Early Review Books

I tried this new to me site called The Library Thing; a place where you can make a list of your books read, reading and to read. I noticed that they have a section called Early Reviewers where you can sign up for a book from the publisher to read and review. Some of the books have over 1,000 people requesting with 30 copies to give out, some have 200, with 15 copies to give out. For July there were over 65 different novels up for giveaways. Apparently they take a look at reviews that are submitted, how many people are requesting a certain book, what kind of books you have listed, etc and make a decision based on all of that. Well, I tried to request quite a few of the books, figuring I might get at least one book. I received nothing so far for the July requests. Not one book.

On the last day of July, I found that Goodreads also provides giveaways. I had already made an account there, but didn't realize that they held giveaways. It's a little hard to find that page. Within a week of putting in some requests, I got notice that I will be getting a book called Unfinished Desires by Gail Godwin. I normally read urban fantasy, but I remember reading a book by Gail Godwin a long time ago. I remember it being a pretty good book, so I'm glad to get a newer one by her. For the life of me though, I don't remember if I read A Southern Family or A Mother and Two Daughters. Cannot remember at all. I do remember that it was very interesting.

Other books coming up for me to read are The Devil You Know and Vicious Circle (which a certain very sweet person sent to me) as well as Dead Man's Boots (which I won from the SciFiGuy's contest).

So I have a few more books to look forward to reading, as well as the books already on my TBR pile/shelf.

I hit book no. 30 out of my 30 book reading goal for the year. I have since read Night Child by Jes Battis and Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris which brings my total of books read for the year 2009 at 32. My new goal is 40 books , or 10 more books from now to December 2009. I should make it 50 books for the year, but I'll see how it goes with 40. I have to start back to work next week and that takes huge chunks out of the reading time.

book goal update

When counting the books that I have read since the beginning of the year, I left out some of the more recent reads. My numbers were skewed. It's not really a big deal, but it does mean that I am currently one and a half books away from by goal.

My last post about the reading goal had all the books listed through the 18th book read. Instead of listing them all again....here are the books read since then

• 19. Green Angel {YA} Alice Hoffman ***** {CRC}
• 20. Magic Strikes Ilona Andrews ******
• 21. The Demon's Librarian Lilith Saintcrow ******
• 22. Spiral Hunt Margaret Ronald ******
• 23. Prey Rachel Vincent ******
• 24. The Sweet Scent of Blood Suzanne McLeod ******
• 25. Wizard's Daughter Catherine Coulter ****
• 26. The Cold Kiss of Death Suzanne McLeod ******
• 27. Amazon Ink Lori Devoti ****
• 28. Black and White Jackie Kessler & Caitlin Kittredge ****** {CRC}

Currently reading The Bridegroom by Linda Lael Miller and Dying Bites by DD Barant.

Not finished yet to my utter shame (sort of) - (that B.A.D.D. kicked in with these books)

• Dead and Gone - Charlaine Harris
• Close Encounters - Katherine Allred
• Eve of Darkness - S.J. Day
• Any Given Doomsday - Lori Handeland
• Red-Headed Stepchild - Jaye Wells

I should challenge my self to read these books next, but there are others I have that I want to read also....

I have 5 out of four books read and reviewed from the Colorful Reading Challenge. I need to find a book for Gold and Silver as well as pick 2 more colors for the challenge. I have until December 31st to finish the color challenge.

READING GOAL UPDATE

I had made myself a goal at the beginning of this year, {and this blog} that I was going to force myself to read 30 books for the 2009 year. I was also going to attempt to focus on one book at a time because I had been suffering from B.A.D.D. {book attention deficit disorder - a inability to actually finish reading one book, some of the symptoms are;buying more and more books;starting one book, starting another, beginning yet another, and continuing in this fashion until I have more than 5 books that I am reading (more like 10+); habitually misplacing books that I have started, necessitating in my starting yet another book; never actually finishing a book in over a month; etc}.

I have since eased up on the idea of focusing only on one book at a time. I just can't. I now give myself permission to have at least three books in progress at a time {'cause I'm going to do it anyway - permission or not. Rebel.}

I have also joined a reading challenge (the colorful reading challenge)
Here is my progress - {along with my rating}:

1. Magic To the Bone (Devon Monk) ******
2. Demon Bound (Meljean Brook) ******
3. Island of the Sequined Love Nun (Christopher Moore) ******
4. The Summoning (YA, Kelley Armstrong) ******
5. Remember Me? (Sophia Kinsella) *****
6. Bone Crossed (Patricia Briggs) ******
7. Mona Lisa Blossoming (Sunny) ***
8. Mona Lisa Craving (Sunny) ***
9. Unclean Spirits (M.L. Hanover) ******
10. White Witch, Black Curse (Kim Harrison) ******
11. Strange Angels (YA, Lili St.Crow) ******
12. Pride (Rachel Vincent) *****
13. Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand (Carrie Vaughn) *****
14. Midnight's Daughter (Karen Chance) *****
15. Red (Jordan Summers) *****
16. Blue Diablo (Ann Aguirre) ******
17. Magic In the Blood (Devon Monk) ******
18. Blood Noir (Laurell K Hamilton) **+ (+ for half)
19. Green Angel (YA, Alice Hoffman) *****
20. Magic Strikes (Ilona Andrews) ******
21. The Demon's Librarian (Lilith Saintcrow) ******
22. Spiral Hunt (Margaret Ronald) ******

The Colorful Reading Challenge

1. Black - White Witch, Black Curse
2. Red - Red
3. Blue - Blue Diablo
4. Green - Green Angel

Right now I'm in the middle of Prey, (Rachel Vincent) and it's pretty intense. Very Intense. When I'm done, it goes to my father. I also read My Soul to Lose, but since it was only 70+ pages, I don't think I should count it in my 30 book goal. Other books that I've started and am reading in bits and pieces are;

• Amazon Tattoo
• Any Given Doomsday
• Dead and Gone
• Red Headed Stepchild
• Yellow Chrome

I just received The Sweet Scent of Blood today in the mail. No Postage paid (by me) from the Book Depository in England. Love that store. Forcing myself NOT to open it until I am done with Prey.

It occurs to me, that although I haven't done so great at focusing on a single book, I have read/finished 22 books. That is much better than the last half of 2008, in fact most of 2008. I'm beginning to feel a little like the old me.

Tomorrow (actually later today, 'cause once again it's late/early morning) the grandson is coming over for his visit with his dad, and by default me (and the rest of the household). It's always fun having Elliott around.