The Book Challenge discussion

Hi everyone! I just joined this group because I got so inspired by everyone's challenges! On November 3rd, I'll be 24 years old. On that day, I'm going to start my challenge of reading 72 books in my 24th year (24 x 3, my lucky number for a *hopefully* lucky year!). I've been averaging about 5-7 a month right now, so I think it's do-able. Wish me luck and I wish everyone luck on their challenges as well!

Hey Allison!
Well happy early b-day to you and good luck on your reading endeavor.

thanks :) I really want my birthday to come so I can start my challenge already!!

Because the GRE's have a firm grip on my life for the next month and my birthday isn't for a month after that, I'm just going to list some books on my to-read that I definitely want to be a part of the lucky 72. Suggestions welcome!!

The Yiddish Policeman's Union - Michael Chabon
The Abstinence Teacher - Tom Perrotta
The Sister - Poppy Adams
Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher
Emma - Jane Austen
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
Sweet Liar - Jude Deveraux
The Year of Magical Thinking - Joan Didion
The First Time - Joy Fielding
Everything Is Illuminated - Jonathan Safran Foer
Because They Hate - Bridgitte Gabriel
Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
Fear of Flying - Erica Jong
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
The Wind-up Bird Chronicle - Haruki Murakami
Love Walked In - Marisa de los Santos
The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

I started my challenge on Monday! First book already finished:

Comfort & Joy - Kristin Hannah

I picked this book because I love the author, there was a surprising twist at the end and it was a great book to read for anyone who may feel "lost" and unsteady with their path in life so far. A couple twists and turns too, which was interesting. I do recommend for a fast, heart-warming holiday read!

Hey Allison! Good luck with your challenge! I started my challenge a couple weeks ago (on my 24th birthday) and am trying to read 50 books before my 25th birthday...so my challenge is similar to yours:) Comfort a Joy sounds like a great book.....is this the same author that also wrote "Firefly Lane"?????

Thanks Djulia, it looks like we had the same idea - and happy birthday!! Yes, Kristin Hannah also wrote Firefly Lane! I'm going to eventually get through all her books, but so far my favorite one by her is Magic Hour!

Just finished book #2: The Almost Moon, by Alice Sebold. Kind of creepy but I loved the writing style!

Just finished #3: Don't Cry Now, Joy Fielding. Here is what I posted on my review:

I really liked this one a lot - but I was a little disappointed that I figured out who the perp was before the ending - usually the author has me where she wants me and then turns it completely upside down! Good story, though. And there were a few things I definitely didn't suspect, so there were some surprises. Not my favorite, but still great!


Next is Peony in Love by Lisa See... anyone read anything by her yet?! I love historical fiction so I'm excited to start it!

Finished #4: Peony in Love, by Lisa See. It was slow at first but it picked up still in the early part of the book and I became obsessed with knowing what would happen in the end. Really different kind of historical fiction. I recommend to everyone!

PS, I gotta pick up the pace...

Finished #5: The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion. You can read the review I wrote on the book - but basically, I really loved it and I don't know if I'll ever read anything like it again.

Next, The Book Thief, finally!

Just finished #6, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. I LOVED IT! Full review on my page, but I recommend this very, very highly and I'm so happy I finally got to read it!

Just finished #7, Puppet by Joy Fielding. Not really like her other books that I love, but still enjoyable. On to Love Walked In!

Finished #8, Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos. I was unimpressed but it wasn't so bad that I thought I was wasting my time. It was on my TBR for a really long time and I guess I built it up a little too much!

Finished #9, Jemima J by Jane Green. Wow! I wrote about it on my page but I was really inspired and got more out of it than I thought I would, since I really like to space out my Jane Green books for 'fluff'. This was a nice surprise that I enjoyed it so much :)

Another one I've been waiting to read for a while is up next - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close!

i've heard that Jemima J is good. i'll have to get to it as soon as i can.

I totally recommend it!

Finished #10: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer. It was awesome, I'm so happy I got to read it finally.

Jessica Z is next!

Finished #11: Jessica Z., by Shawn Klomparens. I liked the story a LOT and I loved most of the characters, but I felt it took a while to get somewhere.

Finished #12: Water For Elephants, by Sara Gruen. I *loved* it! Definitely one of the best books I read this year. I love that historical fiction, and the topic was so fascinating that I just got lost in it and wanted to know more and more.

Allison wrote: "Finished #12: Water For Elephants, by Sara Gruen. I *loved* it! Definitely one of the best books I read this year. ..."

i received this one in my book club's Christmas book exchange - and we're going to read it for January's meeting. i'm really looking forward to it!

you'll love it! I definitely can't wait to hear what you think about it!

Okay, while I was away I finished 2 books: #13, Grand Avenue by Joy Fielding - loved it! and #14, The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls, which was a tragically beautiful memoir.

On to Loving Frank!

Happy New Year! I'm looking forward to 2009 for a lot of reasons, but doing my first book challenge is one of them! I put a must-read list together that I have to do along with my challenge, which is part of my TBR-challenge. I have 58 books to read until November 3, 2009 now! Good luck everyone else in 09!

Just finished #14, Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. Read my review, but this was incredible and I don't think I'll ever forget either character.

Finished #15, The Things We Do For Love by Kristin Hannah. I needed some fluff after Loving Frank!

Finished #16, Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty. Totally my guilty pleasure series. Now that the main character is almost as old as me, it's getting more and more fun to read!

Allison wrote: "Finished #16, Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty. Totally my guilty pleasure series. Now that the main character is almost as old as me, it's getting more and more fun to read!"

I love that series! I've only read the first two so far - I bought the third and loaned it out to the girl who loaned me the first two because I had too many books TBR in front of it - it hasn't come back yet, but I have faith that it will someday! Glad to hear they're still as good as the originals.

Stephanie, I hope you get to read the other 2 soon! Especially because I hear Perfect Fifths is coming out this year! I read the first chapter of it, it looks pretty good!

Finished #17, Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos. Better than Love Walked In, but still just eh. I'm glad I finally read it, though.

Finished #18, The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

Finished #19, The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni

Allison wrote: "Just finished book #2: The Almost Moon, by Alice Sebold. Kind of creepy but I loved the writing style!"

If you haven't read The Lovely Bones yet I would highly recommend it. It's way better than The Almost Moon

Hi Destini, I did read The Lovely Bones - I liked it a lot, but I thought it was strange/weird in the aither's way but still very good! Definitely better than The Almost Moon.

Finished #20, The Onyx by Jacqueline Briskin, and #21, Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani.

Finished #22, The First Time by Joy Fielding, and #23, Forever Liesl, by Charmian Carr.

Finished #24, Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

I passed my 1/3 mark! 45 books to go. Not too bad! My reading history since my birthday in no particular order:

The Onyx by Jacqueline Briskin
Forever Liesl by Charmian Carr
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakuruni
Don't Cry Now - Joy Fielding
Puppet - Joy Fielding
Grand Avenue - Joy Fielding
The First Time - Joy Fielding
Tender Is The Night - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer
Jemima J - Jane Green
The Beach House - Jane Green
Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
Comfort and Joy - Kristin Hannah
The Things We Do For Love - Kristin Hannah
Loving Frank - Nancy Horan
Jessica Z. - Shawn Klomparens
The History of Love - Nicole Krauss
Fourth Comings - Megan McCafferty
Love Walked In - Marisa de los Santos
Belong to Me - Marisa de los Santos
The Almost Moon - Alice Sebold
Peony in Love - Lisa See
Joy in the Morning - Betty Smith
Lucia, Lucia - Adriana Trigiani
The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

Summer Island - Kristin Hannah
Queen of Dreams - Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Handle With Care - Jodi Picoult
Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery

I Am The Messenger - Markus Zusak
Come Pour The Wine - Cynthia Freeman