End of the World Reading Challenge

I mentioned around mid-2012 - and you may have seen the banner on my sidebar - that I have been participating in a reading challenge from the Insatiable Booksluts called the 2012 End of the World Reading Challenge, in honor of the apocalypse that ultimately wasn't. The contest is now over and though a winner hasn't been announced yet, it wasn't me. I think I was the third person to post my page count total and I was already in third place. Not all the books I read last year qualified though, as the rules didn't allow for re-reads and I had a lot of those. My Not-So-Young Adult book group at work has read about 4 books in a row that I've already read. I also read a couple of graphic novels early in the year, and those didn't count either. That's ok though, it's all in fun.

The good thing about this particular challenge is that I didn't have to change my reading habits for it. I could have avoided the graphic and re-reads, but that's about it. I don't really like having assigned reading (I already have 3 book groups!) so this challenge is definitely my style. Several years ago I participated in the Book a Month Challenge which was my first-ever challenge (this one being only my second), and also fairly easy to do. Although each month had a theme, the themes were fairly general and open to interpretation. I was able to pick books I already wanted to read, so it didn't feel like there was extra reading to do or like I was missing out on the books I actually wanted to read.

Other challenges are more specific and I have shied away because of it. For instance, I just heard about the TBR Double Dog Dare in which you read only books on your TBR pile for a certain amount of time. There's also the Women of Genre Fiction Reading Challenge, in which you every month you read one female science fiction author you haven't read before. Then there's the intriguing Around the World in 80 Books Reading Challenge that appeals to my sense of adventure but is fairly involved, requiring actual research on the countries in which your book choices take place. There's a challenge for every type of reader out there. However, I'm trying to read more serendipitously, which is already difficult with 3 book groups.

But there is something about a reading challenge that can be irresistible. Reading and blogging are pretty solitary activities but these online challenge create a bit of solidarity. When you can fit books in that you intend to read anyhow, there's just no reason not to join in and be part of something and meet (virtually, anyhow) interesting new bloggers.

Lest I continue talking myself into trying another challenge, I better stop here. What's been your experience with reading challenges? Do you take on more than you can handle? Avoid them all together? Have you heard of any really great ones starting up? (Not that I will be tempted to participate, I swear!) Share your experiences below in the comments.

A Year of Reading: 2012

1. Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
2. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
3. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
4. The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee
5. At Home by Bill Bryson
6. Health Care Reform by Jonathan Gruber
7. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
8. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
9. Darkhouse by Karina Halle
10. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
11. Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
12. A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle
13. Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker
14. The Descendants by Kari Hart Hemmings
15. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
16. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
17. I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
18. Where She Went by Gayle Forman
19. Weighed in the Balance by Anne Perry
20. The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
21. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
22. The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
23. Locke and Key Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill
24. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
25. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
26. The Odds by Stewart O'Nan
27. Golden Boy by Martin Booth
28. The Wishbones by Tom Perrotta
29. A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash
30. Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden
31.Wonder by R.J. Palacio
32. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
33. On Writing by Stephen King
34. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
35. The Half-Life of Planets by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin
36. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
37. I2 by James Bannon
38. In One Person by John Irving
39. 11/22/63 by Stephen King
40. The Elements of Style Illustrated by William Strunk and Maira Kalman
41. The Shuttle by Frances Hodgson Burnett
42. Going Bovine by Libba Bray
43. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
44. Girlchild by Tupelo Hassman
45. How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway
46. Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue
47. Looking for Alaska by John Green
48. Baby Proof by Emily Giffin
49. The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett
50. The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker
51. Railsea by China Mieville
52. Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
53. The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith
54. Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn
55. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
56. The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner
57. Hard Times by Charles Dickens
58. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
59. The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian
60. A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant
61. Big Ray by Michael Kimball
62. The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
63. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
64. The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges
65. Bad Little Falls by Paul Doiron
66. Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
67. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
68. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
69. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
70. The Cellist of Sarajevo by Stephen Galloway
71. Tessa Masterson Will Go To Prom by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin
72. Stolen by Lucy Christopher
73. A Working Theory of Love by Scott Hutchins
74. Losers in Space by John Barnes
75. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green (2nd time!)
76. Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
77. A Study in Seduction by Nina Rowan
78. The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling
79. Dreamland Social Club by Tara Altebrando
80. History of a Pleasure Seeker by Richard Mason
81. More Baths, Less Talking by Nick Hornby
82. Arcadia by Lauren Groff
83. The Twelve by Justin Cronin
84. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
85. Wild by Cheryl Strayed
86. A Slender Thread by Katharine Davis
87. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
88. The Long Walk by Stephen King
89. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
90. Where We Belong by Emily Giffin
91. Above All Things by Tanis Rideout
92. Ask the Passengers by A.S. King
93. Divergent by Veronica Roth
94. Horns by Joe Hill
95. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
96. Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson
97. My Life in France by Julia Child
98. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
99. The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey
100. Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin

There are really only 99 books on that list because I read The Fault In Our Stars twice, but since I read it twice, it's on there twice. This is the most books I've read in a year - every year the list gets longer and longer. I don't know why, and I seem unable to stop it.

As mentioned in a previous post, I wrote about my top 12 favorite books that were published in 2012, though I also want to mention The Twelve and The Casual Vacancy which stood out among this year's books. I also read a lot of great books published in previous years: Caleb's Crossing, Ready Player One, The Piano Teacher, and We Have Always Lived in the Castle were probably my top picks, though as I look through my list I keep finding more and more books I want to give special mention to.

My "to read" list on Goodreads has also exploded this year, so I'm faced with the competing goals of wanting to slow down on book consumption in favor of possibly doing other things with my time, but wanting to put a dent in that list before it gets completely out of control. I've made another list on Goodreads called "to read priority" as some sort of emergency book triage. I don't know why I think making another list will help me get through more books more quickly.

However, what might help is subscribing to Audible.com which I plan to do today. Relying on audiobooks from the library means that frequently I make choices based on what's available in the format I need, not based on what I want to read. I need something portable, either a Playaway or downloadable mp3, but most available audiobooks are either on CD or in a file format that's not compatible with my devices. Given how rarely I spend money on books, I think this will be a worthwhile investment.

Happy New Year to you all! I hope that 2013 brings you many fantastic books!

Sunday Knitting

Christmas socks!

I was so intent on getting the pictures in focus I didn't realize the top of one sock was turned down, clearly displaying the yarn end sticking out to the side. Flattering!

These socks are made from the Waffle Rib II pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks, and were knit entirely on the bus. The yarn is Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine which has some long fibers in it that I kept mistaking for cat hair and wondering "How did that get in here?" Because I don't take my cat on the bus with me. It's soft yarn with a nice drape and though it was a bit splitty I like it. I'll have to see how it wears before buying it again, though it's 30% nylon, so it should hold up well.

I need to make some more socks for myself so I can finally get rid of the rest of my store-bought ones and make more space in my sock drawer. I've cast on for another pair but I'm afraid it won't be the sort of thing I can knit on the bus. Those easy patterns are great for that, but I've been dying to make some socks from a more interesting pattern. I'll have to find some other easy project to knit on the bus while listening to audiobooks, because I've come to like my whole listen-and-knit bus routine. Luckily, I just made a fruitful trip to Windsor Button and have lots of new yarn and some ideas to go with it.

Game Change

Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin (2010)

This behind-the-scenes account of the 2008 presidential election was based on hundreds of interviews with people close to the campaigns. It chronicles the rise of Barack Obama, the fall of John Edwards, the spotlight on the previously unheard of Sarah Palin, and much more. Over 400 pages of strategizing, panic, and damage control lead up to election day, with such tension and excitement it's easy to get caught up in it even though we all know how it ended.

It brought back many memories, such as Obama's rousing speeches and Sarah Palin's desperate floundering. But I also learned a lot. The chapter on John Edwards was fascinating. I had no idea he was such an egomaniac or that Elizabeth Edwards was so unpleasant. Nor did I realize how troubled was John McCain's early campaign - that he was supposed to pledge to only serve one term, and that his wife was rumored to be having an affair. Hillary Clinton's campaign was also troubled in that one of her chief strategists was strongly disliked by every one else on the team. I was also surprised to learn that Bill Clinton and George W. Bush had a friendly relationship and talked on the phone frequently. Given the scant attention I pay to politics, perhaps these things weren't all news to others, which was my main problem with reading this book - I don't know which information is actually a revelation and which is just news to me because I don't pay close enough attention.

Most of the players are cast in a pretty unflattering light, and it gave me pause. Were the authors unfair? Or were they trying to balance the smile-for-the-camera personas the candidates so carefully cultivated? I'm a little skeptical at anything nonfiction, especially so if it's political, but I think this book is generally pretty highly regarded in its authority so I don't want to dismiss their characterization of the candidates, but I can't completely accept it either.

Either way, it's quite entertaining - easily readable, the storytelling relies not on dry detailed analysis, but on fast-paced action. Given the impressions of all the candidates and what I learned about their personalities, ambitions, and preparation (or lack thereof), I'm even more glad that things turned out the way they did. But maybe that's the impression the authors wanted to leave me with.

The Flight of Gemma Hardy

The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey (2012)

Born in Iceland, Gemma was orphaned when she was only a couple of years old and taken away to Scotland to live with her kind uncle and his less kind wife. Several years later her uncle dies, leaving her to be mistreated and marginalized by her aunt and cousins. Gemma hopes to improve her situation by enrolling in a boarding school, but there she is treated like a servant. She continues to feel unloved and adrift, moving from one situation to another, trying to escape each new predicament.

Gemma barely knows who she is, nor can she remember anything about her first home, Iceland. Gemma isn't even her real, Icelandic, name. Impulsive and secretive, she makes each situation worse than it needs to be, but she doesn't know better. Because of all the uncertainties in her life, she is very protective of herself. It is frustrating to watch, but understandable.

When she learns something shocking about the man she is involved with, I thought her reaction was way out of proportion to his secret. Was this reaction just contrived to further the plot? Or did I just underestimate the Gemma's sensitivity? It threw me off a little, but not for long because the novel is just so compelling.

I found the story delightfully unpredictable, just like Gemma herself, the language rich, and the personalities wonderfully varied and nuanced. Though the novel takes place several decades ago, it has the air of a more bygone era somehow. Perhaps because rural places such as the Orkney Islands always feel a little bit left behind. The settings - Iceland and Scotland - and the trope of the unjustly treated young girl in boarding school drew me to the novel and I wasn't disappointed one bit. I became quite engrossed in watching Gemma grow into herself, rooting for her all along to find a family and  finally stop running.

Sunday Knitting

I can't help but think I should be doing some sort of Christmas preparation today. Yet here I am, seaming together a cardigan.

The pattern makes this part easy because the pieces have a garter edge and then a bit of ribbing. All too often when seaming, it is unclear which parts should be hidden in the seam, which bar is the one you sew up, and what should be showing. The sleeves are always the most difficult pieces to sew in, but these were a snap.

Hopefully the rest of it will go as smoothly. Then, I only have to pick up a couple hundred stitches, knit the shawl collar, add button loops, find some buttons....Well. I suppose I won't have a new cardigan for Christmas, but maybe for the New Year.

Favorites, and the test of time

Now that I use Goodreads to keep track of and rate what I read, I've noticed how my views on books change over time. Recently the director of my library asked us all to provide 1-3 of our favorite books from 2012 for a newspaper article, and when I started looking through my Goodreads list I was quite surprised. Earlier this year I gave 5-star reviews to a few books that I barely remember the details of now, and others only received 4 stars yet I still think about them and recommend them. I left the 5-star reviews as is, because although my love may have been fleeting it was strong at the time and that means something. Perhaps if I read them again I'd fall in love with them this time too. As for those  4-star reviews that seem more deserving in retrospect, I bumped them up to 5 without hesitation.

It's a little thing, but now I can't stop thinking about why certain books blow me away initially but don't stay with me, while others only grow more present in my mind over time.

When I read Age of Miracles, I was totally blown away. I devoured that book like it was cake. When I was done, I closed the book and stared off into space, shaking my head in wonderment. I can remember that, but can't quite grasp the details of what spurred my reaction. Maybe I've just forgotten too much after this much time, and would feel the same if I read it again now. The same with A Land More Kind Than Home. Fantastic book, and it really stood out but again, it's hard to recapture exactly why.

On the other hand, The Dog Stars has stayed with me in a way I didn't expect. I knew it was a very good book, but it didn't pack the punch of the two I just mentioned. However, it had an atmospheric quality that is somehow very easy to recapture.

Similarly, Wild has grown in my estimation since I first read it. I loved it right away anyhow but didn't think it was a favorite. Now though, I keep thinking about how amazing it was for a slightly unprepared and emotionally fragile person to have the determination to do what she did alone. It's really inspiring.

I always wonder how much my book reading experiences would have been different had I read the book at some other time of my life or if I was in a different mood, but that maybe entirely overthinking it.

So as not to leave you hanging, the 3 titles I submitted for work were Gone Girl, Where'd You Go Bernadette?, and Born Wicked (the sequel to which has been pushed back to June. June!)

This week at work I posted a more complete list of my favorite books of the year (restricted to those published in 2012), with links to reviews back here on my own blog. Because I'm lazy like that.

Do you feel like your views on certain books change over time? Are you ever surprised to realize you can barely remember a book you were effusing about a few months ago? Or read a book that you thought was good but not outstanding, only to not be able to get it out of your head later?