Kay's New List (2009)

[Karol]

It's time to re-focus on this challenge! There are so many books that I've bought - or borrowed from the library that I keep renewing! But then something "new" comes along and I lose focus. My moods change so much that it usually doesn't work, however, to list the exact books in advance. So - my challenge will be to read at least one title I've already bought or borrowed each month, and I'll track my progress here.

For June 2009, it's kind of a guilty pleasure: I'm currently reading "Could It Be Forever?" by David Cassidy.

[Karol]

Finished:

Actually, this turned out to be a very interesting book!

Next up: The Wizard of Menlo Park, and Diet Myths That Keep You Fat. I guess I am on a nonfiction binge!

[Karol]

Well, I had to give up on The Wizard of Menlo Park. I'm sure there is a lot of fascinating stuff in there, but I kept falling asleep after reading only 7 or 8 pages. (Sigh)

Diet Myths that Keep You Fat by Nancy Snyderman is actually quite interesting, on the other hand, so I'll keep going with that one.

[Karol]

I have picked up "War and Peace" by Tolstoy also. This has been on my TBR list for decades. I really like it so far!

[Karol]

I seem to be striking out -- I gave up on War and Peace after the first 350 pages. Perhaps I need a different translation, as I found the one I was reading kind of dry and stilted. I made not one dent in my existing TBR list in July!

[Karol]

OK - I am reading "The Hunters" by W.E.B. Griffin - about halfway through. It's #3 in the series and I've had this plus the next two on my TBR list for awhile.

I think for the remainder of the year and on into 2010 I'm going to focus on finishing some of the series that I've read quite a few of. They include this "Presidential Agents" series, Tamar Myer's "PA Dutch Mysteries" series, Joanne Fluke's "Hannah Swenson" series, Dorothy Gilman's "Mrs. Pollifax" series, Linda Shepherd Evans "Potluck Club" series, Laura Ingalls Wilder "Little House" series, and Jan Karon's "Mitford Series". That should keep me going for awhile!

[Karol]

I finished "The Hunters" and followed it with a book not on my TBR list, "An Artist of the Floating World" by Kazuo Ishiguro. At this point I could use something lighter. Next up: Grape Expectations, by Tamar Myers.

[Karol]

I've read a couple more from my TBR list this past week:

Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station, by Dorothy Gilman
Hell Hath No Curry, by Tamar Myers

I've got 2 left in the "PA Dutch" series, 2 in the "Presidential Agent Series" and quite a few yet in the Mrs. Pollifax series. I'll be working on those . . . no later than October! I like trying to knock 1 or a few off each month.

[Karol]

I've again made progress, reading from the Mrs. Pollifax series, the PA Dutch series, and the Presidential Agent series. However, I've "quit" the Mrs. Pollifax series. The first 5 books in the series were so full of humor and charm - I find that some of that is lost in subsequent books and as a result I've lost interest. Without those elements, the stories seem rather so-so.

- Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha, by Dorothy Gilman
- Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle, by Dorothy Gilman
- As the World Churns, by Tamar Myers (PA Dutch)
- The Shooters, by W.E.B. Griffin (Presidential Agent series)

[Karol]

Read "Batter Off Dead" by Tamar Myers. I've now completed her series (until the next book comes out in 2010).

[Karol]

For November, I hope to knock the following off my TBR list:

Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
Irish Chain by Earlene Fowler
Black Ops by W.E.B. Griffin

[Karol]

Completed Frankenstein. Next up: Irish Chain.

[Karol]

Completed "Irish Chain" several days ago, and am now well into "Black Ops".

[Karol]

Didn't finish Black Ops in November - life got in the way. Will finish it in December, then move on to a new challenge for 2010.

[Karol]

Finished Black Ops!