Fall Flurry of Holidays Challenge -- Discussion and Planning

[Nicole R]

Diane wrote: "I'd like to try this challenge. As with most of you, the next three months are the best of the entire year. I'll probably have to borrow or buy some since I've depleted many of my TBR books from my..."

I love that you give books back to the cancer center where your son got treatments. I am sure those books have been read several times and the recipients appreciate it!

As for noodling on your choices, you don't necessarily have to plan in advance, I just love to think about the holidays and I love to research books :)

[Nicole R]

Jenni Elyse wrote: "I'm not sure about November or December yet. I don't think that far ahead in terms of reading...."

You don't have to plan in advance, it is not required. I just love to get in the holiday spirit by researching and picking out my reads but they are always subject to change.

[Amy]

I am having trouble with the December portion of this. Some of you remember my original humorous rant about Chanukah Romance. But for those of you in my boat, might I recommend Snow Child? An oldie, but one of my favorites that I read this year. I am going to look under the snow shelf, and see what comes up - that's what made me think of it.

[Book Concierge]

Amy wrote: "I am having trouble with the December portion of this. Some of you remember my original humorous rant about Chanukah Romance. But for those of you in my boat, might I recommend Snow Child? An oldie..."

In another group here someone recommend the play The Last Night of Ballyhoo by Alfred Uhry / Jewish family in Atlanta during December.

[Amy]

I have actually seen that play! It's a great play. Maybe I'll take that suggestion for the sheer fun of it! Thanks, T.

[Jgrace]

I'm very fond of a book I used to read to my older (8yrs and up) classes: The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate

It inspired some great discussions and it's very relevant in our current political climate.

[Amy]

Now there you go! I will read that one as well with my boys this season! Oy, whatever will I read next winter for Nicole's pleasure?

[Joi]

I didn't know Dash and Lily had a second book!

If someone does a loose 'discussion' for Frankenstien (like we did for A Secret History) I'll probably join. Haven't read it since freshman year in high school- and I don't trust my reading judgement from then.

I normally try and read a 'paranormal' book in October for Halloween. Now that the Sookie Stackhouse series is done, I'll probably find somehting with vampires-maybe a cozy mystery or something (avoiding paranormal romance) or maybe go with the Anita Blake series I never made it past the first book.

I always try and read Christmas themed books in December, so that's an easy one!

[LibraryCin]

Joi, I still have the last book in the Sookie series to finish. Now that I think about it, I think I have the ebook on hold. Maybe it will come in for me in October.

[Nicole R]

Joi wrote: "If someone does a loose 'discussion' for Frankenstien (like we did for A Secret History) I'll probably join. ..."

If there are several people who decide to read Frankenstein, then we can definitely do a discussion!

Quick roll call: Who plans to read Frankenstein?

[Jgrace]

Nicole R wrote: "Joi wrote: "If someone does a loose 'discussion' for Frankenstien (like we did for A Secret History) I'll probably join. ..."

If there are several people who decide to read Frankenstein, then we c..."

I will

[Jen]

I'll read it

[Jenni Elyse]

Nicole R wrote: "Joi wrote: "If someone does a loose 'discussion' for Frankenstien (like we did for A Secret History) I'll probably join. ..."

If there are several people who decide to read Frankenstein, then we c..."

I'm going to read it.

[Nicole R]

That is enough people interested in reading Frankenstein that I will do a dedication discussion thread like we have done for some other books.

I will figure out how to structure it and where to keep it and let y'all know! Maybe I will even dig up some good discussion questions, I am sure there are a ton out there.

[Kristel]

I will join this year;
Tentative ideas for October
The Girls by Kline (horror--murder)
The Shining by King (I really need to read this)
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski.
Tentative Ideas for November:
Tentative Ideas for December:
The Dead occurs on Epiphany

[Ladyslott]

Tentative plans:

October: The Birds: and Other Stories

November: The Round House

December: Winter Storms

[Denizen]

Ladyslott wrote: "Tentative plans:

October: The Birds: and Other Stories

November: The Round House

December: Winter Storms"

Oh my! I read The Birds back in the 60's and enjoyed it as I did everything I read by Du Maurier. The Round House was a 5 star read for me - hope you like it as much as I did.

[Ashley Breanna]

Want to know how excited I am for this challenge? I read this post when it was first posted, & have waited this long, as I made up my mind, as to what to read. Good gracious!

The holidays are everything to me. What would we do without holidays? What a boring world it would be without them. Halloween, with its pumpkins & costumes & fantasy & thrill. Thanksgiving, with food & family & football & chill. And Christmas, with Church & Jesus' story & twinkle lights & evergreens & warm spice smells...

Here we go. Here is my plan!
October: I wanted to wait & see what the tag would be for October, in case I only get around to reading 1 book this month. (You never know what can come up!) I chose At the Edge of the Orchard. It's about apples & apple trees & the 1800's & surviving & trials... it might be a bit dreary for me, but I am giving it a shot.
I am waiting on the audio book for Walk Two Moons at the library, to get in a little farm story & Indian heritage.
I also may re-read Zombie Zone Zero to get some zombie-love in for Halloween. I might try State of Emergency instead. Depends on how I feel.
The Shack is also on my "read-soon" list. Reading about a murder would fit into October.

November: I read Comanche Moon not long ago, but it is due time I got on to reading the next book, before I forget about the first one. So I hope to read Comanche Heart in November.

December: Christmas Jars has been something I have been waiting til December to read, so I will be on that like flies on fruit.
Stranded: A Winter Romance Duet is the Ebook I will likely read.
A Log Cabin Christmas Collection has been on my list for awhile & I love Amish/Log Cabin-type Christmas books.
My devotional for the month will be Christ, the Light of the World.
For my December audiobook, I think it will be either A Christmas Carol, The Christmas Shoes, or The Christmas Box. Heck, maybe all 3.
Can December be longer?

I love the holidays ♥♥♥

[Ladyslott]

Denizen wrote: "Oh my! I read The Birds back in the 60's and enjoyed it as I did everything I read by Du Maurier. The Round House was a 5 star read for me - hope you like it as much as I did ..."

I'm reading it for Fall Flurry but it also fits a Shelfagories category.

[Nicole R]

Ashley, I totally share your love of the holidays! Great selections. I can say that A Christmas Carol on Audio was very good in case you want to start with that one in December.

At the Edge of the Orchard has been on my list forever, but I do not see it happening in October for me. But, I look forward to your review! I hope you get to read it while wrapped up in a warm sweater and drinking apple cider :)

[Ladyslott]

Nicole R wrote: "Ashley, I totally share your love of the holidays! Great selections. I can say that A Christmas Carol on Audio was very good in case you want to start with that one in December.

At the Edge of th..."

I started reading At the Edge... but couldn't get into it.

[Book Concierge]

I was so excited that I got notified that DRACULA had arrived in audiobook format at my library. I'll finish my current audio today on the drive to work and I figured, "perfect timing." So I stopped at the library on the way home from work yesterday to pick it up.

It's Dracula: The Undead a sequel by one of Bram Stoker's descendants .... S I G H

I'm still on hold for the e-audio version but I'm # 8 in line and there's only one e-audio version available ... probably won't get it until December.

I did find another audiobook version of the original classic through my library system - that is NOT abridged - but again, I'm waiting for it to arrive.

Maybe I'll just read the text .....

[Nicole R]

Book Concierge wrote: "I was so excited that I got notified that DRACULA had arrived in audiobook format at my library. I'll finish my current audio today on the drive to work and I figured, "perfect timing." So I stoppe..."

BC, do you have an audible account? I have a wonderful unabridged rendition of this that I would be happy to share with you.

[Book Concierge]

Nicole R wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "I was so excited that I got notified that DRACULA had arrived in audiobook format at my library. I'll finish my current audio today on the drive to work and I figured, "perfe..."

I do not .. but thanks for thinking of me.

[Nicole R]

If anyone is looking for a good October book and is not a total scaredy cat like me, this book popped up in a GR post today as a new release. It looks good!

Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places

[Amy]

Ok, it turns out that the Witches Market isn't the sequel to Paula Brackston's the witches Daughter, this is something else entirely, and from the front and back cover, I am already intrigued, in, and sold! Thank you, Nicole, for this witchy challenge!

[Sara]

I started Salem the other day but have sadly had little time to read it. Plus Thread of Grace is so good it is sucking up what little time I do have.

[Jennifer]

I am reading The Passage this month (vampires), it is very long, over 750 pages but I'm hoping to finish it by Halloween. Does anyone know why it says the kindle version is 897 pages and the hardback is 766? It doesn't look like there's even a preview of the next book at the end.

[Nicole R]

Jennifer P. wrote: "I am reading The Passage this month (vampires), it is very long, over 750 pages but I'm hoping to finish it by Halloween. Does anyone know why it says the kindle version is 897 pages..."

I am not sure but that just happened to me with The Son; the Kindle version was hundreds of pages longer than either print version! I think it may just be the format.

[Jennifer]

Hm, I thought they just counted the same. Strange! I am still reading... Don't even think I'm halfway done.

[Karin]

Well, I actually have a book I'm finally planning to read for one of the fall holidays. Christmas Caramel Murder.