March 2010 Month End Reading Life Review-Books Read and Progress in Reading Challenges

March 2010 was a very good reading month for me-here is what I read in March-with a newly added

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1. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco-very knowledge packed-my first Eco but not last
2. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See-good historical novel of 19th cent. China
3. The Key by Junichiro Tanizaki-must read Japanese classic
4. A Personal Matter by Kenzaburo Oe-a world treasure of a writer and thinker
5. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte-more than just little sister's best book of two
6. The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama -good WWII historical novel-
7. The Broken Tower:   The Life of Hart Crane by Paul Mariani-great literary biography
8. Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Marakami-good solid collection of short stories
9. Villette by Charlotte Bronte-parts of this are for sure best written of her books
10. "The Overcoat"  by Nikolai Gogol (short story)-Nabakov says great work-
11. The Aspern Papers  by Henry James-a small master work as one would expect
12. Wuthering Heights by  Emily Bronte  -deepest and darkest of the Brontes
13. The Death March:  A Documentary Novel by Jiro Netti-set just before the Russian-Japanese War
14. "The Diving Pool" by Yoko Ogawa (short story)-masterful short story by author of The Professor and the House Keeper
15. Living with the Enemy:  A Diary of the Japanese Occupation by Pacita Pestano-Jacinto-deserves to be a best seller
16. Peony in Love by Lisa See-good 17th century set in China historical novel
17. "Bartleby, The Scrivener" By Herman Melville (short story)-best of Melville's Short Stories?

In March I discovered two new to me  authors that I will for sure read read again, Umberto Eco and Yoko Ogawa.   I continued reading more of the Brontes.   I read two more historical novels by Lisa See.  I see her as a good solid writer if a bit predictable.    I am nearing my goal to read all the (in English) works of Junichiro Tanizaki and well past the mid-point for Kenzaburo Oe.   I discovered two new to me Japanese authors.  I began to get into short stories a bit.

44 Reading Challenges So far for 2010

So far this year I have completed 21 challenges

I have read at least one book for 19 still to be completed challenges

I have not yet started 5 challenges

I thank all the challenge hosts for their efforts.   I expect to complete all these challenges by year end and most by mid-year.   I have explained my reasons for joining so many challenges here if anyone is curious.    

Since I began my blog eight months ago I have received visits from readers from 107 countries. I know a lot of these are by students.   When ever I think about my blog I recall as I was writing my first post my wife asked me "Who will read these posts you are doing?".  My only response was "I do not know, maybe nobody will but at least I will have records of what I read".   I was so thrilled when I got my first comment and am in fact still thrilled when I get a comment.  ( I moderate my comments as I have been subject to spam attacks.)

If any one in the Manila area wants to do a book swap please leave a comment or E-Mail me at rereadinglives@gmail.com

I also completely redid the look of my blog using the new template -designer from Blogger in Draft