You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Challenges: Year Long Main 2021
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Tejas Janet's Chunky Choices 2014
Mickey Mouse's Marchers - 7 - 12 books* Edited 07 June *
BOOK 7
link: books beginning with "M" (from "Madam Secretary" above in Slick's Slugs)
✔Malaysian Flavours: Insights into Things Malaysian by Lee Su Kim –274 pages - Completed (16 Feb 2014)
link: "insight" and "yoga" - body/mind connection
✔Yoga Bitch: One Woman's Quest to Conquer Skepticism, Cynicism, and Cigarettes on the Path to Enlightenment by Suzanne Morrison – 352 pages - completed (5 March 2014)
BOOK 8
link: "body" connection
✔Body and Bread by Nan Cuba – 240 pages - Completed (17 Feb 2014)
link: "heart" is a body part
✔Into the Heart of Borneo by Redmond O’Hanlon – 208 pages - completed (6 April 2014)
link: "foot" is a body part
✔Stranger in the Forest: On Foot Across Borneo by Eric Hansen – 286 pages - completed (30 March 2014)
BOOK 9
✔link: move those feet - "travel"
Have Mother, Will Travel: A Mother and Daughter Discover Themselves, Each Other, and the World by Claire Fontaine and Mia Fontaine – 320 pages - completed (28 May 2014)
link: "mother" and colon in title (mothers and colons are both very important!)
✔With Love, From Malaysia: Letters From A Young Canadian Mother by M. Bakri Musa – 212 pages - Completed (15 April 2014)
BOOK 10
link: more Malaysia with a colon in title
✔Floating on a Malayan Breeze: Travels in Malaysia and Singapore - 282 pages - completed (02 June 2014)
link: weather terms (breeze above, wind below)
✔Land Below The Wind by Agnes Newton Keith – 371 pages - completed (25 March 2014)
BOOK 11
link: "mists" - another weather word
✔The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan-Eng – 350 pages - Completed (14 May 2014)
link: double letter author names (TT above, MM below)
✔Telling it Straight by Marina Mahathir – 236 pages - COMPLETED! (6 June 2014)
BOOK 12
link: let the doubles ride (MM above, RR below)
✔A Malaysian Journey by Rehman Rashid – 295 pages - completed (4 March 2014)
link: double again (KK)
✔Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan – 405 pages - Completed (25 April 2014)
Roadrunner's Racers: Books #13-18Revised and final list - Last edited 26 September 2014.
BOOK 13
✔ The Good Earth by Pearl S Buck.
418 pages. Completed 07 Sept 2014.
link: Fictional tales about Chinese families.
✔The House at Otowi Bridge: The Story of Edith Warner and Los Alamos by Peggy Pond Church.
159 pages. Completed 16 August 2014.
link: Deceased American women authors of 20th century.
BOOK 14
✔The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.
288 pages. Completed 13 Sept 2014.
link: Both titles refer to houses. (Walls' father was always planning to build his family a house that he called "the glass castle," but he never did.)
✔The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories by Marina Keegan.
240 pages. Completed 3 October 2014.
link: Titles refer to things that don’t exist. (Keegan wishes there was a word that was “the opposite of loneliness.”)
BOOK 15
✔ Termite Hill by Tom “Bear” Wilson.
614 pages. Completed 24 July 2014.
link: Author last names contain two syllables.
BOOK 16
✔The Terra-Cotta Dog by Andrea Camilleri.
340 pages. Completed 26 September 2014.
link: Male authors over 70 still writing and publishing.
✔Ask the Fire by Dennis Paddie.
372 pages. Completed 14 August 2014.
link: Contemporaneous male authors, each living slightly over 300 miles from respective birth places. (Camilleri: born Porto Empedocle, Italy/lives in Rome. Paddie: born Hope, Arkansas/ lives in Austin, Texas.)
BOOK 17
✔Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik.
368 pages. Completed 29 August 2014.
link: Contemporaneous American male authors with first and last names of two syllables.
✔Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World by Anthony Doerr.
211 pages. Completed 19 Sept 2014.
link: Books with European cities in title.
BOOK 18
✔ Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostovesky.
545 pages. Completed 30 July 2014.
link: Author last names begin with “D”.
Tasmanian Devil's Trouncers: Books 19-24Last edited Tues, Dec 23
BOOK 19
✔ The Paris Wife by Paula McLean.
314 pages. Completed 24 October.
Link: 3 word title.
✔ The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
295 pages. Completed 19 October 2014.
link: 3 word title.
BOOK 20
✔ Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.
374 pages. Completed 9 November 2014.
link: 3 word title.
✔ The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C Morais.
256 pages. Completed 14 November 2014.
link: Books made into movies (or at least optioned - Ready Player One hasn't been produced yet).
BOOK 21
✔ The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.
672 pages. Completed 12 October 2014.
link: 4 word titles.
BOOK 22
✔ The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Sutterfield.
406 pages. Completed 23 Dec 2014.
link: Classic gothic mysteries
✔ Tales of Terror and Mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle.
140 pages. Completed 04 Dec 2014.
link: “Tale” in titles.
BOOK 23
✔ Cat in Glass and Other Tales of the Unnatural by Nancy Etchemendy
180 pages. Completed 14 November 2014.
link: Collections of mysterious tales
✔ I Could Pee on This: And Other Poems by Cats by Cats by Francesco Marciuliano.
112 pages. Completed 02 Dec 2014.
link: “Cat” in titles.
✔ Another Insane Devotion: On The Love of Cats and Persons by Peter Trachtenberg.
304 pages. Completed 13 Dec 2014.
link: More cats. Also books with subtitles.
BOOK 24
✔ Hiss and Tell by Pam Johnson.
125 pages. Completed 04 Dec 2014.
link: still more cats.
✔ The Dog Who Rescues Cats: True Story of Ginny by Philip Gonzalez.
160 pages. Completed 02 Dec 2014.
link: cats.
✔ Woman's Best Friend: Women Writers on the Dogs in Their Lives by Megan McMorris.
305 pages. Completed 18 Dec 2014.
link: dogs.
Buzz Lightyear's Bombers - 25 - "To infinity and beyond"Won't be making it into Buzz's territory. Surprised I completed as many levels as I did.
Really enjoyed this challenge!!
Whew - there are some heavy lifting there, Janet. I made it through The Brothers K. but did not enjoy it. I only made it half way through Crime and Punishment and will not even consider War and Peace.I loved the King book. I had not thought to add my 2014 challenge books to a seperate shelf, but may do so now. Funny - when I looked at your link, it was all covers. I did not even know it could be displayed that way. Duh... You are into the dancing ladies, huh? I think I read a book about Ms. Duncan a long time ago.
Tejas Janet wrote: "Okay, I've got my slots reserved, but not going to set a goal beyond finishing at least one round : )Here are books I'm considering for this challenge:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list......"
Ooh, Janet, you have two of my absolute faves on your shelf! 11/22/63 and Birds Without Wings! I also started Madam Secretary: A Memoir and couldn't finish it before the library due date, but I loved it and want to finish it. Good luck!
Looks like there will be a lot of dancing going on next year. :)
OK, again I'm so confused... How I figure these out?And, how you guys put this lists together???
Slick's Slugs - 1 - 6 books
Mickey Mouse's Marchers - 7 - 12 books
Roadrunner's Racers - 13 - 18 books
Tasmanian Devil's Trouncers - 19 - 24 books
Buzz Lightyear's Bombers - 25 - "To infinity and beyond"
Cherie and I have gone back and forth on Dostoyevskymany times and I loved Crime and Punishment , brothers Karamazov a little less War and Peace was a work out although I enjoyed the 2nd half a lot more than the first
Michelle wrote: "OK, again I'm so confused... How I figure these out?And, how you guys put this lists together???
Slick's Slugs - 1 - 6 books
Mickey Mouse's Marchers - 7 - 12 books
Roadrunner's Racers - 13 - 18..."
First off, go to the top of this page and click on "Challenges: Year Long Reporting". Right above the words "last activity" is a link in tiny letters, "new topic". Click on it.
This will be your thread, so give it a title you want. For example, "Michelle's Chunkster Choices". Then follow Tejas Janet's example and make new messages, one for each section. You will come back to those messages to make your lists. Once you have started your thread, I will add a link to the "quick access" thread so you don't have to continually hunt for your thread.
To make you lists, refer to the rules in the main challenge thread.
Cherie wrote: "Whew - there are some heavy lifting there, Janet. I made it through The Brothers K. but did not enjoy it. I only made it half way through Crime and Punishment and will not even consider War and P..."I've had the Tolstoy and Dostoevsky intimidators on my tbr list forever. I figure I can give one a try and see how that goes.
Otherwise, the titles on this list are there due to personal interest rather than "litteraire oblige."
Yes, strong interest in dance history, especially ballet. Ballet and dance have been a big influence and part of my life. And I love a good memoir : )
Cherie, I only recently realized that the shelf lists could be displayed as covers. Kind of handy it seemed.
Tejas Janet wrote: "Yes, strong interest in dance history, especially ballet. Ballet and dance have been a big influence and part of my life. And I love a good memoir : ) "I see you have Dancer on your shelves. I really enjoyed it - gave it 4 stars. I've always enjoyed books about dancing myself.
Laura wrote: "Ooh, Janet, you have two of my absolute faves on your shelf! 11/22/63 and Birds Without Wings! I also started Madam Secretary: A Memoir and couldn't finish it before the library due date, but I loved it and want to finish it. Good luck! That's exciting to know, Laura. These three are ones I'm especially looking forward to.
Your 1-6 Slick's Slugs picks all look interesting. Looking forward to your feedbac tho will probably mean more adds to my tbr list : )
Like you, I'm reluctant to chart out a set plan since my reading choices can easily change in a heartbeat. So for now I've only identified a large group of potential contenders. I want to participate, but need to do so in a way that stays fun!
Travis of NNY wrote: "Cherie and I have gone back and forth on Dostoyevskymany times and I loved Crime and Punishment , brothers Karamazov a little less War and Peace was a work out although I enjoyed the 2nd half a lot..."Good to know. Gives me more motivation. I can finally find out where I fall on this "divide." Thanks Travis.
Janice wrote: I see you have Dancer on your shelves.
Cool! Think I'll move this one closer to the top of my list. Also, want to remember to check out your recs on other dance books. Thank you, Janice : )
Michelle wrote: "OK, again I'm so confused... How I figure these out? And, how you guys put this lists together???"See Janice's reply -- but be sure to visit the main page here where the challenge is explained -- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/....
Hope this gets you all sorted out. From experience, I know that all gets clearer as you join in more and participate.
Look forwared to your reading lists and talking about books!
Travis of NNY wrote: "Cherie and I have gone back and forth on Dostoyevskymany times and I loved Crime and Punishment , brothers Karamazov a little less War and Peace was a work out although I enjoyed the 2nd half a lot..."Thank you, Travis for making sure she gets another view point. :) Maybe I should add Crime and Punishment back to my reading list and give it another try since I did read half. But - not this year!
Okay, change of plans... I have 6 books out from the library that were going to be for various challenges that ended when the ball dropped on 2013. So I reworked my round one for the chunkster challenge to incorporate these books I have on loan : ) I put the quick link to my chunkster challenge shelf above in top slot for Slick's Slugs. Shows what I'll be reading/what I've read. Had a glitch and lost data I was adding, but will try again at later time when frustration level has recovered.
Don't you hate when that happens?
Finished Slick's Slugs while on holiday in Mexico : )
Welcome back from your holiday.
Congratulations on finishing Slick! You should be tanned and rested for the Toppler :)
Marnie wrote: "Congratulations on finishing Slick! You should be tanned and rested for the Toppler :)"Raring to go!!!
Hey, how was Mexico??? Welcome back!
Oh bother, my Marchers need a "tune up."Turns out that Teohlogy: The Word According to Patrick Teoh isn't a book that's readily available. Can't get thru library or interlibrary loan, doesn't exist as e-book, and $22 is just more than I'm willing to spend for a used, marked-up, paperback copy of this book.
I have Floating on a Malayan Breeze: Travels in Malaysia and Singapore that I can read instead. I'll edit my reporting list at top of page once I tweak the order and links.
Okay, I think my Marchers are lined up now : )
Blow that whistle, twirl the baton, beat on the drum and the marchers are on parade. :)
Moving along on my MM Marchers. Thought I'd maybe be a bit further along before leaving for Malaysia next week. But I'm nevertheless happy with my reading progress this year thus far :)After my first aborted attempt to read Into the Heart of Borneo, I tried again about two weeks later or so. Got right into the narrative this go round, and I can say that I really loved this book. Very interesting and amusing in equal parts.
Wondered some about why the native Penan were willing to risk their lives on a trek with these two intelligent, endearing, but kind of bumbling Oxford post-grads?
The narrative takes place in 1982, but the jungle is still remote and dangerous. Even small cuts and wounds can be potentially life-threatening or lethal. One of the author's three guides was actually the tribal leader of his village. And so I had to wonder why were they so accommodating?
I'm not sure, but it seemed that they recognized that this story would be told in a book. And that people from around the world would read it, and would maybe judge them on the basis of what they read there.
And the face they wanted the world to see was one of bravery, strength, generosity, and acknowledgement of the world at large. Plus, they can throw a great party and hold their own at drinking each other under the table!
Still "marching" along... I have 3 books to finish up to complete this level of the challenge. These are all dragging for me a bit, but hopefully I'll get them wrapped up pretty soon. Meanwhile, I've also read books for various other YLTO challenges and group reads. Just completed a book I was really impressed with... Turn, Magic Wheel by Dawn Powell. I'm so glad to become acquainted with this neglected author. She's evidently long had this unfortunate status. Hard to understand how this could be. I look forward to reading more of her prolific, wonderful writing.
Never heard of her. Thanks TJ, will check her out.
I'm revving up for Roadrunner's Racers. Need to work on my links. Will get these done soon. My husband has read and/or is going to read some of these books, too. He seems to have caught a bit of the reading bug ;)
Tejas Janet wrote: "He seems to have caught a bit of the reading bug ;) ."Yay!
See message 3 above for RR's Racers list. Got my links done. A couple of my links rely on quotes for support so they run longer than usual for establishing the links. So fun to see the serendipitous links that popped up. My favorite sector of linking so far on this challenge :)
I got diverted for a bit from this challenge because I was so busy with preparing (including reading related books) and actually going to Malaysia where my oldest brother and his wife (and my going-on-6-year-old nephew) currently reside. Very intense experience. Glad I did it. Tiring but very worth it!
I forgot to ask! Did you love it?! Where abouts did you go?
Spent most of my time in Kuala Lumpur ("KL" as it's widely known), which is where my brother and family live. Got to travel outside around KL some and visit some rain forest and smaller towns. Spent 4 days/5 nights in Cambodia, mostly in Siem Reap. Visited numerous of the very old Hindu/Buddhist temples. Pretty amazing. The travel time and jet lag were the major negatives. But my brother had travel allowance for one family member that would expire if not used by May 15 so it was hard to pass up the chance. I miss them being here - used to live about 3 hour drive from us :(
Sounds great! I might have to pick your brains on Malaysia & Cambodia if we decide to go!
Sounds lovely! I haven't been to KL or Malaysia yet. Have been to Singapore and south Thailand though, so I can imagine how beautiful it was. My cousin moved to Penang for a year as well, and that looked just stunning!!So jealous about Siem Reap as well. My boss went there for Easter and hasn't stopped raving about it. Would love to go exploring around 800 year old jungle temples!
And understand about the travelling. It's 8 hours from Sydney to KL, let alone to anywhere else, and that's a close option to visit! Hopefully the jet lag wasn't too bad going there (going with the rotation with the earth) but it's tiring travelling, even without jet lag. 6 hours to Singapore or 9 to Japan is tiring as, even when you only travel "back" 30mins-1 hour, so no jetlag. Hope you've recovered from the trip back, and just slept for days!
Finished with Termite Hill, a very different type book for me to read being an action war novel. It's historical fiction but based on the author's personal experience plus a huge amount of research. I'm awed by the bravery of these men. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Next up I think I'll go with either Moby Dick or Crime and Punishment.
Finished Crime and Punishment. Planning to start The Good Earth next, but haven't actually started it yet.
I finished The Good Earth several weeks ago, and have decided to revamp my round 3 books for Roadrunner's Racers. I've been doing a lot of unplanned reading - books given to me by friends and also a few library books that I just felt like reading. So because all this spontaneity is taking a toll on my year-long challenge, I'm reworking my list and links so I can apply current reading.
One more to go for completing the RR Racer round.
I posted a tentative list for Tasmanian Devil's Trouncers, but I need to get busy with my final book for RR's Racers... The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories. It's short, but sometimes a short book can take a while if it's one that I want to read slowly. Like when I want to savor the language because of rich, detailed imagery. Or when the subject matter makes me want to ponder and reflect. I'll just have to see.
Finished The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories, and with it, Roadrunner's Racers. I liked Marina Keegan's writing very much. It was impossible not to be sad that this talented young author died so prematurely. I felt like some of her short stories could easily have developed into or be incorporated in novels.
Congratulations on finishing Roadrunners, Janet!
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
The Dog Who Rescues Cats: The True Story of Ginny (other topics)Hiss and Tell: True Stories from the Files of a Cat Shrink (other topics)
Woman's Best Friend (other topics)
I Am a Cat (other topics)
The Hundred-Foot Journey (other topics)
More...
1 - 6
BOOK I
✔ The Marseille Caper by Peter Mayle - 224 pages - completed (o4 Jan 2014)
✔ Ask Bob by Peter Gethers - 320 pages - completed (24 Jan 2014)
link: author's first name is Peter
BOOK II
✔ Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero by Michael Hingson - 329 pages - completed (05 January 2014)
link: both are animal stories
✔ A Zoo in My Luggage by Gerald Durrell - 199 pages - completed (10 Feb 2014)
link: and more animal stories
BOOK III
✔ The Road from Coorain by Jill Ker Conway - 256 pages - completed (16 Jan 2014)
link: both autobiographical
✔ Red Dust Road by Jackie Kay - 296 pages - completed (25 Jan 2014)
link: another autobiography; both with "Road" in title
BOOK IV
✔ Smilla's Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg - 469 pages - completed (22 Jan 2014)
link: both protagonists are products of culturally mixed parents (Scottish/Nigerian and Danish/Inuit)
✔ The Quiche of Death by MC Beaton - 272 pages - completed (10 Jan 2014)
link: both are stories with protagonist doggedly pursuing answer to mysterious deaths
BOOK V
✔ The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery Ames - 314 pages - completed (19 Jan 2014)
link: another murder mystery/both 1st in series/both have quiche in title
✔ The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith - 235 pages - completed (20 Jan 2014)
link: authors' first names both begin with "A"
BOOK VI
✔ Madam Secretary: A Memoir by Madeleine Albright - 736 pages - completed (5 Feb 2014)
link: authors' careers have spanned state, university, and letters (ie, they've held political positions, academic positions, and are published authors of note)