Friday Finds

Friday Finds—May 27, 2011

Friday FindsI think I found one of this week’s new books via Any New Books. I’m also sharing some I found some time ago and forgot to tell you about.

I first found out about [amazon_link id=”B003F76HLQ” target=”_blank” ]Bound[/amazon_link] by Sally Gunning after reading [amazon_link id=”0061782157″ target=”_blank” ]The Rebellion of Jane Clarke[/amazon_link] by the same author (review). Somebody reviewed [amazon_link id=”0345521307″ target=”_blank” ]The Paris Wife[/amazon_link] by Paula McLain recently, and I forget who it was. I am sorry! Speak up if it was you because it made me want to read the book. I downloaded it on my Kindle tonight. I just love Hemingway. I had a friend in college who was named after Hadley Hemingway. To round out the American literature theme, I also discovered that Thomas C. Foster of [amazon_link id=”006000942X” target=”_blank” ]How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines[/amazon_link] (review) fame has a new book called [amazon_link id=”0061834408″ target=”_blank” ]Twenty-five Books That Shaped America: How White Whales, Green Lights, and Restless Spirits Forged Our National Identity[/amazon_link]. I’m all over that.

[amazon_image id=”B003F76HLQ” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Bound: A Novel[/amazon_image] [amazon_image id=”0345521307″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The Paris Wife: A Novel[/amazon_image] [amazon_image id=”0061834408″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Twenty-five Books That Shaped America: How White Whales, Green Lights, and Restless Spirits Forged Our National Identity[/amazon_image]

Did you find any good looking books this week?

Bibliophilic Book Challenge

2010 Reading Challenges

I finally had an opportunity to peek at my feed reader and discovered two interesting book challenges for 2010. I plan to participate in both challenges, given I have the time. I have just discovered I will be teaching a fifth class (and yes, five different preps) next semester, and I will be taking a difficult grad school course. I must find time to read, however, even if it’s just listening to audiobooks in the car because I need it to feed my soul.

Bibliophilic Book Challenge

The first book challenge I’ll be participating in is the 2010 Bibliophilic Book Challenge. This challenge involves reading books about reading, and from what I gather, what I call “derivative fiction,” such as Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series, can count. I have not decided with certainty what I will read, but I know one book will be Thomas C. Foster’s How to Read Novels Like a Professor. I thoroughly enjoyed his other book, How to Read Literature Like a Professor. I can’t stop recommending it to folks. The challenge consists of three levels:

  • Bookworm: Read three books
  • Litlover: Read six books
  • Bibliomaniac: Read twelve books

I know I can’t complete the Bibliomaniac level, and Litlover is possible, but unlikely, so I will only commit to Bookworm at this point. I just need to choose two more books. I will update once I have figured out what I’ll read.

Brontë ChallengeThe other challenge is the All About the Brontës challenge. In order to complete this challenge, I need to read or watch three to six Brontë-related books or films by the June 30 deadline. The flexibility of the challenge means that I will probably complete it, but aside from reading Syrie James’s The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë, I’m not sure what I will do. I am thinking at least one audiobook, probably Wuthering Heights, which I’ve already read, but which I will be teaching this year, so it would be worth it to revisit. Again, once I figure out exactly what I plan to do for the challenge, I’ll update, but I will commit to three items at this point.

If you have a reading suggestion that would be appropriate for either challenge, I would surely appreciate it. Just leave a comment.