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Reading report for December 2010

A very Happy New Year to my readers and casual visitors!

Here is the final reading report for 2010. I will be doing my yearly report soon.

Of the 11 books I finished in December, I started 7 in December. The rest I had been reading for various lengths of time. The actual page count is probably not impressive, but as I am not striving to finish a particular page or book count, it doesn‘t really matter.

6 of the month‘s finished books were TBR challenge reads. 1 was a Buchmesse Frankfurt challenge read, and 1 a Top Mysteries Challenge read and 4 were not part of any challenge. I failed to finish a second Top Mystery and my last Chunkster challenge book.

I lost two close relatives in December and found light literature the best books to read under the circumstances. First to go was one of my maternal aunts, on the 15th, and then my maternal grandmother, who passed away on December 23rd. I found books to be somewhat of a comfort, but most of all I was happy to be able to spend time with my family. Christmas was subdued, but it was still Christmas, just without the customary phone call to thank my gran for the presents. Today, January 1st, a third close relative died, my maternal great uncle, whose death was unexpected, unlike those of my gran and aunt, who had both been ill for some time. After all this, I find myself spiralling into my annual mid-winter depression a little earlier and faster than usual, but so far I am coping by staying busy and accepting all the support my family can give. In the weeks ahead I will probably be turning to the old familiar perennial rereads for comfort. I may also post a little less regularly for a while. But enough about me, here is the book list:

  • Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart & Lani Diane Rich : Dogs and Goddesses. Romance, alternative reality, paranormal/supernatural
  • Roald Dahl, ed.: Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories. Short stories, supernatural
  • Hallgrímur Helgason: 101 Reykjavík. Novel, lad lit
  • Dashiell Hammett: The Glass Key. Crime novel, noir
  • Ngaio Marsh: Tied up in Tinsel. Murder mystery, country house
  • Terry Pratchett: The Fifth Elephant. Fantasy (reread)
  • Various: Malice Domestic II. Short stories, crime
  • Various: Girl's Night In. Short stories, mostly romance
  • Various: Mystery For Christmas. Short stories, crime
  • Lynn Viehl: Dark Need and Night Lost. Urban fantasy, romantic

Comments

George said…
The winters are long in Western New York, too, but I find taking 2000 IU of vitamin D daily helps my mood and relieves some of my aches and pains.
Dorte H said…
I hope you´ll have a much happier 2011!
Bibliophile said…
Thank you. I hope so too.

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