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July Progress Report

July was a fairly good reading month. I did struggle a bit with my reading midmonth during a bit of a down cycle, but things are improving, and I'm getting some great books from the library.

I did not do any group reads in July. I started to with A Man Called Ove, but that book just was not for me.

I've decided to abandon goal #2, my Asian fiction goal. I'm already reading a lot of Murakami this year, and in August his first 2 novels will be released here in the US (Wind/Pinball: Two Early Novels. I just don't want to read more Asian fiction in addition to that. I feel guilty for not meeting this challenge, but I'm looking at it as a course correction.

I'm replacing this goal with an expansion of my short story goal. I read The Best American Short Stories 2014 and just loved it. I've decided to read the collections of years that are significant to me. So the new goal is to read 5 collections of different years, years that have some significance for me. I'm excited about this one. Should be some fun.

July was great for short stories. I read 2 five star collections: Music for Wartime: Stories and Redeployment. This area of reading has been so rich and satisfying for me. (Hence my new goal above.)

The Man Booker Prize longlist was announced 7/29. I've already read 4 of the titles, and I've requested 2 more from my library. I'm excited to sink my teeth into this one

Book of the Month

Red Lightning

My review:

/review/show...

Making changes to your goals is good, Terri. Maybe you can keep that one for another year?

Great idea, Heather! I puzzled over this for a while. Thanks! :)

August Progress Report

I seem to be continuing on a roll of great reading. I read 6 5-star books in August. I'm particularly pleased with my short story reading. It's been such a pleasure and a challenge. My favorite short story collection so far this year is Three Moments of an Explosion: Stories by China Miéville. It just blew me away. (HaHa)

My review: /review/show...

The State We're In: Maine Stories by Ann Beattie was also exceptional.
My review: /review/show...

The Man Booker challenge is also going well. One of the books was unreadable to me after over 100 pages, and I abandoned it. (A Brief History of Seven Killings)

I continue to make great progress on my Murakami goal. I read A Wild Sheep Chase via audiobook, and it was incredible.

I'm whittling away at my goal of 25 nonfiction books. I have 5 left to go and that seems achievable.

My book of the month took a lot of thought. I ended up choosing The Small Backs of Children because of the profound effect it had on me, even though the extreme sex and violence in the book is very hard to take.

Book of the Month

The Small Backs of Children

My review: /review/show...

September Progress Report

September was not a good month for me. It was a roller coaster ride of chronic illness, and it's left me drained. I was fighting symptoms most of the month, though I continued to read through a lot of it. When this happens, my reading becomes disjointed and muddled. What I've been doing is rating the books I read during this time, but not writing a review. My brain just isn't functioning enough to be articulate.

All my challenges are going pretty well. My reading of short stories continues to be quite rewarding.

I read only one 5-star book in September, and that's my book of the month.

Book of the Month

Storytelling Apes: Primatology Narratives Past and Future

My review:

/review/show...

Progress Report Last Quarter 2015

I had some health issues that prevented my keeping up with the monthly status reports here, so here's a summary of the last 3 months.

October

Good month for reading. Greatly enjoying the short stories.

Book of the Month

The Tsar of Love and Techno

November

Progressing slowly on goals. Reading slowed due to health issues. An unusual read this month was We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. A classic that was really fun to read.

Book of the Month

My Life as a Mermaid, and Other Stories--Jen Grow

December and 2015 Conclusions

Book of the Month

Juventud

2015 turned out to be an excellent year of reading for me. My greatest pleasures were the Murakami and short story challenges.

I've now read almost all of Murakami's work that's been translated into English; he remains one of my very favorite authors and greatest reading pleasures.

I read 42 short story collections, exceeding my goal of 25. I'm now a confirmed reader in this genre, and I expect to keep reading it at about the same pace. My enjoyment of this reading this year was off the charts.

I went just over my goal of reading 25 nonfiction books. Some excellent stuff here. My favorite was Storytelling Apes: Primatology Narratives Past and Future.

I came close to my Booker challenge goals. I did not read 3 of the books on the list because they were not available at my library.

One book short on my challenge for The Best American Short Stories by year.

My one regret for 2015 is not joining in my group reads. Hopefully I can do better in 2016.

Book of the Year 2015

Not even close! This is one of the most emotionally searing, almost shattering reading experiences of my life.

A Little Life--Hanya Yanagihara

Love your updates ,Terri . And I totally agree about your favorite!

Thanks, Angela. One of the best things about this year was being your "book sister." :)

Aww , Terri ! Thanks , I feel the same way and I'm so glad to see you around GR a bit more !

Terri wrote: "2015 turned out to be an excellent year of reading for me. My greatest pleasures were the Murakami and short story challenges. ..."

Yay, Terri! Glad to see this - I have also been converted into a fan of short stories. I will be trying out more Murakami next year so maybe I will end up joining you in that too :)

Thanks, Leslie. I hope you find Murakami as rewarding as I do!