Suzanne’s Comments (group member since Apr 15, 2011)

Suzanne’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

I liked this story because I could relate to having a friend like that. We were a tight group of girls, but were really competitive with each other. In high school, I finally just gave up and walked away but it was difficult because I had known them for so long. This book also made me examine my friendships with my girlfriends and whether I acted like Darcy or Rachel. Some friends you're the Rachel, other friends you're the Darcy. I realized that at work, I'm the Darcy because I do get competitive at my job. It was very interesting because I didn't focus on the romance aspect of it but the relationship between Rachel and Darcy. I even read the sequel Something Blue and I liked it as well.

Rachel wrote: "My review:

It was ok. I was hoping for something more though. I don't understand how people can have the audacity to cheat, but not the balls to tell the ones getting cheated on. I am glad that ev..."

In the second book, Something Blue it goes into what happens to Darcy after she finds her fiancee with Rachel. And even though Darcy was a horrible person in this book, she kinda redeems herself in the next. It was hard to believe that she made a complete "transformation" into a normal human being, but she does become a better person and there is some closure to the whole situation.

I'm In!
Nothing but Reading Challenges
July's Baby You're A Firework
Duration: July 1, 2011 - July 31, 2011

Progress: 7 out of 8

S: (Red Headed Step-Child)
P: Cheap Psychological Tricks for Parents by Perry Buffington
A: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
R: Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession by Anne Rice
K: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
L: Flirt by Laurell K. Hamilton
E: Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
R: Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb

Nothing but Reading Challenges discussion
Reading Through Europe
Duration: Unlimited

1. Albania

2. Andorra

3. Armenia

4. Austria

5. Azerbaijan

6. Belarus

7. Belgium

8. Bosnia and Herzegovina

9. Bulgaria

10. Croatia

11. Cyprus

12. Czech Republic

13. Denmark

14. Estonia

15. Finland

16. France = 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson - 9/18/2011 - ***

17. Georgia

18. Germany

19. Greece

20. Hungary

21. Iceland

22. Ireland = Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning - 7/18/2011 - *****

23. Italy

24. Kazakhstan

25. Latvia

26. Liechtenstein

27. Lithuania

28. Luxembourg

29. Republic of Macedonia

30. Malta

31. Moldova

32. Monaco

33. Montenegro

34. Netherlands

35. Norway

36. Poland

37. Portugal

38. Romania

39. Russia

40. San Marino

41. Serbia

42. Slovakia

43. Slovenia

44. Spain = The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - 9/7/2011 - *****

45. Sweden = The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson - 6/23/2011 - *****

46. Switzerland = Not Even for Love by Sandra Brown - 11/28/2011 - ****

47. Turkey = Troy = Discord's Apple by Carrie Vaughn - 8/24/2011 - ****

48. Ukraine

49. United Kingdom = The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley - 6/26/2011 - *****

50. Vatican City

Awesome! I'm in!
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Rebel Reader/Banned Book Challenge
Duration: Endless

Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009
1.a. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling - *****
.b. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling - *****
.c. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling - 8/1/2011 - *****
.d. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling - 8/1/2011 - *****
.e. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling - 9/27/2007 - *****
.f. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling - 6/15/2009 - *****
.g. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling - 7/2/2010 - *****

2. Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
3. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
4. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
5. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - 10/11/2011 - ****
6. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
7. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
8.a. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman - 11/1/2004 - *****
.b. The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman - 1/21/2005 - *****
.c. The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman - 3/14/2007 - *****

9. ttyl; ttfn; l8r g8r (series), by Myracle, Lauren
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
11. Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
12. It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
13. Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey
14. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
15. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
16. Forever by Judy Blume
17. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
18. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
19. Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
20. King and King by Linda de Haan
21. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
22. Gossip Girl (series) by Cecily von Ziegesar
23. The Giver by Lois Lowry - 9/22/2009 - ****

24. In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
25. Killing Mr. Griffen, by Lois Duncan
26. Beloved by Toni Morrison - 8/10/2001 - ***

27. My Brother Sam Is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier
28. Bridge To Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
29. The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney
30. We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier
31. What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones
32. Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
33. Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson
34. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
35. Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging, by Louise Rennison
36. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
37. It’s So Amazing, by Robie Harris
38. Arming America, by Michael Bellasiles
39. Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane
40. Life is Funny, by E.R. Frank
41. Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher
42. The Fighting Ground, by Avi
43. Blubber, by Judy Blume
44. Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher
45. Crazy Lady, by Jane Leslie Conly
46. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut - 4/23/2006 - ****

47. The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby, by George Beard
48. Rainbow Boys, by Alex Sanchez
49. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey
50. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
51. Daughters of Eve, by Lois Duncan
52. The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson
53. You Hear Me?, by Betsy Franco
54. The Facts Speak for Themselves, by Brock Cole
55. Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Green
56. When Dad Killed Mom, by Julius Lester
57. Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause
58. Fat Kid Rules the World, by K.L. Going
59. Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
60. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
61. Draw Me A Star, by Eric Carle
62. The Stupids (series), by Harry Allard
63. The Terrorist, by Caroline B. Cooney
64. Mick Harte Was Here, by Barbara Park
65. The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien
66. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor
67. A Time to Kill by John Grisham - *****

68. Always Running, by Luis Rodriguez
69. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - *****

70. Harris and Me, by Gary Paulsen
71. Junie B. Jones (series), by Barbara Park
72. Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
73. What’s Happening to My Body Book, by Lynda Madaras
74. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - 7/1/2009 - *****

75. Anastasia (series), by Lois Lowry
76. A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving
77. Crazy: A Novel, by Benjamin Lebert
78. The Joy of Gay Sex, by Dr. Charles Silverstein
79. The Upstairs Room, by Johanna Reiss
80. A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck
81. Black Boy, by Richard Wright
82. Deal With It!, by Esther Drill
83. Detour for Emmy, by Marilyn Reynolds
84. So Far From the Bamboo Grove, by Yoko Watkins
85. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, by Chris Crutcher
86. Cut, by Patricia McCormick
87. Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
88. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - 1/1/2003 - *****

89. Friday Night Lights, by H.G. Bissenger
90. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’Engle
91. Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George
92. The Boy Who Lost His Face, by Louis Sachar
93. Bumps in the Night, by Harry Allard
94. Goosebumps (series), by R.L. Stine
95. Shade’s Children, by Garth Nix
96. Grendel, by John Gardner
97. The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende
98. I Saw Esau, by Iona Opte
99. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume
100. America: A Novel, by E.R. Frank

I really hope so, I liked all the books up to Danse Macabre and then it went downhill as well. I didn't mind all the sex, I just couldn't stand the main character whining about it! I like the Merry Gentry series a lot and it has a lot of sex. However, the main character enjoys it and it just seems that Anita doesn't. Also, Anita partner's were getting confusing, I was having a hard time following the who/what/when/where/how's of all of them. She needs a companion book or reference book or something...

I'm not sure what a Buddy Read is either, but I'm game! I just got this book on Audio from the library so I'm good to go!

Nothing but Reading Challenges
The Never-Ending Series Challenge

Kim Harrison
Dates From Hell by Kim Harrison (2006)
Hotter Than Hell by Kim Harrison (2008)
Unbound by Kim Harrison (2009)
Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison - 6/2/2011 - *****
Pale Demon by Kim Harrison - 11/4/2011 - *****
Blood Work by Kim Harrison - 7/23/2011 - ***

Prom Nights from Hell by Meg Cabot
Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison - 5/5/2011 - ***
Early to Death, Early to Rise by Kim Harrison - 12/15/2011 - ***
Something Deadly This Way Comes by Kim Harrison

Nothing but Reading Challenges discussion
Chinese Zodiac Edition

January = Sheep
February = Monkey
March = Rooster
April = Loyal Dog
May = Calm Pig
June = Rat
July = Ox
August = Tiger
September = Rabbit
October = Dragon
November = Snake
December = Horse

RAT:
W: White Cat by Holly Black - 6/17/2011 - *****
I: In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson - 6/10/2011 - ****
S: Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin - 6/16/2011 - ****
E: Something Blue by Emily Giffin - 6/30/2011 - *****

R: Vision in White by Nora Roberts - 6/28/2011 - *****
A: Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh - 6/7/2011 - ***
T:

Congrats everyone!

Congrats!

I'm in!
Nothing but Reading Challenges
Sub-Genre Challenge
Duration: 5/19/2011 - Unending

Progress: 10 out of 10

Dark Fantasy = Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - 8/15/2011 - *****
Epic Fantasy = The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss - *** - 11/5/2013
Fairy Tales = Beastly by Alex Flinn - 9/14/2011 - ***
Fantasy Of Manners = Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger - ***** - 11/16/2013
High Fantasy = The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan - *** - 9/16/2014 - 800 Pages
Low Fantasy = Storm Front by Jim Butcher - 3/11/2013 - *****
Magic = Unholy Magic by Stacia Kane - 10/13/2011 - *****
Paranormal = Goddess of Light by P.C. Cast - 5/31/2011 - *****
Sword And Sorcery = A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin - ***** - 2/1/2015 - 835 Pages
Urban Fantasy = Married with Zombies by Jesse Petersen - 5/19/2011 - *****

Nothing But Reading Challenges
Hurricane Season challenge
Duration: May 15, 2011 and ends Nov 30, 2011

BASICS: The challenge-- read books that either
* are written by someone with one of the names on the list (first, middle, or last, doesn't matter)
* have one or more main characters with a name from the list.

2010
Alex = Discord's Apple by Carrie Vaughn
Bonnie
Colin = Colin Osgood = The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
Danielle
Earl
Fiona
Gaston
Hermine
Igor
Julia = Julia Winterson = The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
Karl
Lisa
Matthew
Nicole = Nikki Howard = Airhead by Meg Cabot
Otto
Paula
Richard = Richard Murphy = 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
Shary
Tomas
Virginie = Virginia Blackstone = 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
Walter = Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

2011
Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Don = Don Williams = Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Emily = Emily Benedict = The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
Franklin
Gert
Harvey
Irene
Jose
Katia
Lee
Maria = Ave Maria Mulligan MacChesney = Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
Nate = Nathaniel = The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
Ophelia = Ophelia De Luce = The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Philippe = Philip Sharpe = White Cat by Holly Black
Rina
Sean
Tammy
Vince
Whitney = Whitney Robertson = Airhead by Meg Cabot

2012
Alberto
Beryl
Chris = Christopher Rice = Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession by Anne Rice
Debby
Ernesto
Florence
Gordon = Gordian Pierce = Pale Demon by Kim Harrison
Helene
Isaac
Joyce
Kirk
Leslie = Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
Michael = Mikael Blomkvist = The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Nadine = Nadine Furst = Vengeance in Death by J.D. Robb
Oscar
Patty
Rafael = Raphael = Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh
Sandy
Tony
Valerie
William = Will Fratalli = Beastly by Alex Flinn

2013
Andrea
Barry
Chantal
Dorian = Dorian Christiansen = Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
Erin = Erin Bates = Marked by P.C. Cast
Fernand
Gabrielle = Gabrielle Donovan = Lucky Charm by Carly Phillips
Humberto
Ingrid
Jerry
Karen
Lorenzo
Melissa = Melissa Blake = The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
Nestor
Olga
Pablo
Rebekah
Sebastien = Sebastian Rogers = The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
Tanya
Van = Vance Shelby = The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
Wendy

2014
Ana
Arthur
Bertha
Bill = Author = In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
Claudette
Cristobal
Danny = Daniel = The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson
Dolly
Edouard
Erika
Fay
Fred
Gonzalo
Grace
Hanna
Henri
Ida
Isaias
Joaquin
Josephine = Josephine Rivera = The Unicorn Sonata by Peter S. Beagle
Kate = Kate Reddy = I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson
Kyle = Kyle Brooks = Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
Larry
Laura
Marco
Mindy
Nana
Nicholas = Nick Sparagmos = Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison
Odette
Omar
Paulette
Peter = Author = The Unicorn Sonata by Peter S. Beagle
Rene
Rose = Rosemary = Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Sally
Sam = Sam Yu = White Cat by Holly Black
Teddy
Teresa
Vicky
Victor
Wanda
Wilfred

Retired Names
Agnes
Alicia
Allen = Author = The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
Allison = Author = I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson
Andrew
Anita = Flirt by Laurell K. Hamilton
Audrey
Betsy
Beulah
Bob = Bob Stanley = The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Camille
Carla
Carmen
Carol
Celia
Cesar
Charley
Cleo
Connie
David = David = Married with Zombies by Jesse Petersen
Dean
Dennis
Diana
Diane = Diane = Goddess of Light by P.C. Cast
Donna
Dora
Edna
Elena = Elena Deveraux = Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh
Eloise
Fabian
Felix
Fifi
Flora
Floyd
Fran
Frances
Frederic
Georges = George Orwell = Animal Farm by George Orwell
Gilbert
Gloria
Gustav
Hattie
Hazel
Hilda
Hortense
Hugo
Ike
Inez
Ione
Iris = Author = Everlasting by Iris Johansen
Isabel = Isabelle = City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Isidore
Ivan
Janet
Jeanne = Jeaniene Frost = Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Joan
Juan
Katrina
Keith = Keith Dobson = 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
Klaus
Lenny
Lili
Luis
Marilyn
Michelle
Mitch
Noel
Opal
Paloma
Rita
Roxanne
Stan = Stan Rice = Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession by Anne Rice
Wilma

Nothing but Reading Challenges
April 1st and goes through May 31st

M: Me, Myself, and Why? by MaryJanice Davidson - 4/4/2011
A: Angel Time by Anne Rice - 4/6/2011
G: The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen - 4/10/2011
N: The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobson - 5/15/2011
O: Of Love and Evil by Anne Rice - 4/18/2011
L: Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk - 4/14/2011
I: I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson - 4/2/2011
A: Amulet, Book 1: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi - 5/1/2011
S: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley - 4/15/2011



Yea! I'm Done!

I'll try it!
Nothing But Reading Challenges
The Heroine Challenge
Difficult: 9 per each category
Duration: May 10 -December 31
Completed: 60/90

Outsider/Rebel/Bluestocking Heroine:
Tough, self-sufficient, self-thinking woman who will not conform just because she's told to by others or because society dictates it. A person who wishes to control her is barking up the wrong tree.
1. Airhead by Meg Cabot
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
3. Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
4. Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb
5. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
6. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
7. Midnight in Death by J.D. Robb
8. Unholy Magic by Stacia Kane
9. City of Ghosts by Stacia Kane



Wallflower Heroine:
Plain looking an overlooked by most but an extraordinary type of woman that excels at everything but small talk. Needs someone who can look beyond the surface and see her inner beauty.
1. The Unicorn Sonata by Peter S. Beagle
2. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
3. The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
5. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
6. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
7. The Rana Look by Sandra Brown
8. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
9. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater



Professional Heroine:
Sometimes mistaken as being a bitch for using her authority, but she just knows how to handle people and will not be pushed around. Needs someone not intimidated by her brain or her authority and can give as good as they take.
1. Married with Zombies by Jesse Petersen
2. The Golden Valkyrie by Iris Johansen
3. Goddess of Light by P.C. Cast
4. Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
5. The Morcai Battalion by Diana Palmer
6.
7.
8.
9.



Rich Girl Heroine:
Rich and smart and a little spoiled, but has a good heart. Needs someone who'll appreciate her for her and not her money.
1. Everlasting by Iris Johansen
2. It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
3. Being Nikki by Meg Cabot
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.



Brainiac Heroine:
Smarter than your average bear and willing to use that to her advantage. Needs someone that will not be intimidated by her brain and can hold their own.
1. The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
2. Getting Rid Of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie
3. Lucky Charm by Carly Phillips
4. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
5. The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley
6.
7.
8.
9.



Spinster Heroine:
Thought to be too old to ever marry, but possesses hidden passion and is too smart to settle for anything less than she deserves. She needs someone that has it all.
1. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen
2. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
3. Logan by Linda Lael Miller
4. Not Even for Love by Sandra Brown
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.



Woman Warrior/Kick-Butt Heroine:
Tough, self-sufficient, uncompromising and needs someone that won't change her and accepts her the way she is -faults & all.
1. Discord's Apple by Carrie Vaughn
2. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
3. One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
4. Pale Demon by Kim Harrison
5. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
6. Fire by Kristin Cashore
7.
8.
9.



Minx/She-Devil Heroine:
Mischievous, feisty, and self-thinking. Will give a person a run for their money and will be well worth it.
1. White Cat by Holly Black
2. Something Blue by Emily Giffin
3. Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane
4. And the Desert Blooms by Iris Johansen
5. Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler
6.
7.
8.
9.



Girl Next Door Heroine:
She's pretty, smart, sweet, wholesome, but somewhat naïve. Most likely to fall for the boy next store.
1. Vision in White by Nora Roberts
2. Bumped by Megan McCafferty
3. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
4. Betrayed by P.C. Cast
5. Austenland by Shannon Hale
6.
7.
8.
9.



Paranormal Heroine:
Strong, self-sufficient, and dangerous woman who won't put up with cr@p. Needs a person who can handle her and not be intimidated. Can be a witch, vampire, shape-shifter, etc.
1. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
2. Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison
3. Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh
4. Marked by P.C. Cast
5. The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
6. Flirt by Laurell K. Hamilton
7. Blood Work by Kim Harrison
8. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
9. Bullet by Laurell K. Hamilton

I loved the book What Dreams May Come! It went into a lot of detail on the spiritualness of the characters, which was really neat I thought.

Congrats!

Southern Vampire Series, do you mean True Blood? I like both the TV show and the books! It's nice to have two different storylines to follow if you really like the characters. Also I really like Tara and Lafayette and their plot lines in the show, however when I read some of the books, they were hardly mentioned at all.

I'll try this one too!

Nothing but Reading Challenges
Read Your Name Challenge - All Year Challenge
Duration: 4/28/2011 - 4/27/2012
I'm going to try my first name and my middle name!

S: Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
U: The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
Z:
A: Amulet, Book 1: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi
N: The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobson
N: Need by Carrie Jones
E: Everlasting by Iris Johansen

N: Not Even for Love by Sandra Brown
E: Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
W: Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
E: 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
L: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
L: Lucky Charm by Carly Phillips

Happy Birthday!