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

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

Question on the buddy reads - does any buddy read count, or only within this group?

Melissa wrote: "If I'm tallying my points right, I have 48 points from six books read! Yah! :D"

Wow, Melissa, you're cruising! Must go tally mine now!

Ok, I found a few other possibilities. I think I can manage one of these this month.


(Title - kiss)
(Cover & title - flowers)
(Cover - this could be a candle-lit Valentine's dinner)

Interesting challenge, Renee! This one will require some thought, but with a glance at my shelves, I found The Kiss of a Stranger that could work. I'm sure there are others!

Holly wrote: "Just stumbled upon your challenges! Such wonderful ideas!"

Thanks, Holly. They've given me some really good books already this year!

Holly wrote: "Going to go for Level 1 of this!"

Yes! Glad you're joining!

I think I'm going to read Maisie Dobbs this month, unless something else strikes my fancy.

The bonus fits right in with my main challenge this year. Yay!

Renee wrote: "Make that 64.5 since if finished Cather's Essays tonight, which gives me Bingo just in time. :D"

Impressive! :)

Kassandra wrote: "Thanks for the suggestion Allison - I'll add it into the Feb thread."

Thanks! I think I probably could have doubled my points if I counted books in more than one category, though. Are you sure you don't want to re-think the rule? :)

Kassandra wrote: "It would count as 3 points for one of the challenges, which one you put it under is your choice! Once you finish the mini-challenge, you will also get the additional points for completing (as long ..."

I was wondering the same thing. Maybe it would be good to say in the monthly rules that a book can only count in one place, except when it fits the bonus category. (If I'm understanding that correctly.)

Becca wrote: "I believe the author of these two books is Afghani and the books are set in Afghanistan..."

That was my understanding, too. I think they fit in August, under South Asia/India Subcontinent.

Brooke wrote: "For us Canadians, I'm suggesting the Governor General's Award and the Scotiabank Giller Prize."

Hi Brooke, and thanks for the recommendations! Will you be joining the challenge?

January Points Tally: 40.5

Bonus/Chunkster (5 pts):
Child of the Prophecy (540 pgs)
Lady of the English (545 pgs)

Group read (5 pts):

Buddy read (5 pts):

Genre Challenge (3 pts):
Lady of the English (Historical Fiction)

Mini-challenges (3 pts):

Tempest (New Year/New Author)
Ready Player One (New Year/New Author)
The Ladies of Mandrigyn (New Year/New Author)

Ready Player One (Award Winners)

The Ladies of Mandrigyn (TBR Pile 2015 - purchased 2013)
The Traitor in the Tunnel (TBR Pile 2015 - purchased 2012)
Sandry's Book (TBR Pile 2015 - purchased 2013)
Lady of the English (TBR Pile 2015 - purchased 2012)

Completed multi-book mini-challenge (10 pts):
New Year / New Author (3 books completed)

General (1 pt):
On the Edge
Bayou Moon

Shortie (0.5 pts):
The Mountains Of Mourning (78 pgs)

I just finished Ready Player One. I loved it! I've never read anything like it before.

Karen wrote: "I'm in for Level 1, at least for starters. I should be able to make Level 2 though."

Oh good! Glad you can join us.

Well, it looks like this buddy read fizzled out! Did any of you read this? I decided not to finish the book. I was skimming a lot, and wishing I could move on to something else.

Deanna Raybourn has two historical novels set in 1920s Syria / Lebanon (Damascus area, mainly): City of Jasmine and Night of a Thousand Stars. Both include adventure, mystery, and romance, so they would be a bit more of a lighthearted choice.

I'm planning to read for the challenge. Can't wait - I love Deanna Raybourn and have been saving this one up.

Everyone, I added a couple of eligible rewards - the Nebula and the Andre Norton Awards - in the genre-specific section.

Melissa wrote: "Finished Geraldine Brooks' March and would recommend it to everyone who is interested in the Civil War and an author's invention of Little Women's father Mr. March. This book takes pl..."

This sounds interesting, Melissa.