Ioana's 2023 Independent Challenge

[Ioana]

The Story of the Lost Child, the 4th and last book in the Neopolitan Novels, and probably the best of the series. Wow, what a ride. This is the story of the friendship between Elena (Lenu) and Lila, since they were little girls until older age. There is no human emotion not explored in these books: love, jealousy, insecurity, betrayal, devotion, the struggle between motherhood and a career, happiness and despair, pain, and so much more. Naples, the gritty city, the Italian politics and economic changes are always in the background, and they explain, in a way, some of the characters' actions.
I loved this series, 4.5 stars rounded up.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Ioana wrote: "Kindred was very good, I hope you'll get to it someday. This one...pedophilia and polygamy as ok/acceptable/normal behavior for humans, no..."

Yeah, that's a lot. I just read something close and I'm good for a bit.

[Ioana]

Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI Interesting stories and insight, but I found the author too self-congratulatory and the narrator too monotone and boring. 3 stars.

[Karol]

Ioana wrote: "Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI Interesting stories and insight, but I found the author too self-congratulatory and the narrator too monotone and boring..."

That's too bad - the topic SHOULD be frightening and intriguing. Not boring!

[Ioana]

Karol wrote: "That's too bad - the topic SHOULD be frightening and intriguing. Not boring!"

I agree, I had such high expectations...

[Ioana]

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey This was part of my effort to read the oldest books on my TBR (this was there since 2010). Fascinating story. After his presidential run defeat, Teddy Roosevelt joins an expedition in Brazil, to chart an Amazon tributary. We learn about the hardship of the expedition, the loss of canoes (with food supplies) and the hunger that follows, about the people in the expedition and their interactions, the indian attacks, bugs and infections, the jungle itself, the flora and fauna, and of course, the character of the people, and especially T.Roosevelt's character. It's hard not to compare him with today's politicians. Highly recommended. 4 stars.

[Ioana]

King Rat is the 4th in the series, but like all other books in this series, can be read as a stand alone. It's about a group of prisoners (Americans, British, Australian) in a POW Japanese camp surrounded by Malay villages, and their survival.
While most deal with hunger and lack of everything, medicine, clothes, news from home, one is resourceful, inventive and takes risks in the black market. He has food, clean clothes and a lot of others who are willing to do his jobs to get some scraps. Some real friends and lots of haters.
Is it more important to have honor and be true to your convictions, or do anything and everything to survive? 4 stars, and only one left in a series that I really enjoyed.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Ioana wrote: "Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI Interesting stories and insight, but I found the author too self-congratulatory and the narrator too monoto..."

Oh, he loves to hear himself talk. You should see his interviews or when he is on some documentaries about serial killers. Most of those folks are something else. Its the narcissism for me.

[Ioana]

Alondra wrote: "Oh, he loves to hear himself talk. You should see his interviews or when he is on some documentaries about serial killers."

I watch very little TV, and I had no idea... You could summarize this books as "I did this, I said that, I was right, my boss was wrong, f$%k the regulations".

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Ioana wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Oh, he loves to hear himself talk. You should see his interviews or when he is on some documentaries about serial killers."

I watch very little TV, and I had no idea... You could s..."

Sounds about right. LOL

[Bill, Moderator]

Ioana wrote: "King Rat is the 4th in the series, but like all other books in this series, can be read as a stand alone. It's about a group of prisoners (Americans, British, Australian) in a POW Japan..."

Excellent book and excellent series.

[Ioana]

No Beast So Fierce: The Terrifying True Story of the Champawat Tiger, the Deadliest Man-Eater in History. I know I've read a similar book on this topic, but I can't remember the title of it. In any case, interesting book, not only about the tiger, but the geography, fauna, ecology of the area, the tiger's interaction with people, and its possible future. While there is some conservation progress, it is slow and there are many factors that hinder it. 3 stars

Empires of Light: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and the Race to Electrify the World. Again, not the first book on this topic, but equally interesting. The late 1800s were rich in science discoveries, with lots of big names claiming their place in history: Volta, Ampere, Benjamin Franklin, Ørsted, Faraday, Ohm, Edison, Westinghouse, Tesla and more others. It is fascinating to read about how these discoveries were made, how the AC/DC battle was fought, and not in the least, how these men were either collaborators and rivals.
The problem with this book was its organization, or lack of it. Chapters jump from one idea or character to another, and there is no chronological nor thematic order. 3 stars.

Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old? Not a fun holidays read, but I was interested. I know why I avoid self help books, this one was no exception. Lots of words and no practical ideas. Still debating between 1 and 2 stars...

[Ioana]

I might finish another book before the year end, but I'll post a year summary now, because the next days will be sooo hectic. It was a good reading year, with 102 finished books.
59 stand alones
43 in series, not a bad mix.

I've started 16 new series, and will not continue 5 of them.
I've completed 12, although some will have more books added in the future. So overall, not much progress, oh well...

Only 4 5 stars:
The Winners
An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back
Bastard Out of Carolina
The Story of the Lost Child

But 49 4 stars, and I know some were 4.5, so overall, lots of good reads.

Most read genre, fiction (32), closely followed by non-fiction (29). No surprise there.

13 tomes over 500 pages, with 2 monsters over 1000 pages (one very good, the other one fine, but could've/should've been half of that and a better book).

I'm ready for 2024 now.

[Ioana]

Best books of the year, by month:

January Gai-Jin
February The Winners
March American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century
April An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back
May The Black Echo
June Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man
July Babel: An Arcane History
August Lady Tan's Circle of Women
September Conqueror
October Bastard Out of Carolina
November On the Beach
December The Story of the Lost Child

[Lea]

I love your year end summary! What a good year you had - I can't believe you read two books over 1,000 pages! That's quite an accomplishment. Here's to 2024 and a great year of reading! :-)

[Ioana]

The 2 over 1000 pages:
Gai-Jin - I love this series. All books are huge, but can be read as stand alones. I only have one left, but that's 1200+ pages, so I'm not sure when will I have the courage to start it.
The Armour of Light - this one really needed an editor. And did not add anything to the series; unless you need to complete your series, I give you permission to skip it. Very forgettable.

[Lea]

Oh, wow. I've wanted to read Asian Saga by Clavell, but I haven't gotten there yet. Someday!

I've already abandoned the Kingsbridge series. After loving the first book, the second was a disappointment.

I read 18 books over 500 pages and have 2 on the go right now, but 880 was the biggest book this year for me. You should feel good at making some progress on your monsters, and good luck as you attack more in 2024.

[Ioana]

Lea wrote: "I've already abandoned the Kingsbridge series. After loving the first book, the second was a disappointment."

Smart girl, I don't know why I continued to torture myself. Or why I didn't abandon it...

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Glad Bastard out of Carolina was one of your top books.

Great update and what a great year of reading you had, Ioana. ☺️🤗

[Bill, Moderator]

Ioana wrote: "Best books of the year, by month:

January Gai-Jin
February The Winners
March [book:American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Centur..."

The Black Echo and On the Beach both excellent books. I totally agree.. Enjoy 2024.

[Ioana]

Alondra wrote: "Glad Bastard out of Carolina was one of your top books.

Great update and what a great year of reading you had, Ioana. ☺️🤗"

It was a very good reading year, hope yours was too and hope 2024 will be as good.

[Ioana]

Bill wrote: "The Black Echo and On the Beach both excellent books. I totally agree.. Enjoy 2024"

Thanks, Bill. And thanks for introducing Nevil Shute to me. Happy 2024!