Last Challenge--At Least That's What I'm Promising Myself!

I know I said I was done adding challenges. But, darn it, some of them are just so tempting! Like this one, hosted by Trish of Hey Lady! Whatcha Reading?, which challenges the reader to read books by Joyce Carol Oates, Margaret Atwood, Leo Tolstoy, Ernest Hemingway, and John Steinbeck. Since I was already reading Atwood's "A Handmaid's Tale" and Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises" for other challenges, I figured this one was easy. Maybe too easy. So to actually make it a challenge, and because the whole challenge is centered around Oates, I'm adding Oates' "We Were The Mulvaneys." You'll notice I was not crazy enough to throw any Tolstoy in there!

Bloggiesta--Ole!

Natasha, of Maw Books, is hosting Bloggiesta this weekend, January 8th through January 10th. I've seen the Bloggiesta image around the blogosphere but until recently, I had no idea what it was, other than to know that it had something to do with working on your blog. Turns out it's a great big party for working on your blog at the same time as a whole lot of other folks are too.

Natasha says that Bloggiesta is an "opportunity to cross those nagging items off of your to-do list and improve your blog." Better yet, she also suggests we "break out the nachos, enchiladas, drinks, mariachi music and whack a pinata or two!"

I've still got to get the Christmas decorations down this weekend, so I'm shooting for 18 hours total time spent working on the blog. My to-do list includes:

1. Move the blog to either a three-column format or set up tabs. This is the biggy but will require the help of my resident computer geek so how much I get done on this will depend on how much time he has to give me.

2. Review blog roll and favorite sites. Do I need to add anything? Remove anything?

3. Put together some ideas for Sunday posts and do as much prep work on them as possible.

4. Get as much put together for future reviews as possible.

5. Fix slide show which hasn't worked properly since I changed my blog.

I'm looking forward to this! Now I just have to figure out a way to keep Miss H busy and away from the computer for 18 hours this weekend!

Three Junes by Julia Glass

Three Junes by Julia Glass
353 pages
Published September 2002 by Random House
Source: I paid for this one out of my very own pocket

Read for the National Book Award Challenge--challenge completed!

In June of 1989, Paul McLeod, Scotsman, newspaper publisher and recent widower travels to Greece where he falls for a young American art student and reflects on his marriage.

Six years later, again in June, Paul McLeod's family has gathered to say goodbye to their patriach. Oldest son Fenno, introspective, gay bookseller from New York, is the narrator of this family reunion between himself, his twin brothers and their families. Light-hearted chef Dennis has arrived with his French wife and their three daughters. Serious veterinarian David, and his wife Lil have already laid claim to the family home. Throughout the stay, Fenno looks back on his own life even as his family drops one bombshell after another on him.

Four years later, in another June, we are reintroduced to the young American artist, Fern, and one of Fenno's former lovers, Tony, while they are staying in the home of Fenno's friend and business partner. Soon Fenno and Dennis arrive along with a "friend" of Tony's. This June centers more on Fern's widowhood and current pregnancy.

Each of the three Junes reads as a separate story that happens to have many of the same characters. Between the three stories, Glass explores almost every relationship there is: parent/child, sibling, lovers, friends. We're often told that people should write what they know in order to be successful. But Glass is clearly not a gay man, yet she does a wonderful job of exploring Fenno's life in New York, particularly his relationships with Tony (one that is almost purely physical) and Mal, with whom Fenno has, perhaps his closest relationship but one that never becomes physical. Glass does not try to tidy up all of the story lines but I was left with the impression that things had reached a comfort point for most of the characters.

I far and away preferred the middle story--which was a good thing because it was by far and away the longest story. The first story ended a bit abruptly for me, although some of the bits were tidied up in the second story. The third story, which brings so many disparate characters together, seemed a little too manipulative. But it was also the one that wrapped so many things up for Fenno so I was glad to have that. All in all, I liked the book but I'm not sure I would have considered it award worthy.

Welcome 2010!

2009 went out with a blue moon--the second full moon of the month which just happened to fall on New Year's Eve this time. This picture was taken on the University of Kansas campus; what a fantastic shot!

I had every intention of posting a year-end recap but, like so many other things, it slipped away from me. New Year's resolution Number 1? Get caught up!


Top Books of 2009:
1. City of Thieves by David Benioff
2. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
3. The Housekeeper and The Professor
by Yoko Ogawa
4. Serena by Ron Rash
5. The Help by Kathryn Stockett


Honorable Mention:

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Mighty Queens of Freeville by Amy Dickinson
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennet
Gilead by Marilyn Robinson
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stout
The Last Beach Bungalow by Jennie Nash
The Unnatural History of Cypress Parish by Elise Blackwell

I read a lot of books that were out of my usual comfort zone this year and was rewarded with having many of them turn out to be amongst my favorites.

What I've Learned About Blogging Since I started In June:

1. Blogging is much more work than I had expected.
2. Blogging is much more fun than I had expected!
3. It will increase your to-be-read list tenfold--I will never, in my lifetime, read all of the books I want to read.
4. Awards are so much fun to get and a great way to get to know other bloggers. But it's so hard to pass them on; it takes a lot of time and you have to pick favorites which was so hard for me.
5. Blogging is a great way to meet people all over the world. I had no idea when I began that I would soon count people from across the country, from Finland, from Canada, and from Australia as friends. Nor would I have thought that this would give me the opportunity to talk to so many people in the book industry. This reason alone makes it worth continuing!

Goals For 2010:

1. Complete all of the challenges I signed up for. I feel a bit like I've been through all all-you-can-eat buffet line when it comes to challenges. I make have taken on more than I should have. Fortunately, if I "clean my plate" when it comes to challenges, I won't have to feel guilty.
2. I want to move my blog to a three-column format. This will involve getting my oldest, who is also the resident computer expert, to find the time to help me.
3. Read 100 books again this year. At the beginning of 2009 my goal was 50 books. I ended the year with 118 so I think 100 is definitely doable.
4. Get more organized--this one crosses into all areas of my life as a goal for the year.

Happy reading to you in 2010!