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2023 Independent Challenges > Bill's Independent Challenges for 2023 (Done like toast. Onward to 2024)

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message 1: by Bill, Moderator (last edited Dec 29, 2023 11:46AM) (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
Here's me trying to be 1st out of the gate again. 😁 This is my plan for the time being..

#1. Start a Series. I've always got a bunch of books on my shelves that begin a series. Let's see how many I can start in 2023. I have a feeling that I might not finish one I'm working on in 2022 so I'll add that just in case)

1. Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong (Inspector Chen #1) 464 pages, started 14 Nov 2022, finished 2 Feb, 4.0 stars
2. The Penguin Pool Murder by Stuart Palmer (Hildegarde Withers #1 / 1931) 160 pages, started 2 Feb, finished 11 Feb, 2.0 stars
3. Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead (Ray Carney #1 / 2021) 318 pages, started 11 Feb, finished 11 Apr, 4.0 stars
4. Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels: The Case of the Missing Marquess, The Case of the Left-Handed Lady, and The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets by Serena Blasco 181 pages, started 8 Mar, finished 10 Mar, 4.0 stars
5. A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie (Age of Madness #1 / 2019) 473 pages, started 13 Mar, finished 30 Jul, 4.0 stars
6. Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan (Saga Chaps 1 - 6) 160 pages, started 22 Mar, finished 23 Mar, 4.0 stars
7. Death at Dawn by Caro Peacock (Liberty Lane #1 / 2007) 426 pages, started 11 Apr, finished 14 Aug, 3.5 stars
8. Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Omnibus Volume 1 by Stephen McCranie (Books 1 - 3) 713 pages, started 26 Apr, finished 27 Apr, 4.5 stars
9. Lightfall: The Girl & the Galdurian by Tim Probert (Lightfall #1 / 2020) 246 pages, started 25 May, finished 26 May, 4.0 stars
10. The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag (Witch Boy #1 / 2017) 213 pages, started 23 Jul, finished 24 Jul, 4.0 stars
11. Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel by Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl #1 / 2007) 128 pages, started 30 Jul, finished 31 Jul, 3.5 stars
12. The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby (Athenian Mysteries #1 / 2010) 335 pages, started 1 Aug, finished 7 Nov, 4.0 stars
13. Gun Honey, Vol. 1 by Charles Ardai (Gun Honey #1 / 2022) 112 pages, started 2 Aug, finished 3 Aug, 3.0 stars
14. The Mystery of Tunnel 51 by Alexander Wilson (Leonard Wallace #1) 382 pages, started 14 Aug, finished 27 Sep, 4.0 stars
15. The Skull Mantra by Eliot Pattison (Inspector Shan #1) 403 pages, started 27 Sep, finished 29 Dec, 5.0 stars
16. Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie M. Liu (Monstress #1) 192 pages, started 27 Oct, finished 28 Oct, 4.0 stars
17. Agents of Dreamland by Caitlín R. Kiernan (Tinfoil Dossier #1) 123 pages, started 6 Dec, finished 8 Dec, 3.5 stars

Completed: 17


message 2: by Bill, Moderator (last edited Dec 18, 2023 03:36PM) (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
#2. Next in Series. Of course the actual follow-on to my first challenge. Let's continue with my ongoing series.

1. The Cool Cottontail by John Dudley Ball (Virgil Tibbs #2 / 1966) 149 pages, started 1 Jan, finished 3 Jan, 4.0 stars
2. The Innocent: by Taylor Stevens (Vanessa Munroe #2 / 2011) 331 pages, started 3 Jan, finished 25 Jan, 3.5 stars
3. Ottoline Goes to School by Chris Riddell (Ottoline #2 / 2008) 171 pages, started and finished 21 Jan, 3.5 stars
4. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (Murderbots #2 / 2018) 158 pages, started 25 Jan, finished 31 Jan, 4.0 stars
5. The Cat Who Turned On And Off by Lilian Jackson Braun (Qwilleran #3 / 1968) 265 pages, started 31 Jan, finished 6 Feb, 4.0 stars
6. March: Book Three by John Lewis (#3) 246 pages, started 6 Feb, finished 7 Feb, 5.0 stars
7. Adulthood Rites by Octavia E. Butler (Xenogenesis #2 / 1988) 302 pages, started 7 Feb, finished 9 Mar, 4.0 stars
8. Heartstopper: Volume Two by Alice Oseman (#2 / 2013) 294 pages, started 25 Feb, finished 26 Feb, 4.0 stars
9. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files #4 / 2002) 371 pages, started 09 Mar, finished 18 May, 4.5 stars
10. Saga, Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughan (Chaps 7 - 12) 144 pages, started 6 Apr, finished 7 Apr, 4.0 stars
11. Goth Girl and the Wuthering Fright by Chris Riddell (Goth Girl #2 / 2015) 219 pages, started 14 Apr, finished 14 Apr, 3.5 stars
12. Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels: The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan, The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline, and The Case of Baker Street Station by Serena Blasco (Enola Holmes #4 - 6) 296 pages, started 10 May, finished 12 May, 3.5 stars
13. Heartstopper: Volume Three by Alice Oseman 351 pages, started 16 May, finished 17 May, 4.5 stars
14. U Is For Undertow by Sue Grafton 483 pages, started 18 May, finished 10 Jul, 4.0 stars
15. Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Omnibus Volume 2 by Stephen McCranie 704 pages, started 24 May, finished 25 May, 4.5 stars
16. Shadow of the Bird by Tim Probert (Lightfall #2 / 2022) 249 pages, started 30 May, finished 31 May, 4.0 stars
17. Ottoline at Sea by Chris Riddell (Ottoline #3 / 2010) 171 pages, started & finished 21 Jun, 4.0 stars
18. The Sandman Vol. 4: Season of Mists by Neil Gaiman (Issues #21 - 28) 202 pages, started & finished 23 Jun, 4.0 stars
19. Ms. Tree, Vol. 3: The Cold Dish by Max Allan Collins z92021) 242 pages, started 28 Jun, finished 29 Jun, 3.5 stars
20. Ottoline and the Purple Fox by Chris Riddell (Ottoline #4) 177 pages, started 6 Jul, finished 7 Jul, 4.0 stars
21, The King of Plagues by Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger #3) 610 pages, started 10 Jul, finished 25 Sep, 4.0 stars
22. A Game of You by Neil Gaiman (Sandman Vol 5), 192 pages, started 14 Jul, finished 15 Jul, 4.5 stars
23. Ms. Tree, Vol. 4: Deadline by Max Allan Collins (Ms. Tree Vol 4) 254 pages, started 17 Jul, finished 20 Jul, 3.5 stars
24. Heartstopper: Volume Four by Alice Oseman 351 pages, started 05 Aug, finished 06 Aug, 4.0 stars
25. Goth Girl and the Sinister Symphony by Chris Riddell (Goth Girl #4) 220 pages, started 14 Aug, finished 15 Aug, 4.0 stars
26. Fables and Reflections by Neil Gaiman (Sandman Vol. 6) 264 pages, started 18 Aug, finished 19 Aug, 4.0 stars
27. Gun Honey, Vol. 2: Blood for Blood by Charles Ardai (Gun Honey #2 / 2023) 112 pages, started and finished 22 Aug, 3.0 stars
28. Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Omnibus Volume 3 by Stephen McCranie 696 pages, started 8 Sep, finished 9 Sep, 3.5 stars
29. Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Omnibus Volume 4 by Stephen McCranie 704 pages, started 10 Sep, finished 11 Sep, 4.0 stars
30. The Hidden Witch by Molly Knox Ostertag (Witch Boy #2) 202 pages, started and finished 12 Sep, 4.0 stars
31. The Midwinter Witch by Molly Knox Ostertag (Witch Boy #3) 203 pages, started and finished 13 Sep, 4.0 stars by Neil Gaiman
32. The Sandman, Vol. 7: Brief Lives (Sandman Vol 7) 256 pages, started 14 Sep, finished 15 Sep, 4.5 stars
33. Saga, Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan (Saga Vol 3) 144 pages, started and finished 21 Sep, 4.0 stars
34. Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks (Culture #6) 403 pages, started 25 Sep, finished 22 Nov, 4.0 stars
35. Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 13 by Stephen McCranie (Vol #13) 216 pages, start & finish 28 Sep, 4.5 stars
36. Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 14 by Stephen McCranie (Vol #13) 216 pages, start & finish 29 Sep, 4.0 stars
37. The Sandman, Vol. 8: Worlds' End by Neil Gaiman (Vol 8) 160 pages, start & finish 30 Sep, 4.0 stars
38. Lore Olympus: Volume Three by Rachel Smythe (Vol 3) 384 pages, started & finished 9 Oct, 3.5 stars
39. Without Trumpet or Drum by John Sanders (Nicholas Pym #3) 173 pages, started 1 Nov, finished 9 Nov, 2.5 stars
40. A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie (Miss Marple #5) 237 pages, started 9 Nov, finished 14 Nov, 4.5 stars
41. Saga, Volume 4 by Brian K. Vaughan 144 pages, started 14 Nov, finished 15 Nov, 4.0 stars
42. Lore Olympus: Volume Four by Rachel Smythe (2023) 416 pages, started 20 Nov, finished 22 Nov, 4.0 stars
43. Mother Finds A body by Gypsy Rose Lee (Gypsy #2 / 1942) 160 pages, started 22 Nov, finished 28 Nov, 2.0 stars
44. Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum (Oz #3 / 1907) 165 pages, started 1 Dec, finished 6 Dec, 4.0 stars
45. The People That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Land that Time Forgot #2) 124 pages, started 8 Dec, finished 12 Dec, 2.5 stars
46. Gideon's Staff by J.J. Marric (Gideon #5) 221 pages, started 12 Dec, finished 16 Dec, 4.0 stars
47. Saga, Volume 5 by Brian K. Vaughan (Saga #5 / 2015) 152 pages, started 16 Dec, finished 18 Dec, 4.0 stars

Completed: 47


message 3: by Bill, Moderator (last edited Dec 27, 2023 09:08PM) (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
#3. Non-Series Challenge. So I'll pick different genres each month.

a. January - Can Con

1. Five Little Indians by Michelle Good (2020) 293 pages, started 1 Jan, finished 8 Jan, 5.0 stars
2. Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton (2022) 430 pages, started 8 Jan, finished 11 Jan, 4.0 stars
3. Stories I Might Regret Telling You: A Memoir by Martha Wainwright (2022) 246 pages, started 11 Jan, finished 16 Jan, 4.0 stars
4. Hag-Seed: The Tempest Retold by Margaret Atwood (2016) 297 pages, started 16 Jan, finished 9 Feb, 3.5 stars

b. February - YA / Children
1. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander 218 pages, started 9 Feb, finished 11 Feb, 4.5 stars
2. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo 361 pages, started 11 Feb, finished 17 Feb, 5.0 stars
3. Tamsin by Peter S. Beagle (1999) 335 pages, started 17 Feb, finished 21 Apr, 4.5 stars
4. Demon in the Wood by Leigh Bardugo (2022) 197 pages, started 3 Mar, finished 4 Mar, 3.5 stars

March - Mys anywhere but Can / US / UK
1. Moghul Buffet by Cheryl Benard (Pakistan / 1998) 264 pages, started 7 Mar, finished 6 Apr, 2.5 stars
2. Small g: A Summer Idyll by Patricia Highsmith (Switzerland / 191995) 310 pages, started 26 Mar, finished 7 May, 4.0 stars

April - Fantasy
1. Skull-Face by Robert E. Howard (1946) 93 pages, started 6 Apr, finished 8 Apr, 3.0 stars
2. The Sword of Rhiannon by Leigh Brackett (1953 pages) 141 pages, started 8 Apr, finished 15 Apr, 3.0 stars
3. Golem100 by Alfred Bester (1980) 392 pages, started 15 Apr, finished 22 Jul, 3.5 stars
4. Changing Planes: Stories by Ursula K. Le Guin (2003) 246 pages, started 21, finished 29 Apr, 3.5 stars

May - Short Stories, Poetry, Plays, etc
1. Sunset Gun: Poems by Dorothy Parker (1928) 75 pages, started 30 Apr, finished 2 May, 3.5 stars
2. The terminal beach by J.G. Ballard (1964) 221 pages, started 2 May, finished 30 May, 3.5 stars
3. This Place: 150 Years Retold by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm (2019) 287 page, started 3 May, finished 4 May, 4.0 stars
4. Interfaces by Virginia Kidd 310 pages, started 7 May, finished 4 Jun, 4 stars
5. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (2020) 424 pages, started 26 May, finished 15 Jun, 5.0 stars
6. Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery": The Authorized Graphic Adaptation by Miles Hyman 137 pages, started and finished 4 Jun, 3.5 stars

June - Biography
1. Run Towards the Danger: Confrontations with a Body of Memory by Sarah Polley, 259 pages, started 1 Jun, finished 27 Jun, 4.5 stars
2. Chasing The Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World by Samantha Power 622 pages, started 15 Jun, DNF, NR (read 208 pages)

July - Sci Fi
1. Let the Fire Fall by Kate Wilhelm (1969) 188 pages, started 27 Jun, finished 21 Jul, 2.0 stars
2. Eye in the Sky by Philip K. Dick (1957) 255 pages, started 21 Jul, finished 8 Aug, 3.0 stars
3. The Slaves of Heaven by Edmund Cooper (1975) 191 pages, started 22 Jul, finished 16 Aug, 3.5 stars

August - Mysteries UK / US / CA
1. The Stepdaughter by Debbie Howells 279 pages, started 8 Aug, finished 29 Aug, 4.0 stars
2. Peepland by Christa Faust (2017) 128 pages, started 9 Aug, finished 10 Aug, 3.0 stars
3. Vanish in an Instant by Margaret Millar (1952) 234 pages, started 16 Aug, finished 30 Aug, 4.5 stars

September - Non - Fiction
1. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962) 368 pages, started 29 Aug, finished 22 Dec, 3.5 stars
2. The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How it Changed America by David Hajdu (2008) 435 pages, started 30 Aug, finished 28 Oct, 4.0 stars

October - Horror
1. Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon 415 pages, started 16 Oct, DNF, NR (read 104 pages)

November - Graphic Novels & Other Misc
1. The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini by Cynthia von Buhler 128 pages, started 1 Nov, finished 1 Nov, 3 stars
2. Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton (2011) 166 pages, started 28 Nov, finished 28 Nov, 4.0 stars


December - Freebies
1. Shattered Warrior by Sharon Shinn 246 pages, started & finished 5 Oct, 4.0 stars
2. Normandy Gold Vol. 1 by Megan Abbott (2018) 152 pages, started 11 Oct, finished 12 Oct, 3.0 stars
3. Girlfriend on Mars by Deborah Willis (2023) 359 pages, started 22 Oct, finished 30 Oct, 3.5 stars
4. Philip K. Dick: The Last Interview and Other Conversations by David Streitfield & Philip K. Dick (2017) 133 pages, started 15 Nov, finished 20 Nov 3.5 stars
5. To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers 153 pages, started 18 Dec, finished 24 Dec, 4.0 stars
6. The Good Neighbors by Holly Black (2008) 355 pages, started 25 Dec, finished 28 Dec, 3.5 stars


Completed: 36


message 4: by Bill, Moderator (last edited Jan 29, 2023 06:04AM) (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
Monthly Challenges
I'm going to do a Decades Challenge for my monthly challenge.

a. January - Pre-1900

1. Fanny Hill. Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure by John Cleland (1748) 222 pages, started 1 Jan, DNF, NR
2. The Man Who Would be King and other stories by Rudyard Kipling (1888) 211 pages, started 10 Jan, finished 22 Jan, 3.5 stars
3. Raffles by E.W. Hornung (1899) 165 pages, started 22 Jan, finished 29 Jan, 3.0 stars

Completed: 3


message 5: by Bill, Moderator (last edited May 25, 2023 02:43PM) (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
b. February - 1900 - 1949

1. The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan #2 / 1913) 221 pages, started 1 Feb, finished 14 Feb, 3.0 stars
2. Murder by Matchlight by E.C.R. Lorac (Robert MacDonald #1 / 1945) 240 pages, started 14 Feb, finished 21 Feb, 4.0 stars
3. The Cometeers by Jack Williamson (Legion of Space #2 / 1936) 170 pages, started 21 Feb, finished 27 Feb, 2.0 stars
4. The Doomsday Men by J.B. Priestley (1938) 222 pages, started 2 Mar, finished 1 Apr, 4.0 stars

Completed: 4


message 6: by Bill, Moderator (last edited May 25, 2023 02:44PM) (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
c. March - 1950 - 1959

1. The Better to Eat You by Charlotte Armstrong (1954), 256 pages, started 27 Feb, finished 7 Mar, 4.0 stars
2. The House That Stood Still by A.E. van Vogt (1950) 192 pages, started 7 Mar, DNF, NR (read 77 pages(
3. The Case of The Screaming Woman by Erle Stanley Gardner (Perry Mason #52 / 1957) started 17 Mar, finished 21 Mar, 3.0 stars
4. No Next of Kin by Doris Miles Disney (1959) 253 pages, started 21 Mar, finished 30 May, 4.0 stars

Completed: 4


message 7: by Bill, Moderator (last edited Jul 23, 2023 09:19AM) (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
d. April - 1960 -1969

1. Passport To Peril by James Leasor (1966 / Jason Love #2) 239 pages, started 30 Mar, finished 30 Apr, 3.0 stars
2. By Cecile by Tereska Torrès (1963) 166 pages, started 1 Apr, finished 18 Apr, 3.5 stars
3. Return from the Stars by Stanisław Lem (1966) 295 pages, started 18 Apr, finished 23 Jul, 3.5 stars

Completed: 3


message 8: by Bill, Moderator (last edited Jul 26, 2023 02:49PM) (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
e. May - 1970 -1979

1. Unexpected Death by Dell Shannon (Lt Mendoza #18 / 1970) 234 pages, started 30 Apr, finished 11 May, 4.0 stars
2. Inverted World by Christopher Priest (1974) 303 pages, started 11 May, finished 26 Jul, 4.0 stars

Completed: 2


message 9: by Bill, Moderator (last edited Jul 03, 2023 11:05AM) (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
f. June - 1980 - 1989

1. Casebook of the Black Widowers by Isaac Asimov (Black Widowers #3 / 1980) 255 pages, started 4 Jun, finished 18 Jun, 3.5 stars
2. Thus Was Adonis Murdered by Sarah Caudwell (Hilary Tamar #1 / 1981), 261 pages, started 19 Jun, finished 3 Jul, 3.5 stars

Completed: 2


message 10: by Bill, Moderator (last edited Dec 31, 2023 10:14AM) (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
g. July - 1990 - 1999

1. Quiller Barracuda by Adam Hall (Quiller #14 / 1990) 291 pages, started 3 Jul, finished 22 Aug, 4.0 stars
2. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (Oxford Time Travel #1 / 1992) 578 pages, started 23 Jul, Did not finish but carried over to 2024. Read 364 pages so 214 to go.

Completed: 1


message 11: by Bill, Moderator (last edited Sep 20, 2023 11:36AM) (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
h. August - 2000 - 2005 (switching to every 5 years now)
1. The Curse of the Gloamglozer: First Book of Quint by Paul Stewart (Quint Saga #1) 438 pages, started 1 Aug, finished 26 Aug, 4.5 stars
2. The Celtic Riddle by Lyn Hamilton (Lara McLintoch #4 / 2000) 296 pages, started 22 Aug, finished 19 Sep, 3.5 stars
3. Something Borrowed, Something Black by Loren D. Estleman (Pete Macklin #4 / 2002) 212 pages, started 25 Aug, finished 10 Sep, 3.0 stars

Completed: 3


message 12: by Bill, Moderator (last edited Dec 18, 2023 09:15AM) (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
i. September 2006 - 2009
1. When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson (Jackson Brodie #3 / 2008) 388 pages, started 10 Sep, finished 2 Dec, 4.5 stars
2. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (2009) 359 pages, started 19 Sep, finished 18 Dec, 4.5 stars

Completed: 2


message 13: by Bill, Moderator (last edited Nov 28, 2023 01:44PM) (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
k. October 2010 - 2015
1. The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini by Cynthia von Buhler (2018) 128 pages, started 31 Oct, finished 1 Nov, 3.0 stars

Completed: 1


message 14: by Bill, Moderator (last edited Dec 01, 2023 07:08PM) (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
l. November - 2016 - Present
1. This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar (2019) 198 pages, started 28 Nov, completed 1 Dec, 3.5 stars

Completed: 1


message 15: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
m. December - Freebies


message 16: by Martha (new)

Martha (marthas48) | 767 comments I love your planning! Looking forward to what you choose to read, especially for the decades one. Happy reading!


message 17: by Karol (new)

Karol | 747 comments A most interesting challenge - I especially like the idea of different periods of time.


message 18: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
Karol wrote: "A most interesting challenge - I especially like the idea of different periods of time."

Thank you, Karol. It's a popular challenge here.

Martha wrote: "I love your planning! Looking forward to what you choose to read, especially for the decades one. Happy reading!"

Thanks, Martha. I hope you enjoy your reading as well.


message 19: by Judy (last edited Nov 30, 2022 09:48AM) (new)

Judy (jdowell) | 68 comments Bill wrote: "#3. Non-Series Challenge. So I'll pick different genres each month.

a. January - Can Con"


I had to look up Can Con to see what it refers to. Sounds like something new to me! I like the different genres each month idea!


message 20: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
Judy wrote: "Bill wrote: "#3. Non-Series Challenge. So I'll pick different genres each month.

a. January - Can Con"

I had to look up Can Con to see what it refers to. Sounds like something new to me! I like t..."


Sorry about that. I should have clarified. It's books by Canadian authors. I've been trying to explore my country's writing more the past few years.


message 21: by 〰️Beth〰️ (new)

〰️Beth〰️ (x1f4a0bethx1f4a0) | 470 comments Great plan Bill. I can not even wrap my head around the fact it is almost 2023.


message 22: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
〰️Beth〰️ wrote: "Great plan Bill. I can not even wrap my head around the fact it is almost 2023."

I know. It's hard to believe it's already December. I'm already tired of winter. lol


message 23: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4190 comments Mod
The decades challenge is always the most interesting. If I can just get some series completed, I think I can try something different the next time around.

Good luck Bill. I will be lurking here, as well.


message 24: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
Alondra wrote: "The decades challenge is always the most interesting. If I can just get some series completed, I think I can try something different the next time around.

Good luck Bill. I will be lurking here, ..."


Thanks Alondra. I will be lurking on your threads as well.


message 25: by Ioana (new)

Ioana | 2122 comments Interesting theme, as always. Can't wait to see your actual picks, happy reading!


message 26: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
Ioana wrote: "Interesting theme, as always. Can't wait to see your actual picks, happy reading!"

Thanks, Ioana. I'm working on it.


message 27: by Lillie (new)

Lillie | 1686 comments Great categories! Looking forward to seeing what books you end up choosing.


message 28: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
Lillie wrote: "Great categories! Looking forward to seeing what books you end up choosing."


Thanks. Me too.. 😉


message 29: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3635 comments I am lurking here, waiting to see all of the books you choose. Best wishes for 2023!


message 30: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
Lea wrote: "I am lurking here, waiting to see all of the books you choose. Best wishes for 2023!"

Thanks, Lea. I'm waiting as well. lol


message 31: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4190 comments Mod
Bill wrote: "Lea wrote: "I am lurking here, waiting to see all of the books you choose. Best wishes for 2023!"

Thanks, Lea. I'm waiting as well. lol"


Really, Bill?? LOL


message 32: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
Alondra wrote: "Bill wrote: "Lea wrote: "I am lurking here, waiting to see all of the books you choose. Best wishes for 2023!"

Thanks, Lea. I'm waiting as well. lol"

Really, Bill?? LOL"


😎


message 33: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
My review of The Cool Cottontail by John Dudley Ball (Virgil Tibbs #2 / 1966) 4.0 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Next in line is The Innocent: by Taylor Stevens (Vanessa Munroe #2)


message 34: by Bill, Moderator (new)


message 35: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
My review of Fanny Hill, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure by John Cleland. It was a DNF with No Rating (NR) unfortunately

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Next in line in my Jan Classics is a collection of short stories, The Man Who Would be King and other stories by Rudyard Kipling


message 36: by Bill, Moderator (new)


message 37: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
Mid-January 2023 Reading Update
Completed 4 books and gave up on one, for a total of 5 so far, 1375 pages.

1. The Cool Cottontail by John Dudley Ball. The second Virgil Tibbs mystery which was excellent. Tibbs investigates a dead body discovered at a nudist colony. 4.0 stars
2. Five Little Indians by Michelle Good. A very powerful, difficult story that follows 5 people who survived a residential school near Vancouver and their attempts to live their lives as adults. 5.0 stars
3. Fanny Hill. Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure by John Cleland. I gave up on this. It was just a bit oppressive after awhile. NR
4. Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton. University student Kate Beaton spent two years in the Alberta oil sands trying to earn enough money to pay off her school debts. Told in graphic novel format, excellent and powerful. At times difficult. 4.0 stars
5. The Decent Inn of Death by Rennie Airth. Finished my 1st series of 2023, the 6th book in the John Madden mystery series. A nice way to finish a series, a snowbound, tense mystery. 4.0 stars

Currently Reading
1. Idoru by William Gibson. This will complete the Bridge trilogy. I didn't enjoy my last journey into Gibson's look at the future. Hoping this will be more successful
2. Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong The first book in the Inspector Chen mystery series. I started this in 2022 and it's been a journey, an interesting one though.
3. The Innocent: A Vanessa Michael Munroe Novel by Taylor Stevens, the 2nd book in the Vanessa Munroe thriller series. Munroe is damaged but great at her job, this time trying to rescue a young girl from a cult in Argentina
4. Stories I Might Regret Telling You: A Memoir by Martha Wainwright. Autobiography of Martha Wainwright, daughter of Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright and sister of Rufus Wainwright. Enjoying so far.
5. The Man Who Would be King and other stories by Rudyard Kipling. A collection of short stories by Kipling derived from his experiences working in India.

Enjoy the rest of your January selections.


message 38: by Bill, Moderator (new)


message 39: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4190 comments Mod
Bill wrote: "2. Five Little Indians by Michelle Good. A very powerful, difficult story that follows 5 people who survived a residential school near Vancouver and their attempts to live their lives as adults. 5.0 stars..."

Great update, Bill. I think I want to check this out. I've read a few articles and watched a like 2 documentaries on the "residential schools" They are horrifying. Besides, it's still happening.


message 40: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
Alondra wrote: "Bill wrote: "2. Five Little Indians by Michelle Good. A very powerful, difficult story that follows 5 people who survived a residential school near Vancouver and their attempts to live their lives ..."

The more they are investigated, the more they seem to discover. Terrifying.


message 41: by Martha (new)

Martha (marthas48) | 767 comments Great update! I'm going to hold off on reading anything about the residential schools. Sad what people are allowed to do.


message 42: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
Martha wrote: "Great update! I'm going to hold off on reading anything about the residential schools. Sad what people are allowed to do."

Indeed


message 43: by Bill, Moderator (new)


message 44: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
My review of The Man Who Would Be King: and Other Stories by Rudyard Kipling (3.5 stars)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Next in line is a new series and author for me; Raffles by E.W. Hornung


message 45: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
My review of The Innocent: A Vanessa Michael Munroe Novel by Taylor Stevens (3.5 stars)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Next in line is a bit of Sci-Fi, Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (Murderbots #2)


message 46: by Linette (new)

Linette | 174 comments Yay Murderbot! There is a new book in the series coming out soon, can't wait.


message 47: by Michelle (new)

Michelle (marcher08) | 1706 comments Another Murderbot fan I see. Enjoy!


message 48: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
Liking it so far.


message 49: by Lillie (new)

Lillie | 1686 comments Linette wrote: "Yay Murderbot! There is a new book in the series coming out soon, can't wait."

As soon as I saw that there was a new coming out, I added it to my challenges. So excited!


message 50: by Bill, Moderator (last edited Jan 29, 2023 06:09AM) (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
My review of Raffles by E.W. Hornung (Raffles #1 / 1899), a collection of Raffles' stories; Raffles being kind of an anti-Sherlock Holmes. (3.0 stars)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'll be starting my Feb Focus books next, books published between 1900 - 1950. Starting with The Return of Tarzan (Tarzan #2) by Edgar Rice Burroughs


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