SPRING 2020 READING CHALLENGE

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Danell wrote: "I read Please Ignore Vera Dietz, which works for #1. Good book."

Hey! I just got on here to post about that book :-)
I got a printed copy from the library and I was able to buy a used audiobook from Amazon so I'm starting Please Ignore Vera Dietz this weekend!

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Janet wrote: "Dustin...here's a bit of trivia for you. I met you when you were working at Borders in Boulder. We both enjoy Dean Koontz, and I enjoyed the books you would recommend based on what I liked. You told me about Goodreads at the time (I hadn't heard of it), and you were one of the first people I friended here. I wish I had known you were working at the Century - I would have looked you up! I live in Longmont, but will always drive to the Century for a movie {{{BEST POPCORN}}}"

Thanks Janet :-) That makes me happy. Small world

[Christine]

I finished I'm counting it as my bad ass woman protagonist book. Its definitely a quirky book, a dystopian baseball book.

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "I finished I'm counting it as my bad ass woman protagonist book. Its definitely a quirky book, a dystopian baseball book."

Thanks for the update, Christine! :)

[Danell]

I finished The Bone Collector which works for #6, he couldn’t leave his location, well actually he left it once but it was a rare occasion. Great book!

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Danell wrote: "I finished The Bone Collector which works for #6, he couldn’t leave his location, well actually he left it once but it was a rare occasion. Great book!"

Is that the book by Jeffrey Deaver?

[Danell]

Yes. It’s the one I won on goodreads giveaways

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I was going to read that book years ago and I never did. Sounds like you enjoyed it. I've only read a couple of books by Jeffrey Deaver, but maybe I should give him another try.

[Danell]

It was my first Deaver book and I did enjoy it. Hope to read others by him.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I've only read The Blue Nowhere and a short story collection. I really need to read more Jeffrey Deaver. I think he's a good author. Thanks for reminding me. I'll probably wait until the library reopens.

[Danell]

I hope you enjoy it! I look forward to the library reopening. Although i have 6 bookcases full of books, the library provides solitude and other adventures I want to read and be part of.

Speaking of libraries I’m not sure if I’ll be able to read the Southern Book Club Guide to Slaying Vampires. My copy is at the library.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Yeah, I'm right there with you. I really took advantage of the library in recent years and bought a lot less books. With the library closed, I am about to delve into a bunch of books I bought in 2011 and never got around to reading. Back then I worked at Borders and when they went into liquidation I bought books that seemed interesting to me for 50-90% off.

I decided to buy a copy of Southern Book Club Guide to Slaying Vampires from Amazon (along with Dean Koontz's newest release - Devoted). Devoted should arrive by Thursday this week and that Southern Book Club book should ship next week.

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "I finished The Bone Collector which works for #6, he couldn’t leave his location, well actually he left it once but it was a rare occasion. Great book!"

Thanks for the update, Danell! :D
I don’t think I’ve ever read any of his books but I did see the movie based on the bone collector which I liked. I should give his books a try.

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Yeah, I'm right there with you. I really took advantage of the library in recent years and bought a lot less books. With the library closed, I am about to delve into a bunch of books I bought in 20..."

Thanks for the update, Dustin! :D

[Rachel]

Hope you’re all doing well during this crazy time.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Finally started Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King today.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires has been released for about a week I guess. I just added it to our group bookshelf, homepage and connected it to this Spring Seasonal Reading Challenge thread.

I'm still waiting for my copy to arrive. Any day now.

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires has been released for about a week I guess. I just added it to our group bookshelf, homepage and connected it to this Spring Seasonal Reading Chal..."

Thanks Dustin! :D

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I've increased my Spring Challenge Goal from 5 to 8 books since I have an increased opportunity to read at present.

I'm currently reading Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings


I've also started re-reading Our Tragic Universe. I had been wanting to re-read this for a while. When my library closed, I started looking at my bookshelves and this title jumped out at me - it was a combination of the title, the book cover and the fact that it's the only book I have with black pages. Our Tragic Universe also happens to contain a map inside the front cover.

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I've increased my Spring Challenge Goal from 5 to 8 books since I have an increased opportunity to read at present.

I'm currently reading Maya Angelou's [book:I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings|1321..."

Thanks for the update, Dustin! :D

[Danell]

I listened to Long Bright River by Liz Moore which works for #1 and also Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens which works for #7.

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "I listened to Long Bright River by Liz Moore which works for #1 and also Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens which works for #7."

Thanks for the update, Danell! :D

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Danell wrote: "I listened to Long Bright River by Liz Moore which works for #1 and also Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens which works for #7."

The Liz Moore book I was planning to read is stuck at the library.

[Janet]

I'm halfway through The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires. I am enjoying it immensely! I find myself smiling while reading, AND I've been able to actually sit and read just like the old days (BP - before pandemic)! Great choice! Thank you

[Rachel]

Janet wrote: "I'm halfway through The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires. I am enjoying it immensely! I find myself smiling while reading, AND I've been able to actually sit and read just like the ol..."

Thanks for the update, Janet! Glad you’re enjoying the book! :D

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Good to know Janet! Thanks for the recommendation. I'll probably start that Southern Book Club Bloody Peach Book in May.

[Janet]

Starting The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister for task #7 (Reese bookclub)

[Rachel]

Janet wrote: "Starting The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister for task #7 (Reese bookclub)"

Thanks for the update, Janet! :)

[Danell]

I read The Scent Keeper which works for #7. Good book

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "I read The Scent Keeper which works for #7. Good book"

Thanks for the update, Danell! :D

[Rachel]

Finished Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine - I believe this is the book that kicked off Reese Witherspoon’s book club. I thought it was fabulous. Thank you Christine & Danell for recommending it. :D

[Rachel]

Hope all of you are doing okay. :)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Rachel wrote: "Hope all of you are doing okay. :)"

Doing well. I'll start that Southern Vampire Peach Book soon.

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Hope all of you are doing okay. :)"

Doing well. I'll start that Southern Vampire Peach Book soon."

Glad you’re doing well. :)
Look forward to hearing your thoughts about the book. :)

[Christine]

Rachel, I'm so glad you liked Eleanor! Its one of my favorite books.

I'm just finishing up a couple books and I will start the Southern Book Club book. I'm pretty excited about reading it. I love what Janet said about reading it and it making her smile.

Everything is fine here. I'm a bit bored with doing the same things over and over. The weather is supposed to be nice by the end of the coming week so I'm thrilled for that. I have a nice place to read in my backyard. Our state has extended our stay at home order until the end of May. We will be able to start doing some outdoor things starting this week but all gatherings are still cancelled. I miss my friends, my art group and my in person book clubs. I miss my children too. We will get through this, at least, I keep telling myself that, lol.

I hope you all are doing fine, staying healthy and keeping in contact with your friends and family, far and near. Hugs!

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "Rachel, I'm so glad you liked Eleanor! Its one of my favorite books.

I'm just finishing up a couple books and I will start the Southern Book Club book. I'm pretty excited about reading it. I love..."

So good to see you post, Christine! Glad you’re okay. We will get through this. xoxo

[Rachel]

Finished Letter to My Daughter - this was a reread for me although this time I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author. Highly recommend.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I've increased my Spring Challenge Reading Goal because I recently read two books that surprised me with maps in them and I hadn't been planning to use these for the Spring Challenge:

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I finally started The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires yesterday. For most of my books, I used audiobooks to help me. For this one, I don't have an audiobook. I'm only on page 65 of the hardcover, but already find it immensely entertaining and easy to get through :-)

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I finally started The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires yesterday. For most of my books, I used audiobooks to help me. For this one, I don't have an audiobook. I'm only..."

Thanks for the updates, Dustin! Glad you’re enjoying the book. :)

[Christine]

I started reading Southern Book Club too. It really is entertaining so far.

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "I started reading Southern Book Club too. It really is entertaining so far."

Thanks for the update, Christine! Glad you like it. :D

[Janet]

Just finished Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You for task #3 ASPCA Great digestable "not" history book

[Rachel]

Janet wrote: "Just finished Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You for task #3 ASPCA Great digestable "not" history book"

Thanks for the update, Janet! :)

[Rachel]

Just checking in to see how everyone is doing. Sometimes I’m good, other times I’m anxious as f*ck.

Anyway, I’ve decided to post the summer challenge as usual despite this crazy time. Books are still a source of solace and escape for me and I imagine for some of you. For those unable to read right now, I still hope you’ll post anyway to let us know how you’re doing.

It’s a challenge anniversary of sorts as the first one was posted summer of 2012. Some of the tasks will be from summer challenges past and others will be new.

We’ve been in this group a long time and I think you guys are awesome.

Hope you’re all doing okay.

Rachel xoxo

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Janet wrote: "Just finished Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You for task #3 ASPCA Great digestable "not" history book"

The letters ASPCA were kinda tricky to find in a title I think. It was a matter of finding a very long title or a title with a subtitle.
Here's the one I just finished:
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Rachel wrote: "Just checking in to see how everyone is doing. Sometimes I’m good, other times I’m anxious as f*ck.

Anyway, I’ve decided to post the summer challenge as usual despite this crazy time. Books are s..."

Thanks Rachel :-)
My library has opened for hold pickup by appointment only. Last Wednesday I had my first pickup appointment and picked up the books that had been waiting for me for over 2 months (March). I got two of the books I had planned to read for Spring Challenge. I think I'll get at least one of them read in the next week. I've found other titles to add to my Spring Reading Challenge from my bookshelves at home. Looking forward to the Summer Reading Challenge. Thanks for keeping this going!

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I'm still reading The Southern Book Club Guide. Really enjoying - I'm more than half way through.

Typically, I have several books going at once and most I use audiobooks so that I can get things done around the house at the same time. The Southern Book Club Guide is one that I wasn't able to get an audiobook for (library closed, new cost more than I wanted to pay for) so I'm taking this in slowly.

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Janet wrote: "Just finished Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You for task #3 ASPCA Great digestable "not" history book"

The letters ASPCA were kinda tricky to find in a title I thi..."

Thanks for the update, Dustin! I know that one was more difficult but I always check all of your tbrs when I do a letters task to make sure all of you have some titles/subtitles that fit. I don’t look through everyone’s entire tbr-that would take forever -just a few pages. It’s a small group so it doesn’t take long. Fortunately all of you have some books with long titles and/or subtitles. :D

[Rachel]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Just checking in to see how everyone is doing. Sometimes I’m good, other times I’m anxious as f*ck.

Anyway, I’ve decided to post the summer challenge as usual despite this crazy ti..."

You’re welcome! Glad you still want to do the challenges with me. :D