ANNUAL READING GOAL CHALLENGE for 2015!

[WowLookAtThat]

Book #1 The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstein

Book #2 Accidental Love by Gary Soto

Book #3 The Afterlife by Gary Soto

Book #4 Dear Henry by Judith Arnopp

Book #5 A Texas Legacy Christmas by Diann Mill

Book #6 Summer Promise by Robin Jones Gunn

Book #7 The Name Below The Title by Rupert Alistair

Book #8 The Glass Magician by Charlie N. Holmburg

 

[E&Cmom]

Late to the party but would love to join. I have a goal on goodreads of 65 books. so far I have read 3:

1. Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand...I gave it a 4/5.
2. The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon.....3.5/4
3. Never, Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher....I gave it 4/5 . I would have rated it even higher if it wasn't for the abrupt cliffhanger and making me wait until for the next installment

 

[keiraliz]

Book #1 - The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan

From GoodReads: "Marina Keegan's star was on the rise when she graduated magna cum laude from Yale in May 2012. She had a play that was to be produced at the New York International Fringe Festival and a job waiting for her at the New Yorker. Tragically, five days after graduation, Marina died in a car crash.

As her family, friends, and classmates, deep in grief, joined to create a memorial service for Marina, her unforgettable last essay for the Yale Daily News, 'The Opposite of Loneliness' went viral, receiving more than 1.4 million hits. She had struck a chord.

Even though she was just twenty-two when she died, Marina left behind a rich, expansive trove of prose that, like her title essay, captures the hope, uncertainty, and possibility of her generation. The Opposite of Lonelinessis an assemblage of Marina's essays and stories that, like The Last Lecture, articulates the universal struggle that all of us face as we figure out what we aspire to be and how we can harness our talents to make an impact on the world."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Marina was a talented writer, and she definitely had so much potential ahead of her. However, I do feel like her writing is a little overhyped because she died shortly after her college graduation. I liked her fiction pieces, but I felt like they were incomplete and didn't answer all the questions. I preferred her nonfiction, which I thought they were a lot more meaningful. Nevertheless, the book was certainly enjoyable and worth the read. I gave it four stars on GoodReads.

Next book: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

6/52


https://www.oysterbooks.com/book/vaZnfQxDueodZfKnkMmBvi/pretty-little-liars-6-killer

 

[Pig Pen]

#1 - Bedside Manner by Emily Burke

A young German boy, orphaned and abused, grows up to become a doctor in the Nazi regime and is recruited to conduct "research" in the prison camps. While he abhors the horrific treatment of the prisoners, he is too frightened to do anything about it. This book shows a little insight as to how people were coerced into carrying out Hitler's insane orders.

Revival by Stephen King. This was fairly underwhelming. A young pastor and his family come to town and captivate a boy named Jamie. Rev. Jacobs' hobby is electricity. He begins performing experiments and discovers the power to heal illness with electricity. Jamie's brother is one of his first successes and Jamie feels beholden to the reverend. Eventually a tragedy occurs and the pastor ends up leaving town. As a troubled adult, Jamie meets up with the pastor who is a now working a sideshow attraction in a carnival. His "experiments" have escalated and the recipients of the healings suffer terrible side effects. Jamie feels he must stop him before he unleashes destructive powers from the dark side.

Jamie is the same main character as in all SK novels. I just made this realization! He's down and out, damaged, but has a heart of gold and is able to defeat darkness and evil. This guy is in every book!

I didn't hate the book, but it's probably middle of the pack in terms of SK novels.

Mr. Mercedes just came up in my library queue so I it looks like I will be reading another SK book right off!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I will join in.

I'm not a very good reader. I'm pretty slow, actually. My wife can read one or more books in a day. The closest I've gotten to that is when a new Harry Potter book came out and I would read it literally non-stop until it was done.

So, my goal for the year is 12. A book a month. Mostly a chapter a night. I understand how pathetic that is compared to a lot of you on this thread, but it's more than I read in awhile.

I'm currently reading Concealed in Death by J. D. Robb. After that will be the next book in that series, Festive in Death. Book #3 will be The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler.

Technically, you can say I read a book this year already. Hansel and Gretel by Neil Gaiman. But that was really just a short story (and a retelling of the original story) with illustrations, so I'm not counting it.

 

[auprincess]

#4 ~ What Alice Forgot

I really enjoyed this one!

currently reading Insurgent ~ it's okay...since I read the first one I want to finish the series. At least it's an easy read.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I'm currently reading Concealed in Death by J. D. Robb. After that will be the next book in that series, Festive in Death. Book #3 will be The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler.

Technically, you can say I read a book this year already. Hansel and Gretel by Neil Gaiman. But that was really just a short story (and a retelling of the original story) with illustrations, so I'm not counting it.

J. D. Robb has a new one coming out in February, Obsession in Death.

Maybe that can be number 4.

 

[threeboysmom]

Late to the party but would love to join. I have a goal on goodreads of 65 books. so far I have read 3:

1. Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand...I gave it a 4/5.
2. The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon.....3.5/4
3. Never, Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher....I gave it 4/5 . I would have rated it even higher if it wasn't for the abrupt cliffhanger and making me wait until for the next installment

I will join in.

I'm not a very good reader. I'm pretty slow, actually. My wife can read one or more books in a day. The closest I've gotten to that is when a new Harry Potter book came out and I would read it literally non-stop until it was done.

So, my goal for the year is 12. A book a month. Mostly a chapter a night. I understand how pathetic that is compared to a lot of you on this thread, but it's more than I read in awhile.

I'm currently reading Concealed in Death by J. D. Robb. After that will be the next book in that series, Festive in Death. Book #3 will be The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler.

Technically, you can say I read a book this year already. Hansel and Gretel by Neil Gaiman. But that was really just a short story (and a retelling of the original story) with illustrations, so I'm not counting it.

Have added both of you! Welcome! So glad you could join us!!

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #4 - Fever Dream by Preston Douglas and Lincoln Child

Another Pendergast story which in this one he is solving his wife's murder. The story is good with lots of twists. I liked the Relic series better though.

Yesterday, Special Agent Pendergast still mourned the loss of his beloved wife, Helen, who died in a tragic accident in Africa twelve years ago.
Today, he discovers she was murdered.
Tomorrow, he will learn her most guarded secrets, leaving him to wonder: Who was the woman I married? Why was she murdered? And, above all . . . Who murdered her?
Revenge is not sweet: It is essential.

Next book: The Rosie Effect

 

[dminnie]

I've read Gone Girl (book 1) and Unbroken(book 2). I thought they were both really good. I couldn't really put them down. With Unbroken, I also kept looking up stuff about some of the people. I don't usually like war books, but this story of resilience was amazing. I seem to lean towards books that have been made into movies lately, even though I rarely watch movies. I'll see these when they come out on DVD.

Now I've started The Happiness Project. My goal is 12...one for each month...especially since I haven't done much reading lately. I'm doing pretty well with 2 down and starting the 3rd. I might have to up my goal.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

J. D. Robb has a new one coming out in February, Obsession in Death.

Maybe that can be number 4.

Yep.

Actually I'm waffling on whether to go with Obsession before or after The Long Goodbye. I think I might just feel overloaded reading three In Death books in a row. And I really didn't like the previous one (Thankless).

 

[WDWMom]

#6 Parent Pact by Laurie Kellogg

Another fluff book but this was a great book. Good story line and I would read the other books in the series.

 

[dismom301930]

Book 4 of 52

This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

Summary: The death of Judd Foxman's father marks the first time that the entire Foxman clan has congregated in years. There is, however, one conspicuous absence: Judd's wife, Jen, whose affair with his radio- shock-jock boss has recently become painfully public. Simultaneously mourning the demise of his father and his marriage, Judd joins his dysfunctional family as they reluctantly sit shiva-and spend seven days and nights under the same roof. The week quickly spins out of control as longstanding grudges resurface, secrets are revealed and old passions are reawakened. Then Jen delivers the clincher: she's pregnant. This Is Where I Leave You is Jonathan Tropper's (One Last Thing Before I Go) most accomplished work to date, and a riotously funny, emotionally raw novel about love, marriage, divorce, family, and the ties that bind-whether we like it or not.

Review: I thought this book was very funny, but there were a lot of touching, heartfelt moments as well. Very glad I read it.

Next up: Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

 

[Christine]

Finally!! Book #2/50: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and other concerns) by Mindy Kaling.

Okay, I thought this was a cute, lighthearted read. My guilty pleasure TV show is The Mindy Project. I love her character in that show.

Mindy Kaling seems very down to earth as she describes her childhood, normal upbringing, college life, and how she got into comedy writing. This is her first book and was written while she was still writing/acting in The Office.

Every once in awhile, I need a light, funny book and this fit the bill (much like Amy Poehler's book did).

I recommend it if you are a Mindy fan.

Next up? Not sure. I have five books on hold at the library and not one of them is ready. I do have Stephen King's Revival sitting around waiting for one of my "ebook lulls" so I may start that tomorrow.

 

[portia9]

#6 He That Will Not When He May by Margaret Oliphant-written in the 1800's and a good read.

#7 The Tale of Beatrix Potter by Margaret Lane-brief biography of Beatrix Potter.

I think I might be halfway through around half a dozen books right now. Trying to focus and finish one.

 

[queenofthehive]

4/25 - Whispering in the Dark by Lesley Kagen

Terrific book!

Description from Amazon-

The loss of innocence can be as dramatic as the loss of a parent or the discovery that what's perceived to be truth can actually be a big fat lie, as shown in Kagen's compassionate debut, a coming-of-age thriller set in Milwaukee during the summer of 1959. Ten-year-old Sally O'Malley fears that a child predator who has already murdered two girls, Junie Piaskowski and Sara Heinemann, will target her or her little sister, Troo, next. Sally's mom is in the hospital, while her big sister, Nell, is distracted by love and her stepdad, Hall, by the bottle, so who can save her if the killer is, as she suspects, her neighbor, David Rasmussen, a popular cop who has a photo of Junie hanging in his house? Though the mystery elements are sketchy, Kagen sharply depicts the vulnerability of children of any era. Sally, "a girl who wouldn't break a promise even if her life depended on it," makes an enchanting protagonist.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Book # 1

Morte by Robert Repino

I was able to get a hold of an advance copy. I believe it is coming out any day. I really liked it and gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.

This is a Sci Fantasy book, but with a purpose to it. Less on explaining in scientific detail of how and what happens the book more leans on the conflict and the desperate steps humanity might take in losing the top spot on the feeding chart.

Lots of animals talking, walking, renaming and killing humans. Centering around Morte a house cat who becomes a top mercenary for the Ants army. He ‘s not really a mercenary but whatever his rank is unlike the others he seems kind of indifferent to human or ant control. I get the view that he deems both equally bad, and has come to the conclusion that control in general will just bring down whomever holds it.

All he wants is to find his friend Sheba. Sheba was the next door neighbor’s dog, before the War. This obsession rings throughout the book, and to the colony disrupts the flow of logic and information and on the other side gets viewed as divine intervention. Like I said there is a lot going on. Anyway really liked the characters, and the writing was quite good. If you like really out there SC Fi books and do not get turned off by some not so particularly nice views humans and religion then I would recommend.

As always anyone who would like to read any of my works I would gladly send nook or kindle free gift versions. Hopefully putting book # 4 next month. First venture into science fiction. Has some intelligent animals which is part of reason I was so happy to read this. Wow did we take two different approaches.

 

[kmb584]

Book #4 was Thinner by Stephen King.

Billy Halleck, good husband, loving father, is both beneficiary and victim of the American Good Life: he has an expensive home, a nice family, and a rewarding career as a lawyer. But he is also fifty pounds overweight and, as his doctor keeps reminding him, heading into heart attack country.

Then, in a moment of carelessness, Billy sideswipes an old gypsy woman as she is crossing the street—and her ancient father passes a bizarre and terrible judgment on him.

“Thinner,” the old gypsy man whispers, and caresses his cheeks like a lover. Just one word…but six weeks later and ninety-three pounds lighter, Billy Halleck is more than worried. He’s terrified. And desperate enough for one last gamble…that will lead him to a nightmare showdown with the forces of evil melting his flesh away.

 

[FozzieFan]

2 of 25

Gone Girl

Amazon:
"On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?"

I really didn't want to read this book, I THOUGHT I knew the big events. Boy was I wrong. Great book, great story telling... meh ending, I felt like I was missing a chapter or two at the end.

Up next: Missing You by Harlan Coban