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Carol's 2021 Determination Plus Challenge
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I added The Searcher by Tana French which I never got to in 2020 despite a Group Read. And A Treasury of African American Christmas Stories which was a Christmas present and I'd love to report back to the giver that I actually read it before we both are too old to remember who gave it to me, LOL!
Just did a search for bestsellers published before I was born and what fun! I found one that has been on my TBR for several years -- East of Eden by John Steinbeck (I even started listening to it last year but had to return it to the library before I got very far into it) and A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin, which I actually own. One of these will make the list... after I determine to read it, LOL.
I read A Kiss Before Dying back in 2004 and remember enjoying it very much. Plus it has the added benefit of being under 300 pages.
Sandi wrote: "I read A Kiss Before Dying back in 2004 and remember enjoying it very much. Plus it has the added benefit of being under 300 pages."A plus for sure, Sandi. Alas I went on the hunt for my copy and I mustov given it away. But it will likely be easy to find at the library.
Carol: It is usually a challenge to find my annual "book before I was born". Partly because I have to go back a ways. Lol Your two options look like good choices.
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Just did a search for bestsellers published before I was born and what fun! I found one that has been on my TBR for several years -- East of Eden by John Steinbeck (I even started liste..."
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I added The Searcher by Tana French which I never got to in 2020 despite a Group Read. And A Treasury of African American Christmas Stories which was a Christmas pre..."I'm not writing it down but one of my top ones should be the first book in the French series. I still haven't read it and did try once but had other books going at the time and Ann said it's better to read that one by itself.
Ann wrote: "Carol: It is usually a challenge to find my annual "book before I was born". Partly because I have to go back a ways. Lol Your two options look like good choices.
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Just did ..."
Ann, I think we had that one covered if you are reading Fahrenheit 550 or whatever the name is together for a buddy read with me.
DJ: Good point! Fahrenheit 451 does work!Donnajo wrote: "Ann, I think we had that one covered if you are reading Fahrenheit 550 or whatever the name is together for a buddy read with me
Ann wrote: "Carol: It is usually a challenge to find my annual "book before I was born". Partly because I have to go back a ways. Lol
Your two options look like good choices. ."
I added A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin to #21, a book that won an award. I learned in researching this for books published before I was born, that this first novel by Ira Levin won the Edgar Award for best first novel. But since this is a two-fer I will aim to read another award-winner also.
Great start Carol! Bonus points for the two-fer!
Carol I never read peter’s books but I got the arc from netgalley so I’m going to give his new book a try. Hopefully I’ll start it soon.
Ann wrote: "Great start Carol! Bonus points for the two-fer!"Yoo-hoo! Completed my two-fer! This is a great novel, highly recommend.
Donnajo wrote: "Carol I never read peter’s books but I got the arc from netgalley so I’m going to give his new book a try. Hopefully I’ll start it soon."Ooh DJ. Let us know how you like it.
Just added two more: Dark, Sacred Night by Michael Connelly (series) and Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo (award-winner).1-10 is looking awfully empty....
Carol, nicely done! I think I have an award winner completed now too. The bottom categories are fun! The deserted space at the top not so fun. ,)Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Just added two more: Dark, Sacred Night by Michael Connelly (series) and Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo (award-winner).
1-10 is looking awfully empty...."
Donnajo wrote: "You can put anything in top section"I know, DJ, I just wanted to do it that way.
I'm sure I will read several more books set in another country this year but I went ahead and added The Survivors, our recent group read set in Tasmania, New Zealand. In fact right before that I finished All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny, set in Paris.
Carol: thebook set in another country is usually my favorite of the determination options. You have two good ones that I also read and enjoyed. Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I'm sure I will read several more books set in another country this year but I went ahead and added The Survivors, our recent group read set in Tasmania, New Zealand. In fact right ..."
Good. It’s always hard to decide on which book to use.
Carol: a worthy series to add! I enjoyed The Bat on audio. Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Just added The Bat by Jo Nesbø. I have been trying to get to the Harry Hole series forever!"
Ann wrote: "Carol: a worthy series to add! I enjoyed The Bat on audio. "Completed The Bat and also added Race After Technology as a book outside my comfort zone. It was pretty technical and research laden, but the themes she addressed were connected to real life examples and that kept my interest. I read it with a group at work, which kept me pushing forward. Not sure I would have finished it otherwise but I'm glad I did.
I seem to not be getting to books in the 1-10 category. I'm reserving those for books I own that have been languishing on my bookshelves (which is all of them) but whenever it is time to start a new book something else is waving at me. Maybe I should decide now what will be next so I'm not tempted by something new when the time comes. I've been wanting to start the John Rain series forever and I think I have the first in the series around here somewhere.
Carol. My books keep waving at me too! Funny isn't it. :)My top 1-10 section has also languished mostly untouched though I did finish a candidate just today.
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I seem to not be getting to books in the 1-10 category. I'm reserving those for books I own that have been languishing on my bookshelves (which is all of them) but whenever it is time to start a new bok something else is waving at me
"
You will do it. I seem to be slowing down since I finished challenge. I finished one print book since I’ve been at shore. Just finished one ebook only. At point I just want to be done with current print one. I’m a little less than half way I usually go faster with fern michaels books too. Just moving slow
I just added to A book that someone recommended to you --- Blacktop Wasteland by S.A Cosby. First recommended by Dan in AZ; I returned it unread after not getting around to it. Recommended again recently by a friend whose recommendations I also pay attention to, so picking it up from the library today.
Carol, did you ever read Blacktop Wasteland? I really enjoyed it, in part because I live not far from the setting, but also because it's very fast paced and engaging.
Barbara K wrote: "Carol, did you ever read Blacktop Wasteland? I really enjoyed it, in part because I live not far from the setting, but also because it's very fast paced and engaging."I never did, Barbara. I returned it to the library unread; thanks for the reminder to request it again. I know several people here recommended it which is why I got it in the first place.
Completed The Searcher!! Not sure I will complete anything else, maybe the Christmas stories since it's that time of year again. But I'm pleased with how I did and hope Donna announces another in 2022!
Every book towards the list adds up Carol. Im looking forward to next year too, the plus challenges grow but each is fun!Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Completed The Searcher!! Not sure I will complete anything else, maybe the Christmas stories since it's that time of year again. But I'm pleased with how I did and hope Donna announ..."
Oh announcement will be coming. There will be something new added and we might give a new option I’m still thinking how to handle it.
Well I think I'm done. 10/21 isn't bad I suppose. Barbara reminded me of my 2-person read so I just updated the list and removed anything I'd listed (hopefully) and didn't complete. To paraphrase Bill Belichick, on to 2022!
Carol: looks like you might have completed 11 if you get extra credit for listing two award winners! :) Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Well I think I'm done. 10/21 isn't bad I suppose. Barbara reminded me of my 2-person read so I just updated the list and removed anything I'd listed (hopefully) and didn't complete. To paraphrase B..."
Ann, I'll take it, LOL!Ann wrote: "Carol: looks like you might have completed 11 if you get extra credit for listing two award winners! :)
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Well I think I'm done. 10/21 isn't bad I suppose. Barbara reminded me ..."
Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends
Books mentioned in this topic
The Searcher (other topics)The Searcher (other topics)
Blacktop Wasteland (other topics)
Blacktop Wasteland (other topics)
Blacktop Wasteland (other topics)
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The next 11 books is the "Plus" part of the challenge. Hope you enjoy and are able to find some great book that will fit in.
11. A book set in a different country than you live in.
The Survivors by Jane Harper, set in Tasmania. Wonderfully atmospheric. Also a group read in this group. (completed!)
12. Read a book by an author that you never read before or one by a new debut author. The Bat by Jo Nesbø. (completed!)
13. A book that someone recommended to you.
14. A book that is a different genre than your normal type of read (could be out of your comfort zone). Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code by Ruha Benjamin. (completed!)
15 & 16. Two books from a series you haven't completed yet (Everyone has that one or two books to still read to catch up in a series).
15. Two Kinds of Truth by Michael Connelly (completed!)
16.Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly (completed!)
17. A book that comes out in 2021.
Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson(completed!)
18. A book you meant to read in 2020 but never got around to it.
The Searcher by Tana French.(completed!)
19. A book that came out before you were born. (this one might be harder to do but we know you can handle it)
A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin Completed!
20. A book that is done by more than one author (it can be a book of short stories by different authors, or one book that is one story with more than 1 author like Patterson, or Evanovich and I'm sure there are others.
A Treasury of African American Christmas Stories I never completed this but Barbara reminded me that I recently completed State of Terror by Louise Penny and Hillary Clinton so I'm taking a page from her book (lol) and listing it here. (completed!)
21. A book that won an award.
A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin Completed!
This won the Edgar award in 1953 for Best First Novel. Since it's a two-fer (#19) I will endeavor to find another but not a high priority.
Okay, here's another one--won the Booker prize in 2019. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. Completed!