Challenge: 50 Books discussion
Finish Line 2014
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JENN'S READING LIST FOR 2014
1) Self-Inflicted Wounds: Heartwarming Tales of Epic Humiliation by Aisha Tyler - I thought I would start my year with a funny book, but also one that reminds us of how, though we made mistakes or have had failures, we have survived.
2) Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor - I've had this one on my "To Read" for awhile and was happy when I got an iTunes gift card for my birthday and found this audiobook on sale. I shall start listening as I get off my butt to go walking today. Gotta try to follow through on those other resolutions too.
3) Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things that Happened by Allie Brosh - I just got this one for Christmas from my little sister. I keep seeing it everywhere and had wondered what it was about. It is a blog to book kinda deal and I hope it's good as the reviews I read seem kinda mixed. Here goes... Question for anyone who has read this book...would you consider it non-fiction or is it more short story like? Does that make sense?
4)The Infinity Ring: The Trap Door by Lisa McCann - this is the third book in the series and it takes place in the time of slavery and the underground railroad. I liked the book a lot because it made the children realize what it felt like (to a certain degree) what it was like to be on the many sides of slavery meaning as the slaves themselves, those that wanted to help, and those that wanted to keep their slaves. I felt like it was a good introduction for young kids into this time period.
5) Dead Pig Collector by Warren Ellis - this was a very short e-book, only 26 pages. It was a good story though I was a little confused at the end.
Putting me to shame over here, haha! I finished off my year with Hyberbole and a Half, love her blog. How was Daughter of Smoke & Bone? I've been going back and forth on whether to read it or not.
Tima wrote: "Putting me to shame over here, haha! I finished off my year with Hyberbole and a Half, love her blog. How was Daughter of Smoke & Bone? I've been going back and forth on whether to read it or not." I am loving Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I have about 25 minutes left to finish it, but I already can't wait to read the next one. It's not what I expected at all as I too put off reading it for quite awhile. It wasn't until I got it from iTunes for $5.95 that I decided I would read it. So worth it!! Good luck on your reading challenge!!!
Good Luck with you goals. I look forward to seeing what books you will pick out. So far the books you started reading seems very interesting.
Veronica wrote: "Good Luck with you goals. I look forward to seeing what books you will pick out. So far the books you started reading seems very interesting." Thank you Veronica! They have all been pretty good so far, though it helps that I got a lot of good books for Christmas. Good luck with your challenge this year!
6) Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Woman's Prison by Piper Kerman - My husband and I binge watched the show last year when it came out on Netflix and I have been wanting to read the book ever since. I finally reached the top of the waiting list at the library a few days ago. I know it's supposed to be quite different from the show, but I'm still interested to know the true story that inspired the show.
7) S. by JJ Abrams - My sister got me this book for Christmas. This is supposed to be an interactive experience in reading. Upon opening it, I understood what that meant. There is a story told in the margins by 2 readers, plus the original story told on the page, plus there are many extras like letters, pictures, etc. tucked into the book that somehow add to the story. The reviews seem to be at the extremes. Either people really hated the book or they absolutely LOVED it!!! I hope I am one of the latter because it does seem like it's going to be fun. So off on the epic adventure I go...
Just finished listening to "Orange is the New Black" and loved it. Perfect timing too because I just got notice that I have reached the top of the waiting list for the next book in the "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" series. 
8) Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor. I am so excited to be getting back to this series already. Especially since most of the reviews from my friends say that this one is better than the first. Here goes...
9) Locke and Key, Volume 5: Clockworks by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez - I was so happy when my husband bought me this one for Christmas because the library didn't have it and I was dying to continue the series. This was such a pivotal book in the series and I can't wait to get to the next one even though it is the last. Love, love, love this series. 
10) Dance of Death by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child - It's been awhile since I have delved into the world of Agent Pendergast. The last one was so crazy. I can't wait to continue the story.
11) The Walking Dead, Volume 9: Here We Remain - This was another one the library didn't have, so my husband went out and got it for me so I would stop complaining. Plus he knew I wanted to read it before the show comes back next week. I have such a good husband. Guess that's why we celebrated our 10 year Anniversary last Friday.
12) The Walking Dead, Vol. 10: What We Become by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, and Cliff Rathburn - I read Volume 9 last night. It was pretty interesting though some of it had already happened in the show. Some of it looked like the teasers for the coming season. I can't wait for the show to come back, but for now, I will settle for reading the books. Tonight #10.
13) Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman and Skottie Young - Loved, loved, loved this book. It was such a fun little tale. I great way to break up the doom and gloom of "The Walking Dead".
14) The Walking Dead, Volume 11: Fear the Hunters by Robert Kirkman - I found the mother load at the library today. I got volumes 11 - 18. I have been waiting to read these for a year. I hope to finish them before the second half of the season starts on Sunday. There are quite a few similarities to the show, but also quite a few differences. Can't wait to find out more.
15)The Walking Dead, Volume 12: Life Among Them by Robert Kirkman
16)The Walking Dead, Vol. 13: Too Far Gone by Robert Kirkman
17) The Walking Dead, Vol. 14: No Way Out by Robert Kirkman
18) The Walking Dead, Vol. 15: We Find Ourselves by Robert Kirkman
19) The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World by Robert Kirkman
20) The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear by Robert Kirkman
21) The Walking Dead, Vol. 18: What Comes After by Robert KirkmanI think I am caught up enough on the series to get a few clues as to where the TV show may go.
22) Divergent by Veronica Roth 
23) Insurgent by Veronica RothI am re-reading these so that I can; 1) be prepared for the movie and 2) get ready to read "Allegiant".
24) Wonder by RJ Palacio - This one was one of the books I decided to add to my reading list after voting for last year's Good Reads. I hope it lives up to the reviews.
25) You Before Me by Jojo Moyes - I just started this one yesterday, but I just know I'm going to love it already. Some short stories I've read, but am not going to include in the book count because they are so short:
The Transfer by Veronica Roth
Free Four: Tobias Tells the Story by Veronica Roth
Kelani wrote: "What did you think of Wonder?" I loved Wonder. The story was told from several POV's and it made the story more real, more 3D, if that makes sense. It's one of those stories that makes you angry, sad, depressed, happy and satisfied some how. I listened to the audiobook and quite enjoyed it, though the voice for Auggie annoyed me at times because it sounded too babyish for a 10 year old.
26) Allegiant by Veronica Roth - I'm only about a quarter of the way through and I don't know what to think yet.
27) Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell - I was going to start a different book, but I got an e-mail today saying that I had books on hold to pick up at the library. This was one of them. So excited to finally get to read it after seeing many different people posting about it. Here goes...
Jennifer wrote: " 3) Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Me..."In case no one ever responded to this one (I scanned and didn't see but I may have overlooked). This is basically a graphic novel full of non-fiction short stories. A lot of them were previously published on her blog, which is of the same name, and you could pop over to it and give it a scroll to see if it interests you.
Personally, I love Allie's stories and have been following her blog since shortly after it launched.
Tima wrote: "Jennifer wrote: " 3) Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations,..."Thank you Tima! I enjoyed the book and have gone to look at her blog since reading it. It was definitely one of my favorites so far this year.
28) Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
29) Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
30) Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall
31) Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
32) The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion - Loved this book!!! 
33) Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi - I've been seeing a lot about this series online since I guess the final book just came out, so I thought I would check it out.
I have reached one of my goals of the year...to read books by 15 new to me authors. YEAH ME!!! I have definitely found some new authors that I like so of course that means that I now have many more books to add to my "to read" shelf. So exciting!I also have a straight Bingo on my reading Bingo card from www.retreatbyrandomhouse.ca and I'm about to get another one as soon as I read "a book with an incredible fight scene."
Now I must work on reading those non-fiction books. I started the year out well, but then fell off. I am going to start combing through the non fiction lists to see what I need to add to my library request list.
34) These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner - I just started this one last night and I'm already sucked in. I can't wait to get back to it today.
35) Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple - Just about a quarter of the way through, but I am loving it so far. So funny! I'm glad I picked it up when the audiobook was on sale for $6 on iTunes.
36) Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett - I haven't read a good mystery novel in a while, so here goes.
37) The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty - I finally got to the top of the waiting list at the library. This is another book I decided I wanted to read after voting for last year's Good Reads. Sounds like it could be good. Fingers crossed it lives up to expectations.
38) Savvy by Ingrid Law - this is another audibook I found cheap on iTunes. I hope it's as good a bargain as "Where'd You Go Bernadette?" was.
39) The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer Smith
40) The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill
41)Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
42) Feed by Mira Grant
43)The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes - I really liked "Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes, so I thought I would try this one out.
So how was this one by Jojo Moyes? I loved Me Before You.
Sarah wrote: "So how was this one by Jojo Moyes? I loved Me Before You." Hey Sarah! I just finished reading this one last night. It was so good. I would've given it 4.5 stars if I was allowed. My only issue with it was there were a few parts that were hard to believe, but other than that, it was a page turner from start to finish. I actually stayed up way past my bedtime last night to finish it. Definitely give it a go!!!
44) Carrie by Stephen King - One of my bingo squares was to read the first book of a favorite author and so I went with Stephen King's "Carrie". I can't believe I have never read it, but I am almost done and I must say, it is way better than any of the movies. So glad I finally decided to read it. I just recently watched the latest "Carrie" movie, but after listening to Sissy Spacek read "Carrie", I may have to find the original and watch it again. 
45) Deadline by Mira Grant - I loved the first in the trilogy, "Feed", and so I added it to my list at the library and I finally got to pick it up today. I can't wait to see where this story goes. I hope it's better than the first one. I still can't get that one out of my head.
Thanks Jennifer! Loved Me Before You, so I'm very happy to hear this one is a doozie as well! Thanks!
46) The Book of the Dead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child - this one was a re-read. This was the first book I picked up by this writing duo and loved it, so when I realized it was the 7th in a series, I went back to the beginning and have made my way back. Now to move on in the series. Can't wait to see what happens next.
47) Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - just started this one this morning. I really loved "Eleanor and Park" and so I hope this one is just as good.
48) The Compound by S.A. Bodeen
49) Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
50) The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black - Starting today. I've heard so many good things about this one. I hope it lives up to the hype.
51)Blackout by Mira Grant - Can't wait to find out how this series ends, but at the same time I don't want it to end
52)City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte - I am hoping this one will fulfill my "A book with a Lion, Witch, or a Wardrobe" reading bingo square by having a witch in it. Finger crossed!
I was curious about the "bingo square" so I had to look at your posts. Thanks for sharing the link in your first post. I will definitely try this out in the future. Lots of fun!
Challenge: 50 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Cold Vengeance (other topics)Speaker for the Dead (other topics)
The Best of Me (other topics)
Attachments (other topics)
Thirteen Reasons Why (other topics)
More...
1) To read 15 "new to me" authors
2) To read at least 10 non-fiction books. I usually read to escape, but I think I need to throw some reality in there every now and then.
3) To read a book from as many different genres as possible. I want to get out of my comfort zone and see what else is out there.
4) To complete one or both reading bingo cards from www.retreatbyrandomhouse.ca - just adding this goal as I have just found and loved the challenges on each bingo square. I think I can do it, so I must try.
I increased the numbers on my first 2 goals since I had almost completed the original numbers in the month of January alone.
I wish everyone luck on the beginning of our endeavor to reach not only our reading goals, but also whatever other goals you have set for yourself. GOOD LUCK!!!