2020 April Reading Challenge

[Elizabeth]

Hello all,

I don't know about you guys, but I've been a little bit stressed recently. So, the challenge for April is to read something that gives you comfort. It can be a favorite that you re-read, or something new, but that's in a genre that gives you comfort. Basically, this one is a free choice. Read a book this month. Let me know that title and when you've finished it.

Good luck!

[Teresa]

Excellent, thanks!

[Debbie]

Read ... something. I like it. I'm already reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and The Complete Wheel of Time Bk. 11 Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan. We'll see which I finish before the end of the month. I've read Jane Eyre 4 or 5 times and this is my 3rd round with Wheel of Time.

[Elizabeth]

Excellent choices so far. Good luck!

Debbie, I love Jane Eyre.

Alma, I've never read that one.

[Gofita]

I'm reading Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. It's a bit darker than I was expecting but I should be able to finish this weekend.

[Brianon]

the new Julia Quinn romance comes out April 21, and I'm excited to read it. her books always make me laugh and transport me away from reality- exactly what I need right now! While I wait for that book's release, I'm ploughing through the Ruth Galloway mysteries, by Elly Griffiths. I'm on book 6/12 currently.

[Lisa]

I am plan on reading the selection series by Keira cass this month. after I finish one of the books I started last month.

[Carolyn]

I was scrolling through Libby yesterday to see what was available and found ("Anne of Green Gables" as a graphic novel.) A familiar story, adapted to a different format. Read the first few pages yesterday and finished tonight.

[Debbie]

What a great find, Carolyn!

[Elizabeth]

Brianon wrote: "the new Julia Quinn romance comes out April 21, ..."

Yay! Thanks for the heads up. I didnt realize one was coming out so soon. I wonder what happened with the tv show. I hope the current circumstances dont stop it from ever being on Netflix.

[Holly]

I think I'll read "Little Women." I don't think I've read it since I was young. It seems like it would be the ultimate comfort title.

[Elizabeth]

Holly wrote: "I think I'll read "Little Women." I don't think I've read it since I was young. It seems like it would be the ultimate comfort title."

I haven't read that in ages. Make sure you let me know when you've finished. Have you seen the new movie?

[Carolyn]

Just finished my second pick for the month: Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn. I have read this multiple times over the years. One thought I had recently about it. This is a book that wouldn't work on audio. You could not get the way this book is written across with just the voice. You have to see it on a page to get the full effect.

[Debbie]

Carolyn wrote: "Just finished my second pick for the month: Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn. I have read this multiple times over the years. One thought I had recently about it. This ..."

It would be the same for The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill . When part of the story delight comes from the text formating, you lose an integral thing.

[Holly]

Elizabeth wrote: "Holly wrote: "I think I'll read "Little Women." I don't think I've read it since I was young. It seems like it would be the ultimate comfort title."

I haven't read that in ages. Make sure you let ..."

I haven't seen the new movie, although I'd like to. I loved the version with Winona Ryder. It absolutely radiated warmth

[Deborah]

I have to admit my anti-stress novels tend to be clean romances. So I happily chose to read "Kiss of a Stranger" by Sarah M. Eden. I finished it Sunday night (April 5). I have also been working my way through the Hooper's Dragons Series, I finished book 4 "The Roar of Wings" by Gary J Darby in one day on April 2nd.

[Linda]

I read . It is one of my favorite genre's which is Christian Fiction

[Teresa]

I listened to Rules for Visiting. It's about friendship and plants. I chose it mostly because the reader, Emily Rankin, has a soothing voice.

[Elizabeth]

Carolyn wrote: "Just finished my second pick for the month: Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn. I have read this multiple times over the years. One thought I had recently about it. This ..."

I love this book! Have you read Ibid by Mark Dunn? It's also really good!

[Elizabeth]

Holly wrote: " I loved the version with Winona Ryder."

I just bought a Little Woman bundle, that had both that version and the new one. You are right about the one with Ryder. It definitely has warmth in it.

I still haven't watched the new one, I'll have to watch it this weekend.

[Elizabeth]

Deborah wrote: "I have to admit my anti-stress novels tend to be clean romances. So I happily chose to read "Kiss of a Stranger" by Sarah M. Eden. I finished it Sunday night (April 5). I have also been working my ..."

I ♥ romance.

[Elizabeth]

Linda wrote: "I read . It is one of my favorite genre's which is Christian Fiction"

I haven't read that one. Did you like it?

[Elizabeth]

Teresa wrote: "I listened to Rules for Visiting. It's about friendship and plants. I chose it mostly because the reader, Emily Rankin, has a soothing voice."

I'm glad you found a narrator you enjoy. The narrator can make or break an audiobook I think.

[Linda]

Elizabeth wrote: "Linda wrote: "I read . It is one of my favorite genre's which is Christian Fiction"

I haven't read that one. Did you like it?"

It was really good. It is about Job and his trials. At this time, some might be able to relate to Job. But he made it through his trials and we can too.

[Debbie]

I have finished Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. (Review)

[Elizabeth]

I love Jane Eyre. I may have to reread it.

[Becky]

I am having trouble concentrating on reading, so I've decided to go back and reread books I know I love. I finished The Stand by Stephen King, and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman. Both were terrific, but I already knew that! ;)

Stay safe everyone! <3

[Gofita]

I finished Eleanor Oliphant by Gail Honeyman. I really enjoyed it! Glad I read it!

[Laurie]

Just finished, Lady Clementine and was inspired and immersed.

[Greg]

In preparation for the next two in the series, which are coming out in July and September, I'm re-reading Jim Butcher's series The Dresden Files. So my book for this challenge is Side Jobs, which is a collection of short stories that fall throughout the series. They're fun and quirky and light, which is perfect for these heavy times!

4/4 for the year.

[Debbie]

Greg wrote: "In preparation for the next two in the series, which are coming out in July and September, I'm re-reading Jim Butcher's series The Dresden Files. So my book for this challenge is Side Jobs, which i..."

My goodness, he has a whole bunch set as expected this year. It reminds me of a saying about Isaac Asimov. He didn't write any more than any other person ... using two hands ... and two feet ... on four typewriters ... at the same time.

[Amanda]

I finished The Man in the High Castle.

[Elizabeth]

Greg wrote: "In preparation for the next two in the series, which are coming out in July and September, I'm re-reading Jim Butcher's series The Dresden Files. ..."

I ♥ The Dresden Files. I think one of the highlights of going to FanX was being able to tell Jim Butcher, that my favorite in that series was Changes, and that I cried so much reading it.

[Debbie]

I have finished a second book, The Complete Wheel of Time Bk. 11 Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan.

[Susan]

I read The Christmas Cake Murder by Joanna Fluke.

[Susan]

I read Christmas Cake Murder by Joanna Fluke.

[Pam]

I’m re-reading The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It brings me so much comfort and peace.

[Audrey]

Side Jobs is my last remaining Dresden book. I saw Butcher at FanX as well but I'd only read Storm Front by then.

I am re-reading The Amulet of Samarkand, which is one of my favorites.

[Audrey]

Now finished with The Amulet of Samarkand

[Lisa]

I ended up reading 4 books that are part of the selection series by Keira cass.

[Britt, Book Habitue]

My comfort reads are, possibly somewhat ironically, murder mysteries, lol. Mostly cozies
I've read
Secondhand Spirits, A Cast-off Coven, Hexes and Hemlines, In a Witch's Wardrobe, and Tarnished and Torn;
The Trust (unfortunately not nearly as good as the others in the series), and The Girl From Berlin (less a cozy, more a historical-based thriller ish);
The Secret, Book, and Scone Society;
Death by Cashmere (meh);
Old Bones (again, less cozy and more historical and thriller ish);
and (drumroll)
Murder in the Mystery Suite- which is like cozy mystery meets a literary Warehouse 13.... and I LOVED it. I was feeling bitter that Libby/Overdrive did not have the rest of the series, but RB Digital has them! Yay!

[Elizabeth]

Congratulations to our April 2020 prize winner! Amanda read The Man in the High Castle to complete the challenge!