KeenReader's first climb

[KeenReader]

I am doing a slightly different version of the challenge. I only take a step up the mountain if I read a book which I do not replace. If I buy more books than I read, then I go backwards (Eek!).
I have worked out that there are 22 weeks between now and December 31st, so I am going to try to tackle Mont Blanc. This seems a bit of a stretch, but if I was confident I could do it, it wouldn't be a challenge, would it?

[Jessica]

That's definitely a bold challenge! My hat's off to you and good luck!

[KeenReader]

Thank you! I can't wait to get started, I have a library book that I need to get back, so I'm going to read that next and then it's all systems go.

[KeenReader]

28th August
Things are off to a slow start, but so far I have made five steps up the mountain.

Details
Read:
Injury Time This was a comedy of manners. I don't think I have come across one before but I just couldn't finish it. I don't think my problem was with Beryl Bainbridge's writing, I suspect comedy of manners are just not for me.
The Lies We Told I could not finish this, but I can't say why without mentioning spoilers. I was very disappointed because it sounded just right for me.
The House of the Spirits I mostly enjoyed this. However there was an aspect of the plot that really troubled me, so I cannot wholeheartedly recommend this novel
Angels Passing This was OK, but I kept losing concentration and kept having to re-read pages over again. I'm not sure why. I suspect it was a problem with the reader, not the author.
Angel of Brooklyn This was OK, I finished it, but there was this great "secret" that was the source of much of the tension in the book. Unfortunately, it seemed pretty obvious to me what it was. Still the characters were interesting enough that I read to the end.
Finding Gobi: The True Story of a Little Dog and an Incredible Journey. This was a real "feel good" read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was written in a straight-forward but engaging style and held my attention all the way through (sometimes I struggle a bit with the middle section of factual books).

Books bought (these correspond to a step DOWN the mountain for me)
Microsoft Excel 2013 All-In-One for Dummies. I'm currently looking for a new job and I need to brush up on my Excel skills. Although I need this book for my career development, it is still a book I bought so it "cancels out" one of the books from my TBR that I have read.

[KeenReader]

Last updated: 28th September
Progress in August:
5 books read and not replaced = 5 steps up the mountain

Progress during September: 6 steps up the mountain so far

Current book: A library book (so doesn't count)

Read in September:
The Red House Mystery This was a humorous cosy crime and unfortunately the only crime novel that A.A. Milne wrote. I really enjoyed it
Cuckoo (AKA The Stranger in Our Home). This was an excellent psychological thriller.
Death-Watch This was a crime novel from the Golden Age of crime. I liked it enough to read it all, but I am not sure whether I want to read any more by this author.
The Olive Readers This started out as an excellent dystopian novel, but it changed into a predictable "special teenager saves the world" type novel, via a teen romance/first love episode.
The Darkest Kiss I abandoned this. It just didn't work for me.
White Horse An excellent apocalyptic novel that does not pull it's punches, although I did not think any of the violence or horror was gratuitous.


Bought in September: (these are steps down the mountain for me)
None (Go me!)

[KeenReader]

Cumulative progress by end October: 15 steps up the mountain

Progress by the end of September: 11 steps up the mountain
Progress in October: 4 steps


Read in October
Splinter by Sebastian Fitzek. This was a page turner, but the ending was implausible in my opinion.
The Winter Queen. This was an enjoyable humorous read.
Them: Adventures with Extremists. This was also a humorous book. I enjoyed it but in some ways I'm still working out what to make of it.
The Uncanny I could not finish this. The characters were flat and the plot just went around in circles.

Bought in October (these count as steps down the mountain)
none

[Bev]

You've been doing great!

[KeenReader]

Bev wrote: "You've been doing great!"

Thanks for the encouragement. I've been a bit overwhelmed in November but I have been keeping a note of the books I have been reading and buying. I don't think I'll reach the top of Mont Blanc this year, but I'll get close. I will be joining again next year, but I haven't decided which mountain to attempt yet.

[KeenReader]

Cumulative progress by end November: 16 steps up the mountain

Progress by the end of October: 15 steps up the mountain
Progress in November: 1 step up the mountain


Read in November:
Moon Called. I really enjoyed this
The Midwife of Venice. This was OK. the characters were a bit one dimensional (they were either "goodies" or "baddies") and the plot was weak in places, but I enjoyed it enough to read it all.
Sacrifice by Paul Finch - I enjoyed this.

Bought in November (these count as steps down the mountain)
Cocaine Nights
The Reader on the 6.27

[KeenReader]

Cumulative progress by 6th December: 17 steps up the mountain

Progress by the end of November: 16 steps up the mountain
Progress in December: 1 step up the mountain


Read in December:
A Reliable Wife A really good gothic novel.
Tyringham Park This was brilliant

Bought in December (these count as steps down the mountain):
None - but I have advanced warning that a book is coming my way as a Christmas present, so I'm counting it already.