Joy D's 12 + 4 in 2022

[Joy D]

These are books I own and have wanted to read but not gotten around to it, so I am putting them on a list to ensure I read them in 2022:

Challenge Completed 10/2/22

✅1. The 42nd Parallel by John Dos Passos - 6/9/22 - 3* - My Review
✅2. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen - 7/4/22 - 3* - My Review
✅3. Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières - 6/1/22 - 4* - My Review
✅4. True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey - 6/5/22 - 4* - My Review
✅5. Independent People by Halldór Laxness - 3/27/22 - 4* - My Review
✅6. Possession by A.S. Byatt - 5/15/22 - 4* - My Review
✅7. Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala - 5/14/22 - 4* - My Review
✅8. The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai - 1/23/22 - 4* - My Review
✅9. Amsterdam by Ian McEwan - 2/6/22 - 4* - My Review
✅10. The Old Devils by Kingsley Amis - 1/20/22 - 1* - My Review
✅11. The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing - 6/12/22 - 3* - My Review
✅12. Clear Light of Day by Anita Desai - 10/2/22 - 4* - My Review
✅13. The Secret River by Kate Grenville - 1/24/22 - 4* - My Review
✅14. Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh - 9/29/22 - 4* - My Review
✅15. The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch - 4/22/22 - 4* - My Review
✅16. Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry - 8/19/22 - 5* - My Review

[Vikki, Moderator]

Good luck with your challenge. I haven't read any of your choices but I have heard of a few

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Good luck and Happy reading, Joy!!

[Denise]

I haven't read any of your selections. Wish you luck on your challenge.

[Bill, Moderator]

I've only read Family Matters. Mistry is wonderful. Enjoy all of your selections.

[John]

Agreed on Mistry. I liked the only Murdoch I've read: The Sea, The Sea.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Good luck, I've only heard of one author

[Lea]

Joy, I loved Possession. The Inheritance of Loss is sitting on my shelves, judging me, because I haven't picked it up. I want to read it, but other books keep butting ahead of it. :-) Hope you enjoy your books.

[Pam]

I’ve had The True History of the Kelly Gang on my bookshelf for years! Every year I say I’m going to read it. Maybe in 2022. Enjoy your challenge!

[Emily]

Good luck, Joy! Good selection; I’ve never heard of those selections, but they sound interesting! 🐾

[Lillie]

The only one I’ve read on this list is Possession and I loved it. I’ll be rereading it this year to see if holds up after 20 odd years. Can’t wait to see what you think of it.

The rest of your list looks very interesting. I have a feeling I’ll be add many of them to my tbr list.

Good luck on your challenge!

[Angela]

Good luck with your challenge. I've read Captain Corelli's Mandolin and Amsterdam and liked both of them.

[Kim. E.]

One of the things I love about a challenge like this is the exposure to books I wasn't familiar with. Amsterdam sounds so good. I look forward to your thoughts

[Joy D]

Completed 1 of 16:
The Old Devils by Kingsley Amis - 1/20/22 - 1* - My Review

[Lea]

Joy D wrote: "Completed 1 of 16:
The Old Devils by Kingsley Amis - 1/20/22 - 1* - My Review"

Oh, no! I'm not sure I would enjoy that one either and it is hard to believe that something like that won out over The Handmaid's Tale and An Artist of the Floating World - I loved both of those books. I do hope the rest of your books are better!

[Joy D]

Thanks, Lea! This one is definitely more to my taste:

Completed #2 of 16:
The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai - 1/23/22 - 4* - My Review

[Joy D]

Completed #3 of 16:
The Secret River by Kate Grenville - 1/24/22 - 4* - My Review

[Lea]

Glad your next two books were good, especially The Inheritance of Loss, since I have that book on my shelves. Hopefully, I can get to it sometime soon.

[Alissa]

Your completion with the reviews is so nice and tidy I just love it =)

[Joy D]

Completed #4 of 16:
Amsterdam by Ian McEwan - 2/6/22 - 4* - My Review

[Joy D]

Completed 5 of 16:
Independent People by Halldór Laxness - 3/27/22 - 4* - My Review

[Ioana]

Joy D wrote: "Completed 5 of 16:
Independent People by Halldór Laxness - 3/27/22 - 4* - My Review"

Great review, this sounds interesting and I added it to my TBR. Iceland is a fascinating land.

[Joy D]

Thanks Ioana, hope you enjoy it.

Just finished 6 of 16:
The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch - 4/22/22 - 4* - My Review

[Joy D]

Finished book 7 of 16:
Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala - 5/14/22 - 4* - My Review

[Joy D]

Finished book 8 of 16:
Possession by A.S. Byatt - 5/15/22 - 4* - My Review

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Kudos, Joy!! You are really tackling this list.

I've heard good things about Possession. Maybe, I need to check it out. 🤔

[Joy D]

Finished book 9 of 16:.
Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières - 6/1/22 - 4.5* - My Review

[Joy D]

Finished book 10 of 16:
True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey - 6/5/22 - 4* - My Review

[〰️Beth〰️]

You are doing great Joy📚💖📚 It looks like it’s been some great reads. I need to get my copy of Independent People out of storage and finally read it.

[Joy D]

Thanks, Beth!

[Joy D]

Finished book 11 of 16:
The 42nd Parallel by John Dos Passos - 3* - My Review

[〰️Beth〰️]

Joy D wrote: "Finished book 11 of 16:
The 42nd Parallel by John Dos Passos - 3* - My Review"

Nice review. I have been skeptical to read this. Do you plan to read more by him?

[Joy D]

Thanks, Beth. I do. I liked it well enough to try another.

[Joy D]

Completed book 12 of 16:
The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing - 3* - My Review

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Joy D wrote: "Completed book 12 of 16:
The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing - 3* - My Review"

Woot!! Congrats on completing your challenge!

Are you wanting to complete all 16?? What was your favorite??

[Joy D]

Thanks! Yes, I am planning to read all 16. My two favorites so far are:
Possession and Corelli's Mandolin - both 4.5 stars.

[Joy D]

Finished book 13 of 16:
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen - 3* - My Review

[Alissa]

Awesome job!!! You're almost done!!

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Joy D wrote: "Thanks! Yes, I am planning to read all 16. My two favorites so far are:
Possession and Corelli's Mandolin - both 4.5 stars."

I've heard from other members that Possession was pretty good. I keep saying I will take a look at it and never do; but I shall.

Kudos again!

[Joy D]

Finished book 14 of 16:
Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry - 5* - My Review

[Joy D]

Finished book 15 of 16:
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh - 4* - My Review

[Joy D]

Finished book 16 of 16. Challenge completed 10/2/22.

Clear Light of Day by Anita Desai - 4* - My Review

[Lea]

Congratulations, Joy D! Finished with just under three months to spare. Very impressive and it sounds like MOST of your books were quite good.

[Patricia]

Congratulations! It does look like you read some good books!

[Joy D]

Thank you, Lea and Patricia. It was a great batch (only one clunker, The Old Devils, which I read because it somehow, unbelievably, beat out The Handmaid's Tale for the Booker Prize).

[Jackie]

Congrats on the early finish!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Congratulations on finishing

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Congratulations on being able to get all 16 done!! Woo-hoo!!

[Joy D]

Thanks, all!

[Lillie]

Congrats on finishing!