Read Harder Progress - November

I’ve gone from being ahead to sucking. I have books checked out from the library that will satisfy 4 of these… AM I GOING TO MAKE IT!?

Oh gawd how I hate travel memoirs and short stories! ::Shakes fist::

MONTH	BOOK 1	BOOK 2
January	Read a book about war. A GIRL AT WAR BY SARA NOVIC (Jan)	Read an LGBTQ+ romance novel. Everything Leads to You (April)
February	Read a book you’ve read before. A LION, WITCH AND A WARDROBE INVISIBLE MONSTERS	Read a collection of poetry in translation on a theme other than love. SONG OF A PRISONER
March	Read a book about sports. JUBA (October)	Read a book that has been banned or frequently challenged in your country. The Outsiders (April)
April	Read a book that is set within 100 miles of your location.	Read a book wherein all point-of-view characters are people of color. THE BRIEF AND WONDEROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WOA (March)
May	Read a book that is set more than 5000 miles from your location. SNOWFLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN	Read a superhero comic with a female lead. MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINO
June	Read a fantasy novel. THE DIABOLIC (Jan) AMULET OF SAMARKAND (Jan)	Read a book published by a micropress.
July	Read an all-ages comic. MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINO	Read a book in which a character of color goes on a spiritual journey.
August	Read a debut novel. MORE HAPPY THAN NOT (Jan)	Read a book published between 1900 and 1950. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN EX-COLORED MAN
September	Read a book about books. LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP NEVERENDING STORY	Read a nonfiction book about technology. THE CARD CATALOG
October	Read a classic by an author of color. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN EX-COLORED MAN	Read a collection of stories by a woman.
November	Read a book set in Central or South America, written by a Central or South American author.	Read a travel memoir.
December	Read a book by an immigrant or with a central immigration narrative. DROWN – Junot Diaz (March)	Read a YA or middle grade novel by an author who identifies as LGBTQ+. MORE HAPPY THAN NOT *(Jan) Everything Leads to You (April)

(link to Read Harder Challenge)

Where, Oh Where are My Must Read Vibes?

Each year, rather than choosing a “best of” book list, I put things on a “Must Reads” shelf on goodreads. This is an ongoing list of books that I think are really good and worth recommending to EVERYONE I come across. They don’t have to be published in the current year and can be any genre. 

Of the 119 books I've read so far for 2017, I've only marked 8 of them as #mustreads. Last year there were 22. In 2015, there were 20 including YA and non-YA favorites. I feel like maybe ’17 me is being too stingy or bitter or something. I don't feel like I've read fewer good books, in general. Was I more generous in past years? Am I getting less thrilled by the books that I read or am I not picking books that thrill me as often? 

I also think I have been reading more series, which rarely make it onto the list. I should reconsider that!! 

I did post in June about some favorite YALit for this year. (Excuse the lack of pictures. There was a situation.) So, obviously I've read some good stuff!!

Anyway. Stay tuned for how my final 2017 list ends up. What books would be on your must read recommendation list for 2017.

What I've Been Reading: November

I’ve been relying pretty heavily on audio-books, lately. At one time, I only read them while driving and read printed books at home, but I’ve been just letting the audio book do it’s thing at home more and more. This is really a testament to the books I've been reading, to. Some books are harder to put on hold than others. This feels a little bit like cheating at my reading. Not because I don’t think audiobooks are "real" reading, but because I’m usually listening to them while working on other things, which seems somehow disrespectful to stories when I should be focusing on a book… does that even make sense!? No!! I think, though, reading as a multi-task activity feels like it defeats the purpose of reading, sometimes.

Anywhoo. Incoherent rambling aside, I’ve complete 7 books in November so far. Here's the highlight reel

(Local) Broadway to Books: Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a classic, am I right!? Yes. I am right. I recently read the book in anticipation of seeing this musical. Don’t ask me why I’m so ready to include musical theatre in my Approved Interpretation lists but not movies. But. There we are.

Hunchback is about a man of the church (arch bishop?) who adopts a deformed baby who becomes the bell ringer of a great French cathedral… Notre Dame. Duh. Stories vary about from whom and for why he adopts the kiddo but all sources agree that he's verbally abusive and over-controlling. The Arch-bishop becomes upset with a dirty gypsy woman who falls in love with a captain of the guard. As you might expect when a man of power loves someone who doesn't love him, hijinks ensue. As you might expect from Victor Hugo, people die. 

Book Tag: Charlotte's Web

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