2015 Reading Challenge [Closed] discussion
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Having troubles with book from my childhood - I have been trying to find a book I read about a time travelling elephant creature that takes a boy on an adventure. Been trying for years but can never track it down.
Make a post in the off topic folder, someone may be able to help you
week three is starting and I find I am already falling behind. Sometimes I think I am too slow a reader. Friends telling me they are on their third or fourth book of the year I was always amazed at the reading rate but recently many tell me most those books are rather short.
I find I read different books at different speeds. I read Pride and Prejudice for my book last week and it took me the full week to get through, this week I'm reading The Book Thief and I'm nearly halfway through already.Some of it is because I've had a bit more time for reading at this end of the week compared to the beginning but it's also because I find The Book Thief a much quicker read.
I figure it's best just to go at the speed that's right for you. So long as you're getting through the book and you're enjoying it, that's the main thing. :-)
wow I thought a banned book was earlier in the list: Was doing some looking around and thinking of one of the following1984 (prev read)
Animal Farm (prev read)
The Satanic Verses
50 Shades of Grey
The Hunger Games (prev read)
Fahrenheit 451 (prev read)
The Golden Compass
Forever (how could Judy Blume be banned?)
Harry Potter (prev read)
The Canterbury Tales
Any ideas?
I am thinking of reading Canterbury Tales myself.
Wards of Faerie - Terry Brooks
1. a book with more than 500 pages -- DONE (enjoyment too long delayed - should have read long ago)
The Three Musketeers
2. a romance - DONE Utterly amazed at the characters - A fantastic story.
Emma Jane Austen
3. a book that became a movie --DONE--
Eragon - Quite an enjoyable story.
4. a book published this year --DONE--
Four - Veronica Roth Not too sure how I feel about this which feels a lot like 1984 meets The Outsiders. It is an easy read.
5. a book with a number in the title -DONE-
King Richard III Utterly amazed at this play/book I have always heard Shakespeare was among the best writers. This was amazing. Funnily enough I read The Game of Thrones books last year and not only are many of the names either the same or slight variations, but the characters share many of the same penchants.
6. a book written by someone under 30 -DONE-
Divergent - Veronica Roth 1984 meets Enders Game (initiation process is a kind of game) The story was quite interesting, and I finished it in 2 days as it was just hard to put down.
7. a book with nonhuman characters --DONE--
Watership Down - Finished reading on the train ride home tonight got quite a few looks. Watership Down is one of the books I hated to see it end. I feel like I had lost a friend when I finished it.
8. a funny book --DONE--
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency - Douglas Adams As always Douglas Adams crafts an amazing adventure.
13. a book set in a different country --DONE--
Alices in Wonderland - Lewis Carrol. So much more than the movies.
9. a book by a female author --DONE--
Insurgent - Veronica Roth. Every bit as good as the first.
14. a nonfiction book --DONE--
Why Read - Mark Edmundson
10. a mystery or thriller --DONE--
Inferno - Dan Brown. A book unlike many I have read in a long time. Kept me guessing right up until the end. I suspect I will need to read this one again as I either misread, or there were some inconsistencies.
11. a book with a one-word title --DONE--
Allegiant - Veronica Roth. Quite a surprise and while at the beginning I found myself lagging at the start, still I found this one quite intriguing.
26. a memoir --DONE--
Walden - Henry David Thoreau. Heavily recommended to me, so I read it with great anticipation. Some very elegant thoughts but not as much as I was expecting based on how highly regarded the book is. Then again could just be me.
41. a book with magic --DONE--
The Neverending Story - Michael Ende, How too sure how I feel about this book. I loved it and hated it.
12. a book of short stories --DONE--
The Illustrated Man - Ray Bradbury, I loved it almost every story had a unique flavor to it and kept me going through the last page.
15. a popular author's first book --DONE--
Less Than Zero - Bret Easton Ellis. I was mesmerized and appalled all at the same time throughout the story. While I find the scenes akin to a car wreck, the themes hiding behind the macabre thought provoking.
16. a book from your favorite author that you haven't read yet --DONE--
The High Druid's Blade - Terry Brooks, A new story style supporting a great story. I Loved it.
17. a book that a friend recommended --DONE--
Redshirts - John Scalzi, What can I say a fantastic story that covers matters deep in solipsism, determinism, and basic epistemology. I loved it!
18. a Pulitzer-prize winning book --DONE--
A Fable - William Faulkner, Loved the start and end, I was a little mired down in the middle, but it was worth it.
20. a book at the bottom of your to-read list --DONE--
I Am Legend - Richard Matheson, A great book with an unexpected ending. I Loved it. The short stories are enjoyable, and few even gave me goosebumps.
21. a book your mom loves --DONE--
Jayne Eyre - Charlotte Bronte, Absolutely a delightful read. I am amazed at a story where she gets it all. The trials and sufferings and the steadfast pushing through is an amazing theme that runs throughout. I cried for happiness at the end, which is a rare occurrence for me. I Loved it.
24. a book based entirely on its cover --DONE--
The Black - Paul E. Cooley, Just loved it. The lab scene especially was great.
46. a book that was originally written in another language -DONE--
household tales (Grimm Brothers - Lucy Crane) quite enjoyable.
22. a book that scares you --DONE--
The Black: Arrival, Paul E. Cooley, I loved this sequel to The Black as much as the first an exciting suspense ride through Sci-Fi and a bit of horror.
27. a book you can finish in a day --DONE--
30 Days in The Word Mines (Chuck Wendly) an interesting read, really more of a series of blog post collected into a book form but if you are thinking of NaNoWriMo, think of it as a motivation source.
43. a book by an author you've never read before --DONE--
The Complete Idiots Guide to Grammar and Style, Laurie Rozakis - A good refresher and easily explains some writing elements.
19. a book based on a true story --DONE--
The Novel Writer's Toolkit, Bob Mayer, research about writing - some good ideas.
51. a book based on OR turned into a tv show --DONE--
Alice in Wonderland - This is the second version to read this year. I love this book.
23. a book more than 100 years old --DONE--
Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carol, Loved it
28. a book with antonyms in the title --DONE--
Business for Breakfast, Volume 1: The Beginning Professional Writer by Leah Cutter
29. a book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit --DONE--
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
37. a book set in the future --DONE--
The Martian by Andy Weir, This is an excellent story, Adding to my all time favorites list.
38. a book set in high school --DONE--
Jumper, Steven Gould, Excellent story. Very few elements of the movie and the book line up. The book is, yet again, much better.
35. a book from your childhood --DONE--
The Street, Paul E. Cooley. An irreverent take on the characters from The Muppet Show and Sesame Steet. What would happen if they were out of work and largely dysfunctional.
36. a book with a love triangle --DONE--
ZOO, James Patterson. A wonderful story with a more realistic warning ending.
47. a book set during Christmas (or similar holiday) --DONE--
Eve: The Awakening, Jenna Moreci. Monsters, real and imagined. Suspense and intrigue on every corner. A professor who punishes in the most amazing way. Now that we have discussed a smattering of what the heroes are doing to each other. As for the villains, they will make your skin crawl and sweat in anticipation. This book was one of my favorites so far this year.
42. a graphic novel --DONE--
Tokyo Summer of The Dead 4
33. a trilogy (the second) --DONE--
Bloodfire Quest - Terry Brooks. Loved it similar enough to follow the others while being original enough to craft a new story. Terry doesn't disappoint.
34. a trilogy (the third) --DONE--
Witch Wraith - Terry Brooks. Another great trilogy by Terry Brooks brought to a close. Loved the story, even with the breaking the fourth wall but at the end.
48. a book written by an author with your same initials --DONE--
The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown. The was a page at about 75% through that threw me out of the story. Overall the book was quite enjoyable.
45. a book that takes place in your hometown --DONE (hometown really?) okay metaphorically my home is where my heart is and that is is in writing. Scene and Structure (Jack Bickham)
30. a book that came out the year you were born --DONE--
I Will Fear No Evil - Robert A. Heinlein. Heinlein hits some human character aspects dead on. Willing to discuss the aspects of a person's public face versus the reality of human behaviors. Not a huge fan of his view of the future, but his characters just shine.
44. a book you own but have never read --DONE--
Ready Player One - Ernest Cline. Loved this book, it is now on my favorite list.
25. a book you were supposed to read in school but didn't
The Good Earth - Pearl S Buck (I read the ones I was assigned - so again)
31. a book with bad reviews
Wuthering Heights - Charlotte Bronte
39. a book with a color in the title
The Invisible Man - HG Wells
40. a book that made/makes you cry
Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
49. a play
Hamlet - William Shakespeare
50. a banned book
Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
52. a book you started but never finished
The Republic - Plato