Owlowiscious Girls

Finally back from vacation and didn't get a whole lot of reading done, but that's okay.  It never fails that I bring so many books with me because of my irrational fear of running out of things to read- even with my new Kindle.  I could have got a little more reading done if I wasn't filled with nervous, anxiety about 75% of the time.  I was nervous that the car wouldn't make it.  I was anxious about what we were doing on the missions trip.  I was nervous about seeing my family after such a long time.  I was anxious about how they would act.  I was big bundle of stress most of the time.  Don't get me wrong though, I had a great time and I didn't have to cook.  I don't think I was ever hungry the entire trip- a big plus in my books.  You can see my post about my trip on my other blog.  But reading challenge took a bit of a hit so we will see where it puts me.  Recently finished: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Hav...

I didn't have much time to read this week so I don't have much to say.  I did start a new book though that seemed fun The Invisible Library .  It was originally for the prompt "an espionage thriller"  but it seems a lot more appropriate for the "steampunk" prompt.  I am only about 80 pages in though.  And if you know me I love eating and cooking as much as reading and it started raining very hard today so I paired today's reading with potato soup and a delicious homemade bread.  Well I can't wait to tell you what I think about this book and hopefully I will be done tomorrow!

I only read one book this week but it was pretty long- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This book was engaging, sad, and full of humanities worst and greatest moments.  I got into the book right away and then it felt slightly dragging during the last quarter of it.  Lisel steals books.  In the end, it saves her.  Books and words become her life.  I sadly felt she was a little flat on her own.  It was only because of her relationships did I feel her fully.  It seemed when she was alone she was very rough and hard to take.  Her relationship with her foster father- Hans Hubermann is not short of amazing and touching.  Rudy is her school friend who is crazy and fun.  Max is the Jew the family hides in their basement and gives her books he writes himself as gifts.  Let me not forget Rosa and Ilsa- her foster mama and the woman who lets her "steal" books from her. These characters are all about to suffer.  You can tell bec...

This week for the Popsugar Challenge I have finished Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller for the prompt "a book by or about a person with a disability".  I have wanted to read this book for awhile since I found it was an Oregon Battle of the Books books.  I have been a fan of The Miracle Worker and Helen Keller's life for a long time.  I love American Sign Language and was even privileged enough to work with a group of deaf children as a camp counselor for a week.  This was a great book from Annie Sullivan's perspective.  She does call Helen some names that would be greatly frowned upon today but knowing that this is from a different time and being sensitive to Annie's childhood I was not taken aback.  I enjoyed this book.  I was originally going to attempt two books this week but as soon as I started reading Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery I knew I wanted to savor that book.  Montgomery has such a way with words an...

I am slowly catching up with my Popsugar Challenge- I am only 2 books behind now!!  I did decide to read some shorter books then I originally planned but still not bad for my first serious reading challenge ever.  For the prompt "a book you loved as a child" I originally wanted to reread Superfudge but it wasn't at the library which got me wondering why I do not have my own copy!  Any way I also liked Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing so I decided to reread this one.  It was pretty good but now reading it as a parent I wonder what was wrong with the lack of discipline in the Hatcher household.  Still a funny book and I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Peter.  I am not a huge Nancy Drew fan (she is just WAY too perfect) but I needed a short book for the prompt "a book by an author who uses a pseudonym".  I had the Random number generator pick which one I should read as I don't remember the plots to any of the ones I have actua...

So we are a little past a quarter of the year for this challenge and this is where I stand. 14/40 and 1/12 or rather 15/52- Technically I am four books behind but I have been having fun and learning.  I haven't participated in a group read since January so I am looking forward to doing one again.  *1. A book recommended by a librarian:   Angle of Repose  by Wallace Stegner- DONE *2. A book that's been on your TBR list for way too long:  Meet Rebecca: An American Girl by Jaqueline Greene- DONE *3. A book of letters:  Children's Letters to God by Stuart E. Hample-DONE *4. An audio book:  Igraine the Brave by Carnelia Funke-DONE (also could count for 10) *5. A book by a person of color:   My Dream of Martin Luther King  by Faith Ringgold- DONE *6. A book with one of the four seasons in the title:   The Winter People  by Jennifer McMahon- DONE *7. A book that is a story within a story:  Keturah and Lord Death by Marti...

As I look over my reading list and my weekly stats and check ins I am currently 3 books behind so I will just do a quick recap of what I have read so far to catch up or what caused me to be so behind in the first place.  I finally finished Emma by Jane Austen.  This book was for the prompt "book that has been on my To Be Read list for too long".  Now I know why it took me so long to finish.  Getting interrupted during a Jane Austen book is rough for me.  I lose the flow of the language even if I am already familiar with the story.  As much as I did enjoy this book I never should have stopped part of the way through.  It made for a very difficult jump back into it book- it took an embarrassing 2 weeks to finish only about 20% of the book.  So for my next read I went in pretty much the opposite direction.  Bossypants by Tina Fey was.....interesting.....um....mildly funny.....disjointed....didn't have a clear message or flow, but it ...