Denise R's 2022 "Cleaning Off My Bookshelf" Independent Challenge

[Lea]

I loved Lilac Girls too. How fun that you won The Lifeguards, it looks interesting. And I'm super jealous of your book haul. Happy reading! :-)

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Denise wrote: "Well I added to my collection yesterday, it has been 2 months since my last haul of books. I got these for a total of $10.
[bookcover:On ..."

Now, THAT is a great book haul! All for $10!?? I'm coming over!!

[Denise]

Alondra wrote: "Denise wrote: "Well I added to my collection yesterday, it has been 2 months since my last haul of books. I got these for a total of $10.
[bookcover:The Return|49405179..."

They have half price books every Sunday at the Thrift Store. If I get Sunday off I usually stop by.

[Denise]

Finished , gave it 5 stars. I can't say enough good things about this book. I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn't put it down.

[Lea]

Denise wrote: "Finished , gave it 5 stars. I can't say enough good things about this book. I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn't put it down."

That's one of my absolute favorite books, Denise. It broke my heart a thousand times and I'm still thinking about it, like 15 years later, wanting to read it again, but how tough the subject matter in the book is. Such a beautiful book, I'm so glad you were hooked on it also!

[Ioana]

Denise wrote: "Finished , gave it 5 stars. I can't say enough good things about this book. I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn't put it down."

One of my all time favorites. Beautiful story, beautifully written but such a tough read. I loved it, so glad you did too. He's a great writer, have you read his other books?

[Denise]

Completed , gave it 4 stars. This was my first book read by this author and I am now a fan. I enjoyed the twists and turns and didn't see answer until it smack me right in the face. I rather like the characters and I couldn't put it down once I started.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Denise wrote: "They have half price books every Sunday at the Thrift Store. If I get Sunday off I usually stop by...."

I have no more space for books! *cries in bookish*... I love a good sale though.

So glad you finally got to The Kite Runner. I really loved it and it's in my top 10

[Denise]

Finished , gave it 4 stars. A story that spins a charming tale of poverty, love and sacrifice. The story is told from the point of view from the children of one of the main characters and spans generations with the same premis that what choices we make in life can change our course of life. The author really knows how to bring her characters to life.

[Denise]

Completed , gave it 4 stars. Lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Enjoyed the story but felt the ending was a little abrupt. Kind of torn on how I feel about the main character Lux. I liked how the author slowly releases information about each character kept me entertained.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Alondra wrote: "Denise wrote: "They have half price books every Sunday at the Thrift Store. If I get Sunday off I usually stop by...."

I have no more space for books! *cries in bookish*... I love a good sale thou..."

No more space for books sounds awful!

[Denise]

Finished , gave it 4 stars. Really enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one in the series.

[〰️Beth〰️]

Denise wrote: "Finished , gave it 4 stars. Really enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one in the series."

This does sound very good. Did you read the Caraval series?

[Denise]

〰️Beth〰️ wrote: "Denise wrote: "Finished , gave it 4 stars. Really enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one in the series."

This does sound very good. Did you ..."
I read the first two, the last one I plan to get to by the end of the year.

[Denise]

Finished , gave it 5 stars. A wonderful story about resilience and love. It showed the true strength of humans to survive under the worst conditions possible. The story flows so easily that you are able to feel like you are on a journey with the characters. It is amazing that these people were able to endure what they did and come out of it with each other. Definitely recommend this book.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "No more space for books sounds awful! ..."

So for book "collectors" such as us; we always have room; but from the outside looking in, not so much. LOL

I think I am about to go back to double-stacking so that no one (hubby) knows how much I really have. :/

[Lea]

I loved The Tattooist of Auschwitz too, and read the sequel Cilka's Journey and enjoyed that one also. I am going to try and read Three Sisters soon as well, it's on my list!

Most of my book shelves are doubled stacked also...despite my best efforts. :-)

[Denise]

Finished , gave it 5 stars. A very complex book that urges you to figure out "whodonit." I enjoyed the immense amount of character development that took place. There are so many different themes for this book such as good vs. evil, free will vs. fate, and manipulation. Overall it was a page turner and fantastic murder-mystery. Every question you have from the beginning of the book will be answered by the end, and I didn't have a clue to the truth until it was revealed.

[Lea]

5 stars! Hooray!! I am so glad you liked The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. I can't wait to discuss with you when I get done, I have so many questions!!

[Alissa]

Denise wrote: "Finished , gave it 5 stars. A very complex book that urges you to figure out "whodonit." I enjoyed the immense amount of character developm..."

I'm so glad that you enjoyed it!

[Denise]

Finished , gave it 3 stars. The book was enjoyable and cute. I liked the characters. The story was slow at times but I liked the ending.

[Denise]

Finished , gave it 4 stars. James Patterson never disappoints, and this book didn't either. Two stories of real life murders. It was an easy quick read. Real life stories that read like fiction.

[Denise]

Finished , gave it 4 stars. I enjoyed the story and the characters. Started watching the series on Netflix and I am hooked.

[Denise]

Completed , gave it 4 stars. I enjoyed the characters and the story. Think I will continue on with the series.

[Lillie]

Denise wrote: "Completed , gave it 4 stars. I enjoyed the characters and the story. Think I will continue on with the series."

Loved this one too. I had read it back when it been released originally and then reread it last year. It held up. Precious was a great character.

[Denise]

Finished , rated it 4 stars. Just the right amount of spooky for me, reminded me of Hocus Pocus. I enjoyed the characters, especially Sophie, but I wish there was more of a backstory on her character.

[Denise]

Finished , gave it 4 stars. The story was a real page turner and had me hooked. It was a fun "who done it" and I thought I had it all figured out, until the truth was reveled at the end.

[Denise]

Finished , gave it 5 stars.
This book was inspirational, powerful and emotional for me. It made me laugh, cry and made me think. I took away with me so many things after finishing this book that made me change my perspective on life and living it to the fullest. I can say that I haven't read most of the books that the author read with his mother in their book club, but I have added a few of those onto my never ending TBR. One of the quotes that really stuck with me was "“That’s one of the things books do. They help us talk. But they also give us something we all can talk about when we don’t want to talk about ourselves.”

[Denise]

Finished , gave it 4 stars. Charming and delightful short story. The narrator of the story Maddie was compassionate and was portrayed as a friend that anyone would be lucky to have. I felt the ending was rushed and could have added a few more chapters to tie the story up better.

[Denise]

Finished , gave it 5 stars. Colleen Hoover delivers again. This book made me laugh, cry, and gripped my heart as it took me along for an emotional rollercoaster ride. The characters were so imperfectly perfect that it is hard not to fall in love with them.

[Denise]

Finished , gave it 4 stars. A very inspirational and compelling story about how love can last forever. I enjoyed the characters and the tough choices they had to make. By the end you can see how the bitter and sweet life can be.

[Denise]

Finished , gave it 2 stars. I wanted to like this book but I just couldn't get into it. It took everything I had just to finish it. I felt that the book just didn't go anywhere and was all over the place. The ending left me feeling, "huh." There were so many questions that seemed unanswered by the end.

[Lea]

Denise wrote: "Finished , gave it 2 stars. I wanted to like this book but I just couldn't get into it. It took everything I had just to finish it. I felt that the book just didn't go anywhere and was all over the place. The ending left me feeling, "huh." There were so many questions that seemed unanswered by the end."

Isn't it weird when you don't care for a book that is very popular? I always wonder if I'm reading it wrong. While I enjoyed this book, I get why some people don't. My friends seem to either be in the 4-5 star camp or the 1-2 star camp. Not very many 3's to be found. Hope your next book is better! (and I'm glad you liked The Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, I liked that one too!)

[Denise]

Finished , gave it 4 stars. This book completes my 2022 Reading Challenge. This book will make you sad, happy and mad over the course of the story. I enjoyed it very much, it was well written and kept me entertained the whole way through.

[Lillie]

Denise wrote: "Finished , gave it 2 stars."

I remember reading in my mid-20s, about 10 years after it’d been been published. Loved it then because I’d never read anything like it. But I’m not sure what I’d think today. I’ve read a couple of Atwood’s in the past couple of years and I’ve had a hard time with her writing.

Now Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a lovely book. I could definitely reread it.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Denise wrote: "Finished , gave it 4 stars. This book completes my 2022 Reading Challenge. This book will make you sad, happy and mad over the course of the story. I enjoyed ..."

Congratulations Denise!! Nothing like finishing off a challenge with a good book.

[Denise]

Completed , gave it 4 stars. If you are a fan of cooking competitions and Hallmark movies then this is the book for you. The food/recipes described in the story made me hungry because they sounded so delicious. It was cute, funny and I could easily see this one being turned into a movie.

[Denise]

Last book of the year. Finished , gave it 5 stars. A heartwarming read with a great message about forgiveness. I have loved every book I have read by Richard Paul Evans, and this one did not disappoint. I was hook from the first chapter. It was both thoughtful and inspiring.

[Lea]

Ending on a 5-star book is a wonderful way to end the year, isn't it? Onwards to 2023!

[Denise]

I open your challenges about three times a month thinking they are mine. 😂🤦