On The Same Page discussion

Some basic challenges, like series, non -series and then some focus challenges. Hoping I might be able to read 110+ books in 2024.

1. Series books (Start, Middle, Finish... any and all)
(Probable 1st selection) (My first book is carried over from 2023. I'll only count the pages I read in 2024)

1. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (Oxford Time Travel #1 / 1992) 214 pages left from 2023, finished 5 Jan, 4.5 stars
2. Murder and the First Lady by Elliott Roosevelt (Eleanor Roosevelt #1 / 1984) 227 pages, finished 20 Jan, 4.0 stars
3. DeKok and the Geese of Death by A.C. Baantjer (Dekok #20 / 2004) 194 pages, finished 31 Jan, 3.0 stars
4. Lore Olympus: Volume Five by Rachel Smythe 400 pages, finished 2 Feb, 4.0 stars
5. Look To The Lady by Margery Allingham (Albert Camp;ion #3 / 1931) 249 pages, finished 17 Feb, 3.0 stars
6. The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black (Spiderwick Chronicles #1 / 2003) 107 pages, finished 6 Feb, 4.0 stars
7. Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood by Marjorie M. Liu 152 pages, finished 18 Feb, 3.5 stars
8. Don't Mess with Mrs In-Between by Liz Evans (Grace Smith #3 / 2000) 345 pages, finished 12 Mar, 4.0 stars
9. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (Wild Robot #1 / 2016) 277 pages, finished 25 Feb, 4.0 stars
10. Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 15 by Stephen McCranie 224 pages, finished 4 Mar, 3.5 stars
11. Saga, Volume 6 by Brian K. Vaughan 152 pages, started 7 Mar, finished 8 Mar, 3.5 stars
12. Gilded Gauge by Jayne Barnard (Maddie Hatter #2) 263 pages, finished 30 Apr, 3.0 stars
13. Lightfall: The Dark Times by Tim Probert (Lightfall #3 / 2024) 256 pages, finished 11 Apr, 4.0 stars
14. Tank Girl: The Gifting by Alan C. Martin (Tank Girl #6 / 2005) 112 pages, finished 20 Apr, 3.0 stars
15. To Walk in the Way of Lions by H. Leighton Dickson (Tails of the Upper Kingdom #2 / 2012) 377 pages,finished 30 May, 5.0 stars
16. Heat Seeker: A Gun Honey Series by Charles Ardai (Gun Honey #3 / 2024) 112 pages, finished 3 May, 3.5 stars
17. The Girl Who Electrified Tesla by Cynthia von Buhler (Minky Woodcock #2 / 2021) 112, finished 13 May, 3.0 stars
18. Monstress, Vol. 3: Haven by Marjorie M. Liu 160 pages, finished 15 May, 4.0 stars
19. Six Ostriches by Philipp Schott (Doctor Bannerman #2) 271 pages, finished 21 Jul, 3.5 stars
20. Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin (Catwings #1 / 1988) 40 pages, finished 1 Jun, 3.5 stars
21. Ms. Tree Vol. 5: Heroine Withdrawal by Max Allan Collins (#5 / 2023) 272 pages, finished 15 Jun, 3.0 stars
22. The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet #1) 187 pages, finished 19 Jun, 4.0 stars
23. Sidney Chambers and the Perils of the Night by James Runcie (Grantchester #1) 356 pages, 12 Aug, 4.0 stars
24. East of West, Vol. 1: The Promise by Jonathan Hickman (East of West Chaps 1 - 5) 152 pages, finished 25 Jun, 3.0 stars
25. Saga, Volume 7 by Brian K. Vaughan (Saga Vol 72017) 152 pages, finished 14 Jul, 4.0 stars
26. Catwings Return by Ursula K. Le Guin (Catwings #2 / 1989) 48 pages, started & finished 17 Jul, 3.5 stars
27. Old Man's War by John Scalzi (Old Man #1 / 2005) 355 pages, started 21 Jul, finished 23 Oct, 4.5 stars
28. The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi (The Amulet #2) 217 pages, started & finished 24 Jul, 4.0 stars
29. The Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton (Lara McClintoch #1) 290 pages, started 12 Aug, finished 15 Sep, 3.5 stars
30. Nothing Special, Volume One: Through the Elder Woods by Katie Cook 416 pages, started 13 Aug, finished 14 Aug, 3.5 stars
31. East of West, Vol. 2: We Are All One by Jonathan Hickman (E of W #2) 144 pages, started 28 Aug, finished 29 Aug, 3.5 stars
32. Steeple by John Allison (2019) (2019) 136 pages, started & finished 6 Sep, 3.0 stars
33. Warriors: The Prophecies Begin by Erin Hunter (#1 & 2 / 2024) 272 pages, started & finished 13 Sep, 3.5 stars
34. Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia (Harlem Renaissance Mystery #1) 317 pages, started 15 Sep, DNF, (read 200 pages) NR
35. Steeple, Volume 2: The Silvery Moon by John Allison (Steeple #2) 96 pages, started 23 Sep, finished 24 Sep, 3.0 stars
36. Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 16 by Stephen McCranie 248 pages, started & finished 30 Sep, 4.0 stars
37. Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 17 by 256 pages, started & 30 Sep, 4.0 stars
38. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice (Moon #1 / 2018)218 pages, started 13 Oct, finished 5 Nov, 4.0 stars
39. Black Helicopters by Caitlín R. Kiernan (Tinfoil Dossier #2 / 2015) 202 pages, started 23 Oct, finished 10 Nov, 3.5 stars
40. Steeple Volume 3: That's the Spirit by John Allison 176 pages, started 26 Oct, finished 27 Oct, 3.0 stars
41. The Annual Migration of Clouds by Premee Mohamed (Clouds #1 / 2021) 158 pages, started 21 Dec, finished 30 Dec, 4.5 stars

Completed: 40, one DNF

2. Non-Series - Any Genre

1. The Fall Of The Sparrow by Nigel Balchin (1969) 300 pages, DNF (read 160 pages), NR
2. Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney 372 pages, finished 23 Feb, 4.0 stars
3. Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang & LeUyen Pham 345 pages, finished 14 Feb, 4.5 stars
4. Twilight by Peter James 316 pages, finished 2 Apr, 4.0 stars
5. Denison Avenue by Christina Wong (2023) 280 pages, finished 1 Mar, 4.0 stars
6. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (2006) 233 pages, finished 3 Mar, 4.0 stars
7. Spaceboy by David Walliams (2022) 367 pages, finished 15 Mar, 4.0 stars
8. Rubymusic: A Popular History of Women’s Music and Culture by Connie Kuhns 255 pages, finished 4 Apr, 4.0 stars
9. The Confidential Agent by Graham Greene (1939) 206 pages, DNF, read 60 pages, NR
10. Dawn of Fear by Susan Cooper (1970) 160 pages, finished 10 Apr, 4.5 stars
11. How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future by Maria Ressa (2022) 301 pages, finished 5 Jun 4.5 stars
12. The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler-Colonial Conquest and Resistance, 1917-2017 by Rashid Khalidi (2020) 319 pages, finished 23 Jun, 4.0 stars
13. Robodog by David Walliams 2023, 315 pages, finished 11 May, 4.0 stars
14. Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust by Neal Shusterman 2023) 245 pages, finished 8 May, 4.0 stars
15. Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story by David Alexander Robertson (2021) 41 pages, finished 10 May, 4.0 stars
16. The Paton Street Case by John Bingham (1955) 187 pages, finished 19 Jun, 4.5 stars
17. Ratlines by Stuart Neville (1955) 352 pages, finished 30 Jun, 4.0 stars
18. When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson (2020) 264 pages, finished 14 Jun, 4.5 stars
19. With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo2019) 392 pages, finished 10 Aug, 4.5 stars
20. Global by Eoin Colfer (2023) 144 pages, finished 28 Jun, 4.0 stars
21. The Great British Bump-Off by John Allison (2023) 112 pages, finished 8 Jul, 3.0 stars
22. In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune (2023) 418 pages, started 8 Jul, finished 7 Dec, 4.5 stars
23. Poems from the Women's Movement by Honor Moore (2009) 238 pages, finished 30 Jul. 4.0 stars
24. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 390 pages, started 30 Jun, finished 9 Oct, 5.0 stars
25. Borders by Thomas King (2021) 175 pages, finished 30 Jul, 4.0 stars
26. Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Applebaum (2024) 207 pages, finished 23 Aug, 3.5 stars
27. The New Girl by Cassandra Calin (2024) 261 pages, finished 21 Aug, 3.5 stars
28. Skyscraper by Faith Baldwin (1931) 269 pages, started 23 Aug, DNF, read 100 pages, NR
29. The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag (2024) 480 pages, finished 23 Aug, 4.0 stars
30. Ariel by Sylvia Plath (1965) 81 pages, finished 27 Aug, 3.5 stars
31. Linghun by Ai Jiang (2023) 171 pages, finished 1 Sep, 4.5 stars
32. A Guest in the House by Emily Carroll (2023) 245 pages, finished 30 Aug, 4.0 stars
33. Shout Kill Revel by Jarret Hartnell (2024) 208 pages, finished 31 Aug, 3.5 stars
34. How America Works... and Why it Doesn't: A Brief Guide to the US Political System by William Cooper (2024) 211 pages, finished 19 Sep, 4.0 stars
35. Odd Jobs: Six Files from the Department of Inhuman Resources by T.J. Price (2024) 320 pages, finished 9 Sep, 4.0 stars
36. When I Arrived at the Castle by Emily Carroll (2024) 72 pages, started 7 Sep, finished 8 Sep, 4.0 stars
37. Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks (2021) 286 pages, started 9 Sep, finished 13 Oct, 4.0 stars
38. Frenzy by Arthur La Bern (1966) 218 pages, started 19 Sep, finished 4 Oct, 3.5 stars
39. Homecoming by Patricia Briggs (2009) 112 pages, started 20 Sep, finished 21 Sep, 3.5 stars
40. Age 16 by Rosena Fung (2024) 311 pages, started 25 Sep, finished 27 Sep, 4.5 stars
41. The House at the End of Lacelean Street by Catherine McCarthy (2014) 161 pages, started 4 Oct, finished 24 Oct, 4.0 stars
42. If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin (1974) 173 pages, started 9 Oct, finished 14 Dec, 4.0 stars

Completed: 39 DNF'd 3

3. Tomes - Any book over 500 pages (Completed 5)
(I hope I can get over 10 - addendum... I didn't)

1. Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon (2023) 612 pages started 1 Jan, finished 29 Jan, 4.0 stars
2. The White Road by John Connolly (Charlie Parker #4 / 2003) 503 pages, started 29 Jan, finished 14 Mar, 4.0 stars
3. The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson (2020) 563 pages, started 14 Mar, finished 25 Apr, 5.0 stars
4. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight #1 / 2010) 1258 pages, started 25 Apr, DNF, NR (read 357 pages)
5. Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker by Robert Mankoff 669 pages, started 1 Jun, finished 29 Jun, 4.0 stars
6. Wanderers by Chuck Wendig (2019) 782 pages, started 29 Jun, finished 12 Dec, 4.5 stars

Completed: 5, one DNF

4. Monthly Focus
(Authors whose works I have the most books on my shelves)

January 2024 - Agatha Christie (16 books)
1. The Big Four: A Hercule Poirot Mystery by Agatha Christie (Poirot #4 / 1927) 173 pages, started 1 Jan, finished 10 Jan, 3.0 stars
2. They Do It With Mirrors by Agatha Christie (Miss Marple #5 / 1952) 214 pages, started 10 Jan, finished 23 Jan, 4.0 stars
3. By the Pricking of My Thumbs (Tommy & Tuppence #4 / 224 pages, started 23 Jan, finished 28 Jan, 4.0 stars

Completed: 3

5. February - Adam Hall (author of Quiller spy books) (16 books)
1. The Ninth Directive by Adam Hall (Quiller #2 / 1966) 188 pages, started 1 Feb, finished 21 Feb, 3.0 stars

Completed: 1

6. March - Simon Brett (author of Charles Paris, Mrs. Pargeter & Fethering Mysteries) (16 books)
1. An Amateur Corpse (Charles Paris #4 / 1978) 192 pages, started 1 Mar, finished 7 Mar, 3.5 stars
2. Murder in the Museum (Fethering #4 / 2003) 372 pages, started 7 Mar, finished 23 Mar, 3.5 stars
3. Mrs, Presumed Dead (Mrs. Pargeter #2 / 1988) 189 pages, started 23 Mar, finished 29 Mar, 3.5 stars

Completed: 3

7. April - P.D. James (author of the Superintendent Dalgleish & the Cordelia Gray mysteries) (13 books)
1. Unnatural Causes (Inspector Dalgliesh #3 /1967) 238 pages, started 1 Apr, finished 14 Apr, 3.5 stars
2. An Unsuitable Job For A Woman (Cordelia Gray #1 / 1977) 250 pages, started 14 Apr, finished 28 Apr, 3.5 stars

Completed: 2

8. May - JJ Marric (also wrote under Anthony Morton, John Creasey, etc) (The Baron, Superintendent Gideon, The Toff, etc) (19 books)

1. Meet The Baron: by Anthony Morton (Baron #1 / 1937) 261 pages, started 1 May, finished 28 May, 3.0 stars
2. The Death Miser (Dept Z #1 / 1932) 192 pages, started 11 May, finished 23 May, 2.5 stars
3. Inspector West Takes Charge (Inspector West #1 / 1948) 164 pages, started 23 May, finished 26 May, 4.5 stars

Completed: 3

9. June - Ngaio Marsh (Inspector Alleyn Mysteries) (12 books)

1. Surfeit of Lampreys (Inspector Alleyn #10 /1941) 284 pages, started 1 Jun, finished 27 Jun, 4.0 stars

Completed: 1

10. July - W.J. Burley (Inspector Wycliffe mysteries) (11 books)

1. Wycliffe and the Pea-Green Boat (Wycliffe #6) 207 pages, started 1 Jul, finished 7 Jul, 4.0 stars
2. Wycliffe and the Schoolgirls (Wycliffe #7) 204 pages, started 7 Jul, finished 16 Jul, 4.0 stars
3. Wycliffe in Paul's Court (Wycliffe #9 / 1980) 207 pages, started 16 Jul, finished 26 Jul, 4.0 stars

Completed: 3

11. August - Georges Simenon (Inspector Maigret mysteries) (10 books)

1. Maigret in Holland (Maigret #8 / 1931) 165 pages, started 1 Aug, finished 9 Aug, 4.0 stars
2. The Grand Banks Café (Maigret #9 / 1931) 154 pages, started 9 Aug, finished 15 Aug, 3.5 stars
3. Maigret at the Gai-Moulin (Maigret #10 / 1931) 166 pages, started 15 Aug, finished 20 Aug, 4.0 stars

Completed: 3

12. September - M.C. Beaton (Hamish MacBeth & Agatha Raisin mysteries) (10 books)
1, Death of a Celebrity (Hamish MacBeth #17 / 2002) 312 pages, started 1 Sep, finished 17 Sep, 4.0 stars
2. The Deadly Dance (Agatha Raisin #15 / 2004) 233 pages, started 17 Sep, DNF, NR (completed 25 pages)

Completed: 1, one DNF

13. October - Horror
(I've been acquiring a few horror stories over the past couple of months so I've switched my focus from one specific author to a genre for October, that being, of course, horror)

1. The Extinction Parade, Volume 1 by Max Brooks (2014) 160 pages, started 1 Oct, finished 2 Oct, 3.5 stars
2. Tales of Gooseflesh and Laughter by John Wyndham (1956) 150 pages, started 2 Oct, finished 17 Oct, 3.5 stars
3. The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown (2023) 163 pages, started 17 Oct, finished 13 Nov, 3.5 stars
4. Through the Woods by Emily Carroll (2015) 208 pages, started 24 Oct, finished 26 Oct, 3.5 stars

Completed: 4

14. November - Graphic Novels

1. Ghost Roast by Shawnelle Gibbs (2024) 224 pages, started 1 Nov, finished 3 Nov, 4.0 stars
2. The Harlem Hellfighters by Max Brooks (2014) 257 pages, started 3 Nov, finished 8 Nov, 4.0 stars
3. The Extinction Parade: War by Max Brooks (Vol 2 / 2015) 144 pages, started 5 Nov, finished 7 Nov, 3.0 stars
4. Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang (2013) 512 pages, started 5 Nov, finished 14 Nov, 4.0 stars
5. Lost in Taiwan by Mark Crilley (2023) 245 pages, started 7 Nov, finished 10 Nov, 4.0 stars
6. The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones by Neil Gaiman 350 pages, started 8 Nov, finished 20 Nov, 4.0 stars
7. Lore Olympus: Volume Six by Rachel Smythe 432 pages, started 11 Nov, finished 17 Nov, 4.5 stars
8. Monstress, Volume 4: The Chosen by Marjorie M. Liu (2019) 167 pages, started 17 Nov, finished 22 Nov, 4.0 stars
9. 1984: The Graphic Novel by Fido Nesti (2021) 222 pages, started 20 Nov, finished 3 Dec, 4.0 stars
10. Tank Girl 3 by Alan C. Martin (2009) 94 pages, started 22 Nov, finished 24 Nov, 2.5 stars
11. Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV (Erica Slaughter #1 / 2023) 128 pages, started 24 Nov, finished 26 Nov, 3.5 stars
12. Woman, Life, Freedom by Marjane Satrapi (2023) 268 pages, started 26 Nov, finished 5 Dec, 4.5 stars
13. The Night Librarian: A Graphic Novel by Christopher Lincoln (2924) 248 pages, started 28 Nov, finished 30 Nov, 3.5 stars

Completed: 13

15. December - Children's / Middle Grade Books
1. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy (2019) 128 pages, started 1 Dec, finished 1 Dec, 5.0 stars
2. Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson (2015) 240 pages, started 1 Dec, finished 6 Dec, 4.0 stars
3. Booked by Kwame Alexander (2022) 315 pages, started 3 Dec, finished 10 Dec, 4.5 stars
4. Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin (Catwings #3) 42 pages, started 5 Dec, finished 8 Dec, 3.5 stars
5. Jane on Her Own by Ursula K. Le Guin (Catwings #4) 41 pages, started 5 Dec, finished 9 Dec, 3.0 stars
6. The Blunders by David Walliams (2023) 377 pages, started 6 Dec, DNF, read 105 pages, NR
7. The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown (Wild Robot #2) 278 pages, started 7 Dec, finished 21 Dec, 4.0 stars
8. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum (Oz #4 / 1908) 221 pages, started 9 Dec, finished 25 Dec, 3.5 stars
9. The Boggart by Susan Cooper (Boggart #1 / 1993) 196 pages, started 10 Dec, finished 27 Dec, 4.0 stars
10. The Seeing Stone by Tony DiTerlizzi (Spiderwick #2 / 2003) 108 pages, started 15 Dec, finished 17 Dec, 4.0 stars
11. Illegal: A Graphic Novel by Eoin Colfer (2018) 122 pages, started 16 Dec, finished 20 Dec, 4.0 stars
12. Silverwing: The Graphic Novel by Kenneth Oppel (2023) 224 pages, started 21 Dec, finished 24 Dec, 3.0 stars
13. Nothing Special, Vol. 2: Concerning Wings by Katie Cook (Nothing Special #2) 335 pages, started 27 Dec,

Completed: 11, one DNF

I can tell you have given this some thought, Bill. Good luck!

Now, this is how you tackle a bunch of series books. Good luck, Bill. This list is overwhelming me. Let me keep procrastinating and lurking.... 👀👀

Seriously, I will be looking forward to your progress. Happy reading. ☺️☺️📚

Alondra wrote: "Now, this is how you tackle a bunch of series books. Good luck, Bill. This list is overwhelming me. Let me keep procrastinating and lurking.... 👀👀

Seriously, I will be looking forward to your prog..."

You too, Alondra. The important thing is to enjoy reading, isn't it.

Jackie wrote: "I can tell you have given this some thought, Bill. Good luck!"

Thank you, Jackie. Good luck to you as well.

Very nice! Love the author challenge!

This is a super-challenge, and I'm sure you'll have lots of fun. None of these series are on my TBR, and now I'm curious...I'll follow your progress. Happy reading!

Ioana wrote: "This is a super-challenge, and I'm sure you'll have lots of fun. None of these series are on my TBR, and now I'm curious...I'll follow your progress. Happy reading!"

As I'm sure I'll be following yours.

Laurel wrote: "Very nice! Love the author challenge!"

Thanks, Laurel

I love this!! Haven’t read some of these authors for years and some not at all. I’ll be lurking!!

Great challenge! Love the monthly focus idea.

Denise wrote: "Great challenge! Love the monthly focus idea."

Thanks Denise.

Martha wrote: "I love this!! Haven’t read some of these authors for years and some not at all. I’ll be lurking!!"

As I will with your reading.

I love reading down the books where you have so many from the same author. I keep wanting to read my Agatha Christie books, but they always slide off my list when other books line butt their way ahead. It's not looking good for this year either. As for the other authors, I actually haven't read any of their work. It will be fun to try to manage my series books and my TBR after visiting this thread. :-)

Lea wrote: "I love reading down the books where you have so many from the same author. I keep wanting to read my Agatha Christie books, but they always slide off my list when other books line butt their way ah..."

The fact that I have an author focus challenge shows how poorly I am managing mine.. lol

The author by month is GENIUS

Alissa wrote: "The author by month is GENIUS"

I tell my wife I am but she just blows it off.. lol

Bill, I really like your monthly focus idea. There are some authors there I haven't tried, but if they are on your list as taking up a bunch of space on your book shelves, I imagine these are authors I'd like too! I'll try to remember to check in to see your thoughts throughout the year.

Karol wrote: "Bill, I really like your monthly focus idea. There are some authors there I haven't tried, but if they are on your list as taking up a bunch of space on your book shelves, I imagine these are autho..."

Thanks, Karol. I'll be checking yours out too.

Best of luck Bill! I'll be watching and adding to my TBR no doubt.

Michelle wrote: "Best of luck Bill! I'll be watching and adding to my TBR no doubt."

Who doesn't in this group, eh? Enjoy the rest of the year!

My first official books are up... Woo hoo!

Completed my first book which was a carry over from 2023; Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (Oxford Time Travel #1). I'm glad I stuck with it because after a slow start, it really got interesting. 4.5 stars

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

Next in line in my series challenge is the 1st Eleanor Roosevelt mystery, Murder and the First Lady by Elliott Roosevelt

Finished my first Agatha Christie of January, The Big Four (Hercule Poirot #5). Not my favorite but still entertaining. 3.0 stars

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

Next Christie is the 5th Miss Marple, They Do It With Mirrors

When I was younger I enjoyed Agatha Christie much more than I do now. Not sure why that is . . . still, when I read her I do find her books to be solid 3 or 3.5 stars.

Karol wrote: "When I was younger I enjoyed Agatha Christie much more than I do now. Not sure why that is . . . still, when I read her I do find her books to be solid 3 or 3.5 stars."

I'm sort of the opposite. When I was younger, I used to get frustrated at the solutions, always someone I'd never suspected.... sometimes never seemed to have heard of.. Enjoying much more now, especially after watching all of the remakes of the Poirot, Marple and Tommy and Tuppence books.

Mid January 2024 Update
I'm off to a slow start for 2024, just read 4 books so far. But I'm also making progress on my others so I'm happy enough.

Just Finished
1. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (Oxford Time Travel #1). This was a carry over from 2023. It was a slow build but it got better and better and now I'm looking forward to reading #2. If you like time travel, this is a good one to check out. 4.5 stars (My Series challenge)
2. Rocannon's World by Ursula K. Le Guin From my 12 + 4 challenge. The first book in Le Guin's Hainish Sagas. It was ok and a nice way to start the challenge. (3.5 stars)
3. The Big Four by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot #5). Poirot and his buddy tackle an international criminal organization. Not my favorite Poirot but it was still entertaining 3.0 stars
4. Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin (Earthsea #4). This was excellent. The Earthsea books have just been outstanding fantasy. It's a slow start but it builds and builds. Loved it. 4.5 stars

Currently Reading
1. The Beginning Place by Ursula K. Le Guin One of her standalone Sci Fi novels. (12 + 4 challenge)
2. Series Challenge - Murder and the First Lady by Elliott Roosevelt 1st book of a mystery series featuring First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, written by her son. Light and entertaining so far.
3. Non Series Challenge - The Fall Of The Sparrow by Nigel Balchin Just getting into this. A look back at a troubled man, now on trial, by his best friend.
4. Tome Challenge - Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon Fasicinating look at evolution from woman's perspective. Enjoying very much.
5. Monthly Focus - Agatha Christie - They Do It With Mirrors (Miss Marple #6) Enjoying this so far. Miss Marple is at a school for troubled youths, checking out an old friend.

Next Challenge Books
1. 12 + 4 - The Complete Orsinia: Malafrena / Stories and Songs by Ursula K. Le Guin Historical fiction about Orsinia, a ficitional country created by Le Guin. Before her switch to Sci Fi
2. Series Challenge - DeKok and the Geese of Death by A.C. Baantjer The 20th book in the Inspector Dekok Amsterdam mysteries.
3. Non - Series Challenge - Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney. I don't agree with her political views for the most part but I do agree with her feelings about Jan 6th. Just got it and have to read it right away.
4. Tome Challenge - The White Road by John Connolly (Charlie Parker #4). Barely a tome at 503 pages but it still fits. A murder mystery / thriller that is set in South Carolina.
5. Monthly Challenge - January. I'm hoping to get one more Agatha Christie in before end month. It'll be By the Pricking of My Thumbs. Not Poirot or Marple, this features that wonderful couple, Tommy & Tuppence in their 4th mystery.

Enjoy the rest of January!

Finished my second book in my Series challenge, Murder and the First Lady by Elliott Roosevelt (Eleanor Roosevelt #1) 4.0 stars

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

Next in line I move to Amsterdam and DeKok and the Geese of Death by A.C. Baantjer

Finished my 2nd Agatha Christie mystery as my January Focus author, They Do It With Mirrors, the 5th Miss Marple. I do enjoy Miss Marple, think I prefer her to Hercule Poirot. 4.0 stars

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

I should be able to read one more Christie mystery, this one featuring Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, By the Pricking of My Thumbs

Kudos on your progress, Bill!!

I still will tackle Agatha Christie, but you can tell she is "a sign of the times", because the thinking can be very dated in some of the books.

Almost finished with my rereads of first books in a series, so maybe now, I can focus on the meat of my challenges.

Kudos again

Alondra wrote: "Kudos on your progress, Bill!!

I still will tackle Agatha Christie, but you can tell she is "a sign of the times", because the thinking can be very dated in some of the books.

Almost finished w..."

Thanks, Alondra. And yes, agree with the 'sign of the times' comment.

I prefer Miss Marple as well, Bill. You're making great progress!

Patricia wrote: "I prefer Miss Marple as well, Bill. You're making great progress!"

Slow but steady.

My review of By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie (Tommy & Tuppence #4) (4.0 stars)

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

I might be able to finish another Christie in January but I'm going to focus on my other challenges instead and my next book in my Author Monthly Focus will be The Ninth Directive by Adam Hall (Quiller #2) I hope to read 2 or 3 books by Hall in February

Finished my first book in my Tome challenge, Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon 4.0 stars

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

Next tome is the 4th Charlie Parker mystery, The White Road by John Connolly

My review of DeKok and the Geese of Death by A.C. Baantjer (Inspector Dekok #20) 3.0 stars

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

Next series book (graphic novel) also fits the Feb Romance genre, Lore Olympus: Volume Five by Rachel Smythe

End January 2024 Reading Update
Not a great month but reasonably satisfying. Total books read = 9 and total pages = 2300.

In my mid-month update I mentioned
1. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (4.5 stars)
2. Rocannon's World by Ursula K. Le Guin 3.5 stars
3. The Big Four by Agatha Christie (3.0 stars)
4. Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.5 stars

Remaining Books completed
5. Murder and the First Lady by Elliott Roosevelt (4.0 stars). A fun mystery featuring Eleanor Roosevelt, written by her son, Elliot. Lots of historical characters with a murder mystery in the lead up to WWII
6. They Do It With Mirrors by Agatha Christie A Christie mystery featuring Miss Marple as she tries to help a friend under threat at a mansion that also is a home for troubled boys. Miss Marple is great as always 4.0 stars
7. By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie This Christie mystery features husband and wife sleuths, Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, the 4th of 5. Tuppence tries to find an elderly woman who has disappeared and many adventures ensue. Most enjoyable. 4.0 stars
8. Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon Cat Bohannon discusses the evolution of humankind from a woman's perspective. Very interesting. 4.0 stars
9. DeKok and the Geese of Death by A.C. Baantjer Mystery set in Amsterdam, if you're looking for a Dutch story in your Around the World challenge. Dekok and his partner try to find a killer who escaped custody and also try to help an elderly woman in fear for her life. 3.0 stars

b>Favorite book - Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin

Currently Reading
12 + 4 Challenge (Ursula K LeGuin's books) - The Beginning Place
Series Challenge - Lore Olympus: Volume Five by Rachel Smythe
Non - Series Challenge - The Fall Of The Sparrow by Nigel Balchin
Tome Challenge - The White Road by John Connolly
Monthly Focus Author - Feb - Adam Hall - The Ninth Directive

Upcoming
12 + 4 Challenge - Ursula K. LeGuin - Very Far Away from Anywhere Else
Series Challenge - Look To The Lady by Margery Allingham
Non-Series Challenge - Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney
Tome Challenge - The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
February Focus Author - Adam Hall - The Striker Portfolio

Enjoy your February reading choices.

Great job on your January progress. I feel like i need to read one of the 4 Agatha Christie novels i have on my bookshelf now!