January has come and gone in a flash. I would think at some point I’d stop being surprised at how fast the time goes by, but it never ceases to amaze me. This is a month I’m pretty happy to have behind me, though. It was tough getting back into the school routine after the Christmas break and I am working on a project at work that has tapped me out in a lot of ways. I was hoping that it would be finished by the first of February, but it now looks more like the 16th. The end is near, though. That’s a good thing. I’m looking forward to my work getting back to normal.
Blogiversary
I celebrated my 3rd blogiversary on the 17th. Thank you so much to everyone’s well wishes. The giveaway, including a 1g iPod Shuffle and books is still open.
Reading
Reading this month also went in fits and spurts. January began on a high note with Shanghai Girls by Lisa See for a TLC Book Tour. I followed that up with a near manic reading of The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I couldn’t read them fast enough. However, once I was finished with what we currently know about Katniss and Peeta, I entered a reading dry spell. I picked up and promptly put back down 8 books, including 3 audio books. I just couldn’t be satisfied.
Thankfully, my malaise came to an end when I picked up The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. She is coming to Southwest Virginia in February and I’m looking forward to the chance to meet her. I followed The Kitchen House with A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick. I loved it so much that I couldn’t wait to finish it before I posted about it. Last night I finished Robin Maxwell’s O, Juliet, a novelization of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In audio, I started Mudbound by Hillary Jordan. I’m nearly finished. I’m hoping to finish it today, but it may be early next week. I am enjoying this novel, but it makes me so mad at times, too.
Reviews
I reviewed the following novels this month. Click on the image to go to the review.
Reading Deliberately
This month, I finished nearly seven books. Of those books, three were books of my own choosing – The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mudbound. Four were review books – O, Juliet, Shanghai Girls, The Kitchen House, and A Reliable Wife. The Kitchen House and A Reliable Wife I said yes to this month. As much as I have enjoyed those books, it shows a lack of resolve in saying no to review copies. My initial goal was to only request one book per month. I requested those as well as Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Small Wars by Sadie Jones, Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd, and The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrel.
So, I have had mixed results with goal of reading deliberately. I am more aware of what I’m doing, though. That’s a good start. Lifestyle changes take time. On the upside, I did say no to 10 book review requests. Compared to 3 to 5, that’s progress.
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Wow your third blogiversary! Congrats!
On the subject of your 3rd bloggiversary, congratulations. You have been one of the more faithful book bloggers over the last few years from what I’ve seen, and I always enjoy your posts. You and a handful of others seem to think about what you are reading before you jump into your reading, as evidenced by your goal of “deliberate reading.” Keep up the good work here, and hopefully I’ll see you here in another three years.
Yeah, that Hunger Games stuff just sucks you right in, doesn’t it? Between that series and the Stieg Larssen series, I thought I would lose my mind not having the third books to read!
I was so thankful to get back to routines and time to myself! I didn’t get much accomplished trying to read with the kids home.
I know I’ve got some great books to read on purpose next year, including Suzanne Collins’ books and Lisa See’s. And any progress on your goal of reading deliberately is good
Happy Blogiversary, again
Wench is totally worth ignoring your vow to accept less review copies! I hope you love it as much as I did.
Glad you finally got out of your reading funk!
It’s so hard to say no to books that sound good, so I know how you feel. I’m glad you’ve had a good reading month.
I have cut new review copies out of my reading list for awhile now and it has worked well for me. If there is one I am really interested in, I’ll request it, but other than that I am trying to stick to library books and books that I own. It’s a lot less pressure!
Sounds like you had a good reading month! I loved A RELIABLE WIFE too, so I get really excited when other people say they loved it!
Glad to hear your reading funk is over! I think the books you did accept sound great, and you shouldn’t feel guilty about it – refusing 10 is great and more than I can accomplish myself!
You’ve had a great month of reading and getting reviews done even with your reading slump! I just finished reading The Hunger Games and can’t wait to get my hands on Catching Fire. I’ve not done well accepting less review copies either. I am weak:)
Congrats on your blogiversary!!