Friday, March 20, 2009

Spring Reading Thing



Since the Fall Into Reading Challenge, 2008, I've been stalking visiting Callapidder Days daily regularly, wondering when the spring reading challenge was coming. Plus, reading her great postings.

Well, the Spring Reading Thing - 2009 begins today. On the first day of spring, go figure the irony. And my books are stacked and ready to go!

The fall challenge pushed me to finish the Jane Austen portion of my Jane Austen Read-a-Thon. This spring I continue my Jane Austen fascination by reading the Jane Austen themed books. Last summer a friend introduced me to such books as Austenland and Me and Mr. Darcy. I was ordering these books, through Paperback Swap, and ready to read when it occurred to me I may enjoy them more if I actually read the works Jane Austen. To this point I had only watched the cinema versions of Emma and Sense and Sensibility. And so I read them, all 6 works, after each book rewarding myself by watching the movie version.

So, first on my list: The Jane Austen themed books. (In no particular order)

The Jane Austen Book Club, Karen Joy Fowler
Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, Alexandra Potter
Austenland, Shannon Hale
Captain Wentworth's Diary, Amanda Grange
Mr. Knightley's Diary, Amanda Grange (in the mail)
Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, Laurie Viera Riglere (Presently on my wish list at Paperback Swap.)

***All these books were ordered through Paperback Swap. An economical way to collect the books, and when I've completed them I can re-swap them for new books.

But I can't start these yet. Presently I'm reading a book written by Alan Alda, and so starts the Nonfiction section of my list.

Never Have Your Dog Stuffed, Alan Alda
Play By Play, Neil Conan
Leap of Faith: Memoris of an Unexpected Life, Queen Noor

Why these? Well, because they have been collecting too much dust while sitting on my bookshelf, and I really do want to read them. Once again, the last two books in this section were acquired from Paperback Swap. (Alan Alda's book I borrowed from my Mother-in-Law, a media center coordinator at a local private school. A librarian in the family is a good thing.)

And the final section, Devotional:

A Woman After God's Own Heart, Elizabeth George
*This book I began during the last challenge. Yes, I'm still working on it. If you remember it took me 8 months to complete Beth Moore's The Patriarchs.

When that is finished I'll start another book. What is the title of that book, I don't know? Yes, I have the book. Yes, I know where the book is, somewhere in the basement with all the other books from my now empty bookshelf. The living room just received a new coat of paint and everything has yet to be returned to it's proper place.

That is my list. A little more ambitious then the fall challenge, then again reading Jane Austen was ambitious in and of it self.

And what is on your list? One of the fun parts of this challenge is reading the lists of others, and finding new books to read. For the next challenge.

Let the reading begin!

8 comments:

Veggiemomof2 said...

Great lists! I have done the Patriarchs too! I love Beth Moore studies. They would probably take me forever too if I didn't do them w/a study group.

Anonymous said...

Ooh, I love the idea of reading (or rereading) Jane Austen and then reading the themed books. Enjoy!

Katrina @ Callapidder Days said...

I love that you picked a theme -- fun! And I just discovered paperback swap a few months ago. I love it! What a great idea, and a great way to get "new" books!

Thanks for being part of Spring Reading Thing '09!

Brittanie said...

I have been thinking of reading Austenland. I have so many books as it is that I can't read all of them lol

Anonymous said...

Great list! I LOVE paperback swap.. I am always so happy when I get that little email telling me my wish has been granted :-)

Nise' said...

I read Darcy's Diary and loved it so I will check out Captain Wentworth's Diary &
Mr. Knightley's Diary.

A happy heart at home said...

I only have two books on my list. :)

~Susan

Jenny said...

I keep hearing such great things about paperback swap, that I just might have to check it out since I am on bookstore restriction :-). Looks like a GREAT and interesting list. Enjoy!