75 Books...More or Less! discussion

I'm new to the group, but I really need a kick in the pants to keep up with my reading, so I'm hoping this will help :-) I tend to count the audiobooks I listen to, as well as the print and e-books I read, but I'll make a note of which are audio or e-books when I post them.

First up for 2012 is The Sixes, by Kate White. Let's see how long it takes me to get through it!

Welcome to the group Barb! Good Luck!!!

Hi, Barb. Welcome! I'm really glad you joined us on the 75 quest and I hope you enjoy getting to know some of your fellow readers here. It's quite a friendly group.

Barb wrote: "I'm new to the group, but I really need a kick in the pants to keep up with my reading, so I'm hoping this will help :-) I tend to count the audiobooks I listen to, as well as the print and e-books..."

I count audiobooks and ebooks (and graphic novels) towards my goal, too. I figure that as long as the content is the same as the paper versions then they count ;)

Welcome, and good luck!

Hi Barb, big warm welcome to you! I love audio books and the gang here convinced me to count them so I think you should too!

Thanks for the welcome everyone. Please excuse any typos, i just haad surgery on my elbow yesterday and and not used to typing left-handed.

That said, i just finished my first book of 2012, The Sixes, by Kate White. Good book, very hard to put dowm! now i have to figure out how to update my ticker ...

Barb, don't worry about the typo's! I hope your elbow is feeling better :)

Thanks Andrea. It's not feeling great right now, but it will eventually ... and I can't wait! LOL

30/75 completed

1. The Sixes, by Kate White
2. Maine, by J. Courtney Sullivan
3. Paws Before Dying, by Susan Conant
4. Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt
5. The Cooking School Murders, by Virginia Rich
6. Point Blank (FBI series #10), by Catherine Coulter
7. I’ve Got Your Number (ARC), by Sophie Kinsella
8. My Very Own Murder, by Josephine Carr
9. A Dog’s Life, by Peter Mayle
10. On What Grounds? (Coffeehouse series #1), by Cleo Coyle
11. Sun at Midnight, by Rosie Thomas
12. Murder Can Kill Your Social Life (Dez Shapiro series #1), by Selma Eichler
14. The Murder at the Vicarage (Miss Marple series #1), e-book, by Agatha Christie
15. Chocolate Covered Murder (Lucy Stone series #20), by Leslie Meier
16. Tobacco Road, by Erskine Caldwell
17. Whiskey Sour (Jack Daniels series #1), by J.A. Konrath
18. The Jasmine Moon Murder (Tea Shop series #5), by Laura Childs
19. Bad Boy, by Olivia Goldsmith
20. V is for Vengeance (Kinsey Milhone series #22), by Sue Grafton
21. The Woman Who Walked Into the Sea (J.W. Jackson series #2), by Phillip R. Craig
22. Eggs in Purgatory (Cackleberry Club series #1), by Laura Childs
23. Rosemary Remembered (China Bayless series #4), by Susan Wittig Albert
24. Candy Bomber: The Story of the Berlin Airlift’s “Chocolate Pilot,” by Michael O. Tunnell
25. Biggie and the Poisoned Politician (Biggie Weatherford series #1), by Nancy Bell (finished 2/13)
26. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne
27. Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of Mona Lisa (audio), by R. A. Scotti
28. Another Word for Murder (Belle Graham series #10), by Nero Blanc
29. The Valentine’s Day Murder (Christine Bennett series #8), by Lee Harris
30. The Red Book, by Deborah Copaken Kogan (ARC)

31. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce series #1), by Alan Bradley, finished 2/23 ★★★★
32. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne,
finished 2/26 ★★★
33. Cinnamon Roll Murder (Hannah Swensen series #16), by Joanne Fluke,
finished 3/1 ★★★
34. The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman, finished 3/1 ★★
35. Captains’ Letters to Joe: A Gift to Joe Paterno From His Captains,
finished 3/1 ★★★★
36. Sonoma Rose (Elm Creek Quilts series #19), by Jennifer Chiaverini,
finished 3/2 ★★★
37. The Creative Kitchen, by Leisure Arts, finished 3/3 ★★
38. Dreaming Water, by Gail Tsukiyama, finished 3/5 ★★★
39. Home Front, by Kristin Hannah, finished 3/7 ★★★★
40. Are You Smart Enough to Work at Google?, by William Poundstone,
finished 3/9 ★★★
41. A Penny For Your Thoughts (Million Dollar Mysteries #1), by Mindy Starns Clark, finished 3/10 ★★★
42. Murphy's Law (Molly Murphy series #1), by Rhys Bowen, finished 3/11 ★★★★
43. The Garden Intrigue (Pink Carnation series #9), by Lauren Willig,
finished 3/15 ★★★
44. The House at Sea's End (Ruth Galloway series #3), by Elly Griffiths,
finished 3/18 ★★★★
45. Rain Dance (Venus Diamond series #1), by Skye Kathleen Moody,
finished 3/20 ★★★
46. Cooking Up Murder (Annie Capshaw series #1), by Miranda Bliss, finished 3/21 ★★
47. Venus Envy, by Shannon McKelden, finished 3/23 & ★★
48. When the Mississippi Ran Backwards: Empire, Intrigue, Murder and the New Madrid Earthquakes: by Jay Feldman, finished 3/26 ★★
49. Through the Grinder (Coffeehouse series #2), by Cleo Coyle, finished 3/28 ★★★★
50. The Ten , Make that Nine, Habits of Very Organized People. Make That Ten, by Steve Martin, finished 3/29 ★★
51. Night Gardening, by E.L. Swann, finished 4/1 & ★★★
52. War Horse, by Michael Morpurgo, finished 4/1 & ★★★★
53. Yellow Crocus, by Laila Ibrahim, finished 4/2 & ★★★★
54. Buried in Buttercream (Savannah Reid series #), by G. A. McKevett,
finished 4/2 ★★★
55. Books Can Be Deceiving (Library Lover’s series #1), by Jenn McKinlay,
finished 4/4 ★★★
56. Pennsylvania: Off the Beaten Path, by Christine O’Toole, finished 4/5 ★★★
57. The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection (No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series #13), by Alexander McCall Smith, finished 4/7 ★★★
58. The Walled Flower (Victoria Square series #2), by Lorraine Bartlett,
finished 4/9 ★★★
59. The Charlemagne Pursuit (Cotton Malone series #4), by Steve Berry,
finished 4/10 ★★★
60. The Shoemaker’s Wife, by Adriana Trigiani, finished 4/14 ★★★★
61. The Christmas Cookie Killer (Fresh Baked series #3), by Livia J. Washburn, finished 4/16 ★★
62. The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared, by Alice Ozma, finished 4/17 ★★★
63. Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind (Miss Julia series #1), by Ann B. Ross,
finished 4/18 ★★★

Wow Barb, you are a reading machine! How's the elbow by the way?

Doing a little better every day, thanks for asking!

I think I'll be increasing my goal :) I suspect my reading will slow down now that my arm is doing much better and my daughter will be home for the summer, so I'm going to up my goal to 100 and see how it goes.


64 – Vanished (Nick Heller series #1), by Joseph Finder, finished 4/20 ★★★★
65 – Catching Fire (Hunger Games series #2), by Suzanne Collins, finished 4/21 ★★★
66 – A Great Deliverance (Inspector Lynley series #1), by Elizabeth George, finished 4/26 ★★
67 – The Land of Decoration, by Grace McCleen, finished 5/2 ★★
68 – Merry Little Murder (Lindy Haggerty series #5 – end of series?), by Shelley Freydont,
finished 5/3 ★★★
69 – Accomodating Brocolli in the Cemetary: Why Can’t Anybody Spell?, by Vivian Cook,
finished 5/3 ★★★
70 – Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch (Aunt Dimity series #17), by Nancy Atherton,
finished 5/4 ★★★★
71 – Every Crooked Nanny (Callahan Garrity series #1), by Kathy Hogan Trocheck,
finished 5/8 ★★★
72 – Thunder and Rain, by Charles Martin, finished 5/11 ★★★★
73 – A Dark Oval Stone, by Marsena Konkle, finished 5/13 ★★★
74 – Threading the Needle (Cobbled Court series #4), by Marie Bostwick, finished 5/14 ★★★★
75 – In the Kitchen with a Good Appetite, by Melissa Clark, finished 5/15 ★★★

Barb, good luck on the new goal of 100. I'm betting you will do it. Very glad to hear that your arm is better!

76 – The Ninth Daughter (Abigail Adams series #1), by Barbara Hamilton, finished 5/16 ★★★
77 – Heaven is for Real, by Todd Burpo, finished 5/17 ★★★
78 – The Killing Floor (Jack Reacher series #1), by Lee Child (audio), finished 5/17 ★★★
79 – Odd Hours (Odd Thomas series #4)(audio), by Dean Koontz, finished 5/22 ★★★
80 – The Columbus Affair, by Steve Berry, finished 5/22 ★★★★
81 – Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake, by Anna Quindlen, finished 5/23 ★★★
82 – An Elephant in the Garden, by Michael Morpurgo, finished 5/24 ★★★★
83 – Nestle Toll House All-Time Favorite Cookie and Baking Recipes, finished 5/24 ★★★
84 – A Fatal Thaw (Kate Shugak series #2), by Dana Stabenow, finished 5/25 ★★★★
85 – Calling Invisible Women, by Jeanne Ray, finished 5/26 ★★★
86 – Hundred Flowers (A), by Gail Tsukiyama, finished 5/28 ★★★
87 – Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates, by David Cordingly, finished 5/30 ★★
88 – The Outlaws of Sherwood, by Robin McKinley, finished 6/2 ★★★★
89 – Bossypants, by Tina Fey, finished 6/3 ★★★★
90 – Still Life With Murder (Gilded Age series #1), by P.B. Ryan, finished 6/3 ★★★
91 – Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death (Agatha Raisin series #7), by M.C. Beaton,
finished 6/4 ★★★
92 – Speaker for the Dead, by Orson Scott Card, finished 6/6 ★★★
93 – Rueful Death (China Bayles series #5), by Susan Wittig Albert, finished 6/7 ★★★★
94 – Spring Fever, by Mary Kay Andrews, finished 6/10 ★★★★
95 – Heroes for My Daughter, by Brad Meltzer, finished 6/13 ★★★
96 – Morning Show Murders (Billy Blessing series #1), by Al Roker, finished 6/13 ★★★
97 – Wallflower in Bloom, by Claire Cook, finished 6/14 ★★★★
98 – Judge and Jury, by James Patterson, finished 6/17 ★★★
99 – A New Hope, by George Lucas, finished 6/18 ★★★
100 – Quicker Than the Eye, by Ray Bradbury, finished 6/19 ★★★

Wow Barb, You are just zipping along!

Indeed! What's next after you hit 100?

Ummm ... I just keep reading? LOL I haven't read this many books in a very long time! In the past few years, I've struggled to read 75 books in one year's time, so this is highly unusual. I'm a bit taken aback, to be honest.

Barb wrote: "Ummm ... I just keep reading? LOL I haven't read this many books in a very long time! In the past few years, I've struggled to read 75 books in one year's time, so this is highly unusual. I'm a bit..."

Its all those reading challenges.. right Barb? They just make you want to keep reading and reading so you can cross one off the list! =)

LOL That's part of it, Angie, I'm sure :) But I'm still not able to do a lot of things after my surgery, so I've been reading during the times I would have spent scrapbooking or cross-stitching, or working on other projects that involve a lot of arm movement.

Barb wrote: "LOL That's part of it, Angie, I'm sure :) But I'm still not able to do a lot of things after my surgery, so I've been reading during the times I would have spent scrapbooking or cross-stitching, or..."

Barb, isn't it great that there are so many great books to keep our minds engaged when our bodies have to rest? I've got surgery coming up on Monday for my hand . . . will have a cast for 6 weeks and a healing process that will last for up to a year. My physical activity will be decreased but I'm hoping to up the mental activity with many good books.

I admit I'll miss my knitting though!

I hope your recovery is going well.

It is, Kay, thanks. I see my surgeon next week for what I hope is my last follow-up appointment.

Good luck with your surgery, hope the therapy and healing go well for you!

101 – A Place in the Country, by Elizabeth Adler, finished 6/20 ★★★★
102 – Barefoot Season, by Susan Mallery, finished 6/22 ★★★★
103 – The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making, by Alana Chernila, finished 6/25 ★★★
104 – A Caribbean Mystery, by Agatha Christie, finished 6/27 ★★★
105 – Chamomile Mourning (Tea Shop series #6), by Laura Childs, finished 6/29 ★★★
106 – Summer Breeze, by Nancy Thayer, finished 6/30 ★★★★
107 – Seating Arrangements, by Maggie Shipstead, finished 7/1 ★★
108 – Murder on the Half Shelf (Booktown series #6), by Lorna Barrett, finished 7/1 ★★★
109 – Killer Crab Cakes (Fresh Baked series #4), by Livia J. Washburn, finished 7/2 ★★★
110 – The Neighbors are Watching, by Debra Ginsberg, finished 7/3 ★★
111 – Breakfast at Tiffany’s (and Three Stories), by Truman Capote, finished 7/3 ★★★
112 – Alpine for You (Passport to Peril series #1), by Maddy Hunter, finished 7/5 ★★★
113 – A Room Full of Bones (Ruth Galloway series #4), by Elly Griffiths, finished 7/9 ★★★★
114 – Saving Faith (audio), by David Baldacci, finished 7/9 ★★★
115 – MentalPause and Other Midlife Laughs, by Laura Jensen Walker, finished 7/10 ★★★★
116 – Invisible (Ivy Malone series #1), by Lorena McCourtney, finished 7/10 ★★★★
117 – Baking: From My Home to Yours, by Dorie Greenspan, finished 7/11 ★★★
118 – Track of the Cat (Ana Pigeon series #1), by Nevada Barr, finished 7/14 ★★★★
119 – One Good Dog (audio), by Susan Wilson, finished 7/16 ★★★
120 – The Wurst is Yet to Come (The) (Bed & Breakfast series #27), by Mary Daheim,
finished 7/17 ★★★
121 – Zorgamazoo, by Robert Paul Weston, finished 7/18 ★★★★
122 – Letter from Home, by Carolyn Hart, finished 7/20 ★★★
123 – Anatomy of a Crossword (Belle Graham series #8), by Nero Blanc, finished 7/22 ★★★
124 – Outbound Flight, by Timothy Zahn, finished 7/23 ★★★
125 – Magic Hour, by Kristin Hannah, finished 7/24 ★★★★

Barb, I'm wondering if you can read some books for me since you are on such a roll and I'm in such a slump....lol Good for you!!

LOL Andrea One of my GR groups had a read-a-thon last weekend, which added even more to my completed list. But no matter how many books I read, my TBR list never seems to shrink!

Oh I love those! I wonder if any people from here would be interested in a read-a-thon?

I think we did one last year and it went pretty well.

Also, I agree with you my piles never end because I am always adding to them :)

Barb wrote: "...no matter how many books I read, my TBR list never seems to shrink!"

I know!

Andrea wrote: "Barb, I'm wondering if you can read some books for me since you are on such a roll and I'm in such a slump....lol Good for you!!"

Sorry, Andrea, I didn't see your request before! The best books I've read so far this year are:
The Sixes
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Murphy's Law
The House at Sea's End (but I'd recommend starting with the first in the series, The Crossing Places)
Yellow Crocus
Vanished
A Fatal Thaw
Mama Does Time
The Columbus Affair
Spring Fever
Zorgamazoo

Which one/s might appeal to you depends on what genre/s you prefer :) I read mostly mystery/thriller/suspense, but there are other genres in there too.

126 – The Brutal Telling (Inspector Gamache series #5), by Louise Penny, finished 7/27 ★★
127 – The Color of Magic, by Terry Pratchett, finished 7/28 ★★
128 – The Inside Ring (Joe DeMarco series #1), by Mike Lawson, finished 729 ★★★★
129 – When in Doubt, Add Butter, by Beth Harbison, finished 7/31 ★★★★
130 – Murder Past Due (Cat in the Stacks series #1), by Miranda James, finished 8/3 ★★★★
131 – Hand of Fate, by Michael Underwood, finished 8/4 ★★★
132 – Remarkable Creatures (audio), by Tracy Chevalier, finished 8/5 ★★★
133 – Rainshadow Road (Friday Harbor series #2), by Lisa Kleypas, finished 8/7 ★★★★
134 – How to Watch the Olympics: The Essential Guide to the Rules, Statistics, Heroes and Zeroes of Every Sport, by David Goldblatt and Johnny Acton, finished 8/7 ★★★
135 – The Light Between Oceans, by M.L. Stedman, finished 8/10 ★★
136 – The Information Officer (audio), by Mark Mills, finished 8/13 ★★
137 – Off the Grid (Monkeewrench series #6), by P.J. Tracy, finished 8/14 ★★★★
138 – The Front Porch Prophet, by Raymond L. Atkins, finished 8/15 ★★
139 – The Secrets of Mary Bowser, by Lois Leveen, finished 8/18 ★★★
140 – Don’t Ever Get Old, by Daniel Friedman, finished 8/20 ★★★
141 – The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett, finished 8/24 ★★
142 – Inn at Rose Harbor, by Debbie Macomber, finished 8/27 ★★★★
143 – Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir by One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII, by Chester Nez (audio), finished 8/29 ★★★★
144 – A Woman in Jerusalem, by A.B. Yehoshua, finished 8/29 ★★
145 – Sprinkle with Murder (Cupcake Bakery series #1), by Jenn McKinlay, finished 8/31 ★★★★
146 – ‘Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy (Bombay Assassins #1), by Leslie Langtry,
finished 8/31 ★★★★
147 – To Sir, With Love, by E.R. Braithwaite, finished 9/1 ★★
148 – The Baker Street Letters (Baker Street Letters #1), by Michael Robertson, finished 9/3 ★★★★
149 – Shoofly Pie (Bug Man series #1), by Tim Downs, finished 9/4 ★★★
150 – Candy Apple Dead (Candy Shop series #1), by Sammi Carter, finished 9/7 ★★★

Barb, thanks for sharing that list with me, some of those books looks like something I would also enjoy. I even have one or two of them already. I know I have the Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

I hope you enjoy them too :) I always feel nervous about recommending books to folks who aren't good friends or family, since everyone likes different things! LOL

Oh don't worry, I know it's hit or miss or sometimes my mood for a certain type of book that makes it or breaks it for me! It's rare that I don't like a book...lol

Yes, I'm a "moody reader" too :) If I try to read a 'relationship' book when I'm in the mood for something exciting or funny, it's just not going to work lol

I sooo hear ya!

Just realized I haven't updated here for quite some time. I honestly can't believe how many books I've been able to read this year!

151 – One Clown Short, by Linda C. Wright, finished 9/7 ★★★
152 – Candyfreak: A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America, by Steve Almond, finished 9/9 ★★★
153 – Spin, by Catherine McKenzie, finished 9/12 ★★
154 – Second Sight (Brady Coyne/J.W. Jackson series #2), by Philip R. Craig & William G. Tapply, finished 9/12 ★★★★
155 – Photo, Snap, Shot (Kiki Lowenstein series #3), by Joanna Campbell Slan, finished 9/17 ★★★
156 – The Time Keeper, by Mitch Albom, finished 9/18 ★★★
157 – Eyewall, by H.W. “Buzz” Bernard, finished 9/20 ★★★★
158 – The Lifeboat, by Charlotte Rogan, finished 9/28 ★★
159 – Silent Thunder, by Iris Johansen & Roy Johansen, finished 9/28 ★★★★
160 – The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare, finished 9/29 ★★★
161 – Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, by Tom Franklin, finished 9/29 ★★
162 – Eggs Benedict Arnold (Cackleberry Club series #2), by Laura Childs, finished 9/30 ★★★★
163 – Soon I Will Be Invincible, by Austin Grossman, finished 9/30 ★★
164 – A Lady of High Regard (Ladies of Liberty series #1), by Tracie Peterson, finished 9/30 ★★★
165 – Then Sings My Soul, by Robert J. Morgan, finished 10/1 ★★★
166 – Postcards from the Dead (Scrapbooking Mysteries #10), by Laura Childs, finished 10/4 ★★★
167 – The Giver, by Lois Lowry, finished 10/6 ★★
168 – What the Cat Saw, by Carolyn Hart, finished 10/7 ★★★★
169 – Love’s Winning Plays, by Inman Majors, finished 10/8 ★★
170 – Restorations, by Bonnie Blythe, finished 10/8 ★★★★
171 – Latte Trouble (Coffeeshop series #3), by Cleo Coyle, finished 10/9 ★★★
172 – Due or Die (Library Lovers series #2), by Jenn McKinlay, finished 10/12 ★★★★
173 – Footsteps in the Dark, by Georgette Heyer, finished 10/13 ★★
174 – A Spoonful of Murder (Soup Lovers series #1), by Connie Archer, finished 10/14 ★★★
175 – Urchin of the Riding Stars (Mistmantle series #1), by M.I. McAllister, finished 10/15 ★★

Barb, that is a crazy awesome list! I love your start too!

One of my GR groups does a monthly read-a-thon, so I've been able to knock out a lot of books at the end of each month. Hubby is currently working out of town (only home on weekends), and daughter works most evenings (I work during the day), so I've also had a lot more time at home to listen to audiobooks than I'm used to. And I participate in a lot of reading challenges, which really motivates me to read as much as I can. Just don't ask about the condition of my house :)

Hahaha, well something has to give right :)

I would be the same way but I can't sit and read if everything is a mess. So I clean first and then read as a reward. It makes me clean a lot faster than if I was just cleaning because it has to get done.

176 – The Blue Light Project, by Timothy Taylor, finished 10/16 ★★
177 – Amelia Earhart – Case Closed!, by Mike Markowski & Marjie Markowski, finished 10/17 ★★
178 – Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan, finished 10/19 ★★★★
179 – Tough Cookies: Leadership Lessons from 100 Years of the Girl Scouts, by Kathy Cloninger, finished 10/19 ★★
180 – A is for Apple, by Greg Patent and Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, finished 10/20 ★★★
181 – The End of Your Life Book Club, by Will Schwalbe, finished 10/22 ★★★
182 – The Casual Vacancy, by J.K. Rowling, finished 10/23 ★★
183 – Blood Orange Brewing (Tea Shop series #7), by Laura Childs, finished 10/26 ★★★
184 – The Emperor’s Tomb (Cotton Malone series #6), by Steve Berry, finished 10/27 ★★★★
185 – The Bricklayer (Steve Vail series #1), by Noah Boyd, finished 10/28 ★★
186 – The Pumpkin Muffin Murder (Fresh Baked series #5), by Livia J. Washburn, finished 10/28 ★★★★
187 – Hurricanes in Paradise, by Denise Hildreth, finished 10/29 ★★★★
188 – Every Man Dies Alone, by Hans Fallada, finished 10/30 ★★
189 – The Pawn (Patrick Bowers series #1), by Steven James, finished 11/2 ★★★
190 – Shine, Shine, Shine, by Lydia Netzer, finished 11/2 ★★
191 – The Third Policeman, by Flann O’Brien, finished 11/3 ★★
192 – The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman, finished 11/3 ★★
193 – Shop Till You Drop (Dead-End Job series #1), by Elaine Viets, finished 11/6 ★★
194 – Goldberg Variations, by Susan Isaacs, finished 11/8 ★★
195 – Foul Play at the Fair (Celebration Bay series #1), by Shelley Freydont, finished 11/10 ★★★
196 – Man in the Blue Moon, by Michael Morris, finished 11/12 ★★
197 – The Giving Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts series #20), by Jennifer Chiaverini, finished 11/14 ★★★★
198 – Burglars Can’t Be Choosers (Bernie Rhodenbarr series #1), by Lawrence Block, finished 11/14 ★★★
199 – Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime (Rat Pack Series #1), by Robert J. Randisi, finished 11/16 ★★★
200 – The Shack, by William Paul Young, finished 11/17 ★★

201 – Murder at the PTA Luncheon (Susan Henshaw series #1), by Valerie Wolzien, finished 11/19 ★★
202 – Lights Out Tonight, by Mary Jane Clark, finished 11/20 ★★★
203 – Night to Remember, by Walter Lord, finished 11/21 ★★
204 – Eight Girls Taking Pictures, by Whitney Otto, finished 11/23 ★★
205 – At Home: A Short History of Private Life, by Bill Bryson, finished 11/23 ★★★
206 – An Appetite for Murder (Key West Food Critic series #1), by Lucy Burdette, finished 11/26 ★★★
207 – Gingerbread Bump-Off (Fresh Baked series #6), by Livia J. Washburn, finished 11/28 ★★★★
208 – The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson series #1), by Rick Riordan, finished 11/29 ★★★
209 – Paterno, by Joe Posnanski, finished 11/29 ★★★★
210 – Safe at Home, by Richard Doster, finished 12/1 ★★★★
211 – Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman, by Jon Krakauer, finished 12/1 ★★
212 – Good Hope Road, by Lisa Wingate, finished 12/2 ★★
213 – Thrillers: 100 Must Reads, by David Morrell & Hank Wagner, finished 12/2 ★★★
214 – Never Buried (Leigh Koslow series #1), by Edie Claire, finished 12/3 ★★★
215 – Dress Her in Indigo (Travis McGee series #11), by John D. MacDonald, finished 12/6 ★★★
216 – The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells, finished 12/6 ★★★
217 – 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die, by Robert Dimery, finished 12/11 ★★★
218 – Absolution by Murder (Sister Fidelma series #1), by Peter Tremayne, finished 12/12 ★★★★

Not this is an amazing list! WOWZA!

PS.. how do you get your stars? I've been trying for years!

I'll be at 225-230 books before the year ends, but this has been an exceptional reading year for me. I don't expect to repeat in 2013!

The stars are HTML code. For each star, type <& #9733;> but without the space between the & and the #

There are lots of other symbols too. Some of the basic ones are:
[ ☆ ] star outline <& #9734;>
[ ♥ ] black heart <& hearts;>
[ ✔ ] heavy check mark <& #10004;>
Each has to have the space removed between & and # or it won't work right. Hope this helps :)

That is awesome! Thanks so much for sharing :)

You're welcome, Andrea! Can you tell me where I can find this challenge for 2013? I've been looking everywhere, with no success :\

And just to finish out the year ... here's the last handful of books I read in 2012:

219 – Death of a Red Heroine (Inspector Chen Cao series #1), by Qiu Xiaolong, finished 12/15 ★★
220 – Angels at the Table, by Debbie Macomber, finished 12/18 ★★★★
221 – Being Santa Claus: What I Learned About the True Meaning of Christmas, by Sal Lizard, finished 12/19 ★★★★
222 – Book, Line and Sinker (Library Lover’s series #3), by Jenn McKinlay, finished 12/20 ★★★★
223 – Unenchanted (Unfortunate Fairy Tale series #1), by Chanda Hahn, finished 12/22 ★★
224 – The Unsuspecting Mage (The Morcyth Saga, #1), by Brian S. Pratt, finished 12/26 ★★★
225 – The Forgotten (John Puller series #2), by David Baldacci, finished 12/26 ★★★★
226 – The Blind Side, by Michael Lewis, finished 12/29 ★★★
227 – A Hoe Lot of Trouble (Nina Quinn series #1), by Heather Webber, finished 12/29 ★★★★
228 – The Phoenix Conspiracy (Phoenix Conspiracy series #1), by Richard L. Sanders,
finished 12/30 ★★★
229 - Not a Creature was Stirring (Gregor Demarkian series #1), by Jane Haddam,
finished 12/31 ★★★