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Kate's 100 Book Challenge
First book done! And what a great book to start my year! Granted, I am a huge Disney nerd and Beauty in the Beast is definitely my favorite so I could be biased, but I loved this book!
Favorite Quote: “Against the odds, the Beast had shown her true beauty. He had shown her it was okay to feel lost and made her realize how desperately she had wanted to be found. She had learned that things were not always what they seemed, that people could surprise you. He had given her the one thing she had always longed for - something more.”
Book 2:
While I've read multiple retellings, like the one above, and Beaumont version which is much shorter, I had yet to read the original story. It was interesting to see the similarities and differences from the versions of the story that I are more familiar with. Definitely some parts that wouldn't hold up in today's society.
Favorite Quote: "Courage, Beauty; be a model of female generosity. Show thyself to be as wise as thou art charming. Do not hesitate to sacrifice thy inclination to thy duty. Thou takest the true path to happiness. Thou wilt be blest, provided thou art not misled by deceitful appearances."
Book 3:
I really liked this one! The beginning was a little slow, but I loved the character development of Alyce.
Favorite Quote: “I know what I want. A full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.”
Book 4:
This audiobook was just so sweet and I will admit to coming very close to shedding a tear a few times.
Favorite Quote: "Once upon a time the Earth was wild, but the sea was wilder. Men ruled the land, but sirens ruled the waves. Once upon a time there was a mermaid girl who was braver than all the other sirens in the ocean. She kept a song in her heart and a dagger strapped around her waist."
Book 5:
Favorite Quote: "And stuff was not what made a person interesting or exciting or worthy of respect, character did."
Book 6:
An interesting collection of short stories based on fairy tales. I liked some more than others.
Favorite Quote: “Although so young, he is also rational. He has chosen the most rational mode of transport in the world for his trip round the Carpathians. To ride a bicycle is in itself some protection against superstitious fears, since the bicycle is the product of pure reason applied to motion. Geometry at the service of man! Give me two spheres and a straight line and I will show you how far I can take them. Voltaire himself might have invented the bicycle, since it contributes so much to man's welfare and nothing at all to his bane. Beneficial to the health, it emits no harmful fumes and permits only the most decorous speeds. How can a bicycle ever be an implement of harm?”
Book 7:
While I really liked this one, it's ending is more than a bit iffy if you look at it from a modern perspective.
Favorite Quote: “May you keep what you hold in your heart safe and strong.”
Book 8:
The depth of this short novel was remarkable.
Favorite Quote: “Don't be afraid of death; be afraid of an unlived life. You don't have to live forever, you just have to live.”
Book 9:
I'm starting to see a pattern with the number of fairy tale retellings I'm reading. I loved the refences to Cinderella films and the Rogers and Hammerstein musical.
Favorite Quote: “If a man hits you once, he will hit you again. And again and again and again. Have nothing to do with such a man. Ever.”
Book 10:
A good classic Sherlock Holmes story. Enjoyable if you place it in the time it was written and not judge too harshly comments made that would not stand in modern times.
Favorite Quote: “My mind," he said, "rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession, or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world.”
Book 11:
I absolutely loved this one! I hadn't read the description for it before I started and the revelation that the main character was as young as he was blew my mind!
Favorite Quote: " You'll hear a lot of foolishness, but you'll hear wisdom, too, and you must lean not to despise any man. Even a fool can teach you not to be foolish, and there's no telling where you'll hear the thing that will help you to do a job easier, or the thing that may save your life."
Book 12:
This was an interesting book that had moments that kept me on the edge of my seat. I'm interested to see what happens next in this dark world.
Favorite Quote: “It was a time of dark dreams. They washed in like flotsam on the night tide, slipping beneath doorways and window latches, rising through the streets and hills; and the little fishing-town of Scarlock foundered deep.”
Book 13:
A cool take on the world of faeries. I'm interested to see where the story goes.
Book 14:
I am loving this series so far! It's darker than some of what I read but the plot is certainly entertaining. The humor, while not always present, helps keep the story just light enough its not overly depressing.
Favorite Quote: “You're naming your collector's-item, kick-ass sword that's made to maim and kill, specifically designed to bring your ginormous enemies to their knees and hear the lamentation of their women-Pooky Bear?"
"Yeah, you like it?”
Book 15:
This book was a reread. I still really enjoyed it and it is one of the books that got me more into learning about Arthurian Legend.
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Call It Courage (other topics)Conagher (other topics)
Race to the Altar (other topics)
The Wise Man's Fear (other topics)
All Systems Red (other topics)
More...
Progress: 100/100
Had to read some graphic novels in the last week or so to make it but I got my 100 books in!!