The RAHM Report for 4/9/18

Readathons!

I'm currently participating in two readathons: Seasons of Reading's Spring into Horror (which runs all month and, thankfully, only requires one scary book!) and a Pre-Readathon from Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon where the challenge is to read 1000 pages in a week. I've read about 187 pages toward the 1000 so far, and I've read four books for Seasons of Reading so far this month.

What My Kids Are Reading

See Easter picture books, my four-year-old's first mystery book, and a new board book in this week's Read-at-Home Kids Report. 

What I Finished Reading

• The Happy Hollisters by Jerry West
  I read this aloud to my oldest daughter (age 4) and we both really enjoyed it. My mom mentioned that she also loved these and borrowed them from the library when she was a kid. There are a lot of unbelievable events in this book (sort of like the things that happen to Nancy Drew), but my daughter loved all the excitement and suspense. 
• Honestly, Katie John! by Mary Calhoun
  I really enjoyed the writing in this third book about Katie John. If the Ramona books had extended into puberty,  I imagine this is what they would have been like. I really think my oldest daughter will enjoy this in 6 or 7 years. Katie John seems like her kind of girl. 
• Better Off Read by Nora Page
  I loved the characters and setting in this new cozy mystery that comes out in May. The protagonist is an elderly lady who drives a bookmobile, and she was fun to read about, as were her gentleman friend and her other neighbors and friends. The fact that the plot involves not just a murder but also the danger of the public library shutting its doors caught my interest, and I was as invested in the future of the library as in who committed the crime.
• Chili Con Corpses by Ellery Adams, audiobook read by Karen White
  I finally finished this audiobook! I enjoy Karen White's narration, but I did have to listen to the last hour at 2x speed so I could get it done before my library copy from Hoopla expired. There was a lot of character development in this book that I enjoyed, and it was also fun to "visit" Luray Caverns, since I actually have been there. I was also invested in James's romantic life, and I'm pleased with the turn it has taken even if I don't think it will last long. 

What I'm Currently Reading 

• Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton
  I'm reading this slowly because it's dense, but book club is next week, so I'll try to get it mostly finished by this coming weekend. 
• A Minute on the Lips by Cheryl Harper
  I had to put this book on the back burner while I finished the two cozy mysteries I read this week because this story also has mystery elements and I kept mixing up all the plots. It should be pretty easy and quick to finish now that I finished those other books. 
• Color Me Murder by Krista Davis
  I noticed this audiobook on Hoopla when I got to the end of Chili Con Corpses. I've heard good things about it, and my local library doesn't seem to have it in any other format, so I decided to give the audiobook a shot. So far, I like the main character and I'm looking forward to enjoying the Washington DC setting.

Challenge Progress

• The Happy Hollisters and Honestly, Katie John both count for the Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge. 
• Better Off Read and Chili Con Corpses both count for Cloak and Dagger and Craving for Cozies. Chili Con Corpses also counts for the Library Love challenge.
• I also reviewed the following titles for the Writing Reviews challenge: Until Tomorrow, Mr. Marsworth, Sunny, and I Know You, Al. 

I'll be linking up today with Unleashing Readers/Teach Mentor Texts and Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?