Fall Into Reading 2008

Katrina over at Callapidder Days is once again hosting the Fall into Reading challenge. It's a no pressure kind of bloggy carnival. All you do is write up a post with your reading goals for the fall season and then write up another post in December telling everyone how well you did (or didn't do.)

I love to read but I also have a family that demands so much of my time (just like every one of you) so I love no-pressure challenges. They don't mind if something comes up (it always does) or if you rearrange your goals mid-way through (it happens).

My goals for this fall are pretty simple. I usually read about 2-3 books a week but with a ton of birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas festivities looming over me this fall, I'm going to be realistic and keep my list manageable.

My first goal is to finish Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. I started it a few weeks ago and am stuck a little over halfway through. It's just not pulling me in and I don't know why. It's interesting enough and I've enjoyed it. I think the pace is off from what I'm used to it and that may be causing my lask of attention to it. I'm used to page-turning thrillers and light & fluffy chick-lit. Big difference here.

Next up will be The Legal Limit by Martin Clark. I've heard that this book is as good as anything by John Grisham. John Grisham is one of my favorite authors. I've read a lot of his books and thoroughly enjoyed each and every one. This comparison is the only reason I picked it up. I hope it doesn't disappoint. I'll let ya know, either way.


I checked out Katie Fforde's Practically Perfect to read in the car on our trip to Missouri last week. It didn't get read because I decided to sleep instead. Who knew the hubs wouldn't ask me to drive half-way and that the kids would actually behave themselves the entire 200 miles? It was pure (sleeping) bliss in the car instead of the normal whining, chaotic, disaster I'm used to. I was so shocked, it knocked me out for a solid three hours. The stiff neck and back was worth it.


I'll be reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte sometime before October 7th so I can participate in the Classics Bookclub carnival over at 5 Minutes for Books. It's a classic that I should have read years ago, but I didn't. At least that I remember. I've read tons of books and don't remember half of them. That's not good, right? My daughter has the Illustrated Classics version and is going to read along with me.


William P young's The Shack is popping up all over the place. I've read a lot of comments and recommendations on it have decided I'm going to give it a shot. If anyone has read this book and can give me a few details without spoiling it for me, I'd really appreciate it. Is it as spiritually compelling as some reviews claim? How graphic are the details? I know it deals with the death of a child, and father's heartbreak over it but that's about it.

Lisa Jackson is one of my very favorite authors. I have read pretty near all of her books. I'm a big fan of her suspense thrillers and even her romance novels are pretty good. I've been waiting for Left to Die for a while and know I'll devour it the first chance I get.




I've read several of Joci Picoult's books, including Nineteen Minutes and The Tenth Circle. She has a style of writing that I love. Easy to follow, well-written, realistic characters, her books have it all. The next Picoult novel I plan to read is Second Glance. It's story of the paranormal and promise to enchant from beginning to end pulled me in. I like a good ghost story now and then.



The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood has been on my to-read list for some time now. It's always being pushed aside for some reason though and this fall, I'm hoping to finally pick it up and see if it's as good as the reviews claim.




Girls on Track by Molly Barker is a parenting book/guide to building self-confidence and independence in adolescent girls. It's a 10-week plan for parents to help their daughters to keep themselves from getting pulled into the "Girl Box" of cliques, low self-esteem, peer pressure, and all that is adolescent girl world. It promises to enhance their emotional, physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. My twins and I are patiently awaiting the arrival of this book. They are in the 5th grade and the woes of the "Girl Box" are looming just ahead.

My kids still love for me to read to them and the older three have started listening in on the preschooler's required daily story. (The school requires every kid to read or be read to every night-which is AWESOME.) I've decided to take our daily reading to the next level and instead of subjecting them to preschool books day after day, I've chosen a couple of books I think the whole family will enjoy.


The Hobbit was a favorite of mine in junior high. While my kids are not quite at that age, their reading and comprehension levels are, so we're going to be reading this book together once we get moved and settled.





One of my 4 year old's favorite movies is Matilda. We've watched it dozens of times. She even has a "Matilda" dress that she wears with her white socks and Mary Janes and a red ribbon in her hair. One of these days I'll have to post a picture. Anyway, since she loves the movie, I thought we'd give the dvd player a break and read the book by Roald Dahl. Which will probably just make her want to watch the movie even more. So much for giving the dvd player a break.


Another one I'm looking forward to reading with the kids is The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. I saw it mentioned over at 5 Minutes for Books and have wanted to read it ever since.





If you'd like to join the Fall Into Reading Challenge or find out what others are planning to read this fall, head on over to Caddapillar Days and sign-up.