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2023 Independent Challenges
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Bill's Independent Challenges for 2023 (Done like toast. Onward to 2024)
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Completed 7 more books from my mid-August update. Total completed is 13, roughly 3300 pages.
Completed
1. Slaves of Heaven by Edmund Cooper Dystopi..."
Great update, Bill!!
It gives me incentive to get back to my reading. It hot as blazes here, but cooler temps are trying to creep in!
I want to start Sand at the end of the year. I read an excerpt and it immediately drew me in. I longed for more, so hopefully, it is good.
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Completed 7 more books from my mid-August update. Total completed is 13, roughly 3300 pages.
Completed
1. Slaves of Heaven by [author:Edmund Cooper|3..."
Oh yes. It does sound interesting. Cool.
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Bill wrote: "End August UpdateCompleted
6. When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson Back to Jackson Brodie again.. Yay."
Love Jackson Brodie! Enjoy!
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Completed
6. When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson Back to Jackson Brodie again.. Yay."
Love Jackson Brodie! Enjoy!"
The TV series was great as well. I really have enjoyed the books I've read so far.
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I've read quite a few of her books and I totally agree. She is a fantastic story teller.
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I completed 6 books up to 15 September, mostly graphic novels and enjoyed them all. I'm making slow but steady progress on the other books I'm enjoying. Must focus.
(Minor complaint at the moment. I tried to rate Sandman Vol 7 and I got an error message saying Sorry but.... BUT WHAT!!. So I tried to write my review and it wouldn't let me save it.. Grrrrr.. Will try again soon, if I can remember my thoughts on it..
So...
Finished
1 & 2 Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Omnibus Volume 3 3.5 stars & Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Omnibus Volume 4 4.0 stars by Stephen McCranie. Such an excellent graphic novel series. Vols 3 & 4 cover chapters 7 - 12 and we finally get Space Boy's back story. Most enjoyable. The next omnibus isn't out until Mar of 2024 so I've ordered Chaps 13 & 14.
3 & 4. The Hidden Witch (4.0 stars) & The Midwinter Witch 4.0 stars by Molly Knox Ostertag. An entertaining fantasy graphic novel trilogy. Everything is wrapped up nicely. The characters are all lovely and the artwork is super. Maybe Molly will continue the series sometime
5. Something Borrowed, Something Black by Loren D. Estleman 3.0 stars. Something akin to the Butcher Boy series. Pete Macklin is now a retired hit man who is forced back into service to protect his wife. Sufficient action and tension to move the story along nicely. Entertaining read.
6. The Sandman, Vol. 7: Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman 4.5 stars. What an imagination Neil Gaiman possesses. Delirium and Dream go on a voyage to discover where their brother Destruction is hiding. Great story, great artwork. Delirium is a fantastic character, strange and enjoyable. The scene where she is driving the car and guided by the raven is hilarious.
Currently Reading
(Slow progress for some reason and I keep starting others)
1. When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson (Jackson Brodie #3) Just starting. I love her writing.
2. The Celtic Riddle by Lyn Hamilton An entertaining mystery set in Ireland. Kind of a treasure hunt with murder.
3. The King of Plagues by Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger #3) Not my favorite of the series so far, but still tense and interesting.
4. The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby An historical mystery set in ancient Greece (Athens to be specific). A slow build but an interesting setting.
5. Dust by Hugh Howey I'm kind of confused with this last of the Silo series but it's always interesting
6. Chasing The Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World by Samantha Power Interesting biography of one of the leaders of the UN's refugee program.
7. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis Interesting time travel book. Set in early England.
8. The Mystery of Tunnel 51 by Alexander Wilson The first Leonard Wallace spy mystery. Set in India during the Raj. Enjoying so far.
9. The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How it Changed America by David Hajdu History of the comic book. Fascinating for a comic book guy.
10. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. Environmental blockbuster from the '60s. Very readable.
Possible Next Reads
1. Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks The Culture series is one of my favorite Sci Fi series.
2. The Gift by Lewis Hyde. I have no idea what it's about except Margaret Atwood recommended in a book of hers that I enjoyed.
3. The Blood Books, Vol. 3 by Tanya Huff Hoping to finish this series in 2023... first to finish Dust!
4. The Skull Mantra by Eliot Pattison Inspector Shan #1, a new series.
5. Blind Devotion by Cathy Symons. A book for those coping with blind dogs..
Enjoy the rest of your September reading.
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Next in line is The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
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by Brian K. Vaughan 4.0 stars.. Now to complete some books and AVOID the next shiny new graphic novel!https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Next in line, continuing with the Culture series, Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks (Culture #6)
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Next in line is the 1st Inspector Shan mystery, The Skull Mantra by Eliot Pattison
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When you get done; read my spoilers in my review at the end. I want to know what you think.
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When you get done; read my ..."
I've been focusing on Dust the past week or so. Hope to finish soon. Will check out your comments.
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I've completed 7 books since my mid month update, 4 of which were graphic novels. Total for the month is 13. No 5 star reads but I've enjoyed my month.
Finished
1. The Celtic Riddle by Lyn Hamilton Lara McClintoch #4. Set in Ireland, Lara and friends go to help their best friend as he sits in on a will reading. It will turn into a treasure hunt with some danger involved. 3.5 stars
2. Saga, Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan I love this graphic novel series. Kind of a Romeo & Juliet and a thrilling manhunt. Fantastic series. (4.0 stars)
3. The King of Plagues by Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger #3). If you want action, this is the story for you. DMS vs the 7 Kings as the DMS tries to save the world and the Kings try to cause chaos. (4.0 stars)
4. The Mystery of Tunnel 51 by Alexander Wilson (Leonard Wallace #1) Spy series featuring England's spy chief as he heads to India to rout Russian spies bent on destroying English rule in India. Set in the early 1900s. 4.0 stars
5. & 6. Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 13 (4.5 stars) & Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 14 (4.0 stars) by Stephen McCranie Unfortunately there are no more omnibus editions until Mar 2024 so I'm forced to buy them one at a time. Another graphic novel series I enjoy immensely.
7. The Sandman, Vol. 8: Worlds' End by Neil Gaiman. A group of travelers are brought to he Worlds' End in by reality storms and pass time telling stories. Like Canterbury Tales told in one location. Always fascinating (4.0 stars)
Top 3
1. The Sandman, Vol. 7: Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman 4.5 stars
2. Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 13 by Stephen McCranie 4.5 stars
3. Saga, Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan 4.0 stars
Currently Reading
1. The Skull Mantra by Eliot Pattison (Inspector Shan #1). Just started but it's grabbed my attention right away. Crime set in Tibet.
2. Dust by Hugh Howey Making my way through this last Silo book. Now that I've focused on it more, it's moving along nicely and tensely.
3. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi Another new author for me. Dystopian story set in Thailand.. so far anyway. I like it.
4. The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby (Athenian Mysteries #1). I need to focus on this a bit more. It's languidly paced and I like the picture of ancient Greece it's presenting.
5. The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How it Changed America by David Hajdu I'm enjoying this historical look at the development of the comic industry.
6. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson Written in the 1960s but still topical and scary and depressing.
7. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (Oxford Time Travel #1). Getting into this now. It's getting interesting.
8. Chasing The Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World by Samantha Power Intersting.
9. When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson (Jackson Brodie #3). Just starting but I've enjoyed every book I've ever read by Atkinson.
Possible Hoppers
The year is winding down so I'll have to start reading somewhat shorter books.
1. Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks (Culture #3). An excellent Sci Fi series.
2. The Blackhouse by Peter May (Fin MacLeod #1)
3. Without Trumpet or Drum by John Sanders (Nicholas Pym #3). Adventure thriller set in Cromwell's England.
4. The City of Gold and Lead by John Christopher (Tripod #2) YA Sci Fi trilogy.
Enjoy your October spooky Hallowe'en reading.
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Okay. I made sure to tag the spoiler, because my questions are there. I kept saying, "What am I missing??" *sigh*
September looks like it was good for you, hope that you enjoy October too. I haven't read anything on your currently reading list, but quite a few are on my TBR. Here's hoping they are all great.
Not a bad month, Bill. Glad to see you're enjoying Saga (I do, too, I think I got to #7 and there are 11 so far, with 3 more already announced. I hope to catch up with this).The only others I'm familiar with, Joe Ledger and Dust, both favorites.
Sandman....Sandman, you want me look into it. Maybe after I'm done with Saga. Happy Oct reading!
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Okay. I made sure to tag the spoiler, because my questions are there. I kept say..."
I enjoyed reading your review.
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Thanks, Lea. Good luck with your October reading selections.
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The only others I'm fa..."
Saga is refreshing. I really enjoy it. Sandman is a bit different. I think you'll like it. Check out Space Boy. You'll get hooked, Ioana.
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Bill wrote: "Saga is refreshing. I really enjoy it. Sandman is a bit different. I think you'll like it. Check out Space Boy. You'll get hooked, Ioana"No Space Boy at any of my libraries, but they have Sandman, so I'll try that one. Thanks!
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by Rachel Smythe 3.5 stars (I probably could have rated higher but I just had some confusion with who was who at times. I blame on old age)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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I've completed six books so far in October, finishing off two series.
Completed
1. Dust by Hugh Howey The last book in the Silo series. It wrapped up things pretty well, although it seemed to leave an opening for a look at how the future of Earth progresses. 5.0 stars
2. Shattered Warrior by Sharon Shinn Excellent graphic novel. A group of humans try to save their planet from the alien overlords. Well drawn and interesting characters and story. 4.0 stars
3. Lore Olympus: Volume Three by Rachel Smythe The 3rd omnibus in this series about the ongoing, developing relationship between Hades and Persephone in a modern setting. Great artwork and sometimes confusing but entertaining graphic novel series. 3.5 stars
4. The City of Gold and Lead (3.5 stars) & 5.The Pool of Fire 3.5 stars by John Christopher The final two books in this YA Sci-Fi trilogy. Earth is finally fighting back after being taken over by the Tripods. Interesting series.
6. Normandy Gold Vol. 1 by Megan Abbott Pulp / noir crime graphic novel from the Hard Case Crime people. Female cop, Normandy, heads to DC to try and find her younger sister who is in trouble. Political intrigue, violence, sex... entertaining. 3.0 stars
Currently Reading
1. Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon Just started but my first horror novel of October.
2. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi Finally starting to get into this. Dystopic future, gene splitting, enhanced humans, set in Thailand. Interesting so far.
3. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis Time travel book. The traveler is in the past and sick and in the present (actually our future) there is a virus of some sort running through Oxford. Is it the same thing that Kirvin has back in the past?
4. When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson A Jackson Brodie mystery. Just getting into it but I love Atkinson's story telling.
5. The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How it Changed America by David Hajdu Non-fiction. Sort of a history of the comic book and efforts by the Church and government to ban them because of their 'evil' influence.
6. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson Non-fiction. A classic about the impact of DDT and other pesticides and herbicides and their possible impact on the environment. Technical but still easy to read and understand.
7. Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks Culture #7. I love this universe that Banks has created; sentient drones and space ships, fascinating worlds, spies... Always a fascinating read.
8. The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby Athenian Mysteries #1, set in early Athens. A bit of a slow read but interesting enough setting to keep reading.
9. Chasing The Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World by Samantha Power Non-fiction. The biography of Sergio Mello a UN rep who went to every trouble spot to try and resolve the situations. Working my way through it.
10. The Skull Mantra by Eliot Pattison The first Inspector Shan mystery in Tibet. I'm liking this so far; kind of a combination of The Life of Ivan Denisovich and a murder mystery.
Upcoming
The year is winding down so I have to make sure I complete everything I'm reading and not try to many more really long books (or as we like to call them, tomes). A couple of possibilities
1. Without Trumpet or Drum by John Sanders A historical adventure featuring Cromwell's favorite spy, Nicholas Pym. #3 in the series
2. Hell House by Richard Matheson. Another for horror month
3. Blind Devotion by Cathy Symons Suggested by our doggie opthamologist to help deal with our blind doggie. I've been avoiding. But she's such a trooper that I feel the need to try it.
Enjoy the rest of your October reading folks! Happy Hallowe'en!
Nice mid-month update, you are making great progress! I'm glad you liked Dust, and yes, as much as I dislike adding more books to completed series, I'd like to see another one here.Silent Spring has been on my radar for a while, thanks for the reminder. This is no myth. I am a birder, and I can tell you, the woods are much quieter now than 10-15 years ago. Very sad for us, humans, and my photography hobby.
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Silent Spring ..."
Man hasn't treated Mother Nature very well. I hope she's not too mad at us and will give us another chance
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Glad you loved Dust. Me and the hubby started the Silo series on Apple + (??) a few weeks ago. They have done a really good job with it. So far, it looks like they are doing the seasons by each book?? I like it.
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For November and December, in my Non-Series challenge I'll be using no particular genre or style, probably mainly short books as I've got to finish off other books I've had on the go for a long time... My first November book is a graphic novel, The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini by Cynthia von Buhler
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"
Yay! Glad you enjoyed this. I really like this series. There is finally a 7th book.
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I hope there is more clarity about who, what, where, etc in the next installment.
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There is, with each book.
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I completed 9 books in October, 3 since my mid-month update. Total pages 2600+ pages.
Latest books completed
1. Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie M. Liu an interesting new graphic novel series, combination of Fantasy and Sci Fi. Very gritty and dark 4.0 stars
2. The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How it Changed America by David Hajdu. Non-fiction story about the history of comic books and the efforts to ban them in the late 40s and 50s. 4.0 stars
3. Girlfriend on Mars by Deborah Willis Canadian author Willis's first novel. Girl enters competition to become one of two people selected to be the first people on Mars. Story moves between her boyfriend and her. Definitely different 3.5 stars
Top Three Books
1. Dust by Hugh Howey 5.0 stars. Excellent finish to the Silo series.
2. The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How it Changed America by David Hajdu 4.0 stars
3. Shattered Warrior by Sharon Shinn 4.0 stars
Currently Reading
1. Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks (Sci Fi / Culture #7)
2. Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon (Oct Horror challenge)
3. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (Oxford Time Travel #1)
4. When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson (Jackson Brodie #3 / Mys)
5. The Skull Mantra by Eliot Pattison (Inspector Shan #1 / Mys)
6. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (Non Fic / Environmental)
7. Chasing The Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World by Samantha Power (Non Fic / Biography)
8. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (Dystopia)
9. The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby (Athenian Mysteries #1 / Historical fic)
In the Hopper
I'm going to concentrate on finishing the books I'm currently reading. The rest will be sort of free wheeling and probably shorter so I can finish everything by end year.
1. The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini by Cynthia von Buhler (Hard Crime grapic)
2. Jacinda Ardern (I Know This To Be True): On kindness, empathy & strength by Jacinda Ardern (Non - Fiction)
Enjoy your November reading selections.
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A next in series book next with the 3rd Nicholas Pym historical adventure, Without Trumpet or Drum by John Sanders
You always have such interesting books on the go. I like how you're trying to wind down the number of books you're reading, I really need to consider doing the same. Hope your November reads are good! :-)
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Thanks, Lea. Good luck with yours.
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I put Sand down for a bit due to a reading marathon of horror. I need to return to it ASAP.
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I put Sand down for a bit due to a reading marathon of horror. I need to return to it ASAP."
Thanks, Alondra. Sand arrived recently. Looking forward to reading it.
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Completed 7 more books from my mid-August update. Total completed is 13, roughly 3300 pages.
Completed
1. Slaves of Heaven by Edmund Cooper Dystopic future. Humans trying to survive on Earth, tribes fighting each other and also strangers who attack at night and steal their women (3.5 stars)
2. The Sandman, Vol. 6: Fables & Reflections by Neil Gaiman. Vol 6 of the Sandman series. Excellent artwrork and stories. 4.0 stars
3. Quiller Barracuda by Adam Hall Cynical British spy Quiller finds himself in Florida investigating another British spy. Political intrigue, drugs, action 4.0 stars
4. Gun Honey, Vol. 2: Blood for Blood by Charles Ardai. Sexy gun smuggler Joanna Tan tries to discover who is framing her. Lots of action. 3.5 stars
5. The Curse of the Gloamglozer by Paul Stewart Excellent fantasy, Book 1 of the Quint trilogy. 4.5 stars
6. The Stepdaughter by Debbie Howells British mystery. A missing daughter, possible porn ring. Psychological mystery 4.0 stars
7. Vanish in an Instant by Margaret Millar A man is murdered, his mistress arrested, another man confesses to the murder. Lawyer investigates. Excellent 4.5 stars
Currently Reading
1. Dust by Hugh Howey Last of the Silo series. I've been reading this for too long!
2. The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby. Athenian mysteries #1. Slowly getting into this.
3. The Mystery of Tunnel 51 by Alexander Wilson (Leonard Wallace #1). A new spy series for me. Just started.
4. The King of Plagues by Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger #3). Action, mystery, mysterious cabals, enjoying.
5. Chasing The Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World by Samantha Power An interesting biography set in the UN's Refugee organization.
6. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson Environmental blockbuster from 60s. One I should have read years ago.
7. The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How it Changed America by David Hajdu I think the title says it all. Sounds interesting
8. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis Time traveling and plague?? Interesting so far.
9. The Celtic Riddle by Lyn Hamilton (Lara McClintoch #4) Archeological mystery featuring Canadian antique dealer McClintoch, set in Ireland.
10. Something Borrowed, Something Black by Loren D. Estleman Retired hitman and newly married man Pete Macklin is brought back into the business.
In the Hopper
1. Blind Devotion by Cathy Symons Coping with a blind loving pet. I may have difficulty reading this one.
2. The Blood Books, Vol. 3 by Tanya Huff Final book in the Blood book series. Vampire teams up with female PI to solve supernatural mysteries.
3. The Skull Mantra by Eliot Pattison Book one of the Inspector Shan series.
4. Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks The Culture series is a favorite Sci Fi series of mine.
5. The Gift: Imagination and the Erotic Life of Property by Lewis Hyde Not sure what to expect from this book but it was recommended by Margaret Atwood in a book of her essays.
6. When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson Back to Jackson Brodie again.. Yay.
Enjoy your September reading.