“And when short February’s done…”
Wow! Is it March already? In my ongoing quest to review every book I read this year I have found myself behind. And so what you have above is the results of my efforts to catch up with all my reviews through February. And I have done so! If you click on any of the above images it will take you directly to the review for that book or film. I realize this is overload but I tried to keep the reviews more brief than normal in the hopes that you will still read and comment. Allow me to thank you right now!
If you continue on after the jump on this post, you can read my summary of February, a send off for The Sci-Fi Experience, and a hint of Once Upon a Time II which is less than three weeks away!
It is hard to believe that these past 2 months have flown by so quickly. Time does indeed fly when one is having fun and I have to say that I have succeeded in taking the desire for immersion into science fiction that comes upon me at the end of every year and used it to fuel two months of fantastic reading. Even better I was allowed to share that experience with many of you who chose to join in The Sci~Fi Experience. Thank you all so very much. We have almost 70 reviews of science fiction novels both new and old on the review site for your perusal. I will be leaving the site up, so if you are ever in the mood for science fiction goodness and are unsure where to turn, please consider this as a resource. I will certainly be reading much more science fiction throughout the year…I barely dented the pile of books I set aside for this Experience…but will now be mixing in other genres of fiction and some nonfiction as well. It is time to do some reading for some of the other challenges as well.
I came out of the gate pretty strong with 10 books in January. February was not quite as strong with with only 7 books read, and one of those a children’s picture book, but that does not surprise me. With a week pretty much off from reading anything due to a bathroom remodel and trying to keep up with work, it is a wonder that I got through the books I did.
What February lacked in numbers, it certainly made up for in quality. I read some great stories this month and am thrilled with the reading experiences I have had thus far this year. 2008 has been phenomenal from a reading perspective thus far!
I am also happy to report that I got my book buying more under control in the month of February. I purchased 5 new books in February and of those read 4, thus making great headway on the purchase and then read soon after goal. I received 2 other books as gifts and 2 as review copies. I read one book off my to-read pile from last year and read one book that was checked out from the public library. It feels good to be making some progress in addition to reading just for the sheer pleasure it brings.
February was also an interesting month as we had a full lunar eclipse (can’t believe I actually got a relatively focused picture of one stage of the eclipse) and I spent the evening running back and forth between the front and back porches geeking out over it as it happened. As you all know I also got myself a new bathroom during the month. I feel like I packed all that I could into the short 29 days.
How about everyone else, how was the month for you, reading or otherwise?
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Last year’s Once Upon a Time Challenge was a big hit and it is easy to see why. The genres of fantasy, fairy tale, mythology, and folklore have been with us since the earliest recorded stories and there are books nestled within these genres that appeal to almost everyone and touch so many fundamental truths in our lives that it is no wonder so many of us like these stories. The time for the second annual Once Upon a Time Challenge is fast approaching. I like to have this coincide with spring (and my wife’s birthday), and so this year Once Upon a Time II will begin on Friday, March 21st and will go through Friday, June 20th, the last day of spring and Midsummer Night’s Eve.
This is going to be big. There will be multiple quest options, great contests and giveaways, and all the wonderful reading a person can handle. More details including banners and official sign up will be available sometime next week. Get your to-be read piles dusted off and ready to go!
Oh, and the ‘pizza place’ reference in the title of this post? It was more than just a not-so-clever nod to the Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place sitcom, which I really enjoyed, we ‘discovered’ a new pizza place in Kansas City this week, Waldo Pizza, and ate there twice. Good stuff. And fantastic fresh warm Rocky Road cookies for dessert. Yum! Pizza 51 is still my favorite pizza in the Kansas City area, but Waldo’s comes a close second. If you are ever in our neck of the woods, check them out.
Well, I for one can’t thank you enough for the Sci-Fi Experience. As I’ve said before, I’ve just never read much sci-fi. And though I only read 4 sci-fi books during January and February, I have to say that two of them were by far my favorite reads of the year so far. In fact, Ender’s Game surely must be in my top five books of all time now. I can definitely say sci-fi will no longer be missing from my TBR piles again! And that deserves a big THANKS!
You know you have people all around the world doing little happy dances now at just the mere mention of Once Upon a Time II, don’t you?
wow.. ok.. well.. i was on a roll for January and February and read (or more to the point reread) 24 books! I’m not sure how that happened and doubt it will happen again! …
but I am more than ready for the Once Upon a Time challenge!! (yiii-hawww)
ya know, at one time I had Hugo Cabret in my hand in a store and looked through it.. the art work didn’t do a thing for me and seeing as it was a major part of the book I put it back… maybe someday I’ll look at it again in a different light.
Btw.. Mary’s birthday is only 3 days before mine! March is “the” month here… my brother’s b’day is March 17th (st pats day) and mine a week later on the 24th.. and Mary snuck in there lol.. Yep.. it’s a good month!!!
Looking forward to hearing what sort of goodies you will have going on for the Once Upon a Time Challenge!!!! You always have such good ideas!
Happy dances, yay!!!
I’m so thrilled you joined in on The Sci Fi Experience. It is readers like you who step out and try something new that add a really fun dimension to these challenges/experiences. I will be reading your Ender’s Game review sometime tonight when I have a chance to catch up on all my blog reading. I can’t wait.
24 books Deslily! That’s great! I am looking forward to seeing what you read for Once Upon a Time II. And yes, March is indeed a big birthday month. My brother’s is the same as my wife’s and my dad’s is the 30th. Angela of Sci Fi Chick’s is the same day as my dads. And now you.
I’m excited about the Once Upon A Time Challenge!!! 🙂
A happy dance is being performed on my little corner of the world right now! I am so excited about Once Upon a Time II 😀 I already have my list mentally composed and I can’t wait to start reading!
Once Upon A Time is here again? That was quick!
I didn’t do the challenge last time, but I definitely plan to this year!
What did I say about Waldo Pizza? You’re welcome.
HA, I already have my stack of books lined up for your challenge – I missed it last year and can’t wait to start reading! Thanks for the heads up!
Sent you something about 2 weeks ago. Did you get it? I emailed you too but no response but I think that was when you doing the bathroom
Ha, Cameron! You’re welcome! It was indeed good.
Glad to see people are psyched about Once Upon a Time. I cannot believe we are already into the third month of the year (but it is going well thus far as I’ve already finished 2 books..reviews forthcoming!)
I just love pizza! It’s hard for me to narrow it down to one favorite though. It depends on the style as well. For deep dish it has to be The Dish in Liberty. For thin crust it’s a tie between Highway 51, da’Bronx and Stonewall. For all around pie it’s either Waldo’s, Minsky’s or this one particular Pizza Shoppe on west Shawnee Mission Parkway. My favorite pizza joint closed down a few years ago, DaVinci’s man it was the best hands down. Brings a pang to my gut just think’in about it. 🙁 Mmmmm. Carl you up for some more pizza?
Now I love BBQ as well but Carl will just have to throw that into another post one day! 🙂 No wonder I’m so fat!!!!!!
I loved the Sci-Fi experience and have since visited the Second Hand book shop and stashed a few more on my TBR pile – also have a list of books to look out for.
I have been hanging out for the Once upon a time challenge – have a couple of books ready to go – just waiting to see how the challenge is to be conducted
OOOH! I loved Two guys, a girl and a pizza place! It got me through some LONG nights when Ellie was little!
I can’t WAIT for the Once Upon a Time Challenge! I’m so excited!
Sounds like you had a fun and busy month! I hope March is just as good for you!