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Wow, I just looked at my book stats for the year and I am only 4 books away from meeting my number of books read last year! This is proof that this group has done wonders for my reading level this year.

Although my number of books read is coming along nicely, it seems like I must have read some more chunksters last year than I have this year as I'm about 5000 pages behind. I'm always up for a reading a good chunkster, but it has to be something that I enjoy. If it drags, my progress all but stops!

I know people in the group have read some great books this year...are there any chunksters that you loved and would recommend?

Finished The Dinner today. That was not what I was expecting at all! I won't put too much detail as I don't want to spoil it for everyone, but the main character had quite the progression throughout the book. I didn't think I would like it when it all started to turn but I ended up enjoying it!

Glad you liked it Kassandra, BTW I'm enjoying Archer's Prisoner of Birth immensely, I couldn't put it down last night!

I agree that the support and encouragement from this group has been great, congratulations on your reading progress!

Kiwi, I'm so happy to hear that you're enjoying Prisoner of Birth so much. I find Archer's writing thrilling and it's good to see another fan!

Finished The Guardian today. I've read a few from Sparks now and this was definitely not what I expected. I really enjoyed it but the thriller aspect went further than I anticipated and I wasn't prepared for the final ending. I won't spoil it for anyone that hasn't read it yet but I'm heartbroken by the losses!

Today I finished City of Heavenly Fire. I wasn't sure what to expect as I have been disappointed before with the final book of a series. I definitely wasn't disappointed with this one! Clare found some fitting resolutions to issues that I had had with some of the characters. It was a fitting end to a great series.

I finished The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe today. This one is a classic for a reason. Loved it!

I think I've bitten off more than I can chew with my assorted challenges as I'm falling quite behind in my personal TBR challenge. It's so difficult to balance the order in which I read everything with so many fun (but competing) priorities. I'm going to have to plan out the readings for September if I want to have any hope of completing these goals. I love to plan the readings, but executing the plan is always a challenge - I'm too easily distracted by all of the amazing options.

Apparently we've gotten into the same boat, with the same bookish tiger. I'm reading or listening all the time (and I love it) but still managing to be behind, given all the fabulous opportunities I just couldn't pass up. ;)

It's a dilemma with all of the really interesting challenges that have been created in our group (including the Pass It On challenge - thank you Renee)! I don't want to give up any of the challenges because they are pushing me to read things I wouldn't normally think of and I've really enjoyed the process thus far.

August has been a terrible month for me for reading between work and prepping for an interview for a new job. This is likely to be my worst month all year! I'm really looking forward to the Readathon in September to make up for August.

Hang in there, Kassandra. You still have a week left in August to have a strong finish. Also, good luck with the new job.

Thanks Rob, I appreciate that! One of the perks to the new job is that I have to ride the train to work so I'll have some good quality reading time.

Good Luck, Kassandra! I'll be rooting for you!!!

And remember the read-a-thon is right around the corner and we will be eating cheerios and popcorn and reading until our hearts content!

Thank you, Iasa and Melissa!

Melissa, you're absolutely right - Cheerios, books and popcorn are just around the corner. I can't wait to see how everyone does. Make sure to get your tea ready as well so you're fully stocked.

Best of luck Kassandra for your job interview

Thanks Kiwi!

We'll all be rooting for you, Kassandra! Good luck!

Thank you Holly!

Good luck with the interview, Kassandra!
I'm sure you'll do great!!

Thank you Renee! It means so much to have everyone's support.

This group is awesome!

Good luck with the interview!!!

Thanks Camille!

Thanks Sandy! I don't mind at all. It was supposed to be Friday but I just found out that it has been rescheduled to next week to allow for the hiring manager's vacation. Now I have a little more time to prep!

Good luck with the interview, Kassandra :)

Thank you Brenda!

I finished Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil today and loved it! I highly recommend this one. It was so captivating that I often forgot it was non-fiction...although as the saying goes "truth is stranger than fiction"!

Now on to try and find something quick to finish out the month to try and bump up my sad little number a little...the readathon can't come quickly enough! Is it Sept 6th yet?

It's been a while since I've finished two books in the same day but I did it today! I finished up Love Letters to the Dead, which I found to be very powerful and overwhelming for me all at the same time. There were some very serious themes in this book but I like the format and the author unravelled the journey at a good pace.

Two in a day! Increasing your book goal and relaxing before your interview!! Kassandra for the win!

Finished another one today (The Silver Linings Playbook) in an attempt to get my August number up a little. Fantastic book, I really enjoyed it. I've been touched quite closely in my family by depression and mental illness so this was helpful for me to see what my loved ones may have struggled with. I have been blessed in my life with many things, but not suffering from depression is definitely the one that I am most grateful for right now.

I haven't read it, but we really enjoyed the movie! Must be a good book to base it on!

Keeping track here (live) of my readathon progress, just to keep it simple for me. Otherwise, I'll definitely lose track!

The Expats - 25 pages read
FaceOff - finished, 348 pages read
Eleanor & Park - 336 pages read
The Matchmaker - 34 pages read

Final readathon tally: 759 pages!

I'm cheering for you Kassandra!

Thanks Kiwi!

One book down in the readathon!

Great work Kassandra, in spite of the interruptions! :)

Thanks Melissa!

My ultimate goal for this year has been 100 books, although that seemed like an impossible feat at the beginning of the year. I decided that a reasonable goal, in light of last year's progress, would be 65. This group has been such a help in getting me to read more that I've been increasing my goal all year. I've now upped the ante to 90 books...almost at that 100 mark! Thanks to everyone in the group for being so supportive and interesting in 2014, it has really pushed me in my goals.

I finished The Three Weissmanns of Westport today. A waste for me, took me a week to get through it because I couldn't find any redeeming qualities in the characters, plot or setting. On to better things!

Finished The Husband's Secret today and loved it! The secret was not at all what I was expecting and it was so interesting to me to see how the whole web was woven from that one event. (view spoiler)[ I feel so badly for Connor! Broken heart twice and a lifetime of guilt for nothing (hide spoiler)]

Thanks Iasa!

Today I finished Paper Towns. It wasn't my favourite Green book but I still enjoyed it.

October has been a tough month for reading so far. I'm really looking forward to the readathon to get my numbers up for the month - although I just found out the my husband's family is coming to visit that week...maybe I can convince them all to read with me!

Good luck with your reading this month. I'm sure you'll manage some sneaky reading moments whilst having family over. For me, I manage to read a chapter or two whilst cooking supper. Wishing you a happy time with family.

Thank you Topazriver! I've never considered cooking and reading simultaneously, but now that you said it, I can't believe I've never done it! This could be the start of something good...

I second the cooking and reading multitasking, I usually do audiobooks for my evening cooking

Audio is a very good idea as there might be moments of boiled over pans or burnt food (depending how good the book is)whilst reading a book giggle.

have fun kassandra.

Ya gotta live dangerously sometimes chuckle. I don't read on the loo though coz that's disgusting.

I read The Call of the Wild today. I don't know how I have managed to not read this book yet in my life, but I really enjoyed it. The first few pages were really tough for me to get through because they were so graphic, but I pushed through because I just had to know what happened to Buck! I was not disappointed, this was a very enjoyable one for me.

Read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz today and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. The points (and books finished) are adding up nicely this week.