2014 Summer Reading Challenge

[Marinda]

I read Dangerousby Shannon Hale. I think I have finally figured out why I get engrossed by some of her books and can't get into others.
I am going to count Dangerous as my Sci-Fi, although I don't know that much about science and after I put the book down I was amazed I was able to read through the gaping plot hole.
It was still a mostly fun read and I enjoyed it, although I don't know if I could recommend it, because of the aforementioned plot hole.

• Mystery
• Romance
• Science Fiction - Dangerous (1 of 5)
• Fantasy
• Western
• Action/Adventure
• Classic/Literary
• Historical

[Debbie]

I think I've my idea for my list. I've listed 6, which end up my 5 if I finish 5 this summer, remains to be seen. And who knows how the list may change?

Mystery - The Lighthouse by P.D. James
Fantasy - Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke
Western - O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
Action/Adventure - Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan
Classic/Literary - Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins
Historical - Sacajawea by Joseph Bruchac

Currently Lord of Chaos, Criss Cross and Inkdeath are in progress, in backwards order of probable completion.

[Greg]

Fantasy: Skin Game by Jim Butcher (Complete June 1)
Historical: Sarah by Orson Scott Card (Complete June 4)
Action/Adventure: The Target by David Baldacci (Complete June 6)
Classic: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (Complete June 9)
Mystery: A Stranger is Watching by Mary Higgins Clark (Complete June 10)

Finished!

[Becky]

Greg wrote: "Fantasy: Skin Game by Jim Butcher (Complete June 1)
Historical: Sarah by Orson Scott Card (Complete June 4)
Action/Adventure: The Target by David Baldacci (Compelte June 6)
Classic: Great Expectati..."

Blue ribbon for Greg! Now waddya going to do with the rest of summer?!

[Debbie]

Greg wrote: "Fantasy: Skin Game ... Finished!"

Hooray Greg! I'll finish my first today. I like your (Complete) statement. I think I'll use that, too!

[Debbie]

I've finished my first book of the Summer Challenge! So here is my updated list. I've also added another title bringing the possible total to 7. We will see which end up the 5 finaliists.

Mystery - The Lighthouse by P.D. James (In Progress)
Fantasy - Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke (Completed June 11)
Western - O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
Action/Adventure - Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan (In Progress)
Classic/Literary - Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins (In Progress)
Historical - Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman
or Sacajawea by Joseph Bruchac

[Ann]

Jan wrote: "So can we use Paranormal for Fantasy?"

I'd say paranormal could go in either fantasy or science fiction, depending on how they spin the paranormal aspect and what kind of setting it's put in, though I do tend to lean more toward fantasy myself. Either way, I can definitely see an argument for paranormal being connected to either category of books.

[Greg]

Blue ribbon for Greg! Now waddya going to do with the rest of summer?!

Why thank you! Don't worry about me, I've currently got 171 books on my to-read list. And more books that I want to read will be published over the next few months than I could possibly read in that time. I have plenty to keep me busy! In fact, at only about 2-3 books per week, I'll never be able to keep up, and from time to time I have to revisit some old favorites, which further complicates the issue!

[Becky]

I finished my second book of the challenge, The Here and Now, a YA science fiction book. It has a time travel theme, which I love, and was entertaining, but the "time travel logic" didn't pan out, in my opinion, so overall, just okay.

[Jackie]

My second book of the challenge was "The 5th Wave", by Rick Yancey. This is YA fiction, and definitely fits in the Sci-Fi genre, as the story is about Aliens. A great read! I am looking forward to the 2nd book of the series.

[Carolyn]

this is my list so far:
• Mystery- The Seventh Child- I can't bring myself to waste time finishing this book, I will look into a different one.
• Romance- The Art of Hearing Heartbeats- (complete)
• Science Fiction- The Giver Series- (finished first 3, started 4- Son)
• Fantasy- ?
• Western- ?
• Action/Adventure- ?
• Classic/Literary- ?
• Historical- The Lincoln Hypothesis- (just started)

[Greg]

Just for fun, I'm doing it again!

Mystery: Sycamore Row by John Grisham (Complete June 12)
Action/Adventure: Hidden Order by Brad Thor (Complete June 16)
Classic: Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (Complete June 17)
Fantasy: The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien (Complete June 21)
Science Fiction: The Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore (Complete June 21)

[Jennie]

Here's what I've read for this challenge so far:
Mystery:
The Insider by Sian Ann Bessey,
Fantasy: The Rebel Princess by Janice Sperry
Historical: Eastward to Zion by Susan Aylworth.

I've read several others as well, but these are the best in these categories.

[alisonwonderland (Alison)]

I've finished my first book for the challenge - Historical Fiction: Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas.

[Becky]

I finished The Girl on the Cliff. I'm classifying it as a romance.

[Cami]

Here's my plan:

Mystery - A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley, 3rd in the Flavia de Luce series (just started)
Sci Fi - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (just started)
Fantasy - Eragon by Christopher Paolini (not yet started)
Action/Adventure - When I Fell From the Sky by Juliane Diller Koepcke (as suggested by someone on this list!) (not yet started)
Historical - The Great Influenza by John M. Barry (just started)

Let's see how it goes this summer! I tried to pick books I've already started or that are on my to-read list that hopefully fit the categories. I might change my mind on some titles as the summer progresses though.

[Jackie]

Cami wrote: "Here's my plan:

Mystery - A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley, 3rd in the Flavia de Luce series (just started)
Sci Fi - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (just started)
Fantasy - Er..."

I LOVE the Flavia books! Happy reading!

[alisonwonderland (Alison)]

I've finished my second book for the challenge - Fantasy: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.

[Debbie]

Ann wrote: "Jan wrote: "So can we use Paranormal for Fantasy?"

I'd say paranormal could go in either fantasy or science fiction, depending on how they spin the paranormal aspect and what kind of setting it's ..."

You could also put paranormal into Romance or into Action/Adventure depending on what happens in the book. Formally,though, paranormal is considered a subset of Fantasy, it tending to be more fanciful in scope than scientific. Horror is also generally considered a subset of fantasy/sci-fi, its application to one type or the other depending on its focus.

[Jenny]

I've completed my first two books:

Science Fiction: Cress

Romance: The Girl You Left Behind (could also be classified as historical, but I will most likely read several historical fiction books during the summer...so I'm using this one as my romance pick)

I have ideas for historical, action/adventure and classic/literary.

[Ann]

Jenny wrote: "I've completed my first two books:

Science Fiction: Cress

Romance: The Girl You Left Behind (could also be classified as historical, but I will most likely read s..."

I really enjoyed Cress. Marissa Meyer is really doing an awesome job with the series. My only regret is that the next book isn't projected to come out until February next year.

[Carolyn]

this is my updated list so far:
• Mystery- Rebecca
• Romance- The Art of Hearing Heartbeats- (complete)
• Science Fiction- The Giver Series- (finished first 3, #4- Son- in progress)
• Fantasy- What-The Dickens
• Western- ?
• Action/Adventure- ?
• Classic/Literary- ?
• Historical- The Lincoln Hypothesis- (in progress)

[Jenny]

Yes. I've really enjoyed Meyer's books as well...but waiting until next February is far too long! I usually try not to read series until all of the books are out for that very reason. But I started Cinder before I realized it was the first in a series.

[Brittany]

3 out of 5 books read, only 2 to go.

Romance - Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge (COMPLETED)

Science Fiction - Divergent by Veronica Roth (not yet started)

Fantasy - Summerland by Michael Chabon (not yet started)

Action / Adventure - Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (COMPLETED)

Classic / Literary - The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (COMPLETED)

I have really been enjoying this challenge so far. Can't wait to start book number four!

[Jackie]

I finished "Jane Eyre" today. A wonderful read that falls into the classic/literary genre. Two down, three to go! :)

[Rachel]

I read Divergent! one down four more to go

[Brittany]

Rachel wrote: "I read Divergent! one down four more to go"

I'm going to read that for this challenge too, so excited. I've heard really good things about it.

[Debbie]

I've finished my second book of the Summer Challenge! So here is my updated list. I've removed a title returning the possible total to 6. We will see which end up the 5 finalists.

Fantasy - Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke (Completed June 11)
Classic/Literary - Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins (Completed June 20)
Mystery - The Lighthouse by P.D. James (In Progress)
Western - O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
Action/Adventure - Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan (In Progress)
Historical - Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman (In Progress)

[Greg]

Debbie, I like what you did with the bold, there. That's a good idea!

[Greg]

Mystery: Sycamore Row by John Grisham (Complete June 12)
Action/Adventure: Hidden Order by Brad Thor (Complete June 16)
Classic: Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (Complete June 17)
Fantasy: The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien (Complete June 21)
Science Fiction: The Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore (Complete June 21)

Finished #2!

[Greg]

And a third time...

Fantasy - The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card (Complete June 21)
Action/Adventure - Allegiant by Veronica Roth (Complete June 24)
Science Fiction - Spell or High Water by Scott Meyer (Complete June 25)
Historical - The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Complete June 26)
Classic/Literary - Dracula by Bram Stoker (Complete June 27)



A couple of these I'm not sure about the classification because I don't know much about them. That's why they have question marks. If you know better, please let me know!

[Jenny]

I would say The Help is historical. Dracula would be a classic, I think. (But I haven't actually read Dracula.)
And wow...you're on your third tme through...very impressive.

[Greg]

Thanks, Jenny. That actually makes a lot of sense. I'm not sure why I hadn't stuck The Help in Historical, and it should have been obvious that Dracula is Classic. I guess sometimes one just misses the obvious.

[Carolyn]

this is my updated list so far:
• Mystery- Rebecca- started
• Romance- The Art of Hearing Heartbeats- (complete)
• Science Fiction- The Giver Series- (complete- read all 4)
• Fantasy- 33 AD
• Western- ?
• Action/Adventure- ?
• Classic/Literary- ?
• Historical- The Lincoln Hypothesis- (in progress)
I finished reading The 13th Day of Christmas, but I don't think it fits into one of these categories.

[Debbie]

Jenny wrote: "I would say The Help is historical. Dracula would be a classic, I think. (But I haven't actually read Dracula.)
And wow...you're on your third tme through...very impressive."

Dracula, being horror, is considered Fantasy. It is also, unquestionably, a classic. One could also make an argument of it being historical. So lots of possibilities with it!

[Debbie]

I've finished my third book of the Summer Challenge! So here is my updated list. I've also added another title (again) bringing the possible total to 7. We will see which end up the 5 finalists.

Fantasy - Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke (Completed June 11)
Classic/Literary - Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins (Completed June 20)
Mystery - The Lighthouse by P.D. James (Completed June 21)
Western - O Pioneers! by Willa Cather (In Progress)
Historical - Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman (In Progress)
Action/Adventure - Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan (In Progress)
or
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein

[Greg]

I have about 5000 books on my to read list and as I look through them and try to place them in a category/genre, I have a hard time.

5000 books on the to-read list? That seems insane! At my current, difficult to achieve rate of 100 books per year, that would take me 50 years! And I don't think that rate is slouching at all!

If you can never finish the list, how do you prioritize it? And how do you have room for new books?

For your sake, I hope there's reading in the next life!

[Ann]

Brittany wrote: "3 out of 5 books read, only 2 to go.

Romance - Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge (COMPLETED)

Science Fiction - Divergent by Veronica Roth (not yet started)

Fantasy -..."

I don't read tons of teen fiction, but I really enjoyed Cruel Beauty. I thought it was a fun and unique twist on the Beauty and the Beast tale, but not many other people I've talked to have read it yet. What's your take on it?

[Jan]

OK, must stop reading mysteries and get to some other genres. Would a historical mystery count as historical?

[Jackie]

Jan wrote: "OK, must stop reading mysteries and get to some other genres. Would a historical mystery count as historical?"

Any type of fiction that involves an actual event or period of time qualifies, I believe. For instance, if you read a mystery based around the Holocaust, and WWII.

[alisonwonderland (Alison)]

Ann wrote: "I don't read tons of teen fiction, but I really enjoyed Cruel Beauty. I thought it was a fun and unique twist on the Beauty and the Beast tale, but not many other people I've talked to have read it yet. What's your take on it?"

I hadn't heard of Cruel Beauty but have added it to my to-read list on the strength of Brittany's review!

[Debbie]

Greg wrote: "I have about 5000 books on my to read list and as I look through them and try to place them in a category/genre, I have a hard time.

5000 books on the to-read list? That seems insane! At my curren..."

First, if you start a book and find you don't like it, you stop and start another. Second, you identify those which really do interest you. Third, you realize there will be many you never do read.

But with that many on one's to-read list, one can always find something both on the list and meeting a challenge!

[Debbie]

Jan wrote: "OK, must stop reading mysteries and get to some other genres. Would a historical mystery count as historical?"

Ditto to Jackie's comment. As a specific, if you read Sister Frevisse, "historical medieval mysteries". Ergo, historical. In reading them, you can tell a lot of research in understanding and accurately portraying the time period was central in creating the books.
Historical? Absolutely.

[Debbie]

Well, I'm changing my list uh-gain. I had placed one of the "new purchases" announced by the library. It finally made it through processing and, since I can only have it for 21 days, it's a Must Read Quickly.

So my again revised list:
Fantasy - Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke (Completed June 11)
Classic/Literary - Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins (Completed June 20)
Mystery - The Lighthouse by P.D. James (Completed June 21)
Western - O Pioneers! by Willa Cather (In Progress - almost finished)
Historical - Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman (In Progress)
Action/Adventure - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
Science Fiction - Earth Awakens by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston (In Progress)

[Jackie]

Finished The Girl on the Cliff
by Lucinda Riley. I will count this as my Romance read.
Three down :)

[Carolyn]

this is my updated list so far:
• Mystery- Rebecca- (In progress)
• Romance- The Art of Hearing Heartbeats- (complete)
• Science Fiction- The Giver Series- (complete- read all 4)
• Fantasy- 33 AD (in progress)
• Western- ?
• Action/Adventure- ?
• Classic/Literary- I think this one will be 1984
• Historical- The Lincoln Hypothesis- (Complete)
I finished reading The 13th Day of Christmas, but I don't think it fits into one of these categories. So three down!

[Brittany]

Ann wrote: "Brittany wrote: "3 out of 5 books read, only 2 to go.

Romance - Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge (COMPLETED)

Science Fiction - Divergent by Veronica Roth (not yet st..."

Ann, as far as retellings go I thought Cruel Beauty was very original and creative. I loved the way it mixed in the Greek mythology as well. I was not expecting that, but I thought that it was done beautifully.

[Debbie]

I've finished my fourth book of the Summer Challenge! I suspect the fifth book will be the Historical book on Abraham Lincoln. We shall see.

Fantasy - Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke (Completed June 11)
Classic/Literary - Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins (Completed June 20)
Mystery - The Lighthouse by P.D. James (Completed June 21)
Western - O Pioneers! by Willa Cather (Completed June 27)
Historical - Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman (In Progress)
Action/Adventure - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein (In Progress)
Science Fiction - Earth Awakens by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston (In Progress)

[Greg]

Finished #3

Fantasy - The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card (Complete June 21)
Action/Adventure - Allegiant by Veronica Roth (Complete June 24)
Science Fiction - Spell or High Water by Scott Meyer (Complete June 25)
Historical - The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Complete June 26)
Classic/Literary - Dracula by Bram Stoker (Complete June 27)


Onto #4...

[Greg]

Challenge #4

Fantasy - The Gate Thief by Orson Scott Card (Complete June 30)
Mystery - Dark Memories by Jeffrey S. Savage (Complete July 2)
Historical - All Our Yesterdays by Robert B. Parker (Complete July 4)
Science Fiction - Off to be the Wizard by Scott Meyer (Complete July 8)
Classic/Literary - The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (Complete July 11)