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

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

There are a few strategies I use with my students. One is to reread the paragraph before it and the paragraph it's in to see if context helps you. Another is to read further, then pause to see if you get clarification. Also to see if the sentence in question is integral to your understanding of the story. If it's not then you might be able to do as your husband suggests. Still another strategy is to think about whAt might be making the sentence incomprehensible. Is it the vocabulary? Grab your dictionary. (I keep one on my nightstand.) Or is it awkwardly written? Or is there a nuance which you may have missed. Perhaps because the author deliberately left it vague.

Generally it's worth trying at least one strategy to help with comprehension. But don't get bogged down and lose the flow of the story. That can kill comprehension (and interest) as well.

Cool. I'll have to look into Algernon Blackwood. I already like the name. :)

E&P is my favorite so far. But I liked both Fangirl and Attachments. Am looking forward to Landline.

Monthly Plan:
JANUARY 2016 : COMPLETED 7 of 9

Shakespeare's Sonnets 1-17**
A Question of Upbringing**
The Nose**
The Last of the Mohicans; A narrative of 1757 (Reader's Review)**
The Odyssey (Chunksters)**
Our Mutual Friend (Readers Review, finish in March)
The Moonstone (Victorians!)-reread if time

Monthly Minis...
First! First! - Shards of Honor**
New Year, New Author - The Martian**

Leapin' Lizards! It's Leap Year! What will we do with all the extra time? (Ha!)

Mission: Complete this mini-challenge with something you can finish in a day. Possibilities might include a play, a poem, a short novel, an article on Wikipedia (please link), War and Peace for Speed Readers, etc.

All entries must be completed by February 29, so get leaping!

This single book challenge is only good for one month!
From February 1 to February 29.

Mission: Find and read one book with a cover that is somehow associated with the Valentine experience. This could mean hearts, flowers, chocolate, pink, love, letters, heartbreak. Also, the book doesn't have to be a romance, just have some Valentine association on the cover. (Artwork or Title)

Any genre is welcome. Finding the books is part of the fun! For example, the books below are not romances but could be counted for this challenge...
Flowers for Algernon
White Oleander
Red Dragon
Beloved

Please include something about the "Valentine Connection" in your post, so we can all enjoy your creativity. :) Last year we had some very entertaining responses. Check out the 2015 Archive for ideas... https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

P. S. You can do this challenge more than once during the month.

Additional Information:

In doing a little research I discovered that Black History Month is has an annual observation in the United States, Canada (in Feb) and the United Kingdom (in Oct). I also believe there are celebrations in Germany as well. I'm including some Wikipedea links below for anyone who might wish to explore the history a bit more...

African-American History
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black...
African Diaspora
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afric...
African Union
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afric...

This mini-challenge was created to promote cultural awareness, as well as expand our reading interests. (Which is probably true of most of the challenges we do here.)

Mix-n-Match: African-American History (February)

Pick Two books to read during February. Make your choices by matching a format in list one to a category in list two. For example, if you listen to Twelve Years a Slave as an audiobook, your next book cannot be written before 1868 or on audio.

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

Categories
1) AA Author before 1868
2) AA Author 1868-1964
3) AA Author after 1964
4) Female AA Author
5) AA Biography
6) AA History

Any volunteers to lead this discussion?

Thanks so much for the feedback, Candy. It delights me that the mini-challenges are helping members in some part to expand their reading. :D

That would be great, Jenny. Thanks for volunteering!

Shhh. It's winter. The squirrels are all sleeping.

Sometimes this challenge is popular, but this year it has been completely silent. I think the fun here is finding a book you probably wouldn't otherwise read.

Remember: If this is your cup of tea, you have until the end of March before the next season's Crazy Calendar begins.

January is coming to a close and it's time for a new crop of mini-mini challenges (monthly).

New Year, New Author was created to be completed in January, but I'll leave this thread open into February for any last minute additions.

Don't forget to claim your Accomplishment Badge if you've started the year with someone new. :D

January is coming to a close and it's time for a new crop of mini-mini challenges (monthly).

Any more debut novel readers out there? I'll leave this thread open into February for any last minute additions.

Perfect! I haven't read it yet and I love when the feedback on a new-to-me series is good. :D
I'll go grab a library copy right now!

It's quite wonderful and has actually become one of my comfort reads. I'll definitely tap into this thread throughout the month to see how everyone is doing with it. Maybe even post a few questions, etc. :)

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS THREAD MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.

I haven't read this, Hosseini's most famous book, but I have read Splendid Suns. It was absolutely fabulous. The writing just envelopes you from the first page and you can't put it down. Even when your eyes are so swollen from crying that you can't see the the words. Seriously. It's that good.

Every time my eye scans this title in my notifications, it hits me as " Let's have pie before you die!" Cracks me up!

Very clever, Meg!

Glad to have you along, Srividya!