Update on the TBR Challenge

We are just about half-way through the year, so I thought I'd give a quick update on how things are going with my TBR Challenge.

While the other members are just flying along, and are basically on track --for the most part-- with reading the books off their list, their fearless leader (that'd be me!) is struggling to keep up! LOL. But, I just keep trying! Here's how my list looks, so far:

MY TBR in 2007 LIST:

1. Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone (#1) - J.K. Rowling


2. Passage - Connie Willis (done: Sept.11/07)


3. Middlemarch - George Eliot (done: Feb.6/07)


4. The Wise Woman - Christian Jacq


5. The Surgeon - Tess Gerritsen (done: Apr.9/07)


6. Premonition - Randall Ingermanson


7. Shadow Baby - Ami McGhee


8. Envy - Sandra Brown (done: Jun.21/07)


9. Bethesda: A Novel - Paul A. Nigro


10. The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde


11. Deja Dead - Kathy Reichs


12. The Tea Rose - Jennifer Donnelly

For EXTRA CREDIT:

• Messy Spirituality - Mike Yaconelli


• How to Be Good - Nick Hornby


• Flabbergasted - Ray Blackston


• The Rule of Four - Caldwell/Thomason


• Deep In the Valley - Robyn Carr


• Dying Declaration - Randy Singer


• Double Vision - Randall Ingermanson


• The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith


• If I Had You - Deborah Bedford


• Her Daughter's Eyes - Jessica Barksdale Inclan


• The Codex - Douglas Preston


• Peace Like a River - Leif Enger


• Preparing Your Son for Every Man's Battle - Stephen Arterburn

As you can see, I've not read ANY of the books from my "Extra Credit" list. But, I haven't yet felt the need to. My original list is hard enough to get through, given the small amount of reading I've been doing all-around this year! :-?

Ah well. Just keep reading, just keep reading, just keep reading, reading, reading... what do we do? We read, read, read! (ala Dory of "Finding Nemo")

TBR: "There is More to The Secret"

"There Is More to the Secret" by Ed Gungor

Found this book on Faithfulreader.com, today, and -- given that I just read Rhonda Byrne's book, "The Secret", about a month ago -- I was interested to know more about this new book by Ed Gungor!

"There is More to The Secret" is not an 'attack' on Ms. Byrne's book, but rather a compliment to it ... she left out a crucial element of the "Law of Attraction"... and, that's that Almighty God is always involved. ;o)

While I was reading "The Secret" (Byrne), I found a lot of it to be "New Age", and I had issue with that. BUT, I also found a lot of what the author said to have some truth to it, and I figured it can't hurt to try some of the things out... like thinking positively. ;o) That's always been touted as a good thing, even by my mother. ;o)

Here are some quotes from "The Secret" that I really liked:

p.18 - "...he changed from focusing on what he did not want, what he was afraid of, what he wanted to avoid, to focusing on what he did want."

p.58 - "a person cannot think 'thin thoughts' and be fat. It completely defies the 'Law of Attraction'."

p.74 - "Gratitude is absolutely the way to bring more into your life."

p.90 (paraphrased) - "Create a Vision Board - put on it what you want to acheive, or something you want to attract... put a picture of this / these things on this board, and look at it every day... start to visualize. Imagine you already have these things."

p.123 - "Treat yourself with love and respect, and you will attract people who will show you love and respect."

p.123 - "To make a relationship work, focus on what you appreciate about the other person, not your complaints. When you focus on the strengths, you'll get more of them."

p.127 - "All stress begins with one negative thought."

And, the one that really made me smile because it made me think of all the "good gifts that God has given me":

p.183 - "The earth turns on its orbit for you. The oceans ebb and flow for you. The birds sing for you. The sun rises and sets for you. The stars come out for you. Every beautiful thing you see, every wonderous thing you experience, is all there for YOU!" (see James 1:17)

Christian Genre Challenge: My List

So, I was looking at my list for my Christian Genre Challenge (which starts on August 1st!), and I decided I don't like the looks of it. I no longer care to read some of the books I listed. So, since it's not yet August 1st, I am changing my list... And, I haven't finalized it, yet, so I'm going to list, here, a few possibilities for each of the genres I'm hoping to read from. ;o)

Historical:

"Revealed" by Tamera Alexander
"A Woman's Place" by Lynn Austin
"Courting Trouble" by Deanne Gist

Non-Fiction:

"Love Beyond Reason" by John Ortberg
"Idols of the Heart" by Elyse Fitzpatrick
"Religiously Transmitted Diseases" by Ed Gungor
"Making Peace with Your Mom" by H. Norman Wright

ChickLit OR Humor:

"Savannah Comes Undone" by Denise Hildreth
"The Secret Life of Becky Miller" by Sharon Hinck
"Flabbergasted" by Ray Blackston

Inspirational:

"The Best Gift" by Irene Hannon

Suspense OR Mystery:

"Freefall" by Kristin Hannah
"Cape Refuge" by Terri Blackstock
"Premonition" by Randy Ingermanson

A lot of these are my "review" books for Bethany House, and a couple of them are ones from my TBR Challenge list. I've GOT to start reading some books from both of those lists, as I'm terribly behind!

Last week I'd forgotten that I said I wanted to do this CG Challenge (doh!), so I told myself that this summer I would read ALL of the review books Bethany House has sent me, and I'd get myself caught up. Then I got a couple of comments here on my blog about the challenge, and I went, "Oh, yeah!" LOL. So, I changed my mind, and decided I'd read as many as I could ... they'd just have to fit into the challenge somehow. ;o)

Anyway. Make sure you leave your name in the Mr. Linky if you're participating in the challenge -- that way others can check up on you and see how you're doin'! ;o)

WWW... (06/15)

What are you currently reading?
I'm currently reading "FATTITUDES" by Jeffrey & Norean Wilbert. It's very good, and I highly recommend it! It's got these great little questionnaires & forms that you can fill out to help you discover more about yourself and your eating, and the emotions behind why you overeat. Very helpful!

What did you just finish reading?
I recently finished reading Lisa Young's "The Portion Teller". It helps you learn how to better "eyeball" your portion sizes by giving you a list of "visuals" (a baseball = 1 cup; a shot glass = 2 Tbsp; etc), and then combining those with the Food Guide Pyramid to help you learn to eat healthier all-around. I gave this a rating of B+ (enjoyable), and I'd recommend it, for sure!

What will you be reading next?
I had gotten about half-way through Sandra Brown's "Envy" at the end of May before I picked up a few other library books to read, so I'd like to get back to that, and have it finished before the end of the month. It's my second "chunky" book for the Chunkster Challenge (of 2), so I need to have it finished before June 30th. ;o) It's a good read, so far, though, so I'm sure that won't be too much of a problem -- given other things don't stand in my way. ;o)

MEME: What's Your Preference?

Deena (who is doing a BOOK GIVEAWAY, btw!), had this meme posted on her blog, so I'm playing along, as always (can't seem to resist these things! LOL)


What's Your Preference?

1) Novel or novella?

Novel

2) Hardback or paperback?

Either... I go through "moods"... sometimes I crave a Hardcover, other times I want all mass-market paperbacks! LOL

3) Male authors or female authors?

Either

4) Fiction or non-fiction?

Well, I would've said "usually fiction", but that's not true. If you take a look at my reading list, you'll see that I'm reading more NON-fiction than anything...

So, long-answer-shorter... BOTH! ;o)

5) Bestseller or obscure title?

Obscure...I love finding new authors. I'll still read the bestsellers from time-to-time, though. ;o)

6) Local bookstore or chain franchise?

Both, though I tend to shop more at the Chains (when I'm not picking books up at the goodwill stores or yard sales!)

7) Read the book first or see the movie first?

Probably the book... but, this is one I always forget which I prefer more! LOL

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PS... Deena's answers were here. ;o)