The Spring Reading Thing

Here’s something fun for you:

The Spring Reading Thing!

Challenge yourself to read those books you’ve been meaning to get to but keep putting off…

I’m a little late to the party, since it’s running from March 21 - June 21, but I figure there’s still time to jump in and play. So here’s my list:

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus - A friend just loaned me this book, and since the movie’s coming out soon, I figure I’ll check out the appeal. Update: A quick, entertaining read. I finished it in a weekend! Reminded me of Bridget Jones, with the requisite chick lit 1st person slightly tormented, slightly neurotic, very single-and-struggling-to-find-a-meaningful-job heroine. Still, the 2 authors are spot-on in their satire of Manhattan nanny life. Unfortunately, I know mothers like Mrs. X. You'll like this one--give it a try!

Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult - She’s my latest favorite author. I was going to put down 19 Minutes, her latest release, but it’s about a school shooting, and I’m not sure I’m up for that. This novel’s about a couple torn apart by the assault of their young son and the lengths they go to manipulate the justice system and seek revenge. Still not too promising for a light read, but she tackles tough issues, and I like her for that.

Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield - Believe it or not, my students have been raving about this memoir all year. Guess it’s time I see what’s so terrific about it. Plus, what child of the 80s doesn’t remember the decade of mix tapes? Update: This was a terrific memoir of a writer for Rolling Stone who lost his wife after 5 years of marriage, when they were both only 31. Poignant, well-written, and even humorous in places, it chronicles the couple's courtship through the classic icon of the mix tape. A fast read and one I'd recommend to anyone.

Never the Same by Diane Craver - This one’s an inspirational romance, an e-book that I won from a fellow Samhain author. I promised her a review on my blog, so I need to get going!

The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama - With the Presidential campaigns gearing up, I’d like to finish this nonfiction work and find out more about the newcomer from Illinois.

Anything by Jennifer Cruisie - She’s one of the biggest names in the romance genre, so I feel as though I should be familiar with her work, and yet I haven’t found a novel by her I could really get into. Any suggestions? Update: I made my way through Tell Me Lies and really enjoyed it, to my surprise! With a confused but endearing heroine, a sexy-as-hell hero, a murder mystery, a small town, and secrets between friends...how could I lose? My favorite part was reading Crusie's dialogue--great, believable stuff.

That’s probably about all I can manage, with the crunch time of school’s end fast approaching. But I hope there’s a Summer Reading Challenge as well, because I always have a list of books for those hazy days of July and August.

C’mon, join me! What books will be on your spring reading list?