I have to say, it was a good fall for reading. I had been in a reading slump for pretty much the entire summer, so this challenge was exactly what I needed to jump-start my reading and get me back into a good reading routine.
My goals for Fall Into Reading 2009 were fairly modest. I wanted to finish two books that I was part-way through at the start of the challenge, and read nine additional books. You can see my goal list here.
The final result? I finished the first two books, and read 8-and-a-half of the remaining books on my list. Plus, I read three additional books for blog tours. Oh, and one more novel, just for fun. (And a couple audiobooks too…I forgot about those.)
Not bad.
I still need to finish Treasuring God in Our Traditions, and I will. After Christmas. My reading time took a drastic nosedive around Thanksgiving that has continued right up until this week. I’m still reading, but not nearly as much as I was earlier in the fall. Clearly, the holidays complicated things for me, reading-wise.
As far as favorites go… It would be very difficult for me to pick a favorite book this fall — I honestly have thoroughly enjoyed almost every book I read.
However, the fiction book that kept me up way too late because I just. couldn’t. put. it. down. — was Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games. I don’t know how she does it, but the author, Suzanne Collins, sucks me right in, pulling me along from page to page, making it impossible for me to close the book, because I simply have to know what happens next. When is the third book in this series coming out? I’m ready for it right now!
I also found myself fascinated with The Unlikely Disciple, a non-fiction book from my list. I would sit down to read “just a few pages,” and then finally look up… three chapters later. In part, I’m sure I appreciated the book because it was about the college I attended. But I also think it was engagingly written, and the author’s voice was easy to like.
I’d also like to include an honorable mention. I am just finishing up an audiobook that was not on my initial Fall Into Reading list, but that I have absolutely loved. It’s The Help by Kathryn Stockett. My friend, Jennifer, recently blogged about it, and though I’d had the audio version on my iPod for a while, I hadn’t felt particularly compelled to listen to it. But that all changed, as soon I gave it a chance. Excellent book. Absorbing, interesting, compelling. All those adjectives that glowing reviews tend to use? Definitely apply to The Help. If you haven’t read it yet, I urge you to seek out a copy.
Speaking of audiobooks, I have to say that even though my physical-book-reading dropped off during the holiday season, my audiobook-listening did not. They’re perfect to use while baking cookies, wrapping gifts, or even (as I did yesterday) grocery shopping with the insane crowds on the Sunday before Christmas.
Overall, the thing I appreciated most about Fall Into Reading 2009 was that it snapped me out of my reading slump. I look forward to continuing to curl up with good books throughout this winter. My to-read pile is incredibly long, so I have no shortage of books to keep me entertained and/or informed.
Be sure to check out the official Fall Into Reading 2009 Wrap It Up post to see how everyone else did this fall.
Katrina,
Thanks for the great suggestions for my reading in 2010. I’ll add your mentions to my list. And thanks for hosting us this fall. It’s been so much fun to visit around and see what others are reading. And see how many of us out here just LOVE to read.
Have a blessed Christmas!
I bet the Help would be a great in an audiobook format with the different characters narrating each chapter.
I’m glad that you didn’t stay in a reading slump.
I listened to quite a few audiobooks this fall as well. I’m finishing one right now that’s great — the Adoration of Jenna Fox — a YA book along the same lines of the Hunger Games (sort of). I have some serious work to do, and I’m hoping that I’ll be able to finish this one up. It’s good incentive.
Jennifer, Snapshot´s last post ..Fall into Reading Wrap-Up — Mine and Amanda’s
Hunger Games #3 comes out 8/24/10! No title has been released yet.
Deborah´s last post ..Fall Into Reading Wrap UP
Okay I’m convinced. I put the help on my hold list at the library. Everybody that I’ve read is giving it a good review.
I’ll post mine as soon as I can. Merry Christmas.
Your challenges are simple enough that I feel safe joining & once I get started, they give me a big shove to get back into reading regularly. Thanks for the reminder!
Thank you for hosting, Katrina. Really appreciate it. So many folks are talking up Hunger Games and Catching Fire. They look good so I will have to read them. I read Jennifer’s review on The Help and now I want to read that one too! Happy Winter Solstice!
I need to try some audiobooks. I get burned out on listening to music around the house sometimes.
I’m definitely going to read The Help, I’ve heard so many mention that it was an great read. Happy to read that you made it out of your reading slump and you have books to get you through the winter. Thanks again for hosting
I didn’t make it in for the Fall Reading Challenge but I’m definitely planning on the Spring one! In the meantime, I’m enjoying hopping around and seeing what everyone else managed to accomplish this fall.
Thanks for hosting!
Thank you for hosting this! I had a great time reading and checking out some books I had not heard of and looking forward to reading cuddled up by the fire this winter. I can’t wait for the Spring challenge!
My reading took a nosedive after Thanksgiving too, but I cannot blame it on the season. Poor picks and a fattened up tutoring schedule are the culprits!
A neat challenge, I’m glad I took part.
WOW!! You did awesome.
Thanks for the challenge.
I look forward to the Spring read-a-thon
Joyful´s last post ..`FALL INTO READING` Wrap-up
Stumbled across your blog through someone on another website (www.shrinkingjeans.net) and really hope you do another challenge soon – would love to join in.
Had to comment on The Hunger Games series! Totally freakin’ awesome!! I devoured the first two and was quite disappointed/annoyed/ticked off to find out that the third one wasn’t even published yet (Aug 2010 which is way too far away).
Hi, thanks for hosting this challenge..!
I had a great time reading.
Merry Christmas to u & ur family..!
I’m not familiar with any of these, which gives me even more books to check out!
Thanks for hosting this again — always enjoy it.
Congrats of meeting so many of your goals for this challenge! The Unlikely Disciple looks like such an interesting book; I’m glad to see you enjoyed it and I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for hosting!
I loved The Help as well. You did a much better job completing the challenge than I did. I will be signing up for the spring challenge. I think I need a new strategy though. Thanks for hosting a great challenge!
I too loved The Help. And I too am ON PINS AND NEEDLES waiting for the third book in The Hunger Games series (though I didn’t like Catching Fire as well as the first in the series). Next September, I think? Whenever it releases, it’s far TOO LONG!