Annual Reading Goal Challenge for 2016 - Come and join us!

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

3/12 Mathlet vrs athlete

Twins one is a Mathlet and the other is a athlete and they learn to work together

 

[kmb584]

#4: Sisters of Treason by Elizabeth Fremantle. From Goodreads:

In a court ruled by a paranoid Queen, possessing royal blood can be the gravest crime of all...

Fearing traitors amongst her court, the aging Queen Mary orders the execution of her cousin, Lady Jane Grey. Cursed with royal blood her young sisters Katherine and Mary must now face the Tudor court alone.

Katherine, a beauty amongst the queen's maids, makes dangerous romantic liaisons. While fiercely clever Mary reluctantly becomes the Queen's confidante.

And so Katherine and Mary find themselves in a maze of treachery, suspicion and danger - where royal blood could be their death warrant. .

I'm on a huge kick as of late with historical fiction!

 

[mayonegg]

I want to jump in on this 2 weeks late. I want to read 52 books, one a week. So far this year, I've read 5 books, which includes 3 audiobooks. I get audiobooks read a lot quicker because I listen to them on my commute to work and when I walk my dog in the mornings and evenings. Here's what I've finished so far:

So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

I just started listening to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and I'm in the middle of reading The Shell Collector by Anthony Doerr.

 

[Kirby]

I want to jump in on this 2 weeks late. I want to read 52 books, one a week. So far this year, I've read 5 books, which includes 3 audiobooks. I get audiobooks read a lot quicker because I listen to them on my commute to work and when I walk my dog in the mornings and evenings. Here's what I've finished so far:

So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

I just started listening to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and I'm in the middle of reading The Shell Collector by Anthony Doerr.

I get so immersed in the story and characters of a book that I can't imagine reading more than one at a time.

 

[piglet too]

5/120 - The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (pen name of J K Rowling)

The first book of the Cormoran Strike mystery series. Didn't know until I was done that the author is actually Rowling.

As much as I tried to like this book, I could never really get into it. I forced myself to read it simply because I wanted to find out if the death was suicide or murder, and if so, who did it. I might try to read the next book, because I'd like to see where the main characters go, but it would have to be a "I have nothing else to read" type thing.

6/120 - Angels Peak by Robyn Carr (Virgin River series)

I've been enjoying this series and was glad when the next book became available. I particularly enjoyed it after the previous book.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

OT I love this thread becuse as soon as I am done reading for work I have ideas on what to read next do thank you

 

[wilma-bride]

Book #5 of 50 - Follow You Home by Mark Edwards

It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime, a final adventure before settling down. But after a perfect start, an encounter with a young couple on a night train forces Daniel and Laura to cut their dream trip short and flee home.

Back in London, Daniel and Laura vow never to talk about what happened that night. But as they try to fit into their old lives again, they realise they are in terrible danger—and that their nightmare is just beginning…

I have read another book by this author, which was co-written with somebody else. While I enjoyed that one, it was just OK. This one was much better. The book drew me in right from the very start. Part psychological thriller, part horror, it twists and turns and the author leaves you guessing right until the end about what really happened that night in Romania.

 

[Christine]

5/120 - The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (pen name of J K Rowling)

The first book of the Cormoran Strike mystery series. Didn't know until I was done that the author is actually Rowling.

As much as I tried to like this book, I could never really get into it. I forced myself to read it simply because I wanted to find out if the death was suicide or murder, and if so, who did it. I might try to read the next book, because I'd like to see where the main characters go, but it would have to be a "I have nothing else to read" type thing.

I sort of felt the same way with this book; however, I did find the two main characters likeable. So I pushed on and read the second book, which was better, and then the third book, which was the best of the three.

 

[wilma-bride]

Wow, I got a little bit behind with the thread as I was away in London over the weekend. Hope everybody had a great weekend I managed to get book number 5 finished on the bus ride into London. Trouble is, I am struggling to get into anything else, I have already read some good books this year which are taking some beating!

I DNF the last two books I tried -

Three Princes by Ramona Wheeler - read to 25% - After a great start, it just got boring and didn't hold my attention

Half-Resurrection Blues by Daniel Jose Older - read to 28% - Did not like the writing style or the main character

so I haven't added to my books completed list yet this week.

I hate to abandon a book in the middle, something which I rarely do. Sometimes, though, it just has to be done. Hope you can find something to hold your attention soon

#2 - Eight Hundred Grapes

by Laura Dave (Goodreads Author)
3.59 · Rating Details · 7,694 Ratings · 1,073 Reviews
There are secrets you share, and secrets you hide…

Growing up on her family’s Sonoma vineyard, Georgia Ford learned some important secrets. The secret number of grapes it takes to make a bottle of wine: eight hundred. The secret ingredient in her mother’s lasagna: chocolate. The secret behind ending a fight: hold hands.

But just a week before her wedding, thirty-year-old Georgia discovers her beloved fiancé has been keeping a secret so explosive, it will change their lives forever.

Georgia does what she’s always done: she returns to the family vineyard, expecting the comfort of her long-married parents, and her brothers, and everything familiar. But it turns out her fiancé is not the only one who’s been keeping secrets… (less)
Hardcover, 260 pages

I chose this for my night to host my book club in March. It was good, kept my attention and can't wait to discuss it with my friends.

Sounds intriguing, will take a look at that one.

I just finished my first of 12:

What Claims by Fire by Robin Rice

#5 Tasting Beer: An Insider's Guide to the World's Greatest Drink by Randy Mosher

The title says it all. I read this for a book club meeting for the Girls Pint Out group I'm involved with. Lots of great information about the history of beer and the brewing process.

I gave it 4 out of 5 because it was written in 2007 and for any other beer snobs out there, a lot has changed in the last decade. Especially with sour beers. The book talks about gose being an almost extinct style and its come roaring back to life in the last few years. I would have liked there to be an updated second edition.

Wow, not sure about the book but love the sound of the Girls Pint Out group

I'll join in. My goal is 52 books and I've read 3 so far.

Welcome. When you update with the books you've read, could you say the title, author and whether you would recommend it. We all like to get recommendations here

Wilma-bride, I had to set aside 'Bad Country' and read this one. Now will try to finish Bad Country but truthfully it is not grabbing my attention. Maybe it will get better.

I am glad I haven't spent the money to download it yet then - it's still pretty pricey on Amazon UK.

#8 A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Lauri R King-the second in the Mary Russell series. This was fantastic-great story and well written.

#9 The Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham-didn't love this. Felt like it was missing something.

I read my first 2 books out of 50

Book #1 Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella Not as good as the first few of the series but I did like it better than the previous one. I gave it a 3.5/5

I did not like the latest couple of Shopaholic books, they don't compare at all to the early ones.

I was out super-late last night (David Bowie double-feature, TOTALLY worth the late night!), so I decided today was a good day to lay around in my PJs reading and catching up on schoolwork. So I've finished book 6 and am well into book 7.

I love lazy reading days in my PJs - I had a lot of those over Christmas

This thread caught my eye since I do read quite a bit. I'm going to set my goal at 80 though it's possible I'll exceed it.

I read several books last year that I enjoyed and the first one that came to mind is Confessions of a Prairie B***h by Alison Arngrim. It was so interesting reading about her life and tidbits of information on all the cast of Little House on the Prairie. It was a very good, easy read and I highly recommend it.

I've read two books so far this year:

1/80 - The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke. This is a typical Clark book and their collaboration is good. It's about a television producer that has a cold case series. They has success with solving a cold case for their series premiere and begin another cold case investigation.

2/80 - An Unfinished Affair by William St. James. This is his first novel. He does a fairly good job. It is a political thriller. If you can overlook the punctuation errors and lack of editing I think that you will find that it is interesting enough.

I'm in a book club and our selection this month is Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb. This is a very good fantasy book. It's the first book of a trilogy which is followed by three more trilogies that all intertwine. Actually the fourth trilogy has expanded to a fourth book which I have in my book pile to read. I would highly recommend these books.

Welcome and thanks for the recommendations

3/12 Mathlet vrs athlete

Twins one is a Mathlet and the other is a athlete and they learn to work together

Sounds interesting. You are doing well

#4: Sisters of Treason by Elizabeth Fremantle. From Goodreads:



I'm on a huge kick as of late with historical fiction!

For some reason, historical fiction is a genre which I can't bring myself to read. Not sure why, maybe I worry I wont' 'get it'

I want to jump in on this 2 weeks late. I want to read 52 books, one a week. So far this year, I've read 5 books, which includes 3 audiobooks. I get audiobooks read a lot quicker because I listen to them on my commute to work and when I walk my dog in the mornings and evenings. Here's what I've finished so far:

So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

I just started listening to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and I'm in the middle of reading The Shell Collector by Anthony Doerr.

5/120 - The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (pen name of J K Rowling)

The first book of the Cormoran Strike mystery series. Didn't know until I was done that the author is actually Rowling.

As much as I tried to like this book, I could never really get into it. I forced myself to read it simply because I wanted to find out if the death was suicide or murder, and if so, who did it. I might try to read the next book, because I'd like to see where the main characters go, but it would have to be a "I have nothing else to read" type thing.

6/120 - Angels Peak by Robyn Carr (Virgin River series)

I've been enjoying this series and was glad when the next book became available. I particularly enjoyed it after the previous book.

I still haven't read the Harry Potter books But so many people have recommended the Robert Galbraith that I may have to try one.

OT I love this thread becuse as soon as I am done reading for work I have ideas on what to read next do thank you

I know, I love getting ideas and recommendations. Thank you to everybody who participates int his thread

 

[Kogo Shuko]

Book one in the series True Blood was based on, I picked this up after binge watching the show over Christmas break. I'm glad I did. From this installment I'm thinking I'm going to like the books much more than the show, and I did like the show. The character development is more nuanced and certain characters are more interesting and/or more likable than their counterparts in the TV series.

Fair warning about this series:

It starts off AMAZING and is super great for over half the series, but Charlaine's writing tends to come unravelled if she goes beyond a six book series, it seems. And by the end, I was sorely disappointed with what she did to characters and plotlines. But I started off obsessively buying the books and keeping them for future reading. But I didn't even buy the last three, just took them out from the library, and eventually got rid of the entire series from my bookshelf.

It's certainly better than the show, though.

I'm a vampire Eric fan, both for the books and the show.

 

[mayonegg]

I get so immersed in the story and characters of a book that I can't imagine reading more than one at a time.

Usually I feel the same way. I've never understood how some people can balance two or three books at a time. I can only manage it when one book is an audiobook. For whatever reason when I listen to one book and read another book in paper, I can keep them separate in my head and don't feel inclined to put down whichever of the two I like less.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

4/12
Fortunately, the Milk


So the dad goes to get some milk and on the way home he meets all these made up people like vampires and pirates

 

[hulagirl87]

Book 1 completed, based on a recommandation here by hulagirl.

The Raft by S A Bodeen

This was a quick read for me, but still enjoyable. The story follows a 15 year old after a plane crash, and her quest for survival.

I'm glad that you liked it!

I've finished a couple more! I read Troublemaker by Leah Remini. I loved it! I found her life very interesting. I finished Balancing it All by Candace Cameron Bure. I really like her style of writing and enjoyed this book. Now I'm reading Consent by Nancy Ohlin, about a girl who gets into a relationship with her music teacher. I'm only about 80 pages in, but am really liking it so far!

 

[xlsm]

Fair warning about this series:

It starts off AMAZING and is super great for over half the series, but Charlaine's writing tends to come unravelled if she goes beyond a six book series, it seems. And by the end, I was sorely disappointed with what she did to characters and plotlines. But I started off obsessively buying the books and keeping them for future reading. But I didn't even buy the last three, just took them out from the library, and eventually got rid of the entire series from my bookshelf.

It's certainly better than the show, though.

I'm a vampire Eric fan, both for the books and the show.

I agree! I read these books before True Blood was a thing, and I feel like she totally started phoning it in after the show became popular. It no longer felt like she was writing to stay true to Sookie and Co, but focusing on the television show instead.
And I have to say, in an effort to be transparent, that I am not a fan of the show...mainly because I WAS such a fan of the books first, and aside from the first season of True Blood (because Michael Raymond James as Rene was amazing), I hated the departures from the "real" story. I could not separate the books from the show. (the only books vs. show I've been able to do that with have been Bones and Dexter)

 

[Glynis]

Another book finished! "The Hundred Foot Journey" by Richard C. Morais. I have wanted to see the movie, and when I saw the title in the library I picked it up on a whim. I really enjoyed it! From Goodreads: "Born above his grandfather’s modest restaurant in Mumbai, Hassan first experienced life through intoxicating whiffs of spicy fish curry, trips to the local markets, and gourmet outings with his mother. But when tragedy pushes the family out of India, they console themselves by eating their way around the world, eventually settling in Lumière, a small village in the French Alps."

The book follows Hassan's journey from an immigrant in his father's kitchen to a celebrated French chef. I loved most of the characters, but it was the description of the food and cooking that really got me!

Up next: I need to finish "The Last Lecture" and then start "The Martian". Glad today's a holiday. I should be able to get some good reading done.

 

[willowsnn3]

Usually I feel the same way. I've never understood how some people can balance two or three books at a time. I can only manage it when one book is an audiobook. For whatever reason when I listen to one book and read another book in paper, I can keep them separate in my head and don't feel inclined to put down whichever of the two I like less.

The only way I do two books at a time is if one is sooooo boring and I'm taking a break from it. Or sometimes if I have left one I am reading at work over the weekend, I'll start another if I have on on hand.
Trudging thru 'Bad Country' right now as library was closed for holiday, but I will sure be at their doors when they open tomorrow morning, lol. I have a couple in transit but if they are not in I'll find something.

 

[CallieMar]

5/60 - The Proposal by Mary Balogh: First book in the Survivor's Club series. The beginning is slow and awkward as everyone is introduced and explained how they came to be a part of the Survivors Club. There were a few moments where I thought, was there another book I should have read before this? because it seemed like a very awkward place to start a brand new series that was not an offshoot of something else. One annoying thing is that Balogh name checks a ton of characters from other books, which is neat if you've read her previous books, but otherwise just becomes a slog of names of random people. It got much better towards the end and now that the "world-building" is complete I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. In general I enjoy Balogh as she takes the time to build up the characters and I'm invested enough in them to care that they all get their HEA.

6/60 - I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson: The over-the-top prose from Noah's POV was hard for me to get through at first, but I got used to it after a while and realize it's part of who he is as this unbelievably creative and artistic kid. The book got much more interesting to me in the second half, as I saw how all these characters were going to intertwine with each other. The ending was just a little too tidy and everything came together just a little too quickly, but overall I quite liked this book.

 

[reginaastralis]

2/12 pie Sarah weeks

This girl looks for a secret recipe after her aunt dies but learns of friendship along the way

My daughter read this book for her battle book challenge and loved it.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

My daughter read this book for her battle book challenge and loved it.

I take it you guys live in Florida as well

 

[reginaastralis]

1/50: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved learning about the story behind HeLa cells, and was appalled at how hard her family had to fight to even fully know the whole story. I think I was more shocked to learn just how easy something like this could happen.