Bill’s Comments (group member since Nov 30, 2021)

Bill’s comments from the On The Same Page group.

The aim of the Nonfiction Reader Challenge is to encourage you to make nonfiction part of your reading experience during the year. Feel free to post your own 2024 NF Reading Challenge thread in this folder.


The challenge will run from January 1st to December 31st 2024.
Participants may join at any time up until December 1st 2024.

Linette wrote: "Wow! I didn't realize she had written so many books. I've read the first in the Earthsea series, Wizard of Earthsea, and found it pretty good, but I liked Left Hand of Darkness more. Interested to ..."

The Left Hand of Darkness was the first of her books I ever read. I've read since a couple of more times. It's excellent. Looking forward to reading it again.

Amanda wrote: "Will there be a 2024 Nonfiction Reader Challenge?"

Go here, Amanda... https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

1. Rocannon's World
2. The Big Four
3. Tehanu

OK. Sorry for the delay but here is your 3500 books challenge for 2024.

The challenge is, as a group, to read 3500 books in 2024. It's going to be quite easy going to get us started. Only rules are that books must be at least 100 pages (of the edition you are actually reading) and started in 2024.

If you join midway through the year, you can include any book you have finished in 2024.

Just post any books you complete with the next number

e.g. I might start with

1: Book 1
2: Book 2

Next person will post
3: Book title

The next person will post:
4: Book title

Any questions, just ask!

*NOTE* Please make sure you're on the list page of posts so that numbers stay in the right order

Mid January 2024 Update
I'm off to a slow start for 2024, just read 4 books so far. But I'm also making progress on my others so I'm happy enough.

Just Finished
1. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (Oxford Time Travel #1). This was a carry over from 2023. It was a slow build but it got better and better and now I'm looking forward to reading #2. If you like time travel, this is a good one to check out. 4.5 stars (My Series challenge)
2. Rocannon's World by Ursula K. Le Guin From my 12 + 4 challenge. The first book in Le Guin's Hainish Sagas. It was ok and a nice way to start the challenge. (3.5 stars)
3. The Big Four by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot #5). Poirot and his buddy tackle an international criminal organization. Not my favorite Poirot but it was still entertaining 3.0 stars
4. Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin (Earthsea #4). This was excellent. The Earthsea books have just been outstanding fantasy. It's a slow start but it builds and builds. Loved it. 4.5 stars

Currently Reading
1. The Beginning Place by Ursula K. Le Guin One of her standalone Sci Fi novels. (12 + 4 challenge)
2. Series Challenge - Murder and the First Lady by Elliott Roosevelt 1st book of a mystery series featuring First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, written by her son. Light and entertaining so far.
3. Non Series Challenge - The Fall Of The Sparrow by Nigel Balchin Just getting into this. A look back at a troubled man, now on trial, by his best friend.
4. Tome Challenge - Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon Fasicinating look at evolution from woman's perspective. Enjoying very much.
5. Monthly Focus - Agatha Christie - They Do It With Mirrors (Miss Marple #6) Enjoying this so far. Miss Marple is at a school for troubled youths, checking out an old friend.

Next Challenge Books
1. 12 + 4 - The Complete Orsinia: Malafrena / Stories and Songs by Ursula K. Le Guin Historical fiction about Orsinia, a ficitional country created by Le Guin. Before her switch to Sci Fi
2. Series Challenge - DeKok and the Geese of Death by A.C. Baantjer The 20th book in the Inspector Dekok Amsterdam mysteries.
3. Non - Series Challenge - Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney. I don't agree with her political views for the most part but I do agree with her feelings about Jan 6th. Just got it and have to read it right away.
4. Tome Challenge - The White Road by John Connolly (Charlie Parker #4). Barely a tome at 503 pages but it still fits. A murder mystery / thriller that is set in South Carolina.
5. Monthly Challenge - January. I'm hoping to get one more Agatha Christie in before end month. It'll be By the Pricking of My Thumbs. Not Poirot or Marple, this features that wonderful couple, Tommy & Tuppence in their 4th mystery.

Enjoy the rest of January!

21. A book with 4 or more stars on Goodread. Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.02 stars on GR.

My review of , the 4th Earthsea novel by Ursula K. Le Guin. It was a slowish build but ended up excellent. 4.5 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My third Le Guin story is a standalone, .

Bonnie wrote: "finished The Raging Storm book 2 in an Ann Cleeves Police procedural/thriller series. Not quite as good as the first, but a solid (4 star) enjoyable read."

I haven't tried that series yet from Cleeves. I do enjoy her others.

Karol wrote: "Completed #1, The Hunt for Red October, by Tom Clancy, 5/5 stars

It's hard for me to be objective in my review of this book, because I've seen the movie maybe 5-6 times...."

I enjoyed his books for awhile but kind of gave up on his later ones. Hunt was excellent. Red Storm Rising is excellent. The Cardinal of the Kremlin I enjoyed for its spy craft... I'll stop there.

Denise wrote: "Finished , gave it 4 stars. I was drawn into this series from the first book and this one did not disappoint. It had the same clever humor, intriguing character..."

I love this series and need to get back to it. The TV series was excellent but unfortunately only was one season. The books always make me feel good.

Wow. You're powering through them and they're challenging books. I enjoyed Collin's The Moonstone and I really liked the TV series based on the Woman in White. I may have to brave it some day. I remember enjoying Jonathan Strange. It took awhile to get into but ultimately I think I found it satisfying.. So long ago... LOL

Lillie wrote: "#2 The Hollywood Spy 3.5* A

No 10 of a series usually set in London during WWII. Maggie Hope, our heroine and a former spy, is in Hollywood t..."

I have 3 books in this series on my bookshelf. I hope to read the first this year.

Stephanie Plum is always a nice, entertaining break.

Ker Metanoia wrote: "As of 1/17: Finished listening to The Alignment Problem: Machine Learning and Human Values. It's a great book that takes you from the early days of machine learning to the present a..."

It does look interesting. I prefer science-ish books that are accessible and not too over my head. Good luck with your other selections.

I haven't read any of your selections. I do have Poppy War by R.F. Kuang but have yet to read. I look forward to your thoughts on your selection.

You're off to a great start. I'm much slower so far..

Alexandra wrote: "already knocking them off! Awesome job Bill!! Happy reading!!"

Thanks, Alexandra

Karol wrote: "When I was younger I enjoyed Agatha Christie much more than I do now. Not sure why that is . . . still, when I read her I do find her books to be solid 3 or 3.5 stars."

I'm sort of the opposite. When I was younger, I used to get frustrated at the solutions, always someone I'd never suspected.... sometimes never seemed to have heard of.. Enjoying much more now, especially after watching all of the remakes of the Poirot, Marple and Tommy and Tuppence books.

Ioana wrote: "Poverty, by America was a very interesting book. Lots of numbers, sometimes too many, but an important book that should be read. The book discusses some of the causes why there are ..."

Interesting.