Great Reading Challenge of 2020

Every year my local library hosts a Great Reading Challenge that lasts throughout the year. We are given a list of categories to attempt to fill plus bonus activities. To participate you must get at least 18 books read in a year. The highest level is over 100 or more books. My goal this year has been to hit the 100 mark. Thanks to COVID-19 I've already reached around 70 books read. One of the fun bonuses this year is called Reading Roulette. Every month the librarians will draw a random category and if you read a book that fits that criteria it will count as two books read. So far, my library has had:

January: Read a book that is shorter than 200 Pages
February: Read a Survival Story
March: Read a book written by an artist more famous for another medium
April: Read a book by an author who has published more than 20 books
May: Read a book with a weather related word in the title

It's a fun little twist on the categories and creates an extra little challenge. Sometimes, I can easily fit the book I'm reading into the category and other times (like this month) it will take a little more digging. I'll do some posts specially dedicated to the bonus challenges from past months just because I think they deserve just as much love as my future reads.

I have done monthly updates on my Facebook page for the reading challenge, but I realized I wanted to do more, hence this blog. All of my Facebook posts include a highlight of a book or two, but who cares on Facebook? If someone is dedicated in following what I read or in listening to my thoughts on books it would be easier to send them here. I'm still going to give updates because it helps keep me accountable, but I find I have a lot more to say dedicated to books and I want a separate area just for that. So, welcome to "The Book Nook" by CC-Liz!*

*For those of you who don't know me personally: CC-Liz was my radio call name in college and I've always loved it. I figured it could make a come back in my writing world as well. 😊

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The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Sorry for the delay my lovely readers! I planned to read the entire book in one or two readings, but life had other plans for me this last week. Between yesterday and today I did read about 6 hours worth (with distractions) while playing catch up! As promised though I have provided a lovely, fairly short review. The backstory of Coriolanuns Snow was intriguing. I think everyone that loved "The Hunger Games" will enjoy reading "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." There are a lot of Easter eggs for the later books that were super fun to look for. My favorite part was spotting all the different surnames that come up later in the series. Suzanne Collins does a wonderful job of building upon the character of Snow that we all love and hate. Without giving details or large spoilers I'll share a few more minor things we learn. We learn how the Hunger Games actually started then evolved and where Snow's affinity for using poison comes from. I'm afraid ther

August Reading Roulette and Books Read

August Reading List “Blueberry Muffin Murder” - Joanne Fluke “Things We Didn’t Talk About When I was a Girl” - Jeannie Vanasco “The Body Keeps the Score” - Bessel van der Kolk “Letting Go: A Girl’s Guide to Breaking Free of Stress...” - Christine Fonseca “The Darwin Affair” - Tim Mason ( audiobook ) “The 5 Love Languages” - Gary Chapman “The Art of Simple Living” - Shunmyo Masuno “All Systems Red” - Martha Wells “I know Why the Caged Bird Sings”- Maya Angelou ( audiobook ) Monthly Total: 9 Total Read: 83 Total with Extra Credit: 105 2020 GOAL ACCOMPLISHED!!!! 🎉 This month's reading list consisted of a lot of nonfiction and memoirs. I feel the need to break this down a little more. 6 of the 9 books read this month were in the nonfiction category. The three books that were fictional are: "Blueberry Muffin Murder," "The Darwin Affair," and "All Systems Red." As you can read in an earlier blog post, "Things We Didn't Talk About When I Was a Gir

"Things We Didn't Talk About When I Was A Girl"

Jeannie Vanasco has created a work of genius with this memoir. "Things We Didn't Talk About When I Was a Girl" could be seen as a new direction for the #MeToo movement. Vanasco's memoir addresses her confusion regarding a sexual assault from high school by her best friend. Throughout the book it questions 'if good people can do bad things or if there are just bad people?' Vanasco went a step further than writing about her assault, she interviewed the man who raped her, whom she refers to as Mark in this book. The reader gets a full view of Jeannie's and Mark's interactions since Vanasco includes transcripts of their phone calls and the eventual visit. It is a harrowing and eye-opening experience. There is a real feel to the book that some sexual assault memoirs lack; it seems disjointed just because you get to see firsthand all of Vanasco's thoughts. Survivors will feel validated knowing they aren't alone with the way their brain can go after

The Book Nook by CC-Liz

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