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2023 Independent Challenges
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Lillie's 2023 Independent Challenge
Lillie wrote: "No real time to sit down and read, mind wouldn't settle down."LOL, and she read 15 books in that month 🤣🤣🤣
Excellent month, Lillie!
Ioana wrote: "Lillie wrote: "No real time to sit down and read, mind wouldn't settle down."LOL, and she read 15 books in that month 🤣🤣🤣
Excellent month, Lillie!"
Thanks Ioana, lol
Book #89
Violeta 4 stars printSet in a South American country that's never named (but I think it's Chile and set in the same world as The House of the Spirits), this story follows the life of Violeta from 1920-2020. Even though serious issues are broached (civil war, dictatorship, loss, drug use, etc), I found it to be almost a gentle book. Enjoyed how the story unfolded. Love the author's writing. However, if you're looking for dramatic, this isn't it.
Book #90
A Million Aunties 4 stars printA short book about a recent widower and the community around him. An artist, Chris decides to visit his mother's homeland of Jamaica. There he finds part of the community he needs to help him get through his grief. Luckily, we get to hear, through individual chapters, about the people around him. Would I have liked it to have been a longer book? Absolutely. I hope the author decides to revisit this group of people in her later works. Off to look for more of her work.
Mid-May wrap up: 12 books read this month/90 total for year5 print/7 audio
5 4-stars
7 3- & 3.5-stars
no absolute clunkers (hope that continues)
So far,
and
are my top 3Currently listening to
(No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #2)Library Books (just picked up 3 more yesterday to add to the 3 I already had!!)
Mod
5 print/7 audio
5 4-stars
7 3- & 3.5-stars
no absolute clunkers (hope that continues)
So far,
[bookcover..."Glad to hear you enjoyed Windsor Knot. I have that on my bookshelf.
Lillie wrote: "Book #89 Violeta by Isabel Allende Violeta 4 stars printSet in a South American country that's never named (but I think it's Chile and set in the same world as The House of the Spirits), this story follows the life of Violeta from 1920-2020. Even though serious issues are broached (civil war, dictatorship, loss, drug use, etc), I found it to be almost a gentle book. "
Good to hear. I'm reading her Paula, which (I did not know) is a non-fiction. I think it's a story of her family, we'll see where it goes. So far, so good but I think I'm only about 5% into it.
oooh you've got some great books there and you've already had a great month!
Mod
5 print/7 audio
5 4-stars
7 3- & 3.5-stars
no absolute clunkers (hope that continues)
So far,
[bookcover..."Aahhh, the Expanse series. I just picked up book 2. It'll take me 2 months to read, but what else am I doing?? We are watching the series, and it really helped me remember some elements of book 1. So, I really don't feel lost getting back into it.
Ioana wrote: "Good to hear. I'm reading her Paula, which (I did not know) is a non-fiction. I think it's a story of her family, we'll see where it goes. So far, so good but I think I'm only about 5% into it."I've wondered how Paula was. I'll be looking for your review on it.
If you pick up Violeta, I hope you enjoy it as well. However, I'd recommend The House of the Spirits over it.
Michelle wrote: "oooh you've got some great books there and you've already had a great month!"Thanks Michelle! Though I think I just ran into a book that was blah.
Alondra wrote: "Aahhh, the Expanse series. I just picked up book 2. It'll take me 2 months to read, but what else am I doing?? We are watching the series, and it really helped me remember some elements of book 1. So, I really don't feel lost getting back into it."I hope you're able to read it soon. I love this series so much! I've seen the first season of The Expanse but decided to wait until I've read the series before continuing the show.
Book #91
Tears of the Giraffe 4 stars audiobookFinally got back to Precious Ramotswe and her detective agency. I think I read this back when it was first published and it's still a gem. Read The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency a couple of years ago and then got sidetracked with life. It looks like there are 24 books in the series now. Oh yeah, the mystery was good too ;) This time she's looking for a young man who's been missing for the past 10 years. His mother has been limbo since he went missing without a trace. While she's investigating this mystery, she's trying to balance her agency, her fiancé and her newly fostered kids.
Book #92
Morality for Beautiful Girls 4 stars audiobookThird book with Precious Ramotswe, this time she's on the case of the poisoning of the younger brother of a government official. As she continues to figure out the changes taking place in her agency and her fiancé's life, she needs to figure out who wants the brother dead. This series feels like so much more than just a mystery, feels like a slice of life. Enjoyable.
Book #93
Benedict Cumberbatch Reads Sherlock Holmes' Rediscovered Railway Stories: Four Original Short Stories 2.5 stars audiobookBenedict Cumberbatch as the narrator of this short audiobook is honestly the best part of the book. There are 4 short stories of Sherlock Holmes' lost cases. I was expecting a lot more than we got. The mysteries weren't complicated at all, which made me sad.
Mod
I so love all the characters in the No. 1 Ladies Detective agency series. I really need to get back to them but I will confess that I no longer know which ones I have read and which ones I haven't.
Mod
LOL. Lists are our friends. 😉
Lillie wrote: "If you pick up Violeta, I hope you enjoy it as well. However, I'd recommend The House of the Spirits over it."I've read and enjoyed that one, thanks! I'll let you know about Paula, but it will take me a while.
Michelle wrote: "I so love all the characters in the No. 1 Ladies Detective agency series. I really need to get back to them but I will confess that I no longer know which ones I have read and which ones I haven't."Bill wrote: "LOL. Lists are our friends. 😉"
Michelle, I couldn't remember where I'd left off either so I restarted the series with the audiobooks. Enjoying the narrator.
And Bill, you are so right! Lists are the best except I keep writing lists on scraps of paper, which I promptly lose. Need to start keeping a journal or a digital list.
Book #94
The Book of Candlelight 3 stars audiobookThird book in the Secret, Book & Scone Society. In a little North Carolina town, where people come to heal, 4 friends, who themselves moved to this town to heal, investigate a death of an artist and the link to a local inn. It's a nice little series that I'm enjoying following.
Book #95
Babylon's Ashes 4*This was good as I thought it would be! It's such a complex story but I didn't feel lost once I get into it. It was fun to be back in Holden, Naomi, Alex and Amos' world. And Bobbie's a part of the crew now. So much intrigue, politicking, and civil war. I've read that the next one is more of a roller coaster. I'm here for it.
Book #96
Strange Dogs 2 stars or maybe 2.5 stars audiobookThe large books really work for me, I think because there's time to delve into the characters and their motivations and their actions. These novellas aren't long enough to do anything other than give us a little glimpse in the world of The Expanse. This one has an interesting premise, one I hope will be explored in the larger novels. Having said that, I'm still going to read every novella of this series that's out there.
Book #97
Memorial 3.5 stars printI don't know how to feel about this book. I've given it a 3.5 rating but that may go up or down after I've had some time to think about it. The story is divided into 3 parts, Ben, Mike and then Ben again. Ben and Mike are in a live in relationship when Mike's mother visits from Japan and he promptly leaves to go to Japan to be with his dying father. Ben is then left with Mike's mother.
The relationship between Ben and Mike is so dysfunctional, are they in a relationship, an open one or in a fwb one. They both seem so hands off besides the sex. Honestly, I had no clue as to why they were together except that they fell into it. I don't think they even liked each other much.
The best parts of the book were the interactions between Ben and Mike's mother, Mitsuko, Ben and his family, and the one between Mike and his father, Eiju. It's a book about grief and dysfunctional families and figuring out your place in the world.
It was a messy book but one I couldn't look away from the same way we all (or most of us) rubberneck accidents.
Book #98
The Kalahari Typing School for Men 4 stars audiobookI've been thinking about this series and what keeps me coming back. So far this month, I've listened to 3 books in the series. It's the slice of life part of it. I know these are classified as mysteries but I think they're more a slice of life plus a mystery in the background. I'm loving following the lives of Mma Ramotswe, her fiancé, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, her assistant, Mma Makutsi and even the garage assistants and her foster kids. Makes me smile throughout. Hoping the series continues to delight.
This one has Mma Ramotswe dealing with issues with the kids, a rival detective agency opening, her business not being as busy as it should be and investigating a possible errant husband. Another enjoyable book in the series.
Book #99
Ink and Shadows 3 stars audiobookThink I'm juggling 3 series at the moment, Secret, Book & Scone Society (this one), The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and Mrs. Jeffries series. It's been a fun couple of weeks going back and forth between them.
This series focuses on a group of ladies who all came together and then started solving mysteries (with Nora as the main "detective"). The cozy mysteries take place in a small town in North Carolina and each one has been different. This time they're up against a killer who has murdered the daughter of the newest shop keeper. Are they opposed to the shop because they sell cbd, etc or is there a link to a possible cult in another part of the state. Honestly, I'm glad that the romance is in the background this time.
DNF books tried this month that I'll possibly read these in the future, they weren't bad, just not in the mood for them at the moment:
Book #100
The Department of Sensitive Crimes 3 stars audiobookOk, so I know I said I was DNF-ing this one for the moment but I changed my mind 🤷🏻♀️ Same author as the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency but soooo soooo different. This one is more in the vein of Jasper Fforde type of book. Weird, strange and quirky. I liked it and am interested in revisiting this world sometime in the future.
Book #101
Portrait of a Thief 2 stars audiobookOcean's 11-ish book. A Chinese American art student at Harvard gets drawn into an art stealing/repatriation scheme. He ropes his sister and 3 friends into art heists. It sounded like fun, it wasn't. It wasn't the worst book I've read, it was just ok.
Book #102
The Vanishing Type 3.5 stars audiobookBook #103
Mrs. Jeffries and the Best Laid Plans 3.5 stars audiobookBook #104
The Full Cupboard of Life 4 stars audiobookThe 3 series I've been following. All enjoyable for different reasons. Like the narrators for each series.
Lillie wrote: "Book #98 The Kalahari Typing School for Men 4 stars audiobookI've been thinking about this series and what keeps me coming back..."
I love this series also! I've read most of them . . . I think I need to read the last 2 or 3 that he has published.
May Wrap Up:9 print/17 audiobooks
10 4-stars
13 3- & 3.5-stars
3 2-stars
Top 3:
Bottom 3:
Having fun listening to the audiobooks of:
Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series
Emily Brightwell's Mrs. Jeffries series
Ellery Adams's Secret, Book, & Scone Society series
Have read a lot of good books but have yet to come upon my next 5-star
Book #105
Lessons in Chemistry 4 stars printVery enjoyable book about a young woman in the 1950s whose greatest desire is to continue a career in a chemistry lab. She runs into a whole deal of pushback from everyone in her life because of the times. Her life takes a turn when she meets the love of her life and has a child. Don't want to ruin it for anyone so I'll stop there. Definitely a fun beach read. The fly in the ointment was the precocious child. It kept me from giving this a higher rating.
Mod
Bill wrote: "You had an excellent May, Lillie. You will find that 5-star book. At least you seem to be enjoying the majority of the books you've read. Enjoy June."Thanks Bill! I keep crossing my fingers for that elusive next 5-star
Book #106
Happy Place 2.5 stars printI've enjoyed Emily Henry's previous novels. They've been good beach reads, easy and fun to read. Figured this one would be the same. It wasn't. Easy reading but not fun cause I ran across the one trope I hate more than anything else, the misunderstanding. Wanting to yell at the characters to just talk, over the course of the book was too much. And when they finally did talk it was eh. And then the author pulled a Hallmark movie ending (view spoiler). So why the 2.5 stars? Kind of liked the women's friendships and it was easy enough to finish in a day.
Book #107
Mrs. Jeffries and the Feast of St. Stephen 3.5 stars audiobookBook #108
Paper Cuts 2.5 stars audiobookBook #109
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies 4 stars audiobook Continuing with the 3 series. Cleaned the house from top to bottom while listening :)
Mod
Tears of the Giraffe 4 stars audiobookFinally got back to Precious Ramotswe and her detective agency. I think I read this back when it..."
These are so fun. Stopped at book 8 (??), but not because it wasn't a cute series. Just a bunch of other stuff to read, as usual.
I did start Caliban's War and am loving it.
Alondra wrote: "I did start Caliban's War and am loving it."Yay :) It’s such a good series! I’m limiting myself to one a year, just to prolong the experience.
Book #110
A Tempest at Sea 4 stars audiobookIt’s always fun to read this author’s take on Sherlock. Charlotte Holmes is the detective, although everyone believes she is Sherlock’s sister (he doesn’t exist). She has solved all sorts of mysteries which have lead to this book. Moriarty believes Sherlock is dead, and she’d like to keep it that way. She’s tasked by the British gov/powers to be to find classified stolen documents. She pursues the culprit on a ship voyage and that’s where a murder takes place.
Book #111
The Summer Book 2 stars printHmmm. This was alright. I read the introduction and I was excited to start. I’m not sure if it was the translation but I could not get into this. For a book of 176 pages, it took way too long to finish it. If I’m excited about a book I can usually read it within 24-48 hours (unless we’re talking about a 500 page or longer book). It to me over 3 weeks. Not for me.
Book #112
The Violin Conspiracy 4 stars printSuch a good debut book. It starts off running, a Stradivarius violin is stolen from a young Black musician, Ray McMillian, who is gearing up for an elite competition. It’s disappeared into thin air. Then a ransom note for $5M is sent. With so many suspects, the maid, various family members, the family suing Ray for the violin, his girlfriend and even Ray himself, the investigation is widespread. Even as the investigation continues, we learn about Ray’s history as well as his families’. Really don’t want to say too much, I think mysteries should be experienced without too many spoilers.
Glad you liked TVC. It wasn't perfect but it really draws you in.
Michelle wrote: "Glad you liked TVC. It wasn't perfect but it really draws you in."It really does! I’m looking forward to the author’s next book
Patricia wrote: "I enjoyed The Violin Conspiracy as well. Am listening to Symphony of Secrets now."Oh!! Is that his next one? Thanks!!
Put it on my list :)
Book #113
Death Comes to Marlow 4 stars audiobookA second entry to the Marlow Murder Club. Three women became friends in the first book when they solved a murder. They've come across another murder that they set out to figure out. Judith Potts, a retiree, Becks, the vicar's wife and Suzie, a dog walker and radio personality, are a fun trio of amateur detectives.
Book #114
Mrs. Jeffries Holds the Trump 3.5 stars audiobookEntertaining entry into the Mrs Jeffries series.
Book #115
Blue Shoes and Happiness 4 stars audiobookWho knew that 7 books into this series I'd still really enjoy the series. Highly recommend it anyone who's interested in visiting a world that's slower paced and the people are kind. Already have the next audiobook on Libby.
Mid-June wrap up: 11 books read (4 print/7 audiobook)Best book:
Lessons in ChemistryMost disappointing:
Worst book:
4* -
3.5* -
2.5* -
2* -
Mod
Book #116
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive 4*Book #117
The Miracle at Speedy Motors 4*Continuing to follow the adventures of Mma Ramotswe, Mr JLB Matekoni, their foster children, the mechanic apprentices, Mma Makusti and her fiancé, Phuti Radaputi
Book #118
Deep Storm 4*A new to me sci fi series about what's been found on the bottom of the ocean floor. Think I've got another series to dive (sorry about the pun) into. Is this is the lost city of Atlantis? Or are these aliens? Looking forward to the next one in the series.
Bill wrote: "I've enjoyed the No. 1 Ladies Detective agency books and need to get back to them. Have you ever seen the TV series? It was only one season but was excellent."Yes, you should :) I'm really enjoying the audiobooks
I did watch the series and was disappointed that a second season wasn't made
I'm planning to start Lessons in Chemistry tomorrow...I hope I like it as much as you did! :-)
Lea wrote: "I'm planning to start Lessons in Chemistry tomorrow...I hope I like it as much as you did! :-)"I hope you do too! Although, I have been rating things higher than I usually do. Not sure what it is, either I'm picking out really good books or I've been in a better head space and being kinder than I usually am 🤷🏻♀️🤣
Lillie wrote: "Lea wrote: "I hope you do too! Although, I have been rating things higher than I usually do. Not sure what it is, either I'm picking out really good books or I've been in a better head space and being kinder than I usually am 🤷🏻♀️🤣"I'm a moody rater, so I'm always trying to second guess myself - am I in the mood to read this book - but I never know until I get into it. Here's hoping for a kinder and gentler Lea! :-)
Lillie, I love your reading list. I'm a big fan of both the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, and the author Lincoln Child. Great stuff!I'm also interested in reading Lessons in Chemistry - will probably get to that one later this year.
Karol wrote: "Lillie, I love your reading list. I'm a big fan of both the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, and the author Lincoln Child. Great stuff!I'm also interested in reading Lessons in Chemistry - w..."
Thanks Karol! Picked Lincoln Child on a whim and glad I did.
Hopefully you’ll enjoy Lessons in Chemistry.
Book #119
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers 3.5 stars printElderly tea shop owner, Vera Wong, finds a dead body one morning while opening for the day. Set in San Francisco, we're introduced to a group of young people who are put on the shop owner's suspect list when they show up, individually, to the shop to see where the murder took place. Am hoping that there'll be more Vera Wong mysteries.
Book #120
A Rip Through Time 3.5 stars audiobookRead Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series last year and knew I'd be getting a good story. This series is a time travel one. Homicide detective, Mallory Atkinson, is sent back to 1869 from 2019 at the moment of her murder. There she seems to have switched bodies with a house maid, Catriona Mitchell, who works for an undertaker. Once there, Mallory realizes that there's a killer out there and she sets out to help find them. Good start to the series. Have the next on checked out.
Book #121
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy 3.5 stars printBecky Chambers writes "soft" science fiction, no violence included. Mosscap, the robot, is introduced to human society in the second book of the duology. It's a gentle, slow moving story where Mosscap tries to find the answer to his question of what humanity wants/needs. Enjoyed it but didn't love it.
Mod
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive 4*Book #117
[book:The Miracle at Speedy Moto..."I love this little series. Like, Bill, I haven't read any in a long time. I think I stopped at book 6 or 7.
I added Deep Storm
Alondra wrote: "Lillie wrote: "Book #116 The Good Husband of Zebra Drive 4*Book #117
[book:The Miracle..."I'm really enjoying the audiobooks of the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Hope you're able to get back to them soon.
Interested to see what you think of Deep Storm. I've started the second book and it's very different.
Book #122
Acts of Violet 4 stars audiobookOn the eve of the 10 year anniversary of her sister's disappearance, Sasha finds she can't hide from the past anymore. What really happened to Violet while she was doing the magic trick? Did she orchestrate her own disappearance, was she abducted and subsequently killed? Having lived with those questions and many more, Sasha tries to balance her life out. I enjoyed it because it incorporated magical realism into the story. It was about a mother-daughter relationship, a romantic one and a sister-sister one. Good beach read.
Book #123
We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story 3.5 stars audiobookI never really know how to rate celebrity autobiographies. I did like this one though there was a bit of trauma described (tw: (view spoiler)), quite a bit about his parents' immigrant journey (very interesting) and about his acting career (though less than I was expecting to read about). It was this last part that dropped the rating from a 4 to a 3.5.
On The Same Page
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Alexander McCall Smith (other topics)Emily Brightwell (other topics)
Ellery Adams (other topics)
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Kwei Quartey (other topics)
Ok, that was fun. Realistic? Fairly certain it wasn't but then I'm not in the spy game, lol. "Emma" is to talk Michael into protective custody because the Russians are trying to find a path to his mother who had betrayed their country to the UK. They want to get her back to Russia for trial. Before Emma can talk him into it, the Russian agents are chasing them across London. A fun spy thriller. Hope the next adventure comes out soon.