Winter Book Challenge: February Check-In

Well, another one of Megan's Semi-Charmed Book Challenges has come and gone. And for a second time, my challenge remains uncompleted. My inner perfectionist is irked that twice now, I just couldn't make it happen. And then my inner realist takes over and I realize, "Dude- you have a newborn son." I watched more TV the last 2 months than I ever do, but I honestly just didn't have the mental capacity for anything more than that. So, Chris the farmer from Iowa won over John Steinbeck. Sad, but true.

Here's what I did manage to finish:

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that fits the general rules. | The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty (January 4, 2015)

10 points: Read a book written by an author who has published at least 10 books. | Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott (December 11, 2014)

10 points: Read a book of short stories. | My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Stephanie Perkins (December 23, 2014)

10 points: Read a book with a food in the title. | Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan (November 8, 2014)

15 points: Read the first book in a series that is new to you. | Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (January 11, 2015)

15 points: Read a book that was originally written in a language that is not your native language. | UNFINISHED

15 points: Read a book written by a local author (either an author from your state if you live in the United States, or from your country if you live somewhere else). | UNFINISHED

20 points: Read a "bookish book" (in which books play an important role, e.g. the setting involves a bookstore or library, a major character is an author, or a book that celebrates reading and books. (Examples: The Book Thief, The Shadow of the Wind, The Thirteenth Tale, etc.) | Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (January 7, 2015)

20 points: Read a book with a direction in the title (e.g. north, south, east, west or any combination of those). | East of Eden by John Steinbeck (February 8, 2015)

25 points: Read a book from a genre you don't usually read. | The Woodcutter by Kate Danley [Fantasy] (November 19, 2014)

25 points: Read a book with a song lyric in the title.  | Yes Please by Amy Poehler [Muse] (November 22, 2014)

30 points: Read two books with a different meal in each title (e.g. breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, brunch). UNFINISHED

PREVIOUS POINTS: 120
TOTAL POINTS: 140

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However, not only was I crazy enough to commit myself to this 4-month Book Challenge, but when I stumbled upon Erin's Book Challenge in December, I couldn't miss out on the fun, so I also signed myself up for this second challenge running from January-April. Here's how I'm doing on Challenge #2:

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5 points: Read a book, any book that is at least 200 pages long. | East of Eden by John Steinbeck (February 8, 2015)

10 points: Read a book that begins with the “A”, “An”, or “The”. | The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty (January 4, 2015)

10 points: Read a book with a two word title.

15 points: Read a book with an animal in the title.

20 points: Take the first letter of your first name…Read a book that the title begins with that letter.

20 points: Read a book set in any country in Europe.

25 points: Read a book from the NPR’s guide of great books from 2014. | Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (February 18, 2015)

30 points: Read a book by a favourite author that is not a re-read.

30 points: Read a book by a comedian or comedic actor. | I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert (January 16, 2014)

35 points: Read a book about science, discovery, or a scientific process – non-fiction only.

PREVIOUS POINTS: 40
TOTAL POINTS: 70

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Have you had any good reads lately?