Here it is - the OFFICIAL 2014 READING GOAL CHALLENGE THREAD

[threeboysmom]

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

Yeah, that was my problem. I forgot so much!! Maybe someday I'll have to reread them all again, this time in order.

Still have about 50 pages left and I don't want to continue, lol.

Anyways.... starting to think about my next book. The Dog Stars by Peter Heller is on my list and available as an ebook for downloading. Has anyone read this or familiar with it?

 

[rainydayplay]

Uhh...either 3 or 4 of 30? (Gosh...I have got to keep better records...): Teardrop by Lauren Kate (author of the Fallen series).

From Amazon:

Never, ever cry. . . . Eureka Boudreaux's mother drilled that rule into her daughter years ago. But now her mother is gone, and everywhere Eureka goes he is there: Ander, the tall, pale blond boy who seems to know things he shouldn't, who tells Eureka she is in grave danger, who comes closer to making her cry than anyone has before.

But Ander doesn't know Eureka's darkest secret: ever since her mother drowned in a freak accident, Eureka wishes she were dead, too. She has little left that she cares about, just her oldest friend, Brooks, and a strange inheritance—a locket, a letter, a mysterious stone, and an ancient book no one understands. The book contains a haunting tale about a girl who got her heart broken and cried an entire continent into the sea. Eureka is about to discover that the ancient tale is more than a story, that Ander might be telling the truth . . . and that her life has far darker undercurrents than she ever imagined.

I got this for Christmas. I really enjoyed reading the Fallen series, so when I saw this, I told Mom I wanted it. It is apparently really hard to shop for me for Christmas...so whatever I ask for (which generally isn't much...), I get.

It took me way too long to read it, but that's more for reasons like...I took it to school and left it last weekend (definitely could have finished reading it while we were in Atlanta for DD's dance competition.) It took a bit for me to get into it, but, once I did...I had a hard time putting it down. 3.5 * of 5.

 

[mumloveseeyore]

book 19/150a kentish lad by frank muir
from an amazon review
I always admired Frank Muir based on seeing some of his TV appearances. A true British gentleman, with a quick mind and a happy, humourous outlook. This autobiography conveys this same sense of the man but with a wealth of experiences covering his RAF exploits in the second World War, his radio and TV script-writing, and his roles as Entertainment department heads in the BBC and independent television. Throughout, Frank Muir comes over as a thoughtful man who focused on what was important to viewers and listeners, and a willingness to take risks on new programmes and new entertainers.

This book is a pleasant and easy read - not a gripping novel by any means, but a happy and relaxed way to unwind in good company. If you've enjoyed British TV comedy in the sixties, seventies, and eighties it's likely that Frank Muir played a role in your favourite programme and this book will allow you to reminisce happily.
this was a warm interesting read, 4 out of 5

 

[zippitydoo]

Book 15 of 50

A Shadow of Light(A Shade of Vampire #4) by Bella Forrest

From Goodreads:

ince the implosion at The Oasis and Derek's stay at Hawk Headquarters, The Shade has fallen into a state of utter chaos. To make matters worse, the citizens of Derek's kingdom have become suspicious of his loyalties and accuse him of siding with the enemy... At a time when Derek desperately needs full cooperation from his subjects, they wish to put their own King on trial.

Meanwhile, Sofia is being held hostage by the hunters. They are determined to rid her of her infatuation with the vampire. She submits to the strict routine and training they impose on her, but the only fuel that keeps her going is the thought of reuniting with Derek - something Reuben is fighting with every fiber of his being to ensure will never happen.

...Until one day, out of the blue, Reuben appears to have a change of heart and comes to Sofia with a proposal; a solution that she never dreamed possible. A solution that would fulfil her heart's deepest desires and secure her and Derek's future together, forever.

But can she really trust this man who is so renowned for his hatred of vampires? Does she even have a choice?

 

[threeboysmom]

#5 of 30

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Loved this series! Each book got better and better as the series progressed. I literally could not put the last book down (except for the last 100 pages because I didn't want to find out how it ended, lol).

Next Up: The Dog Stars by Peter Heller..... except I could just not get into this book despite its great reviews. Ugh, I very rarely quit a book and really hate to do so, but I had to say no to this one. Just did not grab my interest AT ALL.

Now I'm trying The Woods by Harlan Coben - my very first experience with this author. LOVE this book so far!!

 

[wilma-bride]

Now I'm trying The Woods by Harlan Coben - my very first experience with this author. LOVE this book so far!!

If you love this one, you will enjoy more by him - I personally didn't think this was one of his better books.

ETA: Just wanted to clarify - it's still a good book but there are better ones of his worth a read

 

[Darcy03231]

#17 Sweet Liar by Jude Deveraux. From Amazon:

"It was her father's dying wish that Samantha Elliot search for her grandmother, who'd disappeared from Louisville when she was a baby. So here she was, in big, dirty New York City...her parents were dead, her divorce was final, and she was all alone....

Michael Taggert was Samantha's landlord, and he was easily the most beautiful man she'd ever seen. He was charming, too -- his zest for life was so contagious that in his presence Sam bloomed like a flower after the rain. Yet Mike could only get so far with her -- when he tried to get closer, it was like running into a brick wall.

But Mike wouldn't give up. As they probed her grandmother's past, he was slowly uncovering the joy and affection Samantha had buried long ago -- and leading them closer to the dangerous truth about a bloody spring night in 1928, and a seductive blues singer named Maxie...."

It was a nice light read and I really enjoyed it. I've read other books by this author and I like how she ties former books into her current ones. I'd give it a 4/5.

 

[CaliBear]

Book 4 of 30: Fire From Heaven by Mary Renault

This was a historical novel about Alexander the Great. From Amazon:

Alexander’s beauty, strength, and defiance were apparent from birth, but his boyhood honed those gifts into the makings of a king. His mother, Olympias, and his father, King Philip of Macedon, fought each other for their son’s loyalty, teaching Alexander politics and vengeance from the cradle. His love for the youth Hephaistion taught him trust, while Aristotle’s tutoring provoked his mind and Homer’s Iliad fueled his aspirations. Killing his first man in battle at the age of twelve, he became regent at sixteen and commander of Macedon’s cavalry at eighteen, so that by the time his father was murdered, Alexander’s skills had grown to match his fiery ambition.

I am now reading The Gordonston Ladies Dogwalking Club by Duncan Whitehead.

 

[Glynis]

Goal - 70 Books

Book #5 - "The Seven Mouths of God" by Megan K. Olsen

From Goodreads: In a future one hundred years from now, in a world where the sun has become a distant memory and snow and ice are a permanent state, seven child prophets have been sent to bring the light back into a world where darkness now reigns. Aiding them in their quest are a small group of humans from different backgrounds and faiths along with the last of the archangels, led by a disgruntled Gabriel and steadfast Michael. It is now a race against time to unite these seven "trumpets" of God before the light leaves the world and those who reside within it forever.

My review: I may be a bit biased on this book, as it was written by a former student of mine, but I found it really well written! The plot line was engaging, with characters that I really came to care about. I would definitely recommend this book! I can't wait to read the rest of her stuff!!! Very proud ex-teacher, here!

Next up: Lionheart by Sharon Kay Penman. Well, I will try, but I'm getting my wisdom teeth out today, so I think I'll be pretty out of it for a while. Wish me luck!

 

[jenny105]

I finished Allegiant yesterday (book #6/30). *sigh* Another disappointing end to an otherwise good series. (Did anyone hate Mockingjay as much as me?) I didn't like how the POV kept switching between Tris and Tobias and I felt like the plot had absolutely nothing to do with the other two books. Oh well. Still excited for the movie.

Next up Labor Day

 

[DisneyWalle]

#18 - Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn

from Amazon:
Is it possible...
That there exists an ancient mystery that holds the secret of America's future?
That this mystery lies behind everything from 9/11 to the collapse of the global economy?
That ancient harbingers of judgment are now manifesting in America?
That God is sending America a prophetic message of what is yet to come?

I liked this book. Its told in narrative form but the information is factual. I keep my Bible and Internet page open while I read so I could look up information. Very interesting book. I have passed it on to my mother, who expressed an interest in reading it.

Next book: Currently I'm reading two, mainly because the V.C. Andrews' book is not holding my interest. Celeste by V.C. Andrews and Infected by Scott Sigler.

 

[Kathi OD]

Geez, I might even meet my modest goal this year.

I've finished books 4 & 5: "Evening in the Garden of Mists" by Tan Twan Eng took me FOREVER to finish. It had 4+ stars on Goodreads, but I found it just OK. Nothing to rave about.

Same thing with book #5-"Animal Dreams" by Barbara Kingsolver. Goodreads had it at 4 stars and I thought 3 was a little on the generous side.

Another thing I'm noticing is that the writing/editing is getting really bad, or I'm getting old and picky. I've never been one to really notice poor grammar or spelling, but both of these books were loaded with errors. Makes me wonder what is going on.

At any rate, I'm hoping my next read will be better. #6 is Hollow City (bk. 2, Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children). I read the first one and it! Hoping this one is just as good.

 

[CaliBear]

Geez, I might even meet my modest goal this year.

I've finished books 4 & 5: "Evening in the Garden of Mists" by Tan Twan Eng took me FOREVER to finish. It had 4+ stars on Goodreads, but I found it just OK. Nothing to rave about.

Same thing with book #5-"Animal Dreams" by Barbara Kingsolver. Goodreads had it at 4 stars and I thought 3 was a little on the generous side.

Another thing I'm noticing is that the writing/editing is getting really bad, or I'm getting old and picky. I've never been one to really notice poor grammar or spelling, but both of these books were loaded with errors. Makes me wonder what is going on.

At any rate, I'm hoping my next read will be better. #6 is Hollow City (bk. 2, Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children). I read the first one and it! Hoping this one is just as good.

Are you reading on a Kindle? I find the number and types errors on the Kindle to be absurd. I also feel like it is taking me much longer to read than it used to. Maybe it's age, but I'm beginning to wonder if maybe I'm not responding to reading on the Kindle as well as I first thought I was. If anyone has any thoughts on that, I'd love to hear them because I'm seriously considering returning to paper books despite the other conveniences the Kindle provides.

 

[DisneyWalle]

#19 - Celeste by V.C. Andrews

from Amazon:
He was her mirror image. Now the mirror has cracked.
Celeste and her twin brother, Noble, are as close as can be -- until a tragic accident takes Noble's life. It's a loss that pushes their mother, a woman obsessed with New Age superstitions, over the edge....
Desperate to keep her son "alive," Celeste's mother forces her to cut her hair, wear boys' clothes, and take on Noble's identity. Celeste has virtually disappeared -- until a handsome boy moves in next door, and Celeste will risk her mother's wrath to let herself come back to life.

Oh my! I had to make myself finish this book. This has been the worse book written under V.C. Andrews name. I have the other two books in the Gemini series but I won't be reading those. The book was too tied up in the supernatural and New Age stuff to keep my interest. Plus, it dragged and didn't progress quick enough --- the book could probably have been half its current size.

Currently reading: Infected by Scott Sigler

 

[Kathi OD]

Are you reading on a Kindle? I find the number and types errors on the Kindle to be absurd. I also feel like it is taking me much longer to read than it used to. Maybe it's age, but I'm beginning to wonder if maybe I'm not responding to reading on the Kindle as well as I first thought I was. If anyone has any thoughts on that, I'd love to hear them because I'm seriously considering returning to paper books despite the other conveniences the Kindle provides.

Interesting thought. I've been reading mostly on a Nook for about 4 years now. I've only started noticing these things lately, but maybe they were there all along and I just never noticed? or...maybe in the rush to get everything in digital form the quality just isn't there?

 

[Jafar30]

Goal of 25

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. A
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Currently reading

 

[Colleen27]

Are you reading on a Kindle? I find the number and types errors on the Kindle to be absurd. I also feel like it is taking me much longer to read than it used to. Maybe it's age, but I'm beginning to wonder if maybe I'm not responding to reading on the Kindle as well as I first thought I was. If anyone has any thoughts on that, I'd love to hear them because I'm seriously considering returning to paper books despite the other conveniences the Kindle provides.

Interesting thought. I've been reading mostly on a Nook for about 4 years now. I've only started noticing these things lately, but maybe they were there all along and I just never noticed? or...maybe in the rush to get everything in digital form the quality just isn't there?

I've noticed the same thing. The typos on the Kindle version of books are just horrible sometimes! I do think it is a product of the e-book conversion rather than the publication itself because I seldom if ever see complaints about typo in reviews of printed books.

 

[Kathi OD]

So I had a lot of time to read today and was able to finish "Hollow City" (#2 Miss Peregrine's).

It was definitely a quick read, and for most of the book, I was left feeling that there was no comparison to the first book. I really thought that I wouldn't want to read any of the subsequent books. The ending though, did work and has me wanting to read the third book when it comes out.

 

[wilma-bride]

Just finished book #7 of 60 - Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty

From Amazon:

Yvonne Carmichael has worked hard to achieve the life she always wanted: a high-flying career in genetics, a beautiful home, a good relationship with her husband and their two grown-up children.

Then one day she meets a stranger at the Houses of Parliament and, on impulse, begins a passionate affair with him - a decision that will put everything she values at risk. At first she believes she can keep the relationship separate from the rest of her life, but she can't control what happens next. All of her careful plans spiral into greater deceit and, eventually, a life-changing act of violence.

Apple Tree Yard is a psychological thriller about one woman's adultery and an insightful examination of the values we live by and the choices we make, from an acclaimed writer at the height of her powers.

The book begins with a trial but you don't know, to begin with, whom is on trial and for what. As the book continues, you read about a middle-aged woman who embarks on an affair following her initial encounter with a complete stranger whom she has sex with just minutes after meeting him, without even knowing his name. To begin with, I was initially dismissive of this, finding it rather implausible but, as you get to know and understand the characters, particularly Yvonne, her actions that day and over the course of the affair become more believable.

It is rare for me to have a good run of books. Usually, after reading a particularly good book, I find that the next pales into insignificance as it can't quite follow in the footsteps of the previous book. So I wasn't expecting much from this book, having highly enjoyed the previous book I read. I couldn't have been more wrong. This was a fabulous book, a real 'page turner'. So many moments where I was literally exclaiming out loud as the next twist in the tale took me by surprise. And even the bits I was expecting took my breath away when I realised it had actually happened. It sucked me in completely from the start and I found it was one of those rare books where you can't wait to finish it but, at the same time, don't want it to be over. Completely brilliant. I am now on the hunt for more books by this author

 

[Darcy03231]

Since we've been snowbound I've been able to read a couple of books in the last few days. I've been on a historical romance kick (must have been influenced by Valentine's Day).

Love Only Once by Johanna Lindsay. From Amazon:

"The exquisite niece of Lord Edward and Lady Charlotte Malory, Regina Ashton is outraged over her abduction by the arrogant, devilishly handsome Nicholas Eden—and is determined to make the rogue pay . . . with his heart.

A golden-haired seducer, Nicholas has been hardened by a painful secret in his past. And now that he has besmirched Reggie's good name, the hot-tempered lady has vowed to wed him. Her fiery beauty stirs Nicholas as no woman ever has—and the rake arouses Reggie's passion to an unendurable level. Such uncontrolled desires can lead only to dangerous misunderstandings . . . and, perhaps, to a love that can live only once in a lifetime"

Say You Love Me by Johanna Lindsay. From Amazon:

"Left penniless and in dire straits, Kelsey Langton realizes that only by allowing herself to be sold at auction can she rescue her sister's future. So the proud, desperate lady enters the infamous House of Eros, resigned to becoming some well-heeled gentleman's plaything -- and Lord Derek Malory is the highest bidder for Kelsey's charms.

A handsome and irredeemable scoundrel, Derek soon draws the sensuous, unsuspecting maiden into a world of unparalleled pleasures and dangerous rivalries. But Kelsey knows she must always guard the secret of her highborn past -- even as her grace, spirit, and beauty entice her new "master" to renounce his scandalous ways and take a gamble on true love."

Both books are very typical of their genre. Both were a good, light, easy read. I did like that they involved the same family so you get to "catch up" with what the previous book's characters are doing. I'd give them a 3.5*