Sunday Salon: Spring Reading Thing and the homestretch for Row80

Spring Reading Thing 2011

Happy Spring! It is that time of the year again and the start of Callapidder Day's Spring Reading Thing.  This year I'm mixing it up a bit and going to read some non fiction books.   A strange thing happened as a result of my reading deprivation week.    I haven't had any desire to read fiction.  *gasp*   I'm not craving my brain candy.  What I am craving is non fiction. My brain seems to be in a feed me, teach me, inform me, fill me up mood.   Could have something to do with my Humanities class starting and all the work involved with that.  So...I went through my bookshelf of non fiction I've been collecting and meaning to read and picked out several books.  

My short stories class seems to have opened my mind about marking up books, underlining passages I want to remember and jotting down notes in a notebook while I read.   I happen to love it when I come across an old book, marked up with notes in the side margin. Provides an insight into how the book affected that person or a memory it tripped.  Susan Wise Bauer's method she discussed in Well Educated Mind finally makes sense to me.  However, it works better for non fiction, than fiction in my opinion. Along with the fiction books I'll be reading for various challenges and book tours, I'll also be reading:

  1. Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius who solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time  by Dava Sobel
  2. The Real George Washington by Jay A Parry and Andrew Allison
  3. Memories, Dreams and Reflections by C.G. Jung
  4. A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille
  5. Theology for Beginners by  F.J. Sheed
  6. Holy Yoga by Brooke Boon
  7. The Apostles by Pope Benedict
  8. The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman

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We are in the homestretch for the first round of A Round of Words in 80 Days.  I'm not quite done yet with the first draft of Red Thief.  My goal was the finish it by this round, but not going to happen.   The next round doesn't start until April 4th and I expect to be done by then.    I had mini goals each week which I have accomplished so far which is 

Writing every day at least a half hour and shoot for at least one full handwritten page, front and page. Whether it amount to 500 words or not, don't know. 

Morning pages ala The Artists Way.  Haven't missed a day.

Work everyday on the tasks for Artists Way. Doing good.
One good thing about Row80 and The Artist's Way.  Both have prompted me to set mini goals and write to do lists every morning and check things off as I go along.   I feel like I've been much more productive so thanks to kait for hosting.  

Go cheer on the other participants, give them some encourage and a pat on the back for sticking it out.  You can find them here.

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The Sunday Salon.com


Guess what! March 21st is also my 

 Blogoversary! 

I'm thinking about what we can do to celebrate.  Stay tuned!


17 comments:

  1. This year I have read more non-fiction than normal. It was a goal! Have a great reading Spring.

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  2. As a fiction writer, I find reading non-fiction just as important as reading fiction. I try to strike a balance.

    Looks like you're doing well. I have The Artist's Way somewhere, I need to find it. Thanks for reminding me. ;)

    Love that E.L. Doctorow quote!

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  3. Have fun with the Spring Reading...and keep on with the ROW 80!!!

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  4. I really liked Thomas Jefferson Education.

    Enjoy your reading,
    Amy @ Missional Mama

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  5. I've been reading more nonfiction lately, too, but I still come back to fiction for my before-bed reading. I guess I need that somewhat escapist transition to sleep. :)

    Thanks for being part of SRT '11 -- enjoy your spring reading!

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  6. I am slowly beginning to dip my toes into the waters of non-fiction, but I do tend to avoid it for more escapist fictional reads. I have a few that I need to get started with, and your post really inspires me!

    Good luck with this!

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  7. I'm thinking about doing the Spring Reading Thing too. Haven't completely decided yet.

    You've done well with ROW80. Me, not so much! My main goal for the next round will be to post my updates...LOL! I've been terrible about that. I guess when you don't have much to update about, you feel kind of foolish. That's me!

    Do you like read-a-thons? I started hosting week long seasonal read-a-thons in the Fall. My next one, Spring's Serenity Read-A-Thon, will be the week of April 25 through May 1. My read-a-thons are very laid back and I make them a week long so people who work during the week can do the weekend and vice versa and I allow people to join in at any time during the week. We've had fun during the last two I hosted. I'll have the sign up ready by the end of this month or early April, if you think you might want to join in. No pressure. =O)

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  8. I read Memories, Dreams and Reflections a very long time ago, and it was very moving and interesting. I hope you enjoy it. I really want to read the Dana Sobel book and have started looking for it in my library now. I did the Writer's Way twice, and each time it was fun. It helped me to write the first draft of my novel, so good luck in your writing endeavors too.

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  9. Hi..looks like an interesting list..
    I've got 'The 5 love language for children' in my list too..

    Happy reading..!

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  10. I always struggle with the non-fiction. Start out with a bang and then fizzle out before the end of the book, but try to always have a few on my lists. Happy spring reading!

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  11. It's been a good first round for most of us I think and as we find what we can manage writing wise when life likes to throw wobblies in the works our goals have changed but I think thats also been okay - anyway look forward to seeing you on round 2

    thanks for link to the readng one - think I will join up. I have a great many non fiction to read as part of my research into what I am writing so must find some room for fiction also
    keep smiling

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  12. I've been on a non-fiction reading kick too, in fact I had to struggle to find a few fiction books to put on my Spring Reading Thing list.

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  13. I think the best fiction is the kind that makes you think and grow and learn better than any non-fiction could. :-) I love a great story.

    Now I am intrigued by what ROW80 is! Off to check it out!

    Thanks for stopping by and checking out my list as well. Always nice to have commenters.:-)

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  14. It is funny that reading preferences ebb and flow. I'm the same way. Enjoy SRT!

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  15. @Nise - Congrats on reading more non fiction. Happy Spring!

    @CM - The Artists Way has been really interesting and enlightening. Well worth it.

    @Staci - I'm plugging away

    @Amy - Thanks for dropping by.

    @Katrina - Thanks for hosting!

    @Zibilee - Glad to be of service!

    @Michelle - Thanks for dropping by. I have a tendency to join readathons, then life gets in the way. Will drop by to check it out.

    @Susan - Glad to hear about Jung's book. I'm enjoying Writer's Way so much will move on to The Vein of Gold when done.

    @Graywolfie - Thanks for dropping by

    @Craig - working hard. Same goes for you too. Will drop by soon.

    @Susanne - know what you mean. I had a tendency to start and not finish. Found more interesting nf this time. :)

    @Ellen - Thanks for dropping by. NF seems to be in vogue.

    @Alberta - yep, it's been interesting and helpful to set goals. Life does have a habit of getting in the way. Or trying to. :)

    @Lori - so true. But I love my brain candy as well.

    @Jennifer - It is interesting. Happy Spring!

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  16. I read Longitude and really loved it. Such a fascinating story.

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