May Read-a-thon Progress and Mini-challenges

[Nancy H]

I am about 3/4 of the way through my #7 challenge book, and looking ahead, I need some help. Here is a list of books that have been sitting on my pile for quite a while, and which I need to get read and finished for a variety of reasons. If someone will pick one from my list, I will make myself read it! Thanks in advance.

Jazz Funeral - Julie Smith
The Broker - John Grisham
The Lacuna - Barbara Kingsolver
No Place Like Home - Barbara Samuel
The Plague of Doves- Louise Erdrich
Little Bee - Chris Cleave
Cuba Libre- Elmore Leonard

[Michelle]

Nancy wrote: "I am about 3/4 of the way through my #7 challenge book, and looking ahead, I need some help. Here is a list of books that have been sitting on my pile for quite a while, and which I need to get rea..."

I've heard good things about The Lacuna.

[Nancy H]

Thanks, Michelle. Sounds good. I will read The Lacuna for my #5 challenge.

[Michelle]

Nancy wrote: "Thanks, Michelle. Sounds good. I will read The Lacuna for my #5 challenge."

You're welcome!

[★Meghan★]

I've also heard good things about Little Bee

[Ann A]

Nancy, I have read The Lacuna, The Broker, and Little Bee, and The Lacuna is definitely the best of the three. The Broker is less substantial, but still entertaining. Little Bee was o.k, but I'm not a huge fan.

[Heather]

Sat. Day 1
Book #1: Anne Mallory - Three Nights of Sin. Had already started this book when the reading challenges had begun. Read a total of 226 pages.

[Dee]

the only one i've read on the list is little bee and I didn't enjoy it - if it hadn't been a group read for a challenge, I probably would have DNF'd it

[Amy]

If anyone gets a break in the action and can recommend something for me (use my to-read shelf if possible), I would be most grateful.

[Michelle]

Amy wrote: "If anyone gets a break in the action and can recommend something for me (use my to-read shelf if possible), I would be most grateful."

I haven't read it yet, but my Mom loved Room.

[Amy]

Michelle/ wrote: "Amy wrote: "If anyone gets a break in the action and can recommend something for me (use my to-read shelf if possible), I would be most grateful."

I haven't read it yet, but my Mom loved Room."

Thanks, Michelle, for the quick reply! I just checked my library's website and was able to download the audio book of Room. My sister liked it as well, so I'm really looking forward to reading it.

[Sally]

Any one who is willing to ping me can I don't have much in my to read list but I will always take suggestions I read any genre. I have recommended Postmortem to Kathryn CA

[Amy]

Sally wrote: "Any one who is willing to ping me can I don't have much in my to read list but I will always take suggestions I read any genre. I have recommended Postmortem to Kathryn CA"

Hi Sally...I saw in your "read" list that you like James Patterson. You could read the next in the Women's Murder Club series, or if you want to try a new mystery author, how about either Lee Child (Jack Reacher), James Grippando (Jack Swyteck), Harlan Coben (Myron Bolitar), or John Sandford (Lucas Davenport). They each have a series (I put the main character's name in parentheses), so you could start with the first one of any of those and see if you like them enough to continue.

[Lisa S]

I have done horrible today. I must not be in the mmod to read. I've only finished one audio
Phantom Prey by John Sandford

[Ann A]

Have read part of 4 different books today. Hopefully, I'll finish one in the morning before the 24 hours is up!

Sally, I love the Alphabet Mystery series (beginning with A is For Alibi) by Sue Grafton.

[Sally]

@Ann Yes I have read several the Alphabet Mystery series. R O and several others I don't remember because they were out side my record keeping time.

@Amy I am already reading The Murder club by James Paterson in my quest to find one that he wrote himself.

Honestly I am looking for something that is new and exciting that is outside my norm.

[Sally]

@Joanie it is the next months pick for our TuseBookTalk group so I figured since we are going to read it anyway why not knock it out early. :) I am on Chapter 3 of Odd Hours. I just love the Odd Series.

[Nadine]

Awake again :-) Day 2 can begin, but first a coffee (and some strawberry cake). Happy reading to you all!

[Nadine]

@ Nancy: I only read Little Bee from your list and it was pretty good, very dark and very light at the same time, but in a good combination, not a silly one...

[Nancy H]

★Meghan★ wrote: "I've also heard good things about Little Bee"

Thanks - I do want to read it, and will hopefully do so soon, even if I don't get it done this week.

[Nancy H]

Ann wrote: "Nancy, I have read The Lacuna, The Broker, and Little Bee, and The Lacuna is definitely the best of the three. The Broker is less substantial, but still entertaining. Little Bee was o.k, but I'm no..."

Then I am happy that Michelle recommended it - I will be reading it for the challenge. I do hope to read the others soon, too. Thanks.

[Nancy H]

Nadine wrote: "@ Nancy: I only read Little Bee from your list and it was pretty good, very dark and very light at the same time, but in a good combination, not a silly one..."

Thanks, Nadine, I have heard comments on both sides about Little Bee. I am hoping to read it soon so I can decide.
Hope your strawberry cake was good- sounds delicious!!

[Nadine]

Little Bee is a bit special, so maybe even if you don't really like it, it is still a worthy read, if that makes sense...

[Nancy H]

I finished my #7 challenge book , Pawley's Island, by Dorothea Benton Frank, in the wee hours, and then fell asleep before I could post it. It was wonderful and I am so glad that was #102 on my shelves!
Thanks, Michelle!

[Dee]

Sally - have you ever read any nordic noir? they are the thiller/mysteries set in the Scandivanian countries - not sure how good your library system is, or stores nearby - but popular authors (aside from Steig Larsson) are Henning Mankell (Faceless Killers); Karin Fossum (Don't look back) and a new one I just found James Thompson (Snow Angels) - they are a bit detailed at times, but I've enjoyed them all

Sally wrote: "@Ann Yes I have read several the Alphabet Mystery series. R O and several others I don't remember because they were out side my record keeping time.

@Amy I am already reading The Murder club by Ja..."

[Amy]

Sally wrote: "@Ann Yes I have read several the Alphabet Mystery series. R O and several others I don't remember because they were out side my record keeping time.

@Amy I am already reading The Murder club by Ja..."

Sally...Have you read Water for Elephants or The Help (the audio book version is great)? My sister recommended The Invisible Bridge and Room which is also the book Michelle recommended for my #2 challenge here.

I typically read murder mysteries, but the above books are all different from my norm. I'll be reading Room and Invisible Bridge this week, time permitting, so maybe we could read one together.

[LynnB]

I just finished A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny, a mystery set in Canada and written in the style of an Agatha Christie. Really liked it!

I haven't gotten too much read since the read-a-thon started as I was out-of-town yesterday with a walking club event. But I read what I could and got this book finished late last night.

1 book
311 pages

[Julie]

24 HOUR READATHON WRAP-UP

Books Read: 2 (counting each as 1/2)
Pages Read: 695

Book list:

My Antonia by Willa Cather - last 162 pages
Children and Fire: A Novel by Ursula Hegi - last 234 pages
Snowflake Obsidian: Memoir of a Cutter by The Hippie - last 191 pages
The King's Mistress by Emma Campion - first 108 pages

[Ann A]

Well, my 24 hours is up, and I didn't even finish one book - too much skipping around!

Here are my stats:
Challenges progress:
#1,7 - Special Topics in Calamity Physics - 60 pages
#4 - The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle - 72 pages
#6 - Island Beneath the Sea
pg 120 to 331 = 211 pages
Other reading:
The Innocent
53% to 63% = approx. 36 pages

Total pages: 379

Was hoping for more - oh well. I'm hoping to read 2-3 hours a day for the rest of the week. Will look forward to seeing everybody's 24-hour stats!

[Sally]

I didn't finish any books listened to half of Odd Hours and read the first 4 chapters of Midnight club 42 pages.

[Nancy H]

I am now definitely intrigued to read Little Bee because of all of your comments! Thanks. I will get to it soon, just perhaps not this week.

[Amy]

I listened to more than I read in my 24 hour span:

Finished the last two disks of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Read 1.5 disks of The Book of Joe
Completed the first 2 disks of 20th Century Ghosts
Read the first 77 pages of The Hunt for Atlantis
and the first 35 pages of Feed

My goal is to complete one book per day this week, whether it is one I just started or one I was in the middle of when the read-a-thon began. So far, so good.

[Jennifer C]

Hi everyone, this is my first checkin:

I have finished Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin which I was on page 100 when the read - a-thon started and I just finished Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks.

I am also working on the audio of Second Sight by Amanda Quick which I was on track 233 of 785 when the read-a-thon started

Now it will be time to check out the mini-challenges and decide what book I will start next. Maybe one of the books I need to do a review on....

[Nadine]

Day 2, Sunday

Beth Revis - Across the Universe - 175 pages (finished)
Maria V. Snyder - Inside Out - 40 pages

altogether: 215 pages
1 finished

Across the Universe was a great read! Didn't read that much today, Inside Out hasn't me hooked yet :-( Did any of you read it?

[Dee]

i didn't get a lot read yesterday but got a couple of hours in...I have a few books that are close to being done, but one i'm trying to savor, but the next one in the series isn't due out until november

[[deleted user]]

May Read-a-Thon Progress List


Mini Challenges Completed: #1 (not quiet a chunkster)
Books Read:2
Pages Read:663
Book List
1. The Woods Are Dark (Richard Laymon)-215pgs
2. Savage (Richard Laymon)-448pgs

[Michelle]

Well, my 24 hours did not go as I had planned. Started at 4pm CT. Began with page 232 of John Adams. I am now only on page 279. Ugh! Only 47 pages read. I just could not stay awake last night.

Continuing with the week long read-a-thon, tonight I am planning on reading through page 385 of John Adams and then I will finish A Game of Thrones...hopefully!

[Julie]

Nadine wrote: "Day 2, Sunday

Beth Revis - Across the Universe - 175 pages (finished)
Maria V. Snyder - Inside Out - 40 pages

altogether: 215 pages
1 finished

I haven't read Across the Universe, but really really want to .. and I've read some awesome reviews lately on Inside Out (put it on my wishlist)
Across the Universe was a great read! Didn't read t..."

[Wendy]

I finished Shelter Mountain by Robyn Carr.
I am reading Whispering Rock by the same author now.

1 book completed
368 pages read

[Nadine]

Day 2 is over for me.

Books read: 2 finished that had been read halfway, 1 read completely

Pages read Day 1: 325
Pages read Day 2: 215

Pages read altogether: 540

Book List
1. Ray Bradbury - Fahrenheit 451
2. Beth Revis - Across the Universe
3. Birgit Rabisch - Dublik Jonas 7
4. Maria V. Snyder - Inside Out

[Nadine]

@ Julie: Across the Universe was a surprise, it was not all that "space-y" as I thought, it is mostly about a community in an enclosed environment without contact to anything from the outside over centuries. It had some good turns. I am glad I read it... and sad that it is over.
Ok, off to bed now :-) Happy reading to you all!

[Nancy H]

Michelle wrote: "Yesterday, I finished Something Wicked This Way Comes. I was 72 pages in when I started it, so I read 232 pages. I also read Go the Fuck to Sleep, which is 32 pages, b..."

Please let me know what you think of Bossypants - I was going to buy it but haven't yet. Let me know if it is worth it or if I should wait until it appears in my local library.

[Ann A]

I can't wait to read Bossypants. I've heard only good things about it. I can't remember what critic it was, but in her review she stated that she was listening to the audio version in her car, and was afraid she'd have an accident because she was laughing so hard! I don't really want to buy it, but may not be able to wait for the library...

[Stacie]

I'm not doing well at all this read-a-thon :( I wound up working on Saturday and having such a bad day at work that I didn't want to do anything other than eat dinner and go to bed when I got home. I got through maybe 20 pages by reading during break and on the ride to and from work. Today has been a bit better but nothing like what I was hoping- I've knocked out about 150 pages today but I just can't seem to just settle in. I think I'll skip the mini challenges this time around- not reflecting badly on the challenges themselves, as they look interesting, but I don't think I want anything that structured right now. Sigh.

[LynnB]

This has been a busy weekend and I haven't got much reading done...will do better during the week, I hope.

[Nancy H]

Just reporting in for today. I'm glad I'm in this for the week, because I didn't get anything finished today. I do, however, have 8 books started:
I read over 100 pages of Behemoth, for my challenge #1, and about 80 pages of The Lacuna (#5), which I really like. I always enjoy novels set in Mexico, since I lived there for a summer when I was in college (long,long ago!!)and have been back several times to visit.
The others I started are:
Once - Gleitzman
Cuba Libre - Leonard
Captain Alatriste - Perez-Reverte
You - Benoit
Conspiracy 365:December - Lord
Flash burn-out - Madigan

I still have to get two more books for the challenges, so we will see how many I can get done by week's end. An ambitious goal, I know, especially since I am still teaching for two more weeks, but I like to challenge myself so we will see where it goes.

[Nancy H]

Michelle wrote: "Nancy and Ann - I'm really enjoying Bossypants so far. I'm a HUGE fan of Tina Fey... everything that comes out of her mouth makes me laugh. The book is a little disjointed though, and doesn't reall..."

I like her, too, which is why I was interested in this book. Glad you are enjoying it. This makes me eager to read it.

[Zakiya]

2 AM here. I stayed up all night blogging. Now I shall stay the rest of the night reading. But I will need to get sleep.
#darn doctors appt

[Michelle]

Zakiya wrote: "2 AM here. I stayed up all night blogging. Now I shall stay the rest of the night reading. But I will need to get sleep.
#darn doctors appt"

I'm still up...reading and blogging. Not sure why I'm not tired!

[Michelle]

Melissa wrote: "Well I am certainly failing on this read-a-thon! :( I had a slight case of the icky stomachs yesterday and with that and work I was just not up for much reading! I'm going to plug along today and h..."

Same here, Melissa! I'm really going to try to put a better effort in today. I'll wish us both luck! =O)