It's Monday - what are you reading?

This is part of a meme hosted by Book Journey.

The last book I finished was:

DUO (1934) by Colette 

Currently I am reading...

...with my book club:

EMMA (1815) by Jane Austen

...solely for myself

TAINTED GODDESSES : FEMALE FILM STARS OF THE THIRD REICH (1982)
by Cinzia Romani

...for myself (and partly my cats - because they enjoy when I read to them 

- and I enjoy having a purring audience..)

LE TOUTOUNIER (1939) by Colette 

It's the follow-up to DUO - I will do a double review on this two short novels.

Thank you all so very much for reading!

Have a lovely week!

Irene

It's Monday - what are you reading?

This is part of a meme hosted by BOOK JOURNEY

The last book I finished was MR. SKEFFINGTON (1939/1940) by Elizabeth von Arnim - which will for sure be one of my top ten favourite books 2012. Just love it! Read my review HERE. (<- because it was later made into a film this review was posted on my film blog..)

Now I am reading

for my book club

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS (2006) by Sara Gruen 

and also

FOREVER AMBER (1944) by Kathleen Winsor.

Hope you all will have a nice week!

Yours 

Irene

Happy Birthday - Fanny Skeffington!

Oh.. I know, I know.. it's uncommon to do Birthday posts for fictional characters - but because I am behind my reading schedule - and haven't finished MR. SKEFFINGTON yet as I planned - here's a quick post for the book's heroine: Lady Frances "Fanny" Skeffington. (I am not joking.)

It's her birthday today (March, 12) as her author Elizabeth von Arnim stated in said book - so in the absence of other pictures of Fanny herself - have Bette Davis who portrayed her in the 1944 movie (one of my favourites - just btw):

~ Happy Birthday, Fanny! - by me and the guys.. ~

I love Fanny in the book. And I can somehow identify with her. In the book she appears to be much sweeter than Bette Davis played her - but I am not yet finished with the book - so.. who know's.. There might be a twist ahead.. Anyway: It is very, very ironic, witty and funny - just as I love my Elizabeth von Arnim books..

The review of this (and guess which film's too) will be posted soon at my film blog.. But for the book review I will of course post a link here.

Thank you very, very much for reading!

Yours 

Irene

It's Monday - what are you reading?

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

This book was the last I finished:

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

This book I am reading now:

MR. SKEFFINGTON (1939) by Elizabeth von Arnim

As always I am not too sure what will be next.. 

A lovely week to all of you!

Enjoy your readings!

Yours

Irene

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.

------------------------------------

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