Samantha’s Comments (group member since Jan 10, 2015)

Samantha’s comments from the 2015 Reading Challenge [Closed] group.

Thanks Rebekah, it was more about getting my hands on a copy of 'Into The River' by Ted Dawes which was banned here in New Zealand for a few months earlier this year. I was hoping to get a copy from the library but with time running out chose the 'The Lorax' instead.

I am happy to say I have finished this reading challenge. I stepped out of my comfort zone for many of the books and have opened my eyes to new genres. It is so easy to stick to what is comfortable and there is a whole new world of books out there. Thanks so much to the moderator's for their hard work.

WEEKS & TOPICS
1. a book with more than 500 pages - Citadel by Kate Mosse
2. a romance - Sapphire Skies by Belinda Alexander
3. a book that became a movie – Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
4. a book published this year – The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes
5. a book with a number in the title – 419 by Will Ferguson
6. a book written by someone under 30 –The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
7. a book with nonhuman characters Animal Farm by George Orwell
8. a funny book- The Rosie Project – by Graeme Simsion
9. a book by a female author – The Darkest Hour by Barbara Erskine
10. a mystery or thriller- The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
11. a book with a one-word title – Room by Emma Donoghue
12. a book of short stories – The Book Lovers’ Appreciation Society by many writers
13. a book set in a different country – The Paris Architect
14. a nonfiction book -Infidel
15. a popular author's first book – Songs of the Humpbacked Whale by Jodie Picoult
16. a book from your favorite author that you haven't read yet – Secrets to the Grave by Tami Hoag
17. a book a friend recommended- Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler
18. a Pulitzer-prize winning book- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
19. a book based on a true story - Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
20. a book at the bottom of your to read list – The Bone Tree by Greg Isles
21. a book your mom loves – Mercy by Jodi Picoult
22. a book that scares you – The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
23. a book more than 100 years old – Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
24. a book based entirely on its cover – the Minimalist
25. a book you were supposed to read in school but didn't –To Kill a Mockingbird
26. a memoir – Desert Flower –The Extraordinary Journey of a Desert Nomad by Waris Durie
27. a book you can finish in a day The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion
28. a book with antonyms in the title Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
29. a book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit – Inferno – Dan Brown
30. a book that came out the year you were born –The Clocks by Agatha Christie
31. a book with bad reviews –Questions of Travel by Michelle De Kretzer
32. a trilogy (the first) Wards of Faerie by Terry Brooks
33. a trilogy (the second) – Bloodfire Quest by Terry Brooks
34. a trilogy (the third) – Witches Wraith by Terry Brooks
35. a book from your childhood The Witches by Roald Dahl
36. a book with a love triangle – The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
37. a book set in the future – Crake and Oryx by Margaret Atwood
38. a book set in high school Paper Towns by
39. a book with a color in the title – Silver Wattle by Belinda Alexandra
40. a book that made/makes you cry – Beach Music by Pat Conroy
41. a book with magic – Magician’s End by Raymond Feist
42. a graphic novel – The Sandman: Endless Nights, by Neil Gaiman
43. a book by an author you've never read before Behind Closed Doors by Elizabeth Haynes
44. a book you own but have never read – The Little Paris Bookshop, by Nina George
45. a book that takes place in your hometown – Heartland by Jenny Pattrick
46. a book that was originally written in another language – Maya’s Notebook by Isabel Allende
47. a book set during Christmas (or similar holiday) – A Christmas Hope by Ann Perry
48. a book written by an author with your same initial – Rip Tide by Stella Rimmington
49. a play – The Importance of being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
50. a banned book – The Lorax by Dr Suess
51. a book based on OR turned into a tv show –The Wire in the Blood – Val McDermid
52. a book you started but never finished –One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson

I just finished reading this as I have been waiting and waiting for a book that was banned this year in New Zealand and have just given up. Incredible to believe that this book was ever banned. Not my favourite Dr Suess book.

I finally finished this book. It was about my third attempt. I still struggled through the first 100 or so pages before I started to enjoy it. I would recommend it to others though as I ended up rating it 4 stars.

I have been unable to post on Goodreads for a few weeks as we have been shifting. I have still been reading though and this book by Val McDermid was one I finished. It is based on clinical psychologist, Dr. Anthony “Tony” Valentine Hill (Robson Green), who is able to tap into his own dark side to get into the heads of serial killers. I had enjoyed the TV series and I also enjoyed this book.

A lot of the Christmas themed books seemed to be romance based. Anne Perry has several historical mystery based Christmas stories so that is the direction I will take this week.

I was a little disappointed with this as apart from the fact that it was set at Christmas time there was very little Christmas spirit in the story.

I was fairly limited this week with my initials SR. I haven't read a good thriller/spy novel for awhile so hope this is a good one.

I have borrowed this book from a friend and as I keep picking up books by Isabel Allende but have yet to read any of them this seems like a good opportunity.

Not knowing what to expect I was starting to wonder what all the fuss was about. However, the ending was unexpected and quite funny. Would love to see it acted out.

I am starting this play today. Haven't read anything buy Oscar Wilde previously and as Ana and Renata seem to have enjoyed this play and rated it 4 stars and above it seems like an opportunity to give something written by him a go.

Not exactly my hometown but not too far away. New Zealand is only a small country and I have read and enjoyed books by Jenny Pattrick previously, so this is the best option for this week.

I would give this 3.5 stars if I could. I just couldn't seem to get into this book initially, the ending was the most interesting part, so it finished on a high.

I was lent this book a couple of months ago by a friend and I need to return it to her, so this seems like a good opportunity.

This is a completely new genre for me. Have started it already and have to say probably not my favourite. Not sure I should rate it as will probably never read this genre again.

Just finished this, and it is every bit as good as I remembered it. Pat Conroy has a way of writing that takes readers on a journey. Although the tears came mainly at the end it was still after 600 pages of an emotional, thought provoking story.

I read this book about 20 years ago and I remember having several bouts of tears while reading it. I would rate it as one of my all time favourites although now I have started it I realise how little I remember. So glad that I am reading it again and probably wouldn't have if not for the topic for this week.

I am a little disappointed with this book. I think I left it too long between books in this series and therefore lost the thread between them. Most of the action was in the last 100 pages.

I read quite a few of Raymond Feist's books a few years ago and really enjoyed them. The Magician is one of my favourites. Pug features in this book, and as he is a favourite character I am looking forward to another adventure.

I can't say I will be reading another book by John Green. It was an ok read, I didn't think much of the characters they just didn't seem very realistic either in the language they sometimes used or in their likability. I didn't enjoy the second half of the book especially. Interesting that you loved Fault in Our Stars Biana, maybe I should have started with that one.

I am not really looking forward to this book, it was available at the library and seems to get reasonable reviews though.