Rachael | Booklist Queen’s Comments (group member since Dec 02, 2021)

Rachael | Booklist Queen’s comments from the Booklist Queen Reading Challenge group.

Christelle wrote: "I don't read LGBTQ+ books, any recommandations???"

Razorblade Tears if you want super action thriller (it's pretty violent).

The Vanishing Half if you like literary books. It has a really good plotline about a transgender man.

If you like romance, Red, White & Royal Blue is highly regarded. I haven't read but everyone seems to love it.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle if you like memoir/self-help books.

There are tons of books out there in any genre you like to read.

Callum wrote: "I usually like to read in chapters. Do audio books follow the chapters or is it just constant reading? I would like to be able to stop at a certain point. Haven't decided what I want my audio book ..."

Most audiobooks are indexed by chapters to help you find your place. Usually when you pause an audiobook, it skips back a few seconds when it plays again to help you find your place. It's definitely a different experience than reading a physical book, but it can be a great addition to your reading life.

Kathy wrote: "I can’t decide which to read. Night Circus or City of Orange."

Both would be good choices. I absolutely loved The Night Circus! However, I really want to read City of Orange.

To make your life easier, I gathered all the important links in one place for you.

Booklist Queen: https://booklistqueen.com/

2022 Reading Challenge:
https://www.booklistqueen.com/reading...

2023 Reading Challenge:
https://www.booklistqueen.com/reading...

Join the weekly newsletter (and get the reading challenge printable): https://www.booklistqueen.com/subscri...

Facebook Group:
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Storygraph Group - 2022 Reading Challenge: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading...

Storygraph Group - 2023 Reading Challenge:
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Welcome, new members!

If we are going to be friends and all, we should probably introduce ourselves.

I guess I'll go first!

Hi, I'm Rachael. I'm the creator of the blog Booklist Queen (https://booklistqueen.com).

Always a voracious reader, I grew up in the cornfields of Ohio before going to college to earn a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics. A mother of four children, I decided to try my hand at blogging after my youngest was born.

With four young children, I know how hard it is to even find time to read. Which is why it's so frustrating to invest hours in a book only to want to chuck it across the room when you finish!

That's where Booklist Queen comes in. I read close to 200 books a year across all genres. Let me read all the books so you don't have to.

I currently live nestled against the mountains in Utah. When I’m not reading or blogging, I’m spending time with my family, preferably outdoors. I love to ski, hike, bike, rock climb, paddleboard, play soccer, and visit the National Parks.

Your turn! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Welcome, fellow book lovers, to my Goodreads community!

I'm Rachael, and I run the book blog Booklist Queen. Tired of wasting my time on overrated bestsellers, I started a book blog to help others find more great books to read.

On Booklist Queen, I highlight the most-anticipated new releases, create book lists to ensure you have an overflowing TBR, and run a popular annual 52 book reading challenge, which is most likely why you're here.

I'm still new to running a Goodreads group, so bear with me as I work out all the kinks.

The Discussion board is currently split into three categories.

1. The Welcome folder is for all administrative purposes. You can tell us a little about yourself in the Introductions thread, ask a question in the Questions thread or find important links in the Links thread.

2. The Reading Challenge folder is for the annual Booklist Queen reading challenge. Although I've been running a reading challenge for a few years, this is my first time hosting it in a Goodreads group.

I've created a thread for each of the 52 Reading Challenge prompts. Search through the prompts to find ideas from other members of what books to read, and drop in what books you are reading for that category.

3. While I'm in charge of the first two folders, the Book Chat folder is meant for you. Go crazy creating new threads to chat about books with each other. Whenever you want to discuss the book you just finished or are looking for suggestions from fellow members, use this portion of the discussion board.

Thanks for joining our bookish community. We are so glad to have you!

Happy Reading,
Rachael

Kelly wrote: "Going to listen to Anna Karenina. The almost 1,000 pages feels less intimidating in an audiobook."

My sister listened to the audiobook of Anna Karenina, and halfway through she realizes that two of the main characters are the same character! LOL. Russian literature uses a lot of diminutives for names, so she wasn't connecting the nicknames with the full names.

Maryjane wrote: "I listened to Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins
I have it ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I could probably put this under a guilt pleasure as well."

Oh, that is such a good idea. I think I will use it as my guilty pleasure read as well!

Hey, everyone! Just so you know, the Book Chat section of the discussion board is for you to go crazy discussing books. This is the place for you as a reader to take point, instead of just following whatever prompt I decide to discuss.

Choose a book and dive into it with other readers. Ask for recommendations or bring up your pet peeves/favorite tropes/wishes and desires.

Just have fun engaging with other readers!

Remember, self-promotion and solicitation is not allowed.

I know, the temptation to buy new books can be overwhelming. But for this category, take a second to shop for a book from your own bookshelves and read a book you own but haven't read.

What books do you own but haven't read (and really should)?

While there is a time and a place for dark thrillers, sometimes you need some light-hearted and fun. For this category, pick up a cozy mystery.

What is a cozy mystery? Usually, it's the story of an amateur detective in a small community solving a case in a story that glosses over any violence, gore or sex.

Do you read cozy mysteries? If so, which ones would you recommend?

Sometimes hearing someone's life story in their own words - the situations they have dealt with and the circumstances they have overcome - is an awe-inspiring event.

What memoirs have you found inspiring?

I know for most of the prompts I tell you to go through your to-read list and pick up those backlist books. Not today. Now's the time to read a 2022 new release.

You can view my full list of upcoming releases at: https://www.booklistqueen.com/upcomin...

What 2022 releases are you most excited for?

What's a historical novel? It's a subset of historical fiction that is still fiction but is leaning towards the nonfiction side.

Usually, the core of the story is true, but the author has made alterations to enhance the storytelling, like adding dialogue or compressing the timeline to add tension.

Need suggestions? Check out my list at: https://www.booklistqueen.com/books-a...

What are your favorite historical novels?

They say laughter is the best medicine, so maybe you should add a little more humor into your reading life.

What books have made you laugh?

After the popularity of Oprah's Book Club, celebrity book clubs seem to be popping up all over the place nowadays. One of the most popular right now is run by Reese Witherspoon, who picks a hot new release to discuss each month.

Explore the full Reese Witherspoon Book Club List at: https://www.booklistqueen.com/reese-w...

What are your favorite Reese's Book Club Picks?

Life is Tough. Life is Beautiful. Life is Simple. Life is Complex. Life is what happens when you are making other plans (to quote John Lennon).

For this category read a book about life. Feel free to take interrupt this prompt any way you want. I left it vague on purpose.

Name some books about life you recommend. What book are you going to read for this reading challenge prompt?

Ranging from fact-based history to opinionated self-help (and fact-based self-help to opinionated history), pick up a bestselling nonfiction book and see what the hype is about.

Need suggestions? Here are some resources from my blog:

Best Nonfiction Books of 2021: https://www.booklistqueen.com/best-no...

The New York Times Nonfiction Best Seller List: https://booklistqueen.com/the-new-yor...

My Nonfiction Recommendations all in One Place: https://www.booklistqueen.com/nonfict...

What nonfiction bestsellers do you want to read?

Ghosts. Goblins. Witches. Serial Killers. Whatever scares or frightens you, it's time to read about it.

What spooky reads do you recommend?

Yes, long immersive books can be a joy to dive into. However, they can also be extremely intimidating. Plus, when you are low on time, a short book is just what you need.

What books under 300 pages have you loved?