75 Books...More or Less! discussion

Okay, so this year I am doing Read Around the Year again and my good friend Joy challenged me to do that WHOLE challenge in Cozy Mysteries. Alas, I cannot [you will be amazed at what I DID get though], so we added YA to the mix [as those both seem to be my favorite genres right now] and I am now only three or four books short of the whole year. With my book club picks, it will take me to 64. I am keeping 10 or 11 in reserve as I can blow through cozies pretty quickly sometimes so it may take the number up to 75, but I am not aiming for that. I am aiming for 64 and we will see where this takes me!!

Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Happy reading hunny!

Oh my, that sounds like a challenge alright! I think I'm going to try Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge. There's a Goodreads Group as well.

Thank you Andrea!! You too!!

Elyse, you are a braver soul than I am. I tried doing the challenge last year and only got 13/24 read. And I was reading MUCH harder books than I normally read. I have kept the challenge close by and made try and finish it this year, but I looked at the new Read Harder Challenge and I just cannot do it. I almost cried looking at the list actually. LOL I did 4 challenges last year and only completed 2 [I was only 2 short of the POPSUGAR one so I am okay with that] and that was just too many.

You can do it!

Dawn Michelle wrote: "Elyse, you are a braver soul than I am. I tried doing the challenge last year and only got 13/24 read. And I was reading MUCH harder books than I normally read. I have..."

But, if you read books that were much harder than what you usually tackle and you got more than halfway through, you definitely met the spirit of the Challenge. I say, call that a success!

Thank you Stacie!!! That is an awesome way to look at it!! YAY!!

Stacie wrote: "But, if you read books that were much harder than what you usually tackle and you got more than halfway through, you definitely met the spirit of the Challenge. I say, call that a success!"

That's a GREAT way of looking at it!

1. A Separate Peace ~John Knowles
January 5 - January 27, 2017
YA
Read What You Own
Book Club Read
2017 Read Around the Year: Wk 48
2017 26 Book Reading Challenge: #18
3 Stars



A New Song [Mitford #5] ~Jan Karon
January 1 - January 5, 2017
Re-read
2017 26 Book Reading Challenge: #7
Kindle/Carnegie Library
5+ Stars



3. The Picture of Dorian Gray ~Oscar Wilde
January 6 - January 14, 2017
Facebook Literary Online Book Club: Jan/Feb Read
2017 Read 26 Books Challenge: #3
Kindle/Audible
2 Stars



4. God Is With You Every Day [365 Day Devotional] ~Max Lucado
January 1 - December 31, 2017
Devotional
Read What You Own
4 Stars




5. Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew's [Flavia #8] ~Alan Bradley
January 8 - January 20, 2017
Read What You Own
2017 Read Around the Year: Wk 14
2017 26 Book Reading Challenge: #6
2017 Cruisin' Through the Cozies: Level 3, #9a
5 Stars



6. A Year of Days with The Book of Common Prayer ~Edmond Lee Browning
January 1 - December 31, 2017
Devotional
Read What You Own
4 Stars

7. Aunt Dimity and The Buried Treasure [Aunt Dimity 21] ~Nancy Atherton
January 20 - January 29, 2019
Read What You Own
2017 Read Around the Year: Wk 3
2017 26 Book Reading Challenge: #12
2017 Cruisin' Through the Cozies Challenge: Level 1, #10
2017 Yearly Reading Plan: March
5 Stars

8. Size Matters [A Perfect Fit #1] ~Alison Bliss
January 29 - January 30, 2017
Kindle
3 Stars



9. The Cat, The Vagabond and The Victim ~Leann Sweeney
[Cats in Trouble #6]
January 30 - February 2, 2017
RWYOW
2017 Read Around the Year: Wk 47
2017 Cruisin' Through the Cozies Challenge:Level 1, #2
3 Stars



10. salt to the sea ~Ruta Sepetys
February 9 - February 24, 2017
Book Club Read
2017 Read Around the Year: Wk 1
YA
Kindle
5 Stars



11. The Escort ~Ramona Gray
January 30, 2017 [One Day Read]
3 1/2 Stars
Kindle



12. The Graveyard Book ~Neil Gaiman
February 2 - February 8, 2017
RWYOW
2017 Read Around the Year:Wk. 36
2017 26 Book Reading Challenge:#25
5 Stars



13. The Cat, The Sneak and The Secret ~Leann Sweeney
[Cats in Trouble #7]
February 2 - February 4, 2017
5 Stars
RWYOW
2017 Read Around the Year:Wk 32
2017 Cruisin' Through the Cozies Challenge:Level 3 #2b

Salt to the Seas was really good!

It was picked for our book club this month. It was already on the list of books to read this year so it worked out well. I loved Between Shades of Gray so I am sure this one won't disappoint either!!

I haven't read that one yet!

Oh you should right away!! It is such an amazing read!!

On my list! :)

14. A Skeleton in the Family [Skeleton #1] ~Leigh Perry
February 5 - February 9, 2017
2017 Cruisin' through the Cozies Challenge:Level 1, #4
2017 26 Book Reading Challenge:#15
Read What You Own
4 Stars

15. Dead to the Last Drop [Coffeehouse Mystery #15]
Cleo Coyle
February 9 - February 13, 2017
Read What You Own
2017 Read Around the Year Challenge:Wk 44
2017 Cruisin' through the Cozies Challenge:Level 2, #1
Kindle/Carnegie
4 Stars



16. Cress [The Lunar Chronicles #3] ~Marissa Meyer
February 10 - March 3, 2017
YA
2017 Read Around the Year:Wk 2
2017 26 Books Challenge:#16
Kindle/Carnegie
5 Stars
^ HOLY. FREAKING. MOSES. This book was simply amazing. I loved every second of it, even the parts I thought were going to give me a heart attack!!! This is one of the BEST YA series I have read in a very long time.



17. The Skeleton Takes a Bow [Skeleton #2] ~ Leigh Perry
February 14 - February 18, 2017
Read What You Own
2017 Cruisin' through the Cozies Challenge:Level 3, #4a



18. Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and The
The Importance of Imagination ~J.K. Rowling
February 15, 2017 [ODR]
NF/Short Story [2008 Harvard Commencement Speech]
2017 Read Around the Year Challenge:Wk. 27
2017 26 Book Challenge: #21
Kindle/Carnegie
5++ Stars

I love that Skeleton more as time goes along.

Me too. He is HILARIOUS and has provided a whole new vocabulary for me!!! ;-)

Coccyx!

Did you know Aurora Teagarden is a series of 4 movies on the Hallmark channel?! http://aurorateagarden.com/

I saw one of them; The Julius House and it was okay.
Have you read the new one that she just wrote? I WANT it now, but will wait until its in paperback. :-(

I will see if I can find them on Hulu and watch all in order; they might be better that way.

Dawn Michelle wrote: "I saw one of them; The Julius House and it was okay.
Have you read the new one that she just wrote? I WANT it now, but will wait until its in paperback. :-(

I will see if I can find them on Hulu ..."

I DVRed them, they're all on TV on 2/25! I still haven't read the books yet. lol. I do own the first 2 on audio. So many books, so little time!

They are not on Hulu. :-(
I don't have regular TV so I have to wait until I can find them somewhere to watch. I will keep looking out for them!!

I really loved these books; I just plowed through them. She is probably my favorite of all of Charlaine Harris' characters.

19. Gluten for Punishment ~Nancy J. Parra
[Baker's Treat #1]
February 19 - February 21, 2017
2017 Read Around the Year: Wk. 20
2017 Cruisin' Through The Cozies Challenge: Level 1, #1
Read What You Own
3 1/2 Stars



20. The Witches ~Roald Dahl
February 22, 2017 [ODR]
2017 26 Book Challenge: #17
2017 Yearly Reading Plan: #2
Read What You Own



21. Pretty is as Pretty Dies ~Elizabeth Spann Craig
[Myrtle Clover #1]
February 22 - February 26, 2017
2017 Read Around The Year Challenge: Wk. 31
2017 Cruisin' the the Cozies Challenge: Level 2, #2
Kindle
4 Stars

I have MASSIVE book hangover. MASSIVE. If any of you who read my updates have not read "salt to the sea" by Ruta Sepetys, I highly recommend that you go out this weekend and BUY THIS BOOK AND READ IT. Holy moley.

Dawn Michelle wrote: "I have MASSIVE book hangover. MASSIVE. If any of you who read my updates have not read "salt to the sea" by Ruta Sepetys, I highly recommend that you go out this weekend and BUY THIS BOOK AND READ ..."

Those are what I call "Wookiee books" because once you are done with them all you can do is make Wookiee noises and shove copies at passersby ;) I downloaded it from the library this morning and am flying through it. I'm going to cry, aren't I? (I know what happened to the Wilhelm Gustloff)

Cry doesn't even begin to cover it Stacie; I bawled through most of it and then almost cried today at book club talking about the book [if you have read Between Shades of Gray from the same author there is a link between the two books]. This is one of the best books I have read in a very long time. There will definitely be wookie noises in you house tonight.

Dawn Michelle wrote: "I have MASSIVE book hangover. MASSIVE. If any of you who read my updates have not read "salt to the sea" by Ruta Sepetys, I highly recommend that you go out this weekend and BUY THIS BOOK AND READ ..."

Haha yes, it's very good!

22. Where One Goes ~B.N. Toler
February 26, 2017 [ODR]
2017 26 Book Challenge: #26
Kindle/Carnegie
3 1/2 Stars



23. Snow White Red Handed ~Maia Chance
[Fairy Tale Fatal Mystery #1]
February 27 - March 4, 2017
2017 Read Around the Year Challenge: Wk. 5
2017 Cruisin' Through the Cozies Challenge: Level 1, #9
Kindle
4 Stars



24. 40 Days with Jesus: Celebrating His Presence Sarah Young
March 1 - April 16, 2017
5 Stars





25. The Snow Child ~Eowyn Ivey
March 5 - March 18, 2017
Book Club Read
2017 Read Around the Year Challenge: Wk. 42
2017 26 Book Challenge: #23
Kindle
5 Stars
^^ O M G!!! THIS book! WOW!!! I am still crying...



26. Fairest: Levana's Story ~Marissa Meyer
[The Lunar Chronicles #3.5]
March 6, 2017 [ODR]
YA
Kindle/Carnegie
4 1/2 Stars
^ I AM SO GLAD I chose to read this before reading Winter. This brings so much about Levana and why she is the way she is into light and I think it is an important book in this series. NOW I am reading to dive into Winter!!

Elyse - did you read Scarlet yet?

Agghhh no! So many books to read! I have it but now I have a couple of library e-books that I was on hold a really long time for... and I'm getting through King's Cage.

Aaaggghhhhh!!! I know that feeling!!! I waited over a month for Cress from the e-library!! And Winter is such a HUGE book that I need a quieter month that this one to tackle it.
You will enjoy Scarlet; I know that is when I fell in love with this series. But Cress truly was amazing; SUCH a great story.

Dawn Michelle wrote: "Cry doesn't even begin to cover it Stacie; I bawled through most of it and then almost cried today at book club talking about the book [if you have read Between Shades of Gray from the same author ..."

Oh my, what have you done to me?! (Lol, I just finished Salt to the Sea... (view spoiler)[ those final scenes with Emilia. Just rip my heart out, why don't you? (hide spoiler)] Thanks for the rec. I likely wouldn't have picked this up on my own and I'm glad I read it <3 )

I am so glad that you liked it Stacie!! She has two other books [one I have read and one I have not] and I just love her style of writing; it really gets you right in the feels [yeah, those scenes at the end...MAN!].

And if you haven't read The Lunar Chronicles and you like twists on old stories [re: fairy-tales], I HIGHLY recommend them. "Cress" was definitely a Wookiee book.

27. Gone with the Twins ~Kylie Logan
[League of Literary Ladies #5]
March 7 - March 8, 2017
2017 Read Around the Year: Wk. 38
2017 26 Book Challenge: #11
2017 Cruisin' through the Cozies Challenge: Level 2, #3
Read What You Own
4 1/2 Stars



28. The Chocolate Book Bandit ~JoAnna Carl
[Chocoholics #13]
March 8 - March 10, 2017
2017 Cruisin' through the Cozies Challenge: Level 2, #4
Read What You Own
4 Stars




29. Progressive Dinner Deadly ~Elisabeth Spann Craig
[Myrtle Clover #2]
March 10 - March 11, 2017
2017 Cruisin' through the Cozies Challenge: Level 2, #5
Kindle
3 1/2 Stars



30. Hazardous Duty ~Christy Barritt
[Squeaky Clean Mysteries #1]
March 11 - March 18, 2017
2017 Read Around the Year: Wk. 4
2017 Cruisin' through the Cozies Challenge: Level 3, #6a
Kindle
3 1/2 Stars



31. A Dyeing Shame ~Elisabeth Spann Craig
[Myrtle Clover #3]
March 12 - March 14, 2017
2017 Cruisin' through the Cozies Challenge: Level 2, #6
Kindle
4 Stars
^^ I started this book because the other two books I had going were so intense I needed something lighter for nighttime. And then just blew right through it and am still left with 2 intense books. Sigh.



32. The Outsiders ~S. E. Hinton
March 14 - March 19, 2017
2017 Read Around the Year Challenge: Wk. 11
2017 26 Book Challenge: #1
2017 Yearly Reading Plan: January
**I read March's category in January. :-)
Read What You Own
Re-Read [for the 50th Anniversary]
5+ Stars

33. The Shadow Land ~Elizabeth Kostova
March 19 - April 12, 2017
2017 Read Around The Year: Wk. 33
Kindle/NetGalley
5 Stars
^ O M G go go go go go and read this book. Like right now, go read it. This one will never, ever leave me.



34. The Chocolate Moose Motive ~JoAnna Carl
[Chocoholics #12]
March 19 - March 28, 2017
2017 Cruisin' through the Cozies Challenge: Level 3, #1b
Read What You Own
[I accidentally missed this one when reading this series, hence #13 being read before this one. I am a dork!]



35. Sisters ~Raina Telgemeier
March 23 - March 23, 2017 [ODR]
Graphic Novel
YA
Read What You Own
4 1/2 Stars



36. The Language of Dying ~Sarah Pinborough
March 29,2017 [ODR]
Novella
Kindle
5 Stars



37. A Quiet Life in the Country ~T.E. Kinsey
[A Lady Hardcastle Mystery #1]
March 30 - April 2, 2017
2017 Cruisin' through the Cozies Challenge:Level 1, #5
Kindle/Kindle Prime Library
4 Stars

Dawn Michelle wrote: "34. The Shadow Land ~Elizabeth Kostova
March 19 - CURRENTLY READING
NetGalley
Kindle..."

Oh I have this ARC too!

I've just started and am really enjoying it. I loved The Historian.

You should read it too Elyse; we could have a little buddy read going on!! :-)

I am finding really lovely; I will probably read The Historian soon. I love her writing style

Dawn Michelle wrote: "You should read it too Elyse; we could have a little buddy read going on!! :-)

I am finding really lovely; I will probably read The Historian soon. I love her writing style"

I will get to it soon, I promise, but I've got some library books I have to read first!

38. The Skeleton Haunts a House ~Leigh Perry
[Skeleton #3]
April 2 - April 6, 2017
2017 Cruisin' Through The Cozies Challenge: Level 3, #4b
Read What You Own
4 1/2 Stars



39. I am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up For Education and Was Shot by the Taliban ~Malala Yousafzai
April 2 - April 19, 2017
YA/Nonfiction
2017 Read Around the Year: Wk. 28
2017 26 Book Challenge: #22
2017 Yearly Reading Plan: April
Kindle
5++ Stars

Dawn Michelle wrote: "39. I am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up For Education and Was Shot by the Taliban ~Malala Yousafzai
April 2 - CURRENTLY READING
YA/Nonfiction
2017 Read Around the Year: Wk. 28
2017 26 Book Challenge: #22
Kindle..."

It's amazing.

Elyse wrote: "Dawn Michelle wrote: "39. I am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up For Education and Was Shot by the Taliban ~Malala Yousafzai
April 2 - CURRENTLY READING
YA/Nonfiction
2017 Read Around the ..."

I am LOVING it. She writes really well. I have heard her speak and she is amazing. I am in total awe of her.

40. The Chocolate Clown Corpse ~JoAnna Carl
[Chocoholics #14]
April 8 - April 11, 2017
2017 Cruisin' Through The Cozies Challenge: Level 3, #10a
Read What You Own
4 Stars



41. Trixie Belden and The Mystery of the Velvet Gown ~Kathryn Kenny
[Trixie Belden #29]
April 11 - April 12, 2017
2017 Read Around the Year: WK. 9
2017 Cruisin Through The Cozies Challenge: Level 3, #11
Read What You Own
4 Stars



42. Ivy + Bean [Bk. 1] ~Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall
April 12, 2017 [ODR]
Children's
[Bought for my niece Kora]
4 Stars



43. Nate the Great [Bk. 1] ~Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
April 12, 2017 [ODR]
Children's
[Bought for my niece Jada]
3 Stars

44. Die Like an Eagle [Meg Langslow #20] ~Donna Andrews
April 12 - April 17, 2017
2017 Read Around The Year: Wk. 7
2017 Cruisin' Through The Cozies Challenge: Level 3, #12
Kindle/Carnegie Library
4 1/2 Stars



45. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie ~Alan Bradley
[Flavia #1]
April 17 - April 21, 2017
2017 Read Around the Year: Wk. 41
2017 Cruisin' Through The Cozies Challenge: Level 3, #13
Book Club Read
Read What You Own
5 Stars



46. Brother Odd [Odd Thomas #3] ~Dean Koontz
April 18 - April 20, 2017
Kindle/Carnegie Library
5 Stars



47. Cloche and Dagger ~Jenn McKinlay
[Hat Shop Mystery #1]
April 19 - April 24, 2017
2017 Cruisin' Through The Cozies Challenge:Level 3, #14
Kindle/Carnegie
5 Stars



48. Magnus Chase and The God's of Asgard
Book 1: The Sword of Summer ~Rick Riordan
April 20 - April 30, 2017
2017 Read Around The Year: Wk. 12
Kindle/Carnegie Audiobook
5 Stars [Narrator = 1 Star]



49. The Corpse Wore Tartan ~Kaitlyn Dunnett
[Liss MacCrimmon #4]
April 20 - April 26, 2017
2017 Cruisin' Through The Cozies Challenge: Level 3, #15
Kindle/Carnegie
4 Stars



50. A Monster Calls ~Patrick Ness
April 24 - April 30, 2017
2017 Read Around The Year: Wk. 6
2017 26 Book Challenge: #9
Read What You Own
5++ Stars



51. Crewel World ~Monica Ferris
[Needlecraft Mystery #1]
April 26 - April 30, 2017
2017 Cruisin' Through The Cozies Challenge: Level 1, #3
Borrowed: Joy Walsh
2 Stars



52. Away From Her ~Alice Munro
April 29 - April 30, 2017
Short Story
Kindle/Carnegie
2 Stars



53. Caleb and Kit ~Beth Vrabel
April 30 - May 3, 2017
NetGalley ARC
Children's/YA
Kindle
4 Stars



54. Murder Most Howl [Paws & Claws #3] ~Krista Davis
April 30 - May 5, 2017
2017 Cruisin' Through The Cozies Challenge: Level 3, #16
Kindle
4 Stars

Are you re-reading Flavia?

I am - currently, just the first one. My mom wanted to re-read the series and decided to pick it for book club as no one else there had the privilege of knowing Flavia like we do. :-) So I am going to just re-read the first one and see how the rest of the year goes - there is a NEW ONE coming out in November or December I think!! SO exciting to get two in one year!!

Dawn Michelle wrote: "I am - currently, just the first one. My mom wanted to re-read the series and decided to pick it for book club as no one else there had the privilege of knowing Flavia like we do. :-) So I am going..."

Woot!!