SUMMER 2022 READING CHALLENGE

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I read Earthlings. Might try Convience Store Woman at some point.

[Rachel]

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I read Earthlings. Might try Convience Store Woman at some point."

It’s worth giving a try. I think you would like it. It definitely had some interesting things to say. Look forward to hearing your thoughts if you decide to pick it up.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I saw Janet at the movie theater again. She watched two horror films back to back.

[Danell]

I listened to an audio book that works for the s-o-u-l part, You think it I’ll Say it. It was good

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Just finished This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub. Very good.

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "I listened to an audio book that works for the s-o-u-l part, You think it I’ll Say it. It was good"

Thanks for the update, Danell! :)

[Rachel]

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Just finished This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub. Very good.
"

Thanks for the update, Dustin! :)

[Rachel]

How’s everyone doing?


Just wanted to check in. It’s been a little quiet in here.
Hope all of you are well

[Danell]

Hi everyone! Been a crappy summer for me, health issues. I was at the beach in the lake for 10 minutes, was to cold for me, late June. Now when I want to go either it’s the weather, my stomach or I’m working. Summer is not over yet and I WILL get one time in the lake yet! One of my favorite things is standing in the lake, water to my shoulders and watching the beautiful sky and birds while the water gently crashes over you. Relaxing especially when you are high.

Extremely busy at work! Pleasing 250-340 customers a day. The past few days hasn’t been so bad, thinking the start of school in some states has contributed to this slow down. Tourists.

My son graduated High School, moved, and starts college Monday.
Happy reading!!
Hope everyone is well!!

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "Hi everyone! Been a crappy summer for me, health issues. I was at the beach in the lake for 10 minutes, was to cold for me, late June. Now when I want to go either it’s the weather, my stomach or I..."

Holy sh*t I can’t believe your son is all grown up. Where does the time go?

Hope you feel better soon and get to the lake. :)

[Danell]

Thank you! He got a free ride to his college, he was in the right place at the right time. 😀
Although my colonoscopy didn’t show Crohns or ulcer colistis, I have the same symptoms and put on a new med to help. Now I need to follow a low FODMAP diet. I’ve been gluten free for 12 years but not looking forward to the list. Hopefully I can add my favorite foods back in.
Cherries, asparagus, onions, watermelon, guacamole, garlic! Grrrr!!! But if I feel better it is certainly worth it!

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "Thank you! He got a free ride to his college, he was in the right place at the right time. 😀
Although my colonoscopy didn’t show Crohns or ulcer colistis, I have the same symptoms and put on a new ..."

A free ride is f*ing awesome-wishing him all good things at college,

Fingers crossed this new medicine and diet gives your stomach some relief (and hopefully you’ll be able to add some of those foods back).

[Danell]

I just finished Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes. Wow! I will definitely read another book by her!!

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "I just finished Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes. Wow! I will definitely read another book by her!!"

Thanks for the update, Danell! Glad you enjoyed it. :D

I’ve been thinking of reading Broken Monsters or The Shining Girls.

[Danell]

Someday I’m going to read The Shining Girls. I bought it, on my Nook, must have been on sale but have yet to read it.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Danell wrote: " One of my favorite things is standing in the lake, water to my shoulders and watching the beautiful sky and birds while the water gently crashes over you. Relaxing especially when you are high."

Vivid Description :-)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Danell wrote: "I just finished Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes. Wow! I will definitely read another book by her!!"

I just finished Broken Monsters tonight. I was planning to try The Shining Girls, but I think I'm going to pass. The writing is good, but the stories are a bit dark for my liking.

[Rachel]

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Danell wrote: "I just finished Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes. Wow! I will definitely read another book by her!!"

I just finished Broken Monsters tonight. I was planning to try The Shining Girls..."

Thanks for the update, Dustin! :D

[Rachel]

Finished Upgrade and enjoyed it. I really liked the premise-I wouldn’t mind an upgrade myself lol.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I think I will end up reading UPGRADE in September.

The publisher didn't release an audiobook on CD or Playaway, only digital e-audiobook, so I'll be reading my printed copy.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Here are a few sleeper art movies that were released this Summer. I really enjoyed these and you might too:

Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen song documentary)
Fire of Love (Volcano/ Earth Science documentary)
A Love Song (simplistic, no frills film starring Dale Dickey and Wes Studi)

My three biggest winners (so far), movies that I have re-watched multiple times at the theater this year:
Brian and Charles - 8 times
The Lost City - 6 times
NOPE - 6 times (so far)

[Rachel]

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Here are a few sleeper art movies that were released this Summer. I really enjoyed these and you might too:

Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen song documentary)
Fire of Love (Volcano/ Earth Science documen..."

I’m so glad to hear good things about NOPE-can’t wait to see it. Will have to look into the other titles. Thanks! :D

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I just watched NOPE for the sixth time today :-) I think it's a gorgeous film with much to consider along the lines of animal training/treatment, race/slavery and the film/entertainment industry. NOPE is not a film for those who need everything explained clearly, but great for intellectual thinkers. Like Jordan Peele's 2019 film, US, the film is allegorical and not as straight forward as Peele's popular first film, GET OUT.

Common phrases found in NOPE include, but are not limited to:
"You good?"
"A Spectacle"
"What if I told you . . . "

[Franzi]

Hello everyone
Sorry I’ve been quiet.
Just been busy, we went to a really nice family holiday in Greece … wish I could go back, it was incredible.
Summer is coming to an end and so is my super long two year parental leave … I’m looking forward to going back to school though( I’m a primary school teacher - so years 7-11 in Germany) , I start in November and my little one starts nursery in September.

My two big kids have been off school for six weeks and start again next week as well . I did get plenty of reading done despite being busy but I haven’t managed all of the challenge prompts this time ( and won’t quite make it either but that’s ok).

I only read (well, listened to) Upgrade because of our fab group and loved it.

For the SOUL book I read Hazel Priors second penguin book: call of the penguins. Not quite as good as the first but still enjoyable.

[Franzi]

Oh couldn’t see what I was typing anymore so have tk split this comment in half, sorry .
I read a German thriller I knew nothing about, that was a 3/5, good read.
For the transport prompt I read The Girl at the back of the bis by Suzette Harris. Really liked it.
A book published in 2012: I am Malala… wow what a haunting read. I’d really recommend it in case you haven’t read it.
I’ve read and loved Upgrade but my favourite of them all was Flowers for Algernon. I’d never heard of it before but loved it so much. Shed a few tears.

Hope you can all enjoy the rest of the summer in good health and spirits and look forward to the autumn prompts.

Until then, take care everyone

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Welcome Back Franzi !!!

[Rachel]

Franzi wrote: "Oh couldn’t see what I was typing anymore so have tk split this comment in half, sorry .
I read a German thriller I knew nothing about, that was a 3/5, good read.
For the transport prompt I read ..."

Thanks for the update, Franzi! :D

I’ve heard Greece is really beautiful-glad you had a wonderful time there.

Glad you loved Flowers for Algernon-I read it so long ago but it’s always been one of my favorite books.

Congrats on your return to teaching! :D

[Danell]

I read Sun Down Motel by Simone St James, which works for the S-O-U-L part.
Good book!

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "I read Sun Down Motel by Simone St James, which works for the S-O-U-L part.
Good book!"

Thanks for the update, Danell! :D

[Christine]

Hey! I'm sorry about being quiet too. I thought I would get done with the construction and have all this time to read........but I haven't been reading much. Some books I made requests for from Libby have landed on my iPad and I am keeping up with those but not the challenge so much. Sorry! Sounds like everyone's summer has been full with this and that, vacations, health issues, movies, family, books, life! Good to see everyone's updates. I am lurking on GR, lol.

Has anyone else received an email about we need to request our data on favorite authors or it will be gone forever????? I am so leery about this kind of thing. Thanks

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "Hey! I'm sorry about being quiet too. I thought I would get done with the construction and have all this time to read........but I haven't been reading much. Some books I made requests for from Lib..."

Thanks for checking in, Christine! :D

I got an email a while ago asking if I wanted to save certain info that they are apparently phasing out of goodreads -I can’t recall how it was phrased. I just ignored it.

[Christine]

Thanks!

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "Thanks!"

I actually just checked my email again and there’s another email from goodreads saying that if I want to keep info about favorite authors or quizzes, I need to request the data. They’re apparently phasing out these features next month.

[Christine]

Finished

I'm not quite sure if this is the right word for how I want to describe this book about time travel..........quiet. Usually books about time travel have lots of action. This is good, just not what I expected. I agree with Rachel in that it was hard to connect with Alice. I did love her dad and her friend, Sam.

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "Finished

I'm not quite sure if this is the right word for how I want to describe this book about time travel..........quiet. Usually books about time travel..."

Thanks for the update, Christine! :D

I think quiet is the perfect word for that book.