Friday, June 22, 2007

Spring Reading Thing Recap

The Spring Reading Thing is about to officially end and I only managed to finish 2 out of 4 books, darn it. But, I'll still do a recap, as requested by Katrina.

1. What was the best book you read this spring?

I assume this means the best book from the Spring Reading Thing challenge list? If so, The Sex Lives of People in Love by J. Maarten Troost was probably my favorite, of the two. But, I really enjoyed The Moon on a Stick by Valerie-Anne Baglietto, too. If we're talking generalities, I think there are too many to list but a couple of favorites were The Secret Lives of People in Love by Simon Van Booy, Foreign Fruit by Jojo Moyes, and The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke. I could go on. I've read some fun books, this spring.

2. What book could you have done without?

I liked both of the challenge books I read, so I'll go with . . . In the Cut by Susannah Moore, which was appalling. I wish I'd never picked it up.

3. Did you try out a new author this spring? If so, which one, and will you be reading that author, again?

Most of the books I've read, this year, have been by authors who are new to me. And, I'd read most of them, again - there are too many to list. I tend to thrive on variety, so it's hard to say when I'll get around to reading them; but, I hope to read Getting Stoned With Savages (a second travel memoir by Troost) in the coming months.

4. If there were books you didn't finish, tell us why. Did you run out of time? Realize those books weren't worth it?

I lost track of time. If I'd been paying attention, I would have slotted my other two in; both are books that I've read halfway and wanted to finish. I just read the first two so quickly that I thought, "Oh, I don't want to finish the challenge before the first month is over!" and decided to wait on the other two. Then, I forgot. Oopsy. But, I will definitely read them.

5. Did you come across a book or two on other participants' lists that you're planning on adding to your own to-be-read pile? Which ones?

Well, I can't answer that one! I'm sure I did, but I dash off and add them to my wish list or write them down without making reference to where I've seen the titles crop up.

6. What did you learn -- about anything -- through this challenge? Maybe you learned something about yourself or your reading style, maybe you learned not to pick so many nonfiction books for a challenge, maybe you learned something from a book you read. Whatever it is, share!

I learned not to worry about finishing a challenge too quickly.

7. What was the best part of the Spring Reading Thing?

Truth? I managed to read and get rid of a book that had been on the shelf for at least 2 years. And, I loved the color the button added to my sidebar. Oh, and I won a book in one of the drawings! That was definitely fun!

8. Would you be interested in participating in another reading challenge this fall?

I'm not sure. I'm kind of leaning toward getting away from challenges, at least for a while. Kris at Not Enough Books is having a Cozy Mystery Challenge in the fall and I have a small shelf of cozies I can't seem to talk myself into reading, so I plan to join in on her challenge. Otherwise, I'm in Challenge Avoidance Mode. I might. Maybe.

9. Any other thoughts, impressions, or comments.

I'm glad I participated. Thanks to Katrina for hosting the challenge!


13 comments:

  1. Hey, Carl (from Stainless Steel Droppings) will be doing his RIP Challenge again this fall.. That one's a lot of fun!

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  2. Glad you liked the Spring Reading Thing button. :) And I think finishing off a book that has been on the shelf for a while is a great accomplishment -- I know I always feel good when I do that! Thanks for being part of the Spring Reading Thing!

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  3. Angela,

    I loved doing the RIP, last year, so that's still a possibility. I've set aside a couple of books that look suitably creepy (but not enough to keep all the lights on). :)

    Katrina,

    I loved that button!! I'm a bright-color freak. Thanks for holding the challenge. I may not have finished, but I'm still happy that I was able to read two of the books I planned to read. :)

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  4. That travel memoir sounds funny. I love that kind of writing.

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  5. Jennifer,

    I highly recommend it. I love travel memoirs anyway but it's really laugh-out-loud funny and I learned a lot about an area of which I knew absolutely zippo.

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  6. I'm loving the answers to the wrap up questions. I never really notice who I get books titles from either. I am definitely going into Challenge Avoidance mode.

    Those Stevi Mittman books look cute. I'm still waiting for Secret Lives from my library.

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  7. Carrie,

    I'm really enjoying reading the wrap-up posts, too. If I do the Chunkster a second time, I'll definitely do things differently, with a more concrete method of wrapping things up. Katrina has done such a beautiful job of organizing.

    I'm really happy to know I'm not the only person growing weary of challenges. They serve a worthwhile purpose, but I'm not sure they entirely fit my life. :)

    I do wish Stevi Mittman's books got more attention. I think they're wonderful. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Secret Lives . . . but, I guess I have to, don't I?

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  8. Well, I'd say as long as you aren't going to quit reading, the Challenge Avoidance mode may be the right thing to do. Especially if it's making any part of reading seem like work.

    cjh

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  9. Oh, heavens no, CJ; I'd never stop reading. It doesn't so much feel like a chore as it feels like I'm bound in some way. I guess there's a bit too little flexibility in my life and having the ability to dig through my shelves and choose a book on a whim has always been rather freeing, if that makes sense.

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  10. The Sex Lives of People in Love? It's Maarten and Simon's love child! ;)

    Andi

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  11. Andi,

    ROTFLMAO!!! Simon's going to read that and ask me where to find you, you know (I have a feeling he'd like the way you think). Thanks for the laugh!

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  12. I need to back off of challenges too. I've been good about not joining any more than I'm already in, but then I'm in so many as it is. :-S It is fun though. I just need to remind myself now and then that if I don't finish a challenge, that's okay--any progress is good.

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  13. I guess I'm not finding it quite as fun as you are, Carrie. :) Good reason to back off.

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