75 Books...More or Less! discussion
Archive (2022 GR Challenge)
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Karina's 2022 Reading Challenge
37. Tanqueray by Stephanie Johnson and Brandon StantonI was one of those people captivated by the story from Humans of New York of this woman in a fur jacket in a wheel chair just chilling on the corner with quite some stories to tell. Listened to this on audible and it was just as enjoyable as it was on HONY.
Four stars
38. Mr. Vertigo by Paul AusterA library book to read from the 1001 Books to Read before you die book club selection. Not a fan. The writing is beautiful but the story is not great
2 stars
39. The Sentence is Death by Anthony HorowitzI've read Horowitz's Magpie Murders which I enjoyed and picked up this book not realizing it was book 2 in the series so naturally I ordered the first book from the library. I enjoy British mysteries and this hit the spot.
Four stars
40. Overground Railroad by Candacy TaylorA very interesting history on the Green Book and the historical events and contexts during the publication years of the book.
Four stars
41. Baptism of Fire by Andrzej SapkowskiBook 3 of 5 in The Witcher series. Not my favorite one so far but lots of character building and laying out the plot.
Three stars
42. The Hunting Party by Lucy FoleyI enjoy Foley's murder mysteries and I really enjoyed this one, better than The Paris Apartment. Sometimes you just need a straight forward cozy excellently paced murder in the woods.
3 1/2 stars
43. 52 Days by Catherine Ryan HowardThis book was just okay. The premise and set up were good but the execution and ending didn’t work
2 1/2 stars rounded up to 3
44. The Winds of Change by Martha GrimesThis is the 19th book in the Richard Jury series and I just enjoy a routine British murder mystery
I also thought I bought this book last year… I did not. Got it in January
Three stars
45. The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz After reading the second book in the series by accident, I had to request this from the library and read the first one. I really do enjoy British murder mysteries
Four stars
46. The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. JamesI really enjoyed this murder paranormal mystery and it’s my third book from this author. I didn’t LOVE The Sundown Motel but this book was good! Just enough of a balance between paranormal and good ol mystery. Of course, it’s a book I got this year so I’m doing real great with my books I own shelf… not
3/3 book from my March 2022 BOTM box (I can’t believe I finished a box this year…)
Mod
I really enjoyed this murder paranormal mystery and it’s my third book from this author. I didn’t LOVE The Sundown Motel but this book was good! Just..."
I haven't read any of her books yet but I also got this one from BOTM. Glad you enjoyed it!
47. This Time Tomorrow by Emma StraubThis book was so good. I laughed, I cried, and I had a lot of feelings. Also, I bought this book and even though I have been ignoring my to be read pile, this was worth it!!!
Five stars
48. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig A friend recommended this book to me, so I bought it and never read it (naturally) I’m so glad I decided to finally pick it up. It was so good and just what I needed and a fast read
4.5 stars
Mod
A friend recommended this book to me, so I bought it and never read it (naturally) I’m so glad I decided to finally pick it up. It was so good and just what ..."
I loved this book!
Elyse wrote: "Karina wrote: "48. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig A friend recommended this book to me, so I bought it and never read it (naturally) I’m so glad I decided to finally pick it up. It was so good..."
So good!
49. One Italian Summer by Rebecca SerleI know people that LOVED this book and I just don't think it connected with me the way it connected with other people. I found myself being so angry with the main protagonist and couldn't sympathize with her.
three and a half stars
50. I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdyWOW WOW WOW was this a read (or in my case, a listen since with some memoirs, I try to listen to the author)
Very good and very heartbreaking
Four stars
51. Labyrinths by Jorge Luis BorgesA collection of short stories, essays and parables. Some short stories I enjoyed, others went over my head.
Three stars
52. The Fortunes of Jaded Women by Carolyn HuynhLoved this book, the family tension/drama. There was even a chapter that I actually laughed out loud, not even in my head.
Five stars
Book 1/3 September 2022 BOTM box (can't believe I ordered another box!)
53. The Christie Affair by Nina de GramontI enjoyed this. A quick read that took me longer than it should have (been a busy 10 days) but definitely enjoyed it.
3.5 stars
54. Survive the Night by Riley SagerThis is just one of those books you can bang out in a weekend. Was I able to figure out the plot pretty quickly? Yes. Was I mad about it? No. Sager's books for me are just quick reads where I don't have to think too hard. I also like the movie references in this book.
Three stars
Book 2/3 from my August 2021 box
Mod
This is just one of those books you can bang out in a weekend. Was I able to figure out the plot pretty quickly? Yes. Was I mad about it? No. Sager's books for..."
Yes, it was fine, nothing amazing! I still have 2 or 3 more of his to read from BOTM!
55. The Chestnut Man by Soren SveistrupWow! I can't believe I waited three years to read this book. What a great thriller! I love foreign authors especially when it comes to thrillers/mysteries. Also, the fact that this is the first book of three from my October 2019 BOTM is really saying a lot about me... not great!
Four stars
Mod
Wow! I can't believe I waited three years to read this book. What a great thriller! I love foreign authors especially when it comes to thrillers/mysteries. ..."
Eeep I also have this from 2019 BOTM unread! lol. Glad you enjoyed it! Maaaaybe I will get to it this year. lol
Elyse wrote: "Karina wrote: "55. The Chestnut Man by Soren SveistrupWow! I can't believe I waited three years to read this book. What a great thriller! I love foreign authors especially when it comes to thrill..."
Hahaha okay now I don't feel so alone! But read it if you can!
56. The Heather Blazing by Colm ToibinReally enjoyed this. Loved the imagery and the well detailed relationships of Eamon with his father, wife and children.
Four stars
57. Seton Girls by Charlene ThomasBecause I am completely incapable of not buying books, Book Sparks released their Fall Reading Club and this book was on it. (To be fair, I was able to request the majority of the currently available list from the library so progress, but, no, still not touching the books I owned pile!).
Anyway, while I am not someone to pick up a YA book unless told to, I enjoyed this. YA language is just not for me, so I found myself feeling cringe at some of the writing but overall, book was a fast read and I very much enjoyed it.
Three and a half stars
58. The Turn of the Screw by Henry JamesSo this was an interesting story. Frankly, no idea what to believe but I’m also glad it was short. It was good for spooky season.
Three stars
59. Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen CallenderThis was one of Book Spark's Fall selections so I was able to snag this from the library. Again, I don't love YA books. I liked the premise of this book. I loved that the characters were queer and Black and the plot was interesting (twitter thread goes viral for our protagonist but they didn't write the Twitter thread, lies and chaos and trolls ensue) but there are other parts of this book that didn't ring true. I am not going to go deeply into here. Saving that for the group chat.
2 1/2 stars rounded up to 3
60. Tomorrow in Shanghai by May-Lee ChaiThis was another Book Spark's Fall Reading pick and it is a collection of short stories. Less than 150 pages, this was an easy and quick read. I really enjoyed them. A lot of the themes included first generation kids who were mixed and it reminded me a lot of how I grew up.
Four stars
61. Daisy Darker by Alice FeeneyAnother library book (my TBR list hates me) and a selection from Booksparks Fall Reading Club. I enjoy a quick mystery and guessed the twist early on but it didn’t diminish my enjoyment.
Three stars
62. Our Missing Hearts by Celeste NgAnother library book and I know I am not going to hit my TBR goals HOWEVER getting new books from the library is making me read because I can't renew them so it will help me make my reading goal this year. I am chaos.
I enjoyed this one. One thing I love about Ng's novels are that there aren't always the resolutions in the end. It's very open ended, even if it is heartbreaking.
Four stars
Mod
Elyse wrote: "My physical book goal has been destroyed. My goal was 100 and I'm lucky if I hit 50. My library goal was also 100 and is now over 150 though! lol."We need to support our public libraries LOL
63. The Cider House Rules by John IrvingI finally finished this library book. Checked it out in July, renewed it twice and never finished it. Picked it up again in October and also renewed it twice but was able to finally finish it before I had to bring it back on the 28th. I wasn't that I didn't enjoy this book or that it was hard to read. I feel that it was entirely too long and focused on the most boring of characters where there were far more interesting ones to read about.
3.5 stars
Mod
We need to support our public libr..."
100%! haha
Mod
I finally finished this library book. Checked it out in July, renewed it twice and never finished it. Picked it up again in October and also renewed it twi..."
John Irving is nottttt for me. I've tried a couple and gave away my copies of his books. Moooove on! lol
We absolutely do need to support out local libraries! It's a case of "use it or lose it". I applaud your Civic Mindedness ;)
64. Curtain by Agatha Christie So, I thought this was a book from the 2021 and older TBR pile but I actually bought this Jan 3 LOL so the jokes on me…
Finished the Poirot series. This book was written like 30 years or something before it was actually published so it’s different from the later books. It was enjoyable.
Three stars
65. What the Fireflies Knew by Kai HarrisOh, look. Another library book! This was a BOTM book I had wanted to read but it was sold out so I went to the library. Now that I have Covid, sitting around reading library books. Let’s see how much I can read.
Three and a half stars
Mod
Oh, look. Another library book! This was a BOTM book I had wanted to read but it was sold out so I went to the library. Now that I have Covid, sitting aro..."
Oh bummer you have COVID! After the first couple of days I was able to read and I was so happy that I wasn't in the brain fog a lot of people experienced. Feel better!
Elyse wrote: "Karina wrote: "65. What the Fireflies Knew by Kai HarrisOh, look. Another library book! This was a BOTM book I had wanted to read but it was sold out so I went to the library. Now that I have Cov..."
Thanks! This is my third go around (cannot keep an antibody to save my life apparently) but much milder case than the last time I had it which was awful and I could NOT read at all! Feeling much much better!
66. Poster Girl by Veronica RothANOTHER LIBRARY BOOK! We love to see it! This was another Bookspark Fall Reading Club pick and I honestly had no idea Roth wrote the Divergent series. I have neither read nor seen the films. I normally avoid most dystopian novels unless they are on the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list but I read this having no idea what it was about and I was very pleasantly surprised! I loved Roth's writing and the mystery element to this novel.
Four stars
Mod
OMG that sucks!
Mod
ANOTHER LIBRARY BOOK! We love to see it! This was another Bookspark Fall Reading Club pick and I honestly had no idea Roth wrote the Divergent series. I have neith..."
Definitely don't bother reading the Divergent series or seeing the movies. lol
67. The Restless Dark by Erica WatersAnother library book and another Book Spark Fall Reading Club selection. I’ve said it before, I don’t love YA books. This one had the most annoying protagonists. The concept seemed cool but I couldn’t get into it.
Two stars
68. On Beauty by Zadie SmithSmith is an excellent writer but this story went on for too long and I didn’t care enough about the characters.
Another day, another library book
Three stars
69. Afterparties by Anthony Veasna SoA collection of short stories that I enjoyed.
Book 1/3 from BOTM May 2022 box
3.5 stars
70. Reader, I Murdered Him by Betsy CornwellAnother library book, another YA book and another Bookspark FRC selection. I feel like this book had the right elements but the story fell flat. The ending came too quickly and just ended.
Two stars
Loved this memoir. It was sad and funny and made me hungry.
Four stars
Book 1/3 from my October 2021 BOTM box"
Yes! I have not listened to her music but I do follow her on instagram now!
I enjoyed this one. I list..."