JulieLill's 2022 Reading Challenge

[madrano]

Thanks for sharing about this, Julie.

[Julie]

Alias Reader wrote: "Julie wrote: "
[book:I Moved Your Cheese: For Those Who Refuse to Live as Mice in Someone Else's..."

There are several books on the topic of moving cheese.
There is one called We Move Our Own Cheese and Who Moved My Cheese .

[madrano]

How about “Who Ate All the Cheese?” ;-)

[Alias Reader]

:)

[Julie]

madrano wrote: "How about “Who Ate All the Cheese?” ;-)"

I like that title!

[Julie]

Chasing the Dime
Michael Connelly
4/5 stars
Henry Pierce is about to make the biggest deal in his life with his new tech company. Things go awry when his new phone number turns out to be previously owned by an escort named Lilly and now he is getting multiple calls from her clients. As he tries to track her down, to sort out this phone mess, he gets obsessed with finding her distracting him and his work at his new company. This is the first book I have read by Connelly and I really enjoyed it! Michael Connelly Book

[Alias Reader]

I've only read one Connelly book, The Lincoln Lawyer. I enjoyed it.

[Julie]

Lady Oracle
Margaret Atwood
4/5 stars
Written in 1976, Margaret Atwood relates the fictional tale of author Joan Foster, a woman who writes gothic romance novels but her real life is more bizarre than her books. I like Atwood’s books and this doesn’t disappoint. L

[madrano]

Julie, i like your comments on Atwood's book. Her early stuff was interesting, partly because i knew her only as a poet originally. After The Handmaid's Tale her books were popular and often changed in tone. Still good writing, just different topics, veins.

[Julie]

Dumplin'
Julie Murphy
4/5 stars
In this coming of age novel, we meet teen Willowdean Dickson who is fatherless and lives with her mother and grandmother. Her mom was a former teen pageant winner and runs the local pageant. Life is hard for her but she has a best friend to lean on. Her self-confidence is not good with her being overweight and with her luck with boys, but she decides to enlist in the pageant and convinces some of her friends to join her. What a wonderful about confidence and being yourself! D

[madrano]

Sounds as though it is a good YA. Thanks for the title, Julie.

[Julie]

madrano wrote: "Sounds as though it is a good YA. Thanks for the title, Julie."

I didn't realize it was a series. I think there are 2 more books in the series- don't know if I will read anymore but I enjoyed it.

[madrano]

I guess that is a sign of a successful first book, that it is part of a series. Personally, i’m not one who usually continues with a series, but sometimes it’s nice knowing more is available.

[Julie]

Dark Matter
Blake Crouch
4/5 stars
Jason Dessen, physicist lives with his wife and son in the suburbs but one day everything goes wrong and he is kidnapped by unknown assailants. He awakes to find himself in a large cube in a laboratory not knowing where he is. He finds out that he had built a cube that allows the person in the cube to move between infinite worlds and infinite possibilities. Will he be able to get back to his original family or will he end up traveling through time forever? Very interesting!

Not part of my reading challenge but still enjoyed it!

[madrano]

Neat notion. Crouch’s Upgrade is next up for me. Your comments have me excited, Julie.

[Julie]

madrano wrote: "Neat notion. Crouch’s Upgrade is next up for me. Your comments have me excited, Julie."

I would read more of him! Still got a few more books on my challenge though!

[madrano]

I’ll post about my Crouch novel when i finish, which could help that process. :-)

[Julie]

Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape
Jenna Miscavige Hill
4/5 stars
This is the fascinating true life story of Jenna Miscavige and her life in Scientology. She describes her and her family’s life and roles in Scientology, where life for children and adults are very different and highly structured from those on the outside. Children are harshly punished for disobeying and parents and children are separated at an early age and forced to work doing menial tasks. Definitely, a page turner. Religion

[madrano]

As i learn more about this faith, the sadder i become. How many such stories must folks have before they cease to trust that church? Thank you for sharing the title and story, Julie.

[Julie]

Caddyshack: The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story
Chris Nashawaty
4/5 stars
This is the wonderfully interesting book on the making of the film Caddyshack. Nashawaty dishes all the dirt surrounding the production of the movie. Definitely for film buffs! C

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: "This is the fascinating true life story of Jenna Miscavige and her life in Scientology. She describes her and her family’s life and roles in Scientology, where life for children and adults are very different and highly structured from those on the outside. Children are harshly punished for disobeying and parents and children are separated at an early age and forced to work doing menial tasks. Definitely, a page turner. Religion
----------------------------------------

Was she the wife that went missing that Leah Remini wrote about in her excellent book
Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology ?

I recall that she started to question a missing wife of one of the top people.

[Julie]

Alias Reader wrote: "Julie wrote: "This is the fascinating true life story of Jenna Miscavige and her life in Scientology. She describes her and her family’s life and roles in Scientology, where life for children and a..."

No, she was not the one who went missing. As far as I know she is still alive, living with her husband and her children.

Shelly Miscavige went missing for a decade before returning according to an article I read.

[Alias Reader]

Thanks, Julie !

[madrano]

Julie wrote: "
Caddyshack: The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story
Chris Nashawaty
4/5 stars?”

Who would have thought there would have been enough material for a good book? Thanks for sharing this, Julie.

[Julie]

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Irin Carmon
3.5/5 star
This was quite an unusual book about RBG. It talks about her life with her husband who ended up more of a stay at home husband but still working and supporting his wife, her law career and her eventual rise to Supreme Court judge. It was also quite a fascinating look at the juggling the nominees go through before getting on the court. N

[Julie]

April Morning
Howard Fast
4/5 stars
A fictionalized story of the Battle of Lexington fought on April 19, 1775 and the effects it had on Adam, a teen who along with his father fought in the battle. But only one of them comes home. Very moving!
This is not part of my reading challenge but I had no book to read and found a copy of this book and I enjoyed it!

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: "
Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Irin Carmon
3.5/5 star
This..."

I read it back in 2018 and enjoyed it. I gave it 4/5 stars

[madrano]

The Fast novel sounds interesting, Julie. Thanks for sharing about it with us.

[Julie]

Notes on a Cowardly Lion: The Biography of Bert Lahr, With a New Preface by the Author
John Lahr
3/5 stars
This is quite an extensive book on Bert Lahr who was probably best known for his role of the Cowardly Lion in the film, The Wizard of Oz. Written by his son, the author traces his family life and extensive career on Broadway, films and Vaudeville and the actors and actresses he worked with. N

[Alias Reader]

That sounds like a nice tribute from son to dad.

[madrano]

Nice. Thanks for your comments, Julie.

[Julie]

Old Sparky: The Electric Chair and the History of the Death Penalty
Anthony Galvin
5/5 stars
This is an interesting book about the history of the death penalty, the electric chair and the people who underwent execution. Written in 2015, I would love to see this book added to include any changes in the death penalty and its outcomes. O

[madrano]

Coming from Texas, the process is familiar to me but i am unaware of what’s happening in other states. Thanks for the title, Julie.

[Julie]

The Wolf Man
Kenny Abdo
3/5 stars
I thought this book was an adult book but it turns out that it is an easy reader book. But I did read it though I really wanted to read an adult book on The Wolf Man. This is one of a series of books on Hollywood Monsters for children. I will have to be more on alert when I order books. I am sure there is something out there about the wolfman and/or Lon Chaney on an adult level.

However, the most interesting part of the book was that the script of the movie was based on writer Curt Siodmark's Dresden experiences when the Nazi's took over. It did not come from German folklore.

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: However, the most interesting part of the book was that the script of the movie was based on writer Curt Siodmark's Dresden experiences when the Nazi's took over. It did not come from German folklore...."

Interesting. That would be interesting read more about in an adult book. Still, this gave you a nice foundation.

[madrano]

I didn’t know that about the genesis of the story. Intriguing.

[Julie]

The American Association of Patriots Presents: How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety
Zachary Auburn
2/5 stars
I saw this book and thought that this might be quite funny but after a few pages it started to drag and the jokes got old. However, it was a short read so no harm, no foul.

[madrano]

Good attitude, Julie.

[Julie]

Twisted Twenty-Six
Janet Evanovich
3/5 stars
Stephanie Plum is back and now and has to look after her Grandma Mazur who decided to marry a local mobster who dies soon after the wedding. The problem with that, is that her dead husband supposedly has the keys to a large fortune, and his mobster associates think she now has the keys. Plum has to keep an eye on her grandma because the mob wants that money, and she is a target. I still get a kick out of these characters plus her books are a fast read!

Not on my challenge but I still get a kick out of her books!

[madrano]

It’s been several years since i’ve read one but there was always at least one good laugh per book. Has Stephanie settled down with…was it Joe or Ranger? Or someone altogether different? Or still thriving on her own?

[Julie]

madrano wrote: "It’s been several years since i’ve read one but there was always at least one good laugh per book. Has Stephanie settled down with…was it Joe or Ranger? Or someone altogether different? Or still th..."

Both of those guys still are in the picture. I am behind by a couple of books. I would like to see the author end this series and finally find out who she ends up with but I guess as long as she is making money off that series it will still go on!

[Julie]

Lindbergh
by A. Scott Berg
5/5 stars
I love A. Scott Berg and would read anything by him. He doesn't disappoint in this detailed and interesting book about Lindbergh which recounts his life, his tragedies, triumphs and his death. Highly recommended!

Final book in my challenge!!

Berg has another one out on President Wilson but I think it is over 800 pages but he is such a good writer I'll probably read that one too!

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote:
Final book in my challenge!!"



Well done, Julie ! I was looking at your first post in this thread. Was this your 70th book? Amazing.

[Julie]

Alias Reader wrote: "Julie wrote:
Final book in my challenge!!"



Well done, Julie ! I was looking at your first post in this thread. Was this your 70th book? Amazing."
I read a few books that weren't on my challenge but I finished the 70 books I used for the challenge. Thanks! Now on to some of the books I have on my reading list!

[Alias Reader]

Really well done. Also a BIG THANK YOU for taking us along with you. I always enjoy reading your reviews and also learning about new books to add to my TBR.

[madrano]

Julie, i agree with you about the Stephanie series. Apparently the attempt to get a film series going, based on the books has ended. For me, Katherine Heidi missed the mark.

[madrano]

Years ago i liked this Berg bio of Lindbergh. It’s good to know it has held up. His was a remarkable story but the apparent Nazi affiliation brought him to human standards, imo.

Congratulations, Julie, on completing this challenge. It’s been a pleasure to see your reviews of this list, too. It’s as though we’ve been on the challenge with you, particularly when we’ve added one of your books to our own challenges!

[Julie]

Dolls! Dolls! Dolls!: Deep Inside Valley of the Dolls, the Most Beloved Bad Book and Movie of All Time
Stephen Rebello
4/5 stars
If you have ever seen Valley of The Dolls, you’ll love this book that covers all the dirt in the making of this movie based on Jacqueline Susann’s 1966 book. Rebello thoroughly covers every aspect of the making of this movie!

[madrano]

I recall hearing about this book & knowing my late mother would have gobbled it up. Was is fun reading, Julie?

[Alias Reader]

Julie wrote: "
[book:Dolls! Dolls! Dolls!: Deep Inside Valley of the Dolls, the Most Bel..."

I've not seen the movie but I know the theme song from the movie.

Dionne Warwick (Theme From) Valley of the Dolls 1968 Million Seller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xKkS...