Karol's 2025 Challenge

[Karol]

Bill wrote: "You're having a great year, Karol.

You can't always agree with other folks' thoughts on particular books."

True, Bill. Often I am puzzled when I dislike something that others love. But we are all different, yes? I guess that's why we need so many authors!

[Karol]

Karen: A Brother Remembers, by Kelsey Grammer

Kelsey Grammar's book touched me in a very deep way. It's pretty much a stream of consciousness as he writes about how he lost his sister who was murdered by strangers when she was just 19 years old. As he writes, you can see how he is still trying to process what happened. He is trying to remember all of her life and he shares a lot of anecdotes about her as well as many photos. He's successful in painting a picture of how alive she really was, but at the same time his deep feelings of loss come over him again and again. This is a very real story, and the way it is told is exactly like how tragedy plays in one's mind repeatedly and brings up a host of unresolved issues, but at the same time recollection of what came before remains a blessing.

[Lillie]

Karol wrote: "Karen: A Brother Remembers, by Kelsey Grammer

Kelsey Grammar's book touched me in a very deep way. It's pretty much a stream of consciousness as he writes about ho..."

I didn't realize he'd lost a sister and in such a horrific way :(

[Karol]

Lillie wrote: "I didn't realize he'd lost a sister and in such a horrific way :"

Kind of a spoiler follows, but not really too much as I think this is mentioned early in the book.
***


Yes, very sad. Apparently a serial threesome, two of whom have died while in prison.

[Karol]

Mid-month update . . . which will be very short.

I've read two books this month. The one by Kelsey Grammar is described above and I have also read The Good Sister, by Sally Hepworth. The Hepworth novel is a fairly interesting psychological suspense book.

I'm currently reading Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, which is slowing my book count down. But well worth all that, so far.

[Karol]

The Woman in Cabin 10, by Ruth Ware

Really enjoyed this suspenseful book. Someone in this group read it and based on his or her reviews I read it . . . so whoever that was, thank you! I found it fast-moving and engaging.

[Karol]

Elusive, by Sara Rosett

Taking a break from Alexander Hamilton, which has been enjoyable but going very slowly for me. Had a super-busy September which also limited my reading time.

Anyway, Elusive was a re-read for me. I have the whole short series by this author on Kindle, and it's been a couple of years since I read this first one in the series. Enjoyed it again, and looking forward to moving on to the second in the series before the end of the year.

[Karol]

Holy Terror in the Hebrides, by Jeanne M. Dams

Made a quick return to a series I thought I wasn't going to continue with. Needed a quick read on Kindle and there it was, #3 in the Dorothy Martin series. I actually liked this one better than the 2nd in the series, so I might get to the other two I already have at some point.

[Laurel]

Karol wrote: "Holy Terror in the Hebrides, by Jeanne M. Dams"

I need to get back to this series. I really enjoyed the first one.

[Karol]

Laurel wrote: "Karol wrote: "Holy Terror in the Hebrides, by Jeanne M. Dams"

I need to get back to this series. I really enjoyed the first one."

I liked the first one, too! Maybe I was just in a bad mood when I read #2 in the series, but it seemed a little dull to me.

[Karol]

It has been a pretty slow reading month for me, but things have picked up a bit. Month-end review of what I've read and taking a look at where I stand with various challenges. (Yikes, we're getting down to it and I've got a ways to go!)

More Than Enough - Bible Study for Women with Video Access: God's Strength in Our Weakness in 2 Corinthians, by Christine Hoover - Read and discussed this with a small group of women. It was an OK study, although a bit repetitive in places and with one sort of odd rabbit hole near the end. But I definitely learned a lot and found some new inspiration - which is the whole point.

Sworn to Silence, by Linda Castillo - I have to say that this book was very well written! But, the description of the crime was a bit too gruesome for me. I think I'll have to pass on continuing in this series because I need to sleep better than I did while I was reading this one (and a couple nights after that). Shows you the author's skill, though. The characters were quite interesting, which is why you care, and why the crime aspect is seems even more terrible, and why you feel the suspense, etc.

Rising Above Shepherdsville, by Ann Schoenbohm - I picked this book up in the discard bin at my local library. Too bad they had to cull this one. It was in the Juvenile Fiction section, but I'd have to say it would be for older kids, as it dealt with recovering from the death of one's parent lost by suicide. It ended up being a really great story about family love, and friendship lifting a young person out of deep loss to get her feet planted back firmly underneath herself.

Malice In Miniature, by Jeanne M. Dams - another OK book in this easy to read series.

Antiques Maul, by Barbara Allan - this book was quite the romp. It got me to laugh out loud a few times. It's a bit dated - remember when the Blackberry was the hot technology? The main character is a hoot and her mother even more so. I liked this second in the series more than I remember liking the first. Added plus: they are cheap on Kindle.

Other Books in Progress:
Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow - reading at least 10 pages a day so I can finish by the end of the year.

Challenge Status:
Priority Reads - Completed, 5/5
To Read List - 46/50
Something New - Completed, 16/16
Series Challenge - 11/15
Tome Challenge 4/7

Of the three remaining challenges, the one I'm most likely to miss will be the Tome Challenge. The Hamilton book I'm currently working on will be the fifth and I'm just not sure I will get two more tomes done before the end of the year. (I just KNEW I should have made "5" the number for the Tome challenge!)

[Bill, Moderator]

You've had an excellent month. I don't think I'm making my Tome challenge either... I'll have to check. Enjoy the last two months reading!

[Lea]

Karol, it's hard work squeezing in all these tomes. I have so many I want to read! You're definitely doing great on all your other challenges. And finishing the Hamilton book this year will be quite an achievement. I wanted to read Washington: A Life this year - it's on my list - but I think it will carry over to 2026 since I haven't even started it yet! Happy reading!

[Karol]

Bill wrote: "You've had an excellent month. I don't think I'm making my Tome challenge either... I'll have to check. Enjoy the last two months reading!"

Thank you, Bill. I guess it wouldn't be a big "challenge" if I got everything done!

[Karol]

Lea wrote: "Karol, it's hard work squeezing in all these tomes. I have so many I want to read! You're definitely doing great on all your other challenges. And finishing the Hamilton book this year will be quite an achievement..."

Thanks, Lea. I have to admit I'm enjoying Hamilton more after having slowed down with it. I'm interested in the Washington book by Chernow also. Who knows - maybe we will both be reading that one next year.

[Lea]

Karol wrote: "Thanks, Lea. I have to admit I'm enjoying Hamilton more after having slowed down with it. I'm interested in the Washington book by Chernow also. Who knows - maybe we will both be reading that one next year."

We will definitely compare notes on the Washington book by Chernow, even if we cannot read it together. Fingers crossed though - maybe it will all work out!

[Karol]

Lea wrote: "We will definitely compare notes on the Washington book by Chernow, even if we cannot read it together. Fingers crossed though - maybe it will all work out!"

Sounds good, Lea!

[Alissa]

All challenges being complete except the Tome?? You overachiever!!! =) What a great year you've had

Can't wait to see your 2026 lists!

[Karol]

Alissa wrote: "All challenges being complete except the Tome?? You overachiever!!! =) What a great year you've had

Can't wait to see your 2026 lists!"

Hah! I'm working on 2026 and I think I will try to make it a little more challenging.