Challenge: 50 Books discussion

I barely made it to 70 in 2024, but I'm going for it again. With everything else going on, I still need to prioritize reading. It makes me happy!

Ann A wrote: "With everything else going on, I still need to prioritize reading. It makes me happy!"

Yay! What a nice sentiment :)

Good luck on your 2025 goal -- and if you don't make it to 70, hopefully you at least have a ton of reads that you enjoy :)

1 - The History of Sound
And...wonderful to start off the new year with a winner! I really loved this collection of "paired" stories all set in New England. 5*

2 - Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet
Technical, but accessible. Very interesting history of the internet and why blockchain networks are important for the future. 4*

3 - Beautyland
An alien "coming of age" story. Yeah, it sounds odd but it's well-written and it works! 4*

Tiffany wrote: "Ann A wrote: "With everything else going on, I still need to prioritize reading. It makes me happy!
Yay! What a nice sentiment :)

Good luck on your 2025 goal -- and if you don't make it to 70, h..."

Thank you, Tiffany. I've started off the year with 3 winners, so I'm highly encouraged!

Ann A wrote: "Thank you, Tiffany. I've started off the year with 3 winners, so I'm highly encouraged!"

What a great start! Here's hoping the rest of the year is as successful!!

4 - Headshot
Another Tournament of Books selection I was surprised to enjoy. Teenage female boxers! 4* (rounded up)

5 - Wandering Stars
Maybe not as good as "There, There", but as far as character development and plain beautiful writing on a tough subject, few can rival Tommy Orange for me. 4*

6 - Nutshell
This was a weird one, that I pretty much loved. McEwan is usually a hit for me. 4*

7 - Ballistics
Not my favorite Billy Collins collection, but I still love his work. 4*

8 - The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
Somewhat repetitive as most books like this are, but still very helpful with staying grounded and not letting things "get" to you. 4*

9 - Colored Television
I got frustrated with many of the main character's decisions, but I still really liked this deceptively complex novel. 4*

10 - After You
Not perfect, but I was thoroughly engrossed. 4*

11 - Nicholas Nickleby
My opinion of whoever else I'm reading alongside Dickens (I never have just one book going) is immediately lowered. Also, I accept my command of the English language is dismal. 4* (1001 Books)

12 - The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
I will read anything McBride writes, but I didn't love this one as much as The Good Lord Bird or Deacon King Kong. 4*

13 - Orbital
Loved this Booker winner, and I keep thinking about it. 4.5*

14 - Fourth Wing
My first foray into "new adult" fantasy. Entertaining enough, but I won't be continuing the series. 3*

15 - Gorky Park
Didn't love it - didn't hate it. Glad to get it if off my TBR, where it has languished for many years. 3*

16 - Billiards at Half-Past Nine
Interesting story of a German trying to live a normal life after WWII. 3 1/2* (1001 Books)

17 - Three Weeks in Paris
Thank goodness this is done and in the donate pile. Either I have outgrown Barbara Taylor Bradford, or this is one of her worst. 1*

18 - Erasure
I did like this, but may have enjoyed the movie more (American Fiction). 4*

19 - How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith
I'm not very religious, but I found practical advice here. It's still hard to believe the scathing remarks this woman was subjected to simply because she called for compassion. 4*

20 - Five Decembers
Hard Case Crime random library pick. A surprising solid 3.5* for me.

21 - North Woods
Beautiful nature writing and storytelling. It's books like this that literally keep me "grounded". 4.5*

22 - The Book Censor's Library
Enjoyable, but also unsettling as more and more book banning occurs. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. 4*

23 - The First State of Being
...And this is why I continue to read the Newbery winners. 5*!

24 - Let the Great World Spin
Had been on my TBR for years. Depressing and gritty, but you find yourself rooting for the characters despite their flaws. 4*

25 - The Body: A Guide for Occupants
I love Bill Bryson and am sad he has retired. No matter what he writes about, I feel informed and entertained. 5*

26 - The Wedding People
Soft pick. I found the plot mostly ridiculous, but the good writing and fun characters made me enjoy it anyway. 3.5*

27 - With No One as Witness
I love George's writing and get so engrossed in her novels that I'm hardly aware of time passing. However, I found this one so depressing I couldn't give it the usual 4 stars. Perhaps it's just my state of mind at the moment. 3*

28 - The Vicious Vet
Silly fluff, but fun. 3*

29 - My Friends
Beautifully written and moving novel about three friends and their relationship with their home country, Libya. 5*

30 - Time's Arrow
Well, that was certainly unique. A guy lives his life backwards. 3*
(1001 Books)

31 -My Friends
My second novel with this title in the last two weeks! I liked the characters and the idea of the story, but the delivery was awkward. I found some of the scenes and dialogue over-the-top. 3*

32 - Go Down, Moses
My 2nd Faulkner and this one was harder work, particularly the page-long sentences. 3* (1001 Books)

33 - Braiding Sweetgrass
Absolutely loved this wonderful book. 5*

Ann A wrote: "32 - Go Down, Moses
My 2nd Faulkner and this one was harder work, particularly the page-long sentences. 3* (1001 Books)..."

Indeed! You should get bonus points for making it through Faulkner. Extra bonus points for understanding the multi-page sentences!

Tiffany wrote: "Ann A wrote: "32 - Go Down, Moses
My 2nd Faulkner and this one was harder work, particularly the page-long sentences. 3* (1001 Books)..."

Extra bonus points for understanding the multi-page sentences! ..."

Alas, I did try but the understanding part didn't always happen. *sigh*

34 - The Underground Library
I can overlook the cheesy parts because I hadn't known about the "underground" life during WWII. I love learning new stuff from historical fiction. 3.5*

35 - The Safekeep
This started off as a promising psychological thriller, but didn't keep the pace for me as I got further in. 3*

36 - Telling Tales
Vera Stanhope is yet another mystery series I really enjoy. 4*

37 - Franny and Zooey
Didn't like this as much as Catcher in the Rye. 3*
(1001 Books)

38 - Camilla
Nothing like good old-fashioned 1000-page 18th century melodrama where reputation was everything! 4*
(1001 Books)

39 - Atmosphere
It was a decent, but I'm not much of a romance reader. I wanted more of the space stuff. 3*

40 - The Black Prince
A wild ride. My eyes glazed over at some of the philosophical bits, but the drama built until I couldn't put it down near the end. 4*
(1001 Books)

41 - Antony and Cleopatra
My annual Shakespeare read before I see the play. (I go to a Shakespeare festival every summer.) This one was just ok. 3*

42 - Hidden Depths
I've become a big Ann Cleeves fan. The TV shows from her books are also great. 4*

43 - The Adventures of Sally
More fun from P.G. Wodehouse. His humo(u)r is right up my alley. 4*