Faouzia's 2022 Annual Reading Challenge

[Faouzia]

I thought that this time i will follow the lead of many Goodreads friends and make my list according to a specific concept/topic. This resolution lasted for about a couple of minutes, in the end i just did like every past challenge: just scrolled through my TBR and chose the books that struck my fancy.

Here it goes:

1. 1Q84
2. Fair Warning 4,5 Stars
3. Our Mutual Friend
4. Pines 4 Stars
5. Slaughterhouse-Five 2,5 Stars
6. The Craftsman 3 Stars
7. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter 4,5 Stars
8. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy DNF
9. The Outsider 4 Stars
10. The Princess Bride 4,5 Stars
11. The Thirteenth Tale 5 Stars
12. The Word Is Murder 2,5 Stars

Alternatives
1. A Man Called Ove 5 Stars
2. Sleeping Giants 4 Stars
3. The Silmarillion
4. The Third Rule

Happy reading to all!

Currently reading

[Vikki, Moderator]

Good luck with your challenge. Only book I've read is Pines by Blake Crouch and I have to admit I wasn't keen on it, I expected more

[Patricia]

Looks like a good list! I love anything by Anthony Horowitz. I've also read The Thirteenth Tale twice! For some reason, liked it better the second time. Probably me.
Happy Reading!

[John]

I mostly used the same approach to adding books, although a couple were from guilt over not getting to them by now.

[Bill, Moderator]

What a great mix. Slaughter-House Five was very interesting. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is one of my all-time favorite books. The Princess Bride is also excellent. Enjoy your selections.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

I've only read Pines and The Thirteenth Tale, I bought The Outsider recently

[Faouzia]

Vikki wrote: "Good luck with your challenge. Only book I've read is Pines by Blake Crouch and I have to admit I wasn't keen on it, I expected more"

Thank you Vikki. I read other books by Blake Crouch and loved them, hope this one will be up to my expectations.

[Faouzia]

Patricia wrote: "Looks like a good list! I love anything by Anthony Horowitz. I've also read The Thirteenth Tale twice! For some reason, liked it better the second time. Probably me.
Happy Reading!"

Thank you Patricia. I have already bought those two books and i'm just trying to keep myself from reading them right now :D

[Faouzia]

John wrote: "I mostly used the same approach to adding books, although a couple were from guilt over not getting to them by now."

I kind of forgot about the guilt factor John, but i think there might be at least one book in my list based on it.

[Faouzia]

Bill wrote: "What a great mix. Slaughter-House Five was very interesting. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is one of my all-time favorite books. The Princess Bride is also excellent. Enjoy your selections."

Thanks a lot Bill. I bought The Princess Bride and some others already and i think i will start the challenge with it.

[Faouzia]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "I've only read Pines and The Thirteenth Tale, I bought The Outsider recently"

I'm looking forward to reading them. I hope you enjoy the Outsider when you get to it Desley.

[Bill, Moderator]

Faouzia wrote: "Bill wrote: "What a great mix. Slaughter-House Five was very interesting. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is one of my all-time favorite books. The Princess Bride is also excellent. Enjoy your selecti..."

It'll be a nice way to start off your challenge.

[Lea]

I think you picked some good books. I've read nine of the books on your list: 1Q84, Pines, Slaughterhouse 5, Hitchhiker's Guide, The Outsider, Princess Bride, The Thirteenth Tale, A Man Called Ove and The Silmarillion. A Man Called Ove has to be my favorite of the group, but I did have to think for a second. You have a lot of good choices there. Happy reading, Faouzia!

[Ioana]

Great list, I'm sure you'll have a good time reading these. I've read 1Q84, Pines, The Outsider, The Thirteenth Tale, A Man Called Ove and Sleeping Giants.
Hard to pick a favorite, but maybe Ove...
Happy reading!

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Yyyyeesss!! Now you know that I love your lists!! I am excited about this one, as well.

Sleeping Giants, Pines AANNNDDD The Outsider!!?? How can you go wrong?? I loved The Thirteenth Tale. One of the first books I read for GR challenge.

Good luck, Faouzia!!!

[Faouzia]

Lea wrote: "I think you picked some good books. I've read nine of the books on your list: 1Q84, Pines, Slaughterhouse 5, Hitchhiker's Guide, The Outsider, Princess Bride, The Thirteenth Tale, A Man Called Ove ..."

Thank you Lea. I'm really looking forward to reading A man Called Ove, it seems like a general favourite here :)

[Faouzia]

Ioana wrote: "Great list, I'm sure you'll have a good time reading these. I've read 1Q84, Pines, The Outsider, The Thirteenth Tale, A Man Called Ove and Sleeping Giants.
Hard to pick a favorite, but maybe Ove....."

Thanks a lot Ioana :)

[Faouzia]

Alondra wrote: "Yyyyeesss!! Now you know that I love your lists!! I am excited about this one, as well.

Sleeping Giants, Pines AANNNDDD The Outsider!!?? How can you go wrong?? I loved The Thirteenth Tale. One of ..."

Thank you Alondra!
I think this is my favourite list of all those i made before. I hope i will enjoy the books as much as i am already anticipating :D
I already bought Sleeping Giants AND the outsider, so it won't be long now ;)

[Faouzia]

I decided to start the year with The Princess Bride.
I am halfway through and i am already enjoying it so much!

[Bill, Moderator]

Faouzia wrote: "I decided to start the year with The Princess Bride.
I am halfway through and i am already enjoying it so much!"

If you've never seen the movie, it is also excellent. Catches the tone of the book so very well.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Faouzia wrote: "Thank you Alondra!
I think this is my favourite list of all those i made before. I hope i will enjoy the books as much as i am already anticipating :D
I already bought Sleeping Giants AND the outsider, so it won't be long now ;)..."

I don't think I could pick a favorite list of yours. You pick some doozies!! LOL

[Faouzia]

I finished last weekend.
I don't think i can say anything about it that wasn't already said.
I loved it. I loved the way the story was told.
It has been a long while since i felt so completely taken by a story. I think more than the story itself, it was the way Goldman told it. It was brilliant.
It is a perfect start of the challenge i think :)

Of course after finishing it, i had to take a look at his other books and add some of them to my TBR. So mission accomplished: one book read from my TBR, two (or more) added in its place! :D

[Faouzia]

Bill wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "I decided to start the year with The Princess Bride.
I am halfway through and i am already enjoying it so much!"

If you've never seen the movie, it is also excellent. ..."

It was because of the movie that i actually wanted to read the book Bill. I saw so many reviews about how great a movie it is, so i decided to read the book first than watch it.
So watching the movie is also on my To do list for this year :)

[Faouzia]

Alondra wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "Thank you Alondra!
I think this is my favourite list of all those i made before. I hope i will enjoy the books as much as i am already anticipating :D
I already bought Sleeping Gian..."

Thank you Alondra :D

[Faouzia]

Started .
I'm halfway through it, and i already think it is going to be one of those books which i read with very mixed feelings.
Well, we'll see how it goes.

[Alissa]

Faouzia wrote: "This resolution lasted for about a couple of minutes,"

That made me laugh =)

You're off to a great start!

[Faouzia]

Thank you Alissa 😁

[Faouzia]

I finished The Word is Murder last week. Well it was an ok read i guess. Could have been worse i guess.

Review:

Early on, i realized that this is going to be one of those books for which i’ll have mixed feelings.
I mean, i did like the story (a woman found murdered only few hours after planning her own funeral), and i found the way the story was told interesting (the author becoming a character in his own book and following the fictional detective).
But i felt there was way too much “me” talk from the author, much more than necessary (he was probably setting the tone for the story and blurring the lines between fiction and reality) and way too little about the detective (that was also probably deliberate, the mysterious detective).
Somehow these elements combined together didn’t work for. It didn’t help that i didn’t like/agree with a lot of the opinions that Horowitz kept expressing throughout the book.
Well, overall it was rather interesting but not quite what i expected from all the glorious reviews i saw. Thus the 3 stars (which are actually 2,5 rounded to 3).
PS: i loved the title though!

[Faouzia]

I just finished reading Sleeping Giants. I’m still processing what i was just reading but one thing is sure: that was fantastic! I loved it.

My first thoughts after finishing it were roughly in this order:
1. Thank you Alondra for recommending it. There’s 99% chance i wouldn’t have read it otherwise.
2. I should have listened to you and prepared the second book and had it close by to start immediately.
3. (It was most likely simultaneous to point 2) what did i just read in that epilogue!!!
4. Eho was that guy who orchestrated the whole thing!!
Well like i said: this was just brilliant. Can

[Ioana]

Faouzia wrote: "I just finished reading Sleeping Giants. I’m still processing what i was just reading but one thing is sure: that was fantastic! I loved it.

My first thoughts after finishing it were roughly in t..."

This was pretty much my reaction when I finished the book, too. Hope you'll enjoy the others in the series.

[Faouzia]

I really hope i can squeeze The second book of the series in my reading list of this year (there’s actually a 50% chance I’ll read in the next couple of months) but we’ll see how things go. I don’t think i can leave the story unfinished long.
Did you read the other books Ioana? Did you enjoy them as well??

[Ioana]

Faouzia wrote: "I really hope i can squeeze The second book of the series in my reading list of this year (there’s actually a 50% chance I’ll read in the next couple of months) but we’ll see how things go. I don’t..."

I read the 3 main ones, and enjoyed them all. For me, I learned to read books in continuing series close to each other, before I forget the details. I hope you can squeeze it in this year.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Faouzia wrote: "I just finished reading Sleeping Giants. I’m still processing what i was just reading but one thing is sure: that was fantastic! I loved it.

My first thoughts after finishing it were roughly in t..."

Woot-woot!! So glad you enjoyed it!!

[Faouzia]

Ioana wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "I really hope i can squeeze The second book of the series in my reading list of this year (there’s actually a 50% chance I’ll read in the next couple of months) but we’ll see how th..."

I hope so Ioana. In any case i am very curious as to how the story continues and that's a good sign i'll be continuing it very soon :)

[Faouzia]

Alondra wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "I just finished reading Sleeping Giants. I’m still processing what i was just reading but one thing is sure: that was fantastic! I loved it.

My first thoughts after finishing it w..."

Thanks Alondra :D

[Faouzia]

I started reading last week, i am actually almost done with it. i think i am getting close to the creepy part but i'll save my thoughts for when i finish it. Won't take much longer now i guess :)

[Faouzia]

Si i did finish last night and it won't come as a surprise that i like it a lot. For me it is the kind of story that comes to my mind when i think of Stephen King: something starting off as rather normal and then everything goes wrong in a more or less creepy way.
One thing in particular i liked about the Outsider was that King linked it to the Bill Hodges series, that was a very nice touch, (view spoiler)[It is a pity that King killed off Bill already, he would have made it more fun. But it was really good to have Holly Guibney back, it felt like finding an old friend after a long absence. I hope This is not the last we see of her. (hide spoiler)]

[Lea]

I liked the book also and I agree completely with your spoiler about The Outsider! :-)

[Alissa]

Damn you are flyiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing through your list. Great job!

[Faouzia]

Lea wrote: "I liked the book also and I agree completely with your spoiler about The Outsider! :-)"

Sometimes i think i became really addicted to reading Stephen King, i don't think a years goes by without reading at least 2 of his books :D

[Faouzia]

Alissa wrote: "Damn you are flyiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing through your list. Great job!"

Thank you Alissa :D i am trying to finish all the books in my list for once

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Faouzia wrote: "Lea wrote: "I liked the book also and I agree completely with your spoiler about The Outsider! :-)"

Sometimes i think i became really addicted to reading Stephen King, i don't think a years goes b..."

I loved this book, but it took me 2 years to read it. Don't even ask why!??

I see you added Fairy Tale!! I am soooo looking forward to it! I am definitely pre-ordering that one and reading it as soon as i get it!

[Faouzia]

yes I added it (thanks to you lol). I'm also waiting for it. but maybe I'll wait for your review first, just to be on the safe side :D

[Faouzia]

I finished The Thirteenth Tale a couple of days ago. it was a 5 Stars book for me, one that fits the category of "why did it take soooo long to get to it".
I loved the "tone" of the story. it was mesmerising. The characters, although technically not really too many, were fascinating. I also liked that the story was told from the point of view of Margaret, as a lover of books I really could identify with her many times. it made the story even better.
I couldn't start another book on the same day I finished (something that rarely happens to me), I was still so full of that story, even now I still think back on the story and characters. So far, it is my favourite of this challenge.

[Faouzia]

I started reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy last week und finally gave up on him yesterday, i just couldn't take it anymore.

Here is my review:
DNF at 50%

Well, i am most definitely not the right audience for this book. I picked it up after a particularly emotional book and I thought this would be the right book to make me laugh a bit. I was mistaken.
Do you know that feeling when you open TV and choose randomly a movie already playing and you struggle to follow the story?
That was exactly my feeling while trying to read this book. I felt that I was missing an important part of the story and was struggling to follow the threads of the story. And it is not a nice feeling.
The book is barely 200 pages, and it took me really long to get through the first 100 pages and finally I decided that it's not worth it.
So, sorry Mr Adams!

[Lea]

Faouzia wrote: "I started reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy last week und finally gave up on him yesterday, i just couldn't take it anymore.

Here is my review:
DNF at 50%

Well, i am most definitely not the right audience for this book. I picked it up after a particularly emotional book and I thought this would be the right book to make me laugh a bit. I was mistaken.
Do you know that feeling when you open TV and choose randomly a movie already playing and you struggle to follow the story?
That was exactly my feeling while trying to read this book. I felt that I was missing an important part of the story and was struggling to follow the threads of the story. And it is not a nice feeling.
The book is barely 200 pages, and it took me really long to get through the first 100 pages and finally I decided that it's not worth it.
So, sorry Mr Adams!"

You aren't alone, humor is very subjective and this is very slapstick. I think most of his books are very similar, so you can save yourself some time and part ways with his writing. So many other books that will be much more relaxing for you! :-)

[Ioana]

Faouzia wrote: "I started reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy last week und finally gave up on him yesterday, i just couldn't take it anymore.

Here is my review:
DNF at 50%

Well, i am mos..."

I haven't read it, but a lot of my friends feel the same as you do. Sorry it did not work for you, but it re-enforces my decision to say away from it, so thank you! Hoe your next read will be better.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Faouzia wrote: "I started reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy last week und finally gave up on him yesterday, i just couldn't take it anymore.

Here is my review:
DNF at 50%

Well, i am mos..."

Yikes! I should have DNF'd as well; but some parts were kinda funny, so I kept saying it was just me. Apparently, it's not just me. LOL

Faouzia wrote: "I finished The Thirteenth Tale a couple of days ago. it was a 5 Stars book for me, one that fits the category of "why did it take soooo long to get to it".
I loved the "tone" of the s..."

Yay! I loved this book.

[Faouzia]

Lea wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "I started reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy last week und finally gave up on him yesterday, i just couldn't take it anymore.

Here is my review:
DNF at 50%..."

That's the good think about this Lea, there is at least one series i needn't bother about :D

[Faouzia]

Ioana wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "I started reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy last week und finally gave up on him yesterday, i just couldn't take it anymore.

Here is my review:
DNF at 50%..."

Thanks Ioana. i should also have checked what my friends said about it first.