Anne’s Comments (group member since Dec 08, 2021)

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

On The Same Page Monthly Reading Challenge FEBRUARY 2022

Start Date: 02/01/2022
End Date: 02/28/2022

Total Pages Read: 1,546
Bonus Points: 70

Books Read:
1. Crush the King 2/10, last 234, +35 (genre, tournament)
2. Chilling Effect 2/16, last 283
3. Raven's Gate 2/18, 270, +10 (genre)
4. Mallory Pike, #1 Fan 2/28, 146, +25 (library)
5. Inkheart 214
6. Project Hail Mary 135
7. Just Another Judgement Day 70
8. Jade War 44
9. Shadowhouse Fall 150

138. Akata Witch
139. Borderline
140. Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight
141. Noor
142. The City We Became

Gender:
male - 2
female - 5

Genre:
science fiction - 3
fantasy - 2
mystery - 2
classic - 1

Length:
401-600 - 1
601-800 -
801-1000 -
1000+ -

Pages:
January - 2,460 (79.4/day)

Although it was a slower month than the last few, I'm still off to an okay start for the year. I've made progress on several goals.

End of January summary:
1. 7/100 books
2. 4/40 series books, 1 in progress
3. 0/10 nonfiction
4. 1/10 classic novels or plays
5. 1/12 Reading group challenge, 1 in progress
6. 0/10 past reading group books
7. 0/10 new countries and 0/10 new states
8. 6/25 Motley challenge
9. 4/30 , 2/5 Pop Sugar challenge
10. 2/19 SFFBC TBR Cleanup Challenge
11. 0/15 books owned as of December 31, 2021, 1 in progress
12. 0/8 BOTM or buddy reads

I finished my first book from the list: Akata Witch. It was a fun tale with a unique magical system and setting. The main characters were believable teenagers without being so angsty that they became obnoxious. I will definitely read the sequels.

On The Same Page Monthly Reading Challenge JANUARY 2022


Start Date: 01/01/2022
End Date: 01/31/2022

Total Pages Read: 2,460
Bonus Points: 130

Books Read:
1. The Little Prince 1/2, 101, +20 (challenge, last year)
2. A Line To Kill 1/6, last 334, +20 (challenge, last year)
3. Akata Witch 1/16, 349, +20 (challenge, sci fi)
4. Borderline 1/17, 392, +20 (challenge, last year)
5. Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight 1/22, 286, +10 (challenge)
6. Noor 1/30, 214, +20 (challenge, sci fi)
7. The City We Became 1/31, 437, +20 (challenge, sci fi)
8. Chilling Effect 165
9. Crush the King 182

Start Date: 12/01/2021
End Date: 12/31/2021

Total Pages Read: 4,180
Bonus Points: 740

Books Read:
1. Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories 12/5, 80, +20 (green, short)
2. Harry and the Lady Next Door 12/5, 64, +10 (short)
3. Jade City 12/5, last 451, +10 (green)
4. Piranesi 12/11, 245, +130 (short, new beginning, 24)
5. Three Act Tragedy 12/16, 249, +60 (short, 24)
6. A Spindle Splintered 12/18, 121, +60 (short, new beginning)
7. A Question of Navigation 12/22, 142, +60 (short, new beginning)
8. The Starless Sea 12/24, last 308, +50 (new beginning
9. The Twelve Jays of Christmas 12/26, 313, +70 (winter, cover, xmas)
10. The Old Curiosity Shop 12/27, 401, +50 (new beginning)
11. Tailchaser's Song 12/28, last 155, +60 (winter, new beginning)
12. The Strike at Shayol Ghul 12/30, 7
13. Tales of Mystery and Imagination 12/29, last 269
14. Assassin's Code 12/30, 422, +10 (red)
15. A Psalm for the Wild-Built 12/30, 149, +10 (short)
16. Selected Folktales/Ausgewählte Märchen: A Dual-Language Book 12/31, last 216, +70 (green, short, 24)
17. Stacey and the Mystery at the Mall 12/31, 147, +10 (short)
18. A Room with a View 12/31, 242, +60 (short, 24)
19. A Line To Kill 41
20. Tintenherz 85
21. Inkheart 73

Alondra wrote: "The list right here, is perfect. I have read or will be reading all of these.

I can't wait to see what you think of them all.

Good luck and happy reading, Anne!"

Thanks :) I'm really excited to read these books. The hardest part is waiting until the 1st to get started.

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "I'm with you on getting annoyed if there is too much romance in a different genre, if I wanted to read a detailed sex scene, I'd go and find a romance book, not necessary in a thriller/horror"

Exactly! I honestly don't want to feel like I'm a peeping Tom while reading a book. I'd rather all sex scenes happen off the page.

Ioana wrote: "I'm not a big fantasy books reader, but I read some science-fiction. However, I'm not familiar with any of the titles on your list, I'll look forward for your reviews. Happy reading!"

Thanks.

Alondra wrote: "I love this!!! Nothing like some sci-fi and fantasy to keep things interesting.

I started sneak-reading . It is so good.... eeekkk

I may have to try Ink & Sigi..."

I've heard good things about Leviathan Wakes, but I didn't have it on my list. It's not the sort of science fiction I normally read.

If you are thinking about reading Ink and Sigil, you should read the earlier series first, starting with Hounded. They're inter-related.

Lea wrote: "Yes, I read everything. I'd get bored if I read the same type of book all the time too, I have to read what I'm in the mood for at the moment. And I read more than one book at a time, and typically, I like them to be very different so I don't confuse the plots. When I was younger, I would have told you Romance was my favorite genre and I hated Science Fiction and Horror. Nowadays, that statement would probably be reversed, although I still will read a Romance as long as there's something else going on with the plot. No doubt, my tastes will evolve further, the more I read. Hope you get the variety you need - it will be so much fun to see what you select!"

I understand the boredom of reading too many books of the same kind. I'm very much a mood reader as well. I am always actively reading at least 4 books at a time, and I try to keep them as dissimilar as possible so they don't blur. I will go through phases where I read more mysteries or horror or urban fantasy or whatever, but I never focus entirely on one genre or author. Even as a college student with limited access to books, I found ways to mix it up.

Romance is one genre that I have never liked. I will read basically anything else. I actually get annoyed if a romantic subplot becomes too much of a focus in a fantasy, mystery, or science fiction novel. The other thing I dislike in a book is excessive description. I'm not a visual reader (no images in my head), so the description does nothing for me. A good character-driven novel with some great dialogue is more my thing. An exciting plot never hurts either.

Ioana wrote: "As always, you have a very interesting challenge that I will follow closely. Lots of authors that I've enjoyed and hope to read more of in the future: Octavia Butler, Agatha Christie, Ernest Cline, Michael Connolly, Blake Crouch, Alexandre Dumas, Jonathan Maberry, George R.R. Martin, William Shakespeare, Andy Weir....so much variety, you can't go wrong. Have a wonderful year of reading!"

Thanks. I hope you have a great year of reading too!

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "At least you are only adding 2 for every book you remove, I've read one book this month and bought 12!"

That's what happens if I go to a book signing. Due to covid, there haven't been any of those recently. That helps keep my total down.

Lea wrote: "Good luck with your challenge this year. I also decided to go easy on myself this year! I hope you enjoy the Dresden books as much as I did. I'm anxious for the next book to be published..."

I am really excited to read the 2 Dresden Files books. They are tentatively going to be read first, but that is always subject to change.

Lea wrote: "Anne, you always set up your challenges so nicely. I have only read a few of your books - the Harry Dresden series, all of the Shakespeare books, 1984, the Hitchhiker's Guide series (written by Ada..."

You have eclectic taste too, I see :-) Some people have only read, say, a few of the fantasy authors or classics, but you've included science fiction, fantasy, mysteries, and classics in your books you've enjoyed.

I love a good challenge, and I like to mix it up, so I always make sure I have quite a lot of flexibility and variety in my challenges. It just makes it more fun.

Ann_R wrote: "Good luck, Anne. You are well organized and ready to go in 2022. :-)"

Thanks :)

Thanks everyone. I always love a good challenge.

Thanks everyone.

John wrote: "Doesn't matter how challenging they might be - it's all about tackling one's TBR... to make room for more!"

Exactly! Although, I will say, my list never seems to get any shorter. Sometimes it feels like I add 2 more for every book I remove.

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "I think it is a good plan - too challenging and we won't complete, and owning the books gives you a better chance of reading them"

You're right- the too challenging lists were the ones that I've failed at, even if they're made up of books I really do want to read. Owning the books doesn't make too much difference for me usually, but it does mean I don't have to worry about getting stuck on too long of a waiting list at the library.

Antarctica, Misc.

1. Antarctica

Australia and Pacific Islands

1. Australia
2. New Zealand