Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
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Elves of Deep Shadow
Kristie wrote: "I live in Massachusetts, just north of Boston. I have two grown daughters in their 20s and a 5 year old grandson. I went back to grad school a couple of years ago and just graduated this past summe..."Congratulations on your new job. It sounds like it's very meaningful work.
If you do get back into TV at all, check out The Black List. James Spader is amazing!
Kristin wrote: "I live outside Augusta, GA where the Masters Golf Tournament is every year not that I care for golf. I recently got remarried in August and my husband is in the military. Sometimes he is gone for e..."Congratulations on your recent marriage. My niece married a marine last march and they have a one year old, so I can appreciate what you're going through to some extent. I too recently got hooked on Gillian Flynn. The only thing I have found similar is Tana French. It's not as dark, but it sure is twisted. Have you read any of hers yet?
Jenn wrote: "Ooh, what is a Harry Potter weight loss challenge? It sounds intriguing."
It is! Basically I am in a group on MyFitnessPal.com which is free. Then the mod of that group sorted 200 of us into houses (50 each) and we weigh in every week for about ten weeks. We get points for how much weight we lose, how many times we track food, how much we exercise, along with little challenges like HP trivia and losing inches and bonus points for just practicing healthy habits. It's a great way to have support too! At the end, one of the houses is the winner and gets bragging rights lol The points add up, not just for lbs dropped (because that wouldn't be quite fair), but just for doing the healthy thing. If I think others are counting on me, then I'll exercise darn it! ;)
It is! Basically I am in a group on MyFitnessPal.com which is free. Then the mod of that group sorted 200 of us into houses (50 each) and we weigh in every week for about ten weeks. We get points for how much weight we lose, how many times we track food, how much we exercise, along with little challenges like HP trivia and losing inches and bonus points for just practicing healthy habits. It's a great way to have support too! At the end, one of the houses is the winner and gets bragging rights lol The points add up, not just for lbs dropped (because that wouldn't be quite fair), but just for doing the healthy thing. If I think others are counting on me, then I'll exercise darn it! ;)
Sonia wrote: "~Melissa~ wrote: "Sonia wrote: "~Melissa~ wrote: "Logan wrote: "Ezinwanyi~the Troublemaker wrote: "WHAT?~Melissa, Logan & Sonia ....nah, something really fishy went on here.
(*pst Sonia, why didn..."
Total fave series - how to not love Ty and Zane ....blasphemy,LOL
Kristin wrote: "I live outside Augusta, GA where the Masters Golf Tournament is every year not that I care for golf. I recently got remarried in August and my husband is in the military. Sometimes he is gone for e..."Woohoo - good for you on the getting remarried - hope new hubby is awesome :D Look at you 2 three yr olds - wow. Your hands are full I bet. Such a fun time in little ones lives!!
Who knows what we *really* want to be when we grow up,lol.
~Leslie~ wrote: "Just taking a stroll through the teams - love your name!!Hi ~Melissa~!!"
Hi Leslie - what team are you on?? How was the first day on your new job?
Kristin wrote: "I live outside Augusta, GA where the Masters Golf Tournament is every year not that I care for golf. I recently got remarried in August and my husband is in the military. Sometimes he is gone for e..."Congrats Kristin!!
Hi ~Melissa~!!
Kristie wrote: "I live in Massachusetts, just north of Boston. I have two grown daughters in their 20s and a 5 year old grandson. I went back to grad school a couple of years ago and just graduated this past summe..."Wow - good for you going back to school. Hope you're enjoying your job - sounds like it would have days where you definitely felt like you made a difference - that's always nice. Not sure I have it in me to go back to school ....maybe some day when I'm done nagging my kids about their homework, tests, projects,lol. I have to say I do usually watch tv Tues nights with the family (while I read on commercial breaks) we watch Flash, Agents of Shield and then I started watching Forever this season. Really like it. I love medical shows. Not always easy to find shows the kids and I can watch together.
Taryn wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Ooh, what is a Harry Potter weight loss challenge? It sounds intriguing."It is! Basically I am in a group on MyFitnessPal.com which is free. Then the mod of that group sorted 200 of ..."
That sounds great! I have MyFitnessPal too, but I do it on my own.
Jenn wrote: "Kristie wrote: "I live in Massachusetts, just north of Boston. I have two grown daughters in their 20s and a 5 year old grandson. I went back to grad school a couple of years ago and just graduated..."Thanks, Jenn. I'll have to check it out when I get a chance. I have some weird work hours, which makes it difficult.
~Melissa~ wrote: "Kristie wrote: "I live in Massachusetts, just north of Boston. I have two grown daughters in their 20s and a 5 year old grandson. I went back to grad school a couple of years ago and just graduated..."I waited until both of my girls were out of high school to go back. I don't think I could have done it while they were in school because of the time commitment. I wanted to watch Agents of Shield, but never got around to it. How is it?
Ok...so I didn't get home from work until 9pm yesterday and after my late dinner I spent the whole evening (until 1am!) on GR chatting and being excited. No reading was accomplished!! I'll have to work on that before the challenge starts in November. More reading, less chatting...lol
Rebecca NJ wrote: "Kristin wrote: "I live outside Augusta, GA where the Masters Golf Tournament is every year not that I care for golf. I recently got remarried in August and my husband is in the military. Sometimes ..."Hi Rebecca NJ .....my (non existent telepathic) powers for getting us Moonstone(ians) all on a team didn't work out LOL - just saw your post on Spirit Weavers - cool picture!!
Kristie wrote: "~Melissa~ wrote: "Kristie wrote: "I live in Massachusetts, just north of Boston. I have two grown daughters in their 20s and a 5 year old grandson. I went back to grad school a couple of years ago ..."It's better this year - I gave up about halfway through last year but kids and hubby kept up with it. I'm liking the storyline better this year.
Kristie wrote: "Ok...so I didn't get home from work until 9pm yesterday and after my late dinner I spent the whole evening (until 1am!) on GR chatting and being excited. No reading was accomplished!! I'll have to ..."It's all good - sometimes you need the chatting to make the reading fun :)
Forever starting airing here last week. I now have Monday night TV plans - and also have it pre-set to recording, just in case...
Jenn wrote: "Hey everyone,My name is Jenn. This is my second Tower Team Reads. Last go round I was on team Radical Red. I work full time managing two urgent care clinics. I graduated college in May and I go..."
Hi Jenn ~ what style of yoga is Buti yoga...I'm curious. I had a yoga place by me that I had just started going to (read newbie) and they closed. So annoying. Now I need to find a new one. I've only read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - that was one whacked out book. It was my first book for my real life bookclub. I still need to go see the movie.
Taryn wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Ooh, what is a Harry Potter weight loss challenge? It sounds intriguing."It is! Basically I am in a group on MyFitnessPal.com which is free. Then the mod of that group sorted 200 of ..."
Good luck, Taryn. That sounds cool. Makes it fun to track.
Kristie: More reading and more chatting! Just less of everything else! lol
I just realized I didn't particularly introduce myself, just kind of threw myself in here lol Sooo I live in North Carolina in the USA. I'm an archaeologist, just got my Masters with a focus in prehistoric New World settlement pattern studies. After four years of being hooked up with the wrong guy, I am refreshingly single! In other words, I am in this crazy transition where I can literally do whatever or move wherever I want to. Both exciting and completely scary. While I find out where I am moving and whether I'm going in for the PhD or not, I am working on some creative writing and seeing how well I can do. (Wanted to be a creative writer since I was in fourth grade). Also just doing some small, temporary digs here and there for the monies. No kids, but two orange kitties. Favorite reading genres for anybody who wants to read with me: Classics, epic fantasy, and non-fiction (physics, habit-forming tips, Middle Eastern history).
Again, so excited to be doing this challenge!
I just realized I didn't particularly introduce myself, just kind of threw myself in here lol Sooo I live in North Carolina in the USA. I'm an archaeologist, just got my Masters with a focus in prehistoric New World settlement pattern studies. After four years of being hooked up with the wrong guy, I am refreshingly single! In other words, I am in this crazy transition where I can literally do whatever or move wherever I want to. Both exciting and completely scary. While I find out where I am moving and whether I'm going in for the PhD or not, I am working on some creative writing and seeing how well I can do. (Wanted to be a creative writer since I was in fourth grade). Also just doing some small, temporary digs here and there for the monies. No kids, but two orange kitties. Favorite reading genres for anybody who wants to read with me: Classics, epic fantasy, and non-fiction (physics, habit-forming tips, Middle Eastern history).
Again, so excited to be doing this challenge!
Ok, Taryn...you get props for the coolest job. Archaeology is so interesting and you don't hear it often. I've already given up TV and sleep. Can't go without much else. Oh, and now I'm late for work too...gotta go.
Taryn wrote: "Kristie: More reading and more chatting! Just less of everything else! lol I just realized I didn't particularly introduce myself, just kind of threw myself in here lol Sooo I live in North Carol..."
I kind of think I love you. What an awesome place to be in!
Kristie: LOL thank you...I am going to admit what no other archaeologist ever would: We spend a lot of time just physically wearing ourselves shoveling dirt, not finding much, and then spending half the year in a lab looking at the same artifacts over and over. loll No, but I love it.
Stacie: Well then I love you too! ;) It is nice to be kind of out-there. After college I kind of drifted for two years, working odd jobs, and it might have been the best time of my life. During that time, I spent the only 1000 I had and went to over 20 countries, just staying with people who were willing to let me stay at their places for free and hitchhiking around. I am thinking about doing something similar again, but now that I'm 26 I don't know if I can be without a hair dryer for so long lol
Also, I feel like maybe I should be an adult and try to find a job that will get me some benefits. Luckily, I can afford my own health insurance at the moment, but I'd like to get rid of that monthly bill.
Just realized...that was all a little TMI. But since we're in a team together, just get used to THAT lolol I am both a chatter and an over-sharer.
Stacie: Well then I love you too! ;) It is nice to be kind of out-there. After college I kind of drifted for two years, working odd jobs, and it might have been the best time of my life. During that time, I spent the only 1000 I had and went to over 20 countries, just staying with people who were willing to let me stay at their places for free and hitchhiking around. I am thinking about doing something similar again, but now that I'm 26 I don't know if I can be without a hair dryer for so long lol
Also, I feel like maybe I should be an adult and try to find a job that will get me some benefits. Luckily, I can afford my own health insurance at the moment, but I'd like to get rid of that monthly bill.
Just realized...that was all a little TMI. But since we're in a team together, just get used to THAT lolol I am both a chatter and an over-sharer.
Taryn wrote: "Kristie: LOL thank you...I am going to admit what no other archaeologist ever would: We spend a lot of time just physically wearing ourselves shoveling dirt, not finding much, and then spending hal..."That's fantastic! I really sometimes wish I had done the same thing instead of grad school but I'm in a good place. I'm not actually on this team, just spying on other people's teams and chatting as my team is not awake/chatty as of yet and I wanted to play.
Stacie wrote: "Taryn wrote: "Kristie: LOL thank you...I am going to admit what no other archaeologist ever would: We spend a lot of time just physically wearing ourselves shoveling dirt, not finding much, and the..."
Just so you know....there isn't anything in the rules against cross-team alliances..... ;) Knock out those other teams and then go for each other at the end....Hunger Games style.
Just so you know....there isn't anything in the rules against cross-team alliances..... ;) Knock out those other teams and then go for each other at the end....Hunger Games style.
Kristie wrote: "I currently work as a clinician for children that have been removed from their homes for various reasons and live in a group home type of setting. It can definitely be difficult, but certainly worth it. "Wow, this is SUCH an important job. Good for you for getting your degree and giving so much of yourself to children who need all the help and guidance they can get. Amazing.
Jenn wrote: "Hey everyone,My name is Jenn. This is my second Tower Team Reads. Last go round I was on team Radical Red. I work full time managing two urgent care clinics. I graduated college in May and I go..."
Hi Jenn! Glad to have you as my co-captain!
Those Tough Mudder races look ca-ray-zy. I like physical challenges, but have a severe aversion to mud and dirt. I don't think I could stand it! lol
Taryn wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Ooh, what is a Harry Potter weight loss challenge? It sounds intriguing."It is! Basically I am in a group on MyFitnessPal.com which is free. Then the mod of that group sorted 200 of ..."
Loooove MFP! That challenge sounds awesome. I'm trying to get back into regularly logging everything.
Taryn wrote: "Kristie: More reading and more chatting! Just less of everything else! lol I just realized I didn't particularly introduce myself, just kind of threw myself in here lol Sooo I live in North Carol..."
So cool! What kind of creative writing do you do? I'm a YA writer - or at least I like to think so. :)
Kaora wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...My shelf.
Looking forward to this round. Last year I was on a team that didn't do so well but I had fun which is what mat..."
Yay! Welcome Kaora! I think we have all checked in already, which is awesome! Now just don't lose us before 11/8. ;)
I never did an intro, did I? Okay, here goes...I live in Chicago with my husband of 8 years and a Boston Terrier. No kids (thank God), but I have 5 nieces and nephews in my home state of Nebraska to get my kid fix. I work as a grant writer for a big nonprofit, but I also still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. In my off time I'm learning to code websites and web applications, which is so much fun.
I just finished up triathlon season, when I did my first Half Ironman, and started curling season (yes, the funny sport from the Winter Olympics!). I also just started CrossFit this month because a friend from grad school introduced me to it, and I'm a little over a week into this Whole30 eating plan where the hubs and I gave up dairy/grains/alcohol/legumes/sugar for 30 days to try and kick us of our processed and fast food habits. I'm really trying to get as healthy as I can and avoid packing on the pounds again over the winter. :)
And now for some Team Stuff!I updated Post 16 with the shelf links I saw in the thread. I think I'm missing them from Kristin, Hilary, and Christine. There's not a big rush, but the sooner it's set up the sooner you will be all ready for the challenge. If you posted it and I missed it, my apologies!
I will do my best to try and catch all your questions as they come in, but we do have a big team and lots of great conversation (which is awesome!) so if I miss something please just yell at me and I'll take care of it. Jenn C is our co-captain and Sonia is our mod/mentor and they can chime in anytime to help too. If there is EVER anything you are uncertain about, please ask! There are no dumb questions.
In addition to making sure you tag your books with a "read" date on your shelves, we will have a team spreadsheet (soon to come) that will help us track our progress. I'm on the fence still about how best to manage it in-thread. Would it be helpful to have one post each week where I update what books everyone has read, or should we use the spreadsheet for that? I think it would be nice if everyone could post here when they finish a book as well, so I have a "double check" system to make sure your books are all on your shelf - does that make sense? Then if you post that you finished something here and I don't see it on your shelf, I can remind you to tag it.
Other questions at this point?
Kristin wrote: "I have to remember how to link my shelf to a post but I will do that tonight. I have it made just not posted yet :) I love that we are so chatty. It makes the challenges easier though I'm with Kris..."Is it the "for the elves" shelf? If so, I can grab it and add it.
For future reference, this post in the Goodreads 101 folder is really helpful for figuring out hyperlinks: Hyperlink to a Specific Post or Bookshelf
So many things I want to reply to! But, alas, I am on my phone & at work. (Shhh...) I just wanted to comment that I have signed up to do a set of questions for The Knife of Never Letting Go, the end of November. If anyone wants to sign up for discussion questions for any other BOMs, we get points for those. I also signed up for some buddy reads, but I'll list those after I read them.
~Melissa~ wrote: "Hi Rebecca NJ .....my (non existent telepathic) powers for getting us Moonstone(ians) all on a team didn't work out LOL - just saw your post on Spirit Weavers - cool picture!! "Well, just keep working on getting those telepathic powers for Round 4!
Logan wrote: "Taryn wrote: "Kristie: More reading and more chatting! Just less of everything else! lol
I just realized I didn't particularly introduce myself, just kind of threw myself in here lol Sooo I live ..."
I like to write literary short stories. But I'd like to branch out into literary fiction with some historical/social science aspects to it eventually.
I just realized I didn't particularly introduce myself, just kind of threw myself in here lol Sooo I live ..."
I like to write literary short stories. But I'd like to branch out into literary fiction with some historical/social science aspects to it eventually.
And, I am about to ask a demanding question, but is there any way we could somehow show buddy reads systematically? I would like to start some, and I think already have people starting the Dark Tower series with me, but the buddy read thread somehow makes me confused (idk I might just be weird). But I would love to see a post or something that just sums up who is in what buddy read, what day that buddy read started and where people are usually in the book, I guess. I know we have that other thread, but because people kind of just pop in and out, I get confused about whether people are a part of the read and since we have teams now...it would be cool to have everyone's team name by their buddy reads. Maybe on our spreadsheet?
Yep, I'm planning to track buddy reads on the first page of our thread, and likely on the spreadsheet as well. The best way to help me keep it up to date is to post here when you're joining a BR with the name of the book and the planned start date if you know it. I'll keep a chronological list going with which team members are participating to help us see what's happening. As for buddy reads outside of our team, the mods usually update the first post in the buddy read request thread to show which books are coming up. And I have no doubt that they'll have everything nice and organized once the challenge is in full swing.
I realize that was an annoying post, I swear I won't put many of those up lol
Logan wrote: "Becky!!! Love seeing so many friends popping in. :) :) :)"***Waves enthusiastically***
I'm dying to get started!
I would love to be reading/ playing on GoodReads right now instead of working. At work, everyone's laughing and being idiotic and I'm sitting here like
Love your ticker, Becky. :) My planned buddy reads, so far, are:
Code Name Verity - start date 11/5
Shift Omnibus - start date 11/28
And possibly:
Jurassic Park - no start date yet
Still Alice - start date 12/16
I'd have to look at the buddy thread to do better. Also, I can't guarantee that I'll complete all of the buddy reads, but those are the ones I have planned.
Kristie wrote: "Love your ticker, Becky. :) My planned buddy reads, so far, are:
Code Name Verity - start date 11/5
Shift Omnibus - start date 11/28
And possibly:
Jurassic Park - no start date yet
Still Alice -..."
Still Alice is fabulous - I read it a few years ago - loved it. It is actually a very realistic look at the disease process too.
Taryn wrote: "Kristie: More reading and more chatting! Just less of everything else! lol I just realized I didn't particularly introduce myself, just kind of threw myself in here lol Sooo I live in North Carol..."
Taryn, I second Kristie - you're job sounds way interesting!! And - wow to have spent time in 20 countries - that's cool too.
Becky ♡The Bookworm♡ wrote: "Logan wrote: "Becky!!! Love seeing so many friends popping in. :) :) :)"***Waves enthusiastically***
I'm dying to get started!
"
Oh how cute,lol The ticker tapes have started,lol
Logan wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Hey everyone,My name is Jenn. This is my second Tower Team Reads. Last go round I was on team Radical Red. I work full time managing two urgent care clinics. I graduated college in..."
Hello Logan, I'm glad to be your cocaptain. I love Tower Team Reads....I think its my most favorite challenge.
Tough Mudder...yeah I can't say I'm not terrified. It is way out of my comfort level and my fitness level (that's why 2016). I'm trying to push myself a little more and really try to get in better health. My da has heart disease and. Type 2 Diabetes and my mum has osteo and lupus, so I'm trying to get a little more proactive about my health .
Crossfit though, thats pretty intense too, yeah? I've seen people doing it at my gym and some of it looks terrifying! I have enough on my plate with burpees and plank jacks (if you don't know what they are, they suck!)
Anyway, please let me know whatever I can do to help out with captain duties.
Logan wrote: "Taryn wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Ooh, what is a Harry Potter weight loss challenge? It sounds intriguing."It is! Basically I am in a group on MyFitnessPal.com which is free. Then the mod of that group ..."
I do better when I track stuff too. I need to get back on MFP. I really love that challenge idea. I'm hoping to get a fit bit band. Do any of you have those, and do you like it?
I grew up in Wilmington by the beach, lived four years in winston salem where I went to wfu for.college, then lived in chapel hill for a year and Raleigh for a year and then two years in greenville for grad school. so I've lived kind of everywhere in nc except the mountains lol I love the mountains though they are beautiful!
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
My Teenage Dream Ended (other topics)Calling Me Home (other topics)
Black Ice (other topics)
Forged in Fire (other topics)
The Monstrumologist (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Nalini Singh (other topics)Eileen Wilks (other topics)
Patricia Briggs (other topics)
Diane Chamberlain (other topics)
I am working on a few personal challenges. One is to read items that have been on my book shelf for the longest amount of time. The other is that I am trying to knock out some of my kindle purchases. Finally, I am trying to read at least 20 books from the 1001 Books To Read Before You Die book, this year. I'm aiming for 40 next year.
What about you?