Lillie's 2023 Independent Challenge

[Lillie]

Looking ahead to December, it looks like I have to read 5 books to finish this challenge:

Finding Me 5* 12/12
System Collapse 4.5* 12/31
Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade DNF
My Cousin Rachel 4.5* 12/6
Snow in May: Stories 2* 12/13

[Lea]

Oh, pooh, sorry to hear Klara and the Sun didn't work for you. But 5 books left in December? You can do it! :-) :-) :-)

[Lillie]

Lea wrote: "Oh, pooh, sorry to hear Klara and the Sun didn't work for you. But 5 books left in December? You can do it! :-) :-) :-)"

Was a bit sad about not really liking Klara and the Sun. I know you and a couple of others mentioned really enjoying it so I was excited to start. I think Ishiguro might not be for me. Didn’t really like his writing style. I suppose we can’t all like the same books, lol

December always feels so jam packed so having 5 books left, hopefully, will be manageable. Guess it depends on how holiday shopping goes. Priorities ;)

[Lea]

Yes, Ishiguro has a very distinct writing style, and he may not be for you. I hope you have a wonderful December and go wherever your priorities lead you. :-)

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Lillie wrote: "November wrap up: 22 books read (17 audiobook/5 print) for a total of 216 to date

Best book:
Runner up: ..."

Great update, as always. I have City of Brass, so I need to read that first. See if I like her writing, and if so, may add this new book. It looks fun.

[Patricia]

Great month! I wouldn't say I loved Klara and the Sun, but I read it with a book club and it made for good discussion. Probably wouldn't have read it otherwise.
I have The Island of Missing Trees on my shelf. Hope I get to it soon!
I did like The City of Brass & am planning on continuing the series. I'll probably pick up her pirate book once I finish this series.

[Lillie]

Thanks Patricia. I do want to do a reread of The City of Brass just because I did enjoy The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. But this time I'm going to listen to it.

[Lillie]

December's started off really well. 3/3 of the books I read I've rated 4.5*.

Book #217 Payback in Death 4.5* print

The books in this series get published 2x/year and I read them asap. By this time, 28 years later, I'm very invested in the books. In book time, only 3 years have gone by. Are they formulaic? Sure. Are they fun to revisit? Absolutely. Next one out will be in February and you can bet I'll put a hold on it as soon as it's on up the library site.

Book #218 My Cousin Rachel 4.5* audiobook

All I can say is wow! Daphne du Maurier is a master craftsman. The atmosphere, the unreliable narrator, the storyline were so well written. This is only my second book by the author but it's definitely not going to be my last. I have no words for the ending. Chef's kiss.

Book #219 The Gone World 4.5* audiobook

Now this is the kind of horror I can sink into. Take the clowns and crazy over the top people and give me a good time travel, dystopian world storyline. I had no clue what was going to happen at any point in time. Held me from the get go and didn't let go until the end. Holy cow!

*edited to add that I've finished 1/5 books I'd like to read before the end of the year, lol

[Lea]

You have had a great start to December! I loved Rebecca by du Maurier, but haven't gotten to My Cousin Rachel yet. :-)

[Lillie]

Lea wrote: "You have had a great start to December! I loved Rebecca by du Maurier, but haven't gotten to My Cousin Rachel yet. :-)"

Shoot! I think I was supposed to tag you to see if you had time to buddy read My Cousin Rachel. Sorry :( I hope you do end up reading it. I'd love to hear what you think.

[Lillie]

Continuing Free Reads List (ran out of space)

149. Sweterlitsch, Tom. The Gone World 4.5* 12/7
150. Cates, Bailey. Charms and Chocolate Chips 3* 12/7
151. Cates, Bailey. Some Enchanted Éclair: A Magical Bakery Mystery 3* 12/9
152. Cates, Bailey. Magic and Macaroons 3* 12/10
153. Cates, Bailey. Spells and Scones 3* 12/11
154. Cates, Bailey. Potions and Pastries 3* 12/13
155. Cates, Bailey. Cookies and Clairvoyance 3* 12/14
156. Cates, Bailey. Witches and Wedding Cake 3* 12/15
157. Smale, Holly. Cassandra in Reverse 2* 12/16
158. Gilman, Dorothy. The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax 4* 12/17
159. Gilman, Dorothy. The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax 4* 12/18
160. Gilman, Dorothy. The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax 4* 12/19
161. Gilman, Dorothy. A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax 4* 12/21
162. Ritter, William. Rook 4* 12/26
163. Penner, Sarah. The London Séance Society 3* 12/28
164. Lim, Roselle. Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop 2* 12/29

[Lea]

Lillie wrote: "Lea wrote: "Shoot! I think I was supposed to tag you to see if you had time to buddy read My Cousin Rachel. Sorry :( I hope you do end up reading it. I'd love to hear what you think."

No worries, I am glad you were able to read it and that you loved it. I am not sure I would have had time to squeeze it in, my December is being very challenging. I had a hard time narrowing down my 2024 list, which I did by pretending that I would read plenty of books in December, and sadly, it isn't happening. But fun is happening, so that's really all that matters. :-)

[Karol]

I love reading Daphne du Maurier. Glad you liked My Cousin Rachel. It's one of my two favorites of hers, the other being Rebecca.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Lillie wrote: "Book #219 The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch The Gone World 4.5* audiobook

Now this is the kind of horror I can sink into. Take the clowns and crazy over the top people and give me a good time travel, dystopian world storyline..."

Phew; I already have it on my list! LOL

[Lillie]

Lea wrote: "Lillie wrote: "Lea wrote: "Shoot! I think I was supposed to tag you to see if you had time to buddy read My Cousin Rachel. Sorry :( I hope you do end up reading it. I'd love to hear what you think...."

I'm such a mood reader that I thought I'd read it in June or July but it I wasn't there.

I'm going to keep an eye on the buddy reads and maybe jump in at some point.

[Lillie]

Karol wrote: "I love reading Daphne du Maurier. Glad you liked My Cousin Rachel. It's one of my two favorites of hers, the other being Rebecca."

Have you read any of her other books? I'm thinking of reading another one of hers, trying to decide between Jamaica Inn or The House on the Strand. Which one would you recommend?

[Lillie]

Alondra wrote: "Phew; I already have it on my list! LOL"

While I was reading it, I kept thinking that this one might appeal to you. Hope you can get it to it soon

[Bill, Moderator]

Lillie wrote: "Karol wrote: "I love reading Daphne du Maurier. Glad you liked My Cousin Rachel. It's one of my two favorites of hers, the other being Rebecca."

Have you read any o..."

The House on the Strand would be my recommendation. :)

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Lillie wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Phew; I already have it on my list! LOL"

While I was reading it, I kept thinking that this one might appeal to you. Hope you can get it to it soon"

It definitely does. I have so many books to read... 😭

[Lea]

Lillie wrote: "Have you read any of her other books? I'm thinking of reading another one of hers, trying to decide between Jamaica Inn or The House on the Strand. Which one would you recommend?"

I haven't read The House on the Strand, but I really want to read that book too. I have read Jamaica Inn, and I liked the book, gave it 3 stars, but was super disappointed in the ending. I have mentally re-written it to make it more palatable for myself. :-)

[Lillie]

Book #220 Finding Me 5* audiobook

I'm never sure of what to expect from a celebrity memoir. And my rl bookclub loves to read at least one a year. Some celebrities bare their souls and others are more interested in tooting their biggest achievements. There's a place for both. This one is of the first kind. Viola Davis opens herself up to us and I am in awe of her. She's lived through so much pain and heartache and still gives of herself to us. A beautifully written, gut wrenching but ultimately an uplifting memoir. Highly recommend listening to her narrate the audiobook. Hearing about her life in her own voice just added to it.

[Lillie]

Book #221 Snow in May: Stories 1* print

Short stories just aren't my thing. I've tried a number of them this year as part of this challenge and this just solidified my dislike of them. Not to say that all the stories were terrible, there were a couple that I enjoyed in this collection, however, just not my cup of tea. Oh well, I can honestly say that I gave it a good try. I'll just stick with a novella if I'd like a shorter book (which is what I'm reading next, Murderbot novella)

[Lillie]

Went on an insane audiobook binge in the last week. I was wrapping gifts and going on walks and decided to finish up the series, Magical Bakery Mysteries. My library doesn't have the last one in audiobook format so I'll have to get the print version at some point. 2x listening is the way to go, lol (seems like I haven't been updating any of them on goodreads, rectifying it now)

Books #222-228 3* audiobooks

A cute cozy mystery series involving a baker who has newly discovered that she's a hedge witch. Some of it is over the top (like she's also from a lineage of Native American shamans) but overall it's a fun little series. Would I recommend it? Yes, if you enjoy baking, magic, mysteries and are taking a breather from heavier topics.

[Lillie]

Mid-Dec update: 12 books read (2 print, 10 audiobooks), that puts my total for the year at 228

Have 2 more books as part of challenge, and

Best Book (which I can't see changing):

Second place tie (in any other month, I've no doubt they'd have been the best book of the month):

Worst Book:

Really need to finalize my choices for next year's challenges

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Kudos, Lillie!! 228 is Fabulous!!!

Reading some murderbot now, and enjoying. It's hard not to enjoy the sarcastic, and murderous thoughts of an android. LOL

[Bill, Moderator]

The Murderbot Diaries are excellent. I'm glad I've quite a few still to read.

[Lillie]

Bill wrote: "The Murderbot Diaries are excellent. I'm glad I've quite a few still to read."

Alondra wrote: "Kudos, Lillie!! 228 is Fabulous!!!

Reading some murderbot now, and enjoying. It's hard not to enjoy the sarcastic, and murderous thoughts of an android. LOL"

I'm putting off reading the Murderbot book, thinking it may be the last one of the year ;) I want to be able to pay it full attention and right now I'm deep in holiday cooking and wrapping and spending time with the kids. Hopefully you both have a chance to continue with this series.

[Lillie]

Book #229 Cassandra in Reverse 2* audiobook

What would happen if you made a different decision on a day in the past? Would it change the ultimate outcome? And how many times can you go back and rewrite the past before it becomes all jumbled up. That's Cassandra's dilemma. I so wanted to like this because this plot is one of my favs. Unfortunately, the world didn't work for me at all. I didn't hate it but I'd never recommend it. It was ok.

Books #230-233 4* audiobooks

Short, fun, spy novels involving a widow working for the CIA. Is it realistic? Nope. Is it let your brain rest entertainment? Yup. Is it outdated? Sure, in some parts but eerily relevant in others. The audiobooks are fairly short (6 hours) AND Barbara Rosenblat is the narrator. She who narrated the Amelia Peabody books (by Elizabeth Peters). Have 10 books left in the series. Yay! Good start to 2024.

[Carolien]

I haven't yet read My Cousin Rachel, but I agree she is a master storyteller. If you have read Rebecca, take a look at The King's General which also has Manderley as place, but it is set during the English Civil War. It took me a while to get into it, but it has stayed with me for well over a year since I read it. Well done for 2023 and happy reading in 2024!

[Lillie]

Carolien wrote: "I haven't yet read My Cousin Rachel, but I agree she is a master storyteller. If you have read Rebecca, take a look at The King's General which also has Manderley as place, but it i..."

Thanks Carolien! I'm going to put it on my list. Loved Rebecca and Manderley was definitely a prominent character in the book in my mind.

[Lillie]

Last 4 books of the 2023

Book #234 Rook 4* audiobook

What a fun world to revisit! I enjoyed the Jackaby series in the past and was happy to run across this one. Abigail Rook is now the supernatural detective while trying to juggle her fiancé's disappearance and her parents' sudden appearance.

Book #235 Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop 2* audiobook

This should've been nice fit for me, a small book about clairvoyance, magic and falling in love. Found the whole story cookie cutter, not really fleshed out. Yes, it was cutesy and maybe if I'd read the print instead of listened to the narrator, I may've liked. But as it was, I didn't connect to the main character, found her whiny. Her aunt wasn't any better. Also, why on earth would she settle for that man? It was ok.

Book #236 The London Séance Society 3* audiobook

Leanna Wickes, in order to find her sister's killer, has become spiritualist Vaudeline D'Allaire's understudy in the world of seances. Does Vaudeline know anything about the murder? Can she really connect with ghosts so Leanna can see her sister again? Who is Seance Society and what was Evie investigating and did it get her killed. Good story with a budding romance.

Book #237 System Collapse 4.5* audiobook

Always a pleasure to return to the Murderbot world. This time Murderbot and it's employers are trying to convince colonists to allow them to conduct academic experiments before the "company" gets them to sign on the dotted line to give up everything including their freedom. Martha King has returned to the novella format for this book and it works well.

[Lillie]

December wrap up: 21 books read (2 print/19 audiobook)

Best book of the month:

2nd best books:

Absolute stinker that I finished:


DNF: - all I'm going to say about this book is that I understand it was written in the 50's and set in the late 20's but when I couldn't even get 20 pages in without the casual racism thrown in there 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'll do a year end wrap up in the next post

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Lillie wrote: "December wrap up: 21 books read (2 print/19 audiobook)

Best book of the month:

2nd best books: [bookcover:My Cousin Rachel|18..."

Nice, little wrap up, Lillie.

Back to murderbot myself, and its so easy to fall back into that world. I love it.

[Lillie]

2023 in review

Completed the challenge plus read a lot of "free reads"

Read a total of 237 books which doesn't include the 2 DNFs

My break down in ratings:

5* (3 = 1%)

4.5* (14 = 6%) started off & finished the year with 4.5* reads &
4* (68 = 29%)
3.5* (63 = 27%)
3* (60 = 25%)
2.5* (12 = 5%)
2* (13 = 5%)
1* (4 = 2%)
DNF (2)

That puts me at 63% of the books over 3.5*. I'd say that was a pretty good reading year

I've also been keeping tabs on how many audiobooks vs print vs ebooks I've read

audiobooks = 177 (75%)
ebooks = 1 ( >1%)
print = 59 (24.9%)

I used to read print exclusively but starting in 2020, with the world shut down, I starting listening to audiobooks. And now I listen to them all the time, lol

Anyway, that's a wrap for 2023 :)

Happy New Year everyone!

[Michelle]

Wow 237 books! You're my hero. Happy New Year!