What books did you get for the Holidays? Also, is it too early to start reading for the 2019 challenge?!

[Rachelnyc]

I received a couple of cookbooks as well as Becoming which I am very excited to read! Even more exciting, I was also gifted an annual subscription to the Book of the Month Club!

What book related gifts did you all get this Holiday season??

Also, is it cheating if I start a book for the challenge today? I know I won't get much reading in tomorrow so I won't get far but there are a couple of books I am itching to start!!

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

EEEEK. I love Book of the Month club. My parents give me a subscription for my birthday every year, and it's like I get a present every month. You will love it!

I received a book stamp so that I can stamp all of my books that I loan out (here's the link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/52471017...). I also got a $50 gift card to Barnes and Noble, which I'm trying my hardest not to spend all right this minute.

I'm reading Jane Eyre at the moment, knowing that I won't finish before the new year, so it will count as one of my reject prompts for January. My rule is that it counts in the month that I finish it (not start it!). So read away! (Just not too fast. Because you still have a solid 36ish hours until 2019.)

[Sarah]

I got quite a few actual books (Lucky me!).

Part of Your World
Reflection
The Life of P. T. Barnum
The Princess Diarist
Daniel Deronda

Hoping I can fit in some for the challenges. Plus my brother gave me book tokens and I just ordered some from the Amazon sale. I really did not need all these books :D

I'm not going to start any early intentionally but if I don't finish the book I'm currently reading before midnight tomorrow I'll count it towards next year

[Joan]

I only got 3 books this year but I still have a lot to read so it is probably good I didn't get anymore.

I received:

Rebecca
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
Where'd You Go, Bernadette

I'm looking forward to reading them.

I use the 100 page rule if it counts for the ATY challenge so if I have more than 100 pages left of a book I count it for the challenge. I still have a couple that I want to read that aren't currently in my challenge so I'm trying to figure out what to do about that. I'm currently trying not to buy Bird Box on Kindle but my resolve is waning.

[Rachelnyc]

Emily wrote: "EEEEK. I love Book of the Month club. My parents give me a subscription for my birthday every year, and it's like I get a present every month. You will love it!

I received a book stamp so that I c..."

Love the book stamp!

I have been so good about reading mostly library books and only buying used books or ebooks on sale so I can't wait to be able to get brand new releases every month!

Nice haul Sarah? Did you say something about an Amazon sale? I will have to check that out!

Joan, I just recently read Rebecca and LOVED it! Where'd You Go, Bernadette is on my 2019 list as well. I saw the Bird Box deal as well and am contemplating it.

Ok cool, so I will start There There since I have been dying to read it and I know I'll still have at least 100 pages left on the 1st.

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

I usually don't like to get books as gifts because I love using the library. I don't reread books so it feels like a bit of a waste.

But I did receive some that will be nice to have permanently on my shelves:

The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future
Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering
Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave

I'm a major sucker for anything Magnolia/Chip and Joanna and they just look so pretty on the shelf 😍

[dalex]

I received Worlds Seen in Passing, an anthology of short stories that were originally published on tor.com. I really wanted to own this rather than checking it out from the library because I don't like to rush through anthologies.

I also got an amazon gift card and used part of it to pre-order The Book of Flora by Meg Elison, the third book in the Road to Nowhere trilogy.

(And, totally not book related....I got a grandson for Christmas! :) My stepdaughter had a baby on the morning of the 26th. I'm already madly in love with the little guy.)

[Joan]

I caved and got Bird Box on Kindle - I want to read it before I watch the series. I checked all the libraries and it was on hold forever which is rare for the one library.

Congratulations on your grandson Dalex!!!!!!!!!!

[Rachelnyc]

Congrats dalex!!

That Magnolia Table book looks tempting Laura...

[Edie]

Oddly, I received no books this year, but thanks to the library, I have plenty to read. However, I did GIVE a number of books as gifts this year.

IMO it is not too early to start reading for 2019, but it is too early to finish a book you want to count. I count books in the year I finish them. Two of the books I am "currently" reading were started in 2017 when they just stalled. I have both of them slated to fill prompts for 2019, but first I want to finish (in January)White Houses which is the January selection for my book club.

[Rachelnyc]

Edie wrote: "Oddly, I received no books this year, but thanks to the library, I have plenty to read. However, I did GIVE a number of books as gifts this year.

IMO it is not too early to start reading for 2019,..."

I have White Houses on my list for 2019. I'll look forward to hearing what you think of it.

[Tracy]

Congrats Dalex!!!!! Thats exciting news :-)

Ive had Bird Box on my kindle since it came out ( maybe as a kindle first??) and I STILL haven't read it. I do have plans to watch it really soon with the new guy though. We just finished watching The Haunting of Hill House, and he had me laughing so hard . OMG can he jump when he gets scared lmao 😂

I didn't get any books for Christmas, but I did buy a few on my kindle for myself. I got a tote bag with the names of banned books printed on it, and a t shirt that says " Just...One...More...Chapter..." ( I feel like I already mentioned this in another thread)

I say go ahead and start for 2019. Were close enough to get a little jump. I have to go Monday and pick up a bunch of library holds that came in. Still not feeling much like reading though :/

[Rachelnyc]

Tracy wrote: "Congrats Dalex!!!!! Thats exciting news :-)

Ive had Bird Box on my kindle since it came out ( maybe as a kindle first??) and I STILL haven't read it. I do have plans to watch it really soon with t..."

New guy, huh?! I have 3 episodes left of The Haunting of Hill House and am loving it! I think you are the one who recommended it so thanks! I'm planning to read the book for the ghost story prompt in 2019.

[Tracy]

Rachelnyc wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Congrats Dalex!!!!! Thats exciting news :-)

Ive had Bird Box on my kindle since it came out ( maybe as a kindle first??) and I STILL haven't read it. I do have plans to watch it real..."

Its so good , and yes I told you to go ahead and watch it, because it is so different from the book, it won't spoil anything. I watched it a second time through with him ( the new guy , LOL, 😍) because he said he kept falling asleep during the first episode.....I think really he was just a scaredy cat and needed a hand to hold, haha.

[Sabrina]

I got a lot of books for christmas from my parents!
The Song of Achilles
Days of Blood & Starlight
Dreams of Gods & Monsters
A Man Called Ove
Us Against You
Winter

I also had 2 gift cards for joseph beth and half price books and got myself Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm , Fangirl, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, and Warcross. And Six of Crows is on it's way

... just stocking up for 2019 lol

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Sabrina, that's a good haul of books! I brought Song of Achilles for my book club Christmas book swap, and the girls were all fighting over it!

I plan on reading The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue for the Shakespeare prompt next year, and I'm hoping I enjoy it. I'm excited about it anyway!

[Rachelnyc]

That IS a nice haul Sabrina!

I just logged in to look at the Book of the Month choices and they're all so good! So excited for this subscription.

[Shasta]

Oooh, I would love to be gifted a subscription to BOMC -- something to add to my list next year!

But it was a great year for book gifts anyway. I received:
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny
How to Be Alone: If You Want To, and Even If You Don't by Lane Moore
Little Panic: Dispatches from an Anxious Life by Amanda Stern

I also received my first Kindle, so I've been busily buying up interesting titles under $5 and getting on the ebook wait lists at my library.

I've already got 3 books going that will cross over into 2019 and I'm definitely counting them for the challenge: Once Upon a River, Dietland, and Little Big Love.

Excited for another fantastic year of reading!

[Jacqueline]

I got
Of Blood and Bone y Nora Roberts
In Pieces by Sally Field
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson and
Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb

I also got a good haul of Harry Potter and Star Wars merchandise including a collection of HP potions. That was really cool. Oh and a puppy. Both stuffed and real. Hubby bought my daughter and I matching stuffed ones because he couldn't find us matching real ones and then on Christmas Eve the pet shop rang. It was a Christmas miracle. We pick them up Thursday. I think I said all this somewhere else too but whatever.....I'm excited :)

[Rachelnyc]

If there is anything I like more than reading it is puppies! How exciting Jacqueline! What kind of dogs?

Monkiecat, I love those categories for gifts for your kids. What a wonderful idea!

Shasta, Spinning Silver, Once Upon a River and Dietland are all on my TBR. I'll be interested in your feedback if you get to them first.

[Jacqueline]

They’re border collies. Mine is my profile pic. 2 more sleeps. If I can ever get to sleep that is. It’s 1.30am on the 2nd here and I can’t sleep. Hubby went back out to the Outback today because he has to work tomorrow and I have trouble sleeping by myself nowadays.

[Rachelnyc]

Jacqueline wrote: "They’re border collies. Mine is my profile pic. 2 more sleeps. If I can ever get to sleep that is. It’s 1.30am on the 2nd here and I can’t sleep. Hubby went back out to the Outback today because he..."

Oh my god, so cute!!!

[Edie]

Rachelnyc wrote: "If there is anything I like more than reading it is puppies! How exciting Jacqueline! What kind of dogs?

Monkiecat, I love those categories for gifts for your kids. What a wonderful idea!

Shasta,..."
And now it is NOT too early to read or finish a book for the 2019 challenge. My library had a copy of Once Upon a River on its "Lucky Day" shelf (books that have a long, long wait to get through the normal hold process). I can't wait to start it. Happy New Year!