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2025 Independent Challenge
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Bill's Independent 2025 Reading Challenge
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by Brian K. Vaughan & artist Fiona Staples 3.5 starshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Next is another dusty book, Broken by Karin Slaughter (Will Trent #4)
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6 books completed so far, 3 of them graphic novels. Approx 1500 pages.
Finished
1. A Question of Proof by Nicholas Blake Nigel Strangeways #1. A cozy English mystery set in boy's school. He's kind of like Peter Wimsey... 3.5 stars
2. The Naming of the Dead by Ian Rankin (Rebus #16) Murder mystery set in Edinburgh during a G-8 conference 3.5 stars
3. Saga, Vol. 8 by Brian K. Vaughan Entertaining Sci-Fi graphic novel series. 3.5 stars
4. Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 4 by James Tynion IV Horror graphic novel series. Explains Erica Slaughter's back story. 4.0 stars
5. Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi Non-fiction graphic novella set in Iran in the 1950s 3.0 stars
6. The Bone Thief by Jefferson Bass (Body Farm #5). This one covers stolen body parts, etc. Very enteratining. 4.0 stars
Currently Reading
1. The White Russian by Tom Bradby Still plugging along with this murder mystery set in Russia during WWI
2. Barking! by Liz Evans (Grace Smith #4). Entertaining English mystery series featuring PI Grace Smith, kind of a cross between Kinsey Milhone and Stephanie Plum
3. The Wintermen by Brit Griffin 1st book in a dystopic trilogy set in northern Ontario, kind of a wild west feel to it.
4. Domain by James Herbert Book 3 in the Rats trilogy.. Nuclear war destroys London and remaining humans struggle to survive.
5. 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 A collection of Russ's works. Reading the 1st at the moment The Female Man... interesting.
6. Broken by Karin Slaughter (Will Trent #4) Just about to start
On Freedom by Timothy Snyder Non fiction work on the philosophy of fighting for freedom and what freedom means
7. Cloud Warrior by Patrick Tilley a new Sci-Fi series set many years in the future, the underworld technologica society against the Mutes.
8. Gideon's Power by J.J. Marric Commander Gideon #15
Upcoming?
1. Photo-Finish by Ngaio Marsh An Inspector Alleyn mystery, a favorite series of mine.
2. The Religious Body by Catherine Aird (Inspector Sloan #1) a new series for me.
3. Imago by Octavia E. Butler
4. Dorothy Parker: Complete Broadway, 1918–1923 by Dorothy Parker
Enjoy the rest of your May reading choices.
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Reading a short one next, then maybe another tome... The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed
Bill wrote: "Just about to start On Freedom by Timothy Snyder Non fiction work on the philosophy of fighting for freedom and what freedom means"Have this one on my bookshelf. Although I've been buying non-fiction history books non-stop (mainly about the US), I've yet to start reading one. My pile is daunting but I should start with Synder's as it's so short.
Also, you remind me that I'd like to restart Ngaio Marsh's series. I remember reading a couple but it was a couple of decades ago.
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Have this one on my bookshelf. Alt..."
Ngaio Marsh is always entertaining.
I've got quite a few history books on my shelf to read too. They can be daunting.
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by Erin Hunter 3.5 starshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Completed 5 books since my mid-month update for a total of 11 this month with roughly 2600 pages read. Of the 5, one was a DNF.
Completed since Mid month
1. The White Russian by Tom Bradby This was my DNF. I won't say it was a bad read, just that I wasn't in the mood for it. I kept putting it down and picking up other books. It was a historical mystery set in Russia around WWI DNF
2. Warriors Graphic Novel: The Prophecies Begin #2 by Erin Hunter The 2nd volume of the Warriors graphic novel series, featuring clans of cats striving to survive. 3.5 stars
3. Gideon's Power by J.J. Marric one of my favorite police procedural mystery series. This was #15 in the series. 4.0 stars
4. The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed A short, but beautifully written fantasy / horror about a woman sent into a haunted forest to retrieve the Tyrant's children. My favorite book of May 4.5 stars
5. The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown The 3rd book of the Wild Robot trilogy, with Roz trying to save her island and the world from a poisonous tide (4.0 stars
Currently Reading
1. Cloud Warrior by Patrick Tilley (Amtrak Wars #1). Dystopian future where those living under the earth battle the Mutes who live above.
2. On Freedom by Timothy Snyder Non-Fiction read that I'm working through. Thought-provoking discussion on what freedom is.
3. Broken by Karin Slaughter Will Trent helps Sara Linton solve a murder in her home town
4. 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'm still working on the 1st novel in this collection. Strange.
5. Photo-finish by Ngaio Marsh An Inspector Alleyn mystery, this one set in New Zealand.
6. Ai Jiang's Smol Tales From Between Worlds by Ai Jiang A collection of short stories by Canadian author Ai Jiang
7. Domain by Val McDermid Mutant rats vs the remains of humanity... in London, anyway...
8. The Wintermen by Brit Griffin A sort of dystopian western set in Northern Ontario
9. Barking! by Liz Evans PI Grace Evans tries to solve a 'possible' murder committed in the distant past.
Some possible nexts
1. Suffer the Little Children by Donna Leon An Inspector Brunetti mystery set in Venice
2. The Religious Body by Catherine Aird A new mystery series for me to check out
3. Imago by Octavia E. Butler I want to finish this Sci Fi series so I can start Parable of the Sower.
4. Dorothy Parker: Complete Broadway, 1918–1923 by Dorothy Parker I keep putting this down and picking up shorter books. But I promise that I will start it in June.. 😎😁
Enjoy your June selections!
What a great May! 11 books! I hope June brings some great books also! :-)
I'm working my way through the Will Trent books - so good!
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Do you enjoy the TV series?
Lea wrote: "What a great May! 11 books! I hope June brings some great books also! :-)"
Thanks, Lea. Same to you.
Bill wrote: "Linette wrote: "I'm working my way through the Will Trent books - so good!"Do you enjoy the TV series?
I do! I think the Will on TV is quite different from the Will in the book, but I enjoy both.
Great month, congrats! I've only read Broken, Will Trent is always a solid choice and I need to continue that series. I think it's up to 11 or 12 books now.
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More to add to my list then, I guess.
Linette wrote: "Bill wrote: "Linette wrote: "I'm working my way through the Will Trent books - so good!"
Do you enjoy the TV series?
I do! I think the Will on TV is quite different from the Will in the book, but..."
I definitely like the characters more. I'm finding in Broken that, so far, I'm only liking Will himself.
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by Ai Jiang 3.5 starshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Next in line is Dorothy Parker: Complete Broadway, 1918–1923
by Dorothy Parker
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Next new series is The Religious Body by Catherine Aird (Sloane & Crosby #1)
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Looking back at your May reads--I haven't read any of the Will Trent books or anything by Karin Slaughter. My mystery book club is scheduled to read This Is Why We Lied in October, so glad to read the positive reviews for this series. This is the 12th book in the series, so if I like it, I'll guess I'll have a few more to read. Happy Reading!
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I hope you enjoy it, Patricia.
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by Caitlín R. Kiernan I have really enjoyed this graphic novel series. 4.0 starshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Next in line is some historical fiction, The Siege Winter by Ariana Franklin
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6 books completed, 4 books under 200 pages. An enjoyable month so far.
Completed
1. Ai Jiang's Smol Tales From Between Worlds by Ai Jiang. Ai Jiang is a unique writer and I enjoyed this collection of short stories. I have her latest sitting on my book shelf (well, more accurately in a pile on my desk with all of my other new books) 3.5 stars
2. The Wintermen by Brit Griffin Another Canadian author, this is a dystopic future set in northern Ontario. Wild West (in the north) with a band of snowmobile riding rebels battling it out with the evil corporation. Most enjoyable 1st book in a trilogy 3.5 stars
3. Saga, Volume 9 by Brian K. Vaughan Vol 8 was ok, but I really enjoyed this latest. Some surprises at the end... #10 is on the way. 4.0 stars
4. The Sigh by Marjane Satrapi I've enjoyed Marjane's 3 non-fiction graphic novels. This was an interesting fairy tale with lovely drawings as well.
5. Alabaster Volume 2: Grimmer Tales by Caitlín R. Kiernan I'm enjoying exploring Kiernan's horror. I have one more book in the Tinfoil Dossier and have ordered another book. Alabaster, featuring 'creature' hunter Dancy Flammarion is an entertaining graphic novel series. This is a collection of stories based on Grimm fairy tales (sort of) and was my favorite of the 3 I've read so far. (4.0 stars)
6. On Freedom by Timothy Snyder Excellent look at what Freedom is, what it means to you, differentiating between Freedom 'from' & Freedom 'to'. Well - written and thoughtful. (4.0 stars)
Currently Reading
- those I've mentioned in previous updates and haven't finished yet, first
1. Barking! by Liz Evans (PI Grace Smith #4) (British mystery)
2. Domain by James Herbert (Rats #3) horror
3. Photo Finish by Ngaio Marsh (Inspector Alleyn #31) Mystery set in New Zealand
4. 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 a collection of Joanna Russ's stories. Finished the 1st one this morning
5. Broken by Karin Slaughter (Will Trent #4) Mystery / thriller set in Georgia
6. Cloud Warrior by Patrick Tilley (Amtrak Wars #1) Dystopic future set in the US.
Newly started -
7. Dorothy Parker: Complete Broadway, 1918–1923 by Dorothy Parker Discussion on plays of Broadway by reviewer Dorothy Parker. Love her writing.
2. The Siege Winter by Ariana Franklin historical fiction.
3. The Religious Body by Catherine Aird (Inspector Sloan #1) a new author and mystery series for me.
Possible future books
1. Suffer the Little Children by Donna Leon Commissario Brunetti #16, one of my favorite mystery series
2. The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo (Detective Kindaichi #1) a new mystery series, this set in Japan
3. Sleeping Planet by William R. Burkett Jr.
There you go. Enjoy the rest of June!
I liked Saga Vol. 9 a lot too. I am hopeful that Vol. 12 when it comes out this year will go in a good direction. I wonder how long this series will go?Looks like you are reading some interesting books. Looking forward to your thoughts.
Bill wrote: "3. Saga, Volume 9 by Brian K. Vaughan Vol 8 was ok, but I really enjoyed this latest. Some surprises at the end... #10 is on the way. 4.0 stars"I don't know if it's because I caught up with the series and I'm reading the books with a big time lag in between or something else, but I haven't enjoyed the next 10, 11, 12 books as much as the prior ones. I'm very curious to hear your thoughts when you'll get to read them, hopefully your experience will be better.
Ioana wrote: "Bill wrote: "I don't know if it's because I caught up with the series and I'm reading the books with a big time lag in between or something else, but I haven't enjoyed the next 10, 11, 12 books as much as the prior ones. I'm very curious to hear your thoughts when you'll get to read them, hopefully your experience will be better."Ioana, I felt the same about 10 and 11. I'm nervous about 12.
I enjoyed the Honjin Murders, it is a good little mystery with an interesting setting. Kind of the Agatha Christie feel to it, if Agatha Christie was in 1930s Japan. I just added the second book to my tbr, this was a good reminder.I read it before going to Japan in April, I enjoy reading books set in the country I'm planning to visit. Do you know any good mystery series set in Vietnam or Cambodia? :)
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I was just checking through my Asian mysteries and none that I can find that were set in Cambodia or Vietnam... Thailand and Laos, but not there.. Strange.
Ioana wrote: "Bill wrote: "3. Saga, Volume 9 by Brian K. Vaughan Vol 8 was ok, but I really enjoyed this latest. Some surprises at the end... #10 is on the way. 4.0 stars"
I don't know if it's because I caught ..."
I hope so too, Ioana.
Lea wrote: "I liked Saga Vol. 9 a lot too. I am hopeful that Vol. 12 when it comes out this year will go in a good direction. I wonder how long this series will go?
Looks like you are reading some interesting..."
I'm a bit nervous about the next few Saga's as I see the comments. As long as it's a bit entertaining. I look forward to the rest of your June comments too.
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Next is a Japanese mystery, The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo (Detective Kindaichi #1)
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by Victoria Jamieson 4.0 starshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Next in line a book of poetry, A Year of Last Things: Poems by Michael Ondaatje
Bill wrote: "My review of All's Faire in Middle School 4.0 stars "I haven't read Roller Girl but I also really enjoyed All's Faire in Middle School and especially When Stars Are Scattered. That was such a great book and the graphics were terrific.
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I haven't read Roller Girl but I also really enjoyed All's Faire in Middle School..."
Roller Girl is like All's Faire. Her artwork is great, isn't it. And the stories kind of grab you. I agree about When Stars are Scattered. It's a special story.
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I only completed 3 more books from the 6 I read in the first half of the month, so a total of 9 books in June.
Completed
1. To Kill a Mockingbird: A Graphic Novel by Harper Lee & Fred Fordham. Fordham's reinterpretation of Mockingbird is respectful and with the same impact as the original book by Lee. Great artwork and a fantastic story. (4.5 stars)
2. Photo-finishNgaio Marsh The Inspector Alleyn mysteries are always enjoyable. This story has Alleyn and his wife, famous artist Troy, heading off to New Zealand to paint a portrait of a famous Soprano. Alleyn is to look into a harassing photographer. Murder ensues, a big storm isolates the group.. Lots of fun (3.5 stars)
3. Cloud Warrior by Patrick Tilley A new series for me, Amtrak Wars #1. Set in a dystopian future in the US, the battle is between the above ground Mutes and the below ground technical Federation. The more I got into it, the more I enjoyed. (3.0 stars)
Currently Reading
Reading ten books currently. These are the most recent additions.
1. The Siege Winter by Ariana Franklin Historical fiction. Enjoying so far. I've previously enjoyed Franklin's Mistress of the Art of Dying series.
2. The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo Just about to start, Detective Kindaichi #1
3. A Year of Last Things: Poems by Michael Ondaatje for a poetry challenge. I have previousely read and enjoyed Ondaatje's Billy the Kid and other Poems...
4. Lessons from Cats for Surviving Fascism by Stewart Reynolds Reynolds posts online as Brittlestar and is a humorist and political commentator. I had to try this.
Next in line?
1. Miami Blues by Charles Willeford (Hoke Moseley #1)
2. Sleeping Planet by William R. Burkett Jr. I've had this for awhile. A new author in the Sci Fi genre for me.
3. Wycliffe and the Redhead by W.J. Burley A Wycliffe mystery for my dusty book challenge
There you go folks. Enjoy your July reading selections.
You never cease to amaze me with how many books you can have on the go at the same time, Bill! You are a legend. I had 4 on the go, finished one today and was trying to talk myself into making more progress with one of the ones I have already started. We'll see how that goes. Hope July brings you some great books! Happy reading!
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I need to cut back, Lea. It's hard to focus on one book when I have so many on the go... It's such a bad habit... but it's also my weakness...
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Next series start-up is Miami Blues by Charles Willeford (Hoke Moseley #1) I have read one of his standalones and it was ok, as I recall. We'll see how this is.
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Next is a bit of Sci Fi, Sleeping Planet by William R. Burkett Jr.
Bill wrote: "My review of Lessons from Cats for Surviving Fascism by Stewart Reynolds 3.5 starshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I just might have to add this one to the pile....
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I just might h..."
It's a nice quick read.
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by Brian K. Vaughan 4.0 starshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Next in line is a bit of Sci Fi, Empire by Clifford D. Simak
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Next in line is the 1st book in the Enemy horror series, aptly titled The Enemy by Charlie Higson
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8 books completed so far, although all but one are less then 250 pages. Roughly 1500 pages
Books completed
1. All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson This is the 3rd graphic I've read by Jamieson. It follows home schooled Impy who is now heading off the Middle School and the trials and tribulations, as well as her life with her parents working at a Renaissance faire. 4.0 stars
2. The Religious Body by Catherine Aird Book 1 in the Inspector Sloane mystery series sent in a fictional county in England. A nun is found dead at the bottom of the stairs in a convent and Inspector Sloane investigates. Loved it. 4.5 stars
3. Lessons from Cats for Surviving Fascism by Stewart Reynolds Short and sweet from Canadian political commentator Brittlestar. Humorous but still makes its point 3.5 stars 'Be a cat'
4. Domain by James Herbert 3rd and final book in the Rats trilogy. Grim, dark and violent 3.0 stars
5. Paper Girls, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan from the creator of Saga, an excellent 1st volume. Graphic follows 4 teenage paper girls who realize that everyone in their town has disappeared. 4.0 stars
6. A Year of Last Things: Poems by Michael Ondaatje Beautifully written, some struck home 3.0 stars
7. Miami Blues by Charles Willeford The 1st Hoke Moseley mystery set in... yup, you guessed it, Miami. I loved it. I'm glad I have more on my book shelf 4.5 stars
8. Abandon Galaxy! by Bart Somers the 2nd and last space adventure featuring Commander Craig. Hokey and over the top.. 2.0 stars
Currently Reading
I've too many on the go, 11 to be exact, so I'll just highlight the newest
1. Empire by Clifford D. Simak I will crack it open tonight. (Sci Fi) I've enjoyed other books by Simak
2. Suffer the Little Children by Donna Leon Commissario Brunetti #16. It's grabbed me right from the get go.
3. Sleeping Planet by William R. Burkett Jr. A new Sci Fi author for me. I'm enjoying this so far
4. The Enemy by Charlie Higson I've been looking forward to checking this out. So far it's dark, dystopic and adults are zombies?
5. Imago by Octavia E. Butler The final book in the Exogenesis trilogy
In the Mill
1. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood for my finish a series challenge
2. The Big Payoff by Janice Law (Anna Peters #1)
3. A Writer's Diary: Being Extracts from the Diary of Virginia Woolf by Virginia Woolf
4. Wycliffe and the Redhead by W.J. Burley
There you go, folks. Enjoy your summer's reading. Happy July.
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Next in line is The Real Cool Killers by Chester Himes (Harlem Cycle #2)
So many great books read so far. Hope the rest of the month holds up. How are you liking the Exogenesis trilogy?
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It is one of those books, isn't it, Patricia. Enjoy your May reading as well.