2025 Reading Challenge discussion
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9) Never Lie by Freida McFaddenI feel like the writing could have been a bit better on this but the twist at the end was still fun.
Great progress so far You got this!
You're doing great, Katherine!I haven't read the book, but have watched the Last Lecture a multitude of times over the years. Maybe I'll read it at some point.
Have a fantastic 2024. happy reading!
19) The Poppy War by R. F. KuangThis was obviously a very good beginning to, what I feel, is going to be a long Saga. I have to admit that the pause in the middle of the book due to not having enough hours on spotify has made me a little intimidated to continue this one, but I will probably pick up another book in this series later or just by this author. :)
Katherine wrote: "18) The Nightingale by Kristin HannahHeartfelt and very powerful read for young women."
And even for this old woman!
20) A Game of Thrones by George R R Martinthis has a much different feel to it than the show when you know the ages of the characters.
21) Girl, Forgotten By Karin SlaughterI did not know that this was part of a series and I will admit, there were a few things that I would have benefitted from knowing from the previous book. Other than that, it can definitely be read as a stand alone book but you know there's lots more to the story.
Well written and fast paced for me. I would recommend this book as a thriller that isn't as hard to read as Pretty Girls. Not saying Pretty Girls was bad, its very intense and well written as well.
Suffice to say, I don't think I will ever speak badly of Karin Slaughters writing.
22) The Butcher of the Forest by Premee MohamedI loved the writing in this book. I needed a little bit after the ending to process because something felt off but I wasn't sure what. This prompted me to go to the comments to see if anyone else came away with this feeling of something is missing from the book. I'm not the only one with this opinion it seems, I have noticed a few other people that think that this should be expanded on to make it more of a novel than a short story. In many ways I agree that this book could have been expanded on greatly with how detailed the story is with unfinished tellings of what has happened before this story took place.
That being said, it does remind me of the grimms fairy tales in how dark it was. Its a beautifully written short read.
23) Spinning Silver by Naomi NovikI have a bit of a pet peeve about changing perspectives without real warning about whos perspective you are looking through next. Its just an unnecessary waste of my time trying to figure out who's eyes I am looking through now and with so many points of view it is dizzying, especially on an audiobook.
1.5/2* because of my pet peeve. Honestly, the story has too many sides that if she had taken just two of the characters instead of trying to show the perspectives of all the characters this would be an AMAZING story. seriously. well thought out, clearly, just too many perspectives.
24) Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary RoachI really don't know what to say about this book. Very informative, slightly morbid, maybe even a little disturbing. I certainly wouldn't say this is something I'd consider recommending often. For anyone less squeamish about death and everything that goes with it, very interesting read.
25) The Accomplice by Lisa LutzI'm actually not sure how to comment on this book without ruining anything in it. :/ I will admit that I get really tired of the fact that everyone in the book doesn't seem to believe that men and women can be just friends. It makes me wonder if this is just the author projecting their belief. To me, that made this book annoying and exhausting.
I did like how the book ended and how the story worked out but that belief throughout the book that no man and woman can be *just* friends, is really tiring.
26) How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Loving by David RichoI feel like this needs a second reading and listen for me to try and practice some of the lessons more.
27)In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction By Gabor Mate28) The One By John Marrs
I always like how enlightening Gabor Mate is as well as the self reflective questioning he encourages alongside mindfulness practices.
The One, that was a fun read right from the start. sci-fi, drama, thriller, hard to put down at all once everyone was introduced.
29) Feast of Souls by C.S. Friedman30) Spartacus: The Gladiator by Ben Kane
31) I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself by Marisa Crane
32) The Teacher by Freida McFadden
33) Midnight Blue by Simone Van Der VlugtThis was a pleasant surprise to be an education in Dutch history.
34) How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady HendrixI know this is supposed to be a funny horror, I found very little to be funny about this book, there were some scary moments though so for horror it worked. I don't know, I just didn't enjoy this book, finished it mostly so I could tell my friend I read it because she suggested it.
probably just not my cup of tea.
35) The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casaresfull disclosure, I started this book knowing what the outcome of the story. I'm pretty sure this book would have frustrated me more if I didn't know the outcome already.
If I hadn't known the outcome I feel I would have spent much of this book wanting him to explain why he was on this island in the first place and why he was so determined not to be seen by anyone. Yes, he is a fugitive, but what the heck did he do? This would have annoyed me the whole book even though I am aware of that fact.
knowing the outcome, this story feels like it is what the mind can conjure. There were many times where he mentions that this woman seemed above him to acknowledge his presence, a made up scenario considering she and everyone else are just recordings. He even mentions how these people must be demons as they dance and feast in the storm as if it were never there. No one is reacting to him, but he seems to think certain things are slights against him.
I skimmed the rest of this book and went to the summary because I really couldn't handle much more of this narrators musings. Maybe its the era of writing, maybe I just have no patience for pining, but I can see why this was a good sci-fi for the time. it's suspenseful through the whole thing with this narrators anxiety fueling it, and the idea of living forever is something that will fascinate, intrigue and, temp humanity always.
35) The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares**Edited to Add: Spolier warning**
full disclosure, I started this book knowing what the outcome of the story. I'm pretty sure this book would have frustrated me more if I didn't know the outcome already.
If I hadn't known the outcome I feel I would have spent much of this book wanting him to explain why he was on this island in the first place and why he was so determined not to be seen by anyone. Yes, he is a fugitive, but what the heck did he do? This would have annoyed me the whole book even though I am aware of that fact.
knowing the outcome, this story feels like it is what the mind can conjure. There were many times where he mentions that this woman seemed above him to acknowledge his presence, a made up scenario considering she and everyone else are just recordings. He even mentions how these people must be demons as they dance and feast in the storm as if it were never there. No one is reacting to him, but he seems to think certain things are slights against him.
I skimmed the rest of this book and went to the summary because I really couldn't handle much more of this narrators musings. Maybe its the era of writing, maybe I just have no patience for pining/obsession, but I can see why this was a good sci-fi for the time. it's suspenseful through the whole thing with this narrators anxiety fueling it, and the idea of living forever is something that will fascinate, intrigue and, temp humanity always.
Awesome progress, Katherine! I'm really enjoying reading your thoughts for the books you've read 😊I'm sorry to see that I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself didn't work for you. Was it the writing style/execution? It's been on my TBR list for a while, but it seems like it gets more and more negative reviews.
Wishing you the best literary journey in the upcoming months. I hope the rest of the year is filled with lots of hidden gems, and even a few new favorites 😊
Hey Lisa :) Thanks!
I honestly loved the ideas in this book. How the governing system worked in this world really drew me in, my problem with this book was mostly with the main character. She might just have a personality that I don't jive with, but I think that following a character with deep depression and dealing with a love who died that they idolize is something that I can understand but I can honestly say I don't really want to read. The ending to the book also didn't satisfy me but, now that I have had time to think about the ending, seems to be about right for the book after everything that happened.
The writing was good, I just didn't like the story when it was done.
Thanks for the encouragement Lisa, it means a lot. :)
36)
by Ann PatchettI like that this book is written from the point of view of the youngest child and it's a lot of him piecing together what has happened and why. He is trying to find answers to his parents who feel like a mystery to him because as a child he didn't put much thought into asking about his parents lives. This is normal for teenagers, they are learning about the world and don't want to hear the stories of their parents.
The story goes on over 50 years of him being taken care of by his sister while he slowly pieces together the story of his parents. How his family went from nothing, to having a large stock in land to nothing again.
I'm not too sure I would recommend this to too many people as it is a slower read but it does show how fast everything you built can just disappear almost overnight and one of the possibilities of what could happen when wealthy family has passed.
Katherine wrote: "... The writing was good, I just didn't like the story when it was done."Fair enough. You win some, you lose some. Hopefully you'll enjoy the next books you read more 😊.
37) Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret StohlI remember, what must be, about 12 other books like this that I read in high school that were not as drawn out as this one. The verdict after this book and the other YA fiction novels that I have read seems to be that I should avoid any with a love story. Too repetitive and exhausting to listen to. -_-
I could not wait to be done this book..... I had to finish it for a friend and I would not have tortured myself with this book to the end otherwise.
0* no one should torture themselves on a book this long on a story that you can find in any other YA fantasy/paranormal romance. sorry
38) Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon SandersonThis is my first Sanderson novel, he is a bit intimidating normally but I was assured that this was a stand alone novel. Really fun to read, I love the quips in the book. I can't think of any better way to sum it up, its a fun read. :)
Reading order is always really interesting to me. Like yes, Tress of the Emerald Sea is a stand alone, but I would've personally never have started there or recommended it as a starting place. Then again I'm also the type of reader that prefers reading in order, specially Sanderson books, just because of Easter eggs. I can tell 2025 needs to be my personal year of diving back into his books! 😀 Looking forward to seeing what you'll be reading next :)
Oof!!! I really forgot to keep up with this. 39)Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
40)The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult
41)Coraline by Neil Gaiman
42)The Queen of Blood by Sara Beth Durst
43)Whispers by Lisa Jackson
I'm working on some fun ones now so maybe I'll make my 50!
Katherine wrote: "Oof!!! I really forgot to keep up with this..."lol I can relate all too well! You should see mine. I think I stopped at around February and then never looked back 🙈😂
Hopefully 2025 will be a year where we're both better at updating. Wishing you the best of luck in the new year!
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Across So Many Seas (other topics)The Queen of Blood (other topics)
Whispers (other topics)
Between Shades of Gray (other topics)
The Book of Two Ways (other topics)
More...
So far I have read
1) Beginners Guide to Wicca by Starhawk
2) Solo Leveling (Manga) by Chugong
3) Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yaros
4) The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Solo leveling feels like a cheat because its a manga but it's still reading!
The Midnight library has a great premise but I didn't enjoy the tone of the novel that much as it was very centered around depression.
The novel Fourth Wing was laughably predictable. For people who are just getting into the adventure fantasy as teens, I would recommend this book. People who have had any more experience with high Fantasy, I do not recommend this book.