According to the calendar, today is the first day of winter, which means the Fall into Reading Challenge hosted by Kat @ Callapidder Days is officially over.

So how did you do? Did you read all the books you set out to read?

I picked out 7 titles to read at the beginning of the challenge and successfully read all of those books. There were a few other “maybes” that I mentioned I might read, and I did read two of those as well, but the original 7 were read so in my mind, I finished this challenge on November 18th when I finished The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. Since then I was also able to finish reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (my first Kindle read) which was a pretty big accomplishment in and of itself.

So in total I read 9 books this fall and started a 10th, First Among Sequels (Thursday Next, Book 5) by Jasper Fforde which I wasn’t able to finish before the end of the challenge (no big surprise there, Fforde’s books are fantastic but never a quick read for me).

Here are a few things of note about those nine books and the challenge in general (questions prompted by Kat):

FAVORITE BOOK READ THIS FALL: Definitely Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I read a lot of good books this month, but this was by far the best. (click here for my full review)

Runner up: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montogmery – this book just blew me away and I am anxious to read the rest of the series on my Kindle soon.

LEAST FAVORITE BOOK READ THIS FALL: This book wasn’t on my original challenge, and technically I abandoned it before the challenge began, but my book club discussed how terrible it was a few weeks after I abandoned it, so I feel compelled to state: That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo sucked so bad, so so horribly bad. Really, it was awful.

DISCOVERED AUTHOR OR GENRE: Brunonia Barry I think deserves a shout out here. It was mentioned at our book club meeting discussion of her book, The Lace Reader, that she actually self published this book originally because nobody would pick it up (I’m not certain this is true but it does seem plausible given the really complex plot). The story is a little out there, but really I thought it was just excellent, terrifically well written and it even had a plot twist (or several) that I didn’t see coming until the end, which is always a nice treat. I really recommend this book, it was enjoyed by the majority of my fellow book club members, too.

WHAT I LEARNED THIS FALL: I’m really tired of trying to force myself to read a book just because of some sense of obligation to finish it, or because it was a Best Seller or has a Good Message or whatever. I’ve read a lot of amazing books this year and some not so great, and unfortunately some terrible. Somewhere along the way, I stopped trying to force a book that wasn’t picking up for me and I have to say, it was a good change. There are so many amazing books out there, I don’t want to waste my time reading something that I’m not enjoying.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE FALL INTO READING CHALLENGE: I really like that this challenge helps me to organize my reading goals and get through the books on my nightstand and some high priority books that I’ve maybe been putting off up until the challenge starts. It’s a little extra kick to read more and stick to the stuff I’ve set out to read more.

How about you?

As part of the Fall Into Reading Challenge, Katrina @ Callapidder Days decided to post a weekly question related to the challenge.

She writes, “I thought it would be a great way to keep Fall Into Reading participants connected throughout the course of the challenge.”

This is our last Weekly Question before FIR ’10 ends! It seems like just yesterday we were just starting the challenge and now it is almost over, there is snow on the ground and winter is knocking at our door!

There are actually four question for this week:

1. Do you write in your books?
2. Can you read in the car?
3. Does the rest of your family enjoy reading?
4. What’s the longest you’ve gone without reading?

Here are my answers:

1. No, I do not write in my books. I’ve occasionally thought that a good quote might merit it, particularly in college with textbooks, but it was just never a habit that sat well with me. I never felt my thought needed to be marring someone else’s book. I have made notes on a sticky note and put said note in the book – and have made a few highlight type note things on my Kindle but that’s as close as I go.
2. I do not often read in the car, but I am capable of it. I know some people get motion sickness when they try, but I don’t think I’m afflicted with that particular travesty. That said, I’m rarely in a car long enough to read and when I am, I’d usually rather talk to my husband or listen to the radio (though I have been known to pull out a book if I’m sitting in the parking lot with a sleepy baby and was clever enough to anticipate that and bring along reading material.
3. We are definitely a family of readers, although the youngest might be too young to say that with certainty. My husband doesn’t read with quite as much zest as I do, but that’s mostly just because he’s far pickier. My son loves to “read” books and be read to and I look forward to him learning to actually read and seek out books of his own choice.
4. I don’t think I can even answer that question to be honest.

So, in one week the Fall Into Reading 2010 challenge will be over? How did you do? Have you met your goal yet?

I read all of the initial books from my FIR’ challenge list and 2 others. I’m now working on a 3rd book which was not on my initial list either, but no less exciting as it’s in a series that I love (the Thursday Next books by Jasper Fforde). What are you reading right now?

As part of the Fall Into Reading Challenge, Katrina @ Callapidder Days has decided to post a weekly question related to the challenge.

She writes, “I thought it would be a great way to keep Fall Into Reading participants connected throughout the course of the challenge.”

Here’s the question for this week:

Where do you get the books you read? Are you a faithful library patron? Or maybe a bookstore junkie? Do you exchange books with friends or family members?

I think the real question here should be, “Where don’t you get your books?” as I get my books from a wide variety of sources, including but not limited to:

1. Amazon.com – whenever I’m ordering something and need an extra $5 or $10 or so to get free super saving shipping, I often convince the hubby to let me splurge for a book. Whether or not this actually delivers us a real savings if often tough to say but it does often result in me getting a book so I don’t dwell.
2. The clearance racks of Barnes & Noble or Borders. I like sales and typically if I can find a book I’ve just been dying to read that’s on sale for some obscene price, I’m much more likely to spring for it.
3. The little book section at Walmart near the bathroom. Walmart’s prices are usually awfully competitive and standing around the bathroom waiting for the kids often gives me ample time to “just have to have it puh-lease!!!!”
4. The library of course, though not as often as I should. This spring and summer I did a great job making good use of the library but I fell out of habit this fall and now simply have too many books to read to try and squeeze a library book in, too. Our closest library has a truly terrible selection, so usually when I want a book from the library I request it online and wait for an email telling me it’s in and waiting for me. Sometimes I even make my husband pick it up for me on his way home from work – which I think classifies me as truly lazy, truly ingenious or both.
5. Yard sales, library book sales, etc. You know those magical places where you can find a much coveted book for a dollar or two?  Love those places. But for the sake of my over flowing bookshelves I don’t visit them often.
6. My amazing book club is trying out this fun thing where the book club president person of awesomeness checks out like fifteen copies of the book we are reading next and hands them out at the meeting. Then next month we bring the books back, she returns them and passes out the next month. We’re still giving this idea a try and seeing how good people are at returning said books but I personally LOOOOVE it to pieces as it perfectly compliments my laziness.
7. I do get a few books for review though I certainly wouldn’t mind getting MORE of those. If anyone has a book they’d like reviewed or works for a book PR kinda firm, feel free to email me at mommablogsalot at gmail dot com. I read a lot of mainstream fiction, young adult, historical fiction, a bit of sci fi fantasy and heck, probably anything.
8. Also sometimes people who love me a lot will buy me a book or give me a gift card to procure my own. I love these people dearly and might be compelled to jump in front of a moving bus for them. Just sayin…

Where do you get the books you read?