Pick-a-Shelf discussion

This is where you can post your reading list and keep track of what you have read.
The challenge will start Aug 1'09 when the shelf-a-thon is completed.

Remember to see the offical '12 Days of Summer challenge" post for the offical rules. :0)

*Reminder - First book starting with 'B' has to relate to summer or the beach some how. Explanations welcome ;0) *

*Let me know when you complete a book and I'll add the letter behind your name, so we can see how far everyone is on the board.

Leader Board

Roseann-BEACH BLANKET
Melissa-BEACH BLANKET
Natasha-BEACH BLANKET
Tara-BEACH BLANKET
Lauren-BEACH BLANKET
Amy-BEACH BLANKET
Luann-BEACH BLANKET
Sam-BEACH BLANKET
Leonie-BEACH BLANKET
Abigail-BEACH B
Cam-BE
Vicki-BE
Lyn-BE
Andrew-B
Jennifer-B
Jen B-
Karen-
Lynne-
Sarah-
Slayermel-

Now comes the fun of trying to decide what I want to read :0)

B = Breakwater structure for protecting a beach or harbour
E = Embrace the Night
A = Around the World in Eighty Days
C = Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister
H = The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

B = Bitten
L = Living Dead in Dallas
A
N
K =
E
T = To Kill a Mockingbird

Man - Not only did I just finish two B books, but one of them had a beach theme. Now I have to start again, not only with a B book, but another beach book. LOL!

My finalized list, I think:

The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club
Edward VI The Lost King of England
Amagansett
The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder A Novel
His Majesty's Dragon

Born To Be Wild
Legacy
Academ's Fury
Next
The Kite Runner
Eleanor the Queen
Terminal Freeze

And the good news is, a bunch of them are books I own and are on my TBR list.

I'm sorry but where can I find the rules?

B-Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson is the son of Posiden, god of the sea)
E-The Edict
A-All American Girl
C-Come on Seabiscuit
H-Henderson the Rain King or A History of the World in 6 Glasses

B-Brideshead Revisited
L-The Looking Glass War
A-Arrow's Flight
N-Nick of Time
K-The King Must Die
E-
T-Throne of Jade

This list is made up of all books I had at home except for "H" and the last "E".

Thanks Tara!

B:The Beach House by James Patterson
E:The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
A:All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
C:Claire Voyant by Saralee Rosenberg
H:Honeymoon with My Brother by Franz Wisner

B:The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum - Ucci
L:The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
A:American Gods by Neil Gaiman
N:Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
K:Killer Cuts by Elaine Viets
E:Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
T:The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

Fun! All of the books are from my TBR list except for the beach book. This time I've tried to concentrate on books that were recommended to me by friends or ongoing series I'm currently reading.

Body on the Beach, The by Simon Brett
Eight, The by Katherine Neville
Abhorsen by Garth Nix
Clash of the Sky Galleons by Paul Stewart
Honor Among Thieves by Jeffrey Archer

Beekeeper's Apprentice, The by Laurie R. King
Last Unicorn, The by Peter S. Beagle
Aunt Dimity's Christmas by Nancy Atherton
Nun in the Closet, A by Dorothy Gilman
Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
Even Money by Dick Francis
The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

Sarah wrote: "I'm sorry but where can I find the rules?"


Sorry Sarah & Tara, I posted it last night and then must have gone back 6 times and edited it as I was not happy with the way it looked.
I have since then also included -Official Rules to the title ;op (not sure how I missed that the first time around) LOL

Love seeing your lists already. I too used my TBR pile so far as well as books I'm working on for the summer Challenge in "The Next Best Book Club"

Ok, I'll give it a try:

B: Barefoot A Novel - Elin Hilderbrand (takes place at the beach)
E: Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer
A: American Wife A Novel - Curtis Sittenfeld
C: Certain Girls - Jennifer Weiner
H: The Help - Katherine Stockett

B: Breakfast at Tiffany's - Truman Capote
L: The Likeness A Novel - Tana French
A: The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein
N: Nights in Rodanthe - Nicholas Sparks
K: The Kitchen God's Wife - Amy Tan
E: English as a Second Language - Megan Crane
T: The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield

I'm in!

B - Beach Music by Pat Conroy
E - Extremly Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
A - Addition by Toni Jordan
C - Candy Girl by Cody Diablo
H - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

B - Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen
L - A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines
A - Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
N - No Full Stops in India by Mark Tully
K - Knit Two by Kate Jacobs
E - Empty Cradles by Margaret Humphreys
T - Two Truths and a Lie by Katrina Kittle

I'm going to try to read through these books:

B – The Beach House by James Patterson
E - Empire of the Sun by JG Ballard
A – Almost French by Sarah Turnbull
C – The Coffin Dancer by Jeffery Deaver
H – The Hickory Staff by Robert Scott & Jay Gordon

B – Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell
L – Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
A – The Awakening by Kate Chopin
N – The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster
K – The Kitchen God’s Wife by Amy Tan
E – The Eight by Katherine Neville
T – The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

I want to be in it too - good way to get through some on the TBR pile, will borrow from the library for the 1st book.

B - Beach Road by James Patterson
E - Eden Close by Anita Shreve
A - Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
C - Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres
H - Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King

B - Brethren, The by John Grisham
L - Life of Graham, The by Bob McCabe
A - The Almost Moon by Alice Seabold
N - Nefertiti by Michelle Moran
K - Killing Floor by Lee Child
E - Empire of the Sun by J C Ballard
T - A Thousand Splendid Suns

Last change (I think) different book for the letter T.
Sorry another change for second A now will be The Almost Moon.
Sorry very last change to Empire of the Sun so that will fit for November (Asia/Asian).

This is a tentative list, based on what I own, except for the first book, but it may change based on mood/library picks in the mean time.

B- Beach Music - Pat Conroy
E- Evernight - Claudia Gray
A- Avempartha- Michael Sullivan
C- City of Glass- Cassandra Clare
H- House of Leaves - Mark Danielewski

B- Bean Trees - Barbara Kingsolver
L- Little Children - Tom Perotta
A- Animal Dreams- Barbara Kingsolver
N- Northern Light - Jennifer Donnelly
K- The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
E- English Patient- Michael Ondaatje
T- To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

Lauren wrote: "I'm in! When I am home from work tonight I will look into specific titles... (I am focusing on getting through some of my TBR pile at home!)

B - Beach Music by Pat Conroy
E - Empty Cradles by M..."

A lesson before Dying is a great book. Enjoy!

My mom was cleaning her room today and I saw Body Surfing A Novel on her nightstand...naturally I asked if I can take it for this challenge...So I have "B" covered

6 more days until the challenge starts.
I've created a leader board in the first post. Let me know when you complete a book and I'll add the letter behind your name, so we can see how far everyone is on the board. Once we start getting more pages of posts I'll try to copy and post the leader board in the thread every once in a while so you don't always have to scroll to the first page to see it.

The first book I've chosen is titled 'Bait'(Beach Swimming - Shark Bait) or the books blurb reads - 'The mangled body of a street criminal has been washed up on the beach & a fishing-boat skipper & his bait boy have been blown up in the water'.

B - Bait - Nick Brownlee
E - Eucalyptus - Murray Bail
A - Affinity - Sarah Waters
C - Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
H - The Harp In The South - Ruth Park

B - Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
L - Life Sentences - Laura Lippman
A - Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood
N - Netherland - Joseph O'Neil
K - King Of Swords - Nick Stone
E - East Of The Sun - Julia Gregson
T - The Tenth Gift - Jane Johnson

Here's my list--I actually used books sitting around my house just waiting to be read!

12 DAYS OF SUMMER CHALLENGE

B- Black Wave by John Silverwood (910.91649 SIL-Santee)
E- Ex Libris by Anne Padiman
A- The Antipope by Robert Rankin
C- The Crimson Spell by Constance M. Burge
H- A History of Reading by Alberto Manguel

B- The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
L- The Last Vampire by T.M. Wright
A- Aunt Dimity:Vampire Hunter by Nancy Atherton
N- The North Runner by R.D. Lawrence
K- King Lear by William Shakespeare
E- The English Patient by Michael Ondaatie
T- Trickery Treat by Constance M. Burge

I have shelves of books at home that I have yet to read so here is my list so far. (clearly I'm having trouble with E)

B- The Beach House
E- Envy
A- Accidental Virgin, The
C- Confessions of A Jane Austen Addict
H- Hedge Fund Wives

B- Book Ends
L- Living In A Foreign Language
A-
N- Next Big Thing, The
K- Knitting Under The Influence
E-
T- Tall, Dark, & Dead

I've also finished my first book 'Bait' - Thanks Slayermel

You girls are fast! I am almost finished with my first book. I better read faster!

'Beach Road' by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge

Slayermel wrote: "This is where you can post your reading list and keep track of what you have read.
The challenge will start Aug 1'09 when the shelf-a-thon is completed.

Remember to see the offical '12 Days of ..."

I tried to send you a message but it said you weren't taking any messaged. I did update my post though.

Natasha wrote: "I finished the first book. I'm going to strike out the books as I read them so you can see my progress that way."

It's easier if you just post that you have finished a book, I'm not going to have the time to skim everyones original lists.

Tara posting here will be fine, I've probably got to ajust my settings or something. I'll check here for updates, Thanks!

Well I finished Beside a Burning Sea.

Finished E for Enthusiasm

Caught the flu and have been sleeping for much of the last couple of days, but I still managed to read some and have finished--

B--BLACK WAVE by John & Jean Silverwood

A very gripping story of a family that heads out to sea for adventure and gets caught in a storm and trapped on a coral reef. The husband who is badly injured during their journey adds some of his own writing by telling the tale of another boat who befell the same end some 100 years earlier.

and

E--EX LIBRIS by Anne Fadiman

I had read this book years ago, but like to go back to my "Books About Books every now and then as my reading habits can change over every 5-10 years and I seem to gleem more out of them with each reading. Ms. Fadiman leans to the more "literary" readings in her essays, but I still love how she brings her actual life into her reading life and loves.

B-BLACK WAVE
E-EX LIBRIS
A
C
H

B
L
A
N
K
E
T

Finished reading Beach Road by James Patterson. Quick and enjoyable book with a good twist. I like the sound of the Black Wave, will have to keep that in mind for another challenge.

I've finally got my list sorted, just gotta get the books as some are in my TBR pile and others are just ones I fancy reading:

B - The Beach, Alex Garland
E - The Executioner's Art, David Fine
A - American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis
C - The Crow, James O'Barr (or The Colour Purple, Alice Walker)
H - How to Lose Friends..., Toby Young

B - The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
L - Let the Right One In, John Ajivide Lindqvist
A - Animal Farm, George Orwell
N - No Country for Old Men, Cormac McCarthy
K - The Kite Runner, Khaled Hossini
E - Eldritch Horrors, Henrich Herkson (or Everlost, Neal Shusterman)
T - The Three Musketeers, Alexander Dumas

I finished Beach Music by Pat Conroy. I would highly recommend it.

I am also making some minor tweaks to my reading list.

I finished The Beach House by Jane Green.

Finished reading Eden Close by Anita Shreve. This is the first of her books that I have read and it was OK. Am now reading Angela's Ashes which I'm really enjoying.

I have a question, I just found my copy of To Kill A Mockingbird and wondered if that would fit into the T or K category?

Thanks

Finished my "B" today.

B- Body Surfing A Novel

It takes place at a beach house. There is tons of body surfing and walks on the beach.

Finished a couple more--

A-The Antipope by Robert Rankin

I had great hopes for this novel having read Rankin's "The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse" (which I recommend highly), but I found this story to be dull overall without the wit and charm of his other story. There was one funny scene with a Cowboy themed night at a British Pub, but the rest of the tale centering on a centuries dead Pope coming back to start the Apocalypse (apparently a recurring theme) just did not capture my interest.

and

C-The Crimson Spell by Constance M. Burge

This is a little guilty pleasure of mine--reading tie-in novels to series on TV--and this is from the show Charmed. The Three Sisters are in trouble again, this time from another coven who wants to steal their powers and take control of the city. Add in a little romance for Phoebe and you have a couple hours of escapist reading.

B-BLACK WAVE
E-EX LIBRIS
A-THE ANTIPOPE
C-CHARMED:THE CRIMSON SPELL
H

B
L
A
N
K
E
T

I finished E. Envy by Anna Godbersen.

I just saw this post and it sounds like fun; hope it isn't too late to join. Here is my list, which I'll be starting today:

B - The Body on the Beach, Simon Brett (DONE)
E - Everything Changes, Jonathan Tropper (DONE)
A - The Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth Stein (DONE)
C - Chasing Harry Winston, Lauren Weisberger (DONE)
H - Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse, Robert Rankin (DONE)

B - The Bone Garden, Tess Gerritsen (DONE)
L - The Lincoln Lawyer, Michael Connelly (DONE)
A - The Alienist, Caleb Carr (DONE)
N - Neverwhere, Neil Gaiman (DONE)
K - The Keepsake, Tess Gerritsen (DONE)
E - The Echo, Minette Walters (DONE)
T - Tropical Depression, Jeffry Lindsay (DONE)

Thanks,
Amy

You're not too late, Amy! I haven't even started yet. I'm also going to read The Body on the Beach. Finally picked it up at the library yesterday.

I just finished A- Anansi Boys. I was let down by this book, but loved it's connection to the Anansi the spider stories I remembered from when I was younger. Overall, I had a hard time enjoying a story about people I really did not like.

LOL, Luann, me too. Hit the library yesterday for my first few selections. Glad to have found this group!

I have finished A- Accidental Virgin, The by Valerie Frankel.

Amy and Luann...welcome aboard. I am new to the group too. Glad you found us. :)

Have finished Eucalyptus, thanks Slayermel.

Roseann wrote: "I have a question, I just found my copy of To Kill A Mockingbird and wondered if that would fit into the T or K category?

Thanks"

Hi Roseann I think because we stated in the rules that "A, An, The" did not count as the first letter, I would take "To Kill a Mockingbird" as a "T"

Sorry for the late response I have been away from the computer for a couple of days

You guys are doing so well, I have not even started yet *hangs head in shame*

Welcome Amy, it's never to late to start :0)

I just finished my C. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict.

I just joined this group, and thought I'd start in on the fun with this challenge. Hope that's okay? We'll see how I do... (I am definitely a reader, but I have an infant who doesn't sleep through the night yet. Somehow, I keep falling asleep instead of finishing books!) ;) Anyhow, here's my tentative list. Since I just finished a book tonight, it's a perfect way to start picking out what follows!

B - Beach House, James Patterson (read Jane Green's last week -- just missed using it!)
E - The evolution of Calpurnia Tate, Jacqueline Kelly
A - As Sure As the Sun, Anna McPartlin
C - Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, Laurie Viera Rigler
H - Having It and Eating It, Sabine Durrant

B - The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
L - The Ladies Lending Library, Janice Kulyk Keefer
A - The Abstinence Teacher, Tom Perrotta
N - Nights in Rodanthe, Nicholas Sparks
K - Knitting Under the Influence, Claire LaZebnik
E - The Exploits & Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy, Elizabeth Aston
T - The Ten-Year Nap, Meg Wolitzer

Looking forward to it!
Abigail

Welcome Abigail :0)

Sam wrote: "I've finally got my list sorted, just gotta get the books as some are in my TBR pile and others are just ones I fancy reading:

B - The Beach, Alex Garland
E - The Executioner's Art, David Fine
..."

Had to change myu first book since it seems that every beach related book in the library is loaned out so I'm reading Black Tide by Caroline Carver to start the challenge :-) obviously this challenge is popular in Cardiff :-)

The finished H. Hedge Fund Wives

Finished E - Extremly Loud & Incredibly Close

Looks like I'm falling behind!

Finished a couple more--

A HISTORY OF BOOKS by Alberto Manguel

A bit on the dry side, but some very interesting facts ranging from the memorization of books in the middle ages (because they were very hard to read-no rules for spelling or punctuation) to the banning of books in the present day. This is one that people who love should at least try.

and

THE BEAN TREES by Barbara Kingsolver

This one is on many of my "must read" lists and I can see the reasons for it is a lovely slice of life type story with two very strong female protagonists.

B-BLACK WAVE
E-EX LIBRIS
A-THE ANTIPOPE
C-CHARMED:THE CRIMSON SPELL
H-A HISTORY OF READING

B-THE BEAN TRESS
L
A
N
K
E
T