Reading Challenge/Goals for 2024

[Kirby]

#41 - The Pioneers by David McCullough
Genre - Historical Non Fiction
As part of the Treaty of Paris, in which Great Britain recognized the new United States of America, Britain ceded the land that comprised the immense Northwest Territory, a wilderness empire northwest of the Ohio River containing the future states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. A Massachusetts minister named Manasseh Cutler was instrumental in opening this vast territory to veterans of the Revolutionary War and their families for settlement. Included in the Northwest Ordinance were three remarkable conditions: freedom of religion, free universal education, and most importantly, the prohibition of slavery. In 1788 the first band of pioneers set out from New England for the Northwest Territory under the leadership of Revolutionary War veteran General Rufus Putnam. They settled in what is now Marietta on the banks of the Ohio River.
McCullough tells the story through five major characters: Cutler and Putnam; Cutler’s son Ephraim; and two other men, one a carpenter turned architect, and the other a physician who became a prominent pioneer in American science. “With clarity and incisiveness, [McCullough] details the experience of a brave and broad-minded band of people who crossed raging rivers, chopped down forests, plowed miles of land, suffered incalculable hardships, and braved a lonely frontier to forge a new American ideal” (The Providence Journal).
This is my book clubs pick for this month. There were some interesting parts in the book and some not so interesting. A few times I got on the computer to further research something and ended up going down rabbit holes. Reading it showed me how we have evolved as a nation, as people, in some things and yet we remain the same in others. I give it a 4/5.

 

[OKW8297]

18. The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand you have to read an Elin book in the summer. That being said this one hit me because there were people dealing with grief. Four couples ate the best of friends, and one couple dies. The book focuses on the fallout, secrets, and grief. It was not all totally dark. I enjoyed it.

 

[Kirby]

#42 - The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz
Genre - Mystery
Amy Redwing has dedicated her life to the southern California organization she founded to rescue abandoned and endangered golden retrievers. Among dog lovers, she's a legend for the risks she'll take to save an animal from abuse. Among her friends, Amy's heedless devotion is often cause for concern. To widower Brian McCarthy, whose commitment she can't allow herself to return, Amy's behavior is far more puzzling and hides a shattering secret.
No one is surprised when Amy risks her life to save Nickie, nor when she takes the female golden into her home. The bond between Amy and Nickie is immediate and uncanny. Even her two other goldens, Fred and Ethel, recognize Nickie as special, a natural alpha. But the instant joy Nickie brings is shadowed by a series of eerie incidents. An ominous stranger. A mysterious home invasion.
And the unmistakable sense that someone is watching Amy's every move and that, whoever it is, he's not alone.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Update!
#30/52-"The Last Lifeboat", Hazel Gaynor-Interesting read about the evacuation of British children across the Atlantic to Canada during WWII and how policies were affected. 4 stars

#31/52-"Til Dirt Do Us Part", Edith Maxwell. Fun read for me until the end, as for anyone who likes vegetable farming and New England. However, when the mystery was solved, right at the end, it was a sudden revelation that had never been mentioned. Also, although it's part of a series, generally cozy mysteries can be read as stand alone. But there were so many references to the previous story that it didn't feel right to try to read this as a stand-alone. 2 stars.

#32/52-"The Lost Evacuee", Cathy Sharp-felt kind of like a follow up to "The Last Lifeboat". The lives of two children who were evacuated from Britain to Canada during WWII. Most of the book was fairly interesting, but the ending lead you up in the air, implying that a "follow-up" book would be coming, but there was no mention of it nor of the name of it, so I was left hanging. 3 stars

#33/52-"Friends With Secrets", Christine Gunderson-I really enjoyed reading this one, especially about how one of the mothers struggled with her job vs being at home with her children. This was a free Amazon Prime book, and I usually am not very impressed with them, so I was pleasantly surprised. 4 stars.

 

[Needsanap]

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hildebrand

Everytime I Go On Vacation Someone Dies by Catherine Mack

Act Like A Lady Think Like A Lord by Celeste Connally

Private by James Patterson

#1 Suspect by James Patterson

51/25!

 

[RangerPooh]

24/25 Next Stop, Murder: A Blue Lake Cozy Murder Mystery - Book 1 (Blue Lake Cozy Murder Mysteries) by Hadley K. Knox.

• While not a bad book I found it slow to get into. I think this was due to each chapter being from some else's perspective, which meant you occasionally had to go backwards to remember who you were reading from. I do think that I will try this series again as the characters were likeable enough.

 

[Beezle2]

42/75 Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss. A short little book that follows a young girl beset by a violent home life on a 2 week primitive camping experience in the British countryside. Great story and some history of Bog Bodies.

43/75 Listened to Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. So good Funny, poignant, extremely touching. 10/10

 

[melk]

18/30 The Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan

When Martha sees Kathleen’s advertisement for a driver and companion to share an epic road trip across America, she decides this job might be the answer to her prayers. She’s not the world’s best driver but anything has to be better than living with her parents. And how much trouble can an eighty-year-old woman be?

This was a light, easy read, perfect for summer.

 

[MGMmjl]

19/32 - Lost Birds by Anne Hillerman

Description:
"Joe Leaphorn may be long retired from the Navajo Tribal Police, but his detective skills are still sharp, honed by his work as a private detective. His experience will be essential to solve a compelling new case: finding the birth parents of a woman who was raised by a bilagáana family but believes she is Diné based on one solid clue, an old photograph with a classic Navajo child’s blanket. Leaphorn discovers that his client’s adoption was questionable, and her adoptive family not what they seem. His quest for answers takes him to an old trading post and leads him to a deadly cache of long-buried family secrets.

As that case grows more complicated, Leaphorn receives an unexpected call from a person he met decades earlier. Cecil Bowleg’s desperation is clear in his voice, but just as he begins to explain, the call is cut off by an explosion and Cecil disappears. True to his nature, Leaphorn is determined to find the truth even as the situation grows dangerous. Investigation of the explosion falls in part to Officer Bernadette Manuelito, who discovers an unexpected link to Cecil’s missing wife.

Bernie also is involved in a troubling investigation of her own: an elderly weaver whose prize-winning sheep have been ruthlessly killed by feral dogs.

Exploring the emotionally complex issues of adoption of Indigenous children by non-native parents, Anne Hillerman delivers another thought-provoking, gripping mystery that brings to life the vivid terrain of the American Southwest, its people, and the lore and traditions that make it distinct."

This is book #27 in the Leaphorn, Chee, and (now) Manuelito series started by Anne Hillerman's father Tony Hillerman. It is the 9th book written by Anne. I continue to really enjoy the series, and hope she writes more books!

 

[bobbiwoz]

30/80. A very sad story…I read it because my DDiL mentioned that it was something my grandsons had read. “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” by John Boyne

 

[OKW8297]

19. A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand Not my fave,,,'

 

[cayennews]

#21 Christmas in Jubilee by Rachel Hanna

Very easy read. A little too G rated.

 

[bobbiwoz]

31/80
Couldn’t fall asleep, so last night I read “Gideon’s Gift” by Karen Kingsbury. 4/5

 

[Kirby]

#43 - Heavenbreaker by Sara Wolf
Genre - Fantastic Fiction says it's Fantasy but I would say Science Fiction.
Bravery isn't what you do. It's what you endure.
The duke of the powerful House Hauteclare is the first to die. With my dagger in his back.
He didn’t see it coming. Didn’t anticipate the bastard daughter who was supposed to die with her mother—on his order. He should have left us with the rest of the Station’s starving, commoner rubbish.
Now there’s nothing left. Just icy-white rage and a need to make House Hauteclare pay. Every damn one of them.
Even if it means riding Heavenbreaker—one of the few enormous machines left over from the War—and jousting against the fiercest nobles in the system.
Each win means another one of my enemies dies. And here, in the cold terror of space, the machine and I move as one, intent on destroying each adversary—even if it’s someone I care about. Even if it’s someone I’m falling for.
Only I’m not alone. Not anymore.
Because there’s something in the machine with me. Something horrifying. Something…more.
And it won’t be stopped.
I enjoyed reading this book. It's an easy read and beautifully printed on the outside, the outside edge of the pages laying together create a picture/design as do a number of books recently. I rate it 4/5.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I read some of the free novellas I had on my kindle and did some Christmas in July too

7/25 - Sugar Cookies and Scandal by Sue Hollowell.
Tilly, a baker, tries to solve the murder of a veterinary tech. There weren’t that many clues so it was easy to figure out. Animals abound. Fast read cozy mystery. It was ok.

8/25 - Mousse and Mayhem by Sue Hollowell
Tilly is solving the murder of the local health inspector. Her friend Fiona is considered the main suspect. Her uncle gets married in this book. I liked it better than the last one. Another quick cozy mystery.

9/25 - Dachshund Through The Snow by Rosie Point
Holly is the likely suspect when she goes to pick up her first dog walking client’s dog and finds the owner dead. She works to find the true killer. A cute dog Dixie steals the show.

10/25 - The Holiday Hunt by T.I. Lowe
City planner Georgie falls for local guy Mac. Their relationship goes on for 5 years until the final HEA. The holiday descriptions were fun.

 

[OKW8297]

20. Murder at Rough Point by Alyssa Maxwell this is the 4th book in a series of mysteries set in Newport during the gilded age

 

[bobbiwoz]

32/80
I’m way behind the number I should be at! Wasn’t feeling well, so I downloaded a nice story and settled in for the day.

“One Perfect Spring” by Irene Hannon. Sweet. 3.5/5

 

[Kirby]

#44 - Hawker: Florida Firefight, Book 1 of a series by Randy Wayne White
Genre - Thriller
A man holds twelve children hostage at gunpoint. Across the street, James Hawker dangles from a skyscraper, watching the terrorist through a sniper’s scope. Hawker has a shot, and he wants to take it, but the police brass say no. By the time he gets permission, it will be far too late. The terrorist opens fire, killing two of the children before Hawker can take him out. When the smoke clears, the madman is dead, and Hawker’s career is toast. No longer a cop, he’s about to become America’s deadliest defender.
The father of one of the murdered children hires Hawker as a private vigilante, and gives him an unlimited bankroll to wage a nationwide fight against organized crime. The first battle will be fought in Florida, where drug smugglers have taken root like a cancer—and Hawker will have to cut them out.
This book was easy to read. I give it 4/5.

 

[willowsnn3]

#29/50 The Wild Side by Fern Michaels
For Melanie Drake, school guidance counselor in a small Virginia town, the day’s challenges typically involve a playground scuffle or a student skipping school. It’s worlds away from her previous career as a vital part of the Office of Special Investigations. There, she devoted herself heart and soul to covert operations, the riskier the better.
Melanie’s loyalty is indisputable. She’s willing to pose as an escort and glean every scrap of intel that she can. But these men aren’t just wealthy and powerful, they’re also exceptionally ruthless. One slip, and they won’t hesitate to eliminate Melanie, by any means necessary.
A few chapters in, I remembered why I quit reading Fern Michaels. Shallow characters, unrealistic situations.
I finished this one mainly because I didn't have anything else on hand.
#30/50 North Woods by Daniel Mason
A single house in the woods of New England, told through the lives of those who inhabit it across the centuries.
An English soldier, destined for glory, abandons the battlefields to devote himself to apples. A pair of spinster twins survive war and famine, only to succumb to envy and desire. A crime reporter unearths a mass grave, but finds the ancient trees refuse to give up their secrets. A lovelorn painter, a conman, a stalking panther, a lusty beetle; as each one confronts the mysteries of the north woods, they come to realize that the dark, raucous, beautiful past is very much alive.
This one was very good altho it was a bit longer than needed to be.

 

[amcnj]

I have been trying to keep a list of the books I read this year, and if I missed some, it can’t be many. I just finished #122.

Last year I read a book entitled “101 Horror Books to Read Before you Are Murdered”. The focus was on more recent books in that genre. In addition to the listed 101 books, there were some featured authors with lists of some of their other books, as well as books they recommend. Then I found I enjoyed some of the authors so sought out all their books my library system had. Grady Hendrix was one such author.

Anyway, horror books have been the focus of my reading this year, with some other types mixed in here and there. A month or so back I felt I need a break, so searched for some recommended science fiction/fantasy series that I hadn’t already read. The Malazan books, a ten book series by Steven Erikson, came up.

This series has slowed me down of late, as the books are on the lengthy side, and at times I have been forcing myself to keep going with them. For some reason I just haven’t been fully engaged with them. Only three to go, but I have been mixing in other books the past couple of weeks. I might not get back to the series until the latter part of August, as I have some other commitments coming up. I keep reading reviews praising the books to keep me going, and of course having already invested many hours reading thousands of pages makes me want to finish it too.