First, R.I.P. JD Salinger. An American literary icon. For many, Catcher in the Rye was the first book someone handed them that they actually enjoyed, and so learned that books were more than chapters an English teacher forced them to read & take quizzes on, but a vehicle that can transport them to another time and place and into another’s life and emotions. Thank you, Mr. Salinger.
What I was really hanging around for, I was trying to feel some kind of a good-by. I mean I’ve left schools and places I didn’t even know I was leaving them. I hate that. I don’t care if it’s a sad good-by or a bad good-by, but when I leave a place I like to know I’m leaving it. If you don’t, you feel even worse. -Holden Caulfield, The Catcher in the Rye
What I was really hanging around for, I was trying to feel some kind of a good-by. I mean I’ve left schools and places I didn’t even know I was leaving them. I hate that. I don’t care if it’s a sad good-by or a bad good-by, but when I leave a place I like to know I’m leaving it. If you don’t, you feel even worse. -Holden Caulfield, The Catcher in the Rye
Second, I’ve just became aware of the Bloggies. I should have known that there would be an award system for blogging, but I didn’t. Until today. So I cruised over to the Bloggies award site which then of course introduced me to the newest members of my Google reader, including Booklicious. If you’re looking for what is out there in the blogging world, this is a great place to get a snapshot. Warning, don’t go to Matt, Liz & Madeline unless you have tissues nearby. That’s all I’m going to say. Consider yourself warned.
Third, I need to up date you on how Bunny, Tiff, Stacie & Sallie are doing on their challenges and how badly they are whipping up on me. So, let’s get to that.
Bunny: TBR Challenge – 8.3% complete
The Lady & The Unicorn: Tracy Chevalier
Tiff: TBR Challenge – 25% complete
The Possession of Mr. Cave – Matt Haig
72 Hour Hold – Bebe Campbell
The Blue Notebook – James A. Levine
Stacie: TBR Challenge – 16.7% complete
Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg
Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood
Sallie: Mixology (her goals are here) – 6.7% complete
Tatiana and Alexander – (book from other cultures)
For my updates, I’m logging my progress here. So, let’s hear it for the girls! Way to go!
If I had joined in your challenge I would so be sucking. Bad.
ALso, you have a blog award from me!
What a great post! I appreciate your noting the passing of Salinger. You are so right that Catcher in the Rye is often the book that really turns adolescents on to reading for joy & not because they have to for school. I came to Salinger a bit late in life (around age 19), but luckily I was still young enough to relate to Holden. I've always felt that if you read Catcher in the Rye much past 20, it might not resonate quite so much. Maybe I'm wrong.
Loved to learn everyone's progress and that you put it into percentages complete. Excellent! At this rate, I should get through my list by the end of the year. Now, if only new books would stop being published. Such a distraction.
Can the average blog reader vote on the Bloggies? If so, I'll ramp up a campaign for you.
Take Elisabeth's advice: You will need tissues if you visit the Matt, Liz, and Madeline blog. I just went & am now cradling a box of tissues.
@Klangford – thanks for the blog award! I'll be posting here soon…
@Stacie – I'll bring you my copy of EOTH today… and, you're so kind. Nominations are in early January, and I'm not sure I'll even remember this in 11 months! But yes, voting is open to all!
Thanks for the message about the medicine for the puppy. I've been reading about it online and I just wasn't sure about it. But "knowing" someone who uses it helps. It's hard keeping her eyes clean and I feel like I'm constantly messing with them. I know she doesn't like it, either.