On The Same Page discussion

Lea wrote: "I'm glad you have your initial list completed. I am on at least my Fifth Draft of my Initial List, so we'll see. It's hard to narrow down my choices, and then sometimes, I just decide to go on and read the books...it's a vicious cycle. I may keep changing my mind through December 31st also! :-) "

I made my initial list, as in picked all the books, but I know that I've already read some of them by now. Sometimes books just have that air of "read me this minute" and I'm the sucker that complies ;)

Lillie wrote: "I made my initial list, as in picked all the books, but I know that I've already read some of them by now. Sometimes books just have that air of "read me this minute" and I'm the sucker that complies ;)"

Yup, me too. I am continuously moving around books based sometimes on practical complications, like when the book is available for me to pick up at the library, and sometimes based on my moodiness as a reader. I'm struggling with some of my books at the moment.

Yup, the moodiness is a struggle for me too. This past month, I finally got the books I've been waiting for and it was a struggle to read them. Like a bad library patron, Upgrade is now 3 days overdue and there are people waiting (am returning it today). That's why when a book is a "pick me, pick me", it goes in front of the others, even if it isn't on a challenge list.

Lillie wrote: "Yup, the moodiness is a struggle for me too. This past month, I finally got the books I've been waiting for and it was a struggle to read them. Like a bad library patron, Upgrade is now 3 days overdue and there are people waiting (am returning it today). That's why when a book is a "pick me, pick me", it goes in front of the others, even if it isn't on a challenge list."

I agree, Lillie. I wish I could be the reader that reads straight through the challenge list 1-16, but it never happens like that for me.

Right now, I started reading a book, got halfway through and now I want to read something else, so I started a few more options. We'll see if that helps. I try a lot of things! :-)

Lea wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I totally get that, Lea. I keep reading the reviews from others and so many of them sound good. I am back in face-to-face book clubs beginning in September so maybe that will help in..."

So true, Lea!

September Mid Month Report

Books Read: 4 books this month and 119* year to date
*Includes loads of children's books and short stories
39,603 pages year to date

Books from Filling in the Gaps: 75/100; 2020 Books 5/7, 2021 Books 8/11, and 62/82

Books from First 12+4 Challenge: 16/16
Books from Second 12 + 4 Challenge: 7/16

Recently Finished:

American Melancholy: Poems - I keep trying to broaden my horizons and read more poetry. I usually end up really liking a few poems in an anthology and disliking/not understanding about half of them. This book was no exception. 3 STARS

No Good Men Among the Living: America, the Taliban, and the War through Afghan Eyes - This book was very interesting, a story about the War on Terror in Afghanistan from some different perspectives. I learned a lot from this book. There are no easy answers or solutions and my heart just breaks. 4 STARS

Before and Again - This is a book about a mother who is trying to get her life back together after being involved five years ago in a car crash where her small daughter died. This book was not for me. It started slow for me and then when it got going, it didn't feel authentic to me. 2 STARS

Firekeeper's Daughter - This is a YA book about a biracial high school graduate who agrees to help the FBI with an investigation and uncovers some life changing truths. It started slow for me, but I liked it a lot and would recommend it. 4 STARS

Currently reading:

Holy Bible: New International Version - I'm on target to finish this by the end of the year.

The Final Girl Support Group - I think I'd like this a lot more if I was more into the slasher films. It is holding my attention when I'm reading it, but I am also able to put it down.

The Switch - This one is quite predictable. I am less than halfway in and I already am pretty sure I know how this ends.

Frank Herbert's DUNE: The Graphic Novel, Book 1 - I started this, but didn't get too far. The problem was definitely me and not the book, so I'll keep going after a short pause.

Progress on the Whack-a-Mole Series Situation –

Series Completed this year (for the moment...):
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses (1)
2. Sweet Sanctuary (2)
3. Lunar Chronicles (1)
4. Greentown (2)
5. The Henna Artist (2)
6. Charlie Bucket (2)
7. Shadow and Bone (7)
8. P.S. I Love You (1)
9. Capitaine Nemo (2)
10. Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series (1)
11. Robot (8)
12. Twilight (1)
13. Six of Crows (2)
14. Jane Austen's Heroes (5)
15. Catch-22 (1)
16. King of Scars (2)
17. Anne of Green Gables (2)
18. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, with another book coming out in October
19. Lore Olympus (2), with another book coming out in October

Series Started This Year with Books Remaining:
1. The Border Trilogy (1)
2. The Thursday Murder Club (1)

Series Started Last Year with Books Remaining:
NONE

Series That Added Books This Year with number of books I still need to read in that series:
1. Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez (8)
2. We Were Liars (1)
3. Xanth (40)
4. Deathless (1)
5. Jake Brigance (1)
6. The Miniaturist (1)
7. Comoran Strike (4)

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. Ender's Universe (5)
2. The Tattooist of Auschwitz (1)
3. Stephanie Plum (7)
4. You (1)

Series that added books this year that I'm abandoning, until I change my mind and read them anyway:
1. Crescent City
2. The Spanish Love Deception
3. Detective Erika Foster

Lea wrote: "September Mid Month Report
Books from First 12+4 Challenge: 16/16
Books from Second 12 + 4 Challenge: 7/16"

I'm still in awe that you started a second challenge list. I've barely finished 12 from my original list. Still want to read the rest.

Lea wrote: "Series that added books this year that I'm abandoning, until I change my mind and read them anyway:
1. Crescent City
2. The Spanish Love Deception
3. Detective Erika Foster"

For some reason this caught my eye. The Spanish Love Deception series looked super cute cause I've been looking for rom-com to read between heavier books. Oh well.

Lillie wrote: "I'm still in awe that you started a second challenge list. I've barely finished 12 from my original list. Still want to read the rest."

I think it helped that I picked children's books for most of the first list. They were so much easier to complete. In year's past, I've been known to finish up my list the following year. Sometimes it just happens and we aren't in the mood.

Lillie wrote: "For some reason this caught my eye. The Spanish Love Deception series looked super cute cause I've been looking for rom-com to read between heavier books. Oh well."

I hear you, I'm in the mood for a good rom-com right now myself.
Maybe give The Spanish Love Deception a try and you can at least see if it works for you. For me, it started slow and the business parts of the novel were cringeworthy. That said, I buddy read it with Beth and Alissa. Beth liked it better than Alissa and I did; I might just have grouchy old lady syndrome. :-)

Lea wrote: "September Mid Month Report

Books Read: 4 books this month and 119* year to date
*Includes loads of children's books and short stories
39,603 pages year to date

Books from Filling in the Gaps: 75/..."

I keep looking at Dune: The Graphic Novel at my local book store but I've avoided it up to now. After reading the book, watching the movie and TV series, not sure I'm into another version of it. I think I'd have the same reaction as you.

Bill wrote: "I keep looking at Dune: The Graphic Novel at my local book store but I've avoided it up to now. After reading the book, watching the movie and TV series, not sure I'm into another version of it. I think I'd have the same reaction as you."

I completely understand. I haven't watched the movie or the TV series yet, but if the graphic novel doesn't inspire me the next time I pick it up, I might just return it to the library and be done. :-)

Great progress & I love your discussions of what you think of the books.

Martha wrote: "Great progress & I love your discussions of what you think of the books."

Thanks, Martha. I love reading your thoughts on your books too! Here's hoping we have a few more good books to read this year!

Lea wrote: "Martha wrote: "Great progress & I love your discussions of what you think of the books."

Thanks, Martha. I love reading your thoughts on your books too! Here's hoping we have a few more good books..."

I certainly hope so!

September Month End Report

Books Read: 9 books this month and 124* year to date
*Includes loads of children's books and short stories
41,116 pages year to date

Books from Filling in the Gaps: 78/100; 2020 Books 5/7, 2021 Books 8/11, and 65/82

Books from First 12+4 Challenge: 16/16
Books from Second 12 + 4 Challenge: 11/16

Previously Discussed:

American Melancholy: Poem
No Good Men Among the Living: America, the Taliban, and the War through Afghan Eyes
Before and Again
Firekeeper's Daughter

Recently Finished:

The Final Girl Support Group - If you were into the 1980s horror films, this book is a must read. I was not. I still enjoyed it and caught quite a few references, but I know I missed some also, that a true fan would catch. 3 STARS

Somebody's Daughter - I might have expected too much out of this one. It is a coming of age story, and some truly horrific things happen to the author, but she tells the story with such grace and respect for even those who have wronged her. I hope writing this was cathartic for her. But, I had a hard time relating to some of the story, and I think I expected, from the synopsis, her to talk more about her relationship with her dad, which was barely mentioned in the book. 3 STARS

The Switch - This book has been sitting on my shelf forever! It's quite farfetched and I could guess the plot twist, but I was still entertained. 2 STARS

Cities of the Plain - The ending to the Border Trilogy, sequel to All the Pretty Horses and The Crossing. I really like Cormac McCarthy's beautiful writing, but his stories are so bleak. I had been advised to read all three books in the series back to back so as not to forget things, but I'm not sure that worked very well for me in this instance, because I felt like the Billy character in The Crossing was much more playful and similar to Lacey in All the Pretty Horses than he was true to himself as a character. 3 STARS

Frank Herbert's DUNE: The Graphic Novel, Book 1 - I'm not sure that this book lends itself to being a graphic novel very easily, there are certainly a lot of words in this one. Nonetheless, the artwork is very good and once I got into the book, I kept turning the pages. It was a very slow start for me. I probably picked this up and set it aside at least 10 times. 3 STARS

Currently reading:

Holy Bible: New International Version - I'm on target to finish this by the end of the year.

Anne of Avonlea - I usually only re-read one childhood book or series a year, but after finishing this series, I wanted to go back and read the books again.

The Secret History - There has been great debate as to whether this book or The Goldfinch is better. From what I can gather, nobody likes any of the characters in The Secret History, but I didn't like anyone in The Goldfinch either (I know, I am completely heartless) and I was bored. I'm about 22% in and I'm liking this better. We'll see. It's bracing up to be a Greek tragedy and I feel like the dark academia genre is another one of those genres that, like Amish fiction and WW2, has been a bit overdone lately. I love Donna Tartt's beautiful writing, but she does love to meander.

Book of the Month: Firekeeper's Daughter - It wasn't perfect, but it was different, and I liked it very much.
Worst Book: Well, nothing was horrible...maybe Before and Again?
Biggest Surprise: Somebody's Daughter was not at all what I expected. I liked it a lot, but the story I read wasn't what I expected I'd read.
Greatest Accomplishment: I finished all the 2021 GRC Awards and I finished up the 2022 section to my individual challenge (reading 75% of the books I chose for this year). I could abandon everything and start over next year, but I'm still interested in reading more of these books, when I get to them.

Progress on the Whack-a-Mole Series Situation –

Series Completed this year (for the moment...):
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses (1)
2. Sweet Sanctuary (2)
3. Lunar Chronicles (1)
4. Greentown (2)
5. The Henna Artist (2)
6. Charlie Bucket (2)
7. Shadow and Bone (7)
8. P.S. I Love You (1)
9. Capitaine Nemo (2)
10. Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series (1)
11. Robot (8)
12. Twilight (1)
13. Six of Crows (2)
14. Jane Austen's Heroes (5)
15. Catch-22 (1)
16. King of Scars (2)
17. Anne of Green Gables (2)
18. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, with another book coming out in October
19. Lore Olympus (2), with another book coming out in October
20. The Border Trilogy (3)

Series Started This Year with Books Remaining:
1. The Thursday Murder Club (1)

Series Started Last Year with Books Remaining:
NONE

Series That Added Books This Year with number of books I still need to read in that series:
1. Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez (8)
2. We Were Liars (1)
3. Xanth (40)
4. Deathless (1)
5. Jake Brigance (1)
6. The Miniaturist (1)
7. Comoran Strike (4)

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. Ender's Universe (5)
2. The Tattooist of Auschwitz (1)
3. Stephanie Plum (7)
4. You (1)

Series that added books this year that I'm abandoning, until I change my mind and read them anyway:
1. Crescent City
2. The Spanish Love Deception
3. Detective Erika Foster

You are having an excellent year. I hope you enjoy your October selections.

Bill wrote: "You are having an excellent year. I hope you enjoy your October selections."

Thanks, Bill. Same to you. :-)

You are having a great year & as always, I'm impressed with your organization!

Well done, you're having a great year!

Patricia wrote: "You are having a great year & as always, I'm impressed with your organization!"

Thanks, Patricia! I like the way you review your books, so we've got a mutual admiration society going on. Here's to October! :-)

Carolien wrote: "Well done, you're having a great year!"

Thanks, Carolien! Same to you, you always pick up so many interesting books that I've never even heard of - so it is always so much fun to visit your thread. I love that there are so many options out there!

Lea wrote: "Book of the Month: Firekeeper's Daughter - It wasn't perfect, but it was different, and I liked it very much."

Yay! I'm glad you liked Firekeeper's Daughter. I really enjoyed it too.

Nice month of reading. Happy reading in October

Lea wrote: "September Month End Report

Books Read: 9 books this month and 124* year to date
*Includes loads of children's books and short stories
41,116 pages year to date

Books from Filling in the Gaps: 78/..."

Nice update Lea. Sorry nothing really hit the mark with 5 stars; but you made some good progress, right??

How is October holding up??

Lillie wrote: "Yay! I'm glad you liked Firekeeper's Daughter. I really enjoyed it too.

Nice month of reading. Happy reading in October"

Thanks! Happy reading to you too in October! I will be following your reviews very closely, it seems like you are reading some books that have the potential to be on my 2023 list! :-)

Alondra wrote: "Nice update Lea. Sorry nothing really hit the mark with 5 stars; but you made some good progress, right??

How is October holding up??"

It seems like I read 5 star books in bunches, so I have to say that my mood probably does factor into my book ratings a lot more than I'd like to have everyone believe. :-)

But progress is good, even though it seems like October will be slow and steady. I'm enjoying all three books I'm reading, but it's going so slow. The Secret History is super long and Sula is just so sad and Flirting with Disaster: Why Accidents Are Rarely Accidental is so technical, so I'm just taking my time and making some progress.

I can't wait to see what spooky books you're reading for October!!!

October Month End Report

Books Read: 6 books this month and 130* year to date
*Includes loads of children's books and short stories
43,202 pages year to date

Books from Filling in the Gaps: 81/100; 2020 Books 5/7, 2021 Books 8/11, and 68/82

Books from First 12+4 Challenge: 16/16
Books from Second 12 + 4 Challenge: 13/16

Recently Finished:

Sula - A heartbreaking story about two friends, united by a tragedy, but divided in their life choices. The writing is so beautiful, conveys such emotions, and makes you think about right versus wrong in new and different ways. 3 STARS

The Secret History - A group of pretentious students studying classics at a New England college behave in a way that is cult-adjacent and the impact of their actions is felt in each and every one of their lives. What lies beneath is not always pretty. 4 STARS

Starfish - This middle grade book is written in verse, so I was thinking this wasn't my thing until someone encouraged me to reconsider. It's a story about a girl that has been shamed by some members of her family, some fellow students and some strangers for her weight. I listened to the audiobook, and when spoken, the poetry didn't bother me. Most of the content of the book was very good and exposes the harsh reality that our society seems to believe that it is acceptable to comment/harass strangers about their bodies. I like the message about treating all people as fellow human beings. 4 STARS

Home Before Dark - A family bought an old home in Vermont and spent three weeks there before abandoning it and authoring a book about their supernatural experiences. Their young daughter, Maggie, a restorer of old homes, learns that she inherited the house and returns there to flip the home, and discovers that not everything in her father's book was made up. It's a good thing I don't like coffee. 3 STARS

Anne of Avonlea - A re-read. The book I turn to when I can't fall asleep. It's the second book in the Anne of Green Gables series and is about her experiences as a young teacher. 4 STARS

The Merciless Ones - This is the second book in the Deathless series, the first book was The Gilded Ones. It's a fantasy book set in Otera. What can I say without giving away the plot to the previous book? I'll just say that I enjoyed the first book more. This book wasn't paced well and there were parts that were a slog to get through. The book also ends somewhat on a cliffhanger, which is a pet peeve of mine. That said, despite all of that, the last 1/3 of the book was really good and explained some questions/concerns that I had. I am not sure if I will read the next book. It will depend on when it comes out and if I feel I have to re-read the first two. I really hate to re-read books to follow plots. 3 STARS

Currently reading:

Holy Bible: New International Version - I'm on target to finish this by the end of the year.

Anne of the Island - I usually only re-read one childhood book or series a year, but after finishing this series, I wanted to go back and read the books again.

Three Sisters - Just started.

Flirting with Disaster: Why Accidents Are Rarely Accidental - I need to get back to this book. I took a short break and that break is getting longer and longer.

Book of the Month: For me, The Secret History
Worst Book: Well, everything was good, nothing was below 3 stars...I'm going to pick The Merciless Ones just because of the cliffhanger. But, it is a really good book.
Biggest Surprise: Starfish. I had no plans to read a middle grade poetry book, but I really liked it.
Greatest Accomplishment: The Secret History was over 500 pages.

Progress on the Whack-a-Mole Series Situation –

Series Completed this year (for the moment...):
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses (1)
2. Sweet Sanctuary (2)
3. Lunar Chronicles (1)
4. Greentown (2)
5. The Henna Artist (2)
6. Charlie Bucket (2)
7. Shadow and Bone (7)
8. P.S. I Love You (1)
9. Capitaine Nemo (2)
10. Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series (1)
11. Robot (8)
12. Twilight (1)
13. Six of Crows (2)
14. Jane Austen's Heroes (5)
15. Catch-22 (1)
16. King of Scars (2)
17. Anne of Green Gables (2)
18. The Border Trilogy (3)
19. Deathless (2)

Series Started This Year with Books Remaining:
1. The Thursday Murder Club (1)

Series Started Last Year with Books Remaining:
NONE

Series That Added Books This Year with number of books I still need to read in that series:
1. Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez (8)
2. We Were Liars (1)
3. Xanth (40)
4. Jake Brigance (1)
5. The Miniaturist (1)
6. Comoran Strike (4)
7. Beartown (1)
8. It Ends with Us (1)
9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1)

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. Ender's Universe (5)
2. The Tattooist of Auschwitz (1)
3. Stephanie Plum (7)
4. You (1)

Series that added books this year that I'm abandoning, until I change my mind and read them anyway:
1. Crescent City
2. The Spanish Love Deception
3. Detective Erika Foster
4. Lore Olympus
5. Graceling
6. Saga

You are brave to do such an in-depth analysis of your series...I try not to look too closely at all of mine, haha.
I am also re-reading Anne books, read about half this year, and have the rest on my list for next year. Such comforting reads.

Lea wrote: "October Month End Report

Books Read: 6 books this month and 130* year to date
*Includes loads of children's books and short stories
43,202 pages year to date"

Some good books read this month! Love reading your end of month wrap ups because it always gives me a wider perspective especially when we disagree about books (TSH and The Merciless Ones). And you're kicking butt on your various series.

Linette wrote: "You are brave to do such an in-depth analysis of your series...I try not to look too closely at all of mine, haha.
I am also re-reading Anne books, read about half this year, and have the rest on my list for next year. Such comforting reads."

My goal this year with my series this past year has been to:

1) Finish 12 series that I started in previous years (My cheat is to read the new books that have come out this year, and then I only need to finish one book.) Progress: I need to finish one more series to make that happen, and I'm 33% of the way through the book now, so I think this will happen, unless new books come out on any of the series that I've finished.

2) Finish every series that I start in 2022 or add all the remaining books that I haven't finished on my individual challenge for 2023, so I get them read the next year. Progress; One more book to read in the Thursday Murder Club series that I started this past year. I'm likely to start a few new series in last two months of 2022 though, so to the Individual Challenge List they will go.

I feel like I made progress, but barely. And I'm going to start reading two or three longer series either at the end of this year or the beginning of next year. It just has to happen. :-)

Lillie wrote: "Some good books read this month! Love reading your end of month wrap ups because it always gives me a wider perspective especially when we disagree about books (TSH and The Merciless Ones). And you're kicking butt on your various series."

I really liked The Merciless Ones! I did. It was a good reading month. My rating average is 2.89, so it was really surprising not to have any 1 star or 2 star books in the group. I didn't read a lot of books, but I savored the ones I did read and it was a good thing. And TSH, well I think there are a few authors like Tartt that are talented with great diversity in style and content, and some of us strongly prefer one book over the other.

I really tried to focus on completing series last year, but I really want to add some series to my 2023 list. I will still try and finish a few series out, but I don't want to have such a strong focus on it next year. I need a short break. :-)

You've had a great year. Are you starting to think about next year?

Bill wrote: "You've had a great year. Are you starting to think about next year?"

Yes! I'm struggling. I've always got a rolling list going (as soon as I read a book on my Individual Challenge, I start to think about the next book that I would replace it with.) But, I always get ahead of myself by adding in a book that is part of a series...and then I look at everyone else's lists and before you know it, I have to make some tough culling choices.

Assuming I can read 10 books in November and December each, and assuming that the GRC Awards for 2022 will happen this year...and that I haven't already read any of the books and that the winners aren't series books...I have 11 extra books I have to cut out. I don't think it is possible to read more because I have two puppy squisher books planned for the end of this year...so I might even have more than 11 books to remove. I have a feeling that some hard decisions will have to be made. :-(

Lea wrote: "Bill wrote: "You've had a great year. Are you starting to think about next year?"

Yes! I'm struggling. I've always got a rolling list going (as soon as I read a book on my Individual Challenge, I ..."

As I've been looking at 2023 challenges, I've been vetting the books on my bookshelves and culling a few that I don't think I'll ever read. It's made my Little Free Library full.. lol.. But I still keep buying books.. darn it.

Lea wrote: "October Month End Report

Books Read: 6 books this month and 130* year to date
*Includes loads of children's books and short stories
43,202 pages year to date

Books from Filling in the Gaps: 81/10..."

Riley Sager books seem to have ratings all over the place. I definitely won't try to read them all. Glad you read Sula. I don't think I can say "enjoyed" it.

Bill wrote: "As I've been looking at 2023 challenges, I've been vetting the books on my bookshelves and culling a few that I don't think I'll ever read. It's made my Little Free Library full.. lol.. But I still keep buying books.. darn it."

Is it bad that I'm bummed that I can't go "shopping" out of your Little Free Library? Because I am absolutely convinced I need a bunch more books on my book shelves that I'm not reading... :-)

Alondra wrote: "Riley Sager books seem to have ratings all over the place. I definitely won't try to read them all. Glad you read Sula. I don't think I can say "enjoyed" it."

I have only read two Riley Sager books and in my opinion, Home Before Dark was much better than Final Girls. We'll see how many more of his books I read. He's definitely still on the list. :-)

I'm finding it interesting that we all rate Sula middling which is actually a very good book in its own right, but I think we unconsciously compare it to the best of Toni Morrison and then it feels less?

It's the first year since 2014 that I don't have a list yet for the next year. I'm sure it will sort itself out once I see everyone else's ideas.

Carolien wrote: "I'm finding it interesting that we all rate Sula middling which is actually a very good book in its own right, but I think we unconsciously compare it to the best of Toni Morrison and then it feels less?

It's the first year since 2014 that I don't have a list yet for the next year. I'm sure it will sort itself out once I see everyone else's ideas."

That's an interesting thought about Sula, Carolien. I am curious enough to put another book by Toni Morrison on my list next year, to see what I think. Morrison writes so beautifully, but it isn't easy reading. I wonder if somehow that gets factored in. I always find it easier to rate a book higher if I can see myself reading it again.

Lea wrote: "Bill wrote: "As I've been looking at 2023 challenges, I've been vetting the books on my bookshelves and culling a few that I don't think I'll ever read. It's made my Little Free Library full.. lol...."

Sorry you're bummed out, but it's not bad. LOL. I know I need more books but I've agreed with my wife that I'll be very good in November about buying anything. We've challenged each other.. and Challenge Accepted... Bummer.

Bill wrote: "Sorry you're bummed out, but it's not bad. LOL. I know I need more books but I've agreed with my wife that I'll be very good in November about buying anything. We've challenged each other.. and Challenge Accepted... Bummer."

Maybe you can make up for your restraint in November by indulging in December? :-) I still have birthday gift cards to use, so I know that November will be a net positive gain to my book shelves. In terms of quantity. :-)

Lea wrote: "Bill wrote: "Sorry you're bummed out, but it's not bad. LOL. I know I need more books but I've agreed with my wife that I'll be very good in November about buying anything. We've challenged each ot..."

My birthday is shortly so I'm slightly hoping that I might get a book or two

Lea wrote: " have only read two Riley Sager books and in my opinion, Home Before Dark was much better than Final Girls. We'll see how many more of his books I read. He's definitely still on the list. ..."

I have The Last Time I Lied. I found it in $1 bin. My thought was, "this is the hottest author out, this should be decent." Besides; it's only $1. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Alondra wrote: "Lea wrote: " have only read two Riley Sager books and in my opinion, Home Before Dark was much better than Final Girls. We'll see how many more of his books I read. He's definitely still on the lis..."

LTIL is my favorite Riley Sager!

Bill wrote: "My birthday is shortly so I'm slightly hoping that I might get a book or two"

It definitely doesn't count if you get it as a gift. It would be rude not to accept. Fingers crossed for you...

Alondra wrote: "I have The Last Time I Lied. I found it in $1 bin. My thought was, "this is the hottest author out, this should be decent." Besides; it's only $1. 🤷🏽‍♀️"

Wow! What a find. That one I haven't read yet, and he's still on the list. I'm keeping my eyes out for a bargain.

Alissa wrote: "LTIL is my favorite Riley Sager!"

Well, then, I definitely need to read it sometime. I'm sure I can squeeze it in somewhere when I'm in the mood! :-)

November Mid Month Report

Books Read: 6 books this month and 136* year to date
*Includes loads of children's books and short stories
45,372 pages year to date

Books from Filling in the Gaps: 84/100; 2020 Books 6/7, 2021 Books 8/11, and 2022 Books 70/82

Books from First 12+4 Challenge: 16/16
Books from Second 12 + 4 Challenge: 13/16

Recently Finished:

Three Sisters - This was billed as the conclusion to The Tattooist of Auschwitz trilogy, but it really could be a standalone book. The characters from the previous books are barely mentioned. This is based on the story of three Jewish sisters who grew up in Slovakia during WW2. Ms. Morris is not my favorite author in terms of character dialogue, but she certainly does find some really interesting stories that need to be told. 3 STARS

Flirting with Disaster: Why Accidents Are Rarely Accidental - I got this book from a friend for Christmas about 10 years ago, and I never could get into it until this time. I think the premise is a good one, that most accidents could have been foreseen and measures taken to prevent the accidents if decision makers had listened to the right people and not ignored the warning signs. I'm glad I read it, but it wasn't one of those "can't put down" type of books. 3 STARS

Anne of the Island - A re-read. An old favorite. I very much enjoyed it. 5 STARS

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer - The concept of the book was unique and fresh. I guess the title tells you that it is the story of a murderer, but if you are expecting a crime novel, you'll be in for a disappointment. It is more about this particular murderer, his reasons and his attachment to scent. It was fun to view the world through a character who possessed such a strong sense of smell. I kept wondering how books could be improved by adding in how things smelled. Back to this book, it took me awhile to hook in. I must have started this book ten times. The audiobook was good enough to keep me going. I eventually did enjoy the book, until I got to the ending. I felt like the ending was ridiculous and I am pretending it never happened. 2.5 STARS

Cloud Cuckoo Land - Unpopular opinion again. I'm sorry, I've tried. I just don't think Anthony Doerr is the right author for me. When you all were raving about All the Light We Cannot See, I was somewhat unmoved. I thought the character development was superficial and predictable and there is far better WW2 novels. I wasn't going to read this one, but then my book club selected it, and the premise of this story is great. There's a Greek story that is stolen before the fall of Constantinople in 1453 that appears again in Idaho in 2020, which has some connection to a family on a spacecraft in the future. However, I had the same problem with the character development. And the pacing was super slow. Everyone kept telling me, "Keep reading, the ending is fantastic..." but although everything did tie together in the end, I kind of felt like I wasted my time solving a puzzle, but the puzzle itself was very boring and nothing I would want to display. I didn't like it, but I gave it an extra star, because the concept of preserving books and good stewardship is completely awesome. 2 STARS

The Cocktail Waitress - This book is a hard crime novel by one of my favorite authors, James M. Cain. It was never published, because the author wasn't satisfied and there are a variety of drafts. I liked it. I could see that the author was trying to distance himself from some of his other works. It was written from the perspective of the woman, the femme fatale, which was an interesting twist. There are some things she just doesn't know. But it didn't work, and I think it is because the editor tried to cram too many scenes into the novel and those scenes didn't flow homogeneously. Because Mr. Cain is typically such a concise writer, this didn't flow with his style. I'm so glad I read it, but it isn't one I'll likely re-read. Recommended to any James M. Cain fans. 3 STARS

Currently reading:

Holy Bible: New International Version - I'm on target to finish this by the end of the year.

Anne of Windy Poplars - When I was younger, I was so annoyed that L.M. Montgomery redacted all of the love out of the love letters, but as an adult, I'm so grateful!

Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain - This won the GRC Award for Memoir & Autobiography in 2010 and is written by Portia de Rossi. So far, so good.

The Positronic Man - I found another book in the Robot series. I think this book is really a re-working of the Bicentennial Man, but it is really good. I think Asimov is the idea guy, but Silverberg has added depth to the characters, and I'm really enjoying this one. It could be my favorite.

Progress on the Whack-a-Mole Series Situation –

Series Completed this year (for the moment...):
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses (1)
2. Sweet Sanctuary (2)
3. Lunar Chronicles (1)
4. Greentown (2)
5. The Henna Artist (2)
6. Charlie Bucket (2)
7. Shadow and Bone (7)
8. P.S. I Love You (1)
9. Capitaine Nemo (2)
10. Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series (1)
11. Robot (8)
12. Twilight (1)
13. Six of Crows (2)
14. Jane Austen's Heroes (5)
15. Catch-22 (1)
16. King of Scars (2)
17. Anne of Green Gables (2)
18. The Border Trilogy (3)
19. Deathless (2)
20. The Tattooist of Auschwitz (1)

Series Started This Year with Books Remaining:
1. The Thursday Murder Club (1)

Series Started Last Year with Books Remaining:
NONE

Series That Added Books This Year with number of books I still need to read in that series:
1. Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez (8)
2. We Were Liars (1)
3. Xanth (40)
4. Jake Brigance (1)
5. The Miniaturist (1)
6. Comoran Strike (4)
7. Beartown (1)
8. It Ends with Us (1)
9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1)

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. Ender's Universe (5)
2. Stephanie Plum (7)
3. You (1)

Series that added books this year that I'm abandoning, until I change my mind and read them anyway:
1. Crescent City
2. The Spanish Love Deception
3. Detective Erika Foster
4. Lore Olympus
5. Graceling
6. Saga
7. Arc of a Scythe

You're off to an excellent start. I hope to read another Anne book in December. I was very disappointed in Perfume. I'm enjoying Asimov's Black Widowers mysteries at the moment and also watching Foundation. He had such variety. Good luck the rest of Nov.

Alissa wrote: "LTIL is my favorite Riley Sager! ..."

Okay, that makes me feel better. Thanks Alissa

Lea wrote: "November Mid Month Report

Books Read: 6 books this month and 136* year to date
*Includes loads of children's books and short stories
45,372 pages year to date

Books from Filling in the Gaps: 84/1..."

The only 4 or 5 star is a reread. Yikes. 3 Stars isn't bad, but I always want something that knocks it out the park, ya know?

..and yes, $1 bin or the freebie bin, is the bestest ever. Alissa loved it, so I should as well.

I need your energy Lea! Look at you crossing off books off of your lists. I really need to read the Anne books. Somehow I missed the series and skipped right on to Victoria Holt and Agatha Christie. My sister loved them though.