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3rd Annual Reading Challenge > *Linette's 2024 Reading Challenge

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message 1: by Linette (last edited Sep 23, 2024 06:50PM) (new)

Linette | 175 comments New year, new challenge! Bring it!
:D
Excited to read this mix of authors that are new to me, with a few that I know I like thrown in for comfort reading. Fingers crossed I find some new favourites.
Can't wait to see your lists so I can add to my tbr, as happens every year.

1. Fablehaven fun middle grade fantasy series. Other than wanting to slap Seth, I enjoyed this - will read the next in the series. 4.25 stars
2. The 22 Murders of Madison May 4.5 stars - original world, plot, excellent writing and story - only deducted half a point because the ending was kind of ho-hum.
3. Sinister Spring 4.5 stars all the love for AC <3
4. Murder at the Mena House 2.5 stars...love the genre, time, and setting..didn't gel with the writing style though.
5. The Fourth Monkey 3 stars - too gory for me
6. Snow Falling on Cedars 4 stars - great story and characters, but needed an edit...repetitive and slow.
7. Wild Fire 4 stars - last of series.
8. Upgrade 3.75 stars - some cool ideas, but shallow plot and execution.
9. A Rising Man 4.5 stars - not crazy about the MC being a drug addict, but otherwise loved this book! The setting, the history, the plot and characters, all excellent.
10. House of Salt and Sorrows DNF - too young adult romancy for me
11. The Book That Wouldn’t Burn 3,5 stars
12. The Priory of the Orange Tree 4.25 stars - had some issues, but enjoyed overall and will read more in the series

Alternates
1. Murder at Mallowan Hall 2.5 stars - okay, but probably won't continue the series.
2. How to Solve Your Own Murder 4.25 stars. Good writing, characters, setting - plot was good but too meandering, and the mystery mostly reliant on reading a diary to solve.
3. Murder in the Family 4.5 stars. Loved this! Unusual format made it fun, a new twist every 'episode', good characters.
4. The Writing Retreat 2.5 stars - I lost interest in this one about 3/4 through and DNF.


message 2: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4254 comments Mod
I've heard of Snow Falling and have seen the movie (I think). Agatha is always good value for money. I'm just getting into Connie Willis and hope to explore her work more... Good luck in 2024.


message 3: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4190 comments Mod
I love your list, but I love Fablehaven!!! This is such a fun middle-grade series. Fast paced, funny and a little dangerous; but so good. I really hope you enjoy it.

Good luck and happy reading!!


message 4: by Martha (new)

Martha (marthas48) | 767 comments Great list! I've only Snow Falling on Cedars & enjoyed it. Not sure if I've read this Agatha Christie, but she is always good. Happy Reading!


message 5: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4254 comments Mod
Alondra wrote: "I love your list, but I love Fablehaven!!! This is such a fun middle-grade series. Fast paced, funny and a little dangerous; but so good. I really hope you enjoy it.

Good luck and hap..."


Dang! Now I want to check it out. It sounds neat.


message 6: by Linette (new)

Linette | 175 comments Alondra wrote: "I love your list, but I love Fablehaven!!! This is such a fun middle-grade series. Fast paced, funny and a little dangerous; but so good. I really hope you enjoy it.

Good luck and hap..."


One thing I can thank these challenges for every year - they give me a way to finally read any of the great books I missed growing up, or classics I never read. Filled in so many holes! Makes me happy.


message 7: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4190 comments Mod
Bill wrote: "Dang! Now I want to check it out. It sounds neat..."

It is! Yes, but I need to finish it out though. I have to read the last 2 books.


message 8: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4190 comments Mod
Linette wrote: "One thing I can thank these challenges for every year - they give me a way to finally read any of the great books I missed growing up, or classics I never read. Filled in so many holes! Makes me happy..."

Yes; but there weren't many books like this when I was growing up. Certainly not anything like what my kids read. Harry Potter would have been banned and burned. The 90s were iconic.


message 9: by Patricia (new)

Patricia | 1137 comments Great list! I read Snow Falling on Cedars years ago. Be interested to hear how it holds up. I've read the first two in the Sam Wyndham series & plan on reading the third soon. Hope you enjoy this series as well.
Happy Reading!


message 10: by Denise (new)

Denise (drams5) | 323 comments I had How to Solve Your Own Murder on my list and then I took it off at the last minute. Maybe I should add it back...decisions!

I've had Snow Falling on Cedars on my list forever! Maybe this will be the year. :)


message 11: by Linette (new)

Linette | 175 comments Denise wrote: "I had How to Solve Your Own Murder on my list and then I took it off at the last minute. Maybe I should add it back...decisions!

I've had Snow Falling on Cedars on my list forever! Maybe this will..."


Right? there are so many books I wanted to put on my list. Have to hope I get to the others too this year.


message 12: by Bonnie (new)

Bonnie | 708 comments I have read a few of these, and different books by a few authors, but my favorite is The Priory of the Orange Tree. I am looking forward to seeing how you like the Connie Willis. She is a favorite of mine in some books and not others.


message 13: by Anne (new)

Anne | 451 comments I've only read 2 from this year's list. I enjoyed Priory of the Orange Tree, but I didn't finish Upgrade. Other people have loved the latter book, so it may have just been me. I was doing it as an audiobook, and there were a lot of tech heavy info-dumps, which I hate.

I hope you enjoy all your selections.


message 14: by Ioana (new)

Ioana | 2126 comments I love your list. Not because I've read these books (I've only read Upgrade and liked it), but because I've looked at almost all of them one time or another, and could not decide if to add them to my TBR or not. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on them, I hope you love them all. Happy reading!


message 15: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3636 comments The only book I've read on your list is The Priory of the Orange Tree, which I liked. It was super long, though. Hope you enjoy all your choices! Best wishes!


message 16: by Linette (new)

Linette | 175 comments Okay, good feedback for Priory, excited for that.
Confusing feedback for Upgrade...not sure how to feel about that, we will see how it goes for me. LOL.


message 17: by Lindsey (new)

Lindsey Gandhi (lindseygandhi) | 1228 comments I always like checking out new authors, so i look forward to seeing your thoughts on these books. I have a feeling I'll be adding several to my TBR list. Best of luck with your reading challenge! 😊


message 18: by Denise (new)

Denise (derickert) | 1268 comments The only one that I have read is Snow Falling on Cedars and it was a 4 star read for me. Good luck with your challenge.


message 19: by Jackie (new)

Jackie | 1103 comments Lots of new to me authors. Good luck with your reading.


message 20: by Mary (new)

Mary | 73 comments Great list Linette! I look forward to seeing your recommendations. Happy New Year!


message 21: by Linette (new)

Linette | 175 comments Challenge complete!
Overall I enjoyed these books - only 2 DNFs, and just because they were not what I felt like reading, nothing wrong with them.
Not sure I can pick a favourite - Agatha Christie was great as usual, and 4 of them were from new-to-me series that I'm excited to continue, and one series completed.
Time to start compiling next year's challenge list :D


message 22: by Michelle (last edited Sep 24, 2024 12:11PM) (new)

Michelle (marcher08) | 1706 comments Congrats on finishing your challenge, Linette! Looks like you read some great books. 4 new series should keep you busy.


message 23: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4254 comments Mod
Congrats, Linette! Enjoy the rest of the year!


message 24: by Linette (new)

Linette | 175 comments Bill wrote: "Congrats, Linette! Enjoy the rest of the year!"

Thank you Bill! Have you started working on your 2025 list yet? :)

Michelle wrote: "Congrats on finishing your challenge, Linette! Looks like you read some great books. 4 new series should keep you busy."

Discovering new series is so great!
I don't have enough series to read already... haha.


message 25: by Bonnie (new)

Bonnie | 708 comments Congratulations Linette. Looking forward to your 25 list.


message 26: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4254 comments Mod
Linette wrote: "Bill wrote: "Congrats, Linette! Enjoy the rest of the year!"

Thank you Bill! Have you started working on your 2025 list yet? :)

Michelle wrote: "Congrats on finishing your challenge, Linette! Loo..."


I'm struggling, Linette. Have you?


message 27: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3636 comments Congratulations Linette! I've been working on my 2025 list all year long. Who knows where I'll end up? :-)


message 28: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4190 comments Mod
Congratulations, Linette. Woot-Woot!!

Glad you ended up enjoying Fablehaven. It is a fun little series.


message 29: by Linette (last edited Sep 25, 2024 06:09PM) (new)

Linette | 175 comments Bonnie wrote: "Congratulations Linette. Looking forward to your 25 list."

Thank you Bonnie! Me too.

Bill wrote: "Linette wrote: "Bill wrote: "Congrats, Linette! Enjoy the rest of the year!"

No Bill - but now that I've finished this year's list, I can start next year's :) That's my rule.



Lea wrote: "Congratulations Linette! I've been working on my 2025 list all year long. Who knows where I'll end up? :-)"

Haha, Lea :) I have a general list I keep adding to, and then I pull from that to make my annual challenge list, but haven't started my 2025 list yet.

Alondra wrote: "Congratulations, Linette. Woot-Woot!!

Glad you ended up enjoying Fablehaven. It is a fun little series."


I was surprised how much I loved Fablehaven! I've already read the second book, planning to put the rest in the series on my individual challenge next year.


message 30: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3636 comments Linette wrote: "Haha, Lea :) I have a general list I keep adding to, and then I pull from that to make my annual challenge list, but haven't started my 2025 list yet."

I have a rolling list going all the time. If I want to add a book on, one of the books already on my list goes back to waiting in the wings. It's silly and there is a lot of motion, because I am a moody reader. But it works for me. :-)


message 31: by Ioana (new)

Ioana | 2126 comments Linette wrote: "Challenge complete!
Overall I enjoyed these books - only 2 DNFs, and just because they were not what I felt like reading, nothing wrong with them.
Not sure I can pick a favourite - Agatha Christi..."


Yay, congratulations! Sounds like a winner list, can't wait to see the 2025 one!


message 32: by Linette (new)

Linette | 175 comments Ioana wrote: "Linette wrote: "Challenge complete!
Overall I enjoyed these books - only 2 DNFs, and just because they were not what I felt like reading, nothing wrong with them.
Not sure I can pick a favourite ..."


Thank you, Ioana! Making that new list is an annual tradition, now.


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