2017 Mother-Daughter Reading Challenge

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NaNoWriMo 2017 Week 1

Week 1 of NaNoWriMo has been tough. The world has tried it’s best to keep me from writing. We’ve had car trouble, illness, and other issues pulling my attention away. Today I woke sick– again. I’m really tired of allergies. I can’t wait for the weather to turn cold and kill whatever is producing this pollen.

I am starting to feel like I am in the groove. The words are coming easier. Thanks to my handy dandy outline keeping me on track. I will say that this week’s daily goal of 2500 words is hard! Next week my goal is 3000 words. Yikes.

I may have to steal an hour this weekend to get a little work done.

 

In other news, I just completed the Mother-Daughter Reading Challenge for 2017. We’ll need to make a few adjustments for next year. Some of these topics were rough. If you would like to see the 2017 list, click here.

That’s it for now. My fingers are tired and I need a nap.

How’s your week?

-CK

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I, Robot

I am reading through the topics for the Mother-Daughter Reading Challenge. My focus, at the moment, is genres I don’t normally read. Like Sci-fi. I don’t read sci-fi. I prefer to watch it rather than read it. I’m leaning toward the more famous books. Which is why I chose I,Robot by Issac Asimov. I also wanted to watch the movie after finishing the book.

I,Robot

225 pages

originally published 1950

I actually liked the book. The writing pulls you in with how smooth it is. Asimov is a great writer. Shocking declaration I know. There was a time or two where the science went over my head, but most of the time I found it an easy read. I was a tad disappointed that, at this point in time, I should have a robot. The book starts in 1996 with nanny robots and ends in 2052 with a robot not bound by the 3 laws of robotics. Yikes!

The book seems as timely now as it was then. Except I still don’t have a robot. I can honestly say I might read book 2. I’m not a totally convert but I can appreciate the genre more now.

The movie. (2004)

starring Will Smith

All I can say is thankfully the credits state: “suggested by the stories of Asimov” or something similar. It was a fun action flick, but it had nothing to do with the book. They pulled a few names for the written work but that is where the similarities ended. I remembered liking it more when I watched it when it originally came out. Not so much this time.

If you’ve read the book, what did you think?

-CK

 

 

 

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March 2017 TBR Final

I’ve had a busy month. Spring  Summer seems to be in full swing here. I’ve ordered the girls each a box from Owlcrate for Easter. They are so excited. I’ve been chipping away at my reading list, acquiring books for summer reading. Apparently, I wanted to read one book so bad I bought it twice 🙂 I haven’t accomplished much writing but I have been busy submitting my work to publishers, agents, and magazines. So that is something.

My books:

  • Caraval by Stephanie Garber- I enjoyed this, it’s a beautiful book, but I don’t know if I like it enough to read the next one.
  • The Positive Trait Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
  • The Urban Setting Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi. I skimmed through both of these. I’m not counting them as true reads.
  • Body Trauma by David W. Page, MD. I read the introduction and first chapter before I moved this to my research shelf. It’s a bit dry but will make a great resource when writing scene’s involving death and/or injury. Not including it in my reading count.
  • The Ice Dragon by George R.R. Martin. I read this in one sitting. Tiny little read with beautiful illustrations. Hated the ending. But a nice read.
  • Out of the Silent Planet Book 1 of the Space Trilogy by C.S.Lewis. I tried to read it I really did. I love C.S. Lewis but I could not get through this. I may try again later.

Library Books:

  • Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Didn’t finish.
  • If I Stay by Gayle Forman I enjoyed it more than expected but not enough to read more of the series.

Kindle Books:

  • Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia. I loved it. Is that wrong? I knew the voice, it’s so Southern. I swear I grew up in that little town.
  • Auntie Mamie by Patrick Dennis. Again, I tried and failed. It just “read” so dated. That’s my issue with most older fiction– it’s old.

WOW! I actually tackled every book on my list. That’s a new record!

Books also read:

  • Double Strike by Gretchen Archer If you have not read a Davis Way Caper give it a go. It is crazy funny.
  • Double Jinx  by Gretchen Archer– a short story
  • Blubber by Judy Blume — this was my selection for a banned book. I borrowed it from the library and someone went through and blacked out the curse words. So I guess it was banned and censored 😉
  • The Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan. This was my selection for a book recommended by a librarian. I really enjoyed it, the book is written similar to an autobiography. It was different, I’ll look into reading the next two in the series.
  • Pillow Stalk (Madison Night Mystery #1) by Diane Vallere. I received this book through a giveaway with Henery Press. I’ve had my eye on this book for a while. Women who look like Doris Day are being murdered in present-day Dallas! The book is dotted with names and references from the film Pillow Talk. I remember watching that movie as a kid. I loved it. And let’s face it, Rock Hudson is still dreamy.

That’s 9 books this month with a total of 22 out of 80 for the year.  I think my favorite book was Pillow Stalk. I just really enjoyed the characters and the mystery.

What was your favorite read this month?

-CK

 

 

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M-D reading Challenge

the-2017mother-daughterreading-challenge

The Mother-Daughter Reading Challenge is up and running. I have read 8 books so far on the list. Unlike last year, I didn’t have much input into this years’ topics. For that reason, there are several I am perplexed over. The other night I spent time looking for books that would fit and then checked if the library had them. That took longer than expected.

My goal for this challenge is to read beyond the genres I usually read. I read a lot of YA, cozy mystery, and fantasy. My personal goal is to read books and authors I have never read before.

Required reading in another country- Really? Which child of mine thought that was a good idea? or was it the cousin? I narrowed it down to two books. The obvious choice is Diary of Anne Frank. I read that ages ago. So it’s not my first choice. The one I want to read can’t be found locally. Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden. This book was turned into a movie, it’s awesome. It’s Australian 🙂 It reminded me of Red Dawn. I’m holding out for Tomorrow, hopefully I can find a copy online.

Books set in space– Groan. I’m regretting having read The Martian already. I could use it for this category. I have three possible books on my list, only two are at my library: The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe and Space by James Michener.  Wolfe’s book checks in at a little over 300 pages while Michener’s is over 800. I’ve never read Michener before but I’ve always wanted to and I have his Hawaii on my list for a different category. If you have a better suggestion I’m all ears.

A Sci-fi book– See this messes me up. I don’t care for Sci-fi. I went to Goodreads and checked multiple lists of science fiction books. These are the choices I came up with. Again, my library only had 2 of them.

i, Robot by Issac Asimov

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (?) Not sure how this falls into Sci-fi. I’ve read a few books of hers before. She scares me.

Ringworld by Larry Niven

Anyway. These are the categories I’m attempting to read for March. If you have a good suggestion, please let me know. If you’ve read one of these, did you like it?

-CK