Reading Challenge/Goals for 2024

[melk]

21/30 Last Bus to Wisdom by Ivan Doig

Coming of age story about a young Montana boy being raised by his grandmother. In the summer of 1951 he gets sent to stay with relatives he has never met while his grandmother has surgery. His journey on a greyhound bus and the cast of characters he meets gives him an education that will last a lifetime.

Loved this book, excellent story, great characters and very amusing.

 

[cayennews]

#24 Cop Town by Karin Slaughter
Was not a big fan of this one. Takes place in 1974. I didn't even get into the book until I read about 200 pages.

 

[Wood Nymph]

23. Eruption by Michael Crighton and James Patterson. Thriller about a volcanoes on Hawaii with an added twist. Not my usual read but it was good. The ending was a little much but overall I enjoyed it. Two books away from my goal!

27/30 - Eruption

I decided to read this book after you reviewed it. I like books about Hawaii and volcanoes just add to the appeal. I agree with you that the ending was a little much. There was one glaring incomprehensible thing, one of those "dangers" that seemed a bit unnecessary. But all in all, it was enjoyable.

And I am three books from my goal. I think I need a bigger goal.

 

[Kirby]

21/30 Last Bus to Wisdom by Ivan Doig

Coming of age story about a young Montana boy being raised by his grandmother. In the summer of 1951 he gets sent to stay with relatives he has never met while his grandmother has surgery. His journey on a greyhound bus and the cast of characters he meets gives him an education that will last a lifetime.

Loved this book, excellent story, great characters and very amusing.

When I looked this up I found it is book four of a series. Did you read it as a stand alone or should I read the other three books first?

#52 - Gothikana by RuNyx
Genre - Paranormal Romance
Corvina Clemm is a woman with secrets. The last thing she expects to receive is an admission letter from the University of Verenmore, a place just as secretive.
A castle atop a mountain, Verenmore is steeped in shadows, deceit and death, a place where students have been disappearing every five years for over a century. As Corvina becomes caught up in unravelling the clues to solve the mystery, her path collides with Vad Deverell, her enigmatic professor.
Vad, too, is a man with secrets. And he cannot allow Corvina to get close enough to discover what he hides. But whenever she is near, his heart and soul yearn to possess her.
As Corvina and Vad become more and more entangled, their passion for each other could be the very thing to solve the mystery of Verenmore – or it could bring them both down in flames.
My daughter gave this book to me to read. So I did and it was a waste of my time.

 

[melk]

When I looked this up I found it is book four of a series. Did you read it as a stand alone or should I read the other three books first?

I had no idea it was part of a series. I read it as a stand alone. I’ll have to go search the previous books.

Edited to add that I just looked it up and there are actually twelve books! But it had this to say:
It's part of a series in the sense that it's one of 17 books Ivan Doig wrote that are set in his fictional Two Medicine country of central Montana. But they're linked mostly by setting, not by plot or characters (although some of the same characters or their descendants are mentioned in some of the books).


That makes sense because I previously read The Whistling Season, also in the series, but completely unrelated.

 

[OKW8297]

27/30 - Eruption

I decided to read this book after you reviewed it. I like books about Hawaii and volcanoes just add to the appeal. I agree with you that the ending was a little much. There was one glaring incomprehensible thing, one of those "dangers" that seemed a bit unnecessary. But all in all, it was enjoyable.

And I am three books from my goal. I think I need a bigger goal.

Glad it wasn’t just me!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Another update-
#37/52-"When the Rain Ends", Laurie Cass. Although this book was supposed to be about a single mother losing her sight, I was disappointed that the issue wasn't really addressed until later in the book. The focus was more on other issues. 3 stars

#38/52-"The Diary of a Young Girl", Anne Frank. I wonder if I'm the only one who hadn't read this book. It was at times boring, sad, funny, etc. all the things her life was. 4 1/2 stars.

#39/52-"Wrong Side of the Paw", Laurie Cass. An enjoyable cozy mystery for anyone who likes books and cats. 4 stars.

 

[Kirby]

I had no idea it was part of a series. I read it as a stand alone. I’ll have to go search the previous books.

Edited to add that I just looked it up and there are actually twelve books! But it had this to say:
It's part of a series in the sense that it's one of 17 books Ivan Doig wrote that are set in his fictional Two Medicine country of central Montana. But they're linked mostly by setting, not by plot or characters (although some of the same characters or their descendants are mentioned in some of the books).


That makes sense because I previously read The Whistling Season, also in the series, but completely unrelated.

Thanks! Somehow I missed that there was 17.

#53 - Sleeping Soldiers; the first book in the Tom Marlowe series by Jack Gatland.
Genre - Thriller
They tried to kill him - now he wants revenge.
Someone is killing old spies. Retired and forgotten, these relics from the Cold War are being removed—quietly and brutally.
And when “Section D” MI5 agent Tom Marlowe, on medical leave after a botched mission learns his old mentor is one of the murdered ex-agents, he starts an investigation that threatens to cost him his career, his freedom… and even his life.
Uncovering a conspiracy linked to a late-eighties operation called RUBICON, one involving long-forgotten Russian sleeper agents, now operating in the highest echelons of Westminster, Marlowe is thrown down a rabbit hole that forces him off the grid and on the run, hunted by his own people.
Out in the cold, with his air supply cut off, burned from working with any allied agency and with only disavowed spies to rely on, Marlowe must try to clear his name and expose this threat, before the US President is assassinated during his next London visit, and a new World War begins...
There are currently seven books in the series, #7 coming out in October. I enjoyed reading the book but not enough to pursue the rest of the series.

 

[OKW8297]

24. All You Have to Do is Call by Kerri Maher. An historical fiction about the Jane network in Chicago in the early 70’s. I loved it.

 

[Kirby]

#54 - A Fate Inked In Blood; Book One of the Saga of the Unfated by Danielle L. Jensen
Genre - Paranormal Romance
A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king - while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son - in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.
Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband's back.
Freya's dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region's jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: she possesses a drop of a goddess's blood, which gives her magic capable of repelling any attack. A
magic that was foretold would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath a king-the one who controls the shield maiden's fate.
Believing he's destined to rule Skaland, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders his son, Bjorn, to protect Freya from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. Except the greatest test of all may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Catching up;
14 of 20, Ready Player 2, Earnest Cline - 2/5. I join the large rank of Ready Player 1 fanatics that pretty much hated Ready Player 2. The RP1 references were fresh and seamless. It was the kind of book where you were just in on page 1 and hated when it ended. RP2 was...not like that. References were forced, the plot devices were WAY too coincidental. Ugh. I didn't like Armada either. I guess that's it for Earnest Cline.

15 of 20, Slammed, Colleen Hoover - 5/5. It's on the YA side, but I do love Hoover's writing style and I needed a palate cleanser after the last 2 books I had read.

 

[mgarbowski]

Book 13 of 24 - The Last Coyote (Harry Bosch, #4) - Michael Connelly
Book 14 of 24 - The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey - Candice Millard
Book 15 of 24 - Exit Strategy (Murderbot #4) - Martha Wells
Book 16 of 24 - The Ionian Mission (Aubrey/Maturin #8) - Patrick O'Brian
Book 17 of 24 - Eyes of the Void (The Final Architecture #2) - Adrian Tchaikovsky
Book 18 of 24 - Network Effect - (Murderbot #5) - Martha Wells

Network Effect is the best Murderbot book so far; The Ionian Mission is the worst Aubrey/Maturin, and borderline unreadable. The River of Doubt has a solid story well told at its core but is 20% too long.

 

[Needsanap]

Catching up.

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

****disclaimer****All the books I “read” are audiobooks. I listen while doing my regular stuff (cleaning, cooking, driving etc).

The above book was brutal. Not so much in the storyline but OH MY. The narrators voices. I started to cringe with a certain voice. I did not enjoy as an audiobook.

The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine
Good

The Marlowe Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
Good

The Next Mrs Parrish by Liv Conststine
Good but not as good as first

End Game by David Baldacci
Fair

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
Good

Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman
Good

The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood
Good. This is a marlow murder too, entertaining just like the first one.

Camino Island by John Grisham
Started out better than it ended.

60/25

 

[aboveH20]

Has anyone read "The Covenant of Water"? I'm trying to figure out where I got the recommendation.

* It's long (1400 pages on my phone so no way I could finish it in the two weeks our library offers for digital reads, so I checked out a paper copy, still 720 pages.

* A bit confusing with so many characters

* And, as it takes place in India lot of non-English words -- in italics, but a glossary would have been nice

* Occasionally hard to follow

* An interesting, but not completely satisfying ending

* My next stop is to read was Goodreads has to say.

* According to the cover it's an "Oprah book", which doesn't mean a lot to me, just adding that tidbit

 

[Shellsbutt]

Has anyone read "The Covenant of Water"? I'm trying to figure out where I got the recommendation.

* It's long (1400 pages on my phone so no way I could finish it in the two weeks our library offers for digital reads, so I checked out a paper copy, still 720 pages.

* A bit confusing with so many characters

* And, as it takes place in India lot of non-English words -- in italics, but a glossary would have been nice

* Occasionally hard to follow

* An interesting, but not completely satisfying ending

* My next stop is to read was Goodreads has to say.

* According to the cover it's an "Oprah book", which doesn't mean a lot to me, just adding that tidbit

I read the book earlier this year-I have mixed feelings about it. It's definitely way too long and I agree about all the different characters too. I checked out the large print version from my library-it was huge! Abraham Verghese's first book-Cutting for Stone was a better read in my opinion.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Has anyone read "The Covenant of Water"? I'm trying to figure out where I got the recommendation.

* It's long (1400 pages on my phone so no way I could finish it in the two weeks our library offers for digital reads, so I checked out a paper copy, still 720 pages.

* A bit confusing with so many characters

* And, as it takes place in India lot of non-English words -- in italics, but a glossary would have been nice

* Occasionally hard to follow

* An interesting, but not completely satisfying ending

* My next stop is to read was Goodreads has to say.

* According to the cover it's an "Oprah book", which doesn't mean a lot to me, just adding that tidbit

Just FYI - I read pretty much all of my books on a Kindle and get library books through Libby. If you put your Kindle in Airplane mode you can keep reading them as long as you want. Libby is great - all you need is an address and you can access multiple library's collections. The other thing I do is if I find a book that interests me but it is not available, I reserve it. Once it comes available, I'll check it out if I am close to the end of the book I am reading or I'll pass it on to the next person while holding my place in the queue if I am not close to finishing my current read.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

18/25 - The Amish Wedding Match by Hannah Schrock. Two well meaning moms play matchmaker but in the end their children choose different people to court and marry.

19/ 25 - Amish Flowers by Ruth Bawell. Amish flower shop owner and Amish furniture maker find their hea.

20/25 - Ladyfingers and Lies by Sue Hollowell
Another in the Belle Harbor Series. Tilly helps solve the murder of a local resident during the Parade of Porches garden festival.

21/25 - Catch of the Day: A Newfound Lake Cozy Mystery by Virginia K. Bennett. Local librarian and Police Chief solve the murder of local resident.

22/25 - Much Ado About Muffin: The Mysteries of Cozy Cove by Virginia Bennett. Another book in series. Local baker and assistant help solve murder of local resident.

23/25 - The Sweet Smell of Murder by Cindy Bell. Divorced granddaughter returns to grandma’s home and they help solve local residents murder. Lots of chocolate involved.

 

[cayennews]

#25 Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry. I'd been wanting to read this book for a while. It was hard to get through. He was so addicted to drugs and alcohol; I never realized the extent. He had a very sad, turbulent life. He was optimistic at the end of the memoir, unfortunately he did not live much longer. Hopefully he is at peace now.

 

[Beezle2]

44/75 Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch This is the second book in the Locke Lamora series. I enjoyed it well enough but the first book in the series was more fun.

45/75 Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke I loved this book and will probably add it to my permanent collection. Such wonderful characters and it was the kind of book for me that I just fell into and read all at once. Magic, curses, malevolent Fae. Awesome

46/75 Piranesi by Susanna Clarke I LOVED this one also. It's a bit of a tie into the Jonathan Strange world but is a totally different take that explored a lost world.

47/75 The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu This is book 1 in the Dandelion Dynasty series and I was warned that it is a book that mostly sets up characters and introduces the world of the next 3 books in the series. It is still interesting and I am planning to read the whole series.

 

[aboveH20]

I read the book earlier this year-I have mixed feelings about it. It's definitely way too long and I agree about all the different characters too. I checked out the large print version from my library-it was huge! Abraham Verghese's first book-Cutting for Stone was a better read in my opinion.

Goodread readers seemed to be a mix of 5 stars and those who agreed it was too long. A number said they didn’t finish the book. I might give Cutting for Stone a try, after I recover from Water!

Just FYI - I read pretty much all of my books on a Kindle and get library books through Libby. If you put your Kindle in Airplane mode you can keep reading them as long as you want. Libby is great - all you need is an address and you can access multiple library's collections. The other thing I do is if I find a book that interests me but it is not available, I reserve it. Once it comes available, I'll check it out if I am close to the end of the book I am reading or I'll pass it on to the next person while holding my place in the queue if I am not close to finishing my current read.

Good to know, thanks.