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A library haul after months | Notes from my Reading

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Despite so much going on over here between work, house projects, yard work, and just daily living challenges in this pandemic era, I've been able to squeeze in time to read as well, which I'm thankful for, because the news has been abysmal these past few weeks for various reasons and I'm continually worrying about where humanity is headed, even more so than I did before.

A library haul after months...My biggest highlight in books this past week was that the library opened for holds pickup. I'd been checking their website every week to find if next week was going to be the week it opened. So when the notice finally came through last week, I was beyond thrilled. I was also very unsure what books to request from the library since I had gotten very used to reading online. Still, I had a few requested when they called me to schedule a one-hour window for pickup. I did request a ton of books after that though, so I expect a bigger bag this week. 

Some of these are books to rea…
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The Sunday Salon (Middle East Reading Challenge) -- July 4, 2010

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The Sunday Salon.com

So it's smack in the middle of this long weekend, and I've been catching up on my sleep a lot! Plus being my birthday weekend, there's an added lightness to the days. After a really busy yet productive week, I'm quite relieved for this three-day break. Well, there is typically nothing called a holiday for graduate students, but I've lived by that rule for a long time, that I don't particularly care to break it off now.

The best  news for me this week was that I finally managed to get most of my thesis done. I now have a lot of fine-tuning to do, but since I've written quite a lot, I don't need to exercise my grey cells more than needed. I'm beginning to catch the butterflies in my stomach, since there's only a month now for me to graduate. I'll be deciding the dates this week with my advisor.

I wanted to spotlight a particular challenge that my blogging friend Helen @ Helen's Book Blog has created. The Middle East Reading Challenge is for those of you interested in literature set in the Middle East. We all know of many such books, and some of us have loved books like Arabian Nights, Persepolis, I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced, Day After Night, and City of Veils, or plan to read them. So here's my challenge entry. Helen has a great list of recommendations at her blog for this challenge, and since most of them are in my TBR, I'm going to jump into this challenge. (Moreover, I've decided that henceforth, I'll mainly sign up for challenges that expand my reading matter-wise.) The best part of this challenge is that you can choose any number of books you want to read. It runs August 1, 2010 through July 31, 2010. I'll decide my books over the next few weeks, but I'll recommend that you join in too!

Happy 4th of July to my US readers! Happy Sunday to the rest of the world!

And if you haven't yet entered my Birthday giveaway, what are you waiting for?

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bermudaonion said…
I'm sure it's a relief to you to have most of your thesis done - that's got to feel great! Enjoy your holiday! Good luck with the challenge!
July 4, 2010 at 12:44 PM
Roseann's Musings said…
Boy, a birthday and thesis completion during a holiday weekend? You go girl!! I don't look forward to my thesis, glad to hear you got it done. Have a great 4th.
July 4, 2010 at 3:54 PM
Ash said…
This sounds like a great challenge. I have realized this year that short challenges work best for me, so I'm trying to refrain from joining any longer ones. Glad to hear your thesis is going well!
July 4, 2010 at 3:58 PM
Helen's Book Blog said…
Thank you for joining the challenge and for posting about it! I think it's going to be fun! I know that having joined a challenge pushes me to read books I might not normally read and that is such a great feeling!
July 4, 2010 at 4:47 PM
Linna said…
Happy (probably late?) Birthday! Hope it was an awesome one :D Although I don't live in the US, I can still wish you a happy fourth and a great sunday!

It's awesome that you finished your thesis. Hope you're enjoying your break :)
July 4, 2010 at 4:57 PM
Emidy @ Une Parole said…
Ah, breaks are good, aren't they? I hope you're enjoying it. That challenge sounds like a good one!
July 4, 2010 at 10:47 PM
Athira said…
Kathy, it sure feels great. Like a huge pressure is off my chest!

Roseann, thanks! I'm glad this weekend was a real breather!

Ash, I've learned the same lesson too! Took me some trial and error to learn that.

Helen, that's precisely what I am looking to gain from challenges. I've noticed that I've joined a few easy challenges - time to prioritize.

Linna, thank you so much! I sure had a wonderful birthday! :)

Emidy, that challenge sure sounds good to me too! I can't wait to get cracking!
July 4, 2010 at 11:34 PM
Lisa said…
I'll bet you do feel good getting so much done on the thesis! You'll be done before you know it!
July 5, 2010 at 8:31 PM
Michelle said…
If you are feeling comfortable with your thesis at this point in time, the rest of the month will be a breeze for you! How exciting to be almost done!!
July 5, 2010 at 9:35 PM
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