On The Same Page discussion
2024 Independent Challenge
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Lea's 2024 Filling in the Gaps Individual Challenge
Alondra wrote: "Great update, Lea.Yeah, I agree about the Earthseed series (?); but as my question mark shows, I hate that we didn't get more from this author. Even though she gave us so much; it's all so good that it just isn't enough. If that makes sense."
Yes, I completely agree. If you have read both of the Parable books already, I recommend listening to the below interview with a historian at the Huntington Library, who talks about some of the papers and partial books. Butler intended to write a third book in the Earthseed series entitled Parable of the Trickster, but didn't have enough time to finish it. Don't listen to the interview if you haven't read both books as there are huge spoilers, but if you have, I think it is fun to hear where Butler was headed with the books. There's always a controversy when authors tell people not to finish their partially finished work or publish it unfinished. And I get it. I'd hate to have somebody publish something that I hadn't perfected yet. However, we have so few books by this great author. It would be so nice to be able to read more. :-)
https://soundcloud.com/thehuntington/...
Mod
Yeah, I agree about the Earthseed series (?); but as my question mark shows, I hate that we didn't get more from this author. Even though she gave us so much; it..."
Yes, I read both. Do you not know me at all!! LOL ...
*cries in unread books*
LOL; anyway; it reminds me of Sue Grafton not getting the last of the Kinsey Milhone books completed. The family refused to allow anyone else to finish.
It is all so sad. Our favorite authors are human! *cries in aging Stephen King*
Looks like your first half of April was a lot like mine...lots of 2 and 2.5 stars.The difference is that you seem fine with it, while I get mad about the wasted time. Let's hope we both find better books next.
Alondra wrote: "Yes, I read both. Do you not know me at all!! LOL ...*cries in unread books*
LOL; anyway; it reminds me of Sue Grafton not getting the last of the Kinsey Milhone books completed. The family refused to allow anyone else to finish.
It is all so sad. Our favorite authors are human! *cries in aging Stephen King*"
LOL, I totally got scolded by a friend for giving her the link to the Trickster interview, because it spoiled Talents for her. I guess she stopped at Sower. Oops.
Do you have a favorite Butler book? I think Butler might become like Morrison for me, I should only read one or two books a year and let my heart repair.
I am glad King finished most of his series. It's a bummer about Grafton. I had wanted to start that series once it was completed, I guess it is as complete as it ever will be. :-( And don't get me started on Martin who will never finish A Song of Fire and Ice.
But I have to say, I was so disappointed with the Bladerunner series after Jeter tried to finish what Dick started, I don't think I recovered. That was one series I DNF.
Ioana wrote: "Looks like your first half of April was a lot like mine...lots of 2 and 2.5 stars.The difference is that you seem fine with it, while I get mad about the wasted time. Let's hope we both find better books next."
I guess I'm fine with it when I know I'd have wanted to read the book anyway, because it clears a book off my TBR. Like Dreamfever. I'm going to read it anyway, because I want to get to Shadowfever that won a GRC Award. The completist in me knows that I won't feel complete until the book is read, so I am more happy that I read it than bummed that the book wasn't as good as I'd hoped.
I'm not as agreeable when I read books like A Study in Drowning, a book that had not been on my radar, but looked so good that I let it linebutt its way ahead...and was super disappointing.
It also helped that my last two books I read were 4 stars - Parable of the Talents and Bright Young Women. Unfortunately, none of the three books I'm reading now are likely to earn 4 stars, so I'm back to wondering if I know how to pick out books at all.
I hope we both read some good books - when are you wanting to read Holly?
I think I get more upset about books that I wanted to read for a long time and they turn out to be...meh. So much excitement and anticipation for nothing...I'm ready for Holly whenever you are!!
My current read is a 4 star. I hope. Depending on the ending, it can go either way, 3 or even 4.5. So curious on how the author will end it, can't wait! I have no idea, and I love that.
Ioana wrote: "I think I get more upset about books that I wanted to read for a long time and they turn out to be...meh. So much excitement and anticipation for nothing...I'm ready for Holly whenever you are!!
My current read is a 4 star. I hope. Depending on the ending, it can go either way, 3 or even 4.5. So curious on how the author will end it, can't wait! I have no idea, and I love that."
That makes sense. It's really a good way to look at books. For me, once I really want to read something, it is hard for me to change my mind and decide not to.
Why don't we start Holly next week sometime? I will set up a thread for us to discuss. I think Lindsey got a little bit behind on her books, but she can come discuss when she's ready. We'll probably still have something to say. :-)
Fingers crossed...I hope your book has a good ending. I love it when I don't know how the author will end it and I hope the ending is satisfying. Nothing worse than reading a good book and having the ending take a hard left hand turn away from where it should have gone, though. Happy reading! :-)
Lea wrote: "Why don't we start Holly next week sometime?"Perfect! Can't wait, this has been on my TBR for so long.
April Month End ReportBooks Read: 14 books this month and 57 year to date. 20,278 pages.
Books from Filling in the Gaps: 30/100; 2022 Books 1/4, 2023 Books 2/12, 2024 Books, 27/84
Books from 12+4 Challenge: 10/16
Previously discussed:
A Study in Drowning
The Unhoneymooners
The Honeymoon Crashers
Dreamfever
Bright Young Women
Recently finished:
Parable of the Talents - The sequel to Parable of the Sower was a tough read. It was darker than the first book, but had a satisfactory conclusion. However, knowing that Butler was working on another book in this series makes me sad. We all missed out on seeing how she would have made the series end. I think she would have left Parable of the Trickster (the proposed title) end on a more positive note, with an opening for more books. Butler had a fondness of for Olamina and I do too. 4 stars
Bloodsucking Fiends - This book was absolutely ridiculous and just what I needed after so many serious books. It was written in 1995 and you can tell, and is Moore's foray into the vampire novels that were so popular at the time. I liked it better than I thought I was going to. I read it because the third book in this series won a GRC Award and I'm on a quest to get all the GRC Awards read and I'm a completist and have to read all the books in a series. (After this month, I have 11 more GRC Award books to read, but probably more like 45 books to read if I read all the series to get to the books that won.) Anyways, it's about a woman who becomes a vampire but is given no instructions and a struggling writer that works nights at a supermarket. Humor is subjective and some things were lost on me, but I did laugh aloud several times and it entertained me when my heart was in shreds over some of the last books I read. 3 stars
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz - On the one hand, I loved Eureka the naughty kitten. However, on the other hand, I was annoyed by some glaring inconsistencies. (view spoiler) Maybe I should have read these books when I was younger. 3 stars, because I really needed some light hearted books
House of Flame and Shadow - This is the third book in the Crescent City series and it merged A Court of Roses and Thorns into Crescent City. This makes it doubly hard to review because I don't want to spoil anybody, but I will say these two things. 1. It is my favorite Crescent City book and I'm glad I read it. 2. There were way too many characters and way too many points of view in this book. I'm shocked that Maas could hold it together. 3 stars
Feed - A GRC Award for 2010 that I never got around to reading because I was sure I wouldn't like it. I was very wrong. This book is a YA novel and it's about zombies, AND I liked it anyways. It also had a decent amount of politics and at times, there are long dry informational bits that took me out of the story. And yet, it is such a good book. There wasn't much gore. It was more about what happens to humanity after this virus causes all people to rise again when they die. It's about a group of young bloggers who are hired to follow a presidential campaign trail and things happen. I am excited to read the next in the series and even decided to read a in-between the numbers book since I was having so much fun with this book. 4 stars
Fed - This was an alternate ending of the book and I'm currently pretending it never was written. It was the right choice for Grant to leave the book with the ending she choose. This would have been wrong, for a lot of reasons. 2 stars
No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden - I was given this book years ago, and it has been sitting on my shelf reproaching me. There was a lot of controversy about the book when it came out, since the government and Owen were in disagreement whether some of the things mentioned in the book were classified or not and Owen ended up paying out over $6 million to settle with the government. I did not find a ton of things in the book that was shocking or surprising. The story seems plausible. Owen was going to give most of the proceeds from the book to support veterans charities, so it is too bad there was so much less to distribute to those worthy causes. I started the book and could not put it down. It isn't particularly well written, but it is important. We all sacrifice some to do our jobs, but those who are in the military certainly sacrifice more than most.
The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession - Stéphane Breitwieser began stealing from museums and historical sites and stole over 200 pieces of art over a 7 year period, totalling an estimated $2 billion. He is why we cannot have nice things for the public. Finkel writes an interesting story that compels me to ask a lot of questions, how did he get to be this way? What can been done to protect against this type of thing happening in the future? I also read The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by this author, which I also enjoyed, but I think I did like this story just a bit more. 4 stars
Currently reading:
Shadowfever - I hope there are some answers to be had here that are satisfactory. This is the fifth book in the Fever series, which won the GRC Award for Paranormal Fantasy in 2011. The book is long, but it is very highly rated, so here's hoping.
Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere - I don't think I'm the right demographic for this book. I'm about halfway through, so I'll probably finish it out. It isn't terrible, it just isn't for me.
Progress on the Whack-a-Mole Series Situation –
Series Completed this year (for the moment...):
1. The Housemaid (1)
2. Firekeeper's Daughter (1)
3. Fractalverse (1)
4. Killing Series (2)
5. Will Robie (1)
6. The Empyrean (2)
7. The Firm (1)
8. Moloka'i (1)
9. If I Stay (2)
10. Ripley (5)
11. The Unhoneymooners (2)
12. Earthseed (2)
13. Crescent City (1)
14. Holly Gibney (1)
Series Started This Year with Books Remaining:
1. Fever (7)
2. Oz (11)
3. The Giver (3)
4. A Love Story (3)
5. Newsflesh (3)
Series That Added Books This Year with number of books I still need to read in that series:
1. Deathless (1)
2. Coyote Sunrise (1)
3. The Space Between Worlds (1)
Series That Added Books Next Year with number of books I still need to read in that series:
1. Xanth (41)
2. You (2)
3. Camp Half-Blood Chronicles (1)
4. Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez (10)
5. Thursday Murder Club (1)
6. Comoran Strike (4)
7. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (1)
8. Stephanie Plum (9)
9. Heartstopper (1)
Book of the month: Bright Young Women
Worst book: Dreamfever
Biggest surprise: Feed
Greatest accomplishment: 57 books so far this year, 9 of which have been over 500 pages. Last year, at the end of April, I'd only read 48 books so far, so I'm really pleased how well things are going.
Mod
Do you have a favorite Butler book? I think Butler might become like Morrison for me, I should only read one or two books a year and let my heart repair.
I am glad King finished most of his series. It's a bummer about Grafton. I had wanted to start that series once it was completed, I guess it is as complete as it ever will be. :-( And don't get me started on Martin who will never finish A Song of Fire and Ice.
But I have to say, I was so disappointed with the Bladerunner series after Jeter tried to finish what Dick started, I don't think I recovered. That was one series I DNF...."
Yikes. I hate when I stumble on spoilers! Sometimes, they just cannot be avoided.....
For some reason, I am thinking of Cheesecake... so random. Anyway; I have not read enough, IMHO, of Octavia Butler, to claim a favorite. Parable of the Sower did open my eyes to what I was missing, though.
King had a few pit stops along the Dark Tower and had quite a few years in between some of the earlier work. I think that he baited us enough with easter eggs from the DT Universe, that it kept us old constant readers complacent and calm. GRRM will never finish. It's sad too; because the series is excellent.
Bladerunner/Do androids dream... was a one and done for me. Weird enough to enjoy and weird enough to leave the series. Egads.
Alondra wrote: "Yikes. I hate when I stumble on spoilers! Sometimes, they just cannot be avoided.....For some reason, I am thinking of Cheesecake... so random. Anyway; I have not read enough, IMHO, of Octavia Butler, to claim a favorite. Parable of the Sower did open my eyes to what I was missing, though.
King had a few pit stops along the Dark Tower and had quite a few years in between some of the earlier work. I think that he baited us enough with easter eggs from the DT Universe, that it kept us old constant readers complacent and calm. GRRM will never finish. It's sad too; because the series is excellent.
Bladerunner/Do androids dream... was a one and done for me. Weird enough to enjoy and weird enough to leave the series. Egads."
Now you've got me thinking of cheesecake. :-)
I am hoping to read more Butler and hopefully as I do, keep changing my favorites.
I'm saving A Song of Fire and Ice to be my last GRC Award series that I catch up on, in hopes that he will have made more progress, but I am doubtful it will happen.
I think you did the right thing with Bladerunner. In general (there ARE exceptions), whenever another author takes over a much loved book/series to finish the series, it is not of the same caliber and very disappointing.
Lea wrote: "In general (there ARE exceptions), whenever another author takes over a much loved book/series to finish the series, it is not of the same caliber and very disappointing."I have to admit, as much as I liked A Song of Fire and Ice, if Mr.Martin decides to continue it, I will not be interested. There is no way I'd re-read the first books, just to remember the who and what. It's been more than 10 years...
Ioana wrote: "I have to admit, as much as I liked A Song of Fire and Ice, if Mr.Martin decides to continue it, I will not be interested. There is no way I'd re-read the first books, just to remember the who and what. It's been more than 10 years..."I only read the first book, and I'm pretty sure I could get up to speed on that again without re-reading. I really don't want to re-read very many books either!
Mod
I have to ad..."
You can still read it, because everyone is dead except for the Stark kids, since Arya went on a killing spree.... which, most of that stuff is from the show.
He would have to come up with something totally new, so that we are not rehashing the HBO series and flopped last season.
May Mid Month ReportBooks Read: 8 books so far this month and 65 year to date. 22,822 pages.
Books from Filling in the Gaps: 33/100; 2022 Books 1/4, 2023 Books 2/12, 2024 Books, 30/84
Books from 12+4 Challenge: 11/16
Recently finished:
Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere - This was a memoir by Maria Bamford. It had it's moments, but overall, it really didn't speak to me. I read the book, without really relating to it. Some books can be read and enjoyed with relating to the book, but I didn't find that to be the case here for me. I do think that others may enjoy the book more than me. 2 stars
Love, Theoretically - A buddy read with Lindsey. I think we both really enjoyed this one. It is a romance by Ali Hazelwood, and the second book I've read by her. Her books are formulaic, but I like that they happen in the world of science. We are buddy reading another book by her with some others in June, her YA book Check & Mate. 4 stars
The Last Devil to Die - This is the fourth book in the Thursday Murder Club series, and I'm really enjoying each one a little more than the last. I do think I need to start making a character list to keep track of all the characters, since Osman is taking a short break from these characters to publish a new series this year. I'm looking forward to seeing how the new series works. 4 stars.
The Road to Oz - This is the next book in the Oz series. I'm not sure this particular book was the strongest in the series. It is amazing to me that he writes so freely in the front of his books about getting ideas from his readers. Today, there would be cries of plagiarism. I also think it creates glaring continuity errors in the series. I will continue with the series, the books aren't bad, but they could be so much better. 2 stars
Shadowfever - I hardly know how to rate this book. It is the fifth book in the Fever series, and about the same size as the first four books combined. (I'm exaggerating.) It needed to be because the first four books are full of mysteries
many of which get resolved here. I don't like reading books with unsolvable mysteries (i.e. the author does not give the reader enough information to solve the mystery). However, I could not help but be impressed by the way Moning was able to tie together a lot of loose ends and bring four books to a successful conclusion. I'm interested enough to keep reading, but at least I've read the GRC Award winning book in the series, so I will feel better if I choose to abandon the series. 11 more GRC winning books left to read (but 43 books, since quite a few are series books...) 3 stars
Gathering Blue - This is the second book in The Giver series. It is set in the same world as The Giver, but none of the same characters. It was good, but didn't have the same impact on me that The Giver did. I enjoyed it. 3 stars.
Heir to Edenbrooke - A prequel to Edenbrooke. It's short, so I don't think it would have universal appeal. Only to people who read and enjoyed Edenbrooke and wanted something more in that world. 3 stars
You Suck - This is the second book in the A Love Story series by Christopher Moore. There were 12 years in between book #1 and #2, and there are some obvious continuity issues and things that cannot be right. I didn't like it as much as the first book, it was just OK. 2 stars
Currently reading:
The Break-Up Book Club - I'm buddy reading this with Linda, Denise, Alissa and Patricia. I'm about halfway through, but there's a lot going on here.
Paths of Glory - This is an obviously fictionalized account of the life of George Mallory, an English mountaineer who participated in the first three British Mt Everest expeditions in the 1920s.
Progress on the Whack-a-Mole Series Situation –
Series Completed this year (for the moment...):
1. The Housemaid (1)
2. Firekeeper's Daughter (1)
3. Fractalverse (1)
4. Killing Series (2)
5. Will Robie (1)
6. The Empyrean (2)
7. The Firm (1)
8. Moloka'i (1)
9. If I Stay (2)
10. Ripley (5)
11. The Unhoneymooners (2)
12. Earthseed (2)
13. Crescent City (1)
14. Holly Gibney (1)
15. Thursday Murder Club(1)
16. Edenbrooke (1)
Series Started This Year with Books Remaining:
1. Fever (6)
2. Oz (10)
3. The Giver (2)
4. A Love Story (1)
5. Newsflesh (3)
Series That Added Books This Year with number of books I still need to read in that series:
1. Deathless (1)
2. Coyote Sunrise (1)
3. The Space Between Worlds (1)
4. Camino Island (1)
Series That Added Books Next Year with number of books I still need to read in that series:
1. Xanth (41)
2. You (2)
3. Camp Half-Blood Chronicles (1)
4. Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez (10)
5. Comoran Strike (4)
6. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (1)
7. Stephanie Plum (9)
8. Heartstopper (1)
Mod
Bill wrote: "I think The Road to Oz is my next book in that series. As you say, it's fun. I don't expect great revelations, just like enjoying the adventures. You've had a good month so far."Yes, they are great books to read for amusement and entertainment. I am really trying not to think so hard about all of the inconsistencies, it detracts from the fun. Maybe it would be better to space them out better, like you're doing...but I do so like to feel like I'm making progress on my series books...basically so I can add more. :-)
Mod
Yes,..."
That's an excellent philosophy. So many of my series are complaining they feel neglected.
Mod
Each book gets a little better as you get more information. Really interesting world created by the author. Hope you enjoy the rest.
Bill wrote: "That's an excellent philosophy. So many of my series are complaining they feel neglected."My series are also complaining about the neglect. I don't know how I ever got so many on the go. :-)
Alondra wrote: "Each book gets a little better as you get more information. Really interesting world created by the author. Hope you enjoy the rest."The first two books were very good and so different from each other. I'm looking forward to seeing the books tie together. This is my first books by Lowry.
You're doing great with the series' books!
Mod
Yeesss. When you get answers to the first book; because like what the heck!??
Lea wrote: "Series That Added Books This Year with number of books I still need to read in that series:1. Deathless (1)
2. Coyote Sunrise (1)
3. The Space Between Worlds (1)"
Wait, wait, wait!! There a sequel to The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise?? How did I not know this? I’ve never added a book as fast to my tbr.
For what it’s worth, I really enjoyed Those Beyond the Wall, the sequel to The Space Between Worlds.
Is the Deathless series written by Namina Forna? Or is it a different series?
Alissa wrote: "You're doing great with the series' books!"Thanks. I have started 10 series this year, so finishing out a series or two was necessary to keep treading water.
Alondra wrote: "Yeesss. When you get answers to the first book; because like what the heck!??"I can't wait! Do you have a favorite book in the series?
Lillie wrote: "Wait, wait, wait!! There a sequel to The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise?? How did I not know this? I’ve never added a book as fast to my tbr.I know, right? I was so excited when I saw it and I'm looking forward to reading it!
For what it’s worth, I really enjoyed Those Beyond the Wall, the sequel to The Space Between Worlds.
I'm so glad to hear it! Sometimes the second book isn't as good as hoped and then it kind of bums me out and leads me to question whether I really liked the first book. I'm excited that this isn't the case.
Is the Deathless series written by Namina Forna? Or is it a different series?"
Yes! I really liked the first book in the series. The second one wasn't as good for me, but I'm super eager to read The Eternal Ones and see what happens in Otera.
Lea wrote: "I'm so glad to hear it! Sometimes the second book isn't as good as hoped and then it kind of bums me out and leads me to question whether I really liked the first book. I'm excited that this isn't the case. Just a heads up, the main character of the first one is a side (though still important) character in this one. And it took me a minute to get into to it. But I did enjoy it.
Yes! I really liked the first book in the series. The second one wasn't as good for me, but I'm super eager to read The Eternal Ones and see what happens in Otera."
Me too! I’m have it on my challenge list for this year. Will probably get to it mid summer-ish
Mod
I can't wait! Do you have a favorite book in the series?"
Allofum... LOL
I think The Giver, because it set the tone and also left me hanging.
Lillie wrote: "Just a heads up, the main character of the first one is a side (though still important) character in this one. And it took me a minute to get into to it. But I did enjoy it."Thanks for the heads up. I'll try to be patient. If I remember the first book took me a moment to get into. I kept picking it up, reading a page or two and then setting it aside for a few months, and then picking it up, re-reading the first two pages and setting it aside. I hope I can pick up the sequel when I'm ready to read it.
Me too! I’m have it on my challenge list for this year. Will probably get to it mid summer-ish
I'm hoping to get squeeze it in mid-late summer, so we'll definitely have to compare notes. I hope we both like it!
Alondra wrote: "Allofum... LOLI think The Giver, because it set the tone and also left me hanging."
I love it. It's a good series when all the books are un-skippable. I really liked The Giver too, and I think the book will continue to grow on me as I read the rest of the series!
May Month End ReportBooks Read: 18 books this month and 75 year to date. 25,807 pages.
Books from Filling in the Gaps: 38/100; 2022 Books 1/4, 2023 Books 3/12, 2024 Books 34/84
Books from 12+4 Challenge: 13/16
Previously discussed:
Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere
Love, Theoretically
The Last Devil to Die
The Road to Oz
Shadowfever
Gathering Blue
Heir to Edenbrooke
You Suck
Recently finished:
The Break-Up Book Club - This was a buddy read with Alissa, Linda, Denise, and I think Patricia is going to get her hands on the book very soon. All of us liked the book so far, and I know I will want to read more by this author. 4 stars.
Our Town - I started to read Tom Lake, and realized that it had been a really long time since I'd seen the play Our Town, which I felt was an integral part of the plot to Tom Lake. So, I let Our Town line butt ahead, and was glad I did. I forgot how much I enjoyed the play. 4 stars
San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats - I discovered all these Newsflesh side stories, and started reading them. Then, someone told me that all the side stories are compiled in Rise: A Newsflesh Collection, but I can't read that until after I read the next book in the series. OK, I think that might help. Anyway, this was a pretty good story about the beginning of the rising. Who knew that I would enjoy zombie stories? 3 stars
Paths of Glory - This is an obviously fictionalized account of the life of George Mallory, an English mountaineer who participated in the first three British Mt Everest expeditions in the 1920s. 3 stars
Tom Lake - I've read three books by Ann Patchett and I have to confess - I enjoyed Bel Canto and Commonwealth more. Not that I didn't enjoy this too. Patchett is a solid writer. As a reader, I just have way too many silly pet peeves and one of them was used here and I couldn't get past it. I'll tell you generally what it is behind this first spoiler tag (view spoiler)
And for those of you who have read the book, I'll explain what I mean here. If you haven't read the book, and might, you probably don't want to click here! (view spoiler) Anyway, because of that, 3 stars. Still good, and probably most of you won't be bothered by my silly quibbles.
Heartstopper: Volume Five - I didn't care for this volume as much as the last one - but I'm looking forward to the next one. This is a graphic novel about a class of high school age kids in the UK, and there's a lot of YA drama in this one. 2 stars
Deadline - This is the second book in the Newsflesh series. It is about zombies. I'm not going to say too much about what happened in the book, so I don't spoil anyone. Yes, the series is about zombies, but there's not a ton of action and horror and blood and guts. There's a lot more about how people behave in adversity, government responsibility, the importance of advocacy, and what is ethical and what isn't. And the ending. I was wondering about whether it might happen in the far distant future, but I didn't expect it in this book. 3 stars
The Profit Plan: Four Proven Strategies To Increase Your Profits! - A vendor gave our company this book. Some good stuff, but very simple. 2 stars
Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and Beyond - I have never watched Happy Days, so I wasn't so familiar with Henry Winkler. That said, I enjoyed this book. I like memoirs of people who have lived a lot of life, it makes the book much richer and more interesting. 3 stars
The Chalice of the Gods - It had been over 10 years since my last Percy Jackson book. I had missed Percy and Annabeth, so it was fun to read this one, but I'm not sure it was as good as the last two books that were based just on Percy. 3 stars
Currently reading:
Iced - This is the 6th book in the Fever series, and the first written in Dani's perspective. The book is about 500 pages, so I'm unlikely to get it finished in the next two days.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold / Tales from the Café / Before Your Memory Fades - I hate time travel books and I hate coffee, so I'd been resisting this series. It would have been a mistake. So far, I'm finding the book good, but it is 736 pages, so I'm unlikely to get it finished in the next two days.
Progress on the Whack-a-Mole Series Situation –
Series Completed this year (for the moment...):
1. The Housemaid (1)
2. Firekeeper's Daughter (1)
3. Fractalverse (1)
4. Killing Series (2)
5. Will Robie (1)
6. The Empyrean (2)
7. The Firm (1)
8. Moloka'i (1)
9. If I Stay (2)
10. Ripley (5)
11. The Unhoneymooners (2)
12. Earthseed (2)
13. Crescent City (1)
14. Holly Gibney (1)
15. Thursday Murder Club(1)
16. Edenbrooke (1)
17. Heartstopper (1)
18. Camp Half-Blood Chronicles (1)
19. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (1)
Series Started This Year with Books Remaining:
1. Fever (6)
2. Oz (10)
3. The Giver (2)
4. A Love Story (1)
5. Newsflesh (3)
6. Before the Coffee Gets Cold (4)
Series That Added Books This Year with number of books I still need to read in that series:
1. Deathless (1)
2. Coyote Sunrise (1)
3. The Space Between Worlds (1)
4. Camino Island (1)
Series That Added Books Last Year with number of books I still need to read in that series:
1. Xanth (41)
2. You (2)
3. Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez (10)
4. Comoran Strike (4)
5. Stephanie Plum (9)
Book of the Month: The Last Devil to Die
Worst Book: The Road to Oz - It just wasn't as good as the rest of the series. Fingers crossed for the next one.
Biggest Surprise: The ending to Deadline
Greatest accomplishment: I've been working so hard at reading all the GRC Award winning books, and I'm down to 10. Which ones do I have left? I'm so glad you asked.
2009
1. Science Fiction - Leviathan Book 1 of a 3 book series. I'm hoping to read this during Summer 2024.
2010
2. Fantasy - Towers of Midnight. Book 13 of a 15 book series. Maybe I will be able to read it in 2025.
3. Humor - Bite Me. Book 3 of a 3 book series. I'm hoping to read it in June 2024.
4. Goodreads Author - Spirit Bound. Book 5 in a 6 book series. Maybe I will read it in 2025.
5. Cover Art - Torment. Book 2 in a 5 book series. Maybe I will read it in 2025.
2011
6. Fantasy - A Dance with Dragons. Book 5 in a 7 book series, where 2 books have not yet been written, I've read the first book in the series, but a long time ago. This will be the last old GRC Award book that I'll read.
2023
7. Romance - Happy Place - Lindsey and I are going to read this one in August 2024.
8. Science Fiction - In the Lives of Puppets - Ioana and I are going to read this one in July 2024.
9. Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction - Divine Rivals. This is the first book in a 2 book series at the moment. I'm hoping to get this read sometime in 2024.
10. Young Adult Fiction - Check & Mate. Next month buddy read, hoping to read this in June 2024.
I'm seeing the end, but it will take me 2 years to get these books read...and I have to keep up with the new awards every year as well....
Impressive, as always.I need to read Our Town, I've never read it before. I realize I missed some of the details in Tom Lake only because I was missing the Our Town background.
I agree with your Tom Lake spoiler, annoying.
Curious about Leviathan, can't wait for you to get to it.
Happy reading!
Mod
18 books! You’re on a reading tear :)Good to hear about The Break-Up Book Club cause I’ve been eyeing it for next year. Going to check out the buddy read thread.
Have Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and Beyond on my list for later this year. Did you read the print version or did you listen to the audiobook?
I'm glad you are enjoying the Newsflesh series. I'm glad you liked Being Henry that is out there in my distant future reads. How is it you never watched Happy Days? I hope you like Before the Coffee Gets Cold more than I did. I DNF'd that one. I hardly ever do that. Also kudos for reading Our Town and enjoying it. That is one of those required reading books that popped up again and again in my school days and I did not enjoy it. In fact, I would include it on my 10 worst books ever list. We all enjoy different books though and that is what makes Goodreads fun. I should probably check it out again to be sure time and maturity haven't changed my poor opinion of Our Town but nah! I won't. Life is too short.
Ioana wrote: "Impressive, as always.I need to read Our Town, I've never read it before. I realize I missed some of the details in Tom Lake only because I was missing the Our Town background.
I agree with your Tom Lake spoiler, annoying.
Curious about Leviathan, can't wait for you to get to it.
Happy reading!"
Ioana, I think you should listen to Our Town, or watch a performance of it on YouTube. It is pretty short, so it would be easy to read, but I think it would be better for you to watch the production. It gives a better sense of what is going on. I don't disagree with Michelle, reading the play without hearing/seeing it is probably boring.
Out of all my remaining GRC Award books, I am looking forward to Leviathan. Unfortunately, I am not a good guesser always when it comes to GRC Award books that I'll like. I was dreading Feed and it turned out OK, whereas I was super excited about Weyward and left underwhelmed.
Other people are better at knowing what they will like. Like you! :-)
Bill wrote: "You had a great month Lea. I've got #5 in the Heartstopper series to read. It's been sitting on my shelf. I can't say why I've been reading it, but I feel the need to see how it will end."Book #6 is going to be the ending of the Heartstopper series, or so Osman wrote in the back of Book #5. I think that's why I didn't gravitate to Book #5, it is clearly a setup for Book #6. That said, I'm super invested and sure to read #6.
Lea wrote: "Other people are better at knowing what they will like. Like you! :-)"Haha, not true. But I give books a try and abandon them quickly if we don't click. That's why it seems I only read decent books and no duds. There are lots of duds.
Lillie wrote: "18 books! You’re on a reading tear :)Good to hear about The Break-Up Book Club cause I’ve been eyeing it for next year. Going to check out the buddy read thread.
Have Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and Beyond on my list for later this year. Did you read the print version or did you listen to the audiobook?"
I would recommend the The Break-Up Book Club to you, Lillie, I think you'd like it. I now want to read more books by the author, I love the way she writes.
I did listen to Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and Beyond on audio, and and my favorite part was when Henry's wife Stacy voices her thoughts in several places. I felt like Winkler did a nice job owning his mistakes and telling funny stories without spilling all of the tea. Fair warning, though, he does meander all over the place. It was easy to turn off and turn back on. However, I was entertained and liked hearing the twists and turns of his career. Hope you enjoy whenever you get to it.
Lea wrote: "I think you should listen to Our Town, or watch a performance of it on YouTube. It is pretty short, so it would be easy to read, but I think it would be better for you to watch the production. It gives a better sense of what is going on. I don't disagree with Michelle, reading the play without hearing/seeing it is probably boring."That's actually very sensible, thank you!
Michelle wrote: "I'm glad you are enjoying the Newsflesh series. I'm glad you liked Being Henry that is out there in my distant future reads. How is it you never watched Happy Days? I hope you like Before the Coffee Gets Cold more than I did. I DNF'd that one. I hardly ever do that. Also kudos for reading Our Town and enjoying it. That is one of those required reading books that popped up again and again in my school days and I did not enjoy it. In fact, I would include it on my 10 worst books ever list. We all enjoy different books though and that is what makes Goodreads fun. I should probably check it out again to be sure time and maturity haven't changed my poor opinion of Our Town but nah! I won't. Life is too short."How is it that I never watched Happy Days? We didn't have a TV growing up. In fact, the first time I owned a television was in 1995. Any TV before that point I don't know too much about, unless I saw reruns. Basically, I am not anyone's lifeline for any trivia show if the question relates to television. :-)
Regarding Before the Coffee Gets Cold / Tales from the Café / Before Your Memory Fades, we'll see where this goes. I just started it yesterday. I read somewhere where the author is more of a playwright, so it may help that I'm listening on audio, we will see.
And that dovetails into Our Town. I didn't read it in high school and would have probably hated it if I had. But our school did do a production of it, and my friends were in it, and well...I think it works better that way. I listened to it on audiobook, and I could visualize my friends in the production, and anyway, maybe that helped. Don't read it again. If you decide you really want to see if maturity helps, watch it on YouTube. :-)
Our Town on YouTube sounds like a strangely good idea. I do think before the coffee would be better on audio preferably a full cast production. And don't worry about Happy Days. nobody really missed anything by missing 80s TV.
Can't believe we are friends and you hate coffee. Pffffffffffffffffflol
Great month of May!
Great month & great mix of books! I'm glad you said that about Our Town. I only read it with one of my kids when I was homeschooling & we were underwhelmed. I'll have to try & listen or watch; especially as I do plan to read Tom Lake.I did enjoy Before the Coffee Gets Cold, but I have been enjoying several Japanese authors lately. Even though I usually have to write the names down to keep them straight. I'll be interested to hear how you like the whole series.
Happy Reading!
Ioana wrote: "Haha, not true. But I give books a try and abandon them quickly if we don't click. That's why it seems I only read decent books and no duds. There are lots of duds."Haha, I think that's a good strategy. I need to adopt it myself. I always think that the book might turn around the next chapter, and then I get to that point where I want to finish it so I never wonder about it again...which is the point where I should really just give up! :-)
Ioana wrote: "That's actually very sensible, thank you!"Maybe wait to thank me after you've watched or listened to the production. You may still dislike it. There's not a lot going on on the surface.
Michelle wrote: "Our Town on YouTube sounds like a strangely good idea. I do think before the coffee would be better on audio preferably a full cast production. And don't worry about Happy Days. nobody really missed anything by missing 80s TV."But, do you know who shot JR? :-) I have never watched Dallas at all and couldn't pick any of the actors out of a lineup, but I do know the answer to that in case I'm representing a trivia team somewhere.
I'm getting to the part in Before the Coffee Gets Cold where things are starting to feel repetitive. We'll see how it goes.
Alissa wrote: "Can't believe we are friends and you hate coffee. Pffffffffffffffffflol
Great month of May!"
Coffee is a filthy habit. :-) I do love wine, though. And chocolate. So that must cancel it out just a bit? :-)
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I haven't read either of those. I'm going to have to put my heart back together before I read another book by Butler, but I'm looking forward to it.