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Week in Review

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Good morning. It's a great day today! It's my 5th Blogiversary! I can't believe I've been reviewing books here at My Book Retreat for five years already. Time has flown by. When I started, my son had just started kindergarten and my daughter was only 2 years old! Now my son is finishing up at the elementary school and will be moving on to middle school next year. That's crazy!

I've reviewed over 300 books since I started on October 20, 2009. That's an average of 60 books a year. Not too shabby! I'm hosting a BIG GIVEAWAY for my blogiversary, so if you want a chance to win books or an Amazon gift card, enter the giveaway today!

Reviews and Blog Posts
Last week, I only wrote one review, but I had a couple other posts as well:
Review: Divided by David Cay Johnston (for Blog Action Day)
Wonderfully Wicked Read-a-Thon starting line
5th Blogiversary Giveaway

Reading
I finished reading Divided: The Perils of Our Growing Inequality edited by David Cay Johnston, and posted my review for Blog Action Day. I enjoyed taking part in this annual event once again. It was enlightening to read through some of the other blogs that were written about inequality that day.

I am now participating in the Wonderfully Wicked Read-a-Thon. I started reading The Light Between Oceans: A Novel by M.L. Stedman. Then I realized I had a review due this week, so I put that aside and started on To The Breaking Pointe (First Force Book 2) by Cindy McDonald. I'm already 45% through that one according to the Kindle app, so I'm sure I'll be moving back to the Stedman book soon. Also note: The first book in that series, Into the Crossfire (First Force Book 1) , is only 99 cents right now!

Kids Reading
C read a few more of the How to Train Your Dragon books by Cressida Cowell. He's really enjoying the series. M and I are reading Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo for the Lit Circle we're doing at school.

What are you reading this week? It's Monday! is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, so hop over there if you'd like to see what others are reading too. You can also check out the younger version of It's Monday!
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Comments

  1. LindseyOctober 20, 2014 at 4:51 PM

    Happy Blogiversary!

    David and I haven't read Because of Winn-Dixie, but we've read several of her other books. What age range do you think is good for that book?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JulieOctober 22, 2014 at 2:14 PM

      Thank you! We're reading in a second grade group and I wouldn't do it earlier than that. Her mother abandoned her and her dad, so there are some issues that I just don't think the group I'm working with even really gets. It would probably be better for a slightly older elementary group if you really want them to understand the issues that the book is trying to get across.

      Delete
  2. Sue JacksonOctober 20, 2014 at 7:13 PM

    Happy Blogiversary! Glad you're still here :)

    I really loved The Light Between Oceans - gripping story but also thought-provoking - we had quite a discussion in my book group about it and its moral dilemmas!

    Enjoy your books this week and the readathon -

    Sue

    Follow me on Twitter at @SueBookByBook

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JulieOctober 22, 2014 at 2:15 PM

      I'm so glad to hear that! I haven't gotten very far yet but hope to really get into it tonight, now that I finished the review book!

      Thanks for being a loyal reader and commenter for the last few years!

      Delete
  3. MysticaOctober 21, 2014 at 4:37 AM

    Happy blogoversary

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nise'October 22, 2014 at 1:36 PM

    Happy 5th Blogoversary. I hope you like The Light Between Oceans as much as I did. Have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JulieOctober 22, 2014 at 2:16 PM

      I hope so too. Thank you!! Have a great week!

      Delete
  5. Myra Garces BacsalOctober 30, 2014 at 6:14 AM

    Happy Blogiversary! I have a few of Cressida Crowell's dragon middle-grade novels, but haven't had a chance to read them yet. Really looking forward to them though. :)

    ReplyDelete

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