Books

It’s time for the Fall into Reading Challenge, although I’m a few days late getting started.  October is National Book Month, so I’m starting in celebration of that.  The rules: make a list, write a post, and read from September 22 to December 20.  Here’s the list from my TBR pile, in no apparent order:

• Shanghai Girls, by Lisa See
• The Serpent’s Children, by Laurence Yep
• Mountain Light, by Laurence Yep
• The Cross-Country Quilters, by Jennifer Chiaverini
• Summer on Blossom Street, by Debbie Macomber
• The Street of a Thousand Blossoms, by Gail Tsukiyama
• Red River, by Lalita Tademy
• Love Comes Softly, by Janette Oke
• The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, byAlan Bradley
• Prayers for Sale, by Sandra Dallas
• Buster Midnight’s Cafe, by Sandra Dallas
• Mississippi Trial, 1955, by Chris Crowe
• The Hourglass Door, by Lisa Mangum
• The Golden Spiral, by Lisa Mangum

Challenge Guidelines:
There are four levels:
— Curious – Read 3 novels that are 2nd in a series or second time you’ve read the author.
— Fascinated – Read 6 that are 2nd in a series or second time you’ve read the author.
— Addicted – Read 12 novels that are 2nd in a series or second time you’ve read the author.
— Obsessed – Read 20 novels 2nd in a series or second time you’ve read the author.

Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

My original post said I would choose Fascinated and read 6, but things changed during the year.  I kept going and ended up with Addicted……..

1. Round Robin, by Jennifer Chiaverini (2nd in a series & 2nd time for the author)

2. Tears of the Giraffe, by Alexander McCall Smith (2nd in a series & 2nd time for the author)

3. The Missing, by Beverly Lewis (2nd in a series)

4. Fairest, by Gail Carson Levine (2nd time for the author)

5. Monster, by Walter Dean Myers (2nd time for the author)

6. The Queen of Attolia: The Queen’s Thief #2, by Megan Whalen Turner (2nd in a series & 2nd time for the author)

7. The Sea of Monsters: Percy Jackson & the Olympians #2, by Rick Riordan (2nd in a series & 2nd time for the author)

8. Dragon’s Gate, Golden Mountain Chronicles 1867, by Laurence Yep (2nd time for the author)

9. Born in Ice, by Nora Roberts (2nd in a series & 2nd time for the author)

10. The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #2, by Michael Scott (2nd in a series & 2nd time for the author)

11. Briar Rose, by Jane Yolen (2nd time for the author)

12. The Fourth Bear: Nursery Crimes #2, by Jasper Fforde (2nd in a series)

I finished the What’s in a Name? 3 Challenge with a very different list than I anticipated at the beginning of the year.  Only one book remained the same, but changing it up during the year is fun, too!

Between January 1 and December 31, 2010, read one book in each of the following categories:

(Food) in the title: The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk

(Body of water) The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson & the Olympians #2 by Rick Riordan

(Title, like queen, president) The Queen of Attolia (The Queen’s Thief #2) by Megan Whalen Turner

(Plant) Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas

(Place name, like city, country) Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba by Margarita Engle

(Music term) The Piano Lesson by August Wilson

I finished this reading challenge 3 months early!  The goal of the challenge is to read the number of books first published in a given year that corresponds to the last digit of each year in the 2000s — 10 books from 2010, 9 books from 2009, 8 books from 2008, etc. The total number of books required, therefore, is 55.  The challenge lasts from 9/9/09 through 10/10/10.

2010

• The Aloha Quilt, by Jennifer Chiaverini
• The Double Comfort Safari Club, by Alexander McCall Smith
• Miss Julia Renews Her Vows, by Ann B. Ross
• The Telling, by Beverly Lewis
• Calamity Jack, by Shannon and Dean Hale
• The Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner
• The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, Stephenie Meyer
• The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin, Josh Berk
• Falling In, Frances O’Roarke Dowell
• The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles #1), Rick Riordan

2009

• The Lost Quilter, by Jennifer Chiaverini
• A Quilter’s Holiday, by Jennifer Chiaverini
• The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown
• The Secret, by Beverly Lewis
• The Missing, by Beverly Lewis
• 92 Pacific Boulevard, by Debbie Macomber
• The Actor and the Housewife, by Shannon Hale
• When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead
• Jane Austen Ruined My Life, by Beth Pattillo

2008

• The Winding Ways Quilt, by Jennifer Chiaverini
• The Quilter’s Kitchen, by Jennifer Chiaverini
• The Miracle at Speedy Motors, by Alexander McCall Smith
• The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
• 8 Sandpiper Way, by Debbie Macomber
• The Adoration of Jenna Fox, by Mary E. Pearson
• The Heretic’s Daughter, by Kathleen Kent
• Rapunzel’s Revenge, by Shannon and Dean Hale

2007

• The New Years’ Quilt, by Jennifer Chiaverini
• The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, by Alexander McCall Smith
• A Cedar Cove Christmas, by Debbie Macomber
• 74 Seaside Avenue, by Debbie Macomber
• The Titan’s Curse, by Rick Riordan
• Tallgrass, Sandra Dallas
• The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #1), Michael Scott

2006

• Circle of Quilters, by Jennifer Chiaverini
• Blue Shoes and Happiness, by Alexander McCall Smith
• The Alchemist’s Daughter, by Katharine McMahon
• Fairest, by Gail Carson Levine
• The Rising Tide: A Novel of World War II, by Jeff Shaara
• Here Lies the Librarian, by Richard Peck

2005

• The Sugar Camp Quilt, by Jennifer Chiaverini
• The Christmas Quilt, by Jennifer Chiaverini
• The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, by Kim Edwards
• The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan
• Looking Like the Enemy: My Story of Imprisonment in Japanese-American Internment Camps, Mary Matsude Gruenewald

2004

• The Master Quilter, by Jennifer Chiaverini
• In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, by Alexander McCall Smith
• Snakewater Affair, by Liz Adair
• The Teacher’s Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts, by Richard Peck

2003

• The Quilter’s Legacy, by Jennifer Chiaverini
• The Full Cupboard of Life, by Alexander McCall Smith
• A Northern Light, by Jennifer Donnelly

2002

• The Runaway Quilt, Jennifer Chiaverini
• Once Upon a Town: The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen, by Bob Greene

2001

• Morality for Beautiful Girls, by Alexander McCall Smith

I know I said I wouldn’t join any more challenges this year, but this one was just too fun to pass up.  The Hogwarts Reading Challenge runs March 8 2010 to December 13 2010.  I am a student at Hogwarts and was sorted into Gryffindor House.  Now I need to attend class (read books) to get points for my House.  Here are the classes:

Transfiguration– read any book that has trans or figure in its title, is about shape shifting, has a shape shifter in it, or is about anything having to do with changing one thing into another

Defense Against the Dark Arts– read any book that has defense, dark and/or art(s) in its title, read any book that is about self-defense, war, history of war/martial arts, murder mysteries

Charms– read any book that has charm in its title, any book that gives something or someone a new aspect (for example the nerdy guy become a handsome doctor)

Potions– read any book that has potion in its title, cookbooks count but you must cook at least one recipe out of the book

Astronomy–  read any book that has astronomy in its title, books about planets, stars, sci-fi

History of Magic– read any book that has history or magic in its title, books about magic, witches, etc.

Herbology– read any book that has herb in its title, again cookbooks count and you must cook at least one recipe out of the book

Arithmancy– read any book that has arithmancy in its title, any book with a number in its title, any book that deals with numbers or math

Ancient Runes– read any book that has ancient or runes in its title, books about historical places like the pyramids, Stonehenge, Great Wall of China, or any book about symbols

Divination– read any book that has divine in its title, any book about psychics or psychic abilities, tarot reading, etc.

Care of Magical Creatures– read any book that has magical or creatures in its title, books about supernatural beings

Muggle Studies– nearly any book works here, what better way to understand Muggles than to read what they read

Reading a Harry Potter book earns 25 House points.

March points for Gryffindor House:

• 16 March-In the Company of Cheerful Ladies-Muggle Studies
• 18 March-Rapunzel’s Revenge-History of Magic
• 20 March-Calamity Jack-Care of Magical Creatures
• 23 March-Blue Shoes and Happiness-Charms
• 24 March-Forest Born-Herbology & Divination
• 28 March-The Good Husband of Zebra Drive-Defense against the Dark Arts
• 28 March-Here Lies the Librarian-Muggle Studies

April points for Gryffindor House:

• 1 April-The Miracle at Speedy Motors-Muggle Studies
• 2 April-Miss Julia Delivers the Goods-Muggle Studies
• 3 April-HP & the Sorcerer’s Stone
• 7 April-HP & the Chamber of Secrets
• 9 April-Riot-Defense against the Dark Arts
• 9 April-Monster-Defense against the Dark Arts
• 10 April-HP & the Prisoner of Azkaban
• 12 April-HP & the Goblet of Fire
• 13 April-Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba-Muggle Studies
• 17 April-HP & the Order of the Phoenix
• 20 April-HP & the Half-Blood Prince
• 23 April-Miss Julia Renews Her Vows-Muggle Studies
• 23 April-The Thief-Charms
• 27 April-The Aloha Quilt-Muggle Studies

May points for Gryffindor House:

• 3 May-The Queen of Attolia-Defense Against the Dark Arts
• 5 May-HP & the Deathly Hallows
• 8 May-Tea Time for the Traditionally Built-Herbology
• 10 May-The Double Comfort Safari Club-Muggle Studies
• 11 May-The Telling-Muggle Studies
• 18 May-A Conspiracy of Kings-Defense Against the Dark Arts
• 19 May-The King of Attolia-Defense Against the Dark Arts
• 21 May-SLOB-Muggle Studies
• 25 May-The Lightning Thief-Charms
• 28 May-The Sea of Monsters-Care of Magical Creatures

June points for Gryffindor House:

• 1 June- The Titan’s Curse-Care of Magical Creatures
• 2 June-The Piano Lesson-Care of Magical Creatures
• 5 June-The Battle of the Labyrinth-Care of Magical Creatures
• 6 June-The Last Olympian-Defense Against the Dark Arts
• 14 June-Tallgrass-Herbology
• 14 June-I Capture the Castle-Ancient Runes
• 15 June-The Dragon’s Child: A Story of Angel Island-Muggle Studies
• 17 June-The Higher Power of Lucky-Muggle Studies
• 17 June-The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner-Care of Magical Creatures
• 18 June-Dragon’s Gate-Muggle Studies
• 21 June-The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel-Transfiguration
• 24 June-The Demigod Files (Percy Jackson & the Olympians)-Care of Magical Creatures
• 29 June-Looking Like the Enemy: My Story of Imprisonment in Japanese-American Internment Camps-Defense Against the Dark Arts

July points for Gryffindor House:

• 1 July-The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin-Defense Against the Dark Arts
• 1 July-Falling In-History of Magic
• 1 July-The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg-Defense Against the Dark Arts
• 5 July-Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet-Defense Against the Dark Arts
• 12 July-Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron-Muggle Studies
• 15 July-The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles #1)-History of Magic
• 17 July-Born in Ice-Muggle Studies
• 18 July-The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel-History of Magic
• 21 July-Before Green Gables-Muggle Studies
• 25 July-The Sorceress: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel-History of Magic
• 27 July-When the Mountain Meets the Moon-Astronomy
• 29 July-The Necromancer: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel-History of Magic
• 30 July-Briar Rose-Defense Against the Dark Arts

August points for Gryffindor House:

• 4 August-A Brief History of Montmaray-History of Magic
• 5 August-Anne of Green Gables-Muggle Studies
• 8 August-Star Trek: Movie Novelization-Astronomy
• 10 August-Sarah’s Key-Defense Against the Dark Arts
• 14 August-The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate-Herbology
• 16 August-Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy-Muggle Studies
• 17 August-Those Who Save Us-Defense Against the Dark Arts
• 21 August-Star Wars: Death Star-Astronomy
• 22 August-Al Capone Does My Shirts-Muggle Studies
• 23 August-The Big Over Easy-Care of Magical Creatures
• 25 August-Leaving Gee’s Bend-Muggle Studies
• 26 August-Everything on a Waffle-Potions
• 27 August-The Fourth Bear-Care of Magical Creatures
• 30 August-Mockingjay-Defense Against the Dark Arts
• 31 August-Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights-Muggle Studies

September points for Gryffindor House:

• 3 September-The Kingdom Keepers-History of Magic
• 4 September-Alchemy and Meggy Swann-Potions
• 7 September-The Misadventures of Maude March-Muggle Studies
• 9 September-Hatchet-Charms
• 10 September-Rhett Butler’s People-Muggle Studies
• 11 September-The Compound-Charms
• 14 September-Maude March on the Run-Muggle Studies
• 17 September-Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close-Muggle Studies
• 17 September-Cannery Row-Muggle Studies
• 18 September-Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart-Charms
• 20 September-The Quilter’s Homecoming-Muggle Studies
• 24 September-Pontoon-Muggle Studies
• 28 September-The Birthday Ball-Charms
• 28 September-The Last Olympian-Care of Magical Creatures
• 29 September-Twenty Wishes-Muggle Studies

October points for Gryffindor House:

• 3 October-The Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn-History of Magic
• 5 October-Summer on Blossom Street-Muggle Studies
• 7 October-Love Comes Softly-Muggle Studies
• 8 October-Love’s Enduring Promise-Muggle Studies
• 10 October-Love’s Long Journey-Muggle Studies
• 14 October-Love’s Abiding Joy-Muggle Studies
• 14 October-Love’s Unending Legacy-Muggle Studies
• 15 October-The Cross-Country Quilters-Muggle Studies
• 15 October-Incarceron-Charms
• 22 October-Buster Midnight’s Cafe-Muggle Studies
• 27 October-Love’s Unfolding Dream-Muggle Studies
• 28 October-Love Takes Wing-Muggle Studies
• 28 October-Love Finds a Home-Muggle Studies

November points for Gryffindor House:

• 1 November-Prayers for Sale-Muggle Studies
• 5 November-HP & the Sorcerer’s Stone
• 8 November-Red River-Muggle Studies
• 10 November-Peter and the Starcatchers-Transfiguration
• 16 November-Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow-Care of Magical Creatures
• 19 November-HP & the Half-Blood Prince
• 24 November-The Serpent’s Children-Muggle Studies
• 27 November-Mountain Light-Muggle Studies
• 27 Novemberl-HP & the Chamber of Secrets

December points for Gryffindor House:

• 6 December-HP & the Prisoner of Azkaban
• 8 December-North and South by Gaskell-Muggle Studies