Monday, October 8, 2012

Summer Reading Program: A Few Reading Lists from a Few Readers

How was your summer? Did you get a lot of reading done?

I did. Kind of. I didn't quite reach my goal of 20 books, nor did I read some of the books I had intended, but I came close.

Two other readers played along from home: Karen and Stacy. Both had impressive lists, and both completed a tremendous number of excellent books.

Here were the rules, such as they were, for the  Adult Summer Reading Club: read as many books as humanly possible between the summer solstice and the autumnal equinox. Keep count (and, preferably, a list of titles). At the end of the summer, whip out your list, brag boisterously — and be in the running to receive a free book.

Karen read the following books:
  1. The Nature of Monsters
  2. The Shell Game
  3. Water for Elephants
  4. To Kill a Mockingbird
  5. The Hobbit
  6. Royal Pains
  7. A Rogue's Gallery of Brats, Brutes, and Bad Seeds
  8. The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance
  9. Mother Earth, Father Sky
  10. The Great Stink
  11. Meg: Primal Waters
  12. Myths and Mysteries of New Mexico
  13. Famous Gunfighters of the Western Frontier
  14. The 100 Best Poems of All Time
  15. The Treasure
  16. The Woman in Black
  17. The Plantation Mistress
Karen (and Logan) donated a giant stack of books to their local library for its book sales. Additionally, they donated food to their community's food pantry as our charity of choice — and will continue to donate food on a monthly basis. This is in addition to the pledge to "continue reading and reading and reading!"

Stacy read the following books:
  1. A Discovery of Witches
  2. The Iron Duke 
  3. Heart of Steel
  4. Into the Dreaming
  5. Lover Reborn
  6. The Elenium: The Diamond Throne
  7. The Elenium: The Ruby Knight
  8. The Elenium: The Sapphire Rose
  9. The Tamuli: Domes of Fire
  10. The Tamuli: The Shining Ones 
  11.  The Tamuli: Hidden City
  12. The Belgariad: Pawn of Prophecy
  13. The Belgariad: Queen of Sorcery
  14. The Belgariad: Castle of Wizardry
  15. The Belgariad: Magician Gambit 
  16. The Belgariad: Enchanter’s Endgame
  17. The Mallorean: Gaurdians of the West
  18. The Mallorean: King of the Murgos
  19. The Mallorean: Demon Lord of Karanda
  20. The Mallorean: Sorceress of Darshiva 
  21. The Mallorean: The Seeress of Kell
  22. Blood Lite III: Aftertaste
  23. Angel's Blood
  24. Angel's Kiss
  25. Angel's Consort
  26. Archangel's Blade 
  27. Archangel’s Storm
  28. Paul Cezanne
  29. Night Games 
  30. Dark Fire 
  31. Furies of Calderon
  32. For the Love of Physics
  33. Sargent Abroad Figures and Landscapes 
  34. Treachery in Death 
  35. New York to Dallas 
  36. Hidden World of the Aztec 
  37. War Cry
  38. Born in Silence 
  39. Time Untime 
  40. Beast Master
  41. Lord of Thunder 
  42. Witch World
  43. Magic Bites
  44. Magic Strikes
  45. Magic Burns
  46. Magic Bleeds
  47. Magic Slays  
  48. Gunmetal Magic
  49. Under a Vampire Moon
  50. The Mammoth book of Vampire Romance
  51. A Thousand Years of Stained Glass
(Whew! I know, right? And I think I found a few books to add to my growing reading list...) Stacy  donated to the Brevard County Friends of the Library two used books for each summer read book for the group's fall book sale.

Both readers will receive a book they select for themselves (because, obviously, they didn't get enough...)

Here's my own "consumed" list from the summer (with my book reviews marked with an asterisk):
  1. The Submission
  2. The Age of Miracles
  3. Johannes Cabal: The Fear Institute
  4. The Great Stink
  5. How To Be a Woman*
  6. Mockingjay
  7. Catching Fire
  8. Beyond Hades: The Promethius Wars
  9. The Night Circus*
  10. Fifty Shades Freed *
  11. Fifty Shades Darker*
  12. A Princess of Mars
  13. Fifty Shades of Grey*
  14. We Have Always Lived in the Castle
  15. Explosive Eighteen
  16. The Hunger Games
  17. Faefever
(Full disclosure: two books in my list were at least three-quarters finished by September 22, so they were included in the total.) I am sorry I did not include a photo of the books — alas, a third of them were loaned out immediately.

Both Main Street Child Development Center (MSCDC) and The Fairfax County Public Library will benefit from my reading. MSCDC receives $5 per book consumed for a whopping total of $85. The FCPL Foundation Bookdrive will receive three books from its Amazon wish list:
Thanks to all who played along this summer, and I look forward to next summer.

So, what did you read this summer?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed my summer reading and really appreciate your enthusiasm on the subject of reading! I have donated two used books for each book I read over the summer to the Brevard County Friends of the Library fall book sale. I truly appreciate the offer of a book for me but in the spirit of the sharing the wealth and wonder of reading please purchase Dune the 40th aniversary off the wish list for the Fairfax Library. Thanks!

Richard Goodman said...

Well that is ironic- I bought a used copy of The Perks Of Being a wallflower from the FCPL during a book sale. They could have saved some money by keeping it. Good book too.

Chris said...

You know, I wonder if there's a difference between books sold by the Friends of the Library and those included in circulation, Richard. I have some fab books, current popular ones, I'd like to donate into circulation — I'll let you know what the library says about it.

And Stacy, I shall add Dune to the library donation books. I'll add a second book if you find one worthy...

Anonymous said...

I am truly impressed. I enjoyed participating in your summer reading program! I have a giant stack of books to take to my local library for their book resale program. In addition, Logan and I donated food to our community's food pantry as our charity of choice. We have decided to donate food on a monthly basis in order to be useful to our community. Of course, Logan and I both will continue reading and reading and reading!
Thank you for the inspiration.
K.YO

Chris said...

K.Yo, I am so glad you and Logan are sharing both kinds of sustenance to your community. Keep up the good work!

Stacy, now I want to travel to your county for its obviously cool used book sales!