This is going to be a long post today. I’m sorry, but I’ve got a variety of things to chat about.

********************

We Have a Winner

First of all, I need to announce the winner of This Book Is Overdue. After consulting with my advisor (random.org), I’ve been told that Jenners from Find Your Next Book Here is the new owner of this delightful book.

Woo-hoo!! Congratulations, and please email me with your address.

********************

So How’re You Doing With Those Reading Challenges, Softdrink?

Thanks for asking. I decided it was time to sit down and pretend like I’m being organized about reading challenges. Let’s start with a look at the current challenges:

South Asian Authors: I just finished my first of three books for this challenge, One Amazing Thing. The review will post sometime this week. I’ve also started my second book, The Space Between Us, so I’m in good shape with this challenge. I’m also reading books that were already on my bookshelf, making this an especially successful challenge.

Women Unbound: I committed to the Suffragette level (8 books, at least 3 non-fiction). I think I’ve more than completed this challenge…the thing is, I keep finding more books I want to read! So don’t be surprised if I pretend I’m still participating. Here’s what I’ve read:

• When Everything Changed
• The Woman Warrior
• Eleanor Roosevelt
• A London Child of the 1870s
• The Widow Clicquot
• Somebody Else’s Daughter
• True Pleasures
• French Milk
• The Disappeared (review pending)
• Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

O.A.T.E.S.: The idea here is to read books by Oates, Atwood, Tolstoy, Ernest Hemingway and Steinbeck. I signed up for Rolled Oates, or two books, and I’ve finished. Yippee! I actually read 2 books by Atwood, The Penelopiad and The Year of the Flood, and one Steinbeck, East of Eden, so I’ve fulfilled my pledge to read two books.

The NY Challenge: My own challenge, and I haven’t even started the one book set in NY I need to read. This is why I set the requirement at one book.

I’ve been trying to resist, but there have been a few new developments that I just can’t resist:

Lu at Regular Rumination will be Exploring American Authors this year, and I’m going to join in. I’m going to try to read one book a month by an American author not from Canada or the US. Which isn’t to say I don’t love Canadian authors, ‘cause I do. It’s just that I already read Canadian authors. It’s the Mexican, Brazilian, Chilean, Honduran, Peruvian, (you get the idea) authors that I tend to ignore. This isn’t really a challenge, more like an informal read-along, which is just perfect for me.

Carrie at Books and Movies is hosting the Ireland Challenge. Since I’m Irish waaaaaay back in the family tree, and my dad was born on Saint Patrick’s Day, I just can’t say no (and in my mind those are perfectly logical reasons for joining a challenge). Some possibilities for this challenge are Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show, The Irish Country Doctor and How to Paint a Dead Man, all of which are currently residing inside of my house. How convenient. Oh, and I’m going with the Shamrock level, which is 2 books.

Also,Trish of Trish’s Reading Nook is hosting the Non-Fiction Five Challenge. I’m sure I can squeeze this one in. I’m going to use it to try and finish some of the non-fiction books I’ve started but have yet to finish. Please don’t make me name them…just know that there are plenty sitting around the house.

********************

Because the World Needs More Challenges

Okay, not really, although I’m sure there are some junkies out there looking to score. So just for them, I have a few things of my own in the works. Inspired by Ti at Book Chatter’s Moby Dick Monday (at which I totally failed), I’ll be doing a Wuthering Heights Wednesday read-along sometime soon. It’s tentatively planned for April, I just have to figure out how it’ll work. I’m also planning a quirky year-long international literature challenge, but that won’t kick off for a few more months. But if I put it down here, then it’s gotta happen, right? So stay tuned.

********************

Books! For You! (maybe)

Are you still with me? I also have a few books in need of new homes. These are all previously read, but I promise they’re in good shape. If you’re interested in a book, let me know in the comments. First come, first served, and one per customer, please.

• Vanishing America
• The Age of Orphans
• Fault Lines (complete with creepy eye)
• A Taste of Caviar
• Wife of the North (this is an ARC. And I’ve tried to read it, but it just wasn’t working for me.)

********************

The End

Whew. I think that’s it.