Two books down, eighteen to go in the SRP Challenge. Here is a brief summary of the books.
 

Cardboard Gods by Josh Wilker

This memoir connects episodes in Wilker's life to individual baseball cards that he collected in his youth. Funny and sad, one might need an appreciation for baseball to get into this book. Also, since Wilker is a die hard Red Sox fan, the book may not be appropriate of fans of that pinstriped team.
 

There's a few lines that I liked a great deal in the book:

"...life is not to be methodically considered and solved like a math equation. [It] is to be sprinted toward and bungled beyond recognition."

"'You must write something every day,' [his father] said. 'The creative life is the most worthwhile existence available.'"

"The ecstatic visions of Jack Kerouac seemed less an elegiac psalm to an evaporating world than a prelude to a world yet to come. ... You could be the best possible version of yourself, all your lesser costumes burned clean away."
 

Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor

With illustrations by Jim Di Bartolo. Wasn't sure what to expect of these three stories (that would be the three times reference). Quite lovely writing in the genre of fantasy romance. Had to go to the YA section of the library for the book, but don't let that deter you. The stories touch on goblins, and Hindu and Zoroastrian myths. I won't divulge more; you'll have to check it out. Highly recommended.
 

Many thanks to Sharon and Camille for the suggestions on these two books. Now, where are all your entries? The contest is three days old, already!

The 2010 Summer Reading Program is officially open! The charity to benefit is the same as last year, The Children's Literacy Foundation (CLiF). And of course, each book you read and add to the list will enter you into the grand prize raffle for a $25 Amazon gift certificate.
 

A couple changes to note. Due to time and budget restrictions, there will just be the grand prize. No bookmarks or other doo-dads this year; sorry!
 

Every year I encourage everyone to read read read! And many of you do with voluminous enthusiasm. I realized that I haven't challenged myself over the years. It's only fair that I try to do the same.
 

I asked for and have collected from various social media sites your book suggestions, twenty in all. I've posted the list on the SRP homepage. For each book I read, I will donate $5 to CLiF. If I read all twenty books, that's $100 to the charity.
 

So read read read! And I will do the same.

What books would you recommend to a friend? Any titles that you want to read this summer?

 

The 2010 Summer Reading program is fast approaching. As usual, I'm changing the contest a bit, for which I am collecting titles.

 

Post your favorites. You may win a prize ...