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2016 Individual Challenges
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Rumpelteazer's 2016 Challenge
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MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Resident Book Pusher
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May 20, 2016 10:43AM
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It came today. Totally unexpected because DHL usually delivers before noon and today the deliverer didn't come until 3.30.I love it. No pinpricks or dark spots. Yes, the top of the screen is a bit different in shade than the bottom, but that was to be expected. And I have yet to notice shadow cones at the bottom of the screen.
I was looking at skins, but I don't want anything on the front of my KV, then I realised I can cut out my own with some sticky vinyl and my Silhouette. I've settled on this design for the back of my KV, probably in an off white colour.
Wooooot! Congrats!!PICS!
Deeply Odd by Dean Koontz.I've never really gotten into the Odd Thomas series, but by the time I realized that I was so far in I might as well finish. I did like like this one and the previous one. Only one short story and one full length novel to.
I'm loving my Kindle Voyage. It did take a bit to get used to the brighter bottom of the screen, but I don't notice it any more.
Bianca wrote: "Deeply Odd by Dean Koontz.I've never really gotten into the Odd Thomas series, but by the time I realized that I was so far in I might as well finish. I did like like this one and ..."
I'm starting this series for group.
The Mammoth Book of Killers at Large by Nigel Cawthorneand
Ghosts of Our Fathers by Michael Richan
It turns out to be one of those months: after my Kindle developed a pinprick and I replaced it, this morning my tablet died, again. Last year I got it repaired twice, and it looks like it's the same problem again. The first time it was days out of its one year warranty, but the store got it fixed. A couple of months later it died again and again they got it repaired. But I think now it's too late to get another warranty, plus I'm a bit tired of this thing.
I've already selected another tablet, but I'll wait until after my vacation and make do with my phone.
Bianca wrote: "It turns out to be one of those months: after my Kindle developed a pinprick and I replaced it, this morning my tablet died, again. Last year I got it repaired twice, and it looks like it's the same problem again. The first time it was days out of its one year warranty, but the store got it fixed. A couple of months later it died again and again they got it repaired. But I think now it's too late to get another warranty, plus I'm a bit tired of this thing.I've already selected another tablet, but I'll wait until after my vacation and make do with my phone.
WOW>
Maybe it's just a new tech year for you.
MrsJoseph wrote: "WOW>Maybe it's just a new tech year for you. ."
It sucks. I had been thinking about replacing it but not until summer or autumn.
I had planned to get a new graphics card for my desktop plus getting it cleaned out properly (I don't dare to do much more than clean it out with some canned air and a vacuum cleaner at a safe distance). But now I'll get a new tablet first.
For some reason I find a phone with almost the same set up in apps less distracting than a tablet. I read a lot more yesterday than I normally would.
The House at Midnight by Lucie WhitehouseIt seems that every novel featuring an old big house/mansion is coined as a gothic tale at the moment. It isn't. Yes, there is a big house, but it isn't creepy (just the people in it) and it isn't a character in the story (if that makes any sense).
Clearly Whitehouse was inspired by Donna Tart, but not reaching her level be a long shot.
The main character, when in the old house is the only one that hears "the secret pulse of the house", that's basically her euphemism for a panic attack (it always happens after a highly emotional scene, she hears blood pounding in her ears and can hardly breath). Also, when the whole situation comes to ahead she isn't there, she comes in after the fact. And third, the so called mystery wasn't a mystery IMHO.
Okay enough to finish, wouldn't really recommend it.
Haunted by Tamara ThorneIt looks like I found a new favourite author! Great haunted house story. Hopefully her other books are also good.
I've had a great month, and I'm only 1154 pages from the half way point. That shouldn't be a problem with my reading retreat coming up!
For June I've decided to make a new catagory: wishlist. I hope to read some of the books that have been on my Amazon wishlist for a while (I'm trying to ignore those that I've added recently).
I also think I'll add the category "Calibre" and that that will be a full month where I'm only allowed to read books I already have.
The Bell Tower: A Haunted House Mystery by Sarah Rayne.A nice addition to this series.
So, I've been thinking about this for a couple of days now and I've decided this summer it's time to reread Stephen King's It. I got my paper copy in 1994, we always got a present when the summer holidays began. The winter before I started reading English books and I discovered Stephen King. My parents thought the 1116 pages would keep me busy those six weeks of vacation. I finished it in two weeks. I still got that book, the cover is held on by tape, it's battered and the pages are yellowed and some are coming loose. I used to reread it every summer but now I haven't read it in years and the last time I started it I didn't get past 100 pages, going by the bookmark.
The ebook I've got clocks in at over 1300 pages, which means that it would count for three book in my challenge and it would fit in nicely with the old time favourites theme, which I could do during the month I plan to only read books I've already got.
It's funny, the proper time to read It, IMHO, is summer.
That sounds like a great idea! IT is one of the few books on my list of re-reads. I've actually been thinking it's time for me a re-read a King book soon. Don't know which one, though.
The Purity of Vengeance by Jussi Adler-Olsen.I'm loving this series more and more with every book. In this one we get to know a bit more about side kicks Rose and Assad. A shame there are only two more left in English.
Now onwards with this month's theme: wishlist. I've got three lined up on my Kindle and have chosen a fourth that I still need to buy.
On a side note: I checked out the "beta design" for the Goodreads and I'm not liking there is no option to choose groups as homepage, like now. I know they say it will, possibly, come, or as a link, but I'm not happy. I don't like the updates feed, too messy and too much irrelevant and repeated information. (yes, I've already send my feedback)
Bianca wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "WOW>Maybe it's just a new tech year for you. ."
It sucks. I had been thinking about replacing it but not until summer or autumn.
I had planned to get a new graphics card for m..."
I know that feeling. I need some new tech but the price point has me pushing it back as much as possible.
The Genesis Secret by Tom Knox.An okay adventure thriller, for some reason I just couldn't focus on the story, I kept getting distracted by other things. I don't know if it was just me or the book.
Only 32 pages to go until I've reached the halfway point of my page count goal. Which means I'm a couple of weeks ahead of schedule.
It sounds interesting from the blurb.
It does, I'm usually a sucker for adventure thrillers. I think it was partially me and partially that it had a lot of information (though no real annoying info dumps) and if you didn't really pay attention for a couple of sentences you had to go back because you missed something.Luckily today I had an unexpected day off so I could do what I normally do with those books: curl up in bed with no/little distractions and finish it in one go.
Also, if you're interested you need to know there are several gruesome scenes. Even one I found to be a bit much, and I'm not squeamish.
Im okay with that. I've read ugly North Korea, Iraq, and Chernobyl. Generally its the real stuff that is worse.
Witch Island by David BernsteinIt seems to me the author was about sixteen when he wrote it. Too much not relevant sex and thinking about sex and the story is simplistic at best, with a very unsatisfying end. It could have been a good story.
Odd Thomas: You Are Destined To Be Together Forever by Dean Koontz
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling).Great detective mystery. Not a fast, but very well done.
Im supposed to be reading Odd Thomas right now.
MrsJoseph wrote: "Im supposed to be reading Odd Thomas right now."I still need to read the final one. I had hoped to read it before my vacation, but I didn't. It'll be my firsts full read when I get back home next week.
I need to read the third one. Although, need is a pretty weighty term.
The Boylan House Trilogy by Ron Ripley.This is an omnibus of 3 books, but I count it as one book. Mostly because the omnibus is only 141 pages. It's a short but original horror story.
The Ghosts of Ravencrest by Tamara Thorne & Alistair Cross.
An omnibus of the first eight or nine short episodes in the Ravencrest Saga. I can't wait for the next omnibus.
Bianca wrote: "The Boylan House Trilogy by Ron Ripley.This is an omnibus of 3 books, but I count it as one book. Mostly because the omnibus is only 141 pages. It's a short but original horror sto..."
141 pages?
Mostly off topic - I was scarred for life from my cousin watching horror movies when we were kids.
Yesterday she tells me she can't watch them at all. I'm all "But...but my trauma!!" How dare you?! You better start watching them again, damn it.
Just 141 pages, my average pages per book took a hit when counting it as one book, let alone when I would have counted it as three seperate books of each less than 50 pages.I love horror, I always have. Luckily for me my mother was indulgent and when I started reading English books at the age of 14 and discovered Stephen King she was willing to tell the ladies at the library I was allowed to not only read adult books but also those that the ladies found inappropriate for me.
However, I have been reading a lot of horror/ghost stories lately so the one I'm reading right now will be the last for a while. Only, I have no idea what I want to read next. I'm also a bit fed up with thrillers and crime/mystery books. At the moment I'm thinking reading one of the Joe Abercrombie books I haven't read yet.
The Haunting of Blackwood House by Darcy Coates.Another good haunted house story by Darcy Coates. I hope she'll write more full length novels in the future.
The Dark Man by Desmond Doane.It looks like I'm not only a sucker for stories about haunted somethings (houses, islands, asylums, etc) but I'm also a sucker for stories about people involved in tv series such as Ghost Hunters. This story was about a former haunted tv series presenter who messed up big time and is now trying to redeem himself. Quick and entertaining. Will read the second book soonish.
It looks like my challenge for next month is back firing on my. I had planned on combining two themes; ebooks I already own (full month) and old time favourite (4 books). The idea was to cut down my TBR of books I already own a teeny tiny bit, but I've been having a hard time not getting new books this week.
Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie.First half was good, after that the story dragged on too long and the characters got more unsympathetic with each page turn.
Bianca wrote: "Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie.First half was good, after that the story dragged on too long and the characters got more unsympathetic with each page turn."
you know, while a lot of my friends - and my husband - have enjoyed Joe Abercrombie, they are always a little depressed after reading too many of them.
I've read the First Law Trilogy back in 2011, spaced out over eight months. I really liked it, though it was a bit bleak. This one, in my opinion, went on too long and although the characters actions were in line with their personalities sometimes too much attention was given in their motivation and other times there was too little detail about why they did something.
Bianca wrote: "I've read the First Law Trilogy back in 2011, spaced out over eight months. I really liked it, though it was a bit bleak. This one, in my opinion, went on too long and although the characters actio..."I think I have a hardcopy of this one. If its the one I'm thinking about, I can see why you would say that. It's huge.
Best Served Cold was 726 pages on my Kindle. Big but not huge.Tonight I finished Saint Odd by Dean Koontz.
I really liked this last book of the series.
Now an early start with next month's challenge: It by Stephen King (why is it when I enter "It Stephen King" the first book listed is The Shining). Which coincidentally has a character named Koontz. Though knowing King it's fully on purpose. It 500 pages longer than the Abercrombie one, so I'll never finish it before Friday. It's a great book to up my page count and average-pages-per-book count.
Updated the first couple of posts. Since I won't be finishing my current book before the end of the month I've already had a look at how I did. I've read 4141 pages this month, which is really good. It also means I'm almost 3000 pages ahead of schedule and according to Goodreads I'm 19 book ahead of schedule.In July I'm planning on combining to themes: Calibre (pre-owned books) and Old Time Favourites. I'm starting with Stephen King's It, which will count as 3 books due to it's length. Then I need one other book for my Old Time Favourites theme. I'm thinking about reading another The Cat Who book, or maybe a Goosebumps book. Both are not favourite books, I might not have read the books, but old time favourite series.
It by Stephen King.I still loved it, and I even found myself liking the ending! I did need a change of pace, so I've started the next The Cat Who on my list.
It's also time to start thinking about what to read when dog sitting, that's only a week and a half away. I think for August I'm going with the British theme, then I can read The Stiletto and the second Cormoran Strike book.
The Cat Who Tailed a Thief by Lilian Jackson Braun.Nice little cozy mystery, a good change of pace after It.
Wow. You're moving. I'm kinda twiddling my thumbs at the current moment
To be honest, it's mostly due to the fact that this year I seem to be into shorter books than in previous years. My average pages per book is 356 (and that's mostly due to It).In the coming week I won't have as much reading time as I normally would; I need to go shopping and packing for my yearly dog sitting and my sister and I are going to do something on Wednesday.
I've also finally gotten a new tablet and I've discovered that my favourite types of games, point-and-click puzzle mysteries/horrors, are available on Android. So I might spend a bit more time gaming whilst dog sitting than I normally would.
I've also been lucky this year with my choice of books. I really had just one dud so far this year. It was so short it wasn't even worth ditching. Otherwise I've had no books I stopped reading and there are almost 20 books I've given an 8 (out of 10) or higher, so far.
Fiercombe Manor by Kate Riordan.Interesting split era historical novel with a bit of romance thrown in.
Making an updated theme list for next year. I might also do the 2017 Group Challenge or the Something For Everyone Challenge.
Making an updated theme list for next year. I might also do the 2017 Group Challenge or the Something For Everyone Challenge.
Gideon's Sword by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.I've read this book when it just came out and thought it was okay. I wanted to reread it and get on with the series because the latest release is a sequel to another book I really enjoyed by the authors but is not part of this series. I really enjoyed to reread, what I didn't like was that the bonus book is longer than the "main feature" book. I thought I had a nice long read ahead of me and it turns out Gideon's Sword was only 44% of the length of the book.
Sacred Treason by James Forrester.Meh. The first third was good, then the story got bogged down in not relevant details and repetativeness. The last third was okay.
The next book I'm going to read is by an author that is new to me, which is my fourth new author this month. This means that unintended I finished another theme. If I manage to keep to the plan of reading only books I've bought before July 1 that'll mean I've finished three themes this month.
If it wasn't over 30C I would do a little happy dance.
The Alexander Cipher by Will AdamsMeh. Not so much the story, which I liked, but the set up of the book. First of all the book is divided into chapters, but each chapter is divided into sub-chapters, each telling the story from the POV of a different character. Not a bad thing usually, but these sub-chapters are so short that it's hard to get to know the characters. Also Adams had the end almost each sub-chapter on a cliff hanger. This tendency always drives me nuts; there isn't much tension when the main character's life is hanging in the balance for the fifth time, since the book still hs 250 pages left and the series is named after this character I'm sure he'll live.
Moonfall by Tamara Thorne.Great horror book. Normally I read a lot on Sunday and hardly read on Monday but I spend both Sunday and Monday reading.
Jordan's Stormy Banks by Jefferson Bass.
Meh, one of those short stories in between full books in a series. The excerpt from the next full book is longer than the actual short story.
Now it's time to work on some of my series again.
OMG. I just got notifications. :-(But you're moving!
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