The Reading Challenge Group discussion

January is when we kick off our reading for the year! I know I'll definitely be trying to kick-start and get a head, and that means roughly planning what I read.

Has anyone thought about what they're going to read in January?

My plan, ignoring possible books I may get for Christmas is:

The White Queen (for the Genre Challenge)
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Notes from Underground
Grimms' Fairy Tales
Dracula

I have a few books that I bought awhile ago and haven't read yet. I have been holding onto them for 2014 now while I finish some of the bigger books I've been reading for awhile:
Graceling
The Son of Neptune
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

I read quite a few of Rick Riordan's first Percy Jackson series and really enjoyed it. Must get back into reading his!

Holly, you will definitely enjoy Notes From Underground. It's one of my favorite books :)

Narin, I read NFU and I really enjoyed it. Good luck:) -- I recommend you read The Dream of a Ridiculous Man - it's one of Dostoyevsky's best stories.

Well, I plan on reading these books, but I may read something else if a new book comes up:P

Anna Karenina
The Book Thief
Chanakya's Chant
Clockwork Angel

It seems like Russian Lit is a big focus. We could do a readalong in January!

Holly wrote: "It seems like Russian Lit is a big focus. We could do a readalong in January!"

What's a readalong?

Its basically an unofficial group read that a few people decide to do. Its also known as a buddy-read

Holly wrote: "Its basically an unofficial group read that a few people decide to do. Its also known as a buddy-read"

Oh...ok. Yeah! we could do that...

Holly wrote: "It seems like Russian Lit is a big focus. We could do a readalong in January!"

I really hope so :)

What I read in January depends entirely upon what I DON'T manage to read in December, heh. I know for sure I'll be reading The Book Thief, because I've been on the waiting list for it at my library for quite a while and should have it by the end of December. On top of that, I want to get through some of the many many unread books gathering dust in my room, plus whatever library books catch my eye (I can't stop myself! No matter how many books I already have, I can't think of the word "library" without craving another huge stack!!).

Narin, I loved Demons! Kind of an odd story, but very engaging. Which can be said of most Russian literature, now that I think about it, haha.

Crime and Punishment has been my only taste of Russian Lit, and it completely blew me away. It's up there as my 2nd favourite book.

A buddy read for a Russian book would be awesome!

Ruchi wrote: "Well, I plan on reading these books, but I may read something else if a new book comes up:P

Anna Karenina
The Book Thief
Chanakya's Chant
[book:Clockwo..."

The Book Thief was AWESOME!

I have not entirely decided what to read for January, but there are some options. I am in the middle of some series I would like to continue with.

John Sandford mystery series.. I'm to the 6th book I think.
Third book of beautiful creatures series
Clockwork Angel
Book one of the Dresden Files

I don't know what I will start with for next month but will figure it out. Got a lot on my tbr list and classics too.

I'm planning to read the Percy Jackson Series. I got them but I'm still finishing another series and I'm thinking about starting the series on January.

Good luck Marie! :)

Marie Clarisse wrote: "I'm planning to read the Percy Jackson Series. I got them but I'm still finishing another series and I'm thinking about starting the series on January."

Percy Jackson series is boring....trust me, it's too kiddish...I read the third book, and I'm like, 'Why did I ever start the serie??'

Marie, they are rather simple books, although the mythology is rather interesting. If you're looking for something light to read, I'd recommend them. I remember giving up half way through the series, but they're reasonable enough to read.

Great lists everyone.

January is always much quieter for me, work-wise, than February - April, so I'm going to try to get ahead and make up for the months when I know for sure I won't be able to read as much as I'd like to...

So far, this is the list of what I'm planning to read, though it might change, of course:

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
The Hours by Michael Cunningham

To Kill a Mockingbird has got to be one of my favourite reads of 2013! Seriously, it's such an amazing book!

I haven't read that Atwood book, you'll definitely have to let me know how you find it!

If I don't finish it in December, I plan to finish the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. I also plan to read the Harry Potter series, and plan to finish all the books on my currently-reading shelf: Atlas Shrugged, the Arabian Nights, Insomnia, etc.

Good luck Ola. ^_^

Is it okay to read the first book of the Percy Jackson series for January?

Go for it, Marie! Read what you want! :)

Bouchra, I can't wait to hear what you think about Atlas Shrugged. It's length has always put me off...

Yep my parents said books like that are pretty light, but I want to start on those ones since I'm on the "basic" point of my reading comprehension. They said it'll be good to start with those ones. I'm open to suggestions too. :) thanks!

I plan on reading The Book Thief and the Divergent 3-book series in January. I also plan to finish what is on my Currently Reading list.

Go ahead Marie. If you enjoy the first book of that series and you want to go on with the rest of them, then it is your choice. Hope you enjoy them. I've only seen the first movie of it and thought it was okay. :)

Holly wrote: "To Kill a Mockingbird has got to be one of my favourite reads of 2013! Seriously, it's such an amazing book!

I haven't read that Atwood book, you'll definitely have to let me know how you find it!"

Oooh that's good to hear Holly! I've heard and read great things about it so I'm very curious. As for Atwood... well, let's just say I want to be her when I grow up ;) so I'm having high hopes for The Penelopiad!

Amber wrote: "Good luck Ola."

Thanks Amber, and you!

Thank you Amber and Holly. :)

No problem Ola and Marie. Happy reading! ^_^

Jennifer wrote: "I plan on reading The Book Thief and the Divergent 3-book series in January. I also plan to finish what is on my Currently Reading list."

The Book Thief was easily one of my favourite books of the year when I read it in 2012, I hope you enjoy it.

Ola wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "I plan on reading The Book Thief and the Divergent 3-book series in January. I also plan to finish what is on my Currently Reading list."

The Book Thief was easily one of my favou..."

Thanks! I have turned my 15 year old niece into a book lover as well and she raved about this one so I promised her I would read it. Same with the Divergent Series.

Holly wrote: "Go for it, Marie! Read what you want! :)

Bouchra, I can't wait to hear what you think about Atlas Shrugged. It's length has always put me off..."

It's length is certainly behind the reason that it's still currently-reading from June, but I want to finish with it, so I'm going to try my best to do so in January. I'll let you know how it goes :)

Jennifer wrote: "Thanks! I have turned my 15 year old niece into a book lover as well and she raved about this one so I promised her I would read it. Same with the Divergent Series. "

I can see why, this book made me weep on the tube on my way to work a few times, and I'm really not the crying-whilst-reading kind! Have some tissues ready ;)

I have no idea what book I should read next after I get finished with The Casual Vacancy. Any suggestion???

Hey rachel, have you ever read the princess bride? That is a pretty good read and the film is a cult classic.

I did try to read it once Amber but I couldn't get into it. But I've seen the movie which I'm guessing is so different from the book. But I could give it another go. :) I should probably make a reading list for 2014

My perfect start will be with some horror :D, i am going to read for Stephen King
The Shining
Doctor Sleep

Oh okay cool rachel and that's great maha! Good luck.

Ok. I made up my mind - finally :)
This is my list for January 2014

I have a rough, general plan. I am starting with a John Lennon book I got for Christmas as well as the next in the Elm Creek Series. Along with that I plan to read another on my Nook queue. I don't really plan ahead what I am going to read as I have a good number of books in my personal library that need reading so I am trying to chisel away at that before I add more new ones.

I'm going to read The Fountainhead, The Game of Thrones, and The Return of Sherlock Holmes for sure and then I suppose I'll wait for a few books to call my name

My list for January is:


The Night Circus(best friend also reading)


The Odyssey (Stephen Mitchell translation)

Recently purchased audio book

The cozy mystery of the month.

Plan to start:
Awesome book I plan to be blogging about.

Need to finish:
Awesome astrology book on precessions by Don Cerow.

Haven't really started reading this, just the first few pages

Only read the first 5 chapters.

Ongoing reads of 2014:
Group reading at The Crystal Garden

I'm awaiting a shipment of books that I ordered as my Christmas present to myself so my January list is already in the works.

It's going to be a busy month for me but I'm hoping to read these as a minimum for the month - part of the fun for me is narrowing down my choices!

Apocalypse Cow
The Dinner
Thy Neighbour
The Bite in the Apple
Sycamore Row

Well, I had already made a list but I somewhat changed it. Here are my Jan reads:The Book Thief, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Devil Wears Prada

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has always gotten such good reviews. Hopefully I will read it this year!

Holly wrote: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has always gotten such good reviews. Hopefully I will read it this year!"

Yeah....I've heard it's a good series...

I envy all of you sooo much! I know I won't be able to read more than two books this month because I have to study for my exams. So I will read The book Thief for the ya challenge and maybe The Great Gatsby. :)

I too struggle to read more than 2 books a month in term time due to studying :( I really want to Finnish The Book Thief and maybe give the hobbit a go? That or Glass House from the Morganville Vampires series :) x