Annual Reading Challenge 2019

[TexasBee]

15 / 115 - Nighttown - Hallinan, Timothy. Junior Bender #7 and yes you need to read the others to really understand this one. I don't think I would like to go into this one cold - it's been about a year since I read #6 and even I struggled a bit to remember where we left off. These are murder mysteries and the protagonist is a burglar. They're all pretty good although lately they are darker. I still enjoy Junior and gang, so I gave it 4 stars.

 

[dolewhipdreams]

#4/30: The Iron King by Maurice Druon (5/5). A very Game of Thrones-type telling of France in the middle ages. It's the first in a series and begins during the reign of Philip IV (Philip the Fair) in 1314.

 

[dolewhipdreams]

2/30 - The Road Beyond Ruin by Gemma Liviero

For some people in post–World War II Germany, the battle is not over.
August 1945. As Stefano, an Italian POW, heads toward home across war-ravaged Germany, he encounters a young child beside his dead mother. Unable to leave him to an unknown fate, Stefano takes the boy with him, finding refuge in a seemingly abandoned house in a secluded woodland.

But the house is far from vacant. Stefano wakes at the arrival of its owner, Erich, a former German soldier, who invites the travelers to stay until they can find safe passage home. Stefano cautiously agrees, intrigued by the disarming German, his reclusive neighbor Rosalind, and her traumatized husband, Georg. Stefano is also drawn to Monique, the girl in a photograph on Rosalind’s wall, who went missing during the war.

But when he discovers letters written by Monique, a darker truth emerges. This place of refuge could be one of reckoning, and the secrets of the past might prevent the travelers from ever getting home.

Wow this looks really intriguing!

 

[mmouse37]

4/30 - Night by Elie Weisel

In 1986, when Wiesel received the Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wrote, “Elie Wiesel was rescued from the ashes of Auschwitz after storm and fire had ravaged his life. In time he realized that his life could have purpose: that he was to be a witness, the one who would pass on the account of what had happened so that the dead would not have died in vain and so the living could learn.” Night, which has sold millions of copies around the world, is the very embodiment of that conviction. It is written in simple, understated language, yet it is emotionally devastating, never to be forgotten.Born in the town of Sighet, Transylvania, Wiesel was a teenager when he and his family were deported to Auschwitz and then Buchenwald. Night is the shattering record of his memories of the death of his mother, father, and little sister, Tsipora; the death of his own innocence; and his despair as a deeply observant Jew confronting the absolute evil of man. “Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, that turned my life into one long night,” writes Wiesel. “Never shall I forget . . . even were I condemned to live as long as God Himself.” These words are etched into the wall of the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. Far more than a chronicle of the sadistic realm of the camps, Night also addresses many of the philosophical and personal questions implicit in any serious consideration of the Holocaust.


This was a fast read but as all Holocaust books tough at times to get through.

MJ

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

9 Sunny California 2

 

[willowsnn3]

#10/50

The Armored Saint by Myke Cole
In a world where any act of magic could open a portal to hell, the Order insures that no wizard will live to summon devils, and will kill as many innocent people as they must to prevent that greater horror. After witnessing a horrendous slaughter, the village girl Heloise opposes the Order, and risks bringing their wrath down on herself, her family, and her village.

Only a little over 200 pages. Thought it would be a quick read while waiting for books I have on hold. Not. It was just ok to begin with and fell all to pieces 3/4 way thru. But I muddled thru & so glad to finish. It is supposed to be first in a series that I will NOT be reading, lol.

 

[bobbiwoz]

9/75
Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

A friend recommended this series, so I began with the first. I am not a fan.

 

[Colleen27]

#22/130 - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

A reread of a favorite. My daughter and I were talking about the books vs. the television adaptations and I got to thinking that so many years went by between the first time I read the books and when the series launched that I couldn't really do a very close comparison. So I reread book one, and remembered that I liked Claire much better in the book. I'm not sure I'll keep on through the series again, though, because there are so many other books on my to-read list and it is such a very long series.

#23/130 - Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

Another reread. I picked this one up when it first came out and had mixed feelings about it. That is even more true now. But the book came up in an ongoing discussion among a more politically-minded group of friends so I set out to reread it to see if my impression would be any different with the benefit of an extra decade or so of life experience and increasing political involvement, not to mention a journalism degree. If anything, I'm more ambivalent now. The author had an important story to tell, but I really dislike her approach - putting herself at center stage in a story she acknowledges is not genuinely her own in any way, engaging in something like poverty-tourism rather than taking the time to build relationships, listen and tell the stories of those actually living the experience she wanted to "reveal". There's a lot of unnecessary navel-gazing in her approach and nothing like a true or deep understanding. But I suppose, in hindsight, the book did what she set out for it to do, in that it was a bestseller and sparked a conversation that wasn't being had at the time about what it is like to live on low-wage jobs. But for all that conversation, depressingly little was done and you can very easily imagine that this book would look very little different if set in the current day.

 

[bobbiwoz]

10/75 The Punishment She Deserves by Elizabeth George

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a Lynley Novel, and enjoyed this one very much!

 

[TexasBee]

I love Elizabeth George, she is SUCH a good writer.

16 / 115 - Every Heart has a Doorway - McGuire, Seanan - I really like McGuire's urban fantasy InCryptid series so thought I would give this a try. Also a fantasy (NOT a romance which you might think given the title.) It's definitely an interesting read, a little dark, but as always her writing is what keeps me hooked. I see that the other 3 books are not really sequels but are set in the same locale, basic group of people, etc. I'll at least try the next one. 3 stars.

17 / 115 - Godsgrave / Nevernight Chronicles #2 - Kristoff, Jay - I liked book 1 but I think this one is even better. High fantasy, not for kids. (Sex scenes are a little graphic for my taste.) The story is really good and there were lots of good twists and "OMG!" moments. I listened to this one and think the narrator is excellent. I finished listening and immediately pre-ordered Book 3, which will be out in September. 5 stars.

18 / 115 - The All Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion - Flagg, Fannie. I always forget just how much I like Fannie Flagg's writing until I pick up another one of her books. She does Southern just right. The story is sweet and the history is interesting, although it did feel like it took a while to get there. 4 stars.

 

[CallieMar]

15/50 Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter #1) - Interesting premise - angels run the world, vampires are created to be their servants, and humans are fascinated by both. Elena is a vampire hunter and archangel Raphael has an important job for her, trying to track down someone very powerful. The plot was interesting but the actual romance felt a bit weak. Raphael looks down on humans as the inferior species and is always reminding Elena that she knows too many secrets and will need to be eliminated at the end of the job. Elena is strong and probably the only human who can snap back at Raphael without being instantly destroyed. Yet somehow they are each others' true love? Okay. I mean, I didn't buy Buffy/Angel as the OTP either back in the day so maybe this couple just isn't for me. And the ending seemed a little too convenient. But I am very interested in the world-building so I'll continue to give this series a chance.

16/50 Memory in Death by J.D. Robb (In Death #22) - Wow, I actually guessed who did it fairly early on!

 

[Swimnoid]

9. This Was a Man by Jeffrey Archer
The 7th and final installment of his Clifton Chronicles series. The series follows the saga of Harry Clifton from the 1920s until his death in the 1990s. A very good series although I spread out reading the whole thing over several years.

10. The Whispering Room by Dean Koontz
Second in the Jane Hawk series. Full of action and good twists.

11. Target: Alex Cross by James Patterson
I can never pass up an Alex Cross. Number 26. Typical Alex but good story

12. The Summer Wind by Mary Alice Monroe
Second in the Lowcountry series. Three sisters reunite at their grandmother's house one summer. The book delves into all the characters back stories. Light and enjoyable.

13. Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities by Alexandra Robbins
Non fiction investigation of the sorority system with real life anecdotes. Interesting

 

[OKW8297]

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon
This is book 5 in the Outlander series. I love the characters so much and that no interaction is insignificant. People and events resurface.

 

[mini22]

5/30- In Pieces by Sally Field

 

[willowsnn3]

#11/50

The Last Mile by David Baldacci
Convicted murderer Melvin Mars is counting down the last hours before his execution--for the violent killing of his parents twenty years earlier--when he's granted an unexpected reprieve. Another man has confessed to the crime.

Amos Decker, newly hired on an FBI special task force, takes an interest in Mars's case after discovering the striking similarities to his own life: Both men were talented football players with promising careers cut short by tragedy. Both men's families were brutally murdered. And in both cases, another suspect came forward, years after the killing, to confess to the crime. A suspect who may or may not have been telling the truth.

The confession has the potential to make Melvin Mars--guilty or not--a free man. Who wants Mars out of prison? And why now?

But when a member of Decker's team disappears, it becomes clear that something much larger--and more sinister--than just one convicted criminal's life hangs in the balance. Decker will need all of his extraordinary brainpower to stop an innocent man from being executed.

Second in the Amos Decker series. Looking forward to the next one.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

2/10: "You Can Do It" by Jasinda Wilder. This was free through Amazon Prime--it was a diet/weight loss book. About half of it is her "weight loss story" and the other half is her recommended 8 week plan.

Well...I'm not too interested in doing the plan. It involves cutting all sugar and flour, and I just think that any diet that cuts entire food groups is silly, pending an allergy.

It has inspired me to make sure I get a lot of protein at each meal.

 

[tiggrbaby]

#11/50

The Last Mile by David Baldacci
Convicted murderer Melvin Mars is counting down the last hours before his execution--for the violent killing of his parents twenty years earlier--when he's granted an unexpected reprieve. Another man has confessed to the crime.

Amos Decker, newly hired on an FBI special task force, takes an interest in Mars's case after discovering the striking similarities to his own life: Both men were talented football players with promising careers cut short by tragedy. Both men's families were brutally murdered. And in both cases, another suspect came forward, years after the killing, to confess to the crime. A suspect who may or may not have been telling the truth.

The confession has the potential to make Melvin Mars--guilty or not--a free man. Who wants Mars out of prison? And why now?

But when a member of Decker's team disappears, it becomes clear that something much larger--and more sinister--than just one convicted criminal's life hangs in the balance. Decker will need all of his extraordinary brainpower to stop an innocent man from being executed.

Second in the Amos Decker series. Looking forward to the next one.

I enjoy this series as well!

 

[tazdev3225]

I fell behind in posting and think I underestimated my reading for the year again. I am on Book 22 and will have that finished in a day or so. At this rate I will read my 60 books by May.

#10 Travels Beyond Outlander: A Scotland Travel Guide by David Stewart White
This was for my trip to Scotland this summer. A few of our stops are where the show was filmed. I was curious about them and other places from the series. I did read the whole book though

#11 Twist of Faith by Ava Saunders
This one had me guessing quite a bit. When her mother dies Ava finds a picture that may be connected to her past. She is certain it is a clue to her past as she was adopted after being found in the narthex of a church. This is one book I highly recommend if you like a good mystery.

#12 Sins of the Mother by Scott Pratt
First book in a new series by Pratt.

#13 Justice Redeemed
#14 Justice Burning
#15 Justice Lost
These are the 3 books in another Scott Pratt series. I was not as fond of this series as he had a lawyer turn bad but he also tried to redeem him. Just wasn't fond of the plot line but kept reading to see if it turned around.

#16 My Sisters Grave by Robert Dugoni
#17 Her Final Breath
I read these on the advice of a response on here. Very good advice as the books are excellent. They follow a Seattle police detective Tracey Crosswhite. In My Sister's Grave she is trying to find out what really happened to her sister and convinced that the wrong person was jailed for the murder based on the evidence. This one had me guessing all the way to the end. I like that.

In her final breath there is a serial killer loose and Tracey Crosswhite is convinced he started years earlier but it was her captains case and the wrong man may have been convicted again. Again I was kept guessing.

#18 Scottish Poetic Heritage by David Wilson
I was looking for certain poems/ballads. These were interesting but not what I wanted

#19 Killer Collective by Barry Eisler
Another mystery thriller. It was an excellent book involving a pornography ring with some very high political connections.

#20 Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
#21 Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon.
I read these last year but I reread them and am working through the series again. My husband thinks I may be obsessed. Believe it or not I read 2 or 3 chapters of the Outlander books and then go on to one of the new novels each night. My Kindle is getting a lot of use.

 

[bobbiwoz]

11/75 Vertigo 42 by Martha Grimes

Jury agrees to look into a death that happened 17 years ago.

 

[tzeitel]

Joining late! I am only going to set a 24 book goal, I get easily distracted by my computer and the TV I read mostly non fiction, but sci-fi will sneak in once in a while.

So far -
1/24 Breaking Blue by Timothy Egan
Love Egan, this is not my favorite of his books (Worst Hard Time is my favorite) but it was still very interesting. It is about the 1935 murder of a cop in Spokane that was not solved until the 80's. Huge cover-up, crooked cops, the depression - it is pretty dark.

2/24 A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott
For the past few years I have not read much fiction but this book has great reviews and it is about a subject I like reading about - classic Hollywood. Young college grad moves to CA to work behind the scenes in Hollywood at the time Gone With the Wind was being filmed. It was ok, not nearly as interesting as the real stories around that time in Hollywood but it was an easy read.

3/24 Adventures of a Hollywood Secretary by Valeria Bellitti, edited by Cari Beauchamp
The private letters of Sam Goldwyn's secretary during the 1920's. She sent them to her friend back home in NJ who kept them and then returned them to her many years later. Great insight into the life of a young woman in the 1920's. She is actually credited for discovering Gary Cooper - she had a crush on him and could not stop talking about him to her bosses!