Carol J's 2025 Reading Challenge

[Carol]

326. Tarzan at the Earth's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs - Tarzan travels underground to the world of Pellucidar. He saves some old friends and new ones. *** 10/15/2025

[Carol]

327. The Emerald City of Ozby L. Frank Baum - Dorothy brings Aunt Em & Uncle Henry to live in Oz after they had financial trouble in Kansas. Dorothy & her friends learn the wicked Nome King is gathering allies to launch an invasion of Oz & conquer the Emerald City. The King wants to reclaim the Magic Belt he lost to Dorothy (in an earlier book). The friends hope to protect Oz from this threat. Baum planned on this book being the last book in the series, but he started publishing the series again due to financial need and public demand. *** 10/16/25

[Carol]

328. We Need No Wings by Ann Dávila Cardinal - Teresa mourns her husband for a year, until the day she levitates. Suddenly, her life is in disarray, and the incidents of levitation make her question her sanity and put her in danger. She decides she will do anything to stop them. She's reminded that her family is related to the levitating mystic, Saint Teresa of Avila. *** 10/16/25

[Carol]

329. The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers - Thought this was a Rom Com, but it was more of a Rom Dram... Erin needs to start living, but doesn't know how. She accidentally donates her favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird to a little, local, community library. The book is returned to the library w/ new notes in the margins (!) & an invitation in a copy of Great Expectations to meet her pen pal. A huge conversation is written in the margins of classic books. Turns out that Erin & her pen pal have a shared history... **** 10/17/25

[Carol]

330. A Death on Corfu by Emily Sullivan - 1898, the Greek island of Corfu: The book is about British expat Minnie Harper & her family at the turn of the 20th century. A handsome mystery writer, Stephen Dorian, rents a villa on the island, sparking the attention of the local English community. He hires Minnie to be his typist. Then the death of a local girl comes to their attention & something about the death bother's them. The police handle the case poorly so they look into it themselves. **** 10/18/25

[Carol]

331. Spook Street by Mick Herron - Shakeup at MI5 & a terrorist attack at a British mall. David Cartwright is a spy legend and hero. He also suffers from Alzheimer's. One night he believes his grandson, River has come over for a visit. But then David doesn't recognize him and kills him. **** 10/10/25

[Carol]

332. Till Death Do Us Part by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn - 10 years ago, June’s husband, Josh drowned on their honeymoon, and his body was never found. 10 years later, June is engaged to a Kyle, ready to move on. Then she sees Josh. Is she crazy? Did her husband never die? This is a multiple timeline book. While that was a bit confusing, the story was great. ***** 10/19/25

[Carol]

334. Death of an Eye by Dana Stabenow - Under Queen Cleopatra's reign, new coin has been stolen. Queen Cleopatra's childhood friend Tetisheri hopes to find the missing shipment. *** 10/20/25

[Carol]

335. How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold - Horror writer Mortimer Queen dies, & a group of writers are invited to his last will & testament reading. They expect a piece of his fortune. Each have their own connection to Mortimer. They arrive at his grand manor and are invited to play a game. *** 10/2/25

[Carol]

336. Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan - Ana Dakkar is a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy (a HS that graduates the best marine scientists, naval warriors, navigators, and underwater explorers). Her parents died while on an expedition 2 years ago, & the only family she's has is her older brother, Dev. Their school is destroyed and Ana heard her brother is killed. *** 10/22/25

[Carol]

337. 15 Summers Later by RaeAnne Thayne - Ava moved away from Emerald Creek, Idaho, married the love of her life & published a bestselling memoir. She was surprised that her husband would feel so betrayed by a secret from her past, the truth of what happened to her & her sister 15 years ago. Now Ava is back home and trying to move on with the only person who can truly understand… her sister who is so mad at her. **** 10/24/25

[Carol]

338. Hansel and Gretel by Stephen King - Stephan King put's his spin on the Brother's Grimm fairy tale based on the late Maurice Sendak's set designs for the 1997 staging of Engelbert Humperdinck's opera, Hansel and Gretel. As in the original story, there is a famine in medieval Germany. *** 10/24/25

[Carol]

339. Calder Brand by Janet Dailey - Joe Dollerhide is a young cowboy in Benteen Calder's cattle drive. On the drive he goes into Dodge City with one of the other men and this is where he meets Sarah. They fall in love, but Joe must get to the life he wants for himself. **** 10/25/25

[Carol]

340. Majoring In Murder by Jessica Fletcher - Jessica is enduring Schoolman College’s 1st tornado in over 60 years. She is a visiting professor, & there to teach a creative writing class. Professor Newmark decided to brave the tornado and is later found dead. The police say it is an accident, but Jessica is not too sure. *** 10/25/25

[Carol]

341. James by Percival Everett - Pre Civil War - When the slave James (Jim) hears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, away from his wife and daughter, he runs away until he can come up with a plan. At the same time, Huck Finn runs away to keep himself safe from his violent father. A great retelling of Mark Twain's book, Huckleberry Finn from Jame's perspective. ***** 10/26/25