What are you reading and why? Jan-Jun 2014 Showing 1-50 of 1,330

[Janice, Moderator]

What are you reading and why?

[Janice, Moderator]

I have twenty minutes yet to go before the New Year arrives and I have finished all that I plan to read for 2013.

I will start The Shining on audiobook and Cockroaches on iBooks. Both are for the chunkster challenge.

[Theresa~OctoberLace]

At midnight I started listening to The Mists of Avalon as my first book for the Chunkster Challenge. I'll also be starting Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage: Stories by Alice Munro on my Kindle for a challenge on another group.

[Almeta]

Called all "my" sickies at midnight and the started Evertaster by Adam Glendon Sidwell for my first Chunkster Challenge read.

[Kat]

It seems we were all waiting for 2014 to begin so we could start the chunkster challenge! I've started Of Human Bondage. Perfect reading weather - 33 degrees centigrade!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Happy New Year for those of you who have just caught up!

I've had a relaxing New Years Day that has involved cleaning the kitchen and moving all the dining chairs and table back into our rented flat out the back that we borrowed back for Christmas. I've now spent a good hour or two on the couch with a Singapore Sling or two, a chicken and Zoo City.

Hopefully finish it tonight or tomorrow morning and then move on to either The Luminaries for my first chunkster or The Secret River for my Aussie read. After I make a chicken pie (not with our chickens!) for dinner.

[Cherie]

I am starting 2014 off with Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence for the Janurary Challenge.
Happy New Year!

[[deleted user]]

I will mostly be reading Bleak House as mu first chunkster.

I also have The White War and Raising Steam on the go.

Happy New year all. >:-)

[Peggy]

I'll start reading Sophie's Choice today, because it is the 1st and I want to get started on my chunksters!

I'm also still reading The Wise Man's Fear, which I didn't manage to finish in 2013.

[Sarah]

I look forward to hearing what you think of The Secret River - I read it a couple years back.

I've started reading Perdido Street Station for the chunkster challenge. It was supposed to be my P read in the alphabet but my reservation from the library didn't arrive in time so I switched it. It has been sat on my shelf since then and I've kept renewing it in the hope of starting it but other book got in the way so I'm so pleased to have started it now. I've also started listening to the audiobook Night Film which is also for my chunkster challenge. Doubling up sounds like a great strategy!

[Travis]

Grave Witch and The Color of Magic

[Marnie]

I am starting 2014 with The Fellowship of the Ring on audio and The Husband's Secret which is my Aussie book and real life book club read.

[Nancy from NJ]

Good morning from New Jersey, USA. I woke about an hour ago and dived into the following two books.

I read a half hour's worth from The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons and listened to a half hour from the audiobook The Death of Santini: The Story of a Father and His Son. I might have mentioned either here or elsewhere that I enjoy beginning the New Year and ending the old one with a significant read. Either of these books - Pat Conroy is a favorite author of mine and the Simons book is on my Chunkster Challenge list and will qualify as a significant book.

Here's to a good reading year to all the members of this book group.

[Tasha]

I am going to finish up Pray for Silence but not necessarily before I start The Luminaries which I can't wait to get moving on. I am still listening to The Robber Bride from 2013.

[Esther]

Happy 2014 from frozen Quebec.

I am still reading Steelheart but I should crack open the 2nd Nesbo for the chunkster soon. I am still rereading A Suitable Boy which I neglected in order to finish my alphabet.

In audio, I am listening to The Last Empress and i downloaded Etiquette & Espionage. I am not to sure about the latest but i wanted something light for when I am driving around. I will start it today driving to my party.

[Almeta]

Rusalka wrote: "I've now spent a good hour or two on the couch with a Singapore Sling or two, a chicken and Zoo City..."

Sooo what misdemeanor did you commit to be animalled to a "chicken companion" ? :D

[Lisa]

I have started my first chunkster, The Luminaries and I am continuing with The Ghost Hunters which I started last week but wasn't able to finish before the new year.

[Ann]

Kat wrote: "It seems we were all waiting for 2014 to begin so we could start the chunkster challenge! I've started Of Human Bondage. Perfect reading weather - 33 degrees centigrade!"

One of my all-time favorite classics! I am reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Unfortunately, it does not qualify for a chunkster read!

[Dawn]

I'm very interested to hear what everyone thinks of The Luminaries. Quite a few have added it to their chunkster challenge.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Almeta wrote: "Sooo what misdemeanor did you commit to be animalled to a "chicken companion" ? :D"

Oh, that would be telling! :P

[Wendy]

I am finishing up The Goldfinch before I start The Luminaries, my first chunkster of 2014...can't wait!

[Anna]

I'm reading two books that I started last year and I started Oscar and Lucinda for a chunkster challenge.

[Anna]

Judy wrote: "I'm starting off with my chunkster, Vanity Fair, and my choice for Rusalka's Aussie reading challenge, The Great World."

Vanity fair is my favourite from all the books I had read in 2013. I hope you'll like it.

[Almeta]

Finished Almeta's Review of Evertaster, my first book of the Connect the Chunkster, Sock-Hop Doo-Wop and Yearbook Challenges.

[Travis]

Grave Witch done onto Grave Dance

[Sarah]

Can't believe how quickly my reservation for Cockroaches arrived at the library. So now I am starting it to join in with the Buddy Read.

[Nancy from NJ]

I expect to finish The Death of Santini: The Story of a Father and His Son either today or tomorrow depending on how much snow falls and I am indoors. This is a rather dreary accounting of Pat Conroy's dysfunctional family. Honestly, I think he did better when he wrote about his family in his fiction books. I keep looking to see how many pages this book is cause its seems to be a chunkster BUT much to my annoyance it's less than 400 pages so it doesn't qualify.

I did begin my chunkster, The Bronze Horseman but didn't read too much yet. Once I finish the pat Conroy book, I will plunge into Leningrad during WWII.

[Bryndís]

I'm avout half way through with the second of three books I got for Christmas. All 3 are icelandic thrillers that came out this fall/winter. The third one is only about 150 pages, so it should be a quick read. Then I have to do some digging in the garage to find my copy of the Stand, which is to be my first chunkster.

I'm also about 3/4 through the Goldfinch in audiobook, then on to another chunkster there, not sure which.

[Cherie]

I am reading Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence for the Australia Challenge, Sophie's Choice for my 1st Chunkster book and Buddy read, and just decided that I will read The Ocean at the End of the Lane for the Janurary Group Read book. I am also listening to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - which I found on iTunes and purchased for $2.90.

[Roz]

My first chunkster has been "in transit" to my library for a week and still hasn't arrived. What's the deal with that? So I started reading Mortal Stakes . I'm still deciding on which Aussie book to read. Theres a big snow storm coming, the kind of weather that makes me just want to sit with a good book, a bowl of steaming soup, snuggly in my slippers in my favorite chair.

[Michelle T.]

This book that i'm reading is very good, very entretaining I love it!!!
I guess this will be my first chunkster (even if I don't know what I'm supposed to do)... ;p

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Bryndís wrote: "I'm avout half way through with the second of three books I got for Christmas. All 3 are icelandic thrillers that came out this fall/winter. The third one is only about 150 pages, so it should be a..."

Be wonderful if you let us know if they are any good! I was reading an article the other day that one in ten Icelandics write a book. Making that about 22 000 possible authors at the moment, it'd be awesome to get some hints in the right directions!!

[Cherie]

Roz wrote: "I'm still deciding on which Aussie book to read...."

Roz - I found a few interesting titles - some I am not even sure are still in print. You can look at my 'australia' shelf, if you want. :)

[Almeta]

Michelle wrote: "I guess this will be my first chunkster (even if I don't know what I'm supposed to do)... ;p"

Let me help you get started, then you can ask for more help after that!........

Just click on the main Discussion Topic, Challenges: Year Long Reporting. Just above the column named last activity in teeny tiny lettering is new topic.

Click open that link, name your topic....something incredibly clever, and write something in the comment box to reserve it.

Make a new comment for each of the mascot sections, and probably another one just for good measure (which I wish I had done.).

"The challenge is broken into various milestones, spearheaded by one of the following characters as your mascots along the way.
- Slick's Slugs - 1 - 6 books
- Mickey Mouse's Marchers - 7 - 12 books
- Roadrunner's Racers - 13 - 18 books
- Tasmanian Devil's Trouncers - 19 - 24 books
- Buzz Lightyear's Bombers - 25 - "To infinity and beyond"

At your leisure, you can "edit" each of the comment sections with what you want to report/speculate/say.

If you need more help just holler.

You might want to look at what others are doing through this list of links

Welcome to the madness!☻

[Wendy]

Bryndís wrote: "I'm avout half way through with the second of three books I got for Christmas. All 3 are icelandic thrillers that came out this fall/winter. The third one is only about 150 pages, so it should be a..."

How are you liking The Goldfinch? I am about 2/3 of the way through and though it is not quite what I expected, Tartt knows how to tell a story and I am trying to find ways to read "just one more page" all the while neglecting my family...

[Sandra, Moderator]

I just finished Girl With a Pearl Earring. I loved the idea of make up a story about the girl in such a beautiful painting. I enjoyed the book though I found the plot predictable and the characters pretty plain.

I'm starting now The Prize Winner Of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids On 25 Words Or Less that is a memory that looks really interesting.

[Roz]

Cherie wrote: "Roz wrote: "I'm still deciding on which Aussie book to read...."

Roz - I found a few interesting titles - some I am not even sure are still in print. You can look at my 'australia' shelf, if you ..."

Thanks Cherie. I have a couple in mind but they have to be interloaned. I'll check your list.

[AmyK]

Rusalka's challenge this month has given me a reason to get A Town Like Alice off my tbr.

[Nancy from NJ]

I finished my first read for the year 2014. it was The Death of Santini by Pat Conroy and I have mixed emotions about this title. I think in time I will find myself either not giving too much thought to it or not liking it too much either. Unfortunately, this book did not qualify as a chunkster but the title I am presently reading The Bronze Horseman does.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

The Death of Santini: The Story of a Father and His Son

[Nancy from NJ]

Rusalka - sorry I didn't use the add book/author feature. I must have had one of my lazy moments.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

No need to apologise, I assumed you must have been on the phone app. I just wanted to see what it was and so linked the link so others could too if wanted

[Kirila]

I've started The Cuckoo's Calling for the January group read, and I just picked up American Gods for my first chunkster and True History of the Kelly Gang for the Aussie challenge.

[Travis]

I too started my Aussie read of The Dead Path.

Funny American Gods was one of the first kindle books I purchased and even after I swore I would chunkster challenge it I have yet to fit it in.

[Almeta]

Travis of NNY wrote: "I too started my Aussie read of The Dead Path.

Funny American Gods was one of the first kindle books I purchased and even after I swore I would chunkster challenge it I have yet to ..."

Uh Oh! The Dead Path sounds good and creepy! I had to add it.

As for American Gods, which is also on my Doorstop list, I just connected a bunch more of his books, ended with Anansi Boys (American Gods #2),and then found a link with the word "America" on both ends.

1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus and Division Street: America. This gave me a few more words and page numbers to work with in order to move on.

[Marnie]

I started Fingersmith and am listening to The Two Towers. Both have been on my TBR for a long time and I am excited about reading.

Still waiting for my son to hand over my copy of Storm Front- I may have to withhold food....

[Janice, Moderator]

Almeta wrote: "Uh Oh! The Dead Path sounds good and creepy! I had to add it..."

Me too! Love a good ghost story.

[Janice, Moderator]

Marnie wrote: "I started Fingersmith and am listening to The Two Towers. Both have been on my TBR for a long time and I am excited about reading.

Still waiting for my son to hand over m..."

I have Fingersmith on my wishlist so will be watching for your review.

Yes, withholding food can be a great motivator.

[Roz]

I'm starting my first chunkster, The City. I also have The Ocean at the End of the Lane on my Kindle.

[Dem]

Just finished Olive Kitteridge

This is my review; www.goodreads.com/review/show/801394688