This or That Reading Challenge discussion

This: A book that was turned into a movie or television show.
Or
That: Pick a book from a shelf of someone you know.

I have been working on many challenges and just entering them into my Journal. I worked my way through either this or that for every month, I then found myself working through this AND that for every month.

December: This: Matilda That: Girl on a Train.

I had not read much Roald Dahl, I really enjoyed this book, and even watched two movies connected to it. Girl on a Train... probably my least favorite book I read this year.

For this month's challenge, I chose THAT: A book from a shelf of someone you know, and read Cousin Bette by Honoré de Balzac which is on my friend Cari's TBR shelf. I've read Balzac before, and do like the author's writing style. However in this novel, while generally the story and characters were interesting - particularly the titular Bette who was quite devious - unfortunately I was disappointed with a lot of repetition by the author in this one. Overall give it a 3.0 out of 5.

That: Chose a book from my besties shelf and read Circe by Madeline Miller.

I knew very little about Circe but now I'll do my own research to better understand her position in mythology.

I loved Circe, and I also highly recommend Miller's other novel The Song of Achilles if you haven't read it yet.

I went with This: A book that was turned into a movie or television show Mister Roberts

The movie has long been a favorite of mine. This is the first time I’ve read the book.