Zaz’s Comments (group member since Dec 27, 2014)

Zaz’s comments from the 2015 Reading Challenge [Closed] group.

With only 2 books left (if I counted well) and one compelling, it seems a totally reasonable decision :)

I challenged myself to continue the Miss Peregrine series next year, as the 1st was ok. I hope it will improve, if not I won't read the 3rd!
I liked less Prodigy than Legend, it's fun to see it's the reverse for you :)

Congrats Debra :)

Same for me the 52 books seemed an unreachable goal in past December. Finally I read more than twice that (more than 200 reads, counting the several graphic novels, picture books and short stories). I'm very happy with my reading year, it was challenging, interesting and I'm in love with plenty of books and authors I wouldn't have discovered otherwise.

Thanks all :)
As I'm totally free, I continued side-reading, so here is my list:

Side-reads:
- Books:
The Rest of Us Just Live Here was a very pleasant read about normal teenagers in a world where other teenagers were heroes. Definitely something different (it's more a literary fiction than a fantasy/dystopia). Patrick Ness reminds me a lot of Gaiman, in the way I totally enter his stories and find them great and unusual, but they don't really stick with me. I'll read his other books in 2016 for sure, he's a great discovery :)
La sorcière de la rue Mouffetard, et autres contes de la rue Broca, one of my childhood favorite books. It seems I liked gore stories :p It was a nice re-read, I'll probably have a look at Dahl next to see how I enjoy them now.
Warm Bodies, the sequel is due for 2016 and I wanted to read The New Hunger this year, so a re-read was welcome. It was good, and I'd no problem reading it just after watching the movie :)
The New Hunger was better in the pace/characterization than Warm Bodies and darker too. It's about some of the characters we already know, but how they lived at the "beginning" of the plague. Now, I'm ready for the sequel :D
Elven Star, re-read (my best friend is finally reading them, I enjoy to discuss them and it motivates me to re-read even the ones I really remember in the series). I'm looking forward for the next, it's way much more interesting.
Liesl & Po, a story about two kids, a ghost and a ghost pet, with plenty of abusive and mean adults. My first try with this author (Lauren Oliver), I'm not in love but it was a pleasant read, with a warm feeling and a good ending, on top of a dark story.

Short story:
The Log Goblin: A Tor.Com Original (free on Tor, as usual), by one of my new favorite authors from this year. Quick read, winter atmosphere and as usual an interesting philosophy behind the story :)

- Graphic novels/manga:
Hana-Kimi, Vol. 2, better than the 1st, both in the telling and the drawing. Watery eyes all over my face :p
Grayson, Vol 1: Agents of Spyral, it's about Dick Grayson (aka Robin then Nightwing) who is becoming a secret agent. Great art (and sexy hero), with good stories. I hope all the series will be as good!

-Picture books:
Tout pour ma pomme..., not convinced. It was a pleasant read as usual with this author but I don't like stories about selfish brats.
The Slug Prince, it was free on Amazon, if not, there is no way I read this with this cover! It was funny and cute, so no disappointment.
Mabel and the Sock Pirates, it was very cheap on Amazon and it was very cute. Loved the story and the art :)
The Deep and Snowy Wood, same author than Mabel, but less interesting. Very christmasish so it's nice for the season.
4 stories of the series Thérèse Miaou, books for new readers, about a cat. Entertaining, cute and I really liked (as usual) the art by this artist.

I've 3 ongoing books so I'll try to clear them up before the end of the year, I want a fresh start with nothing too much old left.

Thanks for your opinion Anastasia, I'm looking forward to read it in 2016, the things addressed seem really interesting and positive :)

Megan > Ah, nooo, don't tell me it was just ok, I'm trying to push myself to read it :p
Definitely added in my 2016 RC, I hope to see everyone in the discussion next year!

Everyone seems to like The Color Purple, I need to find some motivation to read it!
You had plenty of great books in your plan! I'll read some of them next year, I hope I'll enjoy them :)

1. Name a book that kept you up all night reading.
No "all night reading" but sometimes I continue to read late, so maybe Divergent.

2. Name a book that scared you so much you didn't want to sleep.
Never happened.

3. Name a book that bored you till you wanted to fall asleep.
A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2) was perfect for this, one chapter and I was already napping.

4. Name a book that left you tossing and turning in anticipation for it's release.
Les Disparus du Clairdelune, bought and read shortly after the release!

5. Name a book that would be a dream to live in.
Black Feathers, in the chapters dedicated to the future.

6. Name a book that would be a nightmare to live in.
Uglies

7. Name a book monster/creature you would not want to find under your bed.
Joffrey from A Song of Ice and Fire.

8. Name a book that reminds you of the night.
A Monster Calls

Congrats :)
What are your favorites from the challenge?

Did you enjoy this week long format?
Yep, it was nice, I'd more time to do other things during the weekend and it was nice to actually finish some books.

Did you enjoy the challenges?
Most of them. I lacked inspiration for the ones I didn't participate.

Are there any areas you'd like to see improved?
No, it was nice like this. Maybe for another we could add a little something to read together. It could be nice to do a read-a-thon next year with one of the BOTM.

Give us all your feedback!
I gave it all :p

Wrap-up for the week
Full books read:
5 picture books & kids' books for beginners.
The New Hunger, 105p.
La sorcière de la rue Mouffetard, 151p (children).

Partially read:
Finished Warm Bodies, 50%, about 110p.
Finished Elven Star, 40%, about 150p.
Continued The Fifth Season, 15%, about 65p.
Continued The Providence of Fire, 10%, about 60p.
Started Liesl & Po, 80p.

That's around 600p, which is not bad as I worked during the day (+work at home) and had an evening taken. I probably read less than the usual weeks.

1: Did you and your parents/guardians read bedtime stories at night?
Probably. I remember daylight reading, I suppose I'd some too at bedtime at some point.

2: What age did you really start to enjoy reading?
I learned to read at school at 6yo, so 6.

3: What is the first children's book you remember reading?
A Nancy Drew book, but no idea which one.

4: What is the first romance book you remember reading?
No idea as I didn't read romance when I was a teenager. I remember the 1st with explicit content when I was in my last years of high school (Earth's Children series).

5: What is the first non-fiction book you remember reading?
It's a book about animals (it's on my bookshelf).

6: What is the first comic/graphic novel you read?
Asterix or The Smurfs or Scrooge McDuck or something else, I read them a lot.

1. One character who can cook/likes to cook
Death from Discworld

2. One character who has money to fund the party
Lestat from the vampire series (a good vampire is a rich vampire)

3. One character who might cause a scene
Marta from Liveship Traders

4. One character who is funny/amusing
Tyrion Lannister from A Game of Thrones

5. One character who is super social/popular
Nanny Ogg from Discworld

6. One villain (to liven things up!)
Drago from Harry Potter

7. One couple or pair (doesn't have to be romantic)
Haplo & Alfred from Death Gate

8. One hero/heroine
Pax from Hollow World

9. One under-appreciated character
Stargirl from Stargirl

10. One character of your own choosing
Fool from Assassin Apprentice

1. Black: Name a series that’s tough to get into but has hardcore fans.
A Song of Ice and Fire (aka Game of Thrones). I'll probably never try the 3rd book as the 2nd was painfully boring.

2. Peppermint mocha: Name a book that gets more popular during the winter or a festive time of year.
A Christmas Carol

3. Hot chocolate: What is your favorite children’s book?
Ronia, the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren (I really need to read Pippi)

4. Double shot of espresso: Name a book that kept you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Les Fiancés de l'Hiver

5. Starbucks: Name a book you see everywhere.
The Martian

6. That hipster coffee shop: Give a book by an indie author
Sand Omnibus by Hugh Howey

7. Oops! I accidentally got decaf: Name a book you were expecting more from.
Ready Player One

8. The perfect blend: Name a book or series that was both bitter and sweet but ultimately satisfying.
No idea for the moment, I'll edit if I find one!

Finished Elven Star and read 2 nice picture books :)

1. You have 20,000 books on your TBR. How in the world do you decide what to read next?
I'll read the last one I borrow/buy.

2. You’re halfway through a book and you’re just not loving it. Do you quit or are you committed?
I'll start another book and try to finish the boring one chapter by chapter.

3. The covers of a series you love do. not. match. How do you cope?
It drives me crazy. It's one of the reasons I don't like to buy paper copies before a series is finished.

4. A sequel of a book you loved just came out, but you’ve forgotten a lot from the prior novel.
Re-read the book.

5. There are so many new books coming out that you’re dying to read! How many do you actually buy?
Just the ones which are cheap (second hand or ebook). For the expensive ones, the sample needs to be very good or it's a sequel.

6. After you’ve bought the new books you can’t wait to get to, how long do they sit on your shelf before you get to them?
If it's a sequel or a favorite author, I usually read it in the week. If it's not, it can wait for months.

Welcome!

There are plenty of good books in your list, I really enjoyed the Giver quartet and the Silo series.
Have fun finishing the challenge :)

Dark Chocolate - Name a book that explores a dark topic.
The Drawing of the Three (drugs and schizophrenia)

White Chocolate - Name a book that is light-hearted and humorous.
Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer

Milk Chocolate - Name a popular book that you're dying to read.
The Knife of Never Letting Go (not excited at all about my popular books, but I'm excited for this one because of the author)

Chocolate with a Caramel Center - Name a book that made you feel all gooey inside.
Hana-Kimi, Vol. 2 (and the rest of the series, I'm more connected with manga than books)

Chocolate with Nuts - Name a book with an ending that drove you crazy. (Note: Don't forget spoiler tags if you're going to tell us how it ends!)
Genesis (drove me crazy in the good way!)

Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows - Name a book that is an ultimate comfort read for you.
Hollow World

It's a good way to finish the year! I'm looking forward to another book from her in 2016, I suppose it won't be as good, but it was easy to decide to read one :)

Finished The New Hunger (Warm Bodies prequel) and it was very pleasant (and short :p). Yes, I know it wasn't on my plan for the read-a-thon, ahem.
I'll continue the big ones, but I'm sure I'll finish none.

Yes, it's a love triangle :)
I've a preference for the 2nd in the series.