Thursday Thoughts: Reading Challenges 2014

After a considerable amount of thought, I've decided to give reading challenges another try this year.  I wasn't satisfied with my challenge results last year because I didn't meet all of the goals I set for myself in 2013. However, since I started 2014 off at a good reading pace, I am going to take the plunge again.

Reading challenges are fun.  They're also a good way to stay motivated and interact with other bloggers.  Whether committing to reading certain types of books or authors, challenges help set the pace and keep things interesting.  It's rewarding even when you only complete a few.

Here are the three challenges I am participating in:

Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2014 hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews . . . 

    

 My Challenge:  Level 2 - Investigator - 7-12 cozy mystery books

I Love Library Books Reading Challenge hosted by Book Dragon's Lair 

   

My Challenge:  Chapter Book Level - 12 books from the library

 2014 Women Book Challenge hosted by Peek A Book!

 

My Challenge: Level 4 - Wonder Woman - 20+ books by women authors

The four books I've already read this year have me off to a good start for two of these reading challenges.

  

I Love Library Books Reading Challenge -- 2/12:

                                     

Women Challenge -- 3/20+ :

                              

How about you?  Have you signed by for any 2014 reading challenges? 

Catherine

Reading Challenges 2014 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.

Thursday Thoughts

 

Amazon.com announced its third annual list of the most well-read cities in the U.S. yesterday, which according to Amazon's press release is based on "sales data of all book, magazine and newspaper sales in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2012, on a per capita basis in cities with more than 100,000 residents."


Here are the results:

1. Alexandria, Va.
2. Knoxville, Tenn.
3. Miami, Fla.
4. Cambridge, Mass.
5. Orlando, Fla.
6. Ann Arbor, Mich.
7. Berkeley, Calif.
8. Cincinnati, Ohio
9. Columbia, S.C.
10. Pittsburgh, Penn.
11. St. Louis, Mo.
12. Salt Lake City, Utah
13. Seattle, Wash.
14. Vancouver, Wash.
15. Gainesville, Fla.
16. Atlanta, Ga.
17. Dayton, Ohio
18. Richmond, Va.
19. Clearwater, Fla.
20. Tallahassee, Fla.  

The amazon.com press release.

Lists like this are fun to see, even though this particular one captures only Amazon customers.  Avid and voracious readers live in cities and towns all around the country and purchase books from many sources--and borrow reading material from libraries and friends as well.

Enjoy life with books...

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Thursday Thoughts was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.

Thanksgiving Dialogue--Books to the Rescue

 

Happy Thanksgiving, readers.  Today is a day when most of us spend time with family and friends sharing food and conversation.  Dialogue can be the tricky part. When Aunt Edna, Uncle Cyril, or some other relative asks you an awkward, personal, or probing question, consider answering their question with a question of your own.  Something like, "Have you read any good books lately?"  You get the idea.  You will either be surprised by their answer or amused by their confusion.  In any event, it should give you the opportunity to excuse yourself so that you can refresh your drink, check the football scores, or grab an extra helping of something delicious.

Wishing you good food, good conversation, and good books!

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Thanksgiving Dialogue--Books to the Rescue was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.blogspot.com.  This post cannot be republished without express written consent.

Saturday Shorts--Quote of the Day

Why I like to read:

"Wherever I am, if I've got a book with me, I have a place I can go and be happy."
--J.K. Rowling

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Saturday Shorts--Quote of the Day was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.blogspot.com.  This post cannot be republished without express written consent.

Saturday Shorts--Sandy's Wrath

 

The magnitude of Sandy's wrath continues to unfold here in the northeast as local communities assess the damage and pick up the pieces.  At this difficult time, we come together to offer prayers, encouragement, and support to friends and neighbors in need as we begin the healing and rebuilding process. 


Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Saturday Shorts--Sandy's Wrath was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.blogspot.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.

Thursday Thoughts--Storm Aftermath

Call it a hurricane, call it a super storm, or something stronger (I've heard a lot of choice phrases over the last few days)...Sandy packed quite a wallop.  There's been mass destruction all over the east coast, especially along the shoreline.  Our local coastal areas have sustained lots of damage, and stories of deaths and property damage are sadly emerging.  My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost their homes and loved ones, or suffered any kind of distress from the storm.  My area has been without power since Monday at 4 pm. This inconvenience pales in comparison to what others are experiencing.  At the moment,  I don't have the heart to write a post about books.  It doesn't seem an appropriate thing to do under the circumstances.   Take care, everyone.

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Thursday Thoughts--Storm Aftermath was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.blogspot.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.

Monday, Monday

Is it really Monday again already?  Really?  Again?  Already?

After a very rainy day last Friday that seemed unending, it was a perfect autumn weekend in the New York/New Jersey area.  Saturday and Sunday were ideal days to spend outdoors, with mild temperatures, lots of sunshine, and leaves beginning to change color.  Yes, I was distracted by these conditions, which means I didn't read as much as I originally though I would.

Nevertheless, I'm making slow but steady progress with J.K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy.  I've read 150 pages, and thus far it is challenging to keep all the characters straight in my mind.  The tiny English village of Pagford has two generations of inhabitants of differing social classes, all of whom cross paths with each other over a variety of issues.  In fact, there seems to be fewer than six degrees of separation among the residents in this character-driven novel.  As the plot unfolds, loathing and self-loathing fuel personal agendas following the sudden, unexpected death of council member Barry Fairbrother.  As competing interests escalate, I can't help but wonder:  Can the village's--and villagers'--issues be resolved?  Will Pagford ever be the same again?  The answers to these and other questions lie within the remaining 350 pages...

Have a wonderful week!

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Monday, Monday was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.blogspot.com.  This post cannot be republished without express written consent.

Monday, Monday

Since I ended Sunday's post with a reference to California Dreamin', I thought it only appropriate to title today's post Monday, Monday...


California Dreamin' and Monday, Monday are my two favorite songs by the Mamas and Papas, pictured at left, the iconic American/Canadian musical group from the 1960s.  Folk music, hippies, love beads, the peace movement...these are some of the things that come to mind for me from that era.

Fast forward to the present...for a reading update.  I am half way through Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, and can see why it is a New York Times bestseller.  (It's currently number 3 on the NYT print fiction hardcover list.)  The author expertly draws the reader into a web of mystery with the disappearance of Amy Elliott Dunne on her fifth wedding anniversary.  As the story unfolds, Flynn paints an engrossing picture of flawed characters, imperfect lives, and unraveling relationships.  I am thoroughly engaged as secret after secret is revealed.  It has me pondering the many ways an individual can be "gone" from a relationship--physically, psychologically, emotionally.  I anticipate burning the midnight oil to finish this novel.

Have a great week!

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Monday, Monday was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.blogpost.com.  This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

This Weekend's Read

In between working and playing Words with Friends, I've managed to start Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I'm 72 pages in, and already hooked by Flynn's characters and the way she writes about them.  The suspense is building, adding a chill in the air that matches the drop in temperature outdoors.  A great read!


Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

This Weekend's Read was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.blogpost.com.  This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

Book Club Reads

What my book clubs are reading this month:

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose

If you don't already participate in a book club, I encourage you to join one.  It's a fun way to discover new books and authors, meet new friends, and gain other perspectives.  Book clubs abound in local public libraries, book stores, and online. 

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Book Club Reads was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.blogpost.com.  This post cannot be republished without express written permission.