Cyndy’s Comments (group member since Jun 27, 2015)

Cyndy’s comments from the 2017 Reading Challenge group.

I read The Infiltrator by Brad Taylor. Pike and Jennifer were investigating sales of antiquities. Aaron and Shoshana get married with Pike and Jennifer in attendance at the Western Wall of the Temple Mount. Keep your seatbelt fastened! Great little tide you over until the next release!

I read The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley by Malcolm X. Wow, this should be recommended reading for anyone and everyone in America today. Yes, Malcolm X was an angry man, but his opinions were his and he was trusted and followed by lots of people. This, unfortunately was his downfall.
"I have given to this book so much of whatever time I have because I feel, and I hope, that if I honestly and fully tell my life’s account, read objectively it might prove to be a testimony of some social value." Malcolm X. The Autobiography of Malcolm X (pp. 435-436). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
"So, in the “public invited” meetings which I began holding each Sunday afternoon or evening in Harlem’s well-known Audubon Ballroom, as I addressed predominantly non-Muslim Negro audiences, I did not immediately attempt to press the Islamic religion, but instead to embrace all who sat before me: “— not Muslim, nor Christian, Catholic, nor Protestant… Baptist nor Methodist, Democrat nor Republican, Mason nor Elk! I mean the black people of America— and the black people all over this earth! Because it is as this collective mass of black people that we have been deprived not only of our civil rights, but even of our human rights, the right to human dignity….” " Malcolm X. The Autobiography of Malcolm X (p. 419). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Anne, Thanks again for doing this. I did branch out quite a bit with my books, especially with my $1.99 Kindle specials - didn't make much of a dent in that stack though. I made this year a little difficult on myself, since the list was so long. But that was totally my own doing. I did like the broader variety of this year though. Graphic novel - no thank you! :-) The only thing I would suggest is I prefer the way the topics were organized in 2015 and 2016. The way the topics were built this year (2017) left me with minimal updates in my email, and I'm more likely to read the emails than read through the site postings.

I am starting the 2018 Pop Sugar challenge with that group, we'll see if I stick with it. I'll miss this group - even though I'm sort of a lurker.

I finished! One day early. I read 69 total books - Goodreads says 71, I added a published under another name and a compilation. I did manage to get through the alphabet (authors last names) twice and I read a few others as well. I read over 30 of my $1.99 Kindle bargains in the process, but I didn't get to all of my typical authors 2017 releases though. I still need to update my list.

I read O'Hara's Choice by Leon Uris. Good book, I've only read one other by Mr. Uris. I liked Topaz more. I was not expecting the ending of this book.

Anne wrote: "I hear ya!..."

That may be what I do. Since I read over 26 new-to-me authors this year, not only did it add to my imaginary to read list, but it put a few of my previous must read authors on a slight delay. :-)

Anne wrote: "Hi Cyndy! Thanks for asking about a 2018 challenge. I am not up for putting one together this year, but I encourage everyone else to go for it...."

I wish I had the energy. :-)

I read What It Is Like to Go to War by Karl Marlantes. This was an interesting read. While it was very good, I can't say I liked it as much as I liked Matterhorn - non-fiction is not a general choice of mine for a reason. Matterhorn is the novel version of Mr. Marlantes time in Viet Nam, while this is his analysis of his war experience, how war affected him and how his return to the states affected him. It also includes Mr. Marlantes opinions about what the services need to do to assist our soldier warriors before they go to war, during their time in war, when they are preparing to return home, and then after their return home. I highly recommend this for anyone in the psychiatric / psychology / counselling arena that deals with individuals in these circumstances or their family members. It was a difficult read for me, every day when I was ready to put my kindle down, I opened and read a Curious George book first.

I read The Lying Game by Ruth Ware with my book club. While I had some issues with what some of the characters did in this book; it was truly a good read. It's been almost forty years since I have seen anyone from high school and that’s probably why I had some issues with the story line. What would you do if you heard from one of your best friends in high school after 15 years? Would you drop everything and run? Are there secrets that you still have from high school? What lengths would you go to in order to keep those secrets? Recommended reading.

I read Getaway by Nelson DeMille and Lisa Scottoline. Cute little kindle single with John Corey and Bennie Rosato meeting near a lake where both have gone on separate getaways for the weekend. Originally published as part of MatchUp.

I read The 500 by Matthew Quirk. This was quite the page turner for me and I intend to read more by Mr. Quick. It's hard to believe this was a debut novel. Who really runs Washington? What happens to the honest or mostly honest men?

I read Daybreak by Viktor Arnar Ingolfsson. Who is killing goose hunters at daybreak in Iceland? This alone makes the novel worth reading. Some may say the detective partners are just another "odd couple" and they are, but they get along and do things together outside of work. Every possible suspect is pointing hints and fingers at others. This was a page turner for me and because of that it's recommended reading.

I read The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. Parts of this book were laugh out loud funny, seriously "Sonya, sit" - I laughed so hard! Glad my book club picked it! This is not a literary masterpiece; it's a comedy and needs to be read as such. The comedy of errors in the investigation of the disappearance is just flat out absurd. Add the life that Allan has and continues to live and the story becomes totally unbelievable, but that's not to say it's not a good read. It's a great read and I highly recommend it if you need a laugh or two! For example, upon hearing all the rules of the nursing home Allan asked "—Can you take a shit when you want to?" Jonasson, Jonas. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (p. 377). Hyperion. Kindle Edition.

I read House Revenge by Mike Lawson. Another interesting Joe DeMarco tale with the normal creepy dudes on the other side, but this time Mr. Lawson added a couple of creepy cartel dudes, as well.

I read The Fallen by Ace Atkins. I like Quinn Colson, Lillie Virgil, and most of the characters of Tibbehah County, Mississippi. I'm ready for the next one, because I need to know why Lillie Virgil did what she did. Fannie can move on down the road any day after what she did. I recommend reading these in order, although it's not required.

I read In High Places by Arthur Hailey. What would the United States and Canada be willing to negotiate in an effort to thwart a nuclear attack on the US by Russia? The story is from the perspective of Canada and it's Prime Minister. It includes the interactions of the PMs cabinet and information about how the two party system operates in Canada, so a different perspective from most Americans. Interesting story line including the behind the scenes politics and it left me wanting to know the rest of the story. Recommended reading.

Will there be a 2018 version? Thanks!

Kris Radish is one of my favorite authors. I read her new novel A Dangerous Woman from Nowhere by Kris Radish. This is a wonderful western by Ms. Radish. I'm at a loss for words, but this is highly recommended. Loved the characters in this book. I found Ms. Radish in the trade paperbacks at Costco probably ten years ago and my favorite is still one of those books. If you haven't read Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral, go, read, now!

I read Under a Raging Moon by Frank Zafiro. Good police procedural with lots of policemen on the day shift and the night shift - all after the guy with the scar that is robbing convenience stores and can't be caught.

I read American Appetites by Joyce Carol Oates. This probably won't stick with me for long. Ian, his wife Glynnis, and their rich-ish friends are the main characters. Few of them are likable. The men are mostly think tank philosophers, some with limited knowledge of socially acceptable actions. Some of their wives "wander" - some with husbands in the group. And they drink - sometimes to excess. One such evening Glynnis accuses Ian of an affair, something that she has been guilty of, but he has only pondered the idea and is technically only guilty of not telling Glynnis about a phone call and it's consequences. An argument occurs. There's quite a bit of stuff to think about in this book, and it would probably make for some good book club discussions - if you can manage to make it through the book, in parts it kept my interest, but at times, it made me want to shelve the book permanently.