2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Not sure where to start with my goal so I'm going to say 40 books. I'm hoping to go higher but will start there. Really excited to get back to my books!

15/40

40 books is a great starting goal! What will be your first book?

The Prince of Tides. It's in my TBR stack and it also helps me in the I Spy challenge. Also listening to The Martian.

I'm listening to The Martian too.

Finished my first book!

1) The Prince of Tides - 4 Stars
I enjoyed the book. Beautifully written. Each line is like poetry. But the story is hauntingly dark and heartbreaking. Very moving. Great book to start out 2016.

Congrats on finishing your first book in 2016!

2) The Girl on the Train - Three stars

Good luck with your challenge and congratulations on finishing your first couple of books already!

3) The Martian- Four stars

Jessica wrote: "3) The Martian- Four stars"

I'm glad you enjoyed the book!

4/40

4) Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher - Five Stars

5/40

5) Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin - Three & 1/2 Stars

Jessica wrote: "Not sure where to start with my goal so I'm going to say 40 books. I'm hoping to go higher but will start there. Really excited to get back to my books!

5/40"

wow 5/40 already! You are serious about getting back to books. Good luck with your goal!

Thanks Brendon! I've pretty much turned off the tv and spend all my free time reading. And I'm so enjoying it!

Good luck!

I want to read The Martian. It`s on my never ending to read list. :)

Liene wrote: "Good luck!

I want to read The Martian. It`s on my never ending to read list. :)"

Thank you Liene! I really enjoyed it. Keeps you entertained the whole way through.

6/40

I just finished The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Wow! My niece recommended it and I had it in my TBR pile. I couldn't put it down. And even now I can't stop thinking about it. Definitely a five star book!

You got me interested in that book. :) I`ll have to check it out, looks good. :)

Liene wrote: "You got me interested in that book. :) I`ll have to check it out, looks good. :)"

Yay! It's also quite funny which surprised me! Let me know how you liked it!

Jessica wrote: "6/40

I just finished The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Wow! My niece recommended it and I had it in my TBR pile. I couldn't put it down. And even now I can't stop t..."

Just added to my 'to-read' list... :) oh the joys of being addicted to reading!

Wow, 6/40 already! Great job! I love that this group is inspiring you to get back into reading. Keep up the great work.

Jackie B. wrote: "Wow, 6/40 already! Great job! I love that this group is inspiring you to get back into reading. Keep up the great work."

Thanks Jackie! I'm a little obsessed with my reading lately. And this group and all the challenges are so inspiring. So glad I'm m here!

8/40

Just finished two more....

7) Animal Dreams byBarbara Kingsolver. I wanted so much to like this book. Prodigal Summer is one of my top favorite books, so I had such high hopes. I never felt like the book was going anywhere. The plot & the characters were not interesting. Just blah. It was all I could do to finish.

8) Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns. I listened to the audible version. I almost didn't finish this one also. I was so relived when it was over. The combination of the dialect and speech along with many unlikeabe characters was not enjoyable. The story seemed to drag on and on. But I am in the minority.... Possibly if I had read the book instead of listening my experience would have been different.

So after two disappointments I'm off to find something new'

9/40

9) Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote -- 4 Stars

I've never seen the movie and from the reviews I've read the book is quite different than the movie. I really enjoyed it. I listened to the audible version with Michael C Hall narrating. He did a fantastic job. Loved the story and the character of Holly Golightly. Such a free spirit but yet so sad. So glad I finally can add this one to my "Read" stack!

10/40

10) Worthy by Catherine Ryan Hyde - 4 Stars

I'm a sucker for books with animals especially dogs, so this one was perfect for a light, warm hearted read. The characters were well devolved and the story keeps your interest. I'm putting Pay It Forward by the same author on my tbr list. I've read good things about it also.

I'm glad you found some good books to couple a slew of bad ones. I actually keep a long series of graphic novels sitting around so I have something shorter to read I know I'll enjoy if I've just run into some duds. Sometimes, it's so hard to find quality literature! There's just so much of it.

Jackie B. wrote: "I'm glad you found some good books to couple a slew of bad ones. I actually keep a long series of graphic novels sitting around so I have something shorter to read I know I'll enjoy if I've just ru..."

That's a good idea to have a go-to series or author on hand when that happens. I'll have to remember that! I probably should have just given up on those and put them in the DNF pile!

11/40

11) Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman- Five Stars

Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt is among my most favorite books. Beth Hoffman is a wonderful story teller, she has a way of making you feel like you are truly in the story along with, her genuine and so likable characters. This is a story of wonder and joy, heartbreak and sadness, humor and quirkiness. It's a tale of love - Teddi's love for many people and places and things.

If you love books about the South, or antiques or nature....this is a perfect book for you. I listened to the audible version and Jenna Lamia captures all the nuances of each character in their dialect and tone, she makes them all come to life. Another bright success by Hoffman and Lamia.

12/40

Recap for January:
1)The Prince of Tides - 4 Stars

2)The Girl on the Train - 3 Stars

3)The Martian - 4 Stars

4)Coming Home by Coming Home - 5 Stars

5)Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin - 3 Stars

6) The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - 5 Stars

7)Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver - 2 Stars

8) Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns - 2 Stars

9) Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote - 4 Stars

10) Worthy by Catherine Ryan Hyde - 4 Stars

11) Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman - 5 Stars

12) Pavilion of Women: A Novel of Life in the Women's Quarters by Pearl S. Buck - 31/2 stars

I read way more than I anticipated. I'm going to up my goal for the year!

Congrats on smashing your marathon goal Jessica! ^^

ellie wrote: "Jessica wrote: "The Prince of Tides. It's in my TBR stack and it also helps me in the I Spy challenge. Also listening to The Martian."

Just finished The Martian-loved it,great book-after the first..."

I did the same thing but glad I stayed with it. Once you realize you don't have to understand all the scientific stuff it was an easier read for me. Great book!

Winter wrote: "Congrats on smashing your marathon goal Jessica! ^^"

Thank you Winter!!

Just finished two more:
14/40

13) Nest. Flight. Sky.: On love and loss, one wing at a time by Beth Kephart -4 Stars
Very short book but very good. Read it for one of my challenges and it was recommended by one of my favorite authors.

14) The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain -4 Stars
Loved this book! Also recommended by the same favorite author. It's a charming lovely story with a bit of an unusual plot. Now that I think more about it, I should probably raise it to 5 stars. Loved it!

15/40

15) Take Me with You by Catherine Ryan Hyde - 3 Stars

The first half of this book was amazing. I was completely absorbed in the story and the characters. When August returns the boys to their father at the end of the summer it felt like the story was over. The last half felt contrived like two different stories put together.

16/40

16) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling - 5 Stars

17/40

17) Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro - 1 Star

I read all the 5 star reviews of this book and I feel like I must have not read the same book as everyone else. I don't get it. I tried, but I thought the characters were flat and boring and I never got used to the matter of fact way the story is written. The premise of the story was interesting but not enough for me.

18/40

18) The Unforgotten by Laura Powell - 3 Stars

NetGalley book - Review to follow

19/40

19) A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness - Two Stars
2/15/2016-2/21/2016
Pop-Sugar Challenge
I Spy Challenge
224 pages

It appears that I am definitely in the minority on this book with most people giving it raves. The book was well written and the concept of the story was interesting. But overall the book was just ok. Painful to read at times with the bullies and evil grandmothers. Yes, it's sad...but almost any book would be with the same scenario. This was my first Patrick Ness book so I'm hoping the next will be better.

Jessica (bitsy 55) wrote: "19) A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness - Two Stars

I haven't' read A Monster Calls, but I generally feel that way about Patrick Ness. I read The Knife of Never Letting Go and it was just... okay. Fascinating premise, really. I found I struggled from Mortal Danger Fatigue in that book. Perhaps you struggled with another type of fatigue?

Jackie B. wrote: "Jessica (bitsy 55) wrote: "19) A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness - Two Stars

I haven't' read A Monster Calls, but I generally feel that way about Patrick Ness. I read ..."

Perhaps so Jackie...Torment fatigue maybe? It was a little over the top for me.

20/40

20) Wrapped in Rain: A Novel of Coming Home by Charles Martin - Four Stars
2/21/2016 - 2/23/2016
385 pages

Wrappped in Rain follows the story of two half brothers, adults, trying to survive the fallout of their abusive childhoods. As children, Tucker and Mutt's saving grace was their housekeeper Miss Ella and her brother Mose, the town physician. Miss Ella infused love, grace and compassion in an otherwise unbearable home.

While both men struggle with their memories of their abusive father in their own ways, their childhood friend Katie returns with as a single mom with a son of her own. Tucker and Mutt set out to follow Miss Ella's example by teaching love to a child not biologically their own.

This novel is beautifully written. Martin writes so clearly that you have no trouble imaging Waverly House and the Mason family's troubles. However, while the story rooted in darkness, the overall theme is one of hope and endurance. All of the characters demonstrate a strength of character and an amazing capacity for forgiveness. At the last page, you are left wanting to read another chapter to find out what happened with Tucker, Mutt, Katie, and Jase.

This is the first book I've read by Charles Martin. It will not be the last! I can't wait to read more.

21/40

21) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling - 5 Stars
Audio
2/15/2016 -2/23/2016
357 pages

Congratulations on hitting the halfway mark already! :)

Cassandra wrote: "Congratulations on hitting the halfway mark already! :)"

Thanks Cassandra! I think I'm going to up my goal :)

That's great! It's always exciting when you can read more than you expected. :)

23/40

22) Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton - Three stars
Kindle
Extra Day - Mini Challenge
2/26/2016
73 pages

23) Amy Snow by Tracey Rees - Four Stars
Kindle - Netgalley
2/23/2016 - 2/26/2016
551 pages

Review to follow

25/40

24) Still Life by Louise Penny - Three Stars
Audio
2/24/16 - 3/4/2016
377 pages

25) Try Not to Breathe by Holly -Seddon - ?
ARC copy
3/1/2016 -3/4/2016
368 pages

26) Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder (431) - 4 Stars
Kindle
2/27/2016-3/10/2016
431 pages

Poison Study is the first in a trio of novels by Maria Snyder, telling the story of Yelena. Set in a fantasy kingdom which has recently been taken over in a puritanical military dictatorship which reminded me of Cromwell's England. Yelena's crime, the murder of one of the sons of the military officers, is not easily forgiven by the grieving father. In addition, that father has plans of his own for the future of Ixia. And what of the strange abilities that Yelena is slowly starting to manifest?

Poison Study is definitely a character driven book, focusing on the motivations, character, and growth of Yelena. As such, Snyder creates a complex, three dimensional protagonists with strengths, flaws, hopes and dreams that grows and changes throughout the novel. There are hints of some interesting world building going on here, too.

Its a solid, good novel, and I look forward to reading the remainder of the series.

Jessica (bitsy 55) wrote: "26) Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder (431) - 4 Stars."

Oooh! I'm so glad you reviewed this book-- I never would have looked at it otherwise. When I check out the book's Goodreads page I have a ton of friends who have given this book glowing reviews. I can't wait to read it!

Yay!! So glad :) I really enjoyed it. It's a perfect mixture of mystery, fantasy, romance... Let me know what you think!