Once upon a time, I earned a Master's Degree in Literature and was a Professor of Literature and Composition. I had a wonderful time writing my Master's Thesis about Children's and Young Adult Literature, and I considered earning a Ph.D. so that I could continue to pursue the written word, including British, American, Latin American and other Global Literatures, Children's and Young Adult Literature, all types of genres and occasionally even poetry. But life takes you in unexpected directions, and so now I am working for a non-profit agency (you can read about that on my other blog, A Little Bit of Wonder). Although my job keeps me too busy to post as many book reviews as I would like, Recommended Reading is a place where I can continue to share my literary discoveries and knowledge as time allows.

Please note that I post reviews for books that I recommend reading, just like the blog title says. This means that I typically won't post a review for a book that I completely dislike. This isn't because I shy away from making negative comments, but rather because I don't want to waste your time or mine (I won't even bother to finish a book if it's not any good). For more on this, see the explanation of my Rating System.)


2011 Reading Challenges

While I want to join the throng of book bloggers who read and review new novels, I have to admit that I'm often hesitant to spend my time on a book unless I've heard good things about it already.  I often feel like there are too many of the "classics" that I haven't read (whether that be Children's Literature/Young Adult classics, Sci-Fi classics, British Literature classics, whatever).  So when I saw that Splash of Our Worlds and My Love Affair With Books were hosting a book challenge for 2011 that involved reading any and all books published before 2009, I decided that would be the perfect challenge for me to join.  Ditto when I found The Classics 2011 Reading Challenge, hosted by Kimberly's Cottage Bookshelf.  I joined YS Princess's 1001 Children's Books Challenge because I love Children's MG/YA Lit, and YA Bliss's Historical Fiction Challenge because of my new-found love of this particular genre in YA Lit.

Read on for my list of completed reads for these challenges, and follow the banner links at the bottom of the page if you'd like to join either challenge yourself.


Quick Recap/Details:

Into the Old World Challenge
Hosts:  Splash of Our Worlds and My Love Affair With Books
Starts: January 1, 2011
Ends: December 31, 2011
Eligible Books: Any books published BEFORE 2009, of any genre
Learn More and Sign Up Here: http://intotheoldworldchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/11/intro-post.html

The Classics 2011 Challenge
Host: Kimberly's Cottage Bookshelf
Starts: January 1, 2011
Ends: December 31, 2001
Eligible Books: "Classics" of any kind (including "Modern Classics")
Learn More and Sign Up Here: http://sugarcreekcottage.blogspot.com/2011/01/sign-up-classics-2011-reading-challenge.html

1001 Children's Books to Read Before You Grow Up Challenge
Host: YS Princess
Starts: January 31, 2011
Ends: December 31, 2011
Eligible Books: we're using this list of 1001 Children's Books to Read Before You Grow Up
Learn More and Sign Up Here: http://ysprincess.blogspot.com/2011/01/1001-childrens-books-you-must-read.html

The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
Host: YA Bliss
Starts: January 1, 2011
Ends: January 31, 2011
Eligible Books: historical fiction is defined as
Learn More and Sign Up Here: http://www.yabliss.com/2010/11/ya-historical-fiction-challenge.html


Read as much as you can... go!


My Into The Old World Reading List:

1.  It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini (2006)
2.  A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle (1963)
3.  A Wind in the Door by Madeline L'Engle (1973)
4.  A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeline L'Engle (1978)
5.  Many Waters by Madeline L'Engle (1986)
6.  A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly (2003)
7.  The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry (2008)
8.  The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (2008)
9.  A Ring of Endless Light by Madeline L'Engle (1980)
10.  Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt (2004)



My Classics Challenge List:  

1. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle (1963)
2.  A Wind in the Door by Madeline L'Engle (1973)
3.  A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeline L'Engle (1978)
4.  Many Waters by Madeline L'Engle (1986)



My 1,001 Children's Books List:

1. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle (1963)
2.


My Y.A. Historical Fiction Challenge List:

1. Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool (2010)
2. Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen (2010)
3. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly (2003)
4. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt (2004)




Into The Old World Reading Challenge


This post participates in the Weekly Geek Challenge for December 10, 2010.
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