MobileRead Book Challenges discussion
2016 Individual Challenges
>
Rumpelteazer's 2016 Challenge
Some books are just the way. Nice to know you can still find them.
I usually come across one of those books once or twice a year. Last year I had three book (The Martian, The Rook and The Great North Road), which was an exceptional year.I've looked back at my reading lists since 2012 (when I started keeping them) and I've become much more critical with rating them. The higher ratings are usually reserved for my favourite series and authors in the past. Now I mostly give higher ratings to stand alone books. Which, of course, could also mean I need start looking for a couple of great new series ;).
Maybe. Or maybe you're just tired of series for the moment. That's where I am. The only series I even contemplate reading are Jasper Fforde and Terry Pratchett right now and even those have been pushed into filler after I finish reading challenges status.
I am suffering from series fatigue at the moment. I have no problems reading the first book, maybe even the first 2 or 3 books of a series, but then I stall. There are several series I only need to read 3 or 4 book from to finish or be up to date with them. I keep telling myself the next book will be from my series TBR, but it just doesn't happen at the moment. But I do need to spend some time on those, even if only to make space for new, fresh series.
A rant:Some titles have an addition; "The Yard: A Thriller", for instance. But lately I've seen some very silly additions behind the colon. Just now I'm looking at Amazon at "Meastra: The most shocking thriller you'll read this year". Yes, I'm serious. And it puts me right off the book. I refuse to read something with such a silly subtitle.
(also it doesn't help that it's yet another book compared to Gone Girl)
The Widow by Fiona Barton.Yet another book that's called "The Next Gone Girl". No, it isn't. It isn't bad, a bit slow and dragging at times and I found the ending a bit anti-climactic. But I liked the set up of different characters telling the story from their point of view.
Bianca wrote: "A rant:Some titles have an addition; "The Yard: A Thriller", for instance. But lately I've seen some very silly additions behind the colon. Just now I'm looking at Amazon at "Meastra: The most sh..."
I h ate that, too. ALmost as much as I hate authors with names like "owlinside" or crap like that.
^I still haven't read past book two. Not sure if I'll pick that up again anytime soon.
It isn't my fabourite series, but I want to know how it ends. Luckily I only have two books and one short story to go. Also, I findbthem quickish reads, which makes it less of a chore.
Bianca wrote: "A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen"Is the series any good? You're on book three so it can't be terrible.
I rwally liked the first two, though they were slowish reads for me. This third one was even better and a surprisingly fast read (it just took a bit longer because I just read little this week)
Nice. I shall add him to the list of potential authors.
In the Blood by Steve Robinson.First book in the genealogical series. A good start, though at times a bit too detailed in describing things that aren't really that important. Not sure if I'll continue with it.
The House Where Evil Lurks: A Paranormal Investigator's Most Frightening Encounter by Brandon Callahan.Interesting account of a haunted house and how a ghost hunter group tries to deal with it.
I've decided that in May I'm going to go with the thriller theme. I will add the extra rule that I'm not allowed to start any new series unless I finish one first (which won't be happening any time soon).
Thriller. Nice.I've got Daniel Silva's The Mark of the Assassin on the hold shelf at the library to pick up. I just need to finish the book I'm currently reading.
HomeInMyShoes wrote: "Thriller. Nice.I've got Daniel Silva's The Mark of the Assassin on the hold shelf at the library to pick up. I just need to finish the book I'm currently reading."
It's a nice broad genre. I've already got a list of possible books to read and the one I'm reading right now, which I might or might not finish this month is also a thriller.
For June I think I'll either go with British or YA. And during my week away I decided I'm allowed to start a new series if I feel like it.
It is a good broad genre. Much life science fiction or even fantasy there is just so much potential ground to cover.I think I might follow your pattern of focusing on something every month after I finish up my challenges.
June should be Pakistan or Iceland and we can do buddy reads. :P
Speaking of new series - there's a book I read years ago River God and just recently found out its a series.Its part fantasy and part historical re-telling.
hint
;-)
MrsJoseph wrote: "Speaking of new series - there's a book I read years ago River God and just recently found out its a series.Its part fantasy and part historical re-telling.
hint
;-)"
I've read it a couple of years ago. I really liked it except that the main character seems to have invented everything, including the wheel. That got on my nerves a bit.
Ice Limit by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child.Nice thriller. A sequel will soon be released. The only problem is that while this book is stand alone, the sequel is part of one of their series. I've only read one so far (nice and fluffy, not really special) and Beyond the Ice Limit will be book four in the series. So I need to read the other two first.
I just realized that the sequel to The Rook, one of my favourite books last year, is coming out on the second day of my reading retreat vacation in June!For June I'd already pencilled in British books for my challenge and this second book look like it's set again (partially) in Britain.
Bianca wrote: "I've read it a couple of years ago. I really liked it except that the main character seems to have invented everything, including the wheel. That got on my nerves a bit."YES. That is so true.
You know who else did/does that and it drove me to PURE DISTRACTION? Jean Auel and her flipping prehistoric series.
The Clan of the Cave Bear
The MC(s) in this dang series invented EVERYTHING.
-Menstruation pads
-pets
-the idea that sex = babies
-water tight containers
-animal taming
-using animals as beasts of burden
-pit traps (for hunting)
UGH.
The Cold Moon by Jeffery Deaver.Great addition to the series, very hard to put down.
Crypt: a horror short story by Darcy Coates.
A 28 page short story. I lover her writing, it could have easily be the beginning of a full length novel. A shame it was so short.
I'm now reading I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes. According to Goodreads I've broken my resolution to not start any new series. However, since there is no sequel yet I've decided I'm not counting one book series.
Last night I realized that I had over 100 books on my Amazon wishlist. I deleted those that were no longer available or I wasn't interested in anymore. I'll have to go through the list and read the descriptions of the books to cull it even further. I tend to read the books at the top of my wishlist and those that get lower get forgotten. So I've added "Wishlist" to my reading list. I think I will do that next month (there are a lot of horror books on the list and I like to read horror on vacation).
I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes.A great thriller, the story goes off to different directions but it all comes together in the end. Also don't let the beginning fool you; it isn't your run of the mill procedural crime thriller. Highly recommended.
Bianca wrote: "Last night I realized that I had over 100 books on my Amazon wishlist. I deleted those that were no longer available or I wasn't interested in anymore. I'll have to go through the list and read the..."That's a good idea.
I have to purge my Amazon chopping cart rather often.
MrsJoseph wrote: "That's a good idea.I have to purge my Amazon chopping cart rather often. "
The only drawback is that my Amazon recommendations (which I use to find new books) is filled with books I've just booted off my wishlist.
The Lost Girls of Rome by Donato Carrisi.An okay thriller, the storyline was a bit too convoluted for my taste.
Bad new: today I noticed a pinprick of light at the bottom of my PW's screen. You can only see it up close and not at all angles, but I now know it's there.
So I've decided to get myself a present for my reading retreat next month: a Kindle Voyage. I should be able to save a bit more money than planned and I should be able to order it before I go.
Now I have to decide whether to go with the origami case or the much cheaper Fintie case.
Agreed. Convoluted a bit.Oooh...new eReader.
I like the Fintie ones that look like composition books.
I might get the meteor one, if it's in stock.
I'd definitely go with a Fintie. I have a few Fintie device cases and they've always been an exceptional value, especially considering the cost of "official" Kindle cases.
Ooh. New ereader.
On the one hand I'm sad that my PW2 is damaged. On the other hand I have to admit that I wanted a Voyage for a while now, but couldn't justify spending the money when my PW2 was perfectly fine.I still need patience because i have to pay some bills next week and only then I can start saving up for the Voyage.
Bianca wrote: "On the one hand I'm sad that my PW2 is damaged. On the other hand I have to admit that I wanted a Voyage for a while now, but couldn't justify spending the money when my PW2 was perfectly fine.I ..."
I want a new one, too. But I just got a new one a few years ago (2?) so I can't get a new one any time soon. :-(
Though I do love my ereader, there's so much shiny out there!
My PW was about 18 months old, that's why I was actively ignoring all the new shiny things. However, the pin prick is really annoying, especially when the lighting in the room is low, so a replacement is needed.It's just the right time, too. Whrn I'm going on vacation I usually put aside a lot more money than I need and afterwards I treat myself to something. This time I'll do it before (can't have a rwading retreat with a crippled Kindle).
That sounds like a great plan to me!
It looks like Amazon.de (where I will order my Kindle) has pulled the Fintie cases. Only the black is available but not through Amazon but by independent sellers. Will have to wait to see what happens.After some calculation and the realization that by the end of next week I have enough money to pay both my bills, my order at the craft store and the Voyage (as long as I can get a cheapish case). I can put more than enough money aside for my vacation in the next month.
I feeling a bad case of GAS (gadget anticipation syndrome) coming on!
Bianca wrote: "It looks like Amazon.de (where I will order my Kindle) has pulled the Fintie cases. Only the black is available but not through Amazon but by independent sellers. Will have to wait to see what happ...":-D
SCORE!
GAS. I remember that as gear-acquisition syndrome a phrase musicians use for wanting new equipment.As in you really don't need be gassin' for another effects pedal, new amp, new guitar, new keyboard, new stand, new whatever because you just got...
I always want to buy new exercise "stuff." Equipment. Gear. Clothes. ETC.But check out how I'm like...a walking accident waiting to happen and I rarely get to exercise more than two months straight before I'm Gimpy the Kid again.
My husband says I just like to look at/collect the stuff. Like a kid in a candy store with a full belly. O_O
I buy almost nothing these days. I bought two things a few years back and have been electronics and music free since then. You buy the right things and just play music. It's much more satisfying. Although in an ideal world I'd kill to have a Nord Electro 5.But oh I look at music stuff and want things, I just know I don't actually need things now.
I've pretty much decided that instead of getting a cheap case and get the premium origami case later, I'll get the premium case when ordering my Voyage next week. To be honest, my first thought was that it would really go well with my Midori Traveler's Notebook, my second thought was "Oh my God, I've turned into one of those people."To compensate a bit I've decided to keep my book spending to a minimum for a while. Last week when going through my Amazon list I bought a bunch of books and yesterday when I went through Calibre to get rid of books I will never read I rediscovered a lot of books I had forgotten about. Except for a couple of new releases I'll be shopping for books in Calibre for a while.
A Dark Dividing by Sarah Rayne.A slower read than other books by the same author. It's probably because the story is divided over 2 groups of people and 5 different points in time (1899/1900, 1914, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s). Which resulted in not being able to get to know the characters very well.
The Marriage of Mary Russell by Laurie R. King.
For once I enjoyed this short in-between full novels story.
And, I've ordered my Kindle. ETA is Friday or Saturday (though my PW was one or two days earlier than initially predicted). When it will be send, however is unclear: the general order page states it will be send today ("heute"), the details page states both it's unknown when it will be send and that it will be shipped on Wednesday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for an arrival on Thursday, when I've got the afternoon off and will have time to set it up and enjoy it.
The Murder of Mary Russell by Laurie R. King.This book is about Mrs. Hudson. At first I was ambivalent about it but I really liked it, even better than some of the other more recent additions to this series.
I'm now going to focus on the anthology that I started a month ago.
I'm still waiting for my Kindle. I think DHL Germany shipped it either by bicycle courier or horse drawn cart which has taken the scenic route. (seriously, it was shipped on Tuesday, it could have been here today).
Bianca wrote: "A Dark Dividing by Sarah Rayne.A slower read than other books by the same author. It's probably because the story is divided over 2 groups of people and 5 different points in time (1..."
LEts hope it arrives today!
MrsJoseph wrote: "Bianca wrote: "A Dark Dividing by Sarah Rayne.A slower read than other books by the same author. It's probably because the story is divided over 2 groups of people and 5 different po..."
It's almost 10pm here, so I'm hoping tomorrow. I had hoped today, since I had the afternoon off. Tomorrow and Saturday I have to work all day.
MobileRead Book Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Pandora's Star (other topics)The Teacher (other topics)
Great North Road (other topics)
Uniform Justice (other topics)
Pandora's Star (other topics)
More...
A book that's been on my TBR pile for years. I finally picked it because it would fit in the historical theme this month and it's a stand alone book, I needed a break from series. I have the same reaction as when I finished The Martian: WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG!
I started it just after midnight on Sunday and finished it today just after 4 pm. I had very different plans from my weekend (a lot of crafting and only a little reading), but I just couldn't put this book down.