2022 Reading Challenge discussion
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Megan - 80
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Megan, Challenges
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Dec 17, 2012 07:31PM
My goal is to read at least 80 books this year. Titles to follow:)
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1. The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon - completed April 20132. Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson - completed January 2013
3. Fobbit by David Abrams - completed January 2013
4. Soulless by Gail Carriger - completed January 2013
5. Dead Until Dark - completed July 2013
6. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - completed January 2013
7. Silent in the Grave by Deanne Raybourn - completed January 2013
8. Truly Madly By Heather Webber - completed January 2013
9. The Upright Piano Player by David Abbott - completed January 2013
10. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss - completed January 2013
11. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloane - completed January 2013
12. Wait for Me: Memoirs by Deborah Devonshire - completed March 2013
13. Eighteen Acres by Nicole Wallace - completed March 2013
14. A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee - completed March 2013
15. The Train of Small Mercies by David Rowell - completed January 2013
16. Waiting for Appa by Jennifer Kim - completed March 2013
17. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson - completed March 2013
18. Northern Lights by Nora Roberts - completed June 2013
19. The Girl in the Lighthouse by Roxanne Sanford - completed June 2013
20. Capital Girls by Elle Monroe - completed March 2013
21. Age of Desire by Jennie Fields - completed March 2013
22. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova - re-read July 2013
23. Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko - completed May 2013
24. Black Girl/White Girl by Joyce Carol Oates - completed February 2013
25. Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington by Tricia Goyer - completed March 2013
26. All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins - completed March 2013
27. 1984 by George Orwell - completed August 2013
28. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson - completed May 2013
29. Ape House by Sara Gruen - completed January 2013
30. The First Princess of Wales by Karen Harper - completed February 2013
31. Heartless by Gail Carriger - completed August 2013
32. The Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George - completed May 2013
33. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris - completed August 2013
34. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - completed August 2013
35. Timeless by Gail Carriger - completed August 2013
36. Brida by Paulo Coelho - completed August 2013
37. Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama - completed February 2013
38. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris - completed August 2013
39. Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris - completed August 2013
40. Mariana by Susanna Kearsley - completed July 2013
41. Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts - completed August 2013
42. Violets of March by Sarah Jio - completed August 2013
43. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris - completed August 2013
44. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris - completed September 2013
45. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris - completed September 2013
46. The Art of Hearing Heartbreaks by Jan-Phillip Sendker - completed February 2013
47. Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik - completed April 2013
48. The Silver Boat by Luanne Rice - completed August 2013
49. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris - completed September 2013
50. Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris - completed September 2013
51. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - completed May 2013
52. Changeless by Gail Carriger - completed February 2013
53. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris - completed September 2013
54. Blameless by Gail Carriger - completed February 2013
55. The Secret Crown: The Secret Marriage that Forever Changed the Fate of England by Susan Higginbotham
56. Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris - completed September 2013
57. What Happened to Sophie Wilder by Christopher Beha - completed August 2013
58. Iron House by John Hart - completed January 2013
59. Color Purple by Alice Walker - completed February 2013
60. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - completed June 2013
61. To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander - completed September 2013
62. In a Treacherous Court by Michelle Diener - completed September 2013
63. Song of Renewal by Emily Sue Harvey - completed September 2013
64. A Secret River by Kate Grenville - completed September 2013
65. Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris - completed September 2013
66. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris - completed August 2013
67. Matched by Ally Condie - completed April 2013
68. Not What She Seems by Victorine Lieske - completed March 2013
69. Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Cruisie - completed April 2013
70. Final Words from the Cross by Adam Hamilton - completed March 2013
71. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell - completed June 2013
72. Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant - completed August 2013
73. The Princess Bride by William Goldman - completed June 2013
74. Zoo by James Patterson - completed June 2013
75. Private by James Patterson - completed July 2013
76. Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger - completed July 2013
77. Wife by Wednesday by Catherine Bybee - completed July 2013
78. Insurgent by Veronica Roth - completed July 2013
79. Malice of Fortune by Michael Ennis - completed July 2013
80. Ladies' Night by Mary Kay Andrews - completed July 2013
81. The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz - completed October 2013
82. Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card - completed October 2013
83. The Almond Tree by Michelle Corasanti - completed October 2013
84. Villette by Charlotte Bronte - completed October 2013
85. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater - completed October 2013
86. The Traitor's Wife by Susan Higginbotham - completed October 2013
87. Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippmann - completed October 2013
88. Gone by James Patterson - completed October 2013
89. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater - completed October 2013
90. Black Ice by Michael Connelly - completed October 2013
91. North and South by John Jakes - completed November 2013
92. Allegiant by Veronica Roth - completed November 2013
93. Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz - completed November 2013
94. We Band of Angels by Elizabeth Norman - completed November 2013
95. After Dead by Charlaine Harris - completed November 2013
96. Bluebeard's Egg by Margaret Atwood - completed November 2013
97. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg - completed December 2013
98. Summer Desserts by Nora Roberts - completed December 2013
99. The Golem and the Jinni - completed December 2013
100. A Break With Charity by Ann Rinaldi - completed December 2013
101. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver - completed December 2013
102. Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen - completed December 2013
103. Christmas Bliss by Mary Kay Andrews - completed December 2013
104. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt - completed December 2013
105. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman - completed December 2013
106. The Innocent by David Baldacci - completed December 2013
106/80 - I HAVE MET MY GOAL!!!!
Pleasantly surprised by Patrick Rothfuss. Not my usual genre but I like his books quite a bit.
Carrie wrote: "Pleasantly surprised by Patrick Rothfuss. Not my usual genre but I like his books quite a bit."Thanks for the info! I'm trying to work through my TBR list and that book has been on there for awhile. Good to know there's some positive feedback.
Just finished my first book in 2013 - "The Upright Piano Player" by David Abbott. While I appreciated the writing style, the book was so disjointed that it left me unsatisfied. I have no problem with books that jump back and forth in chronology as long as there is some clue to the reader as to where the pieces fit together. I don't want to have to read two paragraphs to figure out where the section fits in the overall story. I would not mind reading something else by Abbott but would hope that he has worked out his chronological/plot issues. This one I would not recommend. Only two stars
Second Book in 2013 - "Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" by Robin Sloan. Quirky, optimistic, and a great blend of the old books and the new digital age! And there's also a great bit of nerd thrown in as well. Definitely worth reading! 4.5 stars
Third book in 2013 - "Train of Small Mercies" by David Rowell. Good writing and I enjoyed how the different stories were woven together with the common theme of Kennedy's funeral train. However, there was no real ending, just an end. My review would be 3.5 stars. Worth reading
Fourth book in 2013 - "Soulless" by Gail Carriger. While the beginning was very bumpy, the players were not introduced very well, and the writing wasn't the best, the book grew on me. It was an interesting blend of Victorian era, supernatural, and modernism. I liked the characters and the overall story. Worth reading. Four stars
Fifth book in 2013 - "Ape House" by Sara Gruen. I really enjoyed this book. Before getting into the many reasons why, let me first say that the book synopsis was awful and didn't do the story any justice! Now, the writing was fantastic, the little twist that is so Sara Gruen was masterfully done, the characters were sympathetic and flawed but nice people, and the apes were adorable. Definitely worth reading! 4 stars
Sixth book in 2013 - "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss. This book was entertaining. It felt like a mixture of Eragon and Harry Potter, just a tad darker. While I appreciated the world the author created, the book was long, and I truly hated the dusk-jacket description. Worth reading and good enough that I will read the 2nd book, I'm just not going to rush out and read it now. 4 stars
Seventh book in 2013 - "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn. While I appreciate the writing and some of the careful planning and imagination of the author, my overall rating would be 3.5 stars. I didn't find the characters compelling, or even really likeable. I did figure out the twists before they happened, though I give the author props for originality. I feel like the ending was the continuation of a horror story. Overall, worth reading but not my favorite book thus far.
Eighth book in 2013 - "Truly Madly" by Heather Webber. Sweet book with a unique storyline. Quick, fun read. Worth reading. 3 stars.
Ninth book in 2013 - "Fobbit" by David Abrams. I enjoyed the snark throughout this book, which was the vehicle for relaying not only the mismanagement of the Iraqi War but also the inherent vulnerability of the supposed commanders of the Army. The only reason I gave the book three stars instead of 3.5 is that the ending seemed disjointed for the rest of the book. Worth reading. 3 stars.
Tenth book in 2013 - "The Countess Below Stairs" by Eva Ibbotson. Sweet, simple love story. Historically not very accurate and the characters were very simply constructed, but the book was entertaining. Good beach/vacation read. 3 stars.
Eleventh book in 2013 - "Iron House" by John Hart. Not a great read. Overally complicated and boring in parts. Not worth reading. 2 stars
Twelfth book in 2013 - "Silent in the Grave" by Deanna Raybourn. Really well-written and entertaining novel! I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly the story read, but the prose wasn't dumbed down. Overall, quite enjoyable and definitely worth reading! Can't wait to read the 2nd book! 4.5 stars
Thirteenth book in 2013 - "Women of the Silk" by Gail Tzukiyama. My rating is actually 3.5 stars. The book was well-done and simply written with good descriptions, however I felt like there was little in the way of character development. There seemed to be a very stoic approach to the story. Well-done but not fabulous.
Fourteenth book in 2013 - "Changeless" by Gail Carriger. Light and frothy and fun - exactly the kind of book that I needed to read right now. Little better than the first book and I will definitely continue with the series. Worth reading. 4 stars
Fifteenth book in 2013 - "Blameless" by Gail Carriger. Another good book in the series. Again, very light and fun and worth reading! 4 stars.
Sixteenth book in 2013 - "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker. Amazing book that challenged me morally and mentally. The book is written in the oral style of it's main character, Celie, so it was a bit difficult to adapt to at first. However, I think Walker was smart in writing in this linguistic style, as it leant authenticity to the narrative. I was shocked at the terrible occurrences that were seemingly commonplace in the novel but was continuously reminded that, unfortunately, these events still occur today in our modern society. Definitely worth reading. 4.5 stars.
Seventeenth book in 2013 - "Black Girl White Girl" by Joyce Carol Oates. While the author raised some interesting issues and had an interesting twist, it was buried under pretention. The characters were not likeable, and the author's overwhelming message was pushed so forcefully as to curb the reader's enthusiasm for the stated purpose of the book - to determine how Minette died. My rating is 2.5 stars and I do not recommend.
Eighteenth book in 2013 - "The art of Hearing Heartbeats" by Jan-Philipp Sendker. I appreciated this book for the concepts it contained and it's different view of the world. The writing was good and discussed a part of the world with which I am unfamiliar. However, I did feel like it dragged in certain parts. I have a feeling I will be thinking about this book for several days. Overall, well done and recommend. 4 stars.
Nineteenth book in 2013 - "The First Princess of Wales" by Karen Harper. I enjoyed the book and was tugged into the revolving court and intrigues. I did feel like editing would have helped, particularly at the end, to streamline the narrative. Overall, entertaining and worth reading! 4 stars.
Twentieth book in 2013 - The Age of Desire by Jennie Fields. My rating for this book would actually be 3.5 stars. I had an almost visceral reaction to the book, which surprised me. I got about halfway through and didn't want to pick it up again for several days. The story revolves around Edith Wharton, trapped in a loveless marriage and conformity to society, she is faced with the choice of taking a lover and opening herself up to heartache pain and passion or of remaining in the dark but in control of her faculties. I think my objection to the book was maybe what contained it's power, showing a powerful, independent woman losing it over love. Writing is good but not great. Worth reading
Twenty-first book in 2013 - Wait for Me!: Memoirs by Deborah Mitford, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire. While I appreciate the Dowager Duchess' efforts to present the details of her life without pomp or circumstance, the memoir was presented in a rather haphazard fashion that made it difficult to keep times, places, and events in order. The best passages of the book involved the war and her accounts of traveling with her husband on state business. Made me want to watch Downton Abbey all over again. Worth reading for anglophiles. 3 stars
Twenty-second book in 2013 - Eighteen Acres: A Novel by Nicolle Wallace. I was really surprised and impressed by this book. As a West wing junkie and die-hard Dem, I did not expect to appreciate the book of Bush's former press secretary, but it's well-written, well-thought out, and while focused on politics, does not delve much into the partisan side of the political realm. Very entertaining and worth reading! 4 stars
I might need to check out Eighteen Acres.
Twenty-third book in 2013 - A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee. Well-written, very quick read. Entertaining concept and definitely worth reading! 4 stars
Twenty-fourth book in 2013 - Waiting for Appa by Jennifer Kim. This book had the basis of a good read. Different culture, girl growing up without a beloved parent, trying to live out her parents' dreams, and twist at the end. However, I felt like I couldn't delve beyond the surface of the story to actually feel and care about the characters. Not sure if that was the writing or just my interactions with the book. Worth reading. 3.5 stars
Twenty-fifth book in 2013 - In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson. Great read!!! I typically have difficulty with the rather dry writing in most non-fiction, but not in this book. Larson does an admirable job of weaving stories with facts to produce a very readable book. The subject matter was chilling but fascinating! 4.5 stars. Definitely worth reading!
Twenty-sixth book in 2013 - Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington by Tricia Goyer. Not my favorite read. The concept was good, but the writing was awful and peppered with so much 40's slang as to be laughable. I've watched movies from that time period - people didn't talk like that! Good message but lost in a sea of confusion. Not worth reading. 2 stars
Twenty-seventh book in 2013 - Not What She Seems by Victorine Lieske. Surprisingly good! I got this book on sale at Amazon and didn't expect a whole lot but was very satisfied with this read. Decent writing (not great) but good plot, story, and character development. Good twists and turns. Definitely worth reading! 4 stars.
Twenty-eighth book in 2013 - Capital Girls by Ella Monroe. Not my favorite read and honestly, thought about stopping halfway through (something I haven't done in years!). Just couldn't see the point of continuing to read about a bunch of pampered, spoiled rich girls. Didn't even like any of the four main characters. Not worth reading and I will not continue the series! 1 star
Twenty-ninth book in 2013 - All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins. Sweet, simple, brain candy with surprisingly good writing, good characters, and good plot development! Definitely worth reading! 4 stars
Thirtieth book in 2013 - Matched by Ally Condie. While I enjoyed the book for entertainment value, the story seemed to be a cobled mish-mash of better-written dystopian novels. Some editing of the pervasive teenage angst would have been beneficial. I will still read the next book the series, and the book is worth reading for entertainment. 3.5 stars
Thirty-first book in 2013 - The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Cruisie. Sweet little bit of brain candy - exactly what I needed in an impulse borrow from the library. Great for the beach! 3.5 stars
Thirty-second book in 2013 - Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik. Really great read! Reminds me of hanging out with my best friends, and I just hope that I remain friends with them as long as the characters in the book. Definitely worth reading! 4.5 stars
Thirty-third book in 2013 - Final Words: From the Cross by Adam Hamilton. Had to read this book for my online bible study. Overly simplistic with glaring historical errors in the fictionalized accounts. Not my favorite Christian devotional book. 2 stars
Thirty-fourth book in 2013 - The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. Good addition to the series! While the author can sometimes be too descriptive, she can also skip over some important bits. Overall, worth reading! 4 stars
Thirty-fifth book in 2013 - Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. Really interesting - focuses on the life of a female slave during the revolutionary war. Overall, well done but the ending was disappointing. It just ended without wrapping up. Worth reading! 3.5 stars
Thirty-sixth book in 2013 - The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers by Margaret George. This book is well-written and planned. The notes by his fool are necessary editorial notes that help to enlighten and authenticate the "autobiography". It's so well-done that it could really have been written by Henry. Definitely worth reading! 4 stars
Thirty-seventh book in 2013 - The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Really well-done and while long, the story kept me engaged throughout the majority of the book. Took me about 10% to really get into the story and there was a bit of repetition at the end, but overall, really well done. 4.5 stars and definitely worth reading!
Thirty-eighth book in 2013 - Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko. I enjoyed this book and it's good for ages 12 and up. 3.5 stars. Quick read but not dumbed down for kids. References the history of growing up on Alcatraz in 1935 but not so mired down in the history that it might lose kids. I'm going to read the next one in the series. Worth reading!
Thirty-ninth book in 2013 - Northern Lights by Nora Roberts. Entertaining, romance suspense read with good information about the bush in Alaska. Worth reading and really liked the narrator on the audiobook. 4 stars
Megan wrote: "Thirty-ninth book in 2013 - Northern Lights by Nora Roberts. Entertaining, romance suspense read with good information about the bush in Alaska. Worth reading and really liked the narrator on the..."Ooh! My mother might like this one. Happy you enjoyed it (:
Fortieth book in 2013 (and 20 days ahead of schedule!) - Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. I did not expect much from this book and was truly impressed after I figured out how the book was formatted and the concept. I am so glad that I read this as part of a book group - reading others' interactions with the material helped encourage me along. One of the most impressive aspects of the book is how Mitchell was able to write in the style of each time period he was highlighting - that was truly impressive. Definitely worth reading! 4 stars
Forty-first book in 2013 - Zoo by James Patterson. I think this book would have been a different experience if I had read it over listening to it. I really liked the audiobook - the narrator gave a great performance! The ending was kind of a dud; almost like the authors couldn't fathom the future, so they went for option 2. Worth listening to - great car read! 3.5 stars
Forty-second book in 2013 - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. 3.5 stars. I think I was reading this book in the wrong mindset, too much was going on in my real life, at least I hope that was the problem. I found the language superfluous but the story was interesting.
Forty-third book in 2013 - The Princess Bride by William Goldman. This book surprised me, mostly because I didn't expect the author to pretend it was based on a history and that he was abridging a classic novel. After I figured that out, the humor of the entire book was great. I did not particularly care for all of the information regarding the author's family, mostly because if they were real, I feel bad for them. Definitely worth reading. 4 out of 5 stars
2022 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Pillars of the Earth (other topics)The Catcher in the Rye (other topics)
Black and Blue (other topics)
Drowning Ruth (other topics)
1984 (other topics)
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