Book Suggestions for 2017 Challenge

[Margo]

Mr. Mercedes

[Sarah]

Margo wrote: "Mr. Mercedes"

Thank you Margo!

[Cherie]

Peggy wrote: "Cherie, I think the book could fit if you answered no to that question. In that case you have to read a thriller in which an accident is highly likely."

Thank you, Peggy. I was so focused on the word "accident", that I did not consider the other side of the question and what Margo's book Afterwards was proposed for. I am even more embarrassed because I did not read the book summary before. It could have been set in a hospital, but I cannot tell.

[KimeyDiann]

Deborah wrote: "KimeyDiann wrote: "@Deborah, do you have internet access at your home at all, or do you access GR from a library or somewhere similar?

If you have a desktop computer with wired internet access at..."

At least that is an option for you if you really need it. :)

[Janice, Moderator]

Mr. Mercedes

There you go, Sarah. Link added. I agree that it would fit.

[Deborah]

It all just came back to me..... (this cover version) - I remember reading it....well, reading probably 9/10 of it and just throwing the thing down in disgust on the last stretch. I remember because it's a rare book I don't finish so close to the end. I have to say I don't recall the story too well except it was really, really annoying and I didn't like the characters.

So, it may be suitable for the challenge - but I am not sure it is fit to read!

[Margo]

Cherie wrote: "Peggy wrote: "Cherie, I think the book could fit if you answered no to that question. In that case you have to read a thriller in which an accident is highly likely."

Thank you, Peggy. I was so fo..."

Oh Cherie don't be embarrised - i am getting so many things wrong in this challenge but i think that is half the fun! Actually Afterwards would fit either one since there is likely to be an accident in it and also it is set in a hospital. Plus, unlike Deborah, i rnjoyed it! I think what i liked about it was the unusual perspective from which it was told. It may have had a weak ending tho - i am not good at remembering endings of thrillers :-\

I think Sarahs suggestion of Mr. Mercedes is a good one for those have never been in an accident. Its a really good thriller.

I read Small Great Things for this task as i have been in an accident and this book is partly set in a hospital. This was my first Picault book and i am really glad i read it.

[Deborah]

margo....sorry.....I sounded rude....mea culpa

and....oh dear.....I wasn't struck on Small Great Things either....though I do give cogent reasons for that.

[Margo]

Deborah wrote: "margo....sorry.....I sounded rude....mea culpa

and....oh dear.....I wasn't struck on Small Great Things either....though I do give cogent reasons for that."

LOL sounds like we have very different tastes in books! You didn't sound rude - if we all thought the same these threads would be unnecessary - Janice could just tell us what books to read ;-)

[Margo]

Deborah wrote: "margo....sorry.....I sounded rude....mea culpa

and....oh dear.....I wasn't struck on Small Great Things either....though I do give cogent reasons for that."

btw would you mind sending me a link to your reveiw of SGT. It'd be interested to see your reasons. I read that one very recently :-)

[Janice, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "LOL sounds like we have very different tastes in books! You didn't sound rude - if we all thought the same these threads would be unnecessary - Janice could just tell us what books to read ;-) ."

LOL! Too funny. I would never tell you which books to read, except do read Mr. Mercedes, and....

I have a Goodread's friend who has very different tastes from mine. If she loved a book, I avoid it. If she hated a book, I'll be sure that I'll love it. It's kind of reverse psychology.

[Deborah]

Margo wrote: "Deborah wrote: "margo....sorry.....I sounded rude....mea culpa

and....oh dear.....I wasn't struck on Small Great Things either....though I do give cogent reasons for that."

btw wo..."

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Deborah]

oh true, Janice....but I have got to know some of you a bit and behave more freely than I did.....I hardly know Margo so did realise I can be rather straight speaking and when she's just admired a book and I come along and dis it.....

[Janice, Moderator]

If anyone is still looking for barefeet, and likes horror, there's a March 2017 release that would fit:

, Something

[Cherie]

I think this thread and the last toppler thread, has really brought out the diversity we all have in our love of books and what we like to read and what we don't. Unlike Janice, I don't have a real-life reading friend to use as my compass, so I am dependent on the members in this group to be my sounding board. :o). Over time Margo, you will find out what many of us like and what many of us don't care for and what we are all passionate about. And we will find out about you too.

[Deborah]

was that a threat? ; )

I don't think I have ever had a reading buddy? Maybe Jude, we share a taste for certain books.....but some of her choices are SO not me! She loves Fiona McIntosh and I think she can't write for toffee. I'm also largely uninspired by NZ authors, though you sometimes get a good 'un. (So unpatriotic!) Well, Keri Hulme anyway. Witi Ihimaera sometimes. And she's not very interested in my accurate history fixation. Actually, no-one is! Yup, I depend on you lot, really. And you really push my reading boundaries! Jolly good!

[Tejas Janet]

Janice wrote: "Margo wrote: "LOL sounds like we have very different tastes in books! You didn't sound rude - if we all thought the same these threads would be unnecessary - Janice could just tell us what books to..."

That's so funny, Janice. I have similar relationships with some friends and their opinions about books and/or movies. And yet they are good friends that I love getting together with.

[Margo]

Even the members of my real life bookclub don't share my passion for talking books. I'm the irritating one who's always saying "can we get back to the book?"! I love these online groups as I think you can stuck in a rut just reading the same books as those around you which in my case is irish, english and us fiction. I'm looking forward to getting to know you all better :-)

I've already discoveref that Deborah had the quibble as me about Small Great Things only more so! I still think it is worth reading ;-)

I also know Janice has similar taste to me in fantasy as we are both members of the audiobooks group. It's a good to get alerts about dealsbut I find itnquite impersonal.

[[deleted user]]

I'm the same - not many real life bookish friends. I recently joined a group via Facebook and we did a live Skype chat a week or so ago about The Forgetting Time. I really enjoyed the experience. Our next book is scheduled for April.

Small Great Things is on my list for this month. I borrowed the book from the library. Glad you think it is still worth reading Margo.

[Margo]

Anna wrote: "I'm the same - not many real life bookish friends. I recently joined a group via Facebook and we did a live Skype chat a week or so ago about The Forgetting Time. I really enjoyed t..."

Hi Anna, I also borrowed it from the library as it's not the kind 9f book it's usually read. Thankfully I'd seen a lot of comments about the weak ending online so I was prepared for it. It's still a decent read - the poor ending is just like a postscript to the book. Hope you enjoy it.

[Jannene]

My friends near me do not share my love of books. They think that I am crazy reading my weekends away.

Luckily I joined the "twin" read on the 2017 Reading Challenge group (although it really was the 2015 group then). I met my online book buddy through it. We have 40% in common on our tbr list. I am blessed to have her and we read a book together every other week.

[Annerlee]

Jannene wrote: "My friends near me do not share my love of books. They think that I am crazy reading my weekends away.

Luckily I joined the "twin" read on the 2017 Reading Challenge group..."

TBR twins? Sounds like an interesting concept. How does that work?

[Jannene]

There is another group to join that is 2017 Reading Challenge. Each month they have a "twins" read which is essentially a buddy read. However, they pair you with someone who has similar tastes in books. Then you both agree to which book that you want to read and report it back.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Sarah]

I used to do the TBR twin thing a few years back when I was a active member there. I am still a member there but I do not participate in the challenges anymore. Whilst I read some good books, I didn't find the buddy read was that buddy-like, not like the buddy reads that we have here where we can openly discuss what is going on as we read. I guess it's because you have to discuss via PM. Quite often I'd spend ages writing a big long message about my thoughts on the book and my buddy wouldn't say anything until they'd finished and then just comment that they had enjoyed it. I guess you've got to have the right buddy!

[Kristie, Moderator]

I had a similar experience in another group that did their buddy reads that way, Sarah. You agree on a book, but there really isn't any discussion to speak of. I ended up still feeling like I was reading it alone. I love the idea, but unless you get the right buddy it just didn't work out as planned.

[Janice, Moderator]

Sounds like an interesting idea. Maybe a person could use the idea and twist it up for a YLTO challenge.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "Sounds like an interesting idea. Maybe a person could use the idea and twist it up for a YLTO challenge."

A similar idea that could be modified for a challenge is the pick-it-for-me challenge, where one person has a list of a few books and their partner chooses which they will read.

[Sarah]

I think we did a pick-it-for-me challenge a while back. I do remember someone picking something for me to read. I can't remember what it was now though or when. But yes Janice, definitely! Basically you are paired up with someone based on the answers to a couple questions (favourite genre, average book length, classic/contemporary etc.) and they decide on a book to read together, discuss it, and report. And there is plenty of room for twisting up ylto-style. lol.

[Kristie, Moderator]

For the pifm challenge in my other group you didn't have to read the same book as your partner. You just had a short list of books that you would like to read and your partner told you which one to read that month and you picked from your partner's list for them.

It was a little different from the paired up buddy read, which is also fun, assuming you get a partner that likes to discuss. Of course, the discussion could be part of the challenge.

[KimeyDiann]

Does anyone remember the Madam Tuti Fruiti (or something similar) that was done a couple of years ago? I think that was my first challenge in this group. I loved that one!

Best I remember, you gave the Madam a list of books, and she would look into her crystal ball and tell you which one(s) you should read. And there was always clever little rhymes when she told you what to read. I think that challenge is what made me fall in love with this group. :)

[Lisa]

KimeyDiann wrote: "Does anyone remember the Madam Tuti Fruiti (or something similar) that was done a couple of years ago? I think that was my first challenge in this group. I loved that one!

Best I remember, you ga..."

I remember that challenge, Kimey. It was one of my favourites too!

[Sarah]

Lots of fond challenge memories :-)

[Kristie, Moderator]

That's great, Kimey. What a nice challenge memory. :)

[Cherie]

Yes, Madam Tuti Fruiti has given us some great challenge memories over the years!

I agree that the "twin" challenge would be difficult, if the other person did not participate in the book discussion. Sometimes it is difficult to make myself stop reading and write down my thoughts. I always wonder if what I see or care about is really important to someone else. I think it really depends on the book too.

[Peggy]

I think in buddy reads it's always nice to hear what anyone thinks of anything, especially if it's something that didn't jump out to you.

The advantage of reading with more than two is that it's okay to be a bit less active for a while, but with two you really depend on each other.

[Jannene]

Sarah wrote: "I used to do the TBR twin thing a few years back when I was a active member there. I am still a member there but I do not participate in the challenges anymore. Whilst I read some good books, I did..."

My first twin was like that, she read the entire book in a day and basically told me it was good. It was a historical fiction book which I do not particularly care for but I did it.

I signed up right after that and got paired with my best twin and we emailed each other our thoughts, irks, and what we liked/disliked. We have started so many series together and have finished a lot too. We take turns picking which book to read next. It is so much fun!

Right now we are reading Daisy in Chains.

[Janice, Moderator]

KimeyDiann wrote: "Does anyone remember the Madam Tuti Fruiti (or something similar) that was done a couple of years ago? I think that was my first challenge in this group. I loved that one!."

Madame Tutti Fruiti has made two appearances in the monthly challenge. But she's busy communing with the spirits. That crystal ball needs to be fully charged before she can make another appearance.

[KimeyDiann]

I will be patiently awaiting her return while sending telepathic messages to her and the spirits to get that crystal ball charged! :)

[Annerlee]

Janice wrote: "Madame Tutti Fruiti has made two appearances in the monthly challenge. But she's busy communing with the spirits. That crystal ball needs to be fully charged before she can make another appearance..."

Could you ask Madame to dig out the appropriate usb cable? (Universal Spritualism Booster)

[Janice, Moderator]

Annerlee wrote: "Could you ask Madame to dig out the appropriate usb cable? (Universal Spritualism Booster) ..."

Love it!

[Cherie]

If you answered Question 9 as single, and are looking for a book where the main charater is single and happy about it! You will like, Lacy Stoltz, in The Whistler. John Grisham's books are usually good stories, and this one is okay, but not my favorite read from this author.

[Jannene]

Hey all!

Dom and I plan to read next month. I know some people picked lilies like we did. We can start a buddy thread if others are interested.

[Peggy]

I know several of you have listed spring as their favourite season and also that many still want to read Age of Myth. I just finished the book and it's all set in spring! Might be useful information for some, as it is not apparent from the blurb.

[Lisa]

Peggy wrote: "I know several of you have listed spring as their favourite season and also that many still want to read Age of Myth. I just finished the book and it's all set in spring! Might be u..."

Thanks for the heads up, Peggy. I have a book slotted in for spring, but I might well swap it out for this now :)

[Casceil]

I'm looking for a book set on or around Memorial Day. Yes, I listed it as my favorite holiday, and I know that may sound strange but I have good reasons. It's the end of the school year and the beginning of summer vacation. It's also when I met my husband--Memorial Day 1987. There are not a lot of books with Memorial Day in the title, and the ones I have found look grim, or else like a hoky thriller. I did not think it would be so hard to find one set at the end of May. Does anyone have any ideas?

[Jannene]

I just finished Memorial Day which was very good. Also, London Bridges was around Memorial Day as well. I just finished that one as well.

[Casceil]

I saw a link to Memorial Day, and it did not sound that promising to me. But if you have actually read it and liked it, maybe I will give it a try. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I just searched Library Thing for you Casceil, as I like their lists function much more than goodreads. But apparently May is a hard one to search for, being a name and a word. I will wrack my brain for you and have a think.

[Sandra, Moderator]

All I can think of is Sam's Top Secret Journal: Book 3- Memorial Day: Memorial Day, if you enjoy to read middle grade novels. It is very good for many reasons, one of them is Sam, the main character, is a girl with Down Syndrome.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

That's right, The Broken Shore is set in May.