Here it is - the OFFICIAL 2014 READING GOAL CHALLENGE THREAD

[Briarmom]

I am SLACKING!!

3/50 The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I know this is a kid's book, but it's my favorite of the Wilder books. I can't explain why exactly.

4/50 Half the Sky by Nicolas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

Here is part of the Amazon summary:

From two of our most fiercely moral voices, a passionate call to arms against our era’s most pervasive human rights violation: the oppression of women and girls in the developing world.

With Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn as our guides, we undertake an odyssey through Africa and Asia to meet the extraordinary women struggling there, among them a Cambodian teenager sold into sex slavery and an Ethiopian woman who suffered devastating injuries in childbirth. Drawing on the breadth of their combined reporting experience, Kristof and WuDunn depict our world with anger, sadness, clarity, and, ultimately, hope.


I believe this is a must read for all women. If you haven't, please watch the PBS documentary of the same name.

 

[allenfane]

Finished #5 Journey to the Centre of the Earth. In addition to this challenge, I've also joined the GoodReads 2014 challenge (same goal of 50). What is nice is that it has a little tracker on the side that helps keep you motivated. It tells you how many books you have read (once you mark them as read), and lets you know if you are falling behind schedule, which apparently I was. That motivated me to finish Journey in a mini-marathon last night.

I wasn't going for another Verne, but while browsing on my Sony for my next book (was leaning towards Sherlock Holmes) I ended up clicking on The Castle in Transylvania, also called The Carpathian Castle. This book actually predates Stoker's Dracula by 5 years (1892 vs 1897), although I don't know if Verne had any influence on Stoker.

From the Amazon book description:

Back from the dead: the first ever zombie story

Before there was Dracula, there was The Castle in Transylvania. In its first new translation in over 100 years, this is the first book to set a gothic horror story, featuring people who may or may not be dead, in Transylvania.

In a remote village cut off from the outside world by the dark mountains of Transylvania, the townspeople have come to suspect that supernatural forces must be responsible for the menacing apparitions emanating from the castle looming over them.

But a visiting young count scoffs at their fears. He vows to liberate the villagers by pitting his reason against the forces of superstition – until he sees his dead beloved walking the halls of the castle….

allenfane

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've got a question, readers-has anyone read anything by Emile Richards? She's been recommended to me for my next read. I like Sherryl Woods, Susan Wiggs, Dorothea Benton Franke, stuff like that.

 

[Jafar30]

I'd like to get in 25 this year. Harry Potter, some Stephen King, specifically the Dark Tower and whatever else hits my fancy.

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone-Currently reading

 

[dismom301930]

Book 6/50 - Suspect by Robert Crais

Review from Amazon - LAPD cop Scott James is not doing so well. Nine months ago, a shocking assault by unidentified men killed his partner, Stephanie, nearly killed him, and left him enraged, ashamed, and ready to explode. He is unfit for duty—until he meets his new partner. Maggie is not doing so well, either. A German shepherd who survived two tours in Afghanistan sniffing explosives before losing her handler, her PTSD is as bad as Scott’s. They are each other’s last chance. And they’re about to investigate the one case no one wants them to touch: identifying the men who murdered Stephanie. But what they find could ultimately break them both.

This was a decent book….it was a very fast read. The only thing I did not like was that the author had the K9 dog narrate some of the chapters ("Maggie thought…") For some reason, that bothered me a bit although I thought Maggie was a great character in the book!

I have been trying to read Orphan Master's Son for Book Club, and I just can't get into it. I will try again soon.

 

[Jafar30]

What if we go over our goal? Do we get a cookie?

 

[Kinziepoohsmom]

I have been a little slow updating my reading list but here goes.
#2 The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Klein (struggled with this but am glad I stuck with it)
#3 Final Appeal by Lisa Scottoline
#4 Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich
Next up will be The Invention of Wings.

 

[tiggrbaby]

#7/40: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This has already been discussed, so I will only give my impression.

At first, I found the style difficult. But I was so captivated with Liesel that it no longer mattered. I loved the message that words are so powerful.

4/5

 

[Pig Pen]

#3 of 25 - City of Thieves by David Benioff. I loved this book. It was sad, funny, tragic and uplifting. I live in Florida but the author managed to transport me back to WWII Russia. I felt the cold, pain, and fear of each character. Some of the reviews complain about the graphic violence, but I didn't find it any worse than many other stories about war. I highly recommend it!

Next up is The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides.

 

[CallieMar]

6/50 - Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Blehhhhh. Everyone who warned me...you were right, I hated the ending. Too bad because I really liked the first book.

 

[Talking Hands]

I will say 200. Already in January I read 20 books

 

[Jafar30]

#3 of 25 - City of Thieves by David Benioff. I loved this book. It was sad, funny, tragic and uplifting. I live in Florida but the author managed to transport me back to WWII Russia. I felt the cold, pain, and fear of each character. Some of the reviews complain about the graphic violence, but I didn't find it any worse than many other stories about war. I highly recommend it!

Next up is The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides.

I think that's the same David Benioff that is in charge of Game of Thrones

 

[Swimnoid]

10. Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn by Ridley Pearson
Second of the Kingdom Keepers series. It was ok, I read it before and just wanted to freshen my memory before going on with the series.

11. Singularity by Kathryn Casey
This is the first in a series about a female Texas Ranger. I had read the second one first. The books stand alone though. A wealthy businessman is murdered and his wife is the prime suspect but Sarah Armstrong does not believe it and goes about trying to find the real killer. I liked it

12. In the Water They Cant See You Cry: a Memoir by Amanda Beard
This is an autobiography of Amanda Beard, a 4 time Olympic swimmer and former world record holder. From outside you would think Amanda had it all and life was all rosy. That was far from the truth and Amanda went very deeply into all the problems she dealt with throughout her life. Very interesting!

 

[camreesmom]

I am really behind. Just finished book #2 - The Husband's Secret by Liana Moriarty. It took me a few chapters to get into it and I almost gave up on it more than once. It was a quick read once I did get into it though. The husband's "secret" was not what I imagined & I loved the way all the characters intertwined. I'd give it 4/5.

 

[wilma-bride]

Just finished book #6 - The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald
He's gone. And telling the truth won't bring him back...

When a baby goes missing on a lonely roadside in Australia, it sets off a police investigation that will become a media sensation and dinner-table talk across the world.

Lies, rumours and guilt snowball, causing the parents, Joanna and Alistair, to slowly turn against each other.

Finally Joanna starts thinking the unthinkable: could the truth be even more terrible than she suspected? And what will it take to make things right?

Quite often, it is just the synopsis of a book which can urge me to read it. And, in this case, that is exactly what persuaded me that I had to read this book. I even paid to download it from Amazon (it's rare for me to read a 'paid for' book nowadays ). I couldn't wait to get started on it. The truth of how the baby goes missing is revealed fairly early on in this book but that doesn't detract at all from the plot or the storyline. Even though I thought I knew how it was going to end, I just had to keep reading. And I was not disappointed. This was a really good read and I will definitely be seeking out more of her books

 

[threeboysmom]

Books 8-14 of 50

#8- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
#9- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
#10- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
#11- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
#12- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
#13- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
#14- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows

Whoa! You read all 7 in a row like that?? I wish I could do that, but I'm too ADHD for it, lol. I've spread them out over a 2-year period (not ideal since I forget so much between books!!)

I'm on the 7th book right now, and can I just say I don't want to read it any more?? I literally haven't been able to put this book down, but now that I'm almost done it (and have a good idea of where the story is heading), I don't want to touch it!!

 

[threeboysmom]

I'd like to get in 25 this year. Harry Potter, some Stephen King, specifically the Dark Tower and whatever else hits my fancy.

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone-Currently reading

I will say 200. Already in January I read 20 books

A big welcome to both of you! So glad you could join us!

Just finished book #6 - The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald
He's gone. And telling the truth won't bring him back...

When a baby goes missing on a lonely roadside in Australia, it sets off a police investigation that will become a media sensation and dinner-table talk across the world.

Lies, rumours and guilt snowball, causing the parents, Joanna and Alistair, to slowly turn against each other.

Finally Joanna starts thinking the unthinkable: could the truth be even more terrible than she suspected? And what will it take to make things right?

Quite often, it is just the synopsis of a book which can urge me to read it. And, in this case, that is exactly what persuaded me that I had to read this book. I even paid to download it from Amazon (it's rare for me to read a 'paid for' book nowadays ). I couldn't wait to get started on it. The truth of how the baby goes missing is revealed fairly early on in this book but that doesn't detract at all from the plot or the storyline. Even though I thought I knew how it was going to end, I just had to keep reading. And I was not disappointed. This was a really good read and I will definitely be seeking out more of her books

Hmmm... sounds like my kind of book! Adding this one to my LOOOOOOONG list of "to read" books...

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #13 - Good Kings Bad Kings by Susan Nussbaum

I picked this book b/c the synopsis said it was told in the point of view of kids/people with disabilities. I taught special ed so I was interested in reading this. Well, it takes place in a nursing home facility where the disabled go to when they have no one else or their family can't take care of them. It is quite a depressing story & had horrible, tragic events happen just like you'd think could in a poorly run facility like this. It was difficult & upsetting to read what happens to these kids & I would give a word of caution for anyone thinking about reading this. It doesn't exactly have a great ending either. I would not describe this as a "feel good" story at all as the synopsis suggested.

Bellwether Award winner Susan Nussbaum’s powerful novel invites us into the lives of a group of typical teenagers—alienated, funny, yearning for autonomy—except that they live in an institution for juveniles with disabilities. This unfamiliar, isolated landscape is much the same as the world outside: friendships are forged, trust is built, love affairs are kindled, and rules are broken. But those who call it home have little or no control over their fate. Good Kings Bad Kings challenges our definitions of what it means to be disabled in a story told with remarkable authenticity and in voices that resound with humor and spirit.

Next book: Netherwood

 

[HulaHoopy]

#3 - War Brides by Helen Bryan - This was very confusing with all the different characters at first, but the ending answered all my questions.

#4 - The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher - This was given to me to read and was the first I have read by Ms Fisher. The writing was much better than other Amish fiction books I have read. I just found out this is the first of the series and I will probably read the others if I can borrow them too.

 

[jenny105]

Whoa! You read all 7 in a row like that?? I wish I could do that, but I'm too ADHD for it, lol. I've spread them out over a 2-year period (not ideal since I forget so much between books!!)

I'm on the 7th book right now, and can I just say I don't want to read it any more?? I literally haven't been able to put this book down, but now that I'm almost done it (and have a good idea of where the story is heading), I don't want to touch it!!

I read all 7 of them in a row. No way I'd remember all the details if I didn't!