Library Challenge

If you read my BTT post, you know that because of my move to a condo I don't buy many books any more. I am already a big-time library fan. I may as well participate in J. Kaye's challenge. I will post the books as I read them here. I will write my reviews separately. The library already knows me!!

Buying Books

"I’ve asked, in the past, about whether you more often buy your books, or get them from libraries. What I want to know today, is, WHY BUY?"

This is the BTT question for today. I used to buy excusively. I had a house with lots of room and lots of rooms. There were oodles of shelves and my family room was like a library with a corner of floor to ceiling book shelves. I loved it. BUT I didn't buy just to stock the shelves, that simply made my obsession easier. I need to possess my books. I want to know they are there when I need them. I like to feel them and smell them. I want to underline or star important ideas. When I read, I caress.

We moved.

Our desire was to simplify our lives. We wanted to make our lives easier. It isn't easy to move books. A condo is not conducive to book obsessions. I had to learn how to let go. I still have a room for my books. There is a third bedroom that has my shelves and two comfy chairs and good lighting. That is my hideaway but there isn't room to expand. I need to make use of the library (which is within walking distance).

Our library is excellent. The county system must be among the best in the country. I can search the catalog online at home in my pjs. Put in my request and in a few days everything is ready to pick up or on order for my turn. There is something exciting about a library.

but I still like Barnes and Noble...

Casual Classics Challenge

Read 4 “Classics” between January 1st and December 31st, 2009

• Overlaps with other challenges ARE allowed
• eBooks and Audiobooks ARE allowed

Mizb is hosting the Casual Classics Challenge for 2009. I am adding this to my challenge list. It does not seem to be unreasonable (lol) since only four books are necessary and overlaps are allowed. Now that I think about it, why would I participate if it were unreasonable? With that figured out, here are my choices:

1. All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren

2. Candide by Voltaire

3. The Inferno by Dante

4. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway

John Steinbeck Mini-Challenge

Becky is hosting this challenge at her Mini-Challenge blog. Steinbeck is an all time favorite of mine so I can't resist this one. The 10th grade class that I am teaching this year is reading *The Pearl* now and the 11th classes usually read *Of Mice and Men*. I promise I won't read them. In fact, I look forward to reading two new titles.

I think I will read

1. In Dubious Battle
2. The Winter of Our Discontent
and maybe
3. The Moon is Down

I should be able to tackle all three since the challenge runs all of 2009. That is a pretty fair amount of time.

Winter Holiday Reading Challenge

This is the first challenge listed on my new reading blog. I am including the rules that I have copied from Book in Hand Blog which is hosting this.

Rules:
1. The Winter Holiday Reading Challenge will last from November 1, 2008 to January 31, 2009.

2. The theme for this challenge is Winter Holidays. The books that you choose to read must have a storyline that includes celebrating a winter holiday, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's, etc. (However, the holidays are not limited to just these examples.)You choose the number of books you wish to read.

3. Leave a comment at the end of this post if you want to join in on the fun.Each month, leave a comment at the end of the Winter Holiday Reading Challenge Update post that includes the book (title and author) that you read for that month and the link to your review (if you have one).

4. And finally... Enjoy your holiday reading!

Now all I have to do is list my choices! The decisions were difficult. There were "classics" of the seasons as well as new additions to the list. What to do!

After puzzling over titles, I have come up with these four titles:

1. A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry
2. Candy Cane Murder by Joanna Fluke
3. Christmas Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini
4. Unplug the Christmas Machine by Jo Robinson

The deadline is January 31, 2009 but since all my titles are Christmas themed, I will try to have this finished by December 25. What a better way to get in the Spirit!

Under Construction

This is a new blog just about reading. It is currently under construction. Thanks for dropping in. I'll be up an running soon.