75 Books...More or Less! discussion
Archive (2022 GR Completed)
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Charleen's 2022 Challenge [85]
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82. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow4 stars
This was an utterly engrossing novel. There are some literary choices that I found distracting here and there, and these aren't the most relatable characters overall. But I was so invested in their lives.
83. World Travel: An Irreverent Guide(audio)
I love hearing about food as a way into different cultures and traditions. Could have done without the literal travel tips about airports and taxis and such.
84. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend3 stars
This was a pleasant but ultimately underwhelming book for me. It was fun, I enjoyed it, but it was all too superficial for me to really get invested in this town and these characters.
85. A Master of Djinn4 stars
Imagine Brendan Fraser's The Mummy, plus steampunk, plus even more myths and magic, minus the colonialism, and that's basically the world this book is set in. The plot and characters aren't as developed as the world building, but it's still a lot of fun.
Oh look, it's 85 books. I didn't even notice when I added it yesterday. I'm not going to set another goal, just keep reading and see where I end up. I've still got a ways to go on my total page/hour goals.
Mod
Woohoo congrats!
86. Kindred5 stars (audio re-read)
This was my introduction to Octavia Butler and still one of my favorites of hers. So intense and overwhelming, words (at least mine) can’t do it justice.
88. 20th Century Ghosts3 stars
I enjoyed most of the stories in this collection. The ones that didn't appeal to me personally are mostly still good. "Dead-Wood" was the only real dud. "20th Century Ghost" and "Voluntary Committal" were my favorites.
89. The Fated Sky4 stars
This was a great continuation of the series. It builds on all the things I loved in the first book, with a much more satisfying ending.
90. The Secret History4 stars
My reaction to this while I was reading was all over the place, but I ultimately ended up at a 4-star rating because my overall impression is mostly favorable? At least I think it is. I'll be curious to read a more mature Donna Tartt to see how they compare.
Mod
4 stars
My reaction to this while I was reading was all over the place, but I ultimately ended up at a 4-star rating because my overall impression is mostly fav..."
I hated The Goldfinch so I'm hesitant to read another.
91. How to Raise an Antiracist(audio)
I may need to revisit this (or his other writing) in print to really absorb the ideas. His narration style distracted me; it's the kind of passionate speaking that probably makes for a great lecture, but maybe not a full audiobook... or maybe it's just me.
92. Avatar The Last Airbender: The Art of the Animated SeriesI recently started listening to the Braving the Elements podcast about Avatar: The Last Airbender, and they keep referencing this art book. Luckily my library just recently joined Hoopla so I was able to check it out on there.
94. Funeral Music2 stars
This has some lovely writing and I started out quite interested, but somewhere along the way it lost me. By the time everything wraps up, it was all a bit convoluted.
I'm a few days late posting, but these are the numbers from the end of September. So, at 75% through the year, here are my relevant stats:📚 96 books finished
📚 18 owned books
📚 78 borrowed books
📚 22% impulse reads
📚 24,294 pages
📚 248 audiobook hours
📚 24% nonfiction books
📚 45% books by authors of color
📚 6% books by non-cis authors
I’m a bit ahead on pages, a bit behind on hours. The %-based goals I should be able to maintain, except of course impulse reads after I sabotaged that goal with 11 volumes of manga in March.
In other news, I started a part-time job just a couple weeks ago, so it’s possible my reading will slow down in these last few months. Plus I just never know what the holiday season is going to do to me. So, while most of my goals are still within reach, anything could happen.
Mod
Wow, I finished the two books I had in progress at my last update, and then I just... stopped reading. I can't remember the last time that happened to me. No rereads, no audio, no comics, nothing.At first I spent a fair amount of my would-be reading time on job training. (Mandatory training for early childhood is no joke.) And once I finished my requirements, I was still "in the zone," so I've been watching professional development courses on LinkedIn and YouTube.
Plus my daughter and I got hit with RSV for about a week.
Plus we were traveling for a wedding last weekend.
So, yeah, it's been a lot going on over here, but I'm finally thinking maybe I'm ready to pick up a book again this weekend? Maybe?
🤷♀️
95. Fairy Tale3 stars
This was fine. I liked the premise, and I really liked the setup, all of the "real life" part we start with. But once it gets into the "fairy tale" part of the story, there wasn't much there to keep me hooked. It was predictable in the way that all fairy tales are predictable, and I guess that's what King was going for? It just didn't make for a very satisfying read.
96. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood(audio)
This is one I'd been wanting to read for a while, but the audio wasn't easily accessible. I finally borrowed it IN CD FORM from my library. Well worth the extra effort to hear this story in Trevor Noah's own voice.
Mod
Mod
Charleen wrote: "95. Fairy Tale3 stars
This was fine. I liked the premise, and I really liked the setup, all of the "real life" part we start with. But once it gets into the "fairy tale" part of t..."
Oh no! I am reading Fairy Tale now! I am right before the "fairy tale" part. Am loving it so far... Hope it holds me...
97. The Alloy of Law4 stars (re-read)
This was an interesting expansion of the Mistborn world. I was left with a lot of questions on how the world developed over the 300 years since the original trilogy ended, but I'm excited to learn more about it in the next set of books.
98. This Book Is Gay(audio)
This was a strange book if only because the author, who has since come out as a trans woman, wrote this book as a cis gay man. I'm curious to read her more recent book, What's the T?
99. Shadows of Self4 stars
This had a lot more Mistborn connections than the first book, but it lacks the epic, sprawling scope, and I don't love the characters as much as I loved the original Mistborn cast. Still, it's a fun read, and the ending opens the story up to the greater universe.
100. The Switch4 stars
Light and fun, though I didn't quite fall in love with the main characters like I did in The Flatshare.
101. Bad Sex: Truth, Pleasure, and an Unfinished Revolution(audio)
I wanted to get more out of this than I did. The author makes some interesting points, but as a whole it just didn't hold together for me, or justify its length.
102. The Bands of Mourning4 stars
I can't believe I sometimes forget how good Sanderson is at fleshing out a world. This one is so good, and I'm sure the final book will be epic.
103. Secret History5 stars (audio re-read)
Listened to this again after reading The Bands of Mourning. When it came out originally, readers were still waiting on the publication of The Lost Metal, so it seemed right to revisit it while I wait for my hold.
104. The Outside3 stars
I liked all of the interesting ideas here, more than the actual story or characters. It's good. It didn't really grab me, it was pretty easy to walk away from, so while I am curious where else this could lead, I don't know if I'm curious enough to seek out the rest of the series.
105. Ark4 stars
This short story was a very quiet take on the end of the world. Somewhat fitting, I suppose, for my last book of the year.
I don't think I'll pick anything else up in the 10 1/2 hours I have left in 2022, but just in case, I'll wait till tomorrow to come back and report on my goals.
Mod
Here they are, my stats for 2022:📚 105 books finished – goal of 85 ACHIEVED!
📚 19 owned books – goal of 24
📚 86 borrowed books – goal of 60 ACHIEVED!
📚 23% impulse reads – goal of under 15%
📚 26,850 pages – goal of 30K
📚 11 days audiobooks – goal of 14
📚 24% nonfiction books – goal of 20% ACHIEVED!
📚 44% books by authors of color – goal of 45%
📚 8% books by non-cis authors – goal of 6% ACHIEVED!
I met four of my nine goals, and while I’m curious if I could have gotten more of them (specifically the pages and audio hours) if I hadn’t taken my new job in the last third of the year, I can’t say I’m sorry how things turned out.
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)
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3 stars
This was so melodramatic, with zero subtlety (“the river” this, “the river” that...) and while I did come to enjoy parts, I wouldn't have been missing much if I'd DNF'd.