You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Alphabet 1: Author's Last Name

Alphabet 2: First Word in Title

Alphabet 3: Author's First Name

Alphabet 4: Setting

Alphabet 5: Author's Setting

Alphabet 1: Author's Last Name

A: Louisa May Alcott , A Long Fatal Love Chase

B: Douglas Brinkley, The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast

C: Truman Capote, The Grass Harp

D: Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

E: Tan Twan Eng, The Gift of Rain: A Novel

F: Elizabeth Flock, Me & Emma

G: John Galsworthy, The Forsyte Saga

H: Colleen Hoover, Slammed

I: Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day

J: P.D. James, A Taste For Death

K: Terry Kay, To Dance with the White Dog

L: Alison Light, Mrs. Woolf and the Servants: An Intimate History of Domestic Life in Bloomsbury

M: Henning Mankell, Faceless Killers

N: Azar Nafisi, Reading Lolita in Tehran

O: Julie Otsuka, When the Emperor Was Divine

P: Ann Patchett, Run

Q: Anna Quindlen, Black and Blue

R: Nora Roberts, Vision in White

S: Alexandra Styron, Reading My Father

T: Christopher Tilghman, The Right-Hand Shore

U: Alistair Urquhart, The Forgotten Highlander: My Incredible Story Of Survival During The War In The Far East

V: Barbara Vine, The Minotaur

W: Michael Lee West, Gone With a Handsomer Man

X: Xinran, The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices

Y: Paul H. Yarbrough, Mississippi Cotton

Z: Karen Spears Zacharias, A Silence of Mockingbirds: The Memoir of a Murder

Alphabet 2: First Word in Title

A; The Awakening, Kate Chopin

B; Bloodroot, Amy Greene

C: The Chaperone, Laura Moriarty

D: Deliverance, James Dickey

E: The End of the Affair, Graham Greene

F: Far from the Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy

G: The Great Santini, Pat Conroy

H: Hopeless, Colleen Hoover

I: Incendiary, Chris Cleave

J: Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare

K: The Keeper of Lost Causes, Jussi Adler-Olsen

L: Little Black Book of Stories, A.S. Byatt

M: The Misremembered Man, Christina McKenna

N: Nightwoods, Charles Frazier

O: Other Voices, Other Rooms, Truman Capote

P: The Painted Girls, Cathy Marie Buchanan

Q: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, Susan Cain

R: Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier

S: The Snowman, Jo Nesbø

T: Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston

U: Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, Jon Krakauer

V: The Veiled One, Ruth Rendell

W: When Will There Be Good News?, Kate Atkinson

X: XVI, Julia Karr

Y: The Year of Magical Thinking: Joan Didion

Z: Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald: Therese Anne
Fowler

Alphabet 3: Author's First Name

A: Åsa Larsson: Until Thy Wrath Be Past

B: Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

C: Catherine Herridge, The Next Wave: On the Hunt for Al Qaeda's American Recruits

D: Dean Faulkner Wells, Every Day by the Sun: A Memoir of the Faulkners of Mississippi

E: Eudora Welty, Delta Wedding

F: F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise

G: Grant Jerkins, At the End of the Road

H: Heather Barbieri, The Lace Makers of Glenmara

I: Isabel Allende, Island Beneath the Sea

J: Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake

K: Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go

L: L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

M: Maria Semple, Where'd You Go, Bernadette

N: Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam

O: O. Henry, The Best Short Stories of O. Henry

P: Pearl S. Buck, Peony

Q: Quentin Bates, Frozen Assets

R: Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

S: Susan Sherman, The Little Russian

T: Trisha O'Keefe, Hanahatchee

U; Ursula K. Le Guin, Lavinia

V: Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway

W: William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

X: Xinran, Sky Burial: An Epic Love Story of Tibet

Y: Yiyun Li, Gold Boy, Emerald Girl

Z: Zelda Fitzgerald, Save Me the W altz

Alphabet 4: Setting

A: Adirondack Mountains: A Northern Light, Jennifer Donnelly

B: Brooklyn: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith

C: Cambridge, England: Case Histories, Kate Atkinson

D: Denmark: Hamlet, William Shakespeare

E: England: Cakes and Ale, W. Somerset Maugham

F: France: French Guiana: Papillon, Henri Charrière

G: Great Britain: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Anne Brontë

H: Hell: Bliss, Peter Carey

I: Iran: A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea, Dina Nayeri

J; Japan: Learning to Bow: Inside the Heart of Japan, Bruce Feiler

K: Kinnakee, Kansas: Dark Places, Gillian Flynn

L: London: The Innocents, Francesca Segal

M: Maryland: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself: A New Critical Edition by Angela Y. Davis, Frederick Douglass

N: Nepal: Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster, Jon Krakauer

O: Oak Ridge, Tennessee: The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II, Denise Kiernan

P: Portlaw, UK: They Found Him Dead, Georgette Heyer

Q: Queensland, Australia: The Beach House, Helen McKenna

R: Russia: Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman, Robert K. Massie

S: San Francisco: The Obituary Writer, Ann Hood

T: Texas: Half Broke Horses, Jeannette Walls

U: castle of Udolpho: The Mysteries of Udolpho, Ann Radcliffe

V: Vietnam: Monkey Bridge, Lan Cao

W: Whistle Stop, Alabama: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop
Cafe, Fannie Flagg

X: Mexico: The Power and the Glory, Graham Greene

Y: Yorkshire, England:Emily's Ghost: A Novel of the Brontë Sisters, Denise Giardina

Z: Zephyr, Alabama: Boy's Life, Robert R. McCammon

Alphabet 5: Author's Setting

A: Alabama: Tobias Wolff, This Boy's Life

B: Birmingham, Alabama: Diane McWhorter, Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama: The Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution

C: Covington, Louisiana: Walker Percy, The Moviegoer

D: Dublin, Ireland: Colum McCann, Dancer

E: Egypt: Lucette Lagnado: The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: My Family's Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World

F: France: Colette: My Mother's House & Sido

G: Great Britain: Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol and Other Stories

H: Hong Kong: Janice Y.K. Lee: The Piano Teacher

I: Illinois: Stephen E. Ambrose: Citizen Soldiers: The U S Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany

J: Japan: Kazuo Ishiguro: An Artist of the Floating World

K: Kiev: Irène Némirovsky: Suite Française

L: London: Virginia Woolf: To the Lighthouse

M: Mississippi: Eudora Welty: Thirteen Stories

N: Netherlands: Miep Gies, Anne Frank Remembered: The Story of the Woman Who Helped to Hide the Frank Family

O: Oklahoma: S.E. Hinton: The Outsiders

P: Pennsylvania: John Updike: In the Beauty of the Lilies

Q: Qatar: Sophia Al-Maria: The Girl Who Fell to Earth

R: Rhode Island: Jhumpa Lahiri: The Lowland

S: South Carolina: Pat Conroy: The Water Is Wide: A Memoir

T: Tennessee: Catherine Marshall: Christy

U: Utah: Wallace Stegner: All the Little Live Things

V: Virginia: Willa Cather: Death Comes for the Archbishop

W: West Virginia: Pearl S. Buck: The Good Earth

X: Mexico: Laura Esquivel: Like Water for Chocolate

Y: Yorkshire, England: Charlotte Brontë: Jane Eyre

Z: Zimbabwe: Alexander McCall Smith: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

I saw this book on Judy's list and was so intrigued that I had to start with it. I love Alcott!
: o)

Oh, I just added it to my TBR list that I have been trying to pare down. I am not adding to my alphabet list, so you will have to let me know how it is, Connie.

You know I will! ; )

So how many times are you planning to go through all the tasks? Bet you do it several times.

I'm only shooting for one go. I want to have room to read books that aren't in the challenge this coming year. I have so many TBRs I'd like to read.

Yes, Debra, that is why I am only doing the Low Octane version. I want to have time to do other challenges and read other books from my list that I want to read.

I have to stop looking at everyone's book lists though. I keep adding more and more books.

I have two books on my ABC list that I have not been able to find yet. I am going to have to resort to Amazon.com or go shopping at Powell's Books in Portland to get my hands on a copy.

Debra, I am thinking once is enough. It makes my head spin when I think about it.
My New Year's resolution is to try to slow my reading speed down. I want to have time to savor my books more, if possible. LOL!

I, too, want to read books that are not in a challenge. I miss reading books that catch my fancy. Those just because books...

@ Cherie, I am so jealous that you live close to Powell's Books. I order books from them from time to time, but I would be in paradise if I lived close enough to visit the bookstore whenever I wanted! Lucky you!
Cherie, you may be on to something with the Low Octane version. I might want to change to that one and give myself a breather.
; )

I'm trying so had to fit only books from my TBR into my alphabet. The hard part is going to be fitting in books i might want to read that are released this year. (i have quite a big TBR at home though too)

Connie wrote: "I, too, want to read books that are not in a challenge. I miss reading books that catch my fancy. Those just because books....

Most of my books on my TBR are those "just because books" that I bought and then never got around to because some challenge preempted them. My strategy this year is to fit those books into whatever challenge I have. Odd thing is that I bought the books because they tickled my fancy, and I've been looking at them so long, I no longer feel that little adrenaline rush. Time to clear them off the shelves, and add new ones.

I have the same problem, Connie. I've bought books I'm no longer sure I want to read. But I WILL be getting quite a few off my shelf and donated this year.

I am missing that thrill of finding a book and reading it just because it makes me excited for some reason. I love going to the library or bookstore and discovering a new book that speaks to me, taking it home and having the fun of opening that new book. I am determined to do more of that this year. Challenges are fun, but I am going to put them in perspective this year. I just got too carried away last year. lol
; )

I have to keep reminding myself that there is more to reading than just marking books off a list. LOL!!!

I agree with you, Chelsea. Well said! : )

I agree with you girls. I spent way too much time in 2012 reading books just because they were on a list. A goal for this year is to read as many great books as possible. (meaning "great" by my definition). Although I signed up for high octane, My goal is just the first two rounds of the alphabet. I do want to participate more with group reads and get more involved in my other groups. There is just not enough time! sigh

Girl, I hear you! ; )

I think it just took me a little time to work out where challenges should fit into the overall scheme of my reading life. I am looking forward to this year because I have a better understanding of how to manage my participation in reading events.
I wish I had the time to do everything and do it well, but I must choose and the joy of reading comes first.

I'm afraid I'm ALREADY starting to judge whether I should read a book based on whether it fits the High Octane Alphabet Challenge. 182 books is a lot to fit in for the year, although I read over 250 this last year. However, some of those books were children's books. That won't be happening much this year because of the 200-page requirement. I've already got 3 books from the library which don't fit the challenge... to read them, or not, that is the question! Plus, I've already read one that doesn't count because I did it for the monthly challenge.

Debra, I just don't want to continue to make decisions about what I read based solely on the A-Z challenge. I will be happy if I get through the alphabet one time this year (that is my goal...26 books). That way I can read more monthly reads if they appeal to me. If they don't appeal to me, I am not going to read them. If it works out for me to read more than 26 books because it is fun, then I am ok with that. But I am going to read books that do not count for the challenge or the monthly reads just because I want to read them.

Just like Infinite Jest. I never got around to reading it because of the challenge requirements. And that really bothered me.

I want to choose what I read.
If the book groups present books that are interesting to me, great. If not, sorry. If a book doesn't fit any category for Goodreads, but I want to read it then that is the book for me. I want to read big chunky books again. I want to try to slow my reading pace down some.

The challenges should be there to encourage me to read more and to read books I might not select on my own. I am open to that. However, I do not want it ruling my reading life. I just want it to be a small part of my reading life.

I know each person has to make choices for herself according to what feels right for her. I am very competitive, but I do not want to be competitive in reading. I just want to enjoy good books with people I like. I saw myself pushing that competitive, perfectionist streak, and I knew I had to stop it.

Right on, Connie! I didn't get to Infinite Jest, either, although I have it worked in for "W" in this first set of 26 alphabet books. I'll just be late reporting my thoughts is MY OWN group. That really sux, doesn't it! lol Maybe I'll extend the group read for another month. Almeta, hasn't read it, either! So, are you still going to read it?

I really want to. I have Ulysses coming up as a buddy read Feb.1. I am starting The Thorn Birds tomorrow as a buddy read with Judy, but I should be able to work around those. They are the only huge books I have set up right now. I guess I could read it and The Thorn Birds at the same time. January andFebruary? Would that work? How long were you thinking of extending it?

Almeta has joined the Around the World challenge. Have you considered it? It is not competitive and there is no pressure. You make your own rules. I love it! That is one reason I am pulling back on the ABC challenge. Of course, you can use the same books on both challenges. I think you would enjoy it.

Connie wrote: "I really want to. I have Ulysses coming up as a buddy read Feb.1. I am starting The Thorn Birds tomorrow as a buddy read with Judy, but I should be able to work around those. They are the only huge..."

I extended it just now through Feb 28th. I think I will get to W in the alphabet by mid-Feb at the latest.

Connie wrote: "Almeta has joined the Around the World challenge. Have you considered it? It is not competitive and there is no pressure. You make your own rules. I love it! That is one reason I am pulling back on..."

I joined 2 Around the World groups and I think I'll try tying in some of the countries I've got in my alphabet challenge. Why not! Which group do you belong to - one is 52 books a year and the other is 80?

I am in the 52 books a year; however, if you don't make the 52 books this year, you just carry your list over to next year. No pressure.

Judy and Janice are mods

I feel pretty confident that I can finish Infinite Jest by the end of Feb.

Have you read the thorn birds?

Connie wrote: "I am in the 52 books a year; however, if you don't make the 52 books this year, you just carry your list over to next year. No pressure.

Judy and Janice are mods"

Cool!

Connie wrote: "Have you read the thorn birds?"

I read it umpteen years ago and loved it!

Judy and I are reading it for Australia in the around the world challenge. She has never read it. If you want to join us, you certainly may. I figure by the time we finish, I'll be ready for the M in the ABC challenge and can get a 2 for 1.

Thanks for the offer, but I'll pass. Have fun with Judy reading it!

By taking away the points for the ABC challenge, I'm hoping to alleviate some of that pressure, not just for the participants but for me too. The Rainbow challenge just about did me in.

I've managed to fit many of my Around the World and Reading Across Canada selections into my alphabet.

I am hoping I will be able to do that, too, Janice. (Use books from AtW and Across Canada in the A-Z. I have been looking at my spreadsheets and trying to figure out the best way to do that very thing. I am also considering participating in the Sisterhood challenge, so I could overlap those books, too.) I am not going to knock myself out if I don't make all the levels. I'll just take it slowly, one level at a time and try to enjoy it. : ) no point in stressing out! lol
A year is a long time, and I know I will "recover" from this wiped out state that I am in right now and be right back in the thick of things. But for now, I need to take it easy and let things settle a bit.

I do like this challenge, Janice. I think not having points works out well. Rainbow was a killer! LOL

I have my spreadsheet set up so that I have a tab for each challenge across the bottom. I also have a column in which I indicate what other challenges the book is being read for.

Oh, but you're using Numbers. I haven't used Numbers in a while. I do like some of the formats they allow you to use. I just don't know my way around it enough to do things quickly. Excel on the other hand is something I use every day.

I have a column in which I indicate what other challenges the book is being read for also. Just like you! Brilliant minds! ; )

I have not thought of making a tab for each challenge across the bottom for each challenge. I'll have to look at that. Thank you for mentioning that. If I can't figure it out on my own on Numbers, I'll get my husband to help me. He loves to help me with anything like that.
; ) Not being ironic!

My husband uses Excel, too. He is a wizard with anything numerical and loves Excel. You are probably like him.
I have an Apple laptop, so I have to use Numbers. I like it fine for what
little mathematical type stuff I do.

A: Alcott, Louisa May

completed 1/5/2013

A Long Fatal Love Chase Louisa May Alcott

242 pages

B: Brinkley, Douglas

completed 1/6/2013

The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Douglas Brinkley

736 pages

I've got a Macbook which I haven't even turned on in a long time. There will be a whack of updates, I'm sure. Maybe I'd like Numbers on it better than on my iPad.

Two books down! Way to go Connie. :)

Connie wrote: "A: Alcott, Louisa May

completed 1/5/2013

A Long Fatal Love ChaseLouisa May Alcott

242 pages"

I just read your review, Connie. I have always loved LMA and have read all of her other books. It was one of the things I wanted to do when I got my 1st Nook. I have this book on my TBR list, and now I will really have to see if I can find a copy to read.

Janice, I love my MacBook! I am thinking about buying one of the new ipads since I don't have one yet, and it seems so convenient to drop in a bag, etc. I have a kindle fire, but I think I would like the flexibility of the ipad. (does so much more than the kindle of course)


Cherie, I think you will like this LMA book. However, it is very different from her other work...would have been considered quite scandalous at the time she wrote it.

I take my iPad with me everywhere. I listen to audiobooks when I'm driving, use it for notes, calendar, listen to music. I have the first generation and I'm beginning to think it may be time to upgrade.

My son got the new retnia display for Christmas, and WOW! That is when I started thinking I might need one, too. lol

Maybe it's just as well I don't have the money for one just now. :)

LOVE my ipad!

If you look at it, Janice, and play with it, you may fall in love! : ) The retina display is fabulous!

April,that is what everyone says! That is why I think I need one. : )

My son got one for Christmas. Bejewelled looks much brighter on his iPad than on my Gen 1 iPad. But, I'm going to hold off on upgrading for awhile. I still love my iPad and my iPhone.

If you have one that works, I would be like you and continue to use it as long as it works. I tend to wear things out before getting a replacement. haha! I am quite frugal...

Completed C:
The Grass Harp Truman Capote


Completed D:
Great Expectations Charles Dickens

I'm pretty happy with my Nook, but would like to upgrade to a color one. Maybe for my birthday. I don't need all the bells and whistles, just a means to read e-Books.

I have a kindle fire, and I like it for reading. I would like to have something to take to the gym for other things though. I have an iPod, but an iPad would allow flexibility. If I wanted to read instead of listening to music. I just haven't decided yet. If I could get used to audio books, it would be an easy decision.

I listen to audiobooks in my car with the CD player. When I was working out (before I got sick), I would listen to an audiobook on my Blackberry. So, I think I'm all set in that department. I would love to have an iPad because they are so cool, but I don't think I'd make use of all its features enough to make it worth the money.

I am not an audio person, but I am trying to adapt to audio books. The eye strain from reading is really getting to me, and the audio books would help that immensely. It just isn't the same for me though. grrr
It is hard to teach an old dog new tricks!