2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Looking to read 2 books/mo. this year -- for a whopping 24 books!

Had to set the bar low enough as not to scare myself off (hoping too as year progresses to actually read more books than this...but we'll see...)

Currently reading my first book of this year, Set in Darkness by Ian Rankin. Have read to Location 2153 (/33%) according to my e-reader, enjoying what I have read so far.

Upon completion I plan to begin the group read, The Martian ~ and hopefully finish by the posted January 31 date. Looking forward to this one as well.

Reading objectives this year include reading a memoir, a play, a graphic novel, a YA romance, a historical mystery, a work of non fiction. Open to recommendations!

Sound like excellent goals! Good luck!

These are two recent memoirs I've added to my TBR: Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth and Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello.

For the historical mystery, do you like any particular time period or location? And what type of non-fiction do you like or want to try?

Megan wrote: "Sound like excellent goals! Good luck!"

Thank you, Megan. To you, too!

Bella wrote: "These are two recent memoirs I've added to my TBR: Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth and Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink by [author..."

Thanks for the recommendations, Bella. I'd actually started the Kim Gordon memoir last year and enjoyed what I had read, perhaps I will pick than one up again. And ~ serendipity! ~ someone recently gifted me the Elvis Costello book, so may prioritize that one based on your recommendation.

Do you enjoy musician memoirs, perhaps of a punk/post punk era? I read last year [book:Head On/Repossessed|801878] by Julian Cope and Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys. by Viv Albertine. I found both of these to be very interesting. I enjoy reading about the *before* of certain scenes and movements; the memoir Cheetah Chrome: A Dead Boy's Tale: From the Front Lines of Punk Rock by Cheetah Chrome was also good in this regard.

In terms of historical mystery, I would say the 1950s would be of interest, although I am open to any and all eras/locations.

Thanks for your input!

I have the Viv Albertine. Thanks! Forgot I had it; I added the other two books you mentioned, too. Last year or the year before, I read Get in the Van: On the Road With Black Flag by Henry Rollins. Interesting to get a backstage look at the low budget version of touring, and Rollins, of course, is a character. I think I have The Portable Henry Rollins somewhere, too...

Yes, I love memoirs. Music and celebrity memoirs from the 80's/90's or from bands I enjoy or feel nostalgic about are a weakness of mine.

It doesn't start in the 50's, but it gets there eventually- The L.A. Quartet by James Ellroy is very good. The Black Dahlia starts in 1947 and the final book, White Jazz, is in 1958.

And if you're interested in the 50's, The Fifties by David Halberstam is supposed to be quite good. It's on my to be read list.

Piet wrote: "Megan wrote: "Sound like excellent goals! Good luck!"

Thank you, Megan. To you, too!"

Thanks!

Bella wrote: "I have the Viv Albertine. Thanks! Forgot I had it; I added the other two books you mentioned, too. Last year or the year before, I read Get in the Van: On the Road With Black Flag by [..."

I will add the Ellroy and Halberstam titles to my list of books to tackle ~ thanks!

Hola. Not sure if this is where we report on the books we have read, but here is my first reading challenge book of 2016 completed: Set in Darkness by Ian Rankin.

Overall I liked this novel (--mystery, police, crime -- not sure of genre exactly; opinions on this, great brain?) It is the third of the Rebus series that I have read, out of order. This is #11 in the series, and just before the end of the year last year I had read numbers 18 & 19. Rebus is an enjoyable character; Rankin does an excellent job making not only Rebus alive for the reader, but his other characters, even those sketched in with a few strokes, have life and some memorable quality.

I plan to read other volumes in the series this year, although I likely won't add them to the reading challenge. If they happen they happen. Next up: The Martian. From Edinburgh, to Mars!

Congrats on finishing your first book in 2016! This is your corner, so you can post whatever you wish about your books here:)