The County Library discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Reading Challenges
>
2013 Summer Reading Challenge
Making progress! * for "Gardens" I read Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You're Eating (finished 7/1) which was really good. 4/5 stars
* for "Natural Disasters" I read Fragments (finished 6/2013) which I really, really enjoyed. 5/5 stars
* for "Revolution" I read Insurgent (finished 6/2013) which was a lot of fun. 4/5 stars
I am planning to read Locke and Key, Vol. 4: Keys to the Kingdom for the "afterlife/undead" category. Still decided on my book for "caves/underground" :)
I finished "The Secret Garden" for my garden pick. Such a great classic.
I finished The Perfect Protein a couple weeks ago and am counting that as my natural disaster book... Even though there is a very human dimension to this nonfiction discussion of the way we are failing to manage our oceans as a sustainable source of food, I contend human behavior, especially as affected by issues like population growth, is part of nature.I posted my review of the book when I finished it.
Becky wrote: "Do you need to have read the first book in this series to enjoy/understand the second?Ann wrote: "I just finished a book for the undead category: Shadow of Night. It's the second in a series I've..."
Personally, I'd recommend reading the first book, A Discovery of Witches, first, in part because there are several characters that were really important in the first book that only are briefly referenced in the second, which could make some things kind of hard to follow. I also feel like so much happens in the first book to develop the plot and relationships that there's a lot more depth to the narrative if you read them in order. (The first book has vampires in it as well, so it would still count for the undead category for our summer reading challenge if that is part of your concern.) Both books are really well written and interesting, with really engaging characters.
I have finished my 3rd book of the challenge: Johnny Tremain, for revolution/change. It takes place during the build-up of the US revolution against Great Britain.Current challenge progress:
• gardens - Winter Garden - Completed
• afterlife/undead, etc. - Deeply Odd - Completed
• caves/underground - The Land of Painted Caves: Earth's Children - In Progress
• natural disasters - The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea - In Progress
• revolution/change - Johnny Tremain - Completed
For me, I think I'll try the following. I finished a few on my trip, but a few might change:gardens-A Hoe Lot of Trouble by Heather Webber (gardening mystery)
afterlife/undead, etc.-Mirror, Mirror on the Wall by Dan Graffeo(ARC)-is about the Urban Legend of Bloody Mary coming to life out of the mirror in an undead form-Completed
caves/underground-Far, Far Away (end up in dungeon underground) by Tom McNeal-Completed
natural disasters-Three Times Lucky (may change)
• revolution-Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
I just found this group the other day and I'm super excited about this summer reading challenge! I thinking about the following choices for the categories:Gardens - The Secret Garden or The Forgotten Garden
Afterlife / Undead - The Night Circus or The Graveyard Book
Caves / Underground - Journey to the Center of the Earth
Natural Disasters - Fever 1793 or The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (because of the tornado at the beginning)
Revolution - A Tale of Two Cities
Two books I've read so far this summer count for two of the categories (and I just barely signed up for the summer reading challenge!).For the undead/afterlife category I've read Shadow of Night (I read Discovery of Witches in May). It's a really great series so far! I'm anxious for the third one to come out.
For the revolution category I just finished The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin by Gordon Wood. It discusses how Franklin went from an almost extreme loyalist to the British Empire to one of the most ardent supporters of the American Revolution, and how his image as founding father is perceived today. It's a quick read and great for anyone who's interested in American History!
Ok, here's my updated list (I'm 4/5 complete):• gardens - Landscaping for Privacy
• afterlife/undead, etc. - If I Stay by Gayle Foreman
• caves/underground - Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
• natural disasters - I have not figured out what to read for this category yet
• revolution/change - Siege & Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Carolyn wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "here is my thinking on summer challenge books. 1- The Forgotten Garden- Kate Morton- Finished
2-The Enchantress- Michael Scott- finished
3- The Cave- Marek Stephanowski- Hated this one- looking for a different one.
4- Deep ..."
Dawnmcd wrote: "Ok finished one
Undead- Scent of Magic
Starting on my garden book - reading The Victory Garden with my children for garden."
Fished Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke for the afterlife/undead theme. The murder victim cannot be positively identified as himself or his evil cousin (read "twin"). So you have a dead person showing up claiming he is not dead...
Fun mystery, series is getting predictable. Gave it 2/5 stars.
here is my current list of summer challenge books.1- The Forgotten Garden- Kate Morton- finished 5 of 5 stars
2-The Enchantress- Michael Scott- finished 3 of 5 stars
3- The Cave- Marek Stephanowski?- truly disliked this book- won't finish it, so I think I am going to do-Journey to the Center of the Earth- Jules Verne.
4- Deep Fathom- James Rollins- starting
5- The Blood Upon the Rose- about the Irish revolution.- in progress
Michelle wrote: "Two books I've read so far this summer count for two of the categories (and I just barely signed up for the summer reading challenge!).For the undead/afterlife category I've read Shadow of Night ..."
Excellent progress for starting "late"!
So far I've read Washed Away: How the Great Flood of 1913, America's Most Widespread Natural Disaster, Terrorized a Nation and Changed It Forever. It was quite an interesting book and one I would recommend despite the grim subject matter. I would give it 5 of 5 stars.Now I am in the process of reading "Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey Into the Afterlife" and I am quite enjoying it as well. And I just started "the Forgotten Garden".
I'm finishing up listening to a eAudiobook version of Partials, which I'm thinking I'm going to count for the revolution category. I wasn't sure if it would go that direction, but I'm pretty sure that's where it's headed. (I'd say more, but it's a great teen fiction and I don't want to give anything away.)
My most recent update for the challenge:• gardens - Winter Garden - Completed
• afterlife/undead, etc. - Deeply Odd - Completed
• caves/underground - The Land of Painted Caves: Earth's Children - Completed
• natural disasters - The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea - In Progress
• revolution/change - Johnny Tremain - Completed
Land of the Painted Caves is the latest book in the series by Jane Auel that began with Clan of the Cave Bear. Since the people in the book live in caves .... no more need be said.
One to go!
I just finished reading A Tale of Two Cities for the Revolution category and I absolutely loved it! If you haven't decided what to read for this category yet I definitely recommend it. 5 out 5 stars.
Hooray! I have finished my summer reading challenge books! And wonderful reads all. Now back to my personal challenge readings.• gardens - Winter Garden - Completed
• afterlife/undead, etc. - Deeply Odd - Completed
• caves/underground - The Land of Painted Caves: Earth's Children - Completed
• natural disasters - The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea - Completed
• revolution/change - Johnny Tremain - Completed
The Perfect Storm, my last book completed, is the story that was the base of the movie starring George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg. Not what I'd expected, much to my delight. I was actually expecting a fairly dry, but interesting, recounting of facts. But Junger actually attempted to recreate what very well may have happened on board the boat.
Finished The Dead Tossed Waves as my afterlife/undead book. Gave it 3 stars. Would probably recommend to a teenager who is into the zombie stuff.
Finished a book called "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer, fiction book based in Congo during a revolution. Great read for nature lovers and conservationists, but would also appeal to children grades 4 and up. Some horrible things happen in this short book, but not real graphic in detail and it has a good message.
I read "Zucchini Pie" by Susan Aylworth for Gardens. It's more recipes than mystery or gardens, but it was a fun read.I read "Huaca" by Marcia Mickelson, but it's YA and though it's well written, I didn't enjoy it as much as I usually enjoy her work, so I decided to count "The Mounds Anomaly" by Phyllis Gunderson, a great archeology mystery, which I loved.
For Caves/Underground I read "Dark Memories" by Jeffrey S. Savage.
Natural Disasters--I haven't really found one yet. I want something of the caliber of "The Shaken Earth" by Toni Sorenson. I may have to reread it.
Revolution/Change--I read "The Knight of Redmond" by Jennifer K. Clark.
Here's my progress so far: Gardens:And the Mountains Echoed:completed
Afterlife: Dark Memories: Completed
Caves/Underground: Underground: Completed
Natural Disasters: planning to read Three Times Lucky...haven't started yet (I'm also half way through The Wizard of Oz with my children...I wouldn't have thought to count that without seeing someone else's idea. :))
Revolution:
Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze takes place during the 1920's in China where a revolution is happening, although that's not the primary focus of the book. In Progress.
Looking at my current book I'm realizing that it wouldn't work for either of my remaining categories, unless you count unnatural disasters. Magic infused storms have shown up more than a couple times already, but that seems to be stretching things a bit when it comes to natural disasters.What would people recommend for a good garden or natural disasters read?
Loved "The Secret Garden" and "The Forgotten Garden".I am looking for a natural disaster book myself.
Happy hunting!
I am just finishing "Zeitoun" which is about a family's trials during Hurricane Katrina. It is well written and engaging, but also makes my head explode with the unbelievable human rights violations, and government incompetence. How could these things possibly have happened in the U.S.?
Ann wrote: "Looking at my current book I'm realizing that it wouldn't work for either of my remaining categories, unless you count unnatural disasters. Magic infused storms have shown up more than a couple tim..."I loved the Winter Garden, hard to put down and not a tough read. You can look at it for my review which I also posted above.
Becky wrote: "I am just finishing "Zeitoun" which is about a family's trials during Hurricane Katrina. It is well written and engaging, but also makes my head explode with the unbelievable human rights violation..."To answer your question, Becky, because those left behind were mostly poor blacks. Considered by many politicians as throw-away disinfranchised. Sad, but true.
So I didn't really plan out any particular books to read for this challenge, but I think what I have read so far will qualify.Garden- Drops Of Gold
Afterlife/Un-dead- Dark Memories
Caves- The Striker
Natural Disaster- Sand Storm
Revolution- The Hit
I dont know, Maybe drops of gold doesn't count. If not then the trial might.
Very sad, yes, and disheartening...Debbie wrote: "Becky wrote: "I am just finishing "Zeitoun" which is about a family's trials during Hurricane Katrina. It is well written and engaging, but also makes my head explode with the unbelievable human ri..."
Becky wrote: "Very sad, yes, and disheartening...Debbie wrote: "Becky wrote: "I am just finishing "Zeitoun" which is about a family's trials during Hurricane Katrina. It is well written and engaging, but also ..."
For those who would like better to understand my perspective, consider reading Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II - Douglas A. Blackmon. Just in case you believe the myth that slavery ended with the end of the Civil War.
And for those who wonder if maybe I'm a black girl with a chip on her shoulder, no I'm not. I'm a white girl from a town in western Idaho. My sense of personal observations over a lifetime led me to believe that the Civil War, itself, had not ended. Until I read this book. Then I realized that what I was thinking had not coagulated to the idea that it was slavery, and not the war, which hadn't ended.
This is not a group for political discussion and the inevitable disagreements. I offer this only as an answer to Becky's initial question, which so many folks in the western US had. And for your edification.
Now I will shut-up about it.
Thanks, Debbie! (Not for shutting up, but thanks for the additional information...). :) I see the library also has "Slavery By Another Name" as a documentary DVD based on the book, and that the book won the Pulitzer Prize.Debbie wrote: "Becky wrote: "Very sad, yes, and disheartening...
Debbie wrote: "Becky wrote: "I am just finishing "Zeitoun" which is about a family's trials during Hurricane Katrina. It is well written and engag..."
Becky wrote: "Thanks, Debbie! (Not for shutting up, but thanks for the additional information...). :) I see the library also has "Slavery By Another Name" as a documentary DVD based on the book, and that the bo..."I haven't chosen to watch the DVD. The book broke my heart, but it did answer my long-time question of if living in the South was so bad, why didn't they move somewhere else.
I have completed the Summer Reading Challenge. These are the books I read:Garden: The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman
Afterlife/Undead: Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger, and Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Caves: The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimove
Natural Disaster: Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
Revolution: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly, Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy by Carlos Eire, and First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung Ung
I enjoyed all these books except "Revolution" and "Waiting for Snow in Havana". Both I thought were terrible, but sometimes that happens. Not every book is for every reader. Overall, I enjoyed the challenge, and felt it really was a challenge to come up with things I wanted to read in these categories. Thanks SL County Library!! Great summer reads!
Yay! Progress!Book #3 is Divergent by Veronica Roth for the Revolution category.
Book #4 is The Twelve by Justin Cronin for Afterlife/Undead. (Although the creatures in this book are ill-defined as part of the "mystery", they are creepy enough to qualify regardless!)
What do I have left? Caves/Underground? Hmm....
Wait a minute...I'm re-shuffling. AND I'M DONE! You know those people who claim they never win anything? Well, I never finish anything. I actually completed a challenge! Woo-hoo! Final Tally:
Natural Disaster - The Glass Castle
Caves/Underground - Divergent
Revolution - Dragonfly in Amber
Garden - It Happened at the Fair
Afterlife/Undead - The Twelve
Heather wrote: "Yay! Progress!Book #3 is Divergent by Veronica Roth for the Revolution category.
Book #4 is The Twelve by Justin Cronin for Afterlife/Undead. (Although the creatures in this book are ill-defin..."
If you want a quick read, consider "All the Dark Places" by by J. Allan Bosworth. A boy gets angry because his much older brother promised to take him to a great cave near where they live. The brother flakes out and the boy decides he has learned enough and decides to tackle the cave on his own. He gathers the gear and heads out. This was his first mistake.
I've re-read it many times since the first time I read it. And it is, as I said, a quick read. But very satisfying.
Heather wrote: "Wait a minute...I'm re-shuffling. AND I'M DONE! You know those people who claim they never win anything? Well, I never finish anything. I actually completed a challenge! Woo-hoo! Final Tall..."
Good for you, Heather!
Heather wrote: "Wait a minute...I'm re-shuffling. AND I'M DONE! You know those people who claim they never win anything? Well, I never finish anything. I actually completed a challenge! Woo-hoo! Final Tall..."
Congratulations! I hope you had a fun time doing the challenge.
Update on my progress-Garden- the Victory Garden- in progress
Undead- Scent of Magic - completed
Rebellion- the rebellion of Jane Clarke- completed
Progress on reading challenge:Undead category - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern completed: 4/5 stars
Caves / Underground category - Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne completed: 3/5 stars
Revolution category - A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens completed: 5/5 stars
here is my current list of summer challenge books, three out of five finished, two in the process!1- The Forgotten Garden- Kate Morton- finished 5 of 5 stars
2-The Enchantress- Michael Scott- finished 3 of 5 stars
3- Journey to the Center of the Earth- Jules Verne- finished!
4- Deep Fathom- James Rollins- in process
5- The Blood Upon the Rose- about the Irish revolution.- in process
Here is my list:Garden: Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver - Complete
Afterlife/Undead: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness - Complete
Cave/Underground: Blind Descent by James Tabor - Not started
Natural disaster: Zeitoun by Dave Eggars - In process
Revolution: The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin by Gordon Wood - Complete
gardens-- still thinking... afterlife/undead, etc.-- Ocean at the End of the Lane (Complete)
caves/underground-- How to Train Your Dragon (a stretch maybe, but there's a cave in there... Complete)
natural disasters-- Three Times Lucky (Complete)
revolution-- still thinking...
Consider Winter Garden for the book on garden. It is an engaging read and not difficult.
Update:The Secret Garden-finished.
The Dead-Tossed Waves-finished
Death of the Mantis-finished (caves)
Endangered-finished (revolution)
Just need to find a short natural disaster book and I will be done :0)
I'm listening to something right now that may count as a undead/afterlife book: Die for Me. There are characters in it that die saving other people's lives, but they don't stay dead. (I'm not clear on if they're technically undead or not, but the concept seems closely related one way or the other.) So far, it's an enjoyable teen fiction, though I'm only part way through so I don't have a fully established opinion yet.
I'm finished!!Gardens: And the Mountains Echoedcompleted
Afterlife: Dark Memories Completed
Caves/Underground: Underground: Completed
Natural Disasters:
Three Times Lucky and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Completed
Revolution: Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze:revolution in China, and The Pale Assassin about the French Revolution: Completed
Jenny wrote: "I'm finished!!"Good for you, Jenny!
an update of the summer challenge books, four out of five finished, only one (1/2) to go.1- The Forgotten Garden- Kate Morton- Completed 5 of 5 stars
2-The Enchantress- Michael Scott- Completed 3 of 5 stars
3- Journey to the Center of the Earth- Jules Verne- Completed!
4- Deep Fathom- James Rollins- COMPLETDE! 3 stars
5- The Blood Upon the Rose- about the Irish revolution.- More than 1/2 finished
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
The County Library
Books mentioned in this topic
The Night Circus (other topics)The Forgotten Garden (other topics)
Journey to the Center of the Earth (other topics)
A Tale of Two Cities (other topics)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Justin Cronin (other topics)Veronica Roth (other topics)
Joanne Fluke (other topics)
Joanne Fluke (other topics)
Deeanne Gist (other topics)
More...
Garden: reading The Rose Labyrinth; I'll see if that applies
Afterlife/Undead: not started yet
Caves/Undergroung: finished The Caves of Steel
Natural Disaster: not started yet
Revolution: finished Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly and also read Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy about the Cuban Revolution