On The Same Page discussion
2025 Independent Challenge
>
Bill's Independent 2025 Reading Challenge
Mod
I've completed 9 books in March, 5 since my mid-month update. Total of 1750 pages, so lots of short books.
Up to mid month, read & discussed -
1. On Book Banning by Ira Wells (4.5 stars)
2. Doppelganger by Naomi Klein (DNF)
3. Alabaster: Wolves by Caitlin R. Kiernan (3.5 stars)
4. A Time to Keep Silence by Patrick Leigh Fermor (4.5 stars)
Since then...
5. Postern of Fate by Agatha Christie (5th and Final book in Tommy & Tuppence mystery series) T & T retire and move to a new house and find some intriguing clues to an old spy mystery (3.0 stars)
6. A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel by Fred Fordham & Ursula K. Le Guin The 1st story in the Earthsea saga, converted to a graphic novel. Story still great and an excellent graphic (4.0 stars)
7. A Series of Murders by Simon Brett (Charles Paris #12) Aging actor Charles Paris gets involved in a murder that takes place during filming of a new TV series. (3.5 stars)
8. The Girl and the Glim by India Swift Graphic novel / Middle Grade. Young girl, Bridgette, starting a new school, has difficulties adjusting and ends up trying to save the school with help from a Glim (3.0 stars)
9. Lost Girls by Alan Moore Graphic novel featuring grown up Dorothy Gale (Oz), Wendy (Peter Pan) and Alice (of Wonderland) who meet and spend time now as adults discussing their past. Extreme adult content both in the story and the artwork. Almost oppressive (2.5 stars)
Currently Reading
1. On Freedom by Timothy Snyder (Non-Fiction) Just starting. Snyder just left the US to be a professor at University of Toronto
2. The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline Canadian / indigenous story, set in dystopian future where indigenous people are the only ones who can still dream and are hunted by the rest.
3.Domain by James Herbert, the 3rd books in the Rats trilogy set in a future after a nuclear war destroys Loondon
4. Children of Chicago by Cynthia Pelayo children missing or killed. Is it the Pied Piper?
5. The White Russian by Tom Bradby Set in St Petersburg in early 1900s, a murder mystery
6.The Snowman by Jo Nesbø (Harry Hole #7) Interesting Scandy mystery set in Norway. What the heck is this Snowman!!!
7. The Naming of the Dead by Ian Rankin Rebus is involved in a murder during a G-7 Summitt in Edinburgh
Upcoming
1. Gideon's Power by J.J. Marric (Commander Gideon mystery #17)
2. A Question of Proof by Nicholas Blake (Nigel Strangeways #1)
3. Imago by Octavia E. Butler (#3 of Lilith's Children)
4. Dorothy Parker: Complete Broadway, 1918–1923 by Dorothy Parker All of Dorothy Parker's reviews. I've enjoyed her poetry..
and many many more I hope. Enjoy your April!
Another great month! Of all the books listed here, I've only read Imago, and I can't wait to hear your thoughts. Happy reading.
Bill wrote: "End March 2025 UpdateI've completed 9 books in March, 5 since my mid-month update. Total of 1750 pages, so lots of short books.
Up to mid month, read & discussed -
1. On Book Banning by Ira Wells..."
Haha, your comment about the snowman brought back some eerie memories! It's been years since I read that book and haven't looked at snowmen the same since.
A solid month! You're making good progress on your series books, Bill!
Mod
So many series to work on, eh Lea? You're in the same boat, aren't you. There is always a new and interesting series to check out.
Bill wrote: "So many series to work on, eh Lea? You're in the same boat, aren't you. There is always a new and interesting series to check out."Sooo many series! I had no idea how many series I add every year until we started tracking them. :-)
Great reading month Bill!Ok, question for both you and Lea, do you ever drop series? I keep looking at my list and feel so overwhelmed.
Lillie wrote: "Great reading month Bill!Ok, question for both you and Lea, do you ever drop series? I keep looking at my list and feel so overwhelmed."
Yes, I frequently drop series. I currently know about 113 series that I consciously have abandoned. There may be more, since sometimes I read a book which later becomes a series, and I don't know about it and include it in my series books. Of course, sometimes I later pick up a series that I've abandoned if I feel like it is going somewhere again. Some are just temporarily postponed, whereas others will be permanently abandoned. We'll see. I still have more series than I can ever finish in this lifetime. :-)
Mod
Ok, question for both you and Lea, do you ever drop series? I keep looking at my list and feel so overwhelmed."
I do drop series. When I went through my series to make this list, I dropped a few.
Thanks for the feedback! I've been looking through my series page and trying to rearrange and make some decisions on what to keep going with, what to retire and what to put off for another day.
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Next in line is a British mystery, A Question of Proof by Nicholas Blake (Nigel Strangeways #1)
Mod
Glad you are back with Rebus. I am going on to #11. I think since I read some Rebus last year; that he is not priority this year. I am on the Harry's this year. Dresden, Bosch, and Hole. 🤣
I've been meaning to watch an interview with Snyder, which is on Youtube. Seems quite interesting.
Mod
Glad you are back with Rebus. I am going on to #11. I think since I read some Rebus last year; that he is not priority this year. I am on the Harry's this year. Dresden, Bosch,..."
The book is interesting so far. I have to get back to the Harrys again.
Mod
Rebus is always interesting, and a little psycho. I like him! LOL
Mod
Rebus is always interesting, and a little psycho. I like him! LOL"
Have you seen the TV series? It's excellent.. I prefer Ken Stott to John Hannah
Mod
Rebus is always interesting, and a little psycho. I like him! LOL"
Have you seen the TV se..."
No, not yet. The amount of shows that I am behind in, is about the same as my tbr. Don't get me started. smh
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Next in line is the 5th book in the Heartstopper: Volume Five by Alice Oseman
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Next in line a bit of Sci-Fi with The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hainish #5)
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Next in line is another dusty mystery, The Bone Thief by Jefferson Bass (Body Farm #5)
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Next in l..."
I hope you enjoy The Bone Thief. It was pretty good. I am on book 8; which is listed as a prequel.
Bill wrote: "Next in line is another dusty mystery, The Bone Thief by Jefferson Bass (Body Farm #5)"Uh oh! The Body Farm looks like a good series…
…adding it to my list
Mod
Uh oh! The Body Farm looks like a good series…
…adding it to my list"
If you enjoy forensic mysteries, it's a good one.
Alondra wrote: "Bill wrote: "Finally making some progress in April. My review of Heartstopper: Volume Five by Alice Oseman 4.0 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"
It's about time I got back to the Bone Yard.
I need to get back into the Body Farm I really liked the first one
Mod
It's been a few years for me as well.
Mod
Off to a slow start for April; lots going on I guess and I do find myself distracted by our upcoming Canadian Federal election.. Anyway, I gave up on one book and completed 3 others, so not great.
Completed
1. Children of Chicago by Cynthia Pelayo. This was my non-finish book and it's probable that I didn't give it enough of a chance. Sort of a take on the Pied Piper of Hamelin, except set in Chicago, as I gathered. It wasn't working for me, but please, check it out for yourself. NR
2. The Abominable Man by Maj Sjöwall one of 2 Scandy mysteries I completed, this one set in Sweden, a Martin Beck mystery. More of a police procedural than the other. I enjoyed it. 3.5 stars (It was nice to get back to Scandinavia)
3. The Snowman by Jo Nesbø A Harry Hole mystery set in Norway, dealing with missing women and a killer toying with Harry.
4. Heartstopper: Volume Five by Alice Oseman There is supposed to be a final book in this entertaining graphic novel series but as far as I know, it's not out yet. Charlie and Nick continue to develop and grow their relationship with Charlie trying to outgrow his health issues and Nick trying to decide what university he will attend next year. It's a great series and I finally realized it's set in England. 4.0 stars
Currently Reading - and yes, my reading list seems to be growing....
1. On Freedom by Timothy Snyder Very interesting look at what freedom means and how it is threatened.
2. The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline Canadian indigenous novel, set in a dystopian future where the indigenous peoples are the only ones still able to dream. They are hunted to be used as experiments to ascertain why?
3. Domain by James Herbert (Rats #3). Another dystopian future where London has been obliterated by nuclear weapons and the surviving humans must battle mutant rats.
4. The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin. I'm just about to start so not sure what it's about, but it's the 5th book in Le Guin's Hainish series.
5. A Question of Proof by Nicholas Blake I've read a couple of other books in Blake's Nigel Strangeways mystery series but this is #1 and it deals with a murder at a boy's school.
6. The White Russian by Tom Bradby Murder mystery set in pre-war WWI Russia, specifically St Petersburg and being worked by a formerly disgraced police inspector.
7. The Bone Thief by Jefferson Bass. Another that I'm just about to start, this is the 5th book in the Body Farm mystery series.
8. The Naming of the Dead by Ian Rankin I'm enjoying this Rebus mystery and need to focus on it just a bit more.
The Future? I don't seem to be following my script but these are a few possibles.
1. Gideon's Power by J.J. Marric, for my dusty book challenge
2. Imago by Octavia E. Butler for my complete a series challenge
3. The Wintermen by brit griffin for my Start a Series challenge
4. Black Mail by Doris Miles Disney for my Continue a Series Challenge
5. Dorothy Parker: Complete Broadway, 1918–1923 by Dorothy Parker For my non-series challenge.
Enjoy the rest of April and Happy Easter for those celebrating.
Bill wrote: "Mid-April 2025 Reading UpdateOff to a slow start for April; lots going on I guess and I do find myself distracted by our upcoming Canadian Federal election.. Anyway, I gave up on one book and comp..."
Totally get that! I tend to bury myself in books. Looks like you have a lot of good choices for the rest of April.
I, also, had a desire to read Scandinavian books. I went by way of Iceland. Adding the Martin Beck books to my list. And Harry :) wish the author would release another book.
Mod
Off to a slow start for April; lots going on I guess and I do find myself distracted by our upcoming Canadian Federal election.. Anyway, I gave up on one ..."
I want to get back to the Iceland books as well.
I keep waiting to see when Vol. 6 of Heartstopper will be released. I hope soon.
Mod
I've enjoyed it so very much.
Mod
, a novel by William Golding, adapted and illustrated by Aimée de Jongh 4.5 starshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Another dystopian novel next with The Wintermen by Brit Griffin
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Next in line a British mystery, Barking! by Liz Evans (PI Grace Smith #4)
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Next in line is a collection, Joanna Russ: Novels & Stories (LOA #373): The Female Man / We Who Are About To . . . / On Strike Against God / The Complet e Alyx Stories / Other Stories by Joanna Russ
Mod
Finished 8 total, 4 since the mid-month update. Total pages in April roughly 2200. Total books for 2025 so far, 41, 34% of my planned total. Also 10,200 pages for the year after 4 months.
Books completed in 2nd half of April
1. Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel by Aimée de Jongh 4.5 stars. A fascinating re-creation of the original novel by William Golding. Wonderfully drawn and respectful to original story.
2. The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline 3.5 stars. Dystopic future set in northern Ontario, told by indigenous peoples who are hunted because of their ability to still dream. Interesting and I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd book
3. The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hainish Cycle #5) 4.5 stars. Humans (yumens) decide to colonize a distant planet and chop down its forests. Their treatment of the indigenous population, basically treating them as animals causes an uprising and war between the two races. Surprisingly violent for a Le Guin story. Excellent and well - paced.
4. The Complete Persepolis: 20th Anniversary Edition by Marjane Satrapi 20 years after Vos 1 & 2 of Marjane Sartrapi's graphic novels of her life story, set in both Iran and Austria, they've been combined in this anniversary edition. Stark art work, stark story. My second look at her work. 3.5 stars.
My Favorite book of the month - a toss-up between Lord of the Flies and The Word for World is Forest.
Most disappointing - My only non-finish, Children of Chicago by Cynthia Pelayo.
Currently Reading
1. On Freedom by Timothy Snyder Making steady progress on this non-fiction work of political philosophy and enjoying his thoughts.
2. Joanna Russ: Novels & Stories (LOA #373): The Female Man / We Who Are About To . . . / On Strike Against God / The Complet e Alyx Stories / Other Stories by Joanna Russ I wanted to read he Sci-Fi novel, The Female Man and found this Library of American edition that contains many of her works. Just about to start it.
3. The Naming of the Dead by Ian Rankin (DI Rebus #16). Always enjoyable. I can put it down and then just drop back into the flow of this entertaining mystery featuing Rebus, his partner Siobhan and his arch enemy Cafferty.
4. Domain by James Herbert (Rats #3). Another gritty, entertaining story by Herbert. London destroyed by nuclear bombs and the remaining humans have to survive that and mutant rats. Yipes!
5. The Wintermen by Brit Griffin (Wintermen #1). I'm enjoying this so far. A dystopic world set in northern Ontario where the Wintermen battle a commercial enterprise, Talus, who wants to rob the north blind.
6. Barking! by Liz Evans (PI Grace Smith) Another I'm just about to start. I've greatly enjoyed the 1st two books. Grace is like Kinsey Milhone or Kat Colorado with humour.
7. The White Russian by Tom Bradby I'm enjoying this murder mystery set in 1900's Leningrad.
8, A Question of Proof by Nicholas Blake (Nigel Strangeways #1) A student is murdered at a private boy's school in England and Strangeways is assisting an old friend and the local police solve it. He's just about to show up.
9. The Bone Thief by Jefferson Bass (Body Farm #5) Dr. Bill Brockton is trying to get funding for his schoo and his pet project, the Body Farm. He's being asked to set up a sting against a commercial enterprise that is suspected of selling off organs and bones and his friend is about to have an artificial hand 'installed' ?
In the future
1. Broken by Karin Slaughter (Will Trent #4)
2. Cloud Warrior by Patrick Tilley (Amtrak Wars #1)
3. Gideon's Power by J.J. Marric (Superintendent Gideon #15)
4. Imago by Octavia E. Butler (Xexogenesis #3)
4. Dorothy Parker: Complete Broadway, 1918–1923 by Dorothy Parker
Enjoy your May reading.
Looks like you had a great reading month Bill. Lord of the Flies as a graphic novel sounds interesting.
Bill wrote: "End-April 2025 Reading UpdateFinished 8 total, 4 since the mid-month update. Total pages in April roughly 2200. Total books for 2025 so far, 41, 34% of my planned total. Also 10,200 pages for the ..."
Great month!! I need to get back into the Body Farm series! I really enjoyed the first one
Mod
Finished 8 total, 4 since the mid-month update. Total pages in April roughly 2200. Total books for 2025 so far, 41, 34% of my planned total. Also 10,200 p..."
I've been away from it too long as well, Alissa
Michelle wrote: "Looks like you had a great reading month Bill. Lord of the Flies as a graphic novel sounds interesting."
It was excellent, Michelle
What a great reading month for you, Bill. The only book I've read is Persepolis, and you're right, it was quite a stark story. Hope May is a good reading month for you!
Mod
Thanks, Lea, you as well.
Bill wrote: "In the future1. Broken by Karin Slaughter (Will Trent #4)"
Great reading month Bill!
Have you seen the series Will Trent? And, if you have, how does the tv series compare to book series?
Mod
1. Broken by Karin Slaughter (Will Trent #4)"
Great reading month Bill!
Have you seen the series Will Trent? And, if you have, how does the tv series compare to book se..."
The series is one of the favorite TV shows of my wife and I. It's the same but different, much more humour in the TV show. I almost think I prefer the TV series...
Bill wrote: "The series is one of the favorite TV shows of my wife and I. It's the same but different, much more humour in the TV show. I almost think I prefer the TV series...Yeah, I was afraid of that. We really enjoy the show and I've been hesitant to start the book series. May still do it down the road
Mod
Yeah, I was afraid ..."
If you haven't tried them yet, I'd start with Karin Slaughter's Grant County books and work up to the Will Trent ones. They do link somewhat. Blindsighted was even better.
Mod
Finished 8 total, 4 since the mid-month update. Total pages in April roughly 2200. Total books for 2025 so far, 41, 34% of my planned total. Also 10,200 pages for the ..."
Great update, as always, Bill. I only added a few.....
One of my patients was reading Ursula Le Guin and the book cover was gorgeous. I promised him that I would start the Wizard of Earthsea soon.
Mod
Finished 8 total, 4 since the mid-month update. Total pages in April roughly 2200. Total books for 2025 so far, 41, 34% of my planned total. Also 10,200 p..."
It's a great series, Alondra.
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Next in line is Cloud Warrior by Patrick Tilley (Amtrak Wars #1)
You had a good April! Other than the Persepolis books, I haven't read any of these, not even Lord of the Flies. Someday I'll have to try it...
Mod
Lord of the Flies is a strange little story.
Great month as usual, Bill. I might (someday) check out the graphic novel of Lord of the Flies. Read the original ages ago, but it's one of those that's part of our culture. My husband & I were watching a movie the other night, and he commented, "A bit like Lord of the Flies." Not sure he's ever read it, but he definitely knows what it's about.Enjoy your May reading!
On The Same Page
Books mentioned in this topic
Rogue Protocol (other topics)Rogue Protocol (other topics)
Cracking the Nazi Code: The Untold Story of Canada's Greatest Spy (other topics)
The Siege Winter (other topics)
Cracking the Nazi Code: The Untold Story of Canada's Greatest Spy (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Martha Wells (other topics)Martha Wells (other topics)
Ariana Franklin (other topics)
Jason Bell (other topics)
Jason Bell (other topics)
More...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...