Melissa’s Comments (group member since Nov 28, 2016)

Melissa’s comments from the CPL's Book a Week Challenge group.

Congratulations, Susan! Thank you for the interactive fun, Joanna!

I’m reading Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs for a book club and then working on the Amulet series so my daughter and I can chat about them. I’m also listening to The Time Machine by H.G. Wells because it inspired Dr. Who. My brother and dad finally got me started watching that series, which I found on DVD at the library.

I’m looking forward to anything new in my series, especially the next Orïsha book by Tomi Adeyemi or anything from the Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah Maas. I usually try so hard to not start series until they are complete, but I can’t help myself.

“A book is a dream that you hold in your hands." -Neil Gaiman

I realized when getting my June books together that I forgot to post my May list as well.

2. It's so pretty – Fresh Ink by Lamar Giles

4. Stop, thief! - Read a book involving a heist
The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro

6. Nom de plume - Read a book with a female author who used a male pseudonym
The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

8. Book to screen - Read a book that was turned into a movie or television show
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

I just finished A Question of Holmes by Brittany Holmes, the fourth book in the series. I'm going to read the script for Crimes of Grindlewald next because my daughter has been begging me to read it so we can discuss and rewatch the movie on DVD.

calculating, questioning, talented (A Question of Holmes by Brittany Cavallaro)

"When shall I see you?" asked Arobin, seeking to detain her, the maid having left the room.
-The Awakening by Kate Chopin
(one of my favorites that I actually have a hard copy in the house)

Darke

I'd have to say it's a tie between Rupi Kaur's Milk and Honey and Robert Galbraith's The Cuckoo's Nest. I always have a hard time picking a favorite.

Done. Even got my husband to sign up this year when I was signing up the kids.

I love your idea, Joanna, about the bag of bookish goodies and/or books about books.

This week I'm reading The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (AKA J.K. Rowling) on audiobook and Charmed to Death by Shirley Damsgaard on e-book. I'm also working on a few more library books so I can get them returned on time.

I generally do not read reviews for books I plan to read for my own personal enjoyment. I will read reviews of books that my elementary age children want to read to get an idea if it is worth my time and/or their time to read. If it is in the teen section, I must read it first. I know my children and what they like and can handle.

I also like to read reviews written by my favorite authors or bloggers when I'm looking for new books to read. I know that I won't find spoilers in those reviews.

If you are looking for help for what books to put in the bags for next year, may I suggest giving a choice, maybe the FOL would offer a coupon in the bag. I'm not into romance books, and I always seem to get them as my free books. My other suggestion would be something else useful to book readers besides an actual book. I did also like Susan's idea of grouping the books by genre. I'd be much happier with sci/fi or fantasy than romance.

1. The Princess Saves Herself in this One by Amanda Lovelace

2. Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka

3. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

5. Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

7. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse Tyson

8. George by Alex Gino (The main character was named George, but prefers to go by the name Melissa.)

I had a lot of fun reading all these books this month. I am grateful our library has such a large audiobook collection through the 3 apps.

1. "We Can Do It" - Celebrate Women's History Month by reading a historical fiction or non-fiction book about a famous lady
The Trial of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertson

2. Belief Systems - Read a book about religion or theology
Educated by Tara Westover

3. Making Me Hungry - Read a book with food on the cover
Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon

4. The Compelling Villain - Read a book about a villain or antihero
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

5. I Saw You on the Subway - Read a book you saw being read by a stranger in a public place
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

6. It's About the Journey - Read a book about travel
Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

7. Shamrocks! - Read a book with a green cover
The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths

I didn't get to read much in February, but the two I did fit into the mini-challenge.

2. Not All Tears Are Bad - Read a book that makes you cry (or that you think will make you cry)
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

4. Dear Friend - Read a book in epistolary form (letter, diary, blog, emails, etc.)
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

So I haven't been keeping up to date posting, but I went through my screenshots of the books I read over the last few months and added them to my lists on Beanstack and Goodreads. Here are the few that happened to fit into the mini-challenge.

1. It's Popular - Book that’s been on the New York Times Bestseller list for more than 10 weeks
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
3. Knock Down that Stack - Read one book from your To Be Read pile
Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis
5. Nostalgia - Read a childhood favorite
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

I love to read on the couch with a blanket and a cup of tea by the fire. However, the weather this year has not been cooperative, so I've had to enjoy my books and tea without the fire.

I'm currently listening the the 17th book in James Patterson's Womens' Murder Club series and reading Illuminae, the first book in a Young Adult series that my oldest daughter (17) recommended. I'm also listening to the 6th book in the Septimus Heap series with my youngest daughter (9).

Stacy, I loved "Sometimes I Lie." It was one of my favorites that I read last year.

I just got to a part in the book where she seems to have taken on a case with great significance. She does give a personal touch to all her cases, so I'm interested to see how she solves this bigger case with political and more violent ramifications.

I am always overly ambitious and have a bunch going at once. I'm reading In Praise of Difficult Women by Karen Karbo as my nonfiction and working on The Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix for fiction. I'm still listening to The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency in my car and very much enjoying listening to The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Karen Barnhill with my daughter through RBDigital. I then picked up a bunch of science biographies from the library today to help me in teaching science camps this summer.