March 2014 ANNOUNCED: The You and Me Challenge

[Margot]

It looks like A Tale for the Time Being is going to be really hot on the April poll. So I decided to keep it for April and returned to Carl's shelves where I found The Girl who fell From the Sky (it looks like it was also published under the title "Trapeze" probably USA vs UK). So this is going to be my choice.

[ash |]

Ill be joining in as well!

[Tonya]

I've picked a couple to start with. These two from Fiona's shelves

The Pact How have I missed one of her books?

Tuesdays With Morrie

and one from Margot. This one sounds fascinating and is a short one. Address Unknown

[Margot]

Tonya wrote: "...and one from Margot. This one soun..."

Tonya, I am very happy to know I will contribute to your discovery of this perfect short story. It is a very quick read, but I promise it will stay with you for a long, long time! I hope you enjoy it and I can't wait to read your comments.

[Zita]

Tonya wrote: "I've picked a couple to start with. These two from Fiona's shelves

The Pact How have I missed one of her books?

Tuesdays With Morrie

and one from Margot. This one soun..."

The pact is my absolute FAVOURITE of her books!! Love to hear what you think Tonya!

[Zita]

So I've picked a few books I like in the hope their kindle price may drop and I can get them. I was trying to pick a book that I didn't already have.

I looked through Tonya's read list and looked the highest rated books.
- Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher
- The Rules of Inheritance - Claire Bidwell Smith
- Tell the Wolves I'm Home - Carol Rifka Brunt
I also picked Life after Life - Kate Atkinson as a back up as I have this ready to go on my kindle

[Teneal]

I'm definitely in! I love looking through people's lists and comparing books!

[Karen]

I went browsing through some read shelves. Interesting as I hadn't known I could do this before. Zita had "The Help" on her shelf. I've heard about this after the movie came out and thought it would be an interesting book to read. Thank you Zita for the incentive to check it out to read this month.

[Book Concierge]

Sorry I've been remiss ... that evil Fiona(Titch) got me hooked on Seasonal Reading Challenge and I"ve been rather consumed making up spreadsheets!

Okay ... back to business....

For this challenge I picked a book from Veronica's wishlist by Susan Beth Pfeffer.

This is book #3 in a series,and it's dystopian/post-apocalyptic, which I do not usually enjoy. I liked books 1 & 2 of the series, however, so I figured why not? Unfortunately I really didn't like this one - gave it only 2**.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

So, Veronica ... you can probably take it off your wishlist now.

[Margot]

Teneal wrote: "I'm definitely in! I love looking through people's lists and comparing books!"

Feel free to request friendship if you would like to browse a little more! :)

[Teneal]

Zita wrote: "So I've picked a few books I like in the hope their kindle price may drop and I can get them. I was trying to pick a book that I didn't already have.

I looked through Tonya's read list and looked..."

I think you've got some pretty good picks there Zita!

[Zita]

Karen wrote: "I went browsing through some read shelves. Interesting as I hadn't known I could do this before. Zita had "The Help" on her shelf. I've heard about this after the movie came out and thought it woul..."

The help is one of my all time favourites! I look forward to hearing what you think of it!

Thanks Teneal!

I'm loving this challenge, such a great idea.

[Kristie]

I'd love to do a repeat of this challenge later in the year. Just putting the idea out there. :)

[Zita]

Kristie wrote: "I'd love to do a repeat of this challenge later in the year. Just putting the idea out there. :)"

I'm seconding this! :D

[Margot]

So would I! You have great ideas Rachel :)

[Rach , Moderator]

Great! I will keep that mind for later months! As for now, April hint will be up in a few!

[Kristie]

Yay!!

[Sharon]

Finished my first one for this challenge : The Yearning by Kate Belle 4★ This was from Jessica's TBR list.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Book Concierge]

This one is from Diana S's TBR list ...


The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde –Audiobook performed by Elizabeth Jasicki – 3***
This was a quick, entertaining read, aimed at the YA market, but suitable for children ages 9 and up. There was at least one character that did a complete turnaround without any explanation. And I thought the ending was too fantastical. But, I liked that the heroine of this novel is a young girl who is intelligent, steadfast, caring, compassionate, strong and resourceful. I also loved the Quarkbeast, who is described as “nine-tenths velociraptor and kitchen blender and one-tenth Labrador.” For the genre and intended audience, I think it was a fine read. Elizabeth Jasicki does a fine job of performing the audio book.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Annabel]

I can't do it this time as I have lots I plan to read so I will wait if you do it later in the year

[Book Concierge]

This one is from Diana S's READ list ...

Cinnamon Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke
(Book on CD read by Suzanne Torren – 1*
This is book # 15 in the cozy mystery series featuring Hannah Swenson. The plot was thin and stretched credulity way too far. The side story of Norman and Doctor Bev was unbelievable and ridiculous. The dialogue is terrible. I did not like Suzanne Torren’s performance on the audio version at all. I give it 1 star for the recipes, some of which I actually would like to try.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[[deleted user]]

Hi Lizzie. I'm a little behind with this challenge, so I just now stalked your favorites list and decided to read Brave New World Revisited I should be able to get it from the library in about 10 days (but I'm a fast reader!). Looking forward to this read. :)

[Sharon]

Read my 2nd from Jessica's TBR list : The Girl in the Yellow Vest by Loretta Hill 5★

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Book Concierge]

Another one from Diana S's TBR list

Conquistadora by Esmeralda Santiago
Audiobook read by the author – 4****
This is a sweeping historic epic romance and adventure, focused on one strong woman who travels from Spain to Puerto Rico in 1844 when her new husband inherits a sugar plantation. While the book’s focus is on Ana, Santiago also took time to flesh out many of the other characters. The island, itself, is a character in the book – the geography and history of Puerto Rico are central to this story. At the end, Ana is only 39 years old. While I was completely satisfied with the novel, I was sorry to see it end. I hope there will be a sequel. Santiago does a marvelous job narrating the audio version of the book; her passion for the story comes through in her performance.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ashley]

Hello all :) I know I'm a little late in the month but I thought I would try this challenge seeing as I can't decide which new book to start. I'm taking a look at some of your currently reading lists now. Yay!

[Phrynne]

I finished The Woman in White and really enjoyed it. Thanks Sharon!
My review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Karen]

Zita, I think The Help will be one of my favorite books too. I'm about half way through now.
Civil rights was going on when I was in high school. It didn't affect me much growing up in a WASP neighborhood in CA. The book reminds me of the first black family in the area and the Sunday they came to church. Everyone was warned ahead of time to be nice to them, to welcome them.
It hadn't really dawned on me until reading this book just how strange that behavior was and how it was not done for any of the many white families who joined on other occasions.
Since I left for university just after that, I don't know the end of the story. Makes me curious.
The hardest thing for me is knowing people really treated other people this way over something as trivial as skin color. The lies and hysteria are infuriating. The craziest part is how hard people tried through various tanning methods to obtain the skin color they despised otherwise.

[Book Concierge]

ALso on Diana S's TBR

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain – 2.5**
The men of Bravo squad are America’s latest heroes after a news clip of a firefight has gone viral. Now they are guests of the Dallas Cowboys, slated to share the halftime show with Destiny’s Child. This is a satire, so many of the characters and situations are exaggerated. Fountain is previously known for his short stories; this is his first novel. I thought it took forever to get interesting. I was bored for the first 70 pages or so and finished only because it was a F2F book club selection. The last third of the book was very good. Still I really do not like how the men of Bravo squad were portrayed – hard-drinking, crude, foul-mouthed.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Book Concierge]

Yet again from Diana S's TBR

Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen
Audiobook read by Stephen Hoye – 3***
When Joey Peronne’s no-good husband throws her overboard she vows revenge. With Carl Hiaasen writing the novel, you know she’ll win in the end but watching how she goes about it is what makes the ride so much fun. This is typical Hiaasen: outlandish situations and inept crooks with a dose of environmental concern. Like his others, this novel is a fast read and entertaining from the first sentence to the last. Stephen Hoye does a fine job narrating the audio version. He has a good pace, and brings this zany cast of characters to life.
This Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kristie]

I finished Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch off Phrynne's favorites shelf. I thought it was ok. I don't seem to love Neil Gaiman or Terry Pratchett. I can see how someone would love this book. It had an interesting concept, good characters, and funny parts. I just think that more often than not I thought something was funny or interesting, but didn't feel it. So, I liked it, but didn't love it. 3 ✭s from me.

[Phrynne]

Kristie wrote: "I finished Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch off Phrynne's favorites shelf. I thought it was ok. I don't seem to love Neil Gaiman or Terry Pratchett. ..."

Yes you have to enjoy weird to really like Gaiman and Pratchett. I was very happy you tried it though and you did like it a little bit :)

[Kristie]

I did! I can see how creative they are and appreciate their humor and intellect, but it just didn't quite get there for me.

[Rach , Moderator]

I am glad to see this challenge working so well and that a lot of you are finding great new books!

[[deleted user]]

I read Brave New World Revisited from Lizzie's read shelf. I found it to be an incredible reading experience! 5 stars all the way. Thank you Lizzie!

[Rach , Moderator]

Terri wrote: "I read Brave New World Revisited from Lizzie's read shelf. I found it to be an incredible reading experience! 5 stars all the way. Thank you Lizzie!"

I have wanted to read that. Is it much different than Brave New World?

[✿ ♥ Heather ♥ ✿]

I finished Still Alice today, gave it 5 stars ! thank you Sharon for the use of your Read list to find this book. Totally amazing read, loved it so much, it really grabbed me and moved me.

[Tonya]

I have finished Tuesdays With Morrie, what beautiful book!! I'm still hunting down a copy of Address Unknown and I have The Pact to start soon. So many books so little time! This was a fun challenge!