Callapidder Days has once again kindly hosted Spring Reading Thing. And of course, as always, I joined up.
Unfortunately for once I didn't quite manage to complete it. As usual, I had listed 13 books (one book per month), and raced through the first 10... then I'd read all the books I owned myself, and before I could get out and borrow the last three, I hit a reading slump (made worse by gaining a knitting addiction) and am still 130 pages shy of the last book.
Ah well, fortunately the goal of the challange isn't to finish but to have fun, and that I managed in spades! :)
Did you finish reading all the books on your spring reading list? If not, why not? As mentioned above, I'm still 130 pages shy of the last book. I could have finished yesterday if I'd worked for it, but I'd made the mistake of starting a reread of a book I'd MUCH rather use my time on.
Oh, there was one other book I also didn't finish, but that was a matter of giving up on it because it was just TOO DULL! so I don't think that counts.
Did you stick to your original goals or did you change your list as you went along? I stuck to my original goals.
What was your favorite book that you read this spring? Least favorite? Why?
Favourite: Den hundredårige der kravlede ud ad vinduet og forsvandt - probably best described as a Swedish version of "Big Fish". I loved it!
Least favourite: Bella Tusca - this was the book I abandoned. Just far too pretentious for words. Which is a shame, as I loved Under the Tuscan Sun
What was your favorite thing about the challenge? The fact that it turns a solitary hobby into a social event - the same thing I love about the readathons :)
My list with comments
*One Child - Torey Hayden This is my fourth Torey Hayden book. So far I've loved everything I've read by her, even if the books always leave me heartsore and wanting to reach out to those poor kids! I love how Torey's love for them shines through.
*Neither Here Nor There - Bill Bryson I've gotten rather addicted to Bill Bryson's books. His travelogues are terrific! Unfortunately this wasn't nearly as good as the others I've read :( It almost sounded like he was getting tired of travelling himself, and therefore spent more time complaining than enthusing.
*Stay By Me - Neta Jackson A new series in the Yada Yada universe to get hooked on! It didn't let me down :-)
*Den hundredårige der kravlede ud ad vinduet og forsvandt - Jonas Jonasson "The Hundred Year Old Who Crawled Out the Window and Disappeared" - I don't know, I'm just taken with the title and need to know what it's all about.
*The Masterharper of Pern - Anne McCaffrey I've always loved the Harper's Hall trilogy best of all of Anne McCaffrey's books, so when I heard about this book about Master Robinton I knew I had to read it.
*Kingmaker's Sword - Ann Marston A Christmas present from the Christmas Bookish Giveaway. I'd never heard of it before, but it looked intriguing and fortunately turned out to be a really good read too.
*Bella Tuscany - Frances Mayes I loved "Under the Tuscan Sun", so when I found this follow-up, I knew I had to read it. Unfortunately as it ended up, I had to give it up half way through. The writing that had seemed charming in the first book just came across as pretentious in this one. After 150 pages of hoping it would improve soon, I couldn't do it any longer.
*The Language of Flowers - Vanessa Diffenbaugh I'd seen this in bookstores and thought it looked interesting, but wasn't certain. However, last week Nina sent me a text message telling me that I HAD to read it... and who am I not to do what she tells me to? ;) Fortunately I ended up loving it.
*Under the Duvet - Marian Keyes I've read and enjoyed almost all of Marian Keyes' novels, so I figured it was about time I read some of her non-fiction.
*Paganini kontrakten - Lars Kelper Second book in a series where I greatly enjoyed the first one. Turns out, the sequel's even better! Love it when that happens :-)
*Shamran - Bjarne Reuter Danish YA fantasy. Apparently a MUST but somehow I'd just never gotten around to reading it before now. Would probably have liked it more if I had been the right age for it.
*Little House on Rocky Ridge - Roger Lea MacBride I absolutely adore Laura's "Little House" series, so I figured it was about time I gave this one a try. It was adorable :) I'll have to find more of the books now.
Dawn's Early Light - Elswyth Thane One of Mum's favourite books, also recommended to me by a friend. As I tend to share taste with both, I figured it was a safe bet :) Unfortunately I didn't quite manage to finish this one. It's good, but a tad too easy to put down for other things.
