January - This Month in Reading

I wanted to take stock of my reading for this month. I completed 10 books and finished 2 others that I had started before 2011. Of those 10 books, 1 counted against my TBR Pile challenge, 4 towards the Hogwarts challenge, and 3 each for the Buck Stops Here and Forgotten Treasures Challenges. I achieved Level 1 completion in both of those last challenges too.  I am only a few chapters behind in the War and Peace challenge. I do have a couple more books that are in progress right now that I hope to finish soon-ish if my work schedule permits.

For February, I would like to read more than 10 books, stay caught up with the War and Peace chapters, and read at least one of my TBR Pile challenge books.

How was your reading this month?

Young Swaigder or The Force of Runes and Other Ballads - George Borrow

Found this on Project Gutenberg (link here) for the Hogwarts Challenge. It's poetry and evidently was a small edition published in 1913. A fast read and reasonably entertaining.

The Wonderful O - James Thurber

What an amazing book! It's a short book and is illustrated, which makes me think it's possibly a kids' book, but it's a real jewel - the writing is done in a subtly poetic style in places that makes it a joy to read. There are also some humorous moments that depend on the way words look, which was delightful too. This has been on my TBR pile (but wasn't officially on my TBR Pile challenge list), and it was a $1.00 book from the perpetual Library Sale (it's a hardback with a copyright date of 1957 that seems brand new). A quick little read with a great story and just a gem. Highly recommended!

Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth - E.L. Konigsburg

I needed an antidote to what I considered mediocre writing for young people and chose this book. This is one of my favorite books from childhood and I was fortunate to find an edition that has this book,
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and The View from Saturday, all three excellent books, in a single hardback book on sale for about $4 (can't remember exactly how much I paid but it was really inexpensive and I was thrilled to have a copy on hand!). This book is about Elizabeth, who meets Jennifer, a witch, and becomes Jennifer's apprentice, so it even qualifies for the Hogwarts challenge. I just love E.L. Konigsburg, she is a top-notch writer and one of my favorites. Highly, highly recommended.

Percy Jackson 1 - Rick Riordan

Work got busier than usual recently and curtailed my reading, but I think I am back on track. Just finished Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and my reaction was "meh." It was OK, but didn't make me want to read any of the other books in the series, etc. It seemed like the author was trying too hard to sound like a 12 year old or appeal to the average 8 year old and I can't stand it when authors of books aimed at young readers talk down to them.  The book read like an attempt by a reasonably bright 11 year old to write a book, not a well-written, sophisticated book that would appeal to young readers, an important distinction.

On a related note, I had happened to see the movie on cable before I read the book, and I have to say I am surprised at some of the changes made in the movie. In some cases the movie seemed like it was dumbed down even farther than the book in an attempt to appeal to and be understood by the lowest common denominator, and in others the movie rightfully deleted some silly episodes. Just an observation.

ETA: I forgot to mention that one thing I felt Riordan nailed was the conflicting feelings of kids who feel abandoned by one (or both) parents. That felt very true and real and I appreciated his treatment of that since many people with no personal experience with those types of feelings get them very wrong.

Remarkable Creatures - Tracy Chevalier

One of my favorite books is Girl with a Pearl Earring so naturally I have read all the other books by this author. I enjoyed this book, the moreso for discovering at the end of the book that it's based on real people/events. I liked the voices of the dual narrators and the story was intriguing and frustrating at the same time, because of the societal constraints on people that are, necessarily, in the story.  I have to say that GWPE has an economy of story that I don't feel like I have seen in her other works - there's something about that book that I don't quite get from her other works, even though I do enjoy them. 

In a complete coincidence, I can claim this book the the Hogwarts challenge - hoorah!  

Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro

I had read The Remains of the Day because I picked it up on the 50 cent Library Sale bookshelf and I thought I'd think it was OK, but I actually fell under its spell while I was reading it and ended up loving it and vowing to read more by the author. I finally got around to reading this one and was not disappointed - it was similarly hypnotic and engrossing. The premise is intriguing and the skill of the author is evident in the voice of the narrator.... I loved it. I'm a huge fan and will have to read his other books ASAP. 

A note on my reviews: I don't review the plot of the books I read and I keep them brief so as to avoid spoilers, etc. Personally, when I read books, I like to have little knowledge of the book, and I preserve that here. 

Octavian Nothing Vol. I - M.T. Anderson

The full title of this book is The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party. It's a YA book I found on the library sales shelf for 50 cents, but it looked intriguing and it was in perfect condition, as if it had been brand new and had been donated without being read. In a word, this book was, in fact, astonishing. I was blown away. I found it to be intriguing and well done and I am dying to read the second book. I'm also dying to read other books by this author.

This is the first book I read from the TBR Pile Challenge too - off to a good start there!

The Magic Soap Bubble - David Cory

This is my first book for the Hogwarts Challenge. I found it on Project Gutenberg and I am going to claim it for the Forgotten Treasures challenge as well. I believe it's from 1922. It's a cute story overall but there were times when I felt like I had missed something here or there, as small things in the story didn't make sense, etc. However, it was amusing and short and I get a House Point for it, so why not. The link to it is here: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26944/26944-h/26944-h.htm

Hogwarts Reading Challenge

Seriously, who could resist this challenge?! I am way in. I will choose books later, just wanted to do this post and link it, etc.

Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2011

January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011

In the Hogwarts Reading Challenge you are a student of the school. You will be sorted into houses. Each book you read must fit in to the subject of one the classes. You do not have to read books that fit all the subjects. Each book equals one point (toward the house cup).

You must read at least 5 books (audio books count) before you are enter in to the drawing. At the end of the Challenge one person will win a $15 Amazon Gift Card and one house will win the House Cup (purely a pride thing).

Reading one of the 7 Harry Potter books earns you 25 house points. You can only read these books once during the challenge. 15 points for any other Harry Potter related book such as Tales of Beedle the Bard or A Parent's Guide to Harry Potter, again these books and only be read once during the challenge.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling +25

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling +25

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling +25

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling +25

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling +25

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling +25

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling +25

The Tales of Beedle the Bard - J.K. Rowling +15
Quidditch through the Ages - Kennilworthy Whisp (J.K. Rowling) +15

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them - Newt Scamander +15

Total for this category: +220

MINI CHALLENGE

Time frame May1st to June 30th

We all know that at the end of the series Harry Potter must either fight Voldemont or forever run in hiding. For this challenge read 3 books that have to do with fighting, boxing, military, or aviation. Books with the words flight or fight will count as will. Books with the word bird or a type of flying bird will count. So books about an ostrich will not count, they do not fly. When in doubt ask me.

Points - 10 points (max 30 points) an additional 25 points for completing the challenge. Meaning you read all 3 will receive 30 points plus 25 bonus points for a total of 55 points. 15 points for each additional book (for every 3rd book you get an extra entry in the Triwizard Tournament Drawing)


Mr. Midshipman Hornblower - C.S. Forester (fighting/military) +10
Co. Aytch - Sam R. Watkins +10
Lieutenant Hornblower - C.S. Forester (fighting/military) +10


Bonus points for completing challenge: +25


Total for this mini-challenge: +55

 <---- (This is supposed to be a badge showing I'm in Hufflepuff, but I am blog challenged and can't make it appear here, sorry.)

The classes:

Transfiguration - read any book that has trans or figure in its title, is about shape shifting, has a shape shifter in it, or is about anything having to do with changing one thing into another

Defence Against the Dark Arts - read any book that has defence(defense), dark and/or art(s) in its title, read any book that is about self defense, war, history of war/marital arts, murder mysteries 



1. The March - E.L. Doctorow (set during the American Civil War) +1


2. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves - M.T. Anderson (set during the American Revolutionary War) +1

3. Secrets - Frederick Ramsay (murder mystery) +1

4. Choker - Elizabeth Woods (murder mystery) +1 

5. Liar's Kiss - Eric Skillman and Jhomar Soriano (murder mystery) +1



6. Buffalo Mountain - Frederick Ramsay (murder mystery) +1
7. Stranger Room - Frederick Ramsay (murder mystery) +1


Total this class: 7
CHALLENGE SUBTOTAL: 282


Charms - read any book that has charm in its title, any book that deals with gives something or someone a new aspect (for example the nerdy guy become a handsome doctor)


1. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle - Betty MacDonald (poorly behaved children become well behaved) +1


2. Push - Sapphire (an illiterate and abused girl finds her own self worth) +1

Total this class: 2

CHALLENGE SUBTOTAL: 284

Potions - read any book that has potion in its title, cookbooks count but you must cook at least one recipe out of the book

Astronomy - read any book that has astronomy in its title, books about planets, stars, etc, sci-fi

1. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro (sci-fi) +1

2. Whales on Stilts - M.T. Anderson (sci-fi)  +1

3. Feed - M.T. Anderson (sci-fi) +1

Total this class: 3

CHALLENGE SUBTOTAL: 287

History of Magic - read any book that has history or magic in its title, books about magic, witches, etc.

1. The Magic Soap Bubble - David Cory +1

2. Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth - E.L. Konigsburg (this book is about Elizabeth, who becomes an apprentice to a witch, Jennifer) +1

Total this class: 2

CHALLENGE SUBTOTAL: 289

Herbology - read any book that has herb in its title, again cookbooks count and again you must cook at least one recipe out of the book

Arithmancy - read any book that has arithmancy in its title, any book with a number in its title, any book that deals with numbers or math

1. The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff +1

2. The Six Wives of Henry VIII - Alison Weir +1

3. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party - M.T. Anderson +1

4. The Mystery of the 99 Steps - Carolyn Keene +1

5. The Life of Elizabeth I - Alison Weir +1

Total this class: 5

CHALLENGE SUBTOTAL: 294

Ancient Runes - read any book that has ancient or runes in its title, books about historical places like the pyramids, Stonehenge, great wall of china, or any book about symbols

1. Young Swaigder or The Force of Runes and Other Ballads - George Borrow +1

Total this class: 1

CHALLENGE SUBTOTAL: 295


Divination - read any book that has divine in its title, any book about psychics or psychic abilities, tarot reading etc.

Care of Magical Creatures - read any book that has magical or creatures in its title, about supernatural beings

1. Remarkable Creatures - Tracy Chevalier +1

2. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters - Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters (sea monsters) +1

3. Dealing with Dragons - Patricia C. Wrede (dragons) +1

4. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan (supernatural beings) +1

5. Gingerbread Girl - Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover (homunculus) +1 

6. Those Across the River - Christopher Buehlman (supernatural beings) +1

Total this class: 6

CHALLENGE SUBTOTAL: 301

Muggle Studies - nearly any book works here, what better why to understand Muggle than to read what they read

1. Matched - Ally Condie +1

2. The Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum - Wallace Irwin +1

3. The Wonderful O - James Thurber +1

4. Maggie: A Girl of the Streets/George's Mother - Stephen Crane +1

5. Portrait of an Unknown Woman - Vanora Bennett +1

6. The House with a Clock in its Walls - John Bellairs +1

7. Haweswater - Sarah Hall +1

8. The Calligrapher's Daughter - Eugenia Kim +1

9. A House Called Awful End - Philip Ardagh +1

10. Dreadful Acts - Philip Ardagh +1

11. A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving +1

12. Terrible Times - Philip Ardagh +1

13. Nocturnes - Kazuo Ishiguro +1

14. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress - Rhoda Janzen +1

15. Leah's Choice - Marta Perry +1

16. JPod - Douglas Coupland +1

17. The Gum Thief - Douglas Coupland +1

18. Aké: The Years of Childhood - Wole Soyinka +1

19. Life of Pi - Yann Martel +1

20. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen +1 

21. On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan +1

22. Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin +1

23. Brighton Rock - Graham Greene +1

24. Bastard out of Carolina - Dorothy Allison +1

25. The Book of Lies - Brad Meltzer +1

26. Mountains Beyond Mountains - Tracy Kidder +1

27. The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn - Alison Weir +1

28. Everything Is Illuminated - Jonathan Safran Foer +1

29. Out of Sight - Elmore Leonard +1

30. Bitter Is the New Black - Jen Lancaster +1

31. The Nanny Diaries - Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus +1

32. The End of the Affair - Graham Greene +1

33. Bright Lights, Big Ass - Jen Lancaster +1

34. Such a Pretty Fat - Jen Lancaster +1

35. How I Paid for College - Marc Acito +1

36. Choker - Frederick Ramsay +1

37. How Dolly Parton Saved My Life - Charlotte Connors +1

38. Shadow Life: A Portrait of Anne Frank and Her Family - Barry Denenberg +1

39. Pretty in Plaid - Jen Lancaster +1

40. When We Were Orphans - Kazuo Ishiguro +1

41. More Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin +1

42. Attack of the Theater People - Marc Acito +1

43. Artscape - Frederick Ramsay +1

44. Home Fires - Candace Schuler +1

45. The Power and the Glory - Graham Greene +1

46. True History of the Kelly Gang - Peter Carey +1

47. The Road - Cormac McCarthy +1

48. The Long Winter - Laura Ingalls Wilder +1

49. The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party - Alexander McCall Smith +1
50. A Genealogist's Guide... - Sharon DeBartolo Carmack +1

51. Between Shades of Gray - Ruta Sepetys +1
52. This Girl Is Different - J.J. Johnson +1

53. The Lake - Banana Yoshimoto +1
Total this class: 53

CHALLENGE SUBTOTAL: 354

TOTAL FOR HOGWARTS CHALLENGE: 354

War and Peace - 1 chapter a day for 2011

I saw that this is a challenge people are doing this year and although I avoided it at first I decided I would join in after all. Confession: I tried to read W&P years and years (and years!) ago when I was probably in high school, and although I did not finish, I don't remember how far I got. But I don't remember anything, so it's like I never read any of it. And to be frank, I read Anna Karenina for the first time last fall and it was a real slog. I enjoyed 1/2 the book and the other 1/2 surprised me by being so.... romance-novel-like. So much anguish - from male characters no less - about being in love and etc. The parts about Levin to me were transparently political and I preferred the parts about Anna. So I am not officially joining the W&P challenge just in case I cop out later, but I will be reading my chapter a day for the forseeable future and I'll try to weigh in now and again as long as I am staying with it. I'm reading it through Project Gutenberg, link: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2600/2600-h/2600-h.htm

CHALLENGE COMPLETED DEC. 30, 2011

An award!

Hey, I got an award!

I was awarded this by Retrodux Reviews (http://retroreduxsreviews.blogspot.com/). Thanks RetroRedux! She has some fantastic reading challenges on her blog, as well as cool thrifting stuff and etc. Check it out! :) 

You have to do these 4 things to get the award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Award 10 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!
   
   
   7 Things about Myself:
   
   
   1. I love to read more than anything. I honestly can't really remember not being able to read. I could spend all day reading and I will read anything interesting. 
   2. My favorite season is fall (autumn for you Brits!). I love everything about it. Especially acorns and pumpkins.
   3. I truly like all kinds of music, although generally my favorite genre is probably 80s New Wave. But on my iPod you'll find everything from classical, ragtime, international folk music, country (I don't like contemporary country much, but I do like older stuff like Johnny Cash, Eddy Arnold, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers), industrial, disco, rap, etc. Basically music from every era of the 20th century. 
   4. I love classic Hollywood movies (20s/30s/40s). 
   5. Besides reading, I love to study foreign languages. I have studied French, Russian, Japanese, Albanian, Mandarin, and Swedish and I can embarrass myself in Spanish, Italian, German... 
   6. I am trying to learn to sew on the machine I got for xmas 2009 and it is slow going, but I hope to change that this year. 
   7. I have the best husband ever and 2 awesome cats.
   
   
   Awards:
   
   
   1. Roof Beam Reader (http://www.roofbeamreader.net/)
   2. Books Like Water (http://bookslikewater.blogspot.com/)
   3. My Love Affair with Books (http://books-love-affair.blogspot.com/)
   4. Lifetime Reading Plan (http://lifetimereadingplan.blogspot.com/)
   5. Soy Chai Bookshelf (http://soychaibookshelf.blogspot.com/)
   6. Sarah Reads Too Much (http://sarahreadstoomuch.blogspot.com/)
   7. Reading Without Restraint (http://readingwithoutrestraint.blogspot.com/)
   8. A Bookish Wonderland (http://bookishwonderland.blogspot.com/)
   9. My Reader's Block (http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/)
   10. Kate's Library (http://kateslibrary.blogspot.com/)

The Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum - Wallace Irwin

This was a random selection on Project Gutenberg and was very short, and very entertaining, so it felt like cheating. There were parts that literally had me laughing out loud, which takes a lot these days. It's a kind of parody of sonnets that is full of turn-of-the-20th-century slang, which is very entertaining in and of itself. The sonnets tell the story of Willie, a man who is in unrequited love with Mame. It's from 1901, and since it's on Project Gutenberg I am using it for 3 challenges. I am glad I stumbled on this! Highly recommended.

The link to this book is here: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/4756/4756-h/4756-h.htm but it can also be found on Google books, etc.

Shadowfae - Erica Hayes

This is, thankfully, the last book that was mostly (90%) finished before 2011, and is now finished for good. This was a supernatural-themed book that had an interesting story that got lost in reams of "adult content." I am not a prude (well, not much of one) but the "getting busy" every other page got old quickly for me. In retrospect I guess the fact that the cover features a lingerie-clad female should have tipped me off, but I guess I'm such a nerd I overlooked that - lesson learned! I got this as a 50 cent book with its sequel at the library but I think I will invoke the "life's too short" principle and redonate them both so as to move on with the actual challenges. (I hate not reading a book I have purchased, even if it was only 50 cents, but I think the sequel will just be a slog for me and there are so many other books I'd rather read, I am willing to let one book go, even though I do feel a little guilty.) Again, as this was mostly read well before Dec. 2010 I am not counting this book for any challenges, but from now on all books will count - hooray!

The Secret Supper - Javier Sierra

Just finished this book, but I won't count it on any lists because more than 80% of it was read before Jan. 1 2011. It's a 50 cent book from the library sales and was on the TBR pile but I don't think it was there a year. I liked the book, it made me want to study Leonardo da Vinci and his works. Plus, anything that tweaks the Catholic Church makes me smile. I just wanted to finish it so I could make more progress with challenge books.

"BBC Book List"

So I have seen this list kicking around Facebook and blogs, and I hear it's bogus but in the spirit of reading and all, I thought it would be interesting to look at it anyway. Bolded books are the books I have read. Comments follow the author's name.

ETA - deleted this post since the formatting got messed up every time I tried to edit it and it was making me crazy. I read appx. 38 books on the list, which is bogus anyhow. So back to some reading! 

The Buck Stops Here Challenge

And while I'm at it, I can do this one too! I LOVE getting my books at the ongoing library sales at my local library. Paperbacks are 50 cents, hardcovers $1.00. I have amassed quite a collection of TBR books from these impossible-to-resist bargains so why not also do this challenge, since many of the books from the other challenges will overlap nicely. Here's the link for this challenge:
http://retroreduxsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-buck-stops-here-challenge.html

1. The Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum - Wallace Irwin (Project Gutenberg)
2. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party - M.T. Anderson (50 cent Library Sale book)
3. The Wonderful O - James Thurber ($1.00 Library Sale book)
Level 1 achieved - Jan. 28 2011 Hooray! :)

4. Maggie: A Girl of the Streets/George's Mother - Stephen Crane (I think it was bought at a local high school's book sale, it was well under $1.00)
5. Portrait of an Unknown Woman - Vanora Bennett (50 cent Library Sale book)
6. The House with a Clock in its Walls - John Bellairs (50 cent Library Sale book)

Level 2 achieved - February 16, 2011 Hip hip hooray! :)
7. Haweswater - Sarah Hall (50 cent Library Sale book)
8. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress - Rhoda Janzen (50 cent Library Sale book)
9. Leah's Choice - Marta Perry (50 cent Library Sale book)
10. The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff (50 cent Library Sale book)

Level 3 achieved - March 5, 2011 Hurrah!!
11. JPod - Douglas Coupland (50 cent Library Sale book)
12. The Gum Thief - Douglas Coupland ($1.00 Library Sale book)
13. Aké: The Years of Childhood - Wole Soyinka (50 cent Library Sale book)
14. Life of Pi - Yann Martel (50 cent Library Sale book)
15. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen (50 cent Library Sale book)
16. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters - Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters (50 cent Library Sale book)
17. On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan (50 cent Library Sale book)
18. Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin (50 cent Library Sale book)
19. Brighton Rock - Graham Greene (50 cent Library Sale book)
20. Bastard out of Carolina - Dorothy Allison (50 cent Library Sale book)
21. The Book of Lies - Brad Meltzer ($1.00 Library Sale book)
22. The March - E.L. Doctorow (50 cent Library Sale book)
23. Mountains Beyond Mountains - Tracy Kidder (50 cent Library Sale book)
24. Home Fires - Candace Schuler (free book from office book exchange shelf)
25. The Long Winter - Laura Ingalls Wilder (50 cent Library Sale book)

26. Gingerbread Girl - Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover (read for free through NetGalley.com)

27. Liar's Kiss - Eric Skillman and Jhomar Soriano (read for free through NetGalley.com)

28. Those Across the River - Christopher Buehlman (read for free through NetGalley.com)

29. Push - Sapphire (50 cent Library Sale book)

30. This Girl Is Different - J.J. Johnson (read for free through NetGalley.com)

31. The Lake - Banana Yoshimoto (read for free through NetGalley.com)

32. Hoopskirts, Union Blues, and Confederate Grays - Kate Havelin (read for free through NetGalley.com)

33. Little Town on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder (50 cent Library Sale book)

34. These Happy Golden Years - Laura Ingalls Wilder (50 cent Library Sale book)

35. Rogue - Frederick Ramsay (read for free through NetGalley.com)

36. Calli - Jessica Lee Anderson (read for free through NetGalley.com)

37. Anasazi - Emma Michaels (read for free in an ARC)

38. Domestic Violets - Matthew Norman (read for free through NetGalley.com)

39. Malled - Caitlin Kelly (read for free through NetGalley.com)

40. The Girl Who Invented Romance - Caroline B. Cooney (50 cent Library Sale book)

41. The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart (50 cent Library Sale book)

42. The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield (50 cent Library Sale book)

43. The Witch of Blackbird Pond - Elizabeth George Speare (50 cent Library Sale book)

44. The Secret of Platform 13 - Eva Ibbotson (50 cent Library Sale book)

45. Taggart - Louis L'Amour (free book from office book exchange shelf)

46. Less Than Zero - Bret Easton Ellis (free book from neighbor)

47. Six Degrees of Separation - John Guare (free book from neighbor)

48. Pardon My French: Unleash Your Inner Gaul - Charles Timoney (found at dollar store for $1.00)

49. Elegance - Kathleen Tessaro (50 cent Library Sale book)

50. Miss Library Lady - Ann McLelland Pfaender ($1.00 Library Sale book)

51. Jinny Williams Library Assistant - Sara A. Temkin and Lucy A. Hovell ($1.00 Library Sale book)

52. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins (50 cent Library Sale book)

Level 4 achieved (bonus level) - Sept. 23, 2011 Yahoo!
53. The Anglophile - Laurie Gwen Shapiro (50 cent Library Sale book)
54. Someone Killed His Boyfriend - David Stukas (50 cent Library Sale book)
55. I'm with Fatty - Edward Ugel ($1 Borders last days book)
56. The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls (free book from neighbor)
57. My Antonia - Willa Cather (50 cent Library Sale book)
58. Uglies - Scott Westerfeld (50 cent Library Sale book)
59. Kabul Beauty School - Deborah Rodriguez (50 cent Library Sale book)
60. On Green Dolphin Street - Sebastian Faulks (50 cent Library Sale book)
61. The Phantom Tollbooth - Norton Juster (50 cent Library Sale book)
62. The Secret of the Ruby Ring - Yvonne MacGrory (50 cent Library Sale book)
63. Thousand Pieces of Gold - Ruthanne Lum McCunn (50 cent Library Sale book)
64. Welcome To My World - Johnny Weir ($1 Borders last days sale book)
65. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Susanna Clarke (50 cent Library Sale book)
66. The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks (50 cent Library Sale book)
67. Alexander the Great - John Gunther ($1 Library Sale book)
68. Three Cups of Deceit - Jon Krakauer (read for free on the Internet)
69. The Yellow Wallpaper - Charlotte Perkins Gilman (Project Gutenberg)
70. Gormenghast - Mervyn Peake (free book from office book exchange shelf)
71. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy (Project Gutenberg)