Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

2021 Determination Plus Challenge.

21/21

1. Indiscretion by Charles Dubow (READ 1/5/21)

2. The Christmas Kid: And other Brooklyn Stories by Pete Hamill (READ 1/15/21)

3. Holding out for a hero by HelenKay Dimon (READ 1/18/21)

4. Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand (READ 2/20/21

5. Every Day by David Levithan (READ 3/2/21)

6. Burned by Carol Higgins Clark (READ 5/13/21)

7. The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen (READ 5/17/21)

8. Sea Glass Winter by JoAnn Ross (READ 5/17/21)

9. The Cottage by Danielle Steel (READ 5/22/21)

10. The Secret of Everything by Barbara O'Neal (READ 5/31/21)

The next 11 books is the "Plus" part of the challenge. Hope you enjoy and are able to find some great book that will fit in.

11. A book set in a different country than you live in. In Dublin Street by Samantha Young (finished 3/9/21 also print owned)

12. Read a book by an author that you never read before or one by a new debut author. Shipped by Angie Hockman (FINISHED 1/12/21)

13. A book that someone recommended to you. The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (Finished 2/27/21)

14. A book that is a different genre than your normal type of read (could be out of your comfort zone). Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert (FINISHED 1/2/21)

15 & 16. Two books from a series you haven't completed yet (Everyone has that one or two books to still read to catch up in a series).
15. Full Bloom by Janet Evanovich/Charlotte Hughes (Finished 2/19/21 owned book too)

16. Eyefull by C. R. Grisson (Finished 2/13/21)


17. A book that comes out in 2021. Texan for the Taking by Katherine Garbera (FINISHED 1/9/21)

18. A book you meant to read in 2020 but never got around to it. (FINISHED- Bear Town by Fredrik Backman 3/25/21- started last year and put it aside also owned Print book)

19. A book that came out before you were born. (this one might be harder to do but we know you can handle it) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury READ 6/8/21 owned print book used audio too)

20. A book that is done by more than one author (it can be a book of short stories by different authors, or one book that is one story with more than 1 author like Patterson, or Evanovich and I'm sure there are others. 12th of Never by James Patterson/Maxine Paetro READ 4/12/21 also owned print)

21. A book that won an award. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (READ 4/18/21 also owned book Newbery Medal)

One down 20 to go. Plus it was audio which I normally don't do so I was determinate to finish it.

How did you like your rare audio listen,DJ?

It was ok maybe 4 1/2 rating. I’ve been doing one every once in awhile. Nothing heavy except I did do the Anthony doerr one. I’ll do Patterson again because the one I did had different voices. I’m thinking of doing Lion next I tried it before but returned it because I wasn’t in mood. Can only borrow for 14 days unless I can renew it if no one else request it. I want to maybe do the sedates one I’ve done his before years ago. I also have one more in a series by Meghan March that I liked.

Great start DJ! The "not your usual genre" book gets harder for me each year; trying a new genre often leads to more. ;)

Updated #17. First arc of the year finished.

Nicely done DJ, with your arc reading, it's probably easier to narrow that one down.

Donnajo wrote: "Updated #17. First arc of the year finished."

Yes I had a hard time deciding if I wanted to use that one but figured get it out of way.

updated #12.

Doing well. Keep it up.

Thanks. I’m hoping I can squeeze more reading of my print owned books this weekend.

Updated #2.

Moving right along DJ!

updated #3.

Good job DJ!

Slow but sure I’ll get there.

I've got to start getting to the beginning of the list, which I determined to take from my bookshelves. Too many group reads and library books! I just got a notice that the Obama book is waiting at the library. There goes my evenings....

update #15 & 16. I used it for series rather than the top section.

Good for you DJ
With the number of series I am reading those two should be easy.

Donnajo wrote: "update #15 & 16. I used it for series rather than the top section."

Yes that is why I decided to get them out of way.

another up #4.

updated #13.

Good going, DJ. I also found it easy to knock of the series entries.

I'm glad you liked your recommended book DJ. The Alice Network is a good one!

Updated #5.

updated #11

moving right along, DJ!

Updated #18. Hopefully I'll be finishing up the book for #21 in next few days which I also own print copy for.)

How did you like Bear Town, DJ? Great you finished it.

Donnajo wrote: "Updated #18. Hopefully I'll be finishing up the book for #21 in next few days which I also own print copy for.)"

It was ok I liked his other book I read better. I have the grandmother one on the cart that I’ll get to at some point.

updated #20 plus it's a owned book which I listened to on audio too)

Good for you DJ, nice way to grab in a multi author book. James Patterson has lots of co-authored books.

updated #21.

DJ: Look at you only six to go!

Donnajo wrote: "updated #21."

Yes. It’s going well so far. The one on bottom we are planning to do in summer sometime and top shouldn’t be hard once I get arcs out of way or at least netgalley and get back reading my own books. Hopefully I’ll be able get back to reading after the cataract surgeries.

updated #6.

Updated #7 & #8.

Getting close! Donnajo wrote: "Updated #7 & #8."

Updated #9. Hopefully will finish #10 this week.

Updated #10. One more to go.

DJ: Look at you! Nicely done, I need to go look at mine.
Donnajo wrote: "Updated #10. One more to go."

UPDATED #19 and completed can't believe it. Thank you Ann for doing the book as a buddy read with me. I don't think I ever finished this fast before. I guess it helped reading so many of my own books for the top section this year. I'm thinking I might continue posting my print owned books on this thread in a one post.
Counting the ones on this thread including bottom section ones I read so far 16 give or take if there was any I finished and that weren't included on here once I filled spots.

Congrats DonnaJo! I enjoyed reading and discussing Fahrenheit 451 with you. Nicely done to finish and get your print books tbr down quite a few!

Thanks. I enjoyed book more than I thought I really expected something different.

Good job, DJ! My top 10 list is woefully non-existent; am looking at my stack of owned books now to pick one. I won't finish 10 in the next two and a half months but maybe five.....

I thought Dennis Lehane was so-so until I read Since We Fell. One of the best books I've read in a long time. I bought out Barnes & Noble's Lehane books. The Kenzie and Gennaro series is okay. Looking forward to Shutter Island.

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Good job, DJ! My top 10 list is woefully non-existent; am looking at my stack of owned books now to pick one. I won't finish 10 in the next two and a half months but maybe five....."

I always think those are the easiest to find books for because it's almost anything you read can go there.

I read Shutter Island years ago in a graphic novel. I think it's still sitting on dining room table I was thinking at the time I had a pile going to give my sister some went to her but I think shutter island is still there. kind of strange. I saw another one of his books that I bought at some point at library sale I think it was The given something. maybe it didn't have good reviews at time. who knows. I should pull it out and give it a try once my books from library and other current books are down. it might be time to stick something in that is different than what I'm reading. Or might wait to put it on the 2022 determination list.

Donnajo wrote: "I always think those are the easiest to find books for because it's almost anything you read can go there. ..."

DJ, I thought about that, but decided at the beginning of the year that it would be most meaningful to me if I reserved those for books on my bookshelf that I never get to. So even if I don't do 10, anything will be a plus.

yes that is what I used it for any of the hundreds I have on my shelf. I'm thinking in 2022 it might be a selection I pick from my shelf. but I know most likely going back to the old Determination challenge that we used to do I did it that way back then picking out the books and I never got it done. maybe I'll do a mix because I know I have some that I keep passing up that I just want off my shelf. Even if I can do any hardcover that is on my shelf. that might be a good route to do.