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2022 Independent Challenges > Lea's Filling in the Gaps Independent Challenge

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message 1: by Lea (last edited Dec 30, 2022 09:11AM) (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments I am collecting 100 books I want to read in the next 5 years. After 5 years, if I've read 75% of the books I put on the list 5 years before, I'll consider this a success.

I've read all the books selected 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. 2020 is also officially finished as I selected 62 books and there are 7 of them left. 2021 is also officially finished as I selected 57 books and there are 11 left. So essentially, I've read 75% of every year, but I'm still interested in these books, so I'm keeping them on the list for the moment.

For 2022, I will select 82 books, and I will try to read at least 62 of them over the next 5 years.

1 2020 Vox by Christina Dalcher

36 2022 Beaches by Iris Rainer Dart
37 2022 He Started It by Samantha Downing
39 2022 The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
48 2022 The Endless Steppe: Growing Up in Siberia by Esther Hautzig
53 2022 A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand
54 2022 The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand
55 2022 The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand
58 2022 The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
62 2022 You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes
77 2022 The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
97 2022 The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson

2 2020 An American Marriage by Tayari Jones READ 7/19/2022
3 2020 Sadie by Courtney Summers READ 7/13/2022
4 2020 Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind READ 11/8/2022
5 2020 The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro READ 7/6/2022
6 2020 The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton READ 8/26/2022
7 2020 Red Clocks by Leni Zumas READ 7/29/2022
8 2021 Tales from Watership Down by Richard Adams READ 12/30/2022
9 2021 Before and Again by Barbara Delinsky READ 9/8/2022
10 2021 Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick READ 12/5/2022
11 2021 Camino Winds by John Grisham READ 6/29/2022
12 2021 A Time for Mercy by John Grisham READ 3/21/2022
13 2021 City of Ink by Elsa Hart READ 4/7/2022
14 2021 Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer READ 6/1/2022
15 2021 The Blythes Are Quoted by L.M. Montgomery READ 8/12/2022
16 2021 Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout READ 7/27/2022
17 2021 Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne READ 3/4/2022
18 2021 Wanderers by Chuck Wendig READ 12/19/2022
19 2022 The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams READ 3/7/2022
20 2022 Postscript by Cecelia Ahern READ 3/29/2022
21 2022 The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas READ 6/16/2022
22 2022 The Rest of the Robots by Isaac Asimov READ 1/29/2022
23 2022 The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov READ 2/3/2022
24 2022 The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov READ 3/11/2022
25 2022 The Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov READ 4/29/2022
26 2022 Robots and Empire by Isaac Asimov READ 5/21/2022
27 2022 King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo READ 7/3/2022
28 2022 Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo READ 7/27/2022
29 2022 Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley READ 9/9/2022
30 2022 Farewell Summer by Ray Bradbury READ 1/21/2022
31 2022 Summer Morning, Summer Night by Ray BradburyREAD 2/23/2022
32 2022 The Switch by Sandra Brown READ 9/27/2022
33 2022 The Stranger by Albert Camus READ 2/17/2022
34 2022 Stay Close by Harlan Coben READ 1/13/2022
35 2022 The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave READ 6/30/2022
38 2022 A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler READ 1/11/2022
40 2022 Flirting with Disaster: Why Accidents Are Rarely Accidental by Marc S. Gerstein READ 11/6/2022
41 2022 No Good Men Among the Living: America, the Taliban, and the War through Afghan Eyes by Anand Gopal READ 9/8/2022
42 2022 Mr. Knightley's Diary by Amanda Grange READ 2/14/2022
43 2022 Captain Wentworth's Diary by Amanda Grange READ 3/12/2022
44 2022 Edmund Bertram's Diary by Amanda Grange READ 4/20/2022
45 2022 Colonel Brandon's Diary by Amanda Grange READ 5/9/2022
46 2022 Henry Tilney's Diary by Amanda GrangeREAD 6/17/2022
47 2022 The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green READ 4/4/2022
49 2022 Catch-22 by Joseph Heller READ 6/9/2022
50 2022 Closing Time by Joseph Heller READ 7/15/2022
51 2022 The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix READ 9/20/2022
52 2022 People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry READ 2/11/2022
56 2022 The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand READ 5/6/2022
57 2022 Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier READ 6/14/2022
59 2022 The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi READ 2/6/2022
60 2022 The Secret Keeper of Jaipur by Alka Joshi READ 2/24/2022
61 2022 Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe READ 7/25/2022
63 2022 The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney READ 1/4/2022
64 2022 Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney READ 1/27/2022
65 2022 The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney READ 2/18/2022
66 2022 Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney READ 3/22/2022
67 2022 The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney READ 4/1/2022
68 2022 Old School by Jeff Kinney READ 5/1/2022
69 2022 Double Down by Jeff Kinney READ 5/31/2022
70 2022 The Getaway by Jeff Kinney READ 6/20/2022
71 2022 The Meltdown by Jeff Kinney READ 6/30/2022
72 2022 Wrecking Ball by Jeff KinneyREAD 7/15/2022
73 2022 The Deep End by Jeff Kinney READ 7/29/2022
74 2022 Big Shot by Jeff Kinney READ 8/19/2022
75 2022 Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune READ 1/26/2022
76 2022 Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker READ 2/9/2022
78 2022 Broken by Jenny Lawson READ 1/18/2022
79 2022 A ​Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas READ 1/3/2022
80 2022 All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthyREAD 7/15/2022
81 2022 The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy READ 8/4/2022
82 2022 Cities of the Plain by Cormac McCarthy READ 9/28/2022
83 2022 Long Bright River by Liz Moore READ 5/31/2022
84 2022 Three Sisters by Heather Morris READ 11/4/2022
85 2022 Sula by Toni Morrison READ 10/6/2022
86 2022 Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins ReidREAD 3/25/2022
87 2022 The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman READ 4/11/2022
88 2022 Daughter of the Deep by Rick RiordanREAD 2/16/2022
89 2022 The Mountain Shadow by Gregory David Roberts READ 12/18/2022
90 2022 Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney READ 1/20/2022
92 2022 Sweet Sanctuary by Kim Vogel Sawyer READ 1/21/2021
91 2022 Home Before Dark by Riley Sager READ 10/23/2022
93 2022 My Soul Singsby Kim Vogel Sawyer READ 2/6/2022
94 2022 Lore Olympus: Volume One by Rachel Smythe READ 1/8/2022
95 2022 The Secret History by Donna Tartt READ 10/10/2022
96 2022 The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis READ 1/12/2022
98 2022 Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne READ 5/22/2022
99 2022 The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne READ 4/21/2022
100 2022 Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner READ 3/8/2022


message 2: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4197 comments Mod
Great start Lea.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is pretty good, pretty weird and just "out there." Just go with it. The importance of having a "pet" is so crazy; that it almost became the best part of the book. LOL


message 3: by Ioana (new)

Ioana | 2127 comments I've only read A Time for Mercy so far, but I have a few others on my TBR. Happy reading, this will be fun!


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 800 comments Good luck, I may have both of those John Grisham books


message 5: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4257 comments Mod
Great challenge, Lea. I hope you enjoy the Robot books by Isaac Asimov, it's a great series.


message 6: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Alondra wrote: "Great start Lea.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is pretty good, pretty weird and just "out there." Just go with it. The importance of having a "pet" is so crazy; that it almost became the best part of the book. LOL"


Oh, wow, now I'm totally intrigued. I can't wait to read it. :-) Did you read the other books in the "series"? I'm thinking I might not even bother with them, since they aren't written by the same author.


message 7: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Ioana wrote: "I've only read A Time for Mercy so far, but I have a few others on my TBR. Happy reading, this will be fun!"

Thanks, Ioana. I have added a few more books to my challenge after the GRC Awards came out and quickly got to my 100. Hoping I can finish out a few more books before year end. :-)


message 8: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Good luck, I may have both of those John Grisham books"

Really? Have you read them? I'm thinking about starting one of them in February/March after the hustle and bustle of January ends for me. (I work in accounting, year end is always busy.)


message 9: by Lea (last edited Dec 15, 2021 09:09AM) (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Bill wrote: "Great challenge, Lea. I hope you enjoy the Robot books by Isaac Asimov, it's a great series."

The first book wasn't at all what I was expecting, it was really interesting to have it be a series of short stories about robots. :-)


message 10: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Ann_R wrote: "Excellent challenge, Lea. You put a lot of time into planning. Have a fun year of reading."

Thanks, Ann. I'm hoping some of these will be the books I want to read this year. Hope you enjoy your books this year too. :-)


message 11: by Emily (new)

Emily (readerlover1995) | 195 comments That’s a long list, Lea, but well planned! I wish you luck on your challenge! 🐾


message 12: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments December 2021 Mid Month Report

Books Read: 8 books so far this month, 150 books year to date

Books from Filling in the Gaps: 81/100; 2017 Books 6/6!!!, 2018 Books 5/5!!! 2019 Books 8/8!!!!, 2020 Books 16/24, and 2021 Books 46/57

Books from 12+4 Challenge: 16/16!!!!!

Recently Finished:

From the Desk of Zoe Washington - This is another middle grade book. It's about a girl getting to know her father who is in prison, wrongfully convicted. It was well done. 4 STARS

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse - This book quickly stole my heart and became one of my favorites. It's a picture book/graphic novel and it is like reading a warm hug. I read it to my parents the day I got it and got 5 copies to give to others for the holidays. 5 STARS

No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram - My favorite social media is Instagram, but it's mainly for me, to remind myself of the beauty I see everyday. I am not there to promote anything or to compare myself to others, but I can see how social media has really impacted the youth of today. I really enjoyed this book also. 4.5 STARS

Rocket Girl: The Story of Mary Sherman Morgan, America's First Female Rocket Scientist - I grew up in this area, and heard about George Morgan's struggle getting his mom's obituary written in the Los Angeles Times. (It wasn't allowed, they couldn't prove his claims.) The play and this subsequent book is his love letter to his mother - a very talented woman who avoided the spotlight. I am glad her contributions came to light, but I do wish this book had been written by another author, there were times when I felt like it was super clumsy.

Dog Days - I decided to read one Diary of a Wimpy Kid book each month in order to have 12 left starting 2022, so I can continue reading the books currently published, once per month next year and finish the series. The one thing about these books is that you know what you're getting. It was fine. 3 STARS

Sinking Sand - A Christian fiction book about nurses stationed in Hawaii right before Pearl Harbor. It was standard fare. 3 STARS

Never Let You Go - This was the last book I selected in 2019 that I hadn't read yet, I buddy read it with Alissa. I felt as though the main character and her daughter really didn't learn anything about how to protect themselves. 3 STARS

Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily - The good news is that 1) I finished a series and 2) I read a book in the right month for once. This is a holiday story, and the final book right now in the Dash and Lily series. Even if the authors write another book, I think I'm done with this series, though. The first book was so cute and fun, and these last two books just seem full of teenage angst. Not my jam. 2 STARS

Currently reading:

Children of Virtue and Vengeance - I do hope the author finishes up this series soon, but I'm not waiting anymore to read these books.

An Amish Christmas Gift - Another seasonal book that I thought I'd read, a gift from my MIL over 2 years ago. So far, it's fine.

Progress on the Whack-a-Mole Series Situation –

Series Completed this year (for the moment...):
1. Me Before You (1)
2. Ready Player One (1)
3. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1)
4. Katie Nash (1)
5. Thomas Cromwell Trilogy (1)
6. Cursebreakers (1)
7. Ruth Jefferson (1)
8. Gilead (1)
9. A Dream of Red Mansions (3)
10. Crescent City (1)
11. A Promised Land (1)
12. James Bond Original Series (4)
13. The Folk of the Air (5)
14. Hunger Games (1)
15. Cassidy Blake (1)
16. The Killing of Historical Figures (1)
17. The Hate U Give (1)
18. Girl Meets Duke (3)
19. Crazy Rich Asians (3)
20. Wonder Woman (2016) - (13), I'm not reading any future books
21. Blood and Ash (3), I'm not reading any future books
22. His Dark Materials (3)
23. The Cay (1)
24. Strange Planet (2)
25. The Wedding Date (5)
26. Amish Homestead (4)
27. Jurassic Park (2)
28. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (3)
29. Arc of the Scythe (3)
30. Lilac Girls (2)
31. Maya Angelou's Autobiography (7)

Series Started this year with Books Remaining:
1. Robot (5)
2. Greentown (2)
3. Legacy of Orisha (1)
4. Sweet Sanctuary (2)

Series That Added Books This Year with number of books I still need to read in that series:
1. Ender's Universe (5)
2. The Tattooist of Auschwitz (1)
3. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid (12)
4. Xanth (39)
5. Stephanie Plum (7)

Series That Added Books Last Year with number of books I still need to read in that series: (so you can see how I really made no progress!)
1. Jack Ryan Universe (25)
2. Cormoran Strike (3)
3. Camino Winds (1)
4. Jake Brigance (1)
5. Twilight (1)
6. Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez (5)


message 13: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Emily wrote: "That’s a long list, Lea, but well planned! I wish you luck on your challenge! 🐾"

Thank you, Emily. Here's hoping that these are the books I want to read in 2022! :-)


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 800 comments Lea wrote: "Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Good luck, I may have both of those John Grisham books"

Really? Have you read them? I'm thinking about starting one of them in February/March after the hustle and bus..."


Unfortunately not, I own A Time for Mercy, but not Camino Island


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 800 comments Sounds like December is a good month for you


message 16: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Unfortunately not, I own A Time for Mercy, but not Camino Island"

I'm most excited about A Time for Mercy, it's been a long time since I've spent any time with Jake Brigance. :-)


message 17: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Sounds like December is a good month for you"

Yes, my books have been shorter than other months, but they've been so good so far. I hope my luck continues. How about you? Are you getting a lot of reading in?


Desley (Cat fosterer) (booktigger) | 800 comments Yes, ironically I'm also excited about reading A Time for Mercy, maybe even next year! Hit and miss with reading, still got another week in work, then hoping I will do well with my two weeks off, although I do want to watch some TV/Films too


message 19: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Yes, ironically I'm also excited about reading A Time for Mercy, maybe even next year! Hit and miss with reading, still got another week in work, then hoping I will do well with my two weeks off, although I do want to watch some TV/Films too"

I hope you have a wonderful time off, I have a feeling it will go quickly. Hope you enjoy your book time and get in some TV time too!


message 20: by Ioana (new)

Ioana | 2127 comments Lea wrote: "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse - This book quickly stole my heart and became one of my favorites. It's a picture book/graphic novel and it is like reading a warm hug. I read it to my parents the day I got it and got 5 copies to give to others for the holidays. 5 STARS"

Great month so far, congrats! I had to add this to my TBR...long waiting list but that's ok.
A Time for Mercy was good, I hope you'll like it.


message 21: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Ioana wrote: "Great month so far, congrats! I had to add this to my TBR...long waiting list but that's ok.
A Time for Mercy was good, I hope you'll like it."


It was a long wait for me as well with The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse - I had forgotten I even put it on hold. If you like it even half as much as I did, you will be so happy you read it! :-)


message 22: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4257 comments Mod
You're having a great December. I'm off to a much slower start. The Instagram story sounds interesting. Good luck with your final reads of 2021.


message 23: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Bill wrote: "You're having a great December. I'm off to a much slower start. The Instagram story sounds interesting. Good luck with your final reads of 2021."

I started December with a bang and a lot of short, easier books, but now it is catching up to me. I don't think I'll finish too many more books this month, but I keep thinking that if I finish it now, I can take it off the list and add something else on. It's very motivating!! Good luck with your final reads in 2021, Bill!


message 24: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4197 comments Mod
Lea wrote: "Oh, wow, now I'm totally intrigued. I can't wait to read it. :-) Did you read the other books in the "series"? I'm thinking I might not even bother with them, since they aren't written by the same author.."

I have not; and not sure when I will. I do think I should, to see how this world fleshes out (no pun intended). LOL


message 25: by Michelle (new)

Michelle (marcher08) | 1712 comments Some great books on your list for 2022. Best of luck!


message 26: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Alondra wrote: "I have not; and not sure when I will. I do think I should, to see how this world fleshes out (no pun intended). LOL"

Oh, Alondra, how I love talking books with you. You give just enough of a hint where I want to rush out and read the book so I know what you're talking about. :-) Now I want to read about androids and electric sheep...


message 27: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Michelle wrote: "Some great books on your list for 2022. Best of luck!"

Thanks, Michelle! Hopefully I have picked ones I want to read this year. All the best to you too!


message 28: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4197 comments Mod
Lea wrote: "Oh, Alondra, how I love talking books with you. You give just enough of a hint where I want to rush out and read the book so I know what you're talking about. :-) Now I want to read about androids and electric sheep......"

One sheep, two sheep, red sheep, blue sheep.... 😂😂


message 29: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Alondra wrote: "One sheep, two sheep, red sheep, blue sheep.... 😂😂"

That's a little hypnotic. :-)


message 30: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments December 2021 Month End Report

Books Read: 13 books so far this month, 155 books year to date

Books from Filling in the Gaps: 82/100; 2017 Books 6/6!!!, 2018 Books 5/5!!! 2019 Books 8/8!!!!, 2020 Books 17/24, and 2021 Books 46/57

Books from 12+4 Challenge: 16/16!!!!!

Previously discussed:

From the Desk of Zoe Washington
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram
Rocket Girl: The Story of Mary Sherman Morgan, America's First Female Rocket Scientist
Dog Days
Sinking Sand
Never Let You Go
Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily

Recently Finished:

An Amish Christmas Gift - Another seasonal book that I thought I'd read, a gift from my MIL over 2 years ago. It was fine. 3 STARS

Children of Virtue and Vengeance - The world building was fun, and there was a lot of action. Some of my quibbles about how things worked last time were resolved, so that was good. But, I was a bit disappointed with the characters. I feel as though 90% of the problems could have been solved by communication and it gets grating to have the characters make the same mistakes over and over and over and over and over. I also think the relationships in the book aren't very well written. And, well, I was annoyed by a cliff hanger, coupled with the next book not being out, so 2 STARS it is!

Sapiens: A Graphic History, Volume 1 - The Birth of Humankind - I am the only person on the planet who didn't like Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, so it was recommended that I read the graphic novel. Maybe that would be better for me. No. It wasn't. I did not feel like that type of book is very conducive to graphic novels. My biggest complaint of the regular book was that it rehashed information that was already known, so I don't know why I listened and thought that re-reading it in graphic form would be an improvement. It was not. 2 GRUMPY STARS

The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country - I neither found this as inspirational as many have nor as offensive as many have. But I do hope we can achieve some of the positive vision that she lays out. 3 STARS

Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game - I haven't seen the movie. This was my first book by Michael Lewis. He throws a lot of data at the reader, which was a plus for me, maybe not as much for other people. It's a great story about taking advantage of an inefficiency in the market - this time the baseball market. I enjoyed it very much and hope to read more books by him. 4 STARS

Progress on the Whack-a-Mole Series Situation –

Series Completed this year (for the moment...):
1. Me Before You (1)
2. Ready Player One (1)
3. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1)
4. Katie Nash (1)
5. Thomas Cromwell Trilogy (1)
6. Cursebreakers (1)
7. Ruth Jefferson (1)
8. Gilead (1)
9. A Dream of Red Mansions (3)
10. Crescent City (1)
11. A Promised Land (1)
12. James Bond Original Series (4)
13. The Folk of the Air (5)
14. Hunger Games (1)
15. Cassidy Blake (1)
16. The Killing of Historical Figures (1)
17. The Hate U Give (1)
18. Girl Meets Duke (3)
19. Crazy Rich Asians (3)
20. Wonder Woman (2016) - (13), I'm not reading any future books
21. Blood and Ash (3), I'm not reading any future books
22. His Dark Materials (3)
23. The Cay (1)
24. Strange Planet (2)
25. The Wedding Date (5)
26. Amish Homestead (4)
27. Jurassic Park (2)
28. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (3)
29. Arc of the Scythe (3)
30. Lilac Girls (2)
31. Maya Angelou's Autobiography (7)
32. Dash and Lily (2)
33. Legacy of Orisha (2)
34. Sapiens graphic novel (1), and I'm not reading any future books

Series Started this year with Books Remaining:
1. Robot (5)
2. Greentown (2)
3. Sweet Sanctuary (2)

Series That Added Books This Year with number of books I still need to read in that series:
1. Ender's Universe (5)
2. The Tattooist of Auschwitz (1)
3. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid (12)
4. Xanth (39)
5. Stephanie Plum (7)

Series That Added Books Last Year with number of books I still need to read in that series: (so you can see how I really made no progress!)
1. Jack Ryan Universe (25)
2. Cormoran Strike (3)
3. Camino Winds (1)
4. Jake Brigance (1)
5. Twilight (1)
6. Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez (5)

Book of the Month: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Worst Book: Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily
Biggest Surprise: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse - what a great book!
Biggest accomplishment: finishing 33 series, (and starting 21 series, lest we get too excited). Finished 82 books on my 100 List, which is an all time record, and including all those books from 4 years ago that I *had* to get read or abandon. Finished 155 books, 53,035 pages read, which is my third highest number of books read since I joined Goodreads in 2008.

My five star books were:
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Jack
Steve Jobs
Outliers: The Story of Success
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Something Wicked This Way Comes
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse


message 31: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4257 comments Mod
You had a great year, Lea. And now it's almost time to start your New Year. Good luck.


message 32: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Bill wrote: "You had a great year, Lea. And now it's almost time to start your New Year. Good luck."

Thanks Bill. Hopefully, no more changes to my list, but no promises. There's still over 24 hours where I live.


message 33: by Carolien (new)

Carolien (carolien_s) | 505 comments You had such a great year, Lea! I've added so many to my TBR based on your reviews. Happy reading in 2022!


message 34: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Carolien wrote: "You had such a great year, Lea! I've added so many to my TBR based on your reviews. Happy reading in 2022!"

Likewise, Carolien. You are so good at recommending good books! I wish you all the best for 2022!


message 35: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4197 comments Mod
Lea wrote: "Children of Virtue and Vengeance - The world building was fun, and there was a lot of action. Some of my quibbles about how things worked last time were resolved, so that was good. But, I was a bit disappointed with the characters. ..."

I had a feeling that it would be a low rating. The characters are on an endless hamster wheel. Hopefully the author reads reviews and is working on her craft, instead of relying on sales as an indicator of talent.


message 36: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Alondra wrote: "I had a feeling that it would be a low rating. The characters are on an endless hamster wheel. Hopefully the author reads reviews and is working on her craft, instead of relying on sales as an indicator of talent."

From your mouth, to her ears, I hope! That is exactly what I wish I was articulate enough to say. :-)

I am interested enough to read the next one, if it doesn't end on a cliffhanger. If it does, I may just have to wait until everything is already out...I have such a hard time with those!


message 37: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4197 comments Mod
Lea wrote: "I am interested enough to read the next one, if it doesn't end on a cliffhanger. If it does, I may just have to wait until everything is already out...I have such a hard time with those ..."

I am not even interested enough to read this 2nd book. I really enjoyed the first book, and loved one of the main characters. If the author has not "matured" them, then I just don't know. In real life; they would figure it out and grow up. Yes, some folks never learn; but in books, they must or the reader skates.


message 38: by Ioana (new)

Ioana | 2127 comments I had the 1st on on my TBR at some point, but YA and fantasy and lukewarm review from you, it had to go.


message 39: by Kim. E. (new)

Kim. E. | 133 comments I don't think I realized until now going through your list of books again how many of them are in my tbr world. That's always good news for me as I see what you think.

Right now I have a copy of The Secret History by Donna Tartt in my box that I picked up from the library.


message 40: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Alondra wrote: "I am not even interested enough to read this 2nd book. I really enjoyed the first book, and loved one of the main characters. If the author has not "matured" them, then I just don't know. In real life; they would figure it out and grow up. Yes, some folks never learn; but in books, they must or the reader skates."

I both wonder and hope that is why the author is taking so long to come out with the third book. The second book came out in 2019, 2022 is a longish time to wait for the third book. She does some things so well. I love the action. I love the world building. If only her characters didn't have to talk to each other, I might like it better.


message 41: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Ioana wrote: "I had the 1st on on my TBR at some point, but YA and fantasy and lukewarm review from you, it had to go."

I agree with that, Ioana. From what I know of your book preferences, this isn't a series for you to spend time on! :-)


message 42: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Kim. E. wrote: "I don't think I realized until now going through your list of books again how many of them are in my tbr world. That's always good news for me as I see what you think.

Right now I have a copy of The Secret History by Donna Tartt in my box that I picked up from the library."


That's excellent news - hopefully we can either buddy read or at least compare notes on our books. I am glad to hear you have The Secret History in your hands right now. That's a long one and I'm a little bit nervous to start it, even though I think it will be very good. Have you started it yet?


message 43: by Ioana (new)

Ioana | 2127 comments Lea wrote: "I agree with that, Ioana. From what I know of your book preferences, this isn't a series for you to spend time on! :-)"

Thanks for confirming it.


message 44: by Kim. E. (new)

Kim. E. | 133 comments Lea wrote: "Kim. E. wrote: "I don't think I realized until now going through your list of books again how many of them are in my tbr world. That's always good news for me as I see what you think.

Right now I ..."


Not yet. Trying hard to get through as much of Dorian Gray tonight and crack the spine of Good Neighborhood. PLanning to start by the weekend


message 45: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Ioana wrote: "Lea wrote: "I agree with that, Ioana. From what I know of your book preferences, this isn't a series for you to spend time on! :-)"

Thanks for confirming it."


Haha, I seriously think that is my public service. I read books so the rest of you don't have to. :-)


message 46: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3640 comments Kim. E. wrote: "Not yet. Trying hard to get through as much of Dorian Gray tonight and crack the spine of Good Neighborhood. PLanning to start by the weekend"

Dorian Gray isn't a long book; yet, it took me a bit to get it read. I hope you are enjoying your books! :-)


message 47: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments Hey Lady,

Let me know when you want to start You You (You, #1) by Caroline Kepnes


message 48: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments Oh.. When you read An American Marriage by Tayari Jones , tell me what you think


message 49: by Veronica (last edited Jan 07, 2022 07:01PM) (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments The Secret HistoryYou have some heavy books on your list.

When do you plan on reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt The Secret History?


message 50: by Kim. E. (new)

Kim. E. | 133 comments I finished the uncensored, annotated version of Dorian Gray, With all the side notes, etc, I felt like I was back in my high school Shakespeare class, but it was worth it. So much I didn't know.


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