May 2012 Reading Wrap-Up
Books Read: 9
Pages Read: 2086
Hours Listened To: 0
Books read:
- Bitterblue – Kristin Cashore
- Women Without Men – Shahrnush Parsipur
- Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity
- Wide Sargasso Sea – Jean Rhys
- Two Whole Cakes: How to Stop Dieting and Learn to Love Your Body – Lesley Kinzel
- Full Frontal T.O.: Exploring Toronto’s Architectural Vernacular – Patrick Cummins and Shawn Micallef
- Attention All Passengers: The Airlines’ Dangerous Descent – And How to Reclaim Our Skies – William J. McGee
- Back Alleys and Urban Landscapes – Michael Cho
- A Man’s Place – Annie Ernaux
Bloggers (and other online friends) visited: Muslimah, Colleen, Rhiannon, Trish
Places visited through reading: USA, Iran, Dominica, Canada, France
Places visited irl: Canada (PEI and Ontario), Virginia (USA)
Book Purchases: This was actually a big month for me in terms of book purchases. I picked up four books about Toronto, the two listed above as well as Stroll by Shawn Micallef and Imagining Toronto by Amy Lavender Harris. In addition, after seeing the show I ordered Stockholm by Byrony Lavery, and I pre-ordered Kody Keplinger’s next YA release because I’ve really enjoyed her first two.
Thoughts and ramblings: You’re probably thinking that nine books is another great reading month – and it really is. The funny secret behind that number, however, is that two of those were books full of pictures, and another four were under 200 pages. This was a very slow month for me in terms of what I got read, but I did really enjoy everything that I read, so it’s all worth it!
So what kept me busy this month? Besides a trip home to see the family for my little sister’s graduation from university, and a week in Virginia for work, I spent almost three weeks home and, if they are any indication of the summer to come, it will be a fantastic one.
The month started with the ending of Hot Docs, the Canadian International Documentary Festival – over a week of fantastic documentary screenings. I caught a number during the first days at the end of April. In May I caught: Finding North, about the working poor and hunger in the USA; The Revisionaries, about the creationists on the school board in Texas attempting to re-write the books for schools; We Are Legion: The Story of Hactivists, about the Anonymous hacker group, and; Sexy Baby, about navigating the world today as a woman with ‘sexy’ being everywhere.
In addition to the films above, I spent a lot of time in the park enjoying the sun, biking, planting the vegetable garden, and attending random events. The events I’ve attended included a discussion on the importance of health equity, a social policy discussion, and two events put on by Women in Toronto Politics. I went to the Street Food Block Party and ate great street food, and to a comedy show at Yuk Yuk’s. I saw the play Stockholm, as well as Kim’s Convenience. I also volunteered with the second SlutWalk Toronto (this is where it all started last year!).
I hope your month was just as fantastic. I’ll see some of you in June at Book Expo, looking forward to that. What else are you excited for in May?
Looks like you had a great month at home – so many fabulous events
From your list o books, I want to read Bitterblue. I read Wide Sargasso Sea but didn’t really love it.
Sorry to hear that you didn’t love WSS Tanya, but I do hope that you enjoy Bitterblue!
Sounds pretty busy to me!
Always
Thanks for stopping by accrabooksandthings.
Thanks for sharing your fabulous month. I checked out the “Slutwalk” I didn’t know what that was – what a terrific way to raise awareness. I am going to bring it up at my women’s service group.
Glad to hear it Jayme! It’s gone around the world once, but sadly very little change since it first started last year in Toronto. Awareness isn’t all that is needed, but it is a good start!
Another impressive month, Amy.
If you liked those weeks in May, you must be a heat-lover. Not for me,
Thanks Debbie! And yes, I am definitely a heat lover!
Lets hear it for picture books!
They are the best. That’s all I’m saying on that topic Cass. heh
It still sounds like a great reading month to me
Love your choices as always, plenty of them will have to go on the tbr. And your non-reading activities sound amazing as well. Have a great June 
Thank you Bina, I hope that your June is also amazing.
Sounds like you had a terrific month in books!
Thanks Marie!
A busy and interesting month, no doubt.
It certainly was readinpleasure, thanks!
My May was helplessly slow too. Did a lot of travelling and less of reading. Yours looked packed and exciting… share mine tomorrow.
Travelling is fun though isn’t it Nana? I look forward to eventually catching up on your blog, it’s been too long since I’ve been regularly reading blogs!
It sounds like a great month…I’m glad we got to go catch one of the Hot Docs screenings together!
Me as well Sarah, always fun to hang out and chat
You’re at BEA? Hope you’re having fun!!
Yes!! It was amazing softdrink!