Joanna’s Comments (group member since Dec 27, 2013)

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

February is Black History Month and we at the library are excited to celebrate. One of the things we're doing this year is a Beanstack challenge for the month of February. The challenge has one reading component and then multiple activity components. The activities range from attending one of the library's events to exploring various websites to learning more about prominent African Americans. This challenge is in addition to the Book Quest challenge (though you'll notice that doing it counts toward one of the Take It or Leave It challenges).

To sign up, when you log into Beanstack, you'll see a "More Challenges" option under your current challenges. If you click the Black History Month cover photo, a box will pop up asking if you want to join the challenge. Clicking that will add it to your current challenges list.

The Black History Month challenge runs from February 1 to February 28 so if you join today, you won't be able to start logging badges but it will be there for you to start on the 1st.

Let me know if you all have any questions and I hope you enjoy the challenge.

Janice wrote: "Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen is this month’s Book of the Month pick. The Count of Monte Cristo is my epic classic for the first half of 2023.
[bookcover:The Coun..."

Please see my heart eyes over Count of Monte Cristo. You and another friend of mine are reading that right now and it's really making me want to do a reread.

Kim wrote: "how do you show the book cover, I couldn't figure it out..."

Lyn wrote: "Kim
Above the weekly thread ia a general thread #3 How to insert an image into your post, its something I need to learn too"

So to show the tiny book covers, when you're looking at the comment box in the thread, you'll notice to the right of "comment" is a clickable option "add book/author." Click that and a pop up box appears. At the bottom of the pop up box is an option to either add link or cover. Change that to cover. Then just search for your book title in the pop up box and when you find it, click add. It'll appear as a string of code in your comment box but when you hit "post," it'll be the cover.

Let me know if that makes sense!

How's everyone's month going so far? Can anyone believe February is next week? I most certainly can't. I'm sorry for the lack of a thread post last week; I took a week vacation which was much needed. It was a stay-cation so of course I tried to conquer some of my to be read pile. Managed to read some Alice Oseman books (that aren't the graphic novels)- Solitaire and Nick and Charlie- and finally, finally finished a book I've been reading since early December, Oaths of Legacy. So all in all, a good stay-cation.

What books have you all been reading? Any standouts? Any you would recommend? Let us know!

Kim wrote: "I have found a sure fire way to get seen quicker at doctor appointments or prescription refills, is to bring a book! Seems whenever I remember to bring a book I never have enough time to read it! I..."

Hahaha. That happened to me when I went to the doctor's last month. I think I got a total of 2 pages read. It was the fastest I had ever been seen lol.

Lis wrote: "I tend to read a lot then back off when work is too busy to fit anything in. Here is what I've read so far this year"

The Ex Hex! That was a fun romance. I hope you are enjoying it.

Ann wrote: "I'll have to try listening to audio books at home, I've started listening in my car, and have found some good selections. Next up will be to figure out how to play audio through my car's sound syst..."

Do you have bluetooth in your car? If so, I'm pretty sure there's a way to connect it to your phone so it'll play the audio.

I am stealing this thread from last year because I know we have new people (hello! we're so happy you're here!) and it's always a good reminder.

We all know Book Quest is a challenge! The goal is to try and read 52 books over the course of the year (one a week) or you may have other book goals, larger or smaller. Unfortunately, life can get in the way of the perfect reading time and meeting those goals. What are book lovers to do?

Below are some tips and tricks to help you read more!

1. Always carry a book with you. One of the easiest ways to get more reading done is to always be prepared by having a book on hand. Standing in a long line at the grocery store? Have to go to the DMV? Caught at the Great Bridge? Waiting for the kids’ practice to be done? Whip out that book! It’s amazing what those little pockets of time do. Ebooks are also a great way to ensure you always have a book with you. Whether it’s an ereader or an app on your phone, they tend to be lighter and easier to carry.

2. Listen. Do you have a long commute? Do a lot of cleaning/cooking? Like to exercise? Try audiobooks! Audiobooks are a perfect way to get in reading time while also accomplishing other tasks. If you’re afraid of missing information while listening, try a reread with an audiobook of a book you’ve read previously.

3. Don’t be afraid to DNF. DNF (short for “Did Not Finish”) can be tough for many of us. I’m a completionist- once I start a book, I feel guilty if I give up on it. But there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! If you’re just not feeling a book, set it aside and move on. Life is too short to read books you either aren’t in the mood for or dislike.

4. Be conscious of your time. We all do it. We’re heading to bed and to unwind, we scroll aimlessly through the internet. Why not use that time to read instead? Set aside 10, 15, 20, or whatever minute count you want before bed to read. Also evaluate how you use your time during the rest of the day. When do you find yourself aimlessly scrolling and can you be reading instead?

5. Size matters not. I know. We all want to be able to say we read 52 600+ page tomes in a year. And that is a worthy goal. But when it comes to reading, size matters not. Read that novella. Jump into a graphic novel. Don’t think that the only books that count have to meet a certain page count (unless that’s a personal goal you’ve set, in which case, carry on!).

6. Read multiple books. I’ve seen this one around on the sites and it also works for me- have multiple books going at once. Why? Because if tonight you suddenly don’t feel like reading that epic fantasy you were loving, you can indulge in the cute romance without feeling guilty. It helps keep you from being bored and ending up in a slump. This one doesn’t work for everyone, though. Some of us are one book at a time kind of people and that’s perfectly fine.

Do you have a helpful tip or trick for reading more? Share in the comments any that you’ve found helpful!

Happy New Year!! And we're off!

Some quick highlights...

1. Book Quest 2023 is live! You do not need to create a new account. Simply sign in to your Beanstack account and click "Register for this Challenge." You can then start logging your books.

2. Take It or Leave It is back! You can find the challenges under "Activity Badges." It follows the same process as last year- challenges are quarterly; new challenges may pop up unexpectedly at any time; do one, do some, do all, or do none, it's up to you!

3. If you participated in the 2022 challenge, the grand prize and other prize drawings will be later today and winners will be contacted via the email provided on Beanstack.

4. Make sure to go join all the fun over at the Online Book Club. January's book is A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson.

5. You may have noticed that the library really only uses Beanstack for Book Quest. This year, though, we want to change that. As the year progresses, you will see new and different challenges pop up. Please feel free to join them and participate. The first one will be for Black History Month in February. We really want to utilize Beanstack to its full potential and you all are the key to it.

Phew. That was a lot of highlights! Thank you for reading through them. We're so excited for another year and another challenge to read 52 books!

What books are you starting the new year off with? Let us know in the comments.

All the links:
1. Beanstack - https://chesapeake.beanstack.org/read...
2. Online Book Club - https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
3. Library Website - https://www.chesapeakelibrary.org/

Book Quest 2023 is now live! Log into your Beanstack account and you can register for the challenge.

Logging books for 2023 will follow the same procedure as 2022.

Look for more information in the Week 1 thread.

Good luck on your 2023 challenge!

Arlice wrote: "Hi,
I just started Fairy Tales by Stephen King. Next up will be Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland, which has been on my want to read list forever.
Happy New Year!!!!
[bookcover:Fairy Tale|6017737..."

I need to read Justina Ireland. All her books sound amazing.

Ingrid wrote: "My son grave me The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake. He is hoping I finish it before he heads back to college so he can read it next. There is a second book also. I am sucked in so it won’t be a problem ..."

I have heard nothing but good things about that book! I'll definitely have to add it to my tbr.

It's the final countdown!

Thank you to everyone who participated in Book Quest 2022. Whether you read one book or a hundred, you all rocked this challenge.

All books need to be logged by 11:59pm on the 31st for them to count toward the 2022 challenge. The grand prize winner for Book Quest and the winner of the Take It or Leave It challenge will be emailed Tuesday, January 3rd.

Book Quest 2023 is currently being built! As of this moment, the goal is for it to be live January 1st, however it may go live January 3rd. Please keep an eye on Beanstack as the challenge will show up there for you to register once live.

Participation prizes! There are notebooks available here at Central Library for anyone who completed the challenge and wants one. These are the same notebooks as last year. They are available starting the 3rd.

And finally, what is everyone reading this last week of the year? I'm currently reading Three Act Tragedy, Blackout, and Lovelight Farms. I'm hoping to finish all three before the new year starts but we keep making plans to see friends so I'll probably be carrying them over into 2023.

Happy New Year, everyone!!!! And happy reading!

Lyn wrote: "happy holidays
I knowthis won't be answered till you open back, are there any participation prizes this year?"

Happy holidays! So yes and no? I still have little notebooks left from last year so if anyone wants another one or didn't get one last year, they can drop by Central after the 2nd to pick one up. But I don't have anything different as a participation prize.

Ann wrote: "I am currently reading Witcha Gonna Do? by Avery Flynn (whose a friend- that I haven't seen in forever). It's a fun read. I'm also listening to The Gift of the Magpie by Donna Andrews ( her whole s..."

You can do it! I have faith you can make your new goal. :D

And no, you didn't. Feel free to email me that so I can add them to the Take It or Leave It challenges. I can't believe 2023 is here!

Happy Holidays, everyone! Wishing you all a wonderful season full of all the best things and amazing reads.

Is anyone reading anything this week? I started Murder on the Orient Express the other day because I am determined to make my way through the Poirot books. I’m also reading Lovelight Farms on my Kindle app because my coworker recommended it and I’ve been in a romance mood. I want something else to read but not sure what of the hundreds of books on my pile I want to read. Anyone else ever have that problem? Where you want to read something but you’re not quite sure what you’re in the mood for?

A friendly reminder that with two weeks left in Book Quest 2022 (why is 2023 only two weeks away?!?!?!), you have until 11:59pm on Dec. 31st to log your books. Book Quest 2023 should be going live on Jan. 1st but more details later.

Happy holidays!

December is here! Though you wouldn't know it based on the temperature. Why do we keep having 60 degree days? I need my cold weather so I can cuddle under blankets while reading.

As a reminder, you have until 11:59 pm on December 31 to log all your 2022 books for the challenge.

What is everyone reading this week? I finished Bonds of Brass which, while I enjoyed, I didn't enjoy as much as I was hoping. Not sure why. I'm still going to read the other two books in the trilogy and hopefully they'll connect better. Now I'm reading Kiss Her Once for Me, a holiday romance, and rereading all the Heartstopper volumes.

Happy reading!

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.

Were you able to get any reading done over the holiday? What did you read? I had family in town so I only managed a tiny bit of reading sadly.

What is everyone reading this week? I'm in the middle of Bonds of Brass which is book one of a sci-fi series about two roommates at an imperial academy and what happens when secrets are revealed (trying not to post spoilers lol). I'm enjoying the book but it's missing something that I can't put my finger on. Also reading The Drowned Woods which I'm loving. It's turning into a heist with found family which is one of my favorite tropes.

Tell us what you're reading this week!

Happy mid-November! We're heading into our last weeks of Book Quest 2022 and it's such a weird feeling. This year went by so fast but at the same time, it didn't.

One of the highlights of this time is figuring out what to get as prizes for the program! Who doesn't love prizes? And I need your input. I always do a Kindle Fire as the main prize but is that still an item people are interested in? Would you all prefer a Kindle Paperwhite? Or other reading device? Or something else entirely? Weigh in with your thoughts this week!

What is everyone reading this week? I finished The House Next Door and wow nothing prepared me for that ending. My roommate, who recommended the book, said she keeps thinking about it weeks later and I can see why. If you're looking for slow burn horror that is more character driven than about the horror, this book was great. I've also randomly been in an Agatha Christie mood so I've been reading her books. Just finished Peril at End House which once again, fairly clever and even though I have read it, I forgot where it was going.

Now I'm reading a couple books- Bonds of Brass, Unfinished Tales, and a book recommended by a coworker, In a Jam.

Happy reading!

Happy Halloween! Today is the ultimate spooky day and I am so excited. I love seeing everyone dress up and giving out candy to the kids. Do you have any plans for today?

In honor of Halloween, recommend your favorite spooky books! What books kept you up at night? What ones have you loved featuring vampires, ghosts, zombies, and other denizens of the night? Have you read any that feel like the holiday but aren't as spooky?

Give us your recommendations!

Happy Halloween!

A very happy dreary Tuesday to you all. I hope everyone's week has been off to a great start.

What are you all reading this week? Any you'd recommend? I'm still in the middle of the The House Next Door. Things are starting to move and the creepy vibe is becoming more pronounced. I can't wait to find out what is actually going on. I also started The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. I'm not super far into it (maybe 30 pages) and while it's not quite what I was anticipating, I'm enjoying it.

Tell us what you are reading!

Three weeks have past since the last thread... oops. I'm so sorry, y'all. No real excuse except time keeps getting away from me and I always remember I need to do a thread when I'm nowhere near a computer (does this happen to anyone else? I'm constantly remembering tasks when I'm in places where I can't accomplish them).

What has everyone been reading during October? Any autumn or spooky books? Any new favorites?

I just started The House Next Door because my roommate randomly picked it up at Barnes & Noble and then devoured it. She finished it two weeks ago and she is still thinking about it. Despite the cover, it is a horror book about a haunted house. I'm roughly 50 pages in and while nothing has gone down yet, I'm really enjoying the atmosphere and set up. The characters are interesting too though none that I'm in love with. Still excited to see what will happen (she didn't spoil it for me).

Also finishing up The Return of the King and then hopefully starting The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.

Happy reading!