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

Do you feel guilty about not reading a book that you should read, for whatever reason? It's time to stop, and get that weight of your shoulder.

In August, we are going to stop the guilt trip and read something we've been wanting to read for a long time.

Pick one of the reasons listed below and read a book that fits:
1) classic book that you should read
2) book you started long ago and set aside
3) book that was given you as a gift and/or someone is bugging you to read
4) non-fiction you should read
5) book that you purchased specifically for a challenge and never got to it
6) book that is the oldest on your TBR


General Rules:

1. The book may be in any format - paperback, ebook, audiobook.
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge and the Group Themed Read.
3. The book must be started and read between Aug 1 - 31, 2023 (based on your local time zone).
4. The challenge is for one book. You may read more books if you chose but you may only report one.
5. The book must be 175 pages or more determined by the issue you read.

In the case of ebooks & audiobooks, use the hardcover or paperback edition to determine page length. From the book page, select “all editions”, then select the first paper edition as your guide. If reading an ebook and there is no paper edition, the ebook book must be at least 250 pages. If reading an audiobook and there is no paper edition, your book must be a minimum of 6 hours long.

Reporting:

There will be no scoring. In the reporting thread, please state -
- your WoF name,
- which task you chose, and why
- link to the book you read, and explain how it fits.

(Challenge idea courtesy of a former mod - Judy)

I love this. I probably have one for each reason.

Me too! I know I have one for each reason. Great idea, Janice.

I'm an over-achiever and have more than one for each reason lol.

I am going to pick the oldest on my TBR ( March 2013) A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder which I selected when my son brought home his girlfriend who was from that country...

They are now married, I’ve visited Malaysia and I still haven’t read that book. Going to take it on the plane next week on my way to visit them.

So many choices!! Great challenge, Janice.

You must have read my mind! I started this book several years ago and just haven’t finished it. It is long, but that doesn’t usually phase me. In fact, the author has come out with the next in the series and I still haven’t read the next to last one. So, I guess I will buckle down. I plan on reading Written in My Own Heart's Blood. We’ll see if I change my mind. So many books fit this challenge.

I bought a new ebook reader yesterday and this morning I thought "How about putting only those books on it that I have been meaning to read for ages?"
I guess that is exactly what I'll be doing...

I think I will go with The Invisible Man. It is a classic I think I should have read by now. I also read a few pages last year, when my son was reading it for school and I thought it was a good idea to read it with him, but due to lack of time never advanced much.

I'm going to read the oldest book on my tbr - The Life We Bury.

When I was writing this challenge, I was thinking of a book I started many moons ago - Knights of the Black and White. I had it on the shelf above the toilet for a long time. Eventually, I put it away because I wasn't reading it, not that I didn't like it. I don't even think I have the book any more or I'd read it.

That's a really nice challenge! I have so many options, I don't know what to choose lol

This is a great list of prompts Janice! If I get any time this month I'm sure I could read one of these:

1) The Age of Innocence by Wharton, Edith, 1862-1937, my irl book club pick for June that I didn't finish
2) The Alice Network
3) Two Brothers by Elton, Ben on 08/11/2012 1st (first) edition
4) The Reluctant Carer: Dispatches from the Edge of Life
5) Hum If You Don't Know the Words
6)Fangirl

I think my top picks for the moment are:

Paris Never Leaves You - book I put aside (2) & oldest on NG TBR (6)
Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases - gifted to me (3)
West with Giraffes - friend bugging me to read it (3)

I actually have quite a few that I should read.

I decided to go with Oliver Twist for classic that I should read :)

It is down to two for me:
The book that has been on my GR TBR for the longest time:
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
A book that has been lingering in my bookcase for ages and have not got around to reading:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

Sandra wrote: "I think I will go with The Invisible Man. It is a classic I think I should have read by now. I also read a few pages last year, when my son was reading it for school and I thought it..."

I remember reading it, Sandra. There are parts that just stick with you!

Cherie

I am sure that I have several books for each reason too!
I decided to save Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone for October, when I go down to my sister's house to dog sit for a week. No internet and I can listen as long as I want. I have owned it since it was first released from Audible.

I will either read The Girl from the Train, which I borrowed from a co-worker, or purchased for a "rainbow on the cover" task, a long time ago! I haven't peeked at my oldest book title on my TBR list yet though.

Odette wrote: "It is down to two for me:
The book that has been on my GR TBR for the longest time:
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
A book that has been lingering in my bookcas..."

I really enjoyed , Odette!

Hmmm, the oldest book on my TBR list is . Maybe.

Odette wrote: "It is down to two for me:
The book that has been on my GR TBR for the longest time:
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
A book that has been lingering in my bookcas..."

In case you read Girl with the Pearl Earring please let me know how it is. I have it sitting on my shelves for ages as well haha

Cherie wrote: "Hmmm, the oldest book on my TBR list is . Maybe."

This also fits the group read theme!

Marnie wrote: "I am going to pick the oldest on my TBR ( March 2013) A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder which I selected when my son brought home his girlfriend who was from that country...

They are..."

That's a lovely reason to read a book Marnie.

I recently bought The Climate Book: The Facts and the Solutions which is a book that I am really curious about and want to read. The weather has been all over the place here in Seoul and in Ireland when I visited so am very interested to learn more about it.

The Glass Castle is the book that has been on my TBR the longest.

I purchased a book called Homegoing for a challenge and decided to read something else and never got around to it.

Not sure yet what I'll pick.

Planning to read Like Water for Chocolate- longest on TBR

I recently read one of the oldest books on my TBR for another challenge, so probably not going to choose that one. I also have a non-fiction book that I really should read, because I'm starting a training course in September and I need to have read the book before that. I'm just not motivated to read it...

Camilla wrote: "I recently read one of the oldest books on my TBR for another challenge, so probably not going to choose that one. I also have a non-fiction book that I really should read, because I'm starting a t..."

It's difficult to read those "required" books.

Janice wrote: "It's difficult to read those "required" books."

Particularly when all those other "fun" books are looking at you.
We believe in you, Camilla!

I'm thinking I might read The Constant Princess which my grandfather gave me for Christmas in like 2006ish.

I keep putting it off as I thought I needed to read all the Plantagenet books before the Tudor books as they are marketed as the same series. But I see that this is the first in the Tudor series, so maybe I should just take the plunge.

Also, all I am doing is slowly gathering books by Gregory and I have no idea if I like her. So that's probably a little silly. I have also reminded myself that I cannot read all of history. You have to start somewhere and there will always be stories of people you don't know yet. The benefit is you can always go back and learn about them later.

This really is a classic case of Rusalka overthinking everything...

I'm done with my read, may I have a reporting thread please? :)

Sandra wrote: "I think I will go with The Invisible Man. It is a classic I think I should have read by now. I also read a few pages last year, when my son was reading it for school and I thought it..."

I might go with The War of the Worlds instead. It is another book I think I should have read ages ago. I will decide this weekend.

Fiona wrote: "I'm done with my read, may I have a reporting thread please? :)"

Oops! I'll whip one right up. Thanks for lighting the match.

Sandra wrote: "I might go with The War of the Worlds instead. It is another book I think I should have read ages ago. I will decide this weekend."

I listened to a sample and I'm already hooked, so I will go with this one.

Janice wrote: "Fiona wrote: "I'm done with my read, may I have a reporting thread please? :)"

Oops! I'll whip one right up. Thanks for lighting the match."

Thanks, Janice!

Sandra wrote: "Sandra wrote: "I might go with The War of the Worlds instead. It is another book I think I should have read ages ago. I will decide this weekend."

I listened to a sample and I'm already hooked, so..."

My history teacher in HS got a copy of the radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds and we listened to it. It was so REAL! People really thought it was happening. I remember the movie with Gene Barry from the early 50's? You probably saw the re-make from a couple of years ago. I read both of the books. The Invisible Man always fascinated me and the story is very interesting. It is old, but worth reading. :o)

I haven't started my book The Botticelli Secret yet, but hopefully I will get to it before the end of the month.

Cherie wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Sandra wrote: "I might go with The War of the Worlds instead. It is another book I think I should have read ages ago. I will decide this weekend."

I listened to a sample and I'm alr..."

We didn't listen to it, but I recall that we discussed it. Pretty wild.

Cherie wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Sandra wrote: "I might go with The War of the Worlds instead. It is another book I think I should have read ages ago. I will decide this weekend."

I listened to a sample and I'm alr..."

My mom was telling me that when she was a little girl they listened to it live and my grandmother was really scared. She thought that it was real until my grandfather had had enough and turned off the radio and reminded her that it was Halloween and that it was hoax. Grandma always believed in aliens afterwards though.

Jayme wrote: "My mom was telling me that when she was a little girl they listened to it live and my grandmother was really scared. She thought that it was real until my grandfather had had enough and turned off the radio and reminded her that it was Halloween and that it was hoax. Grandma always believed in aliens afterwards though...."

Wow, Jayme! I have never talked to anyone who listened to the broadcast live. It is like one of those "where were you when..." things that we all have. I do not blame your Grandma for believing in aliens after that though. It really was scary! When we listened to it in class, the lights in the room (it was in an old WWII quasit hut on our HS campus) were turned off, and it was eerie. I can imagine your mom and grandparents sitting around the radio listening. :o)

Well, another monthly challenge not completed. I am still reading my book, with no chance of completing it in time. I may assign it to my DNF-to-be-read-later shelf. The story is ok but I just couldn’t really get into it. I will still be the oldest book on my TBR list.

Cherie wrote: "Well, another monthly challenge not completed. I am still reading my book, with no chance of completing it in time. I may assign it to my DNF-to-be-read-later shelf. The story is ok but I just coul..."

Right with you Cherie. I started one for the challenge and it ended up a DNF. I'm reading a different book, but won't finish it in time - I am enjoying it though.