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

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

Ann wrote: "... and possibly The View from the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman."

I am so excited for this book! I already have it on hold from the library. Gaiman is one of my favorites. :)

Hello there, traveler! Welcome to June’s Genre Challenge! Take your pack off for a bit and let’s talk about your journeys and where you are going next.

This month’s challenge is to read a book about travel. As you have come through five genres already, I can see you are ready for this one. Where do you want to go? Where have you been? It’s up to you whether you visit familiar ground or venture out into the unknown.

It’s also up to you what type of book on travel you read. You can read a guide. You can read someone’s memoirs about travel. You can read a fictional book that has traveling in it (think Lord of the Rings). You can read a book that is full of the history and fun facts about a place you want to visit. And don’t feel you have to be limited to the physical world. There are countless imaginary worlds that can also be explored.

Need help finding out where to journey to? Let these be your guide!

Popular Travel Books
Popular Travel Fiction Books
20 Best Travel Books

This one's for fun: 50 Fictional Places You Can Visit

In your local library, you can find books on travel here:

910- Geography & travel
911- Historical geography
912- Atlases, maps, charts & plans
913- Geography of & travel in ancient world
914- Geography of & travel in Europe
915- Geography of & travel in Asia
916- Geography of & travel in Africa
917- Geography of & travel in North America
918- Geography of & travel in South America
919- Geography of & travel in other areas

Well, the sun is rising. It’s time for you to pick up your pack and head on out there. Thank you for stopping by on your journey. May you find the perfect place to travel to this month.

Bon voyage!

Welcome to June's Dewey Decimal Challenge! This month's challenge is going to be a bit different because of the main class we are exploring. The 400's is the Language class. Books on how to learn languages, dictionaries, grammar help, and information on writing systems can all be found here. Some interesting sections include:

401- Philosophy and theory of language
410- Linguistics
420- English and Old English
423- English dictionaries
430- Germanic languages; German
440- French
450- Italian, Romanian, and related languages
460- Spanish and Portuguese languages
470- Latin
491- East Indo-European & Celtic languages
495- Languages of East & Southeast Asia
496- African languages

Your challenge this month is to start the process of learning a new language! There are two ways you can do this.

Come into the library and find a book or book on CD about learning the language of your choice.

Or

The Chesapeake Public Library has a wonderful language learning program called Transparent Language. To access, you need to create an account using your library card and pin number. Once in, you have access to lesson plans and help in learning over 100 languages. The best part is that it's free!

So go out there and learn a new language!

We look forward to hearing what you've learned.

Happy last day of May! I can't believe this month is already over. I could have sworn it was just starting. Time sure flies when you are having fun (or not having fun... time just flies). Did everyone enjoy their three-day holiday weekend? Were you able to get a lot of reading accomplished? I was somewhat bad. Instead of focusing on the two books that I really need to finish (Coined and The Fellowship), I went and saw the new X-MEN movie plus binged on a bunch of graphic novels. They were all decent, but I think my favorite was Gotham Academy.

What is everyone reading this week?

Don't forget... tomorrow is June 1st! That means the Chesapeake Summer Challenge begins (this is the new and improved Summer Reading Program)! Earn digital badges and be entered in for a grand prize by reading, participating in events, and exploring our city during the summer months. The program goes through August 12th.

Sarah wrote: "I finished the Red Rising Trilogy by Pierce Brown and have just started "Way of the Kings" by Branden Sanderson. Also been reading "Parenting Your Powerful Child" By Dr. Kevin Leman and "Bringing U..."

I have heard so many good things about the Red Rising trilogy. Would you recommend it?

Ann wrote: "I reread a trilogy when I found out there are more books by the author set in the same world. Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder (good books). I'm currently reading Murder..."

I've seen Poison Study floating around the library and I've always wanted to read it. I'm glad to hear a good recommendation for it. Now I might need to pick it up. :)

Will this rain ever end? I don't know about you, but I feel like this has become a permanent weather pattern for our area. There might be hope on the horizon, though (as well as warmer temperatures)!

With all the wet weather, it's the perfect time to curl up with a good book. What have you all been reading during our rainy season? I got sucked into The Big Bang Theory and Philosophy which is a great book if you love the show. I'm still working on Coined and The Fellowship and hope to start The State of Play this week.

Don't forget to go vote in May's Poll! We want to know who you think is the greatest literary hero or heroine. Make your voice heard!

Happy Reading!

Apologies for the late discussion post. I was away yesterday, learning how to do CPR. :)

What is everyone reading this week? Anything good? Anything exciting? Anything you would recommend? I just finished Star Wars: Bloodline and if you like Star Wars at all, you should read this book. Very well written and gives you a backdrop for what is going on in The Force Awakens. Just started on The Star-Touched Queen and still working on finishing Coined and The Fellowship.

Let us know what great books you are reading this week!

Did everyone survive our rainy weather? I began to think the rain was never going to end. Now the sun is out and it feels like the beginning of summer!

What is everyone reading this week? I'm working on Uprooted which I recommend if you like fairy tales. It takes figures/plot lines from fairy tales and weaves them into its own story. Which is a really bad description of a good book. I am also reading Coined: The Rich Life of Money and How Its History as Shaped Us and going to attempt to finish The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings which I've been reading since March.

Happy reading, everyone!

May is the month for superheroes! Your challenge this month is to read a book about superheroes or to read a graphic novel. Not sure where to start? Take a look below-

There are books/graphic novels about individual heroes or groups. They include such iconic figures as:
The Avengers
Batman
Captain America
Green Lantern
The Hulk
Iron Man
Justice League of America
Spider-man
Superman
Teen Titans
Thor
Wonder Woman
X-MEN

Looking for graphic novels with more adult content? Look for:
Batman: The Killing Joke
The Dark Knight Returns
Fables
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Saga
Sandman
V for Vendetta
The Walking Dead
Watchmen
Y the Last Man


But graphic novels are much more than just picture books about superheroes. Graphic novels can also be non-fiction and biographical, too! These include:
The 14th Dalai Lama
The Action Bible
A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge
The Beats: A Graphic History
El Deafo
Feynman
Hyperbole and a Half
Maus
March
Persepolis
Stitches

Interested in the history? Check out such books as Marvel Comics: The Untold Story, Superman: The Unauthorized Biography, or Batman Unauthorized.

If you're still not sure or have questions, let me know!

Up, up, and away!

Welcome to part 2 of the 300s or the Social Sciences. This month your challenge is to read a book found between call numbers 350 and 399. Need help deciding? Take a look at some of these interesting topic areas:

351- Public Administration
355- Military Science
358- Air & other specialized forces
362- Social welfare problems & services
364- Criminology
368- Insurance
370- Education
374- Adult education
380- Commerce, communications & transportation
385- Railroad transportation
387- Water, air & space transportation
392- Customs of life cycle & domestic life
394- General customs and holidays
395- Etiquette (Manners)
398- Folklore/Myths

Come into any Chesapeake Public Library to browse the 300s and find your challenge book!

Happy May! Last month, we asked what the best opening line of a book was and the lucky winner was... "Once upon a time." This starts off every great fairy tale classic and indicates a tale steeped in fantasy, adventures, and generally, romance! Our runner up is Dickens' famous opening line to a Tale of Two Cities.

What is your favorite opening line of a book? What do those opening lines convey to you about the coming story?

Don't forget to go vote in May's poll which wants to know... who is the best literary hero/heroine? Go cast your votes now! And remember- you can also write-in your greatest hero/heroine if you don't see their name on the list. :)

Lyn wrote: "I had to scale back for awhile,till they figured what was going on with my eyes.
I'm back now,I discovered Hoopla,mostly for audiobooks
A delightful find was The Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny..."

Welcome back as well, Lyn! We've missed you as well. I hope all is well with your eyes.

Hoopla is a wonderful service. I love their music selection; haven't tried audiobooks yet. What do you think of their selection?

I love serendipitously finding good books. The Little Beach Street Bakery sounds like a nice one. :)

Julie wrote: "I've been kind of absent on the updates, but over the past month I got totally absorbed in the Red Rising trilogy. I listened to the audio books and they are FANTASTIC!! Seriously, go read them."

Welcome back, Julie! We've missed seeing you. :)

I've heard nothing but good things about the Red Rising trilogy. I really need to read them. And I love classic Peter Pan. So different than the Disney movie version. You'll have to let us know what you think of it.

Happy Monday to everyone! How are you? How was your weekend? Was it full of great reading? I managed to avoid shiny objects (see last week's post) and finished two books- Welcome to Subirdia and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I've now moved on to A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie and The Story of Kullervo, one of the first short stories written by J.R.R. Tolkien.

What are you all reading this week?

Don't forget to go vote in April's Poll. There's only a few days left!

You all know the story- you go into the weekend with goals. You will read all those books. You will make a dent in that teetering tower. And then it happens. What I like to call the "shiny object syndrome." Basically a distraction presents itself and instead of completing your goals, you follow the distraction. The distraction can be anything. For me, it's generally the television. I sit on the couch, turn on the tv, and go, "Oh, I've seen that episode before. Better watch it again!" All this to say that I had pretty lofty goals for reading this weekend and then I let a shiny object distract me.

What are your "shiny objects?" And how do you conquer them? Let us know!

May your reading week be free from distractions! :)

What is everyone reading this week? I spent a wonderful weekend binging on some graphic novels- Jessica Jones: Alias, Batman/Superman, Superman/Wonder Woman, and a bunch of the new Star Wars' ones (which I highly recommend). This week I'm hoping to finish Welcome to Subirdia and start Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Let us know what you will be reading this week!

Ann wrote: "Cool lists. I've read 17 of the first list and 18 of the second (the one with the lowest number was the American classics). I can't decide to read one I've never read before or reread a favorite. I..."

That's awesome! I didn't go through to see how many I've read. I know I am woefully behind on my classics reading (can you believe I've never read a Shakespeare play? Maybe that's what I will read this month). As for your classic choices... I highly support both of them. The Lord of the Rings is my all time favorite book and The Count of Monte Cristo my favorite classic after Pride and Prejudice. You can't go wrong with either. :D

Enjoy your weekend off!

Our March poll asked where the best place to read a book is and we got responses! Thank you to everyone who voted in last month's poll. Once again, we ended up with a tie: Home or the Beach, with the café or park being runners-up.

What makes a place the best place to read a book? I voted for "home" because I feel you can be most comfortable at home. You can curl up in a blanket, hot cup of tea in hand, with music playing in the background. Or you can have the total silence you want. Home is just a comfortable place and I associate comfort with books.

Don't forget to vote in April's poll which wants to know what the best opening line of a book is!

It is time for a new Dewey Decimal main class! This one is a big one- the 300s or the Social Sciences. Because this class contains so much, we’re going to split it in half. For the month of April, read a book found between 300 and 349 which covers everything from social interactions to political science to economics to law. There is a lot to choose from- take a look at these interesting topic areas:

300- Social sciences
302- Social interactions
305- Social groups
320- Political science
321- Systems of governments and states
323- Civil and political rights
326- Slavery and emancipation
327- International relations
330- Economics
332- Financial economics
335- Socialism and related systems
338- Production
340- Law
341- Law of nations
344- Labor, social, education & cultural law
345- Criminal law
347- Civil procedure and courts

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

“All this happened, more or less.”

"“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

"In a hole in the ground lived a hobbit.

Ah, the classic lines of the classics. Words we all know even if we haven’t necessarily read the books. This month, though, your challenge is to read a classic! Modern or regular, your choice. Will you journey with a mad captain after the white whale? Explore the roaring 20s? Experience the highs and lows of Regency romance? Listen to the words of the Bard? Experience alternate worlds?

Need help deciding? Take a look at some of these lists!

Regular Classics

Modern Classics

25 American Classics Everyone Should Read At Least Once

Classic Novels

Happy Reading!