A LITTLE TIME TO READ - MARCH

 

There wasn't as much time to read last month as usual, because March was a very busy month here at Upriver. 

(And we went on that boat trip, where we both certainly read, but where the boat kind of rocked us to sleep before we'd read very much.)

But we both read every day and books are completed and enjoyed even when a few pages at once are all the reading time there is. 

I had a couple of fun reading surprises last month.  I received two lovely new books via snail mail from Margot at Joyfully Retired.  I entered a giveaway contest on her terrific blog and won!  The books are Radio Shangri-La by LIsa Napoli.  Subtitled "What I Learned in Bhutan, the Happiest Kingdom on Earth."  I love travel books and am looking forward to a joyful experience reading this book.  Click here to read Margot's review of this book.

The other book is "Stiltsville" by Susanna Daniel.   This novel is set in Florida.  It will be good to be "home" for a change, since almost all of the books I read last month were set in England.    Thank you again Margot!

The other cool surprise was when I turned on my Kindle one morning and found the latest in Alexander McCall Smith's Ladies Detective series sitting right there on my home page.   

OK, technically "The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party" shouldn't have been a surprise.  I pre-ordered it prior to publication (the only time I've ever done that).  But that was a few months ago and, heck, I'm getting older and lucky to remember what happened last week! 

So the book was right there and it was fairly early in the morning -- I just poured my first cup of coffee and sat down and read the whole book almost in one fell swoop. Like all of this series, it's a fast and wholesome read and just makes you feel good!  (The mystery in these books is secondary to the characters and just the reminder about what's really important in life -- what makes life "very full" in Precious' words. )  Highly recommended. 

Ladies Detective is pretty much the only series of books I've ever read in order as they came out.  Started with the first one and was hooked.  But this is the only book I've ever bought and read the very first day it was available. 

_____________________ 

My 2011 reading challenges:  

Electronic reading:  16 books

Support Your Local Library:  11 books.

Foodies Reading Challenge:  I have read 6 books total for this challenge.  Two of the latest ones were health-related menu planning books not very interesting to anyone else really and one was a five-ingredient cookbook that I thought might be useful for cooking when we travel in the Roadtrek.  But it was a big disappointment.  (Fortunately it was a library book.)

My personal challenges: 

 Read all of Agatha Christie's books:  I read two or three Jane Marple mysteries last month and have completed seven, with one waiting on my Kindle.  The list I have shows there are 14 Janes. 

"Classic" books:   (Books I've heard of, know about, but have never actually read).  I read Zora Neale Huston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God" at the end of February/first of March.    I hope to write more about reading this wonderful book.

What I'm Currently Reading.   I started this page up on top of the right-hand column here with the idea to log my current reading.  But I keep forgetting to update it. So I'll add that to my goals again   -- and see how it goes for this month. 

 

 

 

Comments

[mohit]

Must be an enjoyable read The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander Mccall Smith. loved the way you wrote it. I find your review very genuine and orignal, this book is going in by "to read" list.

[JM]

"... but where the boat kind of rocked us to sleep before we'd read very much." - Very funny! :-)

[Carletta]

I've read since I started school.It was then and still is my escape. I have a stack of books on the table at present but each time I go to the discount store I search books and came home with two more yesterday.
Your detective series sounds like something I would like so I'm adding it to my list to look for.

Glad you liked the lilac leaves. I will post the blooms as soon as they happen. :)

[Margot]

It sounds like you had a great reading month. I'm glad you liked the books. It feels good to pass on good books so I actually do it for myself. I like al your personal challenges. Go Agatha!

[Barb]

I like the sound of the Bhutan book and will check if it's on Kindle. Happy Reading, Sallie!

[Sondra]

I have been an avid reader all my life but when my eyesight began to get fuzzy I turned to audio books--and I enjoy that so much! I enjoy mystery and adventure--I went through the entire Sue Henry Series, the Tony Hillerman series, have gone almost all the way through the alphabet with Sue Grafton, and I enjoy the syfy adventrues of Lincoln Child--his are a little far out sometimes but exciting
Sounds as if you have read some good ones!!

[diane]

Crikey! You sure get through some books in a month. It usually takes me a month to read a book because I only read in bed and I usually fall asleep after a few pages. I'm reading The Millennium Trilogy and I am up to the last one " The Girl Who Stirred up a Hornet's Nest."

[Krystal]

I just got "Radio Shangri-La by Lisa Napoli" but haven't actually started reading it yet. It looks good!

[Genie Robinson]

Sallie....You have become my personal shopper for books, now. I cannot believe The latest L#1DA book is OUT. Thank heavens we are in Richmond this weekend where there is a Barnes and Noble. I will be picking it up before we leave to drive home tomorrow. I am SOSOSOSOSO excited. I adore that series and its portrayal of life. Hugs...G

[Clair Z.]

Thank you for mentioning the new Alexander McCall Smith book. I read them all in order, too. I know I'll have to wait a while to get a copy from the library. This MIGHT be the push I need to get myself a Kindle or Nook.

[Lady Fi]

Oh, I love the Ladies' Detective Agency series.. must turn on Kindle and see if it's available in Europe.