IT'S A HOLIDAY READING CHALLENGE 2010 WRAP-UP.

The third reading challenge I have taken part in - you can see my other challenges by clicking on the Challenge Page at the top of this page - and I have to say that despite suitable reading material being hard to find at our local library it has been my favourite challenge so far. Whether this was because I have grown more in confidence or because I felt I  had really challenged myself by reading some books that I wasn't too sure about I don't know.

My third challenge this might have been but it's my first warp-up post and, despite having read several others, I'm still not sure exactly sure what it is I want/am expected to say so perhaps I'll let the books speak for themselves.

• THE XMAS FILES by Patrick Harding. The only non-fiction book I read this year. A fascinating read full of wonderful facts written in a truly accessible way. I only wish I'd taken up the suggestion that I add one of these every day throughout December.
• HOGFATHER by Terry Pratchett. This I found the hardest to review as I was so cautious of spoilers. There were so many times I wrote something only to re-read it and discover that it didn't make sense unless you had actually read the book OR been told what was happening. Combine this with Hogfather being one of Husband dearest's favourite books and I felt an even greater need to be able to justify what I wrote - be it good or bad.
• A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens. I don't know which was the hardest, reading or reviewing this book. Always wary that I was in danger of comparing it to the various adaptations and knowing how much the story was loved by so many I found myself worrying that my honesty may upset people and that I may even be judged as a result of my thoughts. Thankfully something I need not have worried about.
• THE OXFORD ILLUSTRATED DICKENS CHRISTMAS BOOKS by Charles Dickens. I was totally surprised to find myself reading this - firstly because it was a selection of short stories and I'm not a fan of these (somehow I always end up feeling unfulfilled and left wanting more) and more obviously because it was Charles Dickens and as I had just discovered this equalled hard-going as far as I was concerned.. That said, olde-English aside I did actually find myself (sort of) enjoying some of the stories because of their inherent humour.
• HERCULE POIROT'S CHRISTMAS by Agatha Christie. I started reading this with the belief that surely I must be the only book blogger in blogosphere who hadn't read Agatha Christie - wrong, I was not alone, there were others out there. Spelling and other printing mistakes aside, I could see how some might have thought this book charming but, as I commented in my review, I personally like my crime novels to be a bit more gritty and, preferably, solved by forensics rather than a dapper little Austrian men with great observational skills.
• Not happy with five books, I found myself actually buying a sixth. A SEASON TO REMEMBER by Sheila O'Flanagan. Though I consider myself a fairly eclectic reader, I only rarely find myself reading anything so 'pink and, well, fluffy' and I was worried that I really wasn't going to enjoy this. Not as sickeningly sweet as I had feared, I found myself quite liking it if only for the characters, most of whom I could identify with on one level or another.

So that's it for another year. I'm already planning for next years holiday reading challenge and have a huge list of suitable material thanks to the wonderful bloggers who have participated this year. PLUS I already have one book, tucked away on the shelves, that I have only just discovered, sadly not in time for this years challenge though, so that just leaves me wishing you and yours my best wishes. See you next year .......

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