Reading Challenges Update: December

I finished all of my reading challenges for 2016!

Will you do that again? No, I don't think so. Most of them I forgot to check in on more than once or twice all year, and therefore I didn't technically fulfill the challenge requirements. It was fun, but I'm ready for different fun now.

What, no challenges at all for 2017? Well, let's not go that far. I've signed up for the Goodreads Challenge again. Of all the challenges from 2016, my favourite was probably the Woman Challenge, so my plan is to make sure at least half the books I read in 2017 are written by women.

What's your Goodreads goal? I'm glad you asked! I like reading over 100 books in a year, because it gives me things to think/tweet/talk about all the time. However, setting such a high goal makes it rough to tackle longer books, and since I have a few of those on the to-read list I'm setting my goal lower--52 books--in the hopes that I can get through some longer ones without feeling like I'm failing at an arbitrary challenge.

Any other suggestions or ideas? I'm thinking over my favourites from 2016 and will share those next week! Another thing I'm planning to do in 2017 is read a few things that I wouldn't normally pick up--I'm hoping to choose at least one book per month from Goodreads friends' lists that make me say, "But why?" to find out what the fuss is all about. Particularly people with short lists--those are much easier to peruse. (And that being the case, my apologies to all my Goodreads friends for the excessive length of my lists. By the way, are you on Goodreads? Let's be friends.)

So here's December. As always, links are to and images are from Goodreads, where all my reviews are written.

I Love Libraries Challenge CHALLENGE COMPLETED (53/50 books)
Black Man, White House: An Oral History of the Obama Years, D.L. Hughley
Make Good Art, Neil Gaiman, Chip Kidd (Designer)
This is a Book, Demetri Martin
Sweater Quest: My Year of Knitting Dangerously, Adrienne Martini
The Scribe: Silas, Francine Rivers
How to Sleep Alone in a King-Size Bed: A Memoir, Theo Pauline Nestor
Real Artists Have Day Jobs: (And Other Awesome Things They Don't Teach You in School), Sara Benincasa
A Family on Wheels: Further Adventures of the Trapp Family, Maria Augusta von Trapp & Ruth T. Murdoch


Read It Again, Sam CHALLENGE COMPLETED (6/4 books)
The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett (Read this ahead of seeing the musical!)
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares, Rachel Cohn & David Levithan


Woman Challenge CHALLENGE COMPLETED (61/20 books)
The Wednesday Sisters, Meg Waite Clayton
Sweater Quest: My Year of Knitting Dangerously, Adrienne Martini
The Scribe: Silas, Francine Rivers
Bronze, Kerri-Anne Weston
How to Sleep Alone in a King-Size Bed: A Memoir, Theo Pauline Nestor
Real Artists Have Day Jobs: (And Other Awesome Things They Don't Teach You in School), Sara Benincasa
A Family on Wheels: Further Adventures of the Trapp Family, Maria Augusta von Trapp & Ruth T. Murdoch


Mount TBR Challenge CHALLENGE COMPLETED (51/48 books)
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Franklin
Bronze, Kerri-Anne Weston
The Buttersmiths' Gold, Adam Glendon Sidwell
For 91 Days In Idaho, Michael Powell, Jürgen Horn (Photographer)
The Canterville Ghost, Oscar Wilde
Walking, Henry David Thoreau


Goodreads Challenge CHALLENGE COMPLETED (112/100 books)
The Wednesday Sisters, Meg Waite Clayton
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Franklin
Black Man, White House: An Oral History of the Obama Years, D.L. Hughley
Make Good Art, Neil Gaiman, Chip Kidd (Designer)
This is a Book, Demetri Martin
Sweater Quest: My Year of Knitting Dangerously, Adrienne Martini
The Scribe: Silas, Francine Rivers
Bronze, Kerri-Anne Weston
The Buttersmiths' Gold, Adam Glendon Sidwell
How to Sleep Alone in a King-Size Bed: A Memoir, Theo Pauline Nestor
For 91 Days In Idaho, Michael Powell, Jürgen Horn (Photographer)
The Canterville Ghost, Oscar Wilde
Walking, Henry David Thoreau
Real Artists Have Day Jobs: (And Other Awesome Things They Don't Teach You in School), Sara Benincasa
A Family on Wheels: Further Adventures of the Trapp Family, Maria Augusta von Trapp & Ruth T. Murdoch


What are you reading?

Reading Challenges Update: October

Here's what happened with my reading challenges in October. I went a bit crazy with reading this month, because: I moved into my own space, so no more guilt about neglecting the relatives while I read; I'm spending a lot of time on public transportation again, which is prime reading time; and I won't be doing much reading in November, because of NaNoWriMo, so I decided to get as close to complete on all these challenges as I could.

A lot of what I've been reading are Kindle freebies I've collected over the years, and many of those are sadly forgettable. I try to be as kind as possible in my reviews while still being honest, but some books are clearly being published when they're not yet ready for outside readers, and that's a shame.

Updates:

• After joining my new local library and seeing the wealth of reading material available in Cincinnati (41 library locations. 41!! Where has this city been all my life?), I went back and forth on bumping I Love Libraries challenge to the next (and highest) level, which initially seemed like a bad idea since NaNoWriMo is upon us. I finally went with bumping it up, on the grounds that December is long enough for a few books. 
• I'm calling Read it Again, Sam complete, since my entire personal library is still sitting in storage (prayers, crossed fingers, and other things that this will be remedied shortly) and is unavailable for re-reading, so moving to the next level is probably a bad idea.
• I moved Mount TBR up to the next level, and I'm almost done with it, so unless something crazy happens this is the level I'll finish the year on.
• And finally, after November is over, I'll make a decision on raising my Goodreads challenge. My usual practice has been to raise it by one book every time I read a book for the first 20 or so days of December, if I'm getting close to completion. My plan for October was to get within 10 books left for December, and I overshot that a bit.

Links are to and images are from Goodreads, where all my reviews are written.

I Love Libraries Challenge (44/50 books)
Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace, Anne Lamott
Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son, Anne Lamott & Sam Lamott
Who's Your City?: How the Creative Economy Is Making Where to Live the Most Important Decision of Your Life, Richard Florida
Simple Rules: How to Thrive in a Complex World, Donald Sull & Kathleen M. Eisenhardt
Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, Anne Lamott
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, Mason Currey
The Porcupine of Truth, Bill Konigsberg
The Captive Heart, Dale Cramer

Read It Again, Sam CHALLENGE COMPLETED (4/4 books)
The Instant Genius, Tanya Slover


Woman Challenge CHALLENGE COMPLETED (54/20 books)
Stirring Up Trouble, Juli Alexander
Armed and Outrageous, Madison Johns
Aundy, Shanna Hatfield
Knitting: The Complete Beginners Guide to Knitting and Crochet Patterns, Martha Watkins
Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace, Anne Lamott
Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son, Anne Lamott & Sam Lamott
Hexes and X's, Zoey Kane
Angel Wings, Suzanne Stengl
Out of Sight, Out of Mind - Easy Home Organization Tips and Storage Solutions for Clutter-Free Living, Judith Turnbridge
It Takes An Egg Timer, A Guide to Creating the Time for Your Life, Joanne Tombrakos
A Kiss For Midwinter, Courtney Milan
Frugal Gourmet Ideas: Secrets to Saving Thousands in the Kitchen, Charmaine Gerber
Leashed (Going to the Dogs #1), Zoe Dawson
Tomato Container Gardening: 7 Easy Steps To Healthy Harvests from Small Spaces, Mary Verdant
The Instant Genius, Tanya Slover
Simple Living - 30 days to less stuff and more life, Lorilee Lippincott
On Raven's Wings, Isobel Lucas
Simple Rules: How to Thrive in a Complex World, Donald Sull & Kathleen M. Eisenhardt
Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, Anne Lamott
Trouble's Brewing, Juli Alexander


Mount TBR Challenge (45/48 books so far)
Stirring Up Trouble, Juli Alexander
Armed and Outrageous, Madison Johns
Texas Homecoming, Maggie Shayne (This is a DNF that I've now removed from my TBR list. I'm so glad those count for this challenge--I've managed to cull a few books that just weren't for me that way.)
Everblue, Brenda Pandos (Ditto the above. Also, this is why I probably shouldn't just grab every free Kindle book that comes my way. Some are gems, most I end up not finishing.)
The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells
Aundy, Shanna Hatfield
Knitting: The Complete Beginners Guide to Knitting and Crochet Patterns, Martha Watkins
Brailling For Wile, Jamie Zerndt
Don't Fight With the Garden Hose and Other Lessons I've Learned Along the Way, Tom Harvey
Streetlights Like Fireworks, David Pandolfe
Hell's Super, Mark Cain
Goal Setting: A 7 Step Guide to Reach Your Goals and Have One Hell of a Time, Matt Harris
Ready Aim Fire!: A Practical Guide to Setting And Achieving Goals, Jim M. Woods & Erik J. Fisher
Haunted Presidents: Ghosts in the Lives of the Chief Executives, Charles A. Stansfield Jr.
Hexes and X's, Zoey Kane
Where Is God When It Hurts?, Philip Yancey
Angel Wings, Suzanne Stengl
Out of Sight, Out of Mind - Easy Home Organization Tips and Storage Solutions for Clutter-Free Living, Judith Turnbridge
It Takes An Egg Timer, A Guide to Creating the Time for Your Life, Joanne Tombrakos
A Kiss For Midwinter, Courtney Milan
The Parrot Talks In Chocolate, Everett Peacock
Frugal Gourmet Ideas: Secrets to Saving Thousands in the Kitchen, Charmaine Gerber
Attack Your Day!: Before It Attacks You, Mark Woods & Trapper Woods
The Cat Manual, Michael Ray Taylor
The Myth of the Garage: And Other Minor Surprises, Chip Heath & Dan Heath
Leashed (Going to the Dogs #1), Zoe Dawson
Tomato Container Gardening: 7 Easy Steps To Healthy Harvests from Small Spaces, Mary Verdant
It Takes a Genome: How a Clash Between Our Genes and Modern Life Is Making Us Sick, Greg Gibson
Simple Living - 30 days to less stuff and more life, Lorilee Lippincott
On Raven's Wings, Isobel Lucas
Wintersmith, Terry Pratchett
Trouble's Brewing, Juli Alexander


Goodreads Challenge (96/100 books so far)
Stirring Up Trouble, Juli Alexander
Armed and Outrageous, Madison Johns
The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells
Aundy, Shanna Hatfield
Knitting: The Complete Beginners Guide to Knitting and Crochet Patterns, Martha Watkins
All My Friends Are Still Dead, Avery Monsen, Jory John
Brailling For Wile, Jamie Zerndt
Don't Fight With the Garden Hose and Other Lessons I've Learned Along the Way, Tom Harvey
Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace, Anne Lamott
Streetlights Like Fireworks, David Pandolfe
Hell's Super, Mark Cain
Goal Setting: A 7 Step Guide to Reach Your Goals and Have One Hell of a Time, Matt Harris
Ready Aim Fire!: A Practical Guide to Setting And Achieving Goals, Jim M. Woods & Erik J. Fisher
Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son, Anne Lamott & Sam Lamott
Haunted Presidents: Ghosts in the Lives of the Chief Executives, Charles A. Stansfield Jr.
Hexes and X's, Zoey Kane
Where Is God When It Hurts?, Philip Yancey
Angel Wings, Suzanne Stengl
Out of Sight, Out of Mind - Easy Home Organization Tips and Storage Solutions for Clutter-Free Living, Judith Turnbridge
It Takes An Egg Timer, A Guide to Creating the Time for Your Life, Joanne Tombrakos
A Kiss For Midwinter, Courtney Milan
The Parrot Talks In Chocolate, Everett Peacock
Frugal Gourmet Ideas: Secrets to Saving Thousands in the Kitchen, Charmaine Gerber
Attack Your Day!: Before It Attacks You, Mark Woods & Trapper Woods
The Cat Manual, Michael Ray Taylor
The Myth of the Garage: And Other Minor Surprises, Chip Heath & Dan Heath
Leashed (Going to the Dogs #1), Zoe Dawson
Tomato Container Gardening: 7 Easy Steps To Healthy Harvests from Small Spaces, Mary Verdant
It Takes a Genome: How a Clash Between Our Genes and Modern Life Is Making Us Sick, Greg Gibson
Simple Living - 30 days to less stuff and more life, Lorilee Lippincott
On Raven's Wings, Isobel Lucas
Writing on the Wall: Social Media - The First 2,000 Years, Tom Standage
Wintersmith, Terry Pratchett
Who's Your City?: How the Creative Economy Is Making Where to Live the Most Important Decision of Your Life, Richard Florida
Simple Rules: How to Thrive in a Complex World, Donald Sull & Kathleen M. Eisenhardt
Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, Anne Lamott
Trouble's Brewing, Juli Alexander
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, Mason Currey
The Porcupine of Truth, Bill Konigsberg
The Captive Heart, Dale Cramer


What are you reading this month?

Reading Challenges Update: September

Here's what happened with my reading challenges in September. I completed the I Love Libraries challenge and thought about bumping up my level one final time, but... with moving and job hunting as my current reality, and NaNoWriMo on the horizon, maybe adding library books to the mix as one more thing to keep track of is not a good idea. Edit: I just noticed that my Mount TBR Challenge is supposed to be 24 books, not 20. Took me all the way until October to notice.

So my reading picked up a bit in September, and now that I'm back in the land of public transportation, I've gotten a LOT of reading done the last three days. I've read more in October than I read in August and September combined... but you'll have to wait a few weeks to hear more about that. (Or we can just be friends on Goodreads, and you can reader-stalk me in real time.)

Links are to and images are from Goodreads, where all my reviews are written.

I Love Libraries Challenge CHALLENGE COMPLETED (36/36 books)
M*A*S*H Goes to Montreal, Richard Hooker & William E. Butterworth III (I borrowed this one from a Little Free Library!)


Read It Again, Sam (3/4 books so far)


Woman Challenge CHALLENGE COMPLETED (34/20 books)
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs
The Good Life, Jodie Beau
Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills (DIY), Raleigh Briggs
Homesweet Homegrown: How to Grow, Make, And Store Food, No Matter Where You Live, Robyn Jasko, Jennifer Biggs (Illustrations)


Mount TBR Challenge (13/24 books so far)
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs
The Good Life, Jodie Beau
Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills (DIY), Raleigh Briggs
Tent of Blue, Rachael Preston (Note: I did not finish this book; it just wasn't for me. However, it is now off my TBR list, which is what's required for this challenge.)
Common Sense, Thomas Paine
Homesweet Homegrown: How to Grow, Make, And Store Food, No Matter Where You Live, Robyn Jasko, Jennifer Biggs (Illustrations)
Paradise Valley, Dale Cramer
Reinventing Mona, Jennifer Coburn (another DNF that's now off my to-read list)


Goodreads Challenge (55/100 books so far)
M*A*S*H Goes to Montreal, Richard Hooker & William E. Butterworth III
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs
Bike Snob: Systematically & Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling, Eben Weiss (BikeSnobNYC) & Christopher Koelle (Illustrations)
The Good Life, Jodie Beau
Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills (DIY), Raleigh Briggs
Common Sense, Thomas Paine
Homesweet Homegrown: How to Grow, Make, And Store Food, No Matter Where You Live, Robyn Jasko, Jennifer Biggs (Illustrations)
Paradise Valley, Dale Cramer


What are you reading this month?

Reading Challenges Update: August

Here's what happened with my reading challenges in August. The short version is: not a lot. I may have to lower my Goodreads Challenge for the year if this keeps up. Which would be sad.

Links are to and images are from Goodreads, where all my reviews are written.

I Love Libraries Challenge (35/36 books so far)


Read It Again, Sam (3/4 books so far)


Woman Challenge CHALLENGE COMPLETED (20 books)
New York Then and Now, Marcia Reiss & Evan Joseph
Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution, Janette Sadik-Khan & Seth Solomonow


Mount TBR Challenge (6/20 books so far)


Goodreads Challenge (47/100 books so far)
Paper Towns, John Green
New York Then and Now, Marcia Reiss & Evan Joseph
Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution, Janette Sadik-Khan & Seth Solomonow


What are you reading this month?

Reading Challenges Update: July

Here's what happened with my reading challenges in July. I'll probably bump up the "I Love Libraries" challenge goal again, but I'm holding off on that until I land in the city that I plan to stay in for a while. (Fingers crossed that happens in the next couple of weeks.) "Read it Again, Sam" and "Mount TBR Challenge" are likewise in a holding pattern until my books and I are back in the same space. And I've completed the highest level available of the Women Challenge!

As for the Goodreads Challenge-- by my count, I have 43. They say I have 44. I'm going with their number, but wondering where I lost a book somewhere.

Links are to and images are from Goodreads, where all my reviews are written.

I Love Libraries Challenge (35/36 books so far)
Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves, E. Kristin Anderson (ed.) & Miranda Kenneally (ed.)
Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own, Kate Bolick
The Odd Woman and the City: A Memoir, Vivian Gornick
The Penderwicks at Point Mouette, Jeanne Birdsall
Yes Please, Amy Poehler
Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things, Jenny Lawson
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader, Anne Fadiman
Texts from Jane Eyre: And Other Conversations with Your Favorite Literary Characters, Mallory Ortberg
The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own, Joshua Becker
Inside Out Girl, Tish Cohen

Read It Again, Sam (3/4 books so far)


Woman Challenge CHALLENGE COMPLETED (20 books)
Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves, E. Kristin Anderson (ed.) & Miranda Kenneally (ed.)
Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own, Kate Bolick
The Odd Woman and the City: A Memoir, Vivian Gornick
The Penderwicks at Point Mouette, Jeanne Birdsall
Yes Please, Amy Poehler
Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things, Jenny Lawson
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader, Anne Fadiman
Texts from Jane Eyre: And Other Conversations with Your Favorite Literary Characters, Mallory Ortberg
Inside Out Girl, Tish Cohen

Mount TBR Challenge (6/20 books so far)
Inside Out Girl, Tish Cohen

Goodreads Challenge (44/100 books so far)
Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves, E. Kristin Anderson (ed.) & Miranda Kenneally (ed.)
Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own, Kate Bolick
The Odd Woman and the City: A Memoir, Vivian Gornick
The Penderwicks at Point Mouette, Jeanne Birdsall
Yes Please, Amy Poehler
Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things, Jenny Lawson
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader, Anne Fadiman
Texts from Jane Eyre: And Other Conversations with Your Favorite Literary Characters, Mallory Ortberg
The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own, Joshua Becker
Inside Out Girl, Tish Cohen

What are you reading this month?

Reading Challenge Update: June

Here's what happened in my reading challenges in June. Finally making some progress!

Since I completed my goal level for the I Love Libraries Challenge (young adult-24 books), I'm moving myself up a notch the adult level, which is 36 books.

I will probably also bump up my level for the Read it Again, Sam Challenge, but I'm holding out on that until my books and I are happily reunited. My library is currently sitting in storage.

And finally, I intended to raise my goal for the Women Challenge, but I'm already at the highest level available.

Links (and image sources) are to Goodreads, where all my reviews are written.

I Love Libraries Challenge (25/36 books so far)
She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana, Haven Kimmel
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, Cary Elwes
Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps, Kelly Williams Brown
The Complete Book of Les Misérables, Edward Behr
Why We Write About Ourselves: Twenty Memoirists on Why They Expose Themselves (and Others) in the Name of Literature, Meredith Maran (ed)
Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography, Neil Patrick Harris
Robert Moses: The Master Builder of New York City, Pierre Christin, Olivier Balez (visual art)
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Michelle Alexander
Writing Is My Drink: A Writer's Story of Finding Her Voice (and a Guide to How You Can Too), Theo Pauline Nestor
Are You My Mother?, Alison Bechdel
Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers on The Decision Not To Have Kids, Meghan Daum (ed)
Who Could That Be at This Hour?, Lemony Snicket
The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking, Oliver Burkeman

Read It Again, Sam (3/4 books so far)
The Bikeable Church: A Bicyclist's Guide to Church Planting, Sean Benesh
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, Cary Elwes (Yes, I read it twice this month. That's how much I liked it.)

Woman Challenge (18/20 books so far)
Backpacked: A Reluctant Trip Across Central America, Catherine Ryan Howard
She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana, Haven Kimmel
It's Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool Too), Nora McInerny Purmort
You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost), Felicia Day
Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps, Kelly Williams Brown
I Want It Now! a Memoir of Life on the Set of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Julie Dawn Cole
Why We Write About Ourselves: Twenty Memoirists on Why They Expose Themselves (and Others) in the Name of Literature, Meredith Maran (ed)
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Michelle Alexander
Writing Is My Drink: A Writer's Story of Finding Her Voice (and a Guide to How You Can Too), Theo Pauline Nestor
Are You My Mother?, Alison Bechdel
Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers on The Decision Not To Have Kids, Meghan Daum (ed)

Mount TBR Challenge (5/20 books so far)
Backpacked: A Reluctant Trip Across Central America, Catherine Ryan Howard
I Want It Now! a Memoir of Life on the Set of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Julie Dawn Cole

Goodreads Challenge (33/100 books so far)
Backpacked: A Reluctant Trip Across Central America, Catherine Ryan Howard (this one was technically May, but I forgot about it in last month's update)
She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana, Haven Kimmel
It's Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool Too), Nora McInerny Purmort
You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost), Felicia Day
Hamilton: The Revolution, Lin-Manuel Miranda
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, Cary Elwes
Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps, Kelly Williams Brown
The Complete Book of Les Misérables, Edward Behr
I Want It Now! a Memoir of Life on the Set of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Julie Dawn Cole
Why We Write About Ourselves: Twenty Memoirists on Why They Expose Themselves (and Others) in the Name of Literature, Meredith Maran (ed)
Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography, Neil Patrick Harris
Robert Moses: The Master Builder of New York City, Pierre Christin, Olivier Balez (visual art)
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Michelle Alexander
Writing Is My Drink: A Writer's Story of Finding Her Voice (and a Guide to How You Can Too), Theo Pauline Nestor
Are You My Mother?, Alison Bechdel
Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers on The Decision Not To Have Kids, Meghan Daum (ed)
Who Could That Be at This Hour?, Lemony Snicket
The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking, Oliver Burkeman

Reading Challenge Update: March-April-May 2016

I was in the library a couple of days ago, trying really hard to remember where I am on my reading challenges for 2016 and indeed, which challenges I even signed up for. So it's lucky for me that I write (almost) everything down for posterity, yes?

Well. I only wrote down one book in those three months. I started a bunch, some of which I've now finished, so my June post should be a lot more interesting. Still, here's the update (I've pulled forward the ones that I don't have an update for, just so I'm on track for next month).

Image source: Goodreads

I Love Libraries Challenge (12/24 books so far)

Read It Again, Sam (1/4 books so far)

I really need to start writing the update post at the beginning of every month so I can write these down as I go along. It seems unlikely that I read only one book in three months--I mean, re-reading to de-stress is one of the reasons I keep all my old books around, for those times when I can't give a new book the attention it needs. But since I don't record re-reads on Goodreads, they remain unrecorded and lost in the slushy mess that is my brain.

Woman Challenge (7/20 books so far)

Mount TBR Challenge (3/20 books so far)

A Hat Full of Sky, Terry Pratchett

Goodreads Challenge (15/100 books so far)

A Hat Full of Sky, Terry Pratchett

What are you reading right now? What am I missing out on?

Reading Challenge Update: February 2016

Here's what happened in my reading challenges in February. Links are to Goodreads, where all my reviews are written.

Books I read in February.

I Love Libraries Challenge (12/24 books so far)

Mudhouse Sabbath, Lauren F Winner
Feet of Clay, Terry Pratchett (I thought that I owned this one, but when I went looking I couldn't find it on my shelves. So apparently it was a library book.)
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Haruki Murakami
What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, Laura Vanderkam
Internal Time: Chronotypes, Social Jet Lag, and Why You're So Tired, Till Roenneberg
Sidewalking: Coming to Terms with Los Angeles, David Ulin

Read it Again, Sam (1/4 books so far)

None this month! At least, none that I remember.

Woman Challenge (7/20 books so far)

Mudhouse Sabbath, Lauren F Winner
What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, Laura Vanderkam
Make It Last: Prolonging + Preserving the Things We Love, Raleigh Briggs
Priscilla the Great, Sybil Nelson

Mount TBR Challenge (2/12 books so far)

Make It Last: Prolonging + Preserving the Things We Love, Raleigh Briggs
Priscilla the Great, Sybil Nelson

Goodreads Challenge (14/100 books so far)

Mudhouse Sabbath, Lauren F Winner
Feet of Clay, Terry Pratchett
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Haruki Murakami
What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, Laura Vanderkam
Internal Time: Chronotypes, Social Jet Lag, and Why You're So Tired, Till Roenneberg
Sidewalking: Coming to Terms with Los Angeles, David Ulin
Make It Last: Prolonging + Preserving the Things We Love, Raleigh Briggs
Priscilla the Great, Sybil Nelson

What did you read in February? What am I missing out on?

Reading Challenge Update: January 2016

Here's what happened in my reading challenges for January. Links are (mostly) to Goodreads, which is also where I've written (most of) my reviews.

Books I read for the first time in January 2016

I Love Libraries Challenge (6/24 books so far)

The Transport Debate, Jon Shaw & Iain Docherty
The Fault in our Stars, John Green
Lessons from Madame Chic, Jennifer Scott
168 Hours, Laura Vanderkam
Raising Steam, Terry Pratchett
Princess Academy, Shannon Hale


Read it Again, Sam (1/4 books so far)

Let it Snow, Maureen Johnson, John Green, & Lauren Myracle

This is normally a Christmas re-read, but it was checked out over Christmas & took a while to get to me.


Woman Challenge (3/20 books so far)

Lessons from Madame Chic, Jennifer Scott
168 Hours, Laura Vanderkam
Princess Academy, Shannon Hale


Mount TBR Challenge (0/12 books so far)

Nothing on this one in January, because I'm trying to make a dent in Mount These Are Due at the Library Soon before I get any more fines than I've already accrued.


Goodreads Challenge (6/100 books so far)

See above--my library checkouts are what I read this month (I don't count re-reads in this total). I'm two books behind already, Goodreads kindly tells me. Sheesh.


Did you read anything good in January? What should I add to my list?