Allison’s Comments (group member since Jan 02, 2015)

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

Is anyone interested in a buddy read of River God? It didn't win the poll for this month's world lit group read, but I'm planning to read it anyway. Ancient Egypt, and I've heard good things about this series. Can I tempt anyone??

I'm not doing very well at pacing myself, I'm afraid. Just finished the Prisoner of Azkaban... brilliant. It's definitely still a favorite. I also think this is where the writing started to grow up a bit.

I'm going to try to slow down a bit now. :D

Well done everyone! It looks like a great month of reading, and yes, I see some tempting titles in there!

My fav was probably Cast In Secret, which I'd been saving up to read on break. That's another Fantasy series you might enjoy, Vero.

That's good to hear. I do intend to read it... someday.

Well done, Becky!!

How did everyone do this month? I've been off work, so overshot my goal by quite a bit. It's been a nice break. :D

I'm also planning to go with the flow, to read as much as possible and see where it takes me.

Congrats on finishing War & Peace, Sonia!! Was it worth it?

Welcome, Kimberly!

I also read Slaughterhouse Five in school (and hated it), and can safely say that it is not representative of Sci Fi as a genre. I'll second Renee's recommendation of the Vorkosigan Saga as a place to start, if you want to explore.

I know what you mean! I hardly ever manage to stick to a plan. I try to, but if the mood doesn't fit, I'll change it in a heartbeat. But I can usually make things work somehow for challenges anyway.

I keep checking my page numbers and they're all stuck between the feather weight and chunkster challenge limits so far. Maybe we need a middle-weight challenge too :D

That's a good point, Camille. (view spoiler)[I suppose being with Hagrid, it's not supposed to be so dangerous - except then he splits them up. (hide spoiler)]

I also finished the first book yesterday (and accidentally started the Chamber of Secrets, too). I'm really enjoying them, even though I can never read them with fresh eyes again. The first two are definitely more middle grade - more adventure stories than anything else.

I started yesterday too, and I'm about half way through already.

I seem to have lost my own mental picture of everything now that I've watched the movies a million times. The first movie is really close to the book, even down to exact phrases. I've only noticed a couple differences so far.

Finished!

I thought both main POVs were really well done. Marie-Laure's perspective was fantastic, how everything was so well-described in a non-visual way. (view spoiler)[I really liked the resistance aspect of it, as well as the how she and Etienne manage to keep imagination and hope alive using the radio, music and books.

Werner's story was harder to read, but it was also crucial to see how a talented boy got swept up in a terrible machine, and how he could do it without thinking too much of what was really happening. I'm sad at how his part ended. After getting out of that cellar, when the war is almost over, to die so senselessly. :( (hide spoiler)]

Camille wrote: "I rolled 7 and got Partner Pick.
Could someone give me a choice of 3 from my list, please?
Bookopoly

Thanks!"

Hi Camille! How about a choice of Utopia, Chronicles of Avonlea, and Fragile Things?

Hey guys, I've posted the July Book Tag thread in case anyone wants to start planning for next month. I also adjusted the points scoring a little bit to make it easier (hopefully).

Allison's July Goal: 10

Planned Books:
✔ Agnes and the Hitman
✔ The Vor Game
✔ River God
✔ Carpe Diem
✔ XO
✔ The Peach Keeper
✔ Cress
✔ The Silkworm
✔ Wildfire at Midnight
✔ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
✔ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Tagged Books:
1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Buddy Read, Cereal Numbers, Chunkster)
2. Agnes and the Hitman (Alphabet Soup, Readathon)
3. The Silkworm (Alphabet Soup, Chunkster, Readathon)
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Buddy Read, Cereal Numbers, Chunkster, Readathon)
5. The Vor Game (Genre, Award Winner, Alphabet Soup, Readathon)
6. River God (World Lit, Buyer's Remorse, Chunkster)
7. Cress (Bookopoly, Rainbow, Genre, Chunkster, Alphabet Soup)
8. Wildfire at Midnight (Dog Days of Summer, Buyer's Remorse)
9. XO (Books of Chance, Alphabet Soup, Chunkster)
10. Carpe Diem (Genre, Buyer's Remorse, Chunkster, Rainbow)
11. The Peach Keeper (Fruit Salad)
12. Lady Fortescue Steps Out (Books of Chance, Feather Weight)
13. A Darker Shade of Magic (Chunkster)

Challenge Levels Completed:
1. Chunkster Level 2 - Flower Presser
2. Chunkster Level 3 - Back Breaker - Challenge Complete!
3. Chunkster Level 1 (Round 2) - Door Stopper

Chased but not Caught: 0


Tag Tally
Books Tagged: 13
Points Tagged: 285
Personal Goal Achieved (25 pts): 25
Challenge Levels Completed (10 pts each): 30
Annual Personal Goal Achieved (100 pts): 0
Total: 340

How many books can you tag in July?

Book Tag was new in June, so I'm still tweaking it a little bit. This month the rules are simpler, since I found myself having trouble counting up all my points last month. :D

Book Tag

*Each book you tag earns 5 points. (Completed books.)
*Add to that 5 points for each group activity that you participate in with that book. Tag it with as many as you can - challenges, games, group reads, buddy reads, readathons - to get the most out of it.

*25 bonus points if you meet your personal monthly goal.
*10 bonus points for each challenge or game for which you complete a level during the month.

Post how many books you plan to read this month. List the books you plan to read, or just state a number. Then check back in and see how much you've accomplished!

Template:

My Goal: # Books

Planned Books:
1.

Tagged Books:
1.

Challenge Levels Completed:
1.

Books Chased but not Caught:
1.

Tag Tally
Books Tagged: 0
Points Tagged: 0
Personal Goal Achieved (25 pts): 0
Challenge Levels Completed (10 pts each): 0
Annual Personal Goal Achieved (100 pts): 0
Total: 0

Yay, Camille!

I like the idea of suggesting 3 books to choose from, Marina. I think I'll incorporate that into the rules.