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Seasonal Reading Challenges
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WINTER2021/2022READINGCHALLENGE
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I'm currently reading this (very slowly since there is no audiobook available) Quite Quirky. I like that the cover has a scooter on the cover.
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I'll be reading two books by Helen Oyeyemi soon.
Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I'm currently reading Children of Dune, which has the letters C-H-E-F in the title.I'll be reading two books by Helen Oyeyemi soon.
[bookcover:What Is Not Yo..."
Thanks for the updates, Dustin! :D
Looking forward to your thoughts on Helen Oyeyemi’s writing. I haven’t read her yet but from what I’ve heard, she has a unique style. Hope you enjoy your books. :)
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I finished
.I liked this book but found it a little slow at times. I definitely enjoyed
more.Glad I read it though-I really liked the characters. I’m just impatient when it comes to pace. Look forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts on it.
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I have finished one book of Helen Oyeyemi short stories, What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours, and overall I'm not a fan of her style. I would rate the book 2 or 3 stars, probably 3 because I give very few 1 or 2 star ratings. I still need to write my review.
I'm still planning to read Oyeyemi's Boy, Snow, Bird - only because its already in transit via inter library loan.
Hello everyone I’ve just finished Under the Whispering Door and loved it, very nice. I really like TJ KLUNE but I think Cerulean Sea was still better.
Now onto the childhood reread. It’s not quite a reread but a book that has only recently been republished.
The series I used to love and keep getting from the library is called Nesthäkchen. It’s about a little girl growing up in early 20th century Berlin. The fourth in the series, Nesthäkchen (which is a term for a family’s youngest child, usually for girls only who get to be spoilt rotten ;) it literally means little nest hook ) and the World War is set during the First World War but was prohibited after WWII
It’s been republished now and I cannot wait to get stuck in. It’s aimed at kids still and about how the early patriotism swayed soon… will be interesting to read this as an adult.
Hope you have a great start to the week :)
And hi Josh, nice to meet you :)
Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I've been thinking of reading The House in the Cerulean Sea.I have finished one book of Helen Oyeyemi short stories, What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours, and overall I'm not a fan of her style. I woul..."
Sorry you didn’t enjoy the book. Her style is definitely not for everyone.
I would highly recommend
. :)
Franzi wrote: "Hello everyone I’ve just finished Under the Whispering Door and loved it, very nice. I really like TJ KLUNE but I think Cerulean Sea was still better.
Now onto the childhood reread. It’s not quit..."
Thanks for the update, Franzi!
Glad you enjoyed
. :D
Hey Dustin! Yeah work became increasingly more and more over time. it really became time consuming while I was in North Carolina. its also cause I kept on getting promoted. 2020 and the first half of 2021, I was working super crazy overtime hours, to the point that one week I didn't even have a day off. and the stress from my break up, long story short I proposed, she said yes despite fooling around with another dude a month later she tells me she's pregnant with another guy's child. Two months later, Work completely changes supervisor jobs and makes them more or less assistant managers/department managers and downsizes the supervisors but more than half. And I was one of the lucky few to keep a supervisors position, so with less supervisors comes more stress. long story short, this new position I came into, gave me no training or anything so I was just all out stressed for the next 8 months or so. while that was all going on, my ex would call me, say stuff like she still loves me, she wants the baby to me mine cause we didn't know if it was mine or not, and just wouldn't leave me alone and then she'd start bringing the guy she cheated on me with into my departments when I'm there working. I visited my dad in Orlando for a few days. Liked what I saw and transferred with my job there but stepped down so I could easily move instead of waiting for a supervisor position opened up. The stress of the job plus the ex just was too much for me. I am still kinda a leader figure in my new store but im also just a regular associate. Hey Franzi! Nice to meet you ma'am! So far Sunday has shown the ending of The Shinning and the beginning of Doctor Sleep. I say that's a good start to the week. Even if it wasn't, I go on vacation on Wednesday, which has me going to visit my mom and the only stress I'll have is hoping I don't run into my ex cause they my mom and my ex live in the same small town... but whatever I'm visiting family and friends is the plan.
I also gotta update my picture, I wear glasses now.
But update, finished The Shining and it was mindblowing amazing. Way better than the movie. and like I said in my previous post it fits the Vacation... from Hell category. And I'm moving on to Doctor Sleep which fits the atonement challenge.
Josh wrote: "Hey Dustin! Yeah work became increasingly more and more over time. it really became time consuming while I was in North Carolina. its also cause I kept on getting promoted. 2020 and the first half ..."Thanks for the update, Josh! :D
I hope 2022 is less stressful for you. Enjoy your vacation.
Sending hugs to all of you. It’s been a difficult couple of years. Hoping 2022 is kind to all of us.
Okay I know this is kind of early but I would love everyone’s input on the spring group read. I want to feature 2 new releases. I do plan to read the maid in the next few weeks but will make it one of the spring group reads if there’s enough interest.
Anyway these are the titles I was thinking about:
The Maid
A Flicker in the Dark
The Overnight Guest
The Paris Apartment
Run, Rose, Run
The Night Shift
The Book of Cold Cases
Like a Sister
Secret Identity
Let me know what you think. :D
That's quite a list of books. They all look good. I narrowed it down to two that I am most interested in reading:
Good to see everyone is reading away. If you are like me, I've got my reading mojo back. I've been reading up a storm over the last couple of weeks. I read:
. It counts for a humorous murder mystery. It was a lot of fun to read and I just loved the characters. I read another one that isn't for the challenge but is so good, I have to tell you about it.
Its not an easy read because the author didn't use much punctuation. Its a lot of words strung together. Once you get the rhythm of the book, its beautiful. The characters, the setting, their challenges, all woven into a community that finds its way to each other and forward. Its magical.
There's a couple more that I will be adding over the next couple of days. I rarely read just one book at a time.
Dustin, I'm glad that you are safe. That fire in Colorado seemed so scary especially how fast it spread.
I can't wait to start reading
looks like everyone is liking it!Josh, so glad to see you back. You are brave to up and move just like that. I hope the vacation went well.
hugs to all, happy reading
Christine wrote: "That's quite a list of books. They all look good. I narrowed it down to two that I am most interested in reading:G..."
Thanks for the update, Christine! :D
Glad you enjoyed
-I love those characters too. I believe there’s going to be a film although who knows when it will be released.Thanks for the recommendation and the feedback on the group read. There are times when I know exactly which book to pick and other times I just can’t decide.
I can definitely see a film for Thursday Murder Club. I finished
I am counting it as a character who goes on vacation. Technically its an adventure story but what is a vacation without a little adventure, lol. I decided to read this because I am watching the PBS series. Its almost like two different stories????? I enjoyed the book and I am enjoying the show so I won't complain. Jules Verne is surprisingly easy to read. He is a good storyteller and it isn't bogged down by language from the times. He keeps things exciting.
Christine wrote: "I can definitely see a film for Thursday Murder Club. I finished
I am counting it as a character who goes on vacation. Technically its an adventu..."It works lol. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the update. :D
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I do plan to read the maid in the next few weeks but will make it o..."
I'm willing to read any of these.
The longest is Run, Rose Run and the shortest is The Maid.
The easiest for me to borrow from the library will be:
.I bought Under the Whispering Door for the Winter Group Read and I'm willing to buy a title for Spring if I can't get it from the library.
Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I'm currently reading The Lost Daughter and actually enjoying it more than I thought I might. Only about 140 pages. I like Olivia Coleman as an actress, so I hope someday to see the adaptation.[bo..."
Thanks for the update, Dustin. Glad you’re enjoying it -look forward to your review. :)
Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Okay I know this is kind of early but I would love everyone’s input on the spring group read. I want to feature 2 new releases. I do plan to read the maid in the next few weeks but..."
Thanks for the feedback. :D
Hello allHope you’re well, just a quick one for the survey- I’d love to read The Overnight Guest , second favourite is The Paris Apartment. :-)
Halfway through The Thursday Murder Club and enjoying it. The only prompt left for me is number 1 , still a bit undecided on what to read but I’ll have a look again later , got a whole month left after all :)
Take care x
Franzi wrote: "Hello allHope you’re well, just a quick one for the survey- I’d love to read The Overnight Guest , second favourite is The Paris Apartment. :-)
Halfway through The Thursday Murder Club and enjoyi..."
Thanks Franzi! :D
I haven't read much while being on vacation. Been visiting with friends and family, on top of that I just can't get super comfy trying to read at my mom's house. Cause someone is always either talking to me or just talking. I am one for quiet from talking to be able to read. I didnt say completely quiet cause I love listening to music while reading.
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Great News! I just read my second book by Helen Oyeyemi, called Boy, Snow, Bird. I enjoyed this much more than the short story collection of hers I read earlier this month.
I'd recommend this and it would work for task #1 for Franzi and anyone else still trying to get another book in during February.
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I'm sure your friends and family were glad to see you and catch up.
Are you back from vacation now?
Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Franzi wrote: "The only prompt left for me is number 1 , still a bit undecided on what to read but I’ll have a look again later , got a whole month left after all :)"Great News! I just read my se..."
Glad you enjoyed it. :D
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Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Today I started reading Harlem Shuffle"Look forward to hearing your thoughts on it. Hope you enjoy it. :)
Finished The Rose Code
-works for a reunion. Kate Quinn is one of those authors I read once a while ago and have been meaning to read again. I picked this book up after I saw that Danell gave it 5 stars. It’s a great book. Thanks Danell! :D
If you enjoy historical fiction that focuses on the accomplishments of women during wartime, (in this case code breakers), then pick this up.
is in my TBR pile. I should probably move it up. Thanks for the recommendations. I finished
. I listened to it and I think it made it more enjoyable. In reading some other reviews, some people found it "boring". I did not and I think the narrator had a lot to do with it. It felt well researched and a true depiction of time and place, at least, I hope so. I think Colson Whitehead is a good storyteller. I have
in my TBR pile. I think its time to dust it off and read it. Its post-apocalyptic horror. Definitely unlike his other novels which makes me want to read it more, lol.
I started What is not yours is not yours by Helen Oyeyeme tonight and really liked it so far :)
Christine wrote: "is in my TBR pile. I should probably move it up. Thanks for the recommendations. I finished
. I listened to it and I think it ..."Thanks for the update, Christine! :D
Hope you enjoy The Rose Code when you get a chance to pick it up.
I have the audiobook of
so glad to hear you enjoyed it. I really need to get to it. I heard there’s going to be a sequel-I think it’s going to be published this year.
Franzi wrote: "I started What is not yours is not yours by Helen Oyeyeme tonight and really liked it so far :)"Thanks for the update, Franzi! Glad you’re enjoying it. :D
I read The Lost Girls of Paris, which works for #3. Good book!
Danell wrote: "I read The Lost Girls of Paris, which works for #3. Good book!"Thanks for the update, Danell! :D
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Glad you are liking it better than I did! I liked her novel Boy, Snow, Bird much better :-)
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I'm currently reading another David Mitchell book. Utopia Avenue is about a music band. I think I like the other two David Mitchell books I've read a bit better, but I'm in the last 100 pages so we'll see how it turns out. Mitchell is quite wordy and writes some really lengthy novels - Utopia Avenue is 570 pages. I'm still planning to read one more David Mitchell, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, which is under 500 pages. In Utopia Avenue, the author references his other books including The Thousand Autumns, Cloud Atlas and The Bone Clocks.
Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Did anyone else attempt reading David Mitchell during this Winter Challenge?I'm currently reading another David Mitchell book. Utopia Avenue is about a music band. I think I like the other two Dav..."
Thanks for the update, Dustin! :D
I still haven’t read anything by David Mitchell- I’m going to read The Between by Tananarive Due
for the author part of the challenge.
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The good news is my library is participating in an inter-library loan program that opens up a lot more available materials in 2022. My library had to drop the program last year due to 2020 budget cuts.
I really take advantage of the library system. I was just at the library tonight and I've maxed out my library card again.
Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Tananarive Due wasn't available in audiobook when I checked my local library. The good news is my library is participating in an inter-library loan program that opens up a lot more available mater..."
I love libraries. :)
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I finished the winter challenge with days to spare. I read
, counts for C-H-E-FI'm a bit tired of the WWII historical fiction genre but this novel gave me a look at a different part of the war. I found the innovative ways the women were able to feed their families during wartime interesting. I loved how their relationship with each other evolved over time.
Christine wrote: "I finished the winter challenge with days to spare. I read
, counts for C-H-E-FI'm a bit tired of the WWII historical fiction genre but this novel gave me ..."
Thanks for the update, Christine! Congrats on completing the challenge. :D
Thank you to everyone who participated in the challenge and congratulations to everyone who completed it. :D
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Maybe if I get some nice weather to coincide with my days off, I can sit outside and make some real progress, but most of my "reading" is done via audiobook while I'm at work or doing things around the house. As always, looking forward to Spring and the
bright sunshiny days!
Dare to Dream
Books mentioned in this topic
The Kitchen Front (other topics)The Kitchen Front (other topics)
The Between (other topics)
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet (other topics)
Utopia Avenue (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Tananarive Due (other topics)Brandon Sanderson (other topics)
David Mitchell (other topics)
Tananarive Due (other topics)
Thanks Christine. Yes, I'm fine and safe. I live on the other side of town. The fires mainly affected South Boulder and neighboring towns. I live in North Boulder.