D&J Catch up Challenge

[Maximum]

I recently finished book 2. I'm trying to stay away from this challenge for a little while because I'm working my way through my "Up Next" shelf of all the series I have started but not finished. There's something like 48 books on there, and so far each time I finish one, it isn't the last in the series so the number isn't going down!

[Sandy]

Scott - a problem I love to hate (or something like that). Sometimes I want the series to end and sometimes I am glad it doesn't because I love the characters. I want to know what happens next in their lives. ;-)

I am trying to use this challenge to fill other challenges or when I run out of audio books...

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Oof, I still have some catching up to do...

[Amy]

I know I'm a bit late to this party but a new decade is surely the ideal time to start a challenge, (or a least put a list down).

Age of Myth (library)
Ancillary Justice (library)
American Gods (on kindle)
Beyond Redemption
The Black Prism (on kindle)
Blackwing (on kindle) 4*
Blood of Elves (on kindle)
Children of Time (on kindle)
Cinder (library - audio) 4*
City of Lies (library)
A Closed and Common Orbit #2
Record of a Spaceborn Few #3
A Darker Shade of Magic #1 (audio) 3*
A Gathering of Shadows #2 (library)
A Conjuring of Light #3 (library)
Divergent (school library/library)
Elantris (on kindle)
The Fifth Season (on kindle)
Furies of Calderon (on kindle)
Gideon the Ninth
Half a King (on kindle)
Hounded (on kindle) 3*
Illuminae (school library)
Just One Damned Thing After Another (on kindle)
The Last Unicorn
The Night Circus (kindle)
Prince of Thorns (library)
Promise of Blood (on kindle)
The Red Knight (library)
Red Rising #1 (library audio) 5*
Golden Son #2
Morning Star #3
Ready Player One (library)
Sabriel (school library)
The Shape of Water (library)
Spinning Silver (library)
Uprooted (on kindle) 2*
The Warded Man aka The Painted Man (on kindle) 3*
The Way of Kings (library)
The Way of Shadows (library)
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) kindle 4*
The Well of Ascension (at library)

by no means a complete catchup list, but those books I want to read which I havent already. May add to in future but I'll see how I go (although 42 does sound like a good number!).

[Fannie]

And I'm done with Words of Radiance. I liked it even more than the first one.

[Fannie]

And more to cross off my list: Spinning Silver.

I liked it quite a lot, but I had some trouble at first with all the differents narrators.

I didn't expect anything so I was surprised by many the many twists. I plan to read more of Novik.

[Vinca]

Fannie wrote: "And more to cross off my list: Spinning Silver.

I liked it quite a lot, but I had some trouble at first with all the differents narrators.

I didn't expect anything so I was surpri..."

I got Spinning Silver at Christmas after loving Uprooted last year so I'm really looking forward to reading it. If you've not read Uprooted I'd highly recommend it.

[Cupcakes & Machetes, Hybrid Creature]

Recently finished Just One Damned Thing After Another and really enjoyed it. Definitely a series I will be continuing.

[Sasha]

Finished second book of Interdependency by John Scalzi, 4 stars out of 5.

[Fannie]

I just finished Record of a Spaceborn Few last evening. 4 stars for me. Not packed with action but it's what I wanted to read right now.

[Audrey, Queen of the Potato People]

Fannie wrote: "And more to cross off my list: Spinning Silver.

I liked it quite a lot, but I had some trouble at first with all the differents narrators.

I didn't expect anything so I was surpri..."

I think Words of Radiance is the best of the series so far. I also had trouble keeping the narrators straight in Spinning Silver but I loved the book otherwise. It's my favorite Novik so far.

[Hope]

Finished Divergent, The Way of Kings, and Dune. Really enjoyed all three.

[Fannie]

Done with Skyward.

As much as I like Sanderson's fantasy, I think I like more his SF. This was perfect and I will be reading the rest of the serie.

[Vinca]

I finished reading All Systems Red over the weekend and really enjoyed it. Murderbot is a really interesting character and I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.

[Audrey, Queen of the Potato People]

I have not made much progress. I did finish Oathbringer in six months; quite enjoyable; and I liked Lock In quite a lot also.

I went to the Starsight book launch in November? December? It was insane. It took three hours to drive 25 miles to get there.

[Al]

I'm reading

Really enjoying it so far. Similar in vibe to

[Roger, Knight Radiant]

Fannie wrote: "Done with Skyward.

As much as I like Sanderson's fantasy, I think I like more his SF. This was perfect and I will be reading the rest of the serie."

I wasn't the biggest fan of the first one, but I just finished the second and I really enjoyed it.

[Fannie]

Finished with Sabriel

It was well written and different from what I expected (or traditional fantasy) but it wasn't a big wow from me. I may read the other books fromthis author when in a better mood.

[Sasha]

Finished
Makepeace by Anna Butler

Three stars out of five. It lacked action for me.

[Fannie]

Finished Children of Time and really liked it. I will carry on with the next book for sure.

It was imaginative but made sense also.

[Cupcakes & Machetes, Hybrid Creature]

Fannie wrote: "Finished Children of Time and really liked it. I will carry on with the next book for sure.

It was imaginative but made sense also."

I'm currently reading it and find it quite enjoyable. Taking my time with this one.

[Hope]

Finished Words of Radiance. Loved it!

[Jose]

Started reading Half a King, hopefully I managed to read some of the books I have on my TBR list...

[Al]

Half a King was great, even better as it's considered Teen,

[Fannie]

At my local library, they are doing blind packages. We can rent a bag of books with just a description. I decided to rent the one called: Gandalf meets Mr. Spock.

This lead me to read one of the past BOTM: Just One Damned Thing After Another

I thought it was a great fun book. Possibly not one that would have been my next read, but I'm glad I did. Time travel is always a topic that I like.

[Cupcakes & Machetes, Hybrid Creature]

I've never read Dune and recently finished it before heading out of town for the weekend. I loved it. I had heard from various people for years that it was boring and I just flew through it. I did not find it boring at all.

Now, do I try to watch the 1984 movie version is the question....?

[Wayland, Ernest Scribbler]

I enjoyed Dune. I know one of the authors of the later books, and he's consulting on the new movie they are working on, or at least were pre-COVID.

The '84 movie I'd argue you can skip in spite of a great cast, but that's my opinion.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥]

Cupcakes & Machetes wrote: "I've never read Dune and recently finished it before heading out of town for the weekend. I loved it. I had heard from various people for years that it was boring and I just flew th..."

I’m so glad you loved it!! 😃. I plan on rewatching the old school movie myself. I liked it 😉.

[Jose]

Cupcakes & Machetes wrote: "I've never read Dune and recently finished it before heading out of town for the weekend. I loved it. I had heard from various people for years that it was boring and I just flew th..."

The music is brilliant. And the intro scene. But this is a movie that you will love/hate.

[Hope]

Cupcakes & Machetes wrote: "I've never read Dune and recently finished it before heading out of town for the weekend. I loved it. I had heard from various people for years that it was boring and I just flew th..."

I loved Dune (especially the audiobook!) I watched the movie as well and while it was okay (it seemed to hit all the major plot points) it was sadly too short and thus it cut out a LOT! I know they are remaking the movie (I think in two parts) but I think it would be better served as a tv series.

[Cupcakes & Machetes, Hybrid Creature]

Hmm, maybe if I’m bored one day I’ll give the movie a try. If not, I’ll just wait for the new movie while I continue reading the series. :)

[Eric]

I found the Dune miniseries which came out in 2000 is more faithful to the Dune book than the 1984 movie. Ian McNeice plays Baron Harkonen as the great schemer.

[Alan]

Cupcakes & Machetes wrote: "Now, do I try to watch the 1984 movie version is the question....?"
No.
It wasn't bad by the standards of the day, and the producers did at least try to follow the main points of the story, but it was a little disappointing even then, and it will have aged badly.
Rumours of a new film version next year . . . unless someone knows better, I would advise waiting for that.

[Fannie]

It is a great book. I didn't like quite as much the next of the serie, but maybe it's because the 1st one was so good.

I tried to watch the 1984 movie, but wasn't impressed. I guess it's something you had to watch when it came out. A bit outdated.

I can't wait for the Denis Villeneuve adaptation though.

[Sandy]

Fannie wrote: "At my local library, they are doing blind packages. We can rent a bag of books with just a description. I decided to rent the one called: Gandalf meets Mr. Spock.

This lead me to read one of the p..."

That is a really cool idea - wish my library had that thought.

[Fannie]

I forgot to update this list, but I can add Lock In to my done list.

Three stars for me. The premisce was good, the characters too, but I just wasn't grabbed by the story.

[Fannie]

And I'm done with another one: Uprooted

I really liked it. Love the way it felt like a fairytale. So far, I like both books I read by that author so I may try His Majesty's Dragon soon.

[Liz]

Late post, but I decided to join in this challenge. I joined the group this year. I was looking at the books previously read by the group, and they all look amazing. Will soon be posting my list over here.

[Shawnie]

Liz, you're motivating me to look back on the list and do some catch up this year. :)

[Liz]

Shawnie wrote: "Liz, you're motivating me to look back on the list and do some catch up this year. :)" That is amazing! And it is good to have someone to do it with.

[Liz]

Well... Here's my list.

2013
1. Dune
2. Elantris

2014
1. Neverwhere

2015
1. Foundation

2016
1. Six of Crows
2. Traitor's Blade

2017
1. Frankenstein: The 1818 Text

2018
1. The Eye of the World
2. The Poppy War

2019
1. Dark Matter
2. Aurora Rising
3. The Priory of the Orange Tree
4. This is How You Lose the Time War

2020
1. The Fellowship of the Ring
2. Gods of Jade and Shadow

2021
1. A Game of Thrones
2. A Deadly Education
3. Aurora Burning
4. The House in the Cerulean Sea

2022
1. The Shadow of the Gods
2. A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking
3. Howl’s Moving Castle
4. Empire of the Vampire
5. Daughter of the Moon Goddess
6. Babel
7. Upgrade
8. Foundation and Empire

2023
1. The Atlas Six
2. Binti
3. Pawn of Prophecy
4. Sea of Tranquility
5. The Graveyard Book
6. The Deep
7. The Last Astronaut
8. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
9. The Peripheral
10. The Song of Achilles

[Shawnie]

I'm going to try to catching up a bit by starting with 2013 and working my way forward by year. I have read many already, mostly the SF, so listed below are only the books I need.

2013:
The Warded Man Finished 3/25/22
Elantris Not interested until I read others in the Cosmere, I think?
Prince of Thorns
2014:
The Last Unicorn 12/31/23
The Six-Gun Tarot
Old Man's War
The Martian
Half a King
The Way of Kings
Promise of Blood
The Red Knight
The Final Empire / Mistborn: The Final Empire this is the version paperback I have on hand.
Perdido Street Station
Hyperion
2018:
Skyward Finished 12/29/22
2019:
One Word Kill Finished 5/27/22
2020:
Holy Sister 5/16/22
2022:
Starsight 12/28/23
The Hunger of the Gods
Malice
Pandora's Star
2023:
Starter Villain
Cytonic
Eyes of the Void

[Fannie]

It's been a while since I updated here so here's the last book of that list that I read:

The Bear and the Nightingale I liked that one a lot and will read the next one. The mix between folklore and history was a nice touch.

The House in the Cerulean Sea That one was a quick read and a feel-good book. I'm glad I read it.

Neverwhere Gaiman is always a hit or miss for me, but that one was on the good side.

I am now reading Old Man's War and loving it so far. It may be one of my favorite book of 2022.

[Shawnie]

2022 end of year update: I only read 2 from the backlist. I had a loftier goal than 2. lol I read The Warded Man and One Word Kill this year. Both were well worth my time and good reads. For 2023, I'll try for catching up 3 or more!

Edit: I finished Skyward and Holy Sister making it 4 catch-up this year.

[Bana AZ]

Thought I'd join this challenge. Looked back at the earliest BOTM for this group. 2013! Wow, it's been 10 years.

f = fantasy
s = science fiction
m = mod special
✓ = done reading

Ana AZ's D&J BOTM Catch-Up Challenge:
2023
1.f. The Atlas Six
1.s. Binti
1.m. Pawn of Prophecy

2.f. City of Stairs
2.s. Sea of Tranquility
2.m. Pawn of Prophecy

3.f. The Graveyard Book
3.s. Dead Silence
3.m. Ymir (considered standalone)

4.f.
4.s.
4.m.

5.f.
5.s.
5.m.

6.f.
6.s.
6.m.

7.f.
7.s.
7.m.

8.f.
8.s.
8.m.

9.f.
9.s.
9.m.

10.f.
10.s.
10.m.

11.f.
11.s.
11.m.

12.f.
12.s.
12.m.

Putting spoiler tags since this might get really long. (view spoiler)[
2022
1.f.
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2.f.
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2021
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2.f.
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3.f.
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12.f.
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2020
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2.f.
2.s.
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3.f.
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4.f.
4.s.
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2019
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2.f.
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2018
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2.f.
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3.f.
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2017
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2.f.
2.s.
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3.f.
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4.f.
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2016
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2.f.
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3.f.
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2015
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2014
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(hide spoiler)]
2013
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[post in progress]

[Fannie]

I just updated my reading of 2023 for this challenge and added the new ones I want to read in the future.

Here's what I read this year:

A Deadly Education
This Is How You Lose the Time War
Old Man's War
Red Rising
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within

I liked them all, but I think Old Man's War was my favorite followed closely by This is How You Lose the Time War.

[Shawnie]

I caught up 2 backlist this year... Starsight for 2022 and The Last Unicorn for 2014. :) I forgot about it this year until I saw Fannie's post just now and took a look.

[Lindsey]

Somewhat new to the group, joining this challenge :) Went through the group shelf and added the books I already own (and a couple that I'll likely buy at some point) to a dedicated shelf for the challenge. So 11 possibilities on that shelf, and I've set a goal of 5 for now, hopefully this will help me work through some of my owned book backlog too. :)

Already Own:
1. The Stand by Stephen King (1991) Complete & Uncut Paperback
2. The Girl with All the Gifts
3. A Natural History of Dragons
4. The City of Brass
5. Ship of Magic
6. Dune
7. The Priory of the Orange Tree
8. The Left Hand of Darkness

Likely to Purchase:

9. Red Sister
10. Rivers of London
11. The Will of the Many