Today is the first day of summer which means the Spring Reading Thing is over for another year. Katrina, our lovely host for this reading challenge, is having a wrap up party over at her blog. I love going over there and checking out everyone's reads and what they thought of them and how they did. Gives me great ideas for my Want to Read lists. Which by the way, has grown exponentially over the years I've done this challenge.
So how did I do? Well my original list is here. I would say I didn't do too badly though some books didn't get read, some got added. Unfortunately the two that didn't get done was also the two I didn't finish on the fall reading challenge. I have really got to quite going to the library once I decide on my list. I finished 11 total which is awesome considering this spring was my Younger Girl's graduation and it was b.u.s.y.
I liked most of what I read this spring. You want the general thoughts on each one you say? Okey, dokey, I'll talk books anytime! If you want a more detailed review you can visit my book blog here. The Spring Reading Thing reviews are #13 - 23.
"God Loves Broken People" by Sheila Walsh. Wasn't crazy about this book. Had a hard time getting into it and finishing. More of a finding "nuggets" book, for me, rather than an overall great book.
"Need You Now" by Beth Wiseman. A review book. All in all, I enjoyed this one. Hoping there is a second installment to deal with some of the topics and issues that were only touched on in this book.
"Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Maude Montgomery. Love, love, loved it. Am so going to purchase it for my book shelves.
"Possession" by Rene Gutteridge. Sigh this is one that got bumped yet again. I am determined to finish this one by fall. It sounds so good.
"Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd. The other one that got bumped.
"Broken Wings" by Carla Stewart. Loved this story. Drew out all sorts of emotions in me and I love when an author can do that.
"Mine is the Night" by Liz Curtis Higgs. Enjoyed this story much better than the 1st installment to it.
"The Canary List" by Sigmund Brouwer. Set this one aside. I knew by the end of the first couple of chapters it is not a book I would like. My daughter, on the other hand, would probably love it.
"Sarah's Key" by Tatiana deRosnay. Moving and gut wrenching. Fictional story based on a true historical event.
"One More Sunrise" by Michael Landon jr. & Tracie Peterson. Enjoyed this one. A bit of drama, a bit of an angel element, happy ending. Nice escape.
"the Accidental Bestseller" by Wendy Wax. Mixed feelings on this one. Interesting look into the publishing world. Some parts didn't ring true for me.
"life, on the line" by Grant Achatz & Nick Kokonas. Very interesting look into the life of a world class chef and his fight with stage IV tongue cancer.
"The Romonav Bride" by Robert Alexander. Another great read by this author building a fictional story around a historical person and historical event. Really liked this read. But recommend it with a warning of some vulgarity and profanity in a couple of paragraphs.
"And the Angels Were Silent" by Max Lucado. Added in for and Easter read. Was great to set my heart and mind towards focusing on Jesus' last days.
"The Bait of Satan" by John Bevere. Study group book finished. Very good. Very challenging. Very life changing.
"Hope Springs" by Kim Cash Tate. Added for a review book. Just started it last week and haven't really been focused to get into it.
My favorite of the bunch? Probably Anne of Green Gables and The Romanov Bride. I'd read both again. My least favorite? God Loves Broken People, unfortunately, but other reviewers have loved it, so it's probably a matter of personal preference in writing style.
How did your spring reading go? Did you get involved in a challenge or just fly with whatever struck you? What were your favorite reads?
Thanks Katrina for hosting this each spring!
9 comments:
Anne of Green Gables is my absolute favorite series of all time. I read them when I was young and always recommend them to young girls. I recently started rereading the series and love it just as much now as I did back then.
I'm intrigued by The Romanov Bride - all the sudden I've been seeing a lot of books set in Russia and really want to read them.
Have a great summer and if you get a chance, come check out my Spring Thing Wrap Up post.
You've done a great job, especially considering all you had going on this spring.
Anne is a perennial favorite.
I see a couple here that look very interesting and will have to see about adding to my TBR list.
I just read anne of green gables for the first time a year or two ago and absolutely adored it also - what a terrific book. The romanov bride sounds intriguing, I love a good historical fiction book!
I had to pop over and read your AOGG review - so glad you enjoyed it! Read them all - I love the ones after she's married to Gilbert. Also Jane of Lantern Hill is a sweet one. Also Blue Castle. Oh for goodness sake - read them all!! :)
Wow. That is quite a list! I'm very impressed that you find time to read amidst that crazy schedule of yours. I appreciate your honest thoughts about books.
I love your succinct thoughts--I need to adopt your pattern! :)
I think I carried over a couple books from my fall list too. Oh well. Good thing we're not being graded! ha. It's all good.
I had a few "nuggets" books too. Occasionally a great point, but overall, bleh.
Anne of Green Gables. Ah. That's a book I need to revisit.
I read The Secret Life of Bees about two (?) years ago and did enjoy it (then watched the movie). I got a lot out of it, so hope you will if you decide to read it later. Maybe you can push it to your Fall 2012 list. ha.
Great job, Susanne! And I love that you gave a little thought about each book. You really did get a lot of reading in, especially with your daughter's graduation. And I completely hear you when it comes to avoiding the library (or book store) once a list is established. :) Too many temptations! Thanks for being part of SRT '12!
I think being able to say that you enjoyed your Spring reads is a major accomplishment. Well done!
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