Sheila’s Comments (group member since Dec 31, 2015)

Sheila’s comments from the Read 100+ Books in 2016 group.

Rachel wrote: "2017 group?"

Did you get the invite? It's called Read 100+ books in a year (how original!) If you haven't I'll send it again.

Rachel wrote: "-J.K. Rowling 12-21-16
This fourth one is also more interesting than the first but just barely, as this novel is one of the ones I like the least al..."

It is a good series. I like that it started to get people, especially kids, into reading. Those who follow the series were very into it.

Hey, I'm going to set up the 2017 group. You should get an invitation so I hope you'll be joining us next year.

I have to recommend At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier. I liked how each character had his/her own voice. For James, it was the third person voice. For Sadie, it was first person voice. Robert and Martha were also third person but first person when they wrote letters. Many in my book club did not like the book because they could not connect with the characters. I found it interesting how the character development was handled. I did not have lukewarm feelings toward any of them.

I've been busy and less likely to go onto the computer lately. I need to catch up a lot of books. So here are my December reads:

6/9, 16 books

1. Read a book whose author's last name begins with V--Cloaked in Red by Vivian Vande Velde--finished 12/22/16 .
2. Since this is a big holiday time, read a book about a holiday--Young Scrooge by R. L. Stine--finished 12/13/16 .
3. Read a book with a red cover--The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans--finished 12/15/16 .
4. Since snowflurries have begun to fly, read a book about a sleigh.
5. If you belong to a book club, read a book for that book club. Otherwise, read whatever you think a book club would read--At The Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier--finished 12/12/16 .
6. Since the end of the year will soon be here, read a book about a party--Daddy Kissing Santa Claus by Max Warner--finished 12/23/16
7. Since the shortest day of the year is coming this month, read a book with the word Night in the title.
8. Because it is party season, read a book with fancy dress on the cover.
9. Your choice--Spy Ski School by Stuart Gibbs--finished 12/5/16 .

Bonus reads:
A Dragon Moves in by Lisa Falkenstern--finished 12/1/16
Turkey Claus--Wendy Silvano--finished 12/12/16
Snow Dog, Go Dog by Deborah Helligman--finished 12/12/16
The Book with No Pictures by B. J. Novak--finished 12/14/16
The Geek Gets the Girl by Michelle Hauf--finished 12/24/16
She's the Boss by Ava Sterling--finished 12/26/16
Gray Christmas by Lisabet Sarai--finished 12/26/16
My Favorite Major by Ava Stone--finished 12/26/16
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa--finished 12/29/16
Warriors: Fire and Ice by Erin Hunter--finished 12/29/16

Rachel wrote: "-Kazuo Ishiguro 12-2-16
I just didn't care for this book very much. It was hard to understand, the writing was repetitive, and the characters were boring as all ge..."

I read Never Let Me Go. I was creeped out by it. How can people knowingly use others so someone else can live? Those people died piece by piece so the "elites" could live. Not a society I want to live in.

Rachel wrote: "-Lauren Oliver 12-19-16
This was a well-written and thought-provoking YA dystopian novel with a few interesting and full characters, especially the protagonist as she con..."

I've been wanting to read these series. I appreciate your opinion.

Wow! Another year almost over. It was busy in November and I'm sure it will be worse in December but I want to get my reading done. I'm behind schedule on my book reading total this year. Hope I make it. Here are the themes for December.

1. Read a book whose author's last name begins with V.
2. Since this is a big holiday time, read a book about a holiday.
3. Read a book with a red cover.
4. Since snowflurries have begun to fly, read a book about a sleigh.
5. If you belong to a book club, read a book for that book club. Otherwise, read whatever you think a book club would read.
6. Since the end of the year will soon be here, read a book about a party.
7. Since the shortest day of the year is coming this month, read a book with the word Night in the title.
8. Because it is party season, read a book with fancy dress on the cover.
9. Your choice.

Rachel wrote: "Sheila wrote: "Rachel wrote: "-J.R.R. Tolkien 10-25-16
This is the second installment of Tolkien's classic fantasy epic, and as such, it is exceedingly well written ..."

I understand about reading classics and non-fiction. Brain candy is nice but you sometimes just need some more filling.

Well, I didn't read many of the theme books but I did read some good books. If you are looking for non-fiction I would recommend EVICTION by Matthew Desmond. He follows 6 tenants and 2 landlords in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He tells their stories but allows the readers to reach their own conclusions. I believe there needs to be a minimum standard of housing that landlords must follow to be able to rent out an apartment. Many of these places were slums.
If you are looking for children's books, I recommend ORANGUTANGLED by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallec. It's a cute story about orangutans who want to eat mangoes. The illustrations are wonderful!
If you are looking for poetry, I recommend Words from the Heart by Julia Mishler. These poems are very easy to identity with. They are of love, looking for love, and heartbreak. Not all in the same poem.

Here are my read's for November.

3/9, 14 books

1. Read a book whose author's surname begins with U.
2. Since it is Veteran's Day or Armistice Day, read a book about WWI.
3. The holiday shopping season will soon be upon us so read a book about shopping.
4. Read a short book--We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Achide--finished 11/2/16.
5. It will be Thanksgiving in the US soon. Read a book about something for which you are thankful--Eviction by Matthew Desmond--finished 11/20/16 .
6. Read a book you haven't read since high school.
7. Elections are coming up in the US (I'm sick of the ads.) Read a book about politics or government.
8. Read a book written by a celebrity.
9. Your choice. The Right Kind of Guy by Kerri-Leigh Grady--finished 11/2/16

BONUS READS:
Origin in Death by J. D. Robb--finished 11/6/16
Bunny and the Bear by Eve Langlais--finished 11/6/16
A Virtuous Woman by Kaye Gibbons--finished 11/7/16
Bella Should Have Dumped Edward by Michelle Pan--finished 11/3/16
The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan--finished 11/13/16
Thanks for Giving by Abby Klein--finished 11/20/16
I See Kitty by Yasmine Surovec--finished 11/21/16
Words from the Heart by Julia Mishler--finished 11/21/16
A Reason by Leslie Wolf--finished 11/26/16
Warriors: Fire and Ice by Erin Hunter--finished 11/30/16
Orangutangled by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen--finished 11/30/16

Sorry I'm late this month. I've been very busy and have not been on the computer much but I have updated everything now.

So on to November's topics:

1. Read a book whose author's surname begins with U.
2. Since it is Veteran's Day or Armistice Day, read a book about WWI.
3. The holiday shopping season will soon be upon us so read a book about shopping.
4. Read a short book.
5. It will be Thanksgiving in the US soon. Read a book about something for which you are thankful.
6. Read a book you haven't read since high school.
7. Elections are coming up in the US (I'm sick of the ads.) Read a book about politics or government.
8. Read a book written by a celebrity.
9. Your choice.

Rachel wrote: "-J.R.R. Tolkien 10-25-16
This is the second installment of Tolkien's classic fantasy epic, and as such, it is exceedingly well written with brilliantly drawn charact..."

How are you finding them? I have them but I look at them and see how huge they are and groan and read something else.

Colleen wrote: "I haven't posted in a while but I've been reading much. I've read many Star Wars books and many of the Warriors series. Both are some of my favorite series to read. One of the best books I've read ..."

I loved The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry. I fell in love with him.

So here are my reads for October. It's been so busy.

6/9, 17 books

1. Read an author whose last name begins with T.
2. Read a book that uses Halloween as its backdrop. The Vampire's Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter--finished 10/11/16
3. Read a book about Native Americans.
4. Read a book about horses.
5. World Series time is upon us so read a book about baseball--Spring Training by Roz Lee--finished 10/21/16.
6. If you are reading a series, read the next book in it--The Legend of Diamond Lil by Doreen Cronin--finished 10/4/16
7. Read a book about communication. Darcy Sweeps Left by Jane Austen and Courtney Carbone--finished 10/10/16
8. Read a whose cover is at least 50% green. And Four To Go by Rex Stout--finished 10/18/16
9. Your choice--Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger--finished 10/6/16


Bonus reads:
Ravished by the Boss by Ava Sterling--finished 10/4/16
The MAD Adventures of Captain Klutz by Don Martin--finished 10/10/16
My Sister the Vampire: Switched by Sienna Mercer--finished 10/15/16
The Chicken Squad by Doreen Cronin--finished 10/15/16
The Case of the Weird Blue Chicken--Doreen Cronin--finished 10/15/16
Into the Wild by Doreen Cronin--finished 10/16/16
Seducing My Lesbian Professor by Ava Sterling--finished 10/24/16
Holiday Politics by V. Vaugn--finished 10/24/16
Caroline Goes Canoeing by Brian Clifford--finished 10/24/16
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson--finished 10/27/16
Up the Down Staircase by Bel Kaufman--finished 10/31/16

Rachel wrote: "-Robin Jones Gunn 10-1-16
I really enjoyed this sweet and amusing Christian romance. The characters were well drawn, and I liked the plot a lot. Also, I truly enjoyed se..."

Is this a series or standalones by the author? They sound like good reads.

I finished by banned book in October but I started it in September. I read Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. I understand why you don't want to read it for the first time as an adult. Holden is a pain where the sun don't shine. He is so whiny. He's seen it all, done it all, knows it all and he has done nothing and knows nothing by whine. Everyone is against him. They're all dopes and whatever. He is a teenager. Enough said! I do like Salinger's writing. I'm glad this was not the first book of his I read. His Franny and Zoey were fantastic!

Summer is finally over. The cooler air is coming in. And the holiday season will soon be upon us. I hope you are getting some good reading time in. I know I am. It seems that's all I want to do. So on to this month's themes.

1. Read an author whose last name begins with T.
2. Read a book that uses Halloween as its backdrop.
3. Read a book about Native Americans.
4. Read a book about horses.
5. World Series time is upon us so read a book about baseball.
6. If you are reading a series, read the next book in it.
7. Read a book about communication.
8. Read a whose cover is at least 50% green.
9. Your choice

If you are looking for a book for early school age kids get The Trouble With Chickens by Doreen Cronin. I loved it. It's so funny. JJ is a retired search-and-rescue dog who is called in by a mother chicken to find her missing chicks. JJ talks like a hard-boiled detective from film noir. The villain, Vince the Funnel, talks like a gangster but he has no heart of gold. It's a riot! It's fun also for adults.

Rachel wrote: "-Greg Iles 9-13-16
As was the case with the first two novels of this series, The Quiet Game and Turning Angel, I found this to be ..."

I've been meaning to read Greg Iles. I'll have to get this series.