75 Books...More or Less! discussion

Happy New Year! In 2018 I was able to read 299 books. I am going to going to try to have a chill 200 books. If I am going to go over... I'll just bump it up!

2019 Reading Related Resolutions:

1. Finish ALL of the books in my "Want to Read" folder that were added in 2017.

2. Read at least 25 non-fiction books.

3. Read more of a diverse group of books (instead of mostly mystery).

4. Read actual books that I own. Managed to read 20 this year. I feel I could do better... Let's say 20 books.

Carol wrote: "2019 Reading Related Resolutions:

1. Finish ALL of the books in my "Want to Read" folder that were added in 2017.

2. Read at least 25 non-fiction books.

3. Read more of a diverse group of books ..."

I am trying to read a NF book for each fiction book I read [not counting the mysteries because I blow through those so fast I couldn't keep up with the NF then ;-) ]. I adore NF and could probably take a year and read almost only that. I have read a lot of really good NF as of late, so feel free to peruse my shelf for ideas.

Dawn Michelle wrote: "I am trying to read a NF book for each fiction book I read [not counting the mysteries because I blow through those so fast I couldn't keep up with the NF then ;-) ]. I adore NF and could probably take a year and read almost only that. I have read a lot of really good NF as of late, so feel free to peruse my shelf for ideas. "

Thanks, b/c I struggle with finding interesting NF... I think I read all the biographies of people I am interested in. OH! Have you read Reese Witherspoon's new book, Whiskey in a Teacup? It is sooo good!

Great goals Carol! My favorite book dealer. The gal I turn to when I need a hit! Hehe

Carol wrote: "2019 Reading Related Resolutions:

1. Finish ALL of the books in my "Want to Read" folder that were added in 2017.

2. Read at least 25 non-fiction books.

3. Read more of a diverse group of books ..."

Misty wrote: "Great goals Carol! My favorite book dealer. The gal I turn to when I need a hit! Hehe

Carol wrote: "2019 Reading Related Resolutions:

1. Finish ALL of the books in my "Want to Read" folder that w..."

Hahahaha!

1. The Cat Who Went Up the Creek by Lilian Jackson Braun - While on vacation from his town of Pick Axe, James Qwilleran discovers a body floating dow the stream in the town of Black Creek. *** 1/1/19

Carol wrote: "Dawn Michelle wrote: "I am trying to read a NF book for each fiction book I read [not counting the mysteries because I blow through those so fast I couldn't keep up with the NF then ;-) ]. I adore ..."

I have not read that! Thanks for the recommendation!!

2. The Mayan Secrets by Clive Cussler - Another good Fargo adventure. While in Mexico, Sam and Remi discover the skeleton of a man holding a huge pot that has an ancient Mayan book enclosed! Then things get dicey... 1/4/19

Joanne wrote: "Carol wrote: "2. The Mayan Secrets by Clive Cussler - Another good Fargo adventure. While in Mexico, Sam and Remi discover the skeleton of a man holding a hug..."

Me to. I remember my dad, reading his books YEARS ago...

3. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin - Whew! What a long book. But it was good. The continuing stories of the the players from the 7 kingdoms. **** 1/4/19

Carol wrote: "1. The Cat Who Went Up the Creek by Lilian Jackson Braun - While on vacation from his town of Pick Axe, James Qwilleran discovers a body floating do..."

I love the Cat Who books--love the quirky characters. I finished the series about a year ago, and miss them like old friends!

Donna wrote: "Carol wrote: "1. The Cat Who Went Up the Creek by Lilian Jackson Braun - While on vacation from his town of Pick Axe, James Qwilleran discovers a bo..."

I do too! If you like the Cat Who books, then you might like the Chet and Bernie Mysteries. The first book is Dog on It (A Chet and Bernie Mystery #1) by Spencer Quinn. The books are narrated by the dog and the author really has man's best friend down to the last detail.

4. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home by Vonda N. McIntyre - The novelization of the movie. Earth is in crisis and Kirk and his crew have to rescue two creatures on the verge of extinction. **** 1/5/19

5. The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien - This is the 4th time I read this book. A comfort read. The story of a group of travelers, one who has to destroy something terrible. The second book in the trilogy. ***** 1/6/2019

Yay! The Voyage Home!!!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Joanne wrote: "Carol wrote: "5. The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien - This is the 4th time I read this book. A comfort read. The story of a group of travelers, one who has to destroy..."

Me too!

Carol wrote: "4. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home by Vonda N. McIntyre - The novelization of the movie. Earth is in crisis and Kirk and his crew have to rescue two ..."

I pretty much never read novelizations (my library never has the few that I've gone looking for) but I did just get the six original cast movies for Christmas, so I'll be revisiting this story soon myself!

Charleen wrote: "Carol wrote: "4. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home by Vonda N. McIntyre - The novelization of the movie. Earth is in crisis and Kirk and his crew have ..."

So far, the novelizations go a little further into the story than just translating it from screenplay to book. Hope you like them... I have been enjoying them.

6. Varg In Love by Alexander McCall Smith - A sweet novelette. This is a prequel of a series of Swedish Crime Novels. It is, I hope, "lighter" than your typical Swedish Crime Novel. This novelette is about how Varg solved the crime of a stabbing. **** 1/7/18

7. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro - The butler Stevens, reflects on his life on a trip around England. **** 1/8/2019

Carol wrote: "7. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro - The butler Stevens, reflects on his life on a trip around England. **** 1/8/2019"

I could not read this. So boring. lol. I tried listening to the audiobook.

Elyse wrote: "Carol wrote: "7. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro - The butler Stevens, reflects on his life on a trip around England. **** 1/8/2019"

I could not r..."

I tend to like classics and, for me, it had the feel of a classic like E.M. Forster or W. Somerset Maugham... but I know what you mean, when you break it down, all it was about was a repressed butler who let life slip away. He probably had OCD issues. It was a movie back in the 80s or 90s.

Carol wrote: "2019 Reading Related Resolutions:

1. Finish ALL of the books in my "Want to Read" folder that were added in 2017.

2. Read at least 25 non-fiction books.

3. Read more of a diverse group of books ..."

One of my goals is also to shop my own shelf more! I feel I do well with that at the beginning of the year but then I get lax and distracted by shiny new things.

Juli wrote: "One of my goals is also to shop my own shelf more! I feel I do well with that at the beginning of the year but then I get lax and distracted by shiny new things."

I found last year if I write my goals down then they are more likely to be met. Good luck on your goals.

Carol wrote: "I found last year if I write my goals down then they are more likely to be met. Good luck on your goals..."

Ditto! I need to SEE them. lol

Carol wrote: "Juli wrote: "One of my goals is also to shop my own shelf more! I feel I do well with that at the beginning of the year but then I get lax and distracted by shiny new things."

I found last year if..."

Same! I actually made an official blog post stating my goals so I have some accountability ;)

8. Valhalla by Robert J. Mrazek - Started out great but I felt it lost steam. While searching for the remains of an old airplane on the Greenland icecap, another discovery was made... under the airplane was a Viking ship! *** 1/10/18

Carol wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Carol wrote: "7. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro - The butler Stevens, reflects on his life on a trip around England. **** 1/8/2019"
..."

I enjoyed it, but I'm an Ishiguro and E.M. Forster fan. Liked the movie too--great performances by Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.

Carol wrote: "Donna wrote: "Carol wrote: "1. The Cat Who Went Up the Creek by Lilian Jackson Braun - While on vacation from his town of Pick Axe, James Qwilleran ..."

I have not heard of that series before--I'll have to look for it--thanks!

Donna wrote: "Carol wrote: "Donna wrote: "Carol wrote: "1. The Cat Who Went Up the Creek by Lilian Jackson Braun - While on vacation from his town of Pick Axe, Ja..."

I guess you could consider it a cozy. I enjoy the series. The first 3 books were written in the 60s and then nothing for 20 years. Her fourth The Cat Who... book came out in 1986. I don't know why there was such a big gap... maybe kids?

9. The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin - What a good story about the friendship of Francis Marion and Mary Pickford. Good but tragic. ***** 1/10/18

Carol wrote: "9. The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin - What a good story about the friendship of Francis Marion and Mary Pickford. Good but tragic. ***** 1/..."

This is in my NetGalley backlog. I've read and enjoyed a couple of Melanie Benjamin's other books and would like to get to this one this year!

Elyse wrote: "This is in my NetGalley backlog. I've read and enjoyed a couple of Melanie Benjamin's other books and would like to get to this one this year!"

Elyse, it was so good! I didn't really read what it was about before I read it and it turns out to be historical fiction. I thought the main character who was doing the narrating was fictional, but she was a real, Hollywood writer. Loved it!

10. Zero G by Dan Wells - A sweet kids sci fi story. Zero and his family and 20,000 other passengers are flying out into deep space to populate a planet. 28 days into the trip, Zero wakes from his deep sleep... But they are not supposed to land for another 105 years! Yikes! And that's not all! **** 1/13/19

Carol wrote: "Elyse wrote: "This is in my NetGalley backlog. I've read and enjoyed a couple of Melanie Benjamin's other books and would like to get to this one this year!"

Elyse, it was so good! I didn't really..."

Awesome!

11. The Hunt for Atlantis by Andy McDermott - Full of adventure like a Clive Cussler novel. Nina is looking for the lost city of Atlantis, but someone doesn't want her to find it! *** 1/14/19

12. The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell - An interesting short story that I think the subject has been used before in TV, movies or other books. Man being chased by a hunter. *** 1/15/19

13. Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw - A great story about a lowly street woman who sells flowers and speaks horribly, like a cat being injured. A linguist overhears her and bet that she can be turned into a lady. Can he do the impossible? This is really a poke at the British Class system. ***** 1/15/19

14. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter started his 5th year at Hogwart's and he has the feeling something is going on, but no one is telling him what. ***** 1/19/19

15. A Serpent's Tooth by Craig Johnson - While looking for a missing person, Sheriff Walt Longmire gets involved with a polygamy cult. **** 1/20/19

16. The Tempest by William Shakespeare - Prospero and his daughter are stranded on an island for years. *** 1/21/19

17. Living an Inspired Life: Your Ultimate Calling by Wayne W. Dyer - A very inspiring book on being inspired. *****1/21/19

Joanne wrote: "You’re reading some good books carol. 👍😁😁😎"

Thank you! I loved the "Inspired Life" book. I have been a bit more hard core about books I do not like and end up dropping.

18. The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni - Holy Flipping Gosh! What a powerful book. Highly recommend!!! The story of a boy with ocular albinism and the challenges he faced as he grew into a man. *****

Carol wrote: "18. The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni - Holy Flipping Gosh! What a powerful book. Highly recommend!!! The story of a boy w..."

This in on my TBR, your review makes me more excited to read it.

Connie wrote: "Carol wrote: "18. The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni - Holy Flipping Gosh! What a powerful book. Highly recommend!!! The sto...

This in on my TBR, your review makes me more excited to read it. "

If you like Sam Hell, you would like A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. That is another (fictional) biography type book that goes on and meanders and comes right to the point... eventually. Another very good book.
by John Irving

Carol wrote: "18. The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni - Holy Flipping Gosh! What a powerful book. Highly recommend!!! The story of a boy w..."

Sounds good I'll have to try it.

19. Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood - A modern retelling of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Felix, a theater director, leads a group of inmates in a version of The Tempest. *** 1/23/19

20. The Cat Who Brought Down the House by Lilian Jackson Braun - A wealthy Hollywood star returns to Moose County in her old age and dies. Quill and his cats investigate. *** 1/23/19