Chapter Adventure Reading Challenges (Formerly GXO) discussion

FEBRUARY - Buzzed About Books

"Read a book you saw buzzed about a lot in 2021 but haven’t gotten around to reading it yet."

--- Comment below with ---
(1) The name and author of the book you're reading for the challenge,
(2) CHALLENGE COMPLETE if you've finished reading the book.
(3) Did you like the book? What did you love (or not love) about it?! Let's help each other find great books to read!

Comment here or share your reads on social media with the hashtag #monthlymotifgxo

March: BUZZED ABOUT BOOKS

I'll be reading Broken by Jenny Lawson.

I've enjoyed the author's other books, and this one has received lots of positive buzz and won the 2021 Goodreads Choice Award for Humor.

CHALLENGE COMPLETE 3/6/22

As expected, i really enjoyed this! The author's use of humor mixed with the more serious tone of her musings on her mental issues spoke to me. Like her, I suffer from bipolar disorder and anxiety and it really felt good to see some of my own struggles so succinctly displayed on the page. I also interject humor to fight my mental battles, so it was like talking to a VERY understanding friend.

Both books I am thinking of reading for this motif were books I meant to read in 2021 based on recommendations I saw but never read.

I will either read Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbottom

The Night Portrait: A Novel of World War II and da Vinci's Italy by Laura Morelli

Margot and Me.

It was all the rage in my reading circle back then. I only managed to grab a copy in December.

Changed my mind, the book I had planned was from 2020, now going to read Razorblade Tears, on the Goodreads awards last year.

Remembered Terminal Boredom: Stories by Suzuki Izumi. This collection of decades old, dark speculative fiction short stories..."

How did you like it?

Read Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby. This one is still being talked about, so figured it was a winning choice. It was a good book, much more violent than expected, but still a good read. See my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Reading "The Only Good Indians" by Stephen Graham Jones- saw this book featured all over HorrorBookTok as well as being promoted heavily at my local B&N.

UPDATE: **CHALLENGE COMPLETE**
So, I DNF'd "The Only Good Indians" after finishing the first part. There were too many inconsequential details and emphasis on things that truly did not matter to the plot. Also, a ton of basketball??? I wasn't a fan of the stream of conscious style writing and after the first part, I kind of felt like I knew how the book was going to end and all the excitement and drive to finish it vaporized. Instead, I picked up "The Sun Down Motel" by Simone St. James and OH. MY. GOSH. I loved it! Easily one of my favorite books I have ever read. The mystery, the suspense, and the characters are fabulous! There are so many plot twists and just when you think everything is wrapping up BOOM another piece of puzzle! 10/10 definitely recommend :)

Finished "A Spindle Splintered" by Alix E Harrow. It was a different take on the classic Sleeping Beauty tale. It wasn't bad, still felt like it was missing something. I might pick up the second book in the series to see if it fills it in.

Challenge Complete.

I'd heard quite a bit about The Hidden Child, but only now got around to reading it. I'm glad I did. Though disturbing, it's a compelling, and ultimately satisfying read.

Going with The Last Watch which won one (Pretty sure sci-fi) of the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards. Suuuuper looking forward to it after I finish Shorefall for my key word challenge!

I read The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. I had seen it recommended many times but I wasn't sure I wanted to read it. I'm glad I did. It was really good! I felt all Hannah's feelings-frustration, fear, suspicion, sadness, loss. I liked the way the characters developed throughout the book. I highly recommend it,

Randi wrote: "I read The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. I had seen it recommended many times but I wasn't sure I wanted to read it. I'm glad I did. It was really good! I felt all Hannah's feelings-frustrat..."

I want to read it too.

I read The Last House on the Street Diane Chamberlain 3/5/22

I loved it.

Challenge Completed!!

I read Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. This is an older book, but it was buzzed about last year because of the upcoming movie that will be released this year.

I thought the book started a bit slow, but it picked up in the middle and couldn't put it down. The ending!!!

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

I read The The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner. I have mostly negative feelings about this book. While I liked the overall premise, it was poorly executed in my opinion. I found all the characters extremely unsympathetic and personally couldn’t pinpoint any redeeming qualities about them. The way they thought, felt and behaved was often illogical and improbable to me…let alone the events (barely any) happening to them. I don’t think I would readily recommend it to anyone.

I completed it!!
I read Ophie's Ghost by Justina Ireland.
It went over and beyond my expectations of everything I had heard about this book. 5 Stars from me :)

March was bonkers, so I am still reading Red, White & Royal Blue for this one!

Brandy wrote: "March was bonkers, so I am still reading Red, White & Royal Blue for this one!"

I am still working on my March read too. And this book is still on my list from last year. Can't wait to see what you think :-)

Challenge complete.

I *so* loved this book! The scientist, mathematician, and geek is me resurfaced and I am living for it! My complete review can be found here.

Elizabeth wrote: "Reading "The Only Good Indians" by Stephen Graham Jones- saw this book featured all over HorrorBookTok as well as being promoted heavily at my local B&N.

UPDATE: **CHALLENGE COMPLETE** So, I DNF'd..."

I did too! I thought I was the only one - I just couldn't get into it.

I read Piranesi by Susanna Clarke but couldn't finish it. I chose it as a buzzed about book / award winner, but didn't like that it took so long for the plot to unveil.

Challenge complete.The Four Winds

I read the Four Winds by Kristin Hannah in March. Book was fine, but IMO not completely worth the hype. I certainly learned some interesting facts about the dust bowl so it was good in that respect. Lovely relationship between Elsa and her in laws. I wasn't a fan of how Loreda was written. I know a lot of people loved this book. For me I think it suffered from so much hype.

I read ARIADNE by Jennifer Saint