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100 Book Prompt Challenge -2023
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Deborah's 100 Book Challenge - 2023
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It seems this year just flew by.
Yeah, didn't think about getting to the point where I can't read anything more than the couple of books left.
Thankfully! I won't get that close but i'm quite satisfied with all i removed from my TBR. Not to mention the topics i explored were beneficial to me and mine.
I'm not prepared to say i'm back in the Reading Mode but i did finish my first book for December, for a prompt, of course.48- Contains the word "Wife" or "Woman" in the title.
The Lunar Housewife--Caroline Woods is set in the early 1950s, mostly in the NYC world of publishing. The book held my interest, partly because it tickled the era's "witch hunt" actions, thanks to the House on UnAmerican Activities activities. Louise Leithauser is a writer, who is dating a man who recently founded a new magazine. Almost immediately there are intimations that he or the publication are somehow part of the CIA. Is it true?
Simultaneous to this story, author Woods has created the novel Leithauser is writing, which is the title of the book we are reading. Set in a space capsule where an American defector and a Russian cosmonaut are living. There are echoes of Louise's life, which are interesting.
Overall, this was probably more romance than not. However, there is a thread about keeping control of one's own life, reoccur, enriching the novel, imo. I can't share too much without spoiling the overall effect. There are "cameos" featuring James Baldwin and Ernest Hemingway, as well.
I liked it fine & it got me reading, which i've been unable to do in the last few weeks. What more can one ask of a book?!?
Very nice! Interesting setup, though not sure it'd work for me.
madrano wrote: "I'm not prepared to say i'm back in the Reading Mode but i did finish my first book for December, for a prompt, of course.48- Contains the word "Wife" or "Woman" in the title.
[book:The Lunar H..."
Thoughtful review. Thanks.
Michele
madrano wrote: "I'm not prepared to say i'm back in the Reading Mode but i did finish my first book for December, for a prompt, of course.48- Contains the word "Wife" or "Woman" in the title.
[book:The Lunar H..."
I've been looking for a good non fiction book that is a reasonable length on the House on UnAmerican Activities for years now.
Thank you each for your kind comments. As the book engaged me enough to finish within a few days, i'm pleased. Alias, it is probably a very unwieldy subject, which would make such nonfiction huge. Just a guess, as i had little idea how far those tentacles of attempted control could reach. As a bit of a spoiler i will add (view spoiler)
Imagine my Surprise. I was double checking my Challenge list and remembered to count whether i read more books this year than last--74- Read more books than you did in 2022. I was quite amazed to see that the last book i mentioned, The Lunar Housewife--Caroline Woods, was the 116th book i read this year. Last year i read 115 and thought that would be tough to beat. Given my recent slowdown in reading, i knew i wouldn't complete the list but the fact i'd "out read" last year is a wonder. I'm pleased and relieved to see that not all the books i read this year were for Prompts, either. :-)
That written, i now realize i was probably never going to read a book Bill Gates listed (#27), nor a business/economy book (#70) but i was surprised that i didn't read a book written pre-1800s, as i believe i nominated that Prompt (102). I began and may even complete the book i selected, The Book of the City of Ladies--Christine de Pizan. It's not great writing and i believe many of the historic characters were, in fact, myths. Slow going.
As for #75, Book you started but never finished! I've added even more books to that list, mostly books i began for this Challenge but abandoned because i became too busy or needed to take too many notes. This is not the way this prompt was supposed to go!
How fun! Amazing that you read that many books in 2023! kudos to you! - Holly
madrano wrote:" I was quite amazed to see that the last book i mentioned, The Lunar Housewife--Caroline Woods, was the 116th book i read this year. Last year i read 115 and thought that would be tough to beat."
Wow ! That's amazing, deb, considering you've read a lot of heavy hitter books this year.
I will not beat last years total of 69.
Today I just finished #59.
Congrats! I read fewer this year, so failed that prompt.
John wrote: "Congrats! I read fewer this year, so failed that prompt."It's the quality not quantity as they say. Still, it's a fun prompt.
When making the prompts I try to fit in the year or the letters B,N or C in some manner.
Maybe next year I'll have to settle for read 24 minutes daily.
Thank you for the compliments. I'm pleased i read that many but there were times this year when it seemed all i did was read. The only human interaction being my husband. LOL! While i did read a number of heavy hitting books, i also read a bunch of mysteries, both old and bad series (although, gratefully, only one in the bad series, i wasn't that eager).
madrano wrote: " The only human interaction being my husband. LOL! ":)
I see that there were 16 prompts i did not fulfill. While i had a book listed (on my work sheet) for most books, never did i find one i wanted to read for 69- A health, diet, exercise, fitness or wellness book. My life may be trying to tell me something!Regardless, the year of Prompts was a reading pleasure. I'm actually disappointed i missed out on a few prompts & may use them for this year's event. Frankly, 100, plus the extra 5 was probably too large for me.
Most of us expanded our reading horizons, learned from others and, naturally, added to our TBRs. Thank you for sharing this year as a group. I look forward to next year's fun!
Deb, I think you did well. 105-16 = 89.
madrano wrote: "I see that there were 16 prompts i did not fulfill. While i had a book listed (on my work sheet) for most books, never did i find one i wanted to read for 69- A health, diet, exercise, fitness or w..."Well done Deb!
I had the same thought - to keep some of my unfulfilled prompts in mind for this upcoming year.
There were a few that I was disappointed in not filling - a banned book and a book by a leader of another country are two at the top of my mind.
Lindsey wrote: There were a few that I was disappointed in not filling - a banned book and a book by a leader of another country are two at the top of my mind."I really am surprised that 2 years in a row I didn't fill the prompt.
34- Read a fiction and nonfiction book on the same topic.
I was positive I would read 2 WWII books to fill that. I got to the non fiction book but not the fiction.
It's rather fun to make these post-challenge observations about our reading, too, isn't it? I think i suggested three of the prompts that i didn't finish! One would think those would be among the first i would tackle.Thank you for the congratulations.
I started a book for (28) inequality, but just couldn't get into it enough to continue.
:( It's early, I am sure you will find something that appeals to you.
John, i hear ya on this front!I felt that way about economics (70). I wanted to learn something, not read a novel about economics or business. The problem with that was that i couldn't get engaged to the topic, the writing or garner enough interest to try.
It may be that this is a key, as well. What else do we want from our prompts? I wanted more than fiction, wanted to learn, but apparently wanted it to be effortless. Reading a novel about it, would have fulfilled the prompt but left me still feeling somewhat uninformed. Maybe i'm alone in that, though.
For me, I like the book challenge because I am trying to expand the genres I read. I try to read to learn new things. I don't only read for pleasure. There is nothing wrong with reading for entertainment. It's just that is not my only goal. I like a nice mix. I like to think I am a life long learner. For me, learning new things is fun. It doesn't have to be some big grand topic. It can be something small to add to something I already know on a topic. That sense of accomplishment I find very satisfying. That said, I know many read to relax and be entertained. That's cool. It's just not my only goal when it comes to the books I read.
madrano wrote: "John, i hear ya on this front!I felt that way about economics (70). I wanted to learn something, not read a novel about economics or business. The problem with that was that i couldn't get engage..."
You are definitely not alone in that. But economics? My son's professor told him the majority of the first year is spent learning vocabulary. Words used to mean one thing in common usage can mean another thing in the jargon of economics. He hated it. I still don't understand how creating algorithms and imaginary structures for making bets can be called a science. Thanks to them, we waited all year thinking the economy would tank, then finally learned that it had done quite the opposite. Putting that book down showed great discernment, IMO.
Michele
For the record, I managed to obtain a university degree in economics at one point 😉
LOL, John, thanks for inserting that comment. My nephew wanted to major in economics but changed to business and philosophy! Curious substitution but, perhaps, not so off the mark, afterall?Michele's comments right true for me. Ever since my early feminist days i've realized economics is mostly what runs things. I read long & often on the topic until i was numb. So, while i have a general grasp of the topic, i tend to avoid book-long reading about it.
Alias Reader wrote: "For me, I like the book challenge because I am trying to expand the genres I read. I try to read to learn new things. I don't only read for pleasure. There is nothing wrong with reading for enterta..."I agree with your comments, Alias. I find myself in flux, at present. It's been more challenging for me to read novels, so many are the same ole stories updated and i become impatient. Graphic novels of interest to me take longer to find than to read. And there are topics i've read about in my youth and no longer find call to me.
And the nonfiction isn't much better. I used to prefer reading a book on science or math, for instance, but find i do not have the patience to do so now, so turn to periodicals. This is new and has shortened my book reading hours.
ANYway, this is why i'm not as immersed in figuring out the books i'll read this year. I simply am unable to predict my needs, as they have changed so dramatically in '23.
I’m with you, Madrano. I used to read a lot of self help books. I can’t stand them anymore. I won’t read most romance books, am very selective about YA, and finicky about historical fiction. I didn’t like reading bad books with 4-word titles or with a color in the title, or 500-page books just because they were long. So I adapted this year, picked the books I wanted to read & then fitted them into the categories. I think this may work better for me. I don’t mind that Ive picked six histories and no books about spirituality. Thats who I am now, for better or worse
I like that attitude, Michele. And the idea of listing books i want to read & fitting them. This may be the way i tackle books i began but abandoned, knowing i still wanted to read them. Yes, that was one of the prompts last year that i did not complete. lol
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Lunar Housewife (other topics)The Book of the City of Ladies (other topics)
The Lunar Housewife (other topics)
The Lunar Housewife (other topics)
Circe (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Christine de Pizan (other topics)Caroline Woods (other topics)
James Baldwin (other topics)
Ernest Hemingway (other topics)
Caroline Woods (other topics)
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I've gone over my list, adding another category to a couple of books where I'd hoped to use a different one later, but by now those aren't going to happen..."
I think this is practical. Like you, i feel satisfied with the way this year's prompts have gone. Reading what other folks here selected has also been pleasing.