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

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

I got back from my trip yesterday, so I'll do my belated updates now. I didn't get much read on my trip, but I knew that would happen. I was too busy seeing the sights and having fun in Australia and New Zealand to have much free time. I only got 3 books finished in the entire, well below my average. It is a good thing I got off to a fast start in January, so I'm not too far behind.

(Belated) February Update:
1. 16/100 books
2.9/40 series books
3. 3/12 nonfiction
4. 0/12 classics (novels or plays)
5. 5/12 2025 Reading challenge
6. 12/25 Motley challenge
7. 0/5 Past reading challenge books
8. 3/20 books owned as of December 31, 2024
9. a. 0/5 countries
9.b. 0/5 states
10. 0/9 Realm of the Elderlings books
11. 5/24 + 6 Complete fantasy challenge.
12. 3/4 books in progress

On The Same Page Monthly Reading Challenge MARCH 2025
Start Date: 03/01/2025
End Date: 03/31/2025

Total Pages Read 2,148
Bonus Points: 445

Books Read:
1. A Red Death 3/10, last 163, +85 (library, Mardi Gras, TBR)
2. Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun 3/11, last 199, +20 (woman, library)
3. Harlem Shuffle 3/16, 318, +85 (library, TBR, 31)
4. Crook Manifesto 3/22, 336, +35 (library, TBR)
5. Artificial Condition 3/22, 158, +80 (woman, 5, library, Mardi Gras)
6.Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice 3/23, 313, +70 (woman, library, 31)
7.Now or Never 3/30, 312, +70 (woman, library, 31)
8. A Natural History of Dragons 28
9. The Ruin of Kings 230
10. Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries 61

Linette wrote: "I recently read and enjoyed the first book in this series, always makes me happy to find a new series to look forward to reading!"

It's always nice to find a good new (to you) series. You know you will have many hours of enjoyment ahead of you.

Alondra wrote: "5 down already, that is great progress, Anne. ☺️"

Thanks, Alondra :)

I just started A Red Death, and I am bringing The Moving Finger with me on my trip, so hopefully I can get through 2 more soon.

Bill wrote: "It's been so long since I've visited Tony & Anne Hillerman's world. I enjoyed the books I've read so far and have a bunch of them awaiting my attention."

I first started reading them when I was still in high school after my dad recommended them. I enjoyed this latest novel (finished this morning), and I do plan to read the other books in the series.

On The Same Page Monthly Reading Challenge FEBRUARY 2025
Start Date: 02/01/2025
End Date: 02/28/2025

Total Pages Read: 1,399
Bonus Points: 65

Books Read:
1. Song of the Lion 2/5, last 150, +10 (library book)
2. The Dead Cat Tail Assassins 2/15, 215, +20 (Black author, library book)
3. Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead 2/18, 357, +35 (library book, humerous)
4. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 53
5. A Red Death 111
6. To Shape a Dragon's Breath DNF, 135
7. Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun 105
8. Daughter of Redwinter DNF, 47
9. Dead of Night 93
10. A Natural History of Dragons 133

Linette wrote: "The really big accomplishment is that you got books you own read - kudos! :)
Nice reading month, Anne."

It is! I am terrible about reading my own books. I get distracted by library books and forget to read my own. I just finished a third book I owned this evening, and I hope I can get through a few next month too. The books I am planning to bring on my trip are ones I own.

Alondra wrote: "You're off to a great start, Anne!! Woo-hoo!"

Thanks! I had to edit after posting because I ended up finishing one more book that counted for several challenges. I am ahead of schedule on about half of my challenges.

I finished my fourth book this evening: The Lady in Glass and Other Stories. I enjoyed most, but not all, of the tales in this book. The ones related to series I've read were good, and I also enjoyed the science fiction story that was the finale. It was very thought-provoking.

I plan to start Song of the Lion today.

Statistics:

Gender:
Male: 5
Female: 7

Genre:
Non-fiction: 3
Fantasy: 3
Science Fiction: 2
Mystery: 4
Historical Fiction: 1
Classic:
Play:
Anthology: 1

Length:
400-600 : 5
601-800:
801-1000:
1000+:

Pages:
January: 3,717 (119.90/day)

I have gotten off to a fast start in 2025, which was part of my plans for this year. I knew I wouldn't get much read in the latter part of February and beginning of March because I will be on vacation, and I didn't want to be hitting the quarter point of the year already in a big hole. Most of the books I have read so far were enjoyable, but I'll have to wait at least a little longer for the elusive 5* read.

1. 12/100 books
2.7/40 series books
3. 3/12 nonfiction
4. 0/12 classics (novels or plays)
5. 4/12 2025 Reading challenge
6. 10/25 Motley challenge
7. 0/5 Past reading challenge books
8. 3/20 books owned as of December 31, 2024
9. a. 0/5 countries
9.b. 0/5 states
10. 0/9 Realm of the Elderlings books
11. 4/24 + 4 Complete fantasy challenge.
12. 3/4 books in progress

I finished my 3rd book today: Lagoon. The author tried to put too many ideas and make too many points in one novel, and it somewhat hurt the overall power of the book. If this book had been more focused, I probably would have given it 4 instead of 3 stars.

I realize I never gave a review of my 2nd book: Tender Is the Bite. This series isn't great literature, but they're fun mysteries that often make me laugh. I love Chet (his personality is sort of a mix of my two dogs), and the other characters are usually well done. The mysteries can be a bit weak, but that's not really the point of these books anyway.

Bonnie wrote: "I have read all the Mercy Thompson series and continue to like them. Mostly 3 or 4 stars now- #10 (Silence Lost) was my last 5 star read. I love seeing the characters again, but the story arc doesn't seem to progress for me now."

I would agree with those comments. I don't think I've ever given any of them 5 stars, In the main series, they've mostly gotten 4 stars other than a few of the more recent ones, and the spin-off books typically get 3 stars. I think this last one was more satisfying than other recent ones, so I have hope that more good books are yet to come. I wonder if the drop-off in quality might have been influenced by the author's loss of her husband. That dip does seem to correspond to that time (I happened to meet her on her book tour shortly after, so I kind of remember when it happened).

Lea wrote: "Congrats on knocking out the first book and making such progress on the second. I hope you have a wonderful vacation, Anne. I loved visiting Australia and New Zealand, and hope one day to make it b..."

Thanks, Lea. I am extremely excited for my trip. I have been to Europe 5 times (I live in the US), but I've never been anywhere else. I have a ton of things to get ready before I go, and it feels both like a long time and too short a time until I get to leave (if that makes any sense).

Alondra wrote: "First; kudos on knocking out that first book, Anne! Secondly, I already have both of those series on my tbr; so, I am glad that you are still enjoying them."

Thanks, Alondra. They are both good series. For the Chet books, it helps to spread them out. Since they are told from Chet's perspective, it can get to be a little much if I read them one after another. I may love dogs, but I don't necessarily want to be in their headspace all the time. I did finish it now, so I am already moving on to other books on the list.

Bill wrote: "I'm hoping to read the first Mercy Thompson this year. I enjoyed the graphic novel."

I haven't read any of the graphic novels, but I do love this series. The first book is definitely the weakest, but I quickly fell in love with the characters, the number and depth of which has grown over time.

I finished my first book today: Winter Lost. I liked it a lot better than the last few, which weren't bad, but weren't quite up to her standards. This one was hard to put down because I really wanted to know what was going to happen next.

I am also about 80% through Tender Is the Bite, so I may have two books from my list done by Monday. It's nice to get off to quick start, especially since I know I may not have as much time to read in February and March while I am on vacation in Australia and New Zealand.

Lea wrote: "Just so you know, Parable of the Talents has just as much religion in it as Parable of the Sower, but there's a different slant. I enjoyed both books about the same, but I did prefer Kindred. I haven't read any other books by Butler.

I've only read The Broken Earth series by Jemisin (The Fifth Season is the first book). I have heard the same thing - that it is a hit or miss situation with her books - and that has given me a little pause as I try to pick the next book. I hope you enjoy series as much as I did.

I suspected that the sequel would also have religion, but at least this time I will be prepared for it, and I can pick the right time to read it.

I really do hope I enjoy The Fifth Season. I keep meaning to read it because it sounds like something I would like. I think sometimes her ideas are better than her execution for me, but other people seem to love them.

Jackie wrote: "Enjoy your books."

Thanks.

1. I Capture the castle. Find a book with a castle on the cover. The Silverblood Promise

2. The Heart of Darkness. Find a heart or depiction of darkness on the cover. Artificial Condition

3. The Master and Margarita. Find alcoholic drinks on the cover. Canines & Cocktails

4. The Woman in White. Find a white cover or a woman on the cover. The Zig Zag Girl

5. The Grapes of wrath. Find grapes or fruit on the cover.

6. The Call of the Wild. Find an animal from Alaska on the cover.

7. The Lord of the Rings. Find a Lord, rings, or jewelry on the cover. Mrs. Plansky's Revenge

8. Moby Dick. Find ocean animals or an ocean on the cover.

9. The Secret Garden. Find a garden or flowers on the cover. Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

10. Frankenstein. Find a monster on the cover. Dead of Night


2 alternatives.

1. The Time Machine. Find a clock or any machine on the cover. Half Lives: The Unlikely History of Radium

2. The Picture of Dorian Gray. Find a photo, a picture, or a gray
cover.