2025 Reading Challenge discussion

It's all about that book!

This is the list I plan to read in 2015.
18/20

Fly Away
Little Lady, Big Apple***READ 6.1.15
The Little Lady Agency and the Prince
Orphan Train***READ 1.16.15
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Handmaid's Tale***READ 9.7.15
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time***READ 9.15.15
And the Mountains Echoed
The Beekeeper's Apprentice***READ 7.24.15
An Incomplete Revenge
The Kalahari Typing School for Men***READ 5.5.15
The Full Cupboard of Life
A Little Princess***READ 4.3.15
The Princess Bride***READ 2.15.15
The Incredible Journey***READ 8.13.15
The Inn at Eagle Point***READ 5.17.15
A Royal Pain***READ 3.12.15
Death Of A Gossip***READ 3.22.15
Crocodile on the Sandbank
Plum Spooky
I've Got Your Number***READ 1.12.15
And Then There Were None
Christmas in Cedar Cove: 5-B Poppy Lane\A Cedar Cove Christmas***READ 1.6.15
Big Little Lies*** READ 3.6.15
44 Scotland Street *** READ 7.17.15
Voices In Summer ***READ 9.29.15
Confessions of a Shopaholic ***READ 10.5.15

I finished my 2nd book! I've Got Your Number I loved this book! It's definitely a chic book, filled with romance, suspense and hilarity! This is my first Kinsella book and I'm trying to figure out what I can possibly read next to follow that up with. Poppy finds a cell phone in the garbage after her phone has been "nicked." The phone belongs to Sam Roxton and Poppy manages to borrow the phone for a bit because she's lost her wedding ring and needs the number so the hotel can call if the ring is found. Sam agrees if she'll forward him the business messages. The rest of the book is about the funny things Poppy does while in possession of the phone (she's just trying to help). This is truly a funny non-stop page turner. I must read more of Sophie Kinsella's books! 5/5

It's been a while since I've updated my bookshelf! I read The Princess Bride and Orphan Train. Both of these books were excellent and I highly recommend them.
I just finished Big Little Lies. This is a really good book also! The story takes place in Australia. It is about a kinder class and the very involved parents and the secrets the moms have kept. I gave this book a 5/5.

A Royal Pain is a fun British historical cozy mystery. I gave it 4/5. I really enjoy Rhys Bowen's writing. Her stories are funny, and had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Who is doing these killings? What is the deal with the Princess that the Queen wants Georgiana to entertain?

A Little Princess is a great book that I never read as a kid. Since it's on the 100 Books you must read before you die, I figured I better read it! It was a fun, uplifting story about a girl who is treated like a princess until a tragedy leaves her an orphan. Sara learns to cope with her circumstance using her marvelous imagination.

44 Scotland Street was written as a serial column to the newspaper, The Scotsman. I read that the author struggled with the need to write each addition to the column having a hanger at the end and yet not making it cheesy. I think he did a reasonably good job at this yet there is no nail biter or grabber that makes the reader turn the page in anticipation of what may happen next. The plot in this book is just so, so. I love his series the Ladies Detective Agency and I don't feel that this is up to the same standard. I did like the characters and the plot kept me only mildly interested. If you are a fan of McCall-Smith calm, feel good characters and plot this book may appeal to you.

I have never read Sherlock Holmes and didn't realize that there are authors who write books that that are continuations of the mysteries. The Beekeeper's Apprentice is about Mary Russell who is an intelligent, observant student of Holmes at first. Holmes and Mary solve a crime or two and after Mary passes the tests that Holmes gives her, she is made his apprentice. The book is well written and entertaining. I now know that there are more authors that write about Sherlock Holmes and I'll be reading at least one more. I gave this book 4/5.

The Incredible Journey is such a cute animal story and is quite different from the movie. I enjoyed the quick read and the heartwarming story.

The Handmaid's Tale is a different read than I usually choose. It is a story narrated by the "handmaid" of a high ranking commander in Gilead. Set in the future, when families, as we know them, have been broken up and pro-creation is left in the hand of a commander and the handmaids. There is a shortage of babies, no surprise there. Anyone not following the law is hanged and displayed on the wall for all to see. You'll either love the ending or you won't. I enjoyed the book and Atwood's style. I gave it a 4/5.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has very mixed reviews but it is my first introduction to autism and it was very informative in my opinion. I loved Christopher, he is making logical decisions according to the way his brain works and I gained an understanding of what parenting might entail. I think this was an excellent book 4/5.

Confessions of a Shopaholic was so funny and entertaining. I love this kind of book. It's not too deep and yet not insulting. I laughed out loud many times. Rebecca is a dissection of the person who can justify any behavior by all the excuses she makes for getting a high from shopping. I see in Rebecca some of the excuses we all make for buying what we want on a whim. I found this book to be a funny, quick read. I like Kinsella.

Lorelei wrote: "The Handmaid's Tale is a different read than I usually choose."

It's not the kind of books I typically choose either, but I loved it. I don't know why I would have avoided it. I listened to the audiobook, which helped.

How many stars did you give Confessions of a Shopaholic?