Hour Two Mini-Challenge: Children's Books

As it so happens, I'm currently re-reading what was one of my favorite books as a child, Little Women. I have a beautiful illustrated copy that my Aunt Sharon gave me for Christmas in 1986, per the inscription. I haven't read this book in years, but I still remember the exact wording of bits and pieces of it, as I read it so many times (and even staged a production of it with dolls) once upon a time.

I also adored anything by L.M. Montgomery (Anne, of course, but especially Emily), the Bobbsey twins, Nancy Drew, A Girl of the Limberlost and Freckles (I really liked "old-fashined" reads when I was a kid), The Borrowers, the Betsy-Tacy books, the Little House books...and the list goes on. I really didn't read much in the way of contemporary fiction as a kid. For me, it was far more interesting to read about times gone by.

And my favorite picture book? Why, Goodnight Moon, of course!

RAT: Into Hour Two

Time for the (now-classic) Read-a-Thon opening meme:
Where are you reading from today?

Home, in south Florida, more specifically my couch. Possibly also the bed, the papasan and the recliner.

3 facts about me …

1. I am a Public Defender and one of those rare people who loves her job.
2. My husband was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis this year, and it has kind of taken over our life right now.
3. I am petrified of spiders, but don't mind any other kinds of pests.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

Seven books and one magazine.

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

I'd like to beat my number of pages read at the last Read-a-Thon (736), and I'd like to stay up later, too. I think I gave in around 11 pm last time. That's too early!!!

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

I swear by magazines and short stories. I only have one magazine and NO short stories, though, for this RAT.

*******************************

Title of book(s) read since last update: Little Women
Number of books read since you started: part of one
Pages read since last update: 53
Running total of pages read since you started: 53
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 61 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 61 minutes
Mini-challenges completed: None, yet.
Other participants you’ve visited: None, yet.
Prize you’ve won: None, yet.
What I've eaten/drunk: A Diet Mt. Dew

Gonna go visit a couple Read-a-Thon-ers and get back to my book!

RAT Hour Zero

I'm ready to go! I hope you all have a stack of great books to enjoy!!! Have a great Read-a-Thon everyone!!!

Tomorrow!

The Read-a-Thon is tomorrow!!! I can't wait! I've got some books picked out and some snacks ready. I need to put some sodas in the fridge (caffeine is key) and maybe select another book or two, but I'm otherwise ready! Ricky will probably be joining me for part of it; the cats will not.

Four Month Challenge Update

Well, the challenge is almost over, and how am I doing? I've read a total of, um, four books while the challenge was ongoing.

5 Point Challenges


Read a chick lit book

The Jewish Princess Cookbook - Okay, so maybe this is cheating a little, but this was the chick lit-est cookbook I've ever seen!

Read a name with a proper name in the title

Read a historical fiction book

Read a book with a one word title

Read a book made into a movie

10 Point Challenges


Read a book with a Civil War theme (any country)

Comanche Moon - This book takes place "on the cusp of the Civil War," as I said in my review, but I think it counts. It may be stretching it, but cut a girl a break, here.

Read a Biblical fiction book

Read a hardcover book

Read a book about a king or queen

Read a book set in France

15 Point Challenges

Read a book by an author you’ve never read before

Read a biography or autobiography

Basher Five-Two - This book would really fit into three categories in the 15-Point Challenges section (also an author I've never read before and a book with a number in the title), but I don't think I get to count it three times!

Read a book with a number in the title

Read any book and then post a review

I've reviewed all of the books I've read, but I don't think I can count them twice! And I reviewed The Best American Non-Required Reading but it failed to post...not my fault, blame Blogger.

Read any book but read it outside

20 Point Challenges


Read a book in a series AND the one after it

Read a book that was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

Read a book considered Christian fiction

Read a book from The Modern Library Top 100

Read a book by an author born in July, August, September or October


So I'm up to a total of 30 points (45 if you give me credit for my review of The Best American Non-Required Reading, which I sort of posted a review for...Blogger ate it and I got mad and only posted my rating). Honestly, that's better than I thought I would do. I'm currently reading Little Women (a re-read for me, which is also, coincidentally, a banned book, although I can't find details of its banning anywhere...), which I don't think will fit into any of the categories (it takes place during the Civil War, but I've already filled that category). No, wait! It's a hardcover copy that I've had since I was a little girl! Ooh, I better hurry up and get it finished, so I can count it!

Okay, Seriously?

I just wrote the BEST review of The Best American Non-Required Reading 2009 plus some bonus material about what's been going on in my life and my excitement over the upcoming Read-a-Thon, and f'ing Blogger ate it.

So please know that I finished BANR2009 on Sunday before I left Ohio (where I was visiting briefly for my grandmother's funeral) and that I give it four and a half out of five Whatevers. And my favorite piece in it was "The Chameleon." And life has sucked for me for most of this year, but I'm really looking forward to the RAT next weekend. And if it is ruined for me in any way, I will quite possibly snap and go on a killing spree.

F you, Blogger.

Review: Basher Five-Two by Scott O'Grady

I Mooched this book some time ago. I'd seen it on someone's blog, but, as usual, I can't remember whose. It's a middle grade/YA adaptation of Scott O'Grady's non-fiction work, Return with Honor. O'Grady was an F-16 fighter pilot in the mid-nineties, flying peace-keeping missions over Bosnia-Herzegovina. He was part of a NATO force which was patrolling the no-fly zones during the Serb-Croat war. This book tells the story of the mission when he was shot down in enemy territory and how he survived.

I actually enjoyed the book. I'm no military history buff and I wasn't sure if this would be my cup of tea, but I thought a middle grade take on the subject would be a good introduction. And it was! It didn't delve into the political underpinnings of the unrest in the Balkans, but it told a good story of one man's experiences behind enemy lines. The storyline moved quickly and I was engrossed in O'Grady's survival attempt.

The book says it's for ages ten and up, but I might recommend it for slightly older kids. Perhaps a precocious ten-year-old would get it, but I thought some of the vocabulary might be over a ten-year-old's head, and the situation O'Grady found himself in was certainly scary, even for me at 33! It might be too much for younger readers. However, I would recommend this for anyone interested in military history, and certainly young readers with an interest in flying or the military. Three and a half out of five Whatevers.