Faye’s Comments (group member since Nov 05, 2013)

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

I used to read and write so much fanfiction that I had a year or two where I didn't read a single actual book. I quit reading it cold turkey once I realized that. The stuff's just too addictive for me!

My apologies to those who don't celebrate Christmas, but for those who do - what are your favourite Christmas books? Are there any that you read every year?

Yaaaay, Christmas banner! Awesome job, Holly! :D

Becca wrote: "Who is giving books for Christmas presents. My grandkids and great-grandkids are getting lots of books. Will also probably give some gift cards to book stores."

I gave everyone books last year, and I didn't sense a whole lot of joy from anyone (with the exception of my mother) when they opened them. I hope you have more luck than I did!

Renee? I feel I must apologize and thank you. I just searched my library's website top to bottom - as usual, there weren't many audiobooks in the adult section that I gave two hoots about... but then I looked for children's audiobooks.

THEY HAVE THE WHOLE "SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS" SERIES READ BY TIM CURRY AND/OR LEMONY SNICKET HIMSELF.

*flaily hands*

Yeah, um, so I might meet my goal this year after all. ;)

Renee wrote: "And, Faye-
Not to bang the same drum... But there's always audiobooks. Since your eyes and hands will be occupied with Christmas craftiness."

I did listen to one audiobook recently, but I can never find the books I want to read at my library in audiobook form. Besides, I don't really retain the story as much when listening to it as I do when reading it (I'm very much a visual learner), so I only like to use audiobooks when I've either read the book before or it's short stories or something.

Kassandra wrote: "Faye - is there any way that you can solicit some family members to help with the crafts? Many hands make light work...etc. Maybe that will free you up a little to get in some reading (readathon pe..."

Pfft, it's my family members that are asking me to make the crafts for them! :P

I'm stuck making a thousand and one crafts between now and Christmas, so I probably won't meet my reading goal by the end of the year. :(

Holly wrote: "Dreading how many books I'm going to have to take home so I can do my assignments over Christmas. I expect half the car will be filled with books!!"

Is it weird that I'm jealous? Because I'm jealous. :P

Welcome, Shelley! We are certainly a diverse group, so you'll find lots of great recommendations here. :)

I like to read more than one at a time. I often have a fiction and a non-fiction on the go at the same time, and sometimes if my main book is really heavy-going I'll start something lighter to read last thing at night.

Also, I tend to go overboard with library books when I still have a stack of books to read that I've bought, so quite often I'll have a library book and a book that I own on the go at the same time, just so I actually read the books that I own!

Amber wrote: "K I'm sorry."

Don't worry about it, sweetie.

Amber wrote: "Okay. I'm sorry then. You just said to share your reading challenges with us and I did that."

I think Renee meant that people are welcome to open their own mini-challenge threads. Earlier in this thread, she asked people not to do their own planning in this thread, as it's only here to outline some of the group's main mini-challenges that will be starting up in January.

We usually turn a blind eye to people promoting their own groups or projects, but if we could all keep it to a respectful minimum, that would be great. It was just completely out of place in this thread, which is why Renee was confused about it.

Chase wrote: "Roseanne wrote: "War and Peace and this time I mean it! I am starting on January 1st. I am forever squeezing something shorter in first."

^This is exactly my sentiments. I will hold you to it Roseanne, if you hold me to it."

Now that you've said this publicly, we'll all be holding you both to it! :P

dely wrote: "Yes, Les Miserables! I hope to read it next year and I hope to be able to read it in French for a new challenge I want to do for 2015: to read in the original language."

That's one of my goals in life!

My favourites this year (or at least the 5-star books that have left a lasting impression of "yay, I loved that one!") -

Rebecca
The Hunger Games
The Eyre Affair
The Help
Far from the Madding Crowd
Catching Fire
Mockingjay
Heart of Darkness and The Secret Sharer
My Cousin Rachel
Time and Again
Vanity Fair
We Bought a Zoo
Theodore Rex
Chocolate Wars: The 150-Year Rivalry Between the World's Greatest Chocolate Makers
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
Animal Farm
Out of the Silent Planet
Words to Live By: A Guide for the Merely Christian
Mere Christianity
Lost in a Good Book
Vimy
84, Charing Cross Road

I've had a pretty good year! I read plenty of duds, and probably half the books I read were decent but not "fave" material, but the above list is what kept me going through the thick and the thin of this roller coaster year. Hopefully I'll be able to add more by the end of the month!

Holly wrote: "Okay, this is going to be a tough one! I've basically put everything down that I considered to be 5 stars. Bolded ones are my favourite favourites!

In no particular order:
Catch-22, ..."

LOL I still remember our marmite conversation! Good times. :)

I moved this thread into the "Personal Challenges - 2015" folder for you, Ed. Good luck with your goal!

I read this book in one sitting tonight, and now... (view spoiler)[I'm kind of devastated! What a lovely bunch of letters, but... Frank! :( (hide spoiler)]

I wish I'd had a correspondence relationship like this with my downtown used bookstore while it was still open. *sigh* The e-mail era has lost something special.

Is there a book (or books) that you want to read someday but always seems too intimidating? Will you be putting it on your to-read list for 2015?