The Bone People by 3M

Here are all my June reads, but the only book officially on this challenge was The Bone People. Click on the titles to see the reviews.

37. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde ****
38. A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken ****
39. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle ****
40. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry ****1/2
41. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys ****
42. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke ****1/2
43. New Testament *****
44. Coraline by Neil Gaiman ****1/2
45. The Bone People by Keri Hulme ****
46. Wild Swans by Jung Chang ****1/2

Pheelya - Week 1 & 2 catch-up

I'm a little behind on posts due to join a little late, but I have two books finished from my list.

The first is The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl. I picked up this book because I really liked his first book The Dante Club and because I love Poe. I wasn't as impressed with this book as I was his first. The book is based on my mysteries surrounding Poe's death. The setting of the book was mainly Baltimore, but there was an extended period in France. It's set back in the 1840-1850 as if it took place literally days after Poe passed. It was a bit dry in places. I find it somewhat hard to believe this was the same author at The Dante Club *highly recommend reading if you like mystery*

Next up is Black Moon Rising by Damien Ashton. If you like werewolf books, this is a must read! Terrifying! One of the best modern day horrors comparable to horror classics. The action in the book was intense and the descriptions are amazing.

The Poe Shadow - Matthew Pearl
Danse Macabre - Laurell K. Hamilton **up next
The Double Bind - Chris Bohjalian
Twilight - Stephanie Meyer
A Killer Stitch - Maggie Sefton
Mistreal's Kiss - Laurell K. Hamilton
Rain Village - Carolyon Turgeon **almost finished
Black Moon Rising - Damien Ashton
The Demon Awakes - R.A. Salvatore
Disobedience - Naomi Alderman
Ophelia - Lisa Klein
Voodoo Season - Jewell Parker Rhodes
Wild Women's Weekend - Lynne Kaufman
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off: The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting - Stephanie Pearl-McPhee **newly added and almost finished!

Week 2 Progress

I got a little behind this week. I had expected to finish The Book Thief, but I'm only about 2/3 done. Not that it's a difficult, complicated read: it's not. I've had other things demanding my attention the past week, and an allergy attack (itchy eyes, nose running like a living creek, TMI, I know) that turned into a chest cold.

In any case, what I've read so far is very good. What's more, in terms of verisimilitude (and how real can it be to have Death narrating to the reader? I know), the illustrations/copies of the pages of The Stand Over Man that Max gave to Lisle was very moving.

Week Two/Three

So, I didn't realise that we were supposed to be keeping weekly bulletins. Whoops. Please forgive me-I'll be better from now on!

So far, I've read two of my picks-Henry James' The Turn of the Screw and Anne Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

I chose The Turn of the Screw because I wanted a little bit of horror on my list. I'm only reading classics for this challenge, and I'd read about The Turn in quite a few places-all I knew was that it involved a governess and ghosts. So, I felt that it was time to actually read it! Unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy it that much, but since it was a short novella, I want to reread it before posting an actual review. I really enjoys James in novel form, but this is the second novella of his I've read, and I just don't seem to get too much out of them. I'm hoping that a second reading, and this time reading the introduction in my version of it, will allow me appreciate it a little more. I'll keep you updated!

I loved Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I wanted to read it, because I've read Charlotte's Jane Eyre and Emily's Wuthering Heights, so it seemed only fair to read one of Anne's books. I chose it over Agnes Grey since it seemed to have a more interesting plotline. :) I really like Anne's writing style: she's more realistic than her sisters, and I suspect she had more of a sense of humour as well. For a full review, check out this post on my blog. It seems that most people aren't putting actualy reviews on this community blog, but please let me know if I'm wrong. :)

Next up is Les liaisons dangerueses. It should be an interesting switch, from an American gothic book condemning alcohol and lasciviousness to a French, decadent, eighteenth century novel glorifying corruption. At least, that's what I've heard. ;)

One for the SRC2, but not on my list...

I took a break from Harry Potter Book 1 to read a little light bit o' romance.

The Perils of Pursuing a Prince by Julia London.

I do enjoy a quick read, one that I can finish within a 24 hour period.

A big thank you to my local county library for the new installation of "Books to Go". A great circular shelf full of new paperbacks by the entrance/exit, hence "Books to Go".

Now I will resume HP #1...Have a great week!

Week 2 Progress

I finally finished a book- only took two weeks. The rest of you put me to shame reading many, many books.
Anyway, Pride and Prejudice was brilliant and caused me to fall head over heels for Jane Austen's poignant prose. She truly is a magnificent author. All of the characters come alive and I, of course, felt a certain kinship to Miss Eliza Bennett. Mr. Darcy is wonderful, too.
I've seen the A&E movie many times and finally read the book and it's infinitely better, of course. Though the movie will forever remain one of my favorites.
Now that I've finished one Jane Austen book, I've decided to read along w/ my Knit the Classics group which is reading Mansfield Park. Off to the used book store this afternoon!
Happy Father's Day to all!
allie

Week 2 Vasilly

This week has been a pretty good week. I read The Napping House by Audrey Wood, which is a children's book that I've been pretty curious about for a while. I've also read a couple of stories from I am no one you know by Joyce Carol Oates. I'm going to let this book be a slow read. Now I'm reading I am the messenger by Markus Zusak which I absolutely love! Zusak is such a good writer. I'm going to start The Time Traveler's Wife in a couple of days.

Week 2 Part 2

I finished two books from my list this week: What We Keep and Durable Goods, both by Elizabeth Berg. The review is here. Of the rest of the books on my list the only ones I actually have in my possession are The Hours and The Book of Ruth, so I guess one of those will be next!

Jill's Week Two/Week Three

For the second week of this challenge, I was in the land of Tudors, completing The Other Boleyn Girl and The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory. If you're interested in reading my reviews, please check out my LiveJournal page.

This week, I'm off to see the wizard, reading Wicked by Gregory Maguire. I know this book has gotten mixed reviews on LibraryThing and other sites, but I will reserve judgment until I am at least fifty pages in. =)

Happy Reading!
Jill

Week 2 round-up for Rhinoa

This week I got a lot more reading done than I planned! I thought picking 6 books to read for this challenge was going to be too many, but by the end of this week I have read 4 of my 6.

I have read:
The Laughing Corpse
Circus of the Damned
The Lunatic Cafe

All by Laurell K Hamilton in the Anite Blake Vampire Hunter series. It started a bit slow, but The Lunatic Cafe was really good. I will hopefully start book 5 in the series (Bloody Bones) next week and maybe even finish the challenge next week if work isn't too busy...

For reviews see my blog at Rhinoa's Ramblings

Hi. I finally finished Dante's Inferno. Exquisitely written/translated, even considering the horrid subject matter. Made me spend no small amount of time contemplating my less than saintly moments.

I have been taking time out to read lighter subject matter, such as Knitting from the Top by Barbara G. Walker, she of the treasuries of knitting patterns fame.

Week 2 - Athena

For week 2, I've been less reading productive as I hoped, but I did read Watership Down by Richard Adams on Monday. Last weekend, I reread Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in print and audiobook. Likewise, I'll be doing more reading this weekend with rereading HP2 and Twelfth Night. As well as starting another book or two.

Week 2 -- Dewey

I finished Ethan Frome last weekend but just got around to reviewing it. I did have an interesting discussion, earlier this week, with another blogger who had also reviewed it, but he's not participating in this challenge.

You can read my review here.

Next up for me is probably The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood.

Week 2 - Wendy

I've finished book number 2 for this challenge: The Flea Palace, by Elif Shafak. I had high hopes for this novel as it was short listed for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize for 2006. But, it didn't live up to my expectations, garnering a measly 2.5 rating. You can read my review of this book here.

Week 2 Update (from Texas)

I've nearly completed Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel. It is a thought-provoking book about being genuine in a world where we usually want to play games for acceptance. I can't wait to get home from this business trip so I can finish True Grit. Having been gone ten days (and leaving the paperback on a table somewhere in the house), I feel almost like I've been on a cliff-hanger season ending at the beginning of summer, waiting for the fall season to pick up to catch the resolution.

On this trip I picked up several new books that are work related. Some of them may make an updated list.

Week 2 - Laura

I've been a busy reader trying to keep up with all of my challenges, but have only just started my first book for the Summer Reading Challenge. Since the beginning of the month I've read Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom (read my review here), and I re-read To Kill a Mockingbird (reviewed here).

Now let the challenge begin! My challenge goal is to read three of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. This series has proven to be a nice break from some of my heavier reads. I'm currently reading Four to Score, and will post my review when finished.

Happy reading everyone!

Week Two

I've had a very busy week reading.

For Becky's Book Reviews:

One Naked Baby by Maggie Smith
Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Alas Babylon by Pat Frank
The Worthing Saga by Orson Scott Card
Beauty Shop for Rent by Laura Bowers
Louisiana's Song by Kerry Madden
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Stewart
The Lacemaker and the Princess by Kimberly Bradley
Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst
Kimchi & Calamari by Rose Kent
Tall Tales by Karen Day

And for Becky's Christian Reviews:

Sophie's Dilemma by Lauraine Snelling
Courting Trouble by DeAnne Gist

Week 2

I'm still reading Sorcerers of Majipoor by Robert Silverberg. Good book, but long!

Jenn's week 2

Hello! I am back from California, and unfortunately I didn't get as much reading done as I had hoped, but the trip was a blast! I finished Guardians, and am almost done with Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Also while on my trip, I started a book written by another one of my friends. It is called The Nomen Documents, and I love it so far!!! (like Guardians, it hasn't been published and I have her only copy, but maybe it'll be in bookstores in a couple of years :) ). As always, Happy reading!

Weeks 1 and 2

I don't know where the time goes . . . it is all ready week 2 of this challenge?! Wow! Well, since the 1st of June I have read 3 fabulous books---

Veronika Decides to Die
A Thousand Splendid Suns
The Killing Sea

Each of these books were compelling, but in different ways; each was well worth the read! Presently, I am about a quarter of the way through Mansfield Park (KtC's June selection) and last night I just started the newest installment of Maisee Dobb's=Messenger of Truth.