Reading with Style discussion
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Merry Christmas + Happy 2019 to everyone! Here's to lots of great reading in the year ahead!
Sending warm wishes for a wonderful holiday!
Enjoy your celebrations everyone!
Hey everyone!My name is Abbie, and I am lost and confussed. Just trying to figure this all out!
To start is it Winter 18-19? And how long is the challenges?
Hi Abbie! The challenges last 3 months, so winter will go on until the end of February. I've left a longer answer to your post in the general questions thread.
Happy Holidays everyone.
I'm in warm Florida for the holidays! I was in Texas earlier in the month and it was hard to go back to cold Tennessee but in Southern Florida it's even better and I'm sure it will be even more difficult. I've decided when after the twins graduate next year we will be snowbirds. Then I can divide between my beloved Mother's land of Texas and my beloved Father's land of East Tennessee.
Oh by the way, I'm multilingual so if you need help with Hillbilly (Appalachian Region), Texan, Southern or just plain American, I can help. I also know a bit of British English but Proper (book learning) English and Yankee (New England and New York), I'm a bit rusty. (smile)
Abbie DiscoSuperFly wrote: "Hey everyone!My name is Abbie, and I am lost and confussed. Just trying to figure this all out!
To start is it Winter 18-19? And how long is the challenges?"
Abbie!!!!!
So good to see you here. Don't worry, you'll catch on quickly and the group is helpful:)
Karen Michele wrote: "Abbie DiscoSuperFly wrote: "Hey everyone!My name is Abbie, and I am lost and confussed. Just trying to figure this all out!
To start is it Winter 18-19? And how long is the challenges?"
Abbie!!..."
Thanks Karen!
This year I wanted to expand my horizons on some groups! I have been stuck in the same 4 or 5 groups, and thought it would be good to venture out of my hole.
I didnt even check to see if anyone I knew was here. I may pick your brain if I get lost.
I'm working on the "Backpacking Through Europe" challenge and I need a book from Germany. I'm very impressed by Erich Maria Remarque and had planned to read A Time to Love and a Time to Die. I started it and it is just sooo depressing, like All Quiet on the Western Front but more violent and gruesome. I've decided to switch to a modern German writer, someone who isn't writing about World War 2. I'd skip Germany altogether but Germany is so centrally located it would be difficult to go around it (especially since I started with Denmark)
Deedee wrote: "I'm working on the "Backpacking Through Europe" challenge and I need a book from Germany. I'm very impressed by Erich Maria Remarque and had planned to read A Time to Love and a..."</i>I was going to use [book:The Sorrows of Young Werther. Or perhaps you could read something by Hermann Hesse. They definitely aren't modern, but aren't writing about WWII. Or Patrick Suskind - although I haven't read his books (yet).
Goodreads will be performing some site maintenance Dec 31 - Jan 1 and some functions will be curtailed or not available. See the announcement here:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Deedee wrote: "I'm working on the "Backpacking Through Europe" challenge and I need a book from Germany. I'm very impressed by Erich Maria Remarque and had planned to read A Time to Love and a..."</i>If you want something light hearted and humorous, [book:The Adventures of Baron Münchausen by Rudolf Erich Raspe . It's kind of like a German Gulliver's Travels
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Goodreads will be performing some site maintenance Dec 31 - Jan 1 and some functions will be curtailed or not available. See the announcement here:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"
Oh No! Are these changes really necessary? I'm still not able to link books on iPad and I can't see more than a few books at in time in lists and on my bookshelves. Sounds like they are trying to limit the number of books displayed at one time.
Rebekah wrote: "Oh No! Are these changes really necessary? "It's just temporary, if you read the announcement
Thanks to all of you who have added descriptions to your 2019 personal reading goals. We have a list in our Mods group and will do our darnedest to incorporate some of these in future tasks and/or sub-challenges.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Thanks to all of you who have added descriptions to your 2019 personal reading goals. We have a list in our Mods group and will do our darnedest to incorporate some of these in future tasks and/or ..."I was wondering if that was your plan. I, for one, appreciate the chance to fit my goals in with the RwS challenges. It's easy to get caught up in the 'shiny new challenge' and forget the longer term goals. This season is quite good for tasks that could help me with my goals (if I get my chosen books read, of course!).
It works both ways, Valerie. We start thinking about a season with a thread called "brainstorming" - and that process is a lot easier when our members have given us some ideas of where they'd like to go. I know we hit some clunkers, but we can't be brilliant all the time. ;-)
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "It works both ways, Valerie. We start thinking about a season with a thread called "brainstorming" - and that process is a lot easier when our members have given us some ideas of where they'd like ..."Ha, ha - I appreciate your collective brilliance! I don't think I'd be able to think up interesting tasks.
Rebekah wrote: "Deedee wrote: "I'm working on the "Backpacking Through Europe" challenge and I need a book from Germany. I'm very impressed by Erich Maria Remarque and had planned to read.... "Thanks for all of your kind suggestions! I wound up reading Me and Kaminski by Daniel Kehlmann, a dark humor short novel that would have fit Summer 2018 Task 20.10 Art World: Read any book where a painting or sculpture or an artist (painter or sculptor) is central. (In case that task is ever repeated :) ). Next up: Belgium. Or France. Depends on how much I like my Belgium book.
Woo Hoo! Audible is having a 2 for 1 sale with quite a few books on the Amazon 2018 list!
I think it's time to remind everyone about posting in the 20.1 thread about authors not on the pre-approved list *prior* to posting in the Completed Tasks thread. There is a routine when adding to the database, and when an author is already there I don't spend time hunting around for more information, which interrupts the workflow. Posting beforehand was mentioned in the task thread.
Thank you.One of the nice things about the database is that when we have a task "any book by an author" we can enter these authors in a file and then when you all post a book - even if you read multiple books by the same author - it counts that book for the task and/or combos.
It's halfway weekend! I've loved seeing some new faces and hope all are feeling settled in. How is everyone doing on this season's reading?
I've started a couple of new series, but am struggling to fit in everything I want to get to. (And what else is new ... my reading eyes are always bigger than my reading stomach!)
I was just thinking that it is around the halfway mark when I posted my last book ( Book Lust to Go: Recommended Reading for Travelers, Vagabonds, and Dreamers ). Numbers wise I'm behind, but I have to keep reminding myself that is because I am reading a BIG fat book (and am about 70% through). It is such a good book, but I had to interrupt it because Book lust was due (at the library).
However, if I look at from the enjoyment angle I would say this season has been really good. As is often the case I have many books slotted for most of the tasks, and I've been pleased with the ones I've chosen to read.
Speaking of reading eyes..... Book lust to go was detrimental to my GR TBR list.
I am really trying hard for my first (and probably last) ever MegaFinish. I've finished 19 books so it looks good, but a lot of them are under 200 pages, which is the only way that I stand any chance of finishing. Now I'm left with the longer ones, including the +700pp one for 20.9 (love you, Kate!!).
Lagullande wrote: "I am really trying hard for my first (and probably last) ever MegaFinish. I've finished 19 books so it looks good, but a lot of them are under 200 pages, which is the only way that I stand any ch..."
Generally I'm a fast reader, but I found the same thing when I managed a mega finish - I read a lot of short books.
I'm hoping for a RwS finish this season, although I'm having a VERY hard time finding a book for 10.1!
Valerie wrote: "I'm having a VERY hard time finding a book for 10.1! "I think Louise Penny does not fit any of the author tasks, only her debut is on the 20.4 list, and as long as rich people aren't involved, you can probably use her.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Valerie wrote: "I'm having a VERY hard time finding a book for 10.1! "I think Louise Penny does not fit any of the author tasks, only her debut is on the 20.4 list, and as long as rich people are..."
Thank you, Elizabeth!! I hadn't considered her because I didn't read the task help thread carefully...!! See, it pays to read! ha, ha.....
I am on track to finish but my BtE2 is held up waiting for a book from the library. We have had extended loans over the holiday period. Most of my remaining RwS books are long. A couple of times I have found a book for Kate's task only to find I really need it for one of the other tasks more!
I'm still on track for a MegaFinish, but I too need to get going on my 700+ pages book. :) I think I have short books lined up for the rest of BtE2, though. I'm enjoying the subchallenge a lot!
I'm on track for RwS, but I don't think I will complete the subchallenge, so no mega finish for me this season! It's the first one I haven't completed for a while, but I took on a new job with more hours in late November, so I have less reading time now.
I've completed BtE. Well, I hope I've completed it all ok anyway.And I'm on track to finish War and Peace by end of Season.
The balance: 8 tasks for which I'm reading 2 for now so I think I should be able to finish the Season unless... IF I feel like rebelling and just read as per my mood. I feel it coming lol
Well, I have finished 7 RwS and 1 BtE, which is pretty much on course for me!
My goal is to finish the RwS challenge. I would like to make a few more stops in the BtE sub-challenge, but there is no way I would be able to finish it.I've been trying to decide which big book to read for the 700 page task, and have been leaning toward something light like Outlander.
I am sure I will finish the main RwS challenge, but not so sure on the sub challenge. I keep getting sidetracked by new finds!
The holidays and my travels put a crimp in my reading. I expect to come close to a Mega-finish...but its not probable. Just started my 700+ page book...and its a good but slow read.
For the Prize Worthy style, the award must be listed on the Goodreads book page. However, if you have learned through other means that the title has won an award not listed on the GR book page, you can request in the librarian help thread to have it added. Adding awards takes a fair amount of time and sometimes research takes place before starting in on one. Please ask before posting in the Completed Tasks thread.It was through this group that I became so very interested in getting awards added to the GR book page and I am happy to work on these. The sub-challenge "Eyes on the Prize" a few years back hooked me and consequently I became the most experienced GR librarian doing awards. It's always more interesting to me to do the ones people are interested in having on the book page.
I have finished 3 RWS tasks and 1 BtE task.
Mary Oliver died today. I came to her work late, and love it.
I'm almost finished with Daniel Deronda (and not loving it)...but it made me think that other than the broad outlines, I know little about how the State of Israel came to be. I wonder if anyone has a recommendation for a fair and balanced history? Also let me know if there is a good historical novel that will educate me just as well.Thanks.
Ed wrote: "I know little about how the State of Israel came to be. I wonder if anyone has a recommendation for a fair and balanced history?"I have not read it (it's on my ever groaning wishlist), but you might be interested in A Tale of Love and Darkness. See this review, which includes the exact phrase: If you also want to know about the history of Israel, go for this book.. There are other reviews, of course.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Ed wrote: "I know little about how the State of Israel came to be. I wonder if anyone has a recommendation for a fair and balanced history?"I have not read it (it's on my ever groaning wishlist),..."
Thanks.... that looks like a good one.
Your question certainly made me think. My view of the founding of Israel has been based on Exodus by Leon Uris (historical fiction) which I read many decades ago and I have no idea how accurate it is. It is definitely told from a partisan POV.The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan is nonfiction and tells of the impacts on a more personal level rather than the politics.
I will be interested to read others’ suggestions.
itpdx wrote: "Your question certainly made me think. My view of the founding of Israel has been based on Exodus by Leon Uris (historical fiction) which I read many decades ago and I h..."Thanks itpdx
I've finished 11 RWS and 3 BtE. I have a good shot at finishing one or the other, but probably not both (even though I've picked out books to finish BtE)
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Yes, it was fine. I need to get my granddaughter to send the photo of the 4 generations!