First Quarter 2009 Reading Challenge, Weekly Update #12
By APOOO • Mar 23rd, 2009 • Category: First Quarter 2009 Reading Challenge •
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Hey hey APOOO Challengers! Welcome to week 12 of the First Quarter 2009 Reading Challenge. Only one more week before we wrap up the First Quarter. And what a challenge it has been! But, that’s what challenges are about, right? Something to help push and propel us forward when we want to give up. How’s your reading challenge coming? Are you on track? As for me, I’m trying to get there…I think I might be short by one book. But, I still have eight days and only three books left. I’m going to do my hardest to achieve my objective. What about you…are you up for the challenge?
Regarding the book challenge– Every one who completes the Challenge by reading the books on their original list will receive a personalized bookmark and be entered into a drawing to win a $25 gift certificate to amazon.com. Will you be in the running? So, what did you read last week (from your list) and what do you plan to read this week?
Last week, I read and FINALLY finished The Black Girl Next Door by Jennifer Baszile. It’s a coming-of-age memoir about a black girl growing up in the 70s/80s in Palos Verdes, CA, a predominantly white neighborhood. Storyline covers many issues including being the lone black girl, hair issues, dysfunctional parents (yes the parents had arrived but they still held on to many of their old school values), self esteem concerns, joining black organizations in order to stay grounded (and near black folks), living in the shadow of the beautiful older sister, and just plain trying to fit in even tho’ you’re different. Baszile didn’t really tell me anything I didn’t already know but some of the issues did make me wonder how my daughter will fare…as we too live in a predominantly white community.
Here’s my thirteen books for the First Quarter 2009 Reading List with updates:
The Air Between Us by Deborah Johnson–COMPLETED; Week 9 Read.
The Black Girl Next Door by Jennifer Baszille–Yippee…FINALLY COMPLETED, Week 11 Read.
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Deadly Charm by Claudia Mair–Completed: Week Seven Read
In Love with a Younger Man by Cheryl Robinson–Completed; Week Three Read
The Island of Eternal Love by Daina Chaviano
Schae’s Story by Angelia Menchan–Completed;Week One Read
Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill
That Devil’s No Friend of Mine by J. D. Mason; Completed, Week Nine Read
The Ties that Bind by Bertice Berry; Completed, Week Eight Read
What Doesn’t Kill You by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant; Completed, Week Four Read
Where the Lines Bleed by Jesmyn Ward; Completed, Week Two Read
Where There’s Smoke by Terra Little; Completed, Week Six Read
For the next eight days, I have my work cut out for me. I need to finish the following books:
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao ==Currently reading.
Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill–Up next.
The Island of Eternal Love by Daina Chaviano–Hope I get to this one.
Now, your turn. Leave a comment below to let us know what you read last week and what you plan to read this week.
NOTE: If this is your first time visiting APOOO or you need more details regarding what this challenge is, CLICK HERE.
Until next week, keep reading those books and HAPPY READING. See you here (different time, same place) next Sunday for Weekly Update #13.
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Finishing After the lies and Tanners Devil for a review. I reached to number goal, not all of them were my challenge books.
Lashonda Silver´s last blog post..Finer Womanhood Week & Month
Thanks, Yas! After listening to you, I’m encouraged! I just finished Preacher Man Blues by Jihad, and I’ve stopped reading Just Too Good To Be True (I’m half way done!) and started Something On The Side by Carl Weber! So, I have 8 days to read almost 4 books! Hopefully, I’ll finish Carl Weber by tomorrow and then I’ll finish Just Too Good To Be True, and then I’ll have two left to go! Challenges! Challenges! I’ll do my best to make it! LOL
Even though I am optimistc, I’m certain it’s not going to happen for me. But whatever is left on my list I will carryover to the next challenge. I’m currently reading What Doesn’t Kill You by DeBerry & Grant. The other book I’m reading is not one of my challenge books. I guess I need to check my shelf and plan the next 13 books. I’m not mad because I gave it my all and I also read more than half of my challenge books.
Congrats to those who actually finished. And to the others like myself it’s all good and there is always next time.
Jennifer C´s last blog post..Library
I completed last week, I am now working on my list for next quarter…
angelia
Angelia´s last blog post..SCHAE’S STORY!
Almost there. One book to go, and I started it last night. Meanwhile, in addition to Cheryl Robinson’s In Love with a Younger Man, I also read Claudia Mair Burney’s Deadly Charm last week.
1) Havah by Tosca Lee — Completed
2) The Someday List by Stacy Hawkins Adams — Completed
3) Love Begins with Elle by Rachel Hauck — Completed
4) The Bishop’s Daughter by Tiffany Warren — Completed
5) Scrapping Plans by Rebeca Seitz — Completed
6) Midnight by Sister Souljah — Completed
7) Gotta Keep On Tryin’ by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant — Completed
8 ) The Stand-In Groom by Kaye Dacus — Completed
9) Body Chemistry by Dara Girard — Completed
10) As I Have Loved You by Nikki Arana
11) In Love With A Younger Man by Cheryl Robinson — Completed
12) Be Strong and Curvaceous by Shelley Adina — Completed
13) Never Say Diet by Chantal Hobbs — Replaced by The 4 Day Diet; completed
PatriciaW´s last blog post..Taking The High Road in Romance
I read number 12 on my list Nobody but You by Francis Ray.
I am currently reading number 13 That Devil is no Friend of Mine by JD Mason. So, I should be finished with this challenge no later than Thursday!
January
1. His First Wife (5)
AET Review
2. Miss Etta’s Fast House Victor McGlothin (3)
3. Not Easily Broken T.D Jakes (3.5)
4. Where The Lines Bleeds Jesmyn Ward (2.5)
Vine Review & APOOO BOM
5. The Best of Everything (5)
AET Review
6. Too Much of a Good Thing JJ Murray (4.5)
AET Review
February
7. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch (4)
8. I Still Do C.M. Jones (4)
AET Review
9. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Tracy L. Darity (4)
AET Review
10. Something Like Beautiful Asha Bandele (3)
Vine Review & APOOO BOM
11. Singing a Song Crystal Rhodes (3.5)
AET Review
March
12. Motif by Tiesha Bourne (4)
AET Review
13. Office Politics Wilma Brockington (5)
AET Review
14.Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man Steve Harvey (4)
AET Review
15. That Devil’s No Friend of Mine J. D. Mason
APOOO BOM********** READING*********
Three more books I want to finish before the end of the quarter…
Lovers & Liars by Teri Denine
AET Review
The Black Girl Next Door Jennifer Baszile
Vine Review
The Other Side Of Paradise Staceyann Chin
Vine Review
LOL — I don’t remember my original list! I’ll try to find it to reconcile. I am happy to report that I finished book #26 last night, so I’m sure I met the challenge.
I read a challenge book last week, Triangular Road by Paule Marshall and starting another, The Devil’s No Friend of Mine, which is also APOOO BOM. But I am way past 13 books.
Dera Williams´s last blog post..He’s Back….E. Lynn Harris Back in Familiar Territory
Hey APOOO Challengers,
HOPE all is going well. I am happy to say that I only have ONE more read to go, THE SWEETEST TABOO by Risque.
January
Nina’s Got A Secret by Brian W. Smith (5-stars)
Dirty Little Angel by Erica Hilton (3.5-stars)
Designated Hitters by Flex & Crystal Perkins-Stell (4.5 stars)
Chante’s Got A Man by Donneil D. Jackson (4 stars)
Who You Wit’ by Paula Chase (4.5 stars)
We Take This Man by Candice Dow & Daamiah Poole (4 stars)
February
The Bishop’s Daughter by Tiffany L. Warren (5 stars)
Ghetto Resume by Freddie Simmons (3 stars)
What Doesn’t Kill You by Virginia DeBerry & Donna Grant (5 stars)(not originally on my list)
The Pledge by Chandra Sparks Taylor (4.5 stars)
March
Ski Mask Way by Randy Ski Thompson (4.5 stars)
Desperate Hoodwives by Meesha Mink & De’Neshia Diamond (5 stars)
I don’t remember my list if I made one and if I did I probably didn’t stick to it. I’ve finished book 13 in February and just finished book 28 Sunday.
While I have read close to 30 books so far this year – I have not read all of the books that I listed for the 13 chalenge – UGH!
What is left from my 13 challenge list is:
The Best of AA Fiction – actually read most of it
Bring on the Blessing
Red Light Green Light
The Island of Eternal Love
With my “wandering eye” I should just stick to committing to read the number of books – not the exact title.
And what is the last day of the challenge
Awww Man.. I struggled with my list.. I had soo much going on and then I picked up a bunch that I could not wait to read.
Dying for Revenge –
Nins’s Got a Secret – finished’
Joseph – finished
Is No not Clear Enought for you – finished
Schae’s Story – finished
The Right Mistake – finished
The Ties that Bind – finished
The Red Tent – finished
When Love comes around – finished
Wayne Jorden Series:
Embracing the Moonlight
One Gentle Knight
To Love a Knight
Always a Knight
Books I could not wait to read:
Braddock Series
Her Lover’s Legacy – A Byrd
Sex and the Single Braddock – R. Amos
Second Chance, Baby – AC Arthur
The Object of his Protection – B. Jackson
Tall Dark Westmorland – B. jackson
Defying Desire – AC Arthur
Bev, last day is March 31st.
thanks – then maybe I can make it
i am completing my last book in the challange. all of my books were not on my original list. im currently reading Erotic City by Pynk
Yeah I’m definitely out the count too!! I KNOW I didn’t stick to my original list! LOL!!!!
Hmmm, I’ve read 11 books, although my list has changed from my original 12 listed. Not sure if I’ll make 13 by March 31.
Im still in..LOL
Well, I have finished more than 13 but not all of my original list.
You know how you get a book (not on your list) that peaks your
interest? Well that’s what happen to me. Next quarter I will have
to stay true to the list. This week I plan to read:
It’s in the rhythm by Sammie Ward
If I had known by Karen Owens
The Pink Palace by Marlon McCailsky
1.) Sinsatiable- Sheila E. Lipsey – finished
2.) My Son’s Wife – Sheila E. Lipsey – finished
3.) The Cooling Board – Tamara Angela Grant – finished
4.) Hot Girl – Dream Jordan – finished
5.) When a Man Loves a woman – LaConnie Taylor Jones – finished
6.) One Taste – Allison Hobbs – finished
7.) Schae’s Stroy – Angelia Menchan – finished
8.) Nothing But Trouble – Bettye Griffin – finished
9.) The Love Child’s Revenge – Nicole Bailey Williams – finished
10.) A Rich Mans Baby – Daaimah S. Poole – finished
11.) Suicide Diaries – Ebonee Monique – Finished
12.) Mistress Memoirs – Lorraine Elzia – finished
13.) What Doesn’t Kill You – DeBerry and Grant – finished
14.) The Million Dollar Deception – finished
15.) The Bishop’s Daughter – finished
16.) We Take This Man – finished
17.) Where There’s Smoke – Terra Little – currently reading
I must say that I have completed my 13 books from the challenge. However my biggest challenge right now is dealing with so many deaths. I truly am a God fearing woman and I know that he makes no mistakes however, I have been truly going through; in the last months time I have loss four family members. So I ask that you all keep me in your prayers. With all that is going on during this ordeal I must say that my reading has picked up and I want to thank all the authors of the books I have read so far this year for some of these books have truly kept me uplifted and my mind opened.
Dona so sorry to hear about your loses…sending up prayer now and claiming peace, understanding and tranqulity for you and your family.
xoxo
Yasmin´s last blog post..A Drug Dealer’s Dream by Tremayne Johnson
I’m feeling Dona’s pain rather intimately right now, and will be praying for her too.
This challenge has confirmed for me that I am not a List person. Too many other books came along that I felt I wanted to read instead, but I did stick to the Book A Week concept.
Last week I read Murder On The Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young. I had been eagerly anticipating this read, but I Must Say I was Very Disappointed. From page 7 I knew where the book was going, and just like Where There’s Smoke, I was enjoying the ride.
Somewhat.
But just like a good movie can be ruined in the last reel, this book was destroyed by an ending that didn’t really make sense. My issues with the storyline can’t be described in a review setting, they’re more appropriate for a book discussion type forum, but Gosh!
I wanted to throw the book at the wall.
And while I have a profound respect for the message Ms Samuels Young tried to impart, and am covering much of the same ground in We Still Ain’t Got This Right, the book still read like a PSA/Treatise in too many spots. It made me want to take a good hard look at my manuscript to make sure it conveyed the tone I wanted it to and didn’t come off sounding… Preachy.
My last book is Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice.
This ain’t McDonald’s but I’m Lovin It already.
Hey BD…if nothing else this challenge was a learning process…and I can relate to what you’re saying about Murder on the DownLow…my rating was impacted as a result of some of the things you mentioned in your comments…and Om&Honey has been a hit for everyone who has read it…it’s really a very poignant read.
1. The S.W.A.P. Game by Brian W Smith completed
2. Up Pops the Devil by Angela Benson completed
3. Neglected Souls by RIchard Jeanty completed
4. The Song Yet Sung by James McBride completed
5. Revenge is Best Served Cold by Danita Carter and Tracie Howard completed
6. The Bishop’s Daughter by Tiffany L Warren completed
7. The Best of Everything by Kimberla Lawson Roby completed
8. The Making of Isaac Hunt by Linda Leigh Hargrove completed
9. Just Too Good to be True by E Lynn Harris completed
10. Going Down South by Bonnie Glover completed
11. The Sunday Brunch Diaries by Norma L Jarrett completed
12. A Taste of Reality by Kimberla Lawson Roby completed
13. Up to No Good by Carl Weber completed
I completed all on my list in addition to:
Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou
A Family Sin by Travis Hunter
Speak to My Heart by Stacy Hawkins Adams
Livin’ Ain’t Easy by Peron Long
Currently, I’m reading the following:
Derelict by Mark Anthony and 50 Cent
Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey
I hoping to have these completed by Sunday night, especially since it’s going to be raining all weekend.
I see a mistake.
Derelict was written by Relentless Aaron and 50 Cent
Sorry about that.
Hey APOOO Challengers. It’s official, I finished the first quarter! YIPEE! While I did change one of the original books from my list, I truly enjoyed the challenge as well as the sharing with everyone here. It was fun to look at the updates and share which books I was reading and those that were recommended. The second challenge begins on my 36th b-day…need to compose my list!
January
Nina’s Got A Secret by Brian W. Smith (5-stars)
Dirty Little Angel by Erica Hilton (3.5-stars)
Designated Hitters by Flex & Crystal Perkins-Stell (4.5 stars)
Chante’s Got A Man by Donneil D. Jackson (4 stars)
Who You Wit’ by Paula Chase (4.5 stars)
We Take This Man by Candice Dow & Daamiah Poole (4 stars)
February
The Bishop’s Daughter by Tiffany L. Warren (5 stars)
Ghetto Resume by Freddie Simmons (3 stars)
What Doesn’t Kill You by Virginia DeBerry & Donna Grant (5 stars)(not originally on my list)
The Pledge by Chandra Sparks Taylor (4.5 stars)
March
Ski Mask Way by Randy Ski Thompson (4.5 stars)
Desperate Hoodwives by Meesha Mink & De’Neshia Diamond (5 stars)
The Sweetest Taboo by Risque (4 stars)
Nardsbaby´s last blog post..Nardsbaby gave 4 stars to: The Sweetest Taboo