I hope everyone is enjoying their reading so far for the Newbery Reading Challenge. And now, it's time for another Mini-Challenge! Mini-challenges are great ways to get a few extra points along the way. They just might be what pushes you to aim for the next level!

We've had two mini-challenges announced so far. You can check out all the details here:
Mini-challenge #1
Mini-challenge #2

And here's the new one! Any book you read from the year you were born is worth one extra bonus point. So for example, I was born in 1984. The Newbery winner that year was Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary. If I were to read that book for the challenge, I would earn 4 points instead of 3. Newbery Honor books from the year you were born would be worth 3 points instead of 2.

Enjoy your reading! Keep racking those points up!

As always, check out the Newbery Reading Challenge headquarters for all details on this challenge. This is also where you can post your reviews.

Come back soon! Mini-Challenge #4 will be posted September 25!

So last week, I read through the entire Harry Potter series. It took a lot longer than I was expecting. I knew they were fast reads, so I thought it would take a day and a half, maybe two. Nope. Four days. Forty-five hours of reading. By the end of it, I was tired of Harry Potter, tired of doing nothing but sitting and reading all day. The seventh book took me longer than it should have because I just didn't feel like reading about Harry Potter anymore.

When I finished Friday night, I was overjoyed to be done for about five minutes. And then I started missing it. I missed Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I missed Hogwarts. I missed the magical world. And now it's Tuesday morning, and I'm still missing it all. I still wish I could return to Hogwarts, and I'm almost willing to start this whole crazy marathon over again just to reenter that world.

I also noticed just how well the characters age throughout the series. Harry starts out as an eleven-year-old who is unsure of himself and his place in this newly discovered world. By the end of the series, he is a supremely confident seventeen-year-old, yet he's still figuring out this whole romance thing. And despite the fact that Harry goes through things we will never experience, we still see ourselves in him and his friendships and his struggles. Even if we came to this series as an adult instead of a child, there are still characters and experiences to relate to.

Rowling is a master of comic relief. These books are funny. Serious, too, and occasionally terrifying. But there is always something funny to break the tension (Ron and Hermione's kiss in the middle of the battle of Hogwarts is a perfect example of this!). I found myself chuckling more than I expected to. The series as a whole is profound, but it's the comical moments and chapters that make it so enjoyable. 

I could go on for a very long time about all the things that make Harry Potter amazing. (I haven't even touched on the immense amount of imagination it must have taken to build such a complex world!) But I want to hear your thoughts too - because I'm sure you have some. :)

I did it! I read all 7 Harry Potter books in 4 days. Lots of reading, but lots of fun! If you're curious how it went, you can check out my posts from last week - Day One, Day Two, Day Three, and Day Four.

Room by Emma Donoghue (This is our book club book for the month, we're meeting tomorrow, and I'm only halfway through. Yikes!)
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos (I started this one before my Harry Potter marathon, but I haven't had a chance to finish it yet. One of these days I'll get back to it!)

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier (I've already had to renew this book from the library once because I haven't had a chance to get to it yet. It's now top priority on my reading list. I want to finish this series!)

The Goal: To read all seven Harry Potter books straight through without a break (okay, maybe a break here and there)
For the reasoning behind this crazy goal, check out my original post.

Day Four Start Time: 8:35 a.m. (Had to sleep in a little. . .)

Sixth book completed at: 11:31 a.m.
Time it took to read it: 7 hours and 10 minutes
Total time spent reading: 36 hours and 8 minutes
Total number of pages read: 3,341
Thoughts about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Once again, at the end of this book, I am speechless. How does Rowling do that every time? As I was reading, I had all sorts of thoughts to write here - about the ugh-ness of Horcruxes, the silliness of teenage love. . . But I am left with nothing but tears in my eyes. It's one thing for this ending to hit this hard the first time I read the book. But over and over again, every single time? That is quite the powerful spell that Rowling has created.
Favorite chapter: Dumbledore's visit to the Dursleys in chapter 3

Seventh book completed at: 11:22 p.m.
Time it took to read it: 8 hours and 54 minutes
Total time spent reading: 45 hours and 2 minutes
Total number of pages read: 4,100
Thoughts about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Does Harry live? Does Harry die? I remember all of the questions that were flying around just before this final book was released. And the answer to those questions was yes. Rowling wrote an ending to this series that could satisfy everyone, though I honestly had to reread the book a couple times before I fully understood everything. It's a happy ending, but a realistic one, too. It was war. People died. And after six books of making Snape seem ever more despicable, his story redeemed him in the end. This certainly isn't my favorite book in the Harry Potter series, but I think it is the one I respect the most. It has a complex plot, characters you've grown to be friends with, and a profound message - in the end, love conquers all.
Best moment: Ron and Hermione's kiss. Took them long enough.

Whew! I made it to the end of my marathon! What a week it's been! I'm going to let all of my Harry Potter-related thoughts simmer, and have one more post next week about what I've gotten out of this crazy marathon. I hope you share your Harry Potter-related thoughts then, too!

The Goal: To read all seven Harry Potter books straight through without a break (okay, maybe a break here and there)
For the reasoning behind this crazy goal, check out my original post.

Day Three Start Time: 7:00 a.m.

Fifth book completed at: 5:27 p.m.
Time it took to read it: 10 hours and 16 minutes
Total time spent reading: 28 hours and 58 minutes
Total number of pages read: 2,689
Thoughts about Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: After Prisoner of Azkaban, this is my favorite Harry Potter book. And after rereading it a number of times, I think I've finally figured out why I like it so much. It's Umbridge. Well, not Umbridge herself, because she's despicable. But all the ways that the teachers and students disobey her and mess with her. It's incredibly satisfying to see her get more and more frazzled as the book continues. I also LOVE the idea of Dumbledore's Army. I would have joined that group in a heartbeat!
Favorite character in this book: Dumbledore. I love Dumbledore in all of the books, but I think I like him best in this one. He is still a powerful, unimpeachable wizard and leader. But we start to see him more as a person, especially at the end in his conversation with Harry.

It's 12:30 a.m., and I can't keep my eyes open anymore. I'm on page 402 of the Half-Blood Prince, so I should be able to finish that one tomorrow morning. Then onto the Deathly Hallows!

The Goal: To read all seven Harry Potter books straight through without a break (okay, maybe a break here and there)
For the reasoning behind this crazy goal, check out my original post.

Day Two Start Time: 6:20 a.m.
[I will admit right up front that I won't be reading straight through today. My library books are due today, which makes today Library Day. So I'll have a couple hour break in the middle of the day for typical Library Day celebrations. Then back to the reading!]
[Okay, so then I ended up getting sick this afternoon, and didn't have as much time as I hoped to read. I'm hoping to remedy that by staying up a little later tonight.]

Fourth book completed at: 9:05 p.m.
Time it took to read it: 7 hours and 18 minutes
Total time spent reading: 18 hours and 42 minutes
Total number of pages read: 1,819
Thoughts about Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The end of this book is scary! I remember being completely freaked out when I first read this book. One of the things I like about the first three books is that the storylines are wrapped up nicely at the end. They are self-sufficient books. Prisoner of Azkaban does have a loose end or two at the end of the book, but it's really with Goblet of Fire that the plots expand and build and intertwine. Harry's "simple" childhood is left behind. This book is also a perfect example of a book to reread. You can pick up on so many hints and hidden pieces if you already know the ending.
Favorite part: The house elves. I love their loyalty and eagerness to serve and enthusiasm (even if they don't get paid). Everyone needs a friend like Dobby.

Well, it's nearly midnight and I'm on page 170 of Order of the Phoenix. Sounds like it's time for bed. To be continued in the morning!

The Goal: To read all seven Harry Potter books straight through without a break (okay, maybe a break here and there)
For the reasoning behind this crazy goal, check out my original post.

Official Marathon Start Time: 6:35 a.m.

First book completed at: 10:28 a.m.
Time it took to read it: 3 hours and 16 minutes
Number of pages read: 309
Thoughts about Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: The magic of Harry Potter never changes. I was drawn into the world of Hogwarts just as much as the first time I read the book many years ago. For as many times as I've read these books, there were still details I had forgotten and things that I had missed. The plot is refreshingly simple compared to the other books, but there are still hints of Rowling's complex world-building. Oh, to be an 11-year-old at Hogwarts!
Favorite line: "Welcome!" Dumbledore said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" (I giggle every time I read that part.)

Second book completed at: 2:32 p.m.
Time it took to read it: 3 hours and 47 minutes
Total time spent reading: 7 hours and 3 minutes
Total number of pages read: 650
Thoughts about Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: This is probably my least favorite of all the Harry Potter books. I'm not a huge fan of snakes, and I'm definitely not a huge fan of huge snakes. That crawl through walls. And can kill you with a look. {shudder} Also, Gilderoy Lockhart drives me mildly crazy. And poor Ginny! Can you imagine growing up with six older brothers? I think the least I would do is pour out all my feelings in a diary, even if it happens to be unfortunately enchanted.
Snacks eaten so far today: Crab cheese rangoon, sharp cheddar cheese, sesame sticks, and blueberries (Time for something a little less healthy - bring on the chocolate!)

Third book completed at: 8:50 p.m.
Time it took to read it: 4 hours and 21 minutes
Total time spent reading: 11 hours and 24 minutes
Total number of pages read: 1,085
Thoughts about Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: This one has long been my favorite Harry Potter book, and I think that's mostly because of Lupin. Haven't we always wanted a teacher and friend like him at some point in our lives (minus the werewolf bit)? In my opinion, they did an awfully poor job casting him in the movie, so I'm glad I can return to my mental picture of him when I read the books. And Rowling certainly has a gift for plot twists, doesn't she? It's hard to recognize that when we're so familiar with the story now. But just imagine reading this book for the first time. Page after page of twists and turns and new revelations. What fun!
Breaks I've taken today: Showering, running up and down the stairs for a little exercise, Bible study, cooking dinner, eating dinner. . .and soon, sleeping.

It's been a great first day of the Harry Potter Reading Marathon. I'll be continuing on to book four early tomorrow morning!

Reviewlets - Italy Edition (Because I may or may not have been in Italy on vacation at the time I posted this. . . :)
Rereading Harry Potter

Riding the Iron Rooster by Paul Theroux (Just confirms how little I know about China's history. I'll keep trying to fix that!)
The Deception of the Emerald Ring by Lauren Willig (Love this series!)
The Service of Clouds by Delia Falconer (Not quite what I expected, but a good read overall.)

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (Still chipping away at the Newbery Award winners list, and enjoying this one immensely!)

Tomorrow begins my Harry Potter Reading Marathon. I'm planning to read all seven books straight through! If you want to know more, you can read my intro post. Visit me tomorrow and see how I'm doing!

I've read the Harry Potter books several times in my life. I honestly can't even tell you how many, because I've lost count. A lot. Let's leave it at that.

I was a freshman in high school when I received the first two books for Christmas. Needless to say, I devoured them, and then every subsequent book in the series as well, as soon as they were published. For the sixth book, I stopped at a Wal-Mart at six in the morning on my way to an out-of-town wedding to pick up a copy - and seriously considered skipping the reception to hide out in my hotel room and read. For the seventh book, I waited in line at midnight, then proceeded to stay up all night to read it. I was done by eight in the morning. I couldn't risk anyone spoiling anything for me!

I had been a voracious reader before Harry Potter - these books didn't change my life in that way. But it did add magic to my life. There's just something about these books that sets them apart, no matter how many other books we've read.

But it's been a good five years since I've picked up a Harry Potter book. And the urge has come upon me to read them again. But not leisurely. This time I want the big picture all at once. So starting Tuesday, July 22, I am having a Harry Potter Reading Marathon. That's right. I'm starting with book one and not stopping until I've finished book seven (That's a bit of an exaggeration. I'll still eat and talk to my husband and sleep for awhile.) I'll be blogging here as I go with stats and thoughts and new discoveries. Stop on by anytime and see how things are going!

I visited Venice back in 2008 and was completely intrigued by the city. It was so hard to do just about everything. Streets that looked like they led the right direction would end at a canal, or there would be no bridge at the spot you needed to cross a canal. Despite this, I felt that I would have enjoyed living in the city for a few months to truly get the feel of everyday life.

That’s why I was so excited to see Donna Leon’s book of essays about life in Venice. She has lived in Venice for thirty years. This would truly be an insider’s view of life in a unique city. And it was. I thoroughly enjoyed each of her essays on Venice, dealing with everything from noisy neighbors to trying to renovate her house. The problem was that the book is titled My Venice and Other Essays. The Venice essays only took up about a quarter of the book. Then there were essays on opera and animals and writing crime novels. Leon is a witty essay writer. I just didn’t really care about those other topics.

If you are someone who typically enjoys reading essays, then you would probably enjoy reading this book. Leon is a good writer, who sees clearly and describes acerbically. If you’re looking for a book about Venice, though (as I was), there are probably better options.

This book was not quite what I expected, but that’s not a bad thing by any means. I expected it to be mostly personal narrative, describing Hales’ trials and triumphs as she attempted to learn Italian. What it actually is, however, is a history of the Italian language. I was a little disappointed at first. But once my brain made the adjustment from expectation to reality, I discovered that I was completely drawn into this book.

Language has always fascinated me. One of my favorite classes in college was a class about the history of the English language. So La Bella Lingua  was right up my alley. Even if the history of languages isn’t your thing, you will still enjoy this book. Hales describes complicated evolutions of words and keeps track of various historical personages with ease. And humor. Who knew a book about a language would have you laughing out loud?

Hales touches on everything from food to literature to movies. The language we speak enters every part of our lives, so a book on a language is a comprehensive look at what it means to be Italian, in this case. La Bella Lingua is well worth a read if you’ve ever wanted to visit Italy, if you’ve ever wanted to learn Italian, or even if you’ve ever eaten spaghetti.

Michael Tucker lived the dream – he bought a house in Italy, moved there, made friends, and learned how to thoroughly enjoy the Italian life. I guess all of that is possible when you’re a (mostly) famous actor (He was in L.A. Law. Yeah, I didn’t know that, either.). For those of us for whom this life remains a dream, however, Tucker’s book is the next best thing.

He portrays his acclimation into Italian living with humility and humor. It wasn’t always easy (putting gas into a diesel car doesn’t work so well), but he embraced his successes and failures with grace. He describes the food so amazingly that things I would never even think of eating sound delicious. And he gathers around himself a cast of friends, both Italians and ex-patriates, who are fun to get to know in their own right.

Continue dreaming of living in Italy. And to make your dream seem even more real, read Living in a Foreign Language.