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

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

Okay, I listened to Rob Reiner read. It was an abridged version which basically left out the framework story which Goldman had in the original. (It was kinda awkward anyway from what I remember, with the narrator going off on tangents about screenwriting, fatherhood, and the state of his marriage.) But I can't figure out how to get credit for both the original and the abridged versions which I read 30-some years apart. So I'm leaving my review of the original and just claiming my mini completed with the abridged audio version.
More information than anyone needs, other than... "Huzzah! Finished!"

Nothing says summer like a cool, sweet slice of watermelon.

For this challenge, read one book with fruit in the title before summer's end. (September 20)

Examples:
Watermelon
James and the Giant Peach
Strawberry Girl
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Cafe

Summer means so many pleasant things; picnics, swimming, barbecues, bonfires on the beach. Yet, we can also associate these things with the inevitable arrival of our insect friends. The charming ladybug, the buzzing bee, the ambitious ant, the pesky mosquito, the fascinating firefly... These creatures are as much a part of summer as bathing suits and citronella.

Mission: Read a book with an insect in the title.
This is a single book mini to be completed before September 20.

Examples:
The Secret Life of Bees
Dragonfly in Amber
The Mosquito Coast
Firefly Summer

Gah! I've finished this mini with The Beach House by James Patterson, which may be the stupidest book I've ever read. I cannot stress enough how intensely I DO NOT recommend this book to anyone.

(I can whole-heartedly recommend any of the beach novels listed as examples in the original post for this challenge. All were easy summer reads.)

CATEGORIES...

B1: Exploration - A book out of your comfort zone
B2: Congratulations! - An award winning book (can include Goodreads choice awards)
B3: Participation - A group read (this or any other group)
B4: Information - A non-fiction book or one based on a true story
B5: Collaboration - A discovery made through Goodreads such as through recommendations, suggestions from GR friends, newsletter etc.

I1: Listed it - A book from your GR to-read list
I2: Bought it - A book you own but have not yet read
I3: Eyed it - A book you have been meaning to read for a while now
I4: Downloaded it - An ebook you own but that you have not yet read or an audiobook you have not yet listened to
I5: Scored it! - A book you got for free e.g. sale, gift, giveaway, library etc.

N1: Oldie but goodie - A classic
N2: New kid on the block - A book published this year
N3: FREE - Any book that strikes your fancy :)
N4: Yesterday's news - A book released last year that you haven't yet read
N5: Everybody's talking - A buzz-worthy book, one that you have heard others raving about or that everybody but you seems to have read

G1: Nice to meet you - A book by an author new to you
G2: You seem familiar - A book by an author you have heard a lot about
G3: One of the girls - A book by a female author
G4: One of the guys - A book by a male author
G5: Old friends - A book you haven't yet read by an author whose work you like

O1: Take a stand - A stand-alone book
O2: Take a friend - Any book from a series
O3: Take a trip - A book set in different locale, continent or culture from your own
O4: Take a look - An adult book, any genre
O5: Take a break - A YA book

SUMMER BINGO will run from June 20 through September, and should include books you read during that period of time.
You may set your goal as a single Bingo, as many as you can get, or try to complete the entire board. (As always, many thanks to Karen for creating this Bingo Challenge in the summer of 2014. It's the perfect summer challenge with something for everyone.)

RULES & GUIDELINES

* As with traditional Bingo, you can go for a horizontal, vertical, diagonal, "X" or "around the world". Or aim big and go for a "Blackout!"
* A book can only be used once on the sheet.
* Interpret the categories as broadly as you like.
* Feel free to copy and paste the template below to record your books:

B1: Exploration
B2: Congratulations!
B3: Participation
B4: Information
B5: Collaboration

I1: Listed it
I2: Bought it
I3: Eyed it
I4: Downloaded it
I5: Scored it!

N1: Oldie but goodie
N2: New kid on the block
N3: FREE
N4: Yesterday's news
N5: Everybody's talking

G1: Nice to meet you
G2: You seem familiar
G3: One of the girls
G4: One of the guys
G5: Old friends

O1: Take a stand
O2: Take a friend
O3: Take a trip
O4: Take a look
O5: Take a break

You can start at anytime, Beth. You get to set your own goal. Why not try a few plays? Macbeth was seriously creepy!

Tammie and Beth-
SPRING Bingo will stay open until the end of June. (Which gives Beth a few more days if she chooses to continue)
However, SUMMER Bingo will open on June 20 and go through September. (Which is where I would suggest that you begin, Tammie) Mini-Challenges always start with a posting of rules and directions.
Hope this helps.

Jenny wrote: "I am going to read If I Was Your Girl and The Price of Salt: OR Carol, if I can get away with them both being ebooks ;)"

Lol. You know I don't really care. I just wanted to keep it interesting.

Lol! Just wait. Will quickly moves from "you're too gorgeous not to have kids" to "you're too gorgeous not to sleep with me." There are a lot more of those. A. Lot.

I never actually said which series I'm doing for this. Im working on a few.
1) The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold
2) Aubrey-Maturin Series by Patrick O'Brian
3) A Dance To The Music of Time by Anthony Powell
4) Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon - possibly

I've been updating in my Personal Challenge thread, but I'll post here as soon as I figure out where I am in each.

Good for you, Mindy! I hope July is better for you.

Just finished. Didn't know what to expect. Thought it might be a mystery, since many of Highsmith's titles seem to fall into that category. Also, expected some kind of wrenching tragedy &/or unhappy ending given that it was published in 1952. Was surprised on all counts. An excellent read. One I'll probably go back to so I can take my time to notice the small exquisite things, the way you do with a reread. Beautiful writing.

I'll definitely look for the movie. Thanks for the recommendation, Holly. :)

Buttercup's Baby??? Must go Google!

Reading Babies!!! You're the best mom, Camille. Welcome, Little Aonghas!

I'm going with...
1) The Price of Salt**
Ebook, fiction published 1952
4) Bad Feminist**
Audiobook, memoir and essays

FINISHED!

My library has an audio with Rob Reiner reading The Princess Bride which is calling my name. I read it first about 30-something years ago, way before the movie, and found it a hilarious, unexpected gem of a weirdo wonderful novel. I hope it's just as good as I remember.

Congrats, Cindy! Just in time!

Lol! I love this idea!

So happy to have you join this. I'm one that has been chipping away at the sonnets, and it has really been interesting to me. Some are terrific, others kinda odd; but all are amazing in their format and sheer number. That's dedication!