Reading Challenge 2022

[melk]

#30/50 Wish You Well by David Baldacci
Precocious twelve-year-old Louisa Mae Cardinal lives in the hectic New York City of 1940 with her family. Then tragedy strikes -- and Lou and her younger brother, Oz, must go with their invalid mother to live on their great-grandmother's farm in the Virginia mountains. Suddenly Lou finds herself coming of age in a new landscape, making her first true friend, and experiencing adventures tragic, comic, and audacious. But the forces of greed and justice are about to clash over her new home...and as their struggle is played out in a crowded Virginia courtroom, it will determine the future of two children, an entire town, and the mountains they love.

One of the best I've read so far this year.

This was my 27/35. Thank you for recommending it, I really enjoyed it!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

31/30 - Dead Wrong by Vannetta Chapman. Amish cozy mystery. Dead body at the Amish B&B. Very different. I liked it.

32/30 - Framed in Amish Country by Katy Lee. Short story. Young man with intellectual differences is helped by an Amish girl and welcomed into the community. It was ok.

33/30 - The Baby’s Christmas Blessing by Meghann Whistler. Second chance romance when former teenagers in love are reunited. He needs a nanny for his nephew. I liked it. Finally not an Amish book lol.

34/30 - The Amish Author’s Christmas by Ashley Emma. Short Story. Author spends Christmas with Amish family and wants to use them as her new book idea. She turns her life around and joins the Amish. It was ok.

And yes my new read is Amish. I need an Amish break lol so that’s why I’m going to Disney Oct. 29-Nov. 3. The Amish challenge is over Oct. 31st. Hooray! I don’t know if I will commit to something like this again. I feel like it cuts into my joy of reading anything I want.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Checking out for a few days. Leaving late tonight or early tomorrow morning for a few days at the World. Disney that is, lol. Keep the books going!

Have a great time!

 

[Caseheidi]

I have not been reading as much these last few weeks. Seems as if whenever I pick up a book, I end up falling asleep instead. I have finished these two however:

58/60 Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories by Kelly Ripa
A sharp, funny, and honest collection of real-life stories from Kelly Ripa, showing the many dimensions and crackling wit of the beloved daytime talk show host.

In Live Wire, her first book, Kelly shows what really makes her tick. As a professional, as a wife, as a daughter and as a mother, she brings a hard-earned wisdom and an eye for the absurdity of life to every minute of every day. It is her relatability in all of these roles that has earned her fans worldwide and millions of followers on social media. Whether recounting how she and Mark really met, the level of chauvinism she experienced on set, how Jersey Pride follows her wherever she goes, and many, many moments of utter mortification (whence she proves that you cannot, in fact, die of embarrassment) Kelly always tells it like it is. Ms. Ripa takes no prisoners.

Surprising, at times savage, a little shameless and always with humor… Live Wire shows Kelly as she really is offscreen—a very wise woman who has something to say.

I really enjoyed this read. I would say, if Ripa annoys you, avoid the book. However, as someone the same age as Ripa, I found the book very relatable.

59/60 Kitty's Greatest Hits by Carrie Vaughn
Kitty Norville, star of a New York Times bestselling series, is everybody’s favorite werewolf DJ and out-of-the-closet supernatural creature. Over the course of eight books she’s fought evil vampires, were-creatures, and some serious black magic. She’s done it all with a sharp wit and the help of a memorable cast of werewolf hunters, psychics, and if-notgood- then-neutral vampires by her side. Kitty’s Greatest Hits not only gives readers some of Kitty’s further adventures, it offers longtime fans a window into the origins of some of their favorite characters.

Seems that short stories have worked better for me these past few weeks. At least I was able to stay away!

 

[melk]

28/35 French Braid by Anne Tyler

This follows the Garrett family over decades, from their one and only family vacation in 1959 to 2020. Marriages form, marriages fail, children are born, family members die, and relationships are analyzed.

This is definitely not a plot driven book, it is all about the characters. Once I realized this and stopped looking for something big to happen I really got into it. It made me think about my own extended family and family dynamics. I enjoyed the book and went through all the readers group questions at the end, which I don’t usually do.

 

[Allison Joy]

14/20 - House Rules by Jodi Picoult - About an 18 year old autistic man who is obsessed with crime scene investigation and forensic science. He's accused of murder, and doesn't deny involvement, but does that mean he's guilty?

Definitely a good read. I... kind of figured out the twist? The thing I love about Jodi Picoult books is that even when you kind of know the twist, there's still usually something you aren't quite expecting; whether it's how the twist is revealed, the exact nature of the twist, or something else. The ending wasn't quite what I was expecting, but isn't exactly a twist either. I'll leave it at that. If anyone else has read this, feel free to PM me. I've got thoughts! Ha!

 

[willowsnn3]

#46/50 Wrapped in Rain by Charles Martin
On a sprawling Southern estate, Tucker and his younger brother, Mutt, were raised by their housekeeper, Miss Ella Rain, who loved the motherless boys like her own. Hiring her to take care of Waverly Hall and the boys was the only good thing their father ever did.
When his brother escapes from a mental hospital and an old girlfriend appears with her son and a black eye, Tucker is forced to return home and face the agony of his own tragic past.
Though Miss Ella has been gone for many years, Tuck can still hear her voice—and her prayers. But finding peace and starting anew will take a measure of grace that Tucker scarcely believes in.

I enjoyed this one. Simple & sweet. A little heartbreaking at times.

 

[bobbiwoz]

If you like Kate Quinn's books, you might be interested in "The Diamond Eye", one of her newest, that I'm reading now. I can't say too much about it, since I just started it a couple days ago. But so far at least, it's interesting.

Happy you mentioned it. I read it and enjoyed it a lot. Plus, it’s an historical novel, which is almost unbelievable! 4/5
63/75

 

[drwitz]

Here are the next three reads for the year. No surprise, but we start with a Stephen King book...

82. Duma Key by Stephen King

Set on an island off the Gulf Coast of Florida near Sarasota and Ft. Meyers (I know), the story continues the story begun in the short novella at the end of Blaze. The novel is hard to quantify as it is partly about art (specifically painting), partly a reflection on traumatic injury and the recover from it, and partly a supernatural tale of the battle between death and destruction and the forces of good. I finished this long before Ian, but there is a plot point about hurricanes in Southwest Florida which makes the book once again timely. King is an amazing writer, and the horror quotient here is medium to low, so worth a read for those who want an easy exposure to his work.

83. Still Just a Geek: An Annotated Memoir by Wil Wheaton

This was a very fun read. Wheaton takes his original memoir (Just a Geek which I never read) and offers updates and corrections through annotations to the original text (sometimes the annotations are as long as the original text). Wheaton bares his soul, and his battle with depression and trauma is heroic. The source material for much of the book are his blog posts on wilwheaton dot net, but this is definitely worth a review if you remember Wheaton from "Star Trek TNG" or "Big Bang Theory". He is a fascinating person and a great writer.

84. The Best American Short Stories 2007 Edited by Stephen King, series editor Heidi Pitlor

So I was about to start reading Just After Sunset, another Stephen King short story collection and in the intro he explains how he was motivated by serving as editor for the 2007 short story collection. I was motivated to seek out the volume and read this first. The collection to my taste is uneven, but there are some terrific stories included. I also enjoyed King's intro essay very much and recommend it.

Now off to read Just After Sunset.

85. Just After Sunset by Stephen King

King is a consummate short story writer. His tales enchant, and this volume is no exception. Collected stories include "N." which is a psychological analysis of a mental break (or is it?), and "The Things They Left Behind" which tells the story of a 9/11 survivor and his experience of survivor's guilt. This book is filled with standout stories, and it is well worth a read.

86. Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks

Set during the 1600s in England, this novel tells the story of housemaid named Anna Firth, and the village she resides in during an outbreak of the black death. The novel is steeped in the times and reads beautifully (some of the words I did have to look up). Another great read.

87. Poster Art of the Disney Parks: Second Edition by Danny Handke and Vanessa Hunt

This beautiful coffee table book is newly released and well worth the cost. The books features replicas of posters used to advertise the park's attractions throughout history. The posters are beautiful, and the book is a worthwhile exploration of how posters were used from the beginning of the park's history to draw visitors in, to inspire curiosity and to share information about the attractions. A great addition to my Disney collection.

 

[MGMmjl]

26/30 - Below Zero by C. J. Box

Description:
"Six years ago, Joe Pickett's foster daughter, April, was murdered. Now, someone is leaving phone messages claiming to be the dead girl. As his family struggles with the disturbing event, he discovers that the calls have been placed from locations where serious environmental crimes have occurred. And as the phone calls grow closer, so does the danger."

This is book #9 in the Joe Pickett series. It was another good one, and I continue to enjoy the series!

 

[bobbiwoz]

12/35 The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Perkanen

Perfect, wealthy Washington professionals, the Bishops, are the perfect golden couple until it is revealed that the wife has been unfaithful. They go to Avery for help, a therapist who lost her professional license because of her unorthodox methods. But in uncovering their secrets it puts them all in danger.

I really liked this book, definitely some twists and turns.

Hey, another one that you mentioned! I read it in two days!

4.5/5

64/75

 

[bobbiwoz]

33/40 Endangered (Sam Westin Mysteries #1) by Pamela Beason.
I really enjoyed this book. If you are a fan of Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon series then this one is similar. The lead character is a female who works for an environmental group researching cougars. The setting takes place inside a National Park. While conducting her report a child goes missing. Sam was the last person to see the child, but who took him? The story follows Sam as she searches for answers, along with an FBI agent.

I just finished, and I think it is a series worth reading!
4/5
65/75

 

[willowsnn3]

#47/50 The Favor by Nora Murphy
What can happen when women pushed to the limit take matters into their own hands?
Staying is dangerous. Leaving could be worse. Leah and McKenna have never met, though they have parallel lives. They don’t—ever—find themselves in the same train carriage or meet accidentally at the gym or the coffee shop. They don’t—ever—discuss their problems and find common ground. They don’t—ever—acknowledge to each other that although their lives have all the trappings of success, wealth and happiness, they are, in fact, trapped. Because Leah understands that what’s inside a home can be more dangerous than what’s outside. Driving past McKenna’s house one night, she sees what she knows only too well herself from her own marriage: McKenna’s “perfect” husband is not what he seems. She decides to keep an eye out for McKenna, until one night, she intervenes. Leah and McKenna have never met. But they will.

 

[bobbiwoz]

66/75
”The Sweet Remnants of Summer” by Alexander McCall Smith
This is one of his Isabel Dalhousie’s Novels. She’s a philosopher, married to Jaimie, and basically these stories are gentle looks at every day life from a philosophical point of view.
4/5

 

[Allison Joy]

15/20 -- Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline - Historical Fiction
I loved this book. It's abut a 91 year old woman, Vivian, and a 17 year old girl, Molly in the foster system. The 17 year old has to complete community service for stealing a library book. She helps Vivian clean her attic. But it's more of a history lesson, as the attic contains items from Vivian's childhood when she rode an orphan train from New York City to Minnesota. Loved how this unfolded, and the connection built between Molly and Vivian.

 

[KevM]

.

 

[KevM]

My October reads:

159) Brother, Sister, Mother, Explorer by Jamie Figueroa – Magical Realism. 3.5/5

160) Index of Haunted Houses by Adam O. Davis – Poetry. 3/5

161) World War Z by Max Brooks – Horror/Post-Apocalyptic. 3.5/5

162) The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson – Horror/Classic. 3.75/5

163) The Haunting of Alma Fielding by Kate Summerscale – Non-Fiction/True Crime. 3.25/5

164) Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty – Non-Fiction/Memoir. 4.25/5

165) The Ghost by Arnold Bennett – Horror/Classic – 3.25/5

166) The Lying Game by Ruth Ware – Mystery/Thriller. 3/5

167) Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya – Magical Realism. 4/5

168) And I Darken by Kiersten White – YA Historical Fantasy. 3.75/5

169) Halfway Down the Stairs by Gary A. Braunbeck – Horror/Short Stories. 4/5

170) The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells – Classic/Sci-Fi/Horror. 3/5

171) Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman – Magical Realism. 4/5

172) She-wolf: A Cultural History of Female Werewolves edited by Hannah Priest – Non-Fiction/Essays. 4.25/5

173) The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo – Historical Fantasy – 4/5

174) Into The Forest And All The Way Through by Cynthia Pelayo – Poetry. 5/5

175) Roadside Picnic by Arkady Strugatsky & Boris Strugatsky – Classic/Sci-Fi/Dystopia. 4/5

176) The Terror of Motherhood: Collected Horror Film Criticism from a Stay-at-Home Mom by Genevieve Radosti – Non-Fiction/Essays. 4.5/5

177) Somewhere Beneath Those Waves by Sarah Monette – Short Stories/Horror. 4.25/5

178) Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of ‘70s and ‘80s Horror Fiction by Grady Hendrix – Non-Fiction/History/Horror. 4/5

179) Other Terrors: An Inclusive Anthology edited by Rena Mason & Vince A. Liaguno – Short Stories/Horror. 4/5

180) The Dedalus Book of French Horror: The 19th Century edited by Terry Hale (translated by Liz Heron)

181) Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado – Short Stories/Horror – 4/5

182) Coyote Songs by Gabino Iglesias – Short Stories/Horror – 4.25/5

183) Caught Dead Handed by Carol J. Perry – Cozy Mystery. 1/5

184) A Wee Murder in My Shop by Fran Stewart – Cozy Mystery. 2.75/5

185) Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala – Cozy Mystery. 4/5

186) The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick – Historical Mystery. 4/5

187) Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice – Horror/Dystopia. 4.25/5

188) The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix – Horror. 3.5/5

189) The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury – YA Horror/Classic. 3.75/5

190) Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite edited by Natalie C. Parker & Zoraida Córdova – Short Stories/Horror. 3.75/5

191) Halloween Season by Lucy A. Snyder – Short Stories/Horror. 4/5

 

[mrs. magoo]

My September and October update:

23/30 - The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie - I stumbled on this book while searching audible. It was free with our subscription. I absolutely loved it and I plan to read the rest in the series. In fact I am thinking next year I may try to read as many Christie novels as I can. Four Stars

24/30 - The Lions of Fifth Ave by Fiona Davis - I read this one after so many recommendations on here. While I enjoyed it I felt a bit let down by some parts of it. I wanted more about life in England and I guess I wanted to know more about Pearl too. I will try a couple of her other books as I enjoy the jump between 2 time periods - It reminds me of my favorite author William Martin. Three and half stars

25/30 - The Invitation by Lucy Foley - So I have definitely fallen for her mystery books but this one was not a mystery but a kinda romance. I struggled to get through it but I did finish it. Two Stars

26/30 - The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley - I have read The Guest List, The Hunting Party and now this mystery. The Guest List was my favorite but the Paris Apartment is second. I enjoyed the story about the creepy apartment. There were parts that were cheesy but still a good mystery read. Three and Three Quarter Stars

27/30 The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway - This was a pick up at the Little Library in neighborhood. It was a good read. It is told from the perspective of 3 people living in Sarajevo during the Siege of the city in the 1990's. It is a short but decent read. Three stars.


I think I will make my goal of thirty books. I am almost half way done with my current one.
I want to thank everyone who posts on this thread. I love to read and while I do most of my reading in the summer I love to have all the suggestions.

 

[tiggrbaby]

Health issues and a house guest caused a slow down in my reading this month!

#75/90: Treasure State (Cassie Dewell #6) by C. J. Box (4/5) (mystery)

Cassie has been working on a strange case: a poem that promises a treasure has fired up many hunters. But Cassie has been hired by the author of the poem to see if she can locate him. But now she has taken on another client. A wealthy woman from Florida wants Cassie to find the missing PI who had been on the trail of the man who conned the woman out of millions.

#76/90: The Winners (Beartown #3) by Fredrik Bachman (4.5/5) (fiction)

A ferocious storm has caused destruction that reignites the rivalry between Beartown and Hed. These tensions turn into acts of intimidation and violence.

I love the writing style and characters in this series.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Since the latter part of September-

#44-Book Lovers, Emily Henry 1 star just not what I expected

#45 That Bear Ate My Pants, Tony James Slater-a pleasantly funny book about a young man who spends time working at an animal sanctuary in Ecuador, kind of like the Peace Corp-4 stars

#46-The Resistance Girl, Mandy Robatham Historical Fiction about WWII in Norway 3 stars

#47-The Nature of Fragile Things, Susan Meissner 5 stars she's such a great writer! Suspenseful fiction with the backdrop of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906

#48-The Sweet Life, Suzanne Woods Feel-good fiction about a mother and daughter who buy and try to start an ice cream shop on Cape Cod. I love ice cream and I love Cape Cod, and the best ice cream I've had was on Cape Cod, so my rating of 4 stars may be biased.

#49-The Long Flight Home, Alan Hlad a fascinating story based on the use of carrier pigeons during WWII to bring messages of German troop movement to the British from the French Resistance. Just shy of 5 stars, only because one of the pigeons was portrayed a little unbelievably.