FALL 2024 READING CHALLENGE

[Danell]

I read another book that Rachel chose, Defending Jacob by William Landay. Oh. My. Goodness. That was a great book!!! So grateful to finally read it! Thank you Rachel!!

[Christine]

Going in thru google worked. I’m not sure why it doesn’t on the app. Thank you!

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "I read another book that Rachel chose, Defending Jacob by William Landay. Oh. My. Goodness. That was a great book!!! So grateful to finally read it! Thank you Rachel!!"

You’re welcome, Danell! Glad you liked it. :D

I read that book years ago and have never forgotten it.

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "Going in thru google worked. I’m not sure why it doesn’t on the app. Thank you!"

You’re welcome, Christine! Glad it worked. :D

Let me know if you want to do the random and I’ll post your titles.

[Christine]

Yes, please, pick something from my shelves. Half my library is in storage so it might be tricky. We are getting ready to move, downsizing.

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "Yes, please, pick something from my shelves. Half my library is in storage so it might be tricky. We are getting ready to move, downsizing."

Hey Christine!

Pick 1:

1. Becoming by Michelle Obama
2. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
3. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
4. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
5. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

If you choose either of the memoirs I would recommend the audiobooks. Hope you enjoy whichever one you choose. Look forward to hearing your thoughts on it. :D

[Rachel]

Good luck with the move!

[Rachel]

Finished A Long Way Home which was later republished under the title Lion to match the title of the movie adaptation. Nicole Kidman is in the film.

It’s an incredible story about a 5 year old who gets lost on a train in India, ends up on the streets of Calcutta for a time and then gets adopted by an Australian couple. 25 years later with the help of Google Earth he was able to find the village he spent the first 5 years of his life and be reunited with his birth family.

[Danell]

I read The Girl Who Smiled Beads by ClementineWamariya and Elizabeth Weil
It’s one of my favorites that I’ve read so far this year. Horrible subject matter but so well written. The book works for S-L-O-T-H

[Christine]

Rachel, thanks for the list. It’s going to be hard to choose. What a fun way to read something that’s been on my TBR list for a while

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "I read The Girl Who Smiled Beads by ClementineWamariya and Elizabeth Weil
It’s one of my favorites that I’ve read so far this year. Horrible subject matter but so well written. The book works for ..."

Thanks for the update, Danell! :D

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "Rachel, thanks for the list. It’s going to be hard to choose. What a fun way to read something that’s been on my TBR list for a while"

You’re welcome, Christine! :D

[Christine]

I read How to Solve Your Own Murder for S-L-O-T-H. It was very Agatha Christie-ish.

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "I read How to Solve Your Own Murder for S-L-O-T-H. It was very Agatha Christie-ish."

Thanks for the update, Christine! :D
Do you recommend it?

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

Welcome Back Christine!!!
Count me among the Old School - I only use the Goodreads app to look at reviews and sometimes make a short comment.
I'm much more comfortable using the website for writing reviews, logging books etc.

This past week I read two H.G. Wells novels, The War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man - I preferred The Invisible Man of the two.

Today, I also finished reading Moonbound by Robin Sloan - I had a little trouble toward the end, but otherwise really enjoyed it. Moonbound is definitely a candidate for my top 5 reads of 2024.

[Rachel]

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Welcome Back Christine!!!
Count me among the Old School - I only use the Goodreads app to look at reviews and sometimes make a short comment.
I'm much more comfortable using the website for writing..."

Thanks for the updates, Dustin! :D
Glad you enjoyed Moonbound!

[Rachel]

If anyone has Netflix, I recommend The Perfect Couple. Great cast. Very fun show if you need a distraction.

[Rachel]

Read and enjoyed Here One Moment.

[Rachel]

Hey everyone! Just check in when you can and let us know how your Autumn is going. Also curious who will be participating in the group reads and which book(s) you’re thinking of picking up.

Hope all is well. Happy Fall!

[Christine]

I just finished Moonbound. That was an odd one. I kept losing my way while reading this novel. We are also in the last push before the movers arrive on Tuesday. I’m a little distracted, lol. I’ve already packed my TBR box for while we wait for new house to be done. I’m hoping to get a lot of reading done then.

[Christine]

I’m starting Here One Moment today

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "I just finished Moonbound. That was an odd one. I kept losing my way while reading this novel. We are also in the last push before the movers arrive on Tuesday. I’m a little distracted, lol. I’ve a..."

Thanks for the update, Christine! Hope the move goes smoothly. :)

[Rachel]

Christine wrote: "I’m starting Here One Moment today"

Hope you like it. Look forward to hearing what you think of it. Nicole Kidman has a production company and she recently bought the rights to the book.

[Danell]

I read two more books for the challenge, both work for
S-L-O-T-H. How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix and The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias. Both good books.
It doesn’t look like I will get Moonbeam from the library in time.

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "I read two more books for the challenge, both work for
S-L-O-T-H. How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix and The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias. Both good books.
It doesn’t look li..."

Thanks for the update, Danell! :D

[Rachel]

Finished The Kind Worth Killing for the random. Really enjoyed it.
Thank you Danell! :D

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

I still plan to read or re-read a bunch of S-L-O-T-H titles. They are all titles I've been meaning to read or revisit, but haven't gotten to yet because I've borrowed some Playaway audiobooks from the library that I need to return. S-L-O-T-H is an easier than usual task that I intend to take advantage of. Below are the titles I have a good chance of reading by the end of November:

A Head Full of Ghosts
Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West
Richard Wagamese Selected: What Comes From Spirit
The Fault in Our Stars
Turtles All the Way Down
News of the World
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Of these titles, the only two I haven't read before are A Head Full of Ghosts and Blood Meridian. I have audiobooks available to help with most of these titles, so I might get through all of them.

I am currently reading Dean Koontz's newest release, The Forest of Lost Souls. I don't have an audiobook, so it's still up in the air if I'll finish this S-L-O-T-H title by end of November.

[Danell]

Glad you enjoyed it Rachel!

[Rachel]

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I still plan to read or re-read a bunch of S-L-O-T-H titles. They are all titles I've been meaning to read or revisit, but haven't gotten to yet because I've borrowed some Playaway audiobooks from ..."

Thanks for the updates, Dustin! :D

[Danell]

I finished What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall. Another one that works for S-L-O-T-H. I enjoyed it.

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "I finished What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall. Another one that works for S-L-O-T-H. I enjoyed it."

Thanks for the update, Danell! :D

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

Fall is off to a great start! Nice to see so many people participating.
While the views on this thread are the lowest (5) right now of any seasonal reading challenge discussion thread, the comments are high. A couple of statistics:

Most comments since Summer 2023
Most comments in a Fall challenge thread since Fall 2021

I may be increasing my challenge goal significantly, thanks to the SLOTH task.
Thanks to everyone for continuing to participate in our seasonal reading challenges. Happy Reading!

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

I am currently re-reading Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (a SLOTH title).

[Rachel]

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I am currently re-reading Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (a SLOTH title)."

Thanks for the update, Dustin! :D

[Rachel]

I read Close to home by Cara Hunter (Sloth).
Liked it but didn’t love it. It was fast paced though.

[Danell]

I listened to The Immortalists which works for S-L-O-T-H. I liked it.

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "I listened to The Immortalists which works for S-L-O-T-H. I liked it."

Thanks for the update, Danell! :D

[Christine]

Happy Halloween! Stay safe and have fun!

[Danell]

I listened to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, which works for #5, nominated for a Booker award. I enjoyed it.

Happy Halloween

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "I listened to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, which works for #5, nominated for a Booker award. I enjoyed it.

Happy Halloween"

Thanks for the update, Danell! :D

[Danell]

I’m ugly crying and it’s not because my football team lost. I read A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, a book of Rachel’s choosing from my shelf. That is book 10 for me for the challenge. I looked back at my previous challenges and the most books I read was for the Spring challenge of this year with 15 books. Time will tell if I can beat that.
Thank you for being awesome everyone!! Happy reading!!

[Rachel]

Danell wrote: "I’m ugly crying and it’s not because my football team lost. I read A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, a book of Rachel’s choosing from my shelf. That is book 10 for me for the challenge. I looked bac..."

That book made me ugly cry too!

Happy Reading! :D

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

Danell wrote: "I listened to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, which works for #5, nominated for a Booker award. I enjoyed it.

Happy Halloween"

I read that one a long time ago and liked it quite well. Maybe I should re-read it sometime.

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

Danell wrote: "I’m ugly crying and it’s not because my football team lost. I read A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, a book of Rachel’s choosing from my shelf. That is book 10 for me for the challenge. I looked bac..."

I just increased my goal from 10 to 20 (because of the SLOTH task).
I might re-read some Patrick Ness for SLOTH titles too, The Chaos Walking Trilogy. I am using CHAOS WALKING as part of the title/subtitle.
The Knife of Never Letting Go
The Ask and the Answer
Monsters of Men

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

I have just finished two John Green SLOTH titles, The Fault in Our Stars and Turtles All The Way Down. Of the two, I much preferred Turtles.

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

I am currently reading The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian (SLOTH title, of course).
I think I'm only reading SLOTH titles for the month of November!

[Rachel]

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I am currently reading The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian (SLOTH title, of course).
I think I'm only reading SLOTH titles for the month of November!
"

Thanks for all of the updates, Dustin! :D

[Rachel]

Just an FYI-

Somewhere beyond the sea by TJ Clune will be one of the group reads next season.

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

Rachel wrote: "Just an FYI-

Somewhere beyond the sea by TJ Clune will be one of the group reads next season.

"

Thanks for the heads up. I'm interested.

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

I'm still working at the movie theater full-time.
Here are my recent movie recommendations:

The Outrun - Saoirse Ronan, mental health, alcohol, music, based on the memoir by Amy Liptrot

We Live In Time - Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, romance drama, emotional rollercoaster, non-linear storytelling

The Substance - Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid, body image horror

Conclave - Ralph Fiennes, Stanely Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini, cardinals elect a new pope

The Apprentice - Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump

A Different Man - Sebastian Stan as facially different

The Wild Robot - Animated, based on the Children's book