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February Reading Challenge: Anna Karenina
My desire to get through this Leo Tolstoy creation is red hot; unfortunately my success with doing so is as non-existent as a flame in an outdoor fireplace buried under four feet of snow. I have tried reading this novel over and over and over again, and while I did get further this month than I have during previous attempts, I still could not get through the seven hundred and fifty four pages of this particular edition. Why oh why can I not get through it? Before talking about why my need to read this novel is so intense, I need to tell you that this Reading Challenge conclusion is…
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February Reading Challenge: Introduction
Well February has really crept up on me; it felt like we had just reached the middle of January and then voila, out of nowhere, February 1st! If you haven’t already, be sure to check out my Modern Romance review – I have decided to fashion my end-of-the-month Reading Challenge entries like reviews, to give them more of a direction and so I don’t have to call them summaries (*shudder*). I am reluctant to report that I have not finished The Goldfinch, but I will finish it by the end of the week so stay tuned for that review this weekend. Since I’m feeling a bit down on myself about not…
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UPDATE #6: Summer Reading Challenge
Okay, so my Summer Reading Challenge did not turn out as successful as I hoped, but I’m not going to dwell on that now, because I want to talk about Early Warning, the novel I just finished. I was excited to read this, because Jane Smiley’s A Thousand Acres was, from what I remember, enjoyable. Early Warning, was different. Apparently, it’s the second book in a trilogy, which I was unaware of for maybe the first couple of chapters. When I began getting extremely confused at the sudden character “introductions,” and believe me, there are many, I realized they were not introductions, and as I looked back on the family…
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UPDATE #4: Summer Reading Challenge
Just a little over 200 pages stands between me and the next book on my list. 200 pages of eloquent, intriguing words from John Steinbeck stands between me and. . . finishing Anna Karenina and Early Warning, a novel by Jane Smiley. If you remember, I have been battling through Tolstoy’s novel since [what seems like] the beginning of time. Jane Smiley’s new novel is off of the Book Club Summer Reading Challenge list (#challengeyourshelf), which you can find here. I’m finding August is drawing to a close way too quickly, which has actually motivated me to crack down on myself and become more organized and deliberate with these challenges and goals I have…
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UPDATE #3: Summer Reading “Challenge”
It can’t be August already, it just can’t. I have just finished Candide, and am happy to say I will be reading it again. It’s a story surrounding the ideas of “the grass is always greener on the other side,” “someone else in the world is worse off than I am,” “perfection does not always mean ultimate happiness,” and “if I search long and hard enough for something I will [hopefully] attain it, because all happens and is for the best.” It’s also a story full of pillaging, war, gore, rape, pirates, death and other disheartening acts – so it’s not for the faint of heart. However, these trials and…
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UPDATE #2: Summer Reading “Challenge”
This is going to be barely an update – more of a declaration of my excitement for the books I just purchased. I am still plugging away at Anna Karenina, but I’ve decided to take on the challenge of reading more than one book at once, especially since I’m moving at a snail’s pace towards my reading goal(s). Here’s an image of the books I have recently (today) added to my library: Besides the obvious reason – because I need/want to read them – here is why I chose these specific titles: On My Reading Challenge List(s) East of Eden – John Steinbeck [Penguin 80] Candide – Francois Voltaire [Penguin 80]…
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