Christian Genre Challenge ending!

Well, with tomorrow comes the end of 2007, and also the end of the Christian Genre Challenge. So, how'd you do???

Personally, I finished 4/5 books, so I didn't do too badly! I had great hopes of actually finishing this challenge, given I was so close! But, unfortunately, I got pretty distracted in December (as usually happens), and didn't read much of anything this past month.

So, here's what I *did* finish from my list:

1. THERE IS MORE TO THE SECRET by Ed Gungor (nonfiction)


2. REVEALED by Tamera Alexander (western)


3. THE BEST GIFT by Irene Hannon (inspirational)


4. FEARLESS by Robin Parrish (suspense)


5. COURTING TROUBLE by Deeanne Gist (historical)

I'm happy with this. I may not have finished the challenge, but I got real close, so that's good enough for me. ;)

Leave a comment with how you did!

What's new...

I was on a real reading streak throughout November... I got 5 books read!

• Safe Dieting for Teens by Linda Ojeda (A.R.C.), rated: B


• The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, rated: B-


• A Lady's Guide to Rakes by Kathryn Caskie, rated: A


• Revealed by Tamera Alexander, rated: B+


• Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling, rated: B+

Currently, I'm having a hard time focusing on, and getting "into", any book. I think that, because the holiday season is basically upon us (all the get-togethers & parties & planning), I'm just not going to get much more reading done for the remainder of this year.

Right now I've got bookmarks in both The Wise Woman by Christian Jacq, and The Choice by Nicholas Sparks. I'm *trying* to read them, but like I said, it's proving difficult. I get a chapter or two read, here and there, but that's it. So, we'll see.

I've read 45 books so far, this year, so that's okay. Better than last year! But, still not quite where I'd like to end up -- I was / am aiming for at least 52 books. :-?

On a happier note, I'm getting excited about the new reading year! I love starting fresh with new goals, and a new pile of TBR books! Speaking of which, the well-loved TBR CHALLENGE is returning for a second year! Sign-ups begin DECEMBER 15th, 2007 for the 2008 year, so there's just one more week to go! I can't wait to post the *official* post about it on the challenge blog, as I know a lot of people have been anxious to sign up! :-) Soon, folks! Very soon!

Last but not least, I have announcement! As of January 1st...

THIS BLOG WILL BE REPLACED!
You will then be able to find me
at The Book Zone!

Please be sure to follow me over there, as you'll be able to keep up to date with my reading progress, my challenge stats, and all the other bookish things of Mizbooks! ;-)

Anticipation!

I don't know about all of you, but I'm really starting to look forward to the new year ... all new book lists, and all new challenges ... so many "fun" things! :D

I've already started compiling my book lists for the bloggy challenges I'll be partaking in:

• 2008 TBR Challenge


• Themed Reading Challenge


• Just4thehelluvit Challenge


• Book-a-Week Challenge


• 2New2U Challenge


• Casual Reading Challenge
  (Already in progress! Continues until Oct.1/08)


• ...etc

I also think I'll join in if the Classics or Chunkster Challenges go for a "round 2" in 2008. ;o)

What challenges are YOU taking part in next year? Are you familiar with the Yahoo group: "A Novel Challenge"? If not, I recommend you check it out! But, I add this warning: it's VERY addictive!!! LOL

New Books!

I ordered these today from Chapters:
























I also have a couple of books coming from Crossings Book Club:

BREAKING FREE: DAY-BY-DAY by Beth Moore
LANDMINES IN THE PATH OF THE BELIEVER by Charles Stanley

WWW... (09/24)

What are you currently reading?

I'm reading "The Vagabond Clown" by Edward Marston. It's very good, so far, and satisfying my craving for a "British" novel. ;)

I'm also reading "Get With the Program" by Bob Greene.

What did you just finish reading?

Recently I finished "Look Great, Feel Great" by Joyce Meyer (rated: 4/5), as well as "The Inn at Shadow Lake" by Janet Edgar (rated: 3/5).

What will you be reading next?

Probably either "Courting Trouble" by Deanne Gist, or "Revealed" by Tamera Alexander. Both are review books for Bethany House Publishers. ;)

So Many Challenges, So Little Focus!

This morning, I finally got around to reading all of my Bloglines subscription-feeds. And, upon reading Wendy's "A Novel Challenge" blog posts, I've discovered a ton of new & interesting challenges -- blogger BOOK challenges, to be exact! -- for the 2008 reading year!

The two that caught my eye, most definitely, were:

* the 2008 Themed Reading Challenge

and

* the 8 Books in 8 Categories in 2008 Challenge!

Then, of course, there's my very own TBR Challenge, which will be continued in 2008 (year 2!). Changes are in the making for that group / challenge, but they're not huge... the best one being that anyone will be able to join, any time throughout the year -- no more "cut-off-date"! :-D

I also have personal challenges in mind:

• trying to read a few Classics (again)


• catching up / keeping up with my Reviewing
  (I have a great deal of books on that pile, waiting to-be-read!)


• attempting to keep reading my OWN books, instead of those from the library

Now, my *problem* with all of these wonderful challenges is that... I have very little FOCUS. I seem unable to pile so much upon myself, as I get overwhelmed, and then don't complete ANY of them!

Like this year (2007), for example...

I started my TBR Challenge to knock off some books on my TBR mountain that had been calling to me for way too long! The challenge is to read 12 TBR books, one each month. How many have I read so far? Only 3. [hangs head in shame] :-(

I joined in on the Classics Challenge earlier in the year, thinking I'd finally get around to reading some of the books in that category... I've been collecting the "Classics", after all, swearing that I'd read most of them some day! And, I read only 2, out of the 5 on my list. The other 3 are still sitting on the top of my bookshelf, staring at me, saying "Why haven't you read us yet? You said you were going to!"

I joined the Chunkster Challenge ... and, surprisingly!, I finished it! Mind you, I only chose to read 2 books for that challenge... but I did it! (Luckily, they were both books on my TBR Challenge list, as well!) I finally read "Middlemarch" by George Eliot, and "Envy" by Sandra Brown! Yay!

Then I created yet another challenge: Christian Genre Challenge (and, thankfully -- knock-on-wood -- I'm doing okay with it, so far!)

So, the question of the day is, "DO I DARE SIGN UP FOR THESE NEW CHALLENGES? JUST A COUPLE OF THEM?!"

Part of me screams "Nooooooo!" (I've been frustrated this year by not having the "freedom" to just read what I want from my shelves... just for the heck of it --- which brings to mind the fact that I should really join in on the just4thehelluvit challenge! LOL)

But, another part of me just cannot resist a new challenge ... especially when it's book-related! I want to try! I want to take part, and be included! LOL

What to do? What to do?

Guess I'll have to "chew" on this one for a while... ;-)

CGC: Update

My Christian Genre Challenge is going well for me, so far! I've finished two of the books from my list:

FEARLESS by Robin Parrish (August 24, 2007)
and
THE BEST GIFT by Irene Hannon (August 30, 2007)

If I can keep up that pace, I'll complete this challenge! (which is more than I can say for others I've joined/started! LOL... 9 months into the year, and I've only read 3 out of 12 of my TBR Challenge books!)

Ah well. We're reading what we can, when we can. Hopefully I'll get several under my belt in the month of September, as the kids will be back in school, and I still don't have a job... so I've got some uninterrupted reading time coming to me! ;-)