75 Books...More or Less! discussion
Archive (2022 GR Completed)
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Charleen's 2022 Challenge [85]
I already knew I was a numbers nerd, but this year I may be taking it too far. If this all ends up driving me bad-crazy more than it feeds my good-crazy, I may just drop the whole thing.But until then, here are some additional goals for 2022:
📚 30,000 total pages read
📚 14 days total audiobook minutes
📚 20% nonfiction books
📚 45% books by non-white authors
📚 6% books by non-cis authors
1. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue4 stars
I can't quite give it a 5. I want to love this. I really, really, really like it. So many things are done so well. I was frustrated with how some events or characters or ideas were given more exploration than others which were equally or (I thought) more deserving. (Yes, this can happen with any book, but I felt the lack more than usual in this one.) Basically I wish it were either 100 pages shorter or 300 pages longer. But it was so, so enjoyable.
2. This Is Your Mind on Plants(audio)
This spent more time on the different (often arbitrary) legal aspects, and less time on the biological/physiological aspects than I would have preferred. But overall, pretty interesting.
3. Turbulence3 stars
This starts out incredibly smart and refreshing, and I appreciated reading a familiar kind of story from a foreign perspective. But from about the halfway point on, it seems to lose that special spark. The fight scenes were exciting, the actual wrap up of the plot a bit lackluster. I'm still interested in the sequel, mostly because the parts I liked, I really liked, and I want more of that.
4. Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man(audio)
This is exactly what it says on the cover... at least, to the extent that any book by a single author can be a "conversation."
5. A Prince on Paper4 stars
I've enjoyed this entire series (obviously) and I won't say this one's my favorite, but it definitely has the most feels. Total emotion overload.
Mod
4 stars
I can't quite give it a 5. I want to love this. I really, really, really like it. So many things are done so well. I was frustrated wit..."
Yes, that's a really good analysis!
6. The Office of Historical Corrections5 stars
All of these stories were really interesting and enjoyable. The title novella had an interesting premise and was the reason I picked up the book, but after getting six really effective and punchy short stories, the novella felt a bit meandering. I definitely want to read more of her work.
7. We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir(audio)
This goes through three big phases - her childhood/coming of age, her exploration of her queer identity, and reconnecting with her faith. I would have liked to read more about that third part of her journey, but it may be that she’s too close or still living through it.
8. Dreamcatcher3 stars
I had a hard time at the start, partly because the four friends were so interchangeable, so it took a while before I really got into the story. Once I did, I was there for the ride, even though the whole thing is a mess. It was interesting getting classic science fiction through a Stephen King lens.
9. How to Be a Normal Person4 stars
This book made me laugh out loud. It was almost too self-aware at times, but for the most part the ridiculousness worked. And Gus is just a great character. TJ Klune is definitely a new favorite.
10. Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times(audio)
I liked the concept, and I liked a lot of the stories included. I was left with the feeling that it could have wrapped up sooner (though it’s not long to begin with) but I don’t know if that’s me or the book.
11. No Cure for Being Human: And Other Truths I Need to Hear(audio)
This is my second audio in a row from a podcast guest on What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood. I think I got more out of the conversations than from either of these books. This was good, but (like the last one) longer than I needed it to be.
January Goals Check-In:📚 11 books finished
📚 2 owned books
📚 9 borrowed books
📚 2950 total pages read
📚 29 total audiobook hours
📚 5 (45%) nonfiction books
📚 5 (45%) books by authors of color
📚 1 (9%) book by a nonbinary author
12. The Starless Crown3 stars
This was a run of the mill fantasy, interesting ideas, lots of set up, perfectly enjoyable... but nothing that leaves me eagerly awaiting the next in the series.
13. Sorrowland4 stars
This kept me reading even when I had no idea where it was going. I had a lot of questions in the end, but explaining all of the speculative concepts in detail is very clearly not the point of this story. After reading two of Rivers Solomon's books, I trust whatever journey they want to take me on.
14. How to Be a Movie Star4 stars
Josy is basically Gus but aggressively cheery instead of aggressively grumpy. Just as enjoyable as the first book. I would read about these people forever.
15. Katharine Parr, the Sixth Wife4 stars
Katharine lived a full life before becoming Queen, and I really enjoyed seeing these depictions of her earlier marriages, with the court drama of the previous five books happening in the background. I also appreciated the portrayal of her faith evolving throughout her life.
16. The Sentence3 stars
Despite being underwhelmed by my only other Louise Erdrich book, I was cautiously hopeful about this one. I really enjoyed the first half or so, but bringing in the real world issues was where it started to lose me. Give me more haunted bookstores, former felons, and complicated family dynamics.
17. Just as I Am(audio)
I wasn't familiar with Cicely Tyson except by name, but that didn't inhibit my enjoyment of this at all. What a life!
Mod
(audio)
I wasn't familiar with Cicely Tyson except by name, but that didn't inhibit my enjoyment of this at all. What a life!"
Good to know!
18. The Best American Poetry 2019I got through it. Reading poetry for me is challenging and frustrating and only rarely rewarding, and I don't imagine it will ever be something I seek out for enjoyment. But I'll keep dipping a toe in here and there and see if anything sticks.
Mod
I got through it. Reading poetry for me is challenging and frustrating and only rarely rewarding, and I don't imagine it will ever be something I ..."
I hear you! I have really enjoyed Amanda Lovelace's poetry collections.
19. Six Wakes4 stars
This book was great. It could have been incredible with some things more fully developed. I really enjoyed the overall shape of the story, the premise, the structure. The characters were probably the weakest part for me; I was much more invested in solving the puzzle than what would happen to them. But on the whole, I quite enjoyed it.
20. One Piece, Vol. 1: Romance DawnMy husband is really into One Piece, both the manga and the anime. He's been bugging me for a while to give it a try, so I got the first few volumes from the library. So far it's... fine?
21. The A.I. Who Loved Me4 stars
This had a lot more going on than I expected from a sci-fi romance novella. As a result, it felt quite rushed toward the end when everything starts coming together, but that said it was still great. I'd definitely read more stories set in this world.
February Goals Check-In:📚 10 books finished // 21 total
📚 2 owned books // 4 total
📚 8 borrowed books // 17 total
📚 2,651 pages read // 5,601 total
📚 28 audiobook hours // 57 total
📚 1 nonfiction book // 6 (28%) total
📚 6 books by authors of color // 11 (52%) total
📚 1 book by a nonbinary author // 2 (9%) total
23. Rock Paper Scissors4 stars
It's been a while since I read a really good domestic thriller. The big twist was similar to what I was thinking but still surprised me. There are lots of red herrings but they didn't feel cheap, just kept me thinking and wondering as I sorted out the coincidences from the misunderstandings from the real secrets. Overall this was a very satisfying read, even if I would never want any of these people in my own life.
Mod
4 stars
It's been a while since I read a really good domestic thriller. The big twist was similar to what I was thinking but still surprised me. There are l..."
I really enjoyed this one!
27. Whiskey in a Teacup(audio)
Short and sweet. Just like Reese. (I mean, I’m guessing.) My last audiobook was super heavy and I have more in the queue, so this was a welcome respite.
30. The City in the Middle of the Night3 stars
This alternated between fascinating/engrossing and plodding/tiring. I was getting some serious Xenogenesis vibes. I get the feeling that I'd enjoy this more on a re-read, being able to read deeply into the parts I enjoyed and skim a bit over the drier bits, but overall this was a solid 3-stars for me.
34. Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience(audio)
Listening to this was less like a typical audiobook narration and more like one of Brené's podcasts. I enjoyed it, but I'll definitely want to revisit it in print at some point because it's just a lot of info. Helpful not only on a personal level, but also in guiding my kids toward greater emotional intelligence.
35. Ten Women2 stars
The stories are pleasant enough reading, but there's only the barest thread holding the whole thing together. I wasn't expecting intertwining narratives, but I had hoped that as the book went on, that the earlier revelations might have an impact on the other women speaking. But no, there's nothing.
37. The Peach Keeper4 stars
I enjoyed Garden Spells when I read it ten years ago, and I have no idea why it took me so long to read another by this author. This was light and lovely and a very quick read.
39. A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea(audio)
Oof. This is a rough read, and hardly about the escape at all. This is life in North Korea, full stop. The escape feels like an afterthought, not at all the triumph you’d hope for in reading such a difficult book. An important story, no doubt, but the title is a bit misleading.
40. The Personal Librarian4 stars
I really enjoyed seeing Belle rise in the world, and it managed to feel precarious reading despite knowing that the historical figure wasn't outed until after her death. I'm very interested in reading more from both of these authors.
Charleen wrote: "27. Whiskey in a Teacup(audio)
Short and sweet. Just like Reese. (I mean, I’m guessing.) My last audiobook was super heavy and I have more in the queue, so this was a welcome resp..."
I enjoyed this one, too. Southern comfort.
Happy April! I've decided not to continue posting month-by-month numbers, but I will check in on my totals every few months. At 25% through the year, here are my relevant stats:📚 40 books finished
📚 6 owned books
📚 34 borrowed books
📚 28% impulse reads
📚 9,181 pages
📚 83 audiobook hours
📚 26% nonfiction books
📚 61% books by authors of color
📚 9% books by non-cis authors
There are only two goals I'm not on track to hit. I'm an hour behind my listening goal, and I'm well over my self-imposed limit for impulse reads (thanks to 11 volumes of manga). I may want to reevaluate either my goal percentage or my definition of "impulse reads," but I'm not worrying about it at the moment.
75 Books...More or Less!
Books mentioned in this topic
Ark (other topics)The Outside (other topics)
Secret History (other topics)
The Bands of Mourning (other topics)
Bad Sex: Truth, Pleasure, and an Unfinished Revolution (other topics)
More...
Some secondary goals:
📚 24 books owned prior to 2022 (Mount TBR/Read Your Shelves)
📚 60 books borrowed (Virtual Mount TBR)
📚 15% or fewer “impulse reads” (i.e., books not on my radar prior to 2022)
That last one is just my own extension of the Virtual Mount TBR. The rules for that challenge don’t include a date restriction, but in keeping with the spirit of the original Mount TBR, I’d love to reach my goal using only pre-2022 titles. I decided this would be a good compromise, working through my existing TBR, while still giving myself flexibility to count the occasional new release or new-to-me discovery.