Mel's 2010 Challenge - COMPLETED!!!

[Melissa]

I finished The Art of Racing in the Rain (321 pages). What a good book. I got misty in the beginning, several times throughout, and then again at the end. What a wonderful book. I was really impressed with the way the author really got evoked the appropriate emotions throughout the story.

Next up: Ape House by Sara Gruen

Total Pages = 12,470

[Melissa]

I just read Heartless (320 pages). One more book left in the Pretty Little Liars series. Hope to finish Ape House this week, too. Shouldn't be hard. Also have Uglies waiting for me at the library, then I am on the hold list for Wanted (the last book in the Pretty Little Liars series).

Total Pages = 12,790

[Melissa]

I just finished Ape House (300 pages). I feel like it wasn't well written at all. A BIG disappointment after Water for Elephants. I'll be starting Uglies today.

Total Pages = 13,090

[Melissa]

Just read Wanted by Sara Shepard (261 pages) -- the last book in the Pretty Little Liars series. I'm sad to see this book series go, but I'm glad that Fios has started putting the first season episodes On Demand before the second season starts in January.

I'm also working on Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. It's not a bad book, but it's taking me forever. I just can't seem to get myself into a groove. I'm not not enjoying it, so I can't figure out why.

I also downloaded the Kindle app on my iPod Touch and my sister-in-law and her sister and I are sharing our accounts, so we can share books. I have a few new ones to read now!

Total Pages = 13,351

[Melissa]

I don't really know why it took me so long, but I finally finished Uglies. It took me a while to get into it each time I started reading, but I did finish it. And, I actually want to read the next two in the series, too. I think I'll just get them from the library, though, rather than buy them on Kindle.

Total Pages = 13,776

[Melissa]

I finished The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum. I hadn't realized this was a book before I got the Kindle App on my iPod Touch and found it in the free classics. Since I read it on Kindle, I don't know how many pages it actually is. I decided to try to average the page amounts from the other editions on GR. I'll guess it was only about 115 pages or so.

Total Pages = 13,891

I think I can maybe hit 1,000 more pages before the end of the year. I've been reading a lot of Kindle samples, which are probably about 15 pages each, but I won't count those.

[Melissa]

I did it! I finished Life of Pi by Yann Martel, and it was the last book in my list of books that I wanted to finish by the end of the year! It wasn't a quick read for me, necessarily, but by the end I really liked it. What great story telling.

Total Pages = 14,210

800 pages left in my goal. I should be adding another 320 to the list once I finish Wicked Appetiteby Janet Evanovich.

[Melissa]

I finished Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich (312 pages). I'll be turning my completely focus to Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman by Jamie Reidy -- this book is what the movie Love and Other Drugs is based off of. Thus far, I'm guessing the two really have nothing to do with each other, but I'm enjoying Hard Sell anyway. I did the "Kindle Sample" first with it and I was sucked in. I like his writing style -- informal and fun.

Total Pages = 14,522

[Melissa]

I finished Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman by Jamie Reidy. I was right. Nothing to do with the movie, but I did enjoy it. It got a little slow from time to time, as he delved into drugs and studies, but I liked his writing style and the stories of working as a drug rep.

Total Pages = 14,752

[Melissa]

Just finished A Christmas Carol. I read it a couple years ago, but have decided that I might read it every year. I read it on my Kindle this year, but if I remember right, the version I read in 2008 was about 75 pages long, so I'll consider that to be the number of pages I read.

I am also about halfway through The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell.

Total Pages = 14, 827

[Melissa]

I DID IT!!!!!

I finished The Wordy Shipmates this morning, which puts me at my 15,000 page goal! I'm so proud that I accomplished this!

Total Pages = 15,075

AND, the month isn't over, so I'll definitely beat the goal!

[Melissa]

I just finished reading Room on Kindle. I had been wanting to read this, but didn't want to wait for the library or spend money. Luckily, Samantha had it on her Kindle, so I signed in and read it on my computer. Very good book. Sad, but nice.

Looks like the book is about 315 pages long, so I'll add that to my list.

Total Pages = 15,390

[Melissa]

Just read Stupid History: Tales of Stupidity, Strangeness, and Mythconceptions Throughout the Ages on Kindle. Fun, quick read.

Total Pages = 15,710

[Melissa]

Read Stupid American History: Tales of Stupidity, Strangeness, and Mythconceptions.

Total Pages = 15,982

[Melissa]

Finished Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach.

Total Pages = 16,306

[Melissa]

I finished I Remember Nothing: and Other Reflections by Nora Ephron on my NEW KINDLE!!

Total Pages = 16,466

[Melissa]

I finished Shanghai Girls by Lisa See this morning on my Kindle. What a good book. So much sadness, but very good book.

Total Pages = 16,802

[Melissa]

Yesterday I read, The Sneetches and Other Stories and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Life Lessons from a High School Dropout.

Total Pages = 16,967