75 Books...More or Less! discussion
Archive (2021 GR Completed)
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Charleen's 2021 Challenge [100]
70. The Flatshare4 stars
This is such a charming book, mostly light and fun, but then it goes deeper and totally works as well. The narration style/format for Leon bugged me at first (and I still think it was a bizarre choice) but he quickly won me over.
71. Finders Keepers4 stars
I really enjoyed this story. It's interesting as a sequel, in that the main characters from the first book make a very delayed entrance and are more like supporting characters in this one. (Which, as I was not a huge fan of Bill Hodges in the first book, suits me just fine.) It seems like the third book will be a more direct follow-up to the events from the first, while this book just has some minor connective tissue.
72. Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing(audio)
Quick and interesting. I liked the older historical stories and the predictions about the future. The more contemporary chapters were more technical and less compelling.
73. Get a Life, Chloe Brown3 stars
This is a very frustrating book. I quite enjoyed it while reading, but there were several things that bugged me along the way, and when I think back on it after the fact, I realize how much of what I want from a romance was missing. Oh well, Talia Hibbert is clearly not for me.
74. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet5 stars (re-read)
I love this book. I'm still disappointed we never came back to this crew in the series. Guess I'll just have to keep reading this one over again.
75. End of Watch4 stars
This was a great ending to the trilogy. I've seen a lot of complaints about the supernatural turn after two mostly (the second has some hints of things to come) real-world crime novels. But this is King's wheelhouse, and I thought it was a fantastic way to bring things full circle. Now I'm off to re-read If It Bleeds.
Mod
4 stars
This was a great ending to the trilogy. I've seen a lot of complaints about the supernatural turn after two mostly (the second has some hints of things to ..."
Did you read The Outsider yet?
Elyse wrote: "Did you read The Outsider yet?"Yes, I read that one when it came out, before I knew it was connected to the Hodges trilogy.
Mod
Yes, I read that one when it came out, before I knew it was connected to the Hodges trilogy."
Me toooo. I was a bit POed about that! lol.
Mod
Yes, I read that one when it came out, before I knew it was connected to the Hodges trilogy."
Me toooo. I was a bit POed about that!..."
I didn't think the connection ruined the trilogy though ... Granted I had read it already. Did you watch the TV adaption? It was surprisingly good!
Juli wrote: "I didn't think the connection ruined the trilogy though ... Granted I had read it already. Did you watch the TV adaption? It was surprisingly good!"No, it didn't ruin it. The only "spoilers" I remembered by the time I read the trilogy is that (view spoiler). If anything more specific than that was given away, it didn't stick with me.
And no, I haven't watched the adaptation either. I'm still haven't seen 11/22/63, which I've been meaning to do since we got Hulu!
76. We Have Always Lived in the Castle4 stars
This story is enchanting and unsettling, which is a combination I never knew I needed until now. These two sisters, this odd little family life they have, and all of Merricat's magical thinking... it's all fantastic. Not quite 5 stars for me, but that may well change on a re-read.
Mod
4 stars
This story is enchanting and unsettling, which is a combination I never knew I needed until now. These two sisters, this odd little fami..."
Definitely an unsettling read!
77. Covid Chronicles: A Comics AnthologyI picked this up because it seemed like the right time to start engaging with stories about the pandemic. And it was, for a while. But the collection just went on too long. Better enjoyed in small doses, I think, but when it's a library book that isn't always an option.
78. If It Bleeds(audio re-read)
I only listened to the title novella, not the whole collection. This time I was less interested in the plot and more in the characters, now that I know them better from reading the trilogy. I think it works either way.
79. The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World(audio)
This is inspirational and uplifting. I don't know how long it will stay with me, but I'm sure I'll have a healthier outlook for as long as it does.
80. Parable of the Talents4 stars
There's nothing to say about this that hasn't already been said. It's disturbingly plausible. I will say that I came away thinking that the ending wasn't totally earned; something about the way we get there, in the last 10% or so of the book, just rang false to me. Not so much that it ruined the story. I think it just stood out because so much of what happens in this world feels so true.
81. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires3 stars
This seems to be a love it or hate it book, but I didn't have such strong feelings. I loved how many descriptions of Patricia began with a list of all the random big and small things she's planning to do that day or week; that one detail of mom life really resonated with me. The rest was kind of a mixed bag that I mostly enjoyed.
82. Every Body Yoga: Let Go of Fear. Get On the Mat. Love Your BodyThe whole mind-body-spirit focus to yoga is something I could really use right now, and I love Jessamyn's insistence that how the poses feel is more important than how they look.
83. Under the Whispering Door5 stars
I wasn't entirely sold on the resolution here, and almost knocked a star off because of it. But in the end I couldn't, because despite what I might consider a misstep or a missed opportunity, this filled me with those five-star feelings the entire way through. I heard this described as The Good Place crossed with a title I don't remember because it wasn't something I'd read/seen, and I definitely got those The Good Place vibes.
8 weeks and 17 books to go. I've got two in progress that I'll likely finish this weekend.Here's a partial TBR for the rest of the year:
A Duke by Default
*How We Disappeared
The Party Crasher
*Six Wakes
*This is Your Mind on Plants
(*These are getting bumped to next year.)
I've also been meaning to re-read the entire run of Squirrel Girl, so if it's starting to look like I might not make it to 100, I can always blitz through some of those.
Mod
Here's a partial TBR for the rest of the year:
A Duke by Default..."
You can do it! I've only read the first Squirrel Girl and and just this year, I definitely want to continue!
84. Nightmares and DreamscapesMy annual spooky season Stephen King read. As always, some are better than others. A few of my favorites from this collection are "The End of the Whole Mess," "The Ten O'Clock People," and "The House on Maple Street."
Mod
My annual spooky season Stephen King read. As always, some are better than others. A few of my favorites from this collection are "The End of the Whole ..."
I haven't read this one yet. I just finished Everything's Eventual, mostly for 1408. Didn't really like too many of the stories.
86. Light from Uncommon Stars4 stars
There's a lot going on in this book. It's lovely even while it's ugly, and magical even while it's mundane. It doesn't all fit together quite as well as I might have hoped. But it was still a pleasure to read, and one of the better music-centric novels that I've read.
87. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue4 stars (re-read)
I wanted a fun, quick re-read and this fit the bill.
Mod
My annual spooky season Stephen King read. As always, some are better than others. A few of my favorites from this collection are "The End of the Whole ..."
I love that you have an annual read!
Juli wrote: "I love that you have an annual read!"It started by just reading something Stephen King each year, usually a novel. But the past few years I've been reaching for the short stories, so I can just dip in and out of the spooky.
88. The Only Pirate at the Party(audio)
I quite enjoyed this memoir. Lindsey is incredibly relatable.
Mod
(audio)
I quite enjoyed this memoir. Lindsey is incredibly relatable."
I haven't read this yet but I did enjoy her on Dancing with the Stars and I like her Instagram!
89. Katheryn Howard, the Scandalous Queen3 stars
Is it possible to think Katheryn is a tragic figure but also kind of insufferable? I know historically she's been treated unfairly, and she was just a child out of her depth, but I couldn't enjoy reading her story (not this version, at least). To be honest, I was more interested in the Author's Note, where she talks about all the context she couldn't include when writing from Katheryn's point of view. I read Philippa Gregory's The Boleyn Inheritance years ago, and I'm curious to go back and see how it compares to Weir's vision.
90. Witchmark3 stars
I had a hard time getting into this. Once things really started coming together, maybe the last third or so of the book, I enjoyed it a lot more. Up until then it was a struggle. The world, the characters, the magic system... none of it was grabbing me. This book does leave things in an interesting place, so I'm curious what happens next, I just don't know if I'm curious enough to pick up the next one.
91. The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy4 stars (re-read)
Follow up to The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue and just as entertaining. The third book in the series recently came out, hoping my library gets it soon (it's in the catalog as "on order").
92. Taste: My Life through Food(audio)
This was SO enjoyable, although now I need to get hold of a print version so I can take a better look at some of the recipes he includes.
Mod
(audio)
This was SO enjoyable, although now I need to get hold of a print version so I can take a better look at some of the recipes he includes."
Love Stanley Tucci and in the queue for this on Overdrive!
93. ExhalationEvery story was great. Or, if not great, at least interesting and well-written. But mostly great.
94. One Two Three4 stars
This was slow to start but it grew on me. There are so many good characters, and the three sisters were especially great.
95. A Duke By Default4 stars
This was really fun, and I'm sorry I waited so long to continue the series.
Five more to go!
Mod
96. The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks5 stars
This book could have been called "Montague Siblings: The Greatest Hits." It's filled with references and fan service and I'm sure it will be divisive for fans of the first two books. Personally, I loved it. Adrian is the sibling I can relate to the most, and I can't imagine how terrifying it would have been suffering from mental illness without our modern understanding (even if we still have a long way to go). So, for that representation, for newfound sibling feelings, for all the callbacks... this is actually my favorite of the three.
Four more to go!
97. The Gift of the Magi3 stars
I feel like a Scrooge for not liking this more. It's a lovely story, but the writing style does nothing for me. I'll stick with one of the many pop culture variations in the future.
Three more to go!
Charleen wrote: "84. Nightmares and DreamscapesMy annual spooky season Stephen King read. As always, some are better than others. A few of my favorites from this collection are "The End of the Whole ..."
Nightmares and Dreamscapes is such a random collection of THINGS 😂 The House on Maple Street is one of my favourites too!
98. Can't Escape Love4 stars
This is a short and sweet romance tangential to/concurrent with A Duke by Default. It gives some additional context to the big issue at the end of that book (so spoilers), but it's also a lovely story on its own.
Two more to go!
99. Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with StuffLots of super-helpful tips in here. We definitely have more stuff than our home can contain. I especially like the mentality of prioritizing the present over the past or future.
One more to go!
100. Fledgling5 stars
What a journey! Every turn of the plot, every new revelation, pulled me further in. I didn't start reading Butler's work until years after she'd passed, so I went in knowing this book stands alone, but I could have read an entire series based on this.
Challenge complete! With nine days to spare!
Mod
5 stars
What a journey! Every turn of the plot, every new revelation, pulled me further in. I didn't start reading Butler's work until years after she'd passed, so I we..."
Woohoo congrats Charleen!
101. A Christmas Carol4 stars (re-read)
My annual re-read. I enjoy this classic more than I thought I would (hence the re-reading).
102. The Party Crasher3 stars
This was cute and fun. I was rolling my eyes in the beginning, as the whole party crasher premise was really ridiculous. But in spite of that and other little issues here and there, the story has so much heart, and I did quite enjoy it in the end.
75 Books...More or Less!
Books mentioned in this topic
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy (other topics)A Princess in Theory (other topics)
The Party Crasher (other topics)
A Christmas Carol (other topics)
Fledgling (other topics)
More...
5 stars (audio re-read)
I really loved revisiting this series. The first time through I loved the details of the world, but this time I felt more connected to the characters. And what an ending.