2025 Reading Challenge discussion
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Amanda R's 2016 enchanted reading corner
I'm taking part in a Books to Films challenge in another group. Here's what I thought of the film Victor Frankenstein.3. Frankenstein; Or, the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley Completed 20/02/16 Rating 3 stars
Victor Frankenstein
What really drew me to watching the film was the actors in it. James McAvoy, Daniel Radcliffe and some actors from the BBC Sherlock Holmes series especially Andrew Scott. It is told through the eyes of Igor, a hunchbank who is rescued from his current life to become Victor's partner. Victor becomes a mad scientist and it was great seeing McAvoy's depiction. We also have an inspector judging Victor in the eyes of God and Igor wondering if he is also going too far. Maybe sometimes the pace of the film goes a little fast and it is for this reason that my rating is 3 stars.
Book and film on level pegging with 3 stars.
I'm taking part in a Books to Films challenge in another group. Here's what I thought of the film Esio Trot.4. Esio Trot by Roald Dahl Completed 27/03/16 Rating 4 stars
Esio Trot
Is this not the cutest cosiest film ever? Dustin Hoffman and Judi Dench in the starring roles. It even made me shed a tear. A film about tortoises! A film adapted by Richard Curtis who is responsible for such gems as Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love, Actually. If there was one criticism it is the unnecessary narration from James Corden. However a film that makes me cry gets 4 stars.
Book and film on even stevens with four stars.
I thought I would share the authors new to me in the first half of this year.New 2 U Authors Challenge
Level: Come What May
1. The House at Riverton by Kate Morton Completed 11/01/16 Rating 4 stars
2. The Martian by Andy Weir Completed 16/01/16 Rating 4 stars
3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Completed 19/01/16 Rating 5 stars
4. 't Jagthuys by Merijn de Boer Completed 24/01/16 Rating 2 stars
5. Mangaman by Barry Lyga Completed 8/02/16 Rating 3 stars
6. New Toddler Taming: A parents’ guide to the first four years by Christopher Green Completed 9/02/16 Rating 3 stars
7. The Laying On Of Hands by Alan Bennett Completed 11/02/16 Rating 2 stars
8. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Completed 20/02/16 Rating 3 stars
9. The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland - For a Little While by Catherynne M. Valente Completed 23/02/16 Rating 2 stars
10. The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber Completed 29/02/16 Rating 4 stars
11. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls Completed 9/03/16 Rating 4 stars
12. The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge Completed 24/03/16 Rating 4 stars
13. Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang Completed 28/03/16 Rating 4 stars
14. The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbøl and Agnete Friis Completed 12/04/16 Rating 4 stars
15. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer Completed 19/04/16 Rating 4 stars
16. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith Completed 28/04/16 Rating 4 stars
17. Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup Completed 29/04/16 Rating 4 stars
18. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Completed 5/05/16 Rating 5 stars
19. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Completed 16/05/16 Rating 4 stars
20. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath Completed 18/05/16 Rating 5 stars
21. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Completed 24/05/16 Rating 3 stars
22. Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis Completed 26/05/16 Rating 3 stars
23. The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen Completed 29/05/16 Rating 4 stars
24. De kraai by Kader Abdolah Completed 5/06/16 Rating 4 stars
25. The Glass Room by Simon Mawer Completed 15/06/16 Rating 3 stars
26. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind Completed 26/06/16 Rating 4 stars
January - 4
February - 6
March - 3
April - 4
May - 6
June - 3
25. A Christmas Carol by Charles DickensSo what am I doing reading a Christmas book in April? Well, December is a very busy month for us with 2 birthdays, Dutch Christmas and British Christmas so I can't see myself having so much time for reading. The best thing about reading a Christmas book when it's not Christmas is that the cosy Christmas feeling is still around even when it's not freezing outside! This is a classic story and most of us will have seen a film perhaps at some point or know the basic story about Scrooge. The book however is written in a way which I had never imagined. Lovely descriptive passages, chilling creepiness. The story in itself is very clever. There are more Christmas books in the series, although not so well known including The Chimes. More to add to the TBR list. Everyone loves a baddie becoming a goodie especially if he gets a fright along the way.
Read 3/4/16 Rating 5 stars
26. The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbøl and Agnete FriisThis is a Danish thriller about a little boy found barely alive in a suitcase. Where has he come from and what is he doing there? We follow different characters, quite a lot one after the other, so you need to get your head around who is who. Once you've worked it out, the story flows. If you love thrillers, you know they can just take hold and you need to finish them. I devoured this book. It won the Harald Mogensen award for best Danish thriller in 2009 and was shortlisted for the Scandinavian Glass Key award for crime fiction. Through its popularity it has spawned a series: there are another three Nina Borg books.
Read 12/04/16 Rating 4 stars
Award Winning BooksDuration: April 1 - June 30, 2016
As book lovers, we want to be entertained, but we also appreciate great literature. For this challenge, choose books that have won one of the various book awards. This is a great opportunity to read a book you've been meaning to get to, or to try a new genre.
1. The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbøl and Agnete Friis
Won the Harald Mogensen award for best Danish thriller and was shortlisted for the Scandinavian Glass Key award for crime fiction Completed 12/04/16 Rating 4 stars
2. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
Prix des libraires du Quebec for Laureats hors Quebec (2007)
Luisterboek Award (2009) (NL)
Completed 19/04/16 Rating 4 stars
3. Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
Zilveren Griffel (1972) (NL)
Books I Loved Best Yearly (BILBY) Award for Read Aloud (1994)
Completed 29/04/16 Rating 4 stars
4. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
National Book Award for Fiction (1938)
Anthony Award for Best Novel of the Century
Completed 5/05/16 Rating 5 stars
5. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
ALA Alex Award (2006) Man Booker Prize Nominee (2005)
Completed 16/05/16 Rating 4 stars
6. The BFG by Roald Dahl
Zilveren Griffel (1984) (NL)
Books I Loved Best Yearly (BILBY) Awards for Read Aloud, Read Alone (1991)
West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA) for Younger Readers (1985)
Red House Children's Book Award (1983)
Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for Kinderbuch (1985)
Completed 19/05/16 Rating 4 stars
7. Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis
Sinclair Lewis: Nobel Prize for Literature 1930
Completed 26/05/16 Rating 3 stars
8.The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
RITA Award for Romance Writers of America for best Romantic Suspense (2002)
Completed 29/05/16 Rating 4 stars
9. The Glass Room by Simon Mawer
Man Booker Prize Nominee (2009)
Exclusive Books Boeke Prize Nominee (2011)
Walter Scott Prize Nominee (2010)
Jewish Quarterly - Wingate Prize Nominee (2010)
Completed 15/06/16 Rating 3 stars
10. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
World Fantasy Award for Best Novel (1987)
PEN Translation Prize (1987)
Completed 26/06/16 Rating 4 stars
11. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney Completed 30/06/16 Rating 5 stars
Zilveren Griffel (1995) (NL)
American Booksellers Book of the Year Award for Children (1996)
Completed 30/06/16 Rating 5 stars
12. Alien's Love Underpants by Claire Freedman & Ben Cort Completed 30/06/16 Rating 4 stars
Richard & Judy Children's Books Winner 5+/Early (2007)
Completed 30/06/16 Rating 4 stars
12/12
Challenge completed
Second Quarter Challenge: Clear the ShelvesDuration: April 1 - June 30, 2016
1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Completed 3/04/16 Rating 5 stars
2. Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup Completed 29/04/16 Rating 4 stars
3. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Completed 5/05/16 Rating 5 stars
4. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Completed 16/05/16 Rating 4 stars
5. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath Completed 18/05/16 Rating 5 stars
6. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Completed 24/05/16 Rating 3 stars
7. Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis Completed 26/05/16 Rating 3 stars
8. The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen Completed 29/05/16 Rating 4 stars
9. 40 by Saskia Noort Completed 30/05/16 Rating 4 stars
10. De kraai by Kader Abdolah Completed 5/06/16 Rating 4 stars
11. The Glass Room by Simon Mawer Completed 15/06/16 Rating 3 stars
12. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Completed 22/06/16 Rating 4 stars
13. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind Completed 26/06/16 Rating 4 stars
14. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney Completed 30/06/16 Rating 5 stars
15. Alien's Love Underpants by Claire Freedman & Ben Cort Completed 30/06/16 Rating 4 stars
15/15
Challenge completed
Children's Books ChallengeDuration: April 01-30, 2016
1. Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl Completed 29/04/16 Rating 4 stars
2. The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl Completed 29/04/16 Rating 3 stars
3. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling and Newt Scamander Completed 29/04/16 Rating 4 stars
3/3
Challenge completed
27. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer This is a book that stays with you once you have finished it. Oskar Schell's dad died in the World Trade Center on 9/11. Oskar finds a key left by his dad and goes in search of answers. The book is interspersed with photographs and another two narratives from Oskar's grandfather and grandmother. Oskar is intelligent, he has a maturity well beyond his 9 years of age. The journey he takes to find out about the key takes him all over New York. Reading this book written through the eyes of a child is heartbreaking. It certainly left an impression on me.
Completed 19/04/16 Rating 4 stars
I was scrolling through your member's corner, and it looks like you are having a great year so far! I hope the rest of the year goes as well.
Thank you. Yes, I've been enjoying my reading. Hope you have too!
Did a relaxed Read-a-thon for another groupApril Read-a-thon
Friday 22 - Sunday 24 April
Read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
Friday: 23 pages
Saturday: 24 pages
Sunday: 91 pages
Total pages: 138 pages
28. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-SmithIf you love a bit of Jane Austen and a bit of horror then this is the book for you. It is basically the same story with unusual twists.
Completed 28/04/16 Rating 4 stars
29. Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald DahlMr Fox is far too clever for the three farmers Boggis, Bean and Bunce and devises a plan to steal food from them without being harmed.
Completed 29/04/16 Rating 4 stars
30. The Magic Finger by Roald DahlGive a girl some magic powers and she can make people who are mean to animals nice.
Completed 29/04/16 Rating 3 stars
31. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander and J.K. RowlingI wanted to read this before the film comes out. It's a list of strange and wonderful beasts which a wizard may come across and is written like a textbook for Hogwarts by Newt Scamander.
Fifteen beasts I would like to see in the film (and not face-to-face):
1. Clabbert
2. Doxy
3. Dugbog
4. Fwooper
5. Hippocampus
6. Jarvey
7. Kelpie
8. Lethifold
9. Manticore
10. Mooncalf
11. Plimpy
12. Puffskein
13. Quintaped
14. Runespoor
15. Snidget
Completed 29/04/16 Rating 4 stars
32. Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon NorthupA real account of a man being a slave for twelve years. Eye-opening and harrowing at times, it shows what life was really like.
"Once slavery in America was not seen as radical. It became, instead, a revolutionary idea that slaves should be freed. When we have lived under a pernicious power long enough, no matter how oppressive, we grow so accustomed to the yoke that its removal seems frightening, even wrong."
Gerry L. Spence, From Freedom to Slavery
Horrible and unbelievable. Give a man power over another human being and look what happens. Recommended to all who want to learn more about slavery and the injustice of it.
Completed 29/04/16 Rating 4 stars
I-Spy Reading Challenge ListDuration: May 1 - May 31, 2016
1. I, spy a book with a BLUE cover.
2. I, spy a book that the title starts with the letter N.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Completed 16/05/16 Rating 4 stars
3. I, spy a book with a TREE on the cover.
4. I, spy a book that the authors name starts with the letter C.
5. I, spy a book that has a OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB STICKER.
6. I, spy a book that has the word THE in the title. (It can be the word or in another word such as, other)
7. I, spy a book with a BLACK & WHITE cover.
8. I, spy a book that the author has THREE NAMES. (ex. Edgar Allan Poe)
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Completed 5/05/16 Rating 5 stars
9. I, spy a book with a FACE on the cover.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath Completed 18/05/16 Rating 5 stars
10. I spy a book that a has a NUMBER in the title. (ex. 4 or four)
11. I, spy a book that the title has FIVE WORDS. (ex. The Girl on the Train)
12. I, spy a book that has a FLOWER on the cover.
13. I, spy a book that the title is in RED.
14. I, spy a book that the authors first name is INITIALS. (ex. J.D. Robb)
15. I, spy a book that has # 1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR on the cover.
3/3
Challenge completed
Marathon May StyleDuration: May 1 - May 31, 2016
1. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Completed 5/05/16 Rating 5 stars
2. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Completed 16/05/16 Rating 4 stars
3. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath Completed 18/05/16 Rating 5 stars
4. The BFG by Roald Dahl Completed 19/05/16 Rating 4 stars
5. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Completed 24/05/16 Rating 3 stars
6. Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis Completed 26/05/16 Rating 3 stars
7. The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen Completed 29/05/16 Rating 4 stars
8. 40 by Saskia Noort Completed 30/05/16 Rating 4 stars
8/9 completed
Celebrate Goodreads: The SoundtrackDuration: May 1 - May 31, 2016
1. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Completed 5/05/16 Rating 5 stars
Somebody's Watching Me - Michael Jackson
2. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Completed 16/05/16 Rating 4 stars
Never Let Me Go - Florence and the Machine
3. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath Completed 18/05/16 Rating 5 stars
Paranoid Android - Radiohead
"Please could you stop the noise, I'm trying to get some rest
From all the unborn chicken voices in my head."
3/3
Challenge completed
Special 10,000 ChallengeDuration: May 1 - June 30, 2016
Our group has hit 10,000 members! And to celebrate this achievement we have this special challenge as part of our celebration:
1. Home, 10,000 members...read a book that has more than 10,000 ratings on Goodreads.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Completed 5/05/16 Rating 5 stars
2. Math: 100 x 100 = 10,000. So for this one, read a book that has 100 in the title or has 100 or so pages.
The BFG by Roald Dahl
199 pages Completed 19/05/16 Rating 4 stars
3. Some more Math: A myriagon is a polygon with 10,000 sides. Sci-fi and fantasy novels often also have a lot of sides. So for this one, read a book that falls into the science fiction or fantasy genres.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Completed 16/05/16 Rating 4 stars
4. U.S. History: Salmon P. Chase was the face of the $10,000 greenback, and he was the Secretary of the Treasury under Abraham Lincoln. So for this one, read a fictional or non-fictional book about U.S. history before 1900.
5. World Geography: There is no €10,000 note, but if there was, it would have some beautiful European architecture on it. So for this one, read a book that takes place in Europe or is about an amazing piece of architecture.
The Glass Room by Simon Mawer Completed 15/06/16 Rating 3 stars
Set in the Czech Republic. It is about a house which is built for the Landauer family. A modern glass house or Glasraum. It is based on the real Villa Tugendhat.
6. Psychology: It is assumed that each neuron in the human brain is connected to 10,000 others. Read a book about human behavior or a book about someone’s mental health
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath Completed 18/05/16 Rating 5 stars
7. Biology: There are about 10,000 species of birds. Read a book with bird (or a type of bird) in the title or a book with a bird on the cover.
8. Language Arts: Imagine you could read 10,000 books. That was your job. You could read whatever you wanted, where would you start? Read the book you would start with if you could have the job of reading 10,000 books.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Completed 22/06/16 Rating 4 stars
9. Technology: It is believed that storytelling is a 10,000 year old technology dating back to our earliest civilizations. Read a book that is based on a myth or about a culture before the common era.
10. Extra Curricular: It takes approximately 10,000 hours to become an expert at something. Read a book, fiction or nonfiction, that has to do with the activity you would love to become an expert at.
6/6
Challenge completed
33. Rebecca by Daphne du MaurierThis book blew me away. Beautiful descriptive passages, mystery and intrigue and the story of a marriage, the second for Maxim de Winter, his first being to the enigmatic Rebecca. The young and naive second Mrs. de Winter after a whirlwind romance marries Maxim and moves to the secluded Manderley. There signs of Rebecca are everywhere including her devoted servant, the sinister Mrs. Danvers. The second Mrs. de Winter struggling with the constant reminders of perfect Rebecca seeks to find out what really happened to her...
Completed 5/05/16 Rating 5 stars
34. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo IshiguroLoved this book. My first suggestion would be not to read any reviews or articles on it. Of course I'm not going to give the plot away. It's the story of three friends and their childhood spent at Hailsham School, a seemingly idyllic place to grow up. The older they become, they realise that not everything is what it seems.
Completed 16/05/16 Rating 4 stars
35. The Bell Jar by Sylvia PlathThis book is a year in the life of Esther Greenwood. A young, bright girl whose mental state spirals out of control. She reminds me of Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye or Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The Bell Jar refers to being trapped in your mind. This book was published originally under a pseudonym in 1963, a few weeks before Sylvia Plath's suicide.
Completed 18/05/16 Rating 5 stars
36. The BFG by Roald DahlI had never read this when I was a child and since the film is coming out, I wanted to have read the book first.
The BFG is the Big Friendly Giant who one evening kidnaps Sophie from her room at the orphanage and takes her to Giant Country. The other giants are not so friendly and like to go around the world munching on people. The BFG has a great vocabulary and it is easy to follow. It is written for children after all. With the help of her Majesty the Queen, the BFG and Sophie try to stop the "human beans being guzzled."
Completed 19/5/16 Rating 4 stars
Did a relaxed Read-a-thon for another group.May Read-a-thon
Friday 27 - Sunday 29 May
Friday: The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen 46 pages
Saturday: The Surgeon 38 pages
Sunday: The Surgeon 74 pages Finished
40 by Saskia Noort 62 pages
= 136 pages
Total pages: 220 pages
37. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell I read this in a children's version with my daughter aged 6. It tells the story through the eyes of the horse, Black Beauty. You hear for example what it's like to have reins on or how the various people in the story treat the horse. It teaches you to have empathy with animals and to realise that they have feelings too.
Completed 24/05/16 Rating 3 stars
38. Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis Sinclair Lewis won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1930.
Babbitt is the story of a real-estate agent who is trying to live out the American dream but becomes disillusioned.
Completed 26/05/16 Rating 3 stars
39. The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen This is the first story in the Rizzoli and Isles series. There have been murders and one of the victims who escaped is left clues by what seems to be a copycat killer. Full of tension, it kept me on the edge of my seat. Looking forward to reading more of this series.
Completed 29/05/16 Rating 4 stars
40. 40 by Saskia Noort It really is a coincidence that this became my 40th book! It's a collection of columns about life in your early forties by Dutch writer Saskia Noort. It made me laugh out loud.
Completed 30/05/16 Rating 4 stars
The Villains Challenge bwahaha!Duration June 1, 2016 to June 30, 2016
Sticking with this month’s theme of Pride, let us look at some of the most prideful characters in the books we read, the Villains. They are often the antagonist in the story, but can also at times be the protagonist as well (think Patrick Bateman in American Psycho). Either way, let us look at the sins these characters can commit...
1. Read a book where the villain is a vicious liar and/or manipulator.
Ines in No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre Completed 01/07/16 Rating 4 stars
2. Read a book where the villain is someone who is so lazy and useless (possibly a drunkard or an addict), that he/she is a burden to others.
3. Read a book where the villain is insanely jealous and does not control his/her actions.
4. Read a book where the villain is habitual adulterer or cheater.
5. Read a book where the villain is so greedy that people do not matter.
6. Read a book where the villain is a master thief.
7. Read a book where the villain is an abusive parent/spouse/other loved one (either dead or alive).
8. Read a book where the villain is a murderer.
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille in Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind Completed 26/06/16 Rating 4 stars
9. Read a book where the villain is a sex offender.
2/2
Challenge completed
Did finish the second book on 1st July but it's so close I've included it anyway
What better way to celebrate Summer than with a Road Trip! It's perfect for June's reading challenge. Travel city to city or country to country or wherever through books :) To Participate
Set a goal for the number of miles or kilometers you plan to travel & comment below. With every book you read, choose the setting (or settings can be found on book info page) and calculate how many miles there are between that point and the previous point using this calculator from distancefromtodotnet
However you want to track your challenge is up to you. Just make sure every time you complete a book or make progress to post it in a new comment so I can keep track of your total. All books must be read in June to count towards your challenge. Happy Reading.
Goal: Just Cruising
Starting Point: Utrecht, The Netherlands
1st book: De kraai by Kader Abdolah
Setting: Teheran, Iran
Total Miles Travelled: 2515.41 miles
2nd book: The Glass Room by Simon Mawer
Setting: Brno, Czech Republic (2534.82 miles)
Total Miles Travelled: 5050.23 miles
3rd book: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Setting: Verona, Italy (522.17 miles)
Total Miles Travelled: 5572.40 miles
4th book: Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
Setting: Paris, France (621.70 miles)
Total Miles Travelled: 6194.10 miles
5th book: Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Setting: Lisburn, Northern Ireland (where author lives) (531.58 miles)
Total Miles Travelled: 6725.68 miles
6th book: Alien's Love Underpants by Claire Freedman & Ben Cort
Setting: Leigh-on-Sea, England (where author lives) (484.53 miles)
Total Miles Travelled: 7210.21 miles
Road Trip Path: Utrecht, The Netherlands>Teheran, Iran>Brno, Czech Republic>Verona, Italy>Paris, France>Lisburn, Northern Ireland>Leigh-on-Sea, England
Completed
41. De kraai by Kader AbdolahKader Abdolah came to the Netherlands from Iran. This is the story of his journey.
Completed 5/06/16 Rating 4 stars
42. The Glass Room by Simon MawerThis book was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2009. The Glass Room or the Glasraum was a modern piece of architecture built in the Czech Republic for the Landauer family. It is based on the real Villa Tugendhat. The story is not only of the house and who lives in it but also the story of the Landauers and their friends and what happens to them. With the outbreak of the Second World War their future in the house is in jeopardy.
Completed 15/06/16 Rating 3 stars
43. Romeo and Juliet by William ShakespeareA beautiful, tragic love story. Two feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulets are so locked in hatred that they fail to see the consequences for their own families.
P.S. I loved the film with Leonardi di Caprio and Claire Danes.
Completed 22/06/16 Rating 4 stars
44. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick SüskindThis is a strange one. It's a book that made my skin crawl, that made me feel nothing but disgust for the main character, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, but at the same time, in complete contrast, it was beautifully written. It's an original story which does make it special. I would have given it 3 stars as it did sometimes make me feel uncomfortable but because of the reaction I felt by the way it was written, both positive and negative, I had to give it 4 stars. It's not to everyone's taste but if you want to read a book that tests boundaries, add it to your TBR.
Completed 26/06/16 Rating 4 stars
45. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratneyI love this children's book. Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare tell each other how much they love each other. It is so cute.
Completed 30/06/16 Rating 5 stars
46. Alien's Love Underpants by Claire Freedman & Ben CortAnother children's book. It's the story of how aliens don't come to Earth to take over the planet but to steal our underpants off the washing line. Cute!
Completed 30/06/16 Rating 4 stars
47. No Exit by Jean-Paul SartreGarcin, Ines and Estelle arrive in hell full of dread for the torture they are going to receive. Put together in a room for eternity they realise that "Hell is other people."
Completed 1/07/16 Rating 4 stars
Fellowship of the RingDuration: July 1 - July 31, 2016
Frodo Baggins is the ringbearer. Read a book where the main character carries on a family tradition or where the main character struggles against a great evil.
Samwise Gamgee constantly demonstrates his loyalty to Frodo and the quest. Read a book where loyalty is a key value.
Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck loves boats, maps, and exploration. Read a book where the main character is anxious to go on an adventure or where they regularly use a nickname.
Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella
Becky is desperate to make it big in Hollywood.
Completed 22/07/16 Rating 3 stars
Peregrin "Pippin" Took is from one of the most powerful hobbit families and his name means "traveler in strange countries." Read a book where the main character is part of a famous or noble family, or read a book where traveling is a major focus.
Aragorn Elessar was orphaned as a child and fostered by the elves, learning the strength and wisdom of the elves. Read a book where the main character is orphaned or fostered, or read a book where the main character shares Aragorn's strength.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Liesel is fostered.
Completed 18/07/16 Rating 5 stars
Boromir of Gondor is a mighty warrior intent on protecting his people. Read a book where protection is a major motivation of the main character.
Gimli, son of Glóin is a dwarf with a fierce personality and fighting style. He quarrels with Legolas throughout the book because of the longstanding feud between their races. Read a book where one of the main characters struggles with an inherent prejudice or where the main character matches Gimli's fierceness.
Legolas Greenleaf is an elf and a very sharp-sighted archer. His name "Legolas" literally means Greenleaf. Read a book where the main character is very skilled or where the main character has a name with a literal meaning.
Gandalf the Grey is an extremely powerful wizard. Read a book with a strong magic user.
2/2
Challenge completed
Finish the Series ChallengeDuration July 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016
This challenge focuses on finishing book series you've already started. It can be a series you started several years ago or one you fell into reading just recently. *You may even start a brand new series as long as it can be completed in the time span of the 3rd Quarter.
Here are the Rules:
1. For the purposes of this challenge, a series must have at least three books in it.
2. Identify how many series you plan to finish, or how many books you plan to read. There will be two separate lists to keep track of which ever you choose.
3. For the purposes of this challenge, series extras that are marked 0.1's, 0.5’s, 2.5's ect... will only count if you would like them to.
4. No matter how many books you've read in the series prior to the start of this challenge (even if you've read four of the five books, say), the series counts as long as you finish it.
5. The series does not need to be over to count in this challenge, but all of the books in the series that are currently published must be read.
*6. If you choose the book option for this challenge, you are only responsible to read the number of books pledged, and do not have to finish the series even though that is highly recommended.*
Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
1. Shopaholic to the Stars #7
Completed 22/07/16 Rating 3 stars
2. Shopaholic to the Rescue #8
Completed 27/08/16 Rating 3 stars
Millenium by Stieg Larsson
3. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest #3
44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith
4. Bertie Plays the Blues #7
Completed 22/08/16 Rating 4 stars
5. Sunshine on Scotland Street #8
Completed 16/09/16 Rating 4 stars
4/5
Chloe's 10 ChallengeDuration: July 1 - September 30, 2016
This challenge was created by Chloe, who won the Create a 3rd Quarter Challenge competition. To celebrate 10,000 members, we're going to put a dent in our to-be-read lists by sorting our to-read shelf in 10 different ways.
In ascending order:
1. Sort by Title and read the 10th book down on your list.
The Comfort of Saturdays by Alexander McCall Smith
Completed 29/09/16 Rating 4 stars
2. Sort by Author and read the 10th book down on your list.
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
3. Sort by Number of pages and read the 10th book down on your list.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Completed 30/09/16 Rating 5 stars
4. Sort by Date Added and read the 10th book down on your list.
The Witches by Roald Dahl
Completed 8/09/16 Rating 3 stars
5. Sort by Random and read the 10th book down on your list.
In mijn dromen by Simone van der Vlugt
In descending order:
6. Sort by Title and read the 10th book down on your list
Tara Road by Maeve Binchy
Completed 10/11/16 Rating 3 stars
7. Sort by Author and read the 10th book down on your list.
Report From Ground Zero by Dennis Smith
8. Sort by Average rating and read the 10th book down on your list.
The Blackbird's Tale by Emma Blair
Completed 10/08/16 Rating 4 stars
9. Sort by Date Added and read the 10th book down on your list.
Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
Completed 28/08/16 Rating 4 stars
10. Sort by Random and read the 10th book down on your list.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
6/10
48. Embers by Sándor MáraiTwo old men have a dinner together. The last time they saw each other was 41 years ago. What happened then changed their lives forever. It is now time to put the records straight.
Completed 7/7/16 Rating 3 stars
49. The Book Thief by Markus ZusakLiesel is nine years old and growing up in Germany in the Second World War. Her personal story of hardship and the fears and uncertainties of war is very moving. The book draws you in from the first page and you know you're in for a special read. Throughout the book there are also little humorous stories of Liesel's everyday life which lightens the mood. It is one of my top reads this year. Definitely to be recommended.
Completed 18/07/16 Rating 5 stars
50. Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie KinsellaThis is the seventh book in the Shopaholic series. Becky aka the Shopaholic is off to Hollywood. Armed with her dream of being a stylist to celebrities, she intends to take Los Angeles by storm. In the usual Becky way there are mishaps and adventures along the way.
Completed 22/07/16 Rating 3 stars
I'm taking part in a Books to Film/TV challenge in another group. I've watched the Film/TV adaptation of these two books.The Stranger by Albert Camus Completed 10/02/16 Rating 4 stars
This is an Italian/French/Algerian film from 1967 with Marcello Mastroianni in the main role of Meursault. I thought it depicted really well the detachment and lack of concern of the main character. Also what he sees as truthfulness but comes over as lack of tact and inexcusable. The sun and the heat was very prevalent in the book and this was depicted really well in the film. I really enjoyed it and it explained the story even better to see it visually. 4 stars for both the book and the film
No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre Completed 1/07/16 Rating 4 stars
I watched this play dramatised for television from 1964. It was called In Camera and starred Harold Pinter. To see how three people in one room can cause so many problems and irritations for the other two was superb. Plays really have to be seen to be appreciated properly. To see exactly what the writer is trying to achieve enhances the experience. For this reason both book and TV dramatisation get 4 stars.
August Read-a-thonFriday 26 - Sunday 28 August
Friday:
Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella 80 pages
Danny The Champion Of The World by Roald Dahl 24 pages
104 pages
Saturday:
Shopaholic to the Rescue 73 pages Finished
Danny The Champion Of The World 150 pages
223 pages
Sunday:
Danny The Champion Of The World 40 pages Finished
The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman 64 pages Finished
104 pages
Total: 431 pages
51. The Blackbird's Tale by Emma BlairSet in Glasgow, this book follows 3 generations of a family from the First World War till modern day. There is romance and tragedy and everything that family life brings. It's a big read at 572 pages but the writing sweeps you in and it doesn't feel like a big book at all.
Completed 10/08/16 Rating 4 stars
52. Bertie Plays the Blues by Alexander McCall SmithI love these books. This is the 44 Scotland Street series, book number 7. These books follow the inhabitants of an Edinburgh townhouse. There is Bertie, a little boy, pushed by his mother Irene to learn Italian and the saxophone; Matthew who owns an art gallery; Big Lou from Arbroath who runs the cafe and Bruce, the vainest man on the planet. These together with other great characters and the superb writing makes me feel like I'm in Edinburgh when I'm reading them. This is nice because I now live in the Netherlands. It feels like I'm dipping my toe into Edinburgh. I have met Alexander McCall Smith. I went to the Edinburgh Book Festival where he was being interviewed about his latest No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency book, a series I also read. He was so nice and the cosiness that comes out of his books, is really how he is. He also signed some of my books which was a thrill. Definitely recommend.
Completed 22/08/16 Rating 4 stars
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Help (other topics)Northern Lights (other topics)
1984 (other topics)
Animal Farm (other topics)
Northern Lights (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Kathryn Stockett (other topics)Philip Pullman (other topics)
George Orwell (other topics)
Philip Pullman (other topics)
George Orwell (other topics)
More...
Duration: April 01-30, 2016
The Movie Star (2nd Level, 4-6 Books)
1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Completed 3/04/16 Rating 5 stars
2. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer Completed 19/04/16 Rating 4 stars
3. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith Completed 28/04/16 Rating 4 stars
4. Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl Completed 29/04/16 Rating 4 stars
5. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling Completed 29/04/16 Rating 4 stars
6. Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup Completed 29/04/16 Rating 4 stars
6/6
Challenge completed