If you are interested in participating in the 2008 BAM Challenge, please post your first name, last initial and blog/website where you’ll be posting your reviews in the comments section.
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Book A Month Challenge 
Katie D.
http://younglibrarian.blogspot.com
Katie –
I think this looks like fun. I will try it on my 20 Things (our library decided on 20 not 23) blog.
Patty
I can’t even follow directions:
Patty F.
http://weavinglibrarian.blogspot.com/
Penny R
http://lookitupalready.blogspot.com
Like I need another reason to read more!
Sounds like fun!
http://mnlibrarygirl.blogspot.com/
Laura C
http://ellbeecee.blogspot.com
Now I’ll just have to remember to *do* this.
Sounds like fun – get me out of my historical fiction/new non-fiction rut. 😉
Sounds like fun.
Sounds great! I like to read books that are related to each other in some way.
http://www.bmorrison.com/blog
I’ve just recently started my own personal theme reading – and for Thanksgiving listened to Mayflower : A Story of Courage, Community, and War. It would be even more fun to do this with a group! (By the way, the Mayflower book is great!)
Lesa H.
http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com
brilliant! I love the idea of having a theme.
http://bookishbiker.vox.com
I will give it a shot. I can’t promise anything, but I’m willing to try.
http://foodcraftsbooksgirl.vox.com/
Looking forward to the first theme!
*Debbie S.*
http://www.kalona.lib.ia.us
I’m notoriously bad at keeping up with such things, but I will try.
http://stretts.vox.com
Deirdre S.
Kyle N. I’m in!
Had trouble posting, so my blog didn’t appear — it is http://ick-ook.blogspot.com/
[…] go through right away unless you have new information to add 🙂 I encourage you to comment in the Sign Up post to get your approval out of the way. […]
I think this sounds like fun, so I’ll try it. Krista H. http://crowinator.wordpress.com
I’ll give it a whirl!
DaisyG.
http://rdaisygal.livejournal.com
I’m looking forward to it!
I’m in!
http://riofriotex.livejournal.com/tag/books
I’m like Emeril…
BAM.
Sounds like a good idea.
Sounds like fun.
I am looking forward to it.
Seems fun. I can’t wait to see more!
Caterina
Oh, why not! It looks like fun.
http://krinek.blogspot.com
I’ll try it out! 🙂
Looking forward to it!
Hmmm… a new way to reduce Mt. TBR? I am so there:
http://recreationalreading.blogspot.com
Will do my best at lisdom.
Oooh! More reasons to read! Count me in, though I may not make it every month. I’ll be posting in the comments section since I don’t have a website/blog.
Sounds like fun, but it kind of depends on what the themes are.
http://www.mymindonbooks.com
Hopefully I’ll be able to keep up!
Lynda R
http://www.fishwithsticks.blogspot.com
I’m in! And hopefully this will go a little better than NaBloPoMo. *sigh*
I’ll post in the comments.
Erik S
reconditus.wordpress.com
Anyone know of a good site that recommends books according to theme?
Erik,
You can always check out LibraryThing and do a search by tag using whatever theme you’re thinking of. Hope this helps!
Sounds great!
Sarah T.
I’ll post reviews in the comments here, at least to start with.
What a great idea! Count me in. Will try to keep up.
PollyF
http://blog.pafa.net/
I can’t wait!
i’ll post in the comments as well, and will keep up as i can.
Aimee K.
http://vikingsparrow.livejournal.com
Megan H.
Megan H.
http://bluestockinglibrarian.wordpress.com/
Kathy B.
http://readthinklearn.blogspot.com
This will be the perfect way for me to get back into book reviewing for our Media Center…will any of the books be appropriate for middle schoolers?
Hi Kathy,
You get to pick the books to fit the themes yourself, but I will have some suggestions within the challenge. I’ll try to remember to include some upper level children’s/YA books even though that isn’t my specialty. Once the challenges have been issued, recommendation lists from you guys are *MORE* than welcome 😉
I’m going to give this a try as well at my blog – http://www.rhastings.net. Thanks for the idea – our library may steal it as well!!
I’m already in 7 book discussion groups, so hopefully I’ll be able to massage one of the books I’m reading already to fit whatever the theme is–that will be one of my personal challenges. I like to do themed bibliographies for my library, so will be interested in all the responses.
Sounds like a great idea! It will be interesting to watch how this develops.
Here’s my (brand new – no content yet)blog- http://shambalakazam-pst.blogspot.com
I’m going to try this one. A bit touch and go since I usually only get through two or three a month, but hell, why not try.
Oops! I am a doofus. I thought my blog URL would show in my post.
http://librarymamarama.blogspot.com
I’d already started a 101 things in 1001 days challenge to myself which included more reading, so this fits in perfectly. Sign me up!
OK, doofus #2 here…
http://august2010.blogspot.com/
count me in!
http://maurathelibrarian.blogspot.com/
I think this’ll be fun. I’m looking forward to it.
Oops, forgot to leave my website.
http://curiouschild.wordpress.com/
Wrong website
http://curiouschildreads.blogspot.com/
I’m in!
Count me in!
Anali P
Sounds like fun. I will post in Goodreads (which is also fun).
Sounds like fun. I will post in Goodreads (which is also fun).
http://www.goodreads.com
Sue K.
Well, the spirit is willing….I would love for our patrons to give this a shot too. We’ll see
http://booklib.wordpress.com
This is a fabulous idea. I’m in!
I’ll give it a shot 🙂 It’ll give me a chance to keep track of the books I read, for once 🙂
http://library-chic.blogspot.com
Hmm, I have never tried that before, so why not? I am in.
http://danceswithbooks.livejournal.com
Thanks for doing this. I’ll be posting to your blog.
Anne F.
Sounds like fun! Only 12 books—should be manageable-
Will be posting at http://hedgehoglibrarian.blogspot.com
Jerome w
sounds very interesting and will be following up with a post if I can
Kerry M.
kerrysgarden.blogspot.com
Count me in!
Donna B
http://www.myspace.com/donnaniles
Sounds like a wonderful idea to expand our reading experience.
Jones and Havilah
http://j0n3zclan.blogspot.com/
I’m in!
Andrea G
http://helloflamingo.livejournal.com
Sydni A
http://bluemopitz.blogspot.com
I think I can, I think I can…
Here goes nothing!
The nearest thing I’ll get to a book club. Sounds an excellent idea!
Karen K.
http://hoodandhat.blogspot.com
http://janeonbooks.edublogs.org
I read all the time anyway- would like to get more involved with reviews, commenting, so this will be inspirational.
Looking forward to this.
Anna B.
quietgrrrl.livejournal.com
Nice idea, I’ll try to keep up.
Oh sounds fun! Aislynn D.
http://brightsidereading.blogspot.com/
I’ll give it a whirl.
This is a good idea – I’m a librarian and always looking for good program ideas to steal, too! Here’s my blog for books:
http://oneminutecritic.wordpress.com/
Sounds like fun…I’m in!
http://fourrussos.blogspot.com
Sounds like fun…I’m in!
http://fourrussos.blogspot.com
==================================
Sorry, I Forgot my “R” in the last post.
Deborah F.
poeticlibrarian.wordpress.com
Okay, Count me in.
http://marraistudio.blogspot.com/
Here’s my blog. Not used much until now.
I can’t wait to get started.
Will you be emailing the theme or is it something I have to keep checking up on?
Either way is cool with me.
EAREEVE
Is it okay to sign up even if I’m pretty sure I’ll only be able to achieve the goal about half the time? If so, sign me up! Otherwise, I’ll just lurk around here periodically to see what’s going on.
This sounds wonderful. I can’t wait for the first theme.
I will post my review at:
http://skyork.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the challenge!
Well, I was just thinking I need a new challenge…and reading more books never hurts! 😉
http://learninglibtech.blogspot.com/
Sounds excellent! I am going to post to my library’s Readers’ Services Blog, and invite staff and patrons to comment.
Here’s my link:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/418708?shelf=book-a-month-2008-challenge
http://librisalacarte.blogspot.com
Liam S.
http://othemts.wordpress.com/
Okay, I think I’m in! Here’s my blog:
http://dampscribbler.livejournal.com
I suspect I’ll want to seek out a Young Adult title for each of the monthly challenges, but don’t hold me to it. 🙂
I am signing up.
I’ll just go by Normaltrouble!
my blog is :
normaltrouble
Excellent idea!
Let’s try this again.
Michele A.
http://chelabella.com/blog.htm
Flamingo L.
(Sorry. I’m just known as the Flamingo Librarian out here on the Net.)
pinkbirds.blogspot.com
I’m in. blog is here.
I’m in, and my blog is http://readingadventures.blogspot.com/
Seana O.
http://www.anobii.com/people/seanamo/
Sign me up! I can’t wait to do this.
I will post my reviews here as comments.
Looking forward to it! When are you going to post the theme for Janaury?
Hi Nanci,
I’ll be posting the first challenge either right after I get home from the NYE party I’m going to, or when I wake up in the morning on Tuesday 🙂
Deep breath…here goes!
http://libraryliz.blogspot.com
I’m in; My pick for January is The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.
I also cannot follow directions! http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/67414
What a terrific idea. I’m ready to read!
I waffled about committing to this until I saw the first theme – this sounds great.
I’ll post reviews to the comments here unless I finally get around to starting to put up reviews elsewhere (another New Year’s Resolution).
I think I’m going to dive in and try this! My reviews will be at http://deepening.wordpress.com
Looking forward to it!
Kate B.
http://healthyreading.blogspot.com/
Sounds like fun. I will post in the comments, since I don’t have a blog — yet.
I just started a blog today, and yes, I want to participate in this challenge (as if I don’t have enough things to do as it is)…
Shannon F.
http://librarianinparadise.wordpress.com/
Love the idea of a bit more structured reading. No website/blogspot yet.
I’d love to do this, too. I’ll probably post reviews here though I do have a very inactive blog I might resurrect for the purpose.
I’m looking forward to this, though I have no website or blog, so will also post reviews here to start with.
How fun!
1, 2, 3, 4 — count me in!
Great idea — count me in!
Robyn K
http://blog.kalda.ca
http://dmai.blogspot.com
Sounds like fun!
Sounds like fun.
Thanks for a fun idea; I already know what I’ll be reviewing for January’s “assignment”!
And, my failure to follow instructions strikes again! My blog, where I’ll be posting the full reviews of my reads is The Civil Librarian at:
http://civillibrarian.blogspot.com/
Sure, count me in to. And I get to cheat on the first “time” book, since I’ve already read a biography 😉
I’m looking forward to the challenge. Since the intended audience for my blog is library patrons, I’ve published a nice post encouraging my patrons to sign-up for the challenge as well.
I’ll be posting to the Out of Our Minds blog :
http://www.vclblog1.blogspot.com/
Hoorah! Something else to blog about…
Let’s do this!
I’ll try this too!
Katie,
I am looking forward to the challenge, and thanks for an innovative idea!
Cheers, Melissa
http://theunclassifiedlibrarian.blogspot.com
Melanie H.
http://www.stanlycountypubliclibrary.blogspot.com
This is a great idea! My fiance says I’m a ‘bad librarian’ because I don’t read enough. Hopefully, this will improve my standing with him. 😉
Christa B.
http://christajoy.blogspot.com/
Thanks for a guided reading experience – it is always good to stretch.
Sherri
Frannie in Pieces by Delia Ephron is a teen novel that travels the genre continuum between realistic fiction and fantasy. After the sudden death of her father, fifteen year old Frannie works through her grief with the assistance of a mysterious jigsaw puzzle. Her parent’s were divorced and her mother is remarried, so Frannie maneuvers the grieving process pretty much alone. Over and over again I wondered when is Frannie going to get some counseling. Her cries for help were obvious to me, and I had the greatest difficulty with the absence of substantial parental support. I started to elaborate on the plot – how would a counselor respond to the apparent travel to another culture when Frannie discovers herself inside the puzzle.
I enjoyed the glimpses into another world and time, as well as Frannie’s first job experience working at a summer camp as the crafts leader. Her obsession with death inspires her to invite the campers to bring in packaging from poisonous household items for a collage. Humor comes primarily through Frannie’s interactions with her best friend and her new boyfriend, (quite the chef) and the other camp counselors. The step father is also quite comical in his own dry way. Time travel creates an opportunity for her to view her father in a different light and ties into the role of time in the grieving process.
I appreciated the theme serendipitously introducing me to Fortune’s Bones: The Manumision Requiem by Marilyn Nelson. These sad poems commemorate the life of a slave named Fortune, whose skeleton was stored in a town in Connecticut for over 200 years. The Mattatuck Museum commissioned the requiem after a 3 year process to recover Fortune’s History. Illustrations and photographs add detail about the time period.
Submitted by Sherri Douglas, Youth Services Coordinator, Anchorage Public Library.
1/26/2008
A MADMAN DREAMS OF TURING MACHINES by Janna Levin is a really unusual historical biographical philosophical mathematical novel: a novel of ideas. It’s about two geniuses who never met: the philosopher Kurt Godel who espoused the Incompleteness Theory and the mathematician Alan Turing who broke the Nazi Enigma Code during WWII. The prose is rather lyrical which I personally like. The reader may cogitate over free will, the limits of understanding, the nature of truth, the existence of God, and the Liar’s Paradox: “I am lying” which is true if it’s false and false if it’s true. I loved one of the reviews of this book I read online: “Turing would say if you pick up the book it was destined to happen. Godel would say you can’t even be sure the book is real.” (Robert Gannon, HELIUM) Those two men were real and their lives were brilliant and tragic and deserve to resonate in our collective psyche.
Oops … I meant to do this ages ago.
Liz C.
http://fauxmiddlechild.vox.com/
I know I’m behind but I have been trying to sign up for the last week with little success.
So here I go again. I’m in on this one and have will play catchup if need be!
I signed up and my comment for January was posted, but I just posted the link to my February review and it didn’t go through…I don’t want to double post, but I thought they would go through without approval after the first time. What should I do?
Hi Linda,
I haven’t seen your February link come through yet, so feel free to repost. I’m not sure why some comments go through and others don’t when people have gotten approval for prior comments. I try very hard to check for comments needing moderation at least once a day, so if you don’t see it within 24-36 hours on the site, go ahead and repost. Thanks so much for checking!
For a sociology assignment, 16 year old Kelly creates a board game called “Romance” in Carolyn B. Cooney’s book, The Girl Who Invented Romance. Kelly is anxiously awaiting her own first romance so she carefully observes her brother and friends in their various stages of romantic relationships. Even her parents offer some insight as they stumble through a conflict in their seemingly perfect marriage. Light entertainment for the middle school reader.
Uncommon Clay, A Deborah Knott Mystery by Margaret Maron, is set in North Carolina amongst the pottery community. With humor and a touch of romance, Deborah Knott, Judge, becomes immersed in the culture of generations of potters and their troubled family history. Each chapter beigns with a quote from two books about the history of the southern pottery culture. This confirmed my desire to explore pottery when I retire. I’m also tempted to read the rest of the series.
Deep and Dark and Dangerous: A Ghost Story by Mary Hahn was a quick page turner. Ali jumps at the chance to spend the summer away from her depressed and overprotective mother when offered a babysitting job with her neice. Aunt Dulcie fixes up the lake cottage where she spent her childhood with Ali’s mom, but where something dark happened that made the family abandon the place. Ali and Emma are shadowed by a mysterious young girl – Sissy – who causes conflict. This tale explores family secrets in a light manner with just enough suspense and emotion to quicken the heart and pull your heart strings as well.