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Reading Challenges
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2024 February Reading Challenge
Well, crud. I've just finished a Poirot novel! If only I'd taken my time a few days more. Alas. Not to worry, I will pick up one of my favorite cozy mystery authors Eva Gates and get her Read and Buried.
For February, I'll be reading Pride and Prejudice. That's pretty calming!
Cozy Mysteries are one of my favorite genres. I will be reading one of those
Clancy wrote: "For February, I'll be reading Pride and Prejudice. That's pretty calming!"I must joke. Yes P & P is calming, better than counting sheep to put me asleep! The only thing better is the book of rules for how to create the information that goes into the catalog for the library, the cataloging rules, AACR2. P & P takes about 20-30 min. AACR2 between 5 and 10 min! Are we at AACR3 yet or is 2 still killing millions? ;-)
Clancy wrote: "For February, I'll be reading Pride and Prejudice. That's pretty calming!"Really? I always found it got my hackles up!
Lol... Debbie and Greg... I get it! one of my besties just tried and told me it was too boring. It’s been a while for me, so we shall see how it goes. :)
Clancy wrote: "Lol... Debbie and Greg... I get it! one of my besties just tried and told me it was too boring. It’s been a while for me, so we shall see how it goes. :)"I don't think it's boring. But all the injustice! I don't find it cozy.
I read The Story of Arthur Truluv late last year and thought it would be a great choice for this challenge. And, when trying to find a book similar to it, I found that the author wrote a prequel to it, so this is what I choose to read. Earth's the Right Place for Love by Elizabeth Berg. Completed the book 2/9
Mod
Debbie, When I was in grad school, they told us it would be the last year to learn how to use AARC2. Everyone basically switched to Resource Description and Access (RDA) standard of descriptive cataloging. I graduated about a dozen years ago, or so.
So, I think everyone has switched.
Mod
BUT, I might also see if there's a new Julie Hyzy or Kate Carlisle. I used to really love those authors.
Cozy mysteries are my jam, and rereading comfort reads of course, so this is perfect.
I'm re-reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with my son this month, and I'm also re-reading Anne of Green Gables with my daughter. Both are nostalgic cozy reads for me, so this prompt is perfect.
Hey everyone, I thought I'd let you know that we have an Indirectly Semi-Famous-Adjacent person amongst our numbers here.Let me explain:
A couple of years ago, Deborah shared on this monthly challenge group thread a google sheet that she was using for tracking her reading. (December 2021) It is amazing, and way more awesome than the one I was using at the time.
With her permission, I stole her base sheet, and then made some additions to the sheet. My sister saw that, and she asked me to make a copy. We've made several tweaks, since then, adding a variety of visuals (in particular, with regard to pacing).
My sister is a librarian (she's also on this thread), and she listens to a podcast called Reading Glasses. They had a segment on their show about tracking reading with spreadsheets. They weren't very impressed by BookRiot's tracking sheet. So my sister responded to the show, and linked them to her sheet.
They were blown away by it. In a recent episode, they shared her feedback and talked about her sheet, and in particular, her "dashboard" page that shows a variety of data visualizations.
Deborah, your sheet has risen to a national level of acclaim by a semi-famous podcast, making you Indirectly Semi-Famous-Adjacent!
(The creator [adjacent] of the spreadsheet that was sent by someone else [indirectly] to a Semi-Famous podcast)
If anyone is interested, here is a link to the original sheet
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
and a link to the podcast (they talk about it between the 8-11 minute marks)
https://pca.st/uvmotv68
Mod
I love this story! This is great!
Thanks for sharing this. Now I have to listen to the podcast.
Elizabeth wrote: "Greg wrote: "Deborah, your sheet has risen to a national level of acclaim by a semi-famous podcast, making you Indirectly Semi-Famous-Adjacent!"I love this story! This is great!
Thanks for shari..."
I updated my original post with links.
I use a apreadsheet to track my lists and to track my progress, but I don't go to this level. Most interesting. Thanks for sharing and congrats to Deborah!
Greg wrote: "Hey everyone, I thought I'd let you know that we have an Indirectly Semi-Famous-Adjacent person amongst our numbers here.Let me explain:
A couple of years ago, Deborah shared on this monthly cha..."
Wow, that was a while ago...I was just starting to figure out the possibilities on Google sheets. I have actually made changes to the my tracking sheet over the past few years as I learn more about google sheets. I am still figuring out how i want to track genres...but you are welcome to copy this one as well.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
If you do decide to use this sheet please make a copy before making any changes.
I read Bellwether by Connie Willis, which is a comfort read for me. (I may or may not have read it over 20 times last year.)
Deborah wrote: "Greg wrote: "Hey everyone, I thought I'd let you know that we have an Indirectly Semi-Famous-Adjacent person amongst our numbers here.Let me explain:
A couple of years ago, Deborah shared on thi..."
Deborah! That looks so good. You have too many tabs! (I do, too)
I LOVE what you've done with the maps! I'm going to have to learn how to do that!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Here's a link to mine.
I maintained the Dashboard concept. I've got a lot of scripture stuff on other tabs. I've also tinkered with some pacing features.
That is cool, Deborah! I love the graphs.
I have read Read and Buried by Eva Gates and really enjoyed it. If you like, you can read my ( review. )
I read
A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice
by Rebecca Connolly, who happened to have attended my own Alma Mater (for undergrad).
I am working on Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out for this challenge. Browsing bookstores and libraries has long been a way for me to de-stress, and this fits the challenge for that reason.
Ok, I finished Pride and Prejudice in 2 days. I still love it. Now, I'm going to have binge watch all my movie versions of the same!
Clancy wrote: "Ok, I finished Pride and Prejudice in 2 days. I still love it. Now, I'm going to have binge watch all my movie versions of the same!"That's really quick for P&P
it was on audiobook, 11hrs I think. I was engrossed :)
Clancy wrote: "it was on audiobook, 11hrs I think. I was engrossed :)"Wheen I first tried to read P & P, I couldn' force myself through it. Listening to the audio book, admittedly decades later, I also was engrossed.
I still haven't read it. I will try the audio some day.
Finished Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out for the February challenge.
I read
Aunt Dimity's Death I have read other mysteries of hers, but not the first one. It mainly introduces all the characters for the other books.
I finished reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with my 7 year old son this morning. He absolutely loved it and we are going to read the next book soon. :)
I have decided read James Herriot's Treasury for Children: Warm and Joyful Tales by the Author of Every Living Thing by James Harriot. His stories about animals always lighten my day.
I read The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail by Richard Peck with my granddaughter. What is more cozy than reading a light hearted, touching story, while curled up with my granddaughter in our reading nook.
Deborah wrote: "I have decided read James Herriot's Treasury for Children: Warm and Joyful Tales by the Author of Every Living Thing by James Harriot. His stories about animals always lighten my day."Thank you for reminding me about James Herriot! His books are so heartwarming and cozy! I had chosen a 'cozy' mystery to read but I found it more insipid than cozy. So I'm switching to James Herriot's Cat Stories by James Herriot. I love cats and James Herriot so it should be perfect!
I listen to audio books when hubby and I are driving to appointments. We finished To the Nines by Janet Evanovich ( Review ) so a second cozy mystery for me!
I read Ribbing and Runes, a paranormal cozy mystery.
Read All Creatures Great and Small. Major comfort read that just nestles me into this comfortable, cozy feeling. ❤️
I'm adding a third cozy title I read, this year's winner of the Newbery Medal. It was amazingly enchanting,delightful, uniquely unique. Highly, highly recommended. The Eyes and the Impossible: by Dave Eggers, illustrations by Shawn Harris ( Review ) It is unique and enthralling and funny and exciting and scary and I-don't-want-to-put-it-down fascinating.
I don't know if I'd call either of these cozies but the Newbery honor Elf Dog and Owl Head was great and Words with Wings by Nicki Grimes is an absolutely beautiful little verse novel.Maybe not cozy, but I had to share them anyway.
I also just finished the classic children's story A Little Princess, which I had somehow never read before. I think it would fit the definition of a cozy read.
I finished Holy Hygge: Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow by Jamie Erickson.
Mary wrote: "I also just finished the classic children's story A Little Princess, which I had somehow never read before. I think it would fit the definition of a cozy read."Aw, my daughter Sara is named for that book.
I finished James Herriot’s Cat stories as well as the cozy mystery Halo Halo and Homicide
Audrey wrote: "Mary wrote: "I also just finished the classic children's story A Little Princess, which I had somehow never read before. I think it would fit the definition of a cozy read."Aw, my daughter Sara i..."
I love that!
Mod
What's your favorite movie/tv series version.
Colin Firth miniseries is mine. :D
Colin Firth is the only Darcy I accept lol
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The County Library
Books mentioned in this topic
The Last Love Note (other topics)The Last Bookshop in London (other topics)
The Last Bookshop in London (other topics)
People of Darkness (other topics)
Read and Buried (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Emma Grey (other topics)Dave Eggers (other topics)
Jane Austen (other topics)
Tony Hillerman (other topics)
Eva Gates (other topics)
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During February, the library is focusing on Hygge.
Hygge (pronounced hooga) is a Danish concept about enjoying life's quieter pleasures. Experience hygge this February by reading something cozy, or calming.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries, or gentle reads, this one is for you! You may also read a book about a handicraft, like knitting or woodworking. If you have different topic that is cozy or calming to you, that can count!
Check out our Gentle Reads Booklist here:
https://www.libraryaware.com/894/Post...
You can also search our events calendar for #HyggeMonth to find our different Hygge themed programs.
Have fun!