75 Books...More or Less! discussion

I'm in for the 2017 challenge!

Yay!!! It wouldn't be the same without you :)

Andrea wrote: "Yay!!! It wouldn't be the same without you :)"

Thanks, Andrea! It's always good to be here.

1. Pancakes-Paris, by Claire Huchet Bishop, 4/5 stars

This children's book (a Newberry Honor Book in 1948) is a very short and sweet story about how much a box of pancake mix given by two American soldiers meant to a young boy in post-WWII Paris. Wonderful illustrations and a great story about something so many of us take for granted these days.

2. Li Lun, Lad of Courage, by Carolyn Treffinger, 3/5 stars

3. CROCK-POT the Original Slow Cooker Recipe Collection, 5/5 stars

4. A Rift in Time, by Michael R. Phillips, 3/5 stars

5. The Swiss Family Robinson, by Johann David Wyss, 2/5 stars

6. The Cow-Tail Switch: And Other West African Stories, by Harold Courlander and George Herzog, 4/5 stars

7. Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, by Therese Anne Fowler, 3/5 stars

Two VERY messed up people and how they got that way.

8. How Reading Changed My Life, by Anna Quindlen, 4/5 stars

I loved this short book about why it is that we read.

9. Misty of Chincoteague, by Marguerite Henry, 4/5 stars

10. The Quaint and Curious Quest of Johnny Longfoot, the Shoe King's Son, by Catherine Besterman, 2/5 stars

Not surprised that this Newberry honor book is out of print and hard to find in libraries.

11. The Cost of Discipleship, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 4/5 stars

Very weighty, and thought-provoking. I would have given in a 5 except for a couple of longer chapters near the end that were basically a recitation of scripture verses. The beginning chapters really made me rethink how I view my relationship with the Lord and the purpose of my involvement in the church.

12. Murder on the Lusitania, by Conrad Allen, 4/5 stars.

Thoroughly enjoyable mystery in a great historical setting!

Karol wrote: "12. Murder on the Lusitania, by Conrad Allen, 4/5 stars."

This one is in my To Read folder. Glad you enjoyed it.

Karol wrote: "12. Murder on the Lusitania, by Conrad Allen, 4/5 stars..."

Added this to my TBR!

Elyse wrote: "Karol wrote: "12. Murder on the Lusitania, by Conrad Allen, 4/5 stars..."

Added this to my TBR!"

We three should have a discussion about this after we read it! Anyone else?

13. Dearest Dorothy, If Not Now, When?, by Charlene Ann Baumbich, 4/5 stars

I very nice installment in the series, but I only wish it didn't have such an abrupt ending!

14. The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice, by Wilkie Collins, 5/5 stars

LOVED this piece of Victorian horror.

Karol wrote: "13. Dearest Dorothy, If Not Now, When?, by Charlene Ann Baumbich, 4/5 stars

I very nice installment in the series, but I only wish it didn't have such an abrupt endin..."

I added the DD series to my TBR!

Did you read Haunted Hotel? I started listening to the audiobook but the recording was awful, in my opinion, so I finished it with the e-book.

Elyse wrote: "Did you read Haunted Hotel?"

Yep! It seems to get off to such a slow start that it took a while to get into it . . . but then at the end it seemed the author did a masterful job of bringing together all the threads from beginning to the end.

15. The Age of Daredevils, by Michael Clarkson, 3/5 stars

16. King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian, by Marguerite Henry, 4/5 stars

17. Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel, 5/5 stars

18. The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine, by Alexander McCall Smith, 5/5 stars

19. The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins, 3/5 stars

20. Life on the Refrigerator Door, by Alice Kuipers, 4/5 stars

21. My Father's Dragon, by Ruth Stiles Gannett, 5/5 stars

22. Seabird, by Holling Clancy Holling, 4/5 stars

Station Eleven was so good!

Nice roll of great books, Karol!

Carol wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Karol wrote: "12. Murder on the Lusitania, by Conrad Allen, 4/5 stars..."

Added this to my TBR!"

We three should have a discussion about this after we read it! Anyone else?"

I am in; I have it on my list and will be reading it at some point this year since it fits into the whole cozy scenario I have set up for myself this year. :-)

GREAT reading Karol!! You've read some really great sounding books!!

Dawn Michelle wrote: "GREAT reading Karol!! You've read some really great sounding books!!"

A good year so far!

23. Death Tidies Up, by Barbara Colley, 4/5 stars

24. Story of the Negro, by Arna Bontemps, 5/5 stars

25. Polished Off, by Barbara Colley, 4/5 stars

26. 41: A Portrait of My Father, by George W. Bush, 4/5 stars

An interesting biography - about a president, written by his son who was also a president. Perhaps John Quincy Adams wrote a book about John Adams . . . but if not, this one is truly unique.

27. Wiped Out, by Barbara Colley, 4/5 stars

A fun cozy mystery series that takes place in New Orleans.

28. Restored: Finding Redemption in Our Mess, by Tom Berlin, 4/5 stars

Inspiring and encouraging

29. Murder on the Mauretania, by Conrad Allen, 4/5 stars

Well, I just love this series despite the rather stiff writing style.

30. Apple Turnover Murder, by Joanne Fluke, 3/5 stars

I have a love/hate relationship with this series. I love the supporting characters and the mysteries themselves are usually pretty good . . . I'm not too keen about the recipes. Nor am I too happy about the love triangle that the ditzy main character, Hannah, doesn't seem to be able to figure out. And I hate cliffhanger endings, which this one has. Still, will I probably strive to read the entire series? Yeah, it's likely.

Karol wrote: "30. Apple Turnover Murder, by Joanne Fluke, 3/5 stars

I have a love/hate relationship with this series. I love the supporting characters and the mysteries themselves ..."

You've made it to #13, you might as well go all the way. lol

Elyse wrote: "You've made it to #13, you might as well go all the way."

(Chuckling) . . . yeah, sometimes when I've invested that much already I just keep on going with a series!

31. The Door in the Wall, by Marguerite de Angeli, 5/5 stars.

Read this one for my Newberry book discussion group. Loved the setting, and the story about a young boy overcoming difficult times including separation from family, war, and a life-changing illness.

32. Murder on the Minnesota, by Conrad Allen, 5/5 stars

33. This Is Your Captain Speaking: My Fantastic Voyage Through Hollywood, Faith and Life, by Gavin MacLeod, 4/5 stars

I need to bump up This is Your Captain Speaking. I have had it for some time now on my Kindle and haven't gotten around to reading it. Glad you enjoyed it!

Dawn Michelle wrote: "I need to bump up This is Your Captain Speaking. I have had it for some time now on my Kindle and haven't gotten around to reading it. Glad you enjoyed it!"

It really was fun to read, Dawn Michelle!

34. The Kindness of Strangers, by Don George, 3/5 stars

A collection of short stories. Some were VERY good . . . others not so much, or at least not to my taste. Lots of examples of travelers stupidly going into dangerous situations. Whatever happened to common sense???

35. Good Stuff: A Reminiscence of My Father, Cary Grant, by Jennifer Grant, 3/5 stars

36. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home, by Rhoda Janzen, 1/5 stars

Too trashy for me.

37. The Ghost of the Mary Celeste, by Valerie Martin, 5/5 stars

38. Mothers and Other Strangers, by Gina Sorell, 3/5 stars

39. Making Sense of the Bible: Rediscovering the Power of Scripture Today, by Adam Hamilton, 5/5 stars

40. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, by Daniel James Brown, 5/5 stars

41. Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt, by Beth Hoffman, 4/5 stars

42. John: The Gospel of Light and Life, by Adam Hamilton, 4/5 stars

43. Mockingbird, by Kathryn Erskine, 4/5 stars

44. Murder on the Caronia, by Conrad Allen, 4/5 stars

45. Let's Talk: Praying Your Way to a Deeper Relationship with God, by Bill Crowder, 4/5 stars

46. Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship, by Robert Kurson, 3/5 stars

47. George Washington, by Genevieve Foster, 4/5 stars

48. The Blue Cat of Castle Town, by Catherine Cate Coblentz, 5/5 stars

49. Tree of Freedom, by Rebecca Caudill, 4/5 stars

50. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, by Winifred Watson, 5/5 stars

51. Amos Fortune, Free Man, by Elizabeth Yates, 4/5 stars

52. Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, by Barbara Demick, 5/5 stars

53. The Martian, by Andy Weir, 4/5 stars

51. Amos Fortune, Free Man, by Elizabeth Yates, 4/5 stars

I really enjoyed this book last year. I ready it for my Y Author and I was so happy I randomly picked it.

Karol wrote: "53. The Martian, by Andy Weir, 4/5 stars"

Loved this book and can't wait for Artemis!

54. Dracula, by Bram Stoker, 4/5 stars

55. Can I Ask That?: 8 Hard Questions about God and Faith Sticky Faith Curriculum Student Guide, by Jim Candy, 5/5 stars

56. Can I Ask That?: 8 Hard Questions about God & Faith Sticky Faith Curriculum Leader Guide, by Jim Candy, 4/5 stars

57. Skeleton Canyon, by J.A. Jance, 5/5 stars

58. Murder on the Marmora, Conrad Allen, 4/5 stars

59. Because of Bethlehem: Love Is Born, Hope Is Here, by Max Lucado, 3/5 stars

60. Because of Bethlehem Study Guide: Love Is Born Hope is Here, by Max Lucado, 3/5 stars

61. The Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan, 4/5 stars

62. Rattlesnake Crossing, by J.A. Jance, 4/5 stars

63. Scrub-a-Dub Dead, by Barbara Colley, 4/5 stars

64. Murder on the Salsette, by Conrad Allen, 4/5 stars

That's it for me for 2017. Missed the mark, but feeling good about what I got to read this year.

You did really well, Karol! Hope to see you next year!