ŷ������

Hello readers!! I hope the end of week three finds you all well. To keep on pace we should have three books read at this time. I finished one book this week. My husband works two weeks away from home and one week at home so the week he's home I don't read as much. I'm hoping to keep up my more-than-one-per-week pace on his on weeks so I can make up for not reading as much when he is here.

This week I finished The Night Circus for prompt 39 - A book with magic. This book was highly recommended in our discussion topic for prompt number 39. I loved it! Thank you to everyone who recommended it. If you are looking for a book to fulfil this prompt I would check out The Night Circus.

What books did you finish this week? How are you liking the challenge so far? I know some of you are doing other challenges along side this one. Is that difficult? Tell us about your other challenges!

Thank you to everyone who has posted and participated book discussions! Remember if you'd like to chat about a specific book feel free to post a topic under the header "Book Discussions".

And a quick thank you to everyone who has participated in this group and made it a success. I never imagined when I started this group that we would have almost 500 members by this time. I was going to be happy with 20 members. I enjoy reading all of your comments and having people to do this challenge along side.

As always I'm here if you have any questions. Feel free to message me directly at any time. Also, if any of you would like to add me as a friend here on ŷ������ do that, too. Happy reading!!

I only read one book this week...exams have started up again, so I can't keep up my book-every-2-days pace like I did earlier. Still, once I start my next book I'll have read more than in the last month where I paid attention.

I'm not having any difficulty at all doing two challenges at once--but my other challenge only has 12 books, and 3 of the 4 books I've finished for that challenge have been the exact same prompts as here!

As a middle school math teacher, it's hard to keep up with my reading during the school year. I try to stick to one a week, but end up doing most of my catch up during breaks or summer vacation.

I can say though that I am currently beginning my 5th book for the challenge so far and I am really enjoying it. I am reading (or planning to read) books that I have seen and even contemplated reading before, but that I may have strayed from because there wasn't anything pushing me out of my generic comfort box.

I am excited!

Still reading The Luminaries, which I started about 10 days ago, so I have not finished any books this week ( and I am only halfway through!). I've read quite a bit during the first week though, so I'm not too worried, I'm still on pace.

I finished 2 this week:

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch was brilliant and I'd fully recommend it (a book with non-human characters)

And The Mysterious Affair at Styles which I enjoyed as well (a popular authors first book).

I'm now reading The Lovely Bones and it's really brilliant so far.

I've finished 4 books so far, so I'm slightly ahead of schedule. Hoping to build up a lead before tackling my 500+ pages book!

This week I finished :
Bossypants
Storm Front
I really enjoyed Bossypants and I was really disappointed by Stormfront so it's a 50% win.
I am working on 3 different books right now so I hope to keep my rate to two books per week...If I finish the list early I can always do it twice or start a different challenge right? :) I am an overachiever I know.....

I finished Gardens of the Moon, which is the first book in Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Gardens is supposedly the worst book in the series with Erikson writing at an even faster pace and not fearing the death of major characters. Think a harder hitting version of Game of Thrones. What I loved about this book (and series) is that Erikson foreshadows events with character cues that the reader learns to pick up on. Well worth the time if you are looking for a new fantasy series.

Cate wrote: "Still reading The Luminaries, which I started about 10 days ago, so I have not finished any books this week ( and I am only halfway through!). I've read quite a bit during the first..."

I wish I understood the astrology aspects of the novel as I think it would have made the novel mind blowing experience instead of simply being enjoyable.

Having finished three books, and being more than half way through fourth, the 500-page novel (Lamentation), I am definitely on course, and noticing a trend. I know the purpose of the prompts is perhaps to encourage us out of our usual style of books, but I seem to be finding ways of shoe-horning the prompts to fit my favourite genre, crime/mystery!

Even so, I'm still being forced to look at new stuff; for example I'll be reading one of the oldest published crime stories for my 'over 100 year old' prompt, namely Poe's The Murders in the Rue Morgue.

I'm now starting to wonder whether to make this an overarching theme, whether I can fit all the prompts to this genre. I might struggle with poetry, though, unless anyone has suggestions....?!

Hope everyone else is enjoying the challenge so far...

-j-

I finished two books this week. The Job by Janet Evanovich and Lee Child, which is a fast, fun read if you're an Evanovich fan (#16 book by a favorite author). I needed something light after last week's Serena!
And my second book was Matched by Ally Condie which was going to be my trilogy book, but after reading it I decided to stop with Book 1 and put it under #34 love triangle. I do love me some good YA dystopian trilogies though, so maybe The Testing? Has anyone read that series?
So, 6 books so far - feeling like I might actually pull this challenge off! Currently reading The Maid's Version and enjoying it very much!

Alex wrote: "I finished Gardens of the Moon, which is the first book in Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Gardens is supposedly the worst book in the series with Er..."

Someone on another GR group I'm a member of posted this, which is supposed to explain the whole astrology thing:
I haven't read it because I'm afraid it might contain spoilers though. But I have read a few other things and have finally understood why the chapters have certain titles and why the parts have different lengths - really interesting stuff!

This week I finished The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (#17 A book a friend recommended). Overall I found it a quite enjoyable read, although a little odd.

I also finished Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Time of Your Life which is #4 in Buffy, Season 8. I will be reading all of Season 8 to fulfill prompt #49 (A book based on or turned into a TV show). I am really enjoying them, although I worry a bit about these characters that I love turning into characters I don't love... At any rate, now I'm just waiting for issues 5 and 6 to come in at the library so I can finish!

I have now checked off 5 of the prompts, so I am a little ahead of schedule. Week 1, I finished Voyager for #1 (A book with more than 500 pages) and Pines for #10 (A mystery or thriller). Week 2 was the week of graphic novels. I read Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yang for #40 (A graphic novel) and #27 (A book you can finish in a day) I also finished the first 3 issues of Buffy, Season 8.

I started reading Looking for Alaska this week. I currently have it planned for #15 (A popular author's first book), but I may move it to #36 (A book set in high school). I am enjoying it, but I'm not sure how many books about high school I want to read. ;) And I am almost finished with Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened which I think I will use to fulfill prompt #6 (A book written by someone under 30)

Life caught up with me a bit this week, so I haven't finished anything new. I am, however, almost done with 2 books (I should finish 1 tonight, maybe the other tomorrow), so I should at least be all set for next week. I am loving this challenge. It has even gotten me thinking about writing again. :)

This is the first time I'm commenting so I will include all the books I have read so far.
Book that became a movie - Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Book with non human characters - The Passage by Justin Cronin
Funny Book - Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Mom's Favorite - Santa are you for real by Harold Myra
Over 100 years - Sherlock Holmes A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Finish in a day - Registrar's Book of Secrets
Childhood book - The Lion, The Witch, and Wardrobe by CS Lewis
Set in future - Ready Player One by Ernest Line
Made me cry - Columbine by Dave Sullen
Set in hometown - Improper Life of Bezilla Grove by Susan Gilmore
Originally written in different language - Diary of Young Girl by Anne Frank
Turned into a TV Show - Feast for Crows by George RR Martin

I am currently reading my 5th book of the challenge. First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen for prompt #39 (A book with magic). I've read four books...so I'm on track :) I've read a memoir #26 Yes Please by Amy Poehler, graphic novel #40 The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, a book that became a movie #3 Breakfast at Tiffanys by Truman Capote & a book of short stories Redeployment by Phil Klay.

Donna, no wonder you've not had time to comment, wow!
;-)
-j-

Since I just joined today, I'll just post the books I read within the past three weeks. All the readings have been a breeze so far since they've been really short reads (other than Harry Potter), I don't know how I'll keep up for books I selected for future prompts since I have to do textbook/journal readings for my courses as well.

#29 (Setting I Want to Visit) - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
#7 (Non Human Characters) - Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling (since the movie will be coming out next year!)
#30 (Published on Birth Year) - The Sticky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka (It's been a stressful week, so it gave me a good laugh and was a good bedtime story; I also had difficult time finding a book I want to read that was published in 1992 and this just happened to satisfy this category)

Currently Reading...

#1 (More than 500 pages) - Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
#23 (Over 100 years old) - Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Planning to read and complete by next week...

#27 (Read Within One Day) - The Art of Procrastination by John R. Perry

I finished the trilogy with the 3rd of the Divergent series. Glad to get that over with. Just finished the graphic novel one. Very fun to revisit the old Batman and Robin characters inspired by the look of the old TV show.

Hoping I can finish my nonfiction selection by next week.

So far I've read
#16 - Murder in Montparnasse by Kerry Greenwood
#11 Wild by Cheryl Strayed

I'm reading Outlander by Diana Gambaldon at the moment

This past week was Watership Down (a book with nonhuman characters) and One Of Those Hideous Books Where The Mother Dies (a book that made me laugh). I'm currently reading The Ruins (I'm thinking this will be my scary book) and Justine's Blood (no idea what I'm going to put this in yet).

I've been on a cruise/vacation since Dec. 31 so I haven't checked in yet, but I finished my fourth book on Jan. 23.

9. A book with a female author: Snake in the Glass -- Atwell, Sarah
13. A book set in a different country: Emily Goes to Exeter -- Beaton, M.C.
24. A book based entirely on its cover: The Clockwork Teddy -- Lamb, John J.
27. A book you can finish in a day: Belinda Goes to Bath -- Beaton, M.C.

I am working on:
52. A book you started but never finished: The Little Girls -- Bowen, Elizabeth

and these two I am reading over the course of the year, a little bit each day:
1. A book with 500 pages: Women's Devotional Bible 1 -- New International Version
43. A book by an author you've never read before: A Reader's Book of Days -- Nissley, Thomas

Past week I read for the challenge
47. (A Play) Daniel Glattauer: Die Wunderübung
6. (Author under 30) Cecilia Ahern: love, Rosie
40. (Graphic Novel) The Walking Dead, Issue #1
12. (Short Stories) Eoin Colfer: 11 Doctors, 11 Stories

Additionally, I read another 3 books which don't fit in here.

Since my last check-in, I've finished three more books. I finished Dead Until Dark (#49) yesterday. It was my work read and those usually take me at least a week. That was the first of that series I've read and I really enjoyed it. I'll have to read the rest.

I also read The Jungle Book (#7) and Marley & Me (#38). I really like Marley & Me, but didn't enjoy the other as much.

I started another book at work today, The Kite Runner (#13). My home book is A Pillar of Iron (#21). That one will take a while, it's almost 800 pages!! I am about a third of the way through already though.

I have finished the following:
✔️1) A book with more than 500 pages: A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, #4) by George R.R. Martin
✔️2)A classic romance: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
✔️8) A funny book: The Rosie Effect (Don Tillman #2) by Graeme Simsion
✔️13) A book set in a different country: The Conductor
by Sarah Quigley
✔️27) A book you can finish in a day: The Silver Moon: Reflections on Life, Death and Writing by Bryce Courtenay
✔️28) A book with antonyms in the title: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
✔️42) A book you own but haven't read yet: Éclair Murder (Patisserie Mystery #2) by Harper Lin

And started:
✔️5) A book with a number in the title: 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
✔️9) A book by a female author: We Are Called to Rise by Laura McBride
✔️32) A trilogy: ✔️Undine ✔️Breathe "Drift" by Penni Russon
✔️38) A book that made you cry: Wonder by R.J. Palacio
✔️50) A book you started but never finished: The Summer Without Men by Siri Hustvedt