Take It or Leave It Challenge - May 2010 - Page 2

(This is a continuation of a previous thread.)

For those new to this challenge: General information about TIOLI, the TIOLI monthly index, and the 2010 TIOLI Summary are in post #1 of this thread.
Simple directions for posting to the wiki can be found at the bottom of each month's wiki page.


...graphic design by cyderry

Here’s a challenge you’re sure to love. It’s purely for fun and not intended to make you read anything specific. I seriously doubt if any other group will copy this silly challenge, but I think it will be very entertaining. For the month of May, I challenge you to Read a Book with a One-Word Title. Here's the May 2010 wiki.

I know, I know. Often you’ll find a book with a one-word title that is followed by a colon and a further explanation. It would be acceptable to select a book with a one-word title and a colon which is followed by “a novel”, “a memoir” or something similar but try not to select books which have any further descriptive words. I’m not the title police, so I’m leaving it up to you to comply! :)

In addition, for this challenge you *must* count such words as “a” or “the” as part of the title. In other words (no pun intended), a book such as The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy is not acceptable because it’s a two-word title. If you’re not sure about your book selection, just put up a poll and let’s take a vote!

Here are some books I liked:
Kitchen – Banana Yoshimoto
Goat – Brad Land
Feed – M.T. Anderson
Rat – Andrzej Zaniewski
Beaufort – Ron Leshem

Here are some books I haven’t read but that look interesting to me:
Identity – Milan Kundera
Harbor – Lorraine Adams
Coraline – Neil Gaiman
Shipwrecks – Akira Yoshimura
Ice – Vladimir Sorokin

In the interest of conversation, here are some books read in previous months by TIOLI challengers:
Angelica - Arthur Phillips
Biblioholism - Tom Raabe
Clapton - Eric Clapton
Elsewhere - Gabrielle Zevin
Elynia - David Michael Belczyk
Eragon - Christopher Paolini
Fatherland - Robert Harris
Prague - Arthur Phillips
Scaramouche - Rafael Sabatini
Siddhartha - Hermann Hesse
Soulless - Gail Carriger
Sugar - Bernice McFadden
Waterlog - Roger Deakin

Find your book(s) now, and have fun, everyone!

This is a silly question..How do I post to the wiki? I'm feeling rather clueless...

Basically, I want to add a book to the category regarding reading a book about your home state. I'm currently reading American Rust, a story of the aftermath and demise of the Pennsylvania steel industry. It is a thought provoking, accurate portrayal of small towns made prosperous by this industry and now rotting financially and emotionally.

Thanks for your help!!!

The directions are on the bottom of the wiki. Look at those directions and try it out. It's simpler than it looks. You cannot mess it up. The only way you can learn it is by doing it.

A hash tag is just this... #

After you make your entry, press "Preview" at the bottom of the page. If it looks right, press "Save". If it doesn't look right, come back and ask me any question. It will not save unless you tell it to. :)

BTW, I read American Rust after it was offered on the ER program. I didn't win it, but a friend of mine won it on the Amazon Vine program and gave me his advance reader's copy to read. I had mixed feelings about that story. I didn't particularly like the story of the individuals, but I was engrossed in reading about the failing steel industry of Pennsylvania. That was amazingly well done.

I just finished Away for the one-word title challenge. My review is here. The quick summary is that it was OK, but not great.

Thanks Madeline!!

I'm mid way through the book and I agree that it is well done...It is also depressing.

I think my one word title book will be Sebastian Junger's new book, War.

>6 lindapanzo: - I saw Junger on The Daily Show the other night, Linda. His new book, War, sounds fascinating. I'll be interested to hear what you think of it.

Well, I finished my TIOLI book about my home state - The Oyster Wars of the Chesapeake Bay. I thought it was interesting to learn more about my own home state.
The full review is Here.

#3 - SqueakyChu; may I suggest you put in a line in every 'Message 1' to let people know that the instructions on posting to the wiki are at the bottom? That way, people posting for the first time won't be scared off ;)

I'm adding Psycho by Robert Bloch to the list!

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Good thought.

Done!

I finished and reviewed Too Close to the Falls by Catherine Gildiner for the Read a book set in your hometown Challenge. It was a hysterical look at growing up in the 50's and 60's.

I'm on to my first Book by A Canadian Author, Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda.

I really enjoyed Too Close to the Falls when I read it a while ago.

I'm starting a book which Sanddancer, I think, recommended and was thus on the best of the quarter list, Suze Rotolo's memoir, A Freewheelin' Time.

For the favorite books of the quarter challenge I just finished Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde. I am so glad I read this book. It's a dystopian novel on the order of Logan's Run (not that horrid The Road) combined with Soylent Green, Catch 22 and Dogma. I'm giving it 5 stars and am so glad I read it; however the blurb on the back said something about if you're missing reading the Harry Potter books try anything by Jasper Fforde. Well, I don't know about the rest of his books, and I really loved the Harry Potter books, but I don't think this kind of sly book referencing novel would necessarily appeal to Harry and Hermione followers.

I'm also scheduled to read Shades of Grey this month, and I really hope I manage to fit it in! My whole TIOLI schedule has been thrown off by American Gods, which has been dragging on for almost three weeks now, so I know I'll have to make some cuts.

I've finished Fludd for the one-word title challenge. I can't decide whether to go back to Possession again next and try to get through it, or whether to read some fluff and then go back to it.

> 14 – his books are closer to Terry Pratchett than Harry Potter. And yes, there's heaps of book referencing in them (and way more in his other two series than in Shades of Grey). The others are much lighter in tone, much sillier. But I think you'd probably still enjoy them. (My OH has never read Jane Eyre for example, but still giggled his way through The Eyre Affair.)

I started The Love Wife for the love/marriage challenge, but unfortunately it was annoying me too much I had to ditch it! Now onto Spiderweb, another one-worder.

Read Incarceron for the one-word challenge.

Depending on the timing of things, I may try to cram in another title for the 10,000+ users challenge, but we'll see how my reading (and library due dates...) goes. In the meantime, I might manage to finish my ER book, Juliet, and can add that as one-word as well. :)

#14 - I am also having a hard time correlating Jasper Fforde with Harry Potter...blurb writers. Ptooey.

I am beavering away at my Latin American Author - Living to Tell the Tale. It's pretty good.
I am also reading Villette for the one word title. Happily both books were in the TBR pile.

If anyone cares, I started Ilustrado for the one word title. It did not grab my attention AT ALL. Man Asian prize? Really?

I don't think I will manage any other challenges this month.

#20: I liked Villette when I read it last year, Jenn. I hope you enjoy it too.

Finished Life of Pi for the 10,000+ on LT/New to Me challenge. It did not change my opinion about God, but I liked it quite a bit more than I thought I would. (No special reason I wouldn't like it. I think when you work in a bookstore there are just certain books you get sick of seeing every time you turn around, and it can take a few years for that to wear off. :)

>14 Citizenjoyce:: What nittnut said. Ptooey to blurb writers. They're both fantasy. Other than that ...?

I received a review book for The Bookbag yesterday - No One Likes a Policeman by Guillermo Orsi, an Argentinian writer, so will add it under the Latin American challenge.

#20 +#21 I picked up Villette at a used book store a couple years back because Jane Eyre is my favorite book. I enjoyed it but felt that it had an awful lot of similarities without all the merits of Jane Eyre. Still an enjoyable read but now I'm hesitant to pick up any of her other novels for fear of being disappointed.

Took a slight break for the Readathing and my ER book but now back to the TIOLI and have started my sixth book - Credo by Melvyn Bragg. Time is running out though and I might not complete all the books I planned to read this month.

I have read Steppenwolfe and Storyteller for the one word title challenge; The Life of Pi and A Thousand Splendid Suns for the more than 10,000 challenge; and The Stone Carvers for the Canadian author challenge.

#24 - I think Charlotte Bronte definitely has a bone to pick about the life of a governess. I have only read Jane Eyre. I loved it. So far, I like Villette, but I'm not very far into it.
One thing I did not know, but read in my intro, was that Elizabeth Gaskell and Charlotte Bronte were friends. I thought that was interesting.

I read Paula by Isabel Allende for Madeline's one-word title challenge. It's a beautifully told memoir about the tragedies in Allende's life -- the uprising in her native Chile, the breakup of her marriage, and the deep sorrow of her daughter's incurable illness. Allende put her life on hold to stay by Paula's bedside while she lay in a coma for that long year. Unforgettable!

Finished Cranford today - I've been reading it in instalments between other books. Lovely gentle humour and compassion in this tale of old-fashioned provincial life.

I finished Wolf Hall. I can see why it was a best of quarter read.

I'm about halfway through Walden.

I finished three one-word titles last week: Acceptance, Stargirl, and Coraline. All three were from my unread stacks and I surprisingly liked them all. Stargirl was my favorite from the bunch, though.

I still have The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time to work on for the "I can't believe you haven't read that yet" challenge and I may try to squeeze Mort in as well.

A poll: I've got two books that may fit the one-word challenge. Otherwise and Vice. Except … they both have “: New and Selected Poems” after the title. To me, that's a subtitle. What do other people think? Do they qualify for the one-word title challenge, or not? eta: poll – thanks Zoe!

>31 joannasephine: you put "vote" in the html tags: (vote)Question here(/vote). But triangular brackets.

I finished Solar on audiobook for the one word challenge. It was okay. Some parts were good but feel indifferent about it overall. I expected more.

I read "Juliet", by Anne Fortier for the one word challenge.

#22 Madhatter "Finished Life of Pi for the 10,000+ on LT/New to Me challenge. It did not change my opinion about God"

Was it supposed to? I read it a few years ago and didn't like it much beause of the treatment of the animals.

I've decided to add Sea of Poppies to the wiki and to read this one next, under the favourites of the first quarter heading. This in preference to some of the others I set myself to read, since this is a library copy due back next week.

News flashes!

1. The TIOLI points for the main monthly challenge have reached an all-time high of 29 for May. The month is not yet over, however, and all of our aspired reads may not be completed by then. We'll see what happens.

2. A record number of books, 84, are now listed on the primary challenge. As I just said, the month is not yet over... :D

3. The second favorite challenge this month has been the one by CatyM called I can't believe you haven't read that yet! (10,000+ copies on LT but new to you). Nice going with your challenge, CatyM, and your group of 20 people who are all working together on your challenge.

4. The most popular reads for this month's challenges are: Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell,
American Gods by Neil Gaiman, and Life of Pi by Yann Martel. If you've been thinking about reading any of these three books, now is the time!

I love these news flashes! It's always fun to hear about how well the TIOLI is doing.

It might be interesting to compile a summary of all the TIOLIs: number of participants in each challenge, popular books, etc. Maybe next week when I'm done with essay-writing....

>35 Citizenjoyce:: One of the characters in the book says that Pi's story will "make you believe in God", and that was repeated in some reviews and in blurbs on the book by people who apparently agreed.

The animal carnage was rather graphic. I can deal with natural, "wild kingdom" type violence, but I can see why it would turn some people off. (I esp. love turtles so I wasn't crazy about those scenes.)

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It might be interesting to compile a summary of all the TIOLIs: number of participants in each challenge, popular books, etc. Maybe next week when I'm done with essay-writing....

Better you than me, Zoe. That sounds too much like work! :)

By the way, I just moved Dracula out of CatyM's challenge back into my own. I'd be embarrassed if I never even complete one book in my own challenge by this month's end. :)

I stalled reading Acceptance because I became really caught up in the story of Dracula.

Just out of curiosity...
A bunch of us just read Where the Bluebird Sings and I'm wondering, if any of us (like me) grew up all over the West,

News flash!

End of month stats for April showed that, of 179 books read for last month's challenge, 42 books (or 23%) were shared books.

There's a lot of books people are reading for TIOLI this month that I'd love to read but I just don't know what I'm going to get to. Gennyt has joined me in reading Is by Joan Aiken - it is Is Underground in the US but Is here so has a one word title in the UK.

I finished the Suze Rotolo memoir (best of the quarter) and have started reading No-One Loves a Policeman, a mystery novel set in Argentina, which fits in with the Latin American author challenge.

>40 SqueakyChu: I don't know, it seemed like a good procrastination activity to me! Here's a sample. I need to figure out how to fix the spacing so it doesn't look so ridiculous. Surely the wiki syntax includes a basic line break?

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Jenn, that's a tough question! Where's Chèli to help us think that one through? In one way, I think yes. In another way, I think no. I guess I'm undecided!

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it is Is Underground in the US but Is here so has a one word title in the UK.

LOL @ Elkie! So everyone on the other side of the pond has an extra book from which to choose?! :)

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Zoe, that's going to be one loooooooong page!! :)

>48 SqueakyChu: Not if I could get rid of all the excess spaces!

Okay, I give up on line breaks and will put everything on one horizontal line.

That's a really great page, Zoe. It'll be fun to watch as it changes, and then also to look back it after the year ends.

Zoe, I linked the top of this page to your summary.

Thanks! I also think it will be useful for checking quickly whether a challenge has been done before, for those of us who can't always seem to remember (or is that just me?).

No. It's me, too. It's getting harder since others are picking challenges I wanted to do in the future. I'm going to have to be *very* creative in thinking up new challenges. :)

I'm thinking ahead. Here are some poll questions about the future:

Second question:

Only one poll allowed per message! :D

That was weird. I posted two different questions, and they came out the same -- identical twins!

I'm afraid you're stuck with us now! We won't let you abandon the TIOLI.

Er, I was afraid of that! :)

The same thing happened with my CSA Newsletter (that I'm now "volunteering" to edit for its third year of existence).

>45 _Zoe_:: V. interesting - nice job so far! I'm looking forward to seeing the completed page.

--->42 nittnut:
It's my challenge and I vote yes!

Thanks! I will let our little group read know - maybe we can boost up the points.

>53 _Zoe_: it will be useful for checking quickly whether a challenge has been done before, for those of us who can't always seem to remember (or is that just me?).

That's funny. I was going to PM Madeline to see if an idea I had had already been done because I couldn't remember:)

Now I'll just be able to check that page. Cool.

I thought I'd posted here but I haven't so there were 49 messages...aaagh.

I'm really into Cranford now and am hoping to get through it by the end of the month. It's my bed book. It's the first time I've done a TIOLI challenge and I have loved the process of going to the shelves and finding things (err, and going to Book Depository to buy Cranford...but hey, 2 is good!)

Other interesting facts:

April's TIOLI challenge is #3 on the list of articles with the most revisions, below only Book Festivals and Literary Awards. May is #8 so far--sure to go up once we over-committers have to make month-end adjustments ;)

In terms of number of views, the April TIOLI page is at #120 (1,301 views). It's sort of impressive to see that people are actually looking at WikiThing quite a bit, even if not editing.

Another one word title down - just finished (and surprisingly enjoyed) Evelina. Off to add this on to the Wiki.

Finished Siddartha for the one word title. It was shorter than I thought it would be. Also better than I thought it would be. Don't know that I feel qualified to review. I am glad I read it.

> 66

Since Book Festivals is never going to have another revision (as we now have LT Local), we'll just have to keep revising until we're #1.

I voted Undecided on you running it - not a comment on your work which is great but if you were to step down I think we'd have to find someone to do it, because it deos seem like fun.

For now, I'm having lots of fun with the TIOLI. I was planning to do it again for at least another year. I would not quit midyear nor without notice (unless something very extraordinary happened). I just wanted to be sure that I'm on the right track with it going into 2011. I needed to know that I had all (or most of) your support as I go forward, and it seems that I do.

I think enthusiasm for TIOLI is continuing to grow. As long as that's happening, it's keeping my own interest up. I'm having to keep well ahead of everyone so that no one can guess the upcoming TIOLI challenge each month. I think that's what I like best about it. It's the mystery!!

Eleven more days, everyone, and the next TIOLI challenge will be..........Sorry! Can't tell you yet!! :D

I'll tell my next month challenge if you want to know!

Eleven more days, everyone, and the next TIOLI challenge will be..........Sorry! Can't tell you yet!! :D

Yeah, well my next TIOLI challenge is going to be... nope, sorry! :D

Eleven more days is really not enough, though! I still haven't finished American Gods.

Most importantly, I'm glad you're still enthusiastic about TIOLI. It's had a very positive impact on this group and on my overall LT experience.

Zoe, at the rate you're going with American Gods, you're going to be missing the next TIOLI completely! Cheli can tell you what her challenge will be, but you won't have time to do it. You'll still be slogging your way through Gaiman's book. :)

One of the real reasons I created TIOLI was to get everyone on LT to lighten up a bit. There had been challenges, and then challenges on top of challenges, almost to the point that people were freaking out if they couldn't finish a book in time. In time for what? There are no book police!

What it turned out to be, after the fact, was a way to get people interested in reading some of the same books along with others but also to feel okay if they later decided they no longer wanted to do that. Toss a challenge, and pick up another one. The bottom line: to enjoy what you're reading in a stress-free way.

I'm curious, everyone. What challenge so far this year piqued your interest the most and why?

I really liked the "read an author's debut novel" challenge... I found myself surprised when I realized just how many 'debut' novels I'd already planned on reading that month! The LT author challenge was very interesting as well, I learned about a number of authors who I hadn't realized were on LT. I can't say I read anyone new *because* they were on LT, but I still found it very interesting to see what everyone chose.

>74 SqueakyChu: Being a big nerd, I decided to do some calculations and concluded that I'm actually a day or two ahead of schedule, if my goal is to finish the book in exactly one month :P. I do feel like I'm stuck in last month's TIOLI already, though: I just read a book with the word Lion in the title, and the book before that was an ER book with Serpents!

I definitely find that the TIOLI is much less stressful than other challenges. I like being able to start fresh every month, instead of planning ahead for a year's reading.

It's interesting, but the actual challenges aren't really that important to me. It's just fun looking on my shelves for books that fit, regardless of what it is that they're fitting. I did like the LT author challenge, because it was fun to have a list to look at and no real idea in advance of what books would qualify.

I just realized that Free Range Knitter is by a Canadian Author. I'm probably the only one who read it, but I'm adding it to the wiki.

Free Range Knitter looks like something I would like. Did you enjoy it?

it was fun to have a list to look at and no real idea in advance of what books would qualify.

Yep. That's what I like, too!

#78 - I loved it. It was about knitters, moms, sometimes funny, sometimes touching. A great read.

Just found this group. And it looks like I've been missing lots of fun! I'll look forward to joining in that fun in June. Although coincidently I did just finish a one-word title book Inkheart, which could also probably go in that "I can't believe I haven't read that yet."

#67: I loved Evelina too! I read it during university for a 18th C Lit course, which included some horrid reads like Pamela and some really fun ones, like The Monk. But Evelina was one of those books that I expected to be horribly boring and trite, but it was great!

Welcome Wisechild.

Greetings, wisechild!

Good news! If you just finished Inkheart (it's still May, you know), you can add it to one of May's challenges now! Go ahead and put it on the wiki.

Then you'll be all set to start anew for June with a different challenge.

:)

>74 SqueakyChu: I'm curious, everyone. What challenge so far this year piqued your interest the most and why?

I guess I'd have to say that this month's one word challenge piqued my interest the most because I really started to comb through my pile to find the one word titles and ended up reading a wonderful book that had languished on my shelves for far too long, Rebecca.

Also, it helped me to create my own challenge for the first time when it dawned on me that I love Canadian authors and if there are others who have never read a Canadian author this might be a way for them to get started.

I've got my challenge for May ready to go (no, I'm not revealing it until it's time to) based on a book I've wanted to read and it hadn't fit into any of the recent challenges.

I've got my challenge for May ready to go (no, I'm not revealing it until it's time to) based on a book I've wanted to read and it hadn't fit into any of the recent challenges.

That's the spirit, Bonnie! Keep 'em guessin'.

The challenge that really got me this year was Read-A-Living-Poet which originated in another group and was presented here as a TIOLI challenge by kidzdoc. I can't tell you how many years it's been since I actually picked up a book of poetry to read straight through. Then, I ended up reading two and actually searching online for another one (which I read). Finally, I was presented with yet another book of poetry at a book festival by an author who wanted to donate his book to Bookcrossing. I read that book as well for the challenge. Four instead of one. Not bad, I'd say!

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Bonnie, your comments about Rebecca made me pick up a copy of it at last week's book festival in Gaithersburg. I read it years ago but can't remember anything about it. Sounds as if I'm in for a treat when I get back to it.

#82, 83 and 84: Ah, thanks! I think I'm going to like this group! And you can call me Karen if you like. :)
I'll try posting Inkheart now.

I see Inkheart on the list. You did it, Karen! :)

What challenge so far this year piqued your interest the most and why?

I didn't discover TIOLI until last month, so I've only experienced a few challenges so far. One-word title has been fun, and I discovered that I have so many of them in my TBR that they won't all get read this month, but at least they have been brought nearer the top of the pile.

As I haven't been used to planning my reading at all, and have just tended to select from the large TBR mountain whatever takes my fancy on the spur of the moment, I have enjoyed setting myself some mini-goals for the month, with the added incentive of seeing if other people are reading the same book. I like the 'or leave it' element in the challenge title which is a good reminder that, as Cheli says, there are no book police and it doesn't matter if we don't quite finish reading things in the month.

edited to make more sense!

I loved the "book with a red cover" challenge for February. Don't know why...just struck my fancy.

Actually, I enjoy all the others, even if I don't choose to do them: they spur me to scan the shelves, piles, drawers, cabinets...sometimes there are books in there that I look at and think, "What?!? When did I get that...and why?"

There's so little (as in, NONE) pressure here; we all just kind of move along at our own pace--or not--as the book sprites take us. I especially appreciate the "or leave it" part because one of this month's books just isn't working for me.

Welcom wisechild Karen. I think you'll find this an entertaining, friendly group.

>87 SqueakyChu: Oh yes Madeline, you are in for a real treat :)

I tried to get my daughter to read Rebecca tonight, but she wouldn't because the copy I have is a mass market paperback. I'll be on the lookout for a larger size copy, either trade paperback or hardback. Then I'm going to try to get her to read it as well as read it myself.

I think the living poet challenge. I don't read much poetry, and I really enjoyed reading the poems that people posted occasionally. So I decided to jump in and read a book of poetry. It was a great experience, and will lead to more poetry reading.

Finished Stonecutter by Leander Watts for the one word title challenge. 3.5 stars, but could have been a lot better. See the full review here

I'm struggling a little with my next one, Plainsong by Keith Haruf. Not sure I'm going to be able to finish before the end of the month...and not really sure I want to. I almost stopped after the "cattle" scene, but it picked up a little...and now it's waning again. It's gotten some good reviews and high star markes, so we'll see.

Like the others, I'm pretty much using the challenges to provide a little direction on which titles to pull off my TRB stacks to read next. And for that reason, I am enjoying TIOLI greatly (I doubt my natural interest would have resulted in pulling 4 one word titles off my shelf in a row). But I probably liked the Debut Novel challenge most because it forced me to do a little research - and in the end go out and pick NEW titles to meet the challenge. It's probably the one challenge which had the largest impact on diversifying my reading habits - one of the main reasons I enjoy participating in challenges in the first place.

I just finished reading The Informers by the Colombian author Juan Gabriel Vásquez for my Latin American author challenge; my review is here.

I plan to read two books by the Brasilian author Clarice Lispector: Selected Cronicas, which I've already started, and The Hour of the Star.

I know this is going to sound like a stupid reason for liking the TIOLI Challenge, but I think it really encourages the social aspect of the group - multiple people talking about the same book. I realize that this group does not need any help in talking, but having several people's input on the same book certainly never hurt!

I also have a TIOLI challenge in mind for next month, but I am not saying anything since Madeline stole my one-word title idea :)

but I am not saying anything since Madeline stole my one-word title idea :)

...but, but, but that was only because others stole my ideas!

ETA: Stasia, you can have the two-word titles. :)

#98: Likely story.

I'm glad that Madeline and Jenn liked my poetry challenge! My favorites were the one word title and the red spine challenges.

I have a challenge in mind for next month, and ideas for future months, but I may think of another one...actually, I just did. :)

I removed The Faith Healer of Olive Avenue from my Latin American novel challenge, since it's a collection of short stories.

Oh, I bet June will rock the house with TIOLIs! All the folks in the 75 group seem to have time off this month, so it's read read read.

I have an idea for a TIOLI challenge for June - but I'm not sure if it has been done before, as I've only been taking part for a couple of months.

Is there any way of checking? I guess a summary wiki page like the one Zoe has started would give the answer when its complete. Or else I'll just post it when the time comes and you can tell me if we've been there before!

#95 - I recommend you keep going with Plainsong. The way he writes was a little annoying and the story definitely lagged at times. I really saw it as 3 different short stories all mashed in together. But the story of the brothers and the Vicky is worth sticking to it.

My book club read it last month and the majority of us struggled with the book and didn't like parts of it, but we all ended up enjoying it.

#81 The Monk is great isn't it! Pamela...well yes it's appalling. I also read it for a course but never finished it. Evelina definitly a pleasant surprise - much better than Camilla. On to Cecilia!

>103 gennyt: I'm planning to complete the summary page next week, but other people are also more than welcome to work on it!

but I may think of another one...actually, I just did. :)

Truthfully, that's been my problem, too. I keep changing my mind up until the last moment. Once it's posted, though, then that's it. Can't change my mind any more. :)

I finished up another book for my challenge 'The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming', The Siege by Helen Dunmore - recommended.

> 103

Genny, you can check for previous TIOLI challenges month by month by clicking on this page. By the way, this same link is posted at the top of every TIOLI thread. This will have to do until Zoe posts her summary.

In addition, there is nothing that says you cannot post the same challenge in more than one month. Sometimes, challengers even bring an unfinished challenge to the following month. Those don't usually get too many takers, though. The fun is thinking of something that will make other challengers want to jump on board with your challenge.

#109: The fun is thinking of something that will make other challengers want to jump on board with your challenge.

Not for me - I just like coming up with nifty names, no matter if anyone else joins in or not :) It helps me in plowing down the BlackHole a bit.

I think I'll have to try to come up with a nifty name next month just for Stasia.

I have a challenge idea for June as well. I'm rather excited about and hope others will be too.

ETA: I'm just about finished with Romancing Miss Bronte and will post a review very soon.

> 110

LOL @ Stasia!! I love how you like to go against the current. That keeps life interesting! The "nifty names" are great, though, I do admit.

I'm looking forward to a l-o-n-g list of challenges for June. Everyone seems to be holding back (and waiting to burst forth) with some soon-to-be-revealed new challenges. Can't wait! (...but will)

This will have to do until Zoe posts her summary.

Let me remind you all that it's a wiki ;). If anyone is impatient and wants it to be done this weekend, you're welcome to contribute :D

>114 SqueakyChu: I'm looking forward to it too!

> 115

..and they have no excuse not to as everyone now knows how to use a wiki! :)

Madeline,

You may think we know how to use a wiki, but for myself, I'm just faking it.
I don't think I could find the wiki if there wasn't a link. I have no idea how to start to find the one Zoe is talking about.

ETA - please add a link for the summary wiki.

The links to all of the wikis and the summary are on the main TIOLI instruction page which is here. This link is also at the very top of every month's TIOLI challenge.

Cheli, I'll add info at the top of this thread to indicate what I just said - for how else would anyone know this?

ETA: I'm trying my best to make the opening thread in each month's TIOLI not too cumbersome.

#113: My mission in life: never do things the easy way :) Going against the flow just comes naturally!

I like the fact that TIOLI is monthly. I can start over, fresh, each month. I try to do something with the main challenge but I find I like the secondary challenges as well.

With just over a week to go, I've got an idea for a June challenge in mind but I need to see how it would work. Hmmmmm.

I finished Secret Daughter this morning. It was an LT ER book, as well as fitting the Canadian Author's challenge.

http://www.librarything.com/work/9035789/book/60270021

I liked it really well. It has some weaknesses, it is a first novel, but the characters were interesting and the story-telling held my attention enough to keep me up late reading.

Nice review, Jenn. Even with the few flaws you found in Secret Daughter, it seems like a book well worth reading. Glad you had the chance to enjoy it.

Talking about: Shared Reads

Here are some more questions for you:
1. How important is it that another person on the TIOLI challenge shares your read?
2. Do you make an effort to talk about the book you're reading with the other person who shares your read? If so, how and where do you do this?
3. Do you feel guilty removing a shared book from the challenge? :D

1. I try to make sure to do at least one shared read each month. After listing all my possible monthly reads, I prioritize the ones that are shared.

2. I post more about shared books in this thread, and enjoy seeing other people's comments about the shared books in various threads around the group. I don't generally make an effort to have in-depth conversations about the shared reads.

3. I definitely feel guilty about this, and it looks very likely to happen this month :(. I'm supposed to be reading Shades of Grey, but American Gods has been taking so long that I don't think I'll be able to fit in another TIOLI read as well. I'm not going to worry about it too much, though.

1. I'm fine either way. It's fun to talk about a shared book though, as I'm finding with the group reads I have joined.

2. Yes - their thread, or a group read thread.

3. I haven't had to yet, but I haven't committed to a lot. There's an outside chance I will experience that this month with Living to Tell the Tale He is a slow read for me for some reason. Guilt - I will try not to feel it. I was raised on it, so it's kind of a way of life. I probably don't even notice that I feel guilty anymore. (:

In response to Question # 3:

I hereby absolve all challengers of any guilt related to removing unread, shared books from this thread at the end of each month. That's part of this game, er, challenge. :D

*No* guilt, y'all!! Ya hear that?!!

> 125

Zoe, are you still reading American Gods?!!! ;)

>128 SqueakyChu: Well, I technically haven't picked it up for several days, but in a more general sense, yes, I am still reading it! And I'm still resolved to finish by the end of the month, too!

LOL @ Zoe!!

ETA: I can tell you're really enjoying it..

By the way, on LT, two periods, one following another, is technically known as a "sarcasticon".

P.S. There's a thread about the sarcasticon somewhere here on LT. Can anyone help me find it?

Thread about the sarcasticon

#115 I am a complete geek when it comes to lists so I did a very rough and ready update of the summary on the wiki. Please feel free to amend and add stuff - I think the basics are there now.

Right, now I should actually get back to reading some of my books for the challenge.

>130 SqueakyChu: great thread! I've actually considered changing my username to Zoe.. in an attempt to reflect the proper spelling, with diaeresis....

>131 souloftherose: Thank you!!!

#130 Loved the sarcasticon thread - thank you!

1. How important is it that another person on the TIOLI challenge shares your read? Not a bit :)

2. Do you make an effort to talk about the book you're reading with the other person who shares your read? If so, how and where do you do this? I talk everywhere, don't you know?

3. Do you feel guilty removing a shared book from the challenge? Nope, unfortunately I am only human, contrary to popular opinion

On another (unrelated) thread, Cheli mentioned that
her "one problem with the TIOLI challenge is that there is only one thread per month and it gets very confusing in the discussions". Is this a problem for others? Is there a need for more threads related to each challenge?

Personally, I'd hate to see that because I like to follow comments about *all* the challenges on one thread, but I wonder what others think? Comments?

#135: I think I would end up more confused with multiple threads for each challenge than in having one thread with all the discussions on it.

I've long wanted the PTB to create some linkage between a post and the post it's in reply to, the way they have on some other fora I've been on. For example, I'm typing this in response to message 135; why can't that appear in the bar above the post? "Message 137: richardderus (reply to 135)"

Does that present some huge tech issue?

One of the reasons that I like the single thread is that I can easily move in and out of different challenges and not miss ongoing discussions about any of them.

> 137

I've long wanted the PTB to create some linkage between a post and the post it's in reply to...Does that present some huge tech issue?

The biggest tech issue is that our "Head Tech" (i.e. Tim) simply does not want that.

I think having everything in one thread is one of the best things about TIOLI. It means everyone is participating in the whole discussion, rather than picking out just the parts that they're most interested in. For example, I didn't participate in the Read a Living Poet challenge, but I liked having everyone's comments about that mixed in here. I don't think I would have read about that particular sub-challenge if it had been separated into its own thread. Also, I like the fact that this thread is lively and always likely to have something new to read.

I could understand adding "spontaneous group read" threads for books that ended up being read by a fair number of people, so that they could be discussed in more detail and with spoilers, but I think that would be an exceptional case. Also, it depends on the book. I was happy just to read and enjoy His Majesty's Dragon et al., but I might want to discuss American Gods in more depth.

I like one thread. I would be confused if there were multiple threads. The wiki works - if I get confused about the challenges that month, I can go have a look.

Ditto with everyone else; one thread.

Yes, one thread is good.

One thread it shall remain. Thanks for your input.

I've just finished and reviewed Four British Fantasists: Place and Culture in the Children's Fantasies of Penelope Lively, Alan Garner, Diana Wynne Jones, and Susan Cooper by Charles Butler.

I'm going to try to add one of the little votey things:ETA: It worked!

I'm so glad you decided to keep to one thread. Speaking for myself only, too many threads winds up with me not following any of them, as it becomes too time-consuming when I could, you know, be reading books.

I finished Still Life from the Best of the Quarter challenge. Louise Penny is a marvel to me: her books are fresh and intriguing; her character development outstanding; her social commentary, while not earth-shattering as a unique point of view, is very much on point and often expressed with that best of all leavening agents--humor. She manages to juggle all these elements while remaining within the genre frame of village mystery story. I highly recommend her work to anyone, not especially restricted to mystery fans, by any means.

I'm afraid I have to pull Dona Flor off the Wiki; it's just not working for me this month. Perhaps another time...

Here is my review of Romancing Miss Bronte. Hurra - I've completed all of my TIOLI challenges for May - June - Bring it one - I'm ready!

>>135 SqueakyChu:
When I said that I thought it would be better to have a separate group we were discussing a possible new challenge next year of reading through time. I felt that it would be too confusing to have different timeframes being discussed in the same thread. Here at TIOLI sometimes you have to stop and figure out which challenge is being discussed in which message. Maybe we should note that in every message?

>>148 cyderry:
From my perspective, we just found a good reason of keeping to one thread. I love the idea of a reading through time challenge, but since I am not a member of 1010 I had not heard about it and may have missed it.

I will also admit that last night when I first saw Madeline's question, I liked the idea of multiple threads - I usually take on at least 2 of the TIOLI, but there are so many - and June looks like it's bustin' out all over - that maybe a split thread would be good so the discussions could stay "focused" on just the individual challenges.

But I've reconsidered. Splitting the thread may result in fewer cross pollination of ideas, etc.

It means the thread gets really long, and sometimes the responses to items get split up, but the number coding for messages (putting the # of the message at the beginning of a response) works well. I also like the idea of being able to do a header line identifying each entry. I can never remember the exact title of the challenge when I do a note. That would also help people, who are interested in only one particular challenge, the opportunity to skim through a lengthy chain to identify the ones they like.

I guess it's been decided but I would prefer to keep just one thread for the TIOLI challenges. I started my last book for this month's Read a Canadian author challenge. It's No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod, a totally new author to me. I finished but haven't reviewed yet Secret Daughter another Canadian author. I don't want to read nitnut's review until after I write mine.

Read Sula today and realized it fit the one word title challenge. I added it to wiki. I'm working on Middlemarch but doubt it is finished by June.

Sula is a fast read, only 176 pages. I started it going to and from work on audiobook, but once home stopped listening and read it. I had picked it up a couple of times before, but just not interested in the first few pages. Sometimes an audiobook gets me over that "hump" helps me become interested. It is the story of two women and their lives and friendship over time. I enjoyed it, but it is not a light-hearted story. It is a story I will think about for awhile.

I'm going to kick off my summer reading with The Leisure Seeker for the Best of the Quarter challenge right after I finish Atticus for the One Word challenge.

One thread for all challenges works fine for me. If we can keep multiple books being read simultaneously (as many of us do) straight, we can surely keep the different challenges on one thread.

May I make a suggestion, Madeline? I'd be hugely helped if, in post #1, you put a list of the challenges for that month. I'd like to refer to the challenges in my posts, but often don't remember what they're called and have never learned what number each challenge is.

What I would do as the opener of my posts, if I could remember the names, is:

"Challenge 1, One-Word Title books:

Thunderstruck was a wonderful, fascinating book. I reviewed it here. I can't recommend it enough."

Or some such...but really, that's just my little pernickety thang.

I finally finished my review for Secret Daughter for the Canadian author challenge.

--> 153

Not a bad idea. I'll get it up soon, Richard.

Finished Vice for the one-word-title challenge.
Blimey. You can read my book report/review here. Suffice to say it's not happy reading. But I am glad I read it, and don't plan to give the book away.

#154 - I liked your review. I agree - since this was a first attempt - I would be willing to try her again. I'd call it a beach read or chick lit. Not a bad book, but not terribly complex.

I'm late to the one-word party, but I started reading Cranford two days ago (I sorely needed to get a 1001 book in my 'completed' pile). Should have no problem finishing by 5/31. Kindle status had me at ~38% complete last night.

>157 nittnut: I'd call it a beach read or chick lit.

There you go. Exactly. I'm seldom in the mood for a beach read, even when I'm at the beach. LOL

I have to have a beach read now and again. Especially when I'm at the pool with my kids. I need a book - can't be without one, but it can't take up much brain. Fortunately(?) my live book club keeps me well supplied with beach reads.

Finished 'Walden' for the one-word title challenge. Except from a few great bits I didn't like it much. I think it is meant to be read at a very slow pace and maybe I didn't do it justice by reading it too quickly.
But I am not sure I would have liked it any better if I had taken more time for it.

So now I finished all my three May TIOLI books and I am looking forward to the next challenges! :-)

I finished up Cranford for the one-word challenge and absolutely loved it!

So now I finished all my three May TIOLI books and I am looking forward to the next challenges! :-)

There's probably still time to sneak in another this month ;)

Zoe - I haven't started American Gods yet, I'm planning on starting tomorrow. I really hope I can push through it by the end of the month.

I have finished my second Latin American writer challenge book - Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter. Set in Lima, Peru, it is a very enjoyable read.

>164 avatiakh: A lot of people enjoy it, so you probably won't struggle as much as me.

my TIOLI challenge is done, I did not over stress myself and did the original challenge a book with a one word title. I choose Ash by Malinda Lo as it covered some of my own personal challenges my review of the book is on my page.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/79214

>164 avatiakh:. I only started American Gods on Sunday, and was a bit worried. I started reading it last year and barely made it through 100 pages. Zoe's struggles were not encouraging. Then I took it off the shelf, which reminded me that it runs to almost 600 pages. I despaired. Turns out it won't be a problem, though: I'm not sure why we didn't click the first time, but now the book and I are having fun and breezing right along. (Sorry, Zoe!) So there is hope.

>166 BBGirl55:. I have Ash in my pile. May have to bump it up.

>167 swynn: No, don't be sorry! I'm happy to hear that you're enjoying it. (Though admittedly reassured to hear that you did put it down the first time--at least I'm not just crazy.)

I really hope I can get through my Latin American writer challenge. Living to Tell the Tale is good, but for some reason sloooow. I'm on page 215 of around 520. It didn't look that long...

Nearly done with Villette for my second one word challenge book.

I'm still reading Credo by Melvyn Bragg but I misjudged how long it would take me so I've removed 3 of my planned reads from the wiki.

The books I've removed are
Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
and The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

only Catcher counted towards the points for this month.

Oh well! So many books so little time, I will definitely be reading them someday and maybe they will fit into another TIOLI challenge in the coming months.

The Historian is so good! Don't let it sit on your TBR for too long. Perfect summertime reading.

#171 wisechild

Don't worry. I'm leaving all 3 on the soon to be read pile but I don't think I would be able to finish The Historian by the end of the month so it's no longer valid for May's TIOLI:(

Ok, reviewing my slightly over-ambitious plans for the month, I have now removed a couple of one-word title books from the Wiki, since I really don't think I'll get round to them now. These were Lolita and WE by John Dickinson - neither of them were being read by anyone else.

I have finished Is underground (aka Is in the UK, therefore one-word - touchstone won't load for this one) and am half-way through The Catcher in the Rye for the I can't believe I've not read this yet category. Not enjoying the latter very much.

Still hope to finish The Sea of Poppies before the end of the month; this comes under the best of the first quarter category. I started it last week, but got diverted onto Is and haven't picked up again. Hadn't got far enough in to know whether I was going to enjoy it, but I know several people have highly recommended it.

I have a couple of 2-hour train journeys on Saturday, and a bank holiday day off on Monday, so hope to finish these and maybe manage one more challenge before the end of May.

I fished Cranford last night. The word that keeps entering my mind in relation to it is 'delightful'.

Cranford has been a popular read this month, both in terms of numbers reading it and of enjoyment of the read. Has anyone reading it disliked it? I certainly really enjoyed it very much!

I'm anxious to get my vacation reads together so....Is it time yet?

The June TIOLI challenge will be up in a few more days...

Re: Read a book by a Canadian author challenge,

I've removed Tigana from the TIOLI because there is just no way I can get a decent review up by end of May. It's a little disappointing, but heck, no one else was reading it anyway, so no harm done.

ahhh, Madeline, can't we get it a few days early because of the long weekend?

Re: Challenge #9 "You haven't read THAT?"

I reviewed Life of Pi. It's in my thread, post 182.

Gah! I only have about 75 pages left in American Gods, and I just can't seem to read it continuously. I really want to be done with this book already!

Just started Fahrenheit 451 for the “I can't believe you haven't read it yet!” challenge, and I have to say there's never been a more appropriate challenge title.
I only stopped reading last night because divorce was being threatened …

>180 richardderus:: Great review. I liked the book overall but wouldn't disagree with a thing you said (other than you calling it "ghastly").

I finished Chuck Palahniuk's Choke for the one-word title challenge. There's a (somewhat) longer review (of sorts) on my 75 thread. Basically, I liked it. Didn't love it. As usual with him, he has weird/wacky/fun/intriguing ideas and characters but the story always seems to get bogged down at some point.

Oooooh - just finished Jim Butcher's latest - Changes and realised that's another one word title down. 3 TIOLI for me this month (a definite personal TIOLI record).

Oh and just to abuse the forum, anyone who is a Dresden fan and up to date apart from Changes, go, go, go and read it right now! It's awfully good.

Oh, glorious freedom! I've finally, finally finished American Gods.

Yeah Zoe! You're a real trooper and with days to spare!

Thanks!

Now if only I hadn't signed up for four more books.... ;)

>185 _Zoe_: I must say, you don't make me want to run out and buy it :)

>188 brenzi: Oh, lots of people like it. Those who do just finish it quickly instead of whining about it for weeks ;).

If you're interested, I wrote a review; I think part of the reason I didn't like it is just personal preference.

>189 _Zoe_: Thumbed your review. I love an honest review that doesn't pull any punches.

Zoe, congrats on finishing it, at least - there's nothing worse than feeling a book dragging you down so much that's you're excited when it's over....

Oh, and I finished Juliet, which was for Early Reviewers and happily fit into the one-word challenge.

If I have time, maybe I can fit in A Fatal Grace for the Canadian author challenge.

--> 179

Cheli, It'll be up a few days early, but I haven't decided which of several I want to do yet. I'll have it up latest on Friday.

--> 185

Cheers for Zoe, who finally finished American Gods!

I hope this is not the only Gaiman book you've read, Zoe, because there are some others I liked. My husband thought I'd like American Gods. I did read it, but it was just okay. Maybe a bit too bizarre at times. Two Gaiman books that I thought were fun were Anansi Boys and Neverwhere. Maybe, you need to take a break from Gaiman, though, after this great slog you've just endured.

Thumbed your review. It made me laugh!

>190 brenzi: Thanks, brenzi. I actually find it's easier to write a negative review, because when there's a book I've really enjoyed I don't want to pick it apart and analyze it, I just want to bask in the glow.

But apparently, someone else enjoyed my review enough to copy my first two paragraphs pretty much word-for-word in the two hours since I posted it! This makes me furious.

>193 SqueakyChu: Thanks for the cheers, Madeline! I feel like I just completed a marathon. (Not to say that I've ever actually run a marathon, and I know that would be incomparably more exhausting, but you know what I mean.)

I have actually read several other of Gaiman's books, mostly the children's ones: Coraline, The Graveyard Book, Stardust, and Odd and the Frost Giants. All of those kept my interest as I was reading, though none are destined to become favourites.

Re challenge #1

I finished and reviewed Thunderstruck in my thread, post #196.

I just started The Book Thief today. If I finish it by Monday, I will note it for one of the two challenges in which it appears.

Eagerly awaiting next month's challenges.

linda, I loved The Book Thief. It's an engaging read, you'll probably have trouble putting it down. Hope you enjoy it!

#197, thanks.

I've got a few Cubs/Cardinals games at Wrigley Field this weekend and I have a long bus ride to get there so I figure to be reading quite a bit.

When I go through security, though, they always laugh and say "now don't you be reading during the ballgame."

The way the Cubs have played this year, reading during the ballgame might not be a bad idea!

>34 heidilach: heidilach, don't forget to add it to the wiki so we get the points for both reading Juliet. :) What did you think?

Finished Fahrenheit 451 last night – thoughts posted in my thread here.
(I was slow to get started TIOLI-wise this month, but I'm well in now!)

I just started The Book Thief today as well and it was difficult to make myself put it down so I could get some things done. I'm looking forward to picking it back up tonight.

This is a friendly reminder that the May TIOLI thread will be closing at the beginning of next week. I promise I'll allow a little extra time for the world to rotate before closing the thread (too early...as I did last month). :)

The June TIOLI challenge is posted and the counter-challenges are also being posted even as I type. Go have a look and pull some appropriate books out of your TBR mountains to enjoy in the coming month!

thanks to lauranav for the encouragement, I finished Plainsong. I will say that I am glad I kept going, it did get better, but by the time it ended, I really didn't feel the book had "gone" anywhere. Then I realized he wrote a sequel - and understood why some of the story lines didn't really seem to get resolved. Maybe I'm jaded, but the book didn't "speak" to me the way it seems to have done for others, but I'm glad I kept going. A worthwhile read, but hardly one of my more memorable reads for this year.

#204 - exactly how I felt. I'm glad my encouragement helped.

I finished and reviewed my last book for the Read a Canadian Author Challenge. A Great Mischief was a good one.

I finished and reviewed the last book I'm reading for the May TIOLI. It was Credo for the one word challenge.

I finished my last book for May's challenge just in time to get caught up in the excitement of the announcement for June's challenge.

I read The Leisure Seeker for Zoe's The Best of the Quarter Challenge. With two wonderful reviews by our own Madeline and Brenzi listed, I chose to just read and enjoy the book. Richard also read this book for the challenge and had good things to say about it.

#208 - I read Credo a couple of years ago and really loved it.

> 209

I'm so glad you read and enjoyed The Leisure Seeker, Donna! My husband was the one who read it first and told me that I'd like it. He was right.

I started The Book Thief and am about 10 percent into it. It's all right but I wouldn't rave about it. I'm sure I'll continue with it but it's doubtful I will finish it by Monday.

"Unable to put it down" would NOT describe my view.

See Linda - I'm with you on The Book Thief. I didn't love it and I put it down a lot. I did finish, but it was just OK for me.

I wonder if I can sit on my newly refurbished wicker chairs and direct my family in yard work while I strive to finish the last 150 pp of Marquez? Bon bons should be part of this scenario, I think.

I finished A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini for the 'You haven't read that?' challenge. I thought it was terrific!

I finished my ER book Rooms for the one word title challenge. I don't think I'm going to get Possession finished by the end of the month, but I'm enjoying it more than I was 50 pages ago.

I meant to read Credo some time ago - I definitely flicked through it in the library, and may possibly even have taken it out but returned it unread - so I think that will be going back on the wishlist.

I finally finished Living to Tell the Tale. I guess I have trouble with Marquez' writing style. It feels like someone is telling me a VERY long story, slowly, while translating it from Spanish to English. For the most part, the material is interesting, there are some good stories. There is also a lot of complete garbage. It does explain some general things about the mentality of the Columbian... Marquez comments near the end of the book - something to the effect that Columbians had been killing each other for years - needing very little reason to do so. Truly his memoir is full of stories of men shooting at other men in a temper over a woman, etc.

I think the method is not really my style or preference. I have attempted 100 Years of Solitude and only managed to endure about fifty years. I may or may not try more Marquez, but it will be awhile.

Here's a heads up for everyone.

June's TIOLI is up and running strong. At this time you should be deleting books from May's TIOLI that you won't be finishing by Monday. Feel free to take those books you're deleting and see if you can add any of them to June's challenges.

Take the stress out of your holiday weekend. Keep it safe, relaxing and fun!

> 214

Stasia, have you read The Kite Runner yet? I thought it was even better than A Thousand Splendid Suns.

#218: Yes, I have - and I actually prefer them the other way around, lol.

Re Hometown challenge

TA-DA! I've finally reviewed the solid, entertaining first mystery, Austin City Blue, over in my thread...post #210.

I managed to stick to a one-word title book and finish it: Tart by Jody Gehrman, Red Dress Ink title (i.e. mass-produced chick lit) and it was a really good chick lit title. I had picked up Joy Kogawa's Itsuka and while it seemed all right, I just didn't commit to reading it right now (I had loved her book Obasan when I read it several years ago). I also started Ian McEwan's Saturday (two Saturdays ago, actually) and I read the first 30-pages or so several times; it seems like every time I would pick it up, I would fall asleep. I don't think it was the book, I think it was just me. I was actually fairly fascinated with the book, but it just doesn't seem to be happening for me right now. Now I'm going to have an e-book on the go because I find that I stay awake better reading on the screen than reading a paper book.

Zoe, I loved your review of American Gods! It encapsulated the feelings I have for the book succinctly and completely. Thumbs up from me!

>222 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! I have to admit, you warned me about that book... it's just too bad I'm not one for following advice ;)

Is it too late for me to add another one word title? I just finished Innocent, and I'm off to list it if I can find my way...

Just finished According to Ruth by Jane Feaver, which Whisper1 recommended highly a while back, and I second her recommendation. I think it counts as a book about my home town or state, as it's set in Northumberland, and the setting is important in the story. Told largely in the first person by a teenager, it has certain similarities with The Catcher in the Rye which I read immediately before (in the "I can't believe I haven't read that yet" category)- but also great differences! Will try to articulate more on my thread.

I've bought According to Ruth after reading a review copy of Love Me Tender recently.

I finished Oblomov for my last Russian book in May. I had several others slated to read, but I am not going to get to them.

I finished Cranford for the one word challenge, and really enjoyed it!

Last night I read The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector (Brasil) for my Latin American author challenge, which was excellent!

Last day, folks! Finish up your May reads or transfer them to June's challenges. This thread will be closing for good in on June 2nd.

To my American Challengers,
have a safe and relaxing Memorial Day weekend. Pleae take a moment to remember our servicemen who have given their lives for our country. Join me in remembering them with sadness and gratitude.

I've finished Fludd, Holes and Cranford for the one word challenge. I'm not going to get to City of the Beasts for the Latin American challenge so I've removed it from the wiki but added it to the June wiki for the translated YA or children's book challenge.

Very briefly:

Happy with the single thread - just skimmed through 208 messages; interesting reading.

Suggest, as second challenge for every month "Unfinished books from last month's challenges", because I have a feeling I'm going to need it.

Have to say, TIOLI has the (un?)fortunate side effect of 'making' me go out & buy more books, which my cataloguing and reading can't keep up with.

Must dash now - desperate to finish my book for Cheli's "Love & Marriage" challenge, since it's my anniversary (12th) this month, too, so it's appropriate.

Removing Villette because instead of reading, I am potty training my youngest. I'm not too sad - aside from leaving diapers behind forever - Villette was my second in the one word challenge.

I managed to squeeze in my last two books finishing both on the last day of the month - American Gods, which I thoroughly enjoyed, for the Can't Believe you haven't read that challenge and Tu for the One Word Title challenge.

Just checked that I've not left anything unread on the wiki. I managed six TIOLI books in May - three one word challenges: Cranford, Is (= Is Underground) and Night; one Canadian author book The Summer Tree, one about my home county According to Ruth and one 'I can't believe I've not read that yet'- The Catcher in the Rye.

The challenge has determined most of my reading this month (6 out of 9 books) and has made me buy one book and borrow two others specially, but the rest were on my TBR pile already.

Finished The Book Thief for the Best of the Quarter challenge. I don't remember who listed it as a favorite from last quarter, but I'm guessing it'll be on my list as a favorite from this quarter. I thought it was beautifully written.

Removed Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time from the wiki because, though I didn't dislike it, I have no desire to keep reading it.

10 of my 31 books this month fitted under a TIOLI heading, although only Is (aka Is Underground) was a common title with anyone else.

I'm not going to finish Soulless today, so I've taken it off the list.

I'd count it for next month's "problem title" challenge -- except that lacking a soul, far from being a problem, appears to be an asset.

I've finished The Ring of Allaire by Susan Dexter in honour of Cheli's and my wedding anniversaries.

This is one of my all-time-favourite books, and she is one of my favourite authors.

It is about the adventures of Tristan, half-trained apprentice wizard, whose master dies and leaves him a hidden clue to help him in the quest that is the special prerogative of all wizards - to find the magical Warhorse of Esdragon, find the rightful heir to the throne of Calandra, wake the princess Allaire from her enchanted sleep deep within the ice fortress of Nimir (whose coldness is slowly advancing across Calandra) and then find the tenth ring to match the nine already on her fingers.

I love the way Susan Dexter writes and the way she describes things; a kiss tastes like summer, lavendar and strawberries, for instance. Her heroes always do their best, even if everything doesn't always go their way, and they have a peculiar vulnerability about them. The way Ms Dexter writes makes you empathise with Tristan, whether he is trying to work a new spell or is just homesick for the simple cottage life he left behind in order to fulfill the quest. I like the way she creates and weaves the old legend of Calandra and Esdragon through the story in the present, and resolves the mystery at the end.

Although this is a book about a quest, and Tristan keeps his focus on it, I was carried along by the story rather than the quest itself. This is not an epic, like Lord of the Rings, but more gentle, humourous and romantic, and there are scenes that give a satisfying sense of safety and comforting warmth.

I find it has a similar feel to Patricia A. McKillip's Riddle Master of Hed trilogy, which is another of my favourites, for many of the same reasons.

(Just sneaked in under the wire, hopefully; will continue this later - have a child demanding attention just now)

ETA managed two challenges this month; a Canadian author L.M. Montgomery (can never get that touchstone) and this one, for the Love & Marriage challenge.

Edit 2; to finish my review, such as it is.

Although May's wiki is marked "closed to new posts", you may make continue to make corrections, updates, or deletions to that wiki as needed for the next few days. Tomorrow evening I'll be closing this thread and moving further conversation to June's thread.

This thread is now closed. Please continue all TIOLI conversations on June's thread.