Albany Public Library discussion

Hello all!

Today is the start of our APL Summer Reading Challenge for 2019! I wanted to send out a little information for those of you who are interested in participating this year again, or for the first time!

First, the Albany Public Library Adult Summer Reading Challenge will be hosted from Monday, June 17 to Friday, August 30.

Second, you can participate in a few ways:
1. Online (through this APL Goodreads group). If you want to participate through the Goodreads group, leave a comment in this discussion topic saying you want to be signed up (with your preferred name and username, please!);
2. Paper-based bingo card which you can pick up through your local Albany Public Library branch;
3. A combination of both!

Keep track of your reading throughout the summer! You will earn prizes based on how many books you read. Any books you finish during this time period counts, no matter when you started reading.

Level 1- 3 books read: Lip Balm
Level 2- 6 books read: Memo Cubes
Level 3- 9 books read: Metal Bookmark
Level 4- 12 books read: Wallet/Zipper Pouch
Level 5- 20 books read: Summer Reading T-shirt

Pretty sweet prizes! You can collect the prizes at your local Albany Public Library branch when you have reached a level!

Each week, we’ll put up a new post on this Goodreads group. When you finish a book, comment under that week’s post with the title and author of the book or books you finished. Feel free to include some thoughts about what you read! In each week's post, we'll also include a weekly reading list as inspiration. These books are just to give you some reading inspiration - don't feel obligated to stick to these lists of themes!

Please feel free to comment, stop by, or call any of the Albany Public Library branches if you have any questions!

Ooh, sign me up! My preferred name/username is Kathy Moon.

Kathleen wrote: "Ooh, sign me up! My preferred name/username is Kathy Moon."
All set. You are signed up!

Awesome! Always look forward to this group!

Molly/Molly Duffy

ValTheRizzle is my username, Valerie Jones! I'd love to sign up!

I would love to sign up! My username is irisira, actual name Jen.

Sign me up, please! Kathryn/Kathryn Carroll

I'm in! My preferred name is Annie Gersztoff.

Of course! Always enjoy this reading group for summer. I'm Alicia Abdul.

I also want to sign up! Nicole/Nicole Ranieri

Sign me up please. Thanks.

Will probably do the combo. the bingo card looks particularly fun this year. Real name is Susan D'Entremont, which is also my user name.

I would love to be included again this year. I don't think I have a user name... I am Vickie Nichols. I'll have to check and see who Goodreads says I am.. Ha!

Everyone who has commented so far is signed up!

Evee Dedewo. Sign me up please. Thanks

Hello! Alana Akacki, sign me up please. Thank you!

Yay, summer reading! Please sign me up as Diana Hurlburt/DianaH.

Yes, Kate, please sign me up for this year. I am eager to get into my summer reading. I am Paul and you can use Paul as my username.

Yes sign me up for this year. I am Judi and you can use JudiWood as my username.

please sign me up, lindsay otten-knickerbocker

Everyone who has commented is signed up!

Yay, summer reading! I am in. Please use my Goodreads handle, Mirkat.

Please sign me up, use the name Mayra

Please sign me up, name is Rich Pearson-Strain, user name is Rich

I've been looking forward to summer reading all year! Sign me up! My name is Emily Thomas.

Good Evening, I would like to be signed up. My preferred name is Eva D.

please sign me up. thanks

I'm in! Katie Kurtessis (also go by Katie McNamara)

A Steele for Christmas

Everyone who has commented is signed up!

Jacqueline wrote: "A Steele for Christmas"

I have signed you up and added your read book!

I just finished The Cooking Gene, by Michael W. Twitty. Definitely something different, he traces his roots back to his ancestors who were slaves, and slave owners, and visits different parts of the country to try to understand how they lived. Food is obviously an important part of the book, and he includes some recipes as well!

I would love to be included. My user name is Diane Brown.

Since June 17, I've finished

Smile by Roddy Doyle,

Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya,

The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century by Kirk Wallace Johnson and

The Friend by Sigrid Nunez.

I especially loved The Feather Thief.

Thanks!

This week I finished
Cold-hearted Boss by RS Grey,
The Bar Scene by Ginny Frost,
His Wicked Witch by Kim Lorraine and Winter Cottage by Mary Ellen Taylor.
I was on a romance kick, but none of the these wowed me.

I’ve read
“The Mother-In-Law” by Sally Hepworth
“I Know you Know” by Gilly McMillon
“A Spool of Blue Thread” by Anne Tyler

Judi, how did you like The Mother in Law? It’s on my list!

Please enroll me! My username is apparently jenb_jb_jb, can be referred to as Jen or Jen B. Thanks!
Oh, and this week I finished Normal People, by Sally Rooney. I usually read fantasy/sci fi or creative historical fiction, so this was something different for me, and I really enjoyed it!

I liked it... I read a lot but was somewhat surprised with the ending. I did enjoy it and it was a fast read.

I signed up at the bach branch under full name kathy tabora

I’m in! Name is Abi Johnson, username if needed can be foureyedabi

Please sign me up...Kim Gibson. Thanks!

Good evening, I have finished three books this week. The first is "Bedside Manor" by Amanda Aksel. It is the third of a trilogy about brother billionaires from London, UK who keep getting unlikely connected with women from the US. A fun read. Next was an ARC from Jennifer Jones that will come out July 1 - Seaside of Love: A Pleasure Point Novel. A surfer and journalist story that continues the surfer romances of J. Jones. It kept me reading to find out how they might get though the next twist. I highly recommend this summer read. Last is a Sci-Fi romance(?) - The Trillionaire's Bartered Bride - that was okay, but plodded at times. Not really my genre, but I tried this book by Fiona Roarke. Have a great week reading, friends.

Hello! I'm happy to participate again this year. -Emily Shoop (I'm almost done with my first book, but will get more read as soon as school is out!)

I would like to sing up!

My name is Sam Berry. Not sure where to see my username.

Hi everyone! I have signed up all those who commented, and added the books listed from those who have finished books since June 17.

@Diane Brown, you are at Prize Level 1, and have the first prize to pick up at your local APL branch!

@Valerie, you are at Prize Level 1, and have the first prize to pick up at your local APL branch!

@Judi, you are at Prize Level 1, and have the first prize to pick up at your local APL branch!

@Paul, you are at Prize Level 1, and have the first prize to pick up at your local APL branch!

Great start to the Summer Reading Challenge, everyone! Please post any books you have completed this week in our Week 1 discussion thread!

Wow great ... will do soon

I signed up today at my branch but will probably do a combo of Goodreads and the bingo card :) -Christine Schudde

Perfect!

HI! My name is Samantha. Is it possible to join the challenge? My username can be Samantha.

I participated last year and loved it! Please sign me up. Looking forward to participating again!

Last year reading any book each week and leaving comments counted towards the leveled prizes. Does this count again this year or we have to read books from the weekly themes?

Thanks!