75 Books...More or Less! discussion
Archive (2020 GR Challenge)
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Let's hope my vision is still 2020 after this reading year!
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The Boyfriend Project4/5 stars
This was super cute! I really enjoyed the friendship of the three women and the love interest wasn't too shabby either!
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The Hate U Give5/5 stars
I don't know what to say that hasn't been said before. This was masterful and eye-opening. Reading a fiction book that relays an all-too-real reality shows just how powerful and influential literature can be. I knew as soon as I read On the Come Up, Angie Thomas was creating something special with her work. But this novel goes beyond that. I am actually glad I waited too read The Hate U Give until now. I don't think I could've quite appreciated and understood this story and its implications even just a few weeks ago. Seeing current events through the eyes of a young Black girl and learning about her family and their circumstances, all the while experiencing how she navigates the world was such a valuable lesson, which I am deeply grateful for getting to take away from this book.
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Find Me4/5 stars
Fast read. Interesting premise and not too predictable. I enjoyed the characters and understood their motivations. I docked a point because the brain references/neuroscience evidence are nonsensical and the ending was a bit too dramatic, a bit too Hollywood action movie-like.
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The Hate U Give5/5 stars
I don't know what to say that hasn't been said before. This was masterful and eye-opening. Reading a fiction boo..."
So so good. I really need to read On the Come Up soon!
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The Hate U Give5/5 stars
I don't know what to say that hasn't been said before. This was masterful and eye-opening. Reading ..."
I really liked On the Come Up! I would love to see that as a movie too.
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Hex5/5 stars
I just finished this book and I'm genuinely freaked out. This was a wild ride and the creepiness was palpable. Olde Heuvelt lulls you into Black Spring and then spits you back out with your arms attached where your ears used to be and five eyes evenly distributed across your right leg.
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Hex5/5 stars
I just finished this book and I'm genuinely freaked out. This was a wild ride and the creepiness was palpable. Olde Heuvelt lulls you in..."
Well, that sounds horrifying!
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Take a Hint, Dani Brown5/5 stars
Yasssss! This was super cute, witty, steamy, and entertaining af.
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Take a Hint, Dani Brown5/5 stars
Yasssss! This was super cute, witty, steamy, and entertaining af."
Wonderful!
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Whose Waves These Are3/5 stars
I enjoyed the story and the writing. Dykes really knows how to create a magical atmosphere with words. What I didn't like were the overt Christian undertones that just became too much about halfway through. In hindsight, I realize that Goodreads categorizes this book as Christian fiction but the problem is that you can't see the categories on the app and that the synopsis doesn't mention it at all.
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Saga, Volume 55/5 stars
Oh man, this was a whirlwind!"
I think I'm gearing up for a Saga reread. Maybe for Dewey's Reverse.
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Saga, Volume 55/5 stars
Oh man, this was a whirlwind!"
I think I'm gearing up for a Saga reread. Maybe for Dewey's Reverse."
That's a great idea!!!! Unfortunately, my library doesn't have any of the books past Vol 5 :( .... so I might need to buy them - currently thinking about if I want to spend that money.
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In my opinion, the re-readability is super high so definitely worth owning. ;) Put 'em on your birthday/Christmas lists! And look for lightly used ones online or at nearby comic book stores. I bought a couple of my volumes lightly used, you'd never know! But paid half the price. The 4-volume (I think they're 4 volumes each?) hardcovers are too large for me. I like the 4-5 issue volumes.
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That's a good idea. I might do that. My husband does give me comic book collections or graphic novels for Christmas often. :)
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What You Wish For2/5 stars
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This is my third Katherine Center book. I discovered her when I was asked to review an ARC of Things You Save in a Fire. I fell in love with her take on romance novels and chick lit then which showed much more depth than I was expecting and had seen before while still making you feel all warm inside because you know, romance and love. I was hoping to find this in What You Wish For as well. The premise promised to be quirky and cute but also relevant in today’s times. Alternative types of schooling and school safety are frequently discussed topics in my circle of friends and even in my professional field of work. I was looking forward to Katherine’s take on this. Sadly, I felt this novel fell flat in those aspects. Instead what I found was a cast comprised of stereotypes and tropes, a budding relationship between Samantha and Duncan that felt forced, and a “villain” who was just too much. In today’s literature, I expect characters with subtle flaws in their personality, characters who at times are relatable and at others are not. The majority of people are neither 100% good nor 100% bad. The good people in this novel were just all sunshine and rainbows while the villainous individual was a total creep all around. I am giving this book 2 stars because there were moments of the Katherine Center-esque wit and insight I enjoyed in her other novels. The scene when Duncan is still drugged from a surgery and Sarah is taking care of him had me in stitches and laughing out loud. I wish the whole novel would’ve been that special.
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Akata Witch 3.5/5 stars
The first half was a bit slow but then I was hooked. It did read very HP-like but I wasn't bothered by that at all for two reasons: 1) HP employed very many general fantasy genre tropes, so why shouldn't this novel do the same? and 2) With the recent escalation of statements by JK Rowling, I am quite happy to move on from supporting her in any way.
#72
Akata Warrior4/5 stars
This one was a bit of a slower read for me than the first one but I was able to immerse myself into Sunny's world much more. Okorafor's imagination knows no bounds and her world building is stunning. I do think that it's odd how some of the characters act despite their age but I was able to ignore that discrepancy. All four protagonists definitely read much older than they are described to be. But that honestly allowed me to relate to them better. I'm looking forward to checking out this author's other work!
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1) read at least 40,000 pages 18401 pages read
2) read more authors from Asia, South America, Australia, and Africa I have greatly increased my repertoire here. I should go ahead and count the books.
3) read more non-fiction I've read (or listened to) 9 nonfiction books, mostly memoirs.
4) read more poetry I've read 10 poetry collections.
5) 10 books from the 1001 books-to-read list only 2 books :(
6) 25 books I already own 17 books
7) 10 audiobooks 9 audiobooks
8) 5 books written in German 2 books
9) 10 graphic novels only 1 graphic novel :(
10) review at least 15 ARCs this year I've reviewed 13 ARCS so far.
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Akata Witch5/5 stars
The first half was a bit slow but then I was hooked. It did read very HP-like but I wasn't bothered by that at all for two..."
I enjoyed this one as well and I'm still trying to find the sequel to borrow!
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1) read at least 40,000 pages 18401 pages read
2) read more authors from Asia, South America, Australia, and Africa I have greatly increased my repertoire he..."
Overall, you're doing very well for the year!
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Akata Witch5/5 stars
The first half was a bit slow but then I was hooked. It did read very HP-like but I wasn't bothered by that a..."
I am reading that one now. Oddly enough, it was available right away as an eBook through my library system.
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1) read at least 40,000 pages 18401 pages read
2) read more authors from Asia, South America, Australia, and Africa I have greatly increased my ..."
Yeah, I agree. Plus, I made these goals before the pandemic hit, and I had a hard time focusing on books during the spring. And now with BLM and some more urgent social injustice matters, I've switched gears in terms of what I am reading. I will be happy either way with my yearly reading!
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Akata Witch5/5 stars
The first half was a bit slow but then I was hooked. It did read very HP-like but I wasn't both..."
Oooh Overdrive has it now! Must add it to my Holds as soon as my next one comes in!
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Akata Witch5/5 stars
The first half was a bit slow but then I was hooked. It did read very HP-like but ..."
Great!!! Can't wait to see what you think!
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One False Note3/5 stars
I would've gobbled this up as a middle grader. This was a fun and fast-paced mystery. Amy, Dan, and Nellie are relatable. The villainous cousins are entertaining. And all the famous historical figures and their fictional relationships in this type of secret society that leads the three main characters to a chase around the world introduces the readers to many different cultures and their historical events. It does read a bit like A Series of Unfortunate Events but less whimsical and more like a spy novel. I didn't mind that though.
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The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read5/5 stars
Oh my goodness ... what an amazing and inspiring story. Did I get a bit teary when she learned how to read? Yes! The illustrations are beautiful and the text fits the mood. This is definitely a book to read AND DISCUSS with your kids.
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Woke: A Young Poet's Call to Justice5/5 stars
What is it that poetry can't do?! This collection is super special. I've devoured everything by Elizabeth Acevedo but am new to Mahagony Browne and Olivia Gatwood. Well, I'll be sure to check out their other works.
These poems hit the right note to be relevant to any reader of any age, family background, socioeconomic standing, race, ethnicity, gender or sexual identity, anything else that's not mentioned here and anything in between or at their intersections. These verses truly feel like a place of diversity and inclusion. This collection should be in any school and regional library. It should be on your own shelf at home. And most importantly, you should read these poems right now.
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Daisy Jones & The Six4.5/5 stars
This was such a fun read. The story was written in "Rolling Stone magazine"-style interviews. I loved getting everyone's viewpoints on the same situation. I can't wait to watch the TV series!
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Jaws3/5 stars
Ugh I don't know how to rate this book. Its entertainment value is high. I love the movie and the story in the book is a good one as well. The subplots are decent. BUT not a single character is likable. I was rooting for the shark the entire time. Even worse is the blatant racism. That racism is beyond the usual racism of that time (I hate even having to say usual racism). There are certain remarks in the book that were completely unnecessary. They were literally just mentioned to be mentioned.
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Schachnovelle5/5 stars
Hervorragend! Ich wollte diese Novelle schon immer mal lesen und hatte jetzt endlich mal Zeit gefunden. Typisch Zweig'sche Schreibweise verbunden mit einer detaillierten Charakterstudie ganz besonderer Art. Ich fand die Handlung sehr interessant und das Lesen war schnell. Mit den vielen verkästelnden Sätzen kann man dieses Werk wohl auch wieder für Jahre interpretieren.
I cannot speak to the enjoyment of this novella in English, as I am always wary of translations bringing across the intricacy of sentence structures, which are 1) a hallmark of many German classics generally and 2) essential to this story. Nevertheless, I loved this short story and encourage everyone to give it a read.
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So Long a Letter5/5 stars
This was fantastic! I loved the format of a letter. I loved how Bâ explores the many different ways women were exploited during that time and what they chose to do or to not do about it. This is true feminism. She details situations and women's choices without judging or chastising any one of those.
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The Color Purple5/5 stars
Love. Love. Love.
What a treasure of a book. It was completely gutting at times and so uplifting and inspiring at others. A must read!
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Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation5/5 stars
Kindred is one of my all-time favorite books and this graphic novel adaptation did it justice. Fantastic read. The illustrations are haunting and depict the atmosphere of the story perfectly.
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Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt4/5 stars
I have never read a single Spiderman comic. In fact, Spiderman is not at all my favorite superhero but I was gifted this book because it promised to be dark and eerie. And that it was! It's a compilation of several Spiderman originals and reimaginings and I enjoyed quite a few of them. My favorites were the Kraven's Last Hunt, Kraven's First Hunt, and the original Spiderman vs Kraven the Hunter.
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The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories5/5 stars
I have so been missing out! Horror and feminism! That might be my favorite combo in the history of literary accomplishments. This was a wonderful, critical, and eye-opening read! The copy I read did not have any of her other short stories, ut I'll be sure to check them out.
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5/5 stars
This was fantastic! I loved the format of a letter. I loved how Bâ explores the many different ways women were exploited during that time and what they chose to do or to not do abo..."
Missing book title and image! Ahh what is it?! You loved it!
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The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories5/5 stars
I have so been missing out! Horror and feminism! That might be my favori..."
Woohoo!! You read it! Oh it's so creepy but not! Love it!
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5/5 stars
This was fantastic! I loved the format of a letter. I loved how Bâ explores the many different ways women were exploited during that time and what they chose to do or ..."
Oh jeez. I dunno what happened there. Added it now!
Juli wrote: "#81 Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt4/5 stars
I have never read a single Spiderman comic. In fact, Spiderman is not at all my fa..."
Kraven is a recurring character in the Squirrel Girl comics, and I love this version of him. I honestly can't remember if I've read any of his other appearances because the SG version has pushed aside anything else I might have known about the character.
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Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt4/5 stars
I have never read a single Spiderman comic. In fact, Spiderman is not..."
Oh, that's really interesting. I'll have to check that out!
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Song in a Weary Throat: Memoir of an American Pilgrimage4/5 stars
I ended up listening to the audiobook version. I always have a bit of a hard time reading non-fiction but don't seem to have that issue when listening to them. Pauli Murray is a fascinating woman. Her perseverance is inspiring. I had no idea how widely influential her life has been and how much of a mark she left on this world.
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Little Deadly Secrets1/5 stars
I received a free advanced copy of this novel. The following review is unbiased and the opinions are my own.
Ugh, I can't even begin to say how many things were wrong with this book. First of all, it was a sad attempt int replicating the format that worked for Big Little Lies. The several POVs really added nothing to the story. Secondly, the drama within those families/groups and their inner issues were so over the top and at times just plainly infuriating (and not in a good way), I almost put the book down several times. There is no way that a group of three women harbors this amount of secrets. There is no way all these bad things happen to one tight-knit community. Thirdly, some of the topics discussed (i.e. rape) were not done delicately or in a nuanced way. Without giving away spoilers, certain matters are simply legal issues (and for good reason) and there is no need to make this a moral issue and a conflict between people. The law decides for them. Lastly, there were several moments where I began to question if the author is a US author or from somewhere else. Turns out she is from the US and so should definitely know that for example when a 12-year-old student goes missing, the school will activate a protocol that most definitely involves the police right away and not just casually calling the parents, which in turn then slowly saunter down to the station to report their child missing. Pfffff, no way. Parents could sue the school if they didn't respond appropriately. Anyway, these are just some of the problems I had with this book. I would most definitely not recommend it. This is not to say that I did not enjoy Pamela Crane's writing style. She definitely has talent. I just think this book was sloppily done and lacked any kind of deeper creativity.
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Roommaid3/5 stars
Cute. I think for this one I would've liked to read his POV throughout the story. At least for a few moments.
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Red, White & Royal Blue4/5 stars
I don't think I ever wished for two boys to finally kiss as much as I did reading this novel. This was fun and witty but also profound and existential. I laughed a lot. I cried a little. But most of all I felt hopeful and empowered.
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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo4/5 stars
That was a very engaging read full of glamour, manipulation, intrigue, heartbreak, and deep, deep love. In short, full of Hollywood.
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Verity3/5 stars
Not one likable character in this book. The story kept me engaged but I couldn't find anything redeemable in the people. I was not surprised by the ending since everyone was so terrible.
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Song in a Weary Throat: Memoir of an American Pilgrimage4/5 stars
I ended up listening to the au..."
I love listening to a nonfiction rather than reading it!
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The Guest List4/5 stars
This was so, so fun and entertaining. I enjoyed the plot twists and the ending. Nothing was outrageously surprising but the story kept me on my toes. Plus, I am a total sucker for Ireland and remote islands!
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Bookish and the BeastThe third book in this series of retellings!
Moody bad boy meets nerdy bookworm might be my favorite romcom trope. I loved this story.
75 Books...More or Less!
Books mentioned in this topic
We Met in December (other topics)A Christmas Carol (other topics)
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (other topics)
Parable of the Talents (other topics)
Women Who Run with the Wolves (other topics)
More...
2/5 stars
I know this is a classic but I had to fight my way through this book. It was just so slow and honestly kinda boring. In fact, I had to switch from reading to listening to it. Otherwise, I would've DNF'ed this sucker. I really enjoyed Animal Farm when I read it in high school, but this one was just not for me. I am giving this book 2 stars because I do recognize its historical importance. I always have a hard time rating a classic that I didn't enjoy.