MJ's 2017 Reading Challenge!

[MJ]

Next:
for 10. A dual-timeline novel
The House Between Tides

[MJ]

Moving right along:
52. A book set in a fictional location
The Color of Magic

[MJ]

I am currently reading (for #31)
The Small Hand and Dolly
by Susan Hill (two novels in one)

It's a ghost story (a sub-genre of horror)

[MJ]

MJ wrote: "Fourth quarter (reserved)

October


November
✅31. The Small Hand and Dolly by Susan Hill
✔️49. A book from someone else's bookshelf [book:Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools..."

[MJ]

Currently reading Landline for
45. A book with a one-word title

It was not one of my planned titles (see the below list)
Tracks,It, Carrie, Kim, Middlemarch, Insomnia, Revival, Cujo, Christine, Candide, Deenie

but I NEEDED a break from Joseph Conrad's Lord Jim and Matthew Lewis' The Monk!

I started The Monk to take a break from Lord Jim, and now I need a break from both!

I will finish Landline in the next two days or so!
Slow progress. I won't even come close to finishing this year's list!

[MJ]

Landline? Done. Although I was completely mentally unprepared to read about romantic relationships and marital troubles.

But that's one more book done!

[MJ]

Next up:
6. A book being released as a movie in 2017
All the Bright Places

I should pick happier books.

[MJ]

I find it fitting that we are be urged at the top of the page on the home page of this group, Go, go, go!

With that, I am reading Tales of Beedle the Bard for
9. A book in the middle of your To Be Read list

It was suggested by this month's newsletter as a short read that will help with meeting our reading goals.

I'm reading as fast as I can! It's getting a little out of hand!

[Zaz]

Haha, yes, I thought a bit of motivation was needed for the last weeks (I've 2 books left and I'm reading other books...).

The short read is a good idea :)

[MJ]

Finished All the Bright Places.

I cried through the last half, partly because of the story and partly because of how it made me think (too much) of someone I recently lost.

I need some happier books now.

[MJ]

Next up?

35. A book where one of the main characters is royalty
The Forever Queen

I don't know if I'll get through it, since I've felt a little sceptical since thumbing through it a few days ago.

No progress on the two other books I've started for this.

Considering picking up
The Prestige for
25. A book about a famous historical figure

and/or

They're a Weird Mob for
34. A book set in or by an author from the Southern Hemisphere

Too many books, not enough time.
Even worse is, I have two side reads that are calling my name...

[MJ]

DONE They're a Weird Mob
34. book set in or by an author from the Southern Hemisphere

1/4 done The Forever Queen!

[MJ]

Finished The Prestige!

[MJ]

Finished The Monk for #3 a book I meant to read in 2016.

[MJ]

Okay!

Just started Red Spectres: Russian Gothic Tales from the Twentieth Century
Halfway through The Forever Queen (It's slow going)
Am annoyed at Lord Jim,
and Dragonsbane is sitting forgotten on my night stand, even though I was enjoying when I was reading it... a few months ago.

Cranford is in one of my tabs (free from Gutenberg)

Red Spectres will be a pretty quick read, and while I mostly enjoy The Forever Queen, it's not a page turner for me.

A Man Called Ove is waiting for me at the library. I will probably binge read that in one sitting.

I did my Christmas celebrations last month, so the holiday season is going to be pretty quiet for me. Plus, I am recovering from surgery... I've got a lot of time to read. SIXTEEN books to go! I probably WILL NOT finish, but it'll be fun trying!

[MJ]

Finished Red Spectres: Russian Gothic Tales from the Twentieth Century for
43. A book with a chilling atmosphere (scary, unsettling, cold)

Definitely an interesting and different collection of gothic tales.

[MJ]

And now... just finished reading The Red Pony for
50. A Penguin Modern Classic - any edition

38/52

[MJ]

Next: A Discovery of Witches for

2. A book with at least 2 perspectives (multiple points of view)
OR
42. A best book of the 21st century (so far)

People seem to love or hate this book. A best book of this century sets EXTREMELY high expectations. We'll see about this one.

[MJ]

Finished
35. A book where one of the main characters is royalty
The Forever Queen

39/52

[MJ]

Next:

46. A time travel novel
The Time Machine

It's short. With luck, I will finish it tonight.

[MJ]

Finished The Time Machine.

It was a really interesting, quick read.

40/52

[Tracy]

Wow! You're moving right along !!! Should be close ....are you going to try and finish it off in 2018? I noticed you did that with last years challenge. I hope you're resting and recovering from your surgery and enjoying all of your books :-)

[MJ]

Tracy wrote: "Wow! You're moving right along !!! Should be close ....are you going to try and finish it off in 2018? I noticed you did that with last years challenge. I hope you're resting and recovering from yo..."

Thanks Tracy! I don't think I will manage to finish. Recovery is going well, and I am getting tired of taking it easy! A Man Called Ove will be a quick read (I'm guessing because I think I read Britt-Marie was Here over one week-end) but after that I'm not sure how many more quick reads I have.

I only managed to read one book from last year's challenge this year, so the odds of me whittling away at this year's leftovers in 2018 don't look good. But yes, I think I will tack them onto the end of next year's list. I hate leaving things left unfinished!

[Tracy]

MJ wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Wow! You're moving right along !!! Should be close ....are you going to try and finish it off in 2018? I noticed you did that with last years challenge. I hope you're resting and reco..."

I did the same thing.... Added a post with my planned books for this year in my thread for the 2018 challenge. I'll never be able to read them all, lets be realistic....but I'd like to lol.

[MJ]

Tracy wrote: "MJ wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Wow! You're moving right along !!! Should be close ....are you going to try and finish it off in 2018? I noticed you did that with last years challenge. I hope you're resti..."

I read a bunch of side reads that did not fit my challenge, but WERE on my 2017 reading priorities. Had I stuck to just the challenge, I would have finished.

[MJ]

And with the spirit of the season in mind,
I am now reading A Christmas Carol for
23. A book from the BBC "The Big Read" list (link)

I have A Man Called Ove next to me for another prompt, but I don't feel like crying. Maybe closer to the new year?

[MJ]

Finished.
A Discovery of Witches
42. A best book of the 21st century (so far)

[MJ]

Okay! Just started A Man Called Ove

27. A book by one of your favourite authors

This might be a bit of a stretch, since I've only read one other book by him, but it was one of my favourite books of 2016.

[MJ]

Aaaand because I just can't read one book at a time,
The Frozen Deep
It's a novella! I might finish it tonight! Wilkie Collins AND Charles Dickens??
For
24. A book written by at least two authors

[MJ]

I am putting A Man Called Ove aside for a day or two to read

Fierce Kingdom
13. A book recommended by one of your favourite authors
(recommended by Chris Bohjalian

I only have this one from the library for a week. Silly Express Bestseller limits.

I think I am at 43/52

[MJ]

Finished Fierce Kingdom and A Man Called Ove.

This puts me at 45/52.

I have 4 challenge books sitting next to me that I WANT to read, and another that I DON'T.

They are
Cujo
Angle of Repose
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
and Dragonsbane

The one I've started and DON'T want to read is
Lord Jim.

And then I have two side reads that I have not been able to finish. I don't really want to carry them both over into the new year. Oh wait, a third side read that is a required reading for my course that starts in January.

Is this a good place to stop? I know I don't want to finish the year with Lord Jim because that would be such a drag. If I call it quits at 45/52, I can tie up my loose end "side reads" and maybe I'll just roll my unfinished 2017 challenge (and 2016) over and tack it onto my 2018 list. Like a crazy person. Haha. Crap.

[Jody]

It’s a perfect place to stop! If you don’t want to carry them over, don’t. Wave goodbye to 2017 (45/52 is awesome) and start 2018 without anything unpleasant hanging over your head.

Well done!! 🎉

[Tracy]

Awesome job MJ!! You got loads of reading done the past few weeks. Carry the rest over and find something amazing to end the year off with 😊

[MJ]

I ended up reading Cujo, which puts me at 46/52. I am partway through Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy... but am not planning/ intending to finish it for this year.

I read Cujo years ago. Maybe in the very early 90s? Despite recognizing that I had already read it within the first paragraphs, it was just as good the second time through.

I guess that's a wrap!

[Zaz]

Congrats, it's a good number :)

[MJ]

Zaz wrote: "Congrats, it's a good number :)"

Thanks!

I'm okay with it. I did a bunch of side reads, some door stoppers, and then read nothing at all for at least two months. 2018, here we come!