The County Library discussion
Reading Challenges
>
2020 May Reading Challenge
Dang! Every book I have already in progress I have read before or have read other works by the same author. And with the libraries still closed, one cannot simply wander the shelves trusting to serendipity. Fortunately, my Goodreads To-Read shelf will offer a similar opportunity. But, alas, without the delightful physical feeling one gets in a library or bookstore, some bit of sadness hovers at the edges!
AHA! I will be reading The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss. It won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Biography and was on my schedule for May anyway! How handy!
Both of the books I have going are new to me books and new to me authors. They may or may not last until May, but I should have plenty of unread physical/electronic books to provide me with some good choices if they don't.
I think I'll do The Thousand Deaths of Ardor Benn. I've been meaning to get to the book and the author for quite a while. I picked it up at a book signing at The King's English.
I've changed my mind. Instead, I'm going to read The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth. It is the first book of Forsyth that I've read. It's part of my personal "Books first seen as a movie" challenge. Two birds, if you will.
Mod
I am going to read The Mother-Daughter Book Club.This is a new book, new author and a new series that sounds interesting.
I just finished Reading When We Were Young by Karen Kingsbury. I have heard good things about her books, but I have never gotten around to giving them a try. It was different than I expected; but I am definitely glad that I gave the book a try. Thanks for the challenge to encourage me to expand my reading horizons.
I read a memoir, which is not my usual fare. It was Born with Teeth by Kate Mulgrew, who played Captain Janeway on Star Trek Voyager.
I finished Two Girls Down by Louisa Luna. It was a great mystery. I'm eagerly looking forward to reading the sequel, The Janes.
I read Finding Zero, which is both a book and author I've never read and really, as a nonfiction about math, not a genre I ever read.
I also read The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse which is lovely and timely and a hug with pages.
Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "I read Finding Zero, which is both a book and author I've never read and really, as a nonfiction about math, not a genre I ever read."Interesting story, isn't it.
Debbie wrote: "Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "I read Finding Zero, which is both a book and author I've never read and really, as a nonfiction about math, not a genre I ever read."Interesting story, isn't it."
It was interesting, though his tangential speculations about the relationship between numbers, religion, and sex felt a little out of place and odd, lol.
Mod
Ooh, was it good?
Elizabeth, it was good. Some of her childhood stories reminded me of the memoir Educated, in that her parents were dealing with their own problems and sometimes neglected the kids. She maintained a relationship with her parents, took her mom on international vacations. She started out in theater. I liked seeing behind the scenes of Star Trek. Working on a TV series is grueling.
Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "I read Finding Zero, which is both a book and author I've never read and really, as a nonfiction about math, not a genre I ever read."Interesting story,..."
I've never read the book. I just know the story about the history of the finding of zero as a mathematical value. Sounds like I should read the book, though. Another one for the eternal "to read" list.
I read The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax. I really enjoy mysteries especially ones with a strong female lead.
I finished The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth. Fun challenge. But I do hope libraries can open in time for the beginning of the Summer Challenge!
For this challenge, I read Supercarrier by Scott Bartlett. Hard mode on this one, I've never read Scott Bartlett, before. Good enough to read the rest of the series, I've started book 2.5/5 for 2020.
Just finished "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride. It was unexpectedly fascinating!
I have other reads that could work, but I am going to count The Lincoln Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill America's 16th President—and Why It Failed for this challenge. Very interesting. I needed to do stuff but wanted to read, so I listened to the end on audio.
Mod
5/5 for 2..."
That's awesome! I love it when you find someone you want to keep reading.
Mod
I used to have a very long commute and I would listen to audiobooks on the way, but now I have a very short commute - walk to my kitchen/office, and now don't listen to audiobooks very much. :(
Teresa wrote: "I read a memoir, which is not my usual fare. It was Born with Teeth by Kate Mulgrew, who played Captain Janeway on Star Trek Voyager."Such an excellent choice! I've not read it myself, but I have heard great things about it. :)
If you enjoyed the book and hearing from Kate Mulgrew (who is awesome) -- I just discovered that Library Love Fest does virtual visits with authors every Tuesday & Thursday and today (5/19) they'll be chatting with Kate Mulgrew! You can check it out live on their facebook, or check it out later on when they upload it to youtube. :) https://www.facebook.com/librarylovef...
I've been trying to read more manga, which is something I'm not super familiar with. My reading has been a bit all over the place these days, but I did read and finish Oresama Teacher by Izumi Tsubaki. I did NOT love this book. There were some great moments (the first page is brilliantly done! The main character is living on her own for the first time and she attempts to make cup noodles and fails, hilariously and relatably!) but ultimately, there's a relationship that is just..... ummmm nope. While I wouldn't recommend this, I am happy to have discovered manga I wasn't personally familiar with before (Fullmetal Alchemist and Tokyo Tarareba Girls were quite enjoyable) I'm currently reading Little Witch Academia which I was not familiar with (it actually started as an anime, so I may have to look into the anime at some point) and it is SUPER cute.
I have a question about returns. One of the books I have out is ILL, which does NOT go into the return bins. When we can make appointments to pick up materials, would it be reasonable for me to make an appointment to return the ILL book, even if I have nothing to pick up?
Mod
I will look into that for you, and get back to you ASAP.
Mod
Stephanie, I just saw your comment about Kate Mulgrew. I'll watch that, it sounds fun.
Elizabeth wrote: "Debbie wrote: "I have a question about returns. One of the books I have out is ILL, which does NOT go into the return bins. When we can make appointments to pick up materials, would it be reasonabl..."Any answer on what to do with ILL books? The paper on the front says not to return to the dropboxes, but to return to the desk. Can't return them to the desk, can't return them to the dropbox. Due June 1. Worried.
I read The Handmaid’s Tale. After having watched parts of it on Hulu I was impressed by how closely they followed the book in the series.
Can we request new ILL books, or is that kind of discouraged now unless there is a real NEED?
Amanda wrote: "I read The Handmaid’s Tale. After having watched parts of it on Hulu I was impressed by how closely they followed the book in the series."That's partly because Atwood, the author, was involved both as a writer and consulting producer for the series into 2019.
I also finished The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Autobiography/Biography in 2013.
Mod
Feel free to put it in the drop box. I asked in the curbside meeting. Thanks!
Mod
ILL is suspended right now. We'll let you know when it starts back up again. But right now you can't request Inter Library Loans.
Mod
Elizabeth wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Can we request new ILL books, or is that kind of discouraged now unless there is a real NEED?"ILL is suspended right now. We'll let you know when it starts back up again. But right..."
I figured, but wanted to be sure. Since many areas have not yet opened library services at all, yet. And not knowing where something is coming from so how do you deal with places with worse infection rates than we have. A group I'm in is starting a book next month (i.e. June) and neither County nor City library have it. I said I wouldn't be reading because ILL is not yet available. Then I thought maybe I had better ask rather than just presuming. Seems I presumed correctly, though. ;-)
I'll just read it once ILL is again available. I'm betting by September it will be back. Once school starts again it becomes a more critical service than it is during summer.
Sorry to pester you. My daughter just signed up for a library card online. How do we get the physical card?
I also finished The Undying: Pain, Vulnerability, Mortality, Medicine, Art, Time, Dreams, Data, Exhaustion, Cancer, and Care by Anne Boyer. It's not a terribly long book, but I found it fascinating. You are welcome to read my review.
It happened! So exciting! The long, it-seemed-forever wait is over.! [Debbie does happy dance ala Steve Martin]I got to check out new materials from my library branch! Curbside service and not inside yet, but ... YAY!
[Happy dance continues unabated for several minutes]
And Monday the City starts it's curbside service for picking up holds. [Happy dance resumes]
Any word on the topic for out Summer Challenge? [Debbie sits down, tired after the exhilarating happy dance.]
Mod
I will send you a direct message.
Mod
I got to check out new materials from my library branch! Curbside service and not in..."
Debbie, I logged into goodreads to post the Summer 2020 Reading Challenge. So there is one more happy dance for you to do today. :)
Audrey wrote: "I finished The Thousand Deaths of Ardor Benn. New book and new author."My husband and daughter both just read this one and I'm told I need to as well.
The County Library
Books mentioned in this topic
The Thousand Deaths of Ardor Benn (other topics)The Thousand Deaths of Ardor Benn (other topics)
The Thousand Deaths of Ardor Benn (other topics)
The Undying: Pain, Vulnerability, Mortality, Medicine, Art, Time, Dreams, Data, Exhaustion, Cancer, and Care (other topics)
The Thousand Deaths of Ardor Benn (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Anne Boyer (other topics)Tom Reiss (other topics)
Kate Mulgrew (other topics)
Frederick Forsyth (other topics)
Kate Mulgrew (other topics)
More...
Let me know if you need any suggestions. I love helping with reader's advisory. Or, check out our FB page on Thursdays between 3-5 where we are doing live reader's advisory.
www.facebook.com/TheCountyLibrary
Good luck!