2010 – The Year of Reading Challenges

(Bolded challenge descriptions are those I’ve chosen for this year)

The Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge

There are three levels of participation:

Emily: Read 5 books from at least two different categories.
Lorelai: Read 10 books from at least three different categories.
Rory: Read 20 books from at least four different categories.

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The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

– Curious – Read 3 Historical Fiction novels.

– Fascinated – Read 6 Historical Fiction novels.

– Addicted – Read 12 Historical Fiction novels.

– Obsessed – Read 20 Historical Fiction novels.

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The Young Adult Reading Challenge

–The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.

–Just My Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 25 Young Adult novels.

–Stepping It Up YA Reading Challenge – Read 50 Young Adult novels.

–Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels.

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Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge

–The Mini – Check out and read 25 library books.

–Just My Size – Check out and read 50 library books.

–Stepping It Up – Check out and read 75 library books.

–Super Size Me – Check out and read 100 library books. (So not a problem)

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Fantasy Reading Challenge

– Curious – Read 3 Fantasy Fiction novels.

– Fascinated – Read 6 Fantasy Fiction novels.

– Addicted – Read 12 Fantasy Fiction novels.

– Obsessed – Read 20 Fantasy Fiction novels.

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And my own personal challenge involving  the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

1001 Books to Read Before You Die 2010 Challenge

40 Yr Challenge – 25 books read in 2010

20 Yr Challenge – 50 books read in 2010

10 Yr Challenge – 100 books read in 2010

5 Yr Challenge – 200 books read in 2010

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Neil Gaiman Booksigning

A week ago Monday I woke up and experienced one of those nagging feelings in the back of my mind.  I couldn’t quite figure out what it was I was needing to do and it wasn’t until about 10:30am that I figured it out.

In Decatur, GA there is a locally owned bookstore named Little Shop of Stories.  Little Shop of Stories held a “Graveyard Book” Halloween party this year for a competition and, along with a story in Winnipeg, they won!  The reward?  A Neil Gaiman book signing.  And last Monday they opened up their phone lines to give away 100 tickets – 1 per each phone call.

1 1/2 hours later (and one phone death just as I’d finally gotten through), I had myself a pair of tickets. Tina and I were going to see Neil Gaiman at Agnes Scott College.  I was thrilled!

So off I went, armed with my copy of The Graveyard Book. Now, I don’t know what made me think that there would only be about 200 people there (The shop had given out 100 tickets in person as well), but what  a silly thing to think.  The final count was 1050 (according to Gaiman).  And there were children, lots of them as well!

Neil started the evening off by reading from Odd and the Frost Giants.  He told us how this book came about.  Apparently, in Europe, there is a National Reading Month (I couldn’t hear very well, but I think this is right).  And for this celebration, the authors write a short novel, for free.  The publishers publish it, for free (it must be short because that’s how much “free paper” they said they have, quipped Gaiman).  The bookstores give the books out in exchange for tokens, which children get, for free.  What an incredible and awesome idea.

So Gaiman began to read and everyone went silent.  In his dry, “British-y” voice, the story came to life.  We all giggled and were enraptured by the story.

Gaiman then answered some questions.  We learned how the story of Coraline came about, and we learned of the background to The Graveyard Book.  We also learned that people in the movie business are.. not all that bright (Does the Graveyard Book movie need to be set in a Graveyard?).  He gave us his opinion of T.S. Eliot, he spoke on the meaning of life.  He entertained us greatly for about 30 minutes.

And then he read from The Graveyard Book.  And the experience was.. incredible.

Afterward, Tina and I waited with some new friends until midnight to get our books signed.  He personalized each signing with a drawn graphic or a word suited to just that book.  Tina’s copy of Coraline got a picture of a mouse creeping across her title page.  Odd and the Frost Giants received the word “Dream”.  And my copy of The Graveyard Book … well…

Some other photos from the event.  Our new friend, Venessa, took these (www.venessagiunta.com) and graciously shared them with us!

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2008 Resolutions

I have only two this year.

 1. Be happy

2. Read more (if that’s possible!)

I’m happiest when I’m reading and learning so I figure the two go hand in hand.   With my growing relationship with God I find myself more and more interested in books that can further my study in that area as well.  So – I’ve begun keeping my list of books read, with a small review of them on a separate page of this blog located here.  I have a very wide taste in books – some are pure fluff, but I love them anyway, others are serious and thought-provoking because.. c’mon, I’m 31 here, I should have my thoughts provoked!

But I need some recommendations on books to read to help further my religious study.  What are your recommendations?

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