So Long September

I love the fall. Living on the East Coast there is a fall (usually) and it is beautiful. Once the allergies pass, I find myself outside maybe even more than in the summer. There is nothing like looking at the trees changing colors and hearing the leaves crunch under your feet. Oh, and the pumpkins – is there anything cuter than a pumpkin?!? And Halloween, one of my favorite holidays (I have already gone through almost two bags of candy corn)!!

It also seems like things are more cozy – you don’t have to bundle up against the bitter cold, but there are loose sweaters on shoulders and draped scarves. To me, this is the perfect reading time. I love to curl up in my window seat and settle in with a book. So this month I have a goal of doing just that. I have a lot of challenges and personal reading goals that I would like to hit, so I will try and focus on reading.

Speaking of goals, I had a good September. Is there room for improvement? Always! But I am happy with my progress reading and blogging (although seriously, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout has been sitting on my Read Now Review shelf since the summer, not sure what my hold up is).

I did hold my first challenge, and then hosted another one soon after.

Then of course there was also Book Blogger Appreciation Week. While it filled my Google Reader, I was introduced to some great blogs and I am looking forward to keeping up with each and every one of your sites and readings.

I hope you had a good September, and wishing you Happy Reading in October.

A Look Back:

Books Read
1. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
2. The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory
3. The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik
4. The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
5. The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett
6. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling
This brings my total to 35 for the year so far.

Reviews
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory
Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler & Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett

Challenges Entered
Back to School Challenge hosted by Five Borough Book Review
Challenge Time: September 1 – December 31, 2009
Books Completed: 0 (of 4)

Ongoing Challenges
R.I.P. IV Challenge (which stands for Readers Imbibing Peril) hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings
Challenge Time: September 1 – October 31, 2009
Books Completed: 1 (of 4)

Sookie Stackhouse Challenge hosted by Beth Fish Reads
Challenge Time: July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010
Books Completed: 2 (of 9)

Everything Austen hosted by Stephanie’s Written Word
Challenge Time: July 1, 2009 – January 1, 2010
Books Completed: 3 (of 6)

Harry Potter Reading Challenge hosted by Galleysmith
Challenge Time: August 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010
Books Completed: 2 (of 8)

Awards
Esme over at Chocolate & Croissants awarded me the Let’s Be Friends award

Debbi at BookMagic awarded me the Spread the Love Award

Book Chick City awarded me the Who Loves You Baby Award