The Reading Challenge Group discussion

What fun purchases Alessandra!

Great purchase Alessandra!

that's cool alessandra. :)

Dreading how many books I'm going to have to take home so I can do my assignments over Christmas. I expect half the car will be filled with books!!

Holly wrote: "Dreading how many books I'm going to have to take home so I can do my assignments over Christmas. I expect half the car will be filled with books!!"

Is it weird that I'm jealous? Because I'm jealous. :P

Mmmm... It's good in theory, but i really want to relax and slob over Christmas. Don't get me wrong, one of the essays sounds super interesting and I'm really excited to write it (being the geek that I am). But there's one that we've hardly got any guidance on, so I'm really uncertain about it.

Nevertheless, it's good overall. I actually really like secondary reading, it's super interesting, but the actual writing it is gonna be stressful! ;P

Much jealousy for both Alessandra and Holly. My family whines if I bring "too many" books for the holidays. As if that were possible!

I doubt my parents will be overly surprised. They're just all massive books. :

I'm stuck making a thousand and one crafts between now and Christmas, so I probably won't meet my reading goal by the end of the year. :(

Faye - is there any way that you can solicit some family members to help with the crafts? Many hands make light work...etc. Maybe that will free you up a little to get in some reading (readathon perhaps)?!

Renee wrote: "Much jealousy for both Alessandra and Holly. My family whines if I bring "too many" books for the holidays. As if that were possible!"

I'm sure your family wants to enjoy your witty humor! I know I would! :D

Thank you, my dear. But, in my family, I'm the quiet one. Hence, the need for a book-shield. :P

And, Faye-
Not to bang the same drum... But there's always audiobooks. Since your eyes and hands will be occupied with Christmas craftiness.

Kassandra wrote: "Faye - is there any way that you can solicit some family members to help with the crafts? Many hands make light work...etc. Maybe that will free you up a little to get in some reading (readathon pe..."

Pfft, it's my family members that are asking me to make the crafts for them! :P

Renee wrote: "And, Faye-
Not to bang the same drum... But there's always audiobooks. Since your eyes and hands will be occupied with Christmas craftiness."

I did listen to one audiobook recently, but I can never find the books I want to read at my library in audiobook form. Besides, I don't really retain the story as much when listening to it as I do when reading it (I'm very much a visual learner), so I only like to use audiobooks when I've either read the book before or it's short stories or something.

Renee? I feel I must apologize and thank you. I just searched my library's website top to bottom - as usual, there weren't many audiobooks in the adult section that I gave two hoots about... but then I looked for children's audiobooks.

THEY HAVE THE WHOLE "SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS" SERIES READ BY TIM CURRY AND/OR LEMONY SNICKET HIMSELF.

*flaily hands*

Yeah, um, so I might meet my goal this year after all. ;)

Yay, that's so exciting Faye! I love Tim Curry's voice - an audiobook with him at the helm would certainly be a treat.

Yay for ASOUE, Faye! :D I hope you'll love the (Audio)books :D

Hooray for you! And hooray for tenacity!
Plus, I'm going to see if I can get my hands in the Tomorrow Curry Lemony Snicketts. They sound awesome.

Faye, that is awesome!!

I'm doing personal challenges for the first time in 2015. If I edit a post is it marked as new for others, or do I have to reply to create an update for others to see?

Becca wrote: "I'm doing personal challenges for the first time in 2015. If I edit a post is it marked as new for others, or do I have to reply to create an update for others to see?"

The latter. :)

Aitziber wrote: "Becca wrote: "I'm doing personal challenges for the first time in 2015. If I edit a post is it marked as new for others, or do I have to reply to create an update for others to see?"

The latter. :)"


Thanks, Aitziber

A friend has an audio book request for a car trip. Something in the mystery/thriller genre and also there will be a male listener. What would any audio expertise people suggest? :)

I haven't read a lot of Myster/Thriller, but I really enjoy Jussi Adler-Olsens and I think male listeners would enjoy them, too :)

I've listened to a bunch of the "Heat" novels by Richard Castle, and they were quite engaging. Part of the fun is that there are hidden references to the tv series "Castle," but they stand alone as pretty good mystery/thrillers. I think the first one is Naked Heat.

Just combed my reads for other audio recommendations...

-Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore
-Dracula
-Count of Monte Christo
-anything Sherlock Holmes
-anything Wilkie Collins
-Journey to the Center of the Earth
-Maze Runner series

These are all things I've that fit you parameters, and which I've listen to on audio and liked bother the book and the trade

Both the book and the reader. (The combo of GR update and spell-correct are killing me.)

I second the Nikki Heat novels. They are rather simple (and I do believe you get more out of them if you've seen the TV series Castle), but they are ultimately reasonably quick reads and are easy to make your way through!

P.S. The Christmas Banner is now up!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Who is giving books for Christmas presents. My grandkids and great-grandkids are getting lots of books. Will also probably give some gift cards to book stores.

awesome Banner Holly! :D

Love the new banner!

Love the new banner. Great job, as always, Holly!

Becca wrote: "Who is giving books for Christmas presents. My grandkids and great-grandkids are getting lots of books. Will also probably give some gift cards to book stores."

I gave everyone books last year, and I didn't sense a whole lot of joy from anyone (with the exception of my mother) when they opened them. I hope you have more luck than I did!

Yaaaay, Christmas banner! Awesome job, Holly! :D

Holly wrote: "I second the Nikki Heat novels. They are rather simple (and I do believe you get more out of them if you've seen the TV series Castle), but they are ultimately reasonably quick reads and are easy t..."

Alessandra wrote: "I haven't read a lot of Myster/Thriller, but I really enjoy Jussi Adler-Olsens and I think male listeners would enjoy them, too :)"

Renee wrote: "I've listened to a bunch of the "Heat" novels by Richard Castle, and they were quite engaging. Part of the fun is that there are hidden references to the tv series "Castle," but they stand alone as..."

Thanks Alessandra, Renee, and Holly! I will run all of these by my friend for recommendation.

I love the new banner! Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

I wanted to make it all snowy. But then I realized not everyone has snow at Christmas, so had to try keep it weather neutral! :P

Love the new banner:-)

awesome banner holly and Melissa, if your friend likes Dean Kootz, the odd Thomas series is great to listen to as audiobooks. and Stephen king has some good ones on audiobooks too.

Becca wrote: "Who is giving books for Christmas presents. My grandkids and great-grandkids are getting lots of books. Will also probably give some gift cards to book stores."

I'm giving my sisters The Neverending Story and my mom The Buddha in the Attic. Other than that, I don't think I got any other books, but to be fair, I tend to give books throughout the year anyway.

Great Groups...will try to involve in discussion after reading reviews...

In love with books...they give all feeling of life...

Due to the mention of the Castle books, I may have picked up Naked Heat!

Although I may have gotten distracted by Castle fanfiction which is literally the best thing ever.

Oh, I really shouldn't be asking this, but any particular fanfic, Holly?

Aha, its a slippery slope getting me talking about fanfiction. I'll never stop!

It's one called Of Finding Innocence. I've read it before, but never actually finished it, and it's just so perfect. Its basically where Kate meets Castle years before, at the book signing, and they get to know eachother and everything, back when she's a beat cop. It's just really well written, and 7-year-old Alexis is literally the best thing ever. It's the one Castle fanfiction I always come back to (I don't usually read a lot of Castle fanfiction!).

But it is stupidly long. When I joked about the amount of books I could read if I didn't spend my time reading fanfiction, I was serious!

Told you slippery slope!

I really should get off Goodreads and start planning my American Lit essay.

3000 words... Yay...

Thanks! Saved it to my Reading List for the weekend so I have something to look forward to. Good luck with your essay!

Aw, it's super fluffy so just get ready because its SO CUTE. Yeah, I'm a romantic at heart!

Thanks, I'll definitely need it!