On The Same Page discussion

I plan to read 120 books in 2022. I'll take part in Reading Challenge, the Motley Challenge, the Tome Challenge and begin some of the other long term reading challenges, like Reading Around the USA, and Reading around the World. My book choices will be used in the long term challenges as well. I've got a variety of challenges for 2022.

1. My Dusty Library - Books from 1 - 428 (read 14)

(as of 14 Dec I have 1279 books in my TBR bookshelves. My first three challenges will be to pick books from the early books, middle books and final books. Does that make sense?) I'll probably use a random number generator to pick a book between 1 - 426
(Ed Note - If I were starting today, I'd pick the 1st book on the list for my Dusty Library challenge)

#1. Gideon's Wrath by J.J. Marric (Gideon #13) 158 pages, started 1 Jan 2022, 4 Jan, 4 stars
#274. Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong (Women of Otherworld #4) 528 pages, started 4 Jan, DNF, read 175 pages, NR
#427. Head of a Traveler by Nicholas Blake (Nigel Strangeways #9) 192 pages, started 15 Feb, finished 23 Feb, 4.0 stars
421. Stray Kat Waltz by Karen Kijewski (Kat Colorado #9) 342 pages, started 23 Feb, finished 10 Mar, 4 stars
#2. Gideon's Risk by J.J. Marric (Gideon #6) 160 pages, started 10 Mar, finished 19 Mar, 4 stars
#414. The Players and The Game by Julian Symons (1972) 217 pages, started 19 Mar, finished 26 Mar, 5 stars
#214. Landed Gently by Alan Hunter (George Gently #4) 229 pages, started 26 Mar, finished 4 Apr) 4 stars
#354. The Memory Collector by Meg Gardiner (Jo Beckett #2) 434 pages, started 4 Apr, finished 25 Apr, 3.5 stars
#164. The Chelsea Murders by Lionel Davidson (1978) 237 pages, started 25 Apr, finished 1 May, 4.5 stars
#184. Dominion by C.J. Sansom (2012) 593 pages, started 1 May, finished 3 Jul, 3.5 stars
#132. Death At The Dolphin by Ngaio Marsh (Inspector Alleyn #24) 252 pages, started 3 Jul, finished 2 Aug, 3.5 stars
#245. Tucker Peak by Archer Mayor (Joe Gunther #12) 321 pages, started 2 Aug, finished 9 Sep, 5.0 stars
#192. Through a Glass, Darkly by Donna Leon (Inspector Brunetti #15) 326 pages, started 9 Sep, finished 28 Sep, 4.0 stars
#234. The Mask of Fu Manchu by Sax Rohmer (Fu Manchu #5) 205 pages, started 28 Sep, finished 18 Oct, 3.0 stars
#215. After You with the Pistol: The Second Charlie Mortdecai Novel by Kyril Bonfiglioli (1979 / Charlie Mortdecai #2) 184 pages, started 2 Nov, finished 14 Nov, 3.0 stars

Completed: 15

2. The Middle Ground - Books # 429 - 856

Were I starting today I'd pick the middle book on my Goodreads bookshelf. On 30 Dec, that would be #643

#643. The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester 258 pages, started 1 Jan 2022, finished 12 Jan, 3.5 stars
#583. (random # generator) Hunting the Bismarck by C.S. Forester 118 pages, started 12 Jan, finished 14 Jan, 5 stars
#429. The Island Of Fu Manchu by Sax Rohmer (Fu-Manchu #10 / 1941) 208 pages, started 14 Jan, finished 23 Jan, 3 stars
#644. Corpus de Crossword by Nero Blanc 311 pages, started 23 Jan, finished 5 Feb, 3.5 stars
#646. Cranks and Shadows by K.C. Constantine (Mario Balzic #11 / 1995) 311 pages, started 5 Feb, finished 28 Feb, 3 stars
#856. Wycliffe and The Cycle of Death by W.J. Burley (Wycliffe #16) 223 pages, started 28 Feb, finished 15 Mar, 4 stars
#475. Billy Boyle by James R. Benn (Billy Boyle #1) 374 pages, started 15 Mar, finished 11 Apr, 3.5 stars
#580. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (2016) 475 pages, started 11 Apr, finished 2 May, 4.0 stars
#730. Flashman on the March by George MacDonald Fraser (Flashman #12) 317 pages, started 2 May, DNF (stopped reading 14 Jun), NR
#592. The Nightmare by Lars Kepler (Joona Linna #2) 500 pages, started 14 Jun, finished 30 Sep, 4.0 stars
#485. Boy's Life by Robert McCammon (1991) 580 pages, started 30 Sep, finished 2 Nov, 5.0 stars

Completed: 10

3. Newest Books - Books # 856 - Infinity
(Were I starting today, I'd pick the last book on my bookshelf.)

# 1287. Could You Survive Midsomer?: Can you avoid a bizarre death in England's most dangerous county? by Simon Brew 302 pages, started 1 Jan, finished 8 Jan, 3.5 stars
#1143 (chosen by random number generator). Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn (Mitch Rapp #10) 405 pages, started 8 Jan, finished 08 Feb, 4 stars
#1277. (to satisfy one of my poetry books) Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman 228 pages, started 8 Jan, finished 17 Jan, 5 stars
#1285. Darkness at Dawn: Early Suspense Classics by Cornell Woolrich (1988) 297 pages, started 11 Jan, fnished 31 Jan, 4 stars
# 864 The Disappeared by M.R. Hall (Jenny Cooper #2) 419 pages, started 08 Feb, finished 18 Mar, 4.5 stars
#1313 Pemmican Wars by Katherena Vermette (A Girl Called Echo #1) 48 pages, started 09 Feb, finished 09 Feb, 3.5 stars
#1317. If I Go Missing by Brianna Jonnie 64 pages, started 11 Feb, finished 12 Feb, 4 stars
#1310ish. Fifty-Four Pigs: A Dr. Bannerman Vet Mystery by Philipp Schott 246 pages, started 21 Feb, finished 7 Mar, 4 stars
#1302. Red River Resistance by Katherena Vermette 47 pages, started & finished 5 Mar, 3.5 stars
#1063. Terminal Café by Ian McDonald 277 pages, started 07 Mar, DNF 12 Apr, NR
#1162. Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart (Kopp Sisters #1) 408 pages, started 18 Mar, inished 31 Mar, 4 stars
#1300ish. Northwest Resistance by Katherena Vermette (Girl Called Echo #3) 47 pages, started & finished 23 Mar, 3.5 stars
#1306. Road Allowance Era by Katherena Vermette (Girl Called Echo #4) 47 pagess, started & finished 29 Mar, 3.5 stars
#1325. Burning Questions: Essays and Occasional Pieces, 2004-2021 by Margaret Atwood (2022) 476 pages, started 1 Apr, finished 18 Apr, 4.5 stars
#1305. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab (Shades of Magic #1) 400 pages, started 12 Apr, finished 17 May, 5.0 stars
#1071. Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo 409 pages, started 18 Apr, finished 10 May, 4.0 stars
#900. Dead Beat by Val McDermid (Kate Brannigan #1) 275 pages, started 10 May, finished 15 May, 4.0 stars
11. Bad Debts by Peter Temple (Jack Irish #1) 319 pages, started 15 May, finished 20 May, 5.0 stars
12. Ensign Flandry by Poul Anderson (Ensign Flandry #1) 277 pages, started 17 May, finished 28 May, 3.5 stars
#962. The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry (Cotton Malone #3) 550 pages, started 20 May, did not finish (read 315 pages) NR
#1329. The Sandman Book One by Neil Gaiman 560 pages, started 21 May, finished 25 May, 4.5 stars
#872. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (Ready Player #1) 374 pages, started 28 May, finished 30 Jul, 4.5 stars
#1331. Ms. Tree, Vol. 1: One Mean Mother by Max Allan Collins 264 pages, started 4 Jun, finished 5 Jun, 3.5 stars
#1228. Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion (2021) 149 pages, started 13 Jun, finished 17 Jun, 4.5 stars
#1057. The Mother Tongue: English and How it Got that Way by Bill Bryson 305 pages, started 17 Jun, finished 22 Jul, 3.0 stars
#1325. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers (Monk & Robot #1) 147 pages, started 23 Jun, finished 24 Jun, 5.0 stars
#1328. They Called Us Enemy by George Takei 204 pages, started 26 Jun, finished 27 Jan, 5.0 stars
#1139. Ha'penny by Jo Walton (Small Change #2) 319 pages, started 4 Jul, finished 20 Aug, 3.5 stars
#1331. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (2005) 227 pages, started 4 Jul, finished 5 Jul, 4.5 stars
#1331. Flung Out of Space: Inspired by the Indecent Adventures of Patricia Highsmith by Grace Ellis 208 pages, finished 7 Jul, 4.0 stars
#1335. ExtraOrdinary by V.E. Schwab (Villains 1.0) 112 pages, started 18 Jul, finished 19 Jul, 3.5 stars
#908. The Second Man by Edward Grierson (1956) 254 pages, started 22 Jul, finished 11 Aug, 4.0 stars
#1338. Renegades: Born in the USA by Barack Obama (2021) 303 pages, started 27 Jul, finished 7 Aug, 4.5 stars
#1314. The Twelve by Justin Cronin (Passage #2) 568 pages, started 30 Jul, finished 21 Dec, 5.0 stars
#1339. March: Book One by John Lewis (March #1) 127 pages, started 4 Aug, finished 4 Aug, 4.5 stars
#1343. BRZRKR, Volume 1 by Keanu Reeves 144 pages, start and finish 13 Aug, 3.0 stars
#1346. The Girl Who Owned a City: The Graphic Novel by O.T. Nelson (2012) 126 pages, started 18 Aug, finished 19 Aug, 3.0 stars
#875. The Face-Changers by Thomas Perry (Jane Whitefield #4) 421 pages, started 20 Aug, finished 24 Sep, 4.5 stars
#1337. Breakdown by David Alexander Robertson (Reckoner Rises #1) 72 pages, started 3 Sep, finished 4 Sep, 3.0 stars
#1338. Version Control by David Alexander Robertson 80 pages, started & finished 4 Sep, 3.0 stars
#1337. The Electric Kingdom by David Arnold (2021) 421 pages, started 24 Sep, finished 27 Nov, 4.0 stars
#1358. Goth Girl and the Pirate Queen by Chris Riddell (Goth Girl #2.5) 81 pages, started & finished 7 Oct, 3.0 stars
#1356. I Know This to Be True: Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2020) 79 pages, started 8 Oct, finished 9 Oct, 3.5 stars
#1321. Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel by Jason Reynolds (2022) 204 pages, started 18 Oct, finished 19 Oct, 4.0 stars
#1308. White Bird by R.J. Palacio (2019) 220 pages, started 22 Oct, finished 23 Oct, 5.0 stars
#1315. Get in the Van: On the Road With Black Flag by Henry Rollins (1994) 245 pages, started 1 Nov, finished 11 Nov, 4.0 stars
#1289. Battle of the Atlantic: Gauntlet to Victory by Ted Barris (2022) 513 pages, started 10 Nov, finished 22 Dec, 4.0 stars
#1286. Maddie Hatter and the Deadly Diamond by Jayne Barnard (Maddie Hatter #1 / 2015) 237 pages, started 1 Dec, finished 18 Dec, 3.0 stars
#1309. Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery (Anne #4 / 1936) 258 pages, started 3 Dec, finished 29 Dec, 3.0 stars
#1294. Ottoline and the Yellow Cat by Chris Riddell (Ottoline #1 / 2007) 171 pages, started & finished 29 Dec, 4.0 stars
#1244. Goth Girl and the Fete Worse than Death by Chris Riddell (Goth Girl #2 / 2014) 213 pages, started 30 Dec, finished 31 Dec, 4.0 stars

Completed: 48

4. Monthly Focus

Over the course of the year, I plan to focus on specific genres or sub-genres as well as the other challenges. I may update the genre over the course of the year, but below is my first look at the challenge, along with a possible book for each.

4a. January Focus - Biography/ Auto-biography

1. Futureface: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest, and the Secret to Belonging by Alex Wagner 338 pages, started 1 Jan 2022, finished 16 Jan, 4 stars
2. The Alice Behind Wonderland by Simon Winchester 110 pages, started 16 Jan, finished 18 Jan, 3 stars
3. Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds by Huma Abedin 528 pages, started 18 Jan, finished 27 Feb, 4 stars

Completed: 3

4b. February Focus - The Classics (Books pulbished prior to 1900)

1. Selected Short Stories of Thomas Hardy by Thomas Hardy (for the most part, 1891) 179 pages, started 31 Jan, finished 12 Feb, 4 stars
2. The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes #2 / 1890) 153 pages, started 12 Feb, finished 15 Feb, 4 stars
3. Ninety-Three by Victor Hugo (1874) 429 pages, started 15 Feb, DNF (read 200 pages) (No Rating)

Completed:

4c. March Focus - Mystery (Noir)

1. Meet Me at the Morgue by Ross Macdonald (1953) 212 pages, started 27 Feb, finished 10 Mar, 4.5 stars
2. The Tiger Among Us by Leigh Brackett (1957) 140 pages, started 10 Mar, finished 13 Mar, 4.5 stars
3. The Diamond Bikini by Charles Williams (1956) 155 pages, started 13 Mar, finished 27 Mar, 3 stars
4. Rhode Island Red by Charlotte Carter (Nanette Hayes #1) 170 pages, started 27 Mar, finished 29 Mar, 4.5 stars

Completed: 4

4d. April Focus - Science Fiction

1. The Child Garden by Geoff Ryman (1989) 388 pages, started 29 Mar, DNF, NR
2. The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov (1955)192 pages, started 6 Apr, finished 15 Apr, 3 stars
3. Stowaway to Mars by John Wyndham (1935) 192 pages, started 16 Apr, finished 19 Apr, 3.5 stars
4. The Shrinking Man by Richard Matheson (1969), 217 pages, started 19 Apr, finished 24 Apr, 4.5 stars
5. Planet of No Return by Poul Anderson (1956) 128 pages, started 24 Apr, finished 27 Apr, 3.5 stars
6. The Nemesis from Terra by Leigh Brackett (1961) 150 pages, started 27 Apr, finished 29 Apr, 2.5 stars

Completed: 5

4e. May Focus - Non-Fiction (unlike my Biography focus in Jan, this will cover history, politics, etc)

1. The Suez Crisis 1956 by Derek Varble (2003) 95 pages, started 1 May, finished 4 May, 3.0 stars
2. Hannah Arendt: The Last Interview and Other Conversations by Hannah Arendt (2013) 133 pages, started 4 May, finished 7 May, 4.0 stars
3. The Daughters of Yalta: The Churchills, Roosevelts, and Harrimans: A Story of Love and War by Catherine Grace Katz (2020) 400 pages, started 7 May, finished 26 May, 4.0 stars
4. Ursula K. Le Guin: The Last Interview and Other Conversations by Ursula K. Le Guin 180 pages, started 26 May, finished 30 May, 4.5 stars

Completed: 4

4f. June Focus - Children / Young Adult

1. The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum (Oz #2 / 1904) 190 pages, started 1 Jun, finished 2 Jun, 3.5 stars
2. The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin (Earth Sea #3) 304 pages, started 2 Jun, finished 7 Jun, 5.0 stars
3. Hobberdy Dick by Katharine M. Briggs (1955) 208 pages, started 7 Jun, finished 11 Jun, 5.0 stars
4. Hawkes Harbor by S.E. Hinton (2004) 289 pages, started 11 Jun, finished 21 Jun, 4.5 stars
5. Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks (1971) 159 pages, started 21 Jun, finished 25 Jun, 3.5 stars
6. The White Mountains by John Christopher (Tripods #1) 214 pages, started 25 Jun, finished 28 Jun, 3.5 stars

Completed: 6

4g. July Focus - Fiction 1900 - 1950

1. The Napoleon of Notting Hill by G.K. Chesterton (1904) 129 pages, started 1 Jul, finished 12 Jul, 2.0 stars
2. The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham (1924) 234 pages, started 3 Jul, finished 20 Jul, 4.0 stars
3. The Chronicles of Clovis by Saki 171 pages, started 12 Jul, finished 23 Jul, 4.0 stars
4. While the Patient Slept by Mignon G. Eberhart (Sarah Keate #2 / 1930) 313 pages, started 20 Jul, finished 24 Aug, 3.5 stars

Completed: 4

4h. August Focus - Short Story / Poetry / Plays

1. Someone Like You by Roald Dahl (1953) 246 pages, started 4 Aug, finished 30 Aug, 4.0 stars
2. The Corpse Exhibition and Other Stories of Iraq by Hassan Blasim (2009) 196 pages, started 5 Aug, finished 16 Aug, 3.5 stars
3. Night of January 16th by Ayn Rand (1933) 122 pages, started 11 Aug, finished 17 Aug, 3.5 stars
4. Enough Rope by Dorothy Parker (1940) 110 pages, started 16 Aug, finished 25 Aug, 4.0 stars
5. The Horror of the Heights and Other Tales of Suspense by Arthur Conan Doyle (1992) 242 pages, started 17 Aug, finished 13 Sep, 4.0 stars

Completed: 5

4i. September Focus - Fantasy (5)

1. To Journey in the Year of the Tiger by H. Leighton Dickson (Bk 1 of Tails of the Upper Kingdom) 368 pages, started 1 Sep, finished 19 Sep, 4.0 stars
2. Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell (Goth Girl #1 / 2013) 219 pages, started 28 Aug, finished 30 Aug, 4.5 stars
3. A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor (Chronicles of St. Mary's #3) 412 pages, started 1 Sep, finished 8 Oct, 4.0 stars
4. The Sea is Full of Stars by Jack L. Chalker (Well World #6) 342 pages, started 1 Sep, finished 5 Nov, 3.5 stars
5. Cress Watercress by Gregory Maguire (2022) 216 pages, started 21 Sep, finished 23 Sep, 4.5 stars

Completed: 5

4j. October Focus - Horror (5)

1. Day Shift by Charlaine Harris (Midnight, Texas #2) 362 pages, started 19 Sep, DNF, NR (read 242 pages)
2. Lair by James Herbert (The Rats #2 / 1979) 244 pages, started 8 Oct, finished 14 Oct, 4.0 stars
3. MaMa by Ruby Jean Jensen (1983) 188 pages, started 14 Oct, finished 17 Nov, 4.0 stars
4. Over My Dead Body by Sweeney Boo 234 pages, started 15 Oct, finished 16 Oct, 3.5 stars
5. Floating Staircase by Ronald Malfi (2011) 234 pages, started 18 Oct, finished 25 Nov, 4.0 stars

Completed: 5

4k. November Focus - Mystery (Set anywhere but Canada / US / UK)

1. Siren of the Waters by Michael Genelin (Commander Matinova #1 / Slovakia) 328 pages, started 5 Nov, finished 11 Dec, 3.5 stars
2, Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong (Inspector Chen #1 / China) 464 pages, started 14 Nov,
3. Maigret at the Crossroads by Georges Simenon (Inspector Maigret #7 / France) 136 pages, started 17 Nov, finished 20 Nov, 3.5 stars
4. The Steam Pig by James McClure (Kramer & Zondi #1 / South Africa) 258 pages, started 20 Nov, finished 14 Dec, 2.5 stars

Completed: 3

4l. December Focus - Graphic Novel

1. Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman 159 pages, started 26 Nov, finished 30 Nov, 4.0 stars
2. Lore Olympus: Volume One by Rachel Smythe (2021) 384 pages, started 27 Nov, finished 30 Nov, 3.5 stars
3. Ms. Tree, Vol. 2: Skeleton in the Closet by Max Allan Collins (2020) 292 pages, started 30 Nov, finished 3 Dec, 4.0 stars
4. March: Book Two by John Lewis (2015) 187 pages, started 30 Nov, finished 4 Dec, 4.5 stars
5. Alpha & Omega by Joe Hill (2020) 192 pages, started 3 Dec, finished 7 Dec, 4.5 stars
6. Death: The Deluxe Edition by Neil Gaiman (2022) 320 pages, started 4 Dec, finished 9 Dec, 4.5 stars
7. The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman 255 pages, started 9 Dec, finished 16 Dec, 3.5 stars
8. Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman 263 pages, started 10 Dec, finished 10 Dec, 4.0 stars
9. Dream Country by Neil Gaiman 160 pages, started 16 Dec, finished 19 Dec, 3.0 stars
10. Coraline by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell (2008) 186 pages, started 20 Dec, finished 20 Dec, 4.0 stars
11. Lore Olympus: Volume Two by Rachel Smythe (Olympus #2 / 2022) 368 pages, started 29 Dec, finished 30 Dec, 4.0 stars
12. Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman 136 pages, started 31 Dec, finished 31 Dec, 3.5 stars

Completed: 12

::dances in excitement::

Bill wrote: "I plan to read 120 books in 2022. I'll take part in Reading Challenge, the Motley Challenge, the Tome Challenge and begin some of the other long term reading challenges, like Reading Around the USA..."

Of course you plan to read that much..... *sigh* I will catch up one day. LOL

Alondra wrote: "Bill wrote: "I plan to read 120 books in 2022. I'll take part in Reading Challenge, the Motley Challenge, the Tome Challenge and begin some of the other long term reading challenges, like Reading A..."

I have many very short books... :0)

Alissa wrote: "::dances in excitement::"

:0)

Great challenges! I love Ira Levin. Need to check this one out. And I didn't realize Hugh Laurie is an author. Your lists are always so dangerous for me. :-)

Martha wrote: "Great challenges! I love Ira Levin. Need to check this one out. And I didn't realize Hugh Laurie is an author. Your lists are always so dangerous for me. :-)"

That's my one aim, Martha.. :0)

Ann_R wrote: "I like your subgenre challenge, Bill. I was going to do something similar but decided on a different focus. Good luck with your 2022 reading plans."

There are so many different great challenge ideas. Good luck with your challenges, Ann.

Ready Player One is excellent. I don't know if I would put it in the Children / Young Adult category, but who cares about categories? It's a great book and deserves to be read. Hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

Ioana wrote: "Ready Player One is excellent. I don't know if I would put it in the Children / Young Adult category, but who cares about categories? It's a great book and deserves to be read. Hope ..."

It was listed there as one genre. Maybe I'll read it in the SciFi challenge.. I've had it too long anyway. Thanks for the recommendation

I've only read Ready Player One, and I loved it. I'm not going to weigh in on where to squeeze it in for which challenge, but I do think it is definitely worth trying to squeeze in! :-)

Best of luck, Bill! Great way of a list! 🐾

A well thought out plan as usual Bill. I can't wait to see your reviews.

good ideas! I have found so much good in the 1900-1950 range, some of it famous, some forgotten, and some fortuitous finds of never-known books that were still darned good.

I have a suggestion for a graphic novel: A Fire Story

Zora wrote: "good ideas! I have found so much good in the 1900-1950 range, some of it famous, some forgotten, and some fortuitous finds of never-known books that were still darned good.

I have a suggestion fo..."

Thanks for the suggestion, Zora. Much appreciated.

Emily wrote: "Best of luck, Bill! Great way of a list! 🐾"

Thank you Emily. Enjoy your challenges.

Lea wrote: "I've only read Ready Player One, and I loved it. I'm not going to weigh in on where to squeeze it in for which challenge, but I do think it is definitely worth trying to squeeze in! :-)"

It will definitely be squeezed, Lea. er.. in, that is.

Michelle wrote: "A well thought out plan as usual Bill. I can't wait to see your reviews."

Thanks, Michelle. Good luck with you challenges too.

Bill's Book Level Challenge - Borrowed this from Saar

Level 1: easy
1.) Read a book with a title that starts with a "W" - Wycliffe and The Cycle of Death by W.J. Burley
2.) A book you got for under $3 - Gideon's Wrath by J.J. Marric ($1.00)
3.) A book with a blue cover - Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman
4.) Read a book by your favorite author - Ursula K. Le Guin: The Last Interview and Other Conversations by Ursula K. Le Guin
5.) A book with the word "Light" in the title
6.) A book that is set in the future - The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
7.) A book from Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org/)
8.) Read a book of short stories or a novella - Darkness at Dawn: Early Suspense Classics by Cornell Woolrich
9.) Read a book you've had on your "to be read" shelf for more than a year - The Island Of Fu Manchu by Sax Rohmer (since 2017)
10.) Read a book that takes place in winter - Fifty-Four Pigs: A Dr. Bannerman Vet Mystery by Philipp Schott
11.) Reread a book you have recommended to a friend (by Alondra) Boy's Life by Robert McCammon
12.) Free Space- Pick any book! - Burning Questions: Essays and Occasional Pieces, 2004-2021 by Margaret Atwood

Level 2:
13.) A book under 400 pages - The Alice Behind Wonderland by Simon Winchester 110 pages
14.) Read a book by Julie Garwood
15.) Read a classic fairy tale
16.) Read a retelling of the classic fairy tale
17.) Read a suspense or horror book - The Horror of the Heights and Other Tales of Suspense by Arthur Conan Doyle
18.) A book you got for free (gift, found or book exchange) - Could You Survive Midsomer?: Can you avoid a bizarre death in England's most dangerous county? by Simon Brew (Xmas gift)
19.) Read a book with a building on the cover - by Thomas Hardy
20.) Read a historical fiction from the World War II-era - Billy Boyle: A World War II Mystery by James R. Benn
21.) Read a book that was turned into a movie or tv show - The Diamond Bikini by Charles Williams (French movie - Fantasia chez les ploucs)
22.) A book by an author named James/Jim or a variant - Lair by James Herbert
23.) Read a book recommended on your local library's website
24.) Free Space- Pick any book! - A Killing in Comics by Max Allan Collins

Level 3:
25.) A book with the word "book" in the title - March: Book One by John Lewis
26.) Read an urban fantasy novel
27.) A book published in 2000
28.) A book recommended to you by a friend - Hawkes Harbor by S.E. Hinton (recommended by Alondra)
29.) Read an author's debut novel - Futureface: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest, and the Secret to Belonging by Alex Wagner
30.) Read a book from the BBC's list of Top 100 Books You Must Read Before You Die
31.) Read a book that is over 600 pages - The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (722 pages)
32.) Read a book by Isaac Asimov - The End of Eternity
33.) Read a book with the word 'Star' in the title - The Sea is Full of Stars by Jack L. Chalker
34.) Read a book about a historical figure (fiction or non-fiction): Red River Resistance by Katherena Vermette (Louis Riel)
35.) Read a book about an assassin - The Mark Of The Assassin by Daniel Silva
36.) Free Space- Pick any book! - The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham

Level 4:
37.) Book 1 of a Trilogy - Dawn by Octavia E. Butler (Xenogenesis #1)
38.) Book 2 of a Trilogy - Ha'penny by Jo Walton (Small Change #2)
39.) Book 3 of a Trilogy
40.) Read a book from NPR's favorite books of 2019 Women Talking by Miriam Toews
41.) Read a novel by an author using a pseudonym - Head of a Traveler by Nicholas Blake
42.) Read a graphic novel - Pemmican Wars by Katherena Vermette
43.) A book with a season in the title
44.) Read a book with exactly four words in the title - If I Go Missing by Brianna Jonnie
45.) Read a book about a writer (real or fictional) - Hannah Arendt: The Last Interview and Other Conversations by Hannah Arendt
46.) Read a book with a title that rhymes - Cress Watercress by Gregory Maguire
47.) A book by an author named Elizabeth/Beth or a variant
48.) Free Space- Pick any book! - The Chronicles of Clovis by Saki

Level 5:
49.) Read a motivational/inspirational book I Know This to Be True: Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Ruth Bader Ginsburg
50.) Read a book with two or more authors - Corpus de Crossword by Nero Blanc (pseudonym of Cordelia Frances Biddle & Steve Zettler
51.) Read a book by John Creasey - Gideon's Risk by J.J. Marric (aka John Creasey)
52.) Read a book published in 1980
53.) Read a "rags to riches" story
54.) Read a book with an occupation in the title - The Detective's Daughter by Lesley Thomson
55.) Read a book about travel or that involves travel - Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
56.) A book that takes place in outer space/another planet - Stowaway to Mars by John Wyndham
57.) Read a book that starts with the letter J
58.) Read a book that takes place in the Middle East or is inspired by Middle Eastern Culture The Suez Crisis 1956 by Derek Varble
59.) Read a book about a video game or virtual reality Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
60.) Free Space- Pick any book! - Breakdown by David Alexander Robertson

This should be interesting, good luck!

Super that you're going to try, Bill! Good luck :)

Saar The Book owl wrote: "Super that you're going to try, Bill! Good luck :)"

Thanks, Saar. We'll see how it goes. :0)

My first selections of 2022 will be -

1. 12 + 4 - The Complaints by Ian Rankin by J.J. Marric
3. Individual Challenge - Middle 3rd - The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
4. Individual Challenge - Last Third - Could You Survive Midsomer?: Can you avoid a bizarre death in England's most dangerous county? by Simon Brew
5. Monthly Focus - January (Biography) - Futureface: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest, and the Secret to Belonging by Alex Wagner

Ann_R wrote: "Enjoy the Book Level challenge, Bill. I also almost 'borrowed it' from SAAR (as it looks fun) but I've probably already joined in with too many challenges. I decided I best stick with book bingo, s..."

The Book Level challenge might end up being somewhat haphazard but I'm looking forward to giving it a go.

My final monthly review of 2021 -
I read 9 books in December for a total of 132 for the year
I read about 2600 pages in December for a yearly total of approx 35,500 (avg 270 pages per book)

The rest of the stats for December are http://bill-booksbooksbooks.blogspot....

Favorite books of December -
1. The Venetian Affair by Helen MacInnes (4.5 stars)
2. Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery (4 stars)
3. JFK Is Missing! by Liz Evans
(The link above also lists the Top Ten books of 2021)

I'm starting off 2022 with the following books -
Currently Reading
1. 1st Annual Reading Challenge - The Complaints by Ian Rankin
2. Individual Challenges (Dusty Book Shelf) - #1 Gideon's Wrath by J.J. Marric
3. Individual Challenges (Middle Ground) #643 The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
4. Individual Challenges (The Newbys) #1287 - Could You Survive Midsomer?: Can you avoid a bizarre death in England's most dangerous county? by Simon Brew
5. Monthly Focus - Biographies - Futureface: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest, and the Secret to Belonging by Alex Wagner

Next Challenge Books
1. 1st Annual Reading Challenge - The Power-House by John Buchan
2. Individual Challenges - The Dusty Bookshelf - #274. Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong
3. Individual Challenges - Middle Ground -#583. Hunting the Bismarck by C.S. Forester
4. Individual Challenges - The Newbys - #1143. Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn
5. Monthly Focus - Biographies - The Alice Behind Wonderland by Simon Winchester

The ice is broken, my first book finished. The dustiest book in my Dusty Library challenge is my first read. The review for by J.J. Marric is below (4 stars)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Next in my Dusty challenge is book #274 Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld #4)

Woot!! Congrats on getting rid of the oldest. That should make you feel great. LOL

Awesome! That's an accomplishment!

Martha wrote: "Awesome! That's an accomplishment!"

Thanks, Martha.

Alondra wrote: "Woot!! Congrats on getting rid of the oldest. That should make you feel great. LOL"

I could be dancing.. :0)

My review of Could You Survive Midsomer?: Can you avoid a bizarre death in England's most dangerous county? by Simon Brew, my first interactive book. I liked the premise. (3.5 stars)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Next book in my Newest Books Challenge is Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn, the 10th Mitch Rapp spy thriller.

Bill wrote: "My review of Could You Survive Midsomer?: Can you avoid a bizarre death in England's most dangerous county? by Simon Brew, my first interactive book. I liked the pr..."

That sounds like a fun book. Adding it to my tbr. I remember reading pick your own stories. Just checked out Major Detours which is also that type of book.

Lillie wrote: "Bill wrote: "My review of Could You Survive Midsomer?: Can you avoid a bizarre death in England's most dangerous county? by Simon Brew, my first interactive book. I..."

Let me know how you enjoy it.

My review of The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester 3.5 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Next in line is Hunting the Bismarck by C.S. Forester

My review of Futureface: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest, and the Secret to Belonging by Alex Wagner 4 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Next book in line is The Alice Behind Wonderland by Simon Winchester

My Mid-January update:
I've completed five books so far, approx 1175 pages read:

1. Gideon's Wrath by J.J. Marric. My dustiest book. This is the 13th book in the Inspector Gideon series. Always enjoyable. 4 stars
2. Could You Survive Midsomer?: Can you avoid a bizarre death in England's most dangerous county? by Simon Brew. A Xmas gift. It's an interactive mystery based on the Midsomer's mysteries. 3.5 stars
3. The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester. A strange but interesting SciFi novel by an author I've read a few of before. 3.5 stars
4. Hunting the Bismarck by C.S. Forester. Excellent dramatization of a significant moment in the history of WWII by a favorite author of mine. 5 stars
5. Futureface: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest, and the Secret to Belonging by Alex Wagner. Interesting first book by a new author, as she traces her family tree. (4 stars)

Happy with my start so far. I'm currently reading
1. The Complaints by Ian Rankin. The 1st book in Rankin's series about Inspector Fox, an investigator in the Complaints section (the guys who investigate cops). Enjoying so far
2. Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn, a Mitch Rapp spy thriller. Off to a booming start
3. The Alice Behind Wonderland by Simon Winchester. Just starting, by one of my favorite non-fiction authors
4. Darkness at Dawn: Early Suspense Classics by Cornell Woolrich. An early collection of noir short stories by the author of Rear Window. Have enjoyed the 1st 3 very much.
5. The Island Of Fu Manchu by Sax Rohmer. A thriller fantasy series from the early years of the 1900's. I've enjoyed it thus far.
6. Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong. Fantasy series from author of Bitten.
7. Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman. Not my favorite genre but I have to say I'm impressed with and enjoying this collection of poems both in style and words by the young lady who read at President Biden's inauguration.

In the hopper -
1. The Power-House by John Buchan. I've enjoyed so many books by Buchan, especially his Richard Hannay adventure / spy series.
2. Head of a Traveler by Nicholas Blake. A dusty Nigel Strangeways mystery
3. The Disappeared by M.R. Hall A coroner Jenny Cooper mystery
4. Corpus de Crossword by Nero Blanc An entertaining crossword puzzle mystery (I hope) featuring PI Rosco Polycrates & his friend Belle Graham
5. Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds by Huma Abedin (I may pick a shorter biography depending on when I finish the one I'm reading)

My review of Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman. Wonderful and I say that knowing that I usually don't get a book of poetry. (5 stars)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review of The Alice Behind Wonderland by Simon Winchester. Kind of disappointing (3 stars)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Next in line with my January Focus Challenge is Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds by Huma Abedin

Nice update. I definitely added a few.... *cries*

Alondra wrote: "Nice update. I definitely added a few.... *cries*"

My work is done.. mwuu haaa