Support Your Library Challenge Wrap Up
The Support Your Library Challenge wasn’t really a *challenge* for me, but I’m a big library supporter (gee, did Library Loot clue you in? lol), so I decided to sign up anyway. I went with the highest level-50 books-and I’ve surpassed that now (this explains why my TBR case is pretty much as full as ever).
It doesn’t make sense for me to use my usual wrap-up questions, since the challenge didn’t have me selecting specific books. However, I would like to make a little challenge to myself to join one of my library’s book clubs. I’ll have to start next month (since I’ll be in San Antonio soon), but I have quite a few options. Right now I’m debating between a ‘World Travelers’ group, a ‘Classics Cafe’ group, an ‘Intergenerational’ group, or a more general one. This will push me out of my comfort zone, since the idea of randomly visiting an already-established group makes me more than a little nervous, but it’s good to push the boundaries!
And now, here are the library books I’ve read, linked to reviews where they exist (you’ll see exactly how far behind I am on reviews thanks to this list):
- Fables: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham and Lan Medina
- To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
- Zenzele by J. Nozipo Maraire
- Loot by Sharon Waxman
- The Stones of Green Knowe by L.M. Boston
- An Enemy at Green Knowe by L.M. Boston
- A Stranger at Green Knowe by L.M. Boston
- I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron
- The Magic Half by Annie Barrows
- The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton
- Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
- The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan
- The Seance by John Harwood
- Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
- Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
- A Lesson Before Dying by Earnest Gaines
- Bad Samaritans: the Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism by Ha-Joon Chang
- No Name by Wilkie Collins
- Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
- The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany
- The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
- Trap for Cinderella by Sebastian Japrisot
- Blonde Roots by Bernadine Evaristo
- Shop Your Closet by Melanie Charlton Fascitelli
- Belfast Diary: War as a Way of Life by John Conroy
- China: Fragile Superpower by Susan Shirk
- “Feathers” by Jacqueline Woodson
- The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright
- The Consolations of Philosophy by Alain de Botton
- Bloomability by Sharon Creech
- Nation by Terry Pratchett
- Commodore Hornblower by C.S. Forester
- The Oxford Project by Stephen Bloom
- Proust Was a Neuroscientist by Jonah Lehrer
- The Discovery of Poetry by Francis Mayes
- Snow Country by Yaunari Kawabata
- Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
- My Mistress’s Sparrow is Dead, ed. Jeffrey Eugenides
- From a Whisper to a Scream by Charles de Lint
- The Innkeeper’s Song by Peter Beagle
- Blonde Like Me by Natalia Ilyin
- The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel
- City of Oranges by Adam LeBor
- Gilgamesh, trans. by Stephen Mitchell
- “Silk” by Alessandro Baricco
- Castle Waiting by Linda Medley
- Napoleon’s Buttons by Penny Le Couteur and Jay Burreson
- Cereus Blooms At Night by Shani Mootoo
- Rereadings, ed. Anne Fadiman
- My Life with the Saints by James Martin
- The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill
- The Story of Art by E.H. Gombrich
- Tales of Moonlight and Rain by Akinari Ueda
- Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
A Striped Armchair 
Congratulations on finishing the challenge!!
I think my jaw dropped open when I saw the list of what you’ve READ from the library this year already. I thought I was doing well with 25 books out from the library, but I’ve only read one so far…..thou art the Queen of Libraries, Eva!! Wow. And I really want to read Bottom’s How Proust Can Change Your Life. I can’t wait for your review.
Wow – I am really impressed by the amount you have read and it is only March. I better get reading to catch up.
Mind-boggling! Way to go, Eva! What an awesome, incredibly varied pile of books there.
Did you enjoy ZenZele? I bought that book in the used section of B&N last year, but haven’t read it yet. It sounds really good.
Wow-congrats! I’m impressed. I think I’ve only made it through 2 library books this year so far and to top it off my tbr shelf isn’t looking any better either. Yikes. lol.
Impressive amount of books read as always, Eva! That is a lot, for this year. :D
Wow! I’m impressed too! I chose the top level as well, and am nearly half way through!
Add me to those who are impressed! And if there’s a list for the envious put my name on it. Our library hosts 1 small bookclub. Imagine being able to choose between four? I applaud your bravery to attend an already established group. I know it’s a bit uncomfortable, but I bet the group welcomes you with open arms.
Nice job finishing the challenge already. I’m way behind in reviews as well but I will catch up eventually. I am even behind in my library loot posts :)
Wow – you go girl! :)
And, yay for joining a library book group. I hope it’ll be great fun and you’ll enjoy it. No doubt they’ll love having you there!
I am so jealous that your library system offers such choices for book groups. I can’t find a decent reading group around in my area, and believe it or not, I’m the only reader in my close circle of friends.
The variety in your list proves once again how valuable the library really is – where else could you find so many books in so many genres, all there for the asking!
Of course, I’m a big library lover/supporter from way, way back :)
Where would we be without our public libraries? That is SOME list! Congratulations on completing so many books; isn’t it fun when something you weren’t quite expecting ‘falls’ off the shelf & into your bookbag. Now I have to go and pay my fines…
Congrats on completing this!
I’m on 39 library books os far ;0)
http://lyndasbookblog.blogspot.com/
P.S. There’s a little surprise for you over on my blog…
WAY TO GO! This is amazing. If only I could read so quickly, I’d be one happy chicky.
Wow…you are a reading machine. I can’t stay away from the library either :)
Bermuda Onion, thanks!
Susan, lol-remember that I have almost no responsibilities and I’m homebound a lot! I haven’t read How Proust Can Change Your Life-I read The Consolations of Philosophy. But I’ll definitely be reading more Botton in the future. :D
Vivienne, see what I wrote to Susan. ;)
Debi, I just reviewed Zenzele! I definitely think it was worth reading, but the author’s strength is not in fiction writing. :)
Darlene, I’m sure you have lots of other important stuff to do!
Claire, thanks. It is a lot, way more than I’d read if I was feeling healthy!
Marg, I’m impressed you’re nearly halfway through!
Booklogged, while I don’t live in a big city (our population is under 400,000), it has a great library system! I’m nervous, but I’ll be thinking about your words. :)
Samantha, I don’t know if I’ll catch up on my reviews, but I hope so!
Iliana, thanks! I hope they’re friendly. :)
Christina, none of my close friends read the way I do (some of them read, others I don’t think ever do), so I completely understand!
Becca, I completely agree, one hundred percent.
DS, hehe-glad I’m not the only one with fines!
J. Kaye, thanks. :D
Diane, I think being addicted to libraries is one of the cheapest and healthiest addictions there is. :)
Wow, this is an impressive list of library books! I’m sure your library loves you. I really think you should join one of the library’s book clubs. I was hesitant about it at first, as well. But, I absolutely love my library book group. It is a very diverse group — men and women from 20s to 70s in age. We all like different genres, as well. But, I’ve found that it doesn’t really matter. The discussions are so lively, informative and fun. Even if I wasn’t crazy about the book, I always look forward to the discussion.
Congratulations! That is an amazing list of books!