75 Books...More or Less! discussion

The past couple years I've started with a conservative goal, but then I hit it sometime over the summer and have to set a new one. For 2021, I'm going to try the other way: aim high to start, but give myself permission to lower it if it's stressing me out.

Next year is going to look an awful lot like this year, at least for the first half, meaning that me-time will be limited, but the need for escape will be great.

1. Bellweather Rhapsody
5 stars

What a great start to the year! I'm not sure if I would have gotten as much out of it when I was a teenage music geek myself, but as a 30-something with very fond memories of that time, I loved it. The mystery and the rest of the plot was good too, but it was the characters that captivated me.

Welcome back, Charleen!

Thanks, Elyse!

2. What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism
(audio)

Despite our divisions, Dan Rather seems to have an overall optimistic view of our country. He makes a pretty good case, but it was an easier message to hear when I started the book a week ago than when I finished it today.

3. A People's Future of the United States: Speculative Fiction from 25 Extraordinary Writers

As to be expected, there were some stories that just didn't do it for me. But the overwhelming majority were highly enjoyable.

4. First Blood
4 stars

At first this was basically a macho version of a rom-com where everything could be resolved if the two leads just had a conversation. I was pretty bored. And then about halfway through the book I realized I was riveted by these two characters. I never saw the movie so I don't know how it compares, but I was pleasantly surprised.

5. Rick
5 stars

This is a great story for kids who are questioning who they are, who their friends are, who they want to become, how they want to interact with their peers and their family... so, really all kids. Regardless of their connection to the queer community or lack thereof, I think many readers could relate to Rick.

6. The City We Became
4 stars

This book is so trippy. It took me a good half to really get into it. It always takes me a while to get into Jemisin's worlds, but I'm very interested in seeing where she goes with it.

Charleen wrote: "6. The City We Became
4 stars

This book is so trippy. It took me a good half to really get into it. It always takes me a while to get into Jemisin's worlds, but I'm very interested..."

I will be listening to this in February! I've only read one book by her, the Thousand Kingdoms first book. Her world-building is just HUGE in scope.

Elyse wrote: "I will be listening to this in February! I've only read one book by her, the Thousand Kingdoms first book. Her world-building is just HUGE in scope."

I enjoyed the Broken Earth trilogy, but it was overwhelming and I'm looking forward to rereading it at some point. I loved the Dreamblood Duology. I still have to go back and read the Inheritance trilogy.

Charleen wrote: "Elyse wrote: "I will be listening to this in February! I've only read one book by her, the Thousand Kingdoms first book. Her world-building is just HUGE in scope."

I enjoyed the Broken Earth trilo..."

I listened to the audio of Thousand Kingdoms and then ended up buying the trilogy in e-book and will re-read before continuing because too much was going on for listening! Hopefully City is different? Because I have that on audio too. lol

7. The Hero of Ages
5 stars (re-read)

I finally got my husband to read this series! I love it so much. So satisfying.

8. The Silver Linings Playbook
3 stars

I loved the movie adaptation when I saw it years ago. I don't even remember the specifics to compare the two, but I remember how the movie made me feel, and the book, though good, didn't come close to matching that feeling. Maybe because I went into it with zero expectations, which wasn't the case here, or maybe just because I've changed since then.

Elyse wrote: "Charleen wrote: "6. The City We Became
4 stars

This book is so trippy. It took me a good half to really get into it. It always takes me a while to get into Jemisin's worlds, but I'..."

I got this on audio when it came out last year but just couldn't focus. Usually I fall right into Jemisin's worlds, even when I don't know what the heck is going on, but I just didn't click this time... I'm glad to hear that it does come together. I'm looking forward to giving it another go because I love both the author and the narrator.

9. To Be Taught, If Fortunate
4 stars

This is a really lovely novella. It's sort of about the characters and it's sort of about the worlds they visit, but it's a lot about life and human connection and our place in the universe. I wasn't familiar with the meaning of the title until I read the epigraph (at the end rather than the beginning) but it's extremely fitting.

10. The Cabinet of Curiosities
4 stars (audio re-read)

It's #3 in the series, but this was the first one to really put Pendergast front and center. I decided to revisit it now that one of the characters introduced in this one is spun off into her own series.

11. Secret History
5 stars (re-read)

Another Mistborn re-read. This should have been #8 but I forgot to add it.

12. Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge
2 stars

This had a fun idea with all the different cocktails having magical properties, but I couldn't get excited about the plot. Also, the new adult messaging about being a "real grown-up" was so heavy-handed. A quick read, fun if you're into it, but I wasn't.

13. The Hazel Wood
3 stars

This book could have been something amazing, or might be something amazing to the right person. There are parts that I absolutely loved. But there were other parts, including a good chunk of the first half, I didn't care for as much. And the last couple chapters fell flat for me. Overall... I guess I sort of liked it? But I wanted to like it a lot more.

Yup. It could've been something but ended up being very average for me as well.

14. Crazy Stupid Bromance
4 stars

This was a really sweet romance with some pretty heavy family stuff, and of course the signature group of guys who are always a delight to read. Looking forward to the next one.

15. How Long 'til Black Future Month?

I'd say about half of these were really great, and the other half were more of a mixed bag. I will say that the last few stories didn't engage me at all, so maybe it was just too long of a collection for me.

Charleen wrote: "12. Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge
2 stars

This had a fun idea with all the different cocktails having magical properties, but I couldn't get excited about the plot. Also, the ..."

I mostly enjoyed the cocktail descriptions!

16. Educated
(audio)

I know stories about sheltered upbringings and worldviews being confronted by reality are kind of a thing, but I've never really gotten into them. So that part of it was interesting, but not primarily what I was reading it for. The draw for me was in the title. It was her education, her drive for learning, that I really connected with. It occasionally made me think about my approach to unexpectedly homeschooling (likely temporary, but who knows how he'll respond to traditional school after all this) and what the goal of an education should be.

17. Katherine of Aragón: The True Queen
4 stars

I've gone from not being interested in historical fiction at all to being just as captivated by the Tudors as anyone. When I saw Alison Weir was writing a series on all six of Henry VIII's wives, I knew I had to read them.

18. The Deep
5 stars

The ideas and the imagery in this novella are incredible, as is the use of the shorter form. Not to say that it couldn't be expanded into a full-length novel, but it works really well as is. I'm sure I'll appreciate it even more when I (inevitably) reread it at some point.

19. The Music Shop
4 stars (audio re-read)

This is a wonderful story about music and life. We could all use a Frank to tell us what to listen to exactly when we need it.

20. Old Bones
4 stars

I think this book nails the Nora we know from other books. I didn't feel the same about Corrie, but she's also at a much different point in her life than the last time we saw her. I'm hoping we get to know adult Corrie more in the future.

21. Lady Killer, Vol. 1

I haven't been reading many comics lately. This one was a fun reentry into the medium.

22. Nevada
3 stars

This is a really frustrating book, because I'm absolutely glad I read it, and yet there was so much I didn't like. Lack of quotation marks is a choice that always bothers me, but the book was overcoming that with a lot of great stuff in the beginning. The whole second half, though? Meh.

23. The End of Everything

I'm not going to remember most of what's in this book, but it was fascinating while it lasted.

24. The Worst Best Man
3 stars

I really liked the character of Lina, and I liked Max as well, but their relationship pretty quickly went from a sort of good-natured antagonism to just another romance where they both have issues to work through. Mostly enjoyable but nothing special.

25. The Book of M
3 stars

I really liked most of this book, but it started losing something the closer it got to the end. I'm not sure what I would have preferred, and there's no one thing that "ruined" it for me. I was actually pretty satisfied with the ultimate ending. Getting there just took more work than it should have.

Charleen wrote: "24. The Worst Best Man
3 stars

I really liked the character of Lina, and I liked Max as well, but their relationship pretty quickly went from a sort of good-natured antagonism to j..."

I felt the same. I also couldn't get emotionally invested in them.

26. Four Past Midnight

A collection of four novellas that's 935 pages long... I almost feel like I should count this as four books. Well, if I end the year three books shy, I'll know what to blame.

These were all solid stories. "The Langoliers" was the only one I'd heard of before. The last one "The Sun Dog" was probably my favorite.

Charleen wrote: "26. Four Past Midnight

A collection of four novellas that's 935 pages long... I almost feel like I should count this as four books. Well, if I end the year three books shy, I'll know..."

I think this collection was my first foray into King! I remember buying the movie tie-in edition for Secret Window because Johnny Depp. lol. And I still own it. I was a junior in high school. lol

27. Catherine House
2 stars

This is one of those frustrating books where I fluctuated between "eh, not really feeling it" and "ooh, but that's interesting" for most of the book. Very moody and mysterious, but unsatisfying.

28. Lady Killer, Vol. 2

The first story arc stood alone really well, and this added some interesting dynamics, but without more time to explore those changes, I would've preferred the single story. Oh well, such is the nature of comics.

Elyse wrote: "I think this collection was my first foray into King! I remember buying the movie tie-in edition for Secret Window because Johnny Depp. lol. And I still own it. I was a junior in high school. lol"

I'd heard of that Johnny Depp movie, but my brain didn't make the connection. I think I assumed it was a remake of or inspired by Rear Window.

29. Oona Out of Order
4 stars

This was really entertaining and interesting, though it was best when it leaned into the absurdity. There were parts that read as earnestness without authenticity, and just came off as corny to me. But overall really enjoyable.

30. The Scorpion's Tail
3 stars

I liked it, but I'm disappointed I didn't like it more. There's also something that happens in the first book that I liked and thought was fitting, but then it happened again here and... nope, not a fan.

31. Elantris
4 stars (audio re-read)

It's so refreshing to come across a stand-alone fantasy, and this was just as enjoyable as I remembered. The downside is that the end really is the end, and this definitely left me wanting more. There is a short story follow-up I haven't read, so I guess that'll have to do.

Charleen wrote: "31. Elantris
4 stars (audio re-read)

It's so refreshing to come across a stand-alone fantasy, and this was just as enjoyable as I remembered. The downside is that the end really is th..."

Gah I still need to read some Sanderson! I should break out Mistborn, they're not long.

32. An American Sunrise

Part of my efforts to listen to lived experiences other than my own, and to absorb more poetry, I figured why not read a collection from our Poet Laureate? Unfortunately I don't think my goals go together very well. Getting a double dose of unfamiliarity made it really hard to connect, though there was some obviously lovely and powerful writing.

33. Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession
3 stars

I really liked reading about Anne's years at other European courts, because that isn't a part of her life I knew much about. But once she was back in England, I just felt like I was waiting around for her inevitable end.

Charleen wrote: "But once she was back in England, I just felt like I was waiting around for her inevitable end..."

Right? We all know how that ended. lol

34. A Girl Like Her
3 stars

There's a lot about Ruth that was easy to relate to and refreshing to read. I couldn't love it the way a lot of people do, but that's less about the book and more about me and romance.

Charleen wrote: "34. A Girl Like Her
3 stars

There's a lot about Ruth that was easy to relate to and refreshing to read. I couldn't love it the way a lot of people do, but that's less about the boo..."

The Brown Sisters trilogy is sooooo good!! Her writing has definitely improved.

35. Broken
(audio)

Another great and (mostly) relatable book from Jenny Lawson.