Ash’s Comments (group member since Jun 22, 2008)

Ash’s comments from the Challenge: 50 Books group.

Donna wrote: "49. "Oryx and Crake", Margaret Atwood. She is a master, but did it overshadow "The Handmaid's Tale" for dystopian masterpieceness? No. Not I won't be going back for more.

50. "Rescue Me", Rachel G..."

So, I'm a bit confused. Did you like Oryx and Crake? You won't be going back for more?
And, agreed - Margaret Atwood is a master. Love her.

Susanna wrote: "#38 Chuck Palahniuk:
Survivor
*****

Oh Chuck, you do not disappoint. Yes, this is a re-read but it hit me just as hard as it did the first time around. The somewhat displaced feel of the main ..."

LOVED this book! It's definitely in my top 15. Are you planning to do the 50 Books challenge this year?

Michael wrote: "Ashley wrote: "A Review:

I've decided to list the best and the worse of my reading list - a little summary.

Best: Survivor, the Harry Potters, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, The ..."

Hi, Michael! Are you planning to do the 50 Books A Year challenge this year?
Thanks again for your comments on my initial challenge. Your suggestions were great!

Tulara wrote: "1. The Detachment (John Rain)
2. Sisterhood of Dune
3. Run by Blake Crouch
4. The Serpent Sea..."

Wow! You're such a fast reader! Any favorites so far?

Casey wrote: "I read 28 in '10, 37 in '11. Maybe this will be my year to finally get 50."

I feel the same way! I read 50 my first time around, but it took me a year and a half! (39 in year two, and only 13 in year 3!)

Good luck on this try - you're doing well already!

It's time for a fourth try! The goals are much the same:
- Read 50 books in one year (8/7/2012 - 8/6/2013) *** Edited to span approximately 1.5 years to be in line with the calendar year; new end date of 12/31/2013.
- Focus more on books written about Public Health/Health Management
- Include fun reading
- Read at least two auto/biographies
- No cookbooks
- Read 2 books on travel writing
- Graduate school books count

1. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.
*HP Book Club, review forthcoming

Jaime wrote: "50. Low Red Moon"

Congrats on finishing this challenge! You're such a speed-reader! Are you planning to pick it back up for 2013?

The third try has come and gone. Today is the last day of this challenge, and unfortunately, I am far from finishing another book. This has been a year of new locations, new jobs and new goals.
Speaking of goals, I did reach all of my goals for this challenge:
Focus on books written about public health (#s 4 & 12)
Include fun reading (#s 1 & 8)
Read at least two biographies (#s 9 & 11)
No cookbooks (None!)

I feel no remorse for not finishing this challenge because of all I've accomplished in life this year. You're probably raising your eyebrows, but I do plan to repeat the 50-books-a-year challenge again. Join me!

13. The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht.
(Actually read this in April 2012)
*Book Club

12. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.
*Book club (retro) read
*Public Health

11. Same Kind of Different as Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.
*biography/memoir
*Book Club
{This was for my book club, and I would not have read it on my own, simply because it is very religious in subject matter. It was tough to read because of the death involved, so I would warn readers it's not the purely inspirational read you might be expecting.}

10. The Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggart by M. Glenn Taylor.
*Book Club

8. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
9. Salvation on Sand Mountain by Dennis Covington.

5. Surfacing by Margaret Atwood.
6. The Devil in the White City : Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson.
7. The Touchstone by Edith Wharton.

4. The Empowered Patient: How to Get the Right Diagnosis, Buy the Cheapest Drugs, Beat Your Insurance Company, and Get the Best Medical Care Every Time by Elizabeth Cohen.
*Public Health

3. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
*Reread

2. The Zen of Social Media Marketing by Shama Hyder Kabani.
*This book is great for social media markeing beginners. Mainly I enjoyed the chapter on Twitter, which gave me a few ideas on how to grow my number of quality followers. Also, I'm pleased the author lives and operates in Dallas! Brownie points.

Starting with a bang!

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
*I say this while trying to not be biased: It was an interesting and easy read. One of the first "New York Times Bestsellers" I've read in a long time.

Third time's a charm?
Let's hope so!

Date of challenge:
August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012

Goals:
Focus on books written about public health
Include fun reading
Read at least two biographies
No cookbooks

Looks like I failed on this one! Not by much, though.
I think it's time to start a new challenge!
Ashley