75 Books...More or Less! discussion
Archive (2022 GR Completed)
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Connie's 2022 Challenge
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Connie
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Jan 05, 2022 11:06AM
I was somewhat absent last year, ready to get back in it though. I've pledged 150 books again this year. Hope to broaden my reach this year, but I do get stuck on those fast 'mystery' reads! We'll see how it goes. I am sure I will enjoy the reading either way!
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Starting the year off with Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James - almost through the series by Deborah Crombie. Only one left.
. To Dwell in Darkness #16
Garden of Lamentations #17
A Bitter Feast #184 stars each -
Thanks Elyse!4.
. The Death of Jane Lawrence - Caitlin Starling2 stars This story didn't quite hold together for me; the magic and the characters weren't believable or entertaining.
5.
. A Walk in the Woods - Bill Bryson 4 stars - a light, entertaining and humorous read
Mod
4.
. The Death of Jane Lawrence - Caitlin Starling2 stars This story didn't quite hold together for me; the magic and the characters ..."
Oh no! I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway and haven't gotten around to it yet. That doesn't bode well!
It might just be me! I hope you enjoy reading it.
Mod
Juli wrote: "Any suggestions for a great fast mystery series?"my favorites have been William Kent Krueger's Cork O'Connor series; Alan Bradley's Flavia deLuce series; and Deborah Crombie's Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James. There are a lot of books in the series, but I can read them pretty fast and they don't get old.
. Game One - Tempting Twenty Eight - Janet Evanovich. 3 stars
Mod
my favorites have been William Kent Krueger's Cork O'Connor series; Alan Bradley's Flavia deLuce series; and Deborah Crombie's Duncan..."
Flavia is the BEST. I miss her. I was thinking of doing a re-listen of the whole series soon. I listened to a couple of them and Jayne Entwhistle is delightful.
Juli wrote: "Any suggestions for a great fast mystery series?"I love the Phryne Fisher Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood. The first book is Cocaine Blues. They are fun, smart short and have about 22 books in the series. I listened to most. great narrator.
Carol wrote: "Juli wrote: "Any suggestions for a great fast mystery series?"I love the Phryne Fisher Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood. The first book is Cocaine Blues. They are fun, smart short and..."
I like Phryne also!
Elyse wrote: "Connie wrote: "Juli wrote: "Any suggestions for a great fast mystery series?"my favorites have been William Kent Krueger's Cork O'Connor series; Alan Bradley's Flavia deLuce series; and Deborah C..."
Flavia made me laugh!
8.
. Once There Were Wolves - Charlotte McConaghy - 3.5 stars. The ending was very unbelievable even in a somewhat fantasy tale.9.
. Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times - Katherine May - 3 Stars - Some powerful insights but an awful lot of time spent on authors's "difficult" times that were hard for me to relate to.
10. Address Unknown - Katherine Kressman Taylor 4 stars
. 11. Before she was Helen - Caroline B. Cooney 4 stars
12.
Under the Whispering Door TJ Klune 3 stars
15.
The Other Einstein - Marie Benedict 3 stars14.
A Line to Kill - Anthony Horowitz 4 stars13.
Cleopatra: a Life- Stacy Schiff - 3 stars
Mod
..."Schiff's Salem witch book was quite clunky so I'm afraid to read this one.
Elyse wrote: "Connie wrote: "13. ..."Schiff's Salem witch book was quite clunky so I'm afraid to read this one."
Clunky is a good word for it.
19.
The Only Woman in the Room - Marie Benedict 4 stars18.
Tuscan Child - Rhys Bowen 3 stars17.
Royal Flush - Rhys Bowen 3 stars16.
Royal Pain - Rhys Bowen 3 stars
23.
Gwendy's Magic Feather - Richard Chizmar 3 stars22.
The Grandmother Plot - Caroline B Cooney 4 stars21.
Get Well Soon - Jennifer Wright. 3 stars20.
The Madness of Crowds - Louise Penny. 4 stars
25.
52 Ways to Walk - Annabel Steele. 4 stars - lots of science to back up the benefits of walking. A great format that is motivating!24.
. Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict. 3 Stars. I keep hoping for a 4 Star read from Marie Benedict....one more to go, hope it is it. This one is about Lady Clementine Churchill, wife to the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.
29.
The Stranger in the Lifeboat - Mitch Albom. 3 stars - Not as rich as his other books.28.
Her Hidden Genius - Marie Benedict. 4 stars Yay!27.
Death of Riley - Rhys Bowen. 3 stars26.
Murphy's Law Rhys Bowen - 4 stars
Looks like you also gave The Only Woman in the Room 4 stars, or did you change it after some reflecting?I haven't read any Marie Benedict yet, but The Personal Librarian is on my hold list.
Charleen wrote: "Looks like you also gave The Only Woman in the Room 4 stars, or did you change it after some reflecting?I haven't read any Marie Benedict yet, but [book:The Personal Librarian|553..."
I had forgotten that The Only Woman in the Room was a 4 star!! I just finished Carnegie's Maid and it, alas, was not a 4. The Personal Librarian is a good solid read, I hope you enjoy it.
30.
. Carnegie's Maid - Marie Benedict 3 stars
31.
The Reading List - Sara Nisha Adams. 4 stars, although.....there are a few things that could have been handled better with one of the characters. Still, the tears did flow, I recommend it.
33.
. Radium Girls - Kate Moore 5 stars32.
The Housekeeper and the Professor Yoko Ogawa - 4 stars
Mod
. Radium Girls - Kate Moore 5 stars..."Radium Girls was so tragically good!!
Elyse wrote: "Connie wrote: "33.. Radium Girls - Kate Moore 5 stars..."Radium Girls was so tragically good!!"
I almost didn't read it, am so glad I did.
37.
The Music of Bees Eileen Garvin - 4 1/2 stars for this 'Hallmark' style story with lots of interesting information on bees. 36.
The Long Call - Ann Cleeves 3 stars - good story, the background love story was not my cup of tea though.35.
An Impossible Imposter - Deanna Raybourn - 3 stars. Love this series for a quick and entertaining read.34.
Soul Blazing - Lisa Haisha. 3 stars - interesting analysis on personality archetypes she calls Imposters and how they affect our actions and reactions.
38.
The Recovery Agent - Janet Evanovich - 2 maybe 2.5 stars because it's Janet Evanovich. This was a slew of Indiana Jones type adventures strung together by one-liners.
39,
. Wabi-Sari for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers - Leonard Koren. 3 starsImperfect, Impermanent and Incomplete - I like that.
47:
The Watchmaker's Daughter - C.J. Archer 3 stars. A fun, easy read.46.
The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.- Eva Jurczyk 3 stars - an interesting story with a decent telling. 45.
- Yasmin Boland - 3 stars - Good info with teasers to her website that did not contain additional info as promised.44.
The Only Astrology Book You'll Need - Joanna Martine Woodfolk 4 stars - Easy to understand basics of Astrology43.
Sisters of the Night and Fog - Erika Roebuck 4 stars Heartbreaking42.
Dean Until Dark - Charlaine Harris - 3 stars - Had to see what the buzz was about and I didn't really enjoy it that much.41.
Murder Under Her Skin - Stephen Spotswood 4 stars - This is the kind of mystery series that keeps me waiting for the next in line. 40.
. The Shape of Water - Andrea Camilleri - 3 stars - a good mystery series in Italy.
Mod
The Watchmaker's Daughter - C.J. Archer 3 stars. A fun, easy read.46.
..."I've got to shorten my reviews to one sentence like this! I'm so far behind on reviews. lol. Looks like a so-so round up. A couple of members buddy read The Shape of Water a couple years ago and did NOT like it. lol. I recall they said there were many penis references. 🤣
Elyse wrote: "Connie wrote: "47: The Watchmaker's Daughter - C.J. Archer 3 stars. A fun, easy read.46. [bookcover:The Department of Rare Books and Special Collect..."
yes, that is true!
48.
On a Night of a Thousand Stars - Andrea Yaryura Clark 3.5 stars49.
The Map Maker's Apprentice - CJ Archer 3 stars 50.
The Inner Sky - Steven Forrest - 5 stars A solid astrology reference book.51.
The Moor - Laurie R King - 3 stars - 52.
The Marlow Murder Club - Robert Thorogood - 4 stars Enjoyed this fast and entertaining whodunit.52.
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Helen Simpson - 3 stars Feel good story about companionship and love for widowed folks.54.
The Czars - James P Duffy - 4 stars. Well written and easy to read short histories of Russian rulers.55.
The Island of Missing Trees - Elif Shafak -5 stars. Beautiful writing and an engaging story set in Cyprus in the 1970's and London in the late 2010's.
59.
The Apothecary's Poison - C.J. Archer - 3 stars 3rd in the Glass and Steele series. A fast, easy mystery to veg with! Parts of the storyline are too drug out for me, though. 58.
A Sunlit Weapon - Jacqueline Winspear 3.5 stars - The latest Maisie Dobbs, as enjoyable as the rest of the series. 57.
The Cartographers - Peng Shepherd 3 stars - I like maps! The choices made over the future of cartography did not resonate with me and lessened my enjoyment of an otherwise good story. 56.
One Step Too Far - Lisa Gardner- 3.5 stars. 2nd in a series- Frankie Elkin solves missing person cold cases. It is refreshing that not all are missing teenage girls. Looking forward to hopefully a 3rd.
Mod
I've heard amazing and terrible things about this one because of the writing style. lol. I'm in the queue for the e-book, we'll see which camp I fall into.
Either way, I hope you enjoy the story!
60. A Peculiar Combination - Ashley Weaver - 4 stars61. The Magician's Diary - Glass and Steel #4 - CJ Archer 3 stars
62. Convent's Secret - Glass and Steel #5 - CJ Archer 3 stars
63. The Ink Master's Silence - Glass and Steel #6 -CJ Archer 3 stars
64. The Cheater's Game - Glass and Steel #7 - CJ Archer 3 stars
65. The Prisoner's Key - Glass and Steel #8 - CJ Archer 3 stars
66. The Imposter's Inheritance - Glass and Steel #9 - CJ Archer 3 stars
67. The Kidnapper's Accomplice - Glass and Steel #10 - CJ Archer 3 stars
68. The Spy Master's Scheme - Glass and Steel #11- CJ Archer 3 stars
69. The Toymaker's Curse - Glass and Steel #12 - CJ Archer 3 stars
70. The Goldsmith's Conspiracy - Glass and Steel #13 - CJ Archer 3 stars
71. A Study of Scarlet Women - Lady Sherlock #1 -Sherry Thomas 4 stars
72. A Conspiracy in Belgravia - Lady Sherlock #2 - Sherry Thomas 4 stars
73. The Hollow of Fear- Lady Sherlock #3 - Sherry Thomas 4 stars
Mod
61. The Magician's Diary - Glass and Steel #4 - CJ Archer 3 stars
62. Convent's Secret - Glass and Steel #5 - CJ Archer 3 stars
63. The Ink Mast..."
I've really been enjoying the Lady Sherlock series!
As have I! It's been interesting to see how she has brought in all of the characters. I am on a hunt for the rest of the series. My go tolibrary only had the first 3. Fortunately, there are more libraries!
74. Royal Blood - Rhys Bowen (Her Royal Spyness #4) 4 stars75. The Unkindness of Ravens - M.E.Hillard - 3 stars
76. Murder in Old Bombay - Nev March 4 stars
77. Naughty in Nice - Rhys Bowen (Her royal Spyness #5) 3 strs
78. Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt - 5 stars
79. The Woman in the Library - Sulari Gentill - 3 stars
80. The Sentence - Louise Erdrich 4 stars
81. The Mayfair Book Shop - Eliza Knight - 3 stars
82. Bewilderment - Richard Powers 4 stars
83. Hotel Portofino - J.P. O'Connell 3 stars
84. A Rip Through Time - Kelly Armstrong - 4 stars
85. The Outcast Dead (Ruth Galloway #7) - Elly Griffiths. 3.5 stars
86. The Woman in Blue - Elly Griffiths 3 stars. Ruth gets on my nerves, but I hope to get through this series this year!87. Open and Shut - David Rosenfelt - 3 stars. Not as good Chet & Bernie series - but a good legal mystery. King of Sarcasm!
88. Muzzled - David Rosenfelt - 3 stars. ditto
89. The Ghost Fields - Elly Griffiths 3 stars - ditto
90. Circe - Madeline Miller - 4 stars - Nice retelling of the greek myth; sparked my curiosity for more.
91. The Chalk Pit - Elly Griffiths 3 stars ditto
92. The Huntress - Kate Quinn 3 stars WWII historical fiction
93. Masked Ball at Broxley Manor - Rhys Bowen - 3 stars. #.05 of Her Royal Spyness. Hope to finish up the series this year.
94. The Twelve Clues of Christmas - Rhys Bowen 3 stars More of her Royal Spyness.
95. Mycroft Holmes - Kareem Abdul-Jabar 2.5 stars - too much detail and explanation
96. The Art of Theft (Lady Sherlock #4) Sherry Thomas 3 stars - Lady Sherlock is fasinating.
97. Murder on Cold St (Lady Sherlock #5) Sherry Thomas 3 stars
98. Heirs and Graces - Rhys Bowen 3 stars - Her Royal Spyness
99. Queen of Hearts - Rhys Bowen 3 stars - Her Royal Spyness
100. Mrs Pollifax on Safari - Dorothy Gilman 4 stars - Love Mrs Pollifax - another series I hope to finish this year. Copies are hard to come by.
CHALLENGE MET!!!
101. Mrs Pollifax on the China Station - Dorothy Gilman 4 stars
102. Unlikely Animals - Annie Hartnett - 3 stars -
103. Miss Moriarty, I Presume (lady Sherlock #6) Sherry Thomas 4 stars
104. Peril at the Exposition - Nev March 3 stars - Captain Jack I like, his wife, Diana, not as much. Captain took a back seat in this one.
Thanks! I started off so slow this year that I figured I'd be lucky to hit 100. Need to up the number to finish out the year.
105.
Malice at the Palace - Her Royal Spyness #9 Rhys Bowen 3 stars106.
The Devil and the Dark Water - Stuart Turton 3 stars107.
The Key to Deceit - Ashley Weaver - 4 stars108.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne 3 stars109.
Crowned & Dangerous - Rhys Bowen - Her Royal Spyness #10 - 3 stars110.
On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service HRS#11 -Rhys Bowen. 3 stars111.
Four Funeralsand Maybe a Wedding HRS #12 - Rhys Bowen - 3 stars112.
The Right Side - Spencer Quinn - 4.5 stars113.
You were born for this (Astrology Primer) - Chani Nichols 4 stars114.
Love and Death Among the Cheetahs - Rhys Bowen HRS #13 -2.5 stars115.
Murder at the Brightwell - Ashley Weaver (Amory Ames #1) 4 stars116.
The Last Mrs Summers - Rhys Bowen (HRS #14) 3 stars117.
Mrs Pollifax and the Whirling Devrish Dorothy Gilman 4 stars118.
Mrs Pollifax Pursued - Dorothy Gilman 4 stars119.
Mrs Pollifax Innocent Tourist - Dorothy Gilman 4 stars120.
Death Wears a Mask - Ashley Weaver (Amory Ames #2) 3 stars121.
A Most Novel Revenge - Ashley Weaver (Amory Ames #3) 3 stars122.
Mrs Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha - Dorothy Gilman - 4 stars123.
The Terra Cotta Dog - Andrea Camilleri 3 stars124.
Pachinko - Min-jin Lee 4.5 stars125.
Mexican Gothic - Silvia Moreno-Garcia 4 stars126.
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte 4 stars
75 Books...More or Less!
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