Reading challenge 2021

[bobbiwoz]

06/60 Outsider by Linda Castillo
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder's past comes back to haunt her when she receives a call from Amish widower Adam Lengacher. While enjoying a sleigh ride with his children, he discovered a car stuck in a snowdrift and an unconscious woman nearby. Kate arrives at his farm and is shocked to discover the driver is a woman she hasn't seen in ten years: fellow cop Gina Colorosa.
Ten years ago, Kate and Gina were best friends at the police academy, graduating together as rookies with the Columbus Division of Police. But the reunion takes an ominous turn when Kate learns Gina is wanted for killing an undercover officer. Gina claims she's innocent, that she was framed by corrupt officers who want her gone because she was about to turn them in for wrongdoing.
Kate calls upon state agent John Tomasetti for help and with a blizzard bearing down, they delve into the incident. But no one wants to talk about what happened the night Gina allegedly gunned down a fellow cop. Even Tomasetti is stonewalled, his superior telling him in no uncertain terms to back off.
With whisperings of corruption and the threat of rogue cops seeking revenge, Kate and Gina hunker down at Adam Lengacher's farm. As Kate gets closer to the truth, a killer lies in wait. When violence strikes, Kate must confront a reality that changes everything she thought she knew not only about friendship, but the institution to which she's devoted her life.

This is the 12th book in the Kate Burkholder series. Great as always!
Linda Castillo is one of my favorite authors and would definetely recommend the Kate Burkholder series.

I liked it too! I was not familiar with the series. Thanks for recommending it!
It was my 9/50!

 

[SaintsManiac]

5/40 --Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

My Goodreads rating 5 out of 5 stars. I actually started this last year, but I put it down over most of the holidays. I read more of it this month than last year, so I guess it's ok!

I thought this book was amazing. I have never read a biography before, much less one this big. His style is so engaging and I learned so much. I decided to read his book about Grant at a later date.

 

[OKW8297]

5/40 --Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

My Goodreads rating 5 out of 5 stars. I actually started this last year, but I put it down over most of the holidays. I read more of it this month than last year, so I guess it's ok!

I thought this book was amazing. I have never read a biography before, much less one this big. His style is so engaging and I learned so much. I decided to read his book about Grant at a later date.

I read this last year. I agree, it’s outstanding. Made me appreciate the musical even more.

 

[mgarbowski]

5/40 --Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

My Goodreads rating 5 out of 5 stars. I actually started this last year, but I put it down over most of the holidays. I read more of it this month than last year, so I guess it's ok!

I thought this book was amazing. I have never read a biography before, much less one this big. His style is so engaging and I learned so much. I decided to read his book about Grant at a later date.

Chernow has a special talent fro writing about financial history. So in addition to his political biographies, I recommend his book "The House of Morgan," which covers the full history of the Morgan family bank which over decades became JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, and others. It effectively serves as a history of American banking and finance from just before the Civil War to the 21st Century, much of which I believe is unknown to most people. I'm also interested in his books on the Warburgs and Rockefeller, though I admit starting any Chernow book is a daunting prospect.

 

[Tiggerish]

Just South of Paradise by Grace Palmer. Willow Beach Inn Book 1. It was listed as "Woman's Fiction" and is basically an introduction to all the characters whose individual stories will make up the rest of the series.

A Dream to Believe In by Kay Correll. Sweet River Book One. Another book that is romantic fiction with happy ending and introduction to all the characters whose stories will form the remainder of the series.

Strawberries and Strangers by Lenna Clover. A Pelican Cove Mystery Book 1. This was a "cozy" mystery which makes for light reading which is helpful when trying to wind down into sleep mode.

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Non-fiction. Written as a kind of letter to his adolescent son and examinations the hazards and hopes of black male life. It was a struggle to read because of its controversial point of view. I cannot say I enjoyed this book but acknowledge why it is an recommended read.

9-12 of 104

 

[JayMass]

Sooo, how did you like the ending?? I read those books over many years, waiting patiently for each release, that when I finally finished the last book, I just started them all over again, lol.

I don't want to give anything away to anyone who might be reading this, but I DID like it. Having read all the books within a year the ending makes perfect sense. I think King didn't really know where the books were headed until Wolves of the Calla. I think that really put everything in perspective and made the series as a whole work incredibly well. I can't imagine waiting for those books over the years!

 

[JayMass]

Chernow has a special talent fro writing about financial history. So in addition to his political biographies, I recommend his book "The House of Morgan," which covers the full history of the Morgan family bank which over decades became JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, and others. It effectively serves as a history of American banking and finance from just before the Civil War to the 21st Century, much of which I believe is unknown to most people. I'm also interested in his books on the Warburgs and Rockefeller, though I admit starting any Chernow book is a daunting prospect.

But did you think Hamilton was the embodiment of hip-hop? (That's what Lin-Manuel Miranda thought after reading the book and led him to write the musical).

 

[JayMass]

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Non-fiction. Written as a kind of letter to his adolescent son and examinations the hazards and hopes of black male life. It was a struggle to read because of its controversial point of view. I cannot say I enjoyed this book but acknowledge why it is an recommended read.

9-12 of 104

It really makes me happy when people are willing to read books that might challenge their world view. Coates is such an amazing writer in my opinion. I love how he is able to take really big and complicated ideas and present them directly and succinctly. You do not have to agree with his point of view (although I happen to), you just have to be open enough to hear it.

 

[JayMass]

4. Adequate Yearly Progress by Roxanna Elden. Set in an inn r city school in Texas it gives insight into the struggles faced by teachers. A novel that rings true.

I've never heard of it. I'm adding to my list!

 

[JayMass]

Book 1/15 -- Gatefather by Orson Scott Card -- Last in the "Mither Mages" series. This is a series that takes place on earth and another planet in modern times. Some people have god-like powers. On earth, they have hidden themselves away (much like wizards in Harry Potter) and in the other planet, they are known amont "drowthers" or people without powers. Passing between a "Great gate" enhances these powers, and can even make drowthers aware of powers they didn't know they had. In the first book, Danny, the MC, discovers he can make a great gate. IN the second, he makes one with terrifying and unintended consequences. The third he tries to figure out how to mitigate the problems caued by the passing through the great gate. Very good and satisfying ending, and not the ending I was expecting, either. There are a bunch of religious references, but it wasn't ABOUT religion, if that makes sense.

I am not a fan of Card's politics BUT he is fantastic story teller. I haven't read this one but I did read "Lost Boys" about 10 or 15 years ago and it has really stuck with me. I think about it all the time. Maybe it's because of the Springsteen references, but I think it's more about Card's talent. I should really read more of his works. Any recommendations?

 

[Allison Joy]

I am not a fan of Card's politics BUT he is fantastic story teller. I haven't read this one but I did read "Lost Boys" about 10 or 15 years ago and it has really stuck with me. I think about it all the time. Maybe it's because of the Springsteen references, but I think it's more about Card's talent. I should really read more of his works. Any recommendations?

So I really did enjoy this series, and the first book is "The Lost Gate." I would say even if you don't agree with Card on his views, don't be turned off by the "religious" references in these books. First, it's really not until the end of the second book and third books that it even comes into play. By then, you're drawn in and committed. Ha! And I think one of the reasons I recognized it myself is because I'm aware of some of what Mormonism (Card's religion) teaches. It's not religion in the "if you don't believe this, you're terrible" at all. There are a few references to Jesus, but Jesus as a man/historical figure, not as God. Same with other specific references, which aren't that many. It's more parallels, and you can see where he might be drawing from is own beliefs. But it totally fits into the "sci-fi/fantasy" realm, and doesn't really feel like religion?? I don't know if that makes ANY sense at all. Ha! I'm pretty sure I just contradicted myself from my last post in this one.

If you haven't read the series on the First Formic War, I'd recommend that one. It's quite good. The first book is "Earth Unaware" the second is "Earth Afire," and the third is "Earth Awakens."

There's also a series that he's started on the Second Formic War. Two of the three books are out. The first book is quite long, and I had trouble keeping up with it, so I think I'll likely wait until the third book is out (no release date set yet) so that I only have to re-read the first book, and not re-read the first book, read the second, and then re-read the first AND second when the third one comes out.

Then there's the Pathfinder series. The first book is EXCELLENT, but I felt they went down in quality after the first. Those are "Pathfinder," "Ruins," and "Visitors."

So.... there's my recommendation for Orson Scott Card reads, for what it's worth. Which is about the price of the paper its written on, and since it's not even written on paper, it's worth just about nothing.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

3 of 12: A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland

A middle-grader Star Wars novel. This is the second novel in the High Republic timeline. Newly knighted Jedi Vernestra Rwoh leads a group of kids as they try to survive being shipwrecked when their ship is destroyed on the way to the Starlight Beacon commencement.

4 out of 5 stars. I like how these High Republic books talk about the Force. It's hard to grade this book though, since I am not the target audience (since I'm 44, not 12).

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Non-fiction. Written as a kind of letter to his adolescent son and examinations the hazards and hopes of black male life. It was a struggle to read because of its controversial point of view. I cannot say I enjoyed this book but acknowledge why it is an recommended read.

This is such great book! I listened to the audiobook, which Ta-Nehisi Coates read. Two years ago, I think?

 

[Wendy1985]

Game changer

The dangers of hazing

 

[PollyannaMom]

I haven't read this one but I did read "Lost Boys" about 10 or 15 years ago and it has really stuck with me.

So.... there's my recommendation for Orson Scott Card reads, for what it's worth.

I finally remembered where I recognized this author's name from! - Years ago, I read the first couple of books in a series called "The Tales of Alvin Maker". They were set in an alternate version of the American frontier, where various characters had different magical gifts. I really liked them, but lost rack of the series when there was a big gap between new ones. I may need to re-read them and find the rest...

 

[mgarbowski]

But did you think Hamilton was the embodiment of hip-hop? (That's what Lin-Manuel Miranda thought after reading the book and led him to write the musical).

I I had made that connection I'd be famous and people would be "LMM who, exactly?"

 

[Simba's Mom]

Read 2 more!

"Royal" by Danielle Steel A very typical Danielle Steel book, and since I like her for ease and enjoyment, it was 4 stars for me
"Beach Read" by Emily Henry I know it got high recommendations on goodreads, but I thought it was just OK, 3 stars

 

[bobbiwoz]

10/50. I wanted something light and I went with Debbie Macomber’s “Twelve Days of Christmas.” I suppose it became a Hallmark movie, because I recognized it, even though I hadn’t read it before. It served its purpose, light, predictable and fun.

 

[KevM]

1) Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker - Nonfiction/Science. Walker is a neuroscientist & sleep expert. In this book he looks at how sleep and the lack of sleep affects every aspect of our well-being, both mental & physical. 4.75/5

2) The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature by J. Drew Lanham - Memoir. From growing up in rural Edgefield County, NC through his professional life. 4/5

3) How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States by Daniel Immerwahr - Nonfiction/History. Since its founding the US has been ever expanding. First, westward then once there was no more land on the continent, off to the islands in the Caribbean & Pacific. At one point, Manila was the 5th largest US city. Before WWII 13% of the Is population did not live on the 48 states. By the end of WWII their were 135 million people overseas who would see the US flag flying overhead, while in the 48 states that number was 132 million. Even now, when one thinks of the map of the US, they generally think of the logo map (the continental states, w/Alaska & Hawaii in the bottom left) but there are still over 3.5 million people living in 5 US territories ( Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, & the Northern Mariana Islands). 4.75/5

4) How Lovely the Ruins: Inspirational Poems and Words for Difficult Times by Edited by Anne Chagnit & Emi Ikkanda - Poetry. A nice vast array collection of inspirational poems. 3.5/5

5) Zofloya by Charlotte Dacre - Gothic. A gothic classic, which at its time tackled taboos of sex, class, & race. 3.5/5

6) A Hero Born by Jin Yong - Wuxia. Jin Yong’s classic trilogy, Condor Trilogy, is being translated into English for the first time. Each book of the trilogy is being broken into 4 parts. A Hero Born is the first part of the first book, The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The fourth part of the first book is set for release in February. 4.25/5

7) Outlawed by Anna North - Historical Fiction/Western. This is also a bit of an Alt-History work as well. An interesting concept that I didn’t feel quite meet what it was aiming for. 3.5/5

 

[OKW8297]

7. The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd. What if Jesus married? A story about his wife focusing on the position of women in that society and their lack of a voice. I really enjoyed this but was frustrated by the overall diminishing of Jesus’ ministry.