September '10 Recap

Here's a look at what went on around here in September ...

Books: 6 (1,704 pages)

1. American Widow, by Alissa Torres (224 pages - graphic memoir) - a unique way to look at a 9/11 widow's experiences
2. Kon-Tiki, by Thor Heyerdahl (304 pages - memoir) - I LOVED traveling with Thor across the Pacific on a raft
3. Outcasts United, by Warren St. John (336 - journalism ... maybe?) - fascinating look at a US town and how it deals with an enormous refugee population from around the world
4. Naked in Eden, by Robin Easton (264 pages - memoir) - although I appreciated her story of connecting with nature there were parts that were too "far out" for me
5. Smile, by Raina Telgemeier (224 pages - graphic memoir) - this is my very favorite graphic book ever!!!
6. Once A Warrior King, by David Donovan (352 pages) - a unique look at the Vietnam War from a soldier who lived with the Vietnamese - highly, HIGHLY recommended

Audiobooks: 3 (32.95 hours)

1. We Are Soldiers Still, by Harold Moore and Joseph Galloway (6.75 hours - memoir) - loved the beginning and the look it provided at the Vietnam War in retrospect, but didn't like the 2nd half 
2. Half of a Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (19 hours - historical fiction) - beautifully written and heartbreaking, but I didn't love it
3. City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau (7.2 hours - YA dystopia) - listened to this with Kiddo and enjoyed it more for his sake than my own

I also listened to a lot of Bleak House this month but didn't finish it before the end of the month.


Kiddo's Updates

This month Kiddo shared (via video) the books he's been reading lately and also showed off his Michael Jackson dance moves.  He enjoyed our trip to Gettysburg and also getting to meet the J-crew at the Baltimore Book Festival.  In fact, Kiddo and the older J-boy are both reading Nathan Abercrombie Accidental Zombie: My Rotten Life right now and they are planning their own Skype book club to chat about it sometime soon.


Other Stuff

The Baltimore Book Festival has come and gone.  I had a great time hanging out with all the bloggers that weekend!   My two-part recap is here and here.

I'm participating in two read-a-longs right now, one for Bleak House at The Zen Leaf and one for The Historian at On The Ledge Readalongs.  There's still time to get involved with either one (though honestly I'd push The Historian at this point ...) if you are interested.

My book club venturied into unknown territory when we tried graphic memoirs this month.  It was a fantastic meeting, though one of the girls was a bit confused about what "graphic" means ...

Also, Dueling Monsters: Round 2 is underway now (for October) and we're reading The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and/or The Picture of Dorian Gray.  Both books are very short so you have plenty of time to join in if you want to read one (or both).

It's been a busy but good month around here ... hope your September was a success!