Reading Challenge '12 -- February Update

February was a slow reading month... but here we go...!!

FINALLY finished the series.  LOVE.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows may have been my favorite... but I like to think of them as an entire collection and not individual books.  I was happy with how it ended, and I was so emotionally wrapped up in these books I actually felt empty when I was done... that does not happen often!  I literally cried at a few parts... it was good.  Seriously, if you have not read these (and I assumed I was the last person on the planet who hadn't yet) you need to read them.  They are excellent.

The English American was interesting because it was autobiographical.  The story follows Pippa, adopted as a child to English parents, as she searches for her birthparents... who turn out to be American... and her journey to the United States to piece together her identity.  This book started out well but lost my interest around the middle... it was funny in parts but I became bored... and then I felt bad because I did not like thinking the author's life was boring... but it kind of was... or maybe I was not paying good enough attention :  )  The end was nice, though.

Reading Challenge '12 -- January Update

GoodReads: one of my favorite and most frequented sites.  I love maintaining my virtual bookshelves and keeping up with what my friends are reading... and it is an awesome place to get book recommendations.  If you read a lot it is a good place for you :  )

This is my second year to participate in the site's Reading Challenge; last year I exceeded my goal of 25 books, finishing the year having read 32  I have challenged myself to 25 books again this year... here are the ones I read in January:

Summer and the City (sequel to The Carrie Diaries) continues Carrie Bradshaw's journey into adulthood and life in the Big Apple.  I felt compelled to read this since I had started the series (and will probably read any others published) but I cannot say it is fabulous.  I am a huge SATC fan and this storyline is not how I see Carrie's character developing... oh well :  )  It was quick and fun and a good way to start of the year.

Love, love, love Harry Potter :  )  If you have not read them... read them.  If you have read them, read them again.  LOVE.

Heehee, this one was fun.  If you are a Child of the 70s or 80s... this book is for you!  Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? is a good compilation of some of our childhood favorites... everything from TV shows to toys to food products... with an explanation of why they disappeared and, where applicable, what replaced them.  A good trip down Memory Lane.  Without doubt there are lots of things missing (we had a TON of stuff!) but I read somewhere the authors are working on a sequel :  )

What have you been reading?