Library Love Reading Challenge

Library Love

Reading Challenge

2017

Hosted by Bea's Book Nook
and Angel's Guilty Pleasures

for more information or to sign up, click here

Basically, read books that you've borrowed from the library! There are several levels, 12 book minimum. Any genre, any format. Reviews too, but they can be short!

I've got a huge TBR pile that I hope to whittle down this year but I also have books needed for challenges that I don't want to buy. I'm going for

. . . Dewey Decimal . . . 

and hope to read, and review, 12 books.

~ Books Read ~

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2017

Genre Reading Challenge

GenreLand

Reading Challenge

2017

Found at the Poudre River Public Library in Fort Collins, Colorado

For details about the challenge, click here

You can also download the game board so you can cross off the months.

Website | Facebook | other social media: #FoCoBooks @poudrelibraries

The idea is to read outside your comfort zone. Each month has a genre assigned to it, sub-genres count. To stretch yourself even more, read a level you don't usually read. Always read adult books? Go for a middle grade book!

~ Books Read ~

~ January ~

Fiction A to Z

book read: Wish by Barbara O'Connor

~ February ~

Romance

book read: A Cup of Joe by Cody Ryder

~ March ~

Biography, Autobiography, Memoir

book read:

~ April ~

Thrillers & Suspense

book read:

~ May ~

Historical Fiction

book read:

~ June ~

Science Fiction or Science Factual

book read:

~ July ~

Mind & Body Fitness

book read:

~ August ~

Armchair Travel

book read:

~ September ~

Graphic Novels or Picture Books

book read:

~ October ~

Spooky/Horror

book read:

~ November ~

Mystery

book read:

~ December ~

Fantasy

book read:

~ Possibilities ~

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

Thoughts On . . . Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress

by Christine Baldacchino

Illustrated by: Isabelle Malenfant
Published by: Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press
Published: May 2014 
ISBN #9781554983476
genre: children's book (Social Situations, Self-Esteem, Friendships)
32 pages

formats available: ebook, hardcover

Author's website | Facebook | Twitter

Book Description:
Morris has a great imagination. He paints amazing pictures and he loves his classroom's dress-up center, especially the tangerine dress. It reminds him of tigers, the sun and his mother's hair.

But the children in Morris’s class don’t understand. Dresses, they say, are for girls. And Morris certainly isn’t welcome in the spaceship some of his classmates are building. Astronauts, they say, don’t wear dresses.

One day when Morris feels all alone, and sick from the taunts of his classmates, his mother lets him stay home from school. Morris reads about elephants, and puts together a puzzle, and dreams of a fantastic space adventure with his cat, Moo.

Inspired by his dream, Morris paints the incredible scene he saw, and brings it with him to school. He builds his own spaceship, hangs his painting on the front of it and takes two of his classmates on an outer space adventure.

With warm, dreamy illustrations Isabelle Malenfant perfectly captures Morris’s vulnerability and the vibrancy of his imagination. This is a sweetly told story about the courage and creativity it takes to be different.


My Thoughts:
I have no problem with Morris wearing a dress. There is a problem with the kids teasing him and not letting him play on/with the "boy" stuff while wearing the dress. But you know what? I have a problem with Morris HOGGING the dress. First come, first served, is all well and good but Morris doesn't let anyone wear the dress.

So while we're teaching our children that bullying is wrong, let's also teach them that we need to share.

The book ends well, Kirkus Review said, "Baldacchino treats the tricky and controversial subject of expected gender behaviors and bullying with care and compassion, employing language and tone that avoid histrionics or preaching."

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

I Love Library Books - 2015 sign-ups

I Love Library Books

Reading Challenge

2014

hosted by me, here at Book Dragon's Lair

Sign- up below

Our love of reading can be expensive! Not only are we purchasing books but some of us also need space to keep them. I had so much fun with this challenge last year. Let's do it again!

There are a number of levels, for those who don't have a library card yet to those that live there. Enjoy!

 Requirements:

• choose a level - you may move up as needed, just not down.
• read books you checked out of the library
• books may overlap with other challenges
• any format allowed (print, ebook, audio)
• reviews are not necessary but a list of books read is. (post with review linky is coming in January) click here
• a blog is not necessary, just comment that you want to join in or link up another way

Levels:

• board book - 3
• picture book - 6
• early reader - 9
• chapter book - 12
• middle grades - 18
• Young adult - 24
• adult - 36
• just insert IV - 50 

Ready?

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

2014 Library Book Challenge Wrap-up linky

I Love Library Books

Reading Challenge

Wrap-Up!

Challenge completed or just finished for the year, it would be nice to see how you did.


 Link up here:

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Summer Library Read-a-Thon progress/updates/wrapup post

Summer Library Read-a-Thon
hosted by The Book Monsters

dates: June 16 - 22

Looks like this is a read as many library books as you can type RaT but be sure to stop by The Book Monsters

Summer Library Challenge
hosted by the Book Monsters

dates: June 1 - July 31

For challenge information and to sign up, click here

Basically visit the library, check materials out, learn more about the library. Kate and Kristen have some fabulous things planned so stop by and check things out.

~ Books Read ~

Summer Library Read-a-Thon

1. Otherwise Engaged by Amanda Quick (Jun 17)
2.  

Summer Library Challenge

1. Lost Cat by Caroline Paul
2. True Love by Jude Deveraux
3. Otherwise Engaged by Amanda Quick
4.  

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Library Books Read-a-Thon Progress/Wrap-up

 
Library Books Read-a-Thon
hosted by Rachael at Rachael Turns Pages
dates: June 9 - June 16 (Midnight to 11:59 p.m.)

For RaT information and to sign up, click here

Basically read as many library books as you can. It looks like Rachael has some great posts planned so don't forget to stop by.





. . . the Read-a-Thon happens during the Summer Library Challenge so my books count twice!



Summer Library Challenge
hosted by the Book Monsters

dates: June 1 - July 31

For challenge information and to sign up, click here

Basically visit the library, check materials out, learn more about the library. Kate and Kristen have some fabulous things planned so stop by and check things out.

~ Books Read ~

Library Book Read-a-Thon

1. True Love by Jude Deveraux - review
2.  

Summer Library Challenge

1. Lost Cat by Caroline Paul
2. True Love by Jude Deveraux
3.  
4.  

~ Library Books at the house ~

1. The Body Fat Solution by Tom Venuto
2. Call for the Dead by John Le Carré
3. Child of Mine by David Lewis
4. Fit and fabulous in 15 minutes by Teresa Tapp  (started before RaT))
5. Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn (started before RaT)
6. Once Tasted by Laura Moore
7. Otherwise Engaged by Amanda Quick
8. The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton - (started before RaT)
9. Undetected by Dee Henderson  . . . . reading
10. Strange Neighbors by Ashlyn Chase
11. I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
12. Unclutter your Life in One Week by Erin Rooney Doland

~ Books Waiting for me at the Library ~

1. Strange Neighbors by Ashlyn Chase
2. I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
3. Unclutter your Life in One Week by Erin Rooney Doland
4.   

update: 26 hours to finish one more library book. Finishing a book is no problem, making sure it is a library book is! Well, that and I've got to get offline ;-)

update/wrap-up: Just the one library book finished, and reviewed! Excited about the rest of the trilogy.

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Library Books? Let do this!

I'm so excited I stopped by A Novel Challenge today. I found a challenge and a read-a-thon that dovetail nicely with a yearlong challenge I have going on. First stop? The library! Well, when the challenges start {blush}

Summer Library Challenge
hosted by the Book Monsters

dates: June 1 - July 31

For challenge information and to sign up, click here

Basically visit the library, check materials out, learn more about the library. Kate and Kristen have some fabulous things planned so stop by and check things out.

Ready? There's more! . . . There will be TWO read-a-thons!!

Library Books Read-a-Thon
hosted by Rachael at Rachael Turns Pages
dates: June 9 - June 16 (Midnight to 11:59 p.m.)

For RaT information and to sign up, click here

Basically read as many library books as you can. It looks like Rachael has some great posts planned so don't forget to stop by.  







Summer Library Read-a-Thon
hosted by The Book Monsters

dates: June 16 - 22

Looks like this is a read as many library books as you can type RaT but be sure to stop by The Book Monsters

See how nicely things line up? And . . . to go extra distance, shameless self-promotion you could sign up for my I Love Library Books challenge and count all the reading you'll be doing this summer.

~ Books Read ~

Summer Library Challenge

1. Lost Cat by Caroline Paul
2. True Love by Jude Deveraux
3. Otherwise Engaged by Amanda Quick
4. Unclutter Your Life in One Week by Erin Rooney Doland
5.  

Library Book Read-a-Thon

1. True Love by Jude Deveraux
2.  

Summer Library Read-a-Thon

1. Otherwise Engaged by Amanda Quick
2.  

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Subterranean by James Rollins (#82)

Suspend belief and journey down. Down below the ice where evolution has taken a different course.

I was so mad at Dr. Blakey. How could he recruit a single mother and let her bring her son on this mission? He knew some of the dangers but didn't inform the others. Ashley had been having enough trouble keeping food on the table after the divorce that a guaranteed tenure at "the university of your choice", exclusive authorship of research garnered and $100,000 for two months work blinded her to the omissions. Being able to bring her son and a large diamond fertility statue helped. True, we only know of them because of the previous chapter but when something sounds too good to be true, maybe it is.

I was serious about suspending belief. This may be listed as a thriller but think Journey to the Center of the Earth with strange creatures, fantastic geological finds, and amazing plant life. Just add modern greed and weapons. I haven't read Journey so I'm not sure it is a true comparison but I'm loving this book, am amazed that it is a debut novel and am looking forward to reading what else Mr. Rollins has written.

off to read some more. . . 

heart-stopping panic, blood-curdling fright, blood and gore, tear inducing moments, satisfying ending.

Subterranean
James Rollins
978-0061916175
William Morrow
March 2010
432 pages
hardcover (paperback, ebook, audio)
Age range: high school
 
Thriller
source: public library

finished reading: June 27
Grade: B+

Beneath the ice at the bottom of the Earth is a magnificent subterranean labyrinth, a place of breathtaking wonders—and terrors beyond imagining. A team of specialists led by archaeologist Ashley Carter has been hand-picked to explore this secret place and to uncover the riches it holds. But they are not the first to venture here—and those they follow did not return. There are mysteries here older than time, and revelations that could change the world. But there are also things that should not be disturbed—and a devastating truth that could doom Ashley and the expedition: they are not alone.

~*~*~

Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Where are you reading
Outdo Yourself
Library Books Read-a-Thon
Library Books
Genre/sub-genre

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Eat and Run by Scott Jurek (#109)

After I laced up my shoes and actually went for a run I came back and stated looking for books. While it's true that I have no desire to actually RUN the Badwater Ultramarathon it was interesting reading about someone who has.

The most interesting piece of information is that Scott is Vegan. He even tried Raw for a while but he's been able to accomplish so much without meat.

If we wouldn't take steroids ourselves...why would we eat the flesh of an animal that has?

Or was the sum of a plant-based diet greater than its parts? Vegetarians are likely to have healthy habits outside the kitchen as well as more active lifestyles and less smoking.

Each chapter has a recipe and an information snippet. . . Finding the Time, The Naked Truth (barefoot running), Counting Calories, Making Progress.

There is mention of a study, on page 150, that scares me. The study followed men and women over a fourteen year period and found that men who spent more than 6 hours a day sitting were 17% more likely to die during that time than men who sat for less than 3 hours. It get worse for me, women were 34% more likely to die. And to make things even scarier. . .

This increased mortality persisted regardless of whether the participants smoked, were overweight, and - this shocked me-regardless of how much they exercised.

I enjoyed this book very much. I don't eat enough of a variety of veggies to enjoy most of the recipes and my doc said not to change my diet (blood thinners) so I'm putting this on my wishlist and will pick up the paperback later on and read it again, with a highlighter and bookmarks.

There were two sections of pictures.

Eat & Run
My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness
Scott Jurek with Steve Friedman
978-0547569659
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
June 2012
227 pages
hardcover (paperback, ebook, audio)
Age range: High School +
 
nonfiction (Marathon running-training, Marathon running-physiological aspects, Athletes-nutrition, Vegan cooking)
source: public library

finished reading: August 8
Grade: C+ 

For nearly two decades, Scott Jurek has been a dominant force—and darling—in the grueling and growing sport of ultrarunning. In 1999, as a complete unknown, he took the lead of the Western States Endurance Run, a 100-mile traverse over the old Gold Rush trails of the California Sierra Nevada. He won that race seven years in a row, setting a course record along the way. Twice he won the Badwater Ultramarathon, a 135-mile “jaunt” through Death Valley. Recently he set an American record of 165.7 miles in 24 hours—6 1/2 marathons in one day. And he was one of the elite runners who traveled to Mexico to run with the Tarahumara Indians, as profiled in the bestseller Born to Run. His accomplishments are nothing short of extraordinary, but that he has achieved all of this on a plant-based diet makes his story all the more so.

In Eat and Run, Scott Jurek opens up about his life and career—as an elite athlete and a vegan—and inspires runners at every level. From his Midwestern childhood hunting, fishing, and cooking for his meat-and-potatoes family, to his early beginnings in running (he hated it), to his slow transition to ultrarunning and veganism, to his world-spanning, record-breaking races, Scott’s story shows the power of an iron will and blows apart all the stereotypes of what athletes should eat to fuel optimal performance. Chock-full of incredible, on-the-brink stories of endurance and competition, fascinating science, and accessible practical advice—including his own favorite plant-based recipes—Eat and Run will motivate everyone to “go the distance,” whether that means getting out for that first run, expanding your food horizons, or simply exploring the limits of your own potential.

~*~*~

Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Outdo Yourself
Library
Back to School
Monthly Mix-up Mania
Nerdy Non-Fiction

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Library Books Reviews

Library Books

Reading Challenge

Reviews

hosted by Gina at Book Dragon's Lair

Sign- up here

Some of you review and want to link up even if it's not a requirement for the challenge (go you!), here you go. Your link should go directly to your review post. The title of the book should be included in the link title.

Happy Reading!

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

I've got to use the library more!

Library Books

Reading Challenge

2013

hosted by me, sign- up here

Our love of reading can be expensive! Not only are we purchasing books but we also need space to keep them. I've started using the library (again) but couldn't find a challenge to help me. Here it is. There are a number of levels, for those who don't have a library card yet to those that live there. Enjoy!

 Requirements:

• choose a level - you may move up as needed, just not down.
• check books out of the library
• books may overlap with other challenges
• any format allowed (print, ebook, audio)
• reviews are not necessary but a list of books read is.
• a blog is not necessary, just comment that you want to join in

I'm going for Adult and hope to read 36 books next year that I've checked out of the library. . . wondering if I out to go for Just insert IV. . .

Books Read

1. A Fool's Gold Christmas by Susan Mallery
2. The Runway Shopping Cart by Kathy Long
3. When You Dare by Lori Foster
4. The Wanderer by Robyn Carr
5. Savor the Danger by Lori Foster
6. The Heart of a Hero by Janet Chapman
7. The Extra-Ordinary Princess by Carolyn Q. Ebbitt
8. Crystal Gardens by Amanda Quick 
9. Subterranean by James Rollins
10. Killing Floor by Lee Child
11. Die Trying by Lee Child
12. The Mystery Woman by Amanda Quick

13. Dragon's Bait by Vivian Vande Velde
14. Tripwire by Lee Child
15. Eat and Run by Scott Jurek with Steve Friedman
16. Without Fail by Lee Child
17. A Werewolf in Manhattan by Vicki Lewis Thompson
18. Persuader by Lee Child
19. The Unicorn Princess by Babette Cole
20. The Enemy by Lee Child
21. One Shot by Lee Child
22. The Hard Way by Lee Child
23. Last Wool and Testament by Molly MacRae
24. Werewolf in the North Woods by Vicki Lewis Thompson

25. Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child
26. Hot for Fireman by Jennifer Bernard
27. The Ghostly Blinkers by Babette Cole
28. The Arrangement by Mary Balogh
29. Sex and the Single Fireman by Jennifer Bernard
30. Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.

~ Challenge Completed ~

37.

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Library Books Reading Challenge

Library Books

Reading Challenge

2013

hosted by Gina at Book Dragon's Lair

Sign- up here

Our love of reading can be expensive! Not only are we purchasing books but we also need space to keep them. I've started using the library (again) but couldn't find a challenge to help me. Here it is. There are a number of levels, for those who don't have a library card yet to those that live there. Enjoy!

 Requirements:

• choose a level - you may move up as needed, just not down.
• check books out of the library
• books may overlap with other challenges
• any format allowed (print, ebook, audio)
• reviews are not necessary but a list of books read is. (post with review linky)
• a blog is not necessary, just comment that you want to join in

Levels:

• board book - 3
• picture book - 6
• early reader - 9
• chapter book - 12
• middle grades - 18
• Young adult - 24
• adult - 36
• just insert IV - 50 

Ready?

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Thoughts on ... Mile Markers

This is a running book that's not really about running. Kristin Armstrong is a runner and uses running as a metaphor for life. The determination, dedication, strength and endurance needed in running has parallels in life. These are blog posts from Running World, turned into a book, arranged into chapters/mile markers in our life; Friendship, Play, Motherhood, Balance, Race Day.

This is a deeply personal glimpse into her life, her faith and love of family, friends, and running comes through loud and clear. I read it straight though and enjoyed the book. Each chapter has had something call to me and I found myself reaching for a highlighter. I'm thinking I'll need my own copy so I can highlight and write in the margins.

Here's just one example where Kristen writes of roadblocks and detours. The kind you find while out and about on a run, the kind you find while driving around, the kind you hit in life.

...Roadblocks always have something to teach us. Maybe it's a lesson in patience or perseverance. Maybe it's an opportunity to rethink the direction we chose in the first place. maybe it's an essential tutorial about life. Maybe it's a profound examination of self.

Whatever we learn, we can be almost certain that we would not have learned it any other way. And that is the most direct route from frustration to gratitude, no matter where the detour takes us.

I remember someone saying "isn't a 5k just 3 miles?" No. no it's not. It is 3.1 miles. That .1 makes a big difference. Kristen says the .2 is about having what it takes. Where ever life takes us, I hope you always have strength left for your .2

Disclaimer: This was a library book. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. Book information courtesy of publisher

Mile Markers
The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run
by Kristin Armstrong

Rodale Press
March 2011
978-1609611064
Hardcover
12 + (personal feelings)
Running, Life Lessons, Biography
288 pages
Grade: A


Product Description:

Built on the success of her popular blog on RunnersWorld.com, Kristin Armstrong’s new book is an intensely personal look at how running creates a special sense of community for the women who participate, and how it has helped her and many others mark the milestones of their lives. Each of the 26 chapters (the .2 is the epilogue) is dedicated to a specific theme, such as Friendship, Gratitude, Healing, Balance, and Motherhood. The specific experience of running is knitted into each chapter.

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Library Books

I went to the library Tuesday.

Returned:
Ireland
Thai Die
Dropped Dead Stitch
Waiting for Nick & Considering Kate
A Magical Christmas

Picked up:
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
Dragonspell
Dragonquest
Island of the Blue Dolphins

Still Have:
Resilience : reflections on the burdens and gifts of facing life's adversities

Now, I tell you this because I've been waiting and waiting for The Awakening. When I requested it I was somewhere around #27 in line and everyone might keep it for 2 weeks! Luckily, you can't renew if someone's waiting or I might be waiting 6 weeks for each one.

Our library system sends out a notice when one of your books is available but they also have email. The Awakening is available! I'm think I should have waited but I've already read Dragonspell and half of Dragonquest!

Guess where I'm going tomorrow? Actually, I've got two weeks to pick them up, maybe, if I wait, I can read/review the two dragon books??? I need to read IotBD for an August Book Club. Maybe I should wait....

Library books

J.Kaye twittered me that she has finished The Awakening and I'm so jealous. I've requested it at the library and logged on to see if it was available yet. NOOOOO, I'm #17 in line! The good news is that I'm leaving the blog world for real life family stuff and should be too busy to think about it. The bad news is that there are NINE more books on request and I'm next in line for all of them! Good thing some are short and they can all sit at the library for two weeks before I have to pick them up.


Going back:

Just One Wish
It happened One Autumn
Secrets of a Summer Night
Devil in Winter
Scandal in Spring
Waiting for Nick/Considering Kate - read but not reviewed
A Magical Christmas - read but not reviewed
Dropped Dead Stitch - read but not reviewed
Thai Die - read but not reviewed

Going Back, unread!
If She Only Know by Lisa Jackson - check out later for challenge
The Rule of Won by Stefan Petrucha - saw on blog, couldn't keep my attention
Keeper of the Grail by Michael P. Spradlin - didn't finish, try later

Just One Wish

Just One Wish
Janette Rallison

Putnam Juvenile
March 5, 2009
hardcover
272 pages
ages 12 and up

amazon.com's sales rank as of 7-25: #77,443 in Books

from the publisher:

Seventeen-year-old Annika Truman knows about the power of positive thinking. With a little brother who has cancer, it’s all she ever hears about. And in order to help Jeremy, she will go to the ends of the earth (or at least as far as Hollywood) to help him believe he can survive his upcoming surgery.

But Annika’s plan to convince Jeremy that a magic genie will grant him any wish throws her a curve ball when he unexpectedly wishes that his television idol would visit him. Annika suddenly finds herself in the desperate predicament of getting access to a hunky star actor and convincing him to come home with her. Piece of cake, right?

Janette Rallison’s proven talent for laugh-out-loud humor, teen romance, and deep-hearted storytelling shines in a novel that will have readers laughing and crying at the same time.

I added a book to my wish list and this came up as one of those "people who have stuff similar to your wish list also liked". Well the cover of this one couldn't have been more different then the one I was looking at so I checked it out. What did I think? Well...I think it is written for a younger, young adult audience. For someone who believes that it is possible to bluff their way onto a movie studio lot. But I also think we should all read it just to restore our sense of wonder and maybe reset our priorities. I cried but not a lot. I wanted to shake Annika and Madison, yell at Steve and the parents. Sometimes I wanted to yell at Jeremy then hug him close.

sigh, and I didn't want it to end just yet.

This is a quick, fun read and if you read young adult you should enjoy it. I checked Just One Wish out of the library and will try the author's other stuff but don't think I'll be purchasing any of her titles at this time.

and just as an FYI, Annika lives in Henderson, which is outside of Las Vegas so "all the way to Hollywood" really isn't that far.

Going back to the Library...

...unfinished



I've only had the book for three weeks but I didn't start it soon enough to finished and someone else wants it so I can't renew, grrr!

I know "John" is important but what is the connection to Ty and HOW did Sam see that he had binoculars?