What's Going On in My Reading Life?

Once again this year I'm participating in my local library's 50 Book Challenge.  I finished the challenge in 2009 with a total of 68 books and in 2010 with a total of 56 books.  

This year, in addition to participating in my local library's 50 Book Challenge, I'm also participating in  Booking It at LifeasMOM.  While I didn't read the February book, Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, I did write a review of the January selection, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. 

So far this year I've read a total of 13 books!  Since my last What's Going On in My Reading Life post, I've read 7 more books which are listed below.

• The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin  ****
• Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien  *****  My children and I absolutely loved this read-aloud book.  It truly is a delight and a treasure and I can't recommend it highly enough.
• Dragon Warrior by Janet Chapman *****  I adore Janet Chapman - she's my very favorite romance author.  This was the second book in the Moonlight Warrior series.
• Sprinkle With Murder by Jenn McKinlay - ****  This is the first book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series.  If you enjoy cozy-mysteries and you like cupcakes, this book is definitely a winner.
• Great Ancient China Projects You Can Build Yourself by Lance Kramer ***  This was a non-fiction read-aloud for history.
• Animal Farm by George Orwell  *****  I read this book for the first time since I had assigned it to my teenage daughter.  Wonderful, wonderful book but definitely quite dark and disturbing.  The horrific treatment of hardworking Boxer will never leave my memory.
• Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen  *****  Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous!  I could not have enjoyed this book more.  Sense and Sensibility has long been my very favorite movie so it was a delight to finally read the book.

As usual, I have several books that I'm reading at once.  What am I reading?

• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson - I only have a few chapters left to read in this classic book.  Amber has already finished it.  I am dragging my heels a bit on this one.  The immense amount of ship-related terminology has been an obstacle to my enjoyment of the book.  
• Homeschooling High School:  Planning Ahead for College Admission by Jeanne Gowen Dennis - I am still reading this book as my daughter edges closer and closer to full-blown high school at home.  She is taking two high school courses in 8th grade this year so we're both getting our feet wet.
• Clutter Rehab by Laura Wittman - I am just starting this book and am looking forward to reading more.  I've been very motivated by Laura's 52 Weeks of Organizing Challenge and have been participating each week.
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl - This is our current read-aloud book.  I LOVE this book!
• Buttercream Bump-Off by Jenn McKinlay - This is the second book in the Cupcake Bakery mystery series.  This is an enjoyable book particularly if you like cozy mysteries and cupcakes.
• Peace Child by Don Richardson - This is one of the books Amber will be reading for history next year.  I'm trying to get an early start on her history reading for next year as I usually read everything she reads so we can talk about it.  So far, this is a very powerful missionary story.

So, have you read anything great so far this year?  I'm always interested to hear book suggestions!

Photo courtesy of Michelle Meiklejohn at www.freedigitalphotos.net.