July seems to have flown by - as I reviewed my July posts, I realized I did not post a single Sunday Salon! That is a shame - I find these posts anchor my week and I enjoy catching up with everyone via their Sunday Salon posts. I am glad to be back!
Challenge Check-In
Now that we are part way into the 3rd quarter I thought it was a good time to assess my challenge progress:
Finished:
Memorable Memoirs - read 4 memoirs. Here is my wrap-up post if you want to see what I read for this challenge
New York Challenge - only 1 NY book required for this one (gotta love a slam dunk!) I read and reviewed Brooklyn by Colm Toibin for this one.
Ireland Reading Challenge - I signed up for the "Kiss the Blarney Stone" level which required 6 books - I am, finished but haven't done my wrap-up posts yet. My "Books Reviewed" link has a segment dedicated to books in/about Ireland
In Progress (there are many more of these!)
Battle of the Prizes (British Version) - this challenge pits the Booker prize (English) against the Tait Prize (Scottish) - participants read one book that read each prize and one that won both (for a total of 3). I am reading Rushdie's Midnight's Children (in progress), Corrections by Jonathan Franzen (will read later this week on vacation) and Life of Pi (not started).
TwentyTen Challenge - I won't go into all the categories for this one (although they are clever) - check out the link for the challenge. My progress thus far? 8/20
Social Justice Challenge - Each month this challenges focuses on a social justice issue and asks participants to read a book around the theme and/or take action around the theme. Some of the most impactful books read this year have been done for this challenge (Mountains Beyond Mountains immediately comes to mind)
World Religion Challenge - fortunately I took the "unshepherded path" so I set my own requirements (1 book finished so far)
Typically British Reading Challenge - Gordon Bennett level (4 books by British authors). Almost there - 3 books finished!
South Asian Authors Challenge - 3/7 complete. Swapna recently lauched a database of South Asian Author reviews on her blog - check it out!
What's In A Name Challenge - 2/6 complete. Suggestions for books with a "plant" in the title welcome!
Non-Fiction Five - 1/5. I read a lot of non-fiction so I am confident I can make this one even though it ends Sep 30th
Not Started (aka in jeopardy)
Gilmore Girls - I love, love, love this show and the books included in the challenge are excellent (and diverse) but I better get a move on if I am to finish 5 books by the end of the year
451 Challenge - this challenge also has some of my all time "must read" books but I need to plan to work in 2 before the end of the year
How are your challenges going this year?
In other news . . .
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| photo credit: pdphoto.org |
Hope you all have a wonderful week - no matter where you spend it!
Hope you have a great time in Mexico and come back all refreshed!
ReplyDeleteThis week, I'll be the one "left behind" slaving extra hard on a different shift than normal while one of my co-workers goes on vaction. Boo! LOL
I really want to visit Mexico again. It's been about a decade and that was only in a border town. I need to get my passport renewed and fly further south!
ReplyDeleteThat margarita looks pretty tasty. Enjoy your vacation!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time in Mexico. Sounds well-deserved.
ReplyDeleteOoh that vacation sounds so nice! Have fun!!
ReplyDeleteSunday Salons are my favorite too--both to write and especially read. As far as challenges go, I am doing pretty well. I am not the best at following through with challenges!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful well deserved vacation!
ReplyDeleteWow - that is an impressive list of challenges! Hope you have a great time in Mexico!
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