Suzanne’s Comments (group member since Dec 29, 2020)

Suzanne’s comments from the BYL Reading Challenge group.

I'm going to try the audiobook of The Biggest Bluff by Maria Konnikova. I don't listen to many audiobooks, but I want to get more out of my treadmill time, and reading actual books while running is hard.

I'm tentatively saying The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams. This could also satisfy the "lost" category, but that one seems easier, so for now I'm putting it here.

I’m looking at Osmo Unknown and the Eightpenny Woods by Catherynne Valente. This could satisfy several different prompts — magic, new release, etc. It will probably even have a map in it. 🤷‍♀️

ETA: I ended up counting this as my new release, but I have no shortage of fantastical world books. I'll put our October spooky read-aloud here: Cinders and Sparrows.

I have my eye on The Children’s Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin. This could also count for a story about immigrants.

I’ll satisfy this first with Tail of Camelot with BYL2, which we have coming up next, but may also get to Despereaux in 2022.

I had been thinking Song of Achilles for this, but then realized, that’s a helmet, not a shield. I’ll satisfy this with The Mad Wolf’s Daughter for BYL2, but hopefully I’ll also read Song of Achilles.

We read Greenglass House by Kate Milford for our winter break read-aloud, and didn’t finish until 2022, so I’m counting it as my first completed prompt!

I’m planning to satisfy this with The Shore by Katie Runde. She’s a local mom acquaintance and the book comes out in May.

I’m reading Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng for this one. I’ve DNFed it once, and I’m determined to finish this time!

For my kids, I’m looking at Tuck Everlasting as a read-aloud.

A year or two ago, I read BJ Novak’s One More Thing and really liked it. The stories all had such bonkers premises that the idea of what goes on in his mind really charmed me.

Any suggestions for middle grade in this category?

Heather wrote: "Born A Crime has been in my Audible library for several months so that is my memoir of choice for the challenge!"

Such a good choice! I read it years ago, before I had fallen totally in love with Trevor Noah, and I completely regret reading it instead of listening to the audiobook!

I think this one will probably have to be Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus by R.L. LaFevers (middle grade). My kids love these, but I feel like they read a little long, so I never want to do them back to back.

Thinking about...
Solving the puzzle under the sea : Marie Tharp maps the ocean floor (picture book)
Selkie Girl by Janis Mackay (long-ish picture book)
Magnus Fin and the Ocean Quest (middle grade, not sure how much of the story takes place under water)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Edison: The Mystery of the Missing Mouse Treasure (middle grade with lots of pictures)

My Side of the Mountain. I've read it before, but I'm reading it to my kids now. I actually made them start it today in the middle of a snowstorm, because obviously, and they weren't quite as delighted as I was.

The Tarantula in my Purse by Jean Craighead George, I think. And also Shark Lady.

Iowa!

Sarah Prineas is local to me, and I've read and enjoyed a lot of her books. So I think I'll try another for this category -- either Dragonfell or the not-yet-released Trouble in the Stars.