2014 Summer Reading Challenge

[Debbie]

Another book finished and I implemented doing a second list to show non-fiction. It's a bit of a stretch using Koontz' The City for historical, but it is set in the early 1960s. And one of the main characters talks about his history with being in Manzanar during WWII. So here is the newest 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. (Completed June 27)
Science Fiction - Earth Awakens by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston. (Completed July 3)
Historical - The City by Dean Koontz. (Completed July 20)
Action/Adventure - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. (Completed July 13)
Romance - The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley. (In Progress)
OR
Romance - Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan. (In Progress)

For set 2 - non-fiction:
Historical - Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman. (Completed July 10)

I'm glad this group allows considerable freedom with definitions of genres!

[Becky]

Finally I finished my classic/literary choice Crime and Punishment. Whew! That took me forever.

[Greg]

Becky wrote: "Finally I finished my classic/literary choice Crime and Punishment. Whew! That took me forever."

Crime and Punishment is on my list as well. It's not surprising that it took a long time to finish...the book is huge!

[Rachel]

I just finished Fablehaven this morning! it was a fun read! I have one more book to read for the challenge.

[Carolyn]

I am done with another.
I am going to keep reading books and add them as they fit into the categories:
• Mystery- Rebecca- (Complete)
• Romance- The Art of Hearing Heartbeats- (complete)
• Science Fiction- The Giver Series- (complete- read all 4)
• Fantasy- 33 AD (complete)
• Western- ?
• Action/Adventure- Seven Unholy Days- (Complete)
• Classic/Literary- 1984 (complete)
• Historical- The Lincoln Hypothesis- (Complete),
And Jesus Wept- (complete)
Number the Stars- (complete)
Between Sades of Gray- (in progress)
I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree- (Complete)
And other books I have read: 13th Day of Christmas, The Menagerie,

[Debbie]

Becky wrote: "Finally I finished my classic/literary choice Crime and Punishment. Whew! That took me forever."

I was impressed when I saw it on your list and I thought 'That took me forever!' I'm glad you finished it!

[Becky]

Thanks for the support on my completion of Crime and Punishment! Keeping up with my son's and daughter's summer reading lists helps me with the SL County Library challenge!!

[Debbie]

I have finished all categories in fiction. In the last, book 6 of the massive Wheel of Time series, I classed as Romance here. In this volume several different relationships that are, or become, romances are developed, revealed, or initiated. I doubt I will go further with non-fiction, but time will tell.

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)
Science Fiction - Earth Awakens by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston. (Completed July 3)
Action/Adventure - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. (Completed July 13)
Historical - The City by Dean Koontz. (Completed July 20)
Romance - Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan. (Completed July 27)

For set 2 - non-fiction:
Historical - Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman. (Completed July 10)

I'm glad this group allows considerable freedom with definitions of genres!

[Jackie]

4th book done! I read the 1st in a series, "The Last Thing I Remember" by Andrew Klavan. It fits in the adventure/action genre.

[Greg]

Challenge #5 Complete!

Science Fiction - Contact by Carl Sagan (Complete July 12)
Action/Adventure - The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (Complete July 16)
Romance - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (Complete July 24)
Classic/Literary - The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien (Complete July 26)
Historical - The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (Complete July 27)

[Becky]

Finished my fantasy pick The Ocean at the End of the Lane which was excellent--my favorite Neil Gaiman book I've read. Now, on to historical fiction.

[Cami]

I keep changing my books and categories but this is my final, completed list:

Mystery - A Red Herring without Mustard (Flavia de Luce #3) by Alan Bradley
Romance - Cinderella by Jenni James
Science Fiction - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Action/Adventure - Dangerous by Shannon Hale (though it could also fit in Science Fiction or Fantasy)
Historical - Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

[Ann]

Jackie wrote: "4th book done! I read the 1st in a series, "The Last Thing I Remember" by Andrew Klavan. It fits in the adventure/action genre."

I just read the description for that-- sounds intense! Did you enjoy it?

[Jackie]

Ann wrote: "Jackie wrote: "4th book done! I read the 1st in a series, "The Last Thing I Remember" by Andrew Klavan. It fits in the adventure/action genre."

I just read the description for that-- sounds intens..."

3 stars. I did enjoy it, although it was definitely written with a pre-teen or teen in mind. I will read the next book in the series for sure.

[Greg]

Challenge #6 (non-fiction) complete!

Historical - The Sphinx Mystery by Robert Temple (Complete June 25)
Romance - The Five Levels of Attachment by Don Miguel Ruiz Jr. (Complete July 10)
Science - Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of his Time by Dava Sobel (Complete July 22)
Mystery - Green River, Running Red by Ann Rule (Complete July 29)
Fantasy - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions by Bill W. Alcoholics Anonymous (Complete July 29)

[Greg]

I think that does it for me. No more summer reading challenge. (I'll still be reading like crazy, though.)

[Jackie]

My 5th and final book of the challenge is finished. I listened to "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool, which fits in the Mystery genre. Gave it 3 stars on the Goodreads ratings. Fun read aloud for upper grade school children.

[Mary]

Just finished my third book yay! It maybe taking me a little longer for various reasons but hey slow and steady right!
Fantasy: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson (Completed)
Western: Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke (Completed)
Historical: Hornet Flight by Ken Follett (Completed)
Romance: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith (In Progress)

[Debbie]

Greg wrote: "I think that does it for me. No more summer reading challenge. (I'll still be reading like crazy, though.)"

Six iterations of this challenge really are plenty! ha ha ha. Enjoy reading "whatever".

[Debbie]

Jackie wrote: "My 5th and final book of the challenge is finished. I listened to "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool, which fits in the Mystery genre. Gave it 3 stars on the Goodreads ratings. Fun read aloud..."

I really enjoyed Moon over Manifest. I'm glad you did, too.

[Ann]

Mary wrote: "Just finished my third book yay! It maybe taking me a little longer for various reasons but hey slow and steady right!
Fantasy: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson (Completed)
Western: Where Courage Call..."

I'm curious what you think of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight so far. I'm intrigued by the summary.

[Becky]

Yay! I am officially finished with the Summer Reading Challenge. I read:

Mystery: Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
Historical Fiction: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
Classic/Literary: Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Western: The Painter by Painter Heller
Romance: The Girl on the Cliff by Lucinda Riley
Science Fiction: The Here and Now by Ann Brashares
Action/Adventure: The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
Fantasy: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Very enjoyable reads and fun seeing what everyone else is reading--thanks SL County Library!

[Shell]

My frist GR Library challenge is completed! I'm so proud.
Romance-Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky
Sci-Fi-Nowhere Land, Kathering Applegate
Fantasy-Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
Classic-As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner
Historical-Abraham Lincoln: The War Years, 1864-1865 Volume 3, Carl Sundberg

[Jenny]

I am reading one more right now but just in case I don't finish it....here is my completed list.
Mystery: The Ring of Rocamadour, The London Eye Mystery and Colin Fischer
Action/Adventure: Steelheart
Science Fiction: Cress
Romance: The Girl You Left Behind
Historical: The Story of Beautiful Girl, Bud, Not Buddy, Blackberry Winter
Fantasy: A Snicker of Magic, The People of Sparks

[Carolyn]

Here is the list of all the books I have read this summer, the only genre I didn't get was Western, can't say I have ever read a western.
I am going to keep reading books and add them as they fit into the categories:
• Mystery- Rebecca
• Romance- The Art of Hearing Heartbeats
• Science Fiction- The Giver Series(read all 4)
• Fantasy- 33 AD, Artful, The Menagerie
• Action/Adventure- Seven Unholy Days
• Classic/Literary- 1984, 13th Day of Christmas
• Historical- The Lincoln Hypothesis, When Jesus Wept, Number the Stars, Between Sades of Gray, I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree

[Jake]

Mission accomplished.
Science Fiction: We by Yevgeny Zamyatin.
Classic/Literary: The Red and the Black by Stendahl.
Fantasy: 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami.
Action/Adventure: Reamde by Neil Stephenson.
Mystery: Immobility by Brian Evenson.

[Marinda]

Finished!

• Mystery
• Romance - The One (2 of 5)
• Science Fiction - Dangerous (1 of 5)
• Fantasy - Endless Knight (5 of 5)
• Western
• Action/Adventure
• Classic/Literary - The Grass Is Always Greener over the Septic Tank (4 of 5)
• Historical - The Heiress of Winterwood (3 of 5)

[Ann]

Way to go everyone who has finished the challenge early!

We still have half a month to go, so no rush, for anyone still working on it.

Any recommendations for monthly reading challenges once the summer has ended? (I can't guarantee what would get done, or when, but I'd love to hear you guys' suggestions.)

[Jenny]

Here are a few ideas. Use them if you like, but it is fine if you don't:
Scary/suspense stories in October
Stories featuring a grandparent in September for grandparents day in Sept.
Stories featuring a character with a disability
Folk/fairy tale adaptations like Cress, Beauty, and others
Learn a new skill or about a new subject (ie nonfiction that you might not have picked up otherwise)
Fantasy with fantastical creatures for October such as vampires, witches, dragons, satyrs, dwarves, etc. (Halloween)
Perhaps pick a historical period such as the Victorian era or the 1960-1970's or the Great Depression or Ancient Rome and everyone reads a book either set in that period or written in that period

[Linda]

The books I read for the summer challenge are
Mystery-Ghost Gone Wild by Carolyn Hart
Fantasy-Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Romance-Victoria's Promise by Julie Wright
Adventure- Dragon's Jaw by Michele Ashman Bell
Historical Fiction-Belonging to Heaven by Gale Sears

[Mary]

Ann wrote: "Mary wrote: "Just finished my third book yay! It maybe taking me a little longer for various reasons but hey slow and steady right!
Fantasy: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson (Completed)
Western: Where..."

I loved it!!! it was a really quick read and one of those books that just put a smile on your face. The main characters were likable and I really enjoyed the flow of the book! I would definitely recommend this book.

[Mary]

Challenge Completed!
just finished my fifth and final book for the challenge but of course that doesn't mean much since I then turned around and picked up another book! ahhh such is the life of a reading addict :}
Western: Where Courage Calls By Janette Oakes
Fantasy: Mistborn By Brandon Sanderson
Historical: Hornet Flight By Ken Follett
Romance: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight By Jennifer E Smith
Mystery: And Then There Were None By Agatha Christie
Currently reading Ready Player One by Ernest Cline which would fit into the Science Fiction category

[Valerie]

Okay, I think I finally finished the challenge after reading 20 Fantasy books...

Fantasy: The 13 Reality by James Dashner
Historical: A Most Peculiar Circumstance by Jen Turano
Romance: The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson
Action/Adventure: The Mapmaker's Sons by V.L. Burgess
Classic: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
or The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Mystery: Cam Jansen and the Secret Service Mystery by David A. Alder

[Becky]

Mary wrote: "Challenge Completed!
just finished my fifth and final book for the challenge but of course that doesn't mean much since I then turned around and picked up another book! ahhh such is the life of a r..."

Oh, I really liked Ready Player One!! Hope you do too. :)

[Carolyn]

Here is the list of all the books I have read this summer, the only genre I didn't get was Western, can't say I have ever read a western. I seem to be reading a lot of Historical fiction, most of which is about world war 2 and the holocaust (survivors).
I am going to keep reading books and add them as they fit into the categories:
• Mystery- Rebecca
• Romance- The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, The Fault in Our Stars
• Science Fiction- The Giver Series(read all 4)
• Fantasy- 33 AD, Artful, The Menagerie
• Action/Adventure- Seven Unholy Days
• Classic/Literary- 1984, 13th Day of Christmas
• Historical- The Lincoln Hypothesis, When Jesus Wept, Number the Stars, Between Sades of Gray, I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree, The Gates of Zion

[Ann]

Valerie wrote: "Okay, I think I finally finished the challenge after reading 20 Fantasy books...

Fantasy: The 13 Reality by James Dashner
Historical: A Most Peculiar Circumstance by Jen Turano
Romance: The Captiv..."

Wow, can I relate to that. I keep looking at the books I've read and gone, "well— it kind of fits in (fill in the blank) category, in addition to fantasy." I really like books that can fit into more than one genre, but my favorite would have to be fantasy.

[Jennie]

Here's my Summer Reading Challenge list. I read more than one book in each category, but in Classic/Literary I'm not sure the ones I read fit, but they fit there better than anywhere else.
Mystery/Suspense
Ring Around the Rosie - Bellon
Run for Your Life - Mathews
The Insider - Bessey

Romance
Imperfect Love - Talley
Becoming Lady Lockwood - Moore
Waiting for You - Halverson

Science Fiction
Assault on Cambriol - Borrowman

Fantasy
Rebel Princess - Sperry
The Keeper's Defiance - Nelson
I'm Not Cinderella - Montgomery

Western
Trouble at the Red Pueblo - Adair
Willow Springs - Steele

Action/adventure
Persona non Grata - Stirling
Quantum Breach - Acey
Twisted Fate - Abramson, Luke, Black

Classic/Literary
Counting Candles - Bradshaw
Behold Your Little Ones - Brown

Historical
Hope - Wilkins
In All Places - Ayleworth
Men of Destiny - Brobst

[Debbie]

Jennie wrote: "Here's my Summer Reading Challenge list. I read more than one book in each category, but in Classic/Literary I'm not sure the ones I read fit, but they fit there better than anywhere else.
Mystery..."

Chasing Greg, eh? ha ha ha! Actually, I'm jealous. Reading a huge multi-volume series reduces the other types of books I might have read for this challenge.

[Becky]

Ann wrote: "Way to go everyone who has finished the challenge early!

We still have half a month to go, so no rush, for anyone still working on it.

Any recommendations for monthly reading challenges onchie the..."

Hi Ann,

If you are still looking for ideas for the monthly challenges, I have a few ideas: books set in other countries, time travel books, books written by a non-American author, books set in a particular time period or decade, how-to or hobby that you read about and then try, book you should have read in high school lit class but didn't, and biography of a living person.

[Jenny]

Good ideas, Becky!

[Greg]

I'm nearly done reading the book I won for finishing the summer reading challenge!

[Mary]

Just finished my sixth book! I wasn't sure I would finish it before the end of this month but it was so good I loved it!!!! I think Ready Player One is one of my new favorite books!!!
Fantasy: Mistborn
Romance: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Western: Where Courage Calls
Historical: Hornet Flight
Mystery: And Then There Were Now
Science Fiction: Ready Player One
this is how my list stands so far but if I finish anymore before the end of Aug. it might change.

[Debbie]

Mary wrote: "Just finished my sixth book! I wasn't sure I would finish it before the end of this month but it was so good I loved it!!!! I think Ready Player One is one of my new favorite books!!!
Fantasy: Mist..."

For your Mystery, is it "And then there were now" or is it "And then there were none"?

[Debbie]

Jenny wrote: "Good ideas, Becky!"

I like these ideas, too!

[Mary]

Debbie wrote: "Mary wrote: "Just finished my sixth book! I wasn't sure I would finish it before the end of this month but it was so good I loved it!!!! I think Ready Player One is one of my new favorite books!!!
..."

oppps I didn't catch that yeah it is suppose to be And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Sci-Fi- The Jedi Doth Return
Fantasy- Fortunately the Milk
Literary- 2 AM at the Cat's Pajamas (style felt literary, so I'm counting it)
Mystery- Don't Try to Find Me (suspense, so putting it here)

I just need to read one more... this week. :)

[Ann]

Thanks for the reading challenge suggestions everyone! (I'm always open for ideas, so if you ever think of something you'd like to see us try let me know and I'll see what we can do.)

[Ann]

I just posted the September Reading Challenge. (We have an awesome library program coming up at the end of that month that inspired the challenge. Check it out.)

For those of you still working on the Summer Reading Challenge, no worries, you still have until midnight on August 31 to post the books you've read to be included in the prize book drawing.

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "Sci-Fi- The Jedi Doth Return
Fantasy- Fortunately the Milk
Literary- 2 AM at the Cat's Pajamas (style felt literary, so I'm counting it)
Mystery- Don't Try to Find Me (suspense, so putting it here)..."
Historical- Chateau of Secrets

COMPLETE!!

[Ann]

Thanks everyone for participating in our latest Summer Reading Challenge!

If you haven't posted your completed Summer Reading Challenge list make sure to do so by August 31. Also make sure your account is set so that you can receive messages if you want to be included in the drawing.

Happy reading!