Around the USA in 52 Books discussion

52/52 completed

Alabama Looking for Alaska 2/2/13
Alaska The Call of the Wild 8/1/13
Arizona The Bean Trees 1/18/13
Arkansas Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock 4/18/14
California The Age of Miracles 5/1/13
Colorado Plainsong 3/12/14
Connecticut The Patron Saint of Butterflies 7/18/13
Delaware Beloved DNF-tried twice
Florida Their Eyes Were Watching God 1/20/13
Georgia The River Witch 3/16/13
Hawaii No Footprints in the Sand 3/12/14/
Idaho Angle of Repose 8/26/13
Illinois Twenty Years at Hull House 8/13/13
Indiana The Magnificent Ambersons 7/11/14
Iowa A Thousand Acres 6/18/13
Kansas The Good Lord Bird 12/22/13
Kentucky Uncle Tom's Cabin 7/4/13
Louisiana A Gathering of Old Men 4/1/13
Maine The Burgess Boys 5/31/13
Maryland Kindred 8/7/13
Massachusetts The Traitor's Wife 9/8/13
Michigan Middlesex 2/19/13
Minnesota The Lighthouse Road: A Novel 3/25/13
Mississippi The Reivers 1/14/13
Missouri The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 6/6/13
Montana In Open Spaces 7/20/13
Nebraska One of Ours 4/21/13
Nevada The Art of Disappearing: A Novel 7/2/13
New Hampshire Our Town 8/8/13
New Jersey The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao 6/1/14
New Mexico Death Comes for the Archbishop 11/23/13
New York The Golem and the Jinni 6/29/13
North Carolina A Land More Kind Than Home: A Novel 2/4/13
North Dakota The Round House 2/2/13
Ohio Winesburg, Ohio 8/3/13
Oklahoma The Grapes of Wrath 7/17/13
Oregon The Postman 7/7/13
Pennsylvania American Rust 10/5/13
Rhode Island The Marriage Plot 9/15/13
South Carolina The Kingdom and The Prophet 3/5/13
South Dakota Buffalo for the Broken Heart: Restoring Life to a Black Hills Ranch 6/22/13
Tennessee A Death in the Family 3/7/13
Texas billy lynn's long half time walk 1/6/13
Utah When the Emperor Was Divine 7/4/13
Vermont See Now Then: A Novel 6/15/13
Virginia Witches on the Road Tonight 8/23/13
Washington The Orchardist 4/20/13
West Virginia Mean Season 7/24/13
Wisconsin Carry the One 5/11/13
Wyoming Letters of a Woman Homesteader 9/21/13
Washington D.C. Five Chiefs: A Supreme Court Memoir 3/17/13
Road Trip USA American Gods 11/3/13

I need a cocktail after adding all the books

You are all ready for the great read. The cocktail is a wonderful idea for a satisfying finish on Dec. 31, 2013.

Cheers ;-)
Looks like some great reading is ahead.

Looks like a great list!

I have to add two more possibilities: for Georgia The River Witch (own) and for Michigan Once Upon a River (own).

Can you tell I've been to my local bookstore, again!!

I just finshed which I read for the state of Texas. Excellent book. My full review can be found here:
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/38...

January was a good start for the USA tour. I read , , , and for Texas, Mississippi, Florida, and Arizona. Best book read in January - Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk.
I have been stuck in North Dakota for awhile with The Round House so I think I'll take a quick journey to Alabama with Looking for Alaska.

I am headed to Florida next and think I will read Their Eyes Were Watching God

February was a pretty good run. I read , , , and for Michigan, North Dakota, Alabama, and North Carolina. Best book read in February - Middlesex.
I have 2 more books to read for the Tournament of Books than I'll focus back on this challenge.

I thought March would be a bust with trying to get the Tournament of Books Challenge read, but I was happily surprised. I read , , , , , and for Georgia, Minnesota, South Carolina, Washington D.C., and Tennessee. Best book read in March - The Lighthouse Road: A Novel. I seem to be reading mostly in the South, so I think for April I'll head to the Northeast.

I only read three books for this challenge in April - , , and for Louisiana, Washington, and Nebraska. All three books were fabulous, but I think the best book read in April was A Gathering of Old Men not sure why - maybe because I am in the middle of teaching The Civil Rights Movement in school and it really moved me. Not sure what May looks like for reading. I'm doing a lot of after school tutoring this month to get my students ready for the state history test. Happy Reading everyone.

May was crazy busy, but I managed to read , , and for California, Wisconsin, and Maine. I technically haven't finished The Burgess Boys yet, but have about twenty pages to go and will finish it tonight, so I'm claiming it for May. The best book I read in May was The Burgess Boys - it may be the best book I've read all year. My review is forthcoming.

Now that school is out I'm hoping to make a huge dent in this challenge. In June I read , , , , and for New York, Missouri, Vermont, Iowa, and South Dakota. The best book I read in June would have to be The Golem and the Jinni (my review), because it was so well-written, but Buffalo for the Broken Heart: Restoring Life to a Black Hills Ranch made me look at what we're eating and go out and purchase buffalo meat to try which we will be eating more of for a healthier lifestyle. In July I'm going to knock out the western states and make my way back to the east coast.

Wow! You are absolutely killing this challenge! With great books too :D

What did you think of Age of Miracles? I admire your reading speed!

Louise wrote: "What did you think of Age of Miracles? I admire your reading speed!"

Hi Louise, If you are a huge fan of YA books then I think you might like it, but I wasn't that impressed (here's my entire review). If you are looking for a book for California, I think there are much better books out there.

I'm trying to knock out a ton of books this summer because when school starts again - September will be a bust.

I think I gave it 2 stars, so I wasn't all that impressed either.

I like YA authors like Garth Nix and Susan Cooper though.

In July I read , , , , , , and for Connecticut, Kentucky, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah. The best book I read in July was The Grapes of Wrath. I am so glad I finally read this American classic.

I'm currently reading (very slowly) Twenty Years at Hull House for Illinois, but am also going to start The Call of the Wild for Alaska today. My goal for August is to read at least 8 books for this challenge - we'll see how it goes.

I am posting my August books read now since school has started for teachers this week and I know I won't get a chance to read anything between now and the end of the month.

In August I read , , , , , , for Alaska, Illinois, Ohio, Maryland, Idaho, New Hampshire, and Virginia. The best book I read in August was The Call of the Wild another classic that I should have read long ago.

I have 12 books left for the challenge and was hoping to complete the challenge by the end of October, but I think November might be more realistic.

Jayme
I found your list ,so I wouldn't have had to ask how far along you are. You are doing great ! Not much further to go until you have completed all the states .
Good job :)

Are you going to try one of the "Around the World" ones next ?

I just joined Around the World in 52 Books one of the moderators for that challenge (Jenny) is the moderator for this challenge. That is a "go at your own pace" challenge. I also belong to other groups to keep my reading interesting.

Sounds interesting. I was just looking at 2 different ones , one that you have to read 52 books, the other is 80. Haven't read further enough on them yet to see all the extras that go along with each one .
I signed up for the seasonal challenge one too, but I think I may step out of that currently . I tend to be like a kid in a candy store when I see so many fun groups. I want to join them all, but I know I couldn't keep up with that many . It might be fun to do both the US and World one ,though .
It wouldn't limit my book selection then ,with so many places to choose from . If they are both go at your own pace, that would also be nice.

Wow! You are doing really well!!! I've thought about doing the Around the World challenge starting next year, I will have to check it out for sure! I already have too many challenges going on for this year to add another.

Marianne wrote: "Wow! You are doing really well!!! I've thought about doing the Around the World challenge starting next year, I will have to check it out for sure! I already have too many challenges going on for t..."

I tend to get carried away with my challenges and the groups I have joined. I was going to wait until 2014 to join the Around the World group/challenge, but to many books were coming up that I wanted to read now. You are knocking the challenge out, too. I hope you have a great school year.

I'm posting my September reads now since I know I won't finish my current read, American Rust, by October 1st.

In September I read , , and for Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Wyoming. I did try (twice) to read Beloved for Delaware , but couldn't finish it. I am still counting it though. The best book I read in September was Letters of a Woman Homesteader. If you haven't read a book for Wyoming I highly recommend this one.

I have 8 more books to go to complete this challenge - fingers crossed.

You are so close to being done! Keep up the awesome work!!!!

That worries me about Beloved- it seems a love it/ hate it book. I'd definitely count it though, two attempts is more than what most books get :)

You are really making good progress. Another Cather novel set (partially) in New Mexico is The Professor's House. (Also happens to be one of my favorite books of all time, whereas DeathCFTA didn't make as big an impression--although most consider it a masterpiece.)

Thomas wrote: "You are really making good progress. Another Cather novel set (partially) in New Mexico is The Professor's House. (Also happens to be one of my favorite books of all time, whereas DeathCFTA didn't ..."

Willa Cather is my mom's favorite author and I think she almost had a heart attack when I told her last year that I hadn't read anything by Cather. Needless to say, I received 5 Cather books from Santa last Christmas although The Professor's House wasn't one of them. I will definitely put it on my TBR list. Thanks for the insight.

In October I read for Pennsylvania and am close to wrapping up for the road trip. I will have 6 books to go to finish the challenge by December -I just wish my life would stop interfering with my reading.

In November I read and for the road trip and New Mexico. American Gods was my favorite of the two, but neither really rocked my world. 5 to go.

Great list and thanks for the link to the map! I just created one for my 2014 page. I like (and am going to steal) your cocktail idea, but I'm thinking one after each book is more my speed. I like the idea of drinking a cocktail, beer or glass of wine from the state. Thanks for the inspiration of adding my love of adult beverages to my love of reading and roadtrips :)

Cheers!

Taylor wrote: "Great list and thanks for the link to the map! I just created one for my 2014 page. I like (and am going to steal) your cocktail idea, but I'm thinking one after each book is more my speed. I li..."
I like your idea of a cocktail after each state... Does that mean I must now drink 47 adult beverages :)

Jayme wrote: I like your idea of a cocktail after each state... Does that mean I must now drink 47 adult beverages :)

I think you can probably get away with implementing that going forward and into 2014. I know if I attempted to drink more than 3-4 drinks in one evening, I'd be hungover until 2014!

I read in December for Kansas, but it could work for Virginia and the road trip too, if you are in need of a book for those categories. It was good once I got over the liberties that McBride was taking with history (as an American history teacher this drives me crazy with historical fiction.

This challenge has been very fulfilling on many levels. I read a great cross-section of books and managed to knock out 6 Pulitzer Prize winners , , , , , .
My favorite book read in 2013 for this challenge was . The story was so raw and emotional - it really captured the essence of a group of people and a moment in history.
I have 4 more books to read for this challenge which I will finish in 2014. Happy Reading in the new year.

I haven't forgotten about this challenge/group. I have been very busy reading books for the Tournament of Books before the bracket is released the end of February. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be any books on the list for Around the US. I plan on reading my last 4 books for our group in March/April. Happy reading!!

Finally back to this challenge. My goal is to read the last 4 books by the end of the school year - June 16th. I did read for Hawaii. It was interesting and gave a different perspective about Molokai and those suffering from Hansen's disease. I do want to read more about Father Damian and his mission since reading the book.

I'm listening to The Good Lord Bird now, after it won the tournament of books, hope my expectations aren't too high! :-)

In April I read for Colorado. It was very good - not what I expected. Two more to go and I will have completed this challenge :)

Louise wrote: "I'm listening to The Good Lord Bird now, after it won the tournament of books, hope my expectations aren't too high! :-)"

I know what you mean. After a book wins a ton of awards I always cross my fingers that it lives up to the hype :)

I plan to read Plainsong for my Colorado pick, too. So glad you enjoyed it! I have The Good Lord Bird on my "want to purchase" list. I'm hoping if I wait, I can get it for a good price!

In June I read for New Jersey. I have one more book to go for Indiana and then I am finished with this challenge.

Way to go, Jayme!

With the The Magnificent Ambersons for Indiana (my review is here) I have finally completed my jaunt around the U.S. I had a lot of fun and read some wonderful books. Good luck everyone.

Congratulations!!! Now that you've journeyed across the whole United States, where will you go next?

Suzanne wrote: "Congratulations!!! Now that you've journeyed across the whole United States, where will you go next?"

Good question, Suzanne. I am in the group Around the World in 52 books and am no where near finished, so I think I'll focus on that and also just read what ever strikes my fancy. :)