Renee’s Comments (group member since Feb 03, 2014)

Renee’s comments from the The Reading Challenge Group group.

Great Choice!

I decided to go with a children's book called Too Many Tamales. Such a sweet, funny story.

Finished!
I set my travel goal as 3 books per continent. I'm still working my way through The Covenant but it's just so long that I've given up on trying to finish it for this challenge. Therefore, my books were...

1) The Power of One (South Africa)
2) Under the Udala Trees (Nigeria)
3) The Poisonwood Bible (Congo/Zaire)

I'll definitely keep reading The Covenant. It's very well researched and gives a lot of background to the other things I'm reading about Southern Africa.

Thanks, Ladies!

My first Bingo of the season!

G1: Tear-Jerker: Esther Waters**
G2: In Translation: Solaris**
G3: Minority Studies: Death in Venice**
G4: Young Adult: Killing Mr. Griffin**
G5: Magical Powers: Wicked Appetite**

I read Under the Udala Trees. It's a coming of age story, but although they are separated for a portion of the book the predominant relationship is with her mother.

How interesting. I've seen that title but had no idea that it was a memoir.

Kudos to me for finishing The Power of One!

I'm still working my way through The Covenant. It's good but really long.

I'm going to try for 3 books in this leg. I just found Under the Udala Trees which looks really interesting.

I'm going to try for three in this category (not counting England, because I already read a lot of books from there).

1) Queen Margot, or Marguerite de Valois**
2) Death in Venice**
3) Elizabeth and Her German Garden

Two down, one to go. :)

If you're on schedule, the end of May should take us into Volume 3 (Marius), Book 1, Chapter 6-ish.

I had so many other things on my plate that I read ahead to the end of April, then took a break to read the other things. I'm ready to get back to Jean Valjean and Cossette!

There's an infographic floating around the internet which tracks all the deaths in the Shakespearean tragedies. It was created by Cam Magee and Caitlin S. Griffin, and is simply hilarious. (Given that it's about death and maiming.)

That one is based on a real queen in ancient Persia. Herodotus names her as Tomyris and she did battle with Cyrus, the Great. In his recounting she doesn't seem like the baddie. Although she swears that if Cyrus attacks her people he will "have his fill of blood." When he is taken in battle, she cuts off his head and sews it into a sack filled with blood. Do not mess with Tomyris!!

Actually, lots of what Herodotus recounted was pretty bloody and gross... Including kings who slaughtered offspring & fed them to their unwitting parent as a punishment for betrayal, I think. But it might have been for failing to fulfill a task.

April: Read 9 of 15

Victorians!: Esther Waters**
Trollope Project: The Small House at Allington**
Readers Review: Queen Margot, or Marguerite de Valois
Readers Review: Eugene Onegin
Les Misèrables: 30 chapters**
Aubrey-Maturin: The Reverse of the Medal
Rory: none
Guardian 1000: Solaris**
Guardian 1000: My Cousin Rachel**
Guardian 1000: Brewster's Millions**
Guardian 1000: The Power of One**
Boxall 1001:
Children's 1000:
Little House: Little House on the Prairie
Dunnett: none
Outlander Saga: Dragonfly in Amber
Gastronomy:

MONTHLY THEME: Animals & Rebirth
-

Minis ...
Weather: Rain**
Villains: Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
Fool: Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice**

Excellent work, Ladies!

I usually leave these open for a couple of extra days so people can finish up if they want, Allison. Sometimes it's too hard to get it all in.

That sounds like it will be amazing!

Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. For this challenge you can either:

1) Read a book recommended by your mother or which your mother loved
2) Read a book about a mother/child relationship

And don't forget to call your mom.

April ends today, but feel free to add to your poetry tally if you read more in 2017.

Any more humor for April??

Last call for Weather books!

I loved Dracula when I finally got around to it. So not what I expected. I loved the adventure of it!