2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion
ARCHIVE 2021
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Bookventure: Nikolina's 42 in 2021
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Thank you Lisa! :))
Hi Nikolina, good luck with your reading challenge! Also, we are buddy reading A Dance with Dragons in February and March, so if you get around to that one, do join us!
Also, I finished the Miss. Peregrine series last year and enjoyed it so much. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. :)
Trisha wrote: "Hi Nikolina, good luck with your reading challenge! Also, we are buddy reading A Dance with Dragons in February and March, so if you get around to that one, do join us!
Also, I f..."
Thanks Trisha!
I hope that I will finish reading A Feast for Crows so I can join you. I haven't been a part of any buddy read so far, I think that would be fun :)
My first and second read this year areH. M. Ward - Damaged
and
H. M. Ward - Damaged 2
in Croatian
Rates: 5/5 and 3/5 resp.
The first part seemed nice, the story was interesting and there was nothing erotic in the book. Every description was acceptable and let's say politely. What I didn't like was that in the second book, "the guy" of course comes from a rich family, everyone thinks that "the girl" is into him because of his money, his past is dirty and questionable, etc. "The girl" seems so easy to manipulate, her reasons for running away or being angry don't seem reasonable enough to me.
It was a fun and quick read but an average love story.
Progress: 2/42
(It is fun for me to keep track of the books I read in Croatian and those I read in English so that is why I always denote the language.)
My third read isStephenie Meyer - Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined
in English
Rate: 2/5
I am a fan of the Twilight Saga but this is just copy-paste Twilight. I am dissapointed. The last 50 pages were interesting but everything else was just copy-paste. Even conversations are identical all the time. The characters stayed the same with opposite gendre which does not seem natural to me.
Progress: 3/42
I have readEmily St. John Mandel - Station Eleven
in English
Rate: 4/5
The story is ok. At first, I was a sceptic but all in all, this was a fine book. The parts that I liked the most are those with recollections from the past instead of this apocalyptic new world in present. There isn't much going on in present actually and that is what I waited the whole time; for something to start happening.
Progress: 4/42
My fifth book this year isJosie Silver - One Day in December
in Croatian
Rate: 4/5
I liked the story but there are a few things that I have a problem with, but all in all, this is nice and relaxing book. I can even imagine it as a movie or even tv show.
Progress: 5/42
The best books I've read this year so far isBeth O'Leary - The Flatshare
in Croatian
Rate: 5/5
I enjoyed reading this. The novel is very relaxing and fun to read. It is a sweet love story between two people with a very different character. Each of them is coming out of their comfort zone to meet each other half-way :)
I love that focus is not only on the relationship between the main characters but there is a lot of background story about their previous relationships, their family etc.
I recommend this book to anyone who needs something easy to read and loves love stories.
Progress: 6/42
This month, I succeeded in readingEowyn Ivey - The Snow Child
in English
Rate: 4/5
Somewhere on 50% of the book I still waited for something more interesting to start happening. The second half was easier to read, to me. The book is ok, different from the topics I usually read.
I liked the pictures this book created in my head, everything white, innocent and relaxing.
Progress: 7/42
I started with House of Night Series:P. C. Cast - Marked (House of Night #1)
in Croatian
Rate: 4/5
I've read a few books from this series when I was in high school. I remember it wasn't great for me but I forgot almost everything. I remembered the main topic but not much else.
This first book was interesting and I will try to continue reading the series. It is easy to read, not much thinking necessary, just like watching a movie. That is why I like it, the story takes me somewhere in the world of weird school that has classes during the night with vampyres and their different gifts and talents.
What I don't like is kind of a caricature of a religion that I sense from the author. There is this "other" religion from the outside world that is "wrong" and these religious people are judgemental and demanding and want to desperately prove you wrong. This really feels like an attempt to mock religions. I know that there are people who actually act like the ones the author describes, but still, to me, the whole idea seems intentional. This can be just my interpretation and not something the author had in mind while writing this.
Progress: 8/42
I've read the second book from House of Night series:P. C. Cast - Betrayed
in Croatian
Rate: 4/5
It's ok, interesting and keeps the attention. I plan on continuing this series right after I read some books that are left unfinished.
I got used to the main character, her boyfriends and this weird vampyres. It's not the best vampire story I've read, but it is funny and readable.
Progress: 9/42
The next is a collection of columns:Jelena Badovinac - Halter, štikla, tambura (eng. Halter, Heel, Tambourine)
in Croatian
Rate: 3/5
This book is outdated and Jelena's political comments aren't interesting any more. Jelena reveals a big part of her privacy in this book. She comments on local celebrities and other people's lives but a big part of the book is focused on her non-existing love life, that is, she remembers some of the husbands she almost had and all their fallacies. Also, she is critical of her family and people from the same region as them.
I didn't like some parts of the book, some of them were funny. All in all, good but not great.
Progress: 10/42
I recommend the book I've read:Abby Johnson - Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye-Opening Journey Across the Life Line
in English
Rate: 5/5
The story is an autobiography about a former leader of a clinic where abortions were performed and her change from pro-choice to pro-life.
I wanted to hear her story and to see what affected her choice and the way of life. That is exactly what she is writing about. Of course, it is full of her opinions, her emotions and her idea of ethics. Maybe she did try to "convert" pro-choice people with this book, maybe she didn't. The goal was to let other people hear her story. I liked the story.
Progress: 11/42
My next read isErin Morgenstern - The Night Circus
in English
Rate: 4/5
I liked the story but somehow I think that everything unravels very fast while the introduction lasts forever. I liked the idea and complexity of the story. I have complaints on the last 10% of the book where everything goes superfast comparing to the rest of the book.
I sense that this is the way Erin Morgenstern writes. I've read The Starless Sea, but I didn't like it very much, comparing to The Night Circus. There also everything happens very fast in the end.
Progress: 12/42
I finished two books:Olja Knežević - Milena: & Other Social Reforms
in Croatian
Rate: 3/5
Good but not great. Milena is a smart girl but somehow she thinks it is not a big deal to sell herself (her company and her body) and once she finds herself in such a situation, it is hard to run away. Luckily, she runs away from Montenegro to London but her past comes to London right after her.
This book didn't keep my attention and it took me too long to read it but since it is based on a true story, it makes this story more valuable and devastating.
P. C. Cast - Chosen (House of Night #3)
in Croatian
Rate: 3/5
The story is good but the language is terrible. Maybe this specific translation that I am reading makes it more terrible (I am sure that is the case). But still, the girl in the book has some serious issues with men, she just can't decide so she has three boyfriends at the same time. I love the main story, but these love troubles and her low morale just makes me roll my eyes while reading this. I get that this maybe is a teen book but still...
Despite this, I think I will continue reading the series with my hopes up.
Progress: 14/42
Finally, I've readGeorge R. R. Martin - A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire #4)
in English
Rate: 5/5
Great, as always. I don't even know what happened in which part of the story, I just love the story. It was weird not to hear what is happening with some characters, but all of that will be a part of #5 so soon, I believe, I will start with that one. I was afraid that I will read everything until the sixth part is published so I read it slowly. Mr Martin has a good way of writing which keeps my attention. I hope that #6 will soon be published. Fingers crossed!
Progress: 15/42
After a while, Allan Gut - An Intermediate Course in Probability
in English
Rate: ?
It is hard for me to rate this type of book so this one will remain unrated.
The book really is intermediate, but you have to be familiar with only the basics in probability. It is not hard to follow. There are lots of examples and lots of problems with solutions on the last pages. That is the thing about this book I loved the most.
It took me a while to read it because it is not some book that you can read 100 pages before going to sleep.
Progress: 16/42
My next read isFredrik Backman - Anxious People
in English
Rate: 5/5
I loved this book! It keeps attention. The way the author jumps from one character story to the other is great, and the way everything connects at the end is amazing.
Progress: 17/42
House of Night continuesP. C. Cast - Untamed (House of Night #4)
in English
Rate: 3/5
hmm, an average and typical House of Night novel. The main character, Zoey, is falling in love 5 times in a novel. Afrodita is acting like some tough girl. Zoey's team of friends is usually shallow and nosy, etc. But ok, I still wonder what will happen with their world if not with their love lives.
Progress: 18/42
After a long pause, I've readJulia Quinn - The Duke and I (Bridgertons #1)
in Croatian
Rate: 4/5
I've read this in four days. It keeps attention. I came to read this after watching the Bridgerton series (Netflix). I find the series more interesting since the focus in the novel is on the main two characters and in the series, there is more story on the side. If I hadn't watched the series, I wouldn't compare them to each other. All in all, the story is good, I liked it and recommend this silly love story to everyone.
Progress: 19/42
The next book isP. C. Cast - Hunted (House of Night #5)
in Croatian
Rate: 4/5
Same old, same old. I guess by now I got used to Zoey's weird men taste. At the beginning of #5, I was bored, but then it got more interesting. It's ok, but I have to compare this rate to the rate I gave to The Duke and I. #5 got 4 because other novels in the series deserved 3 (my oppinion) and I found this slightly more interesting. But The Duke and I is much better than this so maybe I should've rated it with 5.
Progress: 20/42
May's monthly read wasAlix E. Harrow - The Ten Thousand Doors of January
in English
Rate: 4/5
I didn't read this book very carefully. Some parts were descriptive so I found those boring and read them not actually paying much attention. It was ok, the story is good but it was hard to read, it is not an easy read. It took me too long to read it just because of those parts with less conversation.
Progress: 21/42
I am half done with my goal regarding the number of books, but definitely far away from my reading list for this year. Maybe I will read some books from that list in the second half of my challenge :)
Next book:Matt Haig - The Midnight Library
in English
Rate: 5/5
I enjoyed reading this book. I believe this book can help people who cannot see good things in their lives. If you have some regrets about things you did or did not do in your life, please read this.
Progress: 22/42
I've readP. C. Cast - Tempted (House of Night #6)
in Croatian
Rate: 3/5
I'm getting really annoyed by this series so I'm looking forward to ending this. The series seems too childish and the characters don't seem too consistent. They actually seem really superficial. It's like watching Glee; one of them is black, two of them are gay, the other one is a rich spoiled kid, there is at least one guy with muscles, also one nerdy guy...
Progress: 23/42
Ok, so I actually started with one of the goals for this year:Ransom Riggs - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
in Croatian
Rate: 5/5
I liked it. I've read this a few years ago but I forgot everything. This was almost like the first reading, all characters are interesting, the story is something new and it is easy to read. Although, I have to admit that Jacob being with Emma is weird. Those who read this will know what I ment. Completely unnecessary!
Progress: 24/42
Two books follow:Ransom Riggs - Hollow City (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #2)
in Croatian
Rate: 5/5
It is interesting and intense. This is not the best series I've read, but it is ok. I like it. Although this is maybe for 4.5/5 stars.
P. C. Cast - Burned (House of Night #7)
in Croatian
Rate: 4/5
I think I started too optimistic with the rating of this series. Some other books from the series I've rated with 3/5 and I find this one a little bit more interesting since its focus is removed from Zoey and the main character here is Stevie Rae. Therefore, I rated this with 4 but maybe this is 3.5. Still, I had to make a difference between those about boring Zoey with her moral arguments which are totally destroying the mood, and this one where there is less of her.
Progress: 26/42
My summer books for now:Judith Merkle Riley - The Oracle Glass
in Croatian
Rate: 4/5
The book is fine, the book is based on the vengeance of a young girl. I usually don't like these vengeance-type books but all in all, it was ok. There is a little bit of romance also (but very little).
Ransom Riggs - Library of Souls (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #3)
in Croatian
Rate: 5/5
This series is pretty much consistent. Each book is equally good for now. I've had enough of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children but I think there is one more trilogy (enumerated as #4, #5 and #6 but I wonder how they are related to the first three).
Hopefully, I will read that trilogy also. Although I rated it with 5, I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoy some romance novels that I usually finish reading in a few days (or hours).
Julia Quinn - The Viscount Who Loved Me
in Croatian
Rate: 4/5
I enjoyed reading this book. I couldn't stop reading it. I spent every free minute reading it. I usually love novels like this one. The rating is 4/5 because often I find it hard to believe that such personalities exist. To be specific, it is hard for me to believe in such irrational fears that characters have or the reasoning in the novel does not make sense to me. The same thing happened while reading Bridgertons #1.
Progress: 29/42
After a while, I am updating my reads:P. C. Cast - Awakened (House of Night #8)
in English
Rate: 3/5
I finally found the English edition of this series so I have to admit that I did not know that Afrodita is actually Aphrodite :D
It is much better reading in English but the story is getting on my nerves. More on this topic later.
Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist
in English
Rate: 5/5
I've heard about this book but I thought I wouldn't like it. I was soooo wrong. I loved this. I even highlighted a few of the sentences (which I never do). This seemed like a silly book but it is actually really good and useful.
P. C. Cast - Destined (House of Night #9)
in English
Rate: 2/5
Ok, so this is officially the lowest rate I've given. Back to that annoying part I've mentioned before; I cannot wait to finish reading this series. A lot of conversations do not make sense, the relations between characters are fake and unrelatable. The "twins" quarrel seemed too stupid and unnecessary. There is a narration from lots of characters but Zoey's is still in the first person (why?). So many things are made up just to fit the story.
I'm on 9/12 so I will continue reading the series (I know, I know, but I just do not like to leave this unfinished, especially since I started reading this series once in high school and quit but I was too curious so I had to start over).
In the following comments read more about how much this series annoys me.
Sidney A. Morris - Topology Without Tears
in English
Rate: ?/5
As I said, it is hard for me to rate math books, especially this complicated. I never had a course on Topology so this was a useful read. Although I didn't pay too much attention to exercises and appendix, I believe I am familiar with a lot more terms and once I am in need, I will know where to look.
Progress: 33/42
New updates to my blog: Julia Quinn - An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons #3)
in English
Rate: 5/5
I liked it better than the previous two Bridgerton novels. I loved Benedict and Sophie and their story. I couldn't put my hands off of the book once I started reading. I really enjoy reading Bridgertons. Even if there are some silly parts I don't like, my overall rate is 5/5. I will definitely continue reading Bridgertons when I want something silly to take my mind off of work and science.
Andy Weir - Project Hail Mary
in English
Rate: 5/5
I loved this book!
I won't lie and say I understood every bit of scientific explanation, but to me, everything made sense. I didn't question much what was written, I just BELIEVED everything. I fell in love with Stratt and Rocky, and Ryland was quite funny so the reading was enjoyable and faster than predicted.
Progress: 35/42
Hi, hi! I have some updates to make:Richard Durrett - Probability: Theory and Examples
in English
Rate: ?/5
It's a good book, probably the main reference in many of the intermediate or advanced probability courses. Useful.
P. C. Cast - Hidden, Revealed, Redeemed (House of Night #10, #11, #12)
in English
Rate: 2/5
I'm finally done with this series. It is such a relief. I had a hard time reading this series in the end; it is easily read but annoying and does not make sense.
Julia Quinn - Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Bridgertons #4)
in English
Rate: 4/5
I was looking forward to reading Penelope's story. I really loved this book. There are maybe a few things that are repetitive in all the Bridgerton novels but I assumed that is the case even before reading it. I enjoy reading this series.
Sarah Penner - The Lost Apothecary
in English
Rate: 5/5
I really loved this book and enjoyed it from the first until the last word. The story is great; I love how the main character stays true to herself. I loved the mixture between the new story and the old story being told for the first time. My recommendations for this novel!
Progress: 41/42
The last in the 2021 is:Donna Tartt - The Goldfinch
in English
Rate: 4/5
I was really stuck on this book. It is huge, it has a lot of descriptive parts, a lot of Theo's thoughts so it wasn't as easy to read as some other novels. But it has an interesting story which I liked (I wouldn't read it again though). Somehow I got to know Theo and I felt sorry for him even though I know that he would hate it. I feel like I am smarter and more sensitive after reading this. Please, read this.
Progress: 42/42
It seems like the whole 2021 is gone!
I am glad that at least I did complete some of the goals for this year and that is:
- 42 read books in a year
- three novels about Peregrine's peculiar children (there are three more, and I did not know that when I put it in my reading list)
- 12 (all) novels in the House of Night series (which was not one of my starting goals but somehow I got intertwined with this novel; I could let go even though I wasn't happy with it)
However, I did not read
- 5th part of The Song of Ice and Fire (I'm saying to myself that I have time since the 6th part is not finished yet)
- The Hunger Games
All in all, I am satisfied with my accomplishments this year. Although I would've been happier if I had been able to read more math books - that is a struggle.
I have to add that this year most of the books I read were in English which was almost unimaginable two years ago. I will continue reading mostly in English - I find it very useful.
For the next year, I plan to keep my uncompleted tasks and add some more. Have fun reading in 2022!
2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Goldfinch (other topics)The Goldfinch (other topics)
Romancing Mister Bridgerton (other topics)
Redeemed (other topics)
Hidden (other topics)
More...
My goal is to read 42 books and I hope that this number is realistic but we shall see.
I would like to read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and other books that follow this one so this will be my first goal.
My second goal is to finish A Song of Ice and Fire #4 (A Feast for Crows) and read #5 (A Dance with Dragons).
My third goal is The Hunger Games and books that follow.
Wish me luck! Good luck in your challenges and have fun!
Read:
1) H. M. Ward - Damaged
2) H. M. Ward - Damaged 2
3) Stephenie Meyer - Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined
4) Emily St. John Mandel - Station Eleven
5) Josie Silver - One Day in December
6) Beth O'Leary - The Flatshare
7) Eowyn Ivey - The Snow Child
8) P. C. Cast - Marked (House of Night #1)
9) P. C. Cast - Betrayed (House of Night #2)
10) Jelena Badovinac - Halter, štikla, tambura (eng. Halter, Heel, Tambourine)
11) Abby Johnson - Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye-Opening Journey Across the Life Line
12) Erin Morgenstern - The Night Circus
13) Olja Knežević - Milena: & Other Social Reforms
14) P. C. Cast - Chosen (House of Night #3)
15) George R. R. Martin - A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire #4)
16) Allan Gut - An Intermediate Course in Probability
17) Fredrik Backman - Anxious People
18) P. C. Cast - Untamed (House of Night #4)
19) Julia Quinn - The Duke and I (Bridgertons #1)
20) P. C. Cast - Hunted (House of Night #5)
21) Alix E. Harrow - The Ten Thousand Doors of January
22) Matt Haig - The Midnight Library
23) P. C. Cast - Tempted (House of Night #6)
24) Ransom Riggs - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #1)
25) Ransom Riggs - Hollow City (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #2)
26) P. C. Cast - Burned (House of Night #7)
27) Judith Merkle Riley - The Oracle Glass
28) Ransom Riggs - Library of Souls (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #3)
29) Julia Quinn - The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgertons #2)
30) P. C. Cast - Awakened (House of Night #8)
31) Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist
32) P. C. Cast - Destined (House of Night #9)
33) Sidney A. Morris - Topology Without Tears
34) Julia Quinn - An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons #3)
35) Andy Weir - Project Hail Mary
36) Richard Durrett - Probability: Theory and Examples
37) P. C. Cast - Hidden (House of Night #10)
38) P. C. Cast - Revealed (House of Night #11)
39) Julia Quinn - Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Bridgertons #4)
40) P. C. Cast - Redeemed (House of Night #12)
41) Sarah Penner - The Lost Apothecary
42) Donna Tartt - The Goldfinch