Sarah's Low Octane Alphabet Challenge

[Sarah]

Just finished Jasmyn for my J book which was an ACTUAL book from the library! I really enjoyed it much more so than the book it replaced (Jonathan Strange) so I'm pleased I swapped it out. Now I'm going back to my K book which is The Kite Runner.

[Neenee]

I love The Kite Runner. I hope you will too!

[Sarah]

Neenee wrote: "I love The Kite Runner. I hope you will too!"

Thanks Neenee, I'm enjoying it so far.

[Esther]

Sarah wrote: "Just finished Jasmyn for my J book which was an ACTUAL book from the library! I really enjoyed it much more so than the book it replaced (Jonathan Strange) so I'm pleased I swapped it out. Now I'm ..."
I read the Kite Runner during the last toppler. I really liked it.

[Sarah]

I'm enjoying The Kite Runner but it's really sad and a little uncomfortable to read in places. Love the style of writing though.

[Marnie]

I know what you mean Sarah. I loved The Kite Runner and gave it to my friends to read too. But when the movie came out I couldn't go see it. It was a great story- glad I read it but I just couldn't revisit it.

[Sarah]

I've not seen the film Marnie so this is my first time around with the story but I can see what you mean about leaving it be.

[Sarah]

Just finished my K book - The Kite Runner. I loved the book although it was very sad. I'm going to break in my alphabet for some light hearted reading now.

[Sarah]

Just starting my L book Lost Souls which is the fourth book in Dean Koontz's Frankenstein series. I was going to read A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar: A Novel for L during the Toppler but as I have just finished a book and Lost Souls needs reading, I will use that for my L instead. I will still read the other one for the Toppler though.

[Cherie]

Are the Frankenstein series good reads, Sarah?

[Sarah]

Cherie wrote: "Are the Frankenstein series good reads, Sarah?"

I've been enjoying them so far Cherie. The first one was very different to the others as I suppose it was setting the scene and it was more of a detective story. Several murders are carried out and two of the main characters are detectives looking in to them. Then the sci-fi elements kick in with their discoveries. I really liked the first one, not so much the second one, loved the third one and now I'm onto the fourth. There are five in total.

[Cherie]

I bought the latest Odd Thomas book last night at the grocery store. It was calling to me as I walked down the isle.

[Sarah]

I hope you enjoy it Cherie. I think I will have to get Odd Thomas after everyone saying on here how good it is.

[Sarah]

Just finished my L read - Lost Souls. I enjoyed the book but it didn't feel like a stand alone book to me - think I'd have preferred a longer book with this book (part 4 of the series) and the next book (the finale) combined together. that said, it did build suspense and was an enjoyable read.

[Sarah]

Just started my first non-fiction book of the alphabet challenge. My M book is a memoir - The Man Who Broke Into Auschwitz: A True Story of World War II. The author was a British soldier who swapped places with a Dutch Jew to gain access to Auschwitz.

[Sarah]

I'm thinking memoirs aren't for me. I might have to start with my N read before I finish my M read.

[Janice, Moderator]

You can do that. Or you can swap out your M choice for something you might like better.

[Sarah]

Thanks Janice. I might try to persevere with it as I'm intrigued by the man's experience - perhaps I should set myself 15 pages or so a day of it.

[Janice, Moderator]

That's one way to approach it! I may borrow that idea next time I'm struggling with a book.

[Sarah]

I've not tried it before so I'll let you know how I get on with it. It might work?!?

[Sarah]

Ok so I've started my N book which is Never Let Me Go. Still slowly plodding through M as well.

[Neenee]

Sarah wrote: "Ok so I've started my N book which is Never Let Me Go. Still slowly plodding through M as well."

I want to read it for so long. heard it's another depressing book.

[Sarah]

Neenee wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Ok so I've started my N book which is Never Let Me Go. Still slowly plodding through M as well."

I want to read it for so long. heard it's another depressing book."

I've read about 20 pages so far and it sounds interesting but I get the feeling you might be right about it being depressing. It is quite short though so I'm hoping I'll get through it quickly.

[Sarah]

I've finished my N read Never Let Me Go. It was written in an unusual way which seemed quite rambling at times. I felt that not much really happened in the book. I thought it was quite sad though and heart-breaking too. Now I need to finish my M book before I can move on with the alphabet. I am getting there with it though!

[Sarah]

I'm still working my way through my M read but I'm getting there. It's a long old slog it seems. I don't think I'll be reading any memoirs again.

[Sarah]

Woohoo! At last I've finished my M read - The Man Who Broke Into Auschwitz: A True Story of World War II. It's only taken nearly two months for me to get through. I'm pleased I persevered with it. Now I can get on with my alphabet!

[Lisa]

Well done for getting through it Sarah! :)

[jaxnsmom]

I hope your O book will be more enjoyable!

[Sarah]

Thanks Jmom and Lisa. I have Oryx and Crake picked out ready for my O read. So I might start that once I've finished my group read.

[Sarah]

Back to my alphabet at last! I'm just starting the letter O with Oryx and Crake.

[Sarah]

Woohoo! O is out of the way with Oryx and Crake. I really enjoyed it although the ending was a bit of a hanger in preparation for The Year of the Flood. I'm going to read that for Y when I get there!

Just waiting for my P read to come in at the library but will probably read a few others books before carrying on with the alphabet.

[Sarah]

Just started my P read with Pirate Latitudes. It will also count for Jamaica in the around the world challenge I'm doing in another group. I am also doing it as a buddy read with Janice (and others I'm sure) as it fits the sea setting criteria for this months' group read.

[Janice, Moderator]

Now that's how to make mileage out of a book. I'm counting mine for all the same reasons. I had Circle of Bones for my Caribbean read in Around the World, but it's over 500 pages. So I will substitute Pirate Latitudes for it.

[Sarah]

Janice wrote: "Now that's how to make mileage out of a book. I'm counting mine for all the same reasons. I had Circle of Bones for my Caribbean read in Around the World, but it's over 500 pages. So I will subs..."

Good thinking! Pirate Latitudes will be a quicker read for you. I had planned to read Perdido Street Station for P but I'm still waiting for the reservation to come in at the library so thought I'd swap it out for this one! I'll still read it though.

[Janice, Moderator]

Oops! I just realized that I'm not reading Pirate Latitudes for P in the alphabet challenge. I think I'm awake, but maybe it's time for a coffee. LOL!

I realize that I have a lot of books over 500 pages. Because I'm feeling the crunch in all my challenges, I'm thinking it's time to swap out for shorter books.

[Sarah]

I have just finished reading P with Pirate Latitudes. I really enjoyed it. 4 stars.

Now on to the troublesome Q! I'm really not sure what to read for it. I had originally thought of A Quiet Belief In Angels which is still an option or I might check out whether the library has any QI fact books.

[Janice, Moderator]

I still haven't assigned my Q book, either. I cleaned out my wishlist shelf yesterday and dumped about 150 titles, some of which were "Q" titles.

[Travis]

Haven't read it but has been recommended numerous times in about every group Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking all I can say is its a Q book

[Sarah]

Travis of NNY wrote: "Haven't read it but has been recommended numerous times in about every group Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking all I can say is its a Q book"

Thanks Travis. There is definitely a limited selection for Q and I think a number of people on here have read the book you mentioned for Q. I will check it out.

[jaxnsmom]

A really good Q book is Q & A, the book Slumdog Millionaire was based on. I haven't seen the movie but am going to guess the book is much better.

Then there are a ton of books starting with Queen in the historical fiction genre, and a few cozy mysteries too.

Jennifer Chiaverini has a series with several of the books starting with Quilt.

[Sarah]

Thanks Jmom for mentioning Q & A and Quilt - I will check to see if my library has either of them. I have seen Slumdog Millionaire and I really liked it so perhaps I should read the book too - It will count for my around the world challenge too!

[Sarah]

I made an impulse decision on my Q read today when I saw Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You on the kindle daily deal for 99p! I may live to regret it though! I'm not starting it just yet.

[Sarah]

It would seem that I am 2 books behind at my current pace so I had better get my arse in to gear. So, I have started my Q read with Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You - it's only 200 pages long so I was hoping it would be a quick read, however the subject matter may not allow for quick reading - we shall see. This is my second non-fiction book for my alphabet.

[Janice, Moderator]

Good luck with that book Sarah. :)

[Sarah]

Thanks Janice. So far so good but it's one those books you have to be really paying attention to.

[Sarah]

I'm not sure I agree with the title of my Q book - it is definitely hurting my head now. I thought I understood it at the beginning but then it leaper to alternative realities and universes and it's lost me - I'm hoping that doesn't mean I'm not going to understand the rest of the book. It is well written and explained though and interesting!

[Janice, Moderator]

It took a quantum leap? :)

[Sarah]

Janice wrote: "It took a quantum leap? :)"

It did indeed. I can follow things so far then it becomes just out there!

[Sarah]

I quite liked that program!

[Sarah]

I'm 25% in to my Q book but thought I'd start my R book as well. For R, I will be reading Remix.