I have reached Number 10!

As I coloured in my box for book #10, I read "you're doing great!" on my chart.

A milestone gives us an opportunity to reflect on the process.  How did we get here?  How is the journey going?

I have to say that I am enjoying this journey in many ways.  It is challenging me, not only to read a significant number of books, but also to read a variety of types of books. 

Putting myself and my challenge "out there" has provided some unexpected results. 

First and most dramatic, has been that I have entered some contests and been the lucky recipient of four books over the past six weeks.  If I got the book, then I have  a responsibility to read and review it, right?.  Ok, so I have read 3 adult books (and have another waiting).  In six weeks, that is a lot!  The pressure to review is also there as this could well be a source for more free books in the future.  I love the reviewing aspect but am finding it a bit of a challenge with the adult books, as I read so few of them.  The focus is different than with children's and young adult books.

Also, I feel a responsibility to chart our progress and also to write up the books I read.  I was inspired this week when a friend of mine told me that she was getting a couple of the books I had reviewed for her kids to read.  Knowing that someone is reading this and USING it gives me a huge push to keep up with myself!  Especially as my aim is to get kids, and adults, reading, thinking and loving it!

The other thing that has happened with my personal reading is that I am motivated to complete a book.  This comes through mostly on the non-fiction side as I often read much of a parenting book and then let it lapse - how much non-fiction can a person truly read?  Over the past six weeks, I have completed the 2 non-fiction titles I have attempted and am working my way through the third.  The 'write up' aspect of the project brings an interesting perspective here.  I did the review for Letters to Juliet but have not yet been able to write one for the parenting book I read.  The act of writing the review is giving me pause to think that maybe I should really reflect on the book.  How does what I read affect my life?  Is there any wisdom that I can take into my personal parenting life?  As you know, it is one thing to read; another to apply.  Why is it so much easier with fiction?

As far as the kids are concerned:

My eldest is reading away.  Never have I seen him read such a variety of books - and complete them!  He has finished book 6 and is halfway through book 7 (a book he has started svereal times in the past!). 

My older daughter is in the middle of Inkheart.  If not for the challenge, I don't think she would finish it.  She was feeling discouraged as it is such a long book and she is taking too long to read it (meaning she is off schedule for 1 book per week).  I told her it could count as 2  books.  And so, she keeps reading - loving it, I might add.  To complicate matters further, life is a bit busy for her at the moment as her school play is in three weeks and the practice schedule is ridiculous!

My younger daughter has finished book 3, a book she is using for her school scrapbook book report.  She needs to really know and delve into the book and doesn't want to lose track of it while she is working on the project.  Therefore, she won't read anything else until the report is handed in in March!  I told her that since she should probably read it more than once, she would be able to count it again for the book challenge.  What could I do?  Obviously, I support the depth and fully understand the need to keep things straight and clear.  Meanwhile, the book report is coming along nicely and her understanding is deeper for it.

My younger son (almost 7) is having a harder time as he much prefers running around and irritating his siblings to reading.  But, he proudly coloured 3 boxes on his chart this past Saturday night.  He gets 4 'readers' each week in english and 1 in french.  I told him that if he reads me each of those 5 books twice during the week that he could count it as one - he misunderstood:)

Let's not forget the husband!  He did not sign up for the challenge at the beginning because he is way too busy making money to get through one book, let alone 50!  Well, he caught the bug from the rest of us and has completed two books so far!

So, here we all are at a total of 29 (31, if you count my youngest's add-ons) books after 6 weeks.  It is an educational journey thus far.  I look forward to continued growth and learning for all of us.  Thank you for accompanying me on this voyage.  I can't wait to hear if anyone has taken up the challange and/or what books you have been reading lately!  Please comment and let me know, and most of all, happy reading!