Alias's 2024 Book Challenge

[madrano]

Alias Reader wrote: "I finished prompt #47.

✅47- Translated into English
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop - Japanese

I gave this one a 3/5 rating . Good but did not exceed expectations.
I reviewed it..."

Fast work, i think.

[Alias Reader]

I knocked off another prompt !


✅14--travel F/NF
Walking with Sam: A Father, a Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain

I'll review the book in our Book Salon thread.

[madrano]

Terrific, Alias.

[Alias Reader]

I checked off another prompt !

✅45- A book over 500 pages
Finders Keepers - 558 pages

I wrote a review in the Book Salon.

[madrano]

Congratulations, Alias. You are doing great!

[Alias Reader]

Thanks, deb. I have to say I am enjoying the challenge and the variety of books I'm reading.

[Rachel]

Way to go Alias. That is the fun part of the challenge. It encourages branching out.

[Alias Reader]

Absolutely, Rachel. Thank you.

[Alias Reader]

I finished another prompt !

✅44- Book with one word title
Holly by Stephen King

I'll write up a review in the Book Salon. I gave it a 4/5. Which is exceeded my expectations.

As to my ratings, I try to rate a book according to the genre it's in.

[Rachel]

Alias Reader wrote: "I finished another prompt !

✅44- Book with one word title
Holly by Stephen King

I'll write up a review in the Book Salon. I gave it a 4/5. Which is exceeded my exp..."

Rating re genre is a great idea. Kind of like a sliding scale in a way.

[madrano]

I agree with Rachel, good & interesting idea.

Congratulations, Alias.

[Alias Reader]

I've been rating books in my Books Read Journal since 1999. My only regret is I didn't start m journal in college.

After a number of years, I found that I had to change and rate by genre. After all, an excellent beach read deserves a 5/5. However, of course, it's not great literature or a wonderful non fiction book that I learned a lot from. Therefore the change in the way I rate books.

These are generally what I have in mind when I rate a book. Though it's flexible.

0- Yuck. Back away. Not fit for man nor beast. Painful. How did this get published?

1- Did not like it.

2- Okay. I would not recommend. Did not meet my expectations.

3- Good. - met my expectations.

4- Exceeded my expectations. Very good. A cut above the rest.

5- Wow ! A class by itself. I enjoyed the writing, plot and if non fiction, learned a lot. Impressive.

[Rachel]

Alias Reader wrote: "I've been rating books in my Books Read Journal since 1999. My only regret is I didn't start m journal in college.

After a number of years, I found that I had to change and rate by genre. After a..."

You seem to have hit the nail on the head with your classifications. I never codified mine but they seem to be in line with how I rate books.

[madrano]

Alias Reader wrote: "I've been rating books in my Books Read Journal since 1999. My only regret is I didn't start m journal in college.

After a number of years, I found that I had to change and rate by genre. After a..."

I don't think i ever understood fully that you rate each book by the genre, then give it a star rating, Alias. I know sometimes you mention that the rating reflects the genre but somehow this seems recent. Maybe i only noticed? It seems like a good idea.

[Alias Reader]

I finished another prompt !

✅8- LGBTQ+ character F/NF
Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death, and Jazz Chickens by Eddie Izzard

[madrano]

Brava, Alias!

[Alias Reader]

Thank you, deb.

If I am counting correctly, I have around 18 prompts to go.

[Rachel]

Alias Reader wrote: "Thank you, deb.

If I am counting correctly, I have around 18 prompts to go."

Way to go Alias.

[John]

Alias Reader wrote: "I finished another prompt !

✅8- LGBTQ+ character F/NF
[book:Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death, and Jazz Chickens|24611..."

Interesting choice - congrats!

[Alias Reader]

Thanks !

[madrano]

Alias Reader wrote: "Thank you, deb.

If I am counting correctly, I have around 18 prompts to go."

Outstanding! What will you read the rest of the year. LOL!!!

[Alias Reader]

madrano wrote: "Alias Reader wrote: "Thank you, deb.

If I am counting correctly, I have around 18 prompts to go."

Outstanding! What will you read the rest of the year. LOL!!!"

I still have my Determination List to work on !

[Alias Reader]

I finished another prompt !

✅26- Published in 2024
The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning by A.J. Jacobs

I used the published in 2024 prompt. However, this book would also fit:

7- Legal or lawyer character F / NF

11- Political, social science or governments F/NF

[madrano]

Thanks for that thought, Alias.

I forgot about your DL. You are a good reader in that regard. This year i didn't even create one.

[Rachel]

madrano wrote: "Thanks for that thought, Alias.

I forgot about your DL. You are a good reader in that regard. This year i didn't even create one."

What is a DL?

[Alias Reader]

Rachel wrote: "madrano wrote: "Thanks for that thought, Alias.

I forgot about your DL. You are a good reader in that regard. This year i didn't even create one."

What is a DL?"

Determination List.

Back from the time when this group was on AOL, at the end of the year individuals created a list of books we were Determined to read in the coming year.

You can find these DL's and also some other challenges on Book Nook Cafe's Main Page, in the Folder:
Determination Lists & Challenges
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Here is my DL for example
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[madrano]

For me, the DL isn't a yearly thing. Some years, i'm overwhelmed with what i want to read vs. our schedule, so make no plans.

Additionally, we have our sort of Presidential DL. I'm stuck presently with Woodrow Wilson. I've purchased the physical copy but suspect an ecopy will be needed. OR, i may check out an audio & read along. ANYway, i've stalled.

[Alias Reader]

You are doing well with the president challenge, deb.

I think I am going to use a President bio for the first prompt in our 2024 book challenge. At least that is what I have penciled in at the moment.

1- Biography, autobiography or memoir

[madrano]

Thanks, Alias. If i hadn't been "stuck" on Wilson for so long, i'd feel better about things.

Neat idea about next year's challenge. I have a couple of suggestions, too. I keep a list now and am up to 3 or 4 already, but i think they were written down in late January, when i was seeking books to fulfill this year's prompts. lol

[Rachel]

madrano wrote: "Thanks, Alias. If i hadn't been "stuck" on Wilson for so long, i'd feel better about things.

Neat idea about next year's challenge. I have a couple of suggestions, too. I keep a list now and am up..."

What do you mean by stuck on Wilson? Were you reading a long biography?

[Alias Reader]

Rachel, we have a life long Presidential reading challenge. The goal is to read at least one bio on each president. Deb, is doing the challenge in order. So she is "stuck" on Wilson and can't go forward until she finishes a book on him.

I've skipped around and not done them in order.

Here are our challenges.

Deb
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Alias
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[madrano]

Rachel wrote: "What do you mean by stuck on Wilson? Were you reading a long biography?..."

Alias pretty much filled you in. I don't jump around in my Prez bio reading because, in addition to learning about the man, i learn US, & often even World, History in more detail. Those points often help elect the character into politics, then into the White House. For me, it's a double win, of sorts, as a result.

But when i read them out of order, i lose track of the specific politics.

[Alias Reader]

I should go back in order. However, I prefer the history from say WWII forward. Maybe I'll start with Hoover and try to go in order from there. I'll see.

I think doing it in order is a wonderful way to learn history as it it gives you a timeline.

[Rachel]

madrano wrote: "Rachel wrote: "What do you mean by stuck on Wilson? Were you reading a long biography?..."

Alias pretty much filled you in. I don't jump around in my Prez bio reading because, in addition to learn..."

Now I understand. That is a good way to look at it. So the person becomes a part of the fabric of the history instead of stand alone biographical facts.

[Alias Reader]

Well put, Rachel !

[madrano]

I agree with Alias, Rachel, that was a perfect description of what i like about my method. Thanks.

[Alias Reader]

I finished another prompt.

✅12- romance, relationships or love. F/NF
Even If This Love Disappears Tonight

This could have fit a few prompts but I picked the love/relationship one.

It would also work for:
#1 memoir
#9- Medical or character related to topic F/NF (character had anterograde amnesia)
#16- Young adult book F/NF
#35- about a disability or character has a disability F/NF
#47- Translated into English (Japanese)
#48- Book that takes place in or is about a country you don't live in. F/NF (Japan)

[madrano]

The title says much, doesn't it? Well done on this prompt, Alias.

[Alias Reader]

Checked off another book for our Book Challenge. I'll write up a review in the Book Salon.

✅1- Biography, autobiography or memoir
Know My Name

[Rachel]

Alias Reader wrote: "Checked off another book for our Book Challenge. I'll write up a review in the Book Salon.

✅1- Biography, autobiography or memoir
Know My Name"

To live through an experience like that and be strong enough to tell her story is courage I cannot even imagine.

[madrano]

True, Rachel. I look forward to Alias's review.

[John]

Sounds like a tough read with such a powerful story. Congrats for making it through what must have been an intense experience.

[Alias Reader]

Another prompt checked off.
✅9- Medical or character related to topic F/NF
The Women by Kristin Hannah

The main character was a nurse and also had PTSD from her experience in the Vietnam war.

I'll write up a review in the Book Salon.

[Rachel]

Alias Reader wrote: "Another prompt checked off.
✅9- Medical or character related to topic F/NF
The Women by Kristin Hannah

The main character was a nurse and also had PTSD from her e..."

As in person book club picked this one. It seems to be popular. I liked but did not love this one.

[Alias Reader]

The Women

Rachel wrote:

As in person book club picked this one. It seems to be popular. I liked but did not love this one.."

Even though I wasn't a fan, I do think the novel would make for a good discussion book.

[madrano]

Well done, Alias! You are moving right along on your Challenge.

[John]

Alias Reader wrote: "Another prompt checked off.
✅9- Medical or character related to topic F/NF
The Women by Kristin Hannah

The main character was a nurse and also had PTSD from her e..."

As with Madrano's recent WAC story, great to see military womens' contributions featured.

[Alias Reader]

It's unfortunate it took so long for a memorial. :(

"During the Vietnam War, women served in many different roles. Many women served as nurses and physicians while others acted as air traffic controllers, communication specialists, and intelligence officers. The Vietnam Women’s Memorial was established to honor the women who risked their lives to serve their country.

The memorial was dedicated in 1993 "
https://www.nps.gov/places/000/vietna...

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall was dedicated on Veterans Day in 1982.

[Rachel]

Alias Reader wrote: "It's unfortunate it took so long for a memorial. :(

"During the Vietnam War, women served in many different roles. Many women served as nurses and physicians while others acted as air traffic cont..."

As always women come in second.

[madrano]

You think that's long? When we visited Leavenworth, Kansas, a few years ago, we learned about the 6888th. It was the WWII "Central Postal Directory Battalion", an all-black WAC unit, which handled the mail sent to soldiers. When they took over, morale was low in Europe because little mail was arriving from home. The battalion took over a mess--given 6 months to clear it up, they accomplished it in three. For more--
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6888th_...

They finally got a memorial in 2018, at Leavenworth. The same small area honors the Buffalo Soldiers, military greats who were African American and first black parachute infantry, as well.