Lea's 1st Annual Reading Challenge - 2nd List Complete...There will be no 3rd List! :-)

[Lea]

Hello series books. If I don't put you into a challenge, I never read you. This year, I'm going to try and finish the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series....until the author writes the next book...and finish a few series that have just one book left...

1. The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney READ 1/4/2022
2. Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney READ 1/27/2022
3. The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney READ 2/18/2022
4. Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney READ 3/22/2022
5. The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney READ 4/1/2022
6. Old School by Jeff Kinney READ 5/1/2022
7. Double Down by Jeff Kinney READ 5/31/2022
8. The Getaway by Jeff Kinney READ 6/20/2022
9. The Meltdown by Jeff Kinney READ 6/30/2022
10. Wrecking Ball by Jeff Kinney READ 7/15/2022
11. The Deep End by Jeff Kinney READ 7/29/2022
12. Big Shot by Jeff Kinney READ 8/19/2022

Alternates
13. A Time for Mercy by John Grisham READ 3/21/2022
14. City of Ink by Elsa Hart READ 4/7/2022
15. Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout READ 7/27/2022
16. The Blythes Are Quoted by L.M. Montgomery READ 8/12/2022

[Jennifer, Moderator]

You know, some people might think you're crazy for talking to your unread books...... but not me. LOL!

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

🤗🥰🥰🥰😍😍

[Vikki, Moderator]

I love John Grisham's books but haven't read A Time For Mercy (yet), looking forward to your thoughts on it

[Lea]

Jennifer wrote: "You know, some people might think you're crazy for talking to your unread books...... but not me. LOL!"

How else would one keep the bookshelves in line? My bookshelves are very vocal, wanting me to read them, arguing with me, telling me I picked the wrong book...OK, maybe I am a little bit crazy...but it is all in good fun. :-) :-) :-)

[Lea]

Alondra wrote: "🤗🥰🥰🥰😍😍"

:-)

[Lea]

Vikki wrote: "I love John Grisham's books but haven't read A Time For Mercy (yet), looking forward to your thoughts on it"

Vikki, I really love most of his books, especially this series. Sometimes, though, I feel like his books start out well and then they feel rushed. I wonder if he has a lot of publishing deadlines? I'll definitely post my thoughts. Probably via letter to the author.

[Martha]

My books call my name! And I talk to them, too. :-) Good luck with your challenge! It's so dangerous to look at your list ... I haven't read any of them. sigh

[Bill, Moderator]

I had no idea there were so many books about wimpy kids. I'm not alone! Good luck with your challenge.

[Denise]

I haven't read any of your selections but A Time for Mercy is on my TBR. Wish you luck with your challenge.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Oh, it appears I own that John Grisham book, but not read it, might wait till you have :)

[Jami]

I read the first Wimpy Kid book and liked it; good luck with your challenge!

I need to get to A Time for Mercy and also the Olive Kitteredge books; I still need to read the first one!

[Ioana]

I've never heard of this Wimpy Kid before, and now he's everywhere: on your list, on TV commercials for a new movie, on the GR banner...this looks like a fun, easy challenge.
I'm sure there will be some difficult, heavier books on your multi-year lists, LOL. I liked the Grisham book, happy reading!

[Alissa]

Wait until you meet Fregley ;-)

[Faouzia]

Lea wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "You know, some people might think you're crazy for talking to your unread books...... but not me. LOL!"

How else would one keep the bookshelves in line? My bookshelves are very vo..."

You are the only one Lea :) i have the habit of welcoming (out loud) the new books when i first receive them or bring them home. Or maybe this is a new level of crazy LOL :D

[Lea]

Martha wrote: "My books call my name! And I talk to them, too. :-) Good luck with your challenge! It's so dangerous to look at your list ... I haven't read any of them. sigh"

Martha, I have list envy with your list, and find it dangerous too. I am trying so hard not to add too many more series, but I have to do a limited amount or I will get grumpy.

[Lea]

Bill wrote: "I had no idea there were so many books about wimpy kids. I'm not alone! Good luck with your challenge."

I feel like a wimpy kid, even though I'm clearly not a kid anymore. Maybe I need to start writing a Diary for Wimpy Adults.

[Lea]

Denise wrote: "I haven't read any of your selections but A Time for Mercy is on my TBR. Wish you luck with your challenge."

Thanks, Denise, I hope we both like that book. I'm looking forward to it!

[Lea]

Ann_R wrote: "Good luck with your series challenge, Lea. I haven't read any books by Jeff Kinney but they sound fun."

Thanks, Ann. I need to focus on series, but didn't want to pick any difficult series. I mean, I also thought about Wheel of Time and A Song of Ice and Fire, but I don't think I could make it through 12 chunky books. Maybe next year I'll be inspired to make it more challenging. Some years I'm up for it, this year was not the year. :-)

[Lea]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Oh, it appears I own that John Grisham book, but not read it, might wait till you have :)"

I will try to read it when I'm in a good mood, Desley, and let you know what I think. Sometimes I don't like books, but it isn't the books fault, so I'll be careful with this one, if you're waiting on it. :-) :-) :-)

[Martha]

Lea wrote: "Martha wrote: "My books call my name! And I talk to them, too. :-) Good luck with your challenge! It's so dangerous to look at your list ... I haven't read any of them. sigh"

Martha, I have list e..."

I'm almost embarrassed at how many new series I've started this year. It's a sickness! LOL

[Lea]

Jami wrote: "I read the first Wimpy Kid book and liked it; good luck with your challenge!

I need to get to A Time for Mercy and also the Olive Kitteredge books; I still need to read the first one!"

Thanks, Jami! I started this Wimpy Kids series so long ago, and there are so many books in the series, it is hard for me to catch up. Hopefully we can both pick some good books this year and read what suits our moods. Enjoy!

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "I've never heard of this Wimpy Kid before, and now he's everywhere: on your list, on TV commercials for a new movie, on the GR banner...this looks like a fun, easy challenge.
I'm sure there will be some difficult, heavier books on your multi-year lists, LOL. I liked the Grisham book, happy reading!"

Yes, there are some heavier books on my Individual Challenge, but not as many as usual. I am hoping that giving myself a break will allow me to be enthusiastic about adding them next year. This year was hard. I had gotten behind on my multi-year challenge and had to get through all those complicated Chinese books early in the year. I just didn't want to do that to myself again. But, no doubt, I will be ready for something more challenging next year. LOL. :-)

[Lea]

Alissa wrote: "Wait until you meet Fregley ;-)"

Well, I did meet him in the first book, when he was chasing Greg around the house with a booger on his finger, and he showed up again in Dog Days when his mom invited him over for a play date...but I'm assuming from this comment that he does something else disturbing...oh boy, that will be fun!

[Lea]

Martha wrote: "I'm almost embarrassed at how many new series I've started this year. It's a sickness! LOL"

Seriously, it's a contagious disease and only gets worse when I see what all you all are reading.

I'm all proud and what not that I finished 35 series this year...and that totally sounds so impressive...until you realize that I started 21 series this year, and some of those series have a lot of books in them.

And by finishing a series, that doesn't necessarily mean that more books will be written...and also...sometimes a very short story comes out like The Good People, and I count that as a series completion even though that's only like a couple paragraphs.

So, basically, it's like any set of statistics. :-)

"There are three types of lies: lies, d@mned lies, and statistics." --Mark Twain

[Michelle]

I listened to a lot of Wimpy Kids books on audio when my kids were young. Always funny and always enjoyed by the whole family. The older brother was our favorite character.

[Lea]

Michelle wrote: "I listened to a lot of Wimpy Kids books on audio when my kids were young. Always funny and always enjoyed by the whole family. The older brother was our favorite character."

Roderick, the one whose band is called Loded Diper? :-) It amazes me how the youngest brother Manny gets out of everything too. :-)

[Michelle]

So great how it reads from a kids perspective. Your siblings always got away with more stuff than you.

[Michelle]

This is a fun series. It's been some time since I read it with my older children but have find memories. Enjoy!

[Kim. E.]

Lea wrote: "Martha wrote: "I'm almost embarrassed at how many new series I've started this year. It's a sickness! LOL"

Seriously, it's a contagious disease and only gets worse when I see what all you all are ..."

That I'm actually going to finish ONE series this year is to celebrate - then I read you post and I am sad again ;-)

I'd blame the challenges I do but that's being disrespectful to the challenges.

[Lea]

Michelle wrote: "So great how it reads from a kids perspective. Your siblings always got away with more stuff than you."

Yes, it's true, ask my brother, he'll say I got away with everything, but he's wrong, he's the sneaky one!

I am hoping I won't get tired of reading one per month, but couldn't resist trying to cover a series, I've got too many of them on the go.

[Lea]

Michelle wrote: "This is a fun series. It's been some time since I read it with my older children but have find memories. Enjoy!"

Thanks, Michelle, I needed something lighthearted and easy in m y life right now, and this seemed like a good pick. Hope you enjoy your books too!!

[Lea]

Kim. E. wrote: "That I'm actually going to finish ONE series this year is to celebrate - then I read you post and I am sad again ;-)

I'd blame the challenges I do but that's being disrespectful to the challenges."

Did you start 21 series last year? If not, you're probably in better shape than I am! I am "finishing" series by reading one book and adding series that have 7, so I'm not getting anywhere either. So, don't be sad, just laugh along with me, we are all in the same sorry situation, some of us (me) are just trying to make ourselves feel better by bending the statistics to make ourselves look like we're making progress. :-)

[Lea]

Dear Mr. Kinney,

For whatever reason, Book #5, The Ugly Truth, wasn't really my favorite in the series. I think the last two books were so much better, but that's not to say there was anything wrong with this one. It was funny and entertaining and picked up my day.

Thanks and until next letter,
Lea

[Kim. E.]

How I love your letters.

And thank you for reminding me that we're all in this together :-)

[Alissa]

Lea wrote: "Dear Mr. Kinney,

For whatever reason, Book #5, The Ugly Truth, wasn't really my favorite in the series. I think the last two books were so much better, but that's not to say there w..."

Greg's a bit of a jerk in this one (that's Amelias take on it) haha

[Lillie]

Kim. E. wrote: "How I love your letters.

And thank you for reminding me that we're all in this together :-)"

I agree Kim! Lea’s letters are the best. They always put a smile on my face and makes me wish I were more creative.

[Lea]

Kim. E. wrote: "How I love your letters.

And thank you for reminding me that we're all in this together :-)"

I am going to get tired of writing to Mr. Kinney this year, I think. Maybe I need to write to some of the characters in these books, instead. I have something to say to them too. :-)

[Lea]

Alissa wrote: "Greg's a bit of a jerk in this one (that's Amelias take on it) haha"

Amelia is absolutely correct. Maybe I should buddy read with her too? Hahahaha! :-) :-)

[Lea]

Lillie wrote: "I agree Kim! Lea’s letters are the best. They always put a smile on my face and makes me wish I were more creative."

Aww...you guys are the best. :-)

[Lea]

Dear Mr. Kinney,

Every time I pick up one of your books, I wonder how this series can possibly continue. This book, #6, Cabin Fever, was one of my favorites, because some of the outrageous things that happened where in the heads of the kids. I liked this better than #5, but Dog Days remains my favorite, so far.

Until next letter,
Lea

[Alissa]

Lea wrote: "Dear Mr. Kinney,

Every time I pick up one of your books, I wonder how this series can possibly continue. This book, #6, Cabin Fever, was one of my favorites, because some of the ou..."

This is the one where Greg and Rowley try to make a snowball and roll it down the hill but then Dad gets pissed because its in his way so he just smashes it? Hilarious

Jamies like "I feel for Dad" haha

[Lea]

Alissa wrote: "This is the one where Greg and Rowley try to make a snowball and roll it down the hill but then Dad gets pissed because its in his way so he just smashes it? Hilarious

Jamies like "I feel for Dad" haha"

No, this one is about when there is a blizzard and Dad stays in a hotel. The electricity goes off at Greg's house, and Rowley comes over and says that he has electricity. Turns out that all the breakers have mysteriously flipped except the one in Manny's room and he's been hiding out with a space heater and all the snacks.

My favorite part is when Greg asks his mom to hold his place in line at comic con, to get his graphic novel signed while he goes to the bathroom, and she doesn't want to wait so she forges the author's signature herself. When he takes it to the comic book store to get money for it, he finds her out. Haha, I seriously wonder how many times that happens!

[Alissa]

Lea wrote: "Alissa wrote: "This is the one where Greg and Rowley try to make a snowball and roll it down the hill but then Dad gets pissed because its in his way so he just smashes it? Hilarious

Jamies like "..."

I love Manny hes hilarious

[Faouzia]

Lea wrote: "Dear Mr. Kinney,

Every time I pick up one of your books, I wonder how this series can possibly continue. This book, #6, Cabin Fever, was one of my favorites, because some of the ou..."

I really like reading your letter Lea :)
I think i'll put aside in my TBR one of the Wimpy kid's stories, for those down reading periods. :)

[Lea]

Faouzia wrote: "I really like reading your letter Lea :)
I think i'll put aside in my TBR one of the Wimpy kid's stories, for those down reading periods. :)"

It's hard to rate these books high, because the books aren't amazing works of literature, but they have a purpose in my reading list. I find that I cannot read so many serious books in a row, and children's books are a nice break from so many tough reads. I hope you enjoy them too, Faouzia! And if the first one doesn't work for you, you can probably go ahead and skip the rest of the series. :-)

[Lea]

Dear Mr. Kinney,

I just finished reading The Third Wheel. I love that your books are fast reads and are entertaining. After reading some stressful books in February, it's nice to read something a little more lighthearted. That said, I think this book may have been the weakest yet for me. I just wasn't into the first part about Greg remembering things before he was born and the situation about the Valentine's Day dance. But I'll definitely be reading the next book, no doubt it will entertain me and put a smile on my face.

Lea

[Martha]

Lea wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "I really like reading your letter Lea :)
I think i'll put aside in my TBR one of the Wimpy kid's stories, for those down reading periods. :)"

It's hard to rate these books high, be..."

Having a nice author we can go to for relief from the more serious books is a great thing. Mine has usually been romances by Georgette Heyer for her wonderful characters & witty dialogue. I will have to try this series. I, also, love your letters.

[Lea]

Martha wrote: "Having a nice author we can go to for relief from the more serious books is a great thing. Mine has usually been romances by Georgette Heyer for her wonderful characters & witty dialogue. I will have to try this series. I, also, love your letters."

Yes, I agree, having some books that are relaxing in between the serious ones is so important to me. I really need to read more by Georgette Heyer. The only book I've ever read by her was one of her worst, but I think I will really like her too - just need to pick a good book and not take the one that someone else gave away in the Little Free Library. :-)

[Martha]

Lea wrote: "Martha wrote: "Having a nice author we can go to for relief from the more serious books is a great thing. Mine has usually been romances by Georgette Heyer for her wonderful characters & witty dial..."

Just finished The Foundling & really enjoyed it. Cute characters & not as much of a love story as some others of hers. I'm trying to read one a month by her.