READ 100+ BOOKS IN 2017 discussion

Welcome back this year if you've done this before. Welcome if you haven't joined us in the past. We're here to read, have fun, share books and recommendations.

This year my goal is to read 250 books and 45,000 pages. Last year I didn't make the book goal. I only read 242 books out of 250 books but I did exceed my pages count. I read 45,682 pages while my goal was 40,000 pages.

I have 4 reading challenges I'm doing and A to Z challenges also. I hope some of you will join my on the challenges.

So on to our January challenge:

1. Read a book by an author whose last name begins with V.
2. Read a book about winter.
3. Since it's a new year, read a book with NEW in its title.
4. Since vacation/holiday schedules are coming out, read a book about a place you want to visit.
5. Read a book with a subtitle
6. Read a book with water on the cover.
7. Read a book that is set 5000 miles from your home
8. Read a book with the day of the week in the title.
9. Your choice

9. Fancies & Goodnights

I am loving the short stories. Twisted and fun. Given as a gift for Christmas.

1) Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
2) couldn't find any ( if you can plz suggest)
3)orange is the new black
4)From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne
5)Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
6)Salt to the Sea
by Ruta Sepetys
7)the thorn birds
8)The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
9)forever with me by Kristen Proby


hmmm..... 9 novels. Can I do it?????????
i guess i'll have to wait and see

January Reading Challenge
I love the idea of a challenge, it will help me read new and interesting kinds of books. On the other hand, most of these books were already in my to-read list (I am actually currently reading a couple, like Switch, which is how I know that winter is a big part of the story). So here is my list:

1. A book whose author's last name starts with V.
1. I know how she does it by Laura Vanderkam
2. A book about winter
1. Switch by Ingrid Law
3. A book with New in the Title
1. The New Rules by Bill Maher
4. A book about a place you want to visit
1. Al Capone does my homework: A tale from Alcatraz
5. A book with a subtitle
1. The Grid: The fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future
6. A Book with Water on the Cover
1. The Girl From Everywhere
7. A book that is at least 5000 miles from where I live
1. French Women Don't Get Fat
8. A book with a day of the week in the title
1. Mr. Sunday's Saturday Night Chicken
9. Your Choice
1. Hidden Figures

Little wrote: "January Reading Challenge
I love the idea of a challenge, it will help me read new and interesting kinds of books. On the other hand, most of these books were already in my to-read list (I am actua..."

Welcome! I love challenges also since it expands my reading. I was picking out books for the challenges I signed up for and was able to get 99% of the books with what I have in my house. You look like you have some good choices on your list. I know in February I'll be reading Hidden Figures for my one book club at the library.

Tanishque wrote: "1) Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
2) couldn't find any ( if you can plz suggest)
3)orange is the new black
4)From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne
5)Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheu..."

Welcome! It's okay if you don't read that many. Just have fun here. It's a good place to find recommendations. I loved Frankenstein. Totally different from what I expected but so good.

For the winter book, it could be a book with winter as the time period or snow (or snowy mountains) on the cover or with a character that's a skier, hockey player, football player, ice skater. Anything that happens in winter. The word winter can be in the title. We're pretty loose on interpretations here. I'll be reading A Winter Scandal by Candace Camp for that one.

Jessica wrote: "9. Fancies & Goodnights

I am loving the short stories. Twisted and fun. Given as a gift for Christmas."

Welcome! Let me know how you like it. I belong to a short story club at the library and they are always looking for good short stories.

So here are my choices for January:

2/9, books 11 books

1. Read a book by an author whose last name begins with V.
2. Read a book about winter
3. Since it's a new year, read a book with NEW in its title.
4. Since vacation/holiday schedules are coming out, read a book about a place you want to visit.
5. Read a book with a subtitle: Kingdom Under Glass: A Tale of Obsession, Adventure, and One Man's Quest to Preserve the World's Great Animals by Jay Kirk--finished 1/22/17
6. Read a book with water on the cover.
7. Read a book that is set 5000 miles from your home
8. Read a book with the day of the week in the title
9. Your choice--Converging Parallels by Timothy Williams--finished 1/2/17

Bonus:
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman--finished 1/5/17
Lending a Paw--Laurie Cass--finished 1/8/17
Thor: The Goddess of Thunder--finished 1/9/17
Books for Children of the World: The Story of Jella Lepman by Sydella Pearl--finished 1/22/17
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah--finished 1/28/17
Mercy and Mayhem by Ava Mallory--finished 2/1/17
3 beta reads

My daughter has already read Hidden Figures and found it to be somewhat dry. I am going to read it anyway, and hope that she likes the movie better than the book.

I found us. So my choice to start the year and the challenge was "Ahsoka", one of the newest Star Wars books out there. I am a huge Star Wars geek for those who don't know me. It was an excellent addition to the expanded universe. It filled in some of the gaps in Ahsoka's story between the end of the Clone Wars and the start of Rebels. She is becoming one of my favorite characters in the universe. I have started reading "Notes from a small island", which will be my book about a place I want to visit someday. I would love to visit England so that is a good place to start.
Welcome to all the new members. I look forward to seeing the books you all love. Happy 2017!!!!!

Little wrote: "My daughter has already read Hidden Figures and found it to be somewhat dry. I am going to read it anyway, and hope that she likes the movie better than the book."

It's February's book club choice at the library so I'll be reading it. I'll have to see it I agree with her.

Hi . I began with who moved my cheese. here's my review.
Kindly review :)

http://vaishaliwrites.blogspot.com/20...



book:Who Moved My Cheese?|4894]

I completed my 1st book yesterday
it as "Forever with me in seattle" by Kristen Proby
under "you own choice" of book
https://literaryescpades.wordpress.co...
Check out the review.

Vaishali wrote: "Hi . I began with who moved my cheese. here's my review.
Kindly review :)

http://vaishaliwrites.blogspot.com/20...

I read this book for work several times. It is a good way to reframe your thoughts about change and learning to see change in a positive way.
Nice review.



book:Who Moved My Cheese?|4894]"

January 2017 Challenge
Begins: 01Jan17 / Ends: 31Jan17

5 / 9 completed

1. Read a book by an author whose last name begins with V.

2. Read a book about winter - A Big Sky Christmas ✔ – 149Jan17

3. Since it's a new year, read a book with NEW in its title.

4. Read a book about a place you want to visit - CHILE - Portrait in Sepia ✔ – 09Jan17

5. Read a book with a subtitle - When Books Went to War: The Stories that Helped Us Win World War II ✔ - 03Jan17

6. Read a book with water on the cover.

7. Read a book that is set 5000 miles from your home - almost 6000 miles! - A Constellation of Vital Phenomena ✔ - 08Jan17

8. Read a book with the day of the week in the title.

9. Your choice - Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil ✔ - 18Jan17

Book Concierge wrote: "January 2017 Challenge
Begins: 01Jan17 / Ends: 31Jan17

0 / 9 completed

1. Read a book by an author whose last name begins with V.

2. Read a book about winter.

3. Since it's a new year, read a ..."

Welcome Book Concierge! I'm glad you're here. I enjoy Paging All Bookworms.

I just finished the most wonderful book, A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. It reminded me of the movie Steel Magnolias. You'd be laughing then something would happen and you'd be in tears then someone would say or do something and you'd be laughing again. Ove was like that. He said what most people think but don't say. He is so much fun! There is always someone needing something so that he can't join his wife that day. Laugh, then cry, then laugh again. It's a keeper!

Well, I searched for it and found it. :)

I just finished Hidden Figures and found that I agree with my daughter. There is a lot of great info in the book, but it is hard to keep it all straight. My daughter wrote a great review here on Goodreads, and I have to agree with everything she said. If you are looking for a book on the history of segregation/intergration then this is your book. If you are looking for a story of these women's lives, you may be disappointed.

I have finished three of the 9 books for the month, and am working on number 4 (as well as a couple that are not on the list). I guess that means that I am on track to finish them all.

So this year I want to get my reviews and comments posted faster than normal. I've done quite a bit of reading so far to start this year. I finished Bill Bryson's "Notes from a Small Island" about travelling through Great Britain one last time before he came back to the US. I found it funny at times and I enjoyed it but I admit that sometimes Bryson's sarcasm can be a bit much. Though he keeps most of his sarcasm out of this book, it gets a bit rough in a couple of places. I read "Chronicles of a Pittsburgh Family" which was written about growing up in my hometown during the 1920s and 1930s. It was interesting to see how things have changed or vanished. The author's stories entertained me and the book showed an upper middle class lifestyle of that time period. I reread "Call of the Wild" by Jack London. I love Buck's story and the images of the Northwest during the gold rush. It is brutal at times but overall an excellent book. I read "Thunder Rising" from the Warriors series to continue along with that. That was one of my favorites from the series. It really moves the cats forward toward becoming the clans we know from other books. There is also some interesting thoughts on the formations of societies and governments and family relationships. I look forward to reading the rest of that series. And the last book I finished so far is "The Princess Diarist". For those new to the group, I am Sheila's huge Star Wars geek sister so I will have many reviews of Star Wars books, new and old. Obviously, I had to read the book Carrie Fisher wrote from diaries she found that she kept while filming the original movie. It was funny and included excerpts from those diaries. I found it interesting to read in light of her history with drug addictions and mental health issues. These words were penned before those happened and at times that was obvious. Fisher used her usual humor to handle all her subjects. Next up I am going to read "Through the Looking Glass" to finish up Alice's adventures. Happy Reading!

https://literaryescpades.wordpress.com/2017/01/04/during-the-dance-mark-lawrence/
here's the review for my 2nd book called as During the Dance by Mark Lawerence

https://literaryescpades.wordpress.com/2017/01/05/the-virgin-secretarys-impossible-boss-carole-mortimer/
This is the link for my third book of the month The Virgin's Secretary's Impossible Boss by Carole Mortimer.

https://literaryescpades.wordpress.com/2017/01/16/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child/ this is the review for the 4th book i I read this month Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

This is what I've read so far this year:

-Wanda E. Brunstetter 1-3-17
This was a well-written series of Amish novellas all in one volume. I thought the characters were well drawn, especially the four prominent ones. I found the plot to be entertaining with an element of suspense included in its story of love and faith. The only thing I disliked is that the series ended with only a side note about two of the four main characters, and I would have liked a bit more about them, so because the story ended that way, I awarded this little series four stars rather than five.

-Nancy Mehl 1-6-17
This was an interesting Christian mystery novel with a love story intertwined with it. I liked the characters and the overall story line. All of the twists and turns of the plot were exciting all while keeping the slower pace of a novel set mainly among the Mennonites. I liked it even more this second time reading it.

-Nancy Mehl 1-8-17
This was an interesting Christian mystery novel with a love story intertwined with it. I liked the characters and the overall story line. All of the twists and turns of the plot were exciting all while keeping the slower pace of a novel set mainly among the Mennonites.

-Michael Phillips 1-14-17
This was a well written and quite interesting Christian historical fiction novel with well developed characters. There are several branches of this somewhat complex plot, and although it does take well over a hundred pages for the connections between the different pieces to gradually come to light with the final piece of the mysterious puzzle finally falling into place only a few chapters away from the novel's conclusion, I found after a while that I ceased to care whether or not the seemingly unconnected story lines set up at the beginning of the novel would ever become connected at all because I became so invested in the lives of several of the characters and found their individual histories to be quite interesting. This novel of what will surely be fantastic series has definitely earned a place on my favorites' list, and although I gave it four stars rather than five, I did so because of that really slow start--the first third or possibly even half of the novel is introducing the characters before plot connections really start being revealed--and because the novel ends so abruptly, and I'm longing to know what happens next and can't find out any time soon.

-Dani Pettrey 1-16-17
This was a well written and entertaining Christian suspense novel with a romantic subplot. I really liked the characters and the interesting plot twists along the way. I truly enjoyed it, and I look forward to reading more of the series. It has earned its place on my favorites' list.
Note: I rather wish I'd reread the first book before reading this one though; I'd hoped I remembered enough of the first one to press on without doing so, but I should have known better. However, I wasn't too lost and would have been fine even if I'd never read the first book at all.

1. Read a book by an author whose last name begins with V.

2. Read a book about winter.
Shattered-Dani Pettrey 1-16-17

3. Since it's a new year, read a book with NEW in its title.

4. Since vacation/holiday schedules are coming out, read a book about a place you want to visit.

5. Read a book with a subtitle

6. Read a book with water on the cover.

7. Read a book that is set 5000 miles from your home

8. Read a book with the day of the week in the title.

9. Your choice
The Discovery Saga Collection: A 6-Part Series from Lancaster County-Wanda E. Brunstetter 1-3-17, Simple Secrets-Nancy Mehl 1-6-17, Simple Deceit-Nancy Mehl 1-8-17, The Inheritance-Michael R. Phillips 1-14-17

Jan 21 - Currently Reading

TEXT - Breathing Lessons / Anne Tyler
AUDIO in the car - The Husband / Dean Koontz
MP3 Player AUDIO - Maisie Dobbs / Jacqueline Winspear

Little wrote: "I just finished Hidden Figures and found that I agree with my daughter. There is a lot of great info in the book, but it is hard to keep it all straight. My daughter wrote a great review here on Go..."

I will be reading that book for book club in February. Thanks for the info.

Little wrote: "I have finished three of the 9 books for the month, and am working on number 4 (as well as a couple that are not on the list). I guess that means that I am on track to finish them all."

Just have fun! If you don't get the books on the challenge, it's okay. The main thing is to enjoy reading.

If you are looking for an interesting non-fiction book I finished KINGDOM UNDER GLASS: A TALE OF OBSESSION, ADVENTURE, AND ONE MAN'S QUEST TO PERSERVE THE WORLD'S GREAT ANIMALS by Jay Kirk. It's about Carl Ankely who improved taxidermy in the early years of the 20th Century. It tells what he did. It also follows him on his safaris to Africa to get animals for his dioramas at the American Natural History Museum. He survived a leopard and an elephant attacks that would have killed most others. I liked his first wife Micki a lot. They were a matched pair and a good team. I highly recommend this.

Hello everyone! It's been awhile since I've "spoken" to any of my Goodreads friends. Hope all of you are doing well!

Here's my January challenge:

1. Read a book by an author whose last name begins with V.

2. Read a book about winter.
The Highwayman (Book 11.5 of the Walt Longmire series) by Craig Johnson

3. Since it's a new year, read a book with NEW in its title.

4. Since vacation/holiday schedules are coming out, read a book about a place you want to visit.
City of Secrets (Book #2 of the Miranda Corbie series) by Kelli Stanley. Takes place in San Francisco,
and
Trophy Hunt (Book #4 of the Joe Pickett series) by C.J. Box. Takes place in the state of Wyoming.

5. Read a book with a subtitle

6. Read a book with water on the cover.

7. Read a book that is set 5000 miles from your home.
The King of Plagues (Book #3 of the Joe Ledger series) by Jonathan Maberry.

8. Read a book with the day of the week in the title.

9. Your choice
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.

Chuck wrote: "Hello everyone! It's been awhile since I've "spoken" to any of my Goodreads friends. Hope all of you are doing well!

Here's my January challenge:

1. Read a book by an author whose last name begin..."

Welcome back! Hope you're doing well.

Sheila wrote: "Chuck wrote: "Hello everyone! It's been awhile since I've "spoken" to any of my Goodreads friends. Hope all of you are doing well!

Here's my January challenge:

1. Read a book by an author whose l..."

Thanks Sheila, it's good being back. Lots of things occurring the past 3-4 months.

More of my January challenge:

1. Read a book by an author whose last name begins with V.

2. Read a book about winter.
-The Highwayman (Book 11.5 of the Walt Longmire series) by Craig Johnson

3. Since it's a new year, read a book with NEW in its title.

4. Since vacation/holiday schedules are coming out, read a book about a place you want to visit.
-City of Secrets (Book #2 of the Miranda Corbie series) by Kelli Stanley. Takes place in San Francisco,
and
-Trophy Hunt (Book #4 of the Joe Pickett series) by C.J. Box. Takes place in the state of Wyoming.

5. Read a book with a subtitle

6. Read a book with water on the cover.

7. Read a book that is set 5000 miles from your home.
-The King of Plagues (Book #3 of the Joe Ledger series) by Jonathan Maberry.
-The Flying Dragon by Georges Ugeux (takes place in Hong Kong and Shanghai).

8. Read a book with the day of the week in the title.

9. Your choice
-Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.
-kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Just started reading "kindred" by Octavia E. Butler

"Dana, a modern black woman, is celebrating her twenty-sixth birthday with her new husband when she is snatched abruptly from her home in California and transported to the antebellum South. Rufus, the white son of a plantation owner, is drowning, and Dana has been summoned across the years to save him. After this first summons, Dana is drawn back again and again to the plantation to protect Rufus and ensure that he will grow to manhood and father the daughter who will become Dana's ancestor. Yet each time the stays grow longer and more dangerous until it is uncertain whether or not Dana's life will end, long before it has even begun."

-Kristy Cambron 1-21-17
I truly enjoyed this historical novel about life and love but most of all the circus. There was a large element of suspense as well. The book was well written and the characters, especially Rosamund and Mable, were well drawn. There were some Christian references, but not enough that I would actually consider it to be Christian fiction per se; however, it was a good, clean read for sure.

-Nancy Mehl 1-22-17
This was an interesting Christian mystery novel with a love story intertwined with it. I liked the characters and the overall story line. All of the twists and turns of the plot were exciting all while keeping the slower pace of a novel set mainly among the Mennonites. I wish this were not the last book of this series because I would love to read more about Grace and Sam and the fun little town of Harmony.

More of my January challenge:

1. Read a book by an author whose last name begins with V.

2. Read a book about winter.
-The Highwayman (Book 11.5 of the Walt Longmire series) by Craig Johnson

3. Since it's a new year, read a book with NEW in its title.

4. Since vacation/holiday schedules are coming out, read a book about a place you want to visit.
-City of Secrets (Book #2 of the Miranda Corbie series) by Kelli Stanley. Takes place in San Francisco,
and
-Trophy Hunt (Book #4 of the Joe Pickett series) by C.J. Box. Takes place in the state of Wyoming.

5. Read a book with a subtitle

6. Read a book with water on the cover.

7. Read a book that is set 5000 miles from your home.
-The King of Plagues (Book #3 of the Joe Ledger series) by Jonathan Maberry.
-The Flying Dragon by Georges Ugeux (takes place in Hong Kong and Shanghai).

8. Read a book with the day of the week in the title.

9. Your choice
-Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.
-kindred by Octavia E. Butler
-Memory Man by David Baldacci

So I haven't read a lot of the side challenges but I have read some additional interesting books. Over the last 2 weeks, I read "Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll. It continues the strangeness of Alice. This book is a chess match with a drug trip combined. It was not what I expected but I liked it better than "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". I also continued on in the Warriors series with "The First Battle". This book entertained me and kept the action moving. It also gave some back story for some of the rogues and kitty pets who are now interacting more with the mountain cats. I still really enjoy this series. I read a collection of short stories "The Best American Mystery Stories 2016". My favorite in that collection is a takeoff of Poe's "Murders in the Rue Morgue", excellent story worth reading. The rest of the collection was enjoyable and diverse. Not all the stories were my cup of tea but they were written well. I read "To America" by Stephen Ambrose, the historian. That book was timely reading for the events that are happening right now in our world. Ambrose shares what he learned along the way while writing his other books. He shares what America had done well and where we need to improve in order to stop repeating our mistakes. Very good read. The last book I have finished is "Inside a Silver Box". It is by Walter Mosley who normally writes crime fiction but tries science fiction for this undertaking. It was excellent. I loved the characters and the story was done well. I felt more time could have been used for the climax but I feel that this was on of my favorite books so far for 2017. I look forward to what February brings. Right now, I'm reading another Star Wars book "Rogue One Catalyst", which is a prequel to the current movie. Happy Reading.

-Tamera Alexander 1-26-17
This was what I said in 2014, and it still holds true: "I really loved this historical novel. It was a complex, sweet story, and I enjoyed the characters. I loved the themes of new birth, baptism, and forgiveness woven into the romance." I had entirely forgotten about this series when I was recently reminded of it when a fellow Goodreads friend had the second book on their to-read list, so I decided to reread this one and see if I can get the rest of the series as well.

-Tamera Alexander 1-29-17
Part of what I said about the first novel of this series holds true for this second one: "I really loved this historical novel. It was a complex, sweet story, and I enjoyed the characters." Also like the first novel, this second one was written well and had well developed characters; however, there wasn't an element of suspense in this one as there was in the first, which I was a bit disappointed by, but I still really loved the novel and how the main characters gradually ended up truly becoming known to the other with no important secrets left between them. So, this novel joins its predecessor on my favorites list.

RE: Post # 15

I managed to finish 5 of 9 tasks in January ...

Book Concierge wrote: "RE: Post # 15

I managed to finish 5 of 9 tasks in January ..."

As long as you had fun reading them, that is all that matters.

Book Concierge wrote: "Jan 21 - Currently Reading

TEXT - Breathing Lessons / Anne Tyler
AUDIO in the car - [book:The Husban..."

I loved Maisie Dobbs. I need to get back into the series.