Here it is - the OFFICIAL 2014 READING GOAL CHALLENGE THREAD

[PigletsPal2]

Goal: 100 books this year, plus the Bible in its entirety.

Finally finished book #1 of this year's challenge!

Park Avenue by Frances Osborne covers the stories of Michael Campbell and his sister Grace, lower-class Londoners in the early 1900s who are determined to better their lot without having to go "into service," Edward and Beatrice Masters, children of the "big house" where Grace ends up working as a housemaid while Michael clerks at a local law office, and all their various friends and relations and how they all handled their situations before, during and after WWI.

It was interesting, but there were so many characters and too many sub-plots for my taste. I had a little trouble keeping track of everyone and his/her comings and goings.

Queen Colleen

 

[saratogagirl12]

Finished book 1/25.

Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson.

I have books turned/turning into movies on my list of books to read. The story line interested me and I saw that Nicole Kidman will be starring. It kept me interested enough that I stayed up late trying to finish. Then the last 50 or so pages were a struggle to get through. It was definitely not a book I was sad to finish. Over all it was ok; however, I will not pay to see the movie as this would be one of those movies where I would fast-forward the ending.

Next on my list: Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card

 

[CallieMar]

I can't get to the library until Tuesday so I ended up reading:

2/50 - Sous Chef: 24 Hours on the Line by Michael Gibney

This was an ARC that I won in a Goodreads giveaway last month. It's exactly what it says on the tin: a day in the life of a chef in a high end NYC restaurant. It's not scandalous as some chef memoirs can be but instead brings you right into the heat and intensity of the kitchen on a busy Friday night. It's told from second person perspective so that takes some getting used at first but I found it to be a very interesting read.

 

[portia9]

#3 Imperial Requiem:Four Royal Women and the fall of the Age of Empires by Justin Vovk

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16029307-imperial-requiem?ac=1

#4 A Sprig of Lavender by Susan Ralph

 

[Narnian_Princess]

1/30 - The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I like reading books that give me insight into things I have never and probably/hopefully will never experience. The two John Green books I've read so far definitely fit into that category.

We all know we're going to die, but the teens in this book face that sentence much sooner than most people-- they're dying of cancer and are unlikely to reach their twenties (those that do live with the constant possibility of relapse). As a result, they're trying to navigate school, their illness, love, loss, and their existential questions all at once.

Several people have told me "you will definitely cry a lot" during this book, but that's not necessarily true. It put a lump in my throat and made my cheekbones ache, for sure, but no tears. The existential questions are painfully familiar-- What's the point of living if nobody will remember me? Do I matter? Why? -- but, as in life, there are no real answers. Just perspective and belief and being.

Pros: realism, insight into a different type of existence, interesting characters and character development

Cons: wasn't written quite as well as I expected given the hype, a little melodramatic even as it tries desperately to be the opposite (note: I'm not averse to melodrama, just melodrama trying to be something else)

Rating: 3.5/5

 

[KimR]

1/50: A Tap on the Window by Linwood Barclay:

Since private investigator Cal Weavers teenage son died in a tragic accident, Cal and his wife have drifted apart. Cal is mired in a grief he cant move past. And maybe his grief has clouded his judgment.

Driving home one night, a rain-drenched girl taps on his car window and asks for a ride. He knows a grown man picking up a teenage hitchhiker is foolishbut he lets her in. Cal soon senses that somethings not right with the girl or the situation. But its too late. Hes already involved.

Drawn into a nightmare of secrets, lies, and cover-ups in his small, upstate New York town, Cal knows that the only thing that can save him is the truth. And hes about to expose the towns secrets one by oneif he lives long enough.

I generally like Linwood Barclay, however I did not care for this one (his latest). Aside from dragging a bit and not holding my interest, I thought the ending was horrible. I give it 2 stars.

Next up: Night Film by Marisha Pessi

 

[Ginny Favers]

My 1/25 was a New Adult called PICTURE PERFECT, that I got for free on my kindle.

2/25 was THE HOBBIT, which probably needs no introduction.

What can I say, my interests are varied!

 

[3smithboys]

I have a quick question... is anyone counting books they are re-readng as part of their 2014 book count or only new books for the year? There are a few books that I would like to read again, but i was wondering what you all were thinking/doing about re-reads towards the book count....

 

[wvjules]

I have a quick question... is anyone counting books they are re-readng as part of their 2014 book count or only new books for the year? There are a few books that I would like to read again, but i was wondering what you all were thinking/doing about re-reads towards the book count....

Count it however you want. IMO, though, I would count it. A book read is a book read whether it is the first time or the tenth time.

 

[Ginny Favers]

I have a quick question... is anyone counting books they are re-readng as part of their 2014 book count or only new books for the year? There are a few books that I would like to read again, but i was wondering what you all were thinking/doing about re-reads towards the book count....

Oh, goodness, I've read the Hobbit 8 times and this is my 9th. I counted it. It totally counts. Every time I read it I pick up something new.

 

[3smithboys]

ok, thanks!!! I didn't want to "cheat"...

 

[threeboysmom]

Books goals are updated. As far as I know, I have everyone up to this point, lol.

Some of you are moving right along!

And there are NO rules... whatever you feel comfortable with counting towards your goal is perfectly acceptable. This thread is just about getting people to read more than what that might have had they not set a goal. As long as you're reading SOMETHING, it counts!

 

[camreesmom]

As long as you're reading SOMETHING, it counts!

Good thing because my 1/25 was a completely trashy novel.....

Along the lines of Fifty Shades..... Burn (part of the Breathless Trilogy) by Maya Banks.

 

[HulaHoopy]

Can you add me to the list for 40 books? My new job (long train ride) is giving me the opportunity to read a lot!

 

[jenny105]

First two books of the year down - I just finished up The Kill Order by James Dashner (prequel to Maze Runner) and Just One Year by Gayle Forman.

The Kill Order was meh. I was more interested in learning about how Wicked began and how Thomas & Teresa helped the creators. That's not what this book was about. It was all about how the Flare was released and introduced me to new characters I didn't care about.

Just One Year was a decent read but I liked Just One Day better. I think because I liked Allyson better than Willem. Both of these books do not compare to If I Stay and Where She Went. Absolutely loved those books and tore through them.

Next up Hopeless by Colleen Hoover.

 

[Momof3dogs]

4/50
A Beautiful Wedding---Jamie McGuire

This is a novella that clears up questions after reading the two books in this series. It only took a few hours to read.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Number six: "Brief Anecdotes from an Amusing Life" by Rick Williams

Amazon (author's) description: This book is a topical, true collection of funny and occasionally painlessly poignant Anecdotes of relatively brief lengths. Great illustrations for speeches etc., and just plain fun to read alone or to others!. Many of the Anecdotes come from the humorous sides of unlikely places like hospitals, country clubs, schools, vacation homes, funeral homes, summer camp, nursing homes, vacation homes and home, homes. Nearly all pick up on human nature and human interest! Most of the Anecdotes feature real "Characters," including myself; people you will always remember forget! Others feature great places; and many feature people and places interacting. It runs the gamut from rural living to urban life, from laughing out loud to smug smirking. Chapters and parts can be read together or separately. Many of the anecdotes can stand alone.

My review: Enjoyable; The experiences in this book are amusing and entertaining. It's the experiences of an ordained minister, and while I tend not to read religion-based books, this one was fun. It could use a little spelling and punctuation editing, and there are a couple of unfinished sentences

I actually didn't appreciate that there was no mention of the author's vocation in the description, since it played such a big part in the book.

 

[tiggrbaby]

1/30 - The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I like reading books that give me insight into things I have never and probably/hopefully will never experience. The two John Green books I've read so far definitely fit into that category.

We all know we're going to die, but the teens in this book face that sentence much sooner than most people-- they're dying of cancer and are unlikely to reach their twenties (those that do live with the constant possibility of relapse). As a result, they're trying to navigate school, their illness, love, loss, and their existential questions all at once.

Several people have told me "you will definitely cry a lot" during this book, but that's not necessarily true. It put a lump in my throat and made my cheekbones ache, for sure, but no tears. The existential questions are painfully familiar-- What's the point of living if nobody will remember me? Do I matter? Why? -- but, as in life, there are no real answers. Just perspective and belief and being.

Pros: realism, insight into a different type of existence, interesting characters and character development

Cons: wasn't written quite as well as I expected given the hype, a little melodramatic even as it tries desperately to be the opposite (note: I'm not averse to melodrama, just melodrama trying to be something else)

Rating: 3.5/5

Okay, you talked me out of it! My oldest son had stage 4 Hodgkin's when he was a teen (11 year survivor now), and I don't need to read about the experience.

 

[wgeo]

2/30 Mirage by Clive Cussler

From Amazon: In October 1943, a U.S. destroyer sailed out of Philadelphia and supposedly vanished, the result of a Navy experiment with electromagnetic radiation. The story was considered a hoax—but now Juan Cabrillo and his Oregon colleagues aren’t so sure.

There is talk of a new weapon soon to be auctioned, something very dangerous to America’s interests, and the rumors link it to the great inventor Nikola Tesla, who was
working with the Navy when he died in 1943. Was he responsible for the experiment? Are his notes in the hands of enemies? As Cabrillo races to find the truth, he discovers there is even more at stake than he could have imagined—but by the time he realizes it, he may already be too late.


This is a fun read, all of Clive Cussler's books tend to be a little over the top and sometimes have a little too much technical info, but the characters are well developed, especially if you read all the books in the series and they are full of fast-paced (if somewhat hard to believe) action. I would recommend.

 

[Narnian_Princess]

Okay, you talked me out of it! My oldest son had stage 4 Hodgkin's when he was a teen (11 year survivor now), and I don't need to read about the experience.

I'm so very sorry you had to go through that. Having read the book, I now have a mere shadow of an inkling of an idea of what that must have been like. So glad you and your son have been among those blessed with survival.