John's 100 Book Challenge - 2023

[James]

Wow, 17 hours? I'm exhausted just reading that! Congrats on ticking off those prompts, John.

[John]

An hour or so a day for a couple of weeks worked fine as it's very well written.

[Alias Reader]

John wrote: "An hour or so a day for a couple of weeks worked fine as it's very well written."

I wish my gym didn't play their music so loud. I have to crank up my audio book to dangerous levels. So most of the time I can't listen to audio books at the gym. It's a shame as it's the perfect time for me.

[John]

Are you using earbuds, or competing directly with their music without doing that?

[Bella (Kiki)]

John wrote: "Book over 500 pages (59) and short stories/essays (95)

Travels: Collected Writings, 1950-1993 by Paul Bowles

Finished this 17 hour audiobook yesterday without being ..."

I remember watching THE SHELTERING SKY, John, but it was so uninteresting, I don't remember much about it at all.

[Alias Reader]

John wrote: "Are you using earbuds, or competing directly with their music without doing that?"

I have earbuds in. But their music is so loud I have to pump up the volume on the earbuds. Usually, I just give up. Though I still keep the earbuds in so I can block out some of music they play.

I don't understand why it must be so loud. The majority of the people are wearing earbuds. I'm probably just an old fogey. It doesn't seem to bother anyone else. I'm sensitive to noise. Many like background noise of TV or radio. I don't. I tend to prefer quiet.

[John]

Written before 1800 (102)

Letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montague, Written During Her Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa: To Which Are Added Poems by the Same Author

Lady M. did a good job giving her observations of 1718 travel. Moreover, she was certainly open-minded about other cultures. Well-formatted ebook via Project Gutenberg.

[Alias Reader]

John wrote: "Written before 1800 (102)

Letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montague, Written During Her Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa: To Which Are Added Poems by the Same Author

Lady M. did a ..."

Very nice. A different and new to me book.
Congrats on the prompt.

[John]

As with Victorian writer Isabella Bir thed, Isabella L.;Bird, this author was able to learn about womens lives, a huge plus!

[madrano]

John wrote: "Part of a trilogy (12)

The Forger by Cay Rademacher

Listened to the first two as audiobooks, but this third one was never recorded (in English), so read the ebook...."

John, i read the first in the series, thanks to your review of the book a couple of years ago. What i found fascinating was the look at immediate post War Germany and how remaining citizens lived.

I don't know if you stream videos at all, John, but Netflix had a series which also featured these post War years. Defeated stars Michael C. Hall. The premise is that a NYC police detective volunteers to go to Berlin to help set up police precincts & educate them on investigative techniques. Seeing the depictions of the way lives were lived in those years was visually interesting and informative. In that way it reminded me of the Rademacher mystery. There was an underlying, less familiar theme, which was less interesting to me but more the focus of the program.

ANYway, thanks for the update of your impressions of the series.

[madrano]

John wrote: "Book over 500 pages (59) and short stories/essays (95)

Travels: Collected Writings, 1950-1993 by Paul Bowles ..."

Like Alias, i read Sheltering Sky awhile back. At times it was uncomfortable but engaged my interest. I came to the book, i think, via the movie, which intrigued me. It was not particularly interesting but some scenes had me wanting to know more about those years and that place.

What a tome of travel writing, though. Congrats on completing this prompt without becoming bored or skimming. And thanks for sharing about the book.

[John]

Translated from another language (16)

So it Goes: Travels in the Aran Isles, Xian and Places In Between by Nicolas Bouvier

I'm picky about my travel writing, but this one is definitely five stars (originally written in French). Travels in Scotland and Ireland, and then China and Korea made a nice contrast. Final memoir-themed section worked well, too.

[Alias Reader]

John wrote: "Translated from another language (16)

So it Goes: Travels in the Aran Isles, Xian and Places In Between by Nicolas Bouvier

I'm picky about my travel writing, but t..."

I have a friend who enjoys travel writing. Her favorite author for that genre is Paul Theroux

I'll tell her about the book you read. Thanks!

Congrats on another prompt, John !

[madrano]

John wrote: "Translated from another language (16)

So it Goes: Travels in the Aran Isles, Xian and Places In Between by Nicolas Bouvier..."

What a vast difference in sites! Thanks for sharing about this one, John, i like the idea. And congratulations on completing this prompt. Using a travel book for it is a great idea.

[John]

Parenthood (26)

Following Ezra: What One Father Learned About Gumby, Otters, Autism, and Love From His Extraordinary Son by Tom Fields-Meyer

This is one that I picked up as much for the cover as the text. Incredibly frustrating situation where "experts" can only do so much to help, so I'm glad I have a better understanding of the issue now.

[Alias Reader]

John wrote: "Parenthood (26)

Following Ezra: What One Father Learned About Gumby, Otters, Autism, and Love From His Extraordinary Son by Tom Fields-Meyer

This is one that I pi..."

Nice job on the prompt. This sounds like an interesting book. I'm going to check it out. Thanks for the title.

EDIT---Just checked, my library also has a copy ! :)

[James]

Congratulations on another prompt, John!

[madrano]

Good book for this prompt. Thanks for sharing this title, John.

[John]

Knew nothing beforehand (63) and Four word title (82)

Madam, Will You Talk? by Mary Stewart

I used an Audible credit on this book to get a rebate on spending three at once. I understood the author wrote romances, but the blurb very much downplayed that in favor of a stong suspense implication, so which would it be? Moreover, I found it when searching titles read by a narrator I like. More later in the review, but it was largely suspense, with the romance tacked-on as a sort of complied requirement.

[madrano]

The old fashioned cover is cool. I’ve never read Stewart, although i knew high school friends who loved her work. I look forward to your review, John.

[Alias Reader]

John wrote:I used an Audible credit on this book to get a rebate on spending three at once.

I'm new to Audible. I'll have to see when they have these promotions.

[John]

Bill Gates' list (27) and Modern problem/issue (62)

Why We're Polarized by Ezra Klein

Overall, a bit wonky for general interest, and I found his presentation not as objective as I'd have liked. But, I'm glad I read it.

[Alias Reader]

Nice job on a difficult prompt, John !

[Bella (Kiki)]

John wrote: "Bill Gates' list (27) and Modern problem/issue (62)

Why We're Polarized by Ezra Klein

Overall, a bit wonky for general interest, and I found his presentation not ..."

I agree 100% with Alias, John! Great job!

[madrano]

Ditto, John. I was drawn to that title but realized I’m not a fan of those observing today books. I just end up arguing with the author and their conclusions. Better to avoid.

Congrats!

[John]

Thanks to you all for the encouraging comments!

Book set in Africa (53)

The Pharaoh's Shadow: Travels in Ancient and Modern Egypt by Anthony Sattin

One from a recent Kindle promo haul. Honestly, I'm not that much a fan of Ancient Egyptian history, however, this one struck exactly the right balance between that and a modern travel narrative - definite upcoming five-star review!

[Alias Reader]

John, that's terrific that you read a book for the challenge that wasn't your normal area of interest and you ended up given it 5 stars! That's what the challenge is all about.

[Bella (Kiki)]

John wrote: "Thanks to you all for the encouraging comments!

Book set in Africa (53)

The Pharaoh's Shadow: Travels in Ancient and Modern Egypt by Anthony Sattin

One from a rece..."

Sounds terrific, John. I am a fan of ancient and modern Egypt. Great job of moving out of your comfort zone.

[madrano]

Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote: "John wrote: "Thanks to you all for the encouraging comments!

Book set in Africa (53)

The Pharaoh's Shadow: Travels in Ancient and Modern Egypt by Anthony Sattin”…

Thanks for the title and info, John. It sounds as though i might like it, too. And kudos for another prompt completed.

[John]

madrano wrote: "Kiki (Formerly TheGirlByTheSeaOfCortez) wrote: "John wrote: "Thanks to you all for the encouraging comments!

Book set in Africa (53)

[book:The Pharaoh's Shadow: Travels in Ancient and Modern Egy..."

Indeed, I think you'd like it a lot.

[madrano]

😊

[John]

A classic (42)

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

A real downer that I could understand being popular in its day, carried forward for the writing. Had it been much longer I'd consider it a slog. Listening to the audiobook an hour at a time over the course of a couple of weeks worked to get me through the story.

[Alias Reader]

John wrote: "A classic (42)

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

A real downer that I could understand being popular in its day, carried forward for the writing. Had it been much longer..."

Thanks for the honest review.

[madrano]

At least that prompt is finished for you, John.

[James]

Well, I hope the reader's voice was at least pleasant!

[John]

James wrote: "Well, I hope the reader's voice was at least pleasant!"

Yes, actress Juliet Stevenson is a solid narrator. Basically, it's about the selfish title character using people right up until the end, when she repents, leaving a mess for others to deal with.

[madrano]

Stevenson is an excellent actor. She first came to my attention as crystallographer Rosalind Franklin in a tv movie about the uncovering of the DNA helix. She was tone perfect, imo. I didn’t realize she narrated books. I like that, just not Madame B.

[John]

Author under 35 (89) and Disease (93)

Lyme Light: A Memoir by Natalie H.G. London

I purchased this audiobook towards an Audible promotion, but not sure about it going in. Going to be a very difficult review later, as I was rather turned off by the author at first; the disease doesn't really appear until well into the story. There was a "payoff" near the end, but honestly not enough to recommend the book.

[Alias Reader]

God job on the prompts, John.

I really get annoyed when the title/author misleads what the book is really about. Also when the "payoff" is not that much of a payoff.
The lack of payoff part fits the last book I read, Trust

[madrano]

Odd not to introduce the disease until later in the book. Ostensibly, that’s why a person titled the book the the way they did.

Congratulations on achieving two prompt, John.

[John]

Technically, she starts off the very beginning with a Lyme situation, quickly flashing back to her life before then (to show what has been 'lost'). Roughly halfway through the serious symptoms kick in to be the major focus of the story.

[madrano]

The hook at the beginning—i’ve had that a couple of times recently. While it works, catching my interest, i also dislike it. TV shows have joined in using the ploy, as well. Not a fan.

One presumes readers have the book because they want to read about the topic. Ok, ok, I’m picky!

[Alias Reader]

:) Welcome to the club, John.

[John]

Name in title (41), Book about an author (47), One word title (61), writer bio (101)

Monica: A Life of Monica Dickens by Anne Wellman

I'd read Monica Dickens' One Pair Of Hands and One Pair of Feet, so thought I'd read her biography. Afraid it was too thorough for me, an abridged version would've worked better.

[Alias Reader]

I find myself thinking many books could have been edited down.
At least you knocked off 3 prompts ! Well done.

[James]

John, thanks for your comment on this biography of a very interesting person -- sorry that it missed the mark for you. Congratulations on another three prompts, though!

[madrano]

Thank you for the introduction to this Dickens, John. I knew nothing about her or her success. I’LL pass on the bio but seek out her books.

Kudos on the three-fer!

[John]

Read at least 23 books in 2023 (33)

A Short Walk in Williams Park by C.H.B. Kitchin

After reading a couple of the author's mystery stories, I thought I'd try one of his novels. In the end it worked out okay, but I should've paid attention to the reviewer who suggested starting elsewhere with his fiction. Very slow first half difficult to get through for me, though it picked up enough later on.

[madrano]

Happy 23, John!

And thank you for introducing us to Kitchin’s fiction. Sadly i couldn’t locate an ebook version of Crime at Christmas, which i intended as my DL 4- A book you chose simply because of its cover. one problem with selecting books by their covers today is that publishers make more than one cover, depending on the form the book takes—audio, paperback, etc.

[James]

Congratulations on another prompt, John!