Colleen's 60 books of 2010 challenge

[Colleen]

I am taking some "throwaway" books with me to be given away when I am done to make room for new ones I will inevitably buy. Throwaway's are cheap paperbacks or books I want to read but am sure I wont want to keep or re-read. I am also thinking about trying out that library like thing they have at the airports where you can return a book you bought and get 50% off the next book you purchase.

[Wen]

Aly wrote: "Ha!! Wen, that's funny!!! Colleen, I went backpacking in Europe last summer and about half of my backpack weight was books!! I also kept buying them. It got so bad that I had to send some back ..."

I am not kidding...lol. I remember Clearly the first Books A Million that opened near where I used to live. I was like a kid in a candy store. I (almost embarassed) had so many books in my arms that a clerk came over and offered to go out and get me a cart from the grocery store next to them...lol I just had never seen new books for such low prices guess I got carried away.

[Colleen]

Nice! I am always the customer who has a store worker repeatedly asking if I need a basket or if they can hold my armload at the counter. Everytime I go to one of the GOOD half price books I end up with horrible purple/red marks on my arms from lugging the handbasket around before I give up and get a cart.

[Aly]

LOL that's hilarious!! I finally broke down and bought a Kindle so I could buy books anytime I wanted to and it has proven to be a good and bad thing. Good because I can go anywhere I want with a lot of books and not feel the weight. Bad because I really can buy close to any book I want to at any time. And that is bad for a book addict!!! It's already paid for itself with the savings I've gotten from each book (kinda tells you how much I've spent on books?!)

[Wen]

Aly wrote: "LOL that's hilarious!! I finally broke down and bought a Kindle so I could buy books anytime I wanted to and it has proven to be a good and bad thing. Good because I can go anywhere I want with a..."

i thought about getting one of the hand held digi book things....but I truly love my books. I enjoy going to the bookstores and looking at the new books and the pretty covers and all. Not sure what I would do if I had most if not all books ona tiny little thing. WOW the space I would have in the house but I would miss my books.

[Colleen]

Prescriptions, tiny toiletries, tickets, wallet. The rest I am going to cram with books and Luna/Cliff bars. Aly, sounds like what my future trip through Europe will be like. You'll have to tell me about it sometime, I have always wanted to go but can never seem to find anyone to go with me.

Crap you guys, I just realized I have about three weeks before Cambodia and I have that gigantic book Pol Pot: Anatomy of a Nightmare to read, and the Caligula gr in AHoR (Caligula: The Corruption of Power). Are either of you reading or gonna read the Cromwell book? I have less that a hundred pages, its very good to the point I actually had some softening for Cromwell for a bit. I have posted some excerpts in the gr thread at TL.

[Aly]

I'm going to read the Cromwell book eventually, I need to order it online though. When are you going to Europe??? I just got word that I got a job in London starting in the end of Sept and it'll last six months. So, if you come then, I can show you around London!!!! How awesome would that be???!!!!!

Wen, I thought I would miss books too, but I read faster and most of the books that I want are available for it so I don't have to wait for weeks to get them (exception being the Cromwell book :( ). Alison Weir has most of her books available and Starkey has a couple too. I still like going to a book store though and looking at the covers!! :P

[Colleen]

OMG Aly, that is so exciting, congrats on the job! What will you be doing besides all the Tudor history sightseeing you can? I don't have a trip planned yet because I want someone to travel around with; I'm pathetic in a way because I don't want to be in countries where I don't know the language. When are you leaving? If you are going to be living in England I might consider just doing a England trip to do a bunch of Tudor sightseeing...

I wanted a Kindle soooo bad when they came out but I never got one because I just love the feel of a book book in my hands. I am a total book freak, I love the smell of books even! LOL I think if I did get a Kindle I would be living in a cardboard box having spent all my money on Kindle books. LOL

BTW, the Cromwell book is so good; I am learning a lot.

[Colleen]

Okay, since it really wont interfere with my 60 books challenge I am going to do the name challenge too.

C- The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
O- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
L- Little Women
L- The Last Boleyn: A Novel
E- Ella Minnow Pea
E- Earthcore
N- Nocturnal

Name challenge done!!!

[Donna, The Pusher]

Colleen, that is the main reason why I won't get it!

GOD if I could afford to travel I would go with you!!!!

[Colleen]

LOL on not getting a Kindle so we don't go broke buying books with just one click!

Start saving your money for a Europe trip Donna! ;)

[Aly]

I'm supposed to go there around September. My boyfriend is deploying then, I'm graduating this May, so I decided I needed to get out and do something for myself while he is away. One of my friends is related to the guy who owns The Palm restaurant and they just opened one up in London. So my friend helped set me up with him and I just found out that I am cleared to go! I think I'm going to get an historical palaces pass. It's like a season pass to places like the Tower, Hampton Court, Kensington, and a couple of others. So on my days off, I'm going to go to places as much as possible!!!!

That's funny about living in a cardboard box! I'm trying not to buy every book that I want but the temptation is huge!! I asked for money for a Kindle for Christmas, so that helped with the actual device. I still have all my books. I love my books!

[Colleen]

One more book and I will be done with March and on to April!

14. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

Really liked this book, and I got to cross off another banned book.

[Colleen]

I love my books too; I have a little quirk... if I really loved a book, when I am finished reading it I hug it and smile and actually feel a little sad about putting it away. LOL

So you will be in London until April then? Maybe I can convince Jennifer to go to at least Britain with me and come back to hit the other countries later.

[Aly]

I should be there till March. I have to leave the country by no later than four days after my employment is up, but I'm thinking of going to France for a day or two and then going back into England on a vacation! So I might be there until money runs out LOL. That would be super awesome if you and Jennifer could go to Britain!!!

[Colleen]

We are seriously discussing it in fact, I will let you know if she can go (I am totally in, but we have talked about meeting up in London so I want to go with her you know, LOL).

So guess what?
15. Thomas Cromwell: Henry VIII's Most Notorious Minister: The Rise and Fall of a Tudor Tyrant: The Rise and Fall of Henry VIII's Most Notorious Minister by Robert Hutchinson

On to April books!

[Colleen]

Aly, I did some posts from all the spots I had post-it flagged in the book. They are in the TL Cromwell gr section, general chit-chat, and real Tudor history threads.

[Colleen]

April

16. History of Egypt, Chaldæa, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, Volume 1 by Gaston Camille Charles Maspero

[Colleen]

One book ahead of schedule, yay me! LOL

[Donna, The Pusher]

March was good month for me! I did 3 ahead!

[Aly]

I like being ahead. I'm trying to get the majority of April's books out of the way now because I'm not going to be able to do much reading in April. Colleen, I've checked out your flagged sections, I can't wait to read that book!!!

[Colleen]

Oh, on Cromwell? I cannot help but plug that book, it is so good and i am so thankful that got chosen. I loved learning more about Cromwell and even understanding his motives and developing a slight sympathy for him.

Nice Donna! I really want to be another book ahead but the Pol Pot book is so huge and so (subject wise) heavy it is hard for me to try to keep up with reading 50p a day. I totally suck, only read about 90p or so right now. :(

[Colleen]

Damn me, I can't believe I am making the mistake of reading three biographies in a row! Caligula should be a quick read but I am having a hard time with it. I should have read a fluff book before Caligula but I was deceiving myself with the ease of Cromwell. I think Cambodia will catch me up and hope fully put me ahead on the May books by the time I get back.

[Donna, The Pusher]

You're crazy! First at reading 3 books together but Biographies???? WOW! Good Luck on that!

[Colleen]

Yeah, I had to take a break. I didn't even realize what I was doing to myself until I was knee deep with a heavy head in each book.

I am back from Cambodia and it was wonderful! Plus:

17. The Starter Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer
18. Crossing the Water by Sylvia Plath
19. The Colossus and Other Poems by Sylvia Plath
20. Ariel by Sylvia Plath


May
21. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
22. American Taboo: A Murder in the Peace Corps by Philip Weiss

[Donna, The Pusher]

Welcome back!!!! We missed you!!!

[Colleen]

Thank you and thank you! I missed you guys too! I am still trying to catch up on posts, a daunting task lol

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Colleen wrote: "Damn me, I can't believe I am making the mistake of reading three biographies in a row! Caligula should be a quick read but I am having a hard time with it. I should have read a fluff book before C..."

Take it from me, nothing will help you get through the Caligula book!!

[Colleen]

Dammitt. Just have to plow through it one page at a time I guess. I am so behind on GR. I have both books here at EC, The Art of Racing in the Rain (just started), Caligula, Marie Antoinette, The Last Boleyn, not to mention my house needs a cleaning and I have loads of errands to catch up on around here. Ack ack ack...

[Aly]

Hurray!! Colleen is back!!! don't worry too much about The Other Boleyn. It's a fast read (although it does get boring in some parts). I'm curious to hear your take on it. I just started Marie Antoinette too!

[Colleen]

Thanks Aly, and I recommend doing the SE Asia tour because Cambodia was amazing and I can't wait to go back nevermind see the rest of that part of the world. I am trying to read The Art of Racing in the Rain as fast as I can then most likely The Last Boleyn: A Novel. Jennifer enjoyed it which means I will most likely too.

[Wen]

Colleen wrote: "Thanks Aly, and I recommend doing the SE Asia tour because Cambodia was amazing and I can't wait to go back nevermind see the rest of that part of the world. I am trying to read [book:The Art of Ra..."


Welcome back. Sounds like the trip was wonderful. Cant wait to hear all about it. May be slow to respond since have not had time to be on here much lately but will certainly be looking forward to hearing all about it and Seeing pictures!!

[Colleen]

23. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

What did you think of it, Colleen. I remember reading it as a child and not enjoying it, but I recently read it again and really liked it.

[Aly]

I LOVE that book!!!

[Colleen]

Thanks Wen! The trip was amazing even if my legs still have healing mosquito bites on them :( I am still organizing my pictures but I will hopefully have them ready soon.

24. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

[Colleen]

25. The Last Boleyn: A Novel by Karen Harper

Yay, now on to June!

[Colleen]

Lyn M wrote: "What did you think of it, Colleen. I remember reading it as a child and not enjoying it, but I recently read it again and really liked it."

I loved it, it's kind of a cheat book because it was a re-read. I think it has to be read with "Through the Looking Glass" to be better appreciated.

Ta-da-da-da-da-da! (That's a drumroll) First book of June done in one day!

June

26. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

[Aly]

Hurray!!!! I agree that Alice in Wonderland needs to be read with Through the Looking Glass. I like rereading it every year!!

[Colleen]

27. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by by John Boyne

Almost half way there!

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

You are just winging away, dearing. How did you like The Reader? I am on the fence about whether to try that one or not!

[Wen]

Colleen wrote: "Lyn M wrote: "What did you think of it, Colleen. I remember reading it as a child and not enjoying it, but I recently read it again and really liked it."

I loved it, it's kind of a cheat book b..."


Wooo whooooo you are movin right along now. May well pass me up. ;)

[Colleen]

Lyn, I liked it and would recommend it but I guess my expectations were really too high for the book since I didn't think it incredible or anything. Honestly I thought the movie was better and would recommend that over the book believe it or not.

LOL Wen! I doubt it! ;p

[Donna, The Pusher]

I agree. Just go right to the film!

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Thanks ladies, that helps me make up my mind.

[Donna, The Pusher]

But it still a very fast read! One day tops!

[Colleen]

Exactly, it is a thin book so one day is all it took me to read it.

[Colleen]

28. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

[Aly]

What did ya think of it, Colleen?

[Colleen]

Oh I really liked it! I watched the movie first so I ruined the twist for myself but there is nothing like reading a book and picturing Leo DiCaprio as the lead character. ;)