Shaina Reads

The last day of 2015 and my Twelve Books of Christmas challenge is upon us! I've returned from Oregon just in time to get this last post up and cheer you all to the finish line.

As for me, I couldn't get twelve books in even if I spent the next eight hours and 39 minutes reading. A friend and her boyfriend are coming in from New York to ring in the new year with us, so it's entirely possible I already read my last page for the day.

Even though I didn't reach my goal, filling December with books has been a blast, and I fully intend to keep the tradition going next year. I hope some of you will join me again!

And now for my stats:

5. The Chimes, by Charles Dickens (finished 12/15/15)

I've been working on this audio on and off since last month, and I'm settling in for the long haul. It's 27 hours long, but the narration is fabulous (so many voices!) and it's great for giving my eyes a break. Still plugging away! I think that I would lose patience reading this, but the meandering storyline is so perfect for audio. I finished this in the airport during one of several interminable flight delays, and all I could do was whine incoherently afterward (to the great amusement of my boyfriend). This is absolutely one of the best books I read all year, in no small part to the superb narration. Highly recommended.

7. The Shining, by Stephen King (finished 12/31/15)

Oh, you know, your average Christmas story. I don't know that I've ever been more disgusted by a character than I was by Jack Torrance, and I enjoyed grappling with how much of that could be contributed to his own character versus the Overlook Hotel's insidious influence. Campbell Scott was a fine narrator, though I found myself yearning for It's Steven Weber. 

8. How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer, by Sarah Bakewell (55% finished)

I've had this book since 2012, which might make it the oldest one on my current TBR pile. If you don't know already, I really like Montaigne. This was the perfect light biography to curl up with by the fire, though I didn't make as much progress as I'd hoped.

9. Dietland, by Sarai Walker (28% finished)

I just started this one this morning and ate a bunch of leftover Christmas truffles in honor of the occasion. I hope I can steal away a few minutes later today to read more; it's just getting interesting!

Did you finish?! Link up and/or leave me a comment so you can be entered in the raffle!

Happy Sunday, my holly, jolly readers!

I'm posting early this week because, starting tomorrow evening, I'll be firmly ensconced in the land of no Internet or cell service, AKA my boyfriend's mother's house in Oregon. I can't wait to get festive without any emails or other notifications to distract me! Well, except maybe for new visitors in Neko Atsume...

My boyfriend's mom is a big reader herself, so I know I'll be spending plenty of time with my nose buried in my books. Good thing, too, because I haven't finished a single book since my last check-in. My stress levels have been running higher than usual lately, making it difficult to settle down and read without getting distracted. Hopefully a roaring fire, cuddly kitties, and a never-ending supply of chocolate will help calm my spirits and get me back into my reading groove.

In addition to Owen Meany (just 7.5 hours left!), I'll be bringing along plenty of reading material. I'm stashing How to Live?, Sarah Bakewell's lighthearted biography of Michel de Montaigne, and The Humans by Matt Haig in my carry-on. Shannon pushed the latter on me when I put out a call for "happy but good books" on Twitter, and Stefani wasn't shy about seconding the recommendation. I didn't put up a fight—it was my first opportunity to go to my beloved library since agreeing to #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks. I'll also bring my Kindle and three other Audible options (The Shining by Stephen King, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, and The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin), so I'll be able to mood read and listen at my leisure.

I'll be back home before the new year. Until then, happy holidays and happy reading!

Hello, my festive bookworms! December is absolutely flying by, and we're just about halfway through the challenge now.

Since my last update, I've finished no fewer than four books, leaving me sitting pretty at five books down. I'm still not quite on target to hit twelve by the end of the month, but I'll give it my darnedest. 

Another one I don't want to rush through (maybe I should have reconsidered the parameters of this challenge...). Some of these essays are dated, but others cut to the bone despite being written more than half a century ago. I hope to finish it tonight! All done!

Pasting my thoughts from Goodreads because I can: Not the life-changer I remember from college, but it offers some nice ideas. Besides, who doesn't love some Winnie the Pooh? I'm interested in reading more about Taoism to see how faithfully this book represented it, especially considering how harsh Hoff was on scholarship and science.

This plot is one we've all read before—Abra's seemingly perfect marriage unravels after her husband Cullen has an affair. Struggling to redefine herself, Abra eventually shows the upper-crust of Black society that she can stand on her own two feet. I feel silly making this comparison, but the focus on material wealth and cultural references smacked of Bret Easton Ellis with (thankfully) far fewer drugs and serial killers. This was decent enough, but I don't think it will stick with me.

5. The Chimes, by Charles Dickens (finished 12/15/15)

A free, three-hour audiobook from Audible? Yes, please. I finished this one on my way to the dentist this morning. As usual, Dickens's prose floored me, but the plot left a lot to be desired. When I tried to explain the story to him, my boyfriend put it succinctly: "Well, that sounds pretty convoluted."

I've been working on this audio on and off since last month, and I'm settling in for the long haul. It's 27 hours long, but the narration is fabulous (so many voices!) and it's great for giving my eyes a break. Still plugging away! I think that I would lose patience reading this, but the meandering storyline is so perfect for audio.

How are you guys doing? Be sure to link up if you've posted about the challenge!

Hello, merry readers! Sorry that this post is coming late—I was laid out in bed all day yesterday with a cold. The silver lining? I got a ton of reading done!

Even with that boost, Twitter tells me that y'all are blazing right through this challenge and leaving me in your dust. Good thing I'm not the one gunning for the Book Depository prize! Here's my progress so far:

It took me so long to finish this one because I didn't want to rush through its magnificence. It's got family secrets, reimagined Native American lore, and magical realism (giant lake monsters!!!). Everyone should read this book, 10/10, would read again.

Another one I don't want to rush through (maybe I should have reconsidered the parameters of this challenge...). Some of these essays are dated, but others cut to the bone despite being written more than half a century ago. I hope to finish it tonight!

I've been working on this audio on and off since last month, and I'm settling in for the long haul. It's 27 hours long, but the narration is fabulous (so many voices!) and it's great for giving my eyes a break.

How are you guys doing? Be sure to link up if you've posted about the challenge!