Red Dress Ink Fans discussion
Personal Challenges
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Jen's Challenge
January
1. Star Island - Carl Hiaasen (Nook) (01.06.11)
2. The Stormchasers - Jenna Blum (audiobook) (01.18.11)
3. Winter Bloom - Tara Heavey (own) (01.20.11)
Total Books Acquired in January: 1I won a copy of The Metropolis Case from GR FirstReads, but I haven't bought any!
Mod
Haha, it's pathetic, I know! But this time I've actually managed to stick to it, so maybe I've finally turned over a new leaf! :)
Mod
Hello my name is Kourtney and I cannot stop buying books...
Mod
*I stand up* "Hi, my name is Stacy and I am a bookaholic."
Haha...you guys are funny. I'm Jen, and I'm not yet willing to admit that I have a problem! :)I actually solved the issue of getting books from swapping sites (well, I only use PBS) by selling my credits. I made $75, which was enough to buy myself some new cold-weather running gear. Not to mention that it got rid of all of my credits, so I couldn't order a book even if I wanted to! I've been trying to sell off some of my personal library to make a little extra cash. Just the ones I got at used bookstores and didn't actually pay anything for -- if I bought it new, I'm keeping it to read. But since the library has most of them anyway, I'd rather ditch them and take the money than leave them sitting on my shelves when I might not get to them for years. So that has been pretty motivating in getting me to not buy anymore books.
If your books are in good condition, check out bookscouter.com to compare offer prices.
Mod
January
1. Star Island - Carl Hiaasen (Nook) (01.06.11)
2. The Stormchasers - Jenna Blum (audiobook) (01.18.11)
3. Winter Bloom - Tara Heavey (own) (01.20.11)
February
4. The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver (Nook) (02.02.11) (500+ Pages - #1)
Nicole wrote: "If your books are in good condition, check out bookscouter.com to compare offer prices."Thanks, Nicole!
Haha, I'm with you on the trying to not buy books. I've recently become very good friends with the local library. :)
January
1. Star Island - Carl Hiaasen (Nook) (01.06.11)
2. The Stormchasers - Jenna Blum (audiobook) (01.18.11)
3. Winter Bloom - Tara Heavey (own) (01.20.11)
February
4. The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver (Nook) (02.02.11) (500+ Pages - #1)
5. The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton (Library) (02.11.11) (500+ Pages - #2)
6. Girl in Translation - Jean Kwok (Library) (02.17.11)
7. Juliet, Naked - Nick Hornby (Audiobook) (02.20.11)
8. Lock & Key - Sarah Dessen (Nook) (02.24.11)
9. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Nook) (02.28.11)
March
10. Sugar and Spice - Lauren Conrad (Nook) (03.03.11)
11. Skipping A Beat - Sarah Pekkanen (Library) (03.07.11)
12. Best Friends Forever - Jennifer Weiner (Audiobook) (03.16.11)
13. Blood, Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of A Reluctant Chef - Gabrielle Hamilton (Nook) (03.23.11)
14. Deeply, Desperately (Lucy Valentine #2) - Heather Webber (Nook) (03.27.11)
January
1. Star Island - Carl Hiaasen (Nook) (01.06.11)
2. The Stormchasers - Jenna Blum (audiobook) (01.18.11)
3. Winter Bloom - Tara Heavey (own) (01.20.11)
February
4. The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver (Nook) (02.02.11) (500+ Pages - #1)
5. The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton (Library) (02.11.11) (500+ Pages - #2)
6. Girl in Translation - Jean Kwok (Library) (02.17.11)
7. Juliet, Naked - Nick Hornby (Audiobook) (02.20.11)
8. Lock & Key - Sarah Dessen (Nook) (02.24.11)
9. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Nook) (02.28.11)
March
10. Sugar and Spice - Lauren Conrad (Nook) (03.03.11)
11. Skipping A Beat - Sarah Pekkanen (Library) (03.07.11)
12. Best Friends Forever - Jennifer Weiner (Audiobook) (03.16.11)
13. Blood, Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of A Reluctant Chef - Gabrielle Hamilton (Nook) (03.23.11)
14. Deeply, Desperately (Lucy Valentine #2) - Heather Webber (Nook) (03.27.11)
April
15. The Peach Keeper - Sarah Addison Allen (Library) (04.04.11)
16. I Don't Know How She Does It - Allison Pearson (Audio) (04.18.11)
January
1. Star Island - Carl Hiaasen (Nook) (01.06.11)
2. The Stormchasers - Jenna Blum (audiobook) (01.18.11)
3. Winter Bloom - Tara Heavey (own) (01.20.11)
February
4. The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver (Nook) (02.02.11) (500+ Pages - #1)
5. The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton (Library) (02.11.11) (500+ Pages - #2)
6. Girl in Translation - Jean Kwok (Library) (02.17.11)
7. Juliet, Naked - Nick Hornby (Audiobook) (02.20.11)
8. Lock & Key - Sarah Dessen (Nook) (02.24.11)
9. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Nook) (02.28.11)
March
10. Sugar and Spice - Lauren Conrad (Nook) (03.03.11)
11. Skipping A Beat - Sarah Pekkanen (Library) (03.07.11)
12. Best Friends Forever - Jennifer Weiner (Audiobook) (03.16.11)
13. Blood, Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of A Reluctant Chef - Gabrielle Hamilton (Nook) (03.23.11)
14. Deeply, Desperately (Lucy Valentine #2) - Heather Webber (Nook) (03.27.11)
April
15. The Peach Keeper - Sarah Addison Allen (Library) (04.04.11)
16. I Don't Know How She Does It - Allison Pearson (Audio) (04.18.11)
May
17. American Wife - Curtis Sittenfeld (Nook) (05.01.11) (500+ Pages - #3)
18. The Last Summer (of You and Me) - Ann Brashares(Audio/Own) (05.08.11)
Going to add a new element to my challenge, which is to finish what I've started. Because I don't have nearly as much reading time as I used to, I seem to have lots of trouble actually finishing books that come from the library these days. I'll get it, get about halfway into it, and then I have to return it. And the frustrating thing is, I've actually really liked all of the books I've had to abandon and really want to read them. When I add this year's list to my list of "on hold" books from the last couple years, it's pretty lengthy. So, if I can get through at least half of this list this year I'll be happy with that:2011
Little Bee - Chris Cleave
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot
My Life in France - Julia Child
The Likeness - Tana French
The Bird Sisters - Rebecca Rasmussen
The Weird Sisters - Eleanor Brown
A Visit from the Goon Squad - Jennifer Egan
2010 and Earlier
Gone With the Wind - Margaret Mitchell
A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
The Book of Bright Ideas - Sandra Kring
The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield
Italian for Beginners - Kristin Harmel
The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett
The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest - Steig Larsson
The Double Bind - Chris Bojalian
Mod
Good luck Jen! :)
19. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - Alan Bradley (Nook) (05.15.11)
20. Commencement - J. Courtney Sullivan (Nook) (05.24.11)
Jen B wrote: "18. The Last Summer (of You and Me) - Ann Brashares(Audio/Own) (05.08.11)"How did you like this book? I have had it on my TBR for a long time.
It was just alright for me. Memorable story, but I didn't think it was very well written. It's a fast read, but I think her other books are much better.
January
1. Star Island - Carl Hiaasen (Nook) (01.06.11)
2. The Stormchasers - Jenna Blum (audiobook) (01.18.11)
3. Winter Bloom - Tara Heavey (own) (01.20.11)
February
4. The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver (Nook) (02.02.11) (500+ Pages - #1)
5. The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton (Library) (02.11.11) (500+ Pages - #2)
6. Girl in Translation - Jean Kwok (Library) (02.17.11)
7. Juliet, Naked - Nick Hornby (Audiobook) (02.20.11)
8. Lock & Key - Sarah Dessen (Nook) (02.24.11)
9. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Nook) (02.28.11)
March
10. Sugar and Spice - Lauren Conrad (Nook) (03.03.11)
11. Skipping A Beat - Sarah Pekkanen (Library) (03.07.11)
12. Best Friends Forever - Jennifer Weiner (Audiobook) (03.16.11)
13. Blood, Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of A Reluctant Chef - Gabrielle Hamilton (Nook) (03.23.11)
14. Deeply, Desperately (Lucy Valentine #2) - Heather Webber (Nook) (03.27.11)
April
15. The Peach Keeper - Sarah Addison Allen (Library) (04.04.11)
16. I Don't Know How She Does It - Allison Pearson (Audio) (04.18.11)
May
17. American Wife - Curtis Sittenfeld (Nook) (05.01.11) (500+ Pages - #3)
18. The Last Summer (of You and Me) - Ann Brashares(Audio/Own) (05.08.11)
19. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - Alan Bradley (Nook) (05.15.11)
20. Commencement - J. Courtney Sullivan (Nook) (05.24.11)
June
21. The Kitchen Daughter - Jael McHenry (Library) (06.01.11)
22. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer (Audio) (06.06.11)
23. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho (Audio) (06.13.11)
24. The Violets of March - Sarah Jio (Nook) (06.20.11)
25. If You Were Here - Jen Lancaster (Library) (06.23.11)
January
1. Star Island - Carl Hiaasen (Nook) (01.06.11)
2. The Stormchasers - Jenna Blum (audiobook) (01.18.11)
3. Winter Bloom - Tara Heavey (own) (01.20.11)
February
4. The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver (Nook) (02.02.11) (500+ Pages - #1)
5. The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton (Library) (02.11.11) (500+ Pages - #2)
6. Girl in Translation - Jean Kwok (Library) (02.17.11)
7. Juliet, Naked - Nick Hornby (Audiobook) (02.20.11)
8. Lock & Key - Sarah Dessen (Nook) (02.24.11)
9. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Nook) (02.28.11)
March
10. Sugar and Spice - Lauren Conrad (Nook) (03.03.11)
11. Skipping A Beat - Sarah Pekkanen (Library) (03.07.11)
12. Best Friends Forever - Jennifer Weiner (Audiobook) (03.16.11)
13. Blood, Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of A Reluctant Chef - Gabrielle Hamilton (Nook) (03.23.11)
14. Deeply, Desperately (Lucy Valentine #2) - Heather Webber (Nook) (03.27.11)
April
15. The Peach Keeper - Sarah Addison Allen (Library) (04.04.11)
16. I Don't Know How She Does It - Allison Pearson (Audio) (04.18.11)
May
17. American Wife - Curtis Sittenfeld (Nook) (05.01.11) (500+ Pages - #3)
18. The Last Summer (of You and Me) - Ann Brashares(Audio/Own) (05.08.11)
19. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - Alan Bradley (Nook) (05.15.11)
20. Commencement - J. Courtney Sullivan (Nook) (05.24.11)
June
21. The Kitchen Daughter - Jael McHenry (Library) (06.01.11)
22. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer (Audio) (06.06.11)
23. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho (Audio) (06.13.11)
24. The Violets of March - Sarah Jio (Nook) (06.20.11)
25. If You Were Here - Jen Lancaster (Library) (06.23.11)
July
26. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - Lisa See (Nook) (07.05.11)
Wow, only one book in July. Let's see if I can do better this month!August
27. Other Words for Love - Lorraine Zago Rosenthal (Nook) (08.01.11)
28. Cutting for Stone - Abraham Verghese (Library) (08.06.11) (500+ Pages - #4)
29. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Steig Larsson (Nook) (08.28.11) (500+ Pages - #5)
January
1. Star Island - Carl Hiaasen (Nook) (01.06.11)
2. The Stormchasers - Jenna Blum (audiobook) (01.18.11)
3. Winter Bloom - Tara Heavey (own) (01.20.11)
February
4. The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver (Nook) (02.02.11) (500+ Pages - #1)
5. The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton (Library) (02.11.11) (500+ Pages - #2)
6. Girl in Translation - Jean Kwok (Library) (02.17.11)
7. Juliet, Naked - Nick Hornby (Audiobook) (02.20.11)
8. Lock & Key - Sarah Dessen (Nook) (02.24.11)
9. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Nook) (02.28.11)
March
10. Sugar and Spice - Lauren Conrad (Nook) (03.03.11)
11. Skipping A Beat - Sarah Pekkanen (Library) (03.07.11)
12. Best Friends Forever - Jennifer Weiner (Audiobook) (03.16.11)
13. Blood, Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of A Reluctant Chef - Gabrielle Hamilton (Nook) (03.23.11)
14. Deeply, Desperately (Lucy Valentine #2) - Heather Webber (Nook) (03.27.11)
April
15. The Peach Keeper - Sarah Addison Allen (Library) (04.04.11)
16. I Don't Know How She Does It - Allison Pearson (Audio) (04.18.11)
May
17. American Wife - Curtis Sittenfeld (Nook) (05.01.11) (500+ Pages - #3)
18. The Last Summer (of You and Me) - Ann Brashares(Audio/Own) (05.08.11)
19. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - Alan Bradley (Nook) (05.15.11)
20. Commencement - J. Courtney Sullivan (Nook) (05.24.11)
June
21. The Kitchen Daughter - Jael McHenry (Library) (06.01.11)
22. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer (Audio) (06.06.11)
23. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho (Audio) (06.13.11)
24. The Violets of March - Sarah Jio (Nook) (06.20.11)
25. If You Were Here - Jen Lancaster (Library) (06.23.11)
July
26. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - Lisa See (Nook) (07.05.11)
August
27. Other Words for Love - Lorraine Zago Rosenthal (Nook) (08.01.11)
28. Cutting for Stone - Abraham Verghese (Library) (08.06.11) (500+ Pages - #4)
29. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Steig Larsson (Nook) (08.28.11) (500+ Pages - #5)(On Hold List - #1)
September
30. Walking Across Egypt - Clyde Edgerton (Audio) (09.05.11)
31. People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks (Nook) (09.14.11) (On Hold List - #2)
32. Summer at Tiffany - Marjorie Hart (Library) (09.18.11)
33. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini (Audio) (09.21.11) (On Hold List - #3)
34. Attachments - Rainbow Rowell (Nook) (09.24.11)
October
35. The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield (Audio) (10.06.11) (On Hold List - #4)
36. Stay - Allie Larkin (Own) (10.07.11)
- 75 books
- at least 5 classics and
5 "chunky" books (500+ pages)in that 75- to not acquire any new books
- to get through (either by finishing or abandoning for good) at least half of the books on my "On Hold" list:
Little Bee - Chris Cleave
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot
My Life in France - Julia Child
The Likeness - Tana French
The Bird Sisters - Rebecca Rasmussen
The Weird Sisters - Eleanor(Abandoned 09.28.11)A Visit from the Goon Squad - Jennifer Egan
Gone With the Wind - Margaret Mitchell
A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini(09.21.11)Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
The Book of Bright Ideas - Sandra Kring
The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield(10.06.11)Italian for Beginners - Kristin Harmel
The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett
The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest - Steig Larsson(08.28.11)The Double Bind - Chris Bojalian
People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks(09.14.11)