On The Same Page discussion

I have so many books that I own and plan to read next year that I decided to set up a 2nd challenge to encourage myself to read them! Most of them I have bought recently (5 of them in December).
(A) - 6 are by authors I've previously read and enjoyed.
(N) - 11 are new to me authors.
(C) - 7 are classics

* - Currently reading
Completed: 5/16

1. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra (A)
2. The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon (N, C)
✔️3. Fifth Business by Robertson Davies (N, C)
4. Half a Life by V.S. Naipaul (A)
✔️5. Soseki Natsume's I Am A Cat: The Manga Edition (N, C) Read: Jan 4 (4 stars)
6. The Innocents by Michael Crummey (N)
7. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (N,C)
8. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman(A)
✔️9. Less by Andrew Sean Greer (N)
10. The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan (N)
11. The Old Man Who Read Love Stories by Luis Sepúlveda (A)
✔️12. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler (A)

Plus 4:
13. The Paradise by Émile Zola (N, C)
✔️14. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (N)
15. Time Out of Joint by Philip K. Dick (A,C)
16. The Violent Land by Jorge Amado (N, C)

Parable of the Sower is excellent. That is all.

Good luck and happy reading on this list, as well. :)

What Alondra said. 😉

#10 sounds fascinating. Just added to my TBR...

What a great list. I'm also hoping to read Parable of the Sower this year. In fact, Alissa, Patricia and I are buddy reading it in March, if you want to join.

You're the only person I know who has read/is trying to read I am a Cat. I did not read the manga edition, but I think it would lend itself really well to manga.

The Secret History was excellent for me, I hope you like it too.

Happy reading Pam!

Have only read one on your list, Less by Andrew Greer. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)

Lea wrote: "What a great list. I'm also hoping to read Parable of the Sower this year. In fact, Alissa, Patricia and I are buddy reading it in March, if you want to join.

You're the only person I know who ha..."

Thank you Lea! I would love to join the buddy read in March! I will put it on my group read calendar, which is filling up fast. I also have the book I am a Cat and plan to read it, too. I will probably read the manga edition first. I was really excited to find it this past week!

Laurel wrote: "#10 sounds fascinating. Just added to my TBR..."

Laurel - I am glad you found something of interest on my list! I lent the book (The Lost Pianos of Siberia) to my dad and he just finished it. He really enjoyed it and am sure he's dying to talk with me about it! So, I need to read it fairly soon or at least read a few chapters to start with.

Lillie wrote: "Have only read one on your list, Less by Andrew Greer. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)"

Thanks Lillie! I know this book was really popular when it came out and I meant to read it then, 6 years ago! Plus, it won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for fiction so it better be good, right?!

Lea wrote: "What a great list. I'm also hoping to read Parable of the Sower this year. In fact, Alissa, Patricia and I are buddy reading it in March, if you want to join.

You're the only person I know who ha..."

Please add me to the March list for Parable. Thanks.

Pam wrote: "Thank you Lea! I would love to join the buddy read in March! I will put it on my group read calendar, which is filling up fast. I also have the book I am a Cat and plan to read it, too. I will probably read the manga edition first. I was really excited to find it this past week!"

I would have been super excited for that find too, Pam! I have put you down for the March read. The thread will be in the Buddy Reads section. I'm not sure I'm allowed to link anymore, but I'm going to try and see what happens. :-)

Thread with the calendar

Jackie wrote: "Please add me to the March list for Parable. Thanks."

Yay! I added you right away. I think it will be great to read it together.

Thread with the calendar

Thanks Lea! Look forward to reading with you all!

Some challenging books there. I read Fifth Business back in my university days and enjoyed the trilogy very much. Time out of Joint is interesting one. The Paradise was excellent, as was the TV series based on it. I hope to read more Octavia Butler next year. Enjoy them all

Thanks Bill! I just finished season 1 of The Paradise, which inspired me to read the book! I actually bought the book for my husband several years ago, when he was reading Zola’s books, but he never read it. He says he wants to read it, though! I had never heard of Fifth Business but it sounds really interesting and the cover has houses with eyeballs on them. A weird cover is always a plus for me! I found it on a cult classic display. Also, I’m focusing on Canadian authors next year and he is one I’ve never heard of so that’s a plus also.

Pam~Great List and such a good idea to actually get to read the books we buy. Best of Luck with your 2024 Challenge.

I like your letters those are good categories

Thank you Kristin and Cecilia! I am excited to start a new year of reading! 📚

Pam wrote: "Thanks Bill! I just finished season 1 of The Paradise, which inspired me to read the book! I actually bought the book for my husband several years ago, when he was reading Zola’s books, but he neve..."

I've enjoyed many of Davies' books. I hope you enjoy it.

Lea wrote: "Jackie wrote: "Please add me to the March list for Parable. Thanks."

Yay! I added you right away. I think it will be great to read it together.

Thread with the calendar"

Thanks, Lea!

Yay for all of the Parable group readers!


The Secret History is in my top 10 books of all time, I love it so much!

I'm not familiar with most of these books. But i have a feeling I'll be adding alot of them. Good luck with your reading challenge! 😊

Alissa wrote: "Yay for all of the Parable group readers!


The Secret History is in my top 10 books of all time, I love it so much!"

And just like that i already added this one. 🤣

Alissa wrote: "Yay for all of the Parable group readers!
The Secret History is in my top 10 books of all time, I love it so much!"

I'm glad to see so much love for The Secret History! I've had it on my TBR forever and it's a group read in another group so it seems like a good time to read it! I still haven't read a single book by Donna Tartt.

Lindsey wrote: "I'm not familiar with most of these books. But i have a feeling I'll be adding alot of them. Good luck with your reading challenge! 😊"

Thanks Lindsey! I changed #8 and substituted it with a cozy mystery The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman. I feel confident that I will read this one since I'm reading book #2 in the series now and I just found this one (#3) at the library's bookstore.

I think I've made my last change! I had one non-fiction on my list for #10 but changed it to The Narrow Road to the Deep North, which I just bought at the library bookstore. I hate to delete my only non-fiction choice but I will wind up reading something during the year!

One down - I am a Cat: Manga Edition which was very good (4 stars). Still reading the original I am a Cat that it was based on.

I've started Less but have to focus first on a library book (ILL) due on Feb 5. I think this one will be a quick enjoyable read! After that, I want to start Invisible Man. I'm reading it for a Quarter 1 group read in a classics group. It's a book I have been interested in reading for several years.

I finished Less last month. I enjoyed it but have no idea why it won a Pulitzer Prize. ?? It wasn’t remarkable but it was a light, easy read. I’ll probably continue with Arthur Less’s life journey and read the next book Less is Lost. (2025 12+4 challenge maybe? Starting my planning early!)

Up next: Invisible Man and The Secret History.

Pam wrote: "I finished Less last month. I enjoyed it but have no idea why it won a Pulitzer Prize. ?? It wasn’t remarkable but it was a light, easy read. I’ll probably continue with Arthur Less’s life journey ..."

I didn't understand why it won either but then I'm never in step with the Pulitzer Prize. I think I ended up liking it but not loving it and felt the same way about the second book. I'd say read it (and it's never too soon to start planning!!)

I’ve not made much progress on this list, even though I still want to read all of the books! I’ve pulled The Violent Land off my shelves to read next but I think I need lighter material right now after just finishing Death’s End! I might choose something from my other 12+4 list. I just started a Russian satire, The Fur Hat by Vladimir Voinovich, which is very funny! Too bad I left it off my challenge.

Pam wrote: "I’ve not made much progress on this list, even though I still want to read all of the books! I’ve pulled The Violent Land off my shelves to read next but I think I need lighter material right now a..."

Thats okay, just do your best. I see that you've already read 45 books this year; so you are doing awesome!!

Don't force yourself to read what you should read, read what makes you happy.

Thanks Alondra! In December I’m always so ambitious for the next year and then I start reading all kinds of other stuff. I am currently reading one book, The Secret History, from this list. There are at least 3 that I still plan to read.

Pam wrote: "Thanks Alondra! In December I’m always so ambitious for the next year and then I start reading all kinds of other stuff. I am currently reading one book, The Secret History, from this list. There a..."

I feel you and feel the same. It sounds great when I list the books, then halfway through I am on to other things.

I have the Secret History and might try that on next year's list. Hope you enjoy it.

I’m currently reading Fifth Business and should finish it this month. I think that will be it for this list. Books #1 and 10-13 will be carried over to next year. I did knock off a few books that I own so I’m happy with that progress!

Pam wrote: "I’m currently reading Fifth Business and should finish it this month. I think that will be it for this list. Books #1 and 10-13 will be carried over to next year. I did knock off a few books that I..."

I hope you're enjoying it.

Bill wrote: "Pam wrote: "I’m currently reading Fifth Business and should finish it this month. I think that will be it for this list. Books #1 and 10-13 will be carried over to next year. I did knock off a few ..."

I just finished Fifth Business and thought it was great! I found used copies (nothing available through my library) of the 2nd and 3rd books in the trilogy and hope they are just as good. I'm not very familiar with Can Lit and plan to continue exploring it and finding new-to-me authors.

Pam wrote: "Bill wrote: "Pam wrote: "I’m currently reading Fifth Business and should finish it this month. I think that will be it for this list. Books #1 and 10-13 will be carried over to next year. I did kno..."

As I remember, and it's been a long time, 2 was ok, and 3 was very good. I've enjoyed other books by Davies, also by Mordecai Richler, amongst other Canadian authors... Good luck.

Alondra wrote: "I have the Secret History and might try that on next year's list..."

Alondra - I was disappointed with the book. I had very high expectations since so many readers LOVE it. The story didn't appeal to me or feel authentic, none of the characters were likeable, and it was really long. I see readers saying how they love dark academia (and mentioning this book) so it could be the genre is just not my cup of tea. I don't care for thrillers either.

Pam wrote: "Alondra wrote: "I have the Secret History and might try that on next year's list..."

Alondra - I was disappointed with the book. I had very high expectations since so many readers LOVE it. The sto..."

Ugh!! I have found that the reviews are a Love it or hate it. I have the book and will try it. Worst thing that could happen is that it goes to the Little Library on my block. LOL

I FINALLY read Parable of the Sower! I needed a title starting with a P for an A-Z challenge so that pushed me to read it. I thought it was really good and am interested in reading the sequel. It reminded me of The Road but with much more hope and community. The voice of the main character was really amazing and is what made it a 4 star read for me.

I still have 2 novellas on my challenge which maybe I will get to this year! And, I just realized that 4-5 of the remaining books are on my 2025 12+4 challenge. I didn't even remember they were on my 2024 challenge but it's a good sign that I still want to read them. I just ran out of time!

Pam wrote: "I FINALLY read Parable of the Sower! I needed a title starting with a P for an A-Z challenge so that pushed me to read it. I thought it was really good and am interested in reading the..."

I have that on my book shelf to read. I'm looking forward to it.

Pam wrote: "I FINALLY read Parable of the Sower! I needed a title starting with a P for an A-Z challenge so that pushed me to read it. I thought it was really good and am interested in reading the..."

Yay! So, glad you liked that book! It is such an excellent story and the 2nd book is good too. Nothing hits like that 1st book; but still.... LOL

Pam wrote: "I FINALLY read Parable of the Sower! I needed a title starting with a P for an A-Z challenge so that pushed me to read it. I thought it was really good and am interested in reading the..."

So glad you enjoyed it, the sequel is very good too. Hope you'll get to it soon.