Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
Challenges of Yesteryear
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Cleaning out the TBR closet 2016
@Jo-Jo So glad to see Unwind on your list! I love just about everything about that series. So worth reading!
Jo-Jo wrote: "Hope it's okay that I'm still doing it, even though I'm kinda new to Goodreads."Of course it's ok! We're glad you're joining us. :) You have quite a few on your list that I also have on my TBR and a couple that I just read over the past year too. Hope you enjoy them.
Mod
Yu have some gvreat books on your list there. My favourite isprobably #18 ;) Such a good series
Mod
Karen wrote: "Welcome Carmen! Oh another person with a VA book on their list. Seems to be a theme around here ;)"I stopped making people read it with the team challenges windwirl... I guess we need a couple goals about strigoi and moroi.. And maybe some mental bond.... LOL
Mod
@Carmen: Definitely read your #5, that was a good book! Something different for a change. Still need to read the third one, come to think of it.
I need this challenge for sure!!! I'm picking out the oldest books I own and haven't read yet ~ and really need to (instead of buying shiny new....)----------------------------------------
March - December 2016
Progress: 25/25
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TO READ: **NONE! ALL DONE!!!! SO HAPPY I DID THIS CHALLENGE!!!!**
✔ 1. The Faerie Guardian | Rachel Morgan | Read 3/28/16 | ☆☆☆☆
This is one of those why-did-it-take-me-so-long-to-read books! In fact, I downloaded the next book in the series. I thought I was kind of over the YA-Paranormal genre as they seem to follow the same story lines. However, this one was just enough different and I loved the writing style as it was easy to get into the story and care about the characters. Plus, there were some twists and turns that I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, I've already downloaded the next book in the series. :)
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✔ 2. Prized | Caragh M. O'Brien | Read 3/28/16 | ☆☆☆☆
I really don't know why I downloaded this book as I really did not care for the first book in the series at all. However, having said that, I'm really glad I did because I ended up enjoying this book so much more than the first one and may even need to move on to the next book in the series.
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✔ 3. With Good Behavior | Jennifer Lane | Read 3/29/16 | ☆☆☆☆
The reason this one has sat on my shelf for soooo long is purely because it's a long kindle book and I'm definitely an audio girl. The story was fun and full of drama. I loved both of the MC so it was easy to keep reading on just to find out how things were going to unfold. Although a fairly predictable story, the writing style also made it very entertaining. This is the second book I read by Jennifer Lane and have loved them both. Boy would I like to introduce her to audible though...
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✔ 4. With Everything I Am | Kristen AshleyRead 03/31/16 | ☆☆☆☆
I've been holding out for this to be offered through audible since many of Kristen Ashley's are but ended up biting the bullet and dove in since this series doesn't seem to be one of her more popular. I read the first book in the series before I discovered audio and thought it was fairly 'meh' so didn't have high hopes for this and just went into it with the goal of having a check mark on this challenge for another book done. However - WOW ~ I am pleased to say I was very pleasantly surprised by just how much I ended up being sucked into this story and am soooooo glad I read it. Again - kicking myself for not having read it sooner! With only one more book left to read in the trilogy, how could I not...?
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✔ 5. Arsen: A Broken Love Story | Mia Asher | Read 3/31/16 | ☆☆☆.5
This book reminded me a bit of Amber to Ashes in that it was high drama and highly messed up. I'm not gonna lie, I love an emotional roller coaster and this book was definitely full of the feels. This story basically focused on a wife who was struggling with trying to have a baby and the traumatic impact her miscarriages have had on her. For anyone who has been through it or has been close to someone who has suffered through a miscarriage, you know this is horribly devastating and could easily see how it could impact someone's mental well-being and their ability to make wise/healthy/good choices. Cathy's story was like a slow train wreck... You could see the decline and the impending consequences coming a mile away but you just couldn't look away.. even while you cringe & yell "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo".... wanting to jump into her body and take over her life for awhile to get her on a better path. In the end, I survived the book but man was I worn out! Is there going to be a book 2?
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✔ 6. Conviction | Amanda Lance | Read 4/1/16 | ☆☆☆
I liked this book OK. The characters were fine and the story line was fine. I feel like if I would have read this years ago I would have liked it better but now it seems similar to other story lines.
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✔ 7. Cop Town | Karin Slaughter | Read 4/2/16 | ☆☆☆☆
Karin Slaughter delivers another gritty detective story that captivated me throughout. It took me a little while at the beginning of the story to see how things fit together, but once I got the "lay of the land", I was hooked and wasn't able to put the book down until I finished it.
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✔ 8. Columbine | Dave Cullen | Read 4/4/16 | ☆☆☆☆.5
WOW. I'm not much for non-fiction but boy am I so glad I finally got around to reading this one as it REALLY took me by surprise! I've known about the Columbine shooting and assumed the book would be more of the same but I was oh-so wrong. This book really delved into a lot of the story behind what had been reported, as well as provided background on pieces of the story that were provided to the public and were inaccurate. This book also gave information on some of the psychological issues of Eric & Dylan ~ which I found really interesting. There were so many times I rewound this audio just to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Very gripping!
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✔ 9. Dreamland | Alyson Noel | Read 4/7/16 | ☆☆.5
Hmm... This one was alright. It's kind of a cute story but I think I'm just too old for it.
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✔ 10. Cursed | S.J. Harper | Read 4/13/16 | ☆☆☆.5
Fun read about forbidden love and mega attraction! Both characters were easy to relate with and found myself really caring about how things turned out. Did I shed tears? Maybe just a couple... Have downloaded the remaining 3 books in the series... I guess that kind of defeats the purpose of this challenge to whittle down my TBR if I read one & add 3!
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✔ 11. My Stupid Girl | Aurora Smith | Read 4/18/16 | ☆☆☆
This was a cute story about an out-of-the-mainstream guy and a popular girl which, as you can guess, was a little bit predictable. I did enjoyed the writing style, however. I just felt like it was a very looooooooooong cute story and got a little bored in the middle.
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✔ 12. Hush | Anne Frasier | Read 4/24/16 | ☆☆☆☆
Good creepy mystery! I plan to read more books by this author.
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✔ 13. Tabula Rasa | Kristen Lippert-Martin | Read 4/29/16 | ☆☆☆.5
This was a really quick-paced-attention-keeping story with some really likable characters. Glad I read it!
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✔ 14. The Collector | Victoria Scott | Read 4/30/16 | ☆☆.5
I nearly did not finish this one ~ not because it was terrible, but just because it seemed like a lot of books I've already read before and, therefore, was predictable as hell and I was fairly bored. I think if I would have read this one years ago, I would have rated this bad-boy-falls-for-girl-who-doesn't know-her-worth book higher. But I didn't.
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✔ 15. Iron Kissed | Patricia Briggs | Read 5/3/16 | ☆☆☆☆
Why, oh why did I read this one already?! I was trying to keep it for last so I could just carry on with the series as I KNEW I was going to get hooked on Mercy & her crew... and that's exactly what happened! It fit a challenge (or 2) so what can I say. Need more please!
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✔ 16. Plain Jane: Brunettes Beware | Cristyn West | Read 5/3/16 | ☆☆☆
This was a book I've been putting off and putting off and was actually wishing I hadn't bought it. However, it was a pretty entertaining and creepy mystery. Glad I read it!
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✔ 17. Scandalous | Ella Steele | Read 5/4/16 | ☆☆.5
What I liked about this book: (a) Abby and Jack were likable characters with good chemistry. (b) The story pulls you in at the beginning and moves along at a good pace. (c) Angst. I'm always a sucker for good angst.
What I didn't like as much--> Insta-love. Even though Jack and Abby go way back, there were a lot of obstacles seeming to stand in their way one minute that were overcome in a blink of an eye. I admit I may have rolled my eye a time or two with all their perfectness...
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✔ 18. Bloodfire | Helen Harper | Read 5/16/16 | ☆☆☆.5
Another pleasant surprised as I liked this story very much. Mack was definitely no pushover and it was fun to read about her adventures of being in a pack, yet not really a part of the pack ~ and the dangers that came along with that scenario.
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✔ 19. The Black Echo | Michael Connelly | Read 5/20/16 | ☆☆☆.5
This was about what I thought it would be like - a good detective mystery that moved at a good pace. Enjoyed the read and it had me guessing until the end.
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✔ 20. Left To Die | Lisa Jackson | Read 5/22/16 | |☆☆☆
For some reason I found this book very confusing the way it switched between the different POV's. Actually, I guess some of it was supposed to be that way, but I admit I spent a lot of time rewinding my audio to make sure I wasn't missing anything. The story, itself, was good but I think it was about 200 pages too many. Beginning and endings held my attention but the middle seemed to really drag...
✔ 21. The Promise | Apryl Baker | Read 6/1/16 | ☆☆
My least favorite book so far in this challenge. It wasn't anything new and was predictable. The narration was not good (and I'm pretty easy on narrators). The word "coven" was in this book probably 200 times and it was miss-pronounced every singe time. Coven should rhyme with "oven" - it is not a long "o"!
✔ 22. Touch of Frost | Jennifer Estep | Read 6/9/16 | ☆☆☆
✔ 23. Sanctum | Sarah Fine | Read 6/28/16 | ☆☆☆.5
✔ 24. Elven Blood | Debra Dunbar | Read 9/2/16 | ☆☆☆☆
This is the 3rd book I've read from this series and the first one I really enjoyed. Quite a few chuckles and very fast paced. I almost had given up on the Imp series but now after this one, I've decided to continue on.
✔ 25. Love is Darkness | Caroline Hanson | Read 10/10/16 | ☆☆☆.5
I found this book easy to slip into but I think I just wasn't in the mood for paranormal so didn't really like it like I might have if I'd read it at another time. May (or may not) continue on with this series... We'll see!
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Count me in.....I've been adding to my TBR since I have been playing on different team challenges....I joined in August 2010 and have a TBR that is currently at 3869...that baby is sure to topple....Since I am a moody reader I will start with chunks of 5.....
March - December 2016
Progress: 0/20
1.The Pillars of the Earth
2.Twenties Girl
3.The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
4.The Lost Symbol
5.Hostage to Pleasure
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Mod
Good to see you both!
K!! You haven't continued the Mercy series? Shame on you ;-)
K~Terror wrote: "I need this challenge for sure!!! I'm picking out the oldest books I own and haven't read yet ~ and really need to (instead of buying shiny new....)------------------------------------------------..."
Mythos Academy is on my list too... but I need to finish the 2011 ones first :D
I'll try and give this ago. I've added the first 20 books added to my TBR list. Then we'll see how far I'll get.Cleaning out the TBR
Ends: 12/31/16
Finished: 0/20
1. Dragon's Oath by P.C. Cast
I used to enjoy these books, but then suddenly I didn't care much for the books any longer. I need to get through these books though, I mean - it's only 150 pages.
2: The Strange Power by L.J. Smith
I don't know why I never get around to this book. Whenever I read the blurb it sounds good.
3: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
I don't know why I never got around to this. I'm sure I'm really going to enjoy this one.
4: Washington Dekretet by Jussi Adler-Olsen
I've really enjoyed the Department Q series, but for some reason I'm more hesitant towards his standalones.
5: Alfabethuset by Jussi Adler-Olsen
Same as the one above.
6: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
I just recently noticed I have access to this book for free on an unlimited service. It will definitely make the push to read this easier.
7: Snow Angels by James Thompson
I just got this book really cheap. I just haven't gotten around to read it yet.
8: Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
I was about to start this book once, when I got it from the library, but because I didn't get to it before I had to hand it back, I never got around to loan it again.
9: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
I don't have a good reason for not having read this yet. I love J.K. Rowling, I've read all the Harry Potter books and now also all of her Cormoran Strike books. I need to get to this.
10: Echoes from the Dead by Johan Theorin
Sometimes there's a while between I read these Scandinavian crime novels. That's also why I think this has been there for so long.
11: Evernight by Claudia Gray
I have quite a few series on my TBR list from Claudia Gray. I've never gotten around to read any of them yet. I don't know why, but this was the first one I added.
12: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
I think all these YA books were added around the time when I read Vampire Academy. Don't know why I never got around to read them.
13: The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbøl
Again with the Crime novels.
The next books I probably added them as well because of Vampire Academy. Lots of YA fantasy was added back then
14: The Hollow by Jessica Verday
15: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
16: Anew by Chelsea Fine
17: Storm by Brigid Kemmerer
18: Inescapable by Amy A. Bartol
19: Existence by Abbi Glines
I think I added this because the guy on the book looks like the one used for the Lux series.
20: Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Finally got this book recently. I love her Elemental Assassin's series, and have been recommended to read this series as well.
Mod
Anita, so many of your reasons sound like me... something looks good and then I just never get around to it! :o
Thanks. It's the problem with my whole TBR list. It's totally overflowed now with more than 3000 books *sighs*.It's hard when all these books sounds so great.
Mod
I'm considering doing a clean out of my books and see if there are any of them I'll remove from the shelf, but that's a huge task.
Mod
How do you even do that? I mean I'm nowhere near Anita's 3000 but I'm nearing the 1000 far more rapidly than I thought I would and I keep stumbling across more books that sound so very interesting...
Anita- I also need to do a clean out of my TBR, but it seems like an overwhelming task. It would probably take a full day (or more). Karen has unbelievable self-control to keep her TBR that small!
Mod
I'm *very* choosy with what I add. And these days I only add something if I know I can get a hold of it from the library or very cheaply if I really want it. I found through challenges that some of my books I can't even get so delete delete delete
;)
Karen wrote: "Teri-k wrote: "I reserve the right to decide I don't want to read the book, but I'll at least look at them. lol..."haha
absolutely
Another Anne book! I love that one and the audio from librivox...."
Thanks for the heads up about the Anne books. I tried several commercial audio versions but wasn't crazy about any of them. I've never tried libravox, but now I have a reason to...
I definitely need this challenge! I'm basing mine on books I own only, but all of these books have been on my to-read shelf since 2012 (the year I joined).TOTAL READ: 6/25
DURATION: March 23rd 2016- March 23rd 2017
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3. A Touch Mortal
4. Chosen Ones
5. Betrayal
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8. Fairy Bad Day
9. Scorch
10. The Uprising
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12. Dark Triumph
13. Midnight City
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16. Greta and the Goblin King
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19. Dualed
20. Don't Expect Magic
21. Revel
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23. Unraveling Isobel
24. Break My Heart 1,000 Times
25.
TO-READ
READ
Mod
Karen - I even added a "maybe read" shelf and my TBR is still to big! Time to clean it out.
Mod
haha!
Rosina wrote: "Count me in.....I've been adding to my TBR since I have been playing on different team challenges....I joined in August 2010 and have a TBR that is currently at 3869...that baby is sure to topple....."I loved the Millennium Trilogy... Girl with a Dragon Tattoo was fantastic... it is a big book, but reads fast... all 3 did
Yes ladies. I started to read VA but never got to read it, lol. E as for #5 its been forever that I've been telling myself to read it but always forget that I have it but definitely will read
Karen wrote: "Welcome ladies!*gasp* Sonia. I found your #6 surprising, but then I got to #10. What the?! That's kind of like starting Harry Potter and then not finishing the series. I didn't even realise there..."
I haven't finished HG yet... but then, I haven't started it yet either... LOL
☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Yes ladies. I started to read VA but never got to read it, lol. E as for #5 its been forever that I've been telling myself to read it but always forget that I have it but definitely will read"
I have VA on my TBR too. I just had to look and I added it in July 2013. My challenge for this year is 2012, otherwise I'd have it listed too.
Mod
I might take off a day soon to clean out the TBR list. We can call it spring cleaning :)Jessica - I read Unraveling Isobel last year. It was surprisingly good. Didn't expect much from it when I picked it up. It was mostly because I needed a U title book.
Yes, I need this! I'm tired of seeing those same books pop up when I open my TBR! Thanks, Karen :-) There were 23 books from 2013 when I joined, but I'm going to go with the first 10 to start.NBRC: Cleaning out the TBR
Duration: 4/1/16-12/31/16
Completed: 0/10
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Ok, I've updated. Even if I read the first 5 I would be ecstatic!!
Mod
Oh, another challenge! And this is goooood! I'm in! *searching rehab for wanting to be in all of the challenges*I only started using GR last year and the dates are way desorganized, so I'll just pick the authors/books that are the longest on my physical shelves, and update as I read.
Duration: 24/03/16 - 31/12/16
Completed: 0/15
1.
- the first three books of this series are on my shelves since 2012 or 2013 (!!!) and only now I started reading them. First time I tried, I didn't like Dark Lover. Now, it's a guilty pleasure *hides*2. I'll choose a book of my Nora Roberts' collection for this one. I have almost all of the books translated to Portuguese, but I own books that I bought in 2010 (!!!!!!!!!!) and still haven't read.
3. A Harlequin novel. I have around 10 books bought between 2010 and 2014 that I never touched.
4. Tess Gerritsen. Let's not even talk about this *sighs*
5. Richelle Mead.
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by Chelsea Cain. Okay, now I'm getting really sad.7. Marian Keyes. I love her books, but as they are biiiiig, there's always one (or 5, actually) on my shelves.
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by James Patterson. I started to watch Women's Murder Club TV series back in 2012 (or 2011, IDK), but I never got past the first book (and I have almost the entire collection).9.
. Started to read in 2012, never finished.10.
. I'll try to read this one for another challenge, but I'm making no promises. Been here since I started college in 2013.11.
. I'm trying to finish this one, but I'm too lazy 'cause it's too big. Since 2014 haunting me.12.
. 2012 coming back to haunt me (actually, since 2009 or 2010 haunting me 'cause I wanted to read this since it was a fanfiction).13.
by José Saramago. I tried to read one of his novels when I was in high school (around 2010 or 2011), but I didn't have the patience necessary to finish it, so, trying again with another one I started but never passed the first 50 pages.14. TBD
15. TBD
Oh! I started to read all the posts here and I just can't stop laughing.I don't remember who put Bloodlines and VA by Richelle Mead on the list, but I'm trying to read
(I loved VA) since it was released LOL Only put my hands on it NOW and I'm not liking it (waited too long *sighs*).I only read THG last year because one of my friends wanted me to see the last movie with her and then I went, even though I knew I would hate it (and I did). I liked the movies, buuuuuuuuuuut I still haven't watched Mockingjay part 1 (*hides out in shame*).
Let's not talk about Cornelia Funke, please. Someone told me to read the Inkworld series sometime between 2010 and 2012 aaaaand I haven't 'til this day (even though I was tempted a couple of weeks ago, but the edition I found has tiny, tiny letters and I'm kind of blind).
The Mists of Avalon... well, that's a dark place.
Gabriella - You can sort your TBR by date, if you wanted to. Just go to your to-read shelf and click on date added.
Kristie wrote: "Gabriella - You can sort your TBR by date, if you wanted to. Just go to your to-read shelf and click on date added."I know, but I only started using GR for real in December, so there's lots and lots and lots of books with the same date. I'm only picking the ones that I own to 'cause I have almost 300 waiting for me, before I start thinking about going to the library or reading on Kindle. If I pick only the ones here, I'll never be able to read the ones that are way too long on my physical shelves.
Edit: I just went to see what was there when I started to shelf by books in September, and there's only like Nora Roberts all over it and half of the books I already choose to read here.
Gabriella, I agree it's fun to see what everyone has posted :-)
Greta wrote: "Gabriella, I agree it's fun to see what everyone has posted :-)"Yeah, and then I wanna comment everything, but it's too much haha
just this week I read the 1st Vampire Academy...yeah its off the tbr but not this list....it wasn't too bad a fast read...
Gabriella wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Gabriella - You can sort your TBR by date, if you wanted to. Just go to your to-read shelf and click on date added."I know, but I only started using GR for real in December, so th..."
Oh, ok. I just wanted to make sure you knew how to do it, since your new to GR. :) Choosing the ones you already own is so smart, cleaning out your virtual and physical bookshelves at the same time.
Mod
Kristie - Oh, tks! It's just that I'm in so many challenges already, that one thing I know for sure is how to do things on my shelves here hahaSurprise, surprise, I'm also in a challenge to read more of my own books. Of course I'm reading more books I don't own than the ones I do *sighs*, but I'm trying to fit them in all of the challenges. Only reading new ones when the ones I have at home don't fit or it's a BR.
Karen - Thanks! :D
Jumping right in is great, Gabriella, fastest way to learn for sure. You're planning sounds very similar to mine. :)
Eldarwen wrote: "*snickers*Good to see you both!
K!! You haven't continued the Mercy series? Shame on you ;-)"
I know!!! I really have no idea why that is either... Just sad. Maybe I should have added the whole series... Lol!
@Sonia - 2011! Good plan! I'm not sure how I read Jennifer Estep's new Black Blade series books but not the Mythos. Damn shiny...
I LOVE so many of the books on all your lists!!!!So, I'm glad you all are going to read them...now I have to go figure out what I'm going to do...I'm afraid...
I have books from 2010! So I'm going to start small and get to those before thinking of 2011 :D1)
Mind Games
I've heard great things about this series.
2)
3.5 stars, 4/10/16
Whoo hoo, this is actually on of my April POFM books!
3)
The Sky Is Everywhere
I had just started to read YA that year
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Unholy Ghosts
Again, I hear great things about this series
OMG! I joined GR in 2014, but have only started with the challenges this year. Now I'm finding that I'm ignoring my TBR shelf in favor ot the BOTM and books for specific challenges. I'm going to add on my first 10 books added and see how far I can get in 2016!1) Zipporah, Wife of Moses
2) Yes Please
3) Bossypants
4) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
5) Cleopatra: A Life
6) Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman
7) I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
8) Eat, Pray, Love
9) On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
10) Peter the Great: His Life and World
Lauri - I'm reading Bossypants and next one in line is Yes Please. I'm curious to know what you think of them and of Malala and On Writing.
Mod
Yes that is certainly what happens with me Lauri... books get pushed aside for challenges and BOMs all the time :o
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
What She Left for Me (other topics)Reclaiming Nick (other topics)
The Princess (other topics)
Der Hundertjährige, der aus dem Fenster stieg und verschwand (other topics)
Jeder ist normal, bis du ihn kennenlernst: Wie zwischenmenschliche Beziehungen gelingen (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Melody Moezzi (other topics)Melody Moezzi (other topics)
Dr. Seuss (other topics)
Jenn Bennett (other topics)
Caroline Hanson (other topics)
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Duration: March 2016-December2016
Progress: 7/20 books
I joined GR in Jan. 2013 so I've picked some random books from that month.
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