2016 Reading Challenge and FY2017 Movie Challenge
In addition to my usual challenges (read 50 books, see 25 or more movies each year), I added two more, starting with this one:
So far I've ticked off:
...A book published this year (Kings Rising)
...A book you can finish in a day (Captive Prince)
...A book recommended for you by your local librarian or bookseller. (H is for Hawk)
...A book published before you were born (Passing)
...A book that was banned at some point. (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian)
...A book that intimidates you (The Bluest Eye)
...A book you previously abandoned (The Goldfinch)
...A book you've already read at least once (Prince's Gambit)
I am currently reading a book that will fulfill the requirement that I read "a book chosen for you by your spouse, partner, sibling, child, or BFF." Samantha lent me her copy of "The Power of Habit" and strongly urged me to read it. I am. I should have it read before 1 November.
I also challenged myself to read at least 12 books from my TBR pile. In ten months, I've read three and disposed of one, so this challenge isn't looking good. Furthermore, the challenge is sidling in the wrong direction: I've recently added three books to the pile and removed none. Maybe next year?
This month I read two books, mostly on airplanes, and watched one movie. I've got nine months until 30 June 2017 to watch seventeen movies -- very doable -- but the likelihood that I read 26 books between today and 31 December 2016? Le sigh. FanSee
2016 Reading Challenge
1. Truth by Peter Temple.
2. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
3. Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat.
4. Prince's Gambit by C.S. Pacat.
5. Kings Rising by C.S. Pacat.
6. The Hard Problem by Tom Stoppard.
7. Passing by Nella Larsen.
8. Visitor by C.J. Cherryh.
9. Extreme Prey by John Sandford.
10. Imperial Spain (1469-1716) by J.H. Eliot.
11. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.
12. The English Bride by Joan Wolf.
13. Troublemaker by Linda Howard.
14. H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald.
15. The Reluctant Earl by Joan Wolf.
16. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie.
17. Under an English Heaven by Robert Radcliffe.
18. City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas by Roger Crowley.
19. The Duchess War by Courtney Milan.
20. Venice by Thomas F. Madden.
21. Lord Worthing's Wallflower by Michelle Morrison.
22. Frederica by Georgette Heyer.
23. Saturn Run by John Sandford and Ctein. This is hard-core science fiction, set fifty years in the future and using, Sandford assures us, only one instance of 'wantum mechanics' in the story. All the other advances in space travel are present now, although not advanced to the level Sandford/Ctein depict. So when you read about VASIMR drives, you think, "They're making this stuff up." Well, no, they're not, they're just taking it to an extreme not possible today. Most of the meat of the story is in the science, but the authors do make us care about some of the characters, there are page-turning episodes, and I actually had tears in my eyes once or twice. And, oh yes, some of the important scientists, engineers, and crew are women. Just don't read it if scientific-speculation-made-fiction is not your cuppa.
24. The Alienist by Caleb Carr. From reading a book set in 2064, I switched to one set in 1896, when "those experts who studied mental pathologies were...known as alienists." New York City has a serial murder on its hands...although the concept of 'serial murderer' is just coalescing...who is mutilating and killing boy whores. Because the boys come from the poorest of the poor (very poor indeed) and because what they are selling is abhorrent to society, nothing much is being done to solve the crimes. Then Theodore Roosevelt, soon to be nominated for Vice President, intervenes. Roosevelt is in the process of reforming the corrupt New York Police Department, and he puts together a small taskforce to work on this case. The task force includes Dr. Lazlo Kreizler, an alienist, who has theories he believes can identify the killer. And we're off to the races.
FY2017 Movie Challenge
1. The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble directed by Morgan Neville.
2.) Finding Dory with Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks.
3.) Hunt for the Wilderpeople with Sam Neill and Julian Dennison.
4.) Captain Fantastic with Viggo Mortenssen.
5. and 6.) Hell or High Water with Chris Pine, Ben Foster, and Jeff Bridges.
7.) Captain America: Civil War with Chris Evans and Robert Downey, Jr.
8.) Central Intelligence with Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart. Calvin Joyner, played by Kevin Hart, is that guy who graduated high school in a blaze of glory but is now an accountant, albeit with a gorgeous wife, and who wonders why he isn't living up to his potential. Calvin runs into another member of his high school class, now calling himself Bob Stone (Dwayne Johnson), who seems to think Calvin is the same star he was in high school. Bob proceeds to drag Calvin into a mysterious conspiracy that involves the CIA and a villain known as the Black Badger. Some genuinely funny lines and a lot of well-done slapstick result, as Calvin resists playing the role of a civilian hero. Thanks, sjmpets, for suggesting this light-weight (except for Dwayne Johnson) action thriller.
So far I've ticked off:
...A book published this year (Kings Rising)
...A book you can finish in a day (Captive Prince)
...A book recommended for you by your local librarian or bookseller. (H is for Hawk)
...A book published before you were born (Passing)
...A book that was banned at some point. (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian)
...A book that intimidates you (The Bluest Eye)
...A book you previously abandoned (The Goldfinch)
...A book you've already read at least once (Prince's Gambit)
I am currently reading a book that will fulfill the requirement that I read "a book chosen for you by your spouse, partner, sibling, child, or BFF." Samantha lent me her copy of "The Power of Habit" and strongly urged me to read it. I am. I should have it read before 1 November.
I also challenged myself to read at least 12 books from my TBR pile. In ten months, I've read three and disposed of one, so this challenge isn't looking good. Furthermore, the challenge is sidling in the wrong direction: I've recently added three books to the pile and removed none. Maybe next year?
This month I read two books, mostly on airplanes, and watched one movie. I've got nine months until 30 June 2017 to watch seventeen movies -- very doable -- but the likelihood that I read 26 books between today and 31 December 2016? Le sigh. FanSee
2016 Reading Challenge
1. Truth by Peter Temple.
2. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
3. Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat.
4. Prince's Gambit by C.S. Pacat.
5. Kings Rising by C.S. Pacat.
6. The Hard Problem by Tom Stoppard.
7. Passing by Nella Larsen.
8. Visitor by C.J. Cherryh.
9. Extreme Prey by John Sandford.
10. Imperial Spain (1469-1716) by J.H. Eliot.
11. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.
12. The English Bride by Joan Wolf.
13. Troublemaker by Linda Howard.
14. H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald.
15. The Reluctant Earl by Joan Wolf.
16. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie.
17. Under an English Heaven by Robert Radcliffe.
18. City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas by Roger Crowley.
19. The Duchess War by Courtney Milan.
20. Venice by Thomas F. Madden.
21. Lord Worthing's Wallflower by Michelle Morrison.
22. Frederica by Georgette Heyer.
23. Saturn Run by John Sandford and Ctein. This is hard-core science fiction, set fifty years in the future and using, Sandford assures us, only one instance of 'wantum mechanics' in the story. All the other advances in space travel are present now, although not advanced to the level Sandford/Ctein depict. So when you read about VASIMR drives, you think, "They're making this stuff up." Well, no, they're not, they're just taking it to an extreme not possible today. Most of the meat of the story is in the science, but the authors do make us care about some of the characters, there are page-turning episodes, and I actually had tears in my eyes once or twice. And, oh yes, some of the important scientists, engineers, and crew are women. Just don't read it if scientific-speculation-made-fiction is not your cuppa.
24. The Alienist by Caleb Carr. From reading a book set in 2064, I switched to one set in 1896, when "those experts who studied mental pathologies were...known as alienists." New York City has a serial murder on its hands...although the concept of 'serial murderer' is just coalescing...who is mutilating and killing boy whores. Because the boys come from the poorest of the poor (very poor indeed) and because what they are selling is abhorrent to society, nothing much is being done to solve the crimes. Then Theodore Roosevelt, soon to be nominated for Vice President, intervenes. Roosevelt is in the process of reforming the corrupt New York Police Department, and he puts together a small taskforce to work on this case. The task force includes Dr. Lazlo Kreizler, an alienist, who has theories he believes can identify the killer. And we're off to the races.
FY2017 Movie Challenge
1. The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble directed by Morgan Neville.
2.) Finding Dory with Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks.
3.) Hunt for the Wilderpeople with Sam Neill and Julian Dennison.
4.) Captain Fantastic with Viggo Mortenssen.
5. and 6.) Hell or High Water with Chris Pine, Ben Foster, and Jeff Bridges.
7.) Captain America: Civil War with Chris Evans and Robert Downey, Jr.
8.) Central Intelligence with Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart. Calvin Joyner, played by Kevin Hart, is that guy who graduated high school in a blaze of glory but is now an accountant, albeit with a gorgeous wife, and who wonders why he isn't living up to his potential. Calvin runs into another member of his high school class, now calling himself Bob Stone (Dwayne Johnson), who seems to think Calvin is the same star he was in high school. Bob proceeds to drag Calvin into a mysterious conspiracy that involves the CIA and a villain known as the Black Badger. Some genuinely funny lines and a lot of well-done slapstick result, as Calvin resists playing the role of a civilian hero. Thanks, sjmpets, for suggesting this light-weight (except for Dwayne Johnson) action thriller.