2015 April Reading Challenge

[Ann]

April Fools' Day is just around the corner, so for the month of April the challenge is to read something funny, or something that makes you laugh. It can be fiction or non-fiction, whatever tickles your funny-bone.

[Debbie]

Right now I'm reading The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters by Robert Lewis Taylor. It's a Pulitzer winner and I'm enjoying the tongue-in-cheek style mimicing how a 14 year old boy may write about his adventures traveling west with his father as they seek to strike it rich in the California Gold Rush. There are parts of considerable tension and others that make me laugh out loud. What a kid! They even winter over in Salt Lake City. I won't finish this book until April so it will be my book for the April challenge.

For those who are my age, you may remember a TV show of the same name with the title character played by a very cute Kurt Russell before his Disney days. He was a doll then and he still is.

[Ann]

Carolyn is our prize drawing winner for March’s reading challenge. She read Egg & Spoon by Gregory Maguire.

[Debbie]

Congrats, Carolyn!

[Ann]

It may not be a traditional work of fiction, but this month I think I'm going to pick one of the volumes out of the The Complete Calvin and Hobbes. For some reason that little boy, his tiger, and their antics can always make me laugh.

[Carolyn]

I was told The Martian by Andy Weir was a funny book in some places. So I am going to read it and see.

[Ann]

Right now I'm reading Summer Campaign, which is a mild historical romance, but I'm constantly laughing and smiling at the characters' wonderful senses of humor, despite the sometimes sad and frustrating situations they find themselves in. Carla Kelly is one of my favorite authors for that very reason; her books come across as realistic, but there's always a place for humor amid it all.

[Becky]

I'm inspired by Ann's previous message and am going to read as many of The Far Side comic books that my family owns, as I can get through. Sometimes it is fun to just laugh at Larson's silliness. Finished The Far Side Gallery so far.

[Debbie]

GASP! I forgot to say that I finished The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters by Robert Lewis Taylor! Well better now than after the end of the challenge. If you are interested, do take a look at my review (with no spoilers).

[Jennifer]

I'm reading Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened. I've been meaning to forever, so I'm glad it fits in with this month's topic!

[Britt, Book Habitue]

I read Flora and Ulysses-- sweet and poignant but also dang funny. :)

[Debbie]

Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "I read Flora and Ulysses-- sweet and poignant but also dang funny. :)"

And a Newbery winner for 2014, if you are into that, which I am.

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Debbie wrote: "Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "I read Flora and Ulysses-- sweet and poignant but also dang funny. :)"

And a Newbery winner for 2014, if you are into that, which I am."

Yup, marks it off my "try to read Newbery winners" list AND my book club picked it a while ago but I hadn't gotten to it yet AND it was the Great Reads for Girls book this month. :)

[Ssawyer]

I read Fatty O'Leary's Dinner Party by Alexander McCall Smith. A funny short book about “a hapless American tourist’s larger-than-life comical trip to Ireland.”

I also read Mormons Say (and Do) the Darndest Things. Laugh out loud funny. This one might have been in March, but it's funny, so I'm still listing it!

[Jennifer]

Jennifer wrote: "I'm reading Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened. I've been meaning to forever, so I'm glad it fits in wit..."

Finished it! Actually, that was a super fast read. The stories about her dogs killed me. They made me appreciate how smart and sane my dogs are!

[Ann]

Jennifer wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "I'm reading Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened. I've been meaning to forever, so I'm gl..."

I laughed like crazy when I read this one. Her dog stories were hilarious!

[Linda]

I read a children's book The Hoboken Chicken Emergency and I also read a book of Fractured Fairy Tales.

[Jackie]

I read "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" by Robin Sloan. A quirky little mystery, with some wit rolled in. I gave it 4 stars.

[Becky]

Jennifer wrote: "I'm reading Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened. I've been meaning to forever, so I'm glad it fits in wit..."

I just read this book, too, on your recommendation. Good pick for this month.

[Ann]

Linda wrote: "I read a children's book The Hoboken Chicken Emergency and I also read a book of Fractured Fairy Tales."

I'd never heard of The Hoboken Chicken Emergency, but after reading the summary I think this sounds hilarious. I mean, a 266 pound chicken-- funny events are bound to ensue.

[JoAnn]

Somehow, my review of " The Liar" posted in May rather than April where it belongs. I'm using a mobile device and am not sure how to correct it.

[Debbie]

JoAnn wrote: "Somehow, my review of " The Liar" posted in May rather than April where it belongs. I'm using a mobile device and am not sure how to correct it."

I'd think the moderator should be able to move it over for you.

[Jackie]

I also listened to "Every Living Thing" by James Hariett. Funny read about his veterinary practice.

[Carolyn]

I forgot to post I was done with The Martian. It was a great book. Even though it was not a funny book, Mark Watney (the main character) had a great sense of humor even though he was stuck in a very dire situation! Great book, definitely recommended!

[Ruby]

AND The Martian is one of our Reader's Choice nominees for the July - Oct 2015 session. Look for it on your SLCO Library displays beginning July 1st!

[Carolyn]

Ruby wrote: "AND The Martian is one of our Reader's Choice nominees for the July - Oct 2015 session. Look for it on your SLCO Library displays beginning July 1st!"

I would nominate it! Great book!