Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Rebecca F. (Nightengale) wrote: "Alysa wrote: "Hi Rebecca! Welcome!
I am jealous of your early-Nov cruise plans. 😎"

Rebecca F. (Nightengale) wrote: "Hi Jan & Deanna!

Looks like we are well organised. I would expect nothing less..."

Rebecca,
Does your cruise have a "theme"? I know people who have done a "goth cruise"... although it was less an official theme and more just how everybody dresses all the time. ;)

Brittany wrote: "Fredrik Backman is a literary genius!"

YES!

Alysa, no theme on the cruise other than having fun. I would like to do a themed cruise though. That would really interesting seeing all the costumes. I bet some would be really elaborate.

10 days until we start!!!!

I'm a little excited.

Question of the day

Who are the best new to you authors that you have discovered this year?

In no particular order, I enjoyed:

Lee Goldberg - started with and have since read and . He also co-writes the Fox and O'Hare series with Evanovich. All were enjoyable light fast action style books.

Robert B. Warren - I love Greek mythology and mysteries. is a good blend with plenty of action and humor as well. I have on my list for O books.

Leighann Dobbs - I found her cozy mysteries during Tower Teams. I enjoyed and the other three books in this series and have tried and as well.

Craig Schaeffer - is a good combination of paranormal and crime genres, slightly darker than my norm. I really enjoy the audio narrator as well.

Gregg Hurwitz - is a slightly darker thriller series

Probably only new to me authors include Jennifer Estep and her Elemental Assassin series as well as Darynda Jones series.

Deanna wrote: "Question of the day

Who are the best new to you authors that you have discovered this year?"

Hmmm.... this is way more answerable for me than the “who are your favorite authors” one. 😅

Just based on New-To-Me authors whose books I rated 5 stars so far in 2018 (plus a few 4.5 stars that I rounded down to 4), I would say...

Lila Bowen for
Tom Miller for
Mackenzi Lee for
Jay Kristoff for
Jess Kidd for
Joshua Wheeler for
Gail Godwin for

Oooh so many! Leigh Bardugo comes to mind first, Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom are amazing! Patrick Rothfuss, I am obsessed with his Kingkiller series. Sarah Maas (I lost my mind over ACOTAR this year). I also definitely agree with Alysa about Mackenzi Lee!

Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller books have been great (just not new to me this year ;D), but I'm a little worried about how Book 3 will turn out... assuming Rothfuss ever gets around to finishing it!

I've literally just this morning started Darynda Jones' first Charley Davidson book. So far I don't think it's a good fit for me, though it does have some fun bits.

My work is doing a team-based "Walking Challenge" that started yesterday and will overlap with Wheel. I'm trying to do a ton of walking between now and 10/27 because once I am reading for Wheel, I will be doing a lot of sitting on my ass. LOL

Wow I can't think of any new authors this year, let me think. Oh series by Jay Kristoff and Amy Kaufman, though I didnt like their other stuff near as much that I read after

And Shannon Mayer, her and series are both good

I just read by Kristin Hanna, I need to read her now

Sorry I havent been around as much, these tariffs created a bunch of busy work for me. Doesn't cut into my personal reading time but cuts into my screw around on the internet all day time!

Hehe, no worries.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! 10 days and 53 minutes left!!!!!!

I love watching our spreadsheet fill up, because I'm a dork like that. I know not all of us have added stuff, or have good access... or know what they will be reading past their first 1 or 2 books, but still.
*happy dance*

Alysa wrote: "Hehe, no worries.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! 10 days and 53 minutes left!!!!!!

I love watching our spreadsheet fill up, because I'm a dork like that. I know not all of us have added stuff, or have goo..."


I can't wait to get started too! Its so hard to plan past the first few books, I don't want to get in anyone elses way or take up too many spaces

I have 13 audible credits, I haven't used up any of my "unlimited" (aka 3 or 4 audiobooks) on scribd, and I've got Kindle Unlimited and the audible romance package and 9 libraries, so I'm hoping I can find something to fit whatever letters don't seem to be as popular and we are needing! I have lists and lists of ideas

JanEyre9 wrote: "Oooh so many! Leigh Bardugo comes to mind first, Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom are amazing! Patrick Rothfuss, I am obsessed with his Kingkiller s..."


I read both the Bardugo books as buddy reads during Tower Teams and really enjoyed them. Her Wonder Woman: Warbringer was also pretty good, but I didn't enjoy Shadow and Bone nearly as much. You all keep mentioning the Kingkiller series, and I finally gave in to the temptation and put the first one on hold.

Alysa wrote: "Deanna wrote: "Question of the day

Who are the best new to you authors that you have discovered this year?"

Hmmm.... this is way more answerable for me than the “who are your favorite authors” on..."

Hence the first five names that pop in your mind clause. I could never have answered the question myself without it.

Alysa wrote: "My work is doing a team-based "Walking Challenge" that started yesterday and will overlap with Wheel. I'm trying to do a ton of walking between now and 10/27 because once I am reading for Wheel, I ..."

I've decided to try audiobooks instead of music while walking to keep myself moving.

Ashley wrote: "Wow I can't think of any new authors this year, let me think. Oh series by Jay Kristoff and Amy Kaufman, though I didnt like their other stuff near as much that I rea..."

Oooh The Nightingale is wonderful!

Ashley wrote: "Wow I can't think of any new authors this year, let me think. Oh series by Jay Kristoff and Amy Kaufman, though I didnt like their other stuff near as much that I rea..."

The Illuminae books are on my list of possible reads for wheel. I haven't tried those particular Shannon Mayer, but I have enjoyed Priceless and Immune in the Rylee Adamson series.

Illuminae is amazing on audio! I absolutely love full cast audiobooks. I just read Sadie the other day (sorry no links, I’m not at my desk!) and it was also an amazing full cast. So good

Deanna wrote: "Alysa wrote: "My work is doing a team-based "Walking Challenge" that started yesterday and will overlap with Wheel. I'm trying to do a ton of walking between now and 10/27 because once I am reading..."

I sometimes alternate between the kindle/print version and the audio version of the same book (and I always shelve the print/kindle version on 카지노싸이트). There are many audiobooks that I have loved greatly, but then there are other things that just don't lend themselves well to the format, or they have a narrator or narrators I don't like, or weird editing. I am very picky.

Alysa wrote: "Hehe, no worries.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! 10 days and 53 minutes left!!!!!!

I love watching our spreadsheet fill up, because I'm a dork like that. I know not all of us have added stuff, or have goo..."

I totally agree and share in that particular dorky trait. 😜

Ashley wrote: "...I have lists and lists of ideas."

I made a list for longer books since I'm hoping to tackle that portion of my tbr. I have a partial list for the harder letters which I'm still working on and need to make a list of audiobook ideas as well. I can always fill in with books from my next in series shelf and KU if needed. It all depends on what words we get and which letters we end up needing.

In other news, I'm not sure if we have our "bonus categories" completely sorted?

Genre is covered (by Megan), and between Deanna and Jan we have two books for text and/or title and/or cover. Can one book read by one person be used to score bonus points in more than one category at a time (example: "Jan reads Candy Corn Murder and scores 70 points for both Title and Cover"), or do we need three separate entries?

Sorry if this has been explained to me elsewhere. My brain is getting tired today. I have eaten too much candy corn ;D

Deanna wrote: "I have a partial list for the harder letters which I'm still working on and need to make a list of audiobook ideas as well. I can always fill in with books from my next in series shelf and KU if needed. It all depends on what words we get and which letters we end up needing."

I know I'll be alternating kindle/audio book for some stuff already, which will hopefully allow me to finish those books faster.
As far as filling in harder letters etc. goes, as you say it all depends.

If I end up with extra time over the last couple days of Week One, I will check with you captains to see if I should either A) start a long book for finishing during a subsequent week, or B) try filling in an extra spell-out or partial spell-out with a shorter book. I will have, for just one example, an eligible Jane Yellowrock book ready to go ( Character: Yellowrock & Title: D )!

Alysa wrote: "In other news, I'm not sure if we have our "bonus categories" completely sorted?

Genre is covered (by Megan), and between Deanna and Jan we have two books for text and/or title and/or cover. Can o..."

It's one book for each of the bonus categories. I have more than one candy corn book and can read for two bonuses if needed. I don't mind. I was leaving them open in case anyone else wanted to volunteer.

Alysa wrote: "Deanna wrote: "Alysa wrote: "My work is doing a team-based "Walking Challenge" that started yesterday and will overlap with Wheel. I'm trying to do a ton of walking between now and 10/27 because on..."

I agree about the narrators, they can really make or break a book! It seems like publishers are really starting to invest more in narrators now, I've read so many good narrator books lately. Has anyone listened to , her voice is PERFECT for the story. A good narrator can really add so much and make it so much more enjoyable

Narrators are so important. My husband and I both listen to a bunch of audio books and have ditched plenty due to narrators we don't click with. When I find a narrator I like I check to see what else they've read. I really love the narrator for The Lunar Chronicles, Rebecca Soler. She nailed it. I haven't read Spinning Silver yet, I'm going to put a hold on the audio :)

I think Rebecca Soler is great too! I loved her in the Lunar Chronicles and she narrated “Sadie” that I just read too. It is full cast but she was the main girl. It was neat to hear her in a non-fantasy book in a really different role

And my TBR list just grew by one book, thanks Ashley!

Question of the day

Continuing on the audiobook conversation:

What are the best audiobooks you listened to this year? Who are your favorite narrators?

I love listening to the Kinsey Millhone series on audiobook narrated by Mary Peiffer.

My favorite for this year has been Harmony Black narrated by Christina Traister.

Alysa wrote: "Hehe, no worries.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! 10 days and 53 minutes left!!!!!!

I love watching our spreadsheet fill up, because I'm a dork like that. I know not all of us have added stuff, or have goo..."

I totally can't access it at all hahha

Brittany wrote: "Alysa wrote: "Hehe, no worries.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! 10 days and 53 minutes left!!!!!!

I love watching our spreadsheet fill up, because I'm a dork like that. I know not all of us have added stuf..."

I know! That is is terrible about it being blocked at your job. We actually USE Google drive at my job, for actual work stuff! I cannot imagine it being blocked.

Would you like any of us to start adding stuff for you now, or are you still waiting to decide on possible books until the challenge gets started?

Deanna wrote: "Question of the day

Continuing on the audiobook conversation:

What are the best audiobooks you listened to this year? Who are your favorite narrators?"

Good question!
For this year's books... The audiobook of was pretty great. Narrator was Rob McQuay.
I also finished the series, and thought narrator Allison McLemore did a great job with it. I also finished the series, which was narrated by the ever-amazing Alan Cumming.

Tim Gerard Reynolds' narration of Michael J. Sullivan's books is stellar, of course.

Kate Reading, also DUH! I don't listen to stuff BECAUSE she is the narrator, but I do find myself listening to a lot of things that she happens to have narrated, and she is always great. Same for Johanna Parker, who is best known to me via Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse books, though she's a lot less versatile.

My favorite audiobook of the year is (and my favorite book of the year, one of my favorite books of all time!)

I also liked and

I'm not actually sure that I know what tasks are needed?

Brittany wrote: "I'm not actually sure that I know what tasks are needed?"

We don't need any of the "bonus" tasks for Week One, unless you find something for "word in text" or "word on cover", so Deanna doesn't have to do both (which she is currently signed on for)...

Other than that, I think everybody is just reading books for whatever spell-it-out letters they want, and if your book can be used for multiple letters (like Title starts with C, Author starts with N, characters with names starting with R and O), that's even better because the captains can slot them in wherever needed.

ok I will do my best :)

I remembered two more of my favorite audiobook narrators while I was shampooing the dining room carpet.

The Iron Druid Chronicles is excellent on audio, narrated by Luke Daniels.

The narrator for Rivers of London series is also amazing, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith.

Brittany wrote: "I'm not actually sure that I know what tasks are needed?"

Sorry about that. I'll get a post up later this evening once I get a chance. As we get going in the challenge, Ashley and I are planning to do daily updates (most likely in the mornings) so everyone is on the same page.

Deanna wrote: "The Iron Druid Chronicles is excellent on audio, narrated by Luke Daniels."

Oh yeah, those are great! I've only read/listened to the first 2 books, plus some short stories, but I have the next book in my TBR :)

I've noticed some other teams doing "practice posts" for finished books. Captains, what do you think you'll want to see in such posts, assuming we go that route?
Personally I'm down for just saying "I finished X; see spreadsheet for details" but I know not everybody will use the spreadsheet in the same way. :)

In other news, I just DNF'd . I know it's very popular, but it's just not for me. I will probably try to read a few random short things and graphic novels until Wheel officially starts. I'm also partway into , in which each chapter is more or less a standalone story. I will read it slowly! I have a bunch of family stuff to do this weekend anyway. Which includes seeing the new Halloween movie because that's what my SO wants to do for his birthday :D

Alysa wrote: "I've noticed some other teams doing "practice posts" for finished books. Captains, what do you think you'll want to see in such posts, assuming we go that route?
Personally I'm down for just sayin..."

For completion posts, since we opted to post completions in this thread so we can talk about what we are reading, please put a heading at the top. Any of these would work:

Completion Post
COMPLETION POST
***Completion Post***
🎃Completion Post🎃 (for those like me who love fun emojis😁)

Then title (or cover) - see spreadsheet for details is fine

or if not on spreadsheet
Title (or cover), date read, number of pages, how it fits (letters/bonuses)

Examples:

🎃Completion Post🎃

Running Blind - details on spreadsheet

Completion Post

10/31, 512 pgs
How it fits: Title R, Author C, Alison, Nelson, Deerfield (Alan)

Edited to add: Absolutely feel free to add a sentence or two about the book if so desired.

Current Team Status

Bonuses:
🔸word in text - Deanna
🔸word in title - Jan
🔸word on cover - Deanna
🔸word as genre - Megan

Spellings of Candy Corn
🔸Spelling 1 - All claimed
🔸Spelling 2 - needs O and either C or N
🔸Spelling 3 - all letters open

Super helpful! Thanks, Deanna!

I was looking at those “Challenge Hall of Fame” threads that the mods are working on, and ogling the number of books that previous Wheel winning teams have read per week for their words of similar length. Whoa, this bar is set high! Even if we can’t meet it, I hope we don’t end too far off :)

ETA: I did not check if they were using the “more points for longer books” model at that time. ;)

Question of the day

What series do you have sitting on the back burner that you keep thinking you need to get back to reading?

In Death series by Robb - My library only has the third book on audio cd, which is my least favorite option for a book.

Charlie Davidson series by Jones - This one is the opposite. I enjoyed the first three on audiobook and keep putting off the fourth which my library only has in print.

The Hollows series by Harrison - I started this series before I was on 카지노싸이트 and couldn't remember where I left off, so I reread the first book earlier this month and have the second on my list of ideas for wheelathon

Deanna wrote: "Question of the day

What series do you have sitting on the back burner that you keep thinking you need to get back to reading?"


You're killing me, Smalls!!! :D
I am embarrassed to answer this one, seeing as I have about a million unfinished series. Apart from a handful of Audible stuff, I tend to try to read books that I already own before acquiring or borrowing stuff that I don't, which often means that quite a lot of time can pass for me between series installments.

I've only read the first two books each of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series and Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid series.

I've also been sitting on Patrick Weekes's third Rogues of the Republic book, which I feel especially bad about because it's a NetGalley. I enjoyed the first two, but just feel like they require a significant time investment for some reason.

Deanna, I read the first Hollows book like... a year ago? I've been meaning to track down the next. Maybe I'll try to squeeze it in for Wheel too. We could do a Mini Buddy Read ;)

I have read so very many Book Ones. *sigh*
ETA: At least all of the books I have down for Week One of Wheel happen to be series installments!

Alysa wrote: "Deanna wrote: "Question of the day

What series do you have sitting on the back burner that you keep thinking you need to get back to reading?"

You're killing me, Smalls!!! :D...
I've only read the first two books each of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series and Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid series..."

I was only trying to help, honest. I have read a great many book ones as well. It's not always worth it to continue.

I didn't even stop to think about series I read before starting on 카지노싸이트. I have read some Dresden, but I honestly can't remember where I stopped in the series. I should probably start again.

I've only read 3 more Iron Druid books that you. I loved the first three because of the audiobook narrator. I had to read books four and five in print. They were still good, but I missed the narrator. Hmm... I for series, lots of O names, excellent humor... I might have to pull these out again. If I read 6 in print, then I can get the audio for 7.

Alysa wrote: "Deanna, I read the first Hollows book like... a year ago? I've been meaning to track down the next. Maybe I'll try to squeeze it in for Wheel too. We could do a Mini Buddy Read ;)"


I'd be up for a mini buddy read. I have it on my wheel list for I books because of Ivy.

One of my books for Week One is actually about 100 pages shorter than the 카지노싸이트 (and Amazon) page indicated. I guess there was just a wrong edit somewhere. I have since upated.

That means fewer points for this book, but at least then I can probably make the points up by reading an extra book afterwards for whatever letter is needed 😁

How is everyone going to spend this next week before 10/27?

Alysa wrote: "How is everyone going to spend this next week before 10/27? "

I'm at the beach this week. So relaxing, reading, and games or puzzles with the younger kids.

Soooooooooooooo jealous of beach. 😂

My mother in law is in town until the 29th, and that’s been my life for the last few days too. The beach sounds amazing right now