Reading Thread/Goals for 2025

[Kirby]

#24 - The Homestead; book 1 in the Dakota series by Linda Byler
Genre - Inspirational
An Amish family moves to North Dakota when they lose everything in the Great Depression.

 

[Wood Nymph]

26/30 - The Secret Adversary - Agatha Christie - 4/5 - introduces Tommy and Tuppence

This book was published in 1922 but written in 1919. You can see the influence that the Great War had on this story. Both Tommy and Tuppence can't find jobs after being "demobbed", the term used in the book that refers to demobilization. Tommy and Tuppence are very cute characters and this book was very enjoyable. To think that it is over 100 years old is amazing. I can see parallels to today's political climate.

 

[bobbiwoz]

44/50 Gaudi of Barcelona by L Permanyer. I needed a book about Art or an Artist for the library challenge. I very much appreciated Gaudi’s style when we went to Barcelona, so I chose him. 4/5

 

[OKW8297]

11. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. This book is magical and fantasy. But the themes are so appropriate for what our society is going through today and it was a balm for my soul.

 

[willowsnn3]

#18 Close Your Eyes by Michael Robotham
A mother and her teenage daughter are found murdered in a remote farmhouse, one defiled by multiple stab wounds and the other posed like Sleeping Beauty waiting for her Prince. Joe O'Loughlin is drawn into the investigation when a former student, trading on Joe's reputation by calling himself the "Mindhunter," jeopardizes the police inquiry by leaking details to the media and stirring up public anger.

With no shortage of suspects and tempers beginning to fray, Joe discovers a link between these murders and a series of brutal attacks where the men and women are choked unconscious and the letter "A" is carved into their foreheads. As the case becomes ever more complex, nothing is quite what it seems and soon Joe's fate, and that of those closest to him, become intertwined with a merciless, unpredictable killer.

This was ok, started slow & then gained momentum in the last few chapters.
After I finished the book, I found it was #8 in a series. I am reading another series by this author but don't think I will read anymore of this one.

 

[bobbiwoz]

45/50. “Run Rose Run” by Dolly Parton and James Paterson. Last category for the Library Challenge, needed a book with two authors. Thought this was pretty good, about a new singer with a troubled past. 4/5

 

[wvjules]

#27 - Family of Liars by E. Lockhart - The prequel to We Were Liars takes readers back to the story of another summer, another generation, and the secrets that will haunt them for decades to come. A windswept private island off the coast of Massachusetts. A hungry ocean, churning with secrets and sorrow. A fiery, addicted heiress. An irresistible, unpredictable boy. A summer of unforgivable betrayal and terrible mistakes. Welcome back to the Sinclair family. They were always liars.

I enjoyed reading the back story of some of the things that were alluded to in the series on Amazon Prime.

 

[OKW8297]

12. Rhode Island Disasters by James Ignasher . Just a short change of pace about air sea and rail disasters in my home state. Found out about events I never knew!

 

[wvjules]

#28 - Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter - More than twenty years ago, Claire and Lydia's teenaged sister Julia vanished without a trace. The two women have not spoken since, and now their lives could not be more different. Claire is the glamorous trophy wife of an Atlanta millionaire. Lydia, a single mother, dates an ex-con and struggles to make ends meet. But neither has recovered from the horror and heartbreak of their shared loss--a devastating wound that's cruelly ripped open when Claire's husband is killed.

I had to put this book down a couple times to collect myself. Now I need another light read. Thinking something by Emily Henry.

BTW - I don't think I read at all last year. I'm sure making up for it this year. I can't seem to read enough!

 

[Wood Nymph]

27/30 - The Day the World Came to Town - 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland - Jim DeFede

This is a true story about what happened when the United States closed the US airspace, forcing inbound flights to turn around or land in Canada after the terrorist attack on 9/11/2001. Gander, Newfoundland had received 28 international flights with close to 7,000 people on them. The story is full of personal stories about the people involved with helping the passengers. There was an amazing outpouring of generosity by the citizens of Gander and nearby communities.

This is a good book to read if you need to restore your faith in goodness of humanity.

My one complaint is that the edition I read could have benefitted by a lot more pictures.

 

[bobbiwoz]

27/30 - The Day the World Came to Town - 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland - Jim DeFede

This is a true story about what happened when the United States closed the US airspace, forcing inbound flights to turn around or land in Canada after the terrorist attack on 9/11/2001. Gander, Newfoundland had received 28 international flights with close to 7,000 people on them. The story is full of personal stories about the people involved with helping the passengers. There was an amazing outpouring of generosity by the citizens of Gander and nearby communities.

This is a good book to read if you need to restore your faith in goodness of humanity.

My one complaint is that the edition I read could have benefitted by a lot more pictures.

I enjoyed this book too! Wish I could see the show, but it was not something I knew about when it was on Broadway!

 

[bobbiwoz]

A couple more good ones-

#27-Beach Vibes, Susan Mallery-just an enjoyable read with well-developed characters. Usually I enjoy Mallory's books, and this didn't disappoint. 4 stars.

#29-"The Underground Library, Jennifer Ryan- once I found out that it was based on fact, that an underground library did exist during the British bombings by the Nazis, I was so impressed with the spirit, the positive attitude of the Londoners during WWII. 4 1/2 stars at least. The added fictional part was wrapped up a little too neatly, but otherwise, exceptional to learn about.

46/50“The Underground Library “ by Jennifer Ryan. I agree that it really showed the great spirit of cooperation and positivity of Londoners in WWII. I read it because of your mention here. I agree 4 1/2/5

 

[MGMmjl]

20/32 - The Last Hunt by Audrey J. Cole

Description:
"A missing body. A bloody bear trap. Is a serial killer back from the grave?

Tok, Alaska. Cameron Prescott hopes the past stays buried. After believing her murderous husband is finally dead, the fierce survivor longs to start over with her state trooper boyfriend. But her illusion of peace shatters when she hears of a fresh killing that resembles her late husband’s grisly signature. Horrified to learn the evidence points to a member of law enforcement, Cameron questions how well she knows her new man. And as the lies and bodies pile up, Cameron is convinced she's being stalked by a killer. Is trusting anyone just a path to a cold tomb?"

2nd in a series. This was another decent thriller. I enjoyed it.

 

[Wood Nymph]

28/30 - The Apprentice - by Tess Gerritsen - 3/5

This is the second book in her Rizzoli & Isles series. I read the first book and then made the mistake of reading the next book out of order. So, I knew two main things that were going to happen in this book. I won't do that again.

 

[melk]

24/30 A Month of Summer by Lisa Wingate

From Goodreads: In this moving story of separation and forgiveness, two women will unravel the betrayals of the past and discover the true meaning of family.

I enjoyed this, deals with some heavy themes of dementia, strokes, and a special needs adult but remarkably it stays positive and things get tied up nicely in the end. I’m not sure if this is considered a “Christian fiction” genre book but it was very clean, nothing objectionable at all.

 

[cayennews]

#26 Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter. Different kind of storyline for her. Lots of twists and turns.

 

[wvjules]

#29 - Beach Read - by Emily Henry - A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

This is your typical light-hearted romance. It does have a little more than that but it was pretty light. It was exactly what I needed after Pretty Girls.

Now I'm reading Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid based solely on a review by Laurie Hernandez on TicTok. I didn't even read the synopsis of the book before starting.

 

[Kirby]

#25 - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Genre - Literary Fiction

Francie Nolan, avid reader, penny candy connoisseur and adroit observer of human nature, has much to ponder in colourful, turn-of-the-century Brooklyn. She grows up with a sweet, tragic father, a severely realistic mother and an aunt who gives her love too freely--to men and a brother who will always be the favoured child. Francie learns early the meaning of hunger and the value of a penny. She is her father's child--romantic and hungry for beauty. But she is her mother's child, too--deeply practical and in constant need of truth. Like the Tree of Heaven that grows out of cement or through cellar gratings, resourceful Francie struggles against all odds to survive and thrive. Betty Smith's poignant, honest novel created a big stir when it was first published more than 50 years ago. Her frank writing about life's squalor was alarming to some of the more genteel society, but the book's humour and pathos ensured its place in the realm of classics--and in the hearts of readers, young and old.

I found this book while exploring the shelves in our local library and recognized the name. Having never read it I suggested it for this years book club list and it is this months choice. I enjoyed reading it.

 

[Lumpy1106]

12/20 Louise Penny, "The Grey Wolf", 3/5 stars
Disclaimer; this was an audiobook. I had a 7 hour solo drive so I jumped on Libby just before I left and downloaded the first "most popular" audio book that was available. It was OK. Kinda overly-long and complicated. I got about 2 hours in and thought that was a good place for the book to end but no - 12 hours still left to go. It's a whodunit that has a connection to eco-terrorism, a threat to Montreal's water system, a visit to not one, but two monasteries - it covers a lot of ground. If you are the type who likes to take notes as you read then maybe this is for you.

 

[Simba's Mom]

#29 - Beach Read - by Emily Henry - A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

This is your typical light-hearted romance. It does have a little more than that but it was pretty light. It was exactly what I needed after Pretty Girls.

Now I'm reading Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid based solely on a review by Laurie Hernandez on TicTok. I didn't even read the synopsis of the book before starting.

Good luck with "Atmosphere". I'm almost done with it, and still wrestling with whether I like it or not. "Beach Read" sounds like something I need sometime-now to see if my library has it.