2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Just signed up for my first goodreads group and my first challenge-eek.
MARATHON CHALLENGE-read 5 books in january.

UPDATE- Managed to complete the 5 books for Jan....Yay :-)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Have also started the Around the World in 52 books Challenge

Week 1. A book you meant to read in 2015, but didn't- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban- Completed 9th Jan 2016- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

"Harry Potter, along with his best friends, Ron and Hermione, is about to start his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry can't wait to get back to school after the summer holidays. (Who wouldn't if they lived with the horrible Dursleys?) But when Harry gets to Hogwarts, the atmosphere is tense. There's an escaped mass murderer on the loose, and the sinister prison guards of Azkaban have been called in to guard the school..."

I re-read this book for my first week book and its def my favourite. It's where the books start to get a bit darker but also more humorous. I also think it is the book that starts to link a lot of the sub plots together e.g. marauders map, the history of James, Sirius and Snape.

Week 2- A book set in a different continent- Fatherland by Robert Harris- Completed 13th Feb 2016 - ⭐️ ⭐️.

(also used in the challenge-times gone by- 9. Read a book takes place during the time of the Cold War until the turn of the century.
1945 to 2000)

"Fatherland is set in an alternative world where Hitler has won the Second World War. It is April 1964 and one week before Hitler's 75th birthday. Xavier March, a detective of the Kriminalpolizei, is called out to investigate the discovery of a dead body in a lake near Berlin's most prestigious suburb. As March discovers the identity of the body, he uncovers signs of a conspiracy that could go to the very top of the German Reich. And, with the Gestapo just one step behind, March, together with an American journalist, is caught up in a race to discover and reveal the truth - a truth that has already killed, a truth that could topple governments, a truth that will change history".

I had high expectations of this book which unfortunately weren't quite met.
Its easy to read (the end more than the beginning) and the premise of the background was interesting (an alternate, bleak world of a Hitler dominated Europe) and described well.
However I found the fictional characters predictable and didn't really like/relate to them. The murder/conspiracy plot felt a bit flat to me and I would have preferred an epilogue to find out the after-effects of the events described and the people involved.
I'm pleased to have read it as its been on my to read list for awhile but would not read it again.

3. A book from the Goodreads Choice Awards 2015 (winner or nominated) -Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley- Completed 14th Feb 2016- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ and a half.

"Fans of Big Fish, Peter Pan, and Roald Dahl will fall in love with Circus Mirandus, which celebrates the power of seeing magic in world.

Do you believe in magic?
Micah Tuttle does.

Even though his awful Great-Aunt Gertrudis doesn’t approve, Micah believes in the stories his dying Grandpa Ephraim tells him of the magical Circus Mirandus: the invisible tiger guarding the gates, the beautiful flying birdwoman, and the magician more powerful than any other—the Man Who Bends Light. Finally, Grandpa Ephraim offers proof. The Circus is real. And the Lightbender owes Ephraim a miracle. With his friend Jenny Mendoza in tow, Micah sets out to find the Circus and the man he believes will save his grandfather.

The only problem is, the Lightbender doesn't want to keep his promise. And now it's up to Micah to get the miracle he came for".

This is very quick, easy read (I read it on a 3 hour plane journey). It's well written, charming and in parts quite moving with some lovely descriptions.
It starts off well and caught my attention straight away but then dips a bit just before the middle of the book where I started to lose concentration. It improves again though throughout the second half.
I would give it a 3 and a half stars. I enjoyed the book but it didn't blow me away. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a sequel and would read it if there was.

4. A book by an author you discovered in 2015- Dodger by James Benmore
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

(also used in the challenge-times gone by- 6. Read a book that takes place during rise of colonization around the world.
about 1500 A.D. to 1900 A.D.)

"London, 1850s.

After five years in an Australian penal colony, the Artful Dodger returns to London in search of a hidden fortune. Unaware of the fate that befell Twist, Fagin and Sikes, Dodger revisits the criminal underworld of Dickensian London to seek out his old comrades, any of whom might possess the key to the treasure.

He finds the city a changed place from his youth: with law and order upheld by a new police force, Fagin gone to the gallows, his old gang scattered and danger around every corner".

I'm generally not a huge fan of Dickens however I did enjoy this book by James Benmore and liked the way that the fate of original Dickens characters were interwoven in a new story. It is well written with some twists and turns, some good humour and good descriptions of victorian London.
I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.

5. A book with a title beginning with the 1st letter of your name- Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

(Also used for the #readwomen challenge- Read a book new to you by an author you have previously read.
And for the -read books involving courage challenge)

"'The more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!'

Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve, and when she falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willoughby she ignores her sister Elinor's warning that her impulsive behaviour leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Meanwhile Elinor, always sensitive to social convention, is struggling to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her. Through their parallel experience of love—and its threatened loss—the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love."

So well written with great insight into British society in the 18th/19th centuries.

6. The highest rated on your TBR- Dodger of the Dials by James Benmore
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
(Also used for the extra day, extra reading challenge)

"Two years on from the events of Dodger, Jack Dawkins is back as top-sawyer with his own gang of petty thieves from Seven Dials. But crime in London has become a serious business - and when Jack needs protection he soon finds himself out of his depth and facing the gallows for murder."

Good sequel. I enjoyed this even more than the first book. Again well written with good descriptions of Victorian London with some good humour and some twists and turns in the plot.
It was good to see more of the character Oliver Twist in this book.
I look forward to the third book out later this year.

7. A book about books- The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt ⭐️

(also used for the #read women (a book about women during war) and the 'courage' challenges)

"A spellbinding novel, at once sweeping and intimate, from the Booker Prize–winning author of Possession, that spans the Victorian era through the World War I years, and centers around a famous children’s book author and the passions, betrayals, and secrets that tear apart the people she loves.

When Olive Wellwood’s oldest son discovers a runaway named Philip sketching in the basement of the new Victoria and Albert Museum—a talented working-class boy who could be a character out of one of Olive’s magical tales—she takes him into the storybook world of her family and friends.

But the joyful bacchanals Olive hosts at her rambling country house—and the separate, private books she writes for each of her seven children—conceal more treachery and darkness than Philip has ever imagined. As these lives—of adults and children alike—unfold, lies are revealed, hearts are broken, and the damaging truth about the Wellwoods slowly emerges. But their personal struggles, their hidden desires, will soon be eclipsed by far greater forces, as the tides turn across Europe and a golden era comes to an end.

Taking us from the cliff-lined shores of England to Paris, Munich, and the trenches of the Somme, The Children’s Book is a deeply affecting story of a singular family, played out against the great, rippling tides of the day. It is a masterly literary achievement by one of our most essential writers".

Its very rare that I don't finish a book once I've started it but I stopped reading this at 34% . Maybe I'll regret not finishing it at some point but at the moment it is just too long, too boring and theres so many great books out there to be read that i can't justify the time.
I thought through the title and from the description of the book that
it would be more about the individual story books of the children written by their mother however most of the story was the about the characters lives and didn't seem to have much plot to it. It is difficult to keep track or invest in the characters as theres just so many of them.
I usually love historical fiction however whole chapters are devoted to describing things such as the political climate, in fact the author seems intent on describing everything and I mean everything (clothes, meals, pottery) in complicated and very flowery writing which resulted in reading large amounts without being able to remember (or care) what it was all about as I just switched off.
I did enjoy the writing of the inserts of the children's stories however (e.g. Tom and his lost shadow) and spent the book wishing I was reading the full version of that story instead.

8. A classic book with less than 200 pages- The Starlight Barking by Dodie Smith ⭐️ ⭐️
"The Starlight Barking, Dodie's own long-forgotten sequel, is a thrilling new adventure for Pongo and his family. As the story opens, every living creature except dogs is gripped by an enchanted sleep. One of the original Dalmatian puppies, all grown up since the first novel, is now the Prime Minister's mascot. Relying on her spotted parents for guidance, she assumes emergency leadership for the canine population of England. Awaiting advice from Sirius, the Dog Star, dogs of every breed crowd Trafalgar Square to watch the evening skies. The message they receive is a disturbing proposition, one that might forever destroy their status as "man's best friend.""

I didn't find much substance to this sequel. And the plot was just strange (not good strange)

9. A book that was mentioned in another book- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

"Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy. He lives with his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and cousin Dudley, who are mean to him and make him sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. (Dudley, however, has two bedrooms, one to sleep in and one for all his toys and games.) Then Harry starts receiving mysterious letters and his life is changed forever. He is whisked away by a beetle-eyed giant of a man and enrolled at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The reason: Harry Potter is a wizard! The first book in the "Harry Potter" series makes the perfect introduction to the world of Hogwarts".

Where the magic starts!

10. A book by an author you feel you should have read by now- Attachments by Rainbow Rowell ⭐️ ⭐️ Completed 4th March 2016.

I also read this book for the february book read.

"Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.

When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.

By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.

What would he say . . . ?"

This is the first Rainbow Rowell book I've read and I had high expectations based on all the great reviews so was really looking forward to it.
Controversially however I didn't enjoy it and found it very disappointing..
The first 50% I would have given 1 star. I nearly didn’t finish the book. It was boring with an irritating overuse of word said..... Justin said, Lincoln said Dean said Chuck said.
There seemed to be no substance to plot and setting the scene took too long. It was slow paced and I didn't bond with characters.
The second 50% of the book however picked up pace and gained substance. I would have given the second half 3 stars. Perseverance is key to get to second part.
Therefore I give the book an overall 2 stars.

Your 52 week challenge looks so interesting! Do you have a link for that, I know I'm a little late for the date, but I think I would like to see it. I've been flying through books this year.

11. A book from the Rory Gilmore challenge- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling Completed 16th Jan 2016- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

"The summer holidays are dragging on and Harry Potter can't wait for the start of the school year. It is his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and there are spells to be learnt and (unluckily) Potions and Divination lessons to be attended. But Harry can't know that the atmosphere is darkening around him, and his worst enemy is preparing a fate that it seems will be inescapable ..."

Kadijah Michelle wrote: "Your 52 week challenge looks so interesting! Do you have a link for that, I know I'm a little late for the date, but I think I would like to see it. I've been flying through books this year."

Hi, Hopefully this will take you to it. I always used to read a variety of books but lately have found myself reading the same type. This challenge has made me start reading more of a variety again. I hope you enjoy it :-).

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

12. A childhood classic- Disney's 101 Dalmations: Pups at Play by Dodie Smith. ⭐️ ⭐️ -Completed 28th March 2016.

Good to read for nostalgic reasons as I remember reading it when younger and enjoying it very much. I also remember watching the movie. I think I probably prefer the movie to the book which I don't usually say.
Its a sweet story and easy to read. I would defo read it to my children but probably not for myself as an adult.

13. Reader’s Choice- Company of Liars by Karen Maitland - ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️- Completed 9th April 2016.

This book caught my attention at the very first page and kept it until about halfway through. Its got a great background set in Medieval Britain at the time of the breakout of the plague and strong, well developed characters. The quality of the writing is also great. The letdown was in the latter half of the book as each secret was revealed you'd already guessed it. The final ending of the book was weak.
I believe this was Karen Maitlands first book so I'm keen to read more of her work.

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith - ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ Completed 13 April 2016.

"After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and is living in his office.

Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: His sister, the legendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man."

I had higher expectations about this book than what it delivered perhaps unfairly based on the Harry Potter books.
Its an easy read book however I found the plot predictable.
However the main characters were very likeable and have potential so I'll give the second book a bash.

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith - ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ Completed April 13th 2016.
"Private investigator Cormoran Strike returns in a new mystery from Robert Galbraith, author of the #1 international bestseller The Cuckoo's Calling.

When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike. At first, Mrs. Quine just thinks her husband has gone off by himself for a few days—as he has done before—and she wants Strike to find him and bring him home.

But as Strike investigates, it becomes clear that there is more to Quine's disappearance than his wife realizes. The novelist has just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows. If the novel were to be published, it would ruin lives—meaning that there are a lot of people who might want him silenced.

When Quine is found brutally murdered under bizarre circumstances, it becomes a race against time to understand the motivation of a ruthless killer, a killer unlike any Strike has encountered before..."

Again an easy read book with very likeable characters. Still predictable though. I would read the next one but I probably wouldn't buy it.

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith- ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ Completed May 22nd 2016.

"Cormoran Strike is back, with his assistant Robin Ellacott, in a mystery based around soldiers returning from war.

When a mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, she is horrified to discover that it contains a woman’s severed leg.

Her boss, private detective Cormoran Strike, is less surprised but no less alarmed. There are four people from his past who he thinks could be responsible – and Strike knows that any one of them is capable of sustained and unspeakable brutality.

With the police focusing on the one suspect Strike is increasingly sure is not the perpetrator, he and Robin take matters into their own hands, and delve into the dark and twisted worlds of the other three men. But as more horrendous acts occur, time is running out for the two of them…

Career of Evil is the third in the series featuring private detective Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott. A mystery and also a story of a man and a woman at a crossroads in their personal and professional lives."

14. A book with one of the five W’s -or H in the title (Who/What/Where/When/Why/How)- What Could Possibly Go Wrong? by Jodi Taylor - ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ Completed 26th August 2016.

"Join Max in the sixth instalment in the off-the-wall bestselling Chronicles of St Mary’s series by Jodi Taylor.

Max is back! New husband, new job, and a training regime that cannot fail – to go wrong!

Take one interim Chief Training Officer, add five recruits, mix with Joan of Arc, a baby mammoth, a duplicitous Father of History, a bombed rat, Stone Age hunters, a couple of passing policemen who should have better things to do, and Dick the Turd.

Stir well, bring to the boil – and wait for the bang!"

15. A book set in the past (more than 100 years ago)- Plague Land by S.D. Sykes- ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ Completed- June 2016.

"Oswald de Lacy was never meant to be the Lord of Somerhill Manor. Despatched to a monastery at the age of seven, sent back at seventeen when his father and two older brothers are killed by the Plague, Oswald has no experience of running an estate. He finds the years of pestilence and neglect have changed the old place dramatically, not to mention the attitude of the surviving peasants.

Yet some things never change. Oswald's mother remains the powerful matriarch of the family, and his sister Clemence simmers in the background, dangerous and unmarried.

Before he can do anything, Oswald is confronted by the shocking death of a young woman, Alison Starvecrow. The ambitious village priest claims that Alison was killed by a band of demonic dog-headed men. Oswald is certain this is nonsense, but proving it by finding the real murderer is quite a different matter. Every step he takes seems to lead Oswald deeper into a dark maze of political intrigue, family secrets and violent strife.

And then the body of another girl is found."

16. A book from the top 100 mystery novels- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.
⭐️ ⭐️ Completed June 2016.

"Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch—and there's always a catch—is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson's novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don't want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo".

I thought this book was ok and was going to give it 3 stars but when I finished and started the next one in the series I found I just couldn't do it. The reason, I think, is none of the characters are likeable and on reflection the plot was boring. I was reading the book in order to finish it and not because I found it enjoyable. I'm surprised as it has such good reviews.

17. A book with a beautiful cover- A Trail Through Time by Jodi Taylor- ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️. Completed August 2016.

St Mary’s is back and is facing a battle to survive in this, the fourth instalment of the Chronicles.

Max and Leon are re-united and looking forward to a peaceful lifetime together. But, sadly, they don’t even make it to lunchtime.

The action races from 17th century London to Ancient Egypt and from Pompeii to 14th century Southwark as they’re pursued up and down the timeline, playing a perilous game of hide and seek until they’re finally forced to take refuge at St Mary’s – where new dangers await them.

As usual, there are plenty of moments of humour, but the final, desperate, Battle of St Mary’s is in grim earnest. Overwhelmed and outnumbered and with the building crashing down around them, how can St Mary’s possibly survive?

So, make sure the tea’s good and strong…

These books are lighthearted and easy to read. They are also funny and so far I'm really enjoying them. I like that they have separate stories but one main story running through them.

18. A book on a summer/beach reading list- A Second Chanceby Jodi Taylor ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ Completed June 2016.

"St Mary’s is back and nothing is going right for Max. Once again, it’s just one damned thing after another.

The action jumps from an encounter with a mirror-stealing Isaac Newton to the bloody battlefield at Agincourt. Discover how a simple fact-finding assignment to witness the ancient and murderous cheese- rolling ceremony in Gloucester can result in CBC – concussion by cheese. The long awaited jump to Bronze Age Troy ends in personal catastrophe for Max and just when it seems things couldn’t get any worse – it’s back to the Cretaceous Period again to confront an old enemy who has nothing to lose.

So, make the tea, grab the chocolate biscuits, settle back and discover exactly why the entire history department has painted itself blue …"

19. A non-fiction book-The Zhivago Affair: The Kremlin, the CIA, and the Battle Over a Forbidden Book by Peter Finn ⭐️ Completed 14th October 2016.

"Drawing on newly declassified government files, this is the dramatic story of how a forbidden book in the Soviet Union became a secret CIA weapon in the ideological battle between East and West.

In May 1956, an Italian publishing scout took a train to a village just outside Moscow to visit Russia’s greatest living poet, Boris Pasternak. He left carrying the original manuscript of Pasternak’s first and only novel, entrusted to him with these words: “This is Doctor Zhivago. May it make its way around the world.” Pasternak believed his novel was unlikely ever to be published in the Soviet Union, where the authorities regarded it as an irredeemable assault on the 1917 Revolution. But he thought it stood a chance in the West and, indeed, beginning in Italy, Doctor Zhivago was widely published in translation throughout the world.

From there the life of this extraordinary book entered the realm of the spy novel. The CIA, which recognized that the Cold War was above all an ideological battle, published a Russian-language edition of Doctor Zhivago and smuggled it into the Soviet Union. Copies were devoured in Moscow and Leningrad, sold on the black market, and passed surreptitiously from friend to friend. Pasternak’s funeral in 1960 was attended by thousands of admirers who defied their government to bid him farewell. The example he set launched the great tradition of the writer-dissident in the Soviet Union.

In The Zhivago Affair, Peter Finn and Petra Couvée bring us intimately close to this charming, passionate, and complex artist. First to obtain CIA files providing concrete proof of the agency’s involvement, the authors give us a literary thriller that takes us back to a fascinating period of the Cold War—to a time when literature had the power to stir the world".

Disappointed with this book and in fact, even though it is short (less than 300 pages), I didn't finish it. The cover promises a "dramatic" story about the Kremlin, the CIA and the battle over a forbidden book however very little is about the CIA. The story is more about the author and the reaction to the books worldwide publication.
Pasternak is portrayed as unlikeable and extremely egotistical.
I found my interest and concentration wavering and decided there are so many good books to read that I'd give up on this one.

20. A book with a first name in the title- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. Completed 22nd Jan 2016. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

"Harry Potter is due to start his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His best friends Ron and Hermione have been very secretive all summer and he is desperate to get back to school and find out what has been going on. However, what Harry discovers is far more devastating than he could ever have expected...

Suspense, secrets and thrilling action from the pen of J.K. Rowling ensure an electrifying adventure that is impossible to put down."

Yay finished The A to Z Challenge: Character Edition 26/26 :-)

A-Alison Starvecrow from Plague Land
B- John Bristow from The Cuckoo's Calling
C- Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmations
D- Dumbledore from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
E- Elinor Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility
F- Dirch Frode from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
G-Hermione Granger from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
H- Hagrid from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
I- Imogen Fludd from The Children's Book
J-Jack Dawkins from Dodger
K- Kalinda Black from Just One Damned Thing After Another
L-Lincoln O'Neill from Attachments
M-Missus from Starlight Barking
N-Nasuada from Eldest
O- Oliver Twist Dodger of the Dials
P- Harry Potter from Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone #1
Q-Owen Quine from The Silkworm
R- Robin Ellacott from Career of Evil
S- Severus Snape Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
T-Thomas Tulley from The Butcher Bird
U-Urgals from Eragon
V- Voldemort from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
W- Ron Weasley from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
X- Xavier March from Fatherland
Y- Yuri Zhivago from The Zhivago Affair: The Kremlin, the CIA, and the Battle Over a Forbidden Book
Z- Zophiel from Company of Liars

21. A book from the Goodreads Recommendations page-Inheritance by Christopher Paolini Completed 5th Ocotber 2016. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ .

"Not so very long ago, Eragon — Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider — was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chance.

The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?"

Long book, bit too long but overall I enjoyed it.

22. The first book in a new to you series-Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor Completed June 2016 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.

""History is just one damned thing after another."

Behind the seemingly innocuous façade of St Mary's, a different kind of historical research is taking place. They don't do 'time-travel' - they 'investigate major historical events in contemporary time'. Maintaining the appearance of harmless eccentrics is not always within their power - especially given their propensity for causing loud explosions when things get too quiet.

Meet the disaster-magnets of St Mary's Institute of Historical Research as they ricochet around History. Their aim is to observe and document - to try and find the answers to many of History's unanswered questions...and not to die in the process. But one wrong move and History will fight back - to the death. And, as they soon discover - it's not just History they're fighting.

Follow the catastrophe curve from 11th-century London to World War I, and from the Cretaceous Period to the destruction of the Great Library at Alexandria. For wherever Historians go, chaos is sure to follow in their wake...."

A light hearted, quick, humorous read. Will read more of the series.

23. The next book in a series you are reading- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling Completed 30th Jan 2016 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️.

"It is the middle of the summer, but there is an unseasonal mist pressing against the windowpanes. Harry Potter is waiting nervously in his bedroom at the Dursleys' house in Privet Drive for a visit from Professor Dumbledore himself. One of the last times he saw the Headmaster was in a fierce one-to-one duel with Lord Voldemort, and Harry can't quite believe that Professor Dumbledore will actually appear at the Dursleys' of all places. Why is the Professor coming to visit him now? What is it that cannot wait until Harry returns to Hogwarts in a few weeks' time? Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts has already got off to an unusual start, as the worlds of Muggle and magic start to intertwine..."

I think the Harry Potter series has spoilt me in that I compare (often unfairly) all other books/series to it and so I rarely hand out 5 stars anymore. But the HP series is fab! And this book is prob my second fave of the series

24. A "between the numbers" book of a series (0.5, 1,5, 2.5, etc.)- The Very First Damned Thing 0.5 by Jodi Taylor. Completed September 2016 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.

"Ever wondered how it all began?

It’s two years since the final victory at the Battersea Barricades. The fighting might be finished, but for Dr Bairstow, just now setting up St Mary's, the struggle is only beginning.

How will he assemble his team?

From where will his funding come?

How can he overcome the massed ranks of the Society for the Protection of Historical Buildings?

How do stolen furniture, a practical demonstration at the Stirrup Charge at Waterloo, students’ alcohol-ridden urine, a widowed urban guerrilla, a young man wearing exciting knitwear, and four naked security guards all combine to become the St Mary’s of the future?"

25. A book whose main character is in a profession that interests you- Ocean City Cover-Up by Kim Kash. Completed October 2016 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.

"Euro-trash collides with American gangsta in Maryland’s gleefully cheesy beach resort. Reporter Jamie August befriends a spoiled heiress who is being pursued by Russian mobsters—and a chart-topping rap star. Meanwhile, a raging crime spree is keeping Jamie busy—and so is a hot new boyfriend and a strict jogging and frozen custard fitness plan. Action careens from OC to Dubai, from the wild shores of Assateague to a wild-west campground. Will Jamie survive to debut her fringed leopard-print bikini?"

A quick, easy beach read. Didn't find Jamie particularly likeable in this one. Spent too much time loving her physical appearance.

26. A book everyone is talking about-Uprooted by Naomi Novik Completed 3 November 2016 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️.

"“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”

Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.

Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.

The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.

But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose."

This book so nearly got 5 stars. For just over the first 3 quarters I was completely hooked, really enjoyed it. The problem was it went on just too long. Once they got back to the tower in the final quarter my concentration and interest started to wane. Would def read more by this author.

27. A book with a beautiful title (in your own opinion)-A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor. Completed August 2016 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️.

"Book Two in the madcap time-travel series based at the St Mary's Institute of Historical Research that seems to be everyone's cup of tea.

In the second book in the Chronicles of St Mary's series, Max and the team visit Victorian London in search of Jack the Ripper, withess the murder of Archbishop Thomas a Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, and discover that dodos make a grockling noise when eating cucumber sandwiches.

But they must also confront an enemy intent on destroying St Mary's - an enemy willing, if necessary, to destroy History itself to do it."

28. A biography, autobiography, or memoir- My Family and Other Animals byGerald Durrell Completed November 7 2016 ⭐️.
"When the unconventional Durrell family can no longer endure the damp, gray English climate, they do what any sensible family would do: sell their house and relocate to the sunny Greek isle of Corfu. My Family and Other Animals was intended to embrace the natural history of the island but ended up as a delightful account of Durrell’s family’s experiences, from the many eccentric hangers-on to the ceaseless procession of puppies, toads, scorpions, geckoes, ladybugs, glowworms, octopuses, bats, and butterflies into their home."

I'm beginning to think theres something I missing or something misplaced in my idea of a good book. This had such good reviews (loads of them) but I just couldn't finish it. It just didn't capture my attention and didn't sustain my interest with the long descriptions and passages about the fauna of Corfu.
Maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to enjoy it........

29. A book by an author who writes under more than one name- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling Completed 4th January 2016- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ .

"The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny. But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone, or something, starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects: Harry Potter himself?"

30. A fairytale from a culture other than your own- Why the crab has no head from Fairy tales from the world http://fairytalesoftheworld.com. Completed 27th November 2016.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

31. A work of young adult fiction- The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente. Completed 28th November 2016 ⭐️

"Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday."

Not for me. Narrative is whimsical but disappointing, tedious, and boring.
I couldn't like the main character and nothing much happens in the plot. Narnia it is not.

32. A historical fiction book- City of Thieves by David Benioff. Completed Nov 2016. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ and a half.

"From the critically acclaimed author of The 25th Hour, a captivating novel about war, courage, survival — and a remarkable friendship that ripples across a lifetime.

During the Nazis’ brutal siege of Leningrad, Lev Beniov is arrested for looting and thrown into the same cell as a handsome deserter named Kolya. Instead of being executed, Lev and Kolya are given a shot at saving their own lives by complying with an outrageous directive: secure a dozen eggs for a powerful Soviet colonel to use in his daughter’s wedding cake. In a city cut off from all supplies and suffering unbelievable deprivation, Lev and Kolya embark on a hunt through the dire lawlessness of Leningrad and behind enemy lines to find the impossible."

33. The 16th book on your TBR-Ocean City Lowdown by Kim Kash Completed October 2016 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.

"Ocean City Lowdown introduces Eastern Shore Maryland reporter Jamie August, who has a talent for unearthing more than her editor wants and a weakness for Ravens jerseys and sparkly underwear. She is assigned to cover the grand opening of a big new housing development in Ocean City, Maryland. But instead of writing about wrap-around porches and rattan furnishings, she uncovers kickbacks and payoffs, blackmail and murder. Jamie's tenacity, smarts, and sheer recklessness—plus some smokin’ striptease dance moves—can get her out of some tight spots, but are they enough to save her from a psychopathic arsonist and two generations of corrupt real estate tycoons?"

34. A book about mental illness- The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filercompleted December 2016 ⭐️

"I’ll tell you what happened because it will be a good way to introduce my brother. His name’s Simon. I think you’re going to like him. I really do. But in a couple of pages he’ll be dead. And he was never the same after that.’

There are books you can’t stop reading, which keep you up all night.

There are books which let us into the hidden parts of life and make them vividly real.

There are books which, because of the sheer skill with which every word is chosen, linger in your mind for days.

The Shock of the Fall is all of these books.

The Shock of the Fall is an extraordinary portrait of one man’s descent into mental illness. It is a brave and groundbreaking novel from one of the most exciting new voices in fiction"

Meh!

36. An identity book - a book about a different culture, religion or sexual orientation Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg Completed 24th December 2016. ⭐️

"It's first the story of two women in the 1980s, of gray-headed Mrs. Threadgoode telling her life story to Evelyn, who is in the sad slump of middle age. The tale she tells is also of two women -- of the irrepressibly daredevilish tomboy Idgie and her friend Ruth, who back in the thirties ran a little place in Whistle Stop, Alabama, a Southern kind of Cafe Wobegon offering good barbecue and good coffee and all kinds of love and laughter, even an occasional murder."

Just couldn't get into this book. I don't know whether its the mood I'm in or whether its been a case of poor reading choices this year but I'm a bit disappointed by quite a few of the books I've tried this year.

37. A book that you've seen the movie of but haven't read- Eragon by Christopher Paolini Completed september 2016 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.

"One boy. One dragon. A world of adventure.
When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.

Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds.

Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands."

38. A book about an anti hero- Vicious by V.E. Schwab Completed 27 December 2016. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

"Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?"

Yay. Finally! Really enjoyed this book. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

Yea! Glad to see another Around the Year participant in the group! You made great progress!

Emily wrote: "Yea! Glad to see another Around the Year participant in the group! You made great progress!"

Thanks. Trying to squeeze a few more in. Hope they are good ones. Doing it next year too :-)

39. A previous suggestion that did not make it into the list- Brisingr by Christopher PaoliniCompleted october 2016 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

"It's been only months since Eragon first uttered "brisingr", an ancient language term for fire. Since then, he's not only learned to create magic with words — he's been challenged to his very core. Following the colossal battle against the Empires warriors on the Burning Plains, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have narrowly escaped with their lives. Still, there is more adventure at hand for the Rider and his dragon, as Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep.

First is Eragon's oath to his cousin, Roran: to help rescue Roran's beloved from King Galbatorix's clutches. But Eragon owes his loyalty to others, too. The Varden are in desperate need of his talents and strength — as are the elves and dwarves. When unrest claims the rebels and danger strikes from every corner, Eragon must make choices — choices that will take him across the Empire and beyond, choices that may lead to unimagined sacrifice.

Eragon is the greatest hope to rid the land of tyranny. Can this once simple farm boy unite the rebel forces and defeat the king?"

41. A book about a major world event (fiction or non-fiction)- Pompeii by Robert Harris completed 31st Dec 2016 ⭐️⭐️⭐️and a half.

" All along the Mediterranean coast, the Roman empire’s richest citizens are relaxing in their luxurious villas, enjoying the last days of summer. The world’s largest navy lies peacefully at anchor in Misenum. The tourists are spending their money in the seaside resorts of Baiae, Herculaneum, and Pompeii.

But the carefree lifestyle and gorgeous weather belie an impending cataclysm, and only one man is worried. The young engineer Marcus Attilius Primus has just taken charge of the Aqua Augusta, the enormous aqueduct that brings fresh water to a quarter of a million people in nine towns around the Bay of Naples. His predecessor has disappeared. Springs are failing for the first time in generations. And now there is a crisis on the Augusta’s sixty-mile main line—somewhere to the north of Pompeii, on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius.

Attilius—decent, practical, and incorruptible—promises Pliny, the famous scholar who commands the navy, that he can repair the aqueduct before the reservoir runs dry. His plan is to travel to Pompeii and put together an expedition, then head out to the place where he believes the fault lies. But Pompeii proves to be a corrupt and violent town, and Attilius soon discovers that there are powerful forces at work—both natural and man-made—threatening to destroy him."

42. A top 100 fantasy novel- Eldest by Christopher Paolini. Completed september 2016 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.

"Darkness falls ...Despair abounds ...Evil reigns ...Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in magic and swordsmanship, the vital skills of the Dragon Rider.

It is the journey of a lifetime, filled with awe-inspiring new places and people, each day a fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and Eragon isn't sure whom he can trust. Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle back home in Carvahall - one that puts Eragon in even graver danger. Will the king's dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life .

A wonderful book, full of fantasy and suspense."

42. A top 100 fantasy novel- Eldest by Christopher Paolini completed september 2016 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.

"Darkness falls ...Despair abounds ...Evil reigns ...Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in magic and swordsmanship, the vital skills of the Dragon Rider.

It is the journey of a lifetime, filled with awe-inspiring new places and people, each day a fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and Eragon isn't sure whom he can trust. Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle back home in Carvahall - one that puts Eragon in even graver danger. Will the king's dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life .

A wonderful book, full of fantasy and suspense."