Here it is - the OFFICIAL 2014 READING GOAL CHALLENGE THREAD

[K and K's Mommy]

#2 - What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

I really liked this book. Alice hits her head and wakes up having forgotten the last ten years of her life. She thinks she is pregnant with her first and in a great marriage when in reality she has three children and getting a divorce. That's the main story, but there are a couple of side stories going on about her grandma and sister.

I have a bunch of options to read next but decided to go with the first Outlander book because it is from the library. I thought I would love them based on reviews, but I am having trouble getting into it. I think I will give it until page 100.

 

[xlsm]

Finished book 3 of 45 today, Nos4A2 by Joe Hill.

For those of you who don't know, Joe Hill is Stephen King's son. I discovered him after his first novel Heart-Shaped Box came out. I read it and hated it. I read it again and loved it. After that I was hooked.

I think Nos4A2 is my favorite of his novels, excluding his short story compilation 20th Century Ghosts.

Vic, our heroine, is perfect. She's strong of heart and wickedly flawed. Charlie Manx, the antagonist, is evil and creepy, and one of the most fun villains I've come across. Hill is a great writer and throws in a little nod to his pops every now and then. I don't even know how to describe the plot, really, but here's my best shot:

Charlie Manx has been taking children off to Christmasland for years and years and remains on the loose until 17 year old Vic McQueen goes looking to find trouble and finds it for sure. She's responsible for Manx's capture. Her life spirals out of control, and he gains strength once again. Vic has to get herself together to stop him for good. (no one's ever hiring me to write on a book jacket, lol)

This book is not for the faint of heart, but if you enjoy Stephen King you should enjoy this. I rate it a super solid 4/5.

 

[Darcy03231]

Just finished #3/52 - The Omega Command by Jon Land. From Amazon:

"A space shuttle is destroyed during flight, and the CIA recalls disgraced agent Blaine McCracken to uncover the people responsible.

A space shuttle disappears during a routine repair mission, 180 miles above Earth’s surface. An intelligence operative with a dark secret is murdered, his car set ablaze, while he is in the middle of fulfilling a depraved fantasy. And a reporter receives a message from a dying man that suggests the organization responsible may be one of the world’s most prestigious corporations.

The government knows just one man who can untangle this mystery: a throwaway on the deactivated list. Exiled to a desk job in Paris for stepping on the wrong toes, Blaine McCracken is a killer—a ruthless pursuer of truth who will let no one, friend or enemy, stand in his way when civilian lives are in danger.

McCracken gets results, and his country needs him now more than ever."

This is the first time I've read anything by this author (got the book on my Kindle for .99) and I plan to read more. I really liked it a lot. It was fast paced with lots of twists and turns. I give it a 4 out of 5.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

#2 - What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty I really liked this book. Alice hits her head and wakes up having forgotten the last ten years of her life. She thinks she is pregnant with her first and in a great marriage when in reality she has three children and getting a divorce. That's the main story, but there are a couple of side stories going on about her grandma and sister. I have a bunch of options to read next but decided to go with the first Outlander book because it is from the library. I thought I would love them based on reviews, but I am having trouble getting into it. I think I will give it until page 100.

I can't wait to read that book

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Double post

 

[cristit14]

I would like to join the fun too! I just got myself set up on Goodreads to keep track. I'm going low on my goal and saying 20, I may adjust that later. I finished Orphan Train over the weekend. I really enjoyed it.

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#2 The Innocent by Harlan Coben

From Goodreads:
One night, Matt Hunter innocently tried to break up a fight and ended up a killer. Now, nine years later, he’s an ex-con who takes nothing for granted. His wife, Olivia, is pregnant, and the two of them are closing on their dream house. But all it will take is one shocking, inexplicable call from Olivia’s phone to shatter Matt’s life a second time.

This was pretty good altho it had way too many characters to keep track of for me.

 

[portia9]

#5 Pride and Prejudice: The Scenes Jane Austen Never Wrote

This is written as a series of short behind the scenes stories from Pride and Prejudice by various authors that write Austen fan fic. I really liked this.

 

[threeboysmom]

I'd like to join! I think I'll set my goal for 25 to start, hopefully I can surpass that!

At present, I'm reading 'Call The Midwife' It's the Jennifer Worth book that the series was produced from. It's really really good and provides and insight to what childbirth was like after WWII.

Thanks for the support!!

I would like to join the fun too! I just got myself set up on Goodreads to keep track. I'm going low on my goal and saying 20, I may adjust that later. I finished Orphan Train over the weekend. I really enjoyed it.

Welcome to both of you! So glad you could join us!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I just read this article on books to read before they hit the theaters:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/books-to-read-before-they-hit-theaters-this-year?bffb

I may try a few of these out myself.

 

[phorsenuf]

Finished book 3 of 45 today, Nos4A2 by Joe Hill.

For those of you who don't know, Joe Hill is Stephen King's son. I discovered him after his first novel Heart-Shaped Box came out. I read it and hated it. I read it again and loved it. After that I was hooked.

I think Nos4A2 is my favorite of his novels, excluding his short story compilation 20th Century Ghosts.

Vic, our heroine, is perfect. She's strong of heart and wickedly flawed. Charlie Manx, the antagonist, is evil and creepy, and one of the most fun villains I've come across. Hill is a great writer and throws in a little nod to his pops every now and then. I don't even know how to describe the plot, really, but here's my best shot:

Charlie Manx has been taking children off to Christmasland for years and years and remains on the loose until 17 year old Vic McQueen goes looking to find trouble and finds it for sure. She's responsible for Manx's capture. Her life spirals out of control, and he gains strength once again. Vic has to get herself together to stop him for good. (no one's ever hiring me to write on a book jacket, lol)

This book is not for the faint of heart, but if you enjoy Stephen King you should enjoy this. I rate it a super solid 4/5.

I liked this book too. Read it during last years challenge. Check out Horns. It gets mixed reviews but I thought it was great.

So I'm reading Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens and it is sooooooo incredibly long. It was originally published as installments and I think I will treat it as such versus a regular novel. I'm almost 1/4 of the way through and I think I will stop there and move on to another book and then go back to that and read some more of it.

 

[wvjules]

I just read this article on books to read before they hit the theaters:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/books-to-read-before-they-hit-theaters-this-year?bffb

I may try a few of these out myself.

Thanks for that. I've read a few of them; Dark Places, Gone Girl, Unbroken, The Fault in Our Stars. Now I want to read Winter's Tale, maybe Divergent. The Giver has been on my list for a while. Definately have to read it now.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I just read this article on books to read before they hit the theaters:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/books-to-read-before-they-hit-theaters-this-year?bffb

I may try a few of these out myself.

Thanks! Labor Day sounds good! I love Unbroken. It is one of my all time favorites. It reads more like a novel than nonfiction.

 

[Caseheidi]

4/60. Mr Darcy Came to Dinner by Jack Caldwell

Summary from GoodReads
In this humorous re-imagining of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet's pet cat causes an unfortunate accident to befall the haughty Mr. Darcy, forcing the injured gentleman to reluctantly take up residence at Longbourn-- more specifically, in the parlor of Longbourn!

In pain, forbidden to leave by his doctors, Mr. Darcy cannot escape the ridiculous antics of the Bennet clan.

And when Georgiana Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh arrive to visit the invalid, chaos, confusion, and hilarity ensue!

Inspired by the classics of comedy, author Jack Caldwell transforms Austen's beloved novel into a tour de force of farce. The Regency will never be the same!

I was a little worried reading a book that changes the story of one of my favorite books, but I really enjoyed this one. I thought the author did a great job keeping the style similar to Austen, and the characters voices similar. If you love P&P, I would recommend this one.

 

[xlsm]

I liked this book too. Read it during last years challenge. Check out Horns. It gets mixed reviews but I thought it was great.

I have all of his books, actually. I was hooked after Heart Shaped Box. His new short story came out yesterday, and I already have that one on my nook as well. He's found a way to separate himself from his father's writing while honoring it too. Good for him, b/c that's a hard act to follow!

 

[mumloveseeyore]

book 5/150 the Mangle street murdera by M R C Kasasian
from amazon Funny, fresh and sharply plotted Victorian crime starring a detective duo to rival Holmes and Watson.

Gower Street, London, 1882: Sidney Grice, London's most famous personal detective, is expecting a visitor. He drains his fifth pot of morning tea, and glances outside, where a young, plain woman picks her way between the piles of horse-dung towards his front door. Sidney Grice shudders. For heaven's sake - she is wearing brown shoes.

Set between the refined buildings of Victorian Bloomsbury and the stinking streets of London's East End, THE MANGLE STREET MURDERS is for those who like their crime original, atmospheric, and very, very funny.
I felt that this was ok, it didnt seem to know how seriously to take itself seriously or not. Having said that i would read another by this author.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Numbe seven = Twisted Disney: Satire and Shenanigans by The Cousin Mickey Doesn't Talk About

Amazon description From crazy side of the Disney Community comes a book that contains some of the craziest Disney satire ever. From funny fake news to the crazy truth behind the Yeti not working, this book has something for everyone.
Read about your favorite Disney Community members in humorous situations.
Read about the truth behind some of the changes to your favorite Disney World rides.
If you are a fan of Disney World give this book a shot.

My review: This book is a collection of blog posts by The Cousin Mickey Doesn't Talk About. Yes, they're satirical. They're as funny and entrtaining as I expected. The author even introducs us Disney fan(ataics) to a new description of us: Deeks. Disney geeks. I like it. The one drawback - grammar and factual errors that likely could have been caught with editing - that had me ready to rate this book three stars, was alleviated by the author's afterword. I'm ready to read her/his other existing books, and I've found the blog

Almost nothing in the book is true. The author tells us that up front. I found it really enjoyable.

Sure, I'm being picky about some things - like using 'out right' instead of 'outright' or affect instead of effect. But 'signs' when the author probably means 'lines', or Seeing Eye Dog then just a few sentences later calling it a See and Eye Dog? But the mistake that bothered me most, especially coming from a Deek, was referring to Walt Disney World as the Happiest Place on Earth. A true Deek would know that's Disneyland, and that WDW is the Most Magical Place on Earth.

 

[zippitydoo]

Book 1 of 50: A Shade of Blood(A Shade of Vampire, #2) by Bella Forrest

From Goodreads
n A Shade Of Blood, Bella Forrest transports you deeper into a unique, enthralling and beautifully sensitive story. Prepare to be lost in its pages…

When Sofia Claremont was kidnapped to a sunless island, uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet, she believed she’d forever be a captive of its dark ruler, Derek Novak.

Now, after months of surviving an endless night, the morning sun may soon rise again for Sofia. Something has possessed Derek’s heart and he offers her a gift no human slave has ever been given in the history of his cursed island: escape.

High school, prom and a chance to move on with her life now await her.

But will she be able to forget the horrors that steal her sleep away at night? … and the feelings that haunt her for that tormented prince of darkness?

 

[dizluvah]

2014 Goal - Please add me to the fist post please! Thanks

Book 1
Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich (yes, related to Janet Evanovich)
4 stars
Cute romantic comedy - depressed heavy girl meets a personal trainer on a plane - she decides to hire him...they become friends and more

Book 2
Hidden Order by Brad Thor
4 Stars
Multiple kidnappings happen across the country on the same day and each of the missing people is connected to a government agency...

Book 3
Escape by Barbara Delinski
2 stars
You realize you aren't happy with life (work, marriage, etc). In the middle of the day, you leave work, go home and pack a bag and just walk out of your regular life.
I wanted to like this book but just can't quite get there.

Book 4
Redwood Bend by Robyn Carr
2 Stars
Single mother of twins has a chance meeting with pilot from another state when her car has a flat and he and some of his buddies stop mid motorcycle ride to render aid. Love story ensues...

Currently I am reading Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman
I am about 50% through and it is a little slow but I am interested in finishing it.

 

[threeboysmom]

Thanks for that. I've read a few of them; Dark Places, Gone Girl, Unbroken, The Fault in Our Stars. Now I want to read Winter's Tale, maybe Divergent. The Giver has been on my list for a while. Definately have to read it now.

Don't forget about The Book Thief too!