MJ's 2019 is gonna be better list!

[Rachelnyc]

MJ wrote: "I am working my way through Heart Berries for 47. A book related to food (i.e. title, cover, plot, etc.)

It's short. I'm not really enjoying it. Reading about someone else's strugg..."

I am glad I'm not the only one who didn't like Heart Berries. It was partly what you wrote but I also never really felt a connection which to me is pretty crucial when reading a memoir. I think it was mainly the writing style that I didn't enjoy.

As a comparison, I absolutely loved Educated which was often difficult to read because of the horrors the author went through but I felt a connection to her and that kept me engaged.

[MJ]

Rachelnyc wrote: "MJ wrote: "I am working my way through Heart Berries for 47. A book related to food (i.e. title, cover, plot, etc.)

It's short. I'm not really enjoying it. Reading about someone el..."

I put Educated on my tbr based on what others had to say about it, but now that I've read the blurb, it's something I want to get to sooner rather than later.

I did not connect with the author of Heart Berries either. And I didn't enjoy reading so much about a couple's relationship woes/challenges. It was mercifully short, and I appreciated that I could get a challenge prompt done quickly. I'm also focussing on indigenous authors this year, so it fulfilled that requirement as well.

[Jody]

Educated is just incredible. I think you’ll love it.

[MJ]

I'm going to try and read:
House Made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday
21. A book from one of the polarizing or close call votes -
From poll 10: A book where the author’s name contain A, T, and Y

Still working on Kiss of the Fur Queen,
and I just got a copy of book 2 in the Murderbot Series... that might be a side read, because i don't know if I can make it fit somewhere.

Too many books right now, and not enough time. I did a two-day workshop this week-end, so I didn't really have a week-end. So. Tired.

[MJ]

I picked up City of the Lost and I'm reading it for one of the reject prompts and... I want to stay up all night reading. But morning comes too soon. It has made me lose interest in Kiss of the Fur Queen and I'm already wondering about book two. I might not be everyone's cup 'o tea, but it's a really nice break from some of the stuff I've been reading for work. So sad it's Monday tomorrow. It would be a late night otherwise.

[Anastasia]

Just added "City of the Lost" to my TBR. I keep putting off "Kiss of the Fur Queen " .
The title is interesting just not sure about the story.

[MJ]

Anastasia wrote: "Just added "City of the Lost" to my TBR. I keep putting off "Kiss of the Fur Queen " .
The title is interesting just not sure about the story."

I was enjoying Kiss of The Fur Queen, but I’ve read a lot of Indigenous stuff this year - for work and for this challenge - so City of The Lost feels like a much needed change.

[MJ]

Finished City of the Lost and I enjoyed it so much that I've decided to read book two of the series. Both book 1 and 2 fit into my reject challenge.

I leave for my field job (no internet for two months) on Tuesday, so my logical plan was to finish off the books I've started by then. No logic here. The series is just the change of pace I needed. I am also eying Armstrong's Omens too. I am already dragging some doorstops to my field job... but I might... might get one of her books if I can find one in the airport bookstore.

[MJ]

I just got home yesterday after being off the grid for two months doing fieldwork... I read when I ticked some books from my list but am behind (surprise, surprise). I'm not going comments here on the books I've read over the last few months, but will get back on track by saying that I'm now going to start The Borrowers for

25. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #3 Something Borrowed

It's shorter, which should help me catch up.
Next step: updating my column on the group's spreadsheet.

[Jody]

Welcome back!!

[MJ]

I loved The Borrowers. I can't believe I didn't read it when I was younger!

Next up: Cloud Atlas
38. A book not written in traditional novel format (poetry, essay, epistolary, graphic novel, etc)

Not sure that it suits my current mood, but of the books I want to read for the challenge, Cloud Atlas was immediately available for download from the library.

[MJ]

I am all over the place right now. Also started reading Divergent for
17. A speculative fiction (i.e. fantasy, scifi, horror, dystopia)

As a side challenge/interest, I'd like to read through the Top YA books on Goodreads...

[MJ]

I am a little all over the place right now. I just binge-read the Divergent trilogy (only one of the three fit my challenge, and I think I just abandoned Cloud Atlas (at least for now), which was meant for another prompt. Currently reading

Great Expectations
32. A book with more than 500 pages

but not really feeling it.

I picked up Lost Among the Birds: Accidentally Finding Myself in One Very Big Year for
44. A book related in some way to a tv show/series or movie you enjoyed (same topic, same era, book appeared in the show/movie, etc.)

Plus I have partially finished They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School for
22. A book with a number in the title or on the cover...

but part of me wants to abandon all of them and start reading my way through The Top 100 YA Books on Goodreads list.

Argh. Why can't I just focus?

[MJ]

I'm still plugging away at this. I am six books behind schedule, but have three on the go right now:

29. A book published before 1950
A Narrative of the Captivity and Adventures of John Tanner, (U.S. Interpreter at the Saut de Ste. Marie); During Thirty Years Residence Among the Indians in the Interior of North America aka The Falcon
This is a bit of a slog, but I'm determined to get through it. I'm reading it at work when I have the time.

30. A book featuring an elderly character
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry

and I'm still trying to get through
Great Expectations for
32. A book with more than 500 pages

I got tired of looking at books I chose nearly a year ago for this challenge, so I'm making some changes to the list so I can get re-insprired... and i'm going to add some shorter books too.

I still think I can get close to done. Commenting mostly because I'm tired of going to the third page to find my thread!

[MJ]

Finally, FINALLY finished The Narrative of John Tanner (see my comment above). It was a slog. It was informative. The ending was unsatisfying and felt rushed.

I switched out The Secret diary of Hendrik Groen 83 1/4 years old for 30. A book featuring an elderly character

An enjoyable book, but not a page-turner for me. It felt familiar... and I'm wondering if I started it at some point and then abandoned it. hmmm.

Also just finished 84, Charing Cross Road for
12. A book about reading, books or an author/writer

which was thoroughly enjoyable... and very short!

[MJ]

31. A children’s classic you’ve never read

I finally got around to reading Stuart Little. I am not sure how much I would have liked it had I read it as a child.

It looks like I have 8 books left in my challenge, but I am not sure how much more I’ll get done. We’re going travelling over Christmas, and I haven’t decided what I want to read on the plane. I’ve been doing a lot of reading (not books, sadly) for work, so my reading for fun has suffered lately too.

I did a lot of side reads this year, and if I don’t manage to cross another book off this list, I’ll be okay with that. We get to start over in a few weeks!

[Jody]

Argh, Stuart Little is crap! Can't believe it came from the same person who wrote my favourite book ever, Charlotte's Web.

Enjoy your Christmas travel! Where are you off to?

[MJ]

Jody wrote: "Argh, Stuart Little is crap! Can't believe it came from the same person who wrote my favourite book ever, Charlotte's Web.

Enjoy your Christmas travel! Where are you off to?"


Haha, I wasn’t going to go as far as “crap” but I loved Charlotte’s Web and was expecting to feel like I had missed out by not reading Stuart Little sooner. I was indeed disappointed.

We are going to southern Spain. No beaches in our Holiday but castles and monasteries and hopefully some museums and hikes.

[Jody]

Crap is putting it nicely. Trying to keep it classy, you know. 🤣

Enjoy Spain! I’ve only been to Barcelona but I loved it, and I’ve wanted to see more ever since! I have two weeks off over Christmas and am tossing up between just chilling at home and going on a little road trip for a few days (maybe Italy, around Florence). Indecision. 😐

[MJ]

Jody wrote: "Crap is putting it nicely. Trying to keep it classy, you know. 🤣

Enjoy Spain! I’ve only been to Barcelona but I loved it, and I’ve wanted to see more ever since! I have two weeks off over Christma..."

I don’t know/can’t remember if you originate from that side of the ocean or not,
but I’d go on a road trip. It has been close to three decades since I’ve been anywhere in Europe and I’m freaking out that I only have two weeks in Spain. Sooo much to see! Either way, enjoy that time off!

[Jody]

I'm from the other side of the world, originally - Australia! So jealous of your two weeks in Spain, I hope it's amazing!

[MJ]

Jody wrote: "I'm from the other side of the world, originally - Australia! So jealous of your two weeks in Spain, I hope it's amazing!"

I think I knew that. I’m getting excited. One more day of work. And I envy your previous life in AUS... I was there years ago and I fell in love with the place. Never managed to get back, yet.