Tanya Patrice’s Comments (group member since Dec 31, 2019)

Tanya Patrice’s comments from the Chapter Adventure Reading Challenges group.

I read The Rust Maidens by Gwendolyn Kiste - which won a 2018 Bram Stoker Award for First Novel (presented in May 2019). It was an interesting book - a bit of a slow burn - about a town where some of the girls have bones that are turning to metal - and the town really doesn't know how to handle this. Plus, they are going through a depression with the mill closing and a lot of job loss. It's a sad book from beginning to end.

Cecil wrote: "My choice was by Andrew Mayne. Went with "Girl" for the keyword. Actually started at the end of March, but finished in April. (Still qualifies, right?)..."

Definitely qualifies (and is a pretty smart move :-)

Sarah wrote: "The Stoker Award is another one that has been given out sometimes in April, sometimes in May, and the book that I have picked out to read was honored in a May year, I was able to determine (it took..." I love your sleuthing!

Your task this month is to read at least 1 book that WON a book award in MAY - any year.

Awards that have been announced in MAY include:
* The Nebula Awards
* Best Translated Book Awards
* The Agatha Awards
* Pulitzer Prize (some years it's presented in April)

--- Comment below with ---
(1) the name book you're reading for the challenge,
(2) the name and year of the award it won
(3) CHALLENGE COMPLETE if you've finished reading the book.

Your task this month is to read at least 1 book that WON a book award in APRIL - any year.

Awards that have been announced in April include:
* The Edgar Awards
* The Stoker Awards
* Pulitzer Prize (not every year - sometimes it's presented in May)

--- Comment below with ---
(1) the name book you're reading for the challenge,
(2) the name and year of the award it won
(3) CHALLENGE COMPLETE if you've finished reading the book.

Challenge Complete!
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw which won the 2020/2021 Story Prize.

A book with just 9 short stories - all feature black women and complex relationships - all types - between religion / sex / sexuality etc. Really good book and fairly short which makes it quick to get through.

Sarah wrote: "CHALLENGE COMPLETE

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
by Patrick Radden Keefe
National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, 201..."

This sounds amazing!

Claudiu wrote: "Key Word: Never
Title: Neverwhere
Author: Neil Gaiman
Challenge Complete!

Another great book by Neil Gaiman."

This is what I'm going to read too - I LOVED this book and I can't wait to re-visit it.

Challenge complete!
I read Djinn City by Saad Hossain which is set in Bangladesh. I didn't love it (only gave it 2 stars) - way too long and the awesome story got lost as the other complicated it with too many plots.

Challenge Complete
Keyword: Come
Book: Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire - book 5 in the Wayward Children series.
This is a series of novellas about kids who've been to another World, but end up back in their own - and they want to find a way back. There's a school for kids like them. I'm really enjoying the series (I read 5 of them this month).

Nicole wrote: "I'm going to read The Winter Over by Matthew Iden for this prompt. Since we're getting snowed in as I speak, with single digit temps and below zero windchills, I mi..."

Lol - right!

Challenge Complete
February Book Award - 2018 Alex Award - Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire

Love, love, love! This is a short novella - I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by the author. Only 4+ hours and a really interesting story. It's a fantasy - but the kind that's throwing out subtle hints about things people do in reality - in this case - parents making their kids into what they want to be and trying to create a picture perfect life - and how that can really mess with kids minds / psyche.

Natacia wrote: "I chose The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I started it, but haven’t finished it yet. It’s killing me not to have finished by the end of the month! So far, I find the story to be interesting. I ..."

Don't worry about it Natasha - that's how it is sometimes. I also started my book in Jan and finished in Feb.

Melancholic wrote: "I'm planning to read Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, narrated by Cathleen McCarron. It is the 2018 winner of Audie Awards in fiction category."

Ooh I listened to the audiobook of this one too - loved it!!

Lauren wrote: "Happy to report that I've finished the first month of my first ever reading challenge (as an adult).

This month I chose the word "court", and read the four books currently published in the A Court..."

Congrats Lauren - welcome to the world of reading challenges :-) I'm guessing you loved the series since you read all 4 books!

I read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (2010 Alex Awards). I liked the book and thought it told an important story about growing up on an Indian reservation but looking at it through the eyes of a teenage boy. I love the inclusions of drawings too since the main character loves to draw

... and then I read about the sexual misconduct accusations levied against the author. So I do wish I'd chosen something else to read. I'm on the side of - if I find out about an author's "bad behavior" - then I'm not going to support them by buying their books. There's too many authors out there that would love more readers!

the Cybils Awards are presented in February as well.

Sarah wrote: "Another option for audiobook listeners is the Spoken Word category of Grammy winners, always announced in February. This is the option I'm going for, if it's acceptable for the challenge. I want to..."

Yes! The Spoken Word winners from the Grammys absolutely work for the challenge. I think someone chose it last year as well. It was actually my first time hearing about the award.

Seriously - Wow! The book choices so far from everyone has such variety! And the descriptions - you guys are making me add more books to my TBR!

Elizabeth wrote: "I looked for a fairytale retelling because I so enjoyed Marissa Meyer’s entire Lunar Chronicles last year... particularly Scarlet’s story (no spoilers, I promise), and went looking for another Red ..."

Elizibeth - that's so true! I red The Girl in Red too and agree!