75 Books...More or Less! discussion
Archive (2022 GR Challenge)
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Karina's 2022 Reading Challenge
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Karina
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Jan 03, 2022 08:49AM
I am going to try for 75 books again this year. I am hoping that I'll be able to achieve it.
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Elyse wrote: "Welcome back, Karina!"Happy to be back and ready to crush this reading goal!
1. The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah CareyLOVED THIS MEMOIR! This memoir is largely based on her childhood and her marriage to Tommy Mottola. It's really good and I definitely suggest the Audible version.
Four stars
2. Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-LeachThis was a BOTM selection that I did not choose but someone gave to me and honestly I’m glad I didn’t waste a pick on it. The book was fine. None of the characters had redeemable qualities except for one and it’s usually not a big deal but I need to feel some empathy. There is a little bit of mystery and intrigue as well.
Three stars
Mod
LOVED THIS MEMOIR! This memoir is largely based on her childhood and her marriage to Tommy Mottola. It's really good and I definitely suggest the Aud..."
Does she read it herself?
Juli wrote: "Karina wrote: "1. The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah CareyLOVED THIS MEMOIR! This memoir is largely based on her childhood and her marriage to Tommy Mottola. It's really good and I definitely ..."
Yes she does!! It's such a treat!
3. Lady in Waiting by Anne GlenconnorI am pretty sure I purchased this Audible while I was watching the Crown back in 2020. Finally listened to it. I thought it was very interesting but my gripe is with the narrator herself, Anne. When she was narrating this, she was 87, so I think some editing and water were needed in this audio. I don't really need to hear someone give long pauses or gulp.
Three stars
Mod
🤣 Oh no that's the worst! Some narrators just have too many mouth noises! lol
4. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah PennerHow this book happened to be a BOTM finalist for 2021 is beyond my comprehension. I really wanted to like this book. The premise is intriguing, but the execution and the story is bad! This book was given to me for book club so I luckily didn’t use a BOTM credit on it because that would be disappointing
2.5 stars
5. The Grave Maurice by Martha GrimesLeave it to me to buy books in January (I am who I am) but I have been wanting to read the next book in the Richard Jury series and I had a gift card! This was a book I very much enjoyed reading and I knew I needed to read something nice and familiar. The one thing that I do enjoy about this series is that there isn't always a happy ending, such is life.
Four stars
6. The Wife by Meg Wolitzer I picked up this book because it was adapted into a movie starring Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons. Finally read it (now I can see the movie) and it was a fast read (but I’m reading like 5 other books so this was my morning book) and it was fine. It was pretty easy to deduce the plot twist (though it seems like the point). The ending was unsatisfactory to me.
Three stars
7. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik LarsonI had no idea what or where this book would take me but all it I took from it was an ineffective and anti-semetic ambassador to Nazi Germany and his spoiled child running around Nazi Germany. It was a bore to listen to. The history aspect was interesting but the main characters, bleh.
Three stars
8. The Woman in White by Wilkie CollinsI've had this book for years now and I actually picked this for my book club pick back in October... didn't read it. Glad I finally did. It was frustrating to me about how I wanted some of these characters to act but I really enjoyed the mystery. Well done. It was also nice to dip into older writings because I've been mostly sticking to late 20th and 21st century authors. I need to make sure I add that into the rotation.
Four stars
Karina wrote: "8. The Woman in White by Wilkie CollinsI've had this book for years now and I actually picked this for my book club pick back in October... didn't read it. Glad I finally did. It was frustrating ..."
I liked Woman in White, but I loved his book, The Moonstone... even if it meandered a bit.
9. Winter in Paradise by Elin HilderbrandSometimes I just want a quick and mindless read and Elin provides that. These aren’t ground breaking books but now I want to go to St. John’s.
Book 2/3 from March 2021 book of the month (I am doing horrible with those books)
Three stars
Mod
Sometimes I just want a quick and mindless read and Elin provides that. These aren’t ground breaking books but now I want to go to St. John’s.
Book 2/3 ..."
Yes, this was a fun trilogy! Aside from the serious stuff. lol.
Elyse wrote: "Karina wrote: "9. Winter in Paradise by Elin HilderbrandSometimes I just want a quick and mindless read and Elin provides that. These aren’t ground breaking books but now I want to go to St. John..."
I have the second book in the trilogy I do plan on reading. But I have some library books and a book club book I need to read by next Sunday. So hopefully after that. I like how they are just mindless reads and now I really want to go to St. John.
11. Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl GonzalezThis book took me a long time to read not because I didn't enjoy it but I have about 5 other books going at the same time (WILD, I know). I finally decided to just make this one a priority and read it. I chose this book because it was on the Booksparks winter reading list and this was a very complex book that gave me a lot of feelings. I definitely would suggest this book to everyone!
Book 1/3 from my January 2022 BOTM box (I am aware of how many books I have)
4 stars
10. Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle CosimanoThis is actually the 10th book I read but apparently never logged it! I am reading books of the Booksparks 2022 Winter reading list and one of the books is Final Donovan Knocks Em Dead but I wanted to read the first book before the sequel so I utilized my local library (go me!) and read this one. It was cute. A very quick read that is great palate cleanser, beach read or something for a plane ride. It won't take long to read at all. I finished this book on Feb 12th.
Three stars
Mod
This book took me a long time to read not because I didn't enjoy it but I have about 5 other books going at the same time (WILD, I know). I finally decid..."
Oh good 4 stars! I chose this one as well.
12. Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones I enjoyed this book. It has a slow start but ramps up at the end.
3.5 stars
13. Beloved by Toni Morrison What can be said about Ms. Morrison that hasn’t already been said? Her writing is pure poetry.
Five stars
14. Rock Paper Scissors by Alice FeeneyThere were so many problems with this book. So many plot holes. So many. And I don’t mind having unreliable narrators and plot twists but you need to fill in the holes!!! Also, the “fortune cookie wisdom” every other sentence was annoying.
2 stars
Karina wrote: "13. Beloved by Toni Morrison What can be said about Ms. Morrison that hasn’t already been said? Her writing is pure poetry.
Five stars"
I read this so many years ago, and still it is one of my favorite all time books.
16. Lot: Stories by Bryan WashingtonI enjoy short stories and I do enjoy when they weave together. I really enjoy Washington's writing. He is a beautiful writer and I need to read his novel, Memorial, which is one of my BOTM books and it is currently sitting on my nightstand (with so many other books)
Four stars
17. The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. JamesI enjoyed The Broken Girls and I like how Simone weaves in ghosts to her mysteries/thrillers since the super natural is not a genre that I ever care to read but I like how she uses it in her books. I enjoyed this story but I guess I didn't love it as much as other people did? It was a decent mystery but I am not going to lie, I wish she used the ghosts more. She did and then it petered out.
Three stars
18. All of You Every Single One by Beatrice HitchmanI enjoyed this book even though I had no idea what it would be about. I don’t read a lot of stories of historical fiction that center on queer characters. I really enjoyed it but there were definitely some plot holes that needed to be filled.
3.5 stars
19. Tell Me Three Things by Julie BuxbaumWhy would I ever ready my own books and just decide to go to the library? Good question but at least I didn’t buy another book! I had this book written down on a list of books to read (no idea what the list is about but decided to tackle the list) and got it at the library. I don’t usually find myself reading YA books except if it’s on a reading list but I did enjoy this book and it was a very fast read.
3.5 stars
20. Michael Kohlhaas by Heinrich von Kleist Another library book. But a short one! A book on the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list.
three stars
21. The Wives by Tarryn FisherA book from the 2019 BOTM stack I have not finished and I feel like this was one of those books in their run of bad thrillers/mysteries. It was bad.
Two stars
22. Before We Visit the Goddess by Chitra Banerjee DivakaruniAnother library book and another short one. I guess I expected more from this after reading the reviews. It was overall heartbreaking but a quick read.
three and a half stars
23. Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica KnollThis book was a toss up for me. Hard to get into (I am having a hard time reading books with awful narrator as human beings) but it picks up half way and made it worth it to finish.
2 1/2 stars rounded up to 3
24. Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris CleaveThis was yet another library book and this book was just okay. I think I need a break from WWII love stories.
3 stars
25. How Lucky by Will LeitchThis book has been on my shelf since last year. I enjoyed it though now that I finished it, I definitely have some feelings on it. The ending itself felt rushed and then it ended.
three stars
26. The Holdout by Graham MooreI really wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this book but I ended up getting sucked it. A really good whodunit!
3 1/2 stars
27. The Paris Apartment by Lucy FoleyThis one started off slow but it picked up. I wish I had spent more time reading on vacation!
Boo 1/3 from my April 2022 BOTM box
Mod
This one started off slow but it picked up. I wish I had spent more time reading on vacation!
Boo 1/3 from my April 2022 BOTM box"
Yes, I ended up giving it 4 stars! Towards the end (view spoiler)
28. In the Weeds by Tom VitaleI am one of those people who still seems to be affected by the loss of Anthony Bourdain and I can’t explain it. This memoir by his director for No Reservations and Parts Unknown gives us not only more insight to Tony but also what it was like to really travel and do these food shows and it wasn’t as glamorous as the tv made it seem. Loved this book.
4.5 stars
29. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien A re-read for me. My favorite fantasy series. Forgot to add this to my list!
5 stars ALWAYS
Elyse wrote: "Karina wrote: "27. The Paris Apartment by Lucy FoleyThis one started off slow but it picked up. I wish I had spent more time reading on vacation!
Boo 1/3 from my April 2022 BOTM box"
Yes, I en..."
The end is what made the book
30. The Maid by Nina ProseI enjoyed this "cozy" mystery and found myself mad at how everyone treated Molly most of the time!
3.5 stars
Book 1/3 from March 2022 BOTM box
31. Somebody's Daughter by Ashley FordI think I am entering my memoir kick.
Book 1/3 from my December 2021 BOTM box.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
32. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John Le CarréAnother library book I needed to read!
Not a huge fan of Le Carré I’ve decided.
Three stars
33. The Cartographers by Peng Shepard Enjoyed this book immensely!
Book 2/3 from my March 2022 BOTM box
Four stars
34. Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy L SayersI rather enjoyed this murder mystery from the 30s
4 stars
35. Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz Read this for a book club I am in. Fast read and interesting story.
3 stars
36. Crying in H Mart by Michelle ZaunerLoved this memoir. It was sad and funny and made me hungry.
Four stars
Book 1/3 from my October 2021 BOTM box
Mod
Loved this memoir. It was sad and funny and made me hungry.
Four stars
Book 1/3 from my October 2021 BOTM box"
I enjoyed this one. I listened to the audiobook. Did not know she was in a band and have never heard of the band. And still haven't listened. lol. Ok just threw it on Alexa. Not really my jam. lol.
