Read 100+ Books in 2012 discussion
January challenge
I thought it was a book that had those letters in the title, not the actual word... though I haven't yet found a book with all those letters either. The other one I have trouble with, believe it or not, is #5, book with snow/snowflakes on cover.
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What authors do you have on your shelves already with those initials? I know I have Neil Stephenson, Julia Glass, Rex Stout, and many more that I have to go through.
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It just needs to be the initial in the first or surname of the author, not all the letters.
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Title is good also. Let this be fun and we're real liberal as to what fits.
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6/9, 16 books read
1. Read the first book of an author, first book of a series, a book with 1 in the title--Dire Threads: A Threadville Mystery, Book 1 by Janet Bolin--finished 1/6/12
2. Read a book with a J-A-N-U-R-Y in the title--The Innocents Abroad or The New Pilgrims' Progress by Mark Twain--finished 1/21/12.
3. Read a book with space as a theme in rememberance of the Space Shuttle Challenger--Percival's Planet by Michael Byers.
4. Read a Young Adult book--The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.
5. Read a book with snow or snowflakes on the cover--Ms. Claus's List by Deanna Wadsworth--finished 1/29/12.
6. Read a book that takes place in Europe--The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman
7. Read a book that is set in contemporary times--Guilty Pleasures--Beatrice Small--finished 1/9/12.
8. Read a book by your favorite author--Red Riding Hood by Deanna Wadsworth--finished 1/27/12
9. Your choice--H2O by Austin Boyd and Brannon Hollingsworth--finished 1/22/12
Bonus:
She Came in a Flash--Mary Wings--finished 1/3/12
Taming Paradise--Cassandra Dayne--finished 1/10/12
Bite With Height--Lucy Feltstone--finished 1/16/12
Secret Santa--Deanna Wadsworth--finished 1/16/12
Pip's Boxing Day Wish--Deanna Wadsworth--finished 1/28/12
Mounted--Esmeralda Greene--finished 1/28/12
More Than Just a Good Book--Sloan Parker--finished 1/28/12
Unscheduled Maintenance--Deanna Wadsworth--finished 1/30/12
The Frog Prince--Deanna Wadsworth--finished 1/30/12
Cleopatra--Stacy Schiff--finished 1/31/12
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For snow it could be a mountain with snow on top.
1. Read the first book of an author, first book of a series, a book with 1 in the title: The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis (Changed original choice to this one. First in the Didius Falco mystery series). Done! 01/26/122. Read a book with a J-A-N-U-R-Y in the title: Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson (Has U and J. No clue if these are any good, but the blurb got me). Done! 01/31/12
3. Read a book with space as a theme in rememberance of the Space Shuttle Challenger: Crosscurrent by Paul S. Kemp (Chronologically the first book in the Star Wars world. Yeah, I'm a geek!). Done! 01/07/12.
4. Read a Young Adult book: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (First in the Percy Jackson series. So much talk about them, I've never read them but I intend to this year). Done! 01/29/12
5. Read a book with snow or snowflakes on the cover: ? Not sure yet.
6. Read a book that takes place in Europe: The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie (The second book Christie ever published, the first with Tommy and Tuppence. Somehow I never read it before. Takes place in Britain and I think(?) France).
7. Read a book that is set in contemporary times: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (Second in the Percy Jackson series). Done! 01/31/12
8. Read a book by your favorite author: Paint Your Dragon by Tom Holt Done! 01/19/12
9. Your choice: The Help by Kathryn Stockett Done! 01/15/12
Bonus:The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde 01/07/12
Challenge: 7/9 Read: 8 books.
Wow Janie, you've already read two??!! Were they any good?
8. Read a book by your favorite author. Covering #8 now - Reading "From the Corner of His Eye" by Dean Koontz, one of my favorite writers (along with many, many others!).
It took me a while to make my plan for my January reads. Mostly because I'm not used to planning it out, I just read whatevers next on the pile, or looks good. Here is my plan for January:1. Read the first book of an author, first book of a series, a book with 1 in the title.
Ten Thousand Saints by Eleanor Henderson (started 01-10-12) (Finished 1-15-12).
2. Read a book with a J-A-N-U-R-Y in the title.
No Shelter by Robert Smartwood
3. Read a book with space as a theme in rememberance of the Space Shuttle Challenger.
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
4. Read a Young Adult book.
Relatively Famous by Jessica Park (finished 1-8-12)
5. Read a book with snow or snowflakes on the cover.
Desolate by Robert Brumm (finished 01-05-12)
6. Read a book that takes place in Europe.
About a Boy by Nick Hornby (Finished 01-01-12)
7. Read a book that is set in contemporary times.
Learn Me Good by John Pearson (finished 1-9-12)
8. Read a book by your favorite author. (Just wanted to note, that this is a hard category because I have already read all of my favorite authors books, so I chose a writer I like really well and hope he becomes a favorite).
Bite Me BY Christopher Moore
9. Your choice
Ashes BY Scott Nicholson
Some of the books I am reading aren't even on here, I know my "snow" book is a self-published book that was $1 for my kindle. But I'm feeling good so far about my reading, and am looking forward to seeing what everyone else is going to read as well!
Janie wrote: "Chuck wrote: "8. Read a book by your favorite author. Covering #8 now - Reading "From the Corner of His Eye" by Dean Koontz, one of my favorite writers (along with many, many others!)."
I lo..."
Almost done with the book . . .This by far IS my favorite Koontz work!
Finished "From the Corner of His Eye" by Dean Koontz this afternoon - This is the best Koontz story I have read, 5/5 Stars!January Challange;
9. Your choice
Now reading "Freedom" by Jonathan Franzen.
Good Reading everyone!
Thanks for the recommendation. I like listening to Dean Koontz books, they always have a good person reading them so they are extra creepy.
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1. ..."
You can read and fill you list in as you finish reading. That's the fun. If you read something that doesn't fit the categories, just put it down as a bonus book. You're still reading and that is what's important.
Finished my #3 entry, Crosscurrent today. I gave it a rating of 3/5. If you aren't a fan of Star Wars, you won't want to read this. If you are it's worth a go being the oldest (chronologically) setting in the universe. The book itself was good, the ending was kind of anti-climatic though, which was unfortunate.
Finished The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde yesterday as well and am counting it as a bonus book.Rating: 2/5
Review: This should be a good book. It gets 2/5 rating from me because I still like the premise if not the execution. If it had been based on execution alone, it would have gotten 1/5.
A young man has his portrait painted and realizes how handsome he is. Impulsively he wishes for the painting to grow old while he remains untouched by time, a wish that comes true. He is influenced to engage in any number of wicked activities by a friend of his and watches the painting become more and more hideous while he himself stays completely unscathed... a wolf in sheep's clothing so to speak.
So why isn't it an enjoyable read? Because it just gets bogged down by Oscar Wilde's allusions and opinions. The prose can be overpowering at times. None of the characters are particularly sympathetic or likeable. And yet one can't really work up enough feeling to dislike the "bad guys" either.
This novel is considered to be a classic which has withstood the test of time. A good many people think it is excellent, so I wouldn't want to specifically dissuade anyone from reading it. I just don't see what other people see in it.
I literally just finished reading Learn Me Good by John Pearson. I have to say I enjoyed this book a whole lot more than I thought I would! It's the mostly true story of a man who has an engineering degree, gets laid off from his job so he becomes a 3rd grade teacher. The book is a compilation of emails to a former co-worker.I have to say, this was probably one of the funniest books I've ever read. I don't have kids, and am not a teacher, but I could relate to the things this guy was talking about.
Finishing this book now has me at 4/9 for the month.
That sounds like a really good book Kristy!4/9, that's great :) How were the other three? Good/bad, would you recommend them?
I'm going to attempt to give a review and brief synopsis of these books, and try not to spoil anything.The first book I read was "About a Boy" by Nick Hornsby. I should preface this with saying, I really like his work as a whole, but wasn't overly fond of this particular book. I'd give it a 3/5 stars. I would recommend it but I would also recommend other books of his before this one (Juliet, Naked and A Long Way Down are 2 of my favorites).
It's about a single man in his 30's who is slightly obsessed with how "cool" he is and remaining a bachelor for the rest of his life. Then he goes on a few dates with a single mom, and for some reason finds this enjoyable, so he makes up a kid and joins a group for single parents. All in all, not a super-likeable main character. But he winds up meeting a preteenage boy who changes his outlook on life.
Then I read Desolate by Robert Brumm. This is more of a novella, and I have to say that it reads like the author started out writing one story, and changed his mind halfway through. I give it 1/5 stars. I gave it one star because it did make me laugh a little.
This story follows a man who has been sentenced to life in prison for murder, and he is sent to an experimental "farm" facility on Antartica. It's goal is to become a self-sufficient farm where convicts can live and not hurt anyone but each other. But it's not quite working out that way. The characters are flat, uninteresting and unlikable in everyway. When the most plausible part of your book is an alien spaceship being frozen beneath Antartica it's time for a few re-writes.
And I've read my young adult novel "Relatively Famous" by Jessica Park. This one I enjoyed, and kind of wished it had been longer.
This is about a girl who never knew her dad, and it comes out that he's a huge movie star. She goes to visit him for a week and it tells of her adventures there, and the people she meets. The story is predictable and cheesy, but sometimes, cheesy happy stories are good. 4/5 stars. Mostly because when I was a teenager was angry at my parents, I totally wished that some famous movie star would come claim me as their kid and move me to California.
Happy Reading! I've started my fifth book and it has drawn me in. Wishing I had a bit more time to read during the week (mostly only read on my lunch or when my husband is dying to watch a sports game).
Reading 2 books now;7/9 "Freedom" by Jonathan Franzen - After a very, very slow start it's now beginning to get interesting. After 150 pages or so of the writer developing the chararcters I'm beginning to enjoy it.
1/9 "Tortilla Flat" by John Steinbeck. Can't believe I never read any of Steinbeck's works . . . Shame on me!
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7/9 "Freedom" by Jonathan Franzen - After a very, very slow start it's now beginning to get interesting. After 150 pages or so of the writer developing the chararcters I'm begi..."
Have you tried Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath"? It's one of my favorites.
Hi Sheila, No I haven't read 'The Grapes of Wrath' as of yet. . . But will soon. Next on the list will be Steinbeck's 'The Red Poney.'
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Finished reading "Tortilla Flat" this afternoon. Wonderful story with a wondeful cast of paisanos; Danny, Pilon, Jesus Maria, Big Joe Portagee,the Pirate and his Dogs, Johnny Pom-Pom, Tito Ralph, Cornelia Ruiz, Sweets Ramirez and many others.
Finished "Freedom" by Jonathan Frazen . . . 2 words, It's over! Just couldn't get into it.
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I just finished reading "Ten Thousand Saints" by Eleanor Henderson.I don't think I'm old enough to appreciate this book. In 1988 (when the book takes place), I was 7. And was about as far away from where this book takes place as possible. I'm a fan of music, which is a big part of this book. But overall, it feels a bit preachy.
I can't even really explain what this book is about, there are just too many stories and sub-plots. Let's just say that if you are the kind of person who likes no mystery left after you finished a book this one is not for you. There are so many thing that are talked about for so long...and just nothing...
I'd give it 2.5 to 3/5 stars.
This puts me at 5 books so far this month. And now that I am snowed in for the rest of this 3-day weekend, I think I'm going to be doing a lot more reading!
Now reading "The Brass Verdict" by Michael Connelly - Looking forward to this book; Mickey Haller and Harry Bosch join forces!Also started "The Red Pony" by John Steinbeck.
Don't be too jealous. We are expecting another 12-14 inches of snow tonight/tomorrow on top of the 9 inches we already have. I hate snow
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I have to admit, I'd like being snowed in right now. I'd just like some quiet time without having to deal with people. The reading time would be great, too.
I finished #9, your choice with The Help by Kathryn Stockett on 01/15/12.Rating: 4/5
Review: It sounds strange to say I gave this book four stars based on the merits of the middle of the book, but that's what I did. If the entire book had the same strength it would have been a 5 star read. If it had been all written like the beginning or the final 100 or so pages, it would have gotten a 3, maybe even a 2.
When I first began the book I wasn't sure if I would like it and that was a feeling that continued till about Chapter 10. I would read some, put it down, not feel compelled to go back to it, even though I didn't actually dislike it. It just wasn't quite interesting enough, quite good enough to make me want to put other things aside.
And then the author hits her stride and the book takes off. Things go unnoticed as I read on, eager for the next chapter and the next. I was completely caught up in the characters, immersed in the plot. I was -finally- seeing what it was that everyone else saw in this novel!
And then once I was all emotionally attached and involved in the story, along came the final nine chapters... I am not sure if the author felt the book was getting too long, if she was operating under a tight deadline or if she was trying to use a literary device to try to create more suspense and a sense of urgency, but it just feels rushed all of a sudden. The pace that had been so successful through the middle of the book is lost as too much information is crammed into too short chapters with less of the detail that made the other part so enjoyable. When I turned the last page of the last chapter I thought to myself that there should have been at least another chapter or two to finish things off, but there wasn't.
And yet, it's still a 4 star book. Because the middle was just that good. I only wish the beginning and end had been as good as the rest.
I also finished #8, favourite author with Paint Your Dragon by Tom Holt on 01/19/12. He's not my all time favourite, but I've read everything by my favourites and I do like his work a lot.Rating: 4/5
Review: Take Saint George, The Dragon, a feisty female sculptress, a bandit who steals and resells Time, statues that come to life, a group of demons on vacation and a legendary mercenary. Put them all in in modern day England for the rematch of the millennium. Mix well with a healthy dose of humour.
That's what you get with Paint Your Dragon. It's a lighthearted, funny, easy to read book that takes perceptions and turns them upside down. If you don't mind a little irreverence and an occasional swear word, then not only will you enjoy this book, it may make you think a little as well. What if perceptions aren't always what they seem?
Although Tom Holt crafts most of his stories from the basis of myths and legends and sets them in modern times and Terry Pratchett created a whole original world, I always associate these two authors in my mind. Maybe it's because I won't take either of their books on public transport for fear of looking crazy as I smile, snicker and cackle to myself. Maybe it's because despite the different way of going about it, they both have a similar way of making you see familiar concepts differently. Either way, they never disappoint.
This means I have read 4 books so far this month, 3 of which are from the categories. Not great, but I have almost 2 weeks left to kick into gear!
Sitting here in my dark house, yes IAm one of 100,000 plus people without power in Wa star I just finished War of the Worlds. I see some others are reading it so I won't say a lot. But for me it's a 2.5 star book. Far fetched and a bit heavy handed with the preaching if you read it as a commentary on colonialism.
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I have a rule about not seeing a movie before I read the book and I hadn't read the book yet, but now I can see The Help!Oh Kristy, poor you, I hope the power gets sorted soon.
I never read War of the Worlds. I was however fascinated by Orson Welles' broadcast based on that book. Have any of you ever heard it? It was I guess well done for the time, though it surprises me that people would have believed it to be fact.
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I agree I think the radio broadcast would have been much better. We are probably looking at 2-3 days no power. Thanks for your thoughts once we get thawed out it'll just be dealing with the flooding that comes from melting 2 feet of snow.
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Thanks, we never have to deal win it in our area but some places get it so bad they have to close the freeway. Over 250,000 without power now. I might be the first to finish my books this month!
Started and finished two books today. No Shelter and Forbidden Mind. Still no power at my house and cable Internet is out pretty much every where so I'll have to review these when things get back to normal. I have read my snowflake book, and I'm glad because I don't think I even want to imagine any snow or ice like this for another 3 years. That's the last time we got this much snow.
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Janie wrote: "read my 8th book - in watermelon sugar richard brautigan which has snow on the cover.....WIERD!Now i'm reading war of the worlds and then i can do some bonus books for the month!"
Wow! 8 already - Terrific!
Finished "The Brass Verdict" by Michael Connelly - Good read with a few surprises at the end. 4/5 stars!
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OK, power came on Saturday evening. Still no internet or cable, so I'm trying to get caught up during my lunch break.This weekend I read the following books:
No Shelter by L. Constance Frost
Forbidden Mind by Kimberly Kinrade
THe Halo Effect by MJ Rose
Chasing Rainbows by Kathleen Long
I will post the reviews of these books later on. Too many emails to go through in the next 30 minutes.
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This weekend I read the following books:
No Shelter by L. Constance Frost..."
Glad your power's back on. Looks like you had a good reading weekend.
Yeah I had a big reading weekend. There was no power and no cable or Internet. It was just about the only thing I could do!
Read 100+ Books in 2012
Books mentioned in this topic
The Sea of Monsters (other topics)The Lightning Thief (other topics)
Undead and Unwed (other topics)
The Lightning Thief (other topics)
The Sea of Monsters (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
MaryJanice Davidson (other topics)Rick Riordan (other topics)
Rick Riordan (other topics)
MaryJanice Davidson (other topics)
Lindsey Davis (other topics)
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2. Read a book with a J-A-N-U-R-Y in the title.
3. Read a book with space as a theme in rememberance of the Space Shuttle Challenger.
4. Read a Young Adult book.
5. Read a book with snow or snowflakes on the cover.
6. Read a book that takes place in Europe.
7. Read a book that is set in contemporary times.
8. Read a book by your favorite author.
9. Your choice