On The Same Page discussion

My 2023 formula for this challenge worked pretty well, so I will continue it. I have a huge TBR, and it feels I just throw darts at it, and that's how I pick the next book to read. It's not quite like that (there is a method to my madness) but that's very close.
So I'll aim for 75 books, and this way I won't feel pressured to avoid the big tomes.
- equal parts stand-alones and series
- equal parts old and new on my TBR
- a variety of genres
- some buddy reads, book club reads, monthly picks in various GR groups
And no guilt about abandoning books that don't feel "right" for me.
The new goal for this year is more sci-fi, which I love but don't read much of, and I have no idea why. So I will try at least one a month, to be selected from the long listed for Hugo or Nebula awards. Think of if as a non-official, unpublished 12+4 list.
That's it 🙂

Stand alone books
1. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi 4*
2. Way Station 3*
3. Small Mercies 4*
4. Poverty, by America 3.5*
5. The Six: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts 4*
6. The Gate to Women's Country
7. The Tiffany Girls 3*
8. Yellowface 3*
9. To Be Taught, If Fortunate 4*
10. Crying in H Mart 3*
11. The Kaiju Preservation Society 4*
12. The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell 4*
13. Weyward 3*
14. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder 3*
15. Nettle & Bone 3*
16. The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession 4*
17. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine 4*
18. Bright Young Women 3.5*
19. Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere DNF
20. Someone You Can Build a Nest In 2.5*
21. All Involved 2.5*
22. Bad Science 1*
23. When the Elephants Dance 2.5*
24. Replay 4.5*
25. The Lions of Fifth Avenue 2*
26. Boys in the Valley 3*
27. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
28. The Frozen River 4*
29. The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World 3*
30. Tom Lake 3.5*
31. Beaks, Bones and Bird Songs: How the Struggle for Survival Has Shaped Birds and Their Behavior 2*
32. Before She Knew Him 3*
33. The Familiar 2*
34. Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World 4*
35. Stepsister 2*
36. The Giver of Stars 3*
37. Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident 3.5*
38. Wonder Drug: The Secret History of Thalidomide in America and Its Hidden Victims 4*
39. Goodbye, Eastern Europe: An Intimate History of a Divided Land
40. Razorblade Tears 4*
41. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau
42. The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo 3*
43. In the Lives of Puppets
45. Solito 3*
46. The Perfume Collector 2.5*
47. 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World 4*
48. The Calculating Stars 2.5*
49. The Birth of Venus
50. The Women 3.5*
51. First Lie Wins 4.5*
52. How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future 4*
53. The Fox Wife 2*
54. The Promise of Stardust 3.5*
55. The Covenant of Water 3*
56. This Is How You Lose the Time War 2*
57. Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen 3*
58. Bridge to Terabithia 4.5*
59. The Collected Regrets of Clover 3.5*
60. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store 2.5*
61. The Pale-Faced Lie 4*
62. A Guest in the House 4*
63. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden 2*
64. By Ann Fessler The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the De (Reprint) Paperback 5*
65. Those We Thought We Knew 3.5*
66. The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story 3*
67. The Graveyard Book 4*
68. Radioactive: Marie and Pierre Curie, A Tale of Love and Fallout 4*
69. The Sea Wolves: A History of the Vikings 2*
70. Not Dead Yet: The Memoir 3*
71. Saving Noah 4*
72. The Measure 4.5*
73. Reamde 3.5*
74. Prophet's Prey: My Seven-Year Investigation into Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints 4*
75. Murder Road 2.5*
76. The Answer Is No 2.5*
77. Steve Jobs 4.5*
78. Piranesi 4*
79. Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America 4*
80. The Blood of Flowers 3.5*
81. Sociopath: A Memoir 2.5*
82. The Escape Room 3.5*
83. Ring Shout 2.5*
84. Soul Full of Coal Dust: A Fight for Breath and Justice in Appalachia 3*
85. In God's Name 3*
86. A Little Life 3*

Books in series
Legends & Lattes
#1. Legends & Lattes 3*

Detective D.D. Warren
#8. Fear Nothing 3*

The Green Bone Saga - Completed
#1. Jade City 4*
#2. Jade War 4*
#3. Jade Legacy 4*

Will Trent
#6. Criminal 3*

FBI Profiler
#2. The Third Victim 3*

Holly Gibney - Completed
#2. If It Bleeds 3*
#3. Holly 4*

Mickey7
#1. Mickey7 3*

Orphan X - Completed
#8.5. The Recital 3.5*
#9. Lone Wolf

The Lincoln Lawyer - Completed
#7. Resurrection Walk 4*

Monk & Robot
#1. A Psalm for the Wild-Built 3*

Daughter of Cambodia
#2. Lucky Child: A Daughter of Cambodia Reunites with the Sister She Left Behind 4*

Waverley Family
#1. Garden Spells 4*

After - Completed
#4. Five Years After

Saga - Completed
#11. Saga, Volume 11 3*

The Machineries of Empire
#1. Ninefox Gambit

Terminal List
#1. The Terminal List 2.5*

Rogue Team International - Completed
#3. Cave 13 4*

Jessica Balzano & Kevin Byrne
#1. The Rosary Girls 3.5*

The Book Series
#1. The Plot 2*

4MK Thriller
#1. The Fourth Monkey 4*

Nikki Griffin
#1. Save Me from Dangerous Men 3.5*

Xenogenesis
#1. Dawn 4*
#2. Adulthood Rites 3.5*
#3. Imago 2*

Cerulean Chronicles - Completed
#2. Somewhere Beyond the Sea 2.5*

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats
#1. The Art of Hearing Heartbeats 2.5*

Peter Ash
#2. Burning Bright 4*

The Chronicles of Osreth
#1. The Goblin Emperor 2.5*

The Firm - Completed
#2. The Exchange 3.5*

Dave Gurney
#2. Shut Your Eyes Tight 3.5*

Forward Collection
#2. Summer Frost 3.5*

Renée Ballard
#2. Dark Sacred Night 3.5*

Good luck, Ioana! Can't wait to see what you pick! 📚📚👀

Thanks, Alondra. Me too 😉

You have found what works for you and are picking good books. I look forward to adding all your books that I've never heard of to my TBR. :-)

Lea wrote: "You have found what works for you and are picking good books. I look forward to adding all your books that I've never heard of to my TBR. :-)"

Hmmm, I didn't think I was reading obscure books...but glad to add to your TBR. Pay back feels good :-)

Ioana wrote: "Hmmm, I didn't think I was reading obscure books...but glad to add to your TBR. Pay back feels good :-)"

I definitely want to find more sources for NF books. A lot of your NF books that you read are not on the lists that I read, and end up being very good! I'm not sure if they are obscure or not, but they definitely aren't being presented to me on the places where I find books. :-)

And sharing is caring. I love that we all share our goodreads around here!

I can't tell you where I hear about these titles, I collect as I go, the world of NF books is soooo vast. And I know I will continue to read NF, as I continue to love it, and I'll share notes :-)

You can't go wrong with that. It covers everything.. Enjoy.

Bill wrote: "You can't go wrong with that. It covers everything.. Enjoy."

I think it's the only thing that works for me: variety, then I'm happy :-)

Variety is the spice of life! Good luck with this challenge. I hope you love all those SciFi books since you want to focus on that genre a little.

Karol wrote: "Variety is the spice of life! Good luck with this challenge. I hope you love all those SciFi books since you want to focus on that genre a little."

Thank you. Somehow, each year seems to be different from the prior ones (for me). 2022 was a lot of non-fiction, 2023 series...let's see what 2024 will bring.

I like that you are keeping your choices open. Good luck.

Jackie wrote: "I like that you are keeping your choices open. Good luck."

Yes, open choices...it summarizes it well. I will read books. What books? Hmmm, I don't know yet....books :-)

I like your challenge Ioana, especially the one sci-fi a month challenge. I'm going to be watching what you read to see what I need to put on my TBR.

Michelle wrote: "I like your challenge Ioana, especially the one sci-fi a month challenge. I'm going to be watching what you read to see what I need to put on my TBR."

Hopefully I will find some good ones. Stay tuned.

Love your challenge! I'll be watching to see your Hugo & Nebula picks. I read a couple this year I really loved & wondered why I don't read more.

Patricia wrote: "I'll be watching to see your Hugo & Nebula picks. I read a couple this year I really loved & wondered why I don't read more."

That's exactly how I feel, and I hope to read more in 2024. Do you have any good recommendations?

The two I read this year were both the second in the series--To Say Nothing of the Dog which follows The Doomsday Book. I think they both won either Hugo or Nebula. And the next two also both won awards: Children of God which follows The Sparrow. With Connie Willis's books, you don't really need to read the first, but you definitely should read The Sparrow before Children of God. Anyway, all were excellent!

Thank you!
I've read both Connie Willis's books, and enjoyed them a lot.
The Doomsday Book has been on my TBR....ouch, since 2012. I need to reshuffle my priorities 😉

Also, I loved Nettle & Bone which won the Hugo this year. Not sure why really. It's more fantasy than scifi. To me anyway. I must of missed something!

Patricia wrote: "Also, I loved Nettle & Bone which won the Hugo this year. Not sure why really. It's more fantasy than scifi. To me anyway. I must of missed something!"

A lot of people loved that book (glad you were part of that group too), and it's on my list for next year. I have a good feeling about 2024!

2024 started well, even though this was mostly read in 2023. But finished now, so it counts.
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. Fantasy is hit or miss for me, and this one was a hit. Maybe because the main character was a mature woman and not a teenager, there was no love triangle, but a good story, interesting magic creatures, pirates and demons, sorcery, ancient magic artifacts...what's not to like? 4 stars, maybe even 4.5.

Way Station
Hugo Award for Best Novel (1964), Locus Award Nominee for All-Time Best SF Novel (1987)
Interesting read, but not very engaging. Not short enough, and at the same time, not long enough either. I wish some of the concepts and stories were explored in more depth, and connected better, because lots of interesting pieces felt disjoint. First published in 1963, it is not terribly outdated, but some parts felt unrealistic in any times. (view spoiler)[Lewis's relationship with the FBI and the government was a big one. Which government would return an alien's remains the next day, without a fight? (hide spoiler)] 3 stars

2 down, that a girl!!

Simak can be hit or miss. I think City is one of the great Sci Fi novels. I also liked The Werewolf Principle very much but The Goblin Reservation was just silly. Way Station sounds interesting.

Alissa wrote: "2 down, that a girl!!"

Doing a happy dance here. 💃
Are you reading Small Mercies? Have you noticed that GR doesn't have the option to update your progress anymore? So, how far into it are you? I'm listening to the audiobook, I'm on part 4 of 10.

Bill wrote: "Simak can be hit or miss. I think City is one of the great Sci Fi novels. I also liked The Werewolf Principle very much but The Goblin Reservation was just silly. Way Station sounds interesting."

I'll definitely need to try City now!

Ioana wrote: "Alissa wrote: "2 down, that a girl!!"

Doing a happy dance here. 💃
Are you reading Small Mercies? Have you noticed that GR doesn't have the option to update your progress anymore? So, how far into it are you? I'm listening to the audiobook, I'm on part 4 of 10."

Look at you, two books down and on part 4 of 10 already in Small Mercies!

I'm only 1 hour into the audiobook, but I'm will probably listen for another hour or two tonight. It's pretty gripping so far!

I'll listen some more while doing my puzzle and enjoying a cup of tea, perfect winter combination!

Ioana wrote: "I'll listen some more while doing my puzzle and enjoying a cup of tea, perfect winter combination!"

FINALLY the progress button came back, I had anxiety for like 2 days lol

I can already tell this book will not have a very ending... but it's definitely gripping!

Alissa wrote: "FINALLY the progress button came back, I had anxiety for like 2 days lol

I can already tell this book will not have a very ending... but it's definitely gripping!"

Yes, big sigh of relief there too.
I did not read yesterday, so I'm still at 50% and waiting (bracing?) for the things to come.

Small Mercies is hard to read, and hard to put down. On the backdrop of the 1974's schools' integration in Boston, Mary Pat's daughter doesn't come back from a night out with friends.
What follows is the story of the mother's search for her daughter, in a world of poverty, drugs, mistrust and racism. She is not likable, and you can't approve of her actions, but you can't stop following her. We suspect, we know the daughter, Jules is dead and of course she finds the ones responsible for her death, and the revenge is not pretty.
Dennis Lehane does not beautify his characters, but builds them interesting, credible and flawed and makes you think. I was left exhausted and empty after this book. There is no happy ending, although, maybe, just maybe, a little glimpse of hope.

Ioana wrote: "Bill wrote: "Simak can be hit or miss. I think City is one of the great Sci Fi novels. I also liked The Werewolf Principle very much but The Goblin Reservation was just silly. Way Station sounds in..."

You might cry.

I love books that make me cry. If all books would make me cry, I'd only have 4 and 5 stars reads :-)

I love that you're starting out the year with winners so far. Yay!

Poverty, by America was a very interesting book. Lots of numbers, sometimes too many, but an important book that should be read. The book discusses some of the causes why there are so many living below the poverty line in US, and suggests some ways to fix this.
I think the causes part of the book is better outlined, but because of the topic's complexity (and the author's views) the solutions part is only half baked. Of course, if there was a simple solution, there would be no poverty. Some ideas sound indeed simplistic or not realistic, and I did not agree with all of them, but it's a starting point for a meaningful discussion. 3.5 stars
This was a buddy read with Lea, and as always, I really enjoyed our comments and ideas exchange.
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by the same author focuses more on the housing issues, and less on other necessities, like food. Worth reading too.

Ioana wrote: "Poverty, by America was a very interesting book. Lots of numbers, sometimes too many, but an important book that should be read. The book discusses some of the causes why there are ..."

Interesting.

I'm so glad we got to buddy read this, Ioana. I had shied away from Evicted because of some negative reviews, but now I have more interest in reading that one too. I love buddy reading with you!

Both Poverty and Evicted discuss the same segment of population: working poors. But while we all can relate to rising food costs, few of us can understand how some people who sometimes work 2 or more jobs become homeless. Again, a topic that should be discussed but few realistic solutions. We all agree there is a huge need for affordable houses, but nobody wants them in their backyard, and everybody wants their home equity to go up. Something's gotta give...
I love buddy reading with you, too!

Legends & Lattes seems to be on everyone's TBR now. I enjoyed it, it was a fun and easy read, and I will read the prequel. But a nominee for all Hugo, Nebula and Locus? Best Novel? Hmmm...3 stars for me.

The Six: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts. We (the women) have come a long way...I can't believe the sexism and attitude towards women in the 60s. Actually I can, I know that's how it was...and these were all amazing women, super qualified in their fields. Their journey was not an easy one.
I wish the story individualized them more. While it follows them separately, they are all painted with a similar brush, and they all seem interchangeable. Also, this is a NF book, and still, the author imagines/speculates what some of the astronauts said and did in certain situation, in the moments Challenger exploded. Sadly, we will never know.
This is not a perfect book, it is somewhat chronological but seems to jump around a lot, and still, an interesting topic and a story that must be told. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Another book I want to read sometime! :-) I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I am heartbroken. I just finished Jade City, and it's finally a fantasy series that I loved. Adult fantasy, no romance, interesting world and interesting characters, political intrigue and fights between 2 clans, loyalty and betrayal, drugs and addiction, perfect!!
The problem is that none of my libraries has book #2 and #3, how is that possible? I think I'll have to join Audible.com, because I really want to read the rest of this series.

I just checked to make sure that between all my libraries I can get my hands on all three. Thanks for the recommendation. :-)

I am positive that at least one library had them when I got the 1st one. I don't understand what happened, did they exhaust the number of times allowed to lend it?

Ioana wrote: "I am positive that at least one library had them when I got the 1st one. I don't understand what happened, did they exhaust the number of times allowed to lend it?"

I think it is like a license, and that license expires after a certain amount of time. I have had my library do that before to me also. :-(

Fingers crossed that they will renew it soon 🤞🤞

Ioana wrote: "Fingers crossed that they will renew it soon 🤞🤞"

I think you might want to make a request for it. If they have enough activity, they might do something about it. Unfortunately, they didn't for the book I wanted; so I ended up having to purchase it myself. :-(

I did, let's see what happens. If not, I'll get audible for a month. I've never had a subscription, so I can do a trial month then cancel.