North Liberty Readers discussion

12+2 Challenge 2013


1. Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum August
2. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón July
3. Where the Birds Never Sing: The True Story of the 92nd Signal Battalion and the Liberation of Dachau by Jack Sacco September
4. Conqueror by Conn Iggulden January 2014
5. Winter of the World by Ken Follett January
6. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah May
7. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy December
8. Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden September
9. Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks February
10. Dreaming Water: A Novel by Gail Tsukiyama August
11. The German Suitcase by Greg Dinallo March
12.The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson January


+1. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson
+2. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell September 2014

Books read in 2013 and Page Counts


January
1. The Gargoyle 389
2. Inkdeath 663
February
3. Winter of the World 738
4. The Dark Monk 368
5. Safe Haven 301
6. Promise Me 384
March
7. No Second Chance 338
8. Just One Look 370
9. The German Suitcase 348
April
10. Never Saw It Coming 265
11. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children 352
May
12. Winter Garden 394
13. The Prince of Mist 218
June
14. Gone Girl 395
15. Sharp Objects 272
16. Dark Places 345
July
17. The Ocean at the End of the Lane 181
18. Firefly Lane 479
19. The Angel's Game 531
August
20. Those Who Save Us 479
21. Dreaming Water 304
September
22. Home Front 390
23. The Key to Rebecca 352
24. The Thief Lord 350
25. Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West 304
26. The Devil's Queen: A Novel of Catherine de Medici 468
27. A Hundred Flowers 288
28. Where the Birds Never Sing: The True Story of the 92nd Signal Battalion and the Liberation of Dachau 336
October
29. Songs of Willow Frost 304
30. The Light in the Ruins 309
31. A Red Herring Without Mustard 391
32. I Am Half-Sick of Shadows 293
November
33. The Language of Flowers
34. Burial Rites


Total Pages: 11,899
Average Pages: 371.84

Currently Reading:
A Suitable Boy 1474
My Father's Country: Story of a German Family - current nook book 384
Anna Karenina - 1170

I like your list! You're going to love Winter of the World!

I just hope I actually finish it this year! 12 books doesn't seem like it should be this hard!

I'm hoping to actually finish this year too, but I've picked lots of good books that I've REALLLLLLY been wanting to try out for awhile. The biggest risk is that I'll get sucked into a series and get sidetracked... which happened to me last year. :) (I had all good books on the 2012 list, so yeah, my logic might not work.)

I finished one! Hopefully that's a good sign... I did read the first 50 pages last year since it was on last year's list and I wanted to read it, but I read most of it this year.

Nice! I've finished three so far... but I have to admit that one book was only 200 pages... so I feel like a bit of a cheater... but most of my books that I plan to read this year are well over 600 pages, so it's okay, right?

Totally! I started Winter of the World last night too... I'm going to try to start with my list and then switch to reading other books this year. I get distracted and forget about it when I start reading other things! It's also hard to decide in December/January what I'll feel like reading in June... Maybe I can read all 12 this year!

I'm really planning to read all 14 of them this year. I've picked some books with great ratings... the biggest risk for me is getting sucked into a series. Oh no!

(Speak of the devil, I'm TOTALLY sucked into the third Game of Thrones books, A Storm of Swords.)

I haven't started any of those yet... I want to this year though! You all seem to really like them! I also still have 2 Outlander books to read... Someday...

The first book is really good. The second books is kinda slow and a bit boring, but I think that it was all build up for the third book, which is great so far! (300 or so pages out of 1,000, so things could change.)

Don't rush through Outlander... I think that the next book isn't even due out until 2014...

I read the first 2 Outlander books in 2010, and the next 3 last year. I don't think you can really call that rushing... I know what you mean though. I don't really feel any pressure to finish them quickly, I just kind of want to know how it continues... Maybe I'll get one in this year! Who knows!?!

I'm trying to finish my challenge from last year while completing this year. Maybe that's crazy, but it's driving me nuts that I couldn't finish it! There are good books on that list! The Gargoyle was on both, so I counted it for this year, but I feel like I can't count it for last year also, meaning I have 3 left to read from that list, but 2 of the ones left are HUGE, so I don't know if I'll make it...

Good luck to you! :)

I finally finished Inkdeath! I didn't know if I'd ever have time to listen to the last half hour of it... It didn't end like I thought, but I won't say much because I know others haven't read them all.

I started the Audio of Winter Garden, which is one I got from you Jenni. I got through the first CD and part of the 2nd on my drive back from CR (and to Office Depot and back) on Saturday. I like it so far. I'm interested to see where it goes though!

You could always use the spoiler post... :) Or send me a message... I want to know what you thought!

(view spoiler)[I guess I expected a more expected ending. I was waiting for them to win the battle at the castle in the lake, and then go back to Ombra with the children, and Fenoglio would write them back into the present day. I didn't expect them to stay! I kind of like that they did though... and I like that the son dreams of going to their world because it seems like a story to him. Part of me kind of wants to watch the movie now, but it doesn't seem to have gotten great reviews... and I wish they had done all 3... (hide spoiler)]

I've never done one like that! That's pretty nifty!

Sonja, I have the movie. :) I agree with you!

I noticed people doing that last year, and it's pretty awesome. I've used it quite a few times in other forums as a just in case. I've even used it in one review! :)

I realized this weekend when I started reading it, that Skeletons at the Feast (which is the first book on my list) was also the first book on my list last year and I read it in August! It seemed really familiar when I started reading it. I'm not sure how that happened... Do I pick a different one and change my list? Or do I read the others and make it 12 of 13? I'm an idiot!

I say change it if you want! :)

Works for me! I feel a little stupid... I thought I only looked at my to be read list when I was making this year's challenge, but apparently, I really wanted to make sure I read this book! Maybe it means that I need to read it again... I like the idea of picking another one though.

I changed it!

Yay!!!

You're beating me!

For the challenge maybe... You've read a lot more books than me total!

I'm at 8 total, but two books are under 200 pages, so they probably shouldn't count. HOWEVER, I am counting them since I have so many 1,000+ books I'm reading this year. :) Hehe!

lol!

I'm reading some easier ones right now because I don't want to think so hard this time of year, but I really want to read some of the longer books in my pile1

Oh Sonja....just change the Skeletons at the feast to another one. If you are looking for another Bohjalian....I recommend The Double Bind. Of his...it's one of my faves. Especially if you are a Gatsby fan. I just remember being totally surprised at the ending...and it's really a compelling story....like....WOW.

OOOOO.....just noticed.....duh! Those Who Save Us is AWESOME! You'll love this one...well....it's a tragic read but still very historical and draws lots of questions to ponder. LOVE IT!

I want to read more books by Chris Bohjalian, but wasn't sure which one to put on the list! I had Those Who Save Us on my bookshelf and we had just talked about it with Winter of the World, so I thought it would be a good one to add... Maybe next year!?! Maybe I'll read one this year that isn't on the list... Who knows!

You'll LOVE Those Who Save US. As for Bohjalian...I love him as an author...because he always seems to have that extra effort in his books. I like them all...love a few...and love his choices of subjects. You never know what you're going to get. I think next year I would love to re-read The Great Gatsby. It's been since freshman year of high school that I've read it. Since the movie is coming out soon...I'd LOVE to watch it since it looks AWESOME! Starring Leo diCaprio....how can you go wrong? I've always thought of him as being very selective in the movies he's in so they must be good. Bohjalian's book The Double Bind weaves in the "story" of The Great Gatsby. That's right...." and ". SO.....you MIGHT actually believe that there was actually a Gatsby.....or wasn't there? In any case, The Double Bind was a really great read...TRAGIC YES. Oh MY goodness...gut-wrenching. BUT....really fastastic. I'd love to read both back to back next year. OR...maybe later this year if the movie drives me to further book insanity! HA!

I'm half done with this year's challenge! I might make it this year!

YAY!!! I'm getting there too. I'll really be zooming once I finish War and peace. Holy Cow is it a chunker! Let me know if you are going to read Cloud Atlas...I've got it on my list too. Though it probably won't be till this summer is over honestly! I'm giving myself till the end of August to finish War and Peace. I'm halfway through so far....

Sammi is doing good on her books too. I need to catch up with Jenni! I was checking the Civic Center website last night and Wicked tix are on sale....and so are Once tix in April of next spring can you believe that? I'm up for checking in to the real box office on Thursday. We'll be in DSM and I don't mind running down there. I definitely want to get us tix for Once. It was absolutely AMAZING when I saw it in NYC. You guys have to see it.....If I can get us tix in the b zone toward the middle we'll be set. What do you think? Look at the website....

Also something to consider...next year they are showing Les Mis at the Des Moines Playhouse and the tix there are cheap. Like only $35 per person. That too is in the spring...March 21 to be exact. I believe that Once is past tax season for you....April 22-27. SO.....

Things to ponder and get tix for..........I'm getting the tickleys!!!

I'll be double checking everything tonight, but I'm super duper interested in all of the above. SWEET!!!!!! Hey Pam, what are you guys doing this Saturday? We're in Ames on Saturday only for a swim meet. Anja has three events in the morning. I'm not sure what time she'll be done, but we're thinking about lunch in Ames before heading home. That does depend a bit on how stressed out I am since we're packing for vacation, but if you're up for lunch or something kind of quick, I'll work hard to get caught up at home this week. NO PRESSURE! It's totally okay if you can't or don't want to come to Ames, and we're not really going to have the time to travel other than to Ames... but since we'd be pretty close to you, I thought I'd check.

Once and Wicked both sound like fun! I'd love to see Les Mis, but I don't know about the middle of March... If it was a Saturday or Sunday show I might be able to make it work. Sleeping Beauty sounds like fun too, but I'll be in Rapid City that week. I also want to see Phantom of the Opera, but that's over a year away! Too many things to see!

I know you guys...so many things to see and I want to see it all....BUT....we can plan early and then get really excited! I'll check at the box office on thursday. You guys...I have a new iphone and the number is 712-790-1269. Add me to your list and text or call me. I'm finally in the tech world!!! This way I can look at what seating is available when I visit the box office on Thursday and we can get some ideas. OR....I'll get us tix if we all agree on dates and times....

As for Ames....ARGHHH!!!! I'm running in the Dirty Girl in DSM but our heat starts at 11. DANG!!! I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to meet up with you!!! So bad that it doesn't work out. PLEASE let me know if you are in the area any time and we will make that drive for sure. Good luck Anja! Our season just ended last week and the girls did great....LOVE swimming season....

So ladies...send me those numbers or text me and we'll keep up better....at least I will. LOVE graduating to an iphone!!! YAY!!!

I just texted you... I hope it's not too early to text you, but I was excited and couldn't wait! :) Kick some patooty this weekend, I'll be cheering you on!

Anja's long course swim season ends this Saturday since she won't make state, which is when we're out of the country anyway... so we get two to three weeks off, and then short course season starts up again. Dang. Anja has been doing a trampoline and tumbling class at gymnastics, which has been a fun change for her. I'm not sure if we'll be able to keep it up this fall... she just started piano lessons again, and is LOVING them! I LOVE the new teacher that she's started with - the wife of her third grade (and hopefully fourth grade) teacher. She is so much more the style works for Anja. She's also mentioned to me Anja's strengths (playing by ear) and the challenges that will come with that... so great to hear that. After nine months with the previous teacher, we never once heard anything like this... the plan to work with her strengths and how to challenge her. YAY!

Are your girls still hitting the gymnastics? I MUST hear more about it... I'm just so curious! :)

I will get through Anna Karenina! It's going slowly, but I'm almost half way.

On the topic of musicals, I found this and thought I'd share. http://www.buzzfeed.com/sedem/50-life...

So... Yesterday, I ordered a copy of The Sandcastle Girls (the audiobook) from Amazon (since it was on sale and I want to read it...). When i got home and looked at my audiobooks to pick which one to listen to next, I realized that I already have it! Who wants my extra copy?!?!?!

I'll listen to it! And then I can send it on to Pam or Sami or someone!

Sounds good to me!

and to me too....I can wait till we see each other again...no need to send...and Sammi and I will swap and share! YAY!!!

I can't wait to see you guys! Jenni, I'll bring you the book tonight or tomorrow.

I think I might finish my challenge this year! Only 2 more books to go!!!

Hi Sonja! We've got swim team tonight, want me to stop by your place on my way home... around 7:45pm or so? Also, I could bring you Burial Rites if you'd like to listen to that one?

How are you doing on your list? I just got my 12 done! And I'm dying to know what you thought of Those Who Save Us. I loved that one and there's lots to discuss. That one would be a great one to talk about at a book club. I just started Allegiant by Veronica Roth.

I'm almost there! I really enjoyed Those Who Save Us. I think it would be a great book for a book club to discuss! Soooooo much to talk about in that one!

I finally finished!!! This is the first challenge I've actually finished (even if it is 1 month late...).