Showing posts with label Harry Potter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harry Potter. Show all posts

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Summer Lovin' Challenge


Julie D of Jules' Book Reviews has come up with a summer reading challenge that I really like. She's set up a blog called Summer Lovin' Challenge to encourage folks to re-read books we fell in love with and always said we want to visit again some day. Well, this challenge gives us that chance and we get to have a little support and friendship into the bargain. It's always fun to find out what books other people love and adore.

Now to choose my books. Good grief! There are so many to choose from. The first books that leap into my mind are all the Tony Hillerman Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee novels. I dearly love those books and have been wanting to read them again in order. There are 18 Hillerman books. I'll never get them all read by the end of September, so I have to choose, don't I? Well, what about the first three: The Blessing Way, Dance Hall of the Dead, and Listening Woman. They may well lead to reading the other 15, but that's a chance I'm willing to take! I own most all of Hillerman's novels, but I still have so many books packed away after our last move, that I don't know where they all are. So after I scour my bookshelves to see what I can find, I'll make a trip to the library.

I had already planned to re-read J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince this summer since the movie will be coming out in July. I'd like to read it before the movie is released, but if I don't finish it before then, I will definitely read it this summer. That's been my summer plan all along.

Thanks, Jules, for the great summer reading challenge!

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Read-a-thon

Tomorrow, June 7, is the first Mystery Read-a-thon. We're supposed to read for 12 hours. Hmm. Not sure I can sit for 12 hours and just read. Well, that's not true. I have done that, most recently with the last Harry Potter book.

Time to do a little pre-reading planning for the day, especially regarding food. Munchies are okay, but hubby's a diabetic, so scratch that idea. We gotta eat right, which means time and planning. So .... I'm thinking we can do fruit, salad and sandwiches. Or maybe hubby won't mind cooking. Or there's always the crock pot. Ah,yes! There are pork chops in the freezer. Add a can of diced tomatoes, a dash of seasoning, turn the pot on and adjourn to my favorite reading spot. Sounds like a great plan to me.

Here are some questions from the Read-a-thon site:

What books do you want to read during this read-a-thon?
I'm thinking I'll start with The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. I received that from PaperBack Swap recently and am eager to read it. I had heard such great things about the books from the DorothyL mystery discussion group. Then I discovered the HBO series and really got hooked. So naturally I had to order the first book in the series even though my TBR pile is already dangerously high.

If I finish The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency before the 12 hours are up, I'm planning to start on another book I've been eager to read: The Clovis Incident by Pari Noskin Taichert. It just sounds like a fun book.

If by some miracle I finish that, then I hope it's okay to use Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I gotta refresh my memory before the movie comes out next month! Like I said, I'm a slow reader, especially if I'm enjoying a good book.

How many books do you hope to finish?
At least one, maybe two. I'm a slow reader by choice. I really love good writing, so I savor it.

What (if any) breaks do you intend to take?
As needed for the basic necessities of life.

Do you generally read lots of mysteries and thrillers or are the one of the many genres you like?
I read lots of mysteries, but I enjoy any good book with great characters, plots and settings. I like humorous cozies and historical mysteries the most, but I also frequently read police procedurals and thrillers, an occasional political thriller. And I love science fiction, especially Star Trek. I've recently read some mainstream fiction, for want of a better term. I've even been known to read a romance every now and again. I used to be snobby about romances, but discovered some good ones that I really enjoyed and was forced to change my mind. I just love good stories and good writing.


Who are some of your favorite authors?
In no particular order: Susan Wittig Albert, M.C. Beaton, Emilie Richards, Jeff Cohen, Tony Hillerman, Margaret Coel, J. K. Rowling, Tamar Myers, Jimmie Ruth Evans (aka Dean James), Betty Rowlands, Sue Grafton, Margaret Frazer, Peter Tremayne, Mary Reed and Eric Mayer, Sharon Kay Penman. I could go on and on and on.

If you could make us all read one mystery or thriller for this read-a-thon, which one would it be and why?
Oh, good grief! Just one? I have a hard enough time choosing something for myself to read at any given time. Coin tossing is frequently involved. So I guess I'd pick a writer who may not be so well known but who IMHO deserves to be. But I'll have to think about that recommendation for a bit. There are so many good writers who definitely need more exposure. See the favorites list above.

Do you prefer series or stand alones?

I really love series, but stand alones are okay, too.