Boxonow

Challenge Basics:   Name: The Re-Read Challenge Hosts: Belle of the Literati (in 2016) Starts: January 1, 2019 Ends: December 31, 2019 Eligible Books: Books you've already read. Why I'm Interested:   Whether it's re-reading for comfort or to revisit old favorites, I want to make sure I enthusiastically dive into re-reading whenever I feel the urge. Some books I'm considering: My Special Shelf favorites , of course. Also, books I liked enough or am curious enough to re-listen to on audio. Books Completed: 10. Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier 9. A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 8. A Pearl Among Princes by Coleen Murtagh Paratore 7. The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook 6. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones 5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling 4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling 3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling 2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling 1. Harry Po...

6 Challenges...how did I do? The Re-Read Challenge Goal: Re-read as many books as I want Books read:7 Goal achieved? Yes! I ended up re-reading 7 books this year, none of which were on audio. Audio books were a way I ended up rereading a lot of books, but with my current barely-five-minute commute, I don't have much room for audio books right now. This was an unusual year for rereads, as none of the "usual suspects" made an appearance this year. No Karen White, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, and L. J. Smith. For the second year in a row now, no Anne Bishop and Sarah J. Maas. These are my standby comfort reads, but 2018 didn't lead me to seek out this kind of comfort read. Or, perhaps the way I approached 2018 had something to do with that.  Instead, I revisited some old favorites that I hadn't read in years and years, including the Hero's Guide series and Harry Potter. While I wanted the lighthearted humor of the Hero's Guide books in part because I wanted a l...

I made a really big list It's that time of year again! I started making these lists because I'm a list kind of person, but they've become so much more. I've found myself returning to them time and again almost like a scrapbook. It's been a nice way to reflect, remember, and reminisce. Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M. C. Beaton Agatha Raisin makes me think of my co-worker in one of the libraries I worked in years ago. She became my friend and felt like another grandmother to me and helped me grow in ways I don't think I was able to fully realize until I got older. Both realize in the sense of be aware of and realize in the sense of put into action. Some things you just need to be the right age for, and I think as I'm getting older those lessons are more applicable to my current life experiences. This friend liked the Agatha Raisin series and reading them now I feel like I'm reading them with her. Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet by M. ...

I made a really big list It's that time of year again! I started making these lists because I'm a list kind of person, but they've become so much more. I've found myself returning to them time and again almost like a scrapbook. It's been a nice way to reflect, remember, and reminisce. The Little Book of Pooh-isms A review book. Hardly a "book" in the reading challenge sense, this was a quick read filled with quotes from the Pooh books and movies. Sweet, charming, and somewhat silly, this book was nice because it reminded me of the other books and movies. My husband and I read through the quotes together while making dinner one night. Which, really does make this book a good way to spend some time. Emily Goes to Exeter by M. C. Beaton Belinda Goes to Bath by M. C. Beaton I wasn't ready to let go of this author yet, so I picked her her Traveling Matchmaker series. These books have the best covers yet, but not the best stories. Oh they're great, a...

I made a really big list It's that time of year again! I started making these lists because I'm a list kind of person, but they've become so much more. I've found myself returning to them time and again almost like a scrapbook. It's been a nice way to reflect, remember, and reminisce. Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier Ugh, this book. April started out kind of meh, but not a total wash. I love Daphne du Maurier's ability to create atmosphere, and she nailed the spooky moors here. Too bad the book was filled with awful characters and a plot that took absolutely forever to go anywhere. It was weird, but the experience made me flash back to middle school where even good books (like Call of the Wild ) were turned into awful slogs because I knew I'd have to answer stupid questions about foreshadowing and themes and stuff like that instead of just reading for enjoyment. I couldn't shake that feeling and it seriously ruined things for me. Thanks, school. The...