Lea's 1st Annual Reading Challenge - 2nd List Complete...There will be no 3rd List! :-)

[〰️Beth〰️]

Amazing accomplishment, congratulations!🎉📚🎉

[Lea]

〰️Beth〰️ wrote: "Amazing accomplishment, congratulations!🎉📚🎉"

Thanks, Beth. It really helped that my first list was children's books. They were a lot easier to read. I'll probably do something different for 2023, but it sounds like we have a lot of time to think about that still.

[Lea]

List 2 - Technically Complete!!!!!

1. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams READ 8/24/2022; 3 STARS
2. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf READ 8/29/2022; 3 STARS
3. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk READ 8/25/2022; 2 STARS
4. Robot Visions by Isaac Asimov READ 8/31/2022; 3 STARS
5. The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix READ 9/22/2022; 3 STARS
6. Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley READ 9/9/2022; 4 STARS
7. Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford READ 9/23/2022; 3 STARS
8. The Switch by Sandra Brown READ 9/27/2022; 2.5 STARS
9. Before and Again by Barbara DelinskyREAD 9/8/2022; 2 STARS
10. Flirting with Disaster: Why Accidents Are Rarely Accidental by Marc S. Gerstein READ 11/6/2022; 3 STARS
11. Cities of the Plain by Cormac McCarthy READ 9/28/2022; 3.5 STARS
12. No Good Men Among the Living: America, the Taliban, and the War through Afghan Eyes by Anand Gopal READ 9/7/2022; 4 STARS

Alternates:
13. Home Before Dark by Riley Sager READ 10/23/2022; 3 STARS
14. The Secret History by Donna Tartt READ 10/10/2022; 4 STARS
15. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
16. The Mountain Shadow by Gregory David Roberts

Dear Mr. Gerstein,

I was given your book Flirting with Disaster: Why Accidents Are Rarely Accidental for Christmas almost 10 years ago, and many times have I tried to pick it up, only to not be able to get very far into the book. The premise is very good, that most accidents could have been foreseen and measures taken to prevent the accidents if decision makers listened to the right people and not ignored warning signs. Despite the excellent points your book makes, it is a bit dry, and I had to be in just the right mood to read it. I'm glad I read it, but I very much doubt I'll read it again in the future. I think I will clean it off my shelf to make way for some other book purchases. :-) Hopefully, my book donation will allow another person to read your great book...when they are in the right frame of mind to read it.

Regards,
Lea

[Michelle]

Lea wrote: "List 2 - Technically Complete!!!!!

1. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams READ 8/24/2022; 3 STARS
2. A Room of One's Own by [author:Virginia..."

List 2 complete!!! You're my hero Lea!

[Bill, Moderator]

Congrats on completing your challenge, Lea.

[Lea]

Michelle wrote: "List 2 complete!!! You're my hero Lea!"

LOL! And then there was one left. And it was 912 pages long. I'll start it in 2022, but I can't guarantee how far along I can get. :-)

[Lea]

Bill wrote: "Congrats on completing your challenge, Lea."

Thanks, Bill. I just finished Perfume: The Story of a Murderer today, and you're right, it was a very strange book. Unique concept, but the ending was a bit disappointing.

[Lea]

List 2 - One Left...but it is 912 pages...so who knows when I'll get it finished!

1. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams READ 8/24/2022; 3 STARS
2. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf READ 8/29/2022; 3 STARS
3. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk READ 8/25/2022; 2 STARS
4. Robot Visions by Isaac Asimov READ 8/31/2022; 3 STARS
5. The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix READ 9/22/2022; 3 STARS
6. Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley READ 9/9/2022; 4 STARS
7. Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford READ 9/23/2022; 3 STARS
8. The Switch by Sandra Brown READ 9/27/2022; 2.5 STARS
9. Before and Again by Barbara DelinskyREAD 9/8/2022; 2 STARS
10. Flirting with Disaster: Why Accidents Are Rarely Accidental by Marc S. Gerstein READ 11/6/2022; 3 STARS
11. Cities of the Plain by Cormac McCarthy READ 9/28/2022; 3.5 STARS
12. No Good Men Among the Living: America, the Taliban, and the War through Afghan Eyes by Anand Gopal READ 9/7/2022; 4 STARS

Alternates:
13. Home Before Dark by Riley Sager READ 10/23/2022; 3 STARS
14. The Secret History by Donna Tartt READ 10/10/2022; 4 STARS
15. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind READ 11/8/2022; 3 STARS
16. The Mountain Shadow by Gregory David Roberts

Dear Mr. Süskind,

I just finished reading Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, and I felt as though the concept of the book was unique and fresh. It was fun to "see" the world through a character who has such a strong sense of smell, the sense that I wish authors would describe in better detail. I have imagined some of my favorite books with some of the smells described. On the other hand, the story was very meandering. The book took awhile to hook me in, I eventually switched to audiobook and just took my time on the journey. I eventually did enjoy the journey until the ending. I did not care for the ending, finishing this morning with a "what the heck did I just read?" feeling. All in all, I'm glad I read the book, but I'm unlikely to read it again. And, I'm already mentally writing a different ending to this book that would suit me better. Still, it was a very unique concept and I think your book deserves to be on all the book lists that it's on.

Olfactorily yours,
Lea

[Bill, Moderator]

Lea wrote: "Bill wrote: "Congrats on completing your challenge, Lea."

Thanks, Bill. I just finished Perfume: The Story of a Murderer today, and you're right, it was a very strange book. Unique conc..."

Yup

[Ioana]

Lea wrote: "I just finished reading Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, and I felt as though the concept of the book was unique and fresh."

It's on my list, but after reading this, I don't think I will push it higher. I might get to it in this lifetime, or maybe not....my TBR is enough to last me several lives.

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "It's on my list, but after reading this, I don't think I will push it higher. I might get to it in this lifetime, or maybe not....my TBR is enough to last me several lives."

You've just described my TBR as well. :-)

[Lea]

List 2 - Finished! No, I'm not starting List 3! :-) :-) :-)

1. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams READ 8/24/2022; 3 STARS
2. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf READ 8/29/2022; 3 STARS
3. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk READ 8/25/2022; 2 STARS
4. Robot Visions by Isaac Asimov READ 8/31/2022; 3 STARS
5. The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix READ 9/22/2022; 3 STARS
6. Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley READ 9/9/2022; 4 STARS
7. Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford READ 9/23/2022; 3 STARS
8. The Switch by Sandra Brown READ 9/27/2022; 2.5 STARS
9. Before and Again by Barbara DelinskyREAD 9/8/2022; 2 STARS
10. Flirting with Disaster: Why Accidents Are Rarely Accidental by Marc S. Gerstein READ 11/6/2022; 3 STARS
11. Cities of the Plain by Cormac McCarthy READ 9/28/2022; 3.5 STARS
12. No Good Men Among the Living: America, the Taliban, and the War through Afghan Eyes by Anand Gopal READ 9/7/2022; 4 STARS

Alternates:
13. Home Before Dark by Riley Sager READ 10/23/2022; 3 STARS
14. The Secret History by Donna Tartt READ 10/10/2022; 4 STARS
15. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind READ 11/8/2022; 3 STARS
16. The Mountain Shadow by Gregory David Roberts READ 12/18/2022, 2 STARS

Dear Mr. Roberts,

I was incredibly disappointed with The Mountain Shadow. Not only did I not enjoy the book very much, I felt like it ruined my enjoyment of Shantaram. The great characters that you wrote about in the first book behaved in ways that made me question whether they were the same characters. I felt like either you didn't understand them or I didn't understand them, and since you wrote them, I'm assuming the latter. As such, reading this book made me think less of Shantaram. The philosophy in this book was so weak. I honestly think people could just buy a huge bag of fortune cookies and break them apart and read the fortunes. That would be the same as reading this book. It could have been so much more. I am unlikely to read any future books in this series, although I never say never. At least this book took me to a new country, Sri Lanka, even if it was rather briefly.

I expected so much more,
Lea

[Michelle]

Two lists down. Congratulations Lea! You give me hope for 2023.

[Lillie]

Lea wrote: "List 2 - Finished! No, I'm not starting List 3! :-) :-) :-)

1. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams READ 8/24/2022; 3 STARS
2. [book:A Room of One's Own|..."

Congrats on finishing your 2nd list!

I feel you on your disappointment. I really think that sometimes author's need to write standalones. This is the way I felt about a recent read. Based on your review of The Mountain Shadow, I won't be picking it up. Especially because it's such a lengthy book.

[Ioana]

Lea wrote: "I was incredibly disappointed with The Mountain Shadow. Not only did I not enjoy the book very much, I felt like it ruined my enjoyment of Shantaram. "

What a bummer! I DNF'ed Shantaram, so I'm not invested, but I understand your disappointment, a bad 2nd book feels like a betrayal, especially with a book this size.

[Jackie]

Many congratulations!!

[Linette]

Congratulations, Lea!

[Lea]

Michelle wrote: "Two lists down. Congratulations Lea! You give me hope for 2023."

Thanks, Michelle. Fingers crossed for 2023, hopefully we both made good choices on our lists!

[Lea]

Lillie wrote: "Congrats on finishing your 2nd list!

I feel you on your disappointment. I really think that sometimes author's need to write standalones. This is the way I felt about a recent read. Based on your review of The Mountain Shadow, I won't be picking it up. Especially because it's such a lengthy book."

I agree about standalones. Some books just don't need to be series. Just like some movie franchises don't need to be series. Jurassic Park, I'm talking about you. :-)

Yes, unless you loved the philosophy in Shantaram, you can safely pass on The Mountain Shadow. I am currently pretending the book never happened.

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "What a bummer! I DNF'ed Shantaram, so I'm not invested, but I understand your disappointment, a bad 2nd book feels like a betrayal, especially with a book this size."

I think the last time I was this bummed about a 2nd book was World Without End by Ken Follett. I so loved the architecture in The Pillars of the Earth such that the bridge in World Without End, just didn't do it for me. Oh, well, they can't all be amazing books. I just hate that it was my last book. It's always better to end on a high note. :-)

[Lea]

Jackie wrote: "Many congratulations!!"

Thanks, Jackie!

[Lea]

Linette wrote: "Congratulations, Lea!"

Thanks, Linette!

[Lillie]

Lea wrote: "Lillie wrote: "I am currently pretending the book never happened. "

Don't know why this hit me this way but I'm dying 🤣

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Lea wrote: "List 2 - Finished! No, I'm not starting List 3! :-) :-) :-)

1. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams READ 8/24/2022; 3 STARS
2. [book:A Room of One's Own|..."

Congrats, Lea! I hear you on that one. You should be proud of yourself!!

Woot-Woot!!

[Lea]

Lillie wrote: "Lea wrote: "Lillie wrote: "I am currently pretending the book never happened. "

Don't know why this hit me this way but I'm dying 🤣"

I'm sure it is because you have, at some point, read a book or a part of a book that you wanted to ERASE ERASE ERASE and rewrite. We all have...unfortunately.

[Lea]

Alondra wrote: "Congrats, Lea! I hear you on that one. You should be proud of yourself!!

Woot-Woot!!"

Thanks, I almost never start a List 2, but who knows. I have no idea what is going on over on the 2nd Annual Reading Challenge, where every person seems to have multiple lists going on at the same time. My head is spinning just thinking about it! :-) :-) :-)

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Lea wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Congrats, Lea! I hear you on that one. You should be proud of yourself!!

Woot-Woot!!"

Thanks, I almost never start a List 2, but who knows. I have no idea what is going on over on..."

I blame Alissa. Lindsey has a whole list dedicated to that enabler!! LOL

[Lea]

Alondra wrote: "I blame Alissa. Lindsey has a whole list dedicated to that enabler!! LOL"

I'm not sure whether to blame Alissa, Lindsey, Jennifer or Michelle. All I know is that every time I go over there, I'm adding more books to my TBR. :-)

[Ioana]

Lea wrote: "I'm not sure whether to blame Alissa, Lindsey, Jennifer or Michelle. All I know is that every time I go over there, I'm adding more books to my TBR. :-)"

I blame them all, too. It had gotten out of hand, even I'm considering making a list, and that never happened before. 😱

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Well done on completing a second list!

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Yeah, blame them!!

[Michelle]

Lea wrote: "Alondra wrote: "I blame Alissa. Lindsey has a whole list dedicated to that enabler!! LOL"

I'm not sure whether to blame Alissa, Lindsey, Jennifer or Michelle. All I know is that every time I go ov..."

Wait, wait, Michelle???? I am a total victim. After years of this early list-making I finally succumbed to the madness. I submit my two lists as evidence of my insanity.

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "I blame them all, too. It had gotten out of hand, even I'm considering making a list, and that never happened before. 😱"

Wow, that would truly be a sign of change around here. :-)

I've never known you to stick to a list, I'm sure you would hate it. Unless...maybe you could do all non-fiction??

[Lea]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Well done on completing a second list!"

Thank you! This one was easier than the first one. No delay in getting down the books, less time for me to change my mind or decide to read something different.

[Lea]

Alondra wrote: "Yeah, blame them!!"

:-) :-) :-)

[Lea]

Michelle wrote: "Wait, wait, Michelle???? I am a total victim. After years of this early list-making I finally succumbed to the madness. I submit my two lists as evidence of my insanity."

LOL, I can get down with early list making. It's the multiple list making that makes me go a bit wiggy. But who knows, next week, I might have to join you guys. There are so many other books I really want to be reading!

[Ioana]

Lea wrote: "I've never known you to stick to a list, I'm sure you would hate it. Unless...maybe you could do all non-fiction??."

No, an all NF list would not work either. I could **maybe** do a 4 + 12 list, meaning 12 alternates 🤣🤣🤣. But nah...

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "Lea wrote: "I've never known you to stick to a list, I'm sure you would hate it. Unless...maybe you could do all non-fiction??."

No, an all NF list would not work either. I could **maybe** do a 4 + 12 list, meaning 12 alternates 🤣🤣🤣. But nah..."

Well, when I see a 12 + 4 list with your name on it, I will check outside. There might be some flying pigs. :-)

[Ioana]

Lea wrote: "Well, when I see a 12 + 4 list with your name on it, I will check outside. There might be some flying pigs. :-)"

LOL. Not yet, but never say never...

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "Lea wrote: "Well, when I see a 12 + 4 list with your name on it, I will check outside. There might be some flying pigs. :-)"

LOL. Not yet, but never say never..."

It's true. If you asked me what books I liked to read when I was 21, I would have told you that I liked romance and fiction and would never touch fantasy, science fiction or nonfiction books. Never say never. :-)

[Kristine]

Lea~Incredible Job 🎉🎉 Two Lists Completed. Congratulations 🥳

[Lea]

Kristine (Trying to Get Back to Reading) wrote: "Lea~Incredible Job 🎉🎉 Two Lists Completed. Congratulations 🥳"

Thanks, Kristine! It feels good. Onwards to 2023! :-)