that reading challenge I abandoned

I thought I’d bring back that reading challenge I abandoned last year. I’m just going to copy and past the in-progress list here and keep going but you might want to follow that link above for the explanation. Like so many do-better do-more projects, I abandoned this one, not because I abandoned reading altogether, but because I wasn’t reading the things on the list. I probably read more than a book a month in the remainder of 2015.

So what’s up with my reading this year? About the same, but maybe I’ll be a little more intentional about sharing what’s on my night table. Or coffee table. Or desk. Or bookshelf.

 

1. A totally gratuitous and vapid book that I’ll forget the moment I set it down after finishing it. I suspect this happened more than a few times last year.
2. A biography.
3. A history book. Preferably American history because I’m weak there.
4. A book about music. The Inextinguishable Symphony by Martin Goldsmith
5. A book about an artist.
6. A book of poetry.
7. A book about prayer.
8. A science-fiction novel. Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card
9. A book about Catholic theology.
10. A book about writing.
11. A classic.
12. A New York Times best-seller.
13. A book in Spanish.
14. A romance.
15. A murder mystery.
16. A book about a Saint.
17. A book BY a Saint.
18. A book by a friend. A Catholic Gardener’s Spiritual Almanac by Margaret Rose Really
19. A book about photography.
20. A book about science. Nikola Tesla: Imagination and the Man Who Invented the 20th Century by Sean Patrick
21. A book with a pretty cover. Yes, I’m going to judge it.
22. A book with an ugly cover. I’ll stay open minded.
23. A banned book. Hey. It’s me we’re talking about here.
24. A book that’s been sitting on my bookshelf, unread, for years.
25. A book you recommend.

4 down, 21 to go

The Book Challenge Returns

 

I’ve actually read about 8 or 9 more books since I last posted this series in February, but time got away from me, and other lame excuses. If you’ll bear with me, I’ll try to catch up on the books I’ve read (and keep reading on my goal to finish 25 books this year that aren’t related to my work).

I explain the personal challenge here, but in a nutshell, I’ve challenged myself to read a variety of books this year, and post my reviews. So here goes with book #4.

 

Madeline L’Engle {Herself}

compiled by Carole F. Chase

 

Madeline L'EngleI loved this book. It’s a collection of snippets from Madeline L’Engle’s workshops and advice to writers. I didn’t read it in one sitting. Instead, I endeavored to read one passage at a time and reflect on her advice. It was too good, though, and I’d find that I had read 5 or 6 entries before realizing that my intent was to savor the book. Silly me. It’s just so rich, and speaks so very perfectly to my writer’s heart.

She offers the following advice about getting started, and I find I suffer from the same experience:

The hardest part is the first three sentences. Sitting down with pen and paper and just getting those first three sentences out. I sometimes have to write my way into something knowing that that first paragraph is just preliminary, but I have to write myself in. It’s like being in a cold lake and sometimes you have to go in toe by toe. Some of you can plunge in, but not always; you have to write your way into it. And then you’re swimming.

 

 

 

Pin It on Pinterest