Elena's 2020 Reading Challenge

[Elena]

@Heather yeah! Let's start on April 30 if it's ok for you :)

[HeatherH]

Jess wrote: "@Heather yeah! Let's start on April 30 if it's ok for you :)"

That works!

[Elena]

Added one more challenge (May) May's Create Your Garden Bed.

[Elena]

Planned BRs for May:

May 2020 - 6
1. May 5 The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. May 10 Calamity by Brandon Sanderson
3. May 10 Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
4. May 16 Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
5. May 18 The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
6. May 21 Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

[Elena]

I've just finished Firefight and decided to write a review as it's still hot. 3.5 starts out of 5. Disappointed, expected more!
Here is the review.

[Elena]

I have no motivation to add an April summary (as I wanted to at the beginning). This month was so unpredictable and messy. (One of the biggest issues was that my friend had this hysteria based on being overweight, I've never thought it could be so big and extremely crazy for both her and those who cares). So maybe I'll start monthly reviews in May :D

[Elena]

Finished The Toll and didn't like it as the first two books. What a disappointment! Review.
I was struggling with this book. I really wanted to like it :(

[Teodora]

Oh no! I'm sorry you didn't like it as much as the rest, I've heard a lot of good things about it!

[Elena]

Me too, I've heard so many good things about this book and started reading it with a mood for a page-turner, maybe that's why I was extremely disappointed not to like it :(

[Brittany]

I'm still struggling to get through it Jess! So I totally get it and I don't think its just you.

[Elena]

Yeah :( I believe it's normal to be disappointed with a book almost everyone else loved.

[Elena]

I don't know why, but I've been so into nonfiction books recently. And those two I loved:

The last one is so out of my normal genre yet I really enjoyed reading it.

[Brittany]

Ooo! That last one actually sounds really interesting.

[Elena]

It's a bit out of bookish theme, but I've started the 30 days of ABS workout challenge about a week ago and it's so much fun!

[Brittany]

Thats great Jess! I should get in on that one of these days. Glad you are enjoying it too

[Elena]

Yeah! Highly recommend. It really helps during the tough times. I don't know if it's going to help much in your situation, but I'm also doing yoga and walking meditation for almost 4 years (without missing a day even when I had a shoulder fracture) and it helps a lot to calm down your body and mind.

[Elena]

Finished reading . Didn't enjoy much :( And also finished the series!

[HeatherH]

Yay for finishing the series though!

[Brittany]

I typically do yoga, I just cant get out of my brain enough right now to settle. Hopefully be back at it in a few days. I try to walk or run also.
That is awesome that you managed to not miss a day even with your injury!!


Yay for finishing a series, boo for not enjoying a Sanderson novel.

[Elena]

Thank you :)) I was so happy to finally finish at least one series and not to add any!

[Elena]

Finally decided to reveal my real name on goodreads too (it's Elena) :) Though some of my friends call me Jess (it's of Jessica).

And I started reading Kafka on the Shore yesterday and love the book so far. It's a bit mysterious with a pinch of craziness, to say all the Murakami I love.

[Brittany]

Hello then Elena, why did you decide to change to your real name? It's a lovely name btw

[Elena]

Thank you Brittany. Actually there is not much about it. I wanted to do it for a long time already and finally did.
When I registered on Goodreads in 2015 I didn't want people I know to find me here and learn what I'm reading and like to read (it was quite private topic for me) I also never thought that I'll be joining any social clubs here, but everything changes and I found so many amazing people here, who were already common with calling me Jess, that's why it took so long and was kind-a The Issue :D
It was silly and a bit paranoiac, nothing to be proud of :) Though I'm ok with people calling me Jess, I prefer my real name.

[Teodora]

I understand you perfectly Elena! I still get defensive in real life when people try to find out about Goodreads or about what I am reading and writing! There is no need to be ashamed for trying to keep your passions private until you are comfortable enough to share a bit of yourself at a time! It took me three years to finally put a picture with me at the profile and it's still not very clear that that is me! :))

[Elena]

Yeah! So true, especially for shy people like me :)

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I totally get you. Some of my colleagues follow my blog and it actually makes me uncomfortable. I'm not ashamed of it and the books I read. I don't mind them knowing what I'm reading as I often post about them on social media too but I feel really weird knowing they could read my reviews. I just like to keep work and reading/blogging separate.

[Elena]

Oh! So true, I thought I'm the only awkward one to feel like that and really happy that it's actually ok.

[Brittany]

It's totally okay! I have very few of my real life people on goodreads.

[Liliana, YA Paranormal Lover]

Same! I don't advertise that I have a blog/am on Goodreads to people IRL. I don't even put my last name on Goodreads so people don't find me as easy 😅 They still do sometimes and it's weird, but mostly I'm just like 🤷‍♀️ Oh well. Lol. But I totally get you!

[Elena]

Recently I finished reading The Final Empire and today I'm going to write my final thoughts on this book and a review. It has blown my mind. Brilliant book, so captivating and in the best Sanderson's traditions. I couldn't get myself together to write a proper review during the work week. But weekend is perfect for collecting all the thoughts and writing a review while drinking something nice and warm like coffee or cacao.

One of my favourite current reads is Kafka on the Shore. I love Murakami for the atmosphere he creates. It's so unique and actually makes me watch anime while and a good chunk of time after finishing his book.

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

Honestly my closest friend at work is on Goodreads and follows my blog and bookstagram and he reads sometimes and has read a few YA books which is cool to have someone to talk to about them and he follows it all just as a way to support my blog and such but it still makes me so awkward sometimes haha. As I've been blogging for 9 years now I don't feel quite as awkward as I used to but it's still something I like to keep separate.

[Jo]

I definitely felt quite awkward about it when I first started, but I was only 17 then and it felt a bit weird knowing that my family and friends had access to my writing. Now I'm totally fine with it, and it's quite nice that my family actually take some interest in my writing. A friend of mine also blogs and does bookstagram so it's quite nice to have someone to share that with. I think it's like Kay says, I've been blogging for a while now (over 6 years) and as it's something that I use for my career, I'm trying to get into to Journalism, I'm quite comfortable talking about it now.

[Elena]

I'm really so happy that I'm not alone with those issues :)

I'm reading so many books at a time and have so little time as there is so much to do regarding my work. Quite overwhelmed, but definitely going to catch up with all of my reads.

[Elena]

I'm totally into this new series on Netflix called Control Z. I think I'm going to spend this week watching the series and reading a bit less than usual. Though I have to catch up with several BRs, I just can't resist it.

[Elena]

Finished Kafka on the Shore today. Amazing read! Especially the atmosphere. I adore Asian literature.

[Elena]

Finished The Hobbit, or There and Back Again today. It was extremely good one! I had so much fun reading it! Such a cozy and interesting book.

[Teodora]

I think I might be one of the few oddities who have never read The Hobbit or watched the film until the end 😂 I am glad you liked it!

[Elena]

@Teodora actually I know at least 3 more people, who also never read The Hobbit and some people who didn't like it. So I believe it's normal.

[Teodora]

We are a minority, we exist, I am sure of it 😂

[Brittany]

Love The Hobbit!! I kind of want to reread it and the LotR trilogy

[Jo]

I've never read The Hobbit or LOTR either Teodora!

[Elena]

I'm also planning to re-read The LotR trilogy in autumn :)

[Teodora]

Jo wrote: "I've never read The Hobbit or LOTR either Teodora!"

I don't feel that alone anymore! 😂
But I do think that it might actually be an interesting reading

[Brittany]

Elena wrote: "I'm also planning to re-read The LotR trilogy in autumn :)"

hmm.... very tempting!

[Elena]

Actually... I've started re-reading today :DDD

[Brittany]

Lol nice! I cannot start right now so that should lessen my temptation for a fall reread.

[Elena]

I'm going to re-read only the 1st one though. The last two I'm going to re-read in autumn as planned.

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I've never read them either. I love the movies but I just couldn't get into the books. I remember my grandfather giving me the LotR books when I was about 10 and I struggled with them and I never went back to them. Maybe I should one of these days.

[Elena]

@Kay try it :) it's really interesting.

[Brittany]

I read them premovies so I'm curious what I'll think on a reread 20ish years later.
Will you be able to stop after just one Elena?