Autumn Book Challenge Update

Happy Cyber Monday All. I am trying to stay out of the online shops today as to avoid being a greedy little piggy and buying a bunch of "gifts" for myself!

So, the holidays are upon us which means some added stress! To unwind, there's nothing I like to do more than snuggle under the warmth of a blanket and read a good book (I'm also having a hankering for some hot chocolate with a candy cane in it now). What's on the nightstand to read now is on my list form  Megan's Autumn Reading Challenge.

10: Read a book that has been featured in Oprah's Book Club.
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
I am so pissed- this book was awful. I got to 350 or so pages before I had to stop. Now, it's messed up my points! Grrrr.

30: Read two books by the same author.
The Tao of Martha and Jeneration X by Jen Lancaster
Done. I love me some Jen Lancaster, but I preferred Jeneration X faaar more than Tao of Martha. I don't really get into her "project for a year" format. Thus, I didn't care for My Fair Lazy and Such a Pretty Fat, or The Happiness Project for that matter.



Oct- 30 points
Nov- only 30 more points for a total of 60. Darn you Johnathan Franzen and your pretentious writing!
I might be a big loser regarding the points, but this challenge helped me put together a nice list of books to read!

Fall Book Challenge- Oct. update

How was everyone's Halloween?  Mine was a DISASTER!
I wasn't getting any trick-or-treaters, so when I finally got 3 older trick or treaters and they asked how much they could take, I said whatever, take as much as you like. Oh they did.  I was a hero for like 30 seconds.
Of course minutes later, the parade of kids came though and I ran out! I had to turn away a little princess (seriously, she was like 5, I turned away a 5 year old princess).
I then turned out the lights and hid.
Ethan comes out of the office and sees the lights out and wrappers all over the coffee table.  Ethan: "didn't you learn anything from The Wire. You NEVER get high on your own supply."
(hanging head in shame)

 I tried- I mean I wore cat ears and orange and got the good candy like Reese's and Kit Kats!

Anyhoooo, since today is November (I can't believe it), it's also time to check in with Megan's Autumn Reading Challenge.

 

5: Read a book that does not have "the," "a" or "an" in the title.
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
This was excellent! Jeannette's novel about her tough as nails grandma's life staring in the 20s. She the kinda gal I look up to.

10: Read a book that has been featured in Oprah's Book Club.
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

10: Read a book that takes place in the state where you currently live. If you do not live in the U.S., read a book that takes place in the country where you live.
Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman
Ehhhh, this one slowed me down & I usually like Laura Lippman.

15: Read an epistolary novel, which is a book written in letters, emails, diary entries or other documents.
Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger
Quick read- I didn't hate and I didn't love.

15: Read a book first published in 2013.
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

15: Read a book with something spooky in the title.
Notes from Ghost Town by Kate Ellison

20: Read a book with "air," "water," "earth" or "fire" in the title.
Red Water by Judith Freeman

20: Read a book on which a television series has been based.
Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman

25: Read a fiction book that has someone’s first and last name in the title.
Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood

30: Read two books by the same author.
The Tao of Martha and Jeneration X by Jen Lancaster

35: Read a fiction and nonfiction book about the same topic.
We Were Soldiers Once... and Young by Harold G. Moore, Joseph L. Galloway and 
The Things They Carried  by Tim O'Brien

Dang, only 30 points! I guess I should have started from the bottom up. So I also read the Dinner and How to be Lost in Oct, but they didn't fit in my categories. Oops!
Off to the library!

Books, Books, Books for Fall

I love to read (heck, what else would I do on the Metro for 20 minutes) and I have been meaning to add some new books to my library list, so I was beyond excited to come across Semi-Charmed Life's book challenge for the Fall. I had such a great time on this scavenger hunt for books I'm planning on reading this Fall. 

 

5: Read a book that does not have "the," "a" or "an" in the title. Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

10: Read a book that has been featured in Oprah's Book Club. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

10: Read a book that takes place in the state where you currently live. If you do not live in the U.S., read a book that takes place in the country where you live. Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman

15: Read an epistolary novel, which is a book written in letters, emails, diary entries or other documents. Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger

15: Read a book first published in 2013.The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult 
 (I have been to get to this for forever now! Jodi is my fav author and I have forsaken her by waiting this long)

 Yup, there she is signing my book at the National Book Fest a few years back.

15: Read a book with something spooky in the title. Notes from Ghost Town by Kate Ellison

20: Read a book with "air," "water," "earth" or "fire" in the title. Red Water by Judith Freeman

20: Read a book on which a television series has been based. Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman
 
25: Read a fiction book that has someone’s first and last name in the title. Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood

30: Read two books by the same author. They can be in the same series, but do not have to be. Co-authors do not count (i.e. the author must be the sole author of each book). The Tao of Martha and Jeneration X by Jen Lancaster

35: Read a fiction and nonfiction book about the same topic. We Were Soldiers Once... and Young Ia Drang - The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam by Harold G. Moore, Joseph L. Galloway and The Things They Carried  by Tim O'Brien
After reading Matterhorn, I feel like there is so much more I want to read on the Vietnam War.