Mount TBR Reading Challenge - Progress post

I joined this challenge via goodreads hosted by Bev of MY READERS BLOCK. 

Here are the rules in Bev's words:

* Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find that you're on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are certainly welcome to upgrade.

* Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2012.

* You may sign up anytime from now until November 30th, 2012.

* Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2012. No ARCs (none), no library books. No rereads (none). [To clarify--based on a question raised--the intention is to reduce the stack of books that you have bought for yourself or received as presents {birthday, Christmas, "just because," etc.}. Audiobooks and e-books may count if they are yours and they are of your sources of backlogged books.]

* Books may be used to count for other challenges as well.

* Feel free to submit your list in advance (as incentive to really get those books taken care of) or to tally them as you climb.

 * A blog is not necessary to participate. [...]

*** Addendum (2/20/12): From a question...You may count any "currently reading" book that you began pre-January 1, provided that you had 50% or more of the book left to finish in 2012. I will trust you all on that.

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Ok - here we go:

I chose Pike's Peak (12 books from my TBR) because I do want to climb a hill - and then see if my legs will carry me on for a higher top..

My progress on this challenge - reviews are linked:

1. WIDE SARGASSO SEA (1966) by Jean Rhys

2. DIE PAAR LEUCHTENDEN JAHRE by Mascha Kaléko

 (actually a collection of her poems and other writings - she is one of my favourites when it comes to lyric..

3. MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN (2011) by Ransom Riggs

4. THE HELP (2009) by Kathryn Stockett

5. THE LIFE AND OPINIONS OF MAF THE DOG AND OF HIS FRIEND MARILYN MONROE (2010) by Andrew O'Hagan

6. MR. SKEFFINGTON (1939/40) by Elizabeth von Arnim

7. WATER FOR ELEPHANTS (2007) by Sara Gruen 

8. ROSEMARIE NITRIBITT : AUTOPSIE EINES DEUTSCHEN SKANDALS (2007) by Christian Steiger (=Rosemarie Nitribitt : Autopsy of a German Scandal)

9. MEINE BERÜHMTEN FREUNDINNEN (1967) by Hubert von Meyerinck (= My famous Female Friends)

10. DIE LOCKENDE INSEL (1953) by Gerty-Charlotte Burmeister (= The alluring island)

11. DUO and LE TOUTOUNIER (1934/1939) by Colette

12.

Reached Pike's Peak!!!

Actually I am afraid that I won't reach a much higher level.. Well.. We'll see!

Thank you so very much for reading!

Yours

Irene

It's Monday - what are you reading?

~ This is part of a meme hosted by BOOK JOURNEY ~

And here we go..

The last book I finished reading was:

THE HELP (2009) by Kathryn Stockett

The last review I posted was about:

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN (2011) by Ransom Riggs (<- here's the link!)

I am about to finish:

THE LIFE AND OPINIONS OF MAF THE DOG, AND OF HIS FRIEND MARILYN MONROE (2010) by Andrew O'Hagan.

And again: I am not sure what will be next.. 

Have a great week!!

Thank you for reading!

Yours very well and truly 

Irene

Yes, I will do Challenges again..

Last year was .. uhm.. just scandalous. I had a real no-books-crisis in summer. By that I didn't finish all the challenges I joined.. So for this year there will be not so many challenges..

By now I joined The Mount TBR reading challenge (<-here's the link) at goodreads hosted by fabulous Bev of MY READER'S BLOCK (<- have a look, and: please, follow this great blog!) - where I enlisted to read 12 books from my TBR. Yes - small risk indeed.. I don't have the slightest idea how many books there actually are in my shelves waiting to be read.. and.. well, you see.. I don't grew younger..

And I challenged myself to finish 48 books this year - by now I finished 8 books - not too bad.

Do you have joined some challenges? Love to hear about them! Even if you don't comment: good luck with all your solutions!

Thank you very much for reading!

Yours

 Irene

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Have you ever picked a book because of it's cover - and it's title? I do that frequently.. And I also did it when I decided to read MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs (2011).

In a nut-shell:

Jacob listens a lot to his grandfather who tells him stories about his childhood in a home for peculiar children - and monster which where after them. When Jacob grows up to be a teenager he notices that those stories are more likely chiffred stories of grandfather's life as a jewish child in a children's home during WWII - but then his grandfather dies in a gruesome way - and Jacob is sure that he saw one of the monsters there - but: did he really? Or is he going to loose his mind? Now he tries to find out - and together with his father (a hobby ornithologist) he travels to the Welsh island where the children's home was..  there might still be some of those peculiar children.. - maybe..

~ picture from the book - source: The Globe and Mail ~

A very fast read - nothing which is too high brow - or will make you think too much.. Frankly there were at least two occasions in this book which almost made my flesh creep.. But I am not really a tough reader.. So most of you might just smile a bit snotty now.. - so this might really be NOT scary at all for you..

I just adore those old photographs in this books. (like the one of the cover..) In my opinion there could have been more of them.. Well.. Actually I am collecting old pictures - because I like to think about the stories behind them..

Have a look at the German cover - which is very much like the original - I like both covers - but maybe I like it a tiny bit more in green.. :

~ the German title means: The island of the peculiar children ~

This book is one of at least two books.. And I think I will read the second book too - though I fear it won't be as nice as this one..

But the best thing just before I end this post: Apparently my favourite recent director Tim Burton is thinking about doing an adaptation for this!! Can't wait to watch that one!!

Your's very well and truly

Irene

It's Monday - What are you reading?

~ This is part of a meme hosted by BOOK JOURNEY ~

Yes - another try to come back to "book-blogging".. I am really ashamed how much energy I put into my film blog(s) while I let my other blogs starve.. Shame on me! I will work am working on that.

But now to the more interesting and less fatiguing (as I hope..) part of this post:

The last book I finished was:

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN (2011) by Ransom Riggs

Right now I am about to finish:

THE CRIMSON PETAL AND THE WHITE (2002) by Michel Faber

With my reading group I am reading (and almost finished - that was hard work not to read it just on one day..)

THE HELP (2009) by Kathryn Stockett

What's next? 

I am really not sure.. so many books outthere which I simply have to read before I drop dead.. 

- besides that: I'd like to be mysterious.. (okay - even I think that this sounded silly..)

...

well.. 

...

Have a great start into the week!

And: I am working on reviews - honestly! I am!!

Yours 

Irene