Callapidder Days

There’s a growing pile of presents under the tree and baked goods on the kitchen counter. If the snow blanketing our front yard didn’t convince me that fall is over, the fact that Christmas will arrive by week’s end would. As we welcome(?) winter, it’s time to bring  Fall Into Reading 2009 to a close.

I want to thank each person that participated in this year’s challenge. So many of you kept me posted on your reading progress over the last three months. You were enthusiastic about your reading, you spread the word about the challenge, any many of you wrote book reviews — all of which contributed to the success of Fall Into Reading 2009!

As we wrap things up, I just have one more thing to ask. Would you please write a final wrap-up post, letting all of us know how Fall Into Reading 2009 went for you?  I would love if you’d take the time to write a final post and link to it using the Mr. Linky below.

Last week, I offered some suggestions for what you might want to write in your wrap-up post, but of course, feel free to write it however you’d like. Once your post is up, come here and sign up on the Mr. Linky below. Don’t forget—include the URL to your wrap-up post, not just your general blog web address, to make it easy for people to find your post.

Also, if you have any final book reviews you’d like to post, I’ll leave the Mr. Linky on the Fall Into Reading Book 2009 Reviews post open for a few more days.

And don’t forget…there are still two Amazon.com gift certificates ($15 & $5) up for grabs. To be eligible, please post your wrap-up post (and put it on the Mr. Linky) by midnight EST on December 23rd to get your name in the drawing. I’ll announce the winner a few days after Christmas.

Thanks again to all the participants. I’ve enjoyed reading with you!

With the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Christmas, it’s become obvious that fall is coming to a close, and winter is preparing to drift into town. Along with that transition comes the end of Fall Into Reading 2009.

One week from today — December 21st — I’ll post a Mr. Linky where you can link to your Fall Into Reading wrap-up post. I’ve heard from many of you throughout the reading challenge, but I hope you’ll still take a little time to write a post for your blog where you tell us how you did this fall.

I don’t have any specific requirements for your wrap-up post. Feel free to just ramble about your fall reading experiences — that works for me! But if you like a little more structure or direction, here are some questions that can help guide your post. (Remember — these are just suggestions and are optional. You can approach your wrap-up post in whatever way works for you!)

• Did you finish reading all the books on your fall reading list? If not, why not?
• Did you stick to your original goals or did you change your list as you went along?
• What was your favorite book that you read this spring? Least favorite? Why?
• Did you discover a new author or genre this spring? Did you love them? Not love them?
• Did you learn something new because of Fall Into Reading 2009 – something about reading, about yourself, or about a topic you read about?
• What was your favorite thing about the challenge?

The official wrap-up post and Mr. Linky will go live next Monday at 9:00 a.m. EST.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

And don’t forget — you only have one week left to see if you can finish your Fall Into Reading books!

I fully intended to put up a post last Friday, when we actually had one month to go in Fall Into Reading 2009, but life seems to be conspiring against me. Due to a host of responsibilities, errands, minor crises, and trying to figure out what, exactly, we’re doing for Thanksgiving, I’ve had approximately zero brainpower with which to compose a blog post.

However, this evening I seem to have found a few moments of reprieve and decided that I would get this post up before heading to bed. So here we go!

Fall Into Reading 2009 will end on December 20th. And although that date, in theory, seems far away, it will be upon us before you know it — what with the holidays and the busyness and all. So I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to evaluate where we are in the challenge and maybe even revise game-plans where appropriate.

So where do you stand?

• How far have you gotten in your Fall Into Reading 2009 challenge list?
• Does the remainder of your list seem doable for the next couple of weeks?
• Are you enjoying the books you’re reading?

As for me, I am flat-out astonished. I’ve actually read all but one of my Fall Into Reading 2009 books! I’m about 25% through my final book, though it’s one of those books I’m reading slowly, doing plenty of pondering and re-reading as I go. However, I also must admit that I’ve agreed to read two additional books as part of blog tours in the coming weeks. So there is a chance that — even with all my progress — I won’t quite finish. But I’m going to do my best. I think I can do it.

And if I do, it might be the first time I’ve finished every last book on my challenge list. Very exciting.

Even better, I think I’ve really enjoyed each book. One or two of them even kept me up reading late, late at night, because I just couldn’t stop. But more on that at the end of the challenge.

I know you’re probably knee-deep in turkey prep and pumpkin pie and vacuuming (or traveling), but if you have a moment, let me know how Fall Into Reading is going for you, at the 2/3rds+-way-through point.