The Book Challenge discussion
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Jason's 25 Books and Beyond 2010
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Leola wrote: "I want to read Life of Pi so badly. Tell us how you like it."I'll add a post to let you know, enjoying it so far.
Leola wrote: "I want to read Life of Pi so badly. Tell us how you like it."Hi Leola, I really enjoyed Life of Pi overall, initially found it a challenge to get into, but the latter half of the book that deals with his survival is really interesting and kept me hooked to the end. Nice twist in the last few pages too. Hope you enjoy it too.
REALLY enjoyed Chrysalids by John Wyndham, kept me gripped and couldn't go to sleep until I finished it! Tired today but well worth it.
Thought i'd continue the John Wyndham theme and try another of his books, 'The Midwich Cuckoos'. Once again really enjoyed the book. Onto the next 'The Drowned World' by J G Ballard, I like dystopian future literature and so I thought I'd give it bash. Heard some of it on the radio and it intrigued me.
Finished the Drowned World last night, good ending but felt the book was a challenging read from the start. Overall it was OK but felt some frustration with some of the characters particularly Kerans and Beatrice. Gave it 3 stars. Now onto the Book Thief by Markus Zusak recommended to me by my daughter.
I just finished "the book thief" last week and loved it!! I hope you enjoy it too! It blows my mind to think these people survived (mentally survived as well as physically) though this time in history. Zusak is a great writer; I found myself really feeling for the characters!Enjoy :-) Lori
Lori wrote: "I just finished "the book thief" last week and loved it!! I hope you enjoy it too! It blows my mind to think these people survived (mentally survived as well as physically) though this time in hi..."Hi Lori, i'm really enjoying the book thief too ! What are you reading at the moment?
Just started Watchmen last night! Really excited! Proving fantastic already, everything I thought it would be.
Read the entire Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman yesterday, couldn't put it down it was that good. Excellent read. Now starting The Princess of Landover.
Hey Jason :-) After I read The Book Thief I read The Time Travellers Wife. I enjoyed it so much that I bought Niffenegger's newest book called Her Fearful Symetry. I must say, it was twisted...I didn't really like it but I'm still thinking about it. So does that mean it was well wrtten but twisted...? hmmmm
I had to stop reading now to watch the Olympics :-)
I will have to check out the Graveyard book and the Watchmen.
Have a great day
Lori
Just finished the Player of Games by Iain M Banks, great read, really enjoyed the story, I was gripped and couldn't wait to see if he won the ultimate game.Now starting an old favourites that I return to time and again, nineteen eighty four.
I've picked up the pace for my reading challenge now that i've settled into my new home and country. I'm on target for completion of my challenge.
it seems that you will make it as you cleared the forst 16 in 6 months only leaves 8 in the next 6 months
Jason wrote: "Just finished 1984, an old favourite. Time for Breakfast at Tiffany's."1984 is one of my faves, too! Good book!!! :)
Jason wrote: "Just finished 1984, an old favourite. Time for Breakfast at Tiffany's."Hi Afsana, yes i've picked up the pace. Moved to a new country so got a bit behind. I should achieve my goal by the end of the year. How is your challenge coming along?
Kathy wrote: "Jason wrote: "Just finished 1984, an old favourite. Time for Breakfast at Tiffany's."1984 is one of my faves, too! Good book!!! :)"
Hi Kathy, nothing like a good dystopian future to cheer yourself up! I love Brave New World too. How about you? :)
Brave New World is a great novel! Have you read We by Yevgeny Zemyatin? I found it on a Dystopian Reading List. It was written before 1984 and seems to be the inspiration of George Orwell to write 1984. Excellent Book. Also I loved Fahrenheit 451. Richard Matheson is one of my favorites. I just love dystopian fiction! Really makes you think!
Hi Kathy, I haven't heard of We, i'll take a look, sounds good. Fahrenheit 451 is one of my favourites too! We're on a roll. I liked it so much I went to see a production of it at the Edinburgh Fringe a few years ago, really enjoyed it.
I have seen the film, some years ago now but enjoyed it. 'I am Legend' - Richard Matheson is another of my favourites, love the film too! I like Charlton Heston in this film, Soylent Green and Planet of the Apes! Sci-fi classics. How about Logan's Run? Another one on my list of faves.
Just finished Kestrel for a Knave, thought i'd add a classic to add some variety. Now onto a good detective novel, Devil in Amber a Lucifer Box adventure.
Jason wrote: "I have seen the film, some years ago now but enjoyed it. 'I am Legend' - Richard Matheson is another of my favourites, love the film too! I like Charlton Heston in this film, Soylent Green and Plan..."I Am Legend is one of my favorites as well! The Charleton Heston version wasn't very close to the book, but I liked it as a movie. The closest was the Vincent Price version, The Last Man On Earth. Good movie! I loved Soylent Green! Because I loved it, I had to read the book and hunted it down. Make Room, Make Room by Harry Harrison ended up being a bit disappointing. It was good, but the whole soylent green aspect of the movie wasn't there. Soylent Green was in the book, but just barely mentioned as a food product but no mention of anything further. The movie just took it further. Planet Of The Apes was a great movie and book! Have you read it? It's written by Pierre Boulle. Believe it or not by the same author that wrote Bridge Over The River Kwai. If you haven't, I highly recommend it! Logan's Run was a great classic sci fi movie! :)
I believe they're making a new Logan's Run movie due out in 2012, not sure I like the idea of a remake. There's nothing wrong with the original film. I've read two of the Logan books but must say they're a bit ropey, so haven't braved the 3rd. I hadn't thought to read Soylent Green but glad I haven't based on your comment. I haven't read Planet of the Apes but did know it was Pierre Boulle as read an article in a magazine long ago. Based on your book list looks like you're an avid Stephen King fan.
I'm a huge Stephen King fan! He's my favorite! I don't understand what's with all of these remakes lately! It's like they can't come up with any new ideas, so let's destroy a great movie! Just because it's old doesn't mean it wasn't good! (Grumble, grumble....pet peeve of mine!) Logan's Run was a really good movie! I haven't read any of the books....this is my first time hearing that there were books. I just might have to check at least one out for curiosity purposes. :)
I love Stephen King too, I read Duma Key and Lisey's Story not too long ago as part of my 'challenge'. I'm on 21/25 so I'm on target (I have until December). I'm going to read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card next, a book that i've been meaning to read but never got around to, we all have those. As for remakes, I feel the same, if there's a great original why mess with it!
Exactly, Jason! Why mess with it if it ain't broke! Didn't someone say that or something like it? lol. I enjoyed Ender's Game alot! Then I highly recommend you reading Ender's Shadow after that. It's written from the perspective of a different kid, so it rounds out the main story pretty well! :)
Challenge complete! I set an achievable goal and thought I'd see how i got on. I'm going to continue, of course, and see how many I achieve by the end of the year. 25 and beyond!
Thanks Kathy, i've started studying again and so i'll be reading less for the next few months which is a shame. How are you getting on with your challenge?
I'm almost done with my goal for the year, so I'm really happy. I've been dealing with some nasty migraines lately, so unfortunately my reading has slowed down. Plus, it doesn't help that The Passage seems to be taking awhile. I am loving it, but sometimes some books you just can't go too fast! What are you studying?
I hope your migraines get better and you're able to read more again soon. As for study, nothing too exciting financial services qualification I need her in NZ. Yawn, i'd prefer to be reading something more exciting! Thought I'd try some hard scifi for my latest, Feersum Enjinn by Iain M. Banks, are you a fan?
I've never read Iain M. Banks. He's scifi? For some reason I thought he was mystery/thrillers. Interesting. Do you recommend him? I'm always up for any recommendations!
Yes, but hard sci-fi not normally my kind of book, something i'm trying on for size. I enjoyed Feersum Enjinn. If you're willing to try something new i'd give him a go. Hope you're well, Jason.
Yes, but hard sci-fi not normally my kind of book, something i'm trying on for size. I enjoyed Feersum Enjinn. If you're willing to try something new i'd give him a go. Hope you're well, Jason.
I will definitely give him a try. Feersum Enjinn, is it? Interesting. I'll add it to my TBR...it's going to crash down on my head soon. lol. I'm good, thanks. How are you liking The Princess Bride? I've been dying to read that, but something always comes up.
Yes, Feersum Enjinn. Know what you mean, my to-read list just grows and grows. Really enjoyed The Princess Bride (finished this evening) I've always had a soft spot for the film and so I thought I'd make a point of finally reading the book. Really enjoyed Altered Carbon too! More hard sci-fi - i'm getting a taste for it. Now onto the Stepford Wives for a change. I always thought the 70's film was cool, didn't even bother with the remake.
How are your migraines? Hope you're well, Jason.
I'm doing much better, thanks. Finally fought back the migraines. Yay! :) I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy!I haven't read The Stepford Wives yet, but I loved Rosemary's Baby! Ira Levin is really good! Most remakes are not worth the time and effort! I don't understand why they have to remake everything! Grumble grumble! (A bit of a pet peeve of mine! lol)
I'm working on The Stand, for the 3rd time! I love it! I definitely want to read The Princess Bride, myself. I love the movie!
Glad that you're feeling better :)I really enjoyed The Stand, just once for me so far.
I've read some books that my kids have been reading recently so we can talk about them. My daughter is a fan of Artemis Fowl and my son likes Percy Jackson. It went well so i've added a couple more titles to my list. Is it October already? Must add a few 'horrors' to my list, any suggestions?
The Percy Jackson books are great! I loved them. I tried getting my son into them, but he's more into graphic novels and this point. Oh, well. lol
Hi Kathy, how are things, what are you reading at the moment?Two of my kids love Percy Jackson and so I thought i'd give it a shot. As soon as one of us finishes it's passed on so we're all reading the same book at roughly the same time. It gives us something to talk about!
I'm now reading Artemis Fowl - The Arctic Incident, my younger daughter is enjoying this one and so we're competing with each other to see who can finish it first!
It's now October, any horror recommendations?
Hey Kathy, how are you? Hope you have a fantastic Christmas and New Year.My thoughts are turning to my 2011 book challenge.
All the best Jason.
Hey, Jason. How are you? I'm ok. I've been sick, but finally out of the hospital doing better. Yeah, I'm already thinking about 2011 as well. In some ways I did really well and succeeded w/ my 2010 challenge, but in some things I failed. :( Hopefully next year I'll do better. What to read, what to read??? And thank you, Jason, I wish you and your family have a great Christmas and New Year as well!
(P.S. I love the Percy Jackson books as well! It brings back my love of Greek Myths!)
Great thanks, Christmas Day here in NZ, nice a warm. Sorry to hear you've been in hospital, but glad to hear you're now home. Hope you're feeling 100% very soon.My main goal was to read more so I've succeeded. Goodreads has really helped me to keep the momentum. In what way to do you feel like you've succeeded / failed? Thanks for your best wishes and i'm looking forward to hearing about your 2011 challenge!
Well, I succeeded in reading more books than I ever had in a year, but I failed in my variety. I wanted to read 5 non-fiction, but only read 2, reread 5 old faves, but only read 3, read 5 classics, but only read 3 and read 12 that have been on my TBR for ages but only read 3 or something like that. I guess I wouldn't say I failed, but I hope to get them done next year! It's so hard to plan ahead, ya know. You never know what you'll be in the mood for.
Books mentioned in this topic
The Depths of Despair (other topics)Y: The Last Man, Vol. 1: Unmanned (other topics)
The Colour of Darkness (other topics)
The Graves of Mordane (other topics)
The Dust of Ages (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Brian K. Vaughan (other topics)Richard Dungworth (other topics)
Colin Brake (other topics)
Justin Richards (other topics)
Stephen Baxter (other topics)
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