Nyssa's 2014 Challenge Thread

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

Main Challenge: No Frills! Well...Maybe a Few
Goal: 52 books this year. 1 book a week.
Goal: The Flights of Fantasy Series Challenge

Add'l Task: More comprehensive reviews. {All Book Links Lead to My Review of Said Book}
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Things To Rememberr:
Grammar
Plot/Continuity
Character Traits
Writing Style
Personal Response
Annoyances

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My MobileRead Post: 2014 Reading Challenge List

Side/Monthly Challenges :
Jan 2014: Resolution Challenge: (Goal: 4-6 || Read: 6) ~ Completed 1/28/14
Feb 2014: Luuuuuurve N Stuff Challenge : (Goal: 4-6 || Read: 4) ~ Completed 2/24/14
Mar 2014: March Maaaaaadddnnneeeesssssss! :(Goal: 5-9 || Read: 6) ~ Completed 3/31/14

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

First Quarter: January through March

January Reads : 8 Novels || 1 Short Story
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01. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe ~ Completed 01/02/14
02. NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society ~ Completed 01/04/14
03. Steelheart & 03.5 Mitosis ~ Completed 01/11/14
04. M Is for Mama's Boy ~ Completed 01/18/14
05. Prince Caspian ~ Completed 01/19/04
06. A Nameless Witch ~ Completed 01/24/14
07. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader ~ Completed 01/26/14
08. The Fairy-Tale Detectives ~ Completed 01/28/14
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February Reads : 5 Novels || 0 Short Stories
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01. A Study in Scarlet ~ Completed 02/02/14
02. The Silver Chair ~ Completed 02/18/14
03. Earth Abides ~ Completed 02/23/14
04. Howl's Moving Castle ~ Completed 02/24/14
05. Because of Winn-Dixie ~ Completed 02/28/14
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March Reads : 5 Novels || 13 Short Stories
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01. Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures ~ Completed 03/05/14
02. Ready Player One ~ Completed 03/07/14
03. Polaris 10 Short Stories~ Completed 03/12/14
04. Rubicon -- A Short Story Collection~ Completed 03/22/14
05. The Cross-Time Engineer ~ Completed 03/26/14
06. The Cheerleaders of Doom ~ Completed 03/29/14
07. Carmilla ~ Completed 03/31/14
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[Nyssa, Series Addict]

Second Quarter: April through June

April Reads : 3 Novels || 0 Short Stories

01. The Horse and His Boy ~ Completed 04/11/14
02. Cordella's Honor ~ 04/21/14

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

Third Quarter: July through September

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

Fourth Quarter: October through December

[Christa, The Renewed]

First?

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

LOL! Yes Christa dear, you are first. :)

[Christa, The Renewed]

Yay!

:)

[Spacechik]

I am attempting to read this many books. They get expensive and the free kindle ones are pretty much worthless. Do they even count? At any rate, I am trying to branch out more, even though sci-fi and fantasy are my favorite genres. I've found some fast read mystery writers so I'm moving in that direction. Thanks for your interesting recommendations.

[Christa, The Renewed]

Spacechik wrote: "They get expensive and the free kindle ones are pretty much worthless."

I've been keeping an eye on the new Kindle Countdown deals. Lots of good 99 cent buys. Some not-so-great ones mixed in, but they're worth keeping an eye on.

[Spacechik]

Does this make me Number 2? Swell.

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

Spacechik, if its a book and you read it, it counts! :) Oh, and I love to hear about your "fast read" mysteries.

[Spacechik]

Oh, mysteries!! I picked up a Lee Childs book, Jack Reacher. I think it caught my eye because of the movie presentation. Tom Cruise is no Jack Reacher!! Anyway, I found it to be entertaining and a good mystery. Since then, I've picked up a couple more Lee Childs, JR books. I tried to get into JA JANCE and just couldn't. Dunno why.

In addition, I have read the whole current Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey, some as audio books. They are more supernatural than mystery. Someone on one of these boards recommended it. I liked them. I got tired of Kim Harrison and her character being so dumb half the time. Breathlessly waiting for the new Harry Dresden book. Thanks for asking.
Leita

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

LOL Rachel, from The Hollows series (Kim Harrison), gets better as the books go on.. I promise. Can't wait for the next Dresden either!!

Will look into the others - thanks! :)

[HomeInMyShoes]

Spacechik wrote: "I am attempting to read this many books. They get expensive and the free kindle ones are pretty much worthless. Do they even count? At any rate, I am trying to branch out more, even though sci-f..."

I use http://ca.ereaderiq.com/account/login/. It's not exactly secure since you log in just by typing your email, but use a useless email account and you can track when prices hit when you want to buy something. It's worked for me on a few titles so far: Patrick deWittt, Mo Yan.

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

So - My OCD has kicked in and I'd like some advice.. Should I start counting my weeks from:

Wednesday, January 1st to Tuesday, January 7th
or
Sunday, December 29th to Saturday, January 4th

Sunday to Saturday is easier to track, but Wednesday to Tuesday is more "correct".
Either way I get 52 weeks therefore 52 books read.

[Christa, The Renewed]

I, personally, would go Sunday to Saturday just to make it easier. To me, it's similar to counting books finished in the year even if they were started the previous year - it works out the same, so it makes sense to go with the easier method.

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

I'm leaning that way ...

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

I posted this question on MobileRead as well (in the 2013 reading challenge thread) and saw two interesting points:

pdurrant:

Wednesday to Tuesday, IMO. And you get one more day in the last 'week', since it'll be the eight days from Wednesday 24th December to Wednesday 31st December. (52*7 =364)

Rev. Bob:

In addition, a Wednesday start keeps the weekend intact instead of splitting it across two weeks.[

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

And then my friend says this: "Pick a short book to read from 1/1 to 1/4, then go Sunday to Saturday."

[Spacechik]

Hmmm. Interesting quandary. How about Monday to Sunday? That way, you still get the entire weekend to read and just start Dec 30. I still work M-F and read just in the evenings mostly. So cramming on S & S works for me!!!
Good question.

[Christa, The Renewed]

Spacechik wrote: "Hmmm. Interesting quandary. How about Monday to Sunday? That way, you still get the entire weekend to read and just start Dec 30. I still work M-F and read just in the evenings mostly. So cramm..."

I like this solution.

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

Spacechik wrote: "Hmmm. Interesting quandary. How about Monday to Sunday? That way, you still get the entire weekend to read and just start Dec 30. I still work M-F and read just in the evenings mostly. So cramm..."

Christa wrote: "I like this solution."

I would not have thought of that...It breaks ALL of the rules...LOL

Hmm..I wonder if that's why Christa likes it.. :D

[Christa, The Renewed]

LOL! You know me too well. What really speaks volumes is that rules never came into it - I was just like "Hey! That's a cool idea!" with no thought for conventions or expectations.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Christa wrote: "I, personally, would go Sunday to Saturday just to make it easier. To me, it's similar to counting books finished in the year even if they were started the previous year - it works out the same, so..."

Agreed. Next year is going to get shortchanged as well so it all balances out. :)

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

How is it that my Original Post has the date Nov. 2nd, but Posts 2 through 8 have Nov. 1st?

[HomeInMyShoes]

Time traveller extraordinaire!

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

:) When I added TLtWatW to post #2 last night, it's date also changed to Nov. 2nd. How bizarre!

Even stranger, is that they all now say Nov. 1st again! O.o

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

Well, the good news: My first read of 2014 is complete!!

The not so good news: The ticker factory widget isn't working on this site for some reason, although its working fine on MobileRead.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Reading > Widget. :)

Congratulations on the first victim, I mean read, of the year.

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

Homeinmyshoes wrote: "Reading > Widget. :)

Congratulations on the first victim, I mean read, of the year."

:) Yes Reading>Widget! & Thank You!! :)

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Resident Book Pusher]

Homeinmyshoes wrote: "Reading > Widget. :)

Congratulations on the first victim, I mean read, of the year."

:-D

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Resident Book Pusher]

I finished a book this year, too!

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

So I was going to read the next FoF (Flights of Fantasy) book club selection, Steelheart, but I'm still in a light reading, MG/YA, state of mind, so I'm going to continue my series challenge.
With that in mind, next up will be a reread:
NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Michael Buckley.
It was such a fun read, plus we just bought the last one for our kids, and the full set for one of our nephews as a Christmas gift, so I want to complete the series myself.
I might just read all five of them back to back, but I haven't decided as yet.
I have four other books that I would like to read this month:

1. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson (of course)

2. The Book by M. Clifford

3. Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon

4. Range of Ghosts byElizabeth Bear

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote: "I finished a book this year, too!"

Yeah, I saw!! Congratulations. Continued success, hon!! :)

Unfortunately, It seems Christa is having a similar start to her year this year, that you did to your year last year.

[HomeInMyShoes]

MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote: "I finished a book this year, too!"

Keener! :)

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Resident Book Pusher]

:-D

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Resident Book Pusher]

Nyssa wrote: "Unfortunately, It seems Christa is having a similar start to her year this year, that you did to your year last year. "

Yeah. :(

But she has Steam...

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

I know its a bit early, but I may have already found a focus for my 2015 Challenge (LOL!): Classics I Would Like to Read.
I could probably challenge myself to at least one classic a month.

[Spacechik]

I can't keep up!!! All ya'll read way too many books in such short times!! Currently, I'm reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward. They are pretty fast reads since I skip over the interspersed graphic erotica. I'm on the second book. It's an interesting vampire concept. I actually find the sex distracting and doesn't advance the story much. To me, it's annoying and I find myself skipping over it. I much prefer the vampire story. Anyway, I'm moving forward on my self challenge: read as many cool books this year. People on these threads have great recommendations.

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

Spacechik wrote: "I can't keep up!!! All ya'll read way too many books in such short times!! Currently, I'm reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward. They are pretty fast reads since I skip over the ..."

The Black Dagger Brotherhood series is a favorite of mine (sex and all). Just be aware that they are specifically paranormal-romance so there will be sex, (plus talking about sex, wishing for sex, talking about not having sex, etc. ) in every book, and not all of it pleasant (One of the brothers in particular has a pretty dark history, and one of the Lessers is pretty sick in the head).

I agree that the vampire concept is quite different and interesting, which is why I like the series so much. I left off with book #8 Lover Mine.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Resident Book Pusher]

Yeah. I started the BDB and while I enjoyed the different aspect...I couldn't deal with the sex. I like erotica and all but it got...repetitive really quickly. I think I stopped somewhere around 3 or 4.

[Stephanie]

How about just one classic every other month THIS year. Get a start on it and just intersperse with what you are already reading.

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

Stephanie wrote: "How about just one classic every other month THIS year. Get a start on it and just intersperse with what you are already reading."

:) If I weren't already committed to doing multiple challenges, plus wanting to participate a little more in group reads, I would try. But, I've already put a lot on my plate, and have gotten myself into trouble in the past (burnout!) for pushing to do too much.

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

I finished NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society. I enjoyed it just as much this time as i did last time. I will definitely continue/finish the series this year.

Next, I will be moving onto Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson next. Not sure if I'll start it tonight or wait until tomorrow.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Classics?!? *choke* *gag*

Not worth it usually for me. And I've read Moby Dick, Pride and Prejudice, A Tale of Two Cities, Ulysses (Joyce) and A Portrait of the YoungMan as An Artist.

The next Classic I am reading will be A Princess of Mars.

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

Homeinmyshoes wrote: "Classics?!? *choke* *gag*

Not worth it usually for me. And I've read Moby Dick, Pride and Prejudice, A Tale of Two Cities, Ulysses (Joyce) and A Portrait of the YoungMan as An Artist.

The next Cl..."

Moby Dick is not allowed. I've had an aversion to that book since high school. I have absolutly no interest in reading it!

Here are the ones I would like to read:

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens ~ Anything by him really
Emma by Jane Austen
A Tale of Two Cities
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
Persuasion by Jane Austen

[Nyssa, Series Addict]

I'm still working on Steelheart. I'm a little over halfway through, and my hope is to be able to finish it tonight. But, I have to get my chores done first, so off I go.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Resident Book Pusher]

Nyssa wrote: "I'm still working on Steelheart. I'm a little over halfway through, and my hope is to be able to finish it tonight. But, I have to get my chores done first, so off I go."

I feel you. I haven't even started...

[Stephanie]

I'll try to get to Steelheart. I've heard good things about it, but I promised myself to do only 2 bookclub things per month and I already have those books. Focus is to FINISH some of the many series I have started. :)