First Quarter 2009 Reading Challenge, Weekly Update #7
By APOOO • Feb 16th, 2009 • Category: First Quarter 2009 Reading Challenge •
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Hey hey APOOO Challengers! Guess what, we’re more than halfway through the challenge. Welcome to week seven of the First Quarter 2009 Reading Challenge. So, what did you read last week (from your list) and what do you plan to read this week?
Last week, I read Where There’s Smoke by Terra Little. No sophomore jinx here. Where There’s Smoke is an engrossing and fascinating read about a former drug dealer, a former crack addict and the child they share. While the parents have reformed and changed, their child appears to be making the same mistakes they made almost two decades ago. For the sake of their son, they much come together to save him and keep the streets from taking his life. Where There’s Smoke is recommended to anyone who enjoys a creatively crafted storyline about love, family, parenting, change and redemption.
Here’s my thirteen books for the First Quarter 2009 Reading List with updates:
The Air Between Us by Deborah Johnson
The Black Girl Next Door by Jennifer Baszille
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
The Ties that Bind by Bertice Berry
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
This week I hope to read Deadly Charm by Claudia Mair. Will be back next week to discuss. 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 (same time) next Sunday for Weekly Update #8.
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I finished everything on my list. I recently finished
Property by Valerie Martin
Belle by Beverly jenkins
I just started Red Light Special by Risque this week.
Wow, Uranie…what books were on your list?
Ms. Mary I enjoyed Red Light Special and hope you do also.
Last week I finished Loving Cee Cee Johnson. It was number 6 from my list. I guess I am a week behind, but I’ll catch it up. Hopefully, this week i am going to read What Doesn’t Kill You by Deberry and Grant and Chosen by Patricia Haley. That is after I read The Someday List by Stacy Hawkins Adams
Hey Jnette the next three books on your reading list are all very good reads; hope you enjoy them. Although one of them might make you want to throw the book across the room…hehe.
I’m currently working on book #13, so I’ve completed the quarterly challenge. I’m still reading Eve: A Novel of the First Woman by Elissa Elliott. Let’s just say Eve and her first daughter, Naava, are NOT my fav characters at the moment. I’m about 35% complete…so I hope things get better. They’ve gotten booted out of Eden and have met the “other” people at this point. Cain and Abel are still arguing amongst themselves. But at this point, the author has confused me and I need some questions answered by some of you who study the Bible. I hope to finish it no later than Tuesday night. I’m ready to move on.
Next up: The Book of Night Women by Marlon James. It is supposed to be “automagically” downloaded to my Kindle Thursday (I pre-ordered it).
Phyllis…can’t wait to hear your questions and hope that the Book of Night Women will be on your Kindle on Thursday.
Slow week for me:
Sinful Chocolate By Adrianne Byrd
Seduced by Moonlight By Janice SIms(well it will be by the end of the night.)
Lashonda Silver´s last blog post..I Gave into Pressure and Hit the Bottle
How come everybodies picture is showing up except mine..oh I havent read anything new since the last update..demmit
I think I’m behind, I’m not sure though. I might be right on schedule. I’ve been reading. Currently I’m trying to finish three books. I hope to do so by the end of the week.
Well, I’m happy to report that I finally finished The Best of Everything. I love Kimberla’s writing, so I was determined to finish the book. I enjoyed it, and it was good writing, plus I was able to get the updates on characters from her other books! I also finished Want Some Get Some by Pam Ward, which was excellent. It has 347 pages, but it will hold your interest. Next, I plan to read Essence of Desire by Brenda Jackson, The Bishop’s Daughter by Tiffany Warren, and Just Too Good To Be True by E Lynn Harris.
I finished Straight Outta East Oakland and The Someday List, numbers 9 and 10. I am now reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.
Currently reading:
Song Yet Sung by James McBride
The Making of Isaac Hunt by Linda Leigh Hargrove
Have completed:
The S.W.A.P. Game by Brian W Smith
Up Pops the Devil by Angela Benson
Neglected Souls by Richard Jeanty
Revenge is Best Served Cold by Danita Carter and Tracie Howard
The Bishop’s Daughter by Tiffany L Warren
The Best of Everything by Kimberla Lawson Roby
A Taste of Reality by Kimberla Lawson Roby
While I have read more than 13 books this year – I have not yet read all of the books on my Challenge List.
Last week from my list I read: The Thirteenth by LA Banks which finished out the VHL series. In the end I ended liking the “Dark” side characters more than the “Light” side. I also completed “Love on the Color Line” by Laura Castoro.
I am currently reading “Eve” which is HF but cannot figure out how much is fiction and how much is based on true facts.
Also this week I hope to read: “Them” by Nathan McCall and “The Piano Teacher” by Janice Y.K. Lee
I read five books for the week, one of which was on my list.
Dance Into Destiny – Sherri L. Lewis
A Special Summer – Victoria Lewis
When Love Comes Around – Victoria Lewis
A Lover’s Beauty – AlTonya Washington
A Man’s Worth – Nikita Lynette Nichols
They were all wonderful reads. Stand outs for me were A Special Summer, When Love Comes Around and A Man’s Worth. I wanted to throttle Amaryllis in A Man’s Worth. That woman was a mess. We get to find out her fate in her own book that is slated to be released in March. Can’t wait for that one.
I have 5 books left on my list to read, two of which I may swap out because they don’t quite fit what my reading taste right now, but I do want to read them eventually. We shall see.
Currently reading (started both today):
Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man – Steve Harvey
More Than He Can Handle – Cheris Hodges
Dawn you’re on track and I hope you’re enjoying What Doesn’t Kill You!
Linda, I wish I knew. I can see you photo on the backend but I’m not sure of why it doesn’t show up on the page…sigh.
I have read 10 of my 13:
Hood Life- D, Diamond and M. Mink
Bring on the Blessings- Bev. Jenkins
Secret Love-Brenda Jackson
Road to Seduction-Ann Christopher
One In a Million- Barbara keaton
The Darkness- LA Banks
The Shadows- LA Banks
Im Gonna Make You Love Me- Gwyneth Bolton
This Time For Real- Yahrah St. John
Temptation and Lies- Donna Hill
I have left to read are :
The Thirteenth-LA Banks
Basketball Jones-E. Lynn Harris
Nobody But You- Francis Ray (doesn’t come out till March)
Finished Be Strong and Curvaceous. Read Rescue Me by Farrah Rochon and now reading Dangerous Prey by Lindsay McKenna, both review books. Loved Farrah’s book (I see she was here a few days ago and I missed her post.); the McKenna book is just okay.
Here’s my update:
1) Havah by Tosca Lee — completed week 1
2) The Someday List by Stacy Hawkins Adams — completed week 1
3) Love Begins with Elle by Rachel Hauck
4) The Bishop’s Daughter by Tiffany Warren — completed week 5
5) Scrapping Plans by Rebeca Seitz
6) Midnight by Sister Souljah — In Progress — completed week 4
7) Gotta Keep On Tryin’ by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant — completed week 2
8)The Stand-In Groom by Kaye Dacus — completed week 2
9) Body Chemistry by Dara Girard — completed week 1
10) As I Have Loved You by Nikki Arana
11 ) In Love With A Younger Man by Cheryl Robinson
12) Be Strong and Curvaceous by Shelley Adina — completed week 6
13) Never Say Diet by Chantal Hobbs — replaced by The 4-Day Diet by Dr. Ian K. Smith; completed week 1
I’ve got 4 books to go from my list but with the McKenna book, I’ve already done 13 for the quarter.
PatriciaW´s last blog post..Black Christian Fiction on Parade: Wanda B. Campbell
Sorry I haven’t had an op to post my reviews. The last week has been a real struggle for me. I have 8 kids of my own, one that God blessed me with, and countless others the Lord has chosen me to mother. They call me Mommy and I call them my Street Kids, cause that’s where most of them were or were headed when they came into my life. One of these was named Smoke, and he was shot dead in the bar he managed early Monday morning, Feb 9th.
I finally got around to posting my review for The Hood Life:
http://www.brooklyndarkchild.com/apps/blog/show/456313-the-hood-life-a-bentley-manor-tale-by-meesha-mink-and-de-neesha-diamond-
Another Five Star Hood Masterpiece.
I went on to Madam Eve, which I won in a contest, but I couldn’t finish it.
Just couldn’t do that to myself.
And somebody had the nerve to give that thing 5 stars.
Instead, I read Idoleyes, by American Idol contestant Mandisa Hundley.
This is a very spiritually based book, which was exactly what my wounded spirit needed. I breezed through it in three days, and will post the review shortly.
This week I’m on A Rich Man’s Baby by Daaimah S Poole. It’s pretty good so far
BD…you are in my prayers…so sorry to hear about Smoke. May he RIP.
xoxo
I just finished Red Light Special by Risque and all I can say is OMG!!!! Now I’m starting The Cartel by Ashley & Jaquavis
How is it possible that I didn’t post my update. OKAY while I said that I wouldn’t do it I’m doing it. I’ve swapped a book out.
So I changed Erotic City by Pynk to What Doesn’t Kill You by DeBerry & Grant leaving me with:
Desperate Hoodwives
Ski Mask Way
The Sweetest Taboo
to complete.
Nardsbaby´s last blog post..Nardsbaby gave 3 stars to: Two Thin Dimes
Update: I have complete 12 books.Some of the books on my list have been changed but the following books that have been completed are:
1.The Bitch Is Back-Deja King
2.Queen Bitch-Deja King
3.Rich Girls-Kendall Banks
4.Expensive Taste-Tiphani Montgomery
5.We Take This Man-Candice Dow & Daaimah S Poole
6.The Hood Rats-E.R. McNair
7.The Cartel-Ashley & JaQuavis
8.Money Power Respect- Erick S Gray
9.Up To No Good-Carl Weber
10.Project Queen-T.D. Patterson
11.Female Traits-Lurea C McFadden
12.A Sticky Situation-Kiki Swinson
I have four more books to go and should get them done next week…I have read about ten others that were not on my list…
http://acvermen.blogspot.com/2009/01/first-quarter-2009-reading-challenge.html
Blessings!
angelia
Angelia´s last blog post..What Color are their glasses!