Stina’s Comments (group member since Dec 11, 2016)

Stina’s comments from the Challenges from Exploding Steamboats group.

Laura suggested this challenge, based on a map showing the most famous book in each of the USA states as well as some discussion over in BookCrossing's Book Talk forum about how to improve the list.

I decided not to put a time frame on this challenge, since the list of states is not likely to change much from year to year (::fingers crossed::) and some people may want to take a more leisurely literary tour of the country. This thread will be for people to post links to the various lists they come across, and I will add a thread for each state. I will probably add bonus threads for DC, Puerto Rico, and such.

Stina wrote: "I will probably end up reading The Girl with Ghost Eyes for this prompt."

I did end up reading this one. It was pretty good, with lots of fun characters and action scenes.

I read Winnie-the-Pooh for this one.

Here are the rest of the award winners I read last year:
Poe
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
A Game of Thrones
I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
The Girl with Ghost Eyes
Red Glass

I'm adding Poe to this one, but I don't recommend it. And no, it doesn't have anything to do with Edgar Allan Poe.

I'm also counting The Big Orange Splot and Winnie-the-Pooh for this one, as it was my mother who first introduced me to both books.

Cheryl wrote: "Melydia and I were just discussing The Sparrow tonight, since we both loved it. One of my "best boojs ever"."

Dangit, I still can't find it. I spent almost an hour in the Archives (aka the garage) last night, with no luck. Ah, well, it will turn up eventually, I'm sure.

I really liked Planetfall. This prompt is showing up on at least one other challenge this year, and there's a local book club discussing The Sparrow next week, so I'll try again to locate my copy of that. I'm also reading The Best of All Possible Worlds this month for a different local book club, and so far it looks like it will count.

Kiddie-lit to the rescue! I read Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads.

I also read You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, which counts I guess. The author is a musician-turned-author, and that's kinda what I am, though I still do the music thing. It's not super-clear if she's still in music, and I don't care enough to find out. (No, I don't recommend the book.)

Oh, yeah, and also The King of the Golden River; Or, The Black Brothers: A Legend of Stiria.

My friend Tina came through for me at the last minute with The King of the Golden River; Or, The Black Brothers: A Legend of Stiria. She even let me hide in her library during the NYE party.

I also read On The Wings Of A Butterfly: A Story About Life And Death, The Big Orange Splot, Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads, Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind, and Who Is Coming to Our House?.

I think Who Is Coming to Our House? counts. It was 3rd person, technically, but was very clearly from the collective viewpoint of the animals of the Nativity. Why there was a pig there, I have no idea.

Laura wrote: "I'm in the midst of a reread (well, a listen, as it's on audiobook) of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH"

Oh, I loved that book!! One of my elementary school teachers read it aloud to the class.

I ended up with only 5 cat-cover books for the year:






I hear there is a "kitty-lit" challenge going on this year. I may have to hunt that down and sign up for it.

Stina wrote: "Here's my list so far:
1. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog: The Book
2. Uprooted
3. The Steampunk Tarot
4. Planetfall
5. ..."

I also read The Girl with Ghost Eyes, French Milk, and Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind for a grand total of 17 woman-cover books. (Compared to only 5 cat-cover books.)

Last month I read Red Glass. I highly recommend it, and not just because I'm friends with the author. It's a teen romance, yes, but it's so much more than that and gives an interesting perspective on the immigration issues in Arizona.

I ended up reading Murder in Retirement. It pretty much sucked. Not as badly as Murder at the Male Revue, but pretty close.

This was a summer-specific prompt last year, so I'll be saving it for my summer reading challenges starting sometime in May.

Just glancing over at the nearest bookshelves, I see Seven Locks and Microsoft Access 2010 VBA Programming Inside Out. The former most likely has more narrative appeal.