2025 Reading Challenge discussion
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Books I have read this year
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11. Churchill's Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of The Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII- Really loved this one. It was a book I bought from my local supermarket, I love a history book and this was an excellent book.
12. Stillness and Speed: My Story
- Best book of the year so far! Every football fan remembers the days of the 'The Invincibles' and Arsenal's dominance over the English Premier League in the early 2000's. I've always been a fan of Dennis and only wished he could've played for Liverpool. The story is fantastically told, from his early days right through to his retirement. A book for any football, not just you Gooners...
13. The Gray Man
- An author who had orignally penned a Tom Clancy (RIP) book, I decided to go out and check the author out himself. 'The Gray Man' is an excellent book and really well written, so I can see why he was chosen to pen a Tom Clancy book. Loved it.
14. For Valour
- Excellent book. Can't wait for his next one!
15. Havana Storm: Dirk Pitt #23
- Clive Cussler. Enough said.
16. Robert Ludlum's The Geneva Strategy
- One of those books that I couldn't wait to read. Excellent from start to finish.
17. A Song for the Dying
- Stuart has been one of those authors who has slowly wormed their way into being one of my (many) favourite authors. His books are always of a high standard, and 'A Song For The Dying' is no exception! I kind of forgot about this one for a while and kept on putting it off, but eventually I got around to it and it only took a few days to read.
18. The Burning
- This was one of those books that my Dad raved about - "oh it's fantastic, you gotta read it!" But I, on the other hand, found it a difficult book to read and to get into. Sort of like I read just because my Dad had read it (to please him kind of), which I, admittedly, do a lot of the time. I'm agreeing with myself here because I rated the book 3/5.
19. Twelve Deaths of Christmas
- Another Dad recommendation again, and this turned out to be a better book. Great writing, great plot, just an overall great book. Again, agreeing with myself here because I rated the book 4/5.
20. The Darkest Day
- Yet another Dad recommendation. Although I didn't give the book a rating - maybe I forgot to - I really enjoyed the book. I'll definitely look out for more of Tom's books in the future.
21. Knots and Crosses
- I had read the Ian Rankin/John Rebus series many many years ago, but for a while now - maybe because Rankin has a few new books coming out about the infamous John Rebus - I had wanted to re-read the series. I absolutely love Knots and Crosses being that it's the first book in the series -- you always remember your first, don't you? The wordplay and the story behind Rebus (the fact that, before becoming a copper he was in army, is excellent) and just the overall book is great.
22. Hunted: A Reeve LeClaire Novel 2
- A book that I saw one week in my local supermarket, didn't get it, and the next week I got it. A really great book but, strangely enough, I didn't rate. I always get confused as to why I don't rate books; maybe I just forget.
23. A Dark And Broken Heart
- My Dad, for a number of years now, has been raving about this author - "oh you just gotta read one of his books!" I still have one or two of his books left to read, and after that I'll look for more if there is any (which there probably is). Even though this was a larger format book (like a hardback paperback book...I dunno what you call these...) I quickly read the book. I'm, again, agreeing with myself here as I have rated the book 5/5.
24. Half a King
- I was in my local library one day and I saw this on the shelf. I decided to buy it because I am a slow reader, knowing I'll never finish the book on and/or before the library's lending deadline. I'm not a massive lover of the Fantasy genre - there are, however, a few exceptions to the rule - I really didn't enjoy this book as I found it hard-going. Pass on the other books in the series.
25. Heartstone
- C.J. Sansom has been favourite author (of many) for mine for a number of years, and although I read Lamentation before this, I managed to buy this cheaply and put it aside for quite a while. Eventually I decided 'what the hell?' and read it over a week as Sansom's Shardlake series are quite lengthy reads. Saying that I absolutely loved the book and could not put it down at times, though I forced myself to. I gave the book full marks. 5/5. Now I wait for the new book in the series...
26. Assassin's Creed: Underworld- These books can stand alongside Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed video game and they, cleverly, fill in the gaps between the story. I had long finished Assassin's Creed: Syndicate long before I started the book and the video game's story was still fresh in the mind. This is an excellent book which tells the story of Henry Green and Jacob and Evie's father. Excellent book.
27. The Samaritan
- Cross's second book and a cracker. I tried to resist reading this book for quite but, eventually, I read it. Such an excellent book. I, however, didn't rate the book...weird.
28. Jeffanory: Stories from Beyond Soccer Saturday: Stories from Beyond the Videprinter
- My Dad was bought this for Christmas. When he read all you could hear was his laughter. I'm (obviously) a football fan and when my Dad passed along the book I read with the same amount of laughter. A really excellent book for any football a fan of Soccer Saturday.
29. Solitude Creek
- Yeah the latest Deaver book will always be a 'must read' for me as I've always loved his books, especially the bond book he wrote. Although Dance is not as popular as Lincoln Rhyme (yet!) I feel that she's a different but interesting character, who is already blossoming at her fourth (?) book.
30. The Forgotten Holocaust
- I decided to read two of Scott's books in a row, seeing as I had put them off for a long long while. This, and the other book, are excellent and really well-written. Ben Hope is also an excellent character.
31. The Cassandra Sanction
- Scott's latest book in the Ben Hope series. An excellent book that really affirms (to me) why Scott has become a new favourite author. Welcome to the club, Scott!
32. Genghis Khan: Life, Death, and Resurrection
- Wanted to try and read the Genghis Khan book followed the book about Kublai, but I had already planned the next four books which is quite weird as I never even plan ahead. This was good book overall, though it felt more like a history and travel book, so John would give you some insight into his travels around Mongolia. Although not essential to the overall story of Genghis Khan, I felt that you could get some comparison between the times in Genghis Khan and the time in which John visited Mongolia. Not an entirely essential read, in my opinion, even though I rated it 4/5.
33 + 34. The Black Box, The Burning Room
- I decided to buy 'The Black Box' in order to refresh my memory a little as it had been some time since I had read a Michael Connelly/Harry Bosch book. Both books were excellent and I rated them both 5/5.
35. The Defence
- Another Dad recommendation. I found this book hard going in places and a very 'run of the mill' book. I was reading and I was predicting where the story would go next. The ending was kind of wishy-washy and I just felt that it could have been a lot better. Although Steve has a new book coming out - our maybe it's out - I don't think I will bother. I rated this book 2/5.
36. Natchez Burning
- Probably one of the books this year I really wanted to take my time with as I knew the story would grip me until I read the book to its conclusion. A really heavy story that deals with the race wars that went on in Mississippi back in the 1960's, and follows Penn Cage in present day trying to get answers from his father who murdered a girl with whom he had relations with. Penn Cage is eventually hired to try his father in a court of law and faces aggressive opposition from the powers that be, all the while Penn is researching in various ways what actually happened. Penn is shocked to find out the truth, and one day loses his cool at his father when a meeting is taking place. I won't detail anymore of the story because I do not want to spoil it: read it for yourself. I rated the book 4/5 because I felt that the ending dragged a little.
37. Hope to Die- I haven't read a James Patterson book for a number of years now because of the amount of books he releases at any one time. I got this book due one day purely on a whim as I was shopping for books (not that I need any more, mind you). Patterson's books are quick and easy reads, not to mention really well-written. I MAY have missed a couple of books in the series, which is why Hope To Die's story and plot might seem unfamiliar. However, due to how much I love his books I read it anyway. The story is brilliant and the ending is a little sad as well, but you know...it's Alex Cross.
38. The Hunger Games
-This was a fantastic book. With the second part of the Mockingjay out in theatres at the moment, or maybe its out on DVD, I really wanted to see what all the fuss was about. There's not a thing I can point out in this book which wasn't great, as everything was just about right. The plot, the characters, the story-telling; everything was fine.
39. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Having seeing this film maybe during Christmas last year (?) I wanted to go back and re-read the series from the beginning. However, I didn't have the books. My local supermarket - ASDA's - sold the books in the children's/YA section, so every week I would buy maybe 1 or 2 books until I had all 7. I don't really like the first two books and I feel like they are introducing you to the story (even on my second time around) and I feel that in The Prisoner of Azakaban is where the story really picks up, with a few bigger books following afterwards.
40. Blood and Steel
- Although I have Britannia and Wars of the Roses: Bloodline on my to-be-read pile, this is/was one of my first 'big hitters' of the year. Having read the first book in the series in the last year or so, I really wanted to read the second book in the series - OBVIOUSLY - and found that it did take me a while to get into the book. Still, this was a fantasic book.
41. The Bone Clocks
This was a recommendation from one of my followers on Instagram. Throughout 2016 so far I have (and still have) a few big books to read. For three-quarters of this it was really good, maybe even great, and then after that three-quarters, for a little bit, I didn't understand what was going on and I slowly lost the will to live. I persevered though. After that, I quickly finished the book. I gave the book a 2/5 rating.
42. Stasi Child
- So, after The Bone Clocks, I needed something quick and easy to read. I have two books - my current book and the next Harry Potter book - that I'm currently reading, which allows to have a break if I need to. I picked up this book from my to-be-read pile, my Dad having given it to me after he was done with it, and thought 'yeah why not'. I spent a day or two at most with it and it's up there with one of my favourite books of the year so far.
43. Currently reading: Time of Death
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After I'm done with Time of Death, I'll be reading The Prisoner's Gold and then Broken Promise. (It's good to be prepared, right?)
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2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Broken Promise (other topics)Stasi Child (other topics)
Time of Death (other topics)
The Prisoner's Gold (other topics)
The Bone Clocks (other topics)
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Hi all! Nick here again.
Here I'm going to list the books I read throughout and give my reasons as to why I didn't like the book or I liked the book, or maybe sat in the middle. Obviously if I can remember, which, sometimes, I won't be able to.
As I read more books throughout the year (trying to hit my target of 100 books) I'll edit the original post - this one - just listing the books I've read.
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1. Lee Child - Make Me
- Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Lee Child never fails to disappoint in any aspect, Even though my Dad said that he's become "a bit samey", I couldn't help but disagree with him.
2. James Heneage - Towers of Samarcand
- Even though this is the second book in the series, I wanted to jump into the story halfway (maybe not a good idea) but I didn't really enjoy the book (probably because I jumped in halfway through). If I have time, or I've got a spare moment, I'll come back to this series and start from the beginning!.
3. John Connolly - The Wolf In Winter
- John Connolly. Enough said.
4. J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Re-reading the Harry Potter series, which I originally read when I was back in college, so about 6 or 7 years ago. The first two books, to me, feel like introductory books and sort of fall flat in places. I feel that the story really picks up in Prisoner of Azkaban.
5. John Man - The Mongol Empire: Genghis Khan, his Heirs and the Founding of Modern China
- Really enjoyed this book even though I took a break halfway through to read something else. This is, what I call, a 'gateway' book: I have two books of John Man's to read: one solely about Genghis Khan (which I've now read) and another about his grandson, Kublai Khan.
6. Tattoos & Tequila: To Hell and Back with One of Rock's Most Notorious Frontmen
- Even though I'm not a fan of Motley Crue, I'm a fan of music. Really enjoyed the book.
7. Only One Life
- Really enjoyed this book. Can't remember much about it now...
8. The Killing Season
- Was really blown away by this book, even though it was debut novel. The back of the book had a teaser to his new one which I read with much excitement.
9. Tell Tale
- Hmm, can't remember much about this one. I didn't even rate it, which is weird...
10. The Bone Tree
- A very long book, but a particularly poignant and excellent story about the mysterious Bone Tree where animals go to die. The ending was quite sad too, though I won't spoil anything.