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Reading Challenges
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2012 Summer Reading Challenge
Status Update For Me V- Viets, Elaine, Shop Till You Drop, Have
E- Evil In Carnations by Kate Collins, Have
R- Rotten to the Core by Shelia Connolley, Have
S- Sister by Rosamund Lupton, Completed
E- Endangered by Pamela Beason, Have
I loved Sister it was an amazing read!!!!
Another book finished. Current status:Current challenge status:
V - Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan -- Completed WHAT A CRAPPY BOOK! NOT RECOMMENDED, EVEN IF IT DID WIN A PULITZER -- and I am unanimous in that!
E - Eye of the World by Robert Jordan -- Completed
R - The Road by Cormac McCarthy -- Completed
S - Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien -- Completed
E - Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor -- Delay while I finish another book begun before the challenge started
I've decided to expand to do UNI also, so my updated list is:U - The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss In Progress
N - Nothing At All by Wanda Gág
I - In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
V - Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan -- Completed WHAT A CRAPPY BOOK! NOT RECOMMENDED, EVEN IF IT DID WIN A PULITZER -- and I am unanimous in that!
E - Eye of the World by Robert Jordan -- Completed
R - The Road by Cormac McCarthy -- Completed
S - Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien -- Completed
E - Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor
The 3 new ones are all Children's Books.
Debbie, I agree with you about Visit from the Goon Squad. I hated it too!
Becky wrote: "Debbie, I agree with you about Visit from the Goon Squad. I hated it too!"There have been other Pulitzer winners I did not enjoy, but I could understand why they deserved the Prize. This one? It looks like the requirements for Puliter fiction works now begins "First, it must be really weird." The Road was weird. I enjoyed it, but it was weird, as was Tinkers. March was weird in how its voice was so much like from the time of Louisa May Alcott. They didn't give a Pulitzer this year, so the books submitted for consideration must not have been weird enough.
I have a new update for my progress in the Challenge. Current status:
U - The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss -- In Progress
N - Nothing At All by Wanda Gág -- Completed
I - In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
V - Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan -- Completed
E - Eye of the World by Robert Jordan -- Completed
R - The Road by Cormac McCarthy -- Completed
S - Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien -- Completed
E - Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor
OK. Here is my list:V-Cankered Root (G.G. Vandagriff)COMPLETED THANK GOODNESS
E-Eye of the World (Robert Jordan) IN PROGRESS
R-The Happiness Project (Gretchen Craft Rubin)COMPLETED
S-The Small Adventures of Popeye and Elvis (Barbara O'Conner)COMPLETED
E-Elijah of Buxton (Christopher Paul Curtis)
If I get through these, number one, it will be a miracle, and two, I will add the books for UNI. :0)
Thanks for helping me with my goal to whittle down my "to read" list!
Update!V- Viets, Elaine, Shop Till You Drop, Have
E- Evil In Carnations by Kate Collins, Have
R- Rotten to the Core by Shelia Connolley, Have
S- Sister by Rosamund Lupton, Completed
E- Endangered by Pamela Beason, In Progress
Update: U - The Undaunted - Complete
N - Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales - Complete
I - The Illustrated Man - Complete
V - Valkyrie - Complete
E - The Endurance - Complete
R - Ready Player One - Complete
S - Shadows in Flight - In Progress
E -
Update...U - The Undaunted: the miracle of the hole-in-the-rock pioneers by Gerald N. Lund Complete 6-14
N - Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales by Nelson Mandela Complete 6-9
I - The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury Complete 6-18
V - Valkyrie by Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager Complete 6-9
E - The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition by Caroline Alexander Complete 6-10
R - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline Complete 6-15
S - Shadows in Flight by Orson Scott Card Complete 6-18
E - Eddie Fantastic by Chris Heimerdinger Complete 6-19
This was a great challenge. I picked up several books that I probably wouldn't have otherwise. I'm thinking about maybe doing it again, using the letters for author names instead of titles, this time. Other than posting here, is there anything I'm supposed to do to report?
UPDATE!Two to go, one of which is in progress!
U - The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss -- In Progress
N - Nothing At All by Wanda Gág -- Completed
I - In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak -- Completed
V - Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan -- Completed
E - Eye of the World by Robert Jordan -- Completed
R - The Road by Cormac McCarthy -- Completed
S - Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien -- Completed
E - Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor
Greg wrote: "This was a great challenge. I picked up several books that I probably wouldn't have otherwise. I'm thinking about maybe doing it again, using the letters for author names instead of titles, this ..."All you need to do is let me know you're done and what books you read for the challenge, so it looks like you are covered. Way to go!
The drawing for our Summer Reading Challenge winner will take place in early September after the challenge ends.
I have like 6 books for S and that's it, lol.Greg: you could always do the alphabet next. :) I think that would be fun.
I like the idea of, if all of the list is done with titles, turn around and do the list again, with author last names spelling out 'Verse or Universe, as one prefers. Or if first list was all fiction, do an other list of all non-fiction, or verse vice. (Couldn't resist!)
The whole alphabet might be fun...or...Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Greg wrote: "The whole alphabet might be fun...or...Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"Awesome! lol
Greg wrote: "The whole alphabet might be fun...or...Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"I'd want a year to do it, though! Its too much for just the summer. Unless I read all Kiddie books!
It's true, we'd need a year.
Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "I have like 6 books for S and that's it, lol."I seem to be having that problem too, though I have found one book for one of the E's so far.
Ann wrote: I seem to be having that problem too, though I have found one book for one of the E's so far."I had trouble finding ones for E, too. I was in luck,because the book I was reading when the challenge was announced was Eye of the World, so 1 E was covered.
UPDATE!One to go, and it is in progress!
U - The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss -- Completed
N - Nothing At All by Wanda Gág -- Completed
I - In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak -- Completed
V - Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan -- Completed
E - Eye of the World by Robert Jordan -- Completed
R - The Road by Cormac McCarthy -- Completed
S - Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien -- Completed
E - Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor -- In Progress
V- The Voynich Ciper, Russell Blake (done)E- Eight Weeks to Optimal Health, Dr. Andrew Weil (done)
R- Rice, Anne- Christ the Lord (Done)
S- Soul Surfer, Bethany Hamilton (just started)
E- Epperson, Deborah- Breaking Twig (in progress)
After I finish the last two, I will begin on UNI.
Current Status: Completed booksU- The Mysteries of Udolpho
An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness
N- Northanger Abbey
The Naked Lady Who Stood on Her Head: A Psychiatrist's Stories of His Most Bizarre Cases
NNNNN: A Novel
No Great Magic
I- The Ides: Caesar's Murder and the War for Rome
The Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen
In the Midst of Life; Tales of Soldiers and Civilians;
V- God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian
E- Ever
The End
Medea by Euripides
R- Runner
S- Summer Lightening
Self and Self-Management: Essays about Existing
Update on my VERSE books!!V-Viets, Elaine, Shop Until You Drop
E-Evil in Carnations, by Kate Collins
R-Ryan, Tom, Following Atticus, In Progress
S-Sister, by Rosamund Lupton, Finished
E-Endangered, by Pamela Beason, In Progress
Just a heads up—Readers’ Choice books for July through October 2012 are available at Salt Lake County Libraries now. Several of them could fit with our current challenge, so if you are still looking for books you might want to check out the titles on our Readers’ Choice Blog at http://www.slcreaderschoice.blogspot.....Already the current Readers’ Choice books are checking out fast, so make sure to drop by your library or place a hold if you see one you like.
April wrote: "here is my list UPDATED 7-2-2012U - Under a Vampire Moon by Lynsay Sands - COMPLETE
N - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - COMPLETE
I - Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione - COMPLETE
V - Vortex by..."
Congrads on finishing the expanded 'Verse challenge, April!
I think I may have to try to spell the entire theme.E- The Making of a Marchioness (Also Known as Emily Fox Seton)
X- Xingjian Gao's books look interesting. Library only has eholdings: Soul Mountain and Buying A Fishing Rod For My Grandfather are two of them.
The X'ed-out X-ray is a kid's book that just looks like silly fun!
P- No Less in Blood (Reader's Choice)
Profound River (Reader's Choice)
The Prince
Pamphilia to Amphilanthus and Salmacis and Hermaphroditus an oddity
The Professor
A-At Home in Mitford
The Snow Queen
Mansfield Park
Tristam and Iseult & Sohrab and Rustum
A Light in the Window
Articles of Faith
N- The Black Hawk Journey COMPLETE
D- The Dead Secret
Life in the Iron Mills
Deadwood Dick's Doom; Or, Calamity Jane's Last Adventure Just for fun
1906
The Black Tulip
Y- The Tragic Bride
O- One Man's Bible
Widdershins
U- The Steel Hammer; A Novel
Federal Bureau of Investigation FOIA Documents - Unidentified Flying Objects, Just for fun.
Utopia (Someone claims he is my ancestor.)
R- Finding Everett Ruess: The Life and Unsolved Disappearance of a Legendary Wilderness Explorer (Reader's Choice Selection, too!)
Rastignac the Devil
U- Uncle Silas could be fun to reread. Did you know he wrote several stories will many of the elements of this horrific thriller?
The Log-Cabin Lady - An Anonymous Autobiography (Illustrated Edition) (U for Unknown Author)
N- No Name
History of the Britons
The Divine Enchantment: A Mystical Poem
I- In the Days of the Comet
The Intrusion of Jimmy
The Thing from the Lake
V- The Black Bag
Candide
E- The Enchanted April
The Semi-Detached House
R- The Roaring Girl
A Spinner in the Sun
S- Summer At Willow Lake
Sister (Reader's Choice!)
Seven Who Were Hanged
The Missing Bride
E-Over The Top
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African
The Gray Plague
The Evil Guest
That should keep me busy through the end of August, maybe. Can you tell I'm also cleaning out my to-read list?The Black Tulip
JoAnn wrote: "I think I may have to try to spell the entire theme, although "x" may be rather hard to complete.E-
X-
P-
A- At Home in Mitford by Caron, Jan and Mansfield Park by Austen, Jane
N- Black Hawk Jour..."
Excellent idea. I'll consider UNIVERSE done...now for the rest...
Ok, here's the updated list of "Expand Your Universe" (great suggestion, JoAnn).E -
X -
P -
A - All's Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare Complete 7-5
N -
D -
Y -
O - Othello by William Shakespeare Complete 7-7
U -
R -
U - The Undaunted: the miracle of the hole-in-the-rock pioneers by Gerald N. Lund Complete 6-14
N - Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales by Nelson Mandela Complete 6-9
I - The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury Complete 6-18
V - Valkyrie by Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager Complete 6-9
E - The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition by Caroline Alexander Complete 6-10
R - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline Complete 6-15
S - Shadows in Flight by Orson Scott Card Complete 6-18
E - Eddie Fantastic by Chris Heimerdinger Complete 6-19
Ok. This challenge was going slow for me for awhile, but has finally picked up. V - Villette - Half way through
E - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - complete
R - Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - Complete
S - The Snow Child
E - Elephants Can Remember
If I can get through these in time, I will add the UNI
U - Unbroken
N - The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
I - The Importance of Being Earnest
I am thoroughly enjoying Villette. Extremely Loud was ok, but not one of my favorites. I have a hard time with books written in an artsy sort of way. Am really excited to read the rest of the books.
Mod
V-
E-
R- Ready Player One-Complete
S- The Shoemaker's Wife: A Novel-Complete
E-
Jennifer,It's not a competition...is a challenge for self-improvement. Good job on taking on the challenge. Did you like Ready Player One? I read it as part of my challenge, and, for the most part, really enjoyed it. I kind of thought, though, that you would have to be a certain type to appreciate that book.
JoAnn wrote: "I think I may have to try to spell the entire theme."Wow! The only way I think I could do that is if I started counting the picture books I've been reading to get ready for fall storytimes this year.
Ann wrote: "The only way I think I could do that is if I started counting the picture books I've been reading"What's wrong with that? Picture books can be not only good literary works, they often include wonderful art. Especially the Caldecott's. It's what I do -- with no feelings of guilt at all. I've read them, why not count them.
Jennifer wrote: "I can't even compete with some of you, but I'll try to do the VERSE part"Hun, I'm retired. If I were still a working girl, there is no way I'd even be able to finish the "Verse" part. So do what you can and like Greg says, it's not a competition.
If you finish the "Verse" part, for the prize that is given, you have every bit as much chance to win as Greg (The book devourer) does. It's not an "it what reads the mostest booksies, wins the Precious". Glad to have you join our little community.
I might try for the big one, too. I doubt I will finish, but it will be fun!The expanded plan:
E - Earth Unaware by Orson Scott Card
X -The Xanadu adventure / Lloyd Alexander
P - Pedro, the Angel of Olvera Street by Leo Politi
A - Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions by Leo & Diane Dillo and Margaret Musgrove -- Completed 7/10
N - Nine Days to Christmas by Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida -- Completed 7/10
D - Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan -- In Progress
Y - Hey, Al by Arthur Yorinks
O - One Fine Day by Nonny Hogrogian
U - The Universe Between by Alan E. Nourse
R - May I Bring a Friend? by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers and Beni Montresor -- Completed 6/30
U - The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss -- Completed 6/23
N - Nothing At All by Wanda Gág -- Completed 6/17
I - In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak -- Completed 6/19
V - Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan -- Completed 6/16
E - Eye of the World by Robert Jordan -- Completed 6/2
R - The Road by Cormac McCarthy -- Completed 6/6
S - Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien -- Completed 6/12
E - Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor -- In Progress
Congrads, Greg, on finishing your first list and then the first expansion list.
The book devourer? I've had worse nicknames...And thanks, Debbie. Congrats to you, too. You're giving me a run for my money on the nickname.
Took a couple of days to get the books specific to the challenge, but...here we go!E -
X -
P -
A - All's Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare Complete 7-5
N -
D - Debt of Honor by Tom Clancy (In Progress)
Y - You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself by Harry and Christine Clifford Beckwith Complete 7-12
O - Othello by William Shakespeare Complete 7-7
U -
R -
U - The Undaunted: the miracle of the hole-in-the-rock pioneers by Gerald N. Lund Complete 6-14
N - Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales by Nelson Mandela Complete 6-9
I - The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury Complete 6-18
V - Valkyrie by Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager Complete 6-9
E - The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition by Caroline Alexander Complete 6-10
R - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline Complete 6-15
S - Shadows in Flight by Orson Scott Card Complete 6-18
E - Eddie Fantastic by Chris Heimerdinger Complete 6-19
Mod
It's not a competition...is a challenge for self-improvement. Good job on taking on the challenge. Did you like Ready Player One? I read it as part of my challenge, and, for the most ..."
Don't worry, Greg and Debbie, I wasn't judging myself harshly, I was just impressed with the amount you are reading. As a librarian (and married to another librarian), I pretty much breathe books, so no worries there!
Greg- I adored Ready Player One! It was probably the most fun I've had reading a book since, I don't know, February or something. I got totally sucked into it, and was sad to reach the end. I actually listened to it, and the narration by Wil Wheaton was fabulous. I think it may be better for people who were around in the 80's or who love video games, but the adventure of the story would translate to anyone.
Update:E -
X -
P - Partner in Crime by J.A. Jance Complete 7-14
A - All's Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare Complete 7-5
N - A Nation Like No Other: Why American Exceptionalism Matters by Newt Gingrich Complete 7-14
D - Debt of Honor by Tom Clancy (In Progress)
Y - You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself by Harry and Christine Clifford Beckwith Complete 7-12
O - Othello by William Shakespeare Complete 7-7
U -
R - River God by Wilbur Smith (In Progress)
U - The Undaunted: the miracle of the hole-in-the-rock pioneers by Gerald N. Lund Complete 6-14
N - Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales by Nelson Mandela Complete 6-9
I - The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury Complete 6-18
V - Valkyrie by Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager Complete 6-9
E - The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition by Caroline Alexander Complete 6-10
R - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline Complete 6-15
S - Shadows in Flight by Orson Scott Card Complete 6-18
E - Eddie Fantastic by Chris Heimerdinger Complete 6-19
Greg wrote: "The book devourer? I've had worse nicknames...And thanks, Debbie. Congrats to you, too. You're giving me a run for my money on the nickname."
My nickname, I kid you not, is Dash. ha ha ha!
Update of the latest reading:Challenge Expansion II:
E - Earth Unaware by Orson Scott Card
X -The Xanadu adventure / Lloyd Alexander
P - Pedro, the Angel of Olvera Street by Leo Politi
A - Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions by Leo & Diane Dillo and Margaret Musgrove -- Completed 7/10
N - Nine Days to Christmas by Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida -- Completed 7/10
D - Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan -- In Progress
Y - Hey, Al by Arthur Yorinks
O - One Fine Day by Nonny Hogrogian -- Completed 7/16
U - Crictor by Tomi Ungerer
R - May I Bring a Friend? by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers and Beni Montresor -- Completed 6/30
U - The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss -- Completed 6/23
N - Nothing At All by Wanda Gág -- Completed 6
I - In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak -- Completed 6/19
V - Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan -- Completed 6/16
E - Eye of the World by Robert Jordan -- Completed 6/2
R - The Road by Cormac McCarthy -- Completed 6/6
S - Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien -- Completed 6/12
E - Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor -- In Progress
Progress from July 1 only. E- Over The Top. COMPLETE
X- Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather STARTED
P-
A-The Snow Queen COMPLETE
N- The Black Hawk Journey COMPLETE
D- 1906 COMPLETE
The Black Tulip STARTED
Y-
O-
U- Federal Bureau of Investigation FOIA Documents - Unidentified Flying Objects COMPLETE
R-
U- An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness COMPLETE
N-
I- The Master Builder and When We Dead Awaken by Ibsen COMPLETE
V-
E-
R-
S-
E- The Gray Plague COMPLETE
Greg wrote: "Jennifer,It's not a competition...is a challenge for self-improvement. Good job on taking on the challenge.
Exactly. I'm finding it fun to use this challenge as an opportunity to focus my reading choices, like I do with every challenge. I end up reading and enjoying books I would not have selected otherwise.
If one looks as my annual "read" shelves, this number of books is completely normal for me to read.
Latest update on the 2nd expanded challengeE - Nine Days to Christmas by Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida -- Completed 7/10
X -The Xanadu adventure / Lloyd Alexander
P - Pedro, the Angel of Olvera Street by Leo Politi
A - Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions by Leo & Diane Dillo and Margaret Musgrove -- Completed 7/10
N - Nine Days to Christmas by Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida -- Completed 7/10
D - Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan -- In Progress
Y - Hey, Al by Arthur Yorinks
O - One Fine Day by Nonny Hogrogian -- Completed 7/16
U - Crictor by Tomi Ungerer
R - May I Bring a Friend? by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers and Beni Montresor -- Completed 6/30
U - The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss -- Completed 6/23
N - Nothing At All by Wanda Gág -- Completed 6
I - In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak -- Completed 6/19
V - Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan -- Completed 6/16
E - Eye of the World by Robert Jordan -- Completed 6/2
R - The Road by Cormac McCarthy -- Completed 6/6
S - Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien -- Completed 6/12
E - Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor -- In Progress
Just finished "X" with Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather. It was odd, yet interesting. Who'd have thought it would include a story of a train vs. bike accident, but I managed to finish the story and remain calm. I'm a trax operator who recently had a pedestrian walk out in front of the train.
I'm also almost finished with Candide by Voltaire (for "V"). It been a love-hate experience. It's definitely not what I expected, although exactly what I DID expect, I'm not sure.
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The County Library
Books mentioned in this topic
Villette (other topics)The Snow Child (other topics)
Elephants Can Remember (other topics)
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (other topics)
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Gao Xingjian (other topics)Sue Grafton (other topics)
Matt Beaumont (other topics)
Thomas Pynchon (other topics)
I'm a big fan of audiobooks too. Housework is much less dull with a good ..."
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