2025 Reading Challenge discussion
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Jackie B.'s 2016 Reading Challenge: 101
63/101 books
2016 Reading Statistics
Total Books Read: 63
Genre/Type
Advice/How-To:
Biography/Memoir: 7
Classics: 1
Chick Lit: 2
Children/Early Grade: 1
Comic/Graphic Novel: 13
Coming of Age: 2
Cooking:
Crime Fiction: 1
Dystopian Lit: 3
Essays: 1
Fantasy: 3
Gaming Fiction:
Historical Fiction: 5
Humor:
Literary Fiction: 2
Magical Realism: 1
Middle Grade: 2
Mystery: 1
Other Nonfiction: 1
Paranormal Fiction: 5
Poetry: 1
Religion/Spirituality:
Romance:
Science Fiction: 5
Short Stories:
Steampunk Lit: 6
Length
Short (<250 pages): 27
Medium (250-500 pages): 33
Long: (501-800 pages): 3
Epic (>800 pages):
Target Audience Age
Adult: 29
Children/Early Grade: 4
Middle Grade: 10
Young Adult: 20
Author Gender
If I read multiple books from the same author, they will be posted multiple times - the total here should match the total books I've read.
Female: 30
Male: 33
New to Me or Repeat Author?
If I read multiple books from the same author, they will be posted multiple times - the total here should match the total books I've read.
New to Me: 40
Repeat: 23
Part of a Series or Standalone Book?
(Each book in a series is listed below)
Series Books: 35
Standalone: 28
Total Series: 15 (view spoiler)
From Where?
From a Friend: 5
Library: 45
Online Read:
Own: 13
Book Format
Hardback: 14
Paperback: 22
E-book: 19
Audiobook: 8
Last Updated: 5/23/16
2016 Challenges3 Challenges Completed!
Yearly Challenges
Overall Reading Challenge: 63/101 (62%)
Let's Turn Pages - 15,457/45,000 pages (34%)
From Fiction to Reality - 2/6 (33%)
Listopia Challenge - 6/30 (20%)
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge - 14/24 (58%)
Popsugar 2016 Reading Challenge - 17/40 (42%)
Mrs. Darcy's Small Yearly Challenge - 7/12 (58%)
Quarterly Challenges
Q1 - Reread the Group Reads - 5/3 (166%)
Q2 - Award Winners - 0/5 (0%)
Monthly Challenges
January: Marathon - 4019/3,500 pages (115%) COMPLETE
February: Your Reading History - 2/3 (67%)
February: Extra Day, Extra Reading - 1/1 (100%) COMPLETE
March: #ReadWomen - 5/3 (166%) COMPLETE
April: Spring Cleaning for the Soul: 3/3 (100%) COMPLETE
May: Celebrate Goodreads: The Soundtrack - 0/3 (0%)
Last updated: 5/23/16
Thanks, Zara! I can't wait to start picking out my challenges. I stalled out on a few this year, and through that process I learned a lot about my own reading style. I hope that I can use that to select better books for myself going forward.
Good luck, Jackie! I hope that 2016 is a year of choosing great books. :)
Right? I have high hopes for this year. It helps that there are so many people providing their own reviews here. I hope to take more advantage of that this year, for sure.
Good luck with your challenge. I hope you will discover many great books next year. :)
Book 1
by John ScalziRating: 4 stars
Completed 1/1/16
336 pages
Starting off the New Year with a powerful change in my typical reading. A sci-fi crime thriller. I find science fiction pretty hit-or-miss, but I never read crime thrillers. Why? Who knows. But I was addicted.
Lock In is the definition of science fiction. A fictional world where new technologies are introduced to help society with a completely possible (and in this case real) issue. Not only has Scalzi extrapolated what sort of technology will come to be to help patients who are locked in, but he also addressed self-driving cars, the ethics around continuous video feeds, and the idea of how hackers will work with technology integrated directly into a human. The latter really shook me quite a bit. Our world already has wi-fi enabled pacemakers… what if a world leader has one? Can you imagine the possibilities in a world where a quarter of the population has wi-fi accessible technology linked to their brain?
I found myself addicted to the characters and the plot, despite how easy everything seemed to come into place for Chris Shane and his partner. I also loved the subtext around gender and sex identity, as well as what it means to be human. This fast-paced crime thriller really caught my attention. No wonder Scalzi has already won a Hugo.
For more details, check out my review on my blog at Death by Tsundoku.
Categories:Books n' Booze, Crime Fiction, Prize Winning, Sci-Fi, Series
Challenges:Marathon, Let's Turn Pages
Book Club: Books n' Booze
Good Luck with your goal! I started the challenges last year and originally had my goal at 100. Almost half way through the year I had already met the challenge and changed it to 250. I ended up reading 261 but my point is that I was just reading for fun and not worrying about the challenge before I realized that I had met it. Enjoy your reading and your reach your goal before you know it!
Thanks. Maria! I hope that magically happens to me, too. I found I read a lot of Children's and Middle Grade books in 2015, so I hope to read more adult-focused literature this year. Here's hoping I truly read harder!
Jackie B. wrote: "Book 1 by John ScalziRating: 4 stars
Completed 1/1/16
336 pages
Starting off the New Year with a powerful change in my typical reading. A sci-fi crime t..."
I struggled with this one, only because I became tired of the redundant "I said...she said...he said...so and so said." It was distracting that Scalzi repetitively used the word "said" in nearly every exchange. I also enjoyed the gender and sex identity subtext, though. I loved that Chris Shane is never identified as male or female (I listened to the audiobook with a female narrator).
It will be interesting to see what he does with the sequel. The whole "lock-in" concept was both horrifying and fascinating.
Jackie B. wrote: "Thanks. Maria! I hope that magically happens to me, too. I found I read a lot of Children's and Middle Grade books in 2015, so I hope to read more adult-focused literature this year. Here's hoping ..."I read a lot of Young Adult and Romance books last year, which probably made it easier for me to read my goal. I have the same goal as you do to read more adult-focused literature this year. I should have probably changed my goal to a smaller amount, but we'll see!
Jessica wrote: "I struggled with this one, only because I became tired of the redundant "I said...she said...he said...so and so said." It was distracting that Scalzi repetitively used the word "said" in nearly every exchange."My guess is that I never noticed it since I read the book, instead of listening to it. I find that I often skim over descriptions and "said"-types when I'm really engaged in the direction the story is going. I bet that would be super annoying in audiobook format!
Maria wrote: "I should have probably changed my goal to a smaller amount, but we'll see! "I believe in you! Let me know if you find any awesome books. I also read a ton of YA, so I don't have a huge collection of adult-focused books in my TBR. Oops.
Jackie B. wrote: "Maria wrote: "I should have probably changed my goal to a smaller amount, but we'll see! "I believe in you! Let me know if you find any awesome books. I also read a ton of YA, so I don't have a h..."
Will do. Actually, now that you mention it, I am currently reading Still Alice by Lisa Genova and so far so good!
Congrats on finishing your first book in 2016!
came back to do some friendly stalking congrats on your first book
Blagica wrote: "came back to do some friendly stalking congrats on your first book"Thanks! I completely support friendly stalking. ;)
Maria wrote: "Will do. Actually, now that you mention it, I am currently reading Still Alice by Lisa Genova and so far so good! ."That has been recommended to me 5 times in 5 days. I officially need to read it. Added to my TBR!
Book 2
by Kazuo KoikeRating: 3 stars
Completed 1/2/16
228 pages
Volume 5: In which we begin to really see that Ogami Itto is a flesh and blood man.
I'm not trying to be sarcastic or condescending here. I'm serious. For 4 volumes we have watched Itto slay countless men in the name of meifunmado. Once he is hired to complete a job he completes it. We've watched him push aside human feelings in many situations to do what he has to do, and we've listened to people he's encountered and other ronin lecture him about it. But we've never seen that he is more than an assassin with a son. Well, barely.
We also get to explore more about Diagoro. While he is only three years old, he is still an integral character to this story. And, perhaps, the only one who will survive. (Just a theory. Being ronin and invested in meifunmado and all.)
As with the previous volumes, we get to see 5 vignettes in Ogami and Daigoro Itto's lives, each one granting us more insight to Itto as a father, and Daigoro as a true ronin.
Categories: Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Series
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages; Marathon
Jackie B. wrote: "Maria wrote: "Will do. Actually, now that you mention it, I am currently reading Still Alice by Lisa Genova and so far so good! ."That has been recommended to me 5 times in 5 days. I officially n..."
Oh good. Let me know what you think of it.
Hi Jackie, another friendly stalker here and I see you read "Lock In" which is also in my pile for 2016. A friend from college recommended it to me a few months ago. Hope your reading is going well!
Catherine wrote: "Hi Jackie, another friendly stalker here and I see you read "Lock In" which is also in my pile for 2016. A friend from college recommended it to me a few months ago. Hope your reading is going well!"Yay! I love friendly stalkers. Stalk away, stalk away. :)
Thuis far my reading is going really well, but my updating of Goodreads has not! oops. I've got a lot of catching up to do.
Book 3
by Mary Ann ShafferRating: 4 stars
Completed 1/5/16
274 pages
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was a book I've seen around often. It frequented TBR lists of my friends, and appeared frequently on Top Reads lists, or Most Influential Books lists, but I had never considered picking it up. Why? Who knows. I used to think it was the title-- it just confused me, and the title/cover combination did nothing to draw me. Retrospectively speaking, I think it's the fact that this book is so unique it's hard to clearly describe.
This was the first epistolary novel I have read, strangely. And it definitely took a few letters for me to get the hang of it. I am the sort of reader who "reads" the chapter titles but never absorbs them (I learned early on that this often leads to spoilers). However, when reading an epistolary book, one must pay attention who is writing to whom. Letters are not always to and from the same people. Getting used to that was an adjustment. Once I adjusted, however, my reading was unstoppable.
Guernsey was the only part of British soil occupied by Germany in World War II. The members of the GL&PPP society are all quirky and unique, sharing their stories of both the uplifting and terrifying moments of the occupation readily. It's obvious some adventures have been had. Everyone has experienced love and loss in some harsh way throughout the occupation. They share stories not only about their lives, but the lives of the citizens of the island and the German occupants. It's quickly easy to see the war was incredibly harsh on everyone, no matter their allegiance.
Relationships between characters are a weakness of mine. I love exploring those relationships and seeing them develop and grow. (This is one reason why I absolutely adore the works of Rainbow Rowell-- she does incredible work with relationships!) The relationships displayed here are no exception. Throughout the letters, we better understand the relationships each character has with the others. We get to hear people talk about the same events from different perspectives, or learn about reactions after the fact. Some of my favorite characters were even the ones who wrote the fewest letters-- hearing how others viewed and understood them was just brilliant.
I recommend this novel wholeheartedly to anyone interested in World War II, England after the war, or witty letter writing. Plus… Juliet might have just given me my new life motto:
"I am a grown woman - mostly - and I can guzzle champagne with whomever I choose."
Read more about this book on my blog, Death by Tsundoku
Categories: Historical Fiction
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Marathon
Book Club: N/A
I've had that on my TBR (and real shelf) forever! Definitely moving it up the TBR!
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is such a great book, a favourite of mine! Great review Jackie B. and good luck with your challenges
I might have to add this one also, what a great review. I enjoy epistolary novels but can't remember the last one I read. I have one in my to-read list for this year called Illuminae, although I don't think it's strictly considered epistolary -- it's set in the future and is told through e-mails and other documents. It's 600 pages long so not sure when I'm going to tackle it!
Megan wrote: "I've had that on my TBR (and real shelf) forever! Definitely moving it up the TBR!"I love it when a book review pushes something up on the TBR. :)
Kiwi wrote: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is such a great book, a favourite of mine! Great review Jackie B. and good luck with your challenges"
Thanks, Kiwi! Do you have any other favourites you'd recommend? I'm always looking for more.
Catherine wrote: "I have one in my to-read list for this year called Illuminae, although I don't think it's strictly considered epistolary -- it's set in the future and is told through e-mails and other documents. It's 600 pages long so not sure when I'm going to tackle it! "Wow! That's not a small book. But it sounds fantastic! I will definitely pick that one up. Thanks for the suggestion, Catherine!
Book 4
by Janet Evanovich and Lee GoldbergRating: 2 stars
Completed 1/7/15
295 pages
I have never read any of Janet Evanovich's works before. I will admit, there is something about the Stephanie Plum series which appeals to me. It's goofy and snarky and filled with a Bridget-Jones-Esque angst. Well, supposedly. Fluffy crime-oriented chick lit.
That was not what I found in The Heist.
There wasn't a lot about this book I particularly enjoyed, honestly. I was able to predict the whole plot (view spoiler) , the characters were stereotypical and flat, the writing was occasionally distracting, the narration was imbalanced, and the pacing was crooked.
I enjoy a good heist. Don't get me wrong. Once we got into the heisting itself (around 65% through the book) I was definitely more engaged. Lots of exposition and character introductions delayed the satisfaction of the fluff I was looking for. The characters were fairly forgettable and the plot didn't really gel for me, but I felt entertained the last quarter of the book for sure.
Read more about this book on my blog, Death by Tsundoku
Categories: Chick-Lit, Crime Fiction, Series
Challenges: Marathon, Let's Turn Pages
Let me know if you decide to read it, Jackie ... maybe we could do a buddy read. :)
Also wanted to tell you, I recently joined a book group and the group had previously read the Guernsey book and highly recommended it, so I am going to read that one ... hopefully sometime in the next few months.
Catherine wrote: "Let me know if you decide to read it, Jackie ... maybe we could do a buddy read. :)"I'd love to do a buddy read! I've actually never done one before. Plus, I reserved the book at the library so it's on the way to my hands already. :) Shall we read?
Yes, that would be great!! I'll get started on it this weekend!
Or I can wait until you actually get it from the library so we can start on the same day if you want. Sorry, I got overexcited on my last post :)
Book 5
by Gwenda BondRating: 3 stars
Completed 1/11/16
386 pages
Yup! A Romeo and Juliet circus mystery. Who could say no?
The parallels between Romeo and Juliet are perfect. The old family rivalry. The fist fight at the beginning (Poor Tybalt-- I mean, Sam!). The secrets. The children knowing they couldn't be seen with people in the other family. Forbidden love. However, I appreciate how they aren't drawn out too much. There are subtle variations which keeps us on our toes. [spoiler]For example, Sam and Dia end up together first, making two elicit relationships a part of this storyline. And when Sam ends up dying instead of Jules, well, I was disappointed but also really happy we didn't follow everything to a T.[/spoiler] Tarot cards, magic, bad luck, and circus tradition gave this story a fresh feel.
I loved reading about the performances. Remy is a trapeze artist trying for the neigh impossible quad-summersault. Jules is a wire-walker inspired by Bird Millman. Taking a page out of Bird's book, Jules learns to walk a wire between buildings. Bond does a magnificent job getting the reader to be actively afraid for the characters. The tension building made me anxious as I wondered, "Is this where Jules falls?!"
My biggest issue was with the ending. (view spoiler)
All in all, quite a delightful read. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in YA Romeo/Juliet retellings. For sure.
Read more about this book on my blog, Death by Tsundoku
Categories: Kindle First, Magical Realism, Owned, Series, Young Adult
Challenges: Marathon, Let's Turn Pages
Catherine wrote: "Or I can wait until you actually get it from the library so we can start on the same day if you want. Sorry, I got overexcited on my last post :)"I'll private message you once my book comes in and we can make a plan. Yay!
I really enjoyed reading all your reviews & even added a couple new books to my TBR shelf :) Love how you're doing your reading statistics, looking forward to seeing your progress.
Thanks, Stephanie! I appreciate the compliment. I try to keep my reviews brief enough that people will read them, but interesting enough you can make your own decision on whether to read them. I love reading your reviews, too! I'm certain we'll influence each other's reading lists this year.
Book 6
by Jesse AndrewsRating: 5 stars
Completed 1/12/16
295 pages
This book was nothing I expected it to be.
Cancer is clearly a background element to the story of Greg's developing life. This is surprising to those who expect a "cancer book". I really enjoyed reading The Fault in Our Stars, but I felt like the messages were too overt about how beautiful life/death is and explaining how a person can gain a new outlook or fall in love or whatnot just from being close to someone you know will die. In real life, people are too self-centered. Most people don't know how to interact with someone who has a terminal illness. Andrews recognizes this, and his characters are honest about how they experience Rachel's illness. We get to witness how Greg, Earl, and other recurring characters are dealing with this situation- and everyone experiences it differently.
It's powerful watching Greg grow. He talks about how he should be moved my Rachel's illness, and how he feels like he should want to hang out with her-- but he doesn't. His reaction is something many can relate to: I wish I could ignore the whole situation. However, you can't just willfully ignore a situation like that and expect it not to affect you. (view spoiler) Greg's experience with Rachel pushes him so subtly throughout that he goes from a character who didn't seem like he cared to one who was obsessed with helping a friend.
This story also strongly affected me because I listened to the audiobook. What makes his audiobook unique is that it's narrated by the actors who play these characters in the film. Thomas Mann (Greg) and RJ Cyler (Earl) already thoroughly understand these characters from their experience on set. Also, when Thomas Mann is impersonating the other characters, you can hear the actors he worked with in his voice. I felt like Greg and Earl and Rachel were all real. Acting is magic.
Go. Find this book. Read it.
Read more about this book on my blog, Death by Tsundoku
Categories: Audiobook, Coming of Age, Fiction, Young Adult/Early Reader
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Marathon
Book 7
by Kat E. EriksonRating: 4 stars
Completed 1/13/15
67 pages
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Our story follows avid pet-lover, Francie, her father, and the mutt who falls into their lives: Scrimmy. Francie had been asking for a dog for years, and with the press hovering as Francie begged her father to free Scrimmy from Animal Control's clutches, well, Dad had to give in. What follows is an eye-opening and educational story about the responsibilities of animal ownership, care, and the qualities a human must possess to truly be a successful caregiver.
What I loved most about this story was how Francie learned from so many different people in her life. Her father teaches her about how to care for the animal by ensuring he eats the right food, gets plenty of exercise, and it taken out on the regular basis. Her teacher informs the class about how dogs are pack animals and how they communicate to each other, as well as to other dogs. The principal teaches everyone how kindness, humanity, and empathy are essential to success not just with animals, but with people.
The title of this book was surprisingly clear in describing the content. There is a lot of emphasis on being pet-friendly throughout. Personally, I only thought that being "pet-friendly" meant a location where pets could be present. Now I realize there is so much more to that term.
Overall, a surprising gem. I definitely recommend this story to anyone who is introducing the idea of pet ownership to their children. There are a ton of great lessons to be learned!
Read more about this on my blog, Death by Tsundoku.
Categories: Educational, From Author, Owned, Young Adult/Early Reader
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Marathon, Mrs. Darcy's Small Yearly Challenge, Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge
Jackie B. wrote: "Thanks, Stephanie! I appreciate the compliment. I try to keep my reviews brief enough that people will read them, but interesting enough you can make ythown decision on whether to read them. I lo..."You're sweet, I don't even consider mine reviews. Years ago I used have a blog & would review, then it almost became a chore. So I stopped! I kinda shock myself that I even wrote anything about the books I've read this year.
For sure, I've already jotted some books down that I need to shelf & read from your reading list :)
you make me want to read Me and Earl just by reading your review.
Blagica wrote: "you make me want to read Me and Earl just by reading your review."The movie is really good too.
Blagica wrote: "you make me want to read Me and Earl just by reading your review."I'm so glad!! I really enjoyed it. The audiobook was great!
Stephanie wrote: "Years ago I used have a blog & would review, then it almost became a chore. So I stopped! I kinda shock myself that I even wrote anything about the books I've read this year. "You definitely don't want reading, or writing reviews, to become a chore! It's good that you recognized it and got away before it became worse than that. ;)
2025 Reading Challenge
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A Tyranny of Petticoats (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Italo Calvino (other topics)Elena Ferrante (other topics)
Cece Bell (other topics)
Jessica Spotswood (other topics)
John Berendt (other topics)
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101 is my goal!
I plan on pushing myself to read harder in 2016, so a goal of 101 seems reasonable.
Bring it on 2016... Bring it on.