Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
2017 Plans
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Steph's 2017 plan
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I love Jane Austen and I'm a sucker for re-tellings and adaptations. Good luck on the challenge this year!
Kristi wrote: "I love Jane Austen and I'm a sucker for re-tellings and adaptations. Good luck on the challenge this year!"Thanks :-). Good luck to you too!
Katie wrote: "Good luck with the plan, Stephanie :)"Thanks. You good luck to you too :-)
1. A book from the Goodreads Choice Awards 2016- Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld. Completed 18th Jan 2016 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"This version of the Bennet family—and Mr. Darcy—is one that you have and haven’t met before: Liz is a magazine writer in her late thirties who, like her yoga instructor older sister, Jane, lives in New York City. When their father has a health scare, they return to their childhood home in Cincinnati to help—and discover that the sprawling Tudor they grew up in is crumbling and the family is in disarray.
Youngest sisters Kitty and Lydia are too busy with their CrossFit workouts and Paleo diets to get jobs. Mary, the middle sister, is earning her third online master’s degree and barely leaves her room, except for those mysterious Tuesday-night outings she won’t discuss. And Mrs. Bennet has one thing on her mind: how to marry off her daughters, especially as Jane’s fortieth birthday fast approaches.
Enter Chip Bingley, a handsome new-in-town doctor who recently appeared on the juggernaut reality TV dating show Eligible. At a Fourth of July barbecue, Chip takes an immediate interest in Jane, but Chip’s friend neurosurgeon Fitzwilliam Darcy reveals himself to Liz to be much less charming. . . .
And yet, first impressions can be deceiving."
Good start to my list. Really enjoyed this book. Clearly not as good as Austens version but an enjoyable, quick reading beach read (as long as you don't get too hung up comparing the two versions and the characters).
I would be interested in reading others by this author.
2. A book with at least 2 perspectives (multiple points of view)-The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney Completed 20th Jan 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️."Every family has its problems. But even among the most troubled, the Plumb family stands out as spectacularly dysfunctional. Years of simmering tensions finally reach a breaking point on an unseasonably cold afternoon in New York City as Melody, Beatrice, and Jack Plumb gather to confront their charismatic and reckless older brother, Leo, freshly released from rehab. Months earlier, an inebriated Leo got behind the wheel of a car with a nineteen-year-old waitress as his passenger. The ensuing accident has endangered the Plumbs joint trust fund, “The Nest,” which they are months away from finally receiving. Meant by their deceased father to be a modest mid-life supplement, the Plumb siblings have watched The Nest’s value soar along with the stock market and have been counting on the money to solve a number of self-inflicted problems.
Melody, a wife and mother in an upscale suburb, has an unwieldy mortgage and looming college tuition for her twin teenage daughters. Jack, an antiques dealer, has secretly borrowed against the beach cottage he shares with his husband, Walker, to keep his store open. And Bea, a once-promising short-story writer, just can’t seem to finish her overdue novel. Can Leo rescue his siblings and, by extension, the people they love? Or will everyone need to reimagine the future they’ve envisioned? Brought together as never before, Leo, Melody, Jack, and Beatrice must grapple with old resentments, present-day truths, and the significant emotional and financial toll of the accident, as well as finally acknowledge the choices they have made in their own lives.
This is a story about the power of family, the possibilities of friendship, the ways we depend upon one another and the ways we let one another down. In this tender, entertaining, and deftly written debut, Sweeney brings a remarkable cast of characters to life to illuminate what money does to relationships, what happens to our ambitions over the course of time, and the fraught yet unbreakable ties we share with those we love."
I liked it but didn't love it. I liked the writing style but non of the characters were at all likeable. As it was a debut novel I would read more of this authors work.
30. A book from Goodreads Top 100 YA Books (link) book: The Lightning Thief|28187] by Rick Riordan Completed 27th jan 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a half."Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse—Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena—Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods."
Whilst I liked it I'm a bit disappointed as when I started I thought I'd love it. Liked the beginning and the end but thought it went a bit downhill in the middle. However I like the idea of greek myths being woven into the story and I'm keen to read the second book.
4. A title that doesn't contain the letter "E" - Hollow City by Ransom Riggs Completed 24th March 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️." This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises".
5. A historical fiction- The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley Completed 11th April 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a half."1883. Thaniel Steepleton returns home to his tiny London apartment to find a gold pocket watch on his pillow. Six months later, the mysterious timepiece saves his life, drawing him away from a blast that destroys Scotland Yard. At last, he goes in search of its maker, Keita Mori, a kind, lonely immigrant from Japan. Although Mori seems harmless, a chain of unexplainable events soon suggests he must be hiding something. When Grace Carrow, an Oxford physicist, unwittingly interferes, Thaniel is torn between opposing loyalties.
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street is a sweeping, atmospheric narrative that takes the reader on an unexpected journey through Victorian London, Japan as its civil war crumbles long-standing traditions, and beyond. Blending historical events with dazzling flights of fancy, it opens doors to a strange and magical past".
This started off slowly so slowly in fact that I found it hard to get into at first. Am glad I persevered though. The storyline is different and I enjoyed reading it.
6. A book being released as a movie in 2017- Jungle: A Harrowing True Story of Survival in the Amazon by Yossi Ghinsberg Completed 17th April 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️."Four travelers meet in Bolivia and set off into the heart of the Amazon rainforest, but what begins as a dream adventure quickly deteriorates into a dangerous nightmare, and after weeks of wandering in the dense undergrowth, the four backpackers split up into two groups. But when a terrible rafting accident separates him from his partner, Yossi is forced to survive for weeks alone against one of the wildest backdrops on the planet. Stranded without a knife, map, or survival training, he must improvise shelter and forage for wild fruit to survive. As his feet begin to rot during raging storms, as he loses all sense of direction, and as he begins to lose all hope, he wonders whether he will make it out of the jungle alive.
The basis of an upcoming motion picture, Jungle is the story of friendship and the teachings of nature, and a terrifying true account that you won’t be able to put down."
Enjoyed this book. Interesting true story showing the worst/dark side of the human character and the best side. There is part of the story that is unexplained. Would have loved to know the answer.
7. A book with an animal on the cover or in the title- The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan Completed January 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️."All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos's army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan's power only grows. While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it's up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time. "
8. A book written by a person of color- Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley. Completed 24th april 2017. ⭐️"In Los Angeles of the late 1940s, Easy Rawlins, a black war veteran, has just been fired from his job at a defense plant. Easy is drinking in a friend's bar, wondering how he'll meet his mortgage, when a white man in a linen suit walks in, offering good money if Easy will simply locate Miss Daphne Monet, a blonde beauty known to frequent black jazz clubs."
9. A book in the middle of your To Be Read list- Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull Completed 9th June 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a half."At the end of the school year, Kendra and her brother, Seth, find themselves racing back to Fablehaven, a refuge for mythical and magical creatures. Grandpa Sorenson, the caretaker, invites three specialists- a potion master, a magical relics collector, and a mystical creature trapper- to help protect the property from the Society of the Evening Star, an ancient organization determined to infiltrate the preserve and steal a hidden artifact of great power. Time is running out. The Evening Star is storming the gates. If the artifact falls into the wrong hands, it could mean the downfall of other preserves and possibly the world. Will Kendra learn to use her fairy gifts in time? Will Seth stay out of trouble? Can they overcome paralyzing fear? Find out in book two of this bestselling series".
Really torn between 4 and a half or 5 stars for this series. Really enjoying it.
10. A dual-timeline novel-The Semper Sonnet by Seth Margolis Completed May 2017 ⭐️⭐️."Lee Nicholson takes the academic world by storm, seemingly unearthing a never-before published sonnet by William Shakespeare. When she reads the poem on the air, her words are ignored by all but a small group of people. There are the English and literature buffs. There are the curious and those who seek out hoaxes.
And there are men who will kill to keep the sonnet from every being read again.
Buried in the language of the sonnet, in its allusions and wordplay, secrets have been hidden dating back to Elizabethan times, shared by the queen and her doctor, by men who seek the crown and men who seek the world. If the riddles are solved, it could explode what the world knows of the monarchy. Or, it could release a pandemic more deadly than the world has ever seen.
Lee’s quest keeps her one step ahead of an international hunt―from the police who want her for murder, to a group of men who will stop at nothing to end her quest, to a mad man who pursues the answers for destructive reasons of his own. Globetrotting as she pieces together what Shakespeare meant, and what he meant to leave unsaid, Lee carries this intelligent thriller through to its gasp-out-loud conclusion."
Didn't enjoy this as mush as I expected too. It was ok.
11. A category from another challenge- A book involving a mythical creature from 2017 ultimate pop sugar challenge-Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull. Completed 5th July 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️."After centuries of plotting, the Sphinx—leader of the Society of the Evening Star—is after the final artifacts needed to open the great demon prison, Zzyxx. If the legendary prison is opened, a tide of evil is certain to usurp control of the world.
In an effort to intercept the final artifacts, Kendra, Seth and the Knights of the Dawn race to strange and exotic preserves across the globe. The stakes have never been higher. The risks have never been more deadly.
In this explosive series finale, allegiances will be confirmed and secrets revealed as the forces of light and darkness collide in a desperate, climactic battle to control the keys to the demon prison".
Loved this series! Can't wait to read the next series.
12. A book based on a myth-The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan Completed January 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️."IT'S NOT EVERYDAY YOU FIND YOURSELF IN COMBAT WITH A HALF-LION, HALF-HUMAN.
But when you're the son of a Greek god, it happens. And now my friend Annabeth is missing, a goddess is in chains and only five half-blood heroes can join the quest to defeat the doomsday monster.
Oh, and guess what? The Oracle has predicted that not all of us will survive..."
13. A book recommended by one of your favourite authors- Recommended by JK Rowling- Emma by Jane Austen. Completed 17th July 2017.⭐️⭐️."I never have been in love; it is not my way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall.'
Beautiful, clever, rich - and single - Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage. Nothing, however, delights her more than interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr. Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protegee Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected. With its imperfect but charming heroine and its witty and subtle exploration of relationships, Emma is often seen as Jane Austen's most flawless work."
Controversially I didn't hugely enjoy this book. It was just ok. I think it was due to not particularly liking the character of Emma.
14. A book with a strong female character- Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull Completed 18th June 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"Strange things are afoot at Fablehaven. Someone or something has released a plague that transforms beings of light into creatures of darkness. Seth discovers the problem in its infancy, but as the infectious disease spreads, it becomes clear that the preserve cannot hold out for long.
In dire need of help, the Sorensons question where to turn. The Sphinx has always given sound advice–but is he a traitor? Inside the Quiet Box, Vanessa might have information that could lead to a cure–but can she be trust?
Meanwhile, Kendra and members of the Knights of the Dawn must journey to a distant preserve and retrieve another hidden artifact. Will the Society of the Evening Star recover it first? Will the plague eclipse all light at Fablehaven? Find out in Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague."
Another brill book in the series.
15. A book written or set in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland) Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø Completed 18th Aug 2017.⭐️⭐️⭐️"When the Norwegian ambassador to Thailand is found dead in a Bangkok brothel, Inspector Harry Hole is dispatched from Oslo to help hush up the case.
But once he arrives Harry discovers that this case is about much more than one random murder. There is something else, something more pervasive, scrabbling around behind the scenes. Or, put another way, for every cockroach you see in your hotel room, there are hundreds behind the walls. Surrounded by round-the-clock traffic noise, Harry wanders the streets of Bangkok lined with go-go bars, temples, opium dens, and tourist traps, trying to piece together the story of the ambassador’s death even though no one asked him to, and no one wants him to—not even Harry himself."
16. A mystery- The Redbreast by Jo Nesbø Completed 1 September 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️."1944: Daniel, a soldier, legendary among the Norwegians fighting the advance of Bolshevism on the Russian front, is killed. Two years later, a wounded soldier wakes up in a Vienna hospital. He becomes involved with a young nurse, the consequences of which will ripple forward to the turn of the next century.
1999: Harry Hole, alone again after having caused an embarrassment in the line of duty, has been promoted to inspector and is lumbered with surveillance duties. He is assigned the task of monitoring neo-Nazi activities; fairly mundane until a report of a rare and unusual gun being fired sparks his interest. Ellen Gjelten, his partner, makes a startling discovery. Then a former soldier is found with his throat cut. In a quest that takes him to South Africa and Vienna, Harry finds himself perpetually one step behind the killer. He will be both winner and loser by the novel’s nail-biting conclusion".
17. A book with illustrations- Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull. Completed 25th June 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️."Brace yourself for a shocking secret.
Two hidden artifacts have been found. Three more remain unrecovered. More preserves face destruction as the Society of the Evening Star relentlessly pursues new talismans. Reading in Patton’s Journal of Secrets, Kendra learns the location of the key to a vault housing one of the artifacts. In order to retrieve it, the Knights of the Dawn must enter a death trap — a dragon sanctuary called Wyrmroost. The mission cannot proceed without stealing a sacred object zealously guarded by the centaurs. Anybody seen Seth?
The race is on to acquire all five of the artifact keys to the great demon prison. Will the Knights of the Dawn conquer Wyrmroost? Who can stop the Sphinx? Can Vanessa be trusted to help? What artifact will be found next?"
Brilliant series
18. A really long book (600+ pages)-: Nemesis by Nemesis Completed 8 September 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️."How do you catch a killer when you're the number one suspect?
A man is caught on CCTV, shooting dead a cashier at a bank. Detective Harry Hole begins his investigation, but after dinner with an old flame wakes up with no memory of the past 12 hours. Then the girl is found dead in mysterious circumstances and he beings to receive threatening emails: is someone trying to frame him for her death?
As Harry fights to clear his name, the bank robberies continue with unparalleled savagery..."
19. A New York Times best-seller- The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter. Completed 28th July2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"In the hallowed halls of Oxford’s Merlin College, the most talented—and highest born—sons of the Kingdom of Britain are taught the intricacies of magickal theory. But what dazzles can also destroy, as Gray Marshall is about to discover…
Gray’s deep talent for magick has won him a place at Merlin College. But when he accompanies four fellow students on a mysterious midnight errand that ends in disaster and death, he is sent away in disgrace—and without a trace of his power. He must spend the summer under the watchful eye of his domineering professor, Appius Callender, working in the gardens of Callender’s country estate and hoping to recover his abilities. And it is there, toiling away on a summer afternoon, that he meets the professor’s daughter.
Even though she has no talent of her own, Sophie Callender longs to be educated in the lore of magick. Her father has kept her isolated at the estate and forbidden her interest; everyone knows that teaching arcane magickal theory to women is the height of impropriety. But against her father’s wishes, Sophie has studied his ancient volumes on the subject. And in the tall, stammering, yet oddly charming Gray, she finally finds someone who encourages her interest and awakens new ideas and feelings.
Sophie and Gray’s meeting touches off a series of events that begins to unravel secrets about each of them. And after the king’s closest advisor pays the professor a closed-door visit, they begin to wonder if what Gray witnessed in Oxford might be even more sinister than it seemed. They are determined to find out, no matter the cost…"
20. A book that you've owned for a while but haven't gotten around to reading The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbø Completed 17th September 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"A young woman is murdered in her Oslo flat. One finger has been severed from her left hand, and behind her eyelid is secreted a tiny red diamond in the shape of a five-pointed star - a pentagram, the devil's star.
Detective Harry Hole is assigned to the case with his long-time adversary Tom Waaler and initially wants no part in it. But Harry is already on notice to quit the force and is left with little alternative but to drag himself out of his alcoholic stupor and get to work.
A wave of similar murders is on the horizon. An emerging pattern suggests that Oslo has a serial killer on its hands, and the five-pointed devil's star is key to solving the riddle."
21. A book that is a continuation of a book you've already read-The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø. Completed 28th September 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️"A 14-year old girl is raped at one of the Salvation Army summer camps. Twelve years later, at a Christmas concert in a square in Oslo, a Salvation Army soldier is executed by a man in the crowd. A press photographer has caught a suspect on one of the photos of the concert. Beate Lønn, the identification expert, is confused by how the face can change from one photo to the next. Inspector Harry Hole’s search for the faceless man takes place on the seamy side of the city, among those who seek eternal – or just momentary – redemption. And the gunman has not yet completed his mission."
23. A book from the BBC "The Big Read" list (link)-Persuasion by Jane Austen Completed 28th October 2017 ⭐️⭐️."Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen's most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne's family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. All the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love?
Jane Austen once compared her writing to painting on a little bit of ivory, 2 inches square. Readers of Persuasion will discover that neither her skill for delicate, ironic observations on social custom, love, and marriage nor her ability to apply a sharp focus lens to English manners and morals has deserted her in her final finished work."
I think I spoilt myself by reading pride and prejudice first. Can't seem to like her other books as much.
24. A book written by at least two authors-I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore Completed 8th November 2017 ⭐️⭐️"Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books--but we are real.
Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.
But they know.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.
I am Number Four.
I am next"
Shows promise. Will continue to the next book.
25. A book about a famous historical figure- I, Putin by Jennifer Ciotta Completed 30th October 2017 ⭐️⭐️. "Vladimir Putin, the enigmatic, controversial president of Russia, is faced with a decision so harrowing, it changes him forever. It's the year 2000. Newly elected President Putin is embattled after the Kursk submarine explodes and spirals into the abyss. 118 submariners are trapped. Outwardly, Putin seems not to care, but behind the scenes is another story. Meanwhile, the Russian people yearn for a response from their leader. Mass protests ignite across Russia. Does Putin save the sailors and unite his beloved motherland, or does he lose everything?
Discover what motivates the man behind Russia. Is he the cold, ruthless leader you know, or is he...human?"
Was really disappointed by this book especially as it had such great reviews and Putins character interests me.
26. An adventure book- The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore Completed 12th November 2017. ⭐️⭐️"I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.
Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.
I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.
And I'm ready to fight."
27. A book by one of your favourite authors- A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull. Completed 8 Dec 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"Jason Walker has often wished his life could be a bit less predictable--until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank to a place unlike anything he's ever seen. In the past, the people of Lyrian welcomed visitors from the Beyond, but attitudes have changed since the wizard emperor Maldor rose to power. The brave resistors who opposed the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail.
In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor, and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes."
3. A book you meant to read in 2016- Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull Completed 16 Dec 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a half"After the cliffhanger ending of A World Without Heroes, Jason is back in the world he’s always known—yet for all his efforts to get home, he finds himself itching to return to Lyrian. Jason knows that the shocking truth he learned from Maldor is precious information that all of his friends in Lyrian, including Rachel, need if they have any hope of surviving and defeating the evil emperor.
Meanwhile, Rachel and the others have discovered new enemies—as well as new abilities that could turn the tide of the entire quest. And as soon as Jason succeeds in crossing over to Lyrian, he’s in more danger than ever. Once the group reunites, they strive to convince their most-needed ally to join the war and form a rebellion strong enough to triumph over Maldor. At the center of it all, Jason and Rachel realize what roles they’re meant to play—and the answers are as surprising as they are gripping."
28. A non-fiction- Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson. ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️"On May 1, 1915, a luxury ocean liner as richly appointed as an English country house sailed out of New York, bound for Liverpool, carrying a record number of children and infants. The passengers were anxious. Germany had declared the seas around Britain to be a war zone, and for months, its U-boats had brought terror to the North Atlantic. But the Lusitania was one of the era's great transatlantic "Greyhounds" and her captain, William Thomas Turner, placed tremendous faith in the gentlemanly strictures of warfare that for a century had kept civilian ships safe from attack. He knew, moreover, that his ship - the fastest then in service - could outrun any threat.
Germany, however, was determined to change the rules of the game, and Walther Schwieger, the captain of Unterseeboot-20, was happy to oblige. Meanwhile, an ultra-secret British intelligence unit tracked Schwieger's U-boat, but told no one. As U-20 and the Lusitania made their way toward Liverpool, an array of forces both grand and achingly small - hubris, a chance fog, a closely guarded secret, and more--all converged to produce one of the great disasters of history.
It is a story that many of us think we know but don't, and Erik Larson tells it thrillingly, switching between hunter and hunted while painting a larger portrait of America at the height of the Progressive Era. Full of glamour, mystery, and real-life suspense, Dead Wake brings to life a cast of evocative characters, from famed Boston bookseller Charles Lauriat to pioneering female architect Theodate Pope Riddle to President Wilson, a man lost to grief, dreading the widening war but also captivated by the prospect of new love. Gripping and important, Dead Wake captures the sheer drama and emotional power of a disaster that helped place America on the road to war."
29. A book published outside the 4 major publishing houses (Simon & Schuster; HarperCollins; Penguin Random House; Hachette Livre) - check all the editions- A Season of Spells by Sylvia Izzo Hunter. Completed 11th August 2017. ⭐️⭐️ Bit disappointed at ending. Felt a bit rushed.
"In the latest novel from the author of Lady of Magick, Sophie and Gray Marshall must save the Kingdom of Britain from a tide of dark magic...
Three years after taking up residence at the University of Din Edin, Sophie and Gray return to London, escorting the heiress of Alba to meet the British prince to whom she is betrothed. Sparks fail to fly between the pragmatic Lucia of Alba and the romantic Prince Roland, and the marriage alliance is cast into further doubt when the men who tried to poison King Henry are discovered to have escaped from prison.
Gray sets off to track the fugitives abroad, while Sophie tries to spark a connection between the bride and groom by enlisting them in her scheme to reopen a long-shuttered women’s college at Oxford. Though a vocal contingent believes that educating women spells ruin, what Sophie and her friends discover in the decaying college library may hold the key to protecting everything they hold dear—as well as a dark secret that could destroy it all"
30. A book from Goodreads Top 100 YA Books (link) The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Completed 27th January 2017.⭐️⭐️"Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse—Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena—Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods."
31. A book from a sub-genre of your favourite genre- The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore Completed 18th Nov 2017 ⭐️⭐️"The Mogadorians who destroyed the planet Lorien continue to hunt for the Garde, the small group of Loric survivors who have taken refuge on Earth. During a dangerous mission at a Mog base in West Virginia, John found and rescued the brutish Nine. But even with their combined powers, special abilities known as Legacies, the pair barely escaped with their lives. And in the process, John’s best friend, Sam Goode, was lost and taken captive by the enemy.
In order to save him—and our world—John and Nine must join forces with Six and Seven who have been battling the Mogs in Spain, and who are now trying to locate Number Eight in India. The Garde must come together before it is too late. They are Lorien and Earth’s only hope."
32. A book with a long title (5+ words, excluding subtitle)- The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan Completed January 2017 ⭐️⭐️"Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears at his potential new school, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.
In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth - a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn."
33. A magical realism novel-Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.Completed March 2017.⭐️.Disappointed. Much preferred the film.
"A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of curious photographs.
A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.
A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows."
34. A book set in or by an author from the Southern Hemisphere- The Bat by Jo Nesbo Completed 8th Aug 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.
35. A book where one of the main characters is royalty- Lady of Magick by Sylvia Izzo Hunter. Completed 4th August 2017 ⭐️⭐️"In her second year of studies at Merlin College, Oxford, Sophie Marshall is feeling alienated among fellow students who fail to welcome a woman to their ranks. So when her husband, Gray, is invited north as a visiting lecturer at the University in Din Edin, they leap at the chance. There, Sophie’s hunger for magical knowledge can finally be nourished. But soon, Sophie must put her newly learned skills to the test.
Sophie returns home one day to find a note from Gray—he’s been summoned urgently to London. But when he doesn’t return, and none of her spells can find a trace of him, she realizes something sinister has befallen him. With the help of her sister, Joanna, she delves into Gray’s disappearance, and soon finds herself in a web of magick and intrigue that threatens not just Gray, but the entire kingdom."
38. A novel inspired by a work of classic literature The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan Completed January 2017.⭐️⭐️"The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan's amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a "half blood" whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan's series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment.
In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book's drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come."
41. A book with an unreliable narrator- The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins Completed 22nd feb 2017.⭐️⭐️"Rachel catches the same commuter train every morning. She knows it will wait at the same signal each time, overlooking a row of back gardens. She's even started to feel like she knows the people who live in one of the houses. 'Jess and Jason', she calls them. Their life - as she sees it - is perfect. If only Rachel could be that happy. And then she sees something shocking. It's only a minute until the train moves on, but it's enough. Now everything's changed. Now Rachel has a chance to become a part of the lives she's only watched from afar. Now they'll see; she's much more than just the girl on the train..."
44. A recommendation from "What Should I Read Next" (link) [book:The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore. Completed 26th November 2017. ⭐️"The Garde have suffered an unbearable loss. Number Five has betrayed them. Eight is gone forever. Ella has been kidnapped. The others are now scattered.
In Chicago, John makes the unlikeliest of allies: Adam, a Mogadorian who turned his back on his people. He has invaluable information about Mog technology, battle strategies, and weaknesses. Most important, he knows where to hit them: their command base near Washington, DC. During the assault, however, John and Adam learn the unimaginable truth: it is too late. The Mogadorians have commenced their ultimate invasion plans.
With a front-row seat to the impending invasion, Ella finds herself in the hands of the enemy. For some reason she's more valuable to them alive, and they'll stop at nothing to turn her.
Meanwhile, Six, Nine, and Marina make their way through the Florida Everglades, hot on the trail of the traitorous Five. With the development of a new Legacy, Marina finally has the power to fight back—if her thirst for revenge doesn't consume her first."
46. A time travel novel- Library of Souls bynRansom Riggs Completed March 2017 ⭐️⭐️."A boy with extraordinary powers. An army of deadly monsters. An epic battle for the future of peculiardom.
The adventure that began with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and continued in Hollow City comes to a thrilling conclusion with Library of Souls. As the story opens, sixteen-year-old Jacob discovers a powerful new ability, and soon he’s diving through history to rescue his peculiar companions from a heavily guarded fortress. Accompanying Jacob on his journey are Emma Bloom, a girl with fire at her fingertips, and Addison MacHenry, a dog with a nose for sniffing out lost children.
They’ll travel from modern-day London to the labyrinthine alleys of Devil’s Acre, the most wretched slum in all of Victorian England. It’s a place where the fate of peculiar children everywhere will be decided once and for all. Like its predecessors, Library of Souls blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience."
47. A past suggestion that didn't win (link)- A book with a number in the title- The Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore Completed 22nd Nov2017. ⭐️⭐️"The Garde are finally reunited, but do they have what it takes to win the war against the Mogadorians?
John Smith—Number Four—thought that things would change once the Garde found each other. They would stop running. They would fight the Mogadorians. And they would win.
But he was wrong. After facing off with the Mogadorian ruler and almost being annihilated, the Garde know they are drastically unprepared and hopelessly outgunned. Now they’re hiding out in Nine’s Chicago penthouse, trying to figure out their next move.
The six of them are powerful, but they’re not strong enough yet to take on an entire army—even with the return of an old ally. To defeat their enemy, the Garde must master their Legacies and learn to work together as a team. More importantly, they’ll have to discover the truth about the Elders and their plan for the Loric survivors.
And when the Garde receive a sign from Number Five—a crop circle in the shape of a Loric symbol—they know they are so close to being reunited. But could it be a trap? Time is running out, and the only thing they know for certain is that they have to get to Five before it’s too late.
51. A collection (e.g. essays, short stories, poetry, plays) Wild card: Chasing the Prophecy by Brandon Mull Completed 24 Dec 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️."Jason and Rachel were not born in Lyrian. They did not grow up in Lyrian. But after all of the battles and losses, the triumphs and adventures, and most of all, the friendships forged in this fantastical world, Lyrian has become home to them in a way they never could have imagined.
And so, armed now with the prophecy of a dying oracle, they have gone on their separate quests—each surrounded by brave and powerful allies—knowing that the chance for success is slim. But Jason and Rachel are ready at last to become the heroes Lyrian needs, no matter the cost."
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Chasing the Prophecy (other topics)Seeds of Rebellion (other topics)
Library of Souls (other topics)
The Fall of Five (other topics)
A World Without Heroes (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Jennifer Ciotta (other topics)Pittacus Lore (other topics)
Jane Austen (other topics)
Jo Nesbø (other topics)
Jo Nesbø (other topics)
More...
So this year I'm going to try not to plan too far ahead and just roll with it......
The 2017 List
1. A book from the Goodreads Choice Awards 2016- Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld. Completed 18th Jan 2017.
2. A book with at least 2 perspectives (multiple points of view): The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney. Completed 20th Jan 2017.
3. A book you meant to read in 2016- Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull Completed 16 Dec 2017
4. A title that doesn't contain the letter "E" - Hollow City by Ransom Riggs Completed 24th March 2017.
5. A historical fiction- The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley. Completed 11th April 2017.
6. A book being released as a movie in 2017- Jungle: A Harrowing True Story of Survival by Yossi Ghinsberg. Completed 17th April 2017.
7. A book with an animal on the cover or in the title- The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan Completed January 2017
8. A book written by a person of color- Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley. Completed 24th april 2017.
9. A book in the middle of your To Be Read list- Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull Completed 9th June 2017.
10. A dual-timeline novel- The Semper Sonnet by Seth Margolis. Completed May 2017.
11. A category from another challenge- A book involving a mythical creature from 2017 ultimate pop sugar challenge- Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull. Completed July 5th 2017.
12. A book based on a myth- The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan. Completed January 2017.
13. A book recommended by one of your favourite authors- Emma by Jane Austen. Completed 17th July 2017.
14. A book with a strong female character- Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull Completed 18th June 2017.
15. A book written or set in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland) Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø Completed 18th Aug 2017.
16. A mystery- The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo Completed 1 september 2017.
17. A book with illustrations- Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull. Completed 25th June 2017
18. A really long book (600+ pages)-: Nemesis byJo Nesbø Completed 8 September 2017.
19. A New York Times best-seller- The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter. Completed 28th July2017.
20. A book that you've owned for a while but haven't gotten around to reading The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbø Completed 17th September 2017.
21. A book that is a continuation of a book you've already read-The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø. Completed 28th September 2017.
22. A book by an author you haven't read before- Fablehaven by Brandon Mull Completed 21 May 2017.
23. A book from the BBC "The Big Read" list (link)- Persuasion by Jane Austen. Completed 28th october 2017.
24. A book written by at least two authors- I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. Completed 8th November 2017.
25. A book about a famous historical figure- I, Putin by Jennifer Ciotta. Completed 30th October 2017.
26. An adventure book- The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore Completed 12th November 2017.
27. A book by one of your favourite authors- A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull. Completed 8th Dec 2017.
28. A non-fiction- Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson.
29. A book published outside the 4 major publishing houses (Simon & Schuster; HarperCollins; Penguin Random House; Hachette Livre) - check all the editions- A Season of Spells by Sylvia Izzo Hunter. Completed 11th August 2017.
30. A book from Goodreads Top 100 YA Books (link) The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Completed 27th January 2017.
31. A book from a sub-genre of your favourite genre- The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore Completed 18th Nov 2017
32. A book with a long title (5+ words, excluding subtitle)- The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan Completed January 2017
33. A magical realism novel-Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.Completed March 2017.
34. A book set in or by an author from the Southern Hemisphere- The Bat by Jo Nesbo Completed 8th Aug 2017.
35. A book where one of the main characters is royalty- Lady of Magick by Sylvia Izzo Hunter. Completed 4th August 2017.
36. A Hugo Award winner or nominee (link)
37. A book you choose randomly
38. A novel inspired by a work of classic literature The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan Completed January 2017.
39. An epistolary fiction-
40. A book published in 2017-
41. A book with an unreliable narrator- The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins Completed 22nd feb 2017.
42. A best book of the 21st century (so far)-
43. A book with a chilling atmosphere (scary, unsettling, cold)-
44. A recommendation from "What Should I Read Next" (link) [book:The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore. Completed 26th November 2017.
45. A book with a one-word title-
46. A time travel novel- Library of Souls bynRansom Riggs Completed March 2017
47. A past suggestion that didn't win (link)- A book with a number in the title- The Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore Completed 22nd Nov2017.
48. A banned book- The Truth of the Lie by Goncalo Amaral (http://goncaloamaraltruthofthelie.blo...).
49. A book from someone else's bookshelf-
50. A Penguin Modern Classic - any edition
51. A collection (e.g. essays, short stories, poetry, plays) Wild card: Chasing the Prophecy by Brandon Mull Completed 24 Dec 2017.
52. A book set in a fictional location-