CHALLENGE: July Book Blowout

Here's my list of books I read in July:

Miss Julia Throws a Wedding - Ann B Ross
Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
The Snack Thief - Andrea Camilleri
The Night Watch - Sarah Waters
The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot
Crow Lake - Mary Lawson
Running With Scissors - Augusten Burroughs
The Planets - Dava Sobel
Maus I and II - Art Spiegelman
A Fraction of the Whole - Steve Toltz
Pretties - Scott Westerfeld
The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher - Kate Summerscale
Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe
The Birth House - Ami McKay

I don't know if I can pick a best book, there are a lot of really great books here. Candidates would include: Crow Lake, Things Fall Apart, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, Water for Elephants

Least favorite: Running With Scissors, The Princess Diaries

Series I continued: Miss Julia, Inspector Montalbano, Uglies


Mrs S asks:
Since you’ve worked so hard this month why not write a wrap up post (either on your own site or here in the comments).

Here’s some questions to help you out - though you’re free to write whatever you wish!

1. Did you discover a new author? several. I'll read and look for more by: Mary Lawson, Sarah Waters, Chinua Achebe

2. Where was the most unusual place you found yourself reading? In teh books? Nigeria, death camps in Germany, future world of Pretties. Or actual reading? at ball fields

3. Did you read more than usual? I always read more in the summer, but I read some longer books and some nonfiction which usually take longer

4. Did you give up anything in order to read more? No, but I made a real effort to carry a book with me and to read during the day whenever I could. I guess I gave up sleep when I read too late into the night. (but I often do that)

5. If you won the Amazon voucher what would you spend it on? a book! Likely the next Camilleri in the series

6. Would you like to see a 2009 Book Blowout? sounds great!

CHALLENGE: July Book Blowout Kickoff Meme

Mrs S says: Hey everyone - July 1 has arrived and we have 58 participants for the July Book Blowout!
I thought it would be nice to kick off with a mini-challenge - to introduce ourselves to each other. If you want to take part just answer these questions:

1. Describe yourself in one sentence

I'm a mom to the three kids, high school physics teacher, wife, and lazy book reader from Prince Edward Island.

2. What book will you start the challenge with?

Miss Julia Throws a Wedding, and Planets by Dava Sobel.

3. Where is your favourite place to read?

anywhere is fine: living room couch, in bed at night, on the swing on the deck, at the beach

4. What is your favourite book of all time?

I can't pick one! Bridget Jones' Diary, Anne of Green Gables, The Stand, A Fine Balance, Einstein's Dreams.

5. Remind us all of your challenge target

I think I said 15.

Either post your answers in the comments - or post them on your blog and link us up in the comments - whichever works best for you.

CHALLENGE: July Book blowout

Mrs S at Blue Archipelogo is hosting a summer Reading challenge called the July Book Blowout . Here's her rules:

• The rules are simple - read as many books as you can between July 1 and 31 - and then by August 7 post a list of all of the books you read on your blog. Reviews are not required to take part.
• How do I join in the fun?You can sign up any time between today and July 14 - just because I’m a bit slow to announce this!
• To join you need to post about the Book Blowout on your blog - and set yourself a target number of books you will try to read - go on challenge yourself!
• Use the Mr Linky below to link to that post so we can all see how many books you’re taking on in the Blowout
• Post a list of the books you managed to read by the deadline of August 7 to complete the challenge

There are a few more guidelines at her blog, go check them out. I like the idea of not posting which books, just how many. My goal is to read 14 books. I've got a few chunksters and nonfiction that will slow me down so I'll keep it at my average number per month. I usually read more in the summer, so that should even things out.

I'll use this post to keep track of the books I read in July:

1. Miss Julia Throws a Wedding - Ann B Ross
2. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
3. The Snack Thief - Andrea Camilleri
4. The Night Watch - Sarah Waters
5. The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot
6. Crow Lake - Mary Lawson
7. Running With Scissors - Augusten Burroughs
8. The Planets - Dava Sobel
9. Maus I and II - Art Spiegelman
10. A Fraction of the Whole - Steve Toltz
11. Pretties - Scott Westerfeld
12. The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher - Kate Summerscale
13. Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe
14. The Birth House - Ami McKay