On The Same Page discussion

K.I.S.S. - Keep it Simple Stupid.

Yeah, you're wondering how I got here.... I'm going to keep this real cute. I was overwhelmed last year. I don't think I read anything on my individual list, at all. I need to check, but I really didn't pay attention to it. So, this year, it's all about paring down my challenge.

I will still post my States & ATW challenge; but I simply cannot post multiple categories.

We shall see if I get anything listed in the next week. 🤔😏😏📚

Series to Complete/Make Progress In:

The Border Trilogy - Completed

The Crossing 4 Stars
Cities of the Plain - 5 Stars

The First Law - Completed

Before They Are Hanged 5 Stars
Last Argument of Kings 5 Stars

Murderbot - Progress Completed

Exit Strategy 4 Stars
Network Effect 4 Stars
Fugitive Telemetry 4 Stars

Harry Hole

The Leopard
Phantom
Police

Harry Bosch

Angels Flight
A Darkness More Than Night
City of Bones

The Gentleman Bastard

Red Seas Under Red Skies 4 Stars
The Republic of Thieves

Bonus Books: For each series I make progress on or finish; I get to read these below.

The Angel's Game
The Prisoner of Heaven
The Wise Man's Fear
The Slow Regard of Silent Things

**The beginning of my Around the States challenge. Started in 2021. Some books from the original list will have to be changed out, because OF COURSE, I have read it. So, some may not be true horror; and be a mix of thriller, mystery. No chick-lit; romance or YA; Just horror, as much as possible, or Science Fiction, Fantasy. **

✅Alabama - Gone to See the River Man(horror)
✅Alaska - Bone White 5 Stars
✅Arizona - The Revelation 4 Stars
✅Arkansas - The Bird Eater 3.5 Stars
California - Earth Abides(sci-fi)(Own) OR California (Dystopian)
Colorado - The Shuddering(Horror) OR When the Wind Blows(horror)(Own)
✅Connecticut - Outage Boxed Set: Books 1-3 4 Stars Overall
✅Delaware - Hawkes Harbor 4 Stars
✅ Florida - Comfort Me with Apples
✅Georgia - Ring Shout 4.5 Stars
✅Hawaii - Bury Me Deep 2 Stars
✅Idaho - The Thicket
✅Illinois - Dark Matter 4 Stars
Indiana - The Wide Game OR So Cold the River OR One Shot
Iowa - Ashfall (Apocalyptic) (Own) OR 100 Days in Deadland(horror)
✅Kansas - Still Life With Crows 4 Stars
✅Kentucky - Husk 4 Stars
Louisiana - Gone South (Owned)
✅Maine - Basketful of Heads(Horror, Graphic novel) 3.5 Stars
Maryland - Victor LaValle's Destroyer **Need to buy** OR Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets
✅Massachusetts - The Nest 4 Stars
✅Michigan - Suffer the Children - 5 Stars
✅Minnesota - The Quarry Girls 3 Stars
Mississippi - Along the River of Flesh (Horror) OR Mississippi Blue
✅Missouri - Clown in a Cornfield(Horror)
✅Montana - Lone Women 5 Stars
Nebraska - Midnight in the Pentagram(Horror) *Owned*
Nevada - Under the Wicked Moon (P-Beings) *Owned*
New Hampshire - The Auctioneer *Owned*
New Jersey - Midnight Mass(vamps) *Owned*
✅New Mexico - Cities of the Plain 5 Stars
✅New York - Reliquary 5 Stars
North Carolina - Redemption Road OR When the Reckoning Comes (Horror)
North Dakota - Ancient Shores OR My Heart Is a Chainsaw OR I Am Not a Serial Killer OR The Shadows
✅Ohio - Twentieth Anniversary Screening
Oklahoma - The Last Harvest (Horror) OR The Dark Lord of Oklahoma: An Unconventional Story
✅Oregon - Heartsick 3.5 Stars
Pennsylvania - Stranger in a Strange Land(Sci-Fi) OR Life As We Knew It(Dystopian, YA) OR Imaginary Friend(horror)
✅Rhode Island - The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories
South Carolina - Lost Gods (Horror) OR My Best Friend's Exorcism
South Dakota - The Revenant
✅Tennessee - The Bone Thief 4 Stars
✅ - Texas - In the Valley of the Sun 5 Stars
✅Utah - Nocterra, Vol. 1: Full Throttle Dark 4 Stars
✅Vermont - Isolation
✅Virginia - Darkness on the Edge of Town 4-4.5 Stars
✅Washington - Boneshaker 3.5 Stars ....(Steampunk, Zombies)
✅West Virginia - Endurance 3 Stars, but 4 stars for overall trilogy
Wisconsin - The Bodies Left Behind OR American Gods(Fantasy)
Wyoming - The Totem OR Open Season OR The Nestling

ATW Challenge Update:

✅Algeria - The Plague
✅Antarctica - Beneath the Dark Ice
✅Argentina - Fever Dream 5 Stars
✅Australia - On the Beach 4 Stars
Austria - A Death in Vienna OR The Third Man
Azerbaijan (Former USSR) - The Colonel's Mistake OR Siro (Thriller) OR Fantastic Voyage: Microcosm (Sci-Fi)

Baltic Sea - Time Heals No Wounds
✅Bankok, Thailand - Bangkok 8
✅Barcelona, Spain - The Shadow of the Wind
Belgium - Styx OR The Square of Revenge
Benin, W. Africa - Instruments of Darkness
Brazil - Dry Season OR The Silence of the Rain
Bolivia - Turing's Delirium
Bosnia - The Unquiet Dead (Mystery)
Botswana - A Carrion Death
✅British Columbia (CA) - The River
Bulgaria - The Historian
Bursa/Izmir, Turkey - Middlesex

Cameroon - The Informationist
Cambodia - The Killing Fields
✅ Canary Islands - Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy
Caribbean - Hawke OR On Stranger Tides
✅Channel Islands - Moon 3 Stars
✅Columbia - Fever Dream 4 Stars
✅Czech Republic - Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Denmark - Three Dog Night

Easter Island - Murder on Easter Island: A Daniel "Hawk" Fishinghawk Mystery
✅Egypt - Death on the Nile
✅England - The Midwich Cuckoos
✅Ethiopia - The Living Blood

✅France - Scarlet
Finland - Snow Angels

✅Germany - The Hangman's Daughter
Greece - Deadline in Athens
Greenland - The Girl Without Skin


Honduras - The Codex
Hungary - Solaris (Also Poland)

✅Iceland - I Remember You
India - Sacred Games
✅Indonesia - The Island of Dr. Moreau
Iraq -
Iran - Dark Rising
Ireland - The Ghosts of Belfast
✅Israel - Appointment with Death
✅Italy - The Shape of Water

Japan - The Honjin Murders OR Orbital Cloud

Kabul, Afghanistan - And the Mountains Echoed
Kazakhstan - Death on the Silk Road - (not sure about this one, so no link yet)
Kenya - The Constant Gardener OR Bait
✅Kolyma, Russia - The Secret Speech
Korea - The Vegetarian OR Black Wind (Clive Cussler) OR The Hole

Laos - The Coroner's Lunch
✅La Paz, Mexico - The Pearl
Lithuania - The Last Book Smuggler
✅London - Neverwhere

Melbourne, AUS - The Dragon Man
Morocco - The Jinn
✅Moscow - Night Watch

New Zealand - Cloud Atlas OR Old School Tie OR The Luminaries
✅Nigeria - The Visit
✅North Korea - A Corpse in the Koryo
✅Norway - The Redbreast

Ontario - Forty Words for Sorrow

Pakistan - Fire Boy
Panama - The Tailor of Panama
✅Poland - The Last Wish
✅Portugal - Death With Interruptions
✅Puerto Rico, V.I. - Precinct Puerto Rico

Quebec, Canada - Still Life

✅Romania - Children of the Night

✅Scotland - The Black Book
Shanghai - The Shanghai Murders
Siberia - The Kill Switch
✅Singapore - Inspector Zhang Gets His Wish
Slovakia - Siren of the Waters
✅South Africa - Deadlands
Sudan - What Is the What
✅Sweden - Faceless Killers

Taiwan - The Butcher's Wife
Thailand - Mixed Foursome: The Zach Roper Mysteries OR Spirit House
Togo & Benin, Africa - Instruments of Darkness
✅Toronto, ON - Station Eleven
Trinidad/Tobago - Veterans of the Psychic Wars OR Kaya Abaniah and the Father of the Forest (Both Sci-fi/Fantasy)
Turkey - Ararat (Horror)
Turkmenistan - The Expendable Man

Venezuela - The Lost World
Virgin Islands - Sea Hunter
Zambia - The Old Drift

I like this keeping it simple idea and focusing on the series you've already started and the challenges you've already tried. I really should try and list out options for my ATW challenge and ATS challenge, but that's a rabbit hole I'm not ready to go down. :-) Good luck and I look forward to see what books you decide to read in 2024. :-)

Lea wrote: "I like this keeping it simple idea and focusing on the series you've already started and the challenges you've already tried. I really should try and list out options for my ATW challenge and ATS c..."

Thanks Lea. The reason for me listing it out is that it is very hard finding Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy; outside of 1st world countries/continents (??). Many countries dealing with 3rd world issues cannot see past daily horrors to imagine sci-fi and horror; but I know that there are those that do. If that makes sense. It's like writers prioritize reality versus fantastical worlds. Most get put in the "magical realism" category.

Just my lowly opinion, based off of article written by Venezuelan & other South American, authors a few years ago.

Alondra wrote: "Thanks Lea. The reason for me listing it out is that it is very hard finding Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy; outside of 1st world countries/continents (??). Many countries dealing with 3rd world issues cannot see past daily horrors to imagine sci-fi and horror; but I know that there are those that do. If that makes sense. It's like writers prioritize reality versus fantastical worlds. Most get put in the "magical realism" category.

Just my lowly opinion, based off of article written by Venezuelan & other South American, authors a few years ago."

I think this makes a lot of sense, unfortunately. When reality is stranger than fiction, it makes it hard to write fiction. I can't believe you've been able to find so many books in those genres in those settings and it makes sense to write down all of your research and try to keep to the books you find. Happy reading!

This only looks simple, but it took a lot of effort to put this list together. I love books set in different countries/places, and your list is dangerous, but that's why I like it. Happy reading!

Keeping it simple is a great idea! It’s easy to get overwhelmed with too many challenges and lists and tracking and planning. Enjoy your 2024 reading! 📚

I noticed you don’t have Cuba on your list. Have you read A Planet for Rent by Cuban author Yoss? It is a very interesting and unique collection of stories all set in the same universe. It’s some pretty wild sci-fi which also reflects political issues in Cuba.

Lea wrote: "I think this makes a lot of sense, unfortunately. When reality is stranger than fiction, it makes it hard to write fiction. I can't believe you've been able to find so many books in those genres in those settings ..."

Thanks, Lea!! It was fun and interesting to do. :)

Ioana wrote: "This only looks simple, but it took a lot of effort to put this list together. I love books set in different countries/places, and your list is dangerous, but that's why I like it. Happy reading!"

Ooohh, we like danger!! Muhhahahha .... LOL

Pam wrote: "Keeping it simple is a great idea! It’s easy to get overwhelmed with too many challenges and lists and tracking and planning. Enjoy your 2024 reading! 📚

I noticed you don’t have Cuba on your list..."

This is it exactly, Pam! I see all the categories and get overwhelmed and leave it. I used to get half of it done at least; but not anymore.

I don't have a lot of countries on that list; only 80. I will definitely add more. Thank you for the suggestion!! I'll add that to the ATW list, if it is not already there.

I'm so far behind in posting the states and countries books. I may have to declare a posting day just to get it all done before the new year starts. Good luck keeping it simple!

Jackie wrote: "I'm so far behind in posting the states and countries books. I may have to declare a posting day just to get it all done before the new year starts. Good luck keeping it simple!"


Me too, Jackie, me too; and thanks.

I've noticed that I added more to this list; so I'm about to pare that down significantly. Luckily that ATW & States challenges are ongoing, so no pressure there.

Great approach, Alondra! I hope it works well for you.

Karol wrote: "Great approach, Alondra! I hope it works sell for you."

I think it will.... but only if I stay focused. 8|

Michigan USA Challenge

Suffer the Children



5 Stars

One day, all the children who have not reached puberty, die. This "sickness" moves like a wave across the world, until none are left. Adults grieve and mourn their losses at gravesites..... then, the children rise after 3 days. Lazarus effect?? Like the second-coming of Christ?? Nope.

These kids rise from the dead; rotting, pale and hungry. It takes a while for adults to catch on (per usual) to what the children "need," but when they do, things get really twisted. If you remember how trifling and selfish people were during COVID; then this will be no surprise. By the 5th day of the resurrection (😑🤦🏾); I couldn't identify with any of the parents. Their return to their base nature of protecting their young, went too far. I just don't think (IMHO), that most folk would react the same. I don't. We can discuss if you like; but all I kept saying was, "Ain't no f**king way!" Let me know.

This was a well-written, apocalyptic, and at times violent; horror novel, but nothing too gross out of what you would expect with vampire children. This was more creepy than scary to me. Of course, vampire kids are nasty business, and the end was perfect.

Alondra wrote: "Michigan USA Challenge

Suffer the Children



5 Stars

One day, all the children who have not reached puberty, die. This "sickness" moves li..."

i went to add this, and it's already there.... lol sounds good!

Alissa wrote: "i went to add this, and it's already there.... lol sounds good..."

😂😂 that happens to me a LOT! The creepy kids were not nearly as disgusting as the adults. I wanted to slap a few into next week. Ugh

Alondra wrote: "Michigan USA Challenge

Suffer the Children



5 Stars

One day, all the children who have not reached puberty, die. This "sickness" moves li..."
Alondra~This one sounds Good. Thanks as I had not heard of it. Best of luck with KISS~I definitely understand taking on too many challenges. Happy Reading in 2024! Appreciate all your encouragement.

Kristine wrote: "Alondra~This one sounds Good. Thanks as I had not heard of it. Best of luck with KISS~I definitely understand taking on too many challenges. Happy Reading in 2024! Appreciate all your encouragement..."

It was very good, and not too creepy outside of the kids; but my idea of horror and others idea of horror, are two different things. Not much scares me, so proceed with caution if weird kids freak you out.

I always overextend myself; so I had to reel it in a little this year. Thanks so much. ☺️

Completed:

Network Effect #5 in Series



Rating: 4 Stars

Mood: Enjoyable

Full length novel and you can tell. Lots more sci-fyey stuff and information; probably more than we needed. Outside of that; I loved it.

I don't know who was more sarcastic, ART or Murderbot 1.0... 😏

This book is not on any list, but I had to post it. WTH did I just read??

Completed: Comfort Me with Apples



4 Stars

Mood: Confused

Music: She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby

I was confused for most of this book; but in this case, it made sense. I was guessing throughout most of the novel about what was going on?? Is she possessed, violent, kidnapped, a Stepford Wife; schizophrenic?? When you get to the end..... I didn't see THAT coming.

Recommended

ReRead

Completed: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children



4 Stars

Mood: Excited

Music: Cutie Pie - One Way (1982)

Loved. so poignant and sweet, with a few thrills. After so many mixed reviews; I cleared my mind of any preconceived notions of what this book 'is about' and just read. So many of us can relate to the tall tales our parents, grandparents and or aunts and uncles, tell us. We also can relate to the time in our lives when those stories no longer held power over our imaginations. How sad.

Jacob listened to his grandfathers stories until he no longer believed. A chance encounter brings disbelief to reality. Now, feeling as if his life has meaning, Jacob starts to really live.

I still have an overactive imagination, but no where near what I had as a child. I was considered a dreamer... even by my teachers. I wonder.

(No change in rating, since the first time I read this. It is still a great book)

Alondra wrote: "ReRead

Completed: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children



4 Stars

Mood: Excited

Music: Cutie Pie - One Way (..."

I have to read #2 now.. Excellent review.

Bill wrote: "I have to read #2 now.. Excellent review..."

Thanks, Bill.

Me and you both. I think my February will be reading #2 in all the series i started and never finished.... *sigh*

Alondra wrote: "Bill wrote: "I have to read #2 now.. Excellent review..."

Thanks, Bill.

Me and you both. I think my February will be reading #2 in all the series i started and never finished.... *sigh*"

OK, Alondra. Your comment made me go to my book list (Series) to see how many series I've started and not yet got to #2.... I got down to the C's and hit 25... *sigh*... I'm great at starting it seems but not continuing.

Bill wrote: "I got down to the C's and hit 25."

I should've known, of course you have them alphabetized :-)

Bill wrote: "OK, Alondra. Your comment made me go to my book list (Series) to see how many series I've started and not yet got to #2.... I got down to the C's and hit 25... *sigh*... I'm great at starting it seems but not continuing.... ..."

See!?? See, what I mean?? What is that? I think we get excited, but the next book is not out and we wait; then forget. *sigh*

Ioana wrote: "Bill wrote: "I got down to the C's and hit 25."

I should've known, of course you have them alphabetized :-)"

😂😂

I think the Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series just gets better and better. I have read them all and not a single one disappointed me.

Alondra wrote: "This book is not on any list, but I had to post it. WTH did I just read??

Completed: Comfort Me with Apples



I read this last year and gave it 4 stars. Definitely a bizarre book.

Denise wrote: "I think the Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series just gets better and better. I have read them all and not a single one disappointed me."

Good to know; I haven't heard much about it in a negative way. It's time that I read this series.

Comfort me w/Apples was great, but that end?? Sheesh. 🤦🏾🤦🏾

Alondra wrote: "Bill wrote: "OK, Alondra. Your comment made me go to my book list (Series) to see how many series I've started and not yet got to #2.... I got down to the C's and hit 25... *sigh*... I'm great at s..."

Yeah that's it.. 😉👌

Ioana wrote: "Bill wrote: "I got down to the C's and hit 25."

I should've known, of course you have them alphabetized :-)"

*blush* 😊

Yesssssssss I also have SO many #2s on my TBR... whoops haha

Alissa wrote: "Yesssssssss I also have SO many #2s on my TBR... whoops haha"

Whoops and YIKES!! 😬😬😬

End of January Update: I feel quite pleased with having read 6 books this past month. 2 were rereads of first-books in a series, which I have a bad habit of doing; so, that feels like an accomplishment.

Completed:

Suffer the Children - 5 Stars. One day, all the children who have not reached puberty, die. This "sickness" moves like a wave across the world, until none are left. Adults grieve and mourn their losses at gravesites..... then, the children rise after 3 days. Yeah, creepy kids...

Network Effect - 4 Stars. Oh, ART, you really know how to romance a cyborg. 😍😂

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - 4 Stars (reread). Overdue read. Just as good as the first time I read it.

Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 6 - 4 Stars. Oohhh, now THAT is a metamorphosis! 👀🤦🏾

Comfort Me with Apples - 4 Stars. It was very intriguing, then the ending happened. I -..... 😑

The Lies of Locke Lamora - 4 Stars (reread). I'm ready for book 2 now. Finally.

Currently Reading:

Moon - I think this might be werewolves, but it could just be a crazed murderer... who knows? I'm game. LOL

Fugitive Telemetry - I need to read while the irons are hot!

Bury Me Deep - Campy horror; I think its about zombies; so this ought to be a hoot! It also covers my ATW! Woot!

Snow Angels - Finally getting to this book! Covers my ATW, as well. I love nordic noir.

Upcoming Reads:

Hollow City, while I still remember book 1!!

Red Seas Under Red Skies; see above. SMH

I found another of the noir books by L. Ron Hubbard, called Spy Killer. It's a novella, so, I might be able to squeeze it in.

At the end of the day, I am moody; so, I may not read any of the current reads and pick something else. 😂😂

I need to read #3 in the Murderbot series... I will dammit! Great month.

I literally LOL at that last sentence. That's definitely me. I have all these books I want to read sometime, but what I want to read today is not always the same list. You picked great books - I think you had more 4+ star books than me and I had to work through more books. :-) :-) :-) Love it! And your current and upcoming reads look amazing, but if they suddenly don't, pivot towards something else that sounds good!

Bill wrote: "I need to read #3 in the Murderbot series... I will dammit! Great month."

You can do it, Bill! They're so short, that you can do two in a weekend. :)

Lea wrote: "I literally LOL at that last sentence. That's definitely me. I have all these books I want to read sometime, but what I want to read today is not always the same list. You picked great books - I th..."

Yyeess. I am keeping to only reading what I want to read and not what I should. I'm also going to read more than one 12+4 if it feels right. I think I kept sanctioning myself to 1 book of that challenge per month. Why??? Anyway; these all feel like comfort reads and I am here for it! LOL

Great job for January!!! 😊

Lindsey wrote: "Great job for January!!! 😊"

Thanks, Lindsey! I feel good about it. 🤗

Completed another book for ATW - Channel Islands.

Moon

3 Stars

There is a serial killer on the lose, and the moon calls to "it." Our MC Childes has telepathy and can see/feel what the killer feels. Sounds good, right?

The main character is a typical 80s f**k-boy. He was a married man with a child, worked corporate, some issues pop up and he can't deal, so he runs from his issues, family and makes another life with another woman; AND, no one holds him accountable; not even the ex-wife. I found the murderer more fascinating. Now; that I think about it, 3 stars is a better rating.

This book was written in '85, so the sexist and idiocy of the plot as it deals with women; is par for the course, as I expect nothing less. The 80s was forging ahead with more women in the workplace, unlike the 70s, where women were just trying to exist as human and not just a walking womb. So, if you go in understanding the times and the author, then this is like an 80s b-movie on the mild horror side. Stereotypical, misogyny-light, but not really. It is what it is.

I don't get offended very easily; so, I enjoyed it for what it was as a horror novel; but if you took the horror or supernatural element out; the book would suck and piss me off more than just making me irritated.

Completed: Fugitive Telemetry



4 Stars

"No, I didn’t kill the dead human. If I had, I wouldn’t dump the body in the station mall."

I know that's right!! 😂

Alondra wrote: "Completed: Fugitive Telemetry



4 Stars"

I love this series so much! I've banned myself from buying book this year but my birthday's coming up and maybe someone (husband) could buy me the series as a present...

Lillie wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Completed: Fugitive Telemetry



4 Stars"

I love this series so much! I've banned myself from buying book this year but my bi..."

I think that would make the perfect present!!
Book 7 is right around the corner! System Collapse, for me. So, now I am caught up!

Always great to be caught up in a series! I need to read the third soon since I am reading "thirds" this year. I can't believe how many I keep finding (even on my actual shelves).

Alondra wrote: "I think that would make the perfect present!!
Book 7 is right around the corner! System Collapse, for me. So, now I am caught up!"

Woohoo! I just reread the first one again with my book club. It was as good the second time as it'd been the first.

Patricia wrote: "Always great to be caught up in a series! I need to read the third soon since I am reading "thirds" this year. I can't believe how many I keep finding (even on my actual shelves)."

I need to look at your challenge again. Are you reading only the third in all of your series this year? That takes a lot of discipline that I clearly don't have, lol. I go on binges once I find a series I like

Lillie wrote: "Alondra wrote: "I think that would make the perfect present!!
Book 7 is right around the corner! System Collapse, for me. So, now I am caught up!"

Woohoo! I just reread the first ..."
Not exactly but it is my 12 & 4 challenge & I seem to keep running across #3's. I have The Vanished Days which I've had so long I totally forgot it was the third in a series. I should binge more, so that doesn't happen.