Angela's 2011 Books I Own Challenge.

[Shelli]

Angela....I'm feeling the same way about The Count of Monte Cristo....I've been reading it since April! I really like it....it's just so long!!

[Angela]

Shelli wrote: "Angela....I'm feeling the same way about The Count of Monte Cristo....I've been reading it since April! I really like it....it's just so long!!"

I read The Count of Monte Cristo when I was in my teens - along with several other books by Alexandre Dumas. It was a good time for me in a way - I had a long journey to school and it added up to about 3 hours travelling a day. Lots of time to read!!

[Angela]

Decided to jump forward and read One Good Turn before I said I would, because BBC have been showing some drama based on Kate Atkinson's books. I'd already read Case Histories and When Will There Be Good News? so needed to fill the gap between the first and third books! If the're going to televise the latest book, Started Early, Took My Dog in a fortnight, I'd better dig it out from the pile!

[Angela]

Finished The Dogs of Riga this morning. Pretty good, although I think I preferred Faceless Killers. I'm a bit out of sync with my books, but will read A Changed Man and Other Stories next, I think. I don't usually like short stories, so this really will be a challenge!

[Shelli]

Angela...I don't read short stories either!

[Angela]

Shelli wrote: "Angela...I don't read short stories either!"

Generally, I like Thomas Hardy's novels - they really capture rural life in 19th century Dorset - but these stories are rather grim. Too many suicides for me, but I will persevere! Have decided to read Breakfast on Pluto at the same time, to relieve the gloom!

[Angela]

Must be a record!! Finished Breakfast on Pluto in less than 2 days - that's really good going for me. I'm over half way through the Thomas Hardy short stories, but have decided to read The Poison Tree as well.

[Shelli]

Angela wrote: "Must be a record!! Finished Breakfast on Pluto in less than 2 days - that's really good going for me. I'm over half way through the Thomas Hardy short stories, but hav..."

Angela....just went on a mini-break(my new favorite term) and finished a book in 2 days also...almost done with another too!

[Angela]

Shelli wrote: "Angela wrote: "Must be a record!! Finished Breakfast on Pluto in less than 2 days - that's really good going for me. I'm over half way through the Thomas Hardy short s..."

Mm, I like mini-breaks too!
I've had a very slow few days, reading-wise, but sat in the garden this afternoon and had a good read of The Poison Tree. I'm on the last - and longest- of the Thomas Hardy short stories . Need another afternoon of uninterrupted reading and it'll be finished.

[Angela]

Jo wrote: "Good work, Angela! My reading has really slowed down since I moved and got a new job. Just not enough hours in the day!"

I know what you mean,Jo! Before I retired, my reading time was so restricted, mostly by tiredness - 2 pages at night and I'd be asleep!

[Angela]

I've just finished The Poison Tree which was a July book group read. A good debut novel - it kept me guessing until the end. Now I need to finish the short stories!!

[Sarah]

Angela wrote: "I've just finished The Poison Tree which was a July book group read. A good debut novel - it kept me guessing until the end. Now I need to finish the short stories!!"

I have this on my TBR. Glad to hear you enjoyed it!

[Angela]

I finished A Changed Man and Other Stories this morning. Glad to have completed it - too much tragedy for me, although I still love Thomas Hardy's ability to recreate Dorset.
I've already started The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and think I'll also pick up Let the Right One in. I've got several May/June books still to read - had better get a move on!!

[Angela]

I finished Let the Right One In, but didn't really like it much. It was too vividly gory for me - I've got quite an imagination and it created some nasty pictures in my head. I'm reading The Luxe and another challenge book - Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance.

[Sarah]

Let the Right On In was definitely a bit too graphic for my tastes as well.

[Angela]

At last, I've finished Magician. I enjoyed it, but it was sooo long! I'm so far behind with this challenge now, that I don't see me finishing all of the listed books by the end of the year. I'll still keep trying, but have been reading other things as well.

[Angela]

I finished In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences yesterday - what a book! I don't usually read "true crime", but this was an exceptional book. Truman Capote's writing is amazing. Horrific events, but excellent book.

[Sarah]

Angela wrote: "I finished In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences yesterday - what a book! I don't usually read "true crime", but this was an exceptional book. Truman..."

I read this over the summer. It's not my usual genre either, but I found it to be very well-written. I like that Capote doesn't try to sensationalize the horrific natures of the crimes, but rather lets the murderers reveal themselves as the sociopaths they really were through his matter-of-fact descriptions and through their own words and actions. Great book!

[Shelli]

Angela wrote: "I finished In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences yesterday - what a book! I don't usually read "true crime", but this was an exceptional book. Truman..."

I felt the same way Angela!

[Chris]

Me four! Loved it!

[Angela]

I've finished Brethren: An Epic Adventure of the Knights Templar at last! Quite long, but I enjoyed it and will probably read the rest of the trilogy eventually. I've now started Winter in Madrid.

[Jannene]

I really should do a list like yours. It beats me guessing what to read next. It seems to take me a long time. If I have a list like this, I'd be more apt to stick to it and possibly read a few more books.

[Angela]

Jannene wrote: "I really should do a list like yours. It beats me guessing what to read next. It seems to take me a long time. If I have a list like this, I'd be more apt to stick to it and possibly read a few mor..."

The only problem I've found is that other books come along that I just have to read, so the list goes out of the window! I did enjoy choosing the books, though, and will probably do something like this again next year.

[Jannene]

I get that now. People start raving about this book that I happen to have in my TBR list and then I read that one and move all my others around. LOL

[Angela]

Jannene wrote: "I get that now. People start raving about this book that I happen to have in my TBR list and then I read that one and move all my others around. LOL"

The thing is, to try to not get stressed about it :)

[Angela]

I finished Winter in Madrid this afternoon. I really enjoyed it - full of atmosphere with interesting, believable characters. Well worth reading!

[Shelli]

Sounds good!

[Angela]

Shelli wrote: "Sounds good!"

I gave it 4 stars initially, but may change that to 5. It really was very good.

[Shelli]

Angela wrote: "Shelli wrote: "Sounds good!"

I gave it 4 stars initially, but may change that to 5. It really was very good."

It will be added to the HUGE TBR!

[Angela]

I finished Hurting Distance this afternoon. It was a thriller that, I have to admit, was hard to put down, but the plot was so convoluted. Although I liked the the style in which it was written, I didn't find it believable and don't know if I'll read any more Sophie Hannah books.

[Shelli]

Angela wrote: "I finished Hurting Distance this afternoon. It was a thriller that, I have to admit, was hard to put down, but the plot was so convoluted. Although I liked the the style in which it ..."

Interesting......

[Jannene]

Angela, I finished my 2012 Books I own challenge. I didn't break it all down to months but listed the books and figured I had leeway to move them around a bit. ;)

[Angela]

Well, that's it for 2011! Started off well, but found this difficult, although I have read the 50 books I set as my overall target. I think that actually saying which books I wanted to read was too rigid for me. I do enjoy a challenge, but will have to re-think this one.

[Shelli]

I didn't care for the rigid part either Angela...even though those were only 40 of the 100 books I read...I still felt like it took away from my overall reading pleasure!

[Shelli]

Oh no Jo....of course over in NI we have a challenge...but it's very wide open....while many of us picked books...they can be changed out for others that fit the category at any time!!!

[Angela]

I'm doing a 12 Books I Own + 2 alternatives in the Book Addicts group - you have to list these, but found that 12 was not restrictive in 2011. I'm also going to do the A - Z Author Challenge with the U.K.Book group.That can take over a year if you like and you don't need to say what you're going to read before you've read it! Should give enough flexibility I think....I hope! I liked a bit of structure last year and hope this will be a better balance.