You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Connie wrote: "T2, I am bowing down before you in amazement. ; ) Loving your lists!"

You're not that far behind me, Connie! Plus - looking over your list, I notice you're reading doorstops! I'm trying to come in as close to the 200 page rule as possible.

One thing this challenge has done for me is really lend an eclectic feel to the books I'm selecting. I jump from Civil War to short stories about China; capturing Nazis in Argentina to a translated book about the Dominican. I'm not a "series" reader, so this challenge fits my style perfectly!

I am traveling all over the globe, too, but not quite as far as you. The diverse reading does make for fun armchair traveling.

Connie wrote: "I am traveling all over the globe, too, but not quite as far as you. The diverse reading does make for fun armchair traveling."

And it's cheaper than flying!

Okay, I just took two weeks off of work and finished 13 books and I'm still 21 books behind schedule. WTH?!?! I don't think I'll be finishing this challenge.

Back to work today. :(

Holy Smokes! Looks like you are doing a pretty fine job to me! ; )
Congrats on a great job!

WOW! 13 books in two weeks is quite a feat. And you've already finished more alphabets than many of us will by the end of the year.

jaxnsmom wrote: "WOW! 13 books in two weeks is quite a feat. And you've already finished more alphabets than many of us will by the end of the year."

I think I've got to aim for finishing five challenges. I just don't see myself doing all seven. Not enough reading time - unless I quit my job. ;)

Thing Two wrote: " Challenge 4 26 books alphabetically by country setting 8047 pages

A - Argentina -
The House on Garibaldi Street
7/19/13 - 7/21/13
B - British Guiana -
Soul Clap Hands and Sing
Pen/Rosen..."


Fourth list done. Three to go. *pant, pant, pant*

You're doing great to have finished 4 tasks! Super job!

Janice wrote: "You're doing great to have finished 4 tasks! Super job!"

And I've scheduled surgery for next month so I can stay home finish challenge 5. Now, that's dedication!

Boy! I'll say! Good luck with your surgery.

Janice wrote: "Boy! I'll say! Good luck with your surgery."

the heck with the surgery - I'm worried about the books! Priorities, my dear!

I think I've got to aim for finishing five challenges. I just don't see myself doing all seven. Not enough reading time - unless I quit my job. ;)

And I've scheduled surgery for next month so I can stay home finish challenge 5. Now, that's dedication!

Apparently quitting wasn't an option so you came up with an alternative solution! That's above and beyond dedication! You are doing fantastic!

jaxnsmom wrote: "I think I've got to aim for finishing five challenges. I just don't see myself doing all seven. Not enough reading time - unless I quit my job. ;)

And I've scheduled surgery for next month so I ca..."

Thanks J-mom! I take these challenges seriously.

T2, when is your surgery? or did I miss it? I am sending you massive get well wishes!! and happy reading days, too! : )

Thanks! I'm four weeks post-op tomorrow. Finished another book today. The dogs have gotten quite used to my afternoons-on-the-sofa-book-in-hand naps. They have a rude awakening coming.

Heh poor doggies. And you're doing well?

I am - much improved. I should return to work part time next week, full time in December, and hopefully finish challenge six before January 1! I'm almost through challenge five ... waiting for one more book from the library.

Yay on alphabets. Double yay on better! And sort of yay on work.

There is part of me that misses work when I'm off for a while. But then there is a part of me that really doesn't. So assuming we're in the same boat.

Rusalka wrote: "Yay on alphabets. Double yay on better! And sort of yay on work.

There is part of me that misses work when I'm off for a while. But then there is a part of me that really doesn't. So assuming we'..."

Yeah, I thought I would miss it more, but I'm really not looking forward to going back. However, my boss has called and ... :) I know once I'm there I'll remember why I liked it. (I know I will. I know I will. I know I will.)

I'm glad to hear that you are recovering well and ready to go back to work.

I'm trying to think of ways that I can take an extended leave. Surgery isn't quite how I'd like to do it even if I could snuggle with my cat all day.

Thing Two wrote: "I am - much improved. I should return to work part time next week, full time in December, and hopefully finish challenge six before January 1! I'm almost through challenge five ... waiting for one ..."

That is an astounding amount of reading! At least by starting back part-time you'll still have that reading/napping time, and the dogs will have a bit of an adjustment time.

T2, I am so glad to hear that you are recovering so well and that you are a reading machine, too!! Congratulations on the alphabets!! Go Girl!! I am amazed!

List five - DONE

Awesome! That's impressive. :)

Mind boggling! Wow.

Nice job. You read more books for your alphabets than I read all year!

That's more than 41,000 pages! What an amazing feat! I tip my hat to you. :0)

Thanks, ladies! I'm hoping to finish list six by the end of the year. Don't see how I'll get through seven, though. Guess that's how I'll start 2014!

FIVE alphabets completed! Fantastic!!

jaxnsmom wrote: "FIVE alphabets completed! Fantastic!!"

Yes! And I've done all of the challenges this year. Reading competitive? Maybe. Just a little.

But now you understand why I'm always trying to jimmy my way into the challenges with odd books? I don't want to add any more to my lengthy lists; I'm trying to cross some off!

Immensely impressive. Watching you complete these during the year inspired my joining the group so I can (likely) trip on my shoelaces in attempting whatever the 2014 challenge will be.

Welcome Will. The 2014 challenge will likely be posted the first week of December. Glad to have you join us.

I predict Will will be trying to sneak literature books into cozy-mystery categories even more than I do. Welcome Will.

Welcome Will, and grats Thing Two! I am in awe.

yup, if any book contains death and at least one recipe, that qualifies as a cozy, right?

Will wrote: "yup, if any book contains death and at least one recipe, that qualifies as a cozy, right?"

Better make your way over to the December challenge thread, Will. And sign up.

Yeah, no. I keep trying that angle because I have no desire whatsoever to read anymore true "cozy mysteries", but I may be forced to, or have to give up on the last challenge of the year. This one is a bit too narrow for my reading list.

Thing Two wrote: "Yeah, no. I keep trying that angle because I have no desire whatsoever to read anymore true "cozy mysteries", but I may be forced to, or have to give up on the last challenge of the year. ..."

Noooo! Don't give up. Cozies are such a light read, just what is needed during the busy holiday season.

Cozies are light easy and quick reads. Pick one up from the library and enjoy. :)

Almeta wrote: "Thing Two wrote: "Yeah, no. I keep trying that angle because I have no desire whatsoever to read anymore true "cozy mysteries", but I may be forced to, or have to give up on the last challenge of t..."

but I dont' DO light reading. Too many books on my list to finish before death. ;)

That's pretty much exactly what I was thinking too. Even my "light reading" shelf isn't always very light. Too much good thick heavy stuff to enjoy.

Fair enough. I think of cozies, kids books, some YA and most urban fantasy as kind of palate cleansers. Finish a particularly heavy book, and just need something to cleanse in the mean time. Like lemon sorbet. Or mainly if I read something that reminds me how horrible the world or people are and need something to remind me that sometimes things can work out the way they should. But I get not everyone needs that or enjoys that. Depending on your reading in Dec though, maybe during Dec you will feel like you need some sorbet one afternoon.

Or now...

I want lemon sorbet now... 33 degrees today so I could eat a bucket load!

Oh, I DO have palette cleansers, but my light reading shelf (30 books of 2400 or whatever it's up to now) is books like "death in Breslau" or a Patricia Highsmith Ripley book.

T2 - I see you added The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie to your tbr. Does that mean you're going to try it for the Dec challenge? And I noticed you have a Stephanie Plum book there. The second one is Two for the Dough, if you want to try it.

She'd have to swap out Sweetness for a different S book, or Two for the Dought for a different T book if she opts to read either one for the monthly challenge.

Well, since I couldn't get any of my books approved by the peanut gallery, I figured I'd start looking at a few of those pallete cleaning sorbets.

:~)

Ms. Peanut hopes you like a few of them.

We approved the Sherlock Holmes one.

Six challenges completed; couldn't do the seventh. :'(