Here it is...June 21. First day of summer. Last day of school for the boys. Max's preschool graduation. And the end of both the Spring Reading Thing reading challenge and the Once Upon a Time Challenge. What can I say? I didn't make a very good showing. Only read 2 of my 6 for the Spring Reading Thing and 2 of 5 for the Once Upon a Time Challenge. Yep, pathetic.
I'm afraid much of the problem was extremely poor planning on my part. One challenge at a time is probably more than enough for me to handle. (Hmmm...then why do I have 4 more going right now, with another one starting on July 1st? There's definitely something wrong with me!) I also should have considered just how much of my reading time is spent on homeschooling (I'm guessing about 85%). While a lot of that reading is more research type reading where I'm not reading entire books, there were some books I did read in their entirety. I should have planned ahead and used them on my Spring Reading Thing list instead.
As for the books I did get read...well, I'm so grateful that I finished Executive Orders by Tom Clancy (that book took me forever!). The other book I managed to read off my Spring Reading Thing list was a disappointment for me, Before I Say Goodbye by Mary Higgins Clark. I usually absolutely love her books, but this one just didn't do it for me. Oh well. You can't win 'em all, right?
And though I didn't get far in the Once Upon a Time Challenge either, I am very grateful I joined in. It opened my eyes to a brand new genre for me. I've just never read much fantasy. Annie absolutely loves fantasy, and that's one of the reasons I decided to join. And it turns out that I find it absolutely wonderful! The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards was okay, but Inkheart by Cornelia Funke was fabulous!
Now that the challenges are over, I guess I'll remove the lists from my sidebar. But I think I'll add a new list for all the books "left over". I hate to be a quitter, so I'm definitely going to try to still eventually read all the books that I put on my challenge lists.
8 comments:
Well I don't think you're results are pathetic at all, especially considering the homeschooling, etc. I'm glad you were part of the challenge, and hope to see you again in the fall!
You are way too hard on yourself - how many books can you get read while taking care of three children, homeschooling one and running your household? If you got to read a book or two you enjoyed, it was worth it! This is for fun, remember? (Now that I've chastised you I have to admit I'd be doing the same thing!)
Enjoy summer - I am suspecting it will officially start when you get your homeschooling report done, but that's only one more day, right?
I just read that you did finish your big report - woo hoo! I bet you are thrilled to have that one done! Hooray for summer!
I know what you mean about challenges. Sometimes I do the same thing and don't do as well as I'd hoped.
Right now I'm reading the May book from a little group on line I joined. Hopefully I'll get it finished in time to read the June book for June!
Look at it this way...you are still ahead of the game because if you hadn't joined the challenges you wouldn't have read the books that you did!
take care,
Dawn
I have a reading list on my sidebar according to seasons -- what doesn't get finished one season just gets added to the next one. You did great -- I don't know that I did much recreational reading at all when we homeschooled!
Barbara H. @ Stray Thoughts
I totally understand having too many pots boiling at one time!! Love Clancy!! I liked Inkheart too--I read it just for me, although my boy will get it soon.
I think you did great!!
At least you tried and did really very good, Debi. I mean, considering all you do and have to keep you busy, I'm impressed you can read 10 pages. There's certainly nothing wrong with not completing them all, any reading is a good thing in my book :)
Happy Reading and Happy Summer!
Debi, don't be so hard on yourself. I also didn't finish all my Spring Reading books but I read others, and so did you :)
marcia
http://takechargeofyourlife.blogspot.com
Post a Comment