Lea's 2nd Annual Reading Challenge - COMPLETED

[Alissa]

Lillie wrote: "I keep thinking about picking up one of her novels because they look like good summer/beach reads but haven’t yet. Think this author’s going to go on my “maybe when I have nothing else to read list”"

I recommend The Rumor, her "Paradise" trilogy (Winter in Paradise is the first one) or 28 Summers. I will admit most of her books are 3-star reads which is perfect for a breach read but the above ones I absolutely loved

[Lea]

Dear Ms. Burton,

I enjoyed reading The House of Fortune, but it had been over 8 years since I read the first book in the series, The Miniaturist, so I did cheat and read a summary of what happened in the first book, but I'm sure I forgot everything. I enjoyed the writing and learning what happened to certain characters. However, I did think it lacked a little of the atmosphere of the first one. The first one is just so creepy, and there are so many things you don't understand at first. I felt like the second book did not have that. But it was still well written and very interesting. I'm glad I read this book, and will read more books written by you.

Regards,
Lea

[Alissa]

You're almost doneeeeeeeeeeeeeeee girl!!

[Lillie]

Alissa wrote: "I recommend The Rumor, her "Paradise" trilogy (Winter in Paradise is the first one) or 28 Summers. I will admit most of her books are 3-star reads which is perfect for a breach read but the above ones I absolutely loved"

Thanks Alissa! Will add the Paradise trilogy to my tbr list

[Lillie]

Can't believe you're only 2 books shy of finishing Lea! Will you be doing another challenge list? (this is your 2nd one this year, right?)

[Lea]

Lillie wrote: "Can't believe you're only 2 books shy of finishing Lea! Will you be doing another challenge list? (this is your 2nd one this year, right?)"

Nope. This is my first one. I have a very hard time committing to reading certain books. As soon as they go on this list and have to be read this year, I want to read something else. I am hoping to buddy read one of my books in October with Carolien and the other one will come with time. I'm not in the mood for it right now...and I'm a very moody reader.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Great letter, as always, Lea.

I feel you on the moody reader info. This summer has been a whole mood, but a very good one. Gardening, family. I just was too busy or too tired from being busy, to care about getting my reading done.

Kudos on your progress, and of course, the Miniaturist is on my TBR

[Lea]

Alondra wrote: "Great letter, as always, Lea.

I feel you on the moody reader info. This summer has been a whole mood, but a very good one. Gardening, family. I just was too busy or too tired from being busy, to care about getting my reading done.

Kudos on your progress, and of course, the Miniaturist is on my TBR"

I love that you had such a great summer. Spending time in the garden and with family are two great reasons not to win any reading awards. It has been a nice summer, and I've enjoyed being outside too. Reading books is therapeutic, but so is being outside. Here's hoping to more sunny days ahead and more time with the family...and if that can't happen, more great books to read!

[Lea]

Dear Ms. Morrison,

I just finished reading Jazz, which is the third book I've read written by you. (I've also read Beloved and Sula.) For such a short book, it really captured a lot of issues, dancing through them as quickly as a complicated jazz tune. Each phrase is important, lest I might miss some of the awful things that happened, and the composition moves along rapidly, moving from one character to the other, in a stream of consciousness fashion that belies how well constructed this novel was. I was very impressed. I think I will continue reading at least one of your novels each year, the only challenge will be to pick which to read next.

Regards,
Lea

PS - I rated this book 4 stars, just behind Beloved and just ahead of Sula, but each book has been amazing in its own right.

[Patricia]

I need to read more of Toni Morrison. I've only read Song of Solomon & it was a tough read. I know all of her books are in some way. They are the type of books I need to read with a group.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Lea wrote: "Dear Ms. Morrison,

I just finished reading Jazz, which is the third book I've read written by you. (I've also read Beloved and Sula.) For such a short book, i..."

Yeah; I've read most of her work.

The Bluest Eye is highly recommended, but only if you have a light, fluffy book to read immediately after. I loved Jazz and Sula; those are my favs.

[Lea]

Patricia wrote: "I need to read more of Toni Morrison. I've only read Song of Solomon & it was a tough read. I know all of her books are in some way. They are the type of books I need to read with a group."

Yes, they are all tough reads. Maybe we can buddy read another Morrison book next year. Carolien and I have read Morrison in October for the past two years, and just after my heart begins to heal, we read another one. :-) I am thinking to read The Bluest Eye or Paradise next year. Would you be up for either of those?

[Lea]

Alondra wrote: "Yeah; I've read most of her work.

The Bluest Eye is highly recommended, but only if you have a light, fluffy book to read immediately after. I loved Jazz and Sula; those are my favs."

Beloved was my first Morrison book and it packed such a punch, I am still recovering three years later. I was really impressed with the construction of Jazz, and am still pondering Sula. That books made me really think. I'm glad to hear that The Bluest Eye is recommended, and I will definitely have something light and fluffy to read immediately after whenever I decide to tackle it.

[Patricia]

Lea wrote: "Patricia wrote: "I need to read more of Toni Morrison. I've only read Song of Solomon & it was a tough read. I know all of her books are in some way. They are the type of books I need ..."
Yes! I would definitely want to read either of those.

[Lea]

Dear Mr. McCarthy,

I really wanted to enjoy Suttree. The book was so beautifully written. The language was beautiful and I really felt like I was in Knoxville during the 1950s, living amongst all of the other river rats. However, despite all the beautiful words, this book just made me feel hopeless. Your main character, Suttree, is just such a lost creature. Watching a person ruin themselves over and over again, as well as other people also, is just so painful. I'm not saying this doesn't happen in real life, because it does, painfully so. I was left with a lot of despair and not too much hope at the end of this book...and a profound sense of relief that the book was over and I didn't have to live there anymore. I will certainly read more of your work, but I will need a break. This one was just brutal.

Lea

[Michelle]

Congrats on completing your list Lea! And thanks for reminding me not to read McCarthy.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Lea wrote: "Dear Mr. McCarthy,

I really wanted to enjoy Suttree. The book was so beautifully written. The language was beautiful and I really felt like I was in Knoxville during the 1950s, livi..."

Yeah; I won't be reading this. I am finishing up Cities of the Plain and that is enough McCarthy for the year. Glad you got to read it though. Great letter

[Ioana]

Lea wrote: "Dear Mr. McCarthy,

I really wanted to enjoy Suttree. The book was so beautifully written. The language was beautiful and I really felt like I was in Knoxville during the 1950s, livi..."

I've tried a couple of his books, and I have to confess, we did not become friends. I don't think I'll rush to try any of his other books any time soon. Good for you for finishing it, congrats!

[Lea]

Michelle wrote: "Congrats on completing your list Lea! And thanks for reminding me not to read McCarthy."

I love McCarthy, but this was my least favorite book written by him. It's very depressing. Not to say that there aren't laugh out loud hilarious moments. There are. It just was very bleak.

[Lea]

Alondra wrote: "Yeah; I won't be reading this. I am finishing up Cities of the Plain and that is enough McCarthy for the year. Glad you got to read it though. Great letter"

I agree, one McCarthy per year is plenty. I am doing the same with Morrison.

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "I've tried a couple of his books, and I have to confess, we did not become friends. I don't think I'll rush to try any of his other books any time soon. Good for you for finishing it, congrats!"

Knowing what I know about your reading taste, Ioana, I do not think you'd like this. There are some scenes that I do not think you'd enjoy. I've read five of his other books (this is #6) and I like all five of the books better. This is supposedly a doomed Huckleberry Finn, but I don't know. The doom and gloom was a lot.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Congratulations on finishing all 16. Don't know if I said that already, but I am saying it again. ☺️☺️👏🏽

[Lea]

Alondra wrote: "Congratulations on finishing all 16. Don't know if I said that already, but I am saying it again. ☺️☺️👏🏽"

Thanks, Alondra! I wasn't sure I'd ever make it through my last book. Suttree was such a heartbreaker. Fingers crossed for 2024!