I'm close to a bingo in two different ways...but I feel like I need to give some love to the other side of the board first, lol.

I filled two squares this month, "published the year you were born" and "fantasy/sci-fi/etc."

That's great! I'm one square away from a bingo on the first column.

I also filled two squares this month: Used a wildcard on the fanfic square, and then "the published this year" square.

I've filled 7 squares so far, and am literally two chapters away from finishing an eighth, although they're scattered all over the card so I'm still nowhere near a bingo.

I've actually read 12 books in total, almost 13 (see above comment re two chapters away from finishing the latest one). I was hoping to have read more than this by this stage in the year, but to be fair, a couple of the books I've tackled earlier in the year were huge great big non-fiction things that took ages. I keep breaking off from the non-fiction books to read quick novels for a break, lol!

Also, I've just realised that book 9 in the Chronicles of St Marys series came out in April, so at least now I know what I can use to fill the 'published this year' square. :-)

I actually ended up in the bizarre situation of two books fighting it out to fill the same square! The 'animal on the cover' square, I got a book about evolution out of the library, and that had a butterfly on the cover so I was going to use that, but then I realised that book 6 of the Chronicles of St Marys had mammoths on the front cover, so that clearly also qualified. The mammoths won. :-)

I'm still wondering if I can use the evolution book for another square, but the only one that it obviously fits is the 'non-fiction' square, and I already have another book lined up to fill that one. I might have to use a wild card for the evolution book. At first I hoped I might fill all the squares, but honestly I think I'll struggle with 'script or screenplay' and possibly 'published the year you were born', so might need to wild card those two.

As for recs - The Chronicles of St Marys series by Jodi Taylor!!!! It runs to nine books at the moment, and a collection of short stories as well (and should definitely be read in the appropriate order, because they do follow on from each other and probably don't stand alone too well if you start in the middle). It's basically the adventures of a bunch of historians, techies and assorted academics at a very British establishment - the St Mary's Institute of Historical Research. They 'investigate historical events in contemporary time'. *Don't* call it time travel!

Quite apart from being page-turningly good adventures, the books are all also hysterically funny, and yet in other places have also made me cry. I'd recommend them to anyone. Just a word of warning - don't start reading one late at night if you have to get up early the next day! I've had more than one extremely late night caused by the 'just one more chapter' effect when I read them in bed :-)

The Chronicles of St Marys series sounds really good! I will add it to my list!

Great job on all the reading. I am so failing at the moment. I am hoping life slows down soon. I think with summer coming up and my kids out of school it will.

You're doing wonderfully!

Thanks for the heads up about the Chronicles of St Marys series. Sounds good!

I'm getting on quite well with one of my books because we are stuck on the Isle of Coll in bad weather and ee don't have constant internet ;)

Lol! There's nothing like a period of enforced lack of internet to encourage getting on with other things!

Like the good old days?? *g*

haha so true!! We went for a ride yesterday and I was able to get through half my book. Loved it! Going to talk hubby into taking a few long rides this summer. :D

You read in the car? Impressive! I think I'd get car sick *g*

I am very lucky in that respect. Reading in the car is actual my favorite place to read. I think it stems back to the days when I was little and the parents would force us to go on Sunday drives. I always grabbed a book. I still do to this day if I'm not the one driving!

That's amazing! I would feel sick :P
Plus, I have to drive, because I criticise Mr fifi's driving too much so no point :D
Lucky you!

;) I bet you were able to make quite a bit of progress!

Finished it, lol!!

*high fives*

I'm picking up again after a lull. No bingo yet, but getting there.

I'm trying to pick up again. I got a couple books from the book sale. I need to decide which one to read. I need to read!!

Once I got back into reading it felt good.

Glad to hear it! :D

Obviously I have the bingo but after that I haven't had much time for reading the last few weeks. I've started The Rebel Angels by Robertson Davies as my "book published the year you were born" but haven't got very far with it yet.

Good luck with the book! I'm trying to decide which book I have planned for bingo I want to start next.

No fills for me recently but I've started two books and bought a third one so we can have hope for May! ;-)

Good luck!