Read 100+ Books in 2016 discussion
January challenge
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Happy New Year everyone! Here's my January challenge:1. Read a book whose author's surname begins with K.
2. Read a classic.
3. Read a sequel or a remake of that classic (for example: Pride and Prejudice then read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Longbourne)
4. Read a book with a one word title.
"Conversion" by Katherine Howe
5. Read a book written in the decade you were born.
6. Read a book set on an island.
7. Read an autobiography.
8. Read a play.
9. Your choice.
Sheila wrote: "Happy New Year, everyone! Since I retired on New Year's Eve, I hope to have a lot more time to read in 2016. I also hope I get my reviews posted much sooner than I have been. I just spent two hours..."Thanks for the classic and the remake idea use. I'll be working on that next.
So on the challenge I'm reading "Star Wars The Crystal Star" for my choice. I'm going to do "Pride and Prejudice" for the classic and "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" for the remake. That was what I suggested to Sheila after all. So I guess I'll start there. Happy New Year. Can't wait to see what you all read this year.
by JudyAfter a whirlwind 2015, I'm hoping to have more time to read this year. My plan is to read over a hundred books from all over the spectrum. Since I'm leading the discussion at the local library this month, I have lots of motivation.
Mod
After a whirlwind 2015, I'm hoping to have more time to read this year. My plan is to read over a hundred books from all over the spectrum. Since I'm leading the discussion at the local lib..."
Welcome. We're glad to have you. Hope you share your experiences with your book club. I belong to four.
Mod
I think Pride and Prejudice is her easiest to read, mostly because it is the one most made into movies or television series. Watch the Colin Firth version. It is the truest to the book. It added one scene in the movie that was not in the book. You also get Mr. Darcy's thoughts in the book which the movie cannot give you.
The cadence of her language takes some getting used to. I read Persuasion and it took me half the book to get into the cadence and rhythm of the language. I tried Emma but abandoned it about 100 pages in because Emma drove me crazy she was such a know-it-all. Ugh!
Manda wrote: "Plan for the month1. Read a book whose author's surname begins with K. Mr Mercedes. First in the trilogy, made the mistake of reading the second first last year. The final part re..."
Agnes Grey is the one of the few novels by a Bronte that I haven't read. May have to try it this year.
Mod
8/9, 27 books
1. Read a book whose author's surname begins with K--Critic's Choice by Catherine Kay--finished 1/27/16.
2. Read a classic--Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen--finished 1/18/16.
3. Read a sequel or a remake of that classic (for example: Pride and Prejudice then read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Longbourne)--Longbourn by Jo Baker--finished 1/26/16
4. Read a book with a one word title--Bettyville by George Hodgman--finished 1/11/16.
5. Read a book written in the decade you were born.
6. Read a book set on an island--Mystic Isle by Patricia Rice--finished 1/2/16.
7. Read an autobiography--Redneck Boy in the Promised Land by Ben Jones--finished 1/28/16.
8. Read a play--Clit Notes by Holly Hughes--finished 1/31/16.
9. Your choice--Wrong Move by Emma Fawkes--finished 1/2/16.
Bonus books:
Alien Kisses at Midnight by Jessica E. Subject--finished 1/2/16
Baked: Red Velvet Rapture by Colleen Charles--finished 1/3/16
First Ladies: The Life and Legacy of Abigail Adams by Charles River Editions--finished 1/3/16
Evgeni: My Russian Savior by J. A. Fielding--finished 1/4/16
Bridget Bound for the Fountain of Youth--J. R. Luxor--finished 1/4/16
The Duke Needs a Wife/Wanted by the Alpha Billionaire by Julia Regan--finished 1/6/16
Baked 2: Vanilla Vixen by Colleen Charles--finished 1/7/16
Jax: A Cocky Cage Fighter Novel by Lane Hart--finished 1/11/16
Rock Her by Inglath Cooper--finished 1/12/16
One O'clock Hustle by Joanne Pence--finished 1/14/16
Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts by Mitzi Szereto--finished 1/20/16
Once Upon an Arranged Marriage by Julia Regan--finished 1/21/16
Kitten's Punishment by Cassie Donoghue --finished 1/23/16
Keeping Secrets by Verity James--finished 1/23/16
Dangerous Secrets by Julia Regan--finished 1/23/16
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan--finished 1/24/16
Broken by Foxy Tale--finished 1/24/16
The Gazillionaire and the Virgin by Lisabet Sarai--finished 1/26/16
Stepbrother's Rules by Renee Rose--finished 1/30/16
More my January challenge:1. Read a book whose author's surname begins with K.
2. Read a classic.
3. Read a sequel or a remake of that classic (for example: Pride and Prejudice then read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Longbourne)
4. Read a book with a one word title.
"Conversion" by Katherine Howe
5. Read a book written in the decade you were born.
6. Read a book set on an island.
7. Read an autobiography.
8. Read a play.
9. Your choice.
"Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
Just started reading "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche this morning."As teenagers in a Lagos secondary school, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love. Their Nigeria is under military dictatorship, and people are fleeing the country if they can. Ifemelu - beautiful, self-assured - departs for America to study. She suffers defeats and triumphs, finds and loses relationships and friendships, all the while feeling the weight of something she never thought of back home: race. Obinze - the quiet, thoughtful son of a professor - had hoped to join her, but post-9/11 America will not let him in, and he plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London.
Fifteen years later, Obinze is a wealthy man in a newly democratic Nigeria, while Ifemelu has achieved success as a writer of an eye-opening blog about race in America. But when Ifemelu returns to Nigeria, and she and Obinze reignite their shared passion - for their homeland and for each other - they will face the toughest decisions of their lives."
Mod
"As teenagers in a Lagos secondary school, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love. Their Nigeria is under military dictatorship,..."
I found this to be an interesting read. Let me know what you think of it.
-Kate Alcott 1-4-16I found this historical novel to be written well and to have interesting, well-drawn characters; in addition to Tess, the protagonist, I also really enjoyed the character of "Pinky". There was a small element of clean romance in addition to the focus on the inquiries following the sinking of the Titanic; I had never known there were any trials following the tragedy, so that was interesting to learn. I'm glad that the author took some poetic license and had Lady Duff Gordon testify in America because I felt that it helped add a great deal to her character as well as to the overall plot. This book definitely started 2016 off well.
January's challenge:1. Read a book whose author's surname begins with K.
2. Read a classic.
3. Read a sequel or a remake of that classic (for example: Pride and Prejudice then read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Longbourne)
4. Read a book with a one word title.
5. Read a book written in the decade you were born.
6. Read a book set on an island.
Jacob Have I Loved-Katherine Paterson 1-6-16
7. Read an autobiography.
8. Read a play.
9. Your choice.
The Dressmaker-Kate Alcott 1-4-16, Be Still My Soul-Joanne Bischof 1-5-16, Where the Heart Is-Billie Letts 1-11-16, Wanna Get Lucky?-Deborah Coonts 1-15-16, Promise Me This-Cathy Gohlke 1-22-16, Love's Reckoning-Laura Frantz 1-25-16, If Today Be Sweet-Thrity Umrigar 1-27-16, Need You Now-Beth Wiseman 1-28-16
Manda wrote: "Sheila wrote: "Chuck wrote: "Just started reading "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche this morning."As teenagers in a Lagos secondary school, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love. Their Nigeria is..."
Haven't read it but read it in the future. Her style of writing and the charactersshe created are truly amazing.
-Joanne Bischof 1-5-16I really enjoyed this historical Christian romance novel. It was well-written and had well-drawn characters. I especially liked Gideon's character development throughout the novel, which included his conversion near the end of the book. I found the plot to be interesting, and I liked how several difficult issues were dealt with throughout the novel. It has decidedly earned its place on my favorites' list. I look forward to reading more of the series and more by this author.
Manda wrote: "Rachel wrote: "-Kate Alcott 1-4-16I found this historical novel to be written well and to have interesting, well-drawn characters; in addition to Tess, the prota..."
I read "The Life Boat" by Charlotte Rogan a couple of years ago. I enjoyed the story line and gave it 4/5 stars.
Charlotte Rogan has a new book coming out in April called "Now and Again."
"For Maggie Rayburn, wife, mother and secretary at a munitions plant, life is pleasant, predictable and secure. When she finds proof of a high-level cover-up on her boss's desk, she impulsively takes it, turning her world upside down. Propelled by a desire to do good - and a new-found taste for excitement - Maggie starts to see injustice everywhere. Soon, her bottom drawer is filled with 'evidence', her town has turned against her, and she must decide how far she will go for the truth.
Meanwhile, in Iraq, Captain Penn Sinclair's hasty orders have disastrous results. In an attempt at atonement, he reunites with three survivors to expose the truth about the war. Now and Again examines the interconnectedness of lives, the limits of knowledge and the consequences of doing the right thing."
-Katherine Paterson 1-6-16This was a well-written coming-of-age novel with several truly interesting characters. This children's book takes place on an invented island located in the Chesapeake Bay. The author seemingly took several characteristics from the different real islands that are part of Maryland and Virginia's Eastern Shore in order to create one island, which she called Rass Island. The book talks about some true island issues quite well; for instance, she describes the hard work of the non-commercial watermen of the past who would catch crabs and oysters by hand off of rather small boats with a limited number of crewmen, and she also has a hurricane hit the island, (view spoiler) Even though there were some disturbing references in the book having to do with her having a serious crush on a man old enough to be her grandfather upon hitting puberty, I thought the book gave a really good look at how adolescents think, and I especially liked how her perspective of her twin sister affected her view of herself, her place in the family, and even in her understanding of how God viewed her. I really liked the book a great deal.
Manda wrote: "Rachel wrote: "-Kate Alcott 1-4-16I found this historical novel to be written well and to have interesting, well-drawn characters; in addition to Tess, the prota..."
Ironically, that book is already on my to-read list. :) Thank you though.
Rachel wrote: "-Katherine Paterson 1-6-16This was a well-written coming-of-age novel with several truly interesting characters. This children's book takes place on an invente..."
Rachel, this is one of my favorite books from childhood. I just reread it last year and bought it for my daughter to read. I loved how well written it was and it does such a great job of dealing with life on the island as well as the perception of others shaping our own. Loved this book.
Sheila wrote: "Manda wrote: "Colleen wrote: "So on the challenge I'm reading "Star Wars The Crystal Star" for my choice. I'm going to do "Pride and Prejudice" for the classic and "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies"..."It does take a while to get used to her writing style but once I start I find it pretty easy to get into it.
So I finished "Star Wars The Crystal Star". I loved revisiting characters that I love, even the ones who are no longer official. It was a fun way to kick off the new year. Now I'm on to my classic "Pride and Prejudice". It is interesting to reread this one. I never noticed before how quickly Mr. Darcy develops his feelings for Miss Bennett. Very interesting to pick up on that.
-Billie Letts 1-11-16After a slow start, I became truly attached to the characters and the plot. This was such a well-written novel full of interesting characters. The protagonist is seventeen at the beginning of the novel and only in her mid-twenties at the end of it, but she grows a lot as a person in between those points, which is partly due to the fact that she's a single mother. I became emotionally invested in several characters even in the one who made me mad practically every time he appeared. This book has certainly earned a place on my favorites' list.
-Deborah Coonts 1-15-16This was an interesting and fun mystery, but it's not for everyone because there is a great deal of focus on sexual desire and innuendo throughout the novel in addition to a solid vein of romance involving our main character and amateur sleuth. Anyhow, I thought it was written fairly well, and the characters are well drawn. I especially liked how well the protagonist's back story is explained throughout the course of the novel. Overall, I rather liked the book, and I might read more of the series eventually.
Mod
"As teenagers in a Lagos secondary school, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love. Th..."
I did like her style and it clarified a few things for me also.
Sheila wrote: "Chuck wrote: "Manda wrote: "Sheila wrote: "Chuck wrote: "Just started reading "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche this morning."As teenagers in a Lagos secondary school, Ifemelu and Obinze fa..."
Just finished reading "Americanah" this morning. Enjoyed it and I found all the characters very interesting.
More of my January challenge:1. Read a book whose author's surname begins with K.
2. Read a classic.
3. Read a sequel or a remake of that classic (for example: Pride and Prejudice then read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Longbourne)
4. Read a book with a one word title.
"Conversion" by Katherine Howe
5. Read a book written in the decade you were born.
6. Read a book set on an island.
7. Read an autobiography.
8. Read a play.
9. Your choice.
"Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
"The Meryl Streep Movie Club" by Mia March
Just started reading "The Meryl Streep Movie Club" by Mia March this morning. It's our February book club selection for the month."Two sisters and the cousin they grew up with after a tragedy are summoned home to their family matriarch's inn on the coast of Maine for a shocking announcement. Suddenly, Isabel, June, and Kat are sharing the attic bedroom--and barely speaking. But when innkeeper Lolly asks them to join her and the guests in the parlor for weekly Movie Night--it's Meryl Streep month--they find themselves sharing secrets, talking long into the night--and questioning everything they thought they knew about life, love, and one another.
Each woman sees her complicated life reflected through the magic of cinema: Isabel's husband is having an affair, and an old pact may keep her from what she wants most . . . June has promised her seven-year-old son that she'll somehow find his father, who he's never known . . . and Kat is ambivalent about accepting her lifelong best friend's marriage proposal. Through everything, Lolly has always been there for them, and now Isabel, June, Kat--and Meryl--must be there for her. Finding themselves. Finding each other. Finding a happy ending."
-Jodi Picoult 1-17-16I really like this novel because I thought the characters were well drawn and the plot was interesting. As is often the case for "mysteries," I had no idea what the solution was until I was told, so I had fun following the progression of the story and finally finding out what really happened. That being said, there were several things about this book that I disliked. First, Jacob is explained to be a person with Asperger's Disorder, but he isn't like a real person because he contains every single possible quirk of a person with Autism and is extreme in every single one, which is unlikely for a person with Autism, let alone one with Asperger's. With his meltdowns and extreme attachment to routine as well as his other issues, he is much less highly-functioning than someone with Asperger's normally is. The author seemed to want to use a character with a more moderate form of Autism but wanted him to have the type of intellect that a person with Asperger's has. She seemed to have done her research but then not fully understood it; at the very least, she didn't filter it properly. A second issue I had with the novel is that in some places, the narrative is weighed down by textbook-like explanations of what Asperger's and Autism is, and while, as a person with Asperger's, I did relate to some of the statements made about people with Asperger's or Autism, there was just too much factual explanation told and not enough shown through Jacob's character or voice in my opinion. Third, I found Emma's leaving the house at 3 a.m. and running to have an impromptu "meeting" with her son's lawyer to be not only unprofessional but totally out-of-place, as there had been nothing shown of a possible relationship building between them before that; Emma's doing this is especially problematic because her son is on house arrest and she or another adult over 25 is supposed to be present in the house with him at all times, and she, being stressed out or whatever, just takes off and leaves her two sons alone in the wee hours of the night, knowing full well that she isn't supposed to. However, despite all of these issues, I really enjoyed the novel and gave it four stars.
-Cathy Golhke 1-22-16This historical Christian novel covers a wide span of years from the sinking of the Titanic to the end of World War I and within that span of time, two young teenagers mature into young adults who eventually fall in love despite the poor beginnings of their friendship and who both truly learn how to surrender their burdens to Christ. I really liked the character development in this novel and also enjoyed the theme of sacrifice and what it truly means to live for Christ and for others that was weaved throughout the plot. I really enjoyed the novel, and it has won its place on my favorites' list.
So I finished re-reading "Pride and Prejudice" as my classic. I hadn't realized how soon Darcy developed and revealed his feelings. I love this book and always will. As the book inspired by the classic, I'm still waiting for "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" from the library but I read "Longbourn" which is another takeoff of "Pride and Prejudice". It was from the perspective of the Bennetts servants,who are named but barely mentioned in the original. I thought the characters were interesting and I enjoyed their takes on the original characters. It was fun to see how they saw the lives of the Bennetts. Interesting read. After that I finished reading the Warriors series with "The Darkest Hour". It was a great end to Fireheart's story. It was fun to see how the characters grew throughout the series and how things resolved. I loved that series. After that I read "David and the Phoenix". It was a book my husband read and loved as a child. He wanted it for yours and got it for Christmas. It was an entertaining book for young readers. I loved how the Phoenix just had a British feel to him. I loved that characters stories and how he taught David and took him on adventures. That was a fun, easy read. Right now, I'm reading "Kenobi", another Star Wars book that I got for Christmas. I'm loving that book.Hope you all are safe from the storm and enjoying great reading through it if you are stuck in it.
Sheila wrote: "Manda wrote: "Colleen wrote: "So on the challenge I'm reading "Star Wars The Crystal Star" for my choice. I'm going to do "Pride and Prejudice" for the classic and "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies"..."I did watch the Colin Firth version after I finished reading the book. I really enjoyed that version. I felt like they were faithful to the story and it was well acted.
Mod
Sheila wrote: "I just finished one of the best books about a book store. It's called Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store by Robin Sloan. It started slow but when Clay decides to solve the mystery of why so few cust..."Sounds interesting, I'll give it a try.
More of my January challenge:1. Read a book whose author's surname begins with K.
2. Read a classic.
3. Read a sequel or a remake of that classic (for example: Pride and Prejudice then read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Longbourne)
4. Read a book with a one word title.
"Conversion" by Katherine Howe
5. Read a book written in the decade you were born.
6. Read a book set on an island.
7. Read an autobiography.
8. Read a play.
9. Your choice.
"Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
"The Meryl Streep Movie Club" by Mia March
"The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto" by Mitch Albom
Now reading "The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto" by Mitch Albom. I'm about half ways through and wow, what a terrific story!"The voice of Music narrates the tale of Frankie Presto, a Spanish war orphan raised by a blind music teacher. At nine years old, Frankie is sent to America in the bottom of a boat, with an old guitar and six magical strings. But Frankie s talent is touched by the gods, and it weaves him through the musical landscape of the twentieth century, from classical to jazz to rock and roll. Along the way, Frankie translates for Django Reinhardt, backs up Elvis Presley, even counsels Hank Williams. Yet his gift becomes his burden, as he learns his magic strings can deeply affect people s futures. Overwhelmed by life and loss, he disappears for years, only to reemerge in a spectacular and mysterious farewell. With its Forrest Gump like journey through the music world, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto is a classic in the making. Everyone joins a band in this life, Albom observes. And those connections change the world."
-Laura Frantz 1-25-16This was a really good historical Christian romance novel. The characters are well drawn, and I really liked the way the main characters grew and changed throughout the novel. In addition, I enjoyed how things were finally concluded at the end of the story line but still left questions about what might happen in the second book of the series. I look forward to reading more of this series and more by this author, as this is the second novel by her that I've both read and thoroughly liked.
-Thrity Umrigar 1-27-16I really liked this novel focusing on grief and family relationships as well as cultural differences between Indians and Americans. This is the second novel I've read by this author, and I've really enjoyed both. Ms. Umrigar is a brilliant writer whose characters fully live on the page, and I definitely plan to read more of her books.
-Beth Wiseman 1-28-16This book took an interesting look at possible real problems that can occur in a marriage and in a family caused by either a lack of communication or by an incorrect understanding of what is expected of you. I found this contemporary Christian novel to be well-written with well-drawn characters. I really liked it.
Read 100+ Books in 2016
Books mentioned in this topic
If Today Be Sweet (other topics)Need You Now (other topics)
If Today Be Sweet (other topics)
Love's Reckoning (other topics)
Need You Now (other topics)
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1. Read a book whose author's surname begins with K.
2. Read a classic.
3. Read a sequel or a remake of that classic (for example: Pride and Prejudice then read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Longbourne)
4. Read a book with a one word title.
5. Read a book written in the decade you were born.
6. Read a book set on an island.
7. Read an autobiography.
8. Read a play.
9. Your choice.