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

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

I loved The Vor Game. The whole Vorkosigan Saga, in fact. But that's the one I started with and it was a hugely fun read.

Our Mutual Friend is one of my favorite Dickens. I think you'll really like it.

Wow! Great job!

Great going, Mickey and Charles!

Leslie (aka Basesloaded32) wrote: "I don't know about anyone else but I dream of the day I walk into a library or bookstore with no real plan. I walk in, roam around and browse and come out of there with a handful of surprises that ..."

Of course, on that day you'll buy more books and the cycle begins again!

Nice job, Martha!

*sings* Because it's JUNE! June, June, June. Just because it's June, June, June! *dances, too*

Mission: Read a book that has the word "bride" in its title. Or a bridal gown displayed prominently on the cover. This is a one book mini-challenge to be completed before June 31.

Examples:
The Princess Bride
The Ghost Bride
The Robber Bride
The Bride
Bed of Roses

The Stonewall Riots of June 1969 were a landmark event in bringing Gay Rights to public attention, which is one reason we try to do something commemorative in June each year. For more on this event...
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexper...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone...

Rules: Pick Two books to read during June/July/August. Make your choices by matching a format in list one to a category in list two. For example, if you listen to And the Band Played On as an audiobook, your next book cannot be a history or on audio.

Format
1) Paperback
2) Hardcover
3) Audio
4) Ebook

Categories
1) LGBTQ+ Fictional Character, written before 1969
2) LGBTQ+ Fictional Character, written after 1969
3) LBGTQ+ History
4) LGBTQ+ Memoir or Biography
5) LGBTQ+ Author
6) LGBTQ+ Studies

I live in New Jersey so summer always means spending some time on a sandy (usually overcrowded) beach. (Usually covered in SPF, huddled under a big umbrella, reading a book, but I'm there.)

Mission: Read one book with a beach or shore town setting before August 31.

For example:

Beaches
16 Lighthouse Road
The Saving Graces

Great job, Jenny! In so glad you're enjoying the series. :)

Good for you!
This is definitely one challenge I need to get back to.

I completely agree. Go with the count that works for you. The challenges are really about pushing ourselves expand our reading.

Veronique-
I liked Paying Guests quite a lot. Other reviewers said it wasn't up to her usual standard but it's my first time reading Sarah Waters so I wasn't disappointed.

Morning After Tally

Finished...
1) Big Magic.
2) Silks.
3) Paying Guests.
4) Brothers in Arms
5) The Viper's Nest
6) The Emperor's Code
7) The Pearl
8) about 25 chapters of Emma

Most were short. All were audio. But I'm quite pleased to be able to say the Readathon helped me catch up to my GR 2016 Reading Goal. I've been trailing since January, so that's a huge improvement.

Oh, I loved Watership Down!

Thanks, Vero! Those are all new titles for me. :)

I have several ideas for June. Most are LGBTQ+ this year rather than another minority studies topic. Probably because it's June.

-Aristotle and Dante (Group Read)
-Fingersmith
-Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
-The Charioteer
-The Price of Salt
-And The Band Played On
-Stonewall
-Bad Feminist
-Second Sex

Not sure how many I'll get through since I'll be page reading most rather than listening to audio.

Renee's 2016 Genre Challenge
I do try to gear my monthly reading toward the genre-of-the-month, so this could get scary. :0
Goal: 10 of 12 genres completed

Genre Challenge
January: Contemporary/Literary Merit
February: Romance/Chick Lit
Landline
One Night
March: Mysteries
The Spy Who Loved Me**
The Beekeeper's Apprentice**
The Girl with the Long Green Heart
Death at Wentwater Court
April: Fantasy
The Goose Girl**
The Look of Love**
School Spirit**
Scaredy Kat**
A Wind in the Door**
Dragon Actually**
May: Historical Fiction
Drood**
Career of Evil**
The Little Paris Bookshop**
The Paying Guests**
H.M.S. Surprise**
The Name of the Rose**
June: Minority Studies/LGBT
Bad Feminist**
The Price of Salt**
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen**
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

July: Science-Fiction/Dystopian
August: Poetry/Plays
September: Travel
October: Horror/Thriller
November: Manga/Graphic Novels
December: Humour

Happy Belated, Jenny! And Happy Upcoming, Veronique! Books are the perfect gift! (And bookstore gift cards!)

Great job, Maggie!