Library Loot - The Challenge Edition (and some Random Thoughts!)

Seriously...it feels like I'm been gone for ages! I go a little stir-crazy when I don't get to post for awhile. But my computer was down again for a few days. Don't ask. (it was a totally easy fix, but I had to go through 3 different service people on the phone before I packed it all up for Best Buy and the Geek Squad. It took the service girl literally 2 minutes to fix it. If I wasn't so relieved, I probably would have been fighting mad!) Also....work. The kids. Right now, both Bella and Ana are in soccer and Chad's in football. A few nights a week, I have all 3 on some practice field at the same time!! Life is busy, that's for sure.

I ended up having to take some books back to the library without reading them. It's the nature of the beast I guess. That, and I check out 30 books at a time with no possible chance of being able to read them!! Keep that in mind when you see the haul that I made the last week or so. When RIP IV was announced, I immediately logged on to the libraries website and put some books on hold. Then I realized I was lacking in other challenges, so I put MORE books on hold. In addition to all the holds, I started wandering through the movie section. Like I don't have a million books to read, but I found they had Season One of the Gilmore Girls! I've heard endless stories about what a wonderful show this was, so I grabbed it too. The girls and I spent most of the holiday weekend devouring it. Why did I not watch this show when it was on?? It's fantastic!! And Rory is a reader!! The girl carried a book with her to a formal!! Gotta love it!! Anyway, here is this week's edition of Library Loot, The Challenge Edition:

GLBT Challenge (or The Challenge that Dare Not Speak its Name):

Suicide Notes: A Novel by Thomas Ford. Young Adult book about a gay boy that wakes up in a psych hospital after trying to commit suicide. Could be depressing, but is supposed to a humorous way of showing self-discovery. Looks good too me!

Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters. After reading so much about Sarah Waters, I knew I had to add her name to this challenge. This is her first book, and I am super anxious to read it!

The Canadian Reading Challenge III:

Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King. I don't remember where I heard of this book first. I think it was from Kailana. I did horrible in this challenge before, and this looks like a book I would like. And besides, I liked the cover art!!






Dewey's Reading Challenge:

Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones. I loved the book Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I still haven't figured out the connection, but if Dewey liked it, that is a good enough recommendation for me!!









Young Adult 2009 (though I'm pretty sure I've already filled my YA quotient for this one):

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Liga. I love the cover. I love the title. The inner Goth Girl in me is excited about this one. I first saw this one over at Becky's Book Reviews. Another blogger that holds a lot of stock with me.

Its Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini. I don't know where I heard of this book. Another high school/psych ward story. Looks like a good one too, and I've seen only positive reviews.

And Finally, a WHOLE buttload of books for RIP IV:

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. Everyone and their brother has been raving about this book. It's a Zombie book. I've decided that Zombies are the new Vampires. SUPER excited about this one!!

Rare Beasts by Charles Ogden. This is the first book in the Edgar and Ellen series. I have no idea if it fits for the RIP, but the cover is awesome!!

Pearls from Peoria. This is a huge book of short stories that are pulled from fanzines and other small publications. It's a mix of sci-fi, fantasy and who knows what else. I stumbled across this one at the library. And since I LIVE in Peoria, I thought I would give it a try!!

Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest is described as a "Southern Gothic" tale. I've been excited to read this since I saw a review at Chris' blog. I think I'll be reading this one with Kailana.

Baltimore,: Or the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire by Mike Mignola. Carl read this one for one of the RIP Challenges and raved about it. If his recommendation is enough (and trust me, it is!) there is "Vampire" in the title!! Good enough for me!

Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint. What's a RIP Challenge without a little de Lint? This is one of the first books in the Newford Collection and I can not wait to read it either.

Castaways by Brian Keene. Hmm....Reality Show contest on a deserted island...with Cannibals?? Sounds like a pretty decent horror novel to me!!

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. Another book I've seen pop up over the internet. A lot. Don't really know what it's about, but that hasn't stopped me before!!

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins. Chad brought this home to me from his school library. He read it in just a few days and was super-excited about it. Any time he get excited over a book, he wants me to read it. Who am I too push away a recommendation from my son? And yes, that's the SAME Suzanne Collins of the Hunger Games/Catching Fire. That alone should be enough to read it.

Finally, Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris is actually a book I got from Amazon Vine. But it TOTALLY fits for the challenge, so I added it here!!

That's all for now. I'm a couple reviews behind, so expect that later on this week (providing my stupid computer stays with me!) I can't wait to begin reading!! Now that I'm almost done with the blog tours I've signed up for, it's time to get into some serious Challenge reading!!