CPL's Book a Week Challenge discussion
2014 Weekly Threads
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Week 8: What are you reading?
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I just added Life after Life to my list! Sounds great! Invisible Bridge is one of my favorite historical fiction novels set during WWII... looking forward to reading something else set in that time period. I finished Gaiman's The Graveyard Book last week and loved it! Despite its gothic setting, it was a surprisingly sweet, coming of age story. A couple of good twists and turns as well. I also started and abandoned A Winter's Tale. I could not get into it! VERY descriptive and unessacarily so...blah. I was super disappointed since I has been looking forward to that one for some time. I've started Snow Child for this week and LOVE it so far. It's set in 1920s Alaska and I suppose it's folk tale-ish...it's just so good...gets you right away.
I finished my books for last week, (No Place, Enders, Dollhouse Asylum, Uninvited and Erased) as well as reading Tampa over the weekend (not really my taste but very well written, I do wonder with all the description of detail in the first part of the book why the ending was so sparse and quickly over). I am currently reading Teardrops, and Ready Player One and still trying to finish 11/22/63, have for this week, Ten, Forbidden, The Body Finder, Hollow City. Library day was postponed due to holiday so we shall see what else I can find!
I finished the Fault in Our stars over the weekend within 24 hours (it was that good) and now I'm reading the second book in the Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman. I read the first one for my fantasy challenge so I figured I would just go ahead and read the next one!
Angela, I felt the same way with Tampa. I thought the author did a disturbingly good job with the first portion of her novel, but then decided she was on a deadline or simply gave up for the last half. It was so rushed. She should have spent more time explaining what happened with the first boy and then moved on to the second. The trial could have easily spanned an entirely separate section of the book (or even a sequel). Hopefully she'll write more novels in the near future that are better thought-out.
I'm about halfway through listening to Life if Pi. I am enjoying it, and it will be nice to complete another book since I feel like I've stalled in the last couple of weeks. I'm also reading The Prayer of The Lord and still working through A Dance With Dragons.
So in the mist of reading my weekly checked out books, I am in the middle of reading Eragon with my son... (we take turns reading chapters to each other so he can read slightly harder books and; as my husband is sadly dyslexic reading aloud, lets him enjoy the story as well) anyway, I forgot how hard it is to read some of these names out loud!!! I love fantasy and sci-fi but boy some of the places and names can be challenging!
I'm reading The Returned by Jason Mott which is about what would happen if the dead started coming back to life (not as zombies, just a one day your dead uncle Harold turns up on your doorstep kind of thing). I'm not too far into it, but it's pretty good so far.
Traci wrote: "I'm reading The Returned by Jason Mott which is about what would happen if the dead started coming back to life (not as zombies, just a one day your dead uncle Harold turns up on your doorstep kind..."I almost picked that up tonight at the library, please do let us know how it is! I was already getting 10 so I put it on the list for next week!!!
Angela, I just finished The Returned, and my overall feeling is that I would recommend it. It reminded me a bit of that show from a while back, the 4400. Only more emotional. It was sweet and sad and thought provoking. The main story is about a couple whose 8 year old son comes back after nearly 50 years. But between each chapter there are little vignettes about other returnees. Some are related to the main story, but some are not. But I have to say as moved as I was by the main story, I found one of the not minor but not major characters much more heartbreaking. If / when you do read it, all I can say is read the afterword. I was tearful at the end of the book. I was sobbing after reading the author's reason for writing it.
Reading "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows and it is just an utter delight! Written in the form of letters it's an easy read. It takes place after WWII but the reminiscences are about wartime life in England and the Island of Guernsey.
Angela wrote: "So in the mist of reading my weekly checked out books, I am in the middle of reading Eragon with my son... (we take turns reading chapters to each other so he can read slightly harder books and; ..."I had the same problem with the names!
I am still stuck in the polite society of Pride & Prejudice when I am in my car. odd Thomas -Deeply Odd is occupying my night. Once the Olympics are over I will have more reading time. :)
Traci wrote: "Angela, I just finished The Returned, and my overall feeling is that I would recommend it. It reminded me a bit of that show from a while back, the 4400. Only more emotional. It was sweet and sad ..."I've seen a preview for a new show coming on TV that sounds like this. Don't remember the name. I may have to look for this book. It does sound interesting-but I hate reading books that make me cry!
Viv
I'm currently reading "The Heist" by Janet Evanovich & "Fixing to Die" by Elaine Viets. I also have "The Strain" by Guillero del Torro on hold at the library. I hope to finish one of the two I'm currently reading this weekend.Viv
I finally picked my Fantasy book, Mr. Penumbra's Bookstore. The cover caught my eye when it first came out, but I never got around to reading due to the mixed reviews that kept popping up. I finally decided it was time to make my own decision, and so far I can't say I'm sorry. The story hasn't sucked me in quite yet, but the mystery of what the bookstore actually is has intrigued me enough to keep going.
Well, I just can't keep up with ya'll! I have three books sitting here begging to be read & I just can't seem to crack them. I started 'Cress' by Marissa Meyer. It's the 3rd in the Lunar Chronicles & will probably be a decent read. I think I'm now overdue with it & should be a good patron & return as it has holds. I'm only a few chapters in & debating paying the fines to finish or return & replace the hold. I also have my Book Club selection for March 'Night' by Elie Wiesel which I've read before & Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen. I had started Tess of the D'Urbervilles but just couldn't finish it. Maybe I'll pick it up again another time.I'm going thru a period where I just am not motivated to read. Anyone else go thru this? I blame my photography (and yes, Instagram addiction) passion it's has gotten in the way.
Liz wrote: "I finally picked my Fantasy book, Mr. Penumbra's Bookstore. The cover caught my eye when it first came out, but I never got around to reading due to the mixed reviews that kept popping up. I finall..."Ohhh, Liz, I loved Mr. Penumbra's Bookstore! It was a 5 star book in my opinion. Hope you like it.
Cami wrote: "Well, I just can't keep up with ya'll! I have three books sitting here begging to be read & I just can't seem to crack them. I started 'Cress' by Marissa Meyer. It's the 3rd in the Lunar Chronicles..."I have had trouble staying motivated on reading recently which is why I joined the reading challenge. It has really helped get me motivated & I enjoy the group discussions a lot.
Traci wrote: "Angela, I just finished The Returned, and my overall feeling is that I would recommend it. It reminded me a bit of that show from a while back, the 4400. Only more emotional. It was sweet and sad ..."I just put it on my hold list, I should be able to pick it up on Monday. Thanks for the update. I can't wait to read it.
Cami wrote: "I'm going thru a period where I just am not motivated to read. Anyone else go thru this? I blame my photography (and yes, Instagram addiction) passion it's has gotten in the way."Cami, I feel you. I read for pleasure very infrequently from 2011 - 2013. It was the challenge last year that got me back into it. Then, I discovered audiobooks, which significantly added to my book total. If reading isn't fun for you, though, you shouldn't force it! You'll rekindle the love for it again someday.
Cami wrote: "Well, I just can't keep up with ya'll! I have three books sitting here begging to be read & I just can't seem to crack them. I started 'Cress' by Marissa Meyer. It's the 3rd in the Lunar Chronicles..."HaHa; I sometimes keep books and just pay the fine if I am going to be a day or two past the due date and can not renew! (I am one of those on the hold list for Cress, but have several others at the moment so I for one am in no hurry.
I have no problem staying motivated to read, I do not sleep more than 4 hours a night so once the kids and hubby are in bed, I love to curl up with a book. I can loose myself somewhere else and usually finish a book in about 4 hours. If it is a larger book (like 11/22/63 or Doctor Sleep) it takes two nights.
I joined the challenge because I wanted to see exactly how many I read in a year, I have honestly never really kept track. Though I do find my self reading books over again because I forget what I have read. Now I have a running list!
After reading The Search for Superstrings, Symmetry, and the Theory of Everything by John Gribbin, I'm now reading another of his books, Schrodinger's Kittens and the Search for Reality: Solving the Quantum Mysteries. They're excellent if you're interested in quantum physics. In between these kinds of books, I've been reading mostly fantasy. The next book I plan to read is Ghostlight by Marion Zimmer Bradley. :)
Angela wrote: "Cami wrote: "Well, I just can't keep up with ya'll! I have three books sitting here begging to be read & I just can't seem to crack them. I started 'Cress' by Marissa Meyer. It's the 3rd in the Lun..."Angela- sorry about keeping Cress:-0. I'm about half way thru and I'll just pay the fine. Cheaper than buying the book i always say! This series is an interesting new take on classic fairie tales for sure. Mercedes Lackey has also taken these classic fairie tales and twisted them as well. They would fit in with the February challenge.
I read The Returned over a year ago an thought it was a very interesting concept for a novel and really liked it. I have mixed feeling about this new TV series based on the book. I hope that this series doesn't end up like the 4400. I think this book would better translate into a mini series. Book is always better!
I ow down to you! 4 hours of sleep! Just can't do it but I have spent many a sleepless night finishing a book & paying for it the next day!
Liz wrote: "Cami wrote: "I'm going thru a period where I just am not motivated to read. Anyone else go thru this? I blame my photography (and yes, Instagram addiction) passion it's has gotten in the way."Cam..."
Liz- it's not that reading isn't fun...reading is never a chore. Sometimes it just a matter of finding the time and energy to open a book or finding a book to suit my mood. Generally there are so many great option available that it isn't a matter of what to read but when. Every once in awhile it's like this... You're hungry & standing in front of the open refrigerator yet nothing looks appealing. Sometimes all it takes is opening that one book and reading the first few pages to get hooked.
I wish I could do more audio but I just don't spend that much time in the car & that really is the only time I can give undivided attention to an audio book.
Cami said, " Every once in awhile it's like this... You're hungry & standing in front of the open refrigerator yet nothing looks appealing. Sometimes all it takes is opening that one book and reading the first few pages to get hooked.I totally know what you mean. That's a great comparison. I don't know how many times I do that with both the refrigerator and my book shelf... haha
I finished Kate Atkinson's Life After Life this weekend. I can't recommend it enough. If you like historical fiction, especially anything to do with World War II and Nazi Germany, I highly suggest that you read this book!
This week I'll be focusing on finishing the conclusion to the Infected series. It's pretty gruesome, but it's pretty amazing, too. I haven't decided what to read next, but it'll have to fulfill the fantasy challenge since I haven't worked on that yet.
What is everyone else reading this week?