The 104 Book Challenge - 2016 discussion
Stacy's reading challenge (SSKrout)
I guess I will do this in batches of 5, until the list reflects what I am currently reading; it will be easier.6)The Purple Plain
started 1/22/2016
finished 1/24/2016
312 pages
I thought the book good, with a range of emotion invoked while reading. It was very sad with a happy ending. I liked it much.
7)The Romance of Old New England Churches
stared 1/25/2016
finished 1/27/2016
448 pages
Being a history lover, I really liked this book. It gave historical background into some of the oldest and most iconic churches in this country.
8)Wife 22started 1/27/2016
finished 1/28/2016
380 pages
I obviously enjoyed this book-- I couldn't put it down. It had some humor in it and I laughed in places, but was very real-- about a marriage/ family in crisis that had sort of lost its way.
9)Of Human Bondage
started 1/28/2016
finished 2/06/2016
684 pages
There were times throughout this book I wanted to shake the main character and say "wake up!" regarding his obsession with a girl that time and again just wanted to use him, and he kept coming back for more. I thought the book was good.
10)Kaui Hart Hemmings The Descendants
started 2/02/2016
finishied 2/04/2016
283 pages
I thought this book was realistic and good. About a man dealing with the death of his wife, struggling to cope as a single father and learns his wife had cheated on him. I really sympathized with his character and hated his wife. It truly drew me in.
11) The Good Thiefstarted 2/05/2016
finished 2/06/2016
327 pages
I absolutely loved this book. About an orphan in Victorian America who is claimed from the orphanage by a conman claiming to be a brother. All sorts of twists and turns-- it held me captivated. I will definitely read this again.
12)The Call of the Wild
started 2/06/2016
finished 2/07/2016
172 pages
I know this book is usually read by children, but I enjoyed it. Jack London was and excellent writer at getting in the mind of a dog and telling things from the dog's perspective. I would recommend it to anyone.
13)Reunited: True Stories of Long-Lost Siblings Who Find Each Other Again
started 2/07/2016
finished 2/07/2016
352pages
This book was heartbreaking and heartwarming, all true stories of children/families that somehow got separated and years later were later able to reconnect.
14) Loserstarted 2/09/2016
finished 2/10/2016
218 pages
I really liked this book. I think that all pre-teens/teens should read this book. It conveyed such a good message and really prompted one to think.
15) The Rich Detectivestarted 2/10/2016
finished 2/11/2016
248 pages
The book was pretty good, but I have read better. I decent mystery.
16) The Haunted Mesa
started 2/11/2016
finished 2/12/2016
464 pages
I liked this book. This was very different than Louis L'amour's typical western; it had a fantasy aspect/ twist to it that dealt with other realms/ parallel universes. I did not want to put it down.
17)God of All Creation: Life Lessons from Pets and Wildlife
started 2/12/2016
finished 2/13/2016
176 pages
I thought this book was good as Mr. Robison related how he had learned lessons about God through animals. It was good to look at things from a different perspective.
18) 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth
started 2/13/2016
finished 2/14/2016
I thought this would be good for kids to help them that they have more power than they think when it comes to making an impact in the Earth. It gave a lot of good pointers and ideas that kids could implement in their families/ communities.
156 pages
19) China Court: The Hours of a Country House
started 2/14/2016
finished 2/16/2016
358 pages
I liked this book very much. It is the story of one family, spanning several generations in England, but Rumer Godden is always been one of my favorite authors. I gave this book 5 stars.
20) Coming Clean
started 2/16/2016
finished 2/17/2016
384 pages
I enjoyed this book. I felt it was realistic and could relate in a lot throughout the book. The author employed humor throughout the book, and many times I laughed right out loud. I gave the book 4 stars.
21) Pavilion of Women: A Novel of Life in the Women's Quartersstarted 2/17/2016
finished 2/19/2016
316 pages
I liked this book very much. I felt it was moving, even sad at points. In many ways, Madame Wu was revolutionary in her way of thinking, and confused many members of her family because they could not comprehend her. I gave this book 4 stars.
22) PSALM 83, The Missing Prophecy Revealed - How Israel Becomes the Next Mideast Superpower
started 2/23/2016
finished 3/08/2016
365 pages
Mr. Salus did extensive research for this book, and it is very evident.
I thought it was excellent in thoroughness and detail, and reminding the reader of different facts, because there is a lot of information given and to absorb. I would recommend it to any one who wants to go deeper in the study of the Bible. I gave it 4 stars.
23) Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle
started 3/08/2016
finished 3/14/2016
199 pages
I have always loved Mrs. Pollifax, even as a kid. This is just another one of her suspense filled adventures for the CIA involving life and death scenarios, dangerous thugs, foreign countries in little known locales, and Mrs. Pollifax barely making it out by the skin of her teeth. As always, great.
24)Finding Favor with the King: Preparing for Your Moment in His Presence
started 3/14/2016
finished 3/22/2016
219 pages
A good book about the study of Esther out of the Bible and how it relates to us in our personal walk of faith. Excellent in explaining even obscure and most likely overlooked facts by the average reader, and teaching why they are actually very important details. I would highly recommend this book for anyone wishing to go deeper in study of the Bible.
25)Assignment in Brittanystarted 3/22/2016
finished 3/25/2016
320 pages
This book I enjoyed very much. It held my attention by its breath-taking suspense. I continually wondered what would happen next. It was a tale about a secret agent sent to France to obtain intelligence in WWII. I would recommend it for any history or war literature buff.
26)Under Crimson Sails
started 3/25/2016
finished 3/27/2016
352 pages
I usually don't gravitate to much romantic literature as a genre, but thought I'd give this one a shot since it was historical. I was disappointed. If one loves that sort of reading, they might like this one, but I found it a bit long and degrading. I am, by no means, of a feminist bent, but I found it a bit degrading and predictable, with the main feminine character being raped by the main male character, and in true Stockholm Syndrome fashion falls in love with him, while he continues to philander, but can't get over her. It continues with her just about to get married, and he kidnaps her....yada yada. I gave it 2 stars.
27)Necessary Losses: The Loves Illusions Dependencies and Impossible Expectations That All of us Havestarted 3/27/2016
finished 5/14/2016
448 pages
If one is a student of the mind, this is a very good book in helping one to understand grief in all of its forms, and why it is so important to our growth. Very well researched.
28)The Jewish Book of Why
started 5/18/2016
finished 6/01/2016
326 pages
I gave this book 5 stars because I constantly refer to this book when reading a book, hear something in the media, or a date on the calendar to try to understand about Jewish religion, traditions, holidays, rituals, and customs. Great.
29) The Templar Legacystarted 5/14/2016
finished 6/07/2016
511 pages
I thought this book well-written; it held my attention and kept me guessing. If only we could go back in time to see actual events transpire, then we would know if all is true. But, all in all, the book was full of suspense, and I would recommend it to any historical fiction/ conspiracy theory fan. The theme reminded me a lot of something that Dan Brown would write. I gave the book 4 stars.
30) The Case of the Teenage Terminatorstarted 6/07/2016
finished 6/09/2016
128 pages
I previewed this book for my children/grandchildren as per my regular routine. I approve of this book for the preteen/teen group.
The story dealt with many common issues most young people deal with at some time such as: crushes, acceptance, being a minority, sports and pressure, steroids and showed how they could be tackled and/ or resolved in a positive manner. The story had a slight underlying faith message which I thought was positive as well.
31) The Supreme Courtstarted 6/09/2016
finished 6/10/2016
48 pages
This in another I previewed for the kids/grandkids. It is a good basic primer for young students about the supreme court, and how and why it functions. It discussed several famous Supreme Court Justices and several famous cases.
32) The Godfatherstarted 6/01/2016
finished 6/10/2016
448 pages
I really enjoyed this book. It is now one of my favorites. I gave it 5 stars. Anyone that enjoys books about crime or the mafia should enjoy this.
33) The Fellowship of The Ring (The Lord of the Rings #1)started 6/10/2016
finished 6/23/2016
458 pages
One of my favorites. A 5-star read for sure. Should be on everyone's to- read list before they die.
34) Symposium on Erosion and Cavitationstarted 6/23/2016
finished 6/29/2016
98 pages
Very technical and scientific with lots of math problems. I think the majority of people would find the book incredibly boring, but I learned some stuff.
Read to granddaughter:35) The Tasty Picnic, by Nancy Parent 6 pages (set of board books in box)
36) Hide and Seek, by Nancy Parent, 6 pages (set of board books in box)
37) The Playful Friend, by Nancy Parent, 6 pages (set of board books in box)
38) Lovey Dovey Lions, by Nancy Parent, 6 pages (set of board books in box)
39) Jo-Jo's Circus Train, by Nancy Parent, 6 pages (set of board books in box)
40) Flapping, Tapping Elephants, by Nancy Parent, 6 pages (set of board books in box)
41) Oodles of Poodles, by Nancy Parent, 6 pages, (set of board books in box)
42) Willy Nilly Clowns, by Nancy Parent, 6 pages (set of board books in box)
43) My Boom Box, by Kelly Parent, 6 pages (set of board books in box)
44) The Dinosaur Race, by Nancy Parent, 6 pages, (set of board books in box)
Read and finished all on 6/29/2016. Cute rhyming board books for young children
Read to granddaughter:45) Peepo!
Darling rhyming book about the day in the life of a baby and his family. Granddaughter enjoyed it as much as me.
46) The VanirimStarted 6/29/2016
Finished 7/10/2016
I liked this futuristic/fantasy/crime book. I gave it 5 stars.... I can't wait to read the next in the series. It was full of many unexpected twists and kept me guessing.
47) Detective Sebastianstarted 7/11/2016
finished 7/11/2016
I thought this book was o.k., but my granddaughter loved it since she loves anything with anyone of the Disney heroines
48) My "a" book
started 7/11/2016
finished 7/11/2016
Read with granddaughter. She is just learning to read, and this was a good book to practice with.
51) Little Bird Lost: A Rhyming Picture Storystarted 7/14/2016
finished 7/14/2016
loved it!
Received as an Arc from author
52) Holly, Reindeer, and Colored Lights: The Story of the Christmas Symbols
started 7/15/2016
finished 7/16/2016
53)The Marine Corps Way to Win on Wall Street: 11 Key Principles from Battlefield to Boardroom
started 7/15/2016
finished 8/16/2016
loved it!
received as an Arc from the author
54) Silent Sourcestarted 8/16/2016
finished 8/18/2016
great read... received as an ARC from the author
55) Hazardous Waste: Saving the Planetstarted 8/22/2016
finished 8/22/2016
56) Jumanji
started 8/22/2016
finished 8/22/2016
57) The Berenstains' B BookStarted 8/23/2016
finished 8/23/2016
58) The Gorilla Did It
started 8/23/2016
finshied 8/23/2016
60) Bear Hugsstarted 8/31/2016
finished 8/31/2016
cute and good for beginning readers-- read with granddaughter
61)All About the Moon
started 8/31/2016
finished 8/31/2016
64) Epidemics: Deadly Diseases Throughout History Set 4author: Holly Cefrey
started 9/7/2016
finished 9/7/2016
65) A Cake to Bakestarted 9/7/2016
finished 9/7/2016
66) The Counting Lift the Flap Book
started 9/7/2016
finished9/7/2016
67) Miss Nelson Has a Field Day
started 9/7/2016
finished 9/7/2016
68)Merry Christmas Maisystarted 9/8/2016
finished 9/8/2016
69) Green Grass and White Milk
started 9/8/2016
finished 9/8/2016
71) Playful Penguins : Oppositesstarted and finished 9/14/2016
72) I Want to Be a Drummer!
started and finished 9/14/2016
73) Bread and honeystarted and finished 9/16/2016
74) Three Presents for Baby Jesus 6pk Three Presents for Baby Jesus 6pk
started and finished 9/16/2016
75) All Around Usstarted and finished 9/25/2016
76) The Nightingale and The Emperor
started and finished 9/25/2016
77) Island Rushstarted 8/18/2016
finished 9/28/2016
hated it-- gave it 1 star; had to force myself to finish reading it
86) Siege of Washington, D.C., Written Expressly for Little Peoplestarted 9/29/2016
finished 9/30/2016
5 stars! Very much enjoyed it
The 104 Book Challenge - 2016
Books mentioned in this topic
The Noisy Tree (other topics)The Best Christmas Hunt Ever (other topics)
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (other topics)
Christmas Joy (other topics)
India Was One (other topics)
More...
started 12/28/2015
finished 1/07/2016
340 pages
Richard Byrd endured a lot. An inspiring story of what he went through for the sake of science.
2)Seizing of Yankee Green Mall
started 1//02/2016
finished 1/07/2016
304 pages
It is scary that the scenario in this book is even more probable today than when it was written. It held my attention.
3)The Benefits of Providence: A New Look at Divine Sovereignty
started 1/07/2016
finished 1/14/2016
255 pages
A good book on Apologetics (if you're a Christian, why you believe what you believe). It was helpful in defining and clarifying exactly why a person of that faith believes what they do. Helpful in discussions with others, especially if they usual reply is "I don't know why, I just know it's true". Also looks at opposing arguments and why they don't really fit with a biblical view of God.
4)Ecstasy: Finding Joy In Living
started 1/16/2016
finished 1/18/2016
161 pages
Especially helpful if someone is in a rut, dealing with depression or grief.
Helps one to look beyond themselves and troubles and see a bigger picture.
5)The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession
started 1/20/2016
finished 1/22/2016
284 pages
I was fascinated with this book. I couldn't put it down. It exposed a whole world of collecting that I never knew about. I was really amazed that a large group of people could be so obsessed with a flower and were willing to spend amazing amounts of money to obtain it, even commit crimes and risk prison.