WINTER 2013/2014 READING CHALLENGE

[Jenn]

Happy New Year!!!!

[Danell]

Hope everyone has a happy and safe New Years!

[Jenn]

I changed my mind as Gemini's are known to do lol.
I will read Innocence for my book with a tree on the cover.

[Rachel]

Jenn wrote: "I changed my mind as Gemini's are known to do lol.
I will read Innocence for my book with a tree on the cover."

lol Jenn

looking forward to your comments about innocence-i'm hoping to read it at some point this year.

[Jenn]

I just realized that The Sookie Stackhouse Companion counts for one part of the challenge as she is considered an outcast in Bon Temp, Louisiana

[Rachel]

Thanks for the update Jenn!

[Danell]

Finished , which works for #5 in the challenge.

[Rachel]

Thanks for the update, Danell :)

[Josh]

Just wanted to stop by and say, I am not dead! My new PlayStation Vita and games has distracted me! I got 7 Vita games and 2 PS3 games, so I have been really distracted. lol.

Anyways I have not yet completed anything for a challenge. I am halfway through The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks but not sure if I will finish it now. I am thinking about starting Black by Ted Dekker. I believe it fits the outcast challenge.

[Rachel]

Josh wrote: "Just wanted to stop by and say, I am not dead! My new PlayStation Vita and games has distracted me! I got 7 Vita games and 2 PS3 games, so I have been really distracted. lol.

Anyways I have not y..."

glad all is well josh- you have plenty of time to finish the challenge-enjoy your games :)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Josh wrote: "Just wanted to stop by and say, I am not dead! "

Good to know. I was starting to wonder.

[Jenn]

I figured his absence had to do with gaming of some sort lol

[Josh]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Josh wrote: "Just wanted to stop by and say, I am not dead! "

Good to know. I was starting to wonder."

Haha. You should had known, since we're facebook friends... I have been posting all the trophies I've been getting from my games. lol.

[Josh]

Jenn wrote: "I figured his absence had to do with gaming of some sort lol"

Am I that predictable? XD

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Josh wrote: "Haha. You should had known, since we're facebook friends... I have been posting all the trophies I've been getting from my games. lol."

I hadn't noticed. I tend to ignore game-related posts or requests on Facebook :-)

[Josh]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Josh wrote: "Haha. You should had known, since we're facebook friends... I have been posting all the trophies I've been getting from my games. lol."

I hadn't noticed. I tend to ignore game-related..."
I do too... other than PlayStation related gaming stuff, which is the only gaming stuff I post. I get really annoyed with facebook gaming requests. People spam them too much.

[Jenn]

I play some games on FB, but I don't send people requests or post who I passed cause it makes my wall look junky lol.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Jenn wrote: "I play some games on FB, but I don't send people requests or post who I passed cause it makes my wall look junky lol."

Yeah. We need to keep things looking nice and tidy :-)

[Danell]

I finished , which I think will work for #2 of the challenge. Really liked the book!! First time reading J.S. Bailey's work and looking forward to reading more of her books!

[Rachel]

Thanks for the update Danell :)

[Josh]

Okay so I got a real update this time. I am starting the book called The Story. Just borrowed it from my church. It fits the Outcast and Time Travel challenges.

[Rachel]

Thanks for the update Josh :)

[Christine]

I just finished Deadlocked To me, Sookie Stackhouse has always been an outcast. She doesn't fit in the human world or the supernatural world.

[Rachel]

Thanks for the update Christine :)

[Christine]

Hey Jenn, I just saw you used Sookie as an outcast too. Great minds think alike, lol.

[Danell]

Well I decided to read more for the challenge. Finished , which works for #6 in the challenge. Also reading which works for #7 I believe.

[Rachel]

Thanks for the update Danell :)

What did you think of The Perks of Being a Wallflower?

have you started 11/22/63? can't wait to hear what you think of it. did you sign up for your library challenge?

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "I just finished Deadlocked To me, Sookie Stackhouse has always been an outcast. She doesn't fit in the human world or the supernatural world."

How's the new place Christine?

[Rachel]

Jenn

is it as cold by you as it is in jersey? just had another snowstorm-is winter over yet lol.

[Rachel]

Josh

how are those games? was dino month a success? :)

[Rachel]

DC

did charlie kidnap you at the chocolate factory?(haven't heard from you in a while) :)

[Rachel]

can you all tell by my posts that i miss my challenge buddies lol :D

this threads been a little quiet so just checking in with all of you.

[Christine]

Rachel wrote: "Christine wrote: "I just finished Deadlocked To me, Sookie Stackhouse has always been an outcast. She doesn't fit in the human world or the supernatural world."

How's the new pla..."

Its nice to be settled. I actually have time to read. I've already found a book discussion group at the library. Its going to take some getting used to the gray days in the Northwest but they haven't been too bad so far. I am happier with our gray days compared to what people back east are experiencing. I hope everyone who is living back there is safe and warm.

[Rachel]

glad to hear you're settled in. We just had a snowstorm and its freezing here in jersey- i'm definitely looking forward to spring-i hate the winter.

p.s. recently read a book set in new orleans Bone Cold and the character loved beignets (not sure i spelled this right)

i really want to visit new orleans if only for the good food lol

[Christine]

Yes, you did spell beignets right and they are yummy good. I haven't had them in New Orleans but they seem to be popular as dessert in restaurants recently. I want to visit New Orleans some day too.

[Christine]

I forgot to mention Bone Cold looks good. I haven't read anything by Erica Spindler

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Rachel wrote: "DC

did charlie kidnap you at the chocolate factory?(haven't heard from you in a while) :)"

The Chocolate Easter Bunnies!!!

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I am currently reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. This title meets task #3 containing the letters E-L-F :-)

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "I forgot to mention Bone Cold looks good. I haven't read anything by Erica Spindler"

it was my first book by her-although i figured out part of the mystery, i really enjoyed the story-really fast paced and loved the setting. i gave it 4 stars.

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Rachel wrote: "DC

did charlie kidnap you at the chocolate factory?(haven't heard from you in a while) :)"

The Chocolate Easter Bunnies!!!"

lmao

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I am currently reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. This title meets task #3 containing the letters E-L-F :-)
"

Thanks for the update DC :) that book is on my tbr-have heard good things about it-hope you enjoy it.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

The Ocean...blah blah blah ... it is a nice short one and exactly the kind of shit I like to read!!!! :-)

[Danell]

Rachel wrote: "Thanks for the update Danell :)

What did you think of The Perks of Being a Wallflower?

have you started 11/22/63? can't wait to hear what you think of it. did you sig..."
I enjoyed "The perks of being a wallflower" gave it 4 stars. Just got tired of the format. Late last yr read "The silver linings playbook" which is simular to "The perks of being a wallflower".
I have started 11/22/63 and am enjoying it! Close to the half way point!
Started the winter reading program at the library. Fun. Read books in different categories. Have to step out of my comfort zone for part of the challenge and read a (gulp) romance, legal thriller and also a historical fiction. For romance was thinking about the 2nd book in the 50 shades of grey series. Guessing any John Grisham for the legal thriller, not sure about historical fiction.
Hope everyone has been doing well!! Glad to see what everyone is reading!!
Stay warm!

[Christine]

I just started 11/22/63a couple of days ago. I am about 100 pages into it. I am very intrigued how everything will work out in this book.

[Rachel]

Glad you're both enjoying 11/22/63!

[Christine]

Rachel wrote: "Glad you're both enjoying 11/22/63!"

Did you read it?

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Glad you're both enjoying 11/22/63!"

Did you read it?"

it was one of my favorites that i read last year-it had been years since i read anything by king but after reading 11/22/63 i became a big fan and have a whole new appreciation for his writing.

[Christine]

I have been a King fan since I read The Stand when it first came out. Its still my favorite.

[Josh]

Rachel wrote: "Josh

how are those games? was dino month a success? :)"

Games I got for Christmas that I have beaten: 4/7

Resistance: Burning Skies (Vita) is a really great game for a portable shooter. While I prefer the PS3 Resistance games this is one of the best games I've played on the Vita.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss (Vita) This is a prequel to my favorite series on the PS3. I have to say while its not Uncharted 2 or 3 awesome, it is better than the first game and it is the best game on the Vita I have played.

The Walking Dead: The Video Game Season 1 (Vita). This game surprised me because I hated the Walking Dead show and the comics. This game I actually throughly enjoyed. While its not my favorite game it is a good game. I just didn't like the cannibal family story line in Episode 2. Way too gross for me. The game pretty much plays off of your choices that the game gives you. Whatever you choose affects the rest of season one. I hope those choices carry over to season 2 which I may or may not get. I haven't decided yet.

DmC: Devil May Cry (PS3) Man this game I have been waiting to play for a couple of years since it was announced and man it is AWESOME! Its a much darker reimaginning of the Devil May Cry series, kinda like the Dark Knight movie trilogy was for Batman movies. It definitely had the best music in the series with an original soundtrack by Combichrist plus their greatest hits so it was all freaking awesome. The story wasn't the best in the series but it has potential if Capcom decides to keep the reimaginning universe alive.

Three games left to beat. Two of them are really long games. I am 20 hours into one of them and I am only like 1/4th of the way through it. lol.

I beaten a couple of half finished games I had laying around. Killzone 2 (PS3), Medal of Honor (PS3) and James Bond: Goldeneye Reloaded (PS3). The only one I feel like saying anything about is Goldeneye. If you liked the story of the movie but wanted Daniel Craig to have played in it, Goldeneye on the PS3 is exactly what the doctor ordered. I personally loved the movie and like Daniel Craig more so I loved the game though I thought the ending was lackluster but the beginning is AWESOME.

So this is a long post and I didn't mean it to be. I am now more focused on finishing the book The Story cause I want to return the book back to the church this Sunday. I am halfway through the book so I should get it done by then. After that, I am thinking about making sure I start reading some more of the Star Wars novels. Hopefully some of the novels I will be reading will stay cannon to the movies or it would suck. Disney has hired people to make a true list of the expanded star wars universe that is cannon with the old movies and the movies they are working on now.

[Josh]

Ohh. I totally missed the dinosaur month question. Nope, I totally and utterly failed with it. Read about halfway through Raptor Red got my Vita and stopped reading it. But have no worries I will make sure I do a dinosaur month this year and not get distracted by other stuff. lol.