Here it is - the OFFICIAL 2014 READING GOAL CHALLENGE THREAD

[sj&k]

Finished Unbroken this weekend (number 9 and probably my favorite this year) and started number 10, which is ironically 10th Anniversary by James Patterson and company. I keep reading the Women's Murder Club books because I can finish them quickly-the chapters are short and I can read multiple chapters a night instead of one or two-but I don't enjoy them as much as I did in the beginning. This one is starting out okay, though, so we'll see.

Obviously, since my goal was 30 books and I'm only on number 10, I'm not going to meet my goal this year. I do have a lot of books on my Christmas list and hope to do better next year. I have enjoyed participating in this thread and have gotten a lot of great ideas about books to read that are not in my usual genres of choice, so I thank all of you for that.

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #90 - The River by Beverly Lewis

This is a good read about about 2 sisters who left their Amish heritage & make a trip back home for their parents' anniversary celebration. It is a bit slow paced. Read it if you enjoy stories about the Amish. 3 out of 5 stars

Tilly and Ruth, two formerly Amish sisters, are plagued by unresolved relationships when they reluctantly return to Lancaster County for their parents' landmark wedding anniversary. Since departing their Plain upbringing, Tilly has married an Englisher, but Ruth remains single and hasn't entirely forgotten her failed courtship with her Amish beau.
Past meets present as Tilly and Ruth yearn for acceptance and redemption. Can they face the future in the light of a past they can't undo?

Next book: You

 

[CallieMar]

#38 - 1st to Die by James Patterson. Recommended by a friend who likes the Women's Murder Club books. I don't think I'm going to continue the series.

#39 - A Shot of Sultry by Macy Beckett. Just ok, I wasn't too invested in the main characters.

#40 - My Fair Mistress by Tracy Anne Warren. All the "misunderstandings" were driving me up the wall! lol. I know it can be typical for historical romance but this was a bit much.

#41 - Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain. I might have read some of these essays already, but I like Bourdain's writing (and his shows).

#42 - The Bungalow by Sarah Jio. Surprisingly quick read for me. I loved this more for Anne's story than the romance in it.

#43 - Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning. I don't know what it is about this series. Darkfever was a DNF for me for a long time before I finally decided to go back and finish it. All the Fever books are really good but it takes me a while to get into them. Maybe I am getting series fatigue?

#44 - It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. So as I was reading this Phoebe (the main character) turned into Alison Sweeney and Dan (her love interest) became Jim Harbaugh and it just made getting through the whole thing hilarious and super cheesy. I think I may be blind now, lol.

#45 - Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor. Good ending to a good series, considering so many other final books in YA trilogies can be such garbage (and yet, I still get sucked in).

#46 - Lady Sophia's Lover by Lisa Kleypas. Oldie but goodie that I never read before.

#47 - The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I loved this! Such lovely writing, and I am not a person that usually "gets" writing like this (I probably still don't, but it's lovely anyway).

#48 - Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. I felt this kind of painful awkwardness in my teenage years, luckily without the bullying and the impoverished living conditions, but I absolutely still connected with Eleanor.

#49 - Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. So far I like this prequel trilogy better than The Mortal Instruments series. Will Herondale still sounds like a Draco In Leather Pants though.

#50 - His Favorite Mistress by Tracy Anne Warren

#51 - The Accidental Mistress by Tracy Anne Warren. These were ok. Still trying out different historical romance authors since Lisa Kleypas doesn't seem to write for this genre anymore.

#52 - Faefever by Karen Marie Moning

#53 - Surrender to Sultry by Macy Beckett. From the snippets of main character Colton in previous books, I thought this would be the most interesting story. It was ok, but again I didn't get too caught up in the characters.

#54 - Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning

#55 - Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins. I waited so long for this...but ended up being disappointed. I just couldn't warm up to Isla and Josh even though we saw the potential in Anna and the French Kiss. Oh well.

#56 - Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning. Good "end" to Mac's arc.

#57 - The Vacationers by Emma Straub. I enjoyed this, such a light and easy read.

#58 - Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare. Uh oh, love triangles!

#59 - The Giver by Lois Lowry. I didn't realize until later that this is the same author who wrote the Anastasia Krupnik books I loved as a kid! Disturbing yes, but very good.

#60 - Lover Reborn by JR Ward. I'm glad Tohr gets a second chance at life in this one.

#61 - Landline by Rainbow Rowell. Cute book, liked the ending.

#62 - Iced by Karen Marie Moning. I like Dani's arc so far. Still weird that Ryodan/Christian are vying for her/waiting for her to grow up...but I guess a few years doesn't mean much to them being immortal and all.

#63 - Losing It by Cora Carmack. Predictable and fluffy, funny inner dialogue.

#64 - Lover at Last by JR Ward. I feel like there was a lot of buildup leading up to finally getting Qhuinn and Blay's story...and yet there were like 6 other plots concurrently and very little of Qhuinn and Blay themselves (this seems to happen a lot in later BDB books). A little too tidy of an ending considering all the ANGST in the entire book.

So, I have well surpassed my goal and am still going! I love my Kindle, and I think that's one of the reasons I'm going at such a quick pace. It's so easy to read a page or two during as I have free time, and less tiring to read for long periods since I don't have to hold hold up a big hardcover.

 

[ksjayhawks]

My goal was 52 and I ended up with 75. I didn't keep track of all the titles, just kept a tally sheet on my phone. I was surprised I ended up with this much, but went on a reading binge this fall when dh was out of town for work for quite a few weeks.

 

[lovegrumpy]

Did not make my little goal. Hopefully next year.

 

[willowsnn3]

#84 The Dead Will Tell by Linda Castillo

The latest of the Kate Burkholder series. All of the books in this series are very good and so was this one.
"Everyone in Painters Mill knows the abandoned Hochstetler farm is haunted. Ghost stories abound, but no one knows what really happened on that terrible night thirty five years ago when an Amish father and his four children perished, and his young wife disappeared without a trace."

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm currently reading Book #59 of 60, so I think I'mm just make it or maybe go 1 or 2 over. The last 5 star book I read was "Betrayal" by Fern Michaels. I think that was a couple months ago. I just finished "Starting Over" by Debbie Macomber, which was 4 star. Typical Debbie Macomber book, enjoyable if not great "quality" fiction.

 

[wilma-bride]

Book #56 - Dear Thing by Julie Cohen

This is the story of Claire and Ben, who are perfectly in love - in fact, who are seemingly perfect in almost every way. Except one. They can't have a baby.

It's also the story of Ben's best friend Romily, who after years of watching Ben and Claire suffer, offers to have a baby for them.

But being pregnant stirs up all kinds of feelings in Romily - feelings she'd rather keep buried, but can't. Now there are two mothers - and one baby who belongs to both of them, and which only one of them can keep.

This was a fairly easy read, light hearted (despite the subject matter) and well written. My only complaint would be that I think the author could have done more to explore the feelings and relationship between the three of them. But then, like I say, the book was fairly light-hearted so this was probably why. I enjoyed it though.

Book #57 - How the In-Laws Wrecked Christmas by Fiona Gibson

Christmas in the country. What could be better? All you need is one country house, one gorgeous boyfriend and a liberal dusting of snow. Right?

That’s what Anna thinks and she can’t wait for the festivities to start. But then she meets her gorgeous boyfriend’s awful parents. And their drunk friends. And she starts to hear all about a certain ex-wife. Suddenly this doesn’t look like a very merry Christmas after all…

This was a very short story - it wasn't even really a novella - and I nearly didn't count it but I am desperate to get to my target of 60 books by year end so forgive me for 'cheating'

While it was a (reasonably) entertaining read, it had barely started before it was over and had it just been a few pages longer, it could have been so much more. This was a free download for me - had I paid the 59p ($0.80) that Amazon wanted for it, I would have been even more disappointed.

 

[Cynth]

I won't make my goal, will set it lower for next year. So far I finished 16 out of 30 books. (but disn't post any updates for a long time)

#7 An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
a great book, I really enjoyed reading it

#8 Mr Penumbra's 24- Hours Bookstore by Robin Sloan
I loved this one, I think it is a very special genre, some mistery and adventure

#9 Disney at Dawn by Ridley Pearson

#10 Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Good book, made me think about our society and what the future might hold

#11 Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
Second book of the Uglies series. Great book, I'll try to finish this series

#12 Stiff: The curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
It was a very informative book, the subject seems somewhat morbid, but it is very well written. Roach writes with detachment, it felt like being in a serious class about what happens if you donate your body to science or for organ transplants

#13 Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
I totally get why it is a bestseller. Great book

#14 1st to Die by James Patterson
This was an audio book and I didn't like it. I think Patterson is just not my kind of author.

#15 The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
I liked this book, the I disliked it then I liked it again. At moments it became boring and I lost interest. Had to force myself to finish it, disn't like the last part but loved the first half

#16 Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
I loved, loved, loved this one. I finished it in 2 days. An amazing book, very emotional, it had me think about my youth all the time. Just amazing. The best book that I read this year.

I would say that I managed to read a lot of the bestsellers and enjoyed most of them.

 

[threeboysmom]

Finished #40 Dragonfly in Amber and am currently reading #41 Voyager, both by Diana Gabaldon. Should finish Voyager by end of year, I'm hoping.

Love Love Love the Outlander series! This is my 2nd time reading the books, and they are even more fantastic the second time around! I am OBSESSED with Jamie & Claire, and I read any possible spare minute I can get... even sitting at a red light sometimes, lol.

Are you all interested in doing this again for 2015?

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Are you all interested in doing this again for 2015?

Yes.

 

[kinntj]

Are you all interested in doing this again for 2015?

Yes! I didn't make my goal, but it kept me reading throughout the year when I normally don't read.

 

[Glynis]

Even though I won't make my goal this year, I do want to continue with this next year. I will just set my sights more realistically.

I love reading about what people liked and didn't like. It helps me create my own reading lists! Don't stop, people!!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I also hope that at the end of the year, people might chime in with what their top 3-5 books of the year were.

 

[nemofans]

yes

 

[wilma-bride]

Are you all interested in doing this again for 2015?

Definitely! Thank you so much for running it this year

 

[willowsnn3]

Are you all interested in doing this again for 2015?

Yes!

I also hope that at the end of the year, people might chime in with what their top 3-5 books of the year were.

I've already been going over my list and believe I have my favorites picked out.

 

[Simba's Mom]

OK, if people will post their favorites, I'll organize the list and post it within the first couple of weeks of 2015 (let's say, everyone post their favorites by January 10th). I know I love to get book recommendations based on favorites, and what better way to see such a list than to post it myself.

 

[xlsm]

I have met my goal of 45! I loved using Goodreads to keep track of what I read, and this thread for keeping me accountable.

My 45th book was A Storm of Swords, the third book in the Game of Thrones series.

I mentioned before that this was NOT my typical genre, but I'm now obsessed with this story. It is long and convoluted and wonderful.

I'm definitely interested in doing this again next year, and I'll put together a list of my 5 favorites from this year in case anyone is interested!!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Overall, I had a pretty underwhelming reading year. I think that played a part in why I won't meet my goal this year. But I did have a few standout books.

So here are my top choices:
#3- Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen
#2- Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child(I put this at #2 but I really loved it and am continuing the series!)
#1- New Year Island by Paul Draker