75 Books...More or Less! discussion

Going for just 40 this year. Hoping to get some longer reads in . . . maybe this is the year I'll finally tackle War and Peace!

1. The Edge of Grace, by Christa Allan, 4/5 stars

2. The Dirty Duck, by Martha Grimes, 4/5 stars

Couple of good books to start off your year, nice!

3. Goodnight June, by Sarah Jio, 4/5 stars

This one has been on my reading list for a long time. It's a fictional account about a children's book author may have found inspiration for a specific book (Margaret Wise Brown, Goodnight Moon). But it's also about the interesting relationships between sisters. I'm surprised that the book doesn't have a higher than 4-star rating on Goodreads. I really liked it a lot.

Oh yay a reading year! :) I've had Goodnight June in my TBR for awhile. Maybe I'll get it from Overdrive this year.

Elyse wrote: "Oh yay a reading year! :) I've had Goodnight June in my TBR for awhile. Maybe I'll get it from Overdrive this year."

It's a pretty quick read - at least it was for me. And there were quite a few layers in it. I think one of the reasons I liked it so well is that I was a member of a book club that read and reviewed picture books. I fell in love with the simplicity of the storytelling and the beauty of the illustrations. Margaret Wise Brown was prolific and her life story is an interesting one. So I was immediately fascinated with that aspect.

Karol wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Oh yay a reading year! :) I've had Goodnight June in my TBR for awhile. Maybe I'll get it from Overdrive this year."

It's a pretty quick read - at least it was for me. And there were..."

Reading and reviewing picture books sounds so much fun! I have a niece and nephew both under 2, do you have any sort of obscure but really good suggestions that you remember vividly? No pressure! lol.

Karol wrote: "Decided to up my challenge to 75 after all. Not sure I can make it . . . but I've decided to add some quick reads to what I want to accomplish this year, like a couple of novellas that are part of ..."

Hahaha, that escalated quickly ;) ... if upping it to 75 book is an escalation :p

Elyse wrote: "Reading and reviewing picture books sounds so much fun! I have a niece and nephew both under 2, do you have any sort of obscure but really good suggestions that you remember vividly?"

Yes, a few! Not sure how "obscure" they are:

The Zoo With The Empty Cage
Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings
Nasreen's Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan
My Great-Aunt Arizona
Borreguita and the Coyote: A Tale from Ayutla, Mexico
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale
Tomas and the Library Lady

4. Three Days in Moscow: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of the Soviet Empire, by Bret Baier, 5/5 stars, 01/22/19

5. Be Compassionate (Luke 1-13): Let the World Know That Jesus Cares, by Warren W. Wiersbe, 4/5 stars

6. The Clue in the Diary, by Carolyn Keene, 4/5 stars

Karol wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Reading and reviewing picture books sounds so much fun! I have a niece and nephew both under 2, do you have any sort of obscure but really good suggestions that you remember vividly?"..."

Awesome thank you!

7. No Honor Among Thieves, by J.A. Jance, 3/5 stars

8. In Plain Sight, by Lorena McCourtney, 2/5 stars

9. Heart Wide Open: Trading Mundane Faith for an Exuberant Life with Jesus, by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, 3/5 stars

10. An Anonymous Girl, by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, 4/5 stars

You're starting strong, and with a lot of good reads too :)

11. A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea, by Masaji Ishikawa, 3/5 stars

Such an important story for the world to hear, but so tragic.

12. Nancy's Mysterious Letter, by Carolyn Keene, 3/5 stars

13. The Sign of the Twisted Candles, by Carolyn Keene, 3/5 stars

14. The Treasure Box, by Penelope J. Stokes, 4/5 stars

Love this author!

15. Be Courageous (Luke 14-24): Take Heart in Christ's Example, by Warren W. Wiersbe, 4/5 stars

16. Finding Dorothy, by Elizabeth Letts, 5/5 stars

Outstanding historical fiction. Now, I'm wanting to read her non-fiction book, The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation.

Karol wrote: "11. A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea, by Masaji Ishikawa, 3/5 stars

Such an important story for the world to hear, but so tragic.

12. [book..."

I have A River in Darkness on my Kindle. I need to get to it.

17. Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood, by Trevor Noah, 5/5 stars, 03/09/19

18. Heartbreak Cafe, by Penelope J. Stokes, 4/5 stars, 03/10/19

Karol wrote: "17. Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood, by Trevor Noah, 5/5 stars, 03/09/19

18. Heartbreak Cafe, by [author:Penelope J. Stokes|69..."

Almost halfway to your goal!

19. 44 Irish Short Stories - An Anthology Of Irish Short Fiction From Yeats To Frank O'Connor, edited by Devin A. Garrity, 3/5 stars, 3/17/19

20. Ghost Towns of Michigan: Volume 3, by Larry Wakefield, 4/5 stars, 3/23/19

21. Nozy Cat 1: A Hope Jones Cozy Mystery, by Lyn Key, 2/5 stars, 3/24/19

22. Random Acts, by J.A. Jance, 3/5 stars, 3/25/19

23. Be Alive (John 1-12): Come to Better Know the Living Savior, by Warren W. Wiersbe, 5/5 stars, 3/30/19

24. Downfall, by J.A. Jance, 5/5 stars, 04/07/19

25. Valley of the Dolls, by Jacqueline Susann, 4/5 stars, 04/18/19

26. Be Transformed (John 13-21): Christ's Triumph Means Your Transformation, by Warren W. Wiersbe, 5/5 stars, 4/23/19

27. Last Train to Istanbul, by Ayşe Kulin, 4/5 stars, 4/30/19

28. The Church in Babylon: Heeding the Call to Be a Light in the Darkness, by Erwin W. Lutzer, 5/5 stars, 05/05/19

29. The Hawaiian Quilt, by Wanda E. Brunstetter, 3/5 stars, 05/10/19

30. The Cruellest Month, by Louise Penny, 5/5 stars, 05/17/19

31. Jerusalem Inn, by Martha Grimes, 45 stars, 05/08/19

32. Be Dynamic (Acts 1-12): Experience the Power of God's People, by Warren W. Wiersbe, 5/5 stars, 05/23/19

33. Left Behind, by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, 4/5 stars, 05/28/19

34. The Smart Woman's Guide to Planning for Retirement: How to Save for Your Future Today, by Mary Hunt, 3/5 stars, 05/28/19

35. The Birdwoman's Palate, by Laksmi Pamuntjak, 2/5 stars, 05/30/19

Karol wrote: "33. Left Behind, by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, 4/5 stars, 05/28/19..."

I stopped reading this series after Nicolae, I think. And that was about 10 years ago. I still own them all but I haven't decided if I want to re-read or just continue on.

36. They Labor in Vain, by Michael David Szillat, 4/5 stars, 06/05/19

This is a self-published book by a friend of mine. It's a mystery/romance and a spiritual story from a Catholic perspective. It was one of the better self-published books I've ever read.

37. 42 Faith: The Rest of the Jackie Robinson Story, by Ed Henry, 4/5 stars, 06/19/19

Jackie Robinson was a very complex person. I found a lot to like in this biography.

38. The Island of Sea Women, by Lisa See, 4/5 stars, 06/23/19

Very tough to get through emotionally . . . but engaging and very well written.

39. Be Daring (Acts 13-28): Put Your Faith Where the Action Is, by Warren W. Wiersbe, 5/5 stars, 06/27/19

40. Never Say Never, by Lisa Wingate, 4/5 stars, 07/02/19

Love, love, love this author! So much fun to read.

41. Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service, by Gary Sinise, 4/5 stars, 07/07/19

One of my favorite actors, and an American patriot.

42. The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict, by Trenton Lee Stewart, 5/5 stars, 07/13/19

This one has been on my TBR for a long time. I got a big kick out of it - really glad I finally read it.

43. The Colors of All the Cattle, by Alexander McCall Smith, 4/5 stars, 07/14/19

I liked this book just fine, but I've read all 19 books in this series and I'm starting to tire of it. I do see that #20 will be coming out this year but I might pass unless I learn that this will be the last one in the series. In my mind, the first 5 books in the series were the best.

44. Mistletoe Murder, by Leslie Meier, 4/5 stars, 07/25/19

This bit of fluff was an enjoyable re-read for me.

45. Help the Poor Struggler, by Martha Grimes, 4/5 stars, 08/03/19

Great mystery . . . I love the characters and Ms. Grimes' writing style.

46. A Rule Against Murder, by Louise Penny, 4/5 stars, 08/16/19

Great character development in this one - learned a lot about what motivates the main character, Inspector Gamache.

47. Circumstantial Evidence, by James Scott Bell, 4/5 stars, 08/22/19

An interesting courtroom drama that I picked up at a yard sale a few years ago. It's amazing how things become "dated" technologically speaking in such a few number of years. (This one came out in 1997). I still found it engaging and interesting.

48. The Boomerang Clue, by Agatha Christie, 5/5 stars, 08/24/19.

I love Agatha Christie. Interesting that this much older book didn't seem "dated" to me - her writing is just that good.

49. The Power of Weakness: Embracing the True Source of Strength, by Dan Schaeffer, 5/5 stars, 08/25/19.

This was a book I used for Bible study and introspection and it has changed my understanding of faith.

50. Tippy Toe Murder, by Leslie Meier, 4/5 stars, 8/29/19.

This is a very good cozy mystery, but it deals with the very serious topic of spouse and child abusers. A couple of scenes horrified me although (being a cozy mystery) they were not graphic in detail. Overall the book was pretty darned sobering.

With this, I am 2/3 of the way towards 75! I think I will actually make it this year.

Woohoo 50 books! Great job, Karol, you can totally hit 75!

51. Michigan's Columbus: The Life of Douglass Houghton, by Steve Lehto, 4/5 stars,09/10/19

52. The Hawaiian Discovery, by Wanda E. Brunstetter, 4/5 stars, 09/10/19

53. Mrs. Saint and the Defectives, by Julie Lawson Timmer, 5/5 stars, 09/15/19

54. The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation, by Elizabeth Letts, 5/5 stars, 09/29/19

You are having an amazing reading year!!! YAY YAY YAY!!!!

Dawn Michelle wrote: "You are having an amazing reading year!!! YAY YAY YAY!!!!"

Yes I am, Dawn Michelle! I'm probably not going to hit the big old "75" goal this year, but I have found quite a variety of things to read, and many that I've enjoyed a lot.

So nice to hear from you!

55. Real Murders, by Charlaine Harris, 3/5 stars, 10/01/19

56. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, by Gabrielle Zevin, 4/5 stars, 10/05/19

57. The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey, by Muhammad Ali, 4/5 stars, 10/12/19

58. When the Heart Cries, by Cindy Woodsmall, 3/5 stars, 10/25/19

You killed your original goal, and your list has so many 'stars' it's practically blinding :D No 1 star reads and less than a handful of 2's, woot! With almost 2 months to go, you might still hit the 75- your reading pace is steady and as long as you don't hit any clunkers to through you off I can see you hitting it. Whether you do or not, though, you've been having a fantastic year

Stacie wrote: "You killed your original goal, and your list has so many 'stars' it's practically blinding :D No 1 star reads and less than a handful of 2's, woot! With almost 2 months to go, you might still hit t..."

Thanks, Stacie. I doubt I'll hit 75, but it has been a good reading year. Part of the reason for no 1 star books is that if I find myself not liking a book, I usually set it aside pretty quickly and just move on. There are so many books and so many authors I want to read . . . and I'm getting kind of old! So, no time to waste on the ones that I just plain don't like.

Karol wrote: "There are so many books and so many authors I want to read . . . and I'm getting kind of old! So, no time to waste on the ones that I just plain don't like..."

Too little time for bad books! Or not necessarily bad books but books you're just not into! :) Quit it and pick up another.

59. When the Morning Comes, by Cindy Woodsmall, 3/5 stars, 11/3/19

An OK sequel . . .

60. When the Soul Mends, by Cindy Woodsmall, 4/5 stars, 11/9/19

Definitely the best book of the trilogy. Finally, a satisfying ending. This trilogy by Cindy Woodsmall was different than much of the Amish stories I've read. It dealt with real issues of rape, sense of shame, mental illness. Quite well done overall, I thought.

61. Trick or Treat Murder by Leslie Meier, 3/5 stars, 11/15/19

I love this series for a quick cozy mystery with likeable characters.

62. When the Devil Whistles, by Rick Acker, 3/5 stars, 11/24/19

This book drew me in right at the beginning, but then along the way it veered into directions that didn't make sense to me. Otherwise I would have given it 4 stars or maybe better. It's about a woman working undercover as an accounting temp who gets proof of companies who defraud the government by overcharging on government contracts. She gets discovered and finds herself in heaps of trouble. The book is by a Christian publishing house, but aside from an occasional mention of church it doesn't dwell on the spiritual. So I think it's a book anyone might enjoy regardless of religious affiliation.

63. Agatha Christie: An Autobiography, by Agatha Christie, 4/5 stars, 12/08/19

Definitely learned a lot about the author I did not know! I can see how her life experiences helped her with the settings and characters for many of her books.

64. The Spotlight of Faith, by Bill Crowder, 4/5 stars, 12/09/19

Each chapter in this book is a short biography of a lesser-known person in the Bible. This was an interesting and inspiring read.

65. True Places, by Sonja Yoerg, 3.5 stars, 12/14/19

I'm sort of ambivalent about this book. There were some things in it I really liked and it did have a most satisfactory ending. But along the way there were many obnoxious characters and so much shallowness that it was emotionally hard to get through. I have a feeling the poor author has seen a lot of shallowness in those around her to be able to write about it so well, and to show the devastating results of its impact.

Karol, you have had a great reading year! It's so nice to see you posting so many books again, just like the old days when we were both newbies here.