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Kathy wrote: "@ Franky, Chick Lit suggestion:
The Help by Kathryn Stockett is another one of those genre overlap books. To me,it falls in both the Chick Lit and also Historical Fiction categories. Plus it is a..."

Kathy, thanks for the suggestion.

Franky wrote:

Wish I was doing better on the challenge, but I guess I'll t..."

Franky I know what you mean, I'm making slow progress!Not enough hours in the day! However I don't really mind that I don't read as quickly as some people, I just really want to make sure I experience a decent amount of genres before the end of the year!

I have finished my 22nd for the challenge..Victorian.. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Hello everyone!
I've decided it's about time I participated actively. :)

I finished Tropic of Cancer- Autobiography last week and I'm currently reading Murakami's Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World.

It's taking me a while but summertime is enough time for me to catch up.

Hope you're all enjoying this. :)

Βικτώρια wrote: "Hello everyone!
I've decided it's about time I participated actively. :)

I finished Tropic of Cancer- Autobiography last week and I'm currently reading Murakami's Hardboiled Wonderland and the End..."

Welcome aboard!

I read Hardboiled Wonderland recently and loved it.

I'm using the summer as catch up time too.

Franky wrote: "Βικτώρια wrote: "Hello everyone!
I've decided it's about time I participated actively. :)

I finished Tropic of Cancer- Autobiography last week and I'm currently reading Murakami's Hardboiled Wonde..."

Ι'm half way through and it's addicting!

How many genres have you covered?
Any propositions? :)

I have FINALLY finished Crime and Punishment - it took me about two months to read! Well worth it, it's a great read, but I am looking forward to reading something a bit more light-hearted, especially since I am off on holiday soon :)

I am only 8 books into the challenge, but I'm sure I'll get there eventually :)

Finally doing some catchup on the challenge. Just finished #14 Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series (nonfiction) and #15 The Haunting of Hill House (paranormal).

Finished my 23rd, Steampunk, The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

Review to follow

Brenda wrote: "Finished my 23rd, Steampunk, The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

Review to follow"

I read that one too for steampunk. Really enjoyed it. I saw the 1960 film right afterwards too, and liked as well.

It was much better than I thought it would be Franky...I haven't seen the movie though:)

Brenda wrote: "Finished my 23rd, Steampunk, The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

Review to follow"

My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I'm having real trouble picking a book for the humour category, does anyone have any suggestions please?

Leanne wrote: "I'm having real trouble picking a book for the humour category, does anyone have any suggestions please?"
David Sedaris, Mark Twain

Leanne wrote: "I'm having real trouble picking a book for the humour category, does anyone have any suggestions please?"

Most people like Sedaris (I thought Me Talk Pretty One Day was so-so, which I read for the humor genre). I haven't read any of his other novels.

I second Mark Twain if you like satire. Maybe Vonnegut too?

A book that I've had on my to read list for awhile is The Princess Bride if you like humor in a fantasy, fairy tale sort of setting. Saw the film and wanted to read it ever since.

I guess humor is difficult to recommend to anyone because what is funny to one person isn't funny to another. Anyhow, hope these help.

The Vonnegut idea is a good one. That way you can join in on the BOTM discussion.

Thank you for the suggestions everyone! It is a hard genre to pick from! I think I will try the Cats Cradle, sounds interesting.

Have read 27 and have 9 to go! The ones in bold I still have to read and are subject to change as the mood takes me:
Adventure (h) - Escape to Murray River by Robert Elmer
Auto-Biography/Biography (h) - A Tall man in Low Land by Harry Pearson
Chick-Lit (h) �� Peace, Love and Khaki Socks by Kim Lock
Children’s Book - Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
Classics (e) �� Anne’s House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery
Cyberpunk (i) �� Skinned by Robin Wasserman
Drama (h) �� The Asylum by John Harwood
Dystopian (i) �� Awaken by Katie Kacyinski
Educational (i) �� Manthropology by Peter McAllister
Erotica (i) �� Butterfly by Kathryn Harvey
Espionage (i) - Grave mercy by Robin LaFevers
Fantasy (e) �� Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart
Graphic Novels (e) �� The Adventures of Tintin by Herge
Gothic (i) - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Rigg
Hard-Boiled (i) - The Lady in the Lake by Raymond Chandler
Historical Fiction (e) - The Wild Girl by Kate Forsyth
Horror (e) �� The Twelve by Justin Cronin
Humour (h) �� Drip Dry by Ilsa Evans
Literary Fiction (e) �� The Light between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
Magical Realism (h) �� Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth
Mystery (e) - Borrower of the Night by Elizabeth Peters
Noir (h) �� Blood Rites by Jim Butcher
Non Fiction (e) - If the Sun doesn’t kill you, the Washing Machine Will by Peter Wood
Paranormal (h) �� Real Vampires don’t diet by Gerry Bartlett
Philosophical (h) �� The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith
Poetry (h) �� If: A Treasury of Poems for Almost Every Possibility by Allie Esiri
Post-Apocalyptic (i) �� Floodland by by Marcus Sedgwick
Romance (e) - Love Virtually (Gut gegen Nordwind #1) by Daniel Glattauer
Science Fiction (e) �� The Planet Thieves by Dan Krokos
Steampunk (h) �� Changeless by Gail Carriger
Supernatural (i) �� Red Lily by Norma Roberts
Thriller (e) �� The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
True Crime (i) �� Meaner than Fiction edited by Lindy Cameron
Urban Fantasy (i) �� The Outlaw demon wails by Kim Harrison
Victorian (h) �� The Time of the Hunter’s moon by Victoria Holt
Young Adult (e) - Confessions of Vampire’s Girlfriend by Katie MacAlister

I've now finished Cat's Cradle, and I can honestly say I'm glad it's over - satire is really not my thing! But I guess I wouldn't know that if I hadn't given it a go :)

I want to read Herland for my pulp/noir option, does this fit this genre? Does anyone have any other suggestions please?

I just need to finish Chick lit, graphic novel, and adventure. Currently reading Our Mutual Friend for Victorian.

Leanne, if you want some classic noir titles you might try something along the lines of Double Indemnity, The Maltese Falcon, or The Big Sleep, all of which are based on classic films. Chandler, Hammett, and Cain are some good authors to start with. There's also a pulp fiction reading group: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/5.... Hope that helps :)

I only have Philosophical to read and I'm done! I've got The Elegance of the Hedgehog down for it, and have actually started....

Any other suggestions for this category please?

Franky wrote: "I just need to finish Chick lit, graphic novel, and adventure. Currently reading Our Mutual Friend for Victorian.

Leanne, if you want some classic noir titles you might try something along the l..."

Thanks Franky, that's really helpful, I will take a look :)

I have completed this challenge with my last one being Philosophical, which I didn't like at all.

Adventure - Talon: A Jack Rawson Saga by Christopher Gerard ★★★★
Auto-Biography/Biography - With or Without You by Domenica Ruta ★★��
Chick-Lit - Last Chance Cafe by Liz Byrski ★★★★
Classics - The Story of My Life by Helen Keller ★★★★��
Drama - Run to Me by Erin Golding ★★★★
Fantasy - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins ★★★★��
Graphic Novels - The Kite Runner: Graphic Novel by Khaled Hosseini ★★★★��
Historical Fiction - Penelope by Anya Wylde ★★★★
Horror - The Moonlit Mind: A Tale of Suspense by Dean Koontz ★★★★
Humour - Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres ★★
Literary Fiction - Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro ★★★★��
Magical Realism - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll ★★★★��
Mystery - New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb ★★★★��
Non Fiction - Anne Frank Remembered: The Story of the Woman Who Helped to Hide the Frank Family by Miep Gies ★★★★��
Paranormal - Erich's Plea by Tracey Alley ★★★★
Philosophical - The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery ��
Poetry - Gypsy pie by Romano Yehudi Solo ★★★★
Pulp - (Hard-Boiled or Noir) - The Song is You by Megan Abbott ★★
Romance - Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty ★★★★��
Science Fiction - The Mad Scientist’s Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke ★★★★��
Steampunk - The Time Machine by H.G. Wells ★★★★
Thriller - Wasp Season by Jennifer Scoullar ★★��
Victorian - The Turn of the Screw by Henry James ★★
Young Adult - Wonder by R.J. Palacio ★★★★

Brenda wrote: "I have completed this challenge with my last one being Philosophical, which I didn't like at all.

Adventure - Talon: A Jack Rawson Saga by Christopher Gerard ★★★★
Auto-Biography/Biography - With..."

Well done on completing so early Brenda! It looks like you enjoyed most of your selections too, did anything stand out for you?

I have just finished my adventure choice - Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, which was a nice enjoyable read. I am now half-way through the challenge :) I think I am going to read my pulp choice next, which is Red Harvest byDashiell Hammett.

Leanne wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I have completed this challenge with my last one being Philosophical, which I didn't like at all.

Adventure - Talon: A Jack Rawson Saga by Christopher Gerard ★★★★
Auto-Biography/B..."

Thanks Leanne:)

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro would be the best of all of them.

You're doing well too:)

Good job Brenda! :)

I'm 3 away from finishing but I might be on an unofficial hiatus until I find some free time to read. Work is keeping me busy.

Thanks Franky:) It's annoying when life gets in the way of reading isn't it ;)

18. Plan D for Steampunk

The Tempest for Classics :)

I am reading The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro as my literary fiction choice and I have to say I'm really loving it - extremely readable and just generally a lovely book with a narrator who, if not handled properly, could have been really boring! I think Kazuo Ishiguro is my new-found favourite discovery, I will be reading more of his books.

I'm upgrading to the Insane Challenge as I've just completed my Hard Challenge. Am picking books as I go but here's what I've settled on so far:

A) Easy Challenge - completed 7th May!
1) Classics - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
2) Fantasy - A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
3) Graphic Novel - Blankets by Craig Thompson
4) Historical Fiction - Here be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman
5) Horror - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
6) Literary Fiction - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
7) Mystery - The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
8) Non Fiction - Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman ***
9) Romance - Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez
10) Science Fiction - Neuromancer by William Gibson
11) Thriller - The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
12) Young Adult - The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
B) Hard Challenge - completed 13th October!
13) Adventure - A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin. Cheating, really, I know but I just had to read this book now!
14) Biography/AutoBiography - Call the Midwife: A True Story of the East End in the 1950s. by Jennifer Worth
15) Chick Lit - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
16) Drama - Hamlet by William Shakespeare
17) Comedy - Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
18) Magical Realism - Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
19) Paranormal - A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin. OK, cheating again but it does feature zombies, sorcerers and shapeshifters...
20) Philosophical - Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
21) Poetry - Ariel by Sylvia Plath
22) Hardboiled Pulp - The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
23) SteamPunk - Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
24) Victorian - Dracula by Bram Stoker
C) Insane Challenge
25) Children's - James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
28) Educational - The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
29) Gothic - The Vampyre; a Tale by John William Polidori
30) Noir Pulp - The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
34) Supernatural - A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
36) Urban Fantasy - Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris

It is a challenge - I'm not a fan of non-fiction although the Graphic Novel has been a nice surprise.

October 31 - Finished the hard challenge!

Adventure - The Bourne Identity
Auto-Biography/Biography - Mud, Sweat and Tears
Chick-Lit - Where She Went
Classics - The House of Mirth
Drama - Macbeth
Fantasy - A Clash of Kings
Graphic Novels - Captain America (Volumes 1 & 2)
Historical Fiction - Sacré Bleu: A Comedy d'Art
Horror - Frankenstein
Humor - Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race
Literary Fiction - In One Person
Magical Realism - Chocolat
Mystery - Death Comes to Pemberley
Non-Fiction - Hell-Bent: Obsession, Pain, and the Search for Something Like Transcendence in Competitive Yoga
Paranormal - Beautiful Creatures
Philosophical - Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy: Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale
Poetry - Ariel
Pulp - Toronto Noir
Romance - A Gentleman Undone
Science Fiction - The Martian Chronicles
Steampunk - The Friday Society
Thriller - Gone Girl
Victorian - The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel
Young Adult - Looking for Alaska

Now to finish the insane challenge...

I completed the challenge today. I think that all the books are appropriate to the genre they represent.

Adventure A High Wind in Jamaica 4/19 ***
Auto-Biography/Biography The Bell Jar9/30 ****
Chick-Lit Pride and Prejudice 5/17
Classics Where Angels Fear to Tread 1/2 ***
Drama The Kite Runner 2/6
Fantasy The Wizard of Oz 1/5 ****
Graphic Novels Persepolis 2/22 ****
Historical Fiction Jazz 1/15 ***
Horror The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 5/2 ****
Humour Cat's Cradle 7/3 ****
Literary Fiction Mrs. Dalloway 1/8 **
Magical Realism Life of Pi 3/31 ****
Mystery The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 7/9 ****
Non Fiction A Street Cat named Bob 11/25 ***
Paranormal The Legend of Sleepy Hollow 10/28
Philosophical Anthem 5/9 ****
Poetry Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats 9/18 ****
Pulp - (Hard-Boiled or Noir) The Maltese Falcon 3/24 ****
Romance Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet 1/21 ****
Science Fiction The Handmaid's Tale 2/16 ****
Steampunk The Golden Compass 10/26 ***
Thriller The Hound of the Baskervilles 8/28 ****
Victorian The Picture of Dorian Gray 1/27 ****
Young Adult The Awakening 1/11

Impressive list there Janet. I just need graphic novel and I'm finished. Feel like I've been stuck on the last 3 of the challenge for about 2 months.

Franky wrote: "Impressive list there Janet. I just need graphic novel and I'm finished. Feel like I've been stuck on the last 3 of the challenge for about 2 months."

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood was very good. I have heard that Maus I : A Survivor's Tale : My Father Bleeds History is good also.

Thanks for the recommendations :)

Woohoo!!! Finished the challenge on 12/11/13. Progress is tracked on Page 1 of this discussion.

Congrats Kathy!

Thanks! Was getting worried when I didn't like my last book very much. That is why I saved it for last. :)

I'm not going to manage to finish the challenge before the end of the year :'( but I've still read lots of great books and feel I've expanded my horizons - and I'm still going to attempt the insane challenge next year! :-D

Congrats Kathy!

Leanne, I know what you mean. It has been difficult trying to finish this. I'm still one away but there are other books on my plate. I agree also that this has shifted my normal scope of books into a different direction, which is always good.

Finally finished the challenge, with about a week left in the year to spare...(sigh of relief).

I'm going easy challenge in 2014...too much pressure.

Congratulations Franky!!! Makes you feel good when you finish, doesn't it!

Thanks Brenda ! :) Yes, it does.

Congrats Franky! Seems so easy to do in June but by November. ;/

I'm not going to finish the challenge this year. I started in it a bit late (in March) so I don't feel too bad about it. I also chose some very dull and long books so it took longer than I had expected. I always try to think of what I learned the first time around to do it better next time.

I'm going to try it next year as well starting on January 1st this time and try to finish books at an even pace so they don't pile up at the end of the year.