MobileRead Book Challenges discussion
2014 Individual Challenges
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Rumpelteazer's 2014 Challenge Thread
Bianca wrote: "Which books are you interested in?"The Strain Trilogy, NOS4A2, and A Discovery of Witches. I already own all of them except The Night Eternal, but they seem to be among those that keep getting shuffled down in the virtual pile.
Christa wrote:"The Strain Trilogy, NOS4A2, and A Discovery of Witches. I already own all of them except The Night Eternal, but they seem to be among those that keep getting shuffled down in the virtual pile. "
I've had all of those books floating around for a while, too. Lately I've been reading a lot of books that have been on my TBR list for a while. Which is not only good for my wallet but I've been enjoying myself and found myself wondering why the hell I didn't read those great books earlier.
I've made a list with several books I want to read this summer (which to me is before September 1). It hasn't got a lot of books on it, but there are several newer books on it that I don't want to disappear on the TBR pile.
In summer I always tend to read a book set in Asia but I haven't decided yet which one I will read this year. Suggestions are welcome!
I almost finished the second book in the All Hallows trilogy, Shadow of Night, by Deborah Harkness. Usually I have a good idea what I want to read next at this point, but at the moment I haven't got a clue.At the moment I have three possibilities:
Half a King by Joe Abercrombie
Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
Skin Game by Jim Butcher
I finished Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness a couple of days ago.I liked it, but not as much as the first in the All Hallows trilogy. I feel she wanted to do too much and she lost the story line she set up in the first book because of that. At the end of the first book the two main character, Matthew and Diana go back in time to the 1590s so she can find a witch to teach her and they also want to find the book they can't get their hands on in 2009. The finding of a teacher doesn't happen until about 50% in to the story and finding the book takes even longer. They are too busy meeting all kind of important persons of that time (Christopher Marlowe, Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth, etc).
Still good, but it could have been better.
On another note, I just put my Kobo Aura HD aside, it was acting up and I couldn't get it to work right (it might be that it choked on my current book, of course). I've been having a lot of problems with it lately so I've dusted off my trusty old (non-touch, non-lighted) Kindle 4. I love that you can adjust about anything on the Kobo, but it's quirks and bugs are starting to get on my nerves.
Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King.I had put off reading this book for a while. I'd read several reviews being negative about the fact that this isn't a horror but a thriller. However, I really liked it. Unlike other recent books by King this one doesn't go on and on and on. It quick and good.
I've been reading longer books lately, so it's time to get a couple of shorter stories I recently purchased out of the way.
I read two short stories yesterday:The Gate by Jason Brant.
It starts out as a haunted house story but turns into a creature horror, which isn't my type of story. Still okay.
Three Sisters by Helen Smith.
The title gave away the solution to the mystery. Somehow it just didn't work for me.
Half a King by Joe Abercrombie.I really loved his First Law trilogy (though I still need to read the stand alone books set into that world). The Shattered Sea series is officially a YA series but I really loved it. Not as dark as the First Law. It's a nice and quick read.
Strangely, since switching from my Aura HD back to my Kindle non-touch I've been reading more. Lately I read mostly during my weekend and evenings. Now I also pick up my reader during the day. There are two things that I miss and that's the light and that it automatically switches on and off when opening and closing the case. But I love the stability, simplicity, page turn buttons and sharpness of the screen.
The Night Eternal by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan.Unlike many I liked this book better than the second one in the trilogy. In the second one, The Fall, the story moved towards the inevitable domination of The Master. In the last one there were several endings possible so it made, for me, for a more interesting read.
Abandon by Blake Crouch.An okay story. I had a problem with the main character just not getting a break, even if she did she was punished for it almost immediately. Also the ending was less than satisfactory IMHO (again; she didn't get a break).
Skin Game by Jim Butcher.I loved it, very hard to put down.
Meanwhile, looking for books similar to Kate Morton's books: a book divided into past and present, where the main character has to solve a mystery from the past with a little bit of romance thrown in. Most similar books I find in this genre the focus is on the romance rather than the mystery and the female main characters are often damsels in distress, which isn't my thing.
What I like about house/dog/fish sitting is that I'm on my own and don't have to be social, so I can read as much in my free time as I want.The Lewis Man by Peter May.
I read the first in the Lewis trilogy ages ago and thought it was very bleak and didn't thought I would read the other books. After having read a lot of fantasy lately I needed something completely different and I really liked this second book.
The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper.
An okay story. I feel more could've been done with it especially since the ending didn't answer the questions I had.
I just finished The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness. A good ending to a good trilogy.Now onwards with The Devil of Nanking by Mo Hayder. I read Pig Island by her last year and enjoyed the thriller, mystery, horror mix.
MrsJoseph wrote: "I've only been reading romances lately."My condolences. :)
Homeinmyshoes wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "I've only been reading romances lately."My condolences. :)"
pfffft!
The Devil of Nanking by Mo Hayder.I didn't like it as much as Pig Island, which was a lot faster paced. This story dragged on a bit and she could have done more with certain aspects of the story (like the creepy house).
I'm now reading The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves, the first in the Vera Stanhope series on which the tv series Vera is based. I've been putting off starting this series. Mostly because I love the tv series and there have been several series based on books where I didn't like the books (Midsomer Murders, Inspector Lynley), mostly because the characters are either not as likeable as the ones in the tv series. But the Vera in the books and on tv are very similar, not sure about Joe yet, though. But I love this book, Vera doesn't make a real appearance until half way through and only 75% in you get to read her perspective. But Ann Cleeves got my hooked from the first page. Now I need to search out her other series, too.
Ive not heard of the TV show...
MrsJoseph wrote: "Ive not heard of the TV show..."It's great, IMHO. Not a cozy like Midsumer. Vera isn't beautiful (though in the tv series she isn't as ugly as described in the books), she calls everyone love, pet and chappie (reminds me of one of the ladies running the student union shop on the Dudley campus) and she doesn't mind using unorthodox methods. Although she is very direct she isn't as grumpy as Morse, more like Frost. It's set in and around Newcastle (and since I'm going there in three and a half weeks that interests me). Centainly worth watching (also David Leon, who plays her sergeant, is very easy on the eyes).
The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves.The first book in the Vera Stanhope series. I loved it, even more than the tv series. Vera isn't really introduced until half way through the book and only 76% do we get to see things through her perspective. The first half focusses on three women working together in a remote cottage. A suicide takes place on the neighbouring farm just before they start their surveying work and later one of them gets murdered and that's where Vera barges in. The characters are very human; at times likeable but at times not so much.
It will be one of those series I have to take care not to read them back to back and risk losing interest.
Abraham's Men by Kristen Selleck.Second in the Birch Harbour series. Nice and quick paranormal fluff. The only thing I don't like is that it ends in a cliff hanger.
I've so far finished 7 books whilst house sitting since August 7. Not bad. I might finish the eighth today or tomorrow, my friends are returning tomorrow or Wednesday so I might squeeze another book in.
That's great! I want to take some time to just read...
The Ritual by Adam NevillOkay book, though I like my ending closed and not will he die or survive type of ending. I did finish it before going home.
After my two and a half week reading marathon, finishing 8 books I have slowed down.
The Chalice: A Glastonbury Ghost Story by Phil Rickman.
It took me just over a week to read but I just love Rickman's books. Only a few left to read before I've read them all.
Meanwhile I'm lusting after a Kindle Paperwhite. It's sold in UK brick and mortar stores, and in just over a week I'm heading there for a few days. It's very tempting to buy one. However, it's the time of year that the new Kindle line-up is announced. So I'll probably wait, save up a bit of money every week so I can pay for a Paperwhite, it's case, shipping and import fees from Amazon.com. I wish I could just order one from one of the European Amazons.
The Betrayal of Trust by Susan Hill.Good book, though one of the two storyline isn't possibly solved. Hopefully it'll continue in the next book.
I've been looking for quick and easy (and cheap) horror reads on Amazon and I must say I'm getting fed up with description starting with "[main character]'s husband/wife has just died", usually followed by something similar to "he/she is trying to move on/get his/her life back together". The main character inevitably moves into a haunted house after that.
I must have read over a dozen of this type of description in the past week of searching for a nice read.
The 6th Extinction by James Rollins.The latest in the Sigma Force series. A very good read. I finished it just before midnight last night, about 30 hours after I started reading. Now it'll be a long wait for the next one.
Next week I'm going on holiday to Newcastle and I'm trying to decide what to read. I'm torn between Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves.Years ago I started reading Outlander in paperback but put it aside quickly. I don't know why because I liked what I had read. Recently the tv adaptation started and I really like it so I thought of starting again.
However, Telling Tales would be very appropriate to read on this trip. It's the second book in the Vera Stanhope series and is set in the Newcastle area.
Bianca wrote: "Next week I'm going on holiday to Newcastle and I'm trying to decide what to read. I'm torn between Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves.Years a..."
I was going to say that my friend told me I have to read Outlander so I could watch the show.
I was interested until I learned that Outlander rivaled Malazan for book AND page count, lol. And I don't have STARZ.
MrsJoseph wrote: "I was going to say that my friend told me I have to read Outlander so I could watch the show.I was interested until I learned that Outlander rivaled Malazan for book AND page count, lol. And I don't have STARZ. "
Well, according to my Kindle the first book is 899. Long but not too long for me. I think I'll start is after finishing my current book and read about a quarter before taking a break by reading another book.
I haven't got STARZ either, but where there's a will there's a way...
I bought book 3 (I think) at a used book store. It's over 1k pages, lol. I haven't finished Malazan yet. There's no way I'm starting another complete tree until I finish that.
MrsJoseph wrote: "I bought book 3 (I think) at a used book store. It's over 1k pages, lol. I haven't finished Malazan yet. There's no way I'm starting another complete tree until I finish that."I've learned from A Song of Ice and Fire that I have to be careful with long books, especially series, that I don't get fed up with it. So I usually try to break long books up by reading easy books in between. Though it really depends on the book if I need to do that.
I agree!
The Haunting of Highdown Hall by Shani Struthers.A nice and fluffy paranormal ghost story.
I've started reading Outlander and plan to read around 200 pages before taking a break by reading another book. Or maybe not. It really depends on the how much I like it and how quickly it reads (or how slowly).
:)
I'm now reading Outlander and over all I'm liking it (just over 100 pages in).However, I had to laugh at the description of Claire's thoughts about Jaimy's skill with horses: "If I were a horse, I'd let him ride me anywhere."
That is just wrong.
lololol!
I'm making good headway with Outlander. I'm now 35% in, further than I planned. I have yet to come to the very steamy and rape scenes.The new plan is to switch to something else on the boat tomorrow. But I know myself, I'll wake up at 7am tomorrow and despite still having to pack I'll have several hours to read before having to leave around 1.30pm.
During my vacation I read Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson. Which I apparently read in 2012. It did seem vaguely familiar when I started the book, but I've read a lot of Sherlock Holmes books and several books on Jack the Ripper. Only when I wanted to record my current reading in GR did I find out I had read it before.Anyway, it was a pleasant read for a holiday. Not very original (Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper) but entertaining.
Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves.I loved the tv series but I like the book series even more! Usually when I start reading the books a tv series I like is based on I don't like the books (Midsumer Murders, Inspector Lynley). I just love how Vera is not your typical female investigator, she herself and if you don't like it that's your problem.
Now I'm back to Outlander with only 116 pages to go, so I should finish it tomorrow or Sunday at the latest. Not sure what to read next, I think I'm in the mood for something scary but not too long or difficult.
I finished Outlander last night, earlier than expected. I've started a new series The Black series by Steven Bannister. It promises to be a fantasy thriller with horror aspects. I'm 20% in and it's indeed a thriller, there are hints at the fantasy part but no real horror elements yet. But it's a quick read so far and I like the main character.I noticed that my ongoing series list is growing so I have to stop reading new series and get back to the ones already on the list.
The whole series??
oh! BTW, Flights of Fantasy is doing a group/buddy read/read what you want/horror for October.Basically people are posting what horror/scary book they want to read for October and other people are signing up to read along (or not).
About 3 of us are going to read The Stand. I doubt I'll read anything else scary.
^What about something strange like Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected?
Homeinmyshoes wrote: "^What about something strange like Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected?"I've not read that one...
LOL, no just the first book with the same title. I think it'll be one of those series I read two or three books a year of, otherwise I'll get fed up with it.I love The Stand, must have read it over half a dozen times already. Although I still have FoF in my list I don't do much with it at the moment.
I can remember in the late 1990s that a Dutch tv channel showed The Tales of the Unexpected during day time. I loved it. At that time a lot of 1960s and 1970s tv shows were being rerun (Are You Being Served? The Thunderbirds and The Avengers, too).
Last night I finished Fade to Black by Steven Bannister. I liked the idea of the book; the youngest DCI in the Metropolitan police turns out to be a descendant of St. Patrick. He promised to fight evil with the help of archangel Michael, the promise also includes his descendants. Allie St. Clair doesn't know this until the day of her promotion and the start of a horrific crime spree. The only problem is that there is very little explanation of what this promise encompasses. Allie reads a book, written by her father, with information about the history of her family, and presumably what it means for her. Michael is very likeable, but no information is given by him either. Not sure I'll continue with this series.
Bianca wrote: "LOL, no just the first book with the same title. I think it'll be one of those series I read two or three books a year of, otherwise I'll get fed up with it.I love The Stand, must have read it ov..."
I love The Stand, too. Especially the uncut version.
Bianca wrote: "Last night I finished Fade to Black by Steven Bannister. I liked the idea of the book; the youngest DCI in the Metropolitan police turns out to be a descendant of St. Patrick. He pr..."It does look good - too bad it does read as well as it looks.
MrsJoseph wrote: "It does look good - too bad it does read as well as it looks. "It's a shame, really. If Bannister had added an introductory chapter describing the meeting between St. Patrick and Michael and what they had agreed upon. Or if sections of the book were given as explanation it would have been a much better book.
Bianca wrote: "I love The Stand, must have read it ov over half a dozen times already."MrsJoseph wrote: "I love The Stand, too. Especially the uncut version."
Same. I rarely re-read books at all. There are a few select ones that I've read twice, but The Stand... I think I read the original release version at least three times, and the uncut version three times.
Bianca wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "It does look good - too bad it does read as well as it looks. "It's a shame, really. If Bannister had added an introductory chapter describing the meeting between St. Patrick an..."
I hate it when what could be good books have holes.
Christa wrote: "Bianca wrote: "I love The Stand, must have read it ov over half a dozen times already."MrsJoseph wrote: "I love The Stand, too. Especially the uncut version."
Same. I rarely re-read books at all..."
I reread all the time but not this much.
MobileRead Book Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Abominable (other topics)The Line (other topics)
In Cold Blood (other topics)
The After House (other topics)
The House of Susan Lulham (other topics)
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Which books are you interested in?
Overall I'm enjoying myself though I'm noticing that from Tuesday until Saturday (working days for me) I'm reading less than I used to do and during the weekend (Sunday and Monday) I catch up again.
At the moment I seem to be binging on longer books. My usual binge genre is horror books, I just love those quick and gory ones.