2025 Reading Challenge discussion
ARCHIVE 2016
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Lisa's 25 book challenge
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List of Books1. The Red Notebook Antoine Laurain
2. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe Fannie Flagg
3. Murder Bites the Bullet Deb Baker
4. Dipped, Stripped, and Dead. Elise Hyatt
5. A Turn in the Road Debbie Macomber
6. Death and Faxes Lesle O'Kane
7. November Hunt Jess Lourey
8. Lumby Lines Gail Fraser
9. Girls in Trucks Katie Crouch
10. Can't Wait to Get to Heaven Fannie Flag
11. Me, Myself, and Why? MaryJanice Davidson
Review(s)1. The Red Notebook: This is not a book I would typically pick up but I really liked it!! It was interesting to see the lengths the main character took to find the owner of the pocketbook....I won't say more because I don't want to spoil anything.
2. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe: Again, this is a book I probably wouldn't choose. But (again) I really liked it. The discrimination was disturbing. I guess it was typical at the time of the book's setting. The characters were very engaging.
3. Murder Bites the Bullet: This is a funny mystery about Gertie Johnson, a senior "sleuth". It was really a novella (does that count??) Anyway, Gertie is always getting herself and her friends into predicaments that her son has to get her out of. This one was no different. A man is found dead in his garden. Gertie is determined to find out who dun it.
4. Dipped, Stripped and Dead: This mystery's main character has a furniture restoration business. I thought the mystery was good but the character has a small son and shares custody with her ex husband and his uptight, serious, second wife. In the story, the child is put in danger a couple of times. Those situations were irresponsible and honestly unrealistic. (Would you take your son to a potential killer's place of work? Uh, no.) I will gibe the second book in the series a chance to see if anything changes.....
5. A Turn in the Road: I have loved each and every one of Debbie Macomber''s books in The Blossom Street series. I don't know if my mood wasn't right for this book or not. I found myself frustrated with the characters. Bethanne and her indecision, Annie and her attitude, Grant and his pathetic actions, even Ruth with her judgmental comments and assumptions. The only characters that were ok were Andrew and Max. Annie could not see her mother's side of the problem even though she had a slightly similar situation going on. Hopefully, this book was just a bump in the road of an awesome series.
6. Death and Faxes: This is the first in a series about a woman and her two children who move back to her childhood home while her husband is overseas for his job. Her high school best friend lives next door and many characters from those "wonderful" high school years are still around. Molly wrote a scathing poem all of those years ago and now the recipient is found dead. Who did it? Can Molly figure it out before her reputation is ruined or something more deadly happens?
7. November Hunt-- This is the seventh book in this series by Jess Lourey. The more I read them, the better I like them. She combines some humor with the mystery which I really like. Mira is a librarian "temporarily" house sitting for her friend. She tends to fall into trouble every month. haha This particular book touches on a crime that was committed many years ago and the lengths people will take to hide their past.....
8. Lumby Lines---again, do I count this? I didn't finish it. I like it but do you ever read a book that you would normally like and you just can't get into it? The book is about a small town and the people who live in it. There are some "outsiders" that shake things up a bit. Not a lot, just a bit. Again, I liked it, I just needed more adventure.
9.Girls in Trucks---this book was sitting on the library table right before Mother's Day. It is not my normal kind of novel but I picked it up and I am so glad I did! It is based on a woman who grows up in the south as a debutante and follows her through her adult life and all the craziness that follows. I recommend this book. Nothing heavy, just a good read.
10. Can't Wait to Get to Heaven---I think I have found a new favorite author to join the others! This book was sweet. The main character Elner dies and goes to heaven after falling out of her fig tree. She visits heaven and gets to see some of her favorite people but then there is a BIG plot twist. Sorry, can't tell you!! You have to read it yourself!!!
11. Me, Myself and Why? This is a book that is about a young woman with multiple personalities who happens to work for the FBI....a "special" section of the FBI. It is part of a mystery series that is quirky. If you want something different, this is it.12. Photo Finished by Laura Childs
13. Sweetnes At the Bottom of the Pie---Alan Bradley
I like to read "light" mysteries, contemporary fiction, and biographies from time to time. I don't read a lot of "heavy" stuff because I read to get away and relax.
I will post my list of books read here and then (hopefully) give a more detailed review below.
I am super excited to take this challenge!!