75 Books...More or Less! discussion

It'll be challenging to hit 60 this year but I'll give it a try.

1. The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club, by Wanda E. Brunstetter, 4/5 stars

Welcome back, Karol!

Nice to see you Carol!!

2. She Left Me the Gun: My Mother's Life Before Me, by Emma Brockes, 2/5 stars
This was a difficult book to read on several levels. First, it describes the worst imaginable situation for children in a highly dysfunctional family; there were many things in it that just plain made me sick.

Style-wise, the book jumped around a bit as the author embarked on a journey of discovery about her mother's life before having a husband and child of her own. There were so many different people involved in the story, and so many different accounts of what happened that I had difficulty following it at times.

Still, the author's journey to understand her mother's "before" life before was engaging and illuminating in some ways.

3. The Tattered Quilt, by Wanda E. Brunstetter, 3/5 stars

Not great literature. Not even close. But the characters were likable enough that this was fun to read.

4. The Man Who Could Be King, by John Ripin Miller, 3/5 stars

5. Wash and Die, by Barbara Colley, 4/5 stars

6. Digging In, by Loretta Nyhan, 5/5 stars

7. Murder on the Celtic, by Conrad Allen, 4/5 stars

8. Who Is Jesus?, by R.C. Sproul, 4/5 stars

9. The Healing Quilt, by Wanda E. Brunstetter, 3/5 stars

10. Dusted To Death, by Barbara Colley, 4/5 stars.

This was the last book in a series, so I've finished up three series this year!

I really enjoyed the Charlotte LaRue mystery series. This last book kept things kind of open, and yet gave a satisfying end. The New Orleans setting was lots of fun - and in this last book the whole thing took place in a historic house where a Hollywood film crew was making a movie. A very enjoyable read overall.

11. The Centurion's Wife, by Davis Bunn, 3/5 stars

12. The Monk Who Vanished, by Peter Tremayne, 4/5 stars

13. Just Look Up, by Courtney Walsh, 4/5 stars

14. Beneath a Scarlet Sky, by Mark T. Sullivan, 4/5 stars

15. Catch a Falling Star, by Beth K. Vogt, 4/5 stars

16. When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances, by Carol Kent, 4/5 stars

17. Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters.

It's entirely impossible for me to give this book a star rating. I recognize that it was well-written, suspenseful, and most likely unforgettable. The author paints a mood with words as strongly and well as just about anyone. However, I personally do not care for stories where all the characters are manipulative, unprincipled, abusive, and deranged. This is what I found in this novel, so I honestly didn't enjoy it.

18. Devil's Claw, by J.A. Jance, 5/5 stars.

I just love this series. I actually started with "Damage Control" and "Fire and Ice", which were # 13 and #14 in the series. I liked them so much that I went back to the beginning of the series. It is taking me a long time to actually catch up, with a lot of interruptions and long gaps between. But every time I pick up a Joanna Brady mystery series book, I feel as if I am reconnecting with an old friend.

19. The Slippery Slope, by Lemony Snicket, 4/5 stars

# 10 in the series . . . 3 to go. I have been chipping away at this series since 2009 with long gaps in between. I read the first 5 in the series from 2009-2010, then the next 4 between 2014 - 2015. I decided it is time this year to finish up the series! I find myself laughing out loud so many times at the author's quips. This series is utterly preposterous, full of witty cynicism, and a total escape from reality.

Karol wrote: "19. The Slippery Slope, by Lemony Snicket, 4/5 stars

# 10 in the series . . . 3 to go. I have been chipping away at this series since 2009 with long gaps in between. I..."

Very enjoyable!

20. Precious and Grace, by Alexander McCall Smith, 5/5 stars

21. The Magnolia Story, by Chip Gaines, 4/5 stars

22. The Obsession of Victoria Gracen, by Grace Livingston Hill, 5/5 stars

23. The Grim Grotto, by Lemony Snicket, 3/5 stars

24. The House of Unexpected Sisters, by Alexander McCall Smith, 5/5 stars

25. The Daily Bible--In Chronological Order, by F LaGard Smith (editor), 5/5 stars

Karol wrote: "20. Precious and Grace, by Alexander McCall Smith, 5/5 stars

21. The Magnolia Story, by Chip Gaines, 4/5 stars"

I really enjoyed reading how Chip got his start in business!

Andrea wrote: "
21. The Magnolia Story, by Chip Gaines, 4/5 stars"

really enjoyed reading how Chip got his start in business!"

Me too, Andrea! Fascinating . . . my husband also invests in real estate and fixes up run-down places to resell. He's been doing it off and on since 1980, but it has never been his "main" thing until recently. He's retired from his more traditional job, but keeps getting busier with one property after another, it seems. It is definitely harder than how it looks on HGTV! He is gaining a reputation for restoring old houses and reclaiming them for nice families - kind of cleaning up the bad spots in otherwise good neighborhoods. It is very rewarding work and I like to help whenever I can.

26. Partner in Crime, by J.A. Jance, 5/5 stars

27. In the Wake of the Topinabee, by Arline M. Browne, 4/5 stars

28. Barbara & Susan's Guide to the Empty Nest: Discovering New Purpose, Passion & Your Next Great Adventure, by Barbara Rainey and Susan Yates, 4/5 stars

29. Ghost Towns of Michigan: Volume 2, by Larry Wakefield, 5/5 stars

30. The Case of the Gilded Lily, by Erle Stanley Gardner, 5/5 stars

31. The Case of the Daring Decoy, by Erle Stanley Gardner, 4/5 stars

32. Cinnamon Roll Murder, by Joanne Fluke, 3/5 stars

33. The Hidden Flame, by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke, 3/5 stars

Karol wrote: "Andrea wrote: "
21. The Magnolia Story, by Chip Gaines, 4/5 stars"

really enjoyed reading how Chip got his start in business!"

Me too, Andrea! Fascinating . . ...."

Karol that is so cool that your husband restores houses! I have always had a strong interest with houses, restoration, real estate, decorating, etc.

34. Exit Wounds, by J.A. Jance, 4/5 stars.

35. The Penultimate Peril, by Lemony Snicket, 3/5 stars

36. The End, by Lemony Snicket, 4/5 stars

The Lemony Snicker series on Netflix is adorable! I can't say enough about the casting, set designs, acting, etc.

Andrea wrote: "The Lemony Snicker series on Netflix is adorable! I can't say enough about the casting, set designs, acting, etc."

I haven't seen it, but NPH can do no wrong as far as I can tell.

Charleen wrote: "Andrea wrote: "The Lemony Snicker series on Netflix is adorable! I can't say enough about the casting, set designs, acting, etc."

I haven't seen it, but NPH can do no wrong as far as I can tell."

I enjoyed the Jim Carrey movie but Neil is just amazing. lol

Charleen wrote: "Andrea wrote: "The Lemony Snicker series on Netflix is adorable! I can't say enough about the casting, set designs, acting, etc."

I haven't seen it, but NPH can do no wrong as far as I can tell."

You will not be disappointed, just brilliant!

Andrea wrote: "The Lemony Snicker series on Netflix is adorable! I can't say enough about the casting, set designs, acting, etc."

I'm going to have to look for this! I did enjoy reading the entire series, although I felt the books got a little less interesting near the end. (# 11 and #12 in particular). But I really felt it ended very well, and I loved the conclusion in "The End" (#13).

37. The Man With a Load of Mischief, by Martha Grimes, 4/5 stars

38. Saint Patrick, by Jonathan Rogers, 4/5 stars

39. Red Velvet Cupcake Murder, by Joanne Fluke, 2/5 stars

40. The Damascus Way, by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke, 4/5 stars

41. The Briefing: Politics, the Press, and the President, by Sean Spicer, 4/5 stars

42. The Old Fox Deceiv'd, by Martha Grimes, 5/5 stars

43. The Old Blue Line, by J.A. Jance, 3/5 stars

44. The Russia Hoax: The Illicit Scheme to Clear Hillary Clinton and Frame Donald Trump, by Gregg Jarrett, 5/5 stars

45. Shadowed by Grace, by Cara C. Putman, 3/5 stars

Only 15 to go Karol!!

46. Liars, Leakers, and Liberals: The Case Against the Anti-Trump Conspiracy, by Jeanine Pirro, 2/5 stars

47. Evergreen, by Rebecca Rasmussen, 5/5 stars

48. Remains of Innocence, by J.A. Jance, 4/5 stars

49. Be Loyal (Matthew): Following the King of Kings, by Warren W. Wiersbe, 5/5 stars

50. After a Fashion, by Jen Turano, 4/5 stars

Only 10 more to go! You can do it Karol :)

Andrea wrote: "Only 10 more to go! You can do it Karol :)"

Thanks, Andrea! And it's actually just 9 . . . I discovered that I forgot to log a book I recently read! Not sure I will make it to 60, but I'll get pretty close to it.

51. The Warner Boys: Our Family’s Story of Autism and Hope, 4/5 stars

52. The Anodyne Necklace, by Martha Grimes, 4/5 stars

53. Go: A Coming of Age Novel, by Kazuki Kaneshiro, 3/5 stars

54. Be Diligent (Mark): Serving Others as You Walk with the Master Servant, by Warren W. Wiersbe, 5/5 stars

So close Karol, find some skinny books!!

55. Promise Me This, by Cathy Gohlke, 4/5 stars

56. What Works When Life Doesn't, by Stuart Briscoe, 5/5 stars

57. What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days: 52 Encouraging Truths to Hold on to, by Holley Gerth, 5/5 stars

58. Ghost Towns of Michigan: Volume 1, by Larry Wakefield, 5/5 stars

59. Nourished: A Search for Health, Happiness, and a Full Night’s Sleep, by Becky Johnson and Rachel Randolph, 4/5 stars

60. A Hope Undaunted, by Julie Lessman, 2/5 stars

Andrea wrote: "So close Karol, find some skinny books!!"

Didn't need to, Andrea! I had vacation and a lot of reading time the last two weeks of the year. :-)