You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

To quote my very proud Mum this arvo who had just heard this saying :)
I know a lot of people have already been tidying their to read lists trying to get ready for 2025. This month's challenge is similar in it's intent.

I want you to look at your physical bookshelves, or your ebook library, or audiobook library.

Which is the author on these lists or piles that you have the most books of that you have not read yet? Who's books do you pick every time you go past a secondhand book shop, there is an Audible sale, there is a Humble Bundle/Storybundle deal, that you see in the little libraries who you have not read yet, but you have every intention to read and grab their books for one day.

Go through and count out which authors you have the most books of but have never read as yet. Tell us the top 5 authors, and how many books you own of theirs. Then choose one of them and read one of their books.

If you are the pinnacle of self control that we all aim to emulate, and don't have a couple of authors that you own their entire catalogue and have never read. Or lets be honest and more likely, you have a tie - choose 5 authors from the tied list.

Ideally you'll love them, and you have new author to add to your priority reading lists this year. Worst case, you dislike them and clear a whole heap of books of your lists.

Reporting:

- WOF name
- Author you chose, and how many books of theirs you own.
- What you chose to read
- What did you think of it? Give us a couple of sentences so we can see if we want to snaffle this on to our own lists. "I liked it" will not count.

General Rules:

1. The book may be in any format - paperback, ebook, audiobook.
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge and the Group Themed Read.
3. The book must be started and read between January 1 - 31, 2025 (based on your local time zone).
4. The challenge is for one book. You may read more books if you chose but you need only report one.
5. The book must be 175 pages or more determined by the issue you read.
In the case of ebooks & audiobooks, the ebook edition must be at least 200 pages and the audiobook must be a minimum of 6 hours long.

WoF Marnie

I chose Sarah J. Maas and had 8 unread books.
I listened to A Court of Thorns and Roses (16 hours)

My daughter was very excited that I picked this one-she’s been bugging me to get to it…thank you Rusalka. I liked it and can see its appeal. It’s a good introduction to fantasy as the world building is accessible. It read a little young for my taste but now I’m invested and will continue on with the series.
4 stars

Sorry, and sorry for the sass :P

WOF Beth

I had 4 for Sinclair Lewis and readIt Can't Happen Here.

It was a bit hard to listen to this one in the current political climate, but it was written in 1935 and felt very current 90 years later. Lewis's style is clear and somewhat humorous, which was definitely a plus in a dystopian political book (set in my New England backyard...). I am definitely more willing to tackle the other 3 now that I have read this one!

Marnie wrote: "My daughter was very excited that I picked this one-she’s been bugging me to get to it…thank you Rusalka."

Missed this last night, you're so welcome! I'm glad you guys have a book to discuss over the weekend :D

- WOF Katrisa
- Ava Strong - 8 books
- Without Mercy
- I like FBI style mysteries, especially with female leads. They are kind of like my junk food books. I like them and I don't necessarily expect an awful lot from them - they are just fun. This book fits that perfectly. It was a fun read and I like the MC and I will read more of the series.

WOF Odette

Author: Natasha Pulley - 3 books
I chose to read The Watchmaker of Filigree Street

Though a little slow to start, this book drew me in and enjoyed reading it. The plot is complex and detailed and needs to be read carefully to get the most out of it. It is a fantasy with elements of steampunk and historical fiction. It is set in 1880's London and includes references to historical events such as the Fenian Movement and the traditional Japanese Village. I will be looking to read more books by this author

- WOF name Marie UK
- Author you chose, and how many books of theirs you own. Robin Paige I currently have 2 books
- What you chose to read Death at Bishop's Keep
- What did you think of it? Give us a couple of sentences so we can see if we want to snaffle this on to our own lists. "I liked it" will not count.
I suppose this fits into the cosy mystery genre. I read a lot of these. It is average in comparison to others in the space of just a few weeks our MC finds family she didnt know she had, travels across continents to work for one aunt as a sort of secretary companion. A second aunt lives in same house and is somewhat challenging. But no matter they are both dead within a fortnight and our MC is the one to solve both this and another murder. There is a definitie feminist theme just felt a bit too easy

WoF = Jane Reads


The Contenders
Penny Warner - 7 books
Lyn Hamilton - 8 books
Traci Andrighetti - 9 books
Julie Smith - 12 books
Jess Lourey - 16 books

The Chosen One
Jess Lourey - May Day


I enjoyed this book, the first of a 12-book series of mysteries. May Day, as well as the others in the Murder by Month Mysteries, feature a woman sleuth and have a theme of women and the magic of women. I don't know why I put off reading this series, as I am now looking forward to reading them all.

WoFSharonBiskit

Author: Nicole R. Taylor
I have 2/4 books in the Darkland Druids Series
Book: #1 Arcane Rising

This book was my second choice. The first book by a new author in a series I haven’t read just wasn’t for me and I abandoned it. I even had three of his books!

This book was a quick and fun read. I have never read anything by this author. I am reading another book/series about druids and this appealed to me. I like the characters and the world building. I will continue with this series.

WOF Marie (UK)

Author Robin Paige
I have 2 books by this author on my TBR
Book 1 book: Death at Bishop's Keep

I am not sure that I will ever get to the second in the series. I felt the narrative was clumsy. I didn't believe the MC's involvement in the case and her ready acceptance into the detective's mien

WoF ShannonSA

I have all the Bronte sisters' books, of which I've only read Wuthering Heights by Emily, so I chose Jane Eyre by Charlotte.

I found this easy reading for a classic, the characters were well-drawn, the plot tight. Although I was aware of the solution to the mystery, I didn't know the details, and the plot held my attention well.

WoF - Jenn


Sherrilyn Kenyon - 43
Infinity
This was a surprisingly fabulous find! I really enjoyed this cross between Buffy and City of Bones, plus zombies - I haven't ventured into zombieland in awhile, but will quite happily seek out more of this series :D

WOF name - Janice

I chose to read Jean Grainger. I had two books of her's on my shelves.

I read Last Port of Call

I was really disappointed in this book. It didn't not fulfil what was promised as the gist of the story. Much was said in the book blurb about the Titanic, but it was barely a mention in the book. We got a lackluster story about a young girl and her mother who lived in a large manor house. Two thirds into the book several new characters were introduced. It was all really strange.

Now I'm not looking forward to the 2nd book of hers that I have.

WoF: Lynn

Author: Jessica Khoury
Books Owned: 3 (all part of a trilogy)
Read: Sparrow Rising
Thoughts: Interesting world, fast placed plot, and wonderful characters. Loved it and can't wait to jump into book 2 and 3

WoF: Kristie

Author: Robert Dugoni
Books Owned: 14
Read: The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell
Thoughts: I knew this book would be very different than the police procedurals my husband reads by this author, but also figured the writing would probably be good since he enjoys those books. I'm really glad I finally jumped in. This is more of a realistic fiction than anything else and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed watching our MC develop his relationships and sense of self. I expect I'll be reading more of Dugoni's books that I bought because they "looked good."

WoF Almeta

Author: Ed McBain
Books Owned: 11
Read: Cinderella
Thoughts: All of McBain’s Matthew Hope series have titles and plots that mimic Fairy Tales. I am drawn in by the titles; I want to see how the plots will fit. In Cinderella a mysterious woman disappears after having attended a ball in a blue gown and “glass” high heels. Her two stepsisters can care less that her whereabouts are unknown. As the investigation progresses, her identity turns out to be far from “The Bell of the Ball” and more than just a private investigator is seeking her throughout the kingdom. Another fun McBain mystery.

Almeta wrote: "...Another fun McBain mystery.

I'm hoping I've misunderstood, Almeta. Was this the first Ed McBain book you've read, but had 11 of them on your to read list?

We were reading books of an author of whom multiple books on our to read list, but had never read the author before.