Reading is Amazing - A review and my 2014 Book Challenges

I absolutely love to read! I have loved reading from the time I could pick up a book, as evidenced here:

My early love of reading ;)

There is just something truly magical about sitting down, opening those wonderful smelling pages, and getting immersed in its world!  There is nothing quite like it.  I love all types of stories and read pretty much every kind of book out there.  I used to get lost for hours on end once I started a good one.  Unfortunately, I had to grow up, and it really seems harder and harder to find the time to read these days.  I am trying to set up a routine so that I make sure that I get an ample amount of reading time each day, but that only seems to happen on occasion.  I will eventually get there, I am definitely determined! So, back to what made me begin this post.  I was on Facebook today and came across an article in TIME about reading speed and how browsing the internet could hurt how fast we are able to read.  So, I took this little test they had, try it out here:

Source: Staples eReader Department

My reading speed was 416 words per minute.  Slower than I used to be and slower than what I was expecting, so I definitely have a new motivation for reading more.  Because practice has to help right?!? :) What speed did you get? Was it what you were expecting?

Book Review - Elsie: Adventures of an Arizona Schoolteacher 1913-1916

This is an excellent book on life as a teacher in the new state of Arizona. It was compiled by her granddaughter, who used her diary, letters, and research surrounding the time Elsie Hayes spent in Arizona. She was a school teacher from California who ventured in the "wilds" of a state newly brought into the union. She first taught at Cornville, where they did not have any of the modern conveniences of the time. From there, she taught at Williams for two years. It was quite a fascinating read! I enjoyed learning about how different it was then. I also grew up near that area, so it was fun reading about some landmarks that I am familiar with.

One thing that I did not like was the choppiness of the writing. It was taken directly from her diaries and letters that she wrote and received, but there are a lot of gaps. She had burned a lot of letters that would have been great to fill in a lot of the questions you develop as you go along. With the limitations though, it was quite well put together. I really enjoyed the extra research her granddaughter, Barbara Anne Waite, did to help fill in the gaps that Elsie left.

I would definitely recommend reading this book to get a look at the early times of Arizona statehood!

2014 Book Challenges

And now, I'll get to the book challenges I am going to join in 2014! I have actually never participated in book challenges before.  I am so excited to try some out this year.  The toughest part is going to try to limit myself on how many I do ;) I am coming a little late to the game, but it's not too late to start!

 2014 Ebook Reading Challenge

This one is to challenge you to increase books read on your eReader.  This will be fun, I just got a Kindle for Christmas :)

My goal is to reach DVD Level - 25 eBooks

Book to Movie Challenge

Reading books that have been turned into movies and then watching the movie.

Goal: Movie Devotee - read 6 books and watch their movies

Back to the Classics 2014

I am looking forward to this one.  You have to read 6 books in the 6 categories given.

Banned Books Challenge

Reading banned books.

Goal:  Trouble-Maker: 3-5 Challenged Books

Luck No. 14 Reading Challenge

This one will be fun.  There are 14 categories you have to complete.

2014 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Challenge to read historical fiction. This is one of my favorite genres!

Goal: Victorian reader - 5 books

Okay, so that is six book challenges! There are so many more that I want to join in, but I should really try to keep these goals achievable haha! Have you ever tried a book challenge?  What book challenges have you joined in this year? Leave the links in the comments, I'd love to check them out!

Linked up at: Modest Mom