2011 Challenges Wrap Up

 I realize this normally happens very late on Dec. 31 or very early on Jan 1, but I'm definitely behind when it comes to my blog. I think of it often, but haven't had the time/motivation combo to pay it some love. I intend to kickstart it again soon.  But first, the year of failure limited success. Below is the final status of my challenges from 2011.


Catherine Ryan Hyde Challenge
The challenge: to read ONE title by author Catherine Ryan Hyde. I totally nailed this one! If I didn't then failure would have had to remain the word above. Though I haven't reviewed it for the blog, I read Second Hand Heart, which is technically an adult novel, but I feel falls into this newly minted "new adult" category that has been discussed recently. I'm very happy to have explored an author that I had yet to get around to reading, and hope to add more of her titles to my read pile. 

Debut Author Challenge
Unlike 2010, I had the entire year to read twelve little books. I had enough debuts in my possession to complete the challenge, but alas, it was not to be.
Titles for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge:
1. Cheesie Mack is Not a Genius or Anything by Steve Cotler
2. The Rendering by Joel Naftali
3. Gossip from the Girls' Room by Rose Cooper
4. The Girl is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines

That means I read one more debut this year than I did last year. So it's a partial success? Ok fine, I just don't like that it's all downhill from here.

100+ Book Challenge
So with this one, I wasn't as close as I would have liked. My grand total was 72 books. Unfortunately because of the way it works, some of my titles were left in the abyss between the years, so there's about four or five of them that I'm not really sure how/where to count. Not that they would have helped any.  The final* list is here.

*"Shelfari is off reading a short novel" so I can't compare my lists at the moment, so there may be an addition or two. Or not; I could just be hoping that I'm forgetting something.

Nanowrimo
I decided to try my hand yet again at writing 50,000 words in 30 days. I started off strong with about 3,000 words the first day. I peaked at 5,000. *Shrugs* It was a busy November.

So those were my challenges for 2011. Not the best year of reading stats wise, but I did discover some new authors that I enjoy and some fantastic reads. Plus there was that whole London trip.

Stay tuned for info on my 2012 Challenges and, ya know, maybe even some reviews.

Sunrise Over Fallujah

Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers

New York, NY: Scholastic Press, 2008

320 pages

3.5 out of 5

Robin "Birdy" Perry, a new army recruit from Harlem, isn't quite sure why he joined the army, but he's sure where he's head: Iraq. Birdy and the others in the Civilian Affairs Battalion are supposed to help secure and stabilize the country and successfully interact with the Iraqi people. Officially, the code name for their maneuvers if Operation Iraqi Freedom. But the young men and women in the CA unit have a simpler name for it:

War

This was one of our Battle of the Books selections this year and work is one of the few things that could get me to pick this one up. Don't get me wrong, Walter Dean Myers is an excellent author who should be read, but war stories in general are not for me.

It is as realistic at they come. The dread, fear, and hope reduced to sadness are all palpable. There were times when I had to set the book aside due to the images I was conjuring up. (Having loved ones who are in the military and have been shipped out doesn't help matters).

The emotion most conveyed is that of confusion as the enemy is hard to spot and the rules have a tendency to change--even in the middle of combat. The most surprising aspect of this is that it's not overly bloody; though that's not to imply that it isn't violent. Much of the violence is discussed after the fact, or by a third party, or it happens very quickly. There is one major moment of violence that serves to punctuate the issues that arise throughout the novel.

The writing is well done and I do like the characters, but the subject matter is not what I typically gravitate to. I am glad I read it, and I think if others are not too put off by the subject matter, they will enjoy it.

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Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my local library.

A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend

A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner 

New York: Dial Books, 2010

272 pages

3.5 out of 5

For months Cass had heard her best friend, Julia, whisper about a secret project.  When Julia dies in a car accident, her drama friends decided to bring the project--a musical called Totally Sweet Ninja Death Squad-- to fruition.  But Cass isn't a drama person.  She can't take a summer of painting sets, and she won't spend long hours with Heather, the girl who made her miserable all through middle school and has somehow landed the leading role.  So Cass takes off.  In alternating chapters, she spends her first part of summer on a cross-country bike trip and the rest swallowing her pride, making props, and--of all things--falling for Heather.

This is a story of the breadth of love.  Of the depth of friendship. And of the most hilarious musical one quiet suburb has ever seen. (Description from Amazon).

I can't say that I know what I was expecting when it came to this novel, but I know it's not what it ended up being about. What's better though, is that I mean that in a good way.

The novel is told completely from Cass's point of view, but at different times in her life. It flits between the summer where she comes to grips with losing Julia and "the present" school year where she once again comes face-to-face with an old nemesis from middle school.  The switch was jarring a few times, primarily because I wanted to know more about what was happening and not take a trip down memory lane. Though the flashback chapters are important to understanding the relationship between Cass and Julia, I found them less interesting than the present events.

As the description mentions, Julia wrote a play called Totally Sweet Ninja Deathsquad. Whenever a phrase such as this pops in a book, I get a little worried. How hard is this trying? Well this one doesn't feel that way at all. The language is appropriate and natural. I can absolutely see Julia as the author of the play, and her friends as the ones who get it on stage.

This novel is an example of how things come about in unexpected ways. Friends prove themselves, opportunities present themselves, and love finds a way.

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Disclosure: I borrowed this ebook from my local library.

In My Mailbox (22)

IMM is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren.  The idea is to share books bought, borrowed, scavenged, traded and won.  For more information click here.

 Borrowed:

Jolted: Newton Starker's Rules for Survival by Arthur Slade

Here Comes Julie Jack by Ann Clare LeZotte*

Bought:

Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto

Second Hand Heart by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Nookbies:

Football Genius by Tim Green

Magnificent 12: The Call by Michael Grant

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*This one is a little younger than MG, but I wanted to mention it because it features a kid with a disability.

Home Again

Yes, I'm back. Thankfully I returned before the riots began in London, but I was certainly distressed to read about such sad things. Even so, I was sad to leave because my trip was absolutely wonderful.

Anyway, there were things to finish up for classes, and the difficult task of getting back into the swing of things to contend with, which is why I've been so quiet.


My London adventures kept me quite busy so I didn't get much reading done. I finished Frankenstein just before leaving and Songs for a Teenage Nomad shortly after returning. That being said my normal blogging schedule will start up again next week starting with IMM on Sunday. Thanks for your patience. 


If you want to find out more about my study abroad trip check out my travel blog: all-nightcafe.blogspot.com