you want to read, consider the following:

-Shorter books are easier to push through and you may want to include a few of those
-You don't have to read a crazy amount of hours - whatever you can fit in!
-This is a no stress readathon, so if you don't meet your goal - no big.
-Think about any new challenges your starting and what books are on those lists.

I'll also be posting a New Years Resolution post towards the end of December, so if you're thinking about posting your Resolutions on your blog you can link them up there!

Sign up here with your post about the Readathon. I'm looking forward to seeing what books you want to read and how many hours you think you can!

Also, one random participant will win a book or two from my pile of books to giveaway. (Yes, we all need extra incentive!)

Sweet, Kristen!

My personal goal will be to read as much as I can between the Start and End time. I hate committing to a certain number of books or pages or hours during read-a-thons because I inevitably start feeling pressured. Therefore, I am just choosing to do as much as I can!

Most of the challenges I am now in start on January 1st, so that will be fun to dig into them immediately! Here are a few of the books I am thinking of choosing for the read-a-thon, but like I said, it could change!

• The Heretic's Queen by Michelle Moran
• Maximum Ride Series Book #2: School's Out-Forever by James Patterson
• Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner
• Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
• Away from You by Melanie Finn
• The Truth Lies in the Dark by Kristin Callender
• Water Signs by Daria DiGiovanni

So those are some smaller and some bigger. I may read all of these or some of these or none of these, but this is a starting block for me.

I am very excited about this Read-a-thon. Why don't you join us?

I Need Your Feedback!!!

I was thinking about starting a new meme-type thing. But I want to get your take on it. Good idea? Bad idea? Needs tweaking? Help a girl out!

THE IDEA: It's all about lists. But short ones. And all about books, of course. Each week you can come and find out the topic and then write a post on it and then come back here and link it with a Mr. Linky thingy.

TOPIC IDEAS: I've come up with things like 3 Strangest Book Titles, 3 Characters You Love to Hate, 3 Sequels That Don't Suck, Favorite Indie Titles, Most Quotable Fiction Book, 5 Must-Read Short Stories.

What do you think? Give me your feedback!

100 Mile Fitness Challenge

At first I was totally excited about this challenge. Then I got bummed because partial miles don't count, but then Amanda pointed out that 15 minutes of exercise counts as a mile. That's more like it. With fibromyalgia I cannot risk pushing myself too hard like I could b4 I got it. With fibro that just puts me in the bed for 3 days. I may not make it to 100 miles, but I will have fun participating with everyone! And the best part is, while I work out on my new Wii Fit Plus (my mother totally rocks giving this to me for Christmas, right? So right.), it will keep track of my mileage and minutes, too. Sweet. So here we go!

Here’s how it works:
In order to complete this Challenge, you will need to “travel” 100 miles from January 1st through March 31st.

Here's how you calculate your mileage:
*Running or walking 1 mile outside or on a treadmill equals 1 mile.

*15 minutes of other workouts equals 1 mile (elliptical, swimming, weight lifting, workout video, workout classes, etc.).

A few "workout" stipulations:
“Workouts” only include activities specifically done for the purpose of exercise. Shopping, house cleaning, walking to and from the parking lot, and other day to day activities should not be included.

Partial miles travelled on different days cannot be combined. For example, if you run 1.25 miles on one day, and .75 mile on another day, that does not equal 2 miles. It counts as 1 mile.

Minutes accumulated on two different days cannot be combined. For example, if you workout 10 minutes one day and 5 minutes the next day, that does not combine to equal a mile.

1 mile on the bike or elliptical does not equal 1 mile, etc. Only walking/running is mile for mile.

Hey Trish!
How do I report my miles to you? On Fridays I will put up a Progress Report. Once you report, then I will put your name in the sidebar and update your miles for you each time you report. Ultimately it is your responsibility to keep track of your total mileage. (I like the putting stickers on a grid method...)


Hey Trish!
Why can't partial miles or minutes be counted? Well, among other [maybe better] reasons, when rules start bending then there's no stopping them from breaking. You'll thank me in the end. :)



Click here to sign up and to see who else is participating in the challenge!

COMPLETED: Reading Your Name Challenge

Woohoo! I finished another challenge. Not that I am on time for it or anything like that. (I think it was over in June.) But I finished it! Haha. (Update: Maybe I did. I don't know. I must be more organized with this in 2010.)

I had a bit of a struggle with this challenge because of the sole reason that I had to switch books quite a few times. I would begin a book for it and then it would suck and I would have to choose another one. But, nevertheless, I have now finished it and I am way happy about that.

Here is what I read and completed for the challenge:


R: Rubies in the Orchard: How to Uncover the Hidden Gems in Your Business by Lynda Resnick

E: The Emotionally Abused Woman by Beverly Engel (November 2009)

B: Behind the Lines by Andrew Carroll

E: The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keartly Snyder (Feb. 2009)

C: Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler (Nov/Dec 2009)

C: Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau (December 2009)

A: Artists' Journals & Sketchbooks: Exploring and Creating Personal Pages by Lynne Perrella (Jan. 2009)

Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau

BOOK #: 92
REASON READ: Reading Your Name Challenge
PUBLISHER: My copy is B&N Classics
GENRE: Nonfiction, Classics, Essay, Literary Biography, Political/Social
FORMAT/PAGES: Paperback/Part of Anthology/21 Pages
RATING: 4.5 Stars

What can I say about this important work that has not been said before? Nothing. But I can give you what I got out of reading this essay. @Vasilly said 'Why don't you just write a blurb about the book?' when I complained to her I was having trouble getting started writing this review. However, once I started, I found I had a lot to say....

Thoreau's Civil Disobedience came out of the movement known as Transcendentalism. If you don't know, or don't remember from school, American Transcendentalism grew out of a protest in New England of the culture and society that was prevalent in the mid 19th century. Transcendentalists believed that an ideal spiritual state was not the one made solely out of religious doctrine, but one that transcended into nature, intuition, and idealism. It also rejected the idea that knowledge can only be gained through experience and observation, but could also be obtained through spiritual awakening.

Thoreau's Civil Disobedience challenges the status quo and dares Americans to stand up for what is right and do what is right, and NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT. He challenges the idea of slavery, corruption, paying taxes, the Mexican-American war and he even challenges abolitionists to withdraw their support of the government.

"Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it....There are thousands who are in opinion opposed to slavery and to the war, who yet in effect do nothing to put an end to them; who, esteeming themselves children of Washington and Franklin, sit down with their hands in their pockets, and say that they know not what to do, and do nothing...They will wait, well disposed, for others to remedy the evil, that they may no longer have it to regret. At most, they give only a cheap vote, and a feeble countenance and God-speed to the right, as it goes by them. There are nine hundred and ninety-nine patrons of virtue to one virtuous man. But it is easier to deal with the real possessor of a thing than with the temporary guardian of it."

If that is not a bold and powerful statement, I confess I don't know what is.

Thoreau goes on to explain how he in different ways has put his money where his mouth is, so to speak. He shows he is no hypocrite. But he also shows he is not seeking a violent rebellion. In fact, he is opposed to unnecessary acts of aggression. As a country, we still have yet to embrace this message wholeheartedly.

Thoreau also accuses people of taking positions for which they have no understanding or knowledge of the circumstances that arose around it. I certainly have this problem with people today and can understand his frustration. In my opinion, it is impossible to take a position politically, religiously, or otherwise, completely without question and with earnest, without actually knowing anything about the situation! Why do people do this? Do not take another person's position without understanding how they arrived at such a conclusion. Think for yourself! Do not let others think for you!

Thoreau expresses his concern for this by comparing it to soldiers who must do what they are told, serving not as men but

"as machines...marching in admirable order over hill and dale to the wars, against their wills, ay, against their common sense and consciences..."

The mechanical way people react in this country is a problem that is just as real now as it was in the 1800s. While soldiers are trained to do as they are told as much for their safety as for their duty to the country, civilians act as if they are robots, blindly falling into line with everyone else because they are ignorant to what is really happening. (Note: I don't want anything taken the wrong way here. I am completely a supporter of soldiers and know that they must follow orders and die for their country and beliefs. I don't want anyone thinking I don't. My father, grandfather, uncle, and boyfriend have all served.)

The worst part is when people choose to be ignorant over a situation. It is as Abraham Lincoln said, "The man who can read and doesn't has no advantage over the man who can't," I say that the person who can be informed and chooses to let someone else make decisions for them has no advantage over the person who has no choice. It is a waste of democracy and freedom. If you let politicians or neighbors tell you "their versions" of the information (or even news agencies) than you are allowing others to pick and choose which information they think is important for you to know about.

It is hard to stay informed, no doubt. Especially in the internet age. There is always a breaking news story, a new op-ed piece, a new report, a new eyewitness account. But it is important that we know what we are or are not obeying. We need to know what we are and are not supporting. We need to know what we do and do not believe. This can't be done by taking in only bits and pieces of information or by using only one or two sources for information. Thoreau's Civil Disobedience is as much about encouraging others to perform their duties of freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and, of course, responsibility. Thoreau's essay is also about reaching your own individual conclusions about life through both the physical and the spiritual realms.

I may have gone off on a tangent here (and my soapbox) but I think that just proves how immensely meaningful a read this is. If you have not read this essay, or it has been a while, like it has for me (read it in high school, but had completely different reaction this time), I recommend re-reading it. Even if you don't agree with Thoreau's points, it is an important read.

TSS: A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey

Happy last Sunday of the year! Can you believe that 2010 is almost here? Only 5 more days! Crazy.

Well, in honor of the last Sunday Salon of 2009, I am bringing to you (possibly) my last book review of the year, as well. I loved this book and you'll see the myriad of reasons why below.



BOOK #: 91
REASON READ: My friend, Heather
PUBLISHER: Penguin Group
GENRE: Women's Fiction
FORMAT/PAGES: Paperback/279
RATING: 5/5 Stars

So, I am at my friend Heather's house for a Christmas party for all of us who had been in the same Hospice Grief Group this year. It was so much fun laughing and giggling with these girls who have become like a second family to me. We all went through the same thing at the same time- losing a parent- and that brings you together like little else can.

Well, while I knew Heather liked to read and she was writing a book about her mother, I had no idea just how MUCH she liked to read. She had several bookcases of books, plus she told me boxes downstairs. I instantly loved her even more. She picked up a book called A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey. I had heard of the book but never read it. When Heather learned this, she put the book in my hands and said read this book. It is my favorite.

So, after I finished reading Thousand Pieces of Gold, I picked up this book to read. And I LOVED it. I seriously, completely, adoringly love this book. I have to go get myself my own copy.

This book, first published in 1978, is based partially off of Hailey's grandmother and partially based off of the feminist movement of the 1970s. The heroine, Elizabeth, called Bess, was born in 1890 and inherited a legacy- of both wealth and of a spirit full of determination, ambition, and a passion for life. The book is written in an epistolary format, as letters from Bess to all of the loved ones in her life. From Bess' letters the reader gathers all the information they need. Bess goes through trials in her life that could knock even a strong woman down- yet Bess is determined to prevail. The reader witnesses Bess go from a simple grade-school girl to a devoted wife and mother to a self-sufficient, courageous woman with an open mind and a willing soul.

I learned so many life lessons from this book. Bess taught me so much about how to love an independent spirit and how to become more of an independent woman myself. What could be a greater gift from a book than to show you a reflection of yourself? The language was charming, classy, and enthralling. I was drawn into the story and always wanted to know what happened to Bess next and what choice she would decide to make. I wanted to see where she would go abroad next, who she would decide to write to next and why, I wanted to see what choices she made at every turn of her life, from her daughter getting hit by a car to her decisions to invest in the stock market and be in control of her finances to how she related to those around her, whether a childhood friend or her mother-in-law.

Bess fascinated me and I had to close the book last night so I wouldn't finish it until today. I didn't want to leave Bess. I loved how completely capable she was, how socially adept, how open-minded she is to others different from herself (she even gets her "colored" housekeeper into her exclusive Dallas Shakespeare Club when she realizes how well-versed in Shakespeare she is and wants to support her in this.) I loved almost everything about Bess. She did have kind of a wondering eye, if nothing else, and she was more than a little stubborn, but she did own her responsibilities and she owned her mistakes.

I really recommend this book to women everywhere. If you haven't read it, run over to your library or bookstore and read this book! I can hardly wait to hear what you think of it, too.

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES (although there are many more):

"I am always amazed to hear people say the first weeks or months of marriage are the best and then, 'the honeymoon is over.' Of course I thought I loved you with all my heart when we were married, but it took marriage to teach me the outer limits of my anatomy, both physical and spiritual, and now I know that every moment we share further increases my capacity for love." (to her husband, Rob, in 1917)

"I see now how much of what a man becomes is due to the woman at his side. A life can go in so many different directions and though a man may be the captain of his soul, he needs a good navigator at his side if he dares sail into uncharted seas." (to her father and stepmother, in 1919)

"Our parents- and the older generation they represent- provide a barrier against death, and when both of them are gone, as both of mine are now, there is nothing between us and our own mortality. Now it is my turn to stand as a shield between my children and the enemy." (to her sister-in-law, in 1922)

"Nature as a process provides for no growth past physical maturity. Only the individual, through an effort of will and imagination, can add, enhance, enrich. Life unresisted merely subtracts. I no longer believe an individual can change the fate of other people, no matter how much she loves them, but I will not relinquish the responsibility for my own life until the day I die." (to a friend, in 1942)

" J'ai le coeur gros- a French expression to denote a heart swollen with emotion." (in a letter to friends, in 1967)

OTHER REVIEWS/OPINIONS:
If you have read and reviewed this book, please leave me a comment and I will link to your post!

2010 is Upon Us! Great, But What Will We Read?

Are you as excited about the coming year of reading as I am? It doesn't matter how many books already in publication I have yet to read, the promise of new stories told make me giddy with anticipation! Here are the books slated for the new year that I would love to have. So far, that is...


FICTION:

~The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson by Jerome Charyn, published by W.W. Norton & Co. An astonishing novel that removes Emily Dickinson’s own mysterious mask and reveals the passions and heartbreak of America’s greatest poet. What if the old maid of Amherst wasn’t an old maid at all? Her older brother, Austin, spoke of Emily as his “wild sister.” Jerome Charyn, continuing his exploration of American history through fiction, has written a startling novel about Emily Dickinson in her own voice, with all its characteristic modulations that he learned from her letters and poems. The poet dons a hundred veils, alternately playing wounded lover, penitent, and female devil. We meet the significant characters of her life, including her tempestuous sister-in-law, Susan Gilbert; her brooding father, Edward; and the Reverend Charles Wadsworth, who may have inspired some of her greatest letters and poems. Charyn has also invented characters, including an impoverished fellow student at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, who will betray her; and a handyman named Tom, who will obsess Emily throughout her life. Charyn has written an extraordinary adventure that will disturb and delight. 9 illustrations.


~Wench: A Novel by Dolen Perkins-Valdez, published by HarperCollins. This is startling and original fiction that raises provocative questions of power and freedom, love and dependence. An enchanting and unforgettable novel based on little-known fact, Wench combines the narrative allure of Cane River by Lalita Tademy and the moral complexities of Edward P. Jones’s The Known World as it tells the story of four black enslaved women in the years preceding the Civil War.

~Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier, published by Penguin Group. From the moment she's struck by lightning as a baby, it is clear that Mary Anning is marked for greatness. On the windswept, fossil-strewn beaches of the English coast, she learns that she has "the eye"-and finds what no one else can see. When Mary uncovers an unusual fossilized skeleton in the cliffs near her home, she sets the religious fathers on edge, the townspeople to vicious gossip, and the scientific world alight. In an arena dominated by men, however, Mary is barred from the academic community; as a young woman with unusual interests she is suspected of sinful behavior. Nature is a threat, throwing bitter, cold storms and landslips at her. And when she falls in love, it is with an impossible man. Luckily, Mary finds an unlikely champion in prickly Elizabeth Philpot, a recent exile from London, who also loves scouring the beaches. Their relationship strikes a delicate balance between fierce loyalty, mutual appreciation, and barely suppressed envy. Ultimately, in the struggle to be recognized in the wider world, Mary and Elizabeth discover that friendship is their greatest ally. Remarkable Creatures is a stunning novel of how one woman's gift transcends class and social prejudice to lead to some of the most important discoveries of the nineteenth century. Above all, is it a revealing portrait of the intricate and resilient nature of female friendship.



~Small Wars: A Novel by Sadie Jones, published by HarperCollins. Fresh off her triumphantly assured debut novel The Outcast, award-winning author Sadie Jones has again delivered a quiet masterpiece in Small Wars. Set on the colonial, war-torn island of Cyprus in 1956, Jones tells the story of a young solider, Hal Treherne, and the effects of this “small war” on him, his wife Clara, and their family. Reminiscent of classic tales of love and war such as The English Patient and Atonement, Jones’s gripping novel also calls to mind the master works of Virginia Woolf and their portrayal of the quiet desperation of a marriage in crisis. Small Wars is at once a deeply emotional, meticulously researched work of historical fiction and a profound meditation on war-time atrocities committed both on and off the battlefield.


~Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Camille Rose Garcia, Lewis Carroll, published by HarperCollins. This edition of Alice′s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, one of the most popular works of children′s literature of all time, follows in the track of a recent successful Collins Design title: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald, illustrated by Calef Brown and published in sync with the release of David Fincher′s film starring Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt. This new edition of Carroll′s cult classic, designed in a compelling package and priced affordably, will publish in sync with the release of one of 2010′s major Hollywood films. According to Variety, Tim Burton′s forthcoming movie is generating a lot of buzz as one of the year′s biggest. And it′s got an all-star cast to draw in audiences and position our book nicely in the market: Johnny Depp (Mad Hatter), Alan Rickman (Caterpillar), Helena Bonham-Carter (Red Queen), Anne Hathaway (White Queen), Michael Sheen (White Rabbit), Crispin Glover (Knave of Hearts) and Australian actress Mia Wasikoska (Alice). The style of Camille Rose Garcia′s work has a dark yet Disneyesque sensibility that strongly recalls Burton′s aesthetic, so book buyers and readers will both readily make that visual connection, which should help both buy-in and sell-through. Think Alice goes Goth, and you′ve got the magic of this special book.

~Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian, published by Crown Publishing Group. The morning after her baptism into the Rev. Stephen Drew’s Vermont Baptist church, Alice Hayward and her abusive husband are found dead in their home, an apparent murder-suicide. Stephen, the novel’s first narrator, is so racked with guilt over his failure to save Alice that he leaves town. Soon, he meets Heather Laurent, the author of a book about angels whose own parents’ marriage also ended in tragedy. Stephen’s deeply sympathetic narration is challenged by the next two narrators: deputy state attorney Catherine Benincasa, whose suspicions are aroused initially by Stephen’s abrupt departure (and then by questions about his relationship with Alice), and Heather, who distances herself from Stephen for similar reasons and risks the trip into her dark past by seeking out Katie, the Haywards’ now-orphaned 15-year-old daughter who puts into play the final pieces of the puzzle, setting things up for a touching twist. Fans of Bohjalian’s more exotic works will miss learning something new, but this is a masterfully human and compassionate tale.

~The Fifth Servant: A Novel by Kenneth Wishnia, published by HarperCollins. A brilliantly imagined, beautifully written combination of scrupulously researched historical novel and riveting suspense thriller, Kenneth Wishnia’s The Fifth Servant carries readers back to 16^th century Prague in the shadow of the Papal Inquisition—and introduces a uniquely unforgettable protagonist, a young Talmudic scholar who has three days to solve a heinous murder before official reprisals decimate the city’s Jewish community. A richly atmospheric tale of religion, mystery, and intrigue, The Fifth Servant recreates life in the era when Emperor Rudolph II occupied the throne—a time of uncertainty and fear viewed through the eyes of an intrepid rabbinical student on a quest for truth and justice.

NONFICTION:

~Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead: The Frank Meeink Story by Frank Meeink and Judy M. Roy, published by Hawthorne Books. This is the story of Frank Meeink’s raw telling of his descent into America’s Nazi underground and his ultimate triumph over drugs and hatred. Frank’s violent childhood in South Philadelphia primed him to hate, while addiction made him easy prey for a small group of skinhead gang recruiters. By 16 he had become one of the most notorious skinhead gang leaders on the East Coast and by 18 he was doing hard time. Teamed up with African-American players in a prison football league, Frank learned to question his hatred, and after being paroled he defected from the white supremacy movement and began speaking on behalf of the Anti-Defamation League. A story of fighting the demons of hatred and addiction, Frank's downfall and ultimate redemption has the power to open hearts and change lives.

~The Only Thing Worth Dying For: How Eleven Green Berets Forged a New Afghanistan by Eric Belhm, published by HarperCollins. Eric Blehm, author of the award-winning The Last Season, is back with another true adventure story, The Only Thing Worth Dying For. Set in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, The Only Thing Worth Dying For chronicles the untold story of the team of Green Berets that conquered the Taliban and helped bring Hamid Karzai to power in Afghanistan. In the tradition of Black Hawk Down, The Only Thing Worth Dying For is, in the words of former Congressman Charlie Wilson (from Charlie Wilson’s War), “the one book you must read if you have any hope of understanding what our fine American soldiers are up against in Afghanistan.”

~This Book is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson, published by HarperCollins. In This Book is Overdue!,The Dead Beat, discovers offbeat and eloquent characters in the quietest corners. In defiance of doomsayers, Johnson finds librarians more vital and necessary than ever, as they fuse the tools of the digital age with love for the written word and the enduring values of truth, service to all, and free speech. This Book Is Overdue! is a romp through the ranks of information professionals who organize our messy world and offer old-fashioned human help through the maze.

~Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert, published by Penguin Group. A sequel to her bestselling memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, Gilbert’s new book is the story of how she and Felipe, the man she met and fell in love with at the end of Eat, Pray, Love, grapple and ultimately make peace with the notion of marriage, long after each of them has endured an ugly divorce and sworn off the institution.


I also discovered these good-looking 2010 reads over at The Compulsive Reader:
~The Six Rules of Maybe by Deb Caletti, published by S&S
~Violet Eyes by Debbie Viguie, published by S&S
~Keep Sweet by Michele Green, published by S&S
~Mercury by Hope Larson, published by S&S


**And these are just the ones I didn't know about prior to searching around! Here are a couple more that I look forward to:

Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds
Secrets of the Tudor Court: Between Two Queens by Kate Emerson
The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova
Tea with Hezbollah: Sitting at the Enemies Table, Our Journey Through the Middle East by Ted Dekker
Mr. Darcy's Great Escape: A Tale of the Darcys and the Bingleys by Altman
O' Juliet by Robin Maxwell
Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther by Ginger Garrett
Something About You by Julie James
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith (who brought us P&P and Zombies)
The Betrayal of the Blood Lily (Pink Carnation Series #6) by Lauren Willig
I Am Ozzy by Ozzy Osbourne


Are there books you are looking forward to reading in 2010? Any you have found that I missed that you think I'll enjoy? 'Tis the season for sharing, people! :)

Christmas is a State of Mind

The Joys of Decorations

Reds and yellows, blues and greens-
Christmas paints her Yuletide scenes:
Brilliant cards in colors bold,
Ornaments of red and gold,

Festive stores and scenery,
Frosty panes in filigree,
Trees ashine in silvered snow,
Star strung avenues aglow...
-Nora M. Bozeman

"Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles." -Author Unknown

"Happy, Happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!" -Charles Dickens


Carol of the Brown King

Of the three Wise Men
Who cam to the King,
One was a brown man,
So they sing.

Of the three Wise Men
Who followed the Star,
One was a brown king
From afar.

They brought fine gifts
Of spices and gold
In jeweled boxes
Of beauty untold.

Unto His humble
Manger they came
And bowed their heads
In Jesus' name.

Three wise Men,
One dark like me--
Part of His
Nativity.
-Langston Hughes



"Christmas is not a date. It's a state of mind." -Mary Ellen Chase

The time draws near the birth of Christ;
The moon is hid; the night is still;
The Christmas bells from hill to hill
Answer each other in the midst.
-Alfred, Lord Tennyson

"Best of all are the decorations the grandchildren have made--fat little stars and rather crooked Santas, shaped out of dough and baked in the oven." -Gladys Taber

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part--
Yet what I can, I give Him,
Give my heart.
-Christina G. Rossetti


Among the many gifts life sends,
None are more dear than loyal friends;
That's why no words can quite express
The many ways in which you bless.

May Christmas be a happy day,
Bringing all its gifts your way;
And when we reach another year,
May passing moments offer cheer.
-Beatrice Branch


What Is Christmas?

It's not the lights or mistletoe
Or gifts we give with cheer:
Our Christmastime is not complete
Unless our friends are near.

It's not the 'Merry Christmas' voiced,
But love within the heart,
The memories of the ones who are
So much of us a part.

The spirit of this blessed day
I only can express
By wishing all dear friends of ours
Peace, joy, and happiness.
-Goldie Williams


These quotes and poems, along with stories are all compiled in the wonderful book, The Joy of Christmas, edited by Kelly Riley Baugh and published by Ideals Publications.

Happy Holidays!

Wow, it is Christmas Eve already? How did this happen? Thankfully, UPS came through for me yesterday and brought my presents for my family. I have them wrapped and under the tree. Woohoo! I was worried there for a while they wouldn't arrive in time. Whew!

This year is a mixed blessing Christmas for me. On one hand, I am more excited about Christmas than I have been in literally years. I have been into wrapping presents (I usually throw them in a bag and I'm done with it), making Christmas goodies (and eating them, don't forget), and watching Christmas shows (a few, but better than years prior.)

So, I am grateful for that. But this year also marks the first without my father. He always made Christmas this amazing, almost magical day. He would always have a 2-part present for someone and then forget which part you were supposed to open first, lol. And he would always have the camera ready for recording our gasps of delight at what we received from our loved ones.

Last year he was very sick and it took us all day to finish opening presents because he had to keep going back to bed to rest. This year, we have made the house festive again, we have designated the top shelf of the bookshelf as our sort of shrine to him, complete with photos, poems, and Santa Claus that look like him (he was a big guy and his beard was growing to be all white, though not as long.) We have him in spirit, but I know the next 2 days will be one of mixed emotions as we celebrate the life he had and mourn the fact he is not here with us.

We do now have a new member of our family, as my sister was married in October in India, if you recall. K will be with us this Christmas and he will be acting as new videographer and his presence I am sure will help us keep out of a funk. Plus, I have John to help me through and he is the biggest blessing of all. I don't know what I would do without him!

I have decided not to blog too much during the holidays, since so many are out of town or just plain busy with family and festivities and I don't want you to come back to Readers filled to the brim! I am, however, working on several posts:

• Book Review of A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey (Hint: I LOVED it.)
• 2009 Reading Wrap-Up Post, done in my usual super-organized style. (Really, you should know this is the only area of my life that is organized at all!)
• Brand new Take Me Away Saturday posts.
• The to-be-published-in-2010 books that I am looking forward to.
• And...a couple of surprises. :)
  

I want to wish each of you the absolute happiest holiday season. May your season be filled with family, friends, fun, and a couple of hours to just relax and read. :) And don't forget to tell me all about the new books you get! Haha!

GIVEAWAY WINNER for Thousand Pieces of Gold

I had 12 entries into the giveaway contest for Thousand Pieces of Gold by Ruthanne Lum McCunn. The Random.org winning number was lucky number 7...


so the winner is....

JO-JO of Jo-Jo loves to read!!!

Congratulations, Jo-Jo! Be sure to e-mail me your mailing address and I will get it shipped out to you after Christmas!


P.S. I still have not heard from Bemby, who won the ARC copy of How to Catch and Keep a Vampire by Diana Laurence. Since it is the holiday season, I am waiting until the beginning of January before announcing a new winner, as many people are out of town and otherwise preoccupied right now.

Friday Fill-Ins #155

I haven't done a Friday Fill-In in a while! Fun!

1. No, we will NOT burp for fun while we are eating lunch, kids.
2. Christmas meals always taste better at the old kitchen table.
3. I watched the steam rising from the hot cup of coffee (or tea) and thought: I just love Chai tea!
4. Even though it will be our first Christmas without the patriarch of our family we are somehow going to be okay.
5. I'll take a Wii Fit please, Santa.
6. I do not get paid nearly enough to be a teacher, at least from my point of view.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching a Christmas movie with my sister, tomorrow my plans include reading and cleaning, and Sunday, I want to deck the halls with lots of Christmas goodies!

GIVEAWAY WINNER for How to Catch and Keep a Vampire!

Okay, so I COMPLETELY forgot to announce the winner of the giveaway on Wednesday. Sorry about that! ADD on the job again. Why won't it take vacation days?

Anyway, the winner of How to Catch and Keep a Vampire by Diana Laurence is:

Bemby

Congratulations! Please e-mail me with your mailing address and I will get it out to you ASAP!

COMPLETED: 2009 Colorful Reading Challenge

Yay! Woohoo! I did it! I finished my own challenge! I didn't think I would! I am so happy! I am using lots of exclamation points!

I finished the Colorful Reading Challenge and I am just, well, excited!

Here is what I read:

1. SILVER: The Scalpel and the Silver Bear: The First Navajo Woman Surgeon Combines Western Medicine and Traditional Healing by Lori Arviso (4 Stars)

2. BLUE: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (3.5 Stars)

3. GREEN: True Green Home: 10 Inspirational Ideas for Creating a Green Environment at Home by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin (4 Stars)

4. PURPLE: The Color Purple by Alice Walker (4.5 Stars)

5. ORANGE: A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (4 Stars)

6. BLACK: Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster (4.5 Stars)

7. RED: Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (4.5 Stars)

8. WHITE: White Fang by Jack London (4.5 Stars)

9. GOLD: Thousand Pieces of Gold by Ruthanne Lum McCunn (4.5 Stars)
(and there is a giveaway for this one until December 22nd!)


I like the way Kerri from Book Ends broke her challenge reads down and I do like to emulate the fabulous when they are being truly fabulous.

I read 7 fiction books and 2 nonfiction books.

I read 2 Young Adult books and 4 literary novels.

I read 3 Banned Books.

I read 2 memoirs and 1 biographical novel.

I had 2 re-reads, which were, coincidentally, the two YA books.

I gave all the books 3.5 stars or higher rating. This challenge introduced me to some fantastic books.

I can't wait for the 2010 Colorful Reading Challenge! Have you joined yet?

Review and Giveaway: Thousand Pieces of Gold by Ruthanne Lum McCunn

BOOK #: 90
REASON READ: Colorful Reading Challenge
PUBLISHER: Beacon Press
GENRE: Biographical Novel, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
FORMAT/PAGES: Paperback/308
RATING: 4.5/5 Stars

SUMMARY ON BACK COVER:

Lalu Nathoy's father called his thirteen-year-old daughter his treasure, his "thousand pieces of gold," yet when famine strikes northern China in 1871, he is forced to sell her. Polly, as Lalu is later called, is sold to a brothel, sold again to a slave merchant bound for America, auctioned to a saloonkeeper, and offered as a prize in a poker game. This biographical novel is the extraordinary story of one woman's fight for independence and dignity in the American West.

MY THOUGHTS:
You would be hard pressed to find a heroine stronger than Lalu/Polly. She endures hardships and trials that could bring most anyone down. But not Polly. She perseveres. She is a pillar of strength and the poster woman for determination.

Thousand Pieces of Gold touches on some very important issues: the treatment of the Chinese in the nineteenth-century American West; the issue of slavery in nineteenth-century China and America; the immigrant experience; free will vs. fate; the role of women in the 19th century; and mixed-race relationships.

The writing in this book flows beautifully, yet it is packed with intensity. It is packed with intensity, yet it is also at times playful and sweet. I instantly liked Lalu. I was drawn into her story, into her character. It was a very beautiful and important read, in my opinion, and I am very glad I read it.

QUOTES:

"Don't you understand you cannot escape your fate?"

"For the Gold Mountains they had described was not the America she would know. This: the dingy basement room, the blank faces of women and girls stripped of hope, the splintered boards beneath her on the auction block. This was her America."

"I remember one time a man bring a performing monkey to my village,' Polly said. 'The man divide the audience in two and give each side one end of a rope to hold. Then the monkey walk carefully back and forth between the two sides. At each end, he stop a little bit, but he cannot stay, and so he walk again until he so tired, he fall.' She pointed down to Warrens, so clearly divided into two camps. 'Sometimes I feel like that monkey."


GIVEAWAY!!!:

Would you like the chance to read this moving and intriguing story? Leave a comment with your e-mail address saying you would like to win this book. The contest will go until December 22nd. I will announce the winner and mail the book out following Christmas. Good luck!

Aarti of BookLust Answers 20 Questions!

Welcome back to 20 Questions, where we get to know our fellow book bloggers a little better.

Today I would like to present to you Aarti of the awesome blog, B O O K L U S T! Thank you so much, Aarti, for sharing with us today!




20 QUESTIONS

1. Last book you bought:
Actually, the last book I bought was a complete impulse buy. I usually do research and go armed with a list to a used bookstore, but this time I had some time to kill and so was browsing the fantasy section at Barnes & Noble. The Court of the Air, by Stephen Hunt caught my eye, I succumbed to temptation and I bought it.

2. Last book you got in the mail:
I just received an ARC of Lady Vernon and Her Daughter, by Jane Rubino, today. It's based on a novella by Jane Austen.

3. The first book you read over and over:
I don't know, really. I think it was probably Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles. But I also spent a lot of time going over favorite parts of the Anne of Green Gables series when I was younger.

4. Children’s book every child should read:
I seem to be saying this a lot lately, but definitely Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth. Fantastic. I should reread that soon, considering how much I've been touting it.

5. Favorite place to read:
In the summer, I enjoy reading out on the patio in one of those nylon chairs with the foot rest and beverage holder. In the winter, I like to cozy up on the couch with a blanket. Growing up, I liked to lay down on my bedroom floor with my feet in the heating vent. Weird. I know.

6. A book you bought just for the cover:
I don't think I really ever buy books based solely on the cover. I usually at least like to know what they're about first. But one book I own and haven't read yet but just find beautiful is City of Laughter. I waxed lyrical about it on my blog here.

7. Scariest book ever read:
I do NOT read scary books. Seriously. I have major issues. It's embarrassing. I do remember Roald Dahl's The Witches completely freaking me out when I was younger.

8. Most romantic book ever read:
I LOVE Persuasion, by Jane Austen. It is, in my opinion, her most romantic and wonderful novel and I wish more people would read it and enjoy it. I love her other novels, too, but Persuasion is beautiful. Here's a quote- how can you not find it romantic after reading this?!

"You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight and a half years ago. Dare not say that a man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant."

9. Book that changed your life in some way:
A great many books have changed my life in different ways. The Count of Monte Cristo I read and was left breathless by the intricacy of the plotting. All Quiet on the Western Front made me realize that there were no "good guys" and "bad guys" in war. Nothing is black and white. And many other books I've read and been moved by. That's what makes reading so wonderful.

10. Book you’ve re-read the most times:
I don't reread books that often, but the author I consistently return to, either to pick up another book by her or to reread a favorite, is Georgette Heyer.

11. Book you needed the Cliff’s Notes for:
Lord of the Flies, by William Golding. Way. Over. My. Head.

12. Book you needed the dictionary for:
Hmm, I tend to just plow through and ignore words I don't understand as though they are unimportant ;-)

13. Book you like that no one else seems to:
Oh, I'm not sure. I really liked The Meaning of Night, by Michael Cox and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, by Susannah Clarke, but those seem to only appeal to a certain demographic.

14. Book you don’t like that everyone else seems to love:
There are quite a few! I would say Stephenie Meyer's Twilight, but quite a few people dislike that one. I didn't like Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, either.

15. Number of books you own (you can guess):
Probably around 600.

16. Number of books on your TBR list (that you have not acquired yet):
Oh, goodness. Can I say pretty much any fantasy novel or book set in 18th or 19th century England?

17. Must-have reading accessories:
Bookmark- any kind will do.

18. Literary Destination You Want to Go to:
I love to travel anywhere! I think eastern Europe would be on my list, though- Prague and Istanbul, definitely. But seriously. Anywhere.

19. Top Three Favorite Authors:
I love authors for different reasons. The ones that I read the most often aren't necessarily the ones that I am most impressed by, literary talent-wise. Three that have permanent placement on my shelves are Neil Gaiman, Georgette Heyer and Diana Wynne Jones.

20. Three Book Bloggers You Want to See Featured in the Future:
I have enjoyed all the featured bloggers!

Thanks so much, Aarti! The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite books and I did not understand the big deal about Lord of the Flies. I hated that book! And thank you for saying you have enjoyed reading all of the featured bloggers! That is a great compliment to extend!

Check below to see who is appearing on 20 Questions through the end of 2009:

~Jeanne of Necromancy Never Pays
~Carrie of Books and Movies


Do you want to be featured on 20 Questions? Send me an e-mail (which you can find on my Blogger profile!) with your answers to the questions! Please include questions and answers together, which makes it easier for me to post, plus a photo if you want me to put a different one than your blog's profile picture. I will then e-mail you and let you know when you will be featured! Thanks!

2010 Social Justice Challenge

This is truly the coolest challenge I have seen since I started blogging. It is so near and dear to my heart that if Natasha, Amy, and Hannah had not already put it together, I would have created my own. These ladies have impressed me and I am very honored and excited to join them in this challenge.

Here is what the Social Justice Challenge is all about:

Reading opens new worlds to us and can sometimes expose the injustice in our own. We have all been powerfully moved by the injustice we have learned about in books and decided we wanted to host a reading project that would encourage us to learn more about these issues in the world.

It can sometimes be overwhelming and disheartening to read about the powerful obstacles others in the world face. So this reading challenge is different. Not only will we be encouraging you to learn about issues of social injustice in the world through books, essays, blogs, and other media–we will also be challenging you to take an action step and make a difference as a result of what you’ve learned. Let’s put our knowledge into action and make a difference!

We have chosen to focus each month on a different area of social injustice in the world. During that month, we are asking that you read something from the list of resources or watch something suggested by that month’s host. That will complete step one of this challenge: Learn.

Throughout the month we will also be posting ways you can make a difference in this area. Don’t worry, we will provide several different options at many different levels of commitment. The important thing is to take an action step towards doing something to change things! That fulfills step 2–Take Action.

We realize that as the year goes on some months will be busier for you than others. Some themes may be more important to you personally than others. So the challenge is customizable each month to fit your needs by the month.

When you sign up the Social Justice Challenge you are committing to 12 months participation. The amount you participate each month, however, is up to you.

Activist–At this level you are agreeing to participate fully in the activities of the month. You will read at least one full length book as well as choosing something from the other media list. You will also complete an action step. By signing up for the challenge, you agree to do a minimum of 3 months at this level. You do not have to decide which months in advance.

Intern–You agree to either read something from the reading resources (it can be an essay or children’s book) or choose to do something from the other media list. You will complete an action step. You do not have to decide which months in advance.

Volunteer– You agree to read at least one of the recommended blog posts, essays or shorter novels. You will complete an action step. You do not have to decide in advance which months they will be.

Observer — Need a break? Just follow along with the blog for the month. This month has no commitment level. You can only do a maximum of three months at this level.

You can always do more, but you can’t do less. You can also customize the challenge in other ways. Already planning to read more about India this year? Choose your reading resources around the country of India!

Edit for clarification: The amount of participation is on a month-to-month basis. One month you can be an Observer (topic may not interest you or you don’t have the time), another month you can be a Volunteer (read a blog post instead of a full length book), another month an Intern (watch a documentary), or another month you can be an Activist (read a book and watch something off of the media list.) All levels with the exception of observer will have an action step as well.

If you’d like to participate in the challenge (and we want you too!), we ask you to choose at least a minimum of three months in which you’ll participate on the Activist level (you could do all twelve if you wanted, but three is all we are asking). You can’t participate in all twelve months as on observer either, therefore the three months maximum at that level. So you really can mix it up as much as you want as long as you participate in at least three months minimum as an Activist and three months maximum as an observer. Let us know if that makes any sense and if you have any questions.

Doesn't this sound amazing! I know it does to me. I want to be doing these things already so this is like a bonus for me to get to do it in a challenge. I love it!

Look starting in January for the Social Justice Challenge of the month and follow along with me as I work this challenge!

New and Indi Authors Challenges

These two challenges are all about the authors, so I thought it fitting to put them in a post together. The first one is New Authors, which I loved doing in 2009. The second one is new to me, the Indi Authors Challenge. I am really excited about both this year!


New Authors Challenge is being hosted again by Literary Escapism.

Here are the guidelines:

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
2. Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels. Anthologies are a great way to try someone new, but only a third of your new authors can be from anthologies.
3. I want this to be an easy challenge, so you can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors. It all depends on how fast you read and how adventurous you want to be. For me, I’m trying another 50 new authors. If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop. Any new author you try can be added to Mr. Linky. We all want to know about your new experience.
4. After reading your new author, write your review and then come back here and add your link to Mr. Linky. Make sure you include your name and the author, but adding the title is completely up to you.

Once you reach your goal, you don’t have to stop. Any new author you try, go ahead and head back here and add it to the list. Introduce us all to whoever you find. Afterall, there’s no reason to stop trying new authors, right?

I am going to strive to do 25 new authors this year.

MY BOOKS/REVIEWS:
1. Bazell, Josh Beat the Reaper (January)
2. Moran, Michelle The Heretic Queen (March)
3. Napoli, Donna Jo Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale (March)
4. Weisman, Carl Serious Doubts (April)
5. Weiner, Jennifer Best Friends Forever (April)
6. Davis, Tom Scared (April)
7. Dale, Lisa It Happened One Night (May)
8. Cutler, Jessica The Washingtonienne (May)
9. de la Cruz, Melissa Blue Bloods (May)
10. Bartlett, C. Ellene Letters to Rosy (May)
11. Boyne, John The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (Read in April, reviewed in May)
12. Bucher, Charlotte Cecil Learns to Smile (May)
13. Callender, Kristen The Truth Lies in the Dark (Read in May, reviewed in June)
14. Green, John Looking for Alaska (Read in May, reviewed in June)
15. Byatt, A.S. Possession (July)
16. Stepakoff, Jeffrey Fireworks Over Toccoa (July)
17. Satrapi, Marjane Persepolis (August)
18. Scott, Kieran She's So Dead to Us (August)
19. Williams, Carol Lynch The Chosen One (August/September)
20. Westerfeld, Scott Uglies (September)
21. Erickson, Carolly The Secret Life of Josephine (December)
22.
23.
24.
25.

The Indi Authors Challenge is being hosted by Erotic Horizon.

The Details:

During 2009 I found myself reading a whole lot more INDI (independent) authors across varied genre – and I was loving it. Not only for the quality of work that has been produced, but mostly by how creative some of these authors have been with their plot.

With that and a lot more reasons in mind, I have decided to host a reading challenge dedicated to highlighting the work of self published authors.

Rules: To read TWELVE (12) Self Published Authors in 2010

Details:

• 
  
  You don't have to select your books/authors ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront then you can change them, nothing is set in stone!

• The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.
  

• If you decide to participate in this challenge please use the links I have set up below with the buttons to post on your sidebar, this way others can find their way back to this post and join in the fun.
  

• If you decide to join this challenge be sure to create a post telling others, please make sure you add a link back to this post so others can join in.

• If you decide to join and don’t have a blog and would like to join – Please leave details in comment.

• You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

• Another post will be created at the beginning of the year for completed reviews to be posted.

MY BOOKS/REVIEWS:
1. A Painter's Life by K.B. Dixon
2. Recovering My Voice: A Memoir of Chaos, Spirituality, and Hope by Aruni Nan Futuronsky
3. Letters to Rosy by C. Ellene Bartlett
4. Cecil Learns to Smile by Charlotte Bucher
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.