2021 Reading Challenge discussion

Hey everyone! It’s mid-month, can you believe that January is halfway over? I wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing, as well as introduce myself. I’m Heather, some of you know me, some of you don’t! Jonathan and I started this group to encourage reading. We started keeping up with each other’s reading and book counts a few years ago and now here we are trying to challenge others to do the same. I read books as well as listen to audiobooks, I simply cannot get enough! :)

Let’s chat- what are you reading now, or what have you been wanting to get your hands on soon?

I was scrolling through the Amazon prime app on my TV the other day and saw a show called “A discovery of witches”, which is right up my alley. In the opening credits it said based on the book series, so I immediately turned it off, opened my library app and got the book. I’m about 75% done with it, and I just allowed myself to watch the first episode. Both so good! My rule for myself is never watch a movie or show based on a book BEFORE reading the book. I’m actually enjoying both and am currently laying on the couch in my art room reading the book while the show is paused on my TV LOL (nerd problems!)

Lastly, I hope everyone has set their book goals for 2021! Remember, you can adjust it as the year goes on. Shoot for the moon!

This is going to reveal how ADD the of a reader I am. 🤪 currently reading:

Vicious by V. E. Schwab. I picked this up because I loved The Invisible Life of Addie Larue so much, but I honestly am just not into it. Love the writing, just not that into the story. Recommend if you like The Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken or X-Men.

When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett. Incredibly insightful, mind-shifting book on alleviating poverty. It’s a lot to digest and will probably take a while to finish.

The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary. British rom-com. Only about 60 pages so far, but it’s cute!

Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid. Of everything I am reading right now, this is my favorite. I can’t wait to get more into it. Light, funny, yet a deep look into cultural issues.

TBR: I am about to start the fourth book of Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series. It is honestly all I want to be reading right now, but I am avoiding it because I love the series so much I don’t want to read them too quickly. 😂

I’ve done pretty good so far. I’ve completed 5 books and am almost done with another. My goal this month is to complete 10. Here’s what I’ve read and what I think.

1. The Cardinal and the Kremlin: This was a good story with a good premise that was bogged down with too many subplots and references. Good but not great.

2. Light of the Jedi: This was a fantastic book that launched the new era of publishing for Star Wars, the High Republic. It’s my new favorite Star Wars book. Absolutely Amazing Book.

3. A Test of Courage: This is a short and sweet middle grade set in the High Republic. Not a ton happens in it, but for a middle grade book it sets up quite a lot. Fun and good.

4. My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry: This is a sad, heart wrenching book about dealing with death and hard times and people that are different from you by Fredrik Backman. Great book.

5. To Lose The Earth: This book was the sad end to an era of Star Trek Voyager publishing. I’m hoping we will get more in the future, as this book sets up potential stories. However, the book itself was underwhelming. Good, but not great.

Lauren- Such A Fun Age was a really great book, I enjoyed that one last summer I believe.

Jonathan- My Grandmother...... book is sitting waiting for me!

I just finished The Discovery of Witches book, which makes that 6 books so far this month. It was kinda long, which slowed me down some, but it was good.

Another goal of mine is to start writing book reviews. I’m so good at giving it a rating but not saying much about it, so I’m trying to change that. My mind wants to write long, elegant reviews, but my schedule does not allow for that lol at this point one or two lines is about all I’m going to hold myself to.

I've powered through quite a few so far...just hoping I don't lose steam like I did last year. I've had two standout reads I highly recommend and one miserable read I suggest staying away from:

Call the Nurse (aka The Island Nurse) was a fantastic memoir of rural life in the Hebrides in 1970. Enormously funny and heartbreakingly sad at the drop of a hat.

When All Is Said is Anne Griffin's debut novel, and it is, without a doubt, the best first person narrative I have ever read. Though the final chapter is tough to come to terms with, it's worth going on the journey with Maurice.

Case Histories is the first of a P.I. series by Kate Atkinson (and the last as far as I'm concerned). It's miserable. I enjoyed a few witty lines in the beginning, and that was about it. The characters were a dull, random assortment of characteristics, and the plot is a mediocre, rambling thing. Literary refuse...though still better than Surrender, New York.

A couple more books that I am looking forward to this month or next:

--Morning Star - The final book of the 1st Red Rising trilogy.
--Neverwhere - Enjoyed Good Omens and I've heard many good things about Gaiman's first foray.
--The Lord of the Rings - I know it's a tragedy, but I have never completed the trilogy. It took me half a dozen attempts to get passed Tom Bombadil, and when I finally finished Fellowship I got bogged down in Two Towers.