This is a sticky post – which means it’s probably not the newest content. If you’ve read this already – feel free to scroll down and see what’s new!

Spring is in the air and it’s time for one of Katrina’s legendary reading challenges – the Spring Reading Thing 2010 has begun! What I love about Kat’s reading challenges is the laid back atmosphere. You set the number of books you want to read and any other guidelines and then check in with your progress. It’s very much tailored to your needs and limitations and time.

What makes it different from just reading whatever you want, whenever you want? You are setting a reading goal and holding yourself accountable – and you get fellow challengers for cheerleaders. Plus, your TBR pile can get even bigger as you look through their reading lists and go, “Ohhh that book looks great! I want to read that, too!”

Anyway, I like to set challenges for myself that I know are unlikely but I’m keeping it relatively tame this spring with a list of SEVEN (7) books I’d like to read before Summer:

• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
• What the Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy by Gregory Maguire
• Nefertiti by Michelle Moran
• The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber
• Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell
• The Lightening Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Book One) by Rick Riordan
• The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan

(for an explanation of the strike-throughs, see my edits below)

What books will you be reading this Spring?

– edit (the first of many, I’d imagine) –

It’s now April 20th – and one month into the challenge and although I’ve read 2 books since it started and just picked up two more – none of those four books are on this list. I don’t see how I can possible finish my actual challenge at this rate so I am going to list the books I’ve read and am reading and modify my original list a bit.

So far I’ve read:

1. Never Tell Our Business To Strangers by Jennifer Mascia – Finished April 2, 2010 – This is the memoir of Jennifer Mascia who tells the story of a childhood on the lam, intricate family secrets and betrayals and the incredible power to love. It’s strangely relatable when you are not expecting it to be – and more powerful than I anticipated. I laughed, I cried… clichéd but it’s true. – full review –
2. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert – Finished April 16, 2010 – This book has sat on my bookshelf for years, waiting for me to read it. I can’t believe it took me so long, looking back – it is incredible. I loved every page, every paragraph. Gilbert is an incredible writer and her story was just as good – I almost can’t believe it’s nonfiction. I look forward to reading her other books. – full review –
3. The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz – Finished April 25, 2010 – I always love a good Spellman Files book and this one was no exception. Lutz’ series is like nothing I’ve ever read before and it’s quite an indulgence. Couldnotputitdown. Quite possibly her best one yet! – full review –
4. Sweet Life by Mia King – Finished May 8, 2010 – This was my first Mia King book and I really enjoyed it – a good old fashioned chick lit book that made you laugh, cry, etc. It touches on a lot of topics that I think any mother can relate to and even comes with some yummy recipes! – full review –
5. The Lightening Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Book One) by Rick Riordan – Finished May 19, 2010 – This series is becoming very popular and I can see why. It combines a lot of very cool themes and ideas, some trendy, some slightly more novel. I think it’s a really cool way to introduce kids to Greek mythology and it touches on a lot of other cool, interesting things, too. Great for kids ; for adults, I would warn that it can feel a little predictable sometimes and in the beginning especially, it might feel really obvious that you are reading a book intended for kids, but it definitely sucked me in at the end and I plan to read Book 2 soon.
6. Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat by Michelle May- Finished May 19, 2010 – I really enjoyed this book – it’s not necessarily new information but it’s definitely something I think a lot of people should read and know. This is not a diet book – it will not tell you how much of whatever to necessarily eat or do or not eat or do. It’s about relearning how to eat instinctively and to not feel guilty about your decisions. I’d definitely recommend it. – full review –
7. The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan – Finished June 9, 2010 – I really enjoyed this memoir. It describes Kelly’s battle with breast cancer but also talks about that middle place in your life where you are both a child and a parent, and has a lot of stories from her childhood up to present date. Really beautifully written.

And I’m currently reading:

• What Your Preschooler Needs to Know by E.D. Hirsch
• The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson, Book 2) by Rick Riordan

The books I plan to read after I’ve finished my current books are:

1. Nefertiti by Michelle Moran
2. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
3. The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber