MobileRead Book Challenges discussion
2015 Individual Challenges
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Rumpelteazer's 2015 Challenge
I agree. Clutter is the work of evil gnomes. Kippleization!
Homeinmyshoes wrote: "I agree. Clutter is the work of evil gnomes. Kippleization!":D
I'm very frustrated with Goodreads. A couple of days ago I got a book recommendation when visiting GR on my tablet. The book sounded like an adventure thriller with maybe a little paranormal thrown into the mix. Since I usually get the same books recommended over and over again I decided to check it out later on my PC. But now I can't find the book anymore. I've checked all the recommendation categories and the recommendations for all the books I've read in the past 6 months but I can't find it.What I can remember:
In a cave (Eastern Europe?) the body of someone is found who has commited suicide. That person has left a now warning Satanism is real. I also seem to remember something about an archaeological dig but I'm not sure about that. The writer was unknown to me, his name was written in a smaller font on the cover than the title of the book. It wasn't part of a series.
So if anyone comes across this book I would appreciate a message/reply.
Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. KingA really good addition to the series. I liked it a lot better than the two previous books.
Bianca wrote: "I'm very frustrated with Goodreads. A couple of days ago I got a book recommendation when visiting GR on my tablet. The book sounded like an adventure thriller with maybe a little paranormal thrown..."Sorry. Ive not heard of it. But you can request recommendations.
Broken Angels by Graham Masterton.The second book in the Katie Maguire series. I've read the first one years ago, when it was just released (I can remember reading it when waiting for boarding at the Birmingham airport) and really liked it. I did check occasionally if there were any sequels but I obviously missed three new books in the series. I really liked this one, too. Gruesome, details of torture and castration are told in vivid details and, like the first book, a small pinch of possible paranormal is thrown in at the end.
Feeling cheated.Recently I bought The Unearthed by Evan Ronan on Amazon for $0.99.
Today I started reading it and immediately it reminded me of a book I read years ago. But this book wasn't published until 2014. I must have read it before 2012, when I started keeping reading lists.
I got suspicious when in the book the characters refer to a local author named Evan Ronan. It bugged me so much that I checked Calibre and saw that I had The Unearthed by Brian O'Rourke, published in 2009.
And, yes it's the same story. There are some minor changes, some things are edited out or put in but only a sentence here and there.
The problem now is if I continue or not. So far I'm enjoying the book (it's the first of a series), but in Calibre I gave it only one out of five stars (on GR all the books in the series get a good rating).
Bianca wrote: "Feeling cheated.Recently I bought The Unearthed by Evan Ronan on Amazon for $0.99.
Today I started reading it and immediately it reminded me of a book I read years ago. But this ..."
So...is it plagiarized or just re-published under a new author name?
MrsJoseph wrote: So...is it plagiarized or just re-published under a new author name? I assume the original author re-published it under the name of the fictional author in the book. I tried Googling but I can't find confirmation of this. I've come across more books in the last couple of years where the author is also a character in the story.
But I'm still enjoying it. If I still like it after finishing it I might get the second of the series. I must have disliked it originally because it must have been either a PDF or a .doc file converted to epub because of the header and footer that was still inserted every page. And the layout was crap; paragraph breaks in the middle of sentences. That distracts from the story.
The Unearthed by Evan Ronan.Despite my one star rating from a couple of years ago I really liked it. I must have given it a low score because of layout issues. I'm not sure, however, if I like it enough to continue with the next book in the series.
Now it's time to finish another series; Legends of Muirwood. A YA fantasy trilogy which is quite good, but I haven't been in the mood for fantasy lately. But I know once I start reading it I'll like it.
Bianca wrote: "The Unearthed by Evan Ronan.Despite my one star rating from a couple of years ago I really liked it. I must have given it a low score because of layout issues. I'm not sure, howeve..."
Layout will ruin a book...
I've found my mystery book.It's The Descent by Jeff Long.
It's not a cheap book but since I've been keeping my spending down for a while now I decided to splurge. I'm not sure when I get to read it but at least I've got it!
Bianca wrote: "I've found my mystery book.It's The Descent by Jeff Long.
It's not a cheap book but since I've been keeping my spending down for a while now I decided to splurge. I'm not sure when ..."
Yaaay!
Last night I finished Ghost College by Scott Nicholson & J.R. RainOkay. It's the start of a trilogy and the books are about 100 pages long. Not good enough to continue with, though.
Today I finished The Scourge of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler. I really liked this series and in the afterwords the author hints at more books set in the same world but at a later date.
The Riverhouse by G. Norman Lipppert.Inspired (like Stephen King's tv mini series Rose Red) by the Winchester Mystery House. This was on my TBR list for a long time. It's a good story, not that scary (but I'm not scared easily). The ending was unexpected, which doesn't happen often in these types of stories and I liked it.
Now it's time to read The Descent. It's a shame that it's only 649 pages, just 51 pages short of my 700+ page reading challenge this year.
I'm really liking The Descent. I was afraid I wouldn't but I love it so far (20% in). It's a mixture of Stephen King's The Stand and Lovecraft's sub-subterranean adventures and I suspect later a dash of Rollins' Sigma Force will also be added.
The Descent by Jeff Long.A good read. My only two complaints are that not all story lines had a satisfactory end, for me. And when a character meets a new person and Long wants to give a bit of background he always (at least it felt like always) used the phrase "he/she/X later learned that...". Which got annoying.
Otherwise it was a very good read, the pace was good and I liked the mix of horror, world exploring and science.
Brother Odd by Dean Koontz.Not as good as the first two books in the series, but still an entertaining read. I will miss Elvis.
^That's too bad, but I guess people need to move on. I was thinking of reading book number three soon, but maybe I'll hold off.
Homeinmyshoes wrote: "^That's too bad, but I guess people need to move on. I was thinking of reading book number three soon, but maybe I'll hold off."There is another famous singer replacing him. Hopefully he'll turn out to be as good, or better, as Elvis.
I've abandoned the second book book of this year. The Silent Girls by Eric Rickstad. There are two main reasons. First, he is too detailed. Usually detailed descriptions are used to either set the scene, give personality to a character or, in mysteries, provide clues or red herrings. But he's just too detailed. It's great to let the reader know that one of the character (though not the main character) is into running. Especially if later in the book she outruns the bad guy and escapes (didn't happen), but I don't need a whole chapter describing it, including she is so into it that she's missing periods and is afraid she won't have any more children.Also, I don't care to have each and every car, or so it felt like, described in detail; manufacturer, type, build year, if it's rusty or not.
Second, Rickstad uses the full names of the characters too often. I like it to be clear who is doing and saying what (I can't read Hilary Mantel for that reason) but the author doesn't need to use the name 90% of the time, often a he or she is clear enough.
The Last Passenger by Manel Loureiro.I'm a sucker for haunted house/asylum/town/island/etc books. Amazon kept spamming me with this book and at first I was hesitant because I'm usually not fond of war themes. But, eventually I caved and got the book.
I really liked it. It was fast paced and the entity haunting the ship is unusual and only revealed at the end. The two sex scenes felt a bit out of place for me. I'm no prude but they were a bit too detailed and long and just didn't really fit in (which might have to do with the translation).
Now it's time to start with my 700+ pages challenge. I've started Dragonfly in Amber, the second of the Outlander books. I've planned to read four long books this year, which means that technically I'm behind. I usually read a couple of long books during my weeks of housesitting in summer, so I'm not afraid I won't make it.
I'm considering a new reading challenge for May. The Random Challenge.I make a list of 6 books that are high on my TBR list and I roll a dice to decide which to read. I'll add another one when a book is chosen so I'll always have 6 books on the list.
I'm thinking of adding 3 books of ongoing series to the list and 3 stand alone books. And I'll try to have a good variation of genres.
*flash to HomeInMyShoes rolling dice*Come on, I need a six or maybe a three *rolls* two? No way *rolls* four. Sigh, okay one more time and then I definitely take what it gave me two?!? No way it bumped the mug on the way and wasn't a clean roll...
Homeinmyshoes wrote: "*flash to HomeInMyShoes rolling dice*Come on, I need a six or maybe a three *rolls* two? No way *rolls* four. Sigh, okay one more time and then I definitely take what it gave me two?!? No way it ..."
LOL. I can't promise that won't happen, but lately I've been having a difficult time deciding what to read. Hopefully this will make it easier and I also get to read some books that have been lingering on my TBR list.
It would work better if you gave us the list of books and we rolled maybe. In the past Nyssa and I have posted polls on MobileRead for what we should read next. I found that got me going in some new directions.
Homeinmyshoes wrote: "It would work better if you gave us the list of books and we rolled maybe. In the past Nyssa and I have posted polls on MobileRead for what we should read next. I found that got me going in some ne..."I'll see how it goes. I might do a practice run when I'm going to Antwerp since I haven't got a clue what to read.
Another book that had been on my TBR list for years:The Red Church by Scott Nicholson.
An okay read, it's the first of a two book series. I don't think I'll continue with book 2. I just couldn't get into the story and suspect it might be because I felt he was pushing religion too much. I normally haven't got a problem with books with religious themes, unless they are pushy.
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon.Although I took a break to read something else I really liked this book. A good mixture of action and domestic life. It ends in a bit of a cliffhanger.
It also means that I'm now on track with my 700+ page book challenge. Just 3 more to go!
My third DNF of the year:Sleepyhead by Mark Billingham.
The first two of the book in the Tom Thorne series are available on Netflix and I really liked them. This first book, however, didn't do anything for me. It could be that I started it too soon after seeing the tv series, but normally that isn't a problem for me. I found it dragged on and there was no humour in it. Really a shame because I liked the characters.
Castaways by Brian Keene.Quick, easy, gory and entertaining.
Meanwhile I'm looking which book I want to buy for my trip to Antwerp. I'm also thinking of starting again with Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. I started reading it when I went to Antwerp last time, almost two years ago. But took a break. Then the fire next door happen and I just wasn't in the mood for it anymore and abandoned it. BBC will air the tv series this year and I would like to have read it by then. As an added bonus it's over 700 pages so it'll count towards my challenge.
You know when you take a sip or a bite of something and it doesn't taste like it should because it's completely different. For instance you think you take a sip of sparkling water and it's 7up. You react to it, not liking it. Later you might realise that it actually tasted really nice.That was my reaction after reading the first book in the Wayward Pines series. I thought it was a horror and it turned out to be a post-apocalyptic thriller. After reading Pines several months ago I thought I wouldn't continue with the series. But lately I found myself wondering how the story continues. So I picked up Wayward and read it in two day and really liked it. I will have the read the final book soon because Wayward ended in a cliffhanger (which I normally hate) and the story can go in various directions.
Forbidden Ground by Karen Harper.The second book in the Cold Creek trilogy. The first one had a good mixture of suspense and romance. This second book is, for me, too heavy on the romance side. I don't think I'll read the third book because of that.
Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass.It took about 50 pages to get into the story but after that it was a quick and entertaining read. A lot lighter than other crime/pathologist series (e.g. Kay Scarpetta) which is a nice change.
I've read two book whilst in Antwerp.Charnel House by Fred Anderson.
Meh and pointless. It didn't really have a storyline, there were two stories (albeit connected) that felt more like a scary story told around the campfire, and not very scary or good at that, than a proper book.
The Last Town by Blake Crouch.
Very good. Has an open ending of sorts, a shame Crouch writes on his website that he won't continue with the series.
The Rook. Daniel O'Malley by Daniel O'Malley.Loved it!
A great combination of magic and mystery. The second book is also coming, though the release date got pushed back first from January to June and now to January 2016. Not because the book isn't finished but because the author switched publishers.
Now onwards with Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. The adds on the BBC are still saying "coming soon" but they are getting longer and that's a sign it'll air soon. Hopefully I can finish the book before that.
Bianca wrote: "The Rook. Daniel O'Malley by Daniel O'Malley.Loved it!
A great combination of magic and mystery. The second book is also coming, though the release date got pushed back first from ..."
The Rook was pretty good, wasn't it! :) I see a reread in my future, right before book 2 is finally released.
Nyssa wrote: "The Rook was pretty good, wasn't it! :) I see a reread in my future, right before book 2 is finally released. "Hopefully it'll be released before it's current official release date, if it's finished the publisher should be able to release it quickly.
Meanwhile, I just can't really get into Jonathan Strange. There are chapters that read really fast and there are chapters that get me bogged down. The slower chapters mostly are about mr. Norrell. I do like it, I just wished the story more faster and steadier for me.
I finished Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke last night. My second book in the 700+ page challenge. I found part I to be the most boring, very descriptive with not much happening. Part II was better, quicker and more things happening. Part III was best; all the storylines came together and things were happening. The book started promising, with the statues coming alive, but not much happened after that until Jonathan Strange was introduced and most things happened when Strange and Norrell fell out. I would have preferred a better balanced book.
The Empty Chair by Jeffery Deaver.A solid story. Not as good as the first two, but still a very good read.
I've been neglecting my ongoing series lately and several books have been released in series I was up to date with, so I've decided to focus on those, with the occasional stand alone novel.
Who Buries the Dead by C.S. Harris.Quick, easy and entertaining. A nice deviation from what I've been reading lately.
Bianca wrote: "The Rook. Daniel O'Malley by Daniel O'Malley.Loved it!
A great combination of magic and mystery. The second book is also coming, though the release date got pushed back first from ..."
LOVED the Rook!
Damn. I've not been getting notifications. :(
MrsJoseph wrote: "LOVED the Rook!"It was definitely the best book I've read so far this year. I was taking a break from Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and was afraid the books were too much alike. But they couldn't be more different.
Bianca wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "LOVED the Rook!"It was definitely the best book I've read so far this year. I was taking a break from Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and was afraid the books were too much alike..."
I have a copy of JS&MN but I haven't read it yet.
MrsJoseph wrote: "I have a copy of JS&MN but I haven't read it yet."It's a good book, as long as you don't expect a lot of action. It's very detailed and sometimes I still think it could have been edited, especially the first part, to make it read quicker.
I don't like footnotes and this books uses them a lot. I'm positively allergic to footnotes referring to other footnotes and there are some of those, too.
I broke up the reading by reading other books in between. I don't think I could have finished it without doing this.
Bianca wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "I have a copy of JS&MN but I haven't read it yet."It's a good book, as long as you don't expect a lot of action. It's very detailed and sometimes I still think it could have bee..."
Oh crap. Footnotes. I hate footnotes with a passion! I hate reading books with footnotes and I hate writing papers that require footnotes.
Footnotes are a nail for this coffin. O_o
There's a discussion about the tv-series and the book in the General Discussions forum at MR.I agree with you on footnotes. I can remember a book on education where in the first chapter there was a footnote referring to another a section in another chapter in the book. Which, of course, also had a footnote, again referring to another section of the book, etc. By the time the trail ended I had read half the book, without finishing the first chapter!
MobileRead Book Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Madonna and Corpse (other topics)The Dead Girls' Dance (other topics)
Murder in Whitechapel (other topics)
The Fire (other topics)
Where the Dead Walk (other topics)
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I have to tendency to keep loading books on my Kindle that take my fancy. Ending up with dozens of books I hav..."
That's a great idea. My kobo is loaded with tons of books I pass by.