Classics Challenge

I'm taking the Classics Challenge and going for an Entree to read 5 classic books and doing the bonus challenge of reading a future classic once that list is out. A couple are also in conjunction with 5 Minutes for Books monthly classic book club.
Here's my list so far:

1. The Great Gatsby: F Scott Fitzgerald. Since I still have this book from high school and haven't read it since then, I thought it would be a nice refresher.

2. Little Women: Louisa May Alcott- Another one I read a long time ago and enjoyed.

3. Catcher In The Rye: J.D. Salinger -Somehow I've missed out on reading this one and feel I need to.

4. The Grapes of Wrath: John Steinbeck -Another refresher.

Depending on what is decided for the future classic list, I'm going with A Thousand Splendid Suns this may change for this challenge but I still plan on reading it soon. I'm not sure why I've put off reading this one since Kite Runner was so good.

Fall Into Reading Challenge

I'm behind on doing my list for the Fall Into Reading Challenge at Katrina's place. I think I have a good reason...boxes and more boxes. Most of my books are packed up or in the process of being packed. I will do my best to conjure up a list. I can always add to it later once I'm settled.

1. Wise Blood by Flannery O'Conner I'm currently reading this one now. It's taking me a while to warm up to it.

2. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hoessini
I'm not sure why I keep putting this one off, I guess I figure it will be one of those deep reads that I need to really focus on.

3. I'm strongly considering the Twilight Series. I keep hearing so many raves about it. When people who don't get into fantasy and or vampires rave about a book, that gets me curious. I shamelessly just ordered it on Amazon. I had some gift card money left. We'll see how the first one goes.

I'm going to stick with 3 for now. I'm sure I will add to it by the end of Fall. I just can't over do it right now as I've a house to pack and move and then unpack. Unpacking in itself will probably take me until the end of fall.

Stop by Callapidder Days for more great fall reading lists. I'm hoping to get some more ideas on what I need to read.

Read Together

You would think with no children around I would be a blogging fool. I've actually been a little busy around here. I did decide to do a a quick post about the Read Together challenge with Jennifer at Jennifersnapshot. The idea is for you and your child to pick a book to read together or both read individually and discuss the book together.
I think this is a great idea and Gameboy and I have already been reading Hobbit from Katrina's challenge. He's about half way through. Sometimes he will read it to me or we switch off. If he reads it on his own then I have him tell me what the last chapter was about when we get together again.
He really loves to read and I think this one is a little more challenging then he thought so it's taking us a little longer to get through it. He loves the story and I know we'll make it before summer's over.

Spring Reading Thing

The Spring Reading Thing?! You mean Spring is over already?
Here was my very short list
We Were The Mulvanny's -Finished
Time Travelers Wife-Finished
Memory Keepers Daughter-Finished
The Bell Jar-Just Started
The Kite Runner-Not Started
The Hobbit-Oldest is still reading
As you can see, I didn't get to finish my list. I'm ok with that cause I've got all summer, fall, and winter to finish.
Katrina had some questions to go with the ending of the reading thing.
What was the best book you read this spring? Probably Time Traveler's Wife. I had a hard time putting it down. I just loved the different approach that was taken to a love story. I can see Hollywood making this into a romantic/comedy.
What book could you have done without? We Were the Mulvanny's-This one just seemed to drag on like the author just did not want the story to end.
Did you try out a new author this spring? If so, which one, and will you be reading that author again? I'm looking forward to reading Bell Jar to try out Sylvia Plath's work.
If there were books you didn't finish, tell us why. Did you run out of time? Realize those books weren't worth it? I did just run out of time.

What did you learn -- about anything -- through this challenge? I learned that I do have to pace myself and that there wasn't any pressure to finish them all. I'm just happy to have been given the challenge to get back into the reading groove again. This was something that I really had let fall to the wayside due to just living life with kids. I believe I set the greatest example to inspire my kids to read more, simply by reading for myself. My 8 year old was actually curious about what I was reading and would ask about the story and then come back again wanting to know what happened. I loved it!

What was the best part of the Spring Reading Thing? I think just being inspired to read more and seeing what others are reading. I also loved the fact that it some how inspired my kid to be interested in what I'm reading. He actually wanted to read one of the books. I kind of figured they would be way over his level and to stick with The Hobbit for now.

Would you be interested in participating in another reading challenge this fall?
Any other thoughts, impressions, or comments. I will definatly go for it again this fall. I think this is a great idea, and a great way to meet people with a common interest-reading.

Thanks Katrina for hosting this Spring Reading Thing. I look forward to joining the Fall Challenge.