Completed! Karol's 2024 Goodreads Challenge

[Karol]

#45 Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse, by Kate Young, finished 7/6/2024, 3/5 stars.

[Karol]

#46 A Disappearance in Fiji, by Nilima Rao, finished 7/9/2024, 5/5 stars

I knew absolutely nothing about Fiji, and the first chapter in the book made me wonder about the ethnicity of the characters, or more specifically why there was a lack of acceptance of the main character (a police sargeant from India) and his fellow Fijian officers. This led me towards a little online research - and so I learned more about the nature of the conflict back in the 1910's when this novel takes place. The author's end notes about the history of Fiji were very helpful as well.

After jumping that hurdle, I ended up thoroughly enjoying the book! I found it fascinating and quite engaging. I loved the main character. The setting was intriguing. The historical aspect of the book was quite surprising to me and seeing how things played out in this story evern moreso.

After having read the book, I was pleased to see in the book jacket that the author intends this to be the first book in a series and that book #2 in underway. I will be looking for it.

[Karol]

#47 The Marvelous Misadventures of Ingrid Winter, by Janne S. Drangsholt, finished 7/14/2024, 5 stars

So many Goodreads reviewers seem to hate this book. But I loved it!

It was very funny, about a neurotic working mother with whom I could relate maybe a bit too much. Every day life was chaotic for her . . . and then there was a business trip where the objective didn't seem entirely clear.

The book takes place in Norway, and was translated from Norwegian into English. Perhaps, one would have to live in Norway and/or be able to read it in the original language to more thoroughly enjoy it. The author made several references to Pippi Longstocking and I thought that if Pippi was an adult this could be her. Several references to the movie Bladerunner as well.

I don't know - I just found it so charming and funny and I really did laugh out loud several times throughout. I've gotta say . . . I loved the business trip to Russia best of all.

[Karol]

#48 A Shot in the Bark: A Dog Park Mystery, by C.A. Newsome, finished 7/18/2024, 3 stars

Interesting mystery that focuses on a community group of dog lovers who get to know each other via the local dog park. Early in the mystery I narrowed the "who-dun-it" to two people and still ended up surprised. For the most part, I did like the characters and I thought the mystery was engaging.

I plan to read the next one or two in the series - often, the 2nd book in a series is better than the first, as the author sets up a lot in the first book. Looking at the ratings for C.A. Newsome's other books, this would appear to be the case for this series.

[Karol]

#49 A Week at the Shore, by Barbara Delinsky, finished 7/23/2024, 2.5 stars

The setup and location for this book was great . . . but as it continued on I found myself just wanting the book to be done already. Too many twisted people having twisted relationships. Not my taste, but I admit the writing was decent.

[Karol]

#50 Black Hills, by Nora Roberts, finished 7/31/2024, 3 stars

This is the first time I've read anything by Nora Roberts. It surprised me in a lot of ways. I didn't enjoy the romance aspect of it at all. But I did enjoy the description of life in the Black Hills, and the suspense element was certainly creepy and scary.

[Karol]

#51 True Sisters, by Sandra Dallas, finished 8/2/2024, 3 stars

I was shocked to learn that in the mid-1850's a group of people actually WALKED 1,300 miles from Iowa City to Salt Lake City pushing hand carts that could carry only 17 pounds of stuff. Made me wonder if these people had any sense at all. All I can say is that religious fervor can be very dangerous.

[Karol]

#52 The Brickmaker's Bride, by Judith McCoy Miller, finished 8/14/2024, 4 stars

Historical Fiction/Romance/Christian. I enjoyed this story that took place in West Virginia just after the Civil War.

[Karol]

#53 The Calling of Ella McFarland, by Linda Brooks Davis, finished 8/19/2024, 3 stars.

I liked this book. The fight for the right for women to vote, and the fight for a good education for girls beyond 3rd grade were major themes in this novel. The author did a great job showing the plight of women who had limited options in the early 1900's, and how individual women were able to help others rise through education and political involvement.

Although I wasn't enamored of the writing style I did enjoy the story. It made me think of my grandmothers (both were born a few years before 1900) and how what they experienced as girls and young women would have been very different than what I did. The book talks about women before they could vote - and before a good education was just as essential for girls as it is for boys. One of my grandmothers was educated through 8th grade, but many of her female classmates had left school years before she did. So she was very proud of her 8th grade education. My other grandmother was a bit of a trend-setter, getting a high school education and then leaving her farming community by train after graduating to go to the city to look for work. I saw bits of them that I could relate to in this book's characters.

[Karol]

#54 Dakota Born, by Debbie Macomber, finished 8/24/2024, 4 stars

What is it about Debbie Macomber? Sometimes her books really grab me . . . and this book was one of those. Maybe its the "culture" of North Dakota farmers with towns barely hanging on. The deepness of the community is something I've experienced in small town living myself. Perhaps that is why I found the characters so believable and relatable.

I loved the book enough that I am adding the 2nd and 3rd books in the Dakota trilogy to my To Read list.

[Karol]

#55 Ford County, by John Grisham, finished 8/30/2024, 3 stars

This was an interesting collection of short stories. I think I prefer Grisham's novels - but some of these shorts packed a punch.

[Karol]

#56 Simple Gifts, by Lori Copeland, finished 9/6/2024, 2 stars

This is a Christian fiction book that takes place in a small Missouri town. The main character (Marlene) is pulled in various directions by family - a clingy daughter with two kids who wants Marlene to spend all her time helping her, and an aged aunt who needs Marlene's care.

Throw in the complication of being the "normal" offspring of two mentally challenged adults and Marlene has had (and continues to have) a tough life. It all leads to Marlene becoming a bald-faced liar to cope with it all.

As the book winds through Marlene's challenges and how they mostly get resolved, there were parts of the book and a couple of side characters I liked. But for the most part, I very much disliked the main character and that made the book less than an enjoyable read for me. I also felt that several of the situations were entirely unrealistic (like when her aunt fakes paralysis).

It held my interest enough that I read it to the end, so I give it 2 stars for that.

[Karol]

#57 Liberty, by Kirby Larson, finished 9/7/2024, 5 stars

This is a wonderful historical fiction book for middle grade readers.

I rarely read children's books because I'm rather old, and don't have grandchildren yet. When I do, I will make sure they read this one. It captures so well the concepts of World War, prisoners of war, racial division, cruelty to animals, and disability in a story that is engaging and somehow through all of this shows us the best that can be found in people.

I chose to read this book because I needed something from Louisiana for a reading challenge, and this seemed the most intriguing option from my local library. I chose well - I absolutely loved the story!

[Karol]

#58 Be Worshipful (Psalms 1-89): Glorifying God for Who He Is, by Warren W. Wiersbe, 4 stars

This commentary is not as readable as others by Wiersbe that I have used because of extensive cross-referencing. It would be, however, a great resource for Bible teachers.

[Karol]

#59 In the Shadow of Denali, by Tracie Peterson, 3 stars

Interesting historical fiction in this book, but otherwise not all that remarkable. The villain was not too believable - too one-dimensional and lacking in depth. A more nuanced bad guy would have improved this novel.

[Karol]

#60 The Icecutter's Daughter, by Tracie Peterson, 3 stars

Enjoyable romance set in Minnesota during the late 1800's. Compelling main character. Christian viewpoint. Too melodramatic with respect to an important secondary character - otherwise I would have given it 4 stars.

[Karol]

#61 Residue, by Michael McGarrity, 5 stars

How exciting to find new-to-me author that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Great police procedures, suspenseful plot, confusing (in a good way), and the people being investigated are believably greedy, selfish, and sick. The novel has complex relationships, an intriguing setting, and some unpredictability. To say "I couldn't put it down" is such a cliche but it was true for me.

#13 in a series is perhaps an unusual place to try an author for the first time but this book practically jumped off my library shelves into my hands. Now, I feel compelled to go back and read earlier books in this series, and try some other books by him as well.

[Karol]

#62 Dashing Through the Snow, by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark

This was a very light read that takes place during winter holidays in a small New Hampshire town. I enjoyed it. Quite clever and very fast-paced.

3.5 stars



#63. Dodge City: Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and the Wickedest Town in the American West, by Tom Clavin

This book was a great one for me over the last 3 weeks. Due to a hectic and stressful time, I didn't have much time to read. The nature of this non-fiction book was such I could pick it up here and there without anything like continuity in my reading time - and still enjoy it.

Clavin describes a history of Dodge City that is lively; the line between good and bad was certainly blurred as he inspected the lives of some of the folks who came through that town. The author also does a very good job describing the lives of Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterton, Doc Holliday, and other notables before, during, and after the time they spent in Dodge City.

There were quite a few stories within this book that I shared with my husband and son. In a way, as different people came and went in Dodge City, this was at times a collection of short remembrances of those people and events. I liked it all.

4 stars

[Andrea, Moderator]

Karol wrote: "#39 The Night Agent, by Matthew Quirk, finished 6/11/2024, 4 stars

I loved this thriller - decided to read it after getting a few shows into the Netflix series by ..."

I heard that season two is being filmed! My husband and I really enjoyed this series.

[Karol]

Andrea wrote: "I heard that season two is being filmed! My husband and I really enjoyed this series."

That is great to know! I'll look forward to seeing it come out.

[Karol]

#64 The Printed Letter Bookshop, by Katherine Reay

Wonderful story with strong, female characters. Well worth reading. My only criticism is that there were so many complex things going on, all of which got tied up at the end just a bit to tidily for my taste. But I found a lot of wisdom in the story, and overall found it a great book to read.

[Karol]

#65 The Promise of Palm Grove, by Shelley Shepard Gray

This is a typical Amish romance, but quite well done. It was an enjoyable read for me due to the location as well as some references to new order Amish - so I learned something!

4 stars

[Andrea, Moderator]

Karol wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I heard that season two is being filmed! My husband and I really enjoyed this series."

That is great to know! I'll look forward to seeing it come out."

GUESS WHAT! I just saw the ad. Season 2 premiers January 23rd on Netflix!

[Karol]

Andrea, I think I'll put that on my calendar!

[Karol]

#66 Hush Puppy, by Laurien Berenson

Lighter cozy mystery that I found quite enjoyable. I learned a little about dog shows and what it takes to "make" an animal. I might look for more in the series.

3.5 stars



#67 Woman in Shadow, by Carrie Stuart Parks

Interesting thriller/mystery. Total mayhem at an isolated, very posh but rustic resort deep in the mountains of Idaho.

4 stars

[Karol]

#68 Be Exultant (Psalms 90-150): Praising God for His Mighty Works, by Warren W. Wiersbe

Great commentary/study in the book of Psalms. 4 stars

[Karol]

#69 The Same Bright Stars, by Ethan Joella

Well-written family soap opera. I enjoyed it, mostly. There was just an awful lot of sadness - lost relationships, lost people - but the story did have a satisfying ending.

I enjoyed the author's intermittent "quotes" from what I assume was a fictional guide to Rehoboth Beach. Great descriptions that explain why so many people are drawn to the area.

3 stars

[Karol]

#70 Hard Country, by Michael McGarrity

Westerns are not a typical genre for me, but I'm always up for a great story and Hard Country certainly fits that description. It's a saga that covers from post-Civil War times through WWI, chronicling three generations of cowboy hands and ranchers in New Mexico. The characters were like real people to me - endearing at times, and annoying as can be at others. One could say stubbornness may have been the family's hallmark.

The author took painstaking care in his descriptions or cowboy and ranch life, as well as in the historical events that were impactful. Far from dry, this book had me longing for more time to sit and read. I carried the characters with me inside my heart and mind in-between readings.

I first read this author from a book in his Kevin Kearney crime series, which is also very good. When I saw that he had also written a western saga I knew I would have to try it and I am so glad I did. I wish I had discovered this author years ago - I have a lot of catching up to do.

5 stars

[Karol]

I might make it to 75 - but just barely! I've got 4 rather quick reads I want to get to, now that I've finished this one.

#71 Sound and Fury: Two Powerful Lives, One Fateful Friendship, by David Kindred

I've had on my mind to read this book, about the unusual relationship between Mohammed Ali and Howard Cosell, ever since it was published in 2006. Interesting that it took me this long to get to it, but it lurked in the back of my mind for 18 years.

The writer, David Kindred, covered Mohammed Ali's career from the very beginning, first for the local Louisville, KY newspaper. (Louisville was Mohammed's home town). Over the years, he also met Howard Cosell and wrote two of Cosell's four memoirs. So, it makes sense that we would write this dual biography of these famous men.

The author doesn't hold back in his writing about the character flaws of both men, nor the characteristics that made them both "great" in their career accomplishments. Ali and Cosell both were very complicated men.

He also takes us to the scene of Mohammed's boxing matches, detailing key turning points in each one - with a bit about how Mohammed trained (or sometimes chose not to train) for them. He shows how amazing Ali was in the ring early in his career at his full strength, and how - sadly - his matches were difficult and even agonizing at the end.

All in all, the book was informative and entertaining, with a lot of insight on how these two men operated professionally, and lived personally.

[Elyse, Moderator]

You can do it, Karol!

[Karol]

#72. Joe Gibbs: Fourth and One, by Joe Gibbs and Jerry B. Jenkins

This book can be categorized in both Sports and Christian genres. The coach goes into a lot of detail in the career path that led him to the head coach position for the Washington Redskins. From there, he talks about that Super Bowl winning team, focusing on key players and key wins and losses in the season that led up to the championship. He also gives a lot of credit to his wife, Pat, and how she held the family together while he pursued his career. And Gibbs also talks a lot about his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

All in all it was an interesting and entertaining read.

3 stars

[Karol]

#73. The Crow's Call, by Wanda E. Brunstetter

This is an "Amish Mystery" book, but I was pretty disappointed in it. First of all, not much of a mystery at all. Secondly, the storyline wasn't all that interesting, and I found myself disliking the main character who seems to be awfully short-sighted and petty.

On the other hand, the setting and many of the characters were quite likable. And others caught my attention and I found them interesting to read about. It's possible I just wasn't in the mood for this author, whom I usually turn to as a comfort read. So giving the book the benefit of doubt . . .

3 stars

[Karol]

#74 The Mockingbird's Song, by Wanda E. Brunstetter

I liked this second book in the Amish Greenhouse Mystery series a little better than the first - not quite as sad. Still, the word "mystery" is a misnomer for sure. There's some vandalism going on in the first two books, and nobody knows where it's coming from. Police aren't notified, so there is no investigation . . . just family wringing their hands is all.

The book really is about family, romantic, and neighborhood relationships - with a bit of discrimination/prejudice mixed in.

3 stars

[Karol]

#75 The Robin's Greeting, by Wanda E. Brunstetter

In this trilogy, I would rank this last book as the second-best after the middle one. The main problem I had with it was seeing all the struggles and loose ends get tied up all at the same time, and very neatly and sweetly - too much so for me. I think of some endings as "saccharine" - so sweet they don't quite seem authentic. This book has an ending like that, and to me it takes away from the overall story more than it adds to it.

There's a fine line between having a satisfying ending (for example, not a cliff hanger), and one that is too "perfect". This book doesn't hit that line for me.

On the other hand, stories about the Amish are typically comfort reads for me and this book as well as the rest of the series mostly hit that mark.

3 stars

[Elyse, Moderator]

Woohoo 75 with just days to spare! Great job, Karol! I took the liberty of moving your thread to the newly created COMPLETED folder. 😉

[Andrea, Moderator]

Yay Karol! Congrats on hitting your goal!