Jun-Jul Book Pool Challenge

[Erica]

I've just caught up to Kathleen! :)

Just finished All the Bright Places, a good YA fiction that tackles some tough issues but with sensitivity. I really enjoyed it. 4*

[Erica]

Room is great a?! I read that a year or so ago and couldn't stop recommending it to people. I like that the author has thought of so many effects on a child of having such a small world that never would have occurred to me.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Kathleen wrote: "So it's thanks to Andrea for 'The Rats', which, as I said, reminded me why I'd given up reading horror. That sounds a bit backhanded, I know! But once started I did want to finish it to see what ha..."

Long time ago, but I remember What Maisie knew captured things quite cleverly from a child's POV>

I'll add Room to my to read list. Don't think I'll get in done in time for the challenge though.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

As I remember, most of his were hard going other than this one & The Turn of the Screw.

But for some books I think Younger Me is the definition of an unreliable narrator!

[Lesley]

I've got Room planned for July's reading along with Fallout and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. If all goes well I might just get another one or two in as well, but if not at least I know my TBR has grown rather than shortened! ;)

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

So different now. Emma is the example of a classic I just couldn't get through. I liked it a lot this time round.

That's where GR reviews & groups (& my beloved Listener)are so important to me. I rely on them a lot for recommendations.

[Andrea]

Kathleen wrote: "So it's thanks to Andrea for 'The Rats', which, as I said, reminded me why I'd given up reading horror. That sounds a bit backhanded, I know! But once started I did want to finish it to see what ha..."

Well at least you finished it haha! I loved it, but then again I love horror, especially the off the wall stuff.

Finished The Rats and Pretties. I've got a couple more books to read but then I'll be moving onto The Bees, which I'm looking forward to :)

[Darkpool]

So, just finished A Vintage Affair this morning. I really like how the main focus of the book was the relationships between the women in the story rather than the romance. I also really appreciated the fact there was a bibliography at the back - gotta love an author who does her research right! I was somewhat irritated by her tendency to write the start of her chapters as if she was writing it up in her diary that night - so a chapter might start "This morning I..." rather than "The next day I..." or "The following Thursday I..." In the prologue and epilogue she switches into present tense which seems a bit unnecessary.

Anyhow, not sure which of the stack of books I picked up at the library yesterday I'll go on to next. Maybe fallout...

[Lesley]

I've just begun A Vintage Affair. Enjoying it so far. I know what you mean about the start of each chapter.

Mauzi has posted the bonus points for July's How Many Pages challenge. Might help you decide what's next out of your book pile for the book pool. ☺

[Darkpool]

Ella's Gran wrote: "...Mauzi has posted the bonus points for July's How Many Pages challenge. Might help you decide what's next out of your book pile for the book pool. ☺ ..."

Ha! Indeed!!

[Darkpool]

Finished "The girl who..." and really enjoyed it. Really don't think I'd recommend it for middle school readers, although I suppose it depends on the kid. Some of the themes are a bit... well, not exactly dark, but maybe deep is a better word. I'll certainly be putting the rest of the series on the "to read" list.
I've started "At Home" as my next audiobook; have listened to the first hour and finding it marvellous.

[Sharlene]

Me & P.D.R are the only ones who haven't made it onto the Reader board.

You're all doing pretty good. We are into the second month. You've got just under 4 weeks to complete the book pool or read as many as you can!

[Erica]

I've got two books on the go but should have At Home finished this weekend.

[Darkpool]

As much as I am enjoying At Home, I'm popping in on the back burner for now. Y'see, I've realised there is an illustrated edition which I've ordered from the library, and I don't want to get any further through the audiobook than I already am before getting my hands on the one wid da pitchers :-)
As I have a 4 1/2 hour drive ahead of me today, I'll be listening to Magonia.

[Erica]

I've just finished At Home: A Short History of Private Life...gave it 4*

I've also picked up A Man Called Ove so will start that in the next day or so.

I'm still reading Middlesex regularly but as it's not a library book like the others it always ends up playing second fiddle to the others haha. I'm enjoying it though.

I've updated my tally message.

[Lesley]

Erica wrote: "I've just finished At Home: A Short History of Private Life...gave it 4*

I've also picked up A Man Called Ove so will start that in the next day or so.

I'm still r..."

Hope you enjoy A Man Called Ove Erica. I had his next book on reserve which became available while I was ill and couldn't pick it up in time. I'm curious to see what writing style he adopts in My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry: A Novel and hope it's as enjoyable as I found Ove.

[Kirsten]

Darkpool (protesting GR censorship) wrote: "Ok, I'm going to make this my results post (and my keeping track of which books I want to read post)

Completed:
1. An Abundance of Katherines (audiobook) finished 18/6. Also got the p..."

Adding A Vintage Affair to my TBR list. Like the idea of a bibliography!

[Andrea]

Finished The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, enjoyed it once I could finally get into it.The Bees, which I'm still reading, overshadows it greatly and definitly influenced how long it took for me to read it.

[Erica]

I'm almost done with A Man Called Ove and really enjoying it! I've also been at a book sale this morning and found The Diving Bell and Butterfly so will read that next...was such lucky find!

[Lesley]

Catching up - finished A Vintage Affair which I absolutely enjoyed. It's been categorised as romance by the library, but it was more about people with stories, their relationships with each other, and how those stories contributed to forming their relationships - or not. I got really involved with the characters, so I guess that's why I had a couple of tissue moments. Four stars from me and thank you Darkpool.

[Darkpool]

I've been visiting my parents this week - normally I get quite a bit of reading done while I'm staying with them (retirement village life!) but my time seems to have been taken up with other exciting stuff like cooking, knitting, cross-stitch and trying to take a decent photo of Mt Taranaki! I'm a decent way through Dauntless and enjoying it - very much my cuppa! But there are so many more books in the pool I want to read (especially after reading all the feedback from everyone) that I'm probably going to be reading from this challenge for a while yet.
Glad you liked A Vintage Affair EG; I wish I could remember who recommended it to me!

[Lesley]

I'm not going to get to all the books in the pool I want to read either Darkpool, but I've got a great lot of recommendations from this group read. Been lovin' it.

[Erica]

I've just updated message 40...I finished my 5th book A Man Called Ove. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't like Ove at all at the beginning but he grew on me. Lovely book. I gave it 4* but really a 4.5* in my mind :)

[Lesley]

Just finished, and added, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Enjoyed this book of 'short stories' telling the authors life after having a severe stroke at the age of 44 years. I'm going to get the movie out from the library.

Got time for a couple more I think so I'm going to have to choose which first. I've got three available from the library.

[Erica]

Just finished The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly. I thought it was beautifully written and incredibly insightful. What an amazing accomplishment as well for the author and his helper, Claude. I rated it 4*. That brings my total of book pool reads to 6. I'm halfway through Middlesex so should finish that soon but not sure if I'll get through any others by the end of the month.

[Darkpool]

Finished both Magonia and Dauntless in the last couple of days, and enjoyed them both greatly. Magonia was such an original concept. I'm really interested to see where the author takes the story next.
I'm back to "At Home" on audiobook, and just started "The Last Queen".
Argh, where is July going???

[Lesley]

I don't believe it! I had four reserves waiting for me at the library but when I got there there were only three - they've lost one!

So related to the book pool I have picked up Fallout, The Ringmaster, Room and Dear Vincent. Probably won't get all of them finished in time but I'll give it my best. ☺

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Ella's Gran wrote: "I don't believe it! I had four reserves waiting for me at the library but when I got there there were only three - they've lost one!

So related to the book pool I have picked up Fallout, The Ringm..."

Which book did they lose?

Darkpool (protesting GR censorship) wrote: "Finished both Magonia and Dauntless in the last couple of days, and enjoyed them both greatly. Magonia was such an original concept. I'm really interested to see where the author takes the story ne..."

I'm going to use The Last Queen for the next challenge - I might be able to use Room too.I've accepted I'm not going to hit my modest goal for this one.

I've just started Devil Water. Good so far - the kind of historical I like.

[Lesley]

✴✴✴Carol ✴✴✴ wrote: "Ella's Gran wrote: "I don't believe it! I had four reserves waiting for me at the library but when I got there there were only three - they've lost one!

So related to the book pool I have picked u..."

It wasn't one for the book pool fortunately, but it was the next book written by Fredrik Backman - A Man Called Ove - and it is just new out - My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises
I was looking forward to it too. Mind you there is a good point in that I'll get more of the book pool read while they are finding it! ☺

[Sweetp-1]

Kathleen, glad you liked Warriors Princess. All of Barbara Erskine's books are a similar concept with the historical interwoven with the present. She has done all sorts of historical periods, Lady of Hay is probably my favourite if you were interested to read more of her books :)

I am trying ot get into The Girl who.... since I have a copy and it was my suggestion (!) but finding it a bit tough to get into and hence got sidetracked with other books. Will give it another go :)

[Sharlene]

Just under 2 weeks to go for this Challenge!
Keep up the great reading! Scoreboard has been updated. If I've got your tally wrong, please let me know.

I've almost finished my first book, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making. I thought it was hard to get into with the constant feel of adventure but I think that's what keeps it interesting.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

SharleneSays wrote: "Just under 2 weeks to go for this Challenge!
Keep up the great reading! Scoreboard has been updated. If I've got your tally wrong, please let me know.

I've almost finished my first book, The Girl..."

Sharlene, I haven't done well with this challenge. I'm reading Devil Water now, but it's over 500 pages & I'm also reading another non challenge book of 400 pages so I think that's as far as I'm going to get.
:(

[Lesley]

I'm not tossing in the towel yet even though I most likely won't get all the books read. I'll still read them and report on the Just Finished thread. ☺

[Andrea]

Finished reading The Bees which I really enjoyed, was very different to anything I've read before.

Started All the Bright Places and Gone. Hopefully I'll manage to get those both read before the end of the month.

[Darkpool]

Arggh, 2/3 of the way through The Last Queen, and keen to knock most of the rest of it off this weekend, but struggling! I have to keep stopping reading to shout at characters that are behaving like idiots!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

I'm still working my way slowly through Devil Water. I'm enjoying it but it is not an easy read

[Sharlene]

Note: I have UPDATED to this point. If your tally is wrong, please let me know.

I'm about half way through An Abundance of Katherines and I can see why it was difficult to listen to the audiobook. Almost every second page has a footnote, and there are difficult math equations that are pointless being able to understand! lol

[Lesley]

I've just completed my 6th book in the Bookpool - Fallout

Seems that this is the last I'll read for the pool, but certainly not the last from it!

I've really enjoyed the new-to-me titles I've found and, dare I say it, look forward to another round in a few months?!

Thank you Sharlene for your organising and running the Pool.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Well done EG! I don't even think I'm going to get my 3rd book finished by tomorrow. I'll probably want to discuss Devil Water with Kathleen when I do finish. I will complete it, but I'm starting to find it a bit of a slog.

[Sharlene]

LAST DAY!!

I hope you can squeeze in the last few pages of the book your on!
Good luck & happy speed reading :)

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

SharleneSays wrote: "LAST DAY!!

I hope you can squeeze in the last few pages of the book your on!
Good luck & happy speed reading :)"

Thanks Sharlene but I have over 200 pages to go.

Learning curve for me as this was one of my nominations. In future I'll try to suggest ones under 350 pages.

[Darkpool]

SharleneSays wrote: "LAST DAY!!

I hope you can squeeze in the last few pages of the book your on!
Good luck & happy speed reading :)"

Yes!! sat down this afternoon and read the last 40 pages of The Last Queen.

[Sharlene]

Darkpool (protesting GR censorship) wrote: Yes!! sat down this afternoon and read the last 40 pages of T..."

Excellent! I managed to finish An Abundance of Katherines last night & caught up with the Authors Notes & other stuff at the end of the book this morning.

I've updated to this point.
If you still need to update your Read list, please do so today.
Winner will be announced tomorrow

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Devil Water is making me not feel like reading. :( It's on it's last chance today or else it goes on hold.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

☆ Ｃａｒｏｌ ☆ wrote: "Devil Water is making me not feel like reading. :( It's on it's last chance today or else it goes on hold."

& it's on hold. I'll try to get to it at the end of the month. I used to love Seton's work but oddly enough can't remember which ones I've read. I have a copy of Katherine which is supposed to be her masterwork somewhere in the house. If I don't like that one either, I'll assume my tastes have changed.

[Ace]

I'm sorry I missed this challenge. Are you running another one soon?

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Ace wrote: "I'm sorry I missed this challenge. Are you running another one soon?"

There is this one, which is an open ended one.

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

[Ace]

Thanks Carol..

[Andrea]

Didn't get time for computer related razzamataz until today. Finished up All the Bright Places, which I thought was worth 5 stars.

Super proud of the 5 books I managed to finish. Thanks everyone for sharing :)

[Sharlene]

Well I think it's safe to say

CONGRATS to Kathleen for reading the most books in our Jun-July Book Pool Challenge!!

Kathleen read a total of 10 books. That's awesome!

Thanks everyone for participating & for contributing to the pool. See ya next time!