Lea's Individual Challenge - Filling in the Gaps

[Lillie]

Great month Lea! So many new-to-me titles and authors. The only one I've read is the Ministry of Time and I'm interested to see what you end up thinking of it.

[Alissa]

Lea wrote: " Some insects and a peach later, and we've got a story..."

This CRACKED me up lol It's okay if Roald Dahl is not for you! Shelve him next to Judy Blume *sobs*

I plan on putting The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness on my 2026 memoirs list (YES PEOPLE I am making notes for next years challenge already haha)

Should I add The Year of Magical Thinking & I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives to my list?

[Alissa]

Also, have you read The BFG from him yet? If not I say give that one a try before you give up I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts!

And I am SO intrigued by The Ministry of Time so let me know how that is

[Lea]

Lillie wrote: "Great month Lea! So many new-to-me titles and authors. The only one I've read is the Ministry of Time and I'm interested to see what you end up thinking of it."

I really liked it. It had a slow start and was very ambitious, tackling a lot of topics, and I'm hard pressed to say what type of book it is, but I liked it. It makes me want to read more about the search for the Northwest Passage. I ended up giving 3-stars.

[Lea]

Alissa wrote: "Lea wrote: " Some insects and a peach later, and we've got a story..."

This CRACKED me up lol It's okay if Roald Dahl is not for you! Shelve him next to Judy Blume *sobs*

I plan on putting The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness on my 2026 memoirs list (YES PEOPLE I am making notes for next years challenge already haha)

Should I add The Year of Magical Thinking & I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives to my list?"

Yes! Add both The Year of Magical Thinking and I Will Always Write Back to your list. I think you'll like both of those as well as The Anxious Generation.

Poor Dahl and Blume! So popular and yet still not for me. :-)

[Lea]

Alissa wrote: "Also, have you read The BFG from him yet? If not I say give that one a try before you give up I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts!

And I am SO intrigued by The Ministry of Time so let me know how that is"

I have not read The BFG yet, but I want to. I'd also like to read Fantastic Mr. Fox since I liked the movie. I've also been told that I need to read The Witches, The Twits, and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar by others, so I haven't crossed them off the list. I'm just always worried when I read them, because I know they are so loved. I want to love them too, but there's always got to be one weird person in every group. :-)

I think you should consider reading The Ministry of Time. It's really unique, but fair warning, it starts SLOW. You have to start it when you have a lot of patience, or you will not enjoy. Happy reading!

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Lea wrote: "July Month End Report

Books Read: 12 books this month, 86 books year to date. 32,301 Pages year to date.

Books from Filling in the Gaps: 55/100; 2022 Books 1/1, 2023 Books 0/5, 2024 Books 11/14,..."

Yikes, thats too many 1 & 2 Star reads. Having a single 1 0r 2-star read is too much, nevertheless 3. So sorry those did not work for you. I really hope August is filled with4 and 5 star reads. All the better to grow my tbr. ((hugs))

PS, you still had a great month of reading.

[Lea]

Alondra wrote: "Yikes, thats too many 1 & 2 Star reads. Having a single 1 0r 2-star read is too much, nevertheless 3. So sorry those did not work for you. I really hope August is filled with4 and 5 star reads. All the better to grow my tbr. ((hugs))

PS, you still had a great month of reading."

I'm looking forward to getting through the middle books in The Wheel of Time series, that's for sure. Jordan does a great set up for the end, but some of these middle books have some really tedious parts to them. I'm reading one per month now, and sometimes I'm pushing myself to get a bit further.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Lea wrote: "'m looking forward to getting through the middle books in The Wheel of Time series, that's for sure. Jordan does a great set up for the end, but some of these middle books have some really tedious parts to them...."

I have about 9 or 10 of his books. My dad just kept picking them up at sales; and gave them to me. So, now I feel like I need to read the series. Even though most of the books are out of order; my dad was just grabbing stuff. I do have books 1 & 2. My son enjoyed them, so, I am hoping to read those soon.... like maybe next year, or so.... 😬

[Lea]

Alondra wrote: "I have about 9 or 10 of his books. My dad just kept picking them up at sales; and gave them to me. So, now I feel like I need to read the series. Even though most of the books are out of order; my dad was just grabbing stuff. I do have books 1 & 2. My son enjoyed them, so, I am hoping to read those soon.... like maybe next year, or so.... 😬"

I'd always wanted to read them, but starting such a large series was so daunting, especially with so many other series on the go. Book #13 won a GRC Award in 2010, and I'm trying to read them all, so I knew I had to get started by reading at least one book a month late last year. It's been great and here's hoping I can finish the series next year. I have a feeling I will want to revisit my low 1-star ratings after I finish book #14, and maybe re-read the series again...but right now, there's stuff going on that doesn't sit well with me! :-) When you get to them, you'll know what I mean. I love that your dad scouts book sales and brings you books he thinks you and your family will read. I used to do the same thing for my dad, but now he can't read anymore. He does listen to books and the radio, but his hearing is going so he's not enjoying that anymore either. Getting too old to enjoy reading or listening to books is my nightmare.

[Lea]

August Mid-Month Report

Books Read: 7 books this month, 93 books year to date. 35,213 Pages year to date.

Books from Filling in the Gaps: 58/100; 2022 Books 1/1, 2023 Books 0/5, 2024 Books 11/14, 2025 books 46/80

Books from 12+4 Challenge: 14/16

Recently finished:

The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife - A book about Skellig Michael (the island off the coast of Ireland where Rey finds Luke hiding out in Star Wars: The Force Awakens). The book, however, is not about Star Wars, but about the life of the family of a lighthouse keeper in the 1860s. It's based on what happened to an actual lighthouse keeper and their family, but the author admits to taking quite a bit of liberties with the story. I enjoyed this story. It was written part historical fiction, part thriller, part mystery. 4 stars

The Ministry of Time - This won the GRC Award for science fiction last year. It's a book where the UK government has figured out time travel and has created a secret ministry to bring people from previous time periods into the present. This book is really hard to pinpoint into a genre. It's somehow science fiction, romance, and fantasy all at once. I'm not a big fan of time travel as a genre, but this worked for me. 3 stars

Saga, Volume 12 - This series has veered outside what I typically enjoy, but somehow I always pick up the next one, saying to myself, "They read really fast." But it's just OK. I will have to decide if I continue or not. I think I've abandoned this series four or five times, always to pick it up, so I've learned not to say anything anymore. 2 stars

Winter's Heart - This is a high fantasy series, and I'm on book #9. All the books are super long and we're in a section we need to read in order to get to the better books at the end of the series. This book was a bit tedious. 1 star

We Solve Murders - Book club decided on this mystery by Richard Osman. I prefer the Thursday Murder Club, but this story was somewhat similar, in that there are a lot of interconnected characters. On the plus side, a decent amount of time is spent in St. Lucia, so I counted that country after reading this book. It's a mystery - a private security officer and her retired father-in-law team together to figure out who is killing a bunch of influencers. 3 stars

Sunrise on the Reaping - I wasn't going to read this book. Why? Because before this book I had read 4 books by Suzanne Collins. The first one: The Hunger Games earned five stars. I loved that book. Each book progressively got one star less with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes being a 2 star disappointment, and I figured I didn't need to read the next book. With the current trend line, it wasn't good. But...you all told me that this book was much better and I should give it a chance...and you could not have been more right! I really enjoyed this book. I knew how it must end in order to fit within the series, or I might have enjoyed it even more. Still, she's back! 3 stars

Yours Truly - I have officially joined the Abby Jimenez fan club. This is the second book in the Part of Your World series. I'm a sucker for epistolary books, and there were a lot of letters back and forth in this one. I did not like (view spoiler)[1) the fact that practically all of her books have at least three misunderstandings...I'm like we're past that objection ma'am, but it comes back...and 2) it seems like all her books end with a pregnancy or three (hide spoiler)] but the banter was great and I enjoyed all of the characters. 4 stars

Currently reading:

I'm Your Huckleberry: A Memoir - Val Kilmer's memoir

The Impossible Girl - A buddy read with Alissa. It's historical fiction set in New York in the 1850s. It's about the resurrectionist trade, where people would dig up dead bodies to sell to medical schools for doctor's to learn, or to museums if the bodies are unique. Some bodies are worth more than others, and it appears that some people with unique bodies are experiencing untimely deaths.

Torment - Book 2 in the Fallen Series and a GRC Award winner for Cover Art in 2010. It's a YA fantasy book about angels. I'm not impressed by the Cover Art or the first book in the series, but hopefully the book will be OK.

[Bill, Moderator]

You've had a great month so far, Lea. The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife sounds interesting. Sorry to hear that Saga has been losing your interest. I'm now nervous about continuing, but, of course, I will. I've started two other Brian Vaughan graphics as well.

[Patricia]

I liked Yours Truly as well. I think that was my first book by Jimenez. One of my book clubs will be reading We Solve Murders in December. One person has already said she didn't like it but she's kind of like that. Looking forward to the series on Netflix later this month.
Glad you liked The Ministry of Time. Not my favorite time travel, but different. I think Connie Willis has written some of the best.
Enjoy the rest of your summer reading!

[Lillie]

I remember feeling the same way about The Ministry of Time although I do like time travel. And We Solve Murders, I think I liked it more than you did. But I had to stop expecting it to be similar to The Thursday Murder Club.

I'm interested to see what you think of the Val Kilmer memoir. I haven't read a memoir this year and I like some of his movies. He seemed like a fascinating man.

[Lea]

Bill wrote: "You've had a great month so far, Lea. The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife sounds interesting. Sorry to hear that Saga has been losing your interest. I'm now nervous about continuing, but, of course, I will. I've started two other Brian Vaughan graphics as well."

You might like the direction Vaughan heads better than me, Bill. I wouldn't be too nervous.

I love following all of the graphics you are reading - they are a nice way to convey information quickly and I Iove reading them too. :-)

[Lea]

Patricia wrote: "I liked Yours Truly as well. I think that was my first book by Jimenez. One of my book clubs will be reading We Solve Murders in December. One person has already said she didn't like it but she's kind of like that. Looking forward to the series on Netflix later this month.
Glad you liked The Ministry of Time. Not my favorite time travel, but different. I think Connie Willis has written some of the best.
Enjoy the rest of your summer reading!"

I hope you like We Solve Murders. I liked it almost as much as Thursday Murder Club, so I hope you will enjoy it. Had to laugh at the one who already read it and didn't like it - maybe we have the same book club? Except we just read it! :-)

I didn't realize there is a Netflix series - I don't have Netflix, and nobody mentioned it at book club! Hmmm...I might have to give in at some point! LOL.

I actually haven't read anything by Willis before. She is on my TBR, but given my time travel hesitation as well as trying to keep my series list tamped down a bit, I haven't read anything by her yet. I'm going to have to change that soon! Thanks for the suggestion! :-)

[Lea]

Lillie wrote: "I remember feeling the same way about The Ministry of Time although I do like time travel. And We Solve Murders, I think I liked it more than you did. But I had to stop expecting it to be similar to The Thursday Murder Club.

I'm interested to see what you think of the Val Kilmer memoir. I haven't read a memoir this year and I like some of his movies. He seemed like a fascinating man."

Strangely enough, several people told me We Solve Murders would not be similar to Thursday Murder Club. After that, perhaps I expected something drastically different? Who knows? But I thought it was similar - with a huge amount of characters having interconnected stories, etc. I did like it almost as much as Thursday Murder Club, and with the fullness of time, will probably like it more, if it is anything like TMC. The characters will become more fleshed out and I will like some of the sequels more.

I don't know what to say about the Kilmer memoir. It was just OK for me. I was a little put off by his voice. I think I liked him better before I'd read his book. I felt the same way about Don Felder after reading Heaven and Hell: My Life in The Eagles, 1974-2001. That said, it was worth the read for me. Happy reading! :-)

[Lillie]

Lea wrote: "I don't know what to say about the Kilmer memoir. It was just OK for me. I was a little put off by his voice. I think I liked him better before I'd read his book. I felt the same way about Don Felder after reading Heaven and Hell: My Life in The Eagles, 1974-2001. That said, it was worth the read for me. Happy reading! :-)"

Thanks for the feedback. I'll put it on my list but hold off reading Kilmer's memoir for a while. Maybe for a time when I've run out of books to read? lol

[Lea]

Lillie wrote: "Thanks for the feedback. I'll put it on my list but hold off reading Kilmer's memoir for a while. Maybe for a time when I've run out of books to read? lol"

Yes! Or maybe when you're feeling patient. I think it is interesting. Kilmer is a fantastic actor who wasn't afraid to take on some of the most challenging roles in the business. However, he is not a writer. He bounces around a lot - jumping from one topic to the next. There's a lot of spirituality in the memoir, as he is a Christian Scientist, but very little about his illness, as you might expect from someone who believes in the tenants of Christian Science. I wanted to know more about it. I liked how he picked up and went on with his life when he couldn't find or be the perfect partner. But, I think his reputation for not getting along with others is well founded. He came across to me as vain and not very self-aware in the book. He does talk a lot about his failed relationships, but it's all vague. He talks about his happiness in being a father. There's a lot of love for Marlon Brando in this book. Enjoy! :-)

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Lea wrote: "When you get to them, you'll know what I mean. I love that your dad scouts book sales and brings you books he thinks you and your family will read. I used to do the same thing for my dad, but now he can't read anymore...."

Yeah, before he passed, he was a library fiend. He drove those ladies nuts. Amazingly, he loved Westerns, and would reread those books endlessly.

I hate that your dad can't read anymore, and I am sure he hates it too. Reading is another universe we get to enjoy.

[Lea]

Alondra wrote: "Yeah, before he passed, he was a library fiend. He drove those ladies nuts. Amazingly, he loved Westerns, and would reread those books endlessly.

I hate that your dad can't read anymore, and I am sure he hates it too. Reading is another universe we get to enjoy."

Having once worked at a library, I can say that he may have driven the librarians nuts, but they probably also loved it. I missed every single regular patron whenever they weren't able to come in anymore for whatever reason. We would set aside books for people if we knew their taste in books. One lady moved away without telling us, and we kept her little private stack of books for weeks. She used to come in every single day. She did come back some years later for a visit and we ran around the branch making a long list of books she *had* to read, if she hadn't already. :-)

I haven't read too many Westerns, but I will never say never anymore. After all, I said never to horror and always to romance, and that has since reversed. :-)

[Ioana]

I've been traveling for a while and missed your updates. Now that I'm back....nice job! You've read some good books (although I see some duds there too, oh well) and I'm glad to see that the NF you enjoyed I've already read and don't need to add to my TBR. Phew!

I was not a fan of The Ministry of Time :-(

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "I've been traveling for a while and missed your updates. Now that I'm back....nice job! You've read some good books (although I see some duds there too, oh well) and I'm glad to see that the NF you enjoyed I've already read and don't need to add to my TBR. Phew!

I was not a fan of The Ministry of Time :-("

I'm so glad to hear that you have been traveling, I hope you've really enjoyed yourselves and seen some great places.

Sorry to hear you did not enjoy The Ministry of Time, do you remember what you did not like about it? I'm glad that the NF books I've been reading you've already read. I'm sure they made my TBR because of your reviews. :-)

[Ioana]

Lea wrote: "Sorry to hear you did not enjoy The Ministry of Time, do you remember what you did not like about it?"

I liked the premise, but not the execution. I'm glad you enjoyed it, but for me, I found it slow and boring... I didn't understand the hype.

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "I liked the premise, but not the execution. I'm glad you enjoyed it, but for me, I found it slow and boring... I didn't understand the hype."

It did start out super slow, I agree! And when it finally picked up a little, I found the book to lack focus. In my opinion, it tried to do too many things. But, as I said, it did work for me. Maybe if I'd listened to the hype, I might have expected more. This one, though, I kind of went into a bit blind. If it hadn't been for GRC Award, I don't know if I would have picked it up. I wasn't drawn to the story and hadn't followed the hype.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Lea wrote: "Having once worked at a library, I can say that he may have driven the librarians nuts, but they probably also loved it. I missed every single regular patron whenever they weren't able to come in anymore for whatever reason. We would set aside books for people if we knew their taste in books. One lady..."

That is my dream job; but thats a long way away from healthcare. LOL. Thats awesome that you all did that for that customer.

I really want to try a western. I actually enjoy military style books; so, I think I may like westerns too. Maybe??

[Lea]

Alondra wrote: "That is my dream job; but thats a long way away from healthcare. LOL. Thats awesome that you all did that for that customer.

I really want to try a western. I actually enjoy military style books; so, I think I may like westerns too. Maybe??"

It's a long way from Accounting also. I would have continued because I loved my job, but Library science is a very competitive field and does not pay particularly well unless you continue to be promoted. There were definitely more Accounting jobs available. I would have done healthcare if I hadn't been so traumatized every time I saw blood. :-)

[Lea]

August Month End Report

Books Read: 15 books this month, 101 books year to date. 37,745 Pages year to date.

Books from Filling in the Gaps: 61/100; 2022 Books 1/1, 2023 Books 1/5, 2024 Books 11/14, 2025 books 48/80

Books from 12+4 Challenge: 14/16

Previously discussed:

The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife
The Ministry of Time
Saga, Volume 12
Winter's Heart
We Solve Murders
Sunrise on the Reaping
Yours Truly

Currently reading:

The Impossible Girl - This was a historical fiction set in New York in the 1850s about the resurrectionist trade, where people would dig up dead bodies to sell to medical schools for doctors to learn, or to museums if the bodies are unique. Some bodies are worth more than others, and it appears that some people with unique bodies are experiencing untimely deaths. I thought the idea surrounding this book was interesting, but I was a little disappointed by the execution and did not like the ending. It was just all right. 2 stars

I'm Your Huckleberry: A Memoir - Val Kilmer's autobiography was interesting, but I think I liked him better before I read this book. I still think of him as a fantastic actor who made some iconic movies better with his ability to become these characters. However, I felt like he came across vain and not very self-aware in his book. He wants us to believe that he has a lot of depth - i.e. he talks a lot about his faith - but it all seemed very surface to me. He humble-brags a lot. That said, I'm glad I read it. 2 stars

Torment - Book 2 in the Fallen Series and a GRC Award winner for Cover Art in 2010. It's a YA fantasy book about angels, and the series isn't my favorite. Suspense is one thing, but these random plot devices to withhold information from the main character and the reader are wearing thin. 2 stars

The Spellshop - I didn't mean to start another series, but I'm glad I did. This is a cozy little fantasy story about a librarian who flees to her childhood home and is forced to step out of her comfort zone. It had everything I loved about The House in the Cerulean Sea. It was a GRC Award nominee for Romantasy, but I didn't think the book was heavy on romance. It has mythical creatures, including a sentient plant and cinnamon rolls. Who could ask for more? I'm excited to read the next book in the series. 4 stars

Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail - This was an old Oprah book club selection. The author was the daughter of one of the generals in Morocco that attempted a coup in 1972 and his wife and children were imprisoned for twenty years. I think the story is fascinating, I wish the story was a little less inconsistent (for example, at one point, they are bald, the next she is untangling long hair.) But overall, I'm glad I read it. 3 stars

The Martian Chronicles - This is a collection of short stories written by Ray Bradbury about Earthlings trying to colonize Mars. To me, the book is more of a character study on people and less of a science fiction story. I liked it. 3 stars

The Factory of Dreams, St. Louis Corvette Plant - A friend lent me this book, it is the autobiography of a man working at the corvette plant before it was moved to Bowling Green. Like so many autobiographies I've been reading lately, the author is a little too real. It's absolutely scary to think of all the shenanigans that they pulled at work, but also very funny. I enjoyed it. 3 stars

Onyx Storm - This is the third book in the Empyrean series. Yarros has stated that this trilogy has become a five-book series, but unfortunately, I don't think there's enough story to fill that many books without all these crazy contrivances. And I hated the ending. Few books, if any, should end on a cliffhanger. 2 stars

Goals -
One Tome a Month - TWO! Winter's Heart and Onyx Storm
Finish One Series a Month - FOUR! Saga Saga, Volume 12, We Solve Murders We Solve Murders, Hunger Games Sunrise on the Reaping, and The Empyrean Onyx Storm.
Finish One Book from My Shelves this Month - TWO! The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife and Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail
Made Progress on the GRC Awards -I finished The Ministry of Time and Torment And I read another book in The Wheel of Time series.

Best book: The Spellshop
Worst book:Winter's Heart
Biggest surprise: The Spellshop
Greatest accomplishment: I've officially completed my GR Reading Challenge, by completing over 100 books!

[Bill, Moderator]

I read The Martian Chronicles back in high school, Lea. I have to say I never really got him, I don't think. I did enjoy Fahrenheit 451 and The Illustrated Man.... Enjoy September.

[Alissa]

Lea wrote: "I've officially completed my GR Reading Challenge, by completing over 100 books!."


YAYYYYYYYYYY congrats!!!!

[Patricia]

Congrats on your reading--especially in finishing 2 tomes! I enjoyed The Spellshop as well. Didn't realize when I read it that it would be a series. I need to check out some more of her books.
Happy (almost Fall) Reading!

[Michelle]

Congrats on reading over 100 books!!

Glad you enjoyed The Spellshop. I thought that one was such a great cozy read.

[Lea]

Bill wrote: "I read The Martian Chronicles back in high school, Lea. I have to say I never really got him, I don't think. I did enjoy Fahrenheit 451 and The Illustrated Man.... Enjoy September."

I'm so embarrassed to say that I graduated university without reading any Bradbury...and he was the speaker at our university graduation ceremony. I resolved to read his work right away, but it took me 20 more years after that! I was so intimidated by him, and I'm not sure why. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Fahrenheit 451 and The Illustrated Man, I loved Fahrenheit 451 and have been eyeing The Illustrated Man.

[Lea]

Alissa wrote: "Lea wrote: "I've officially completed my GR Reading Challenge, by completing over 100 books!."


YAYYYYYYYYYY congrats!!!!"

Thank you! It feels silly to be done - I probably should have upped my number...however...I did want to read longer books this year and didn't want the pressure. :-)

[Lea]

Patricia wrote: "Congrats on your reading--especially in finishing 2 tomes! I enjoyed The Spellshop as well. Didn't realize when I read it that it would be a series. I need to check out some more of her books.
Happy (almost Fall) Reading!"

I was also interested in reading The Spellshop before I realized it was a series! I just never got it read. In fact, I might have been searching for fantasy novels that aren't series. Oh well. I am super excited to read more books by Durst!

[Lea]

Michelle wrote: "Congrats on reading over 100 books!!

Glad you enjoyed The Spellshop. I thought that one was such a great cozy read."

Yes! I loved The Spellshop. I cannot wait to read the next books in the series, it was so good!

[Lillie]

Lea wrote: "Best book: The Spellshop
Worst book:Winter's Heart
Biggest surprise: The Spellshop
Greatest accomplishment: I've officially completed my GR Reading Challenge, by completing over 100 books! ."

Congratulations on completing your challenge!

I've been eyeing The Spellshop. I'm definitely going to add it to my list now.

[Lea]

Lillie wrote: "Congratulations on completing your challenge!

I've been eyeing The Spellshop. I'm definitely going to add it to my list now."

I hope you like it, Lillie. It reminded me of The House in the Cerulean Sea in that it was cozy and gave me warm and fuzzy feelings. But don't get your hopes up too high. It's not perfect. I had some issues. Still, I highly recommend. Happy reading! :-)

[Ioana]

Congrats on finishing your GR Reading Challenge!!!! You have 4 months to read whatever you want now???

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "Congrats on finishing your GR Reading Challenge!!!! You have 4 months to read whatever you want now???"

Thank you! I still have this individual list to work on! As well as two books on the 12 + 4 challenge. And I'm embarrassed at how many series I have on the go. On a happy note, I doubt I'll ever run out of books to read! :-)

[Alissa]

get those seriesssssssssssssssss

[Karol]

Congrats on surpassing your GR Challenge for this year - with plenty of time to spare!