2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion
ARCHIVE 2012
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Lisa's 50 Books for 2012
I promised my daughter that I'd make Ender's Game my first book of the year. I'm not really a sci/fi fan, but the book picked up for me about halfway through to the end. I prefer to read Historical Fiction and Fantasy. Since joining GR I've been reading a few Biographies and non-fiction books. This year I'm hoping to read the pile of books on my shelf that I kept putting aside for book club selections last year.
2.Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch
Sally Bedell Smith
4/5 stars
I really enjoyed this biography of the Queen. It was immensely readable and informative. I laughed aloud and cried while reading this book.
One of my favorite quotes from the book is by Queen Elizabeth II: "Grief is the price we pay for love." This quote is inscribed on a memorial in Grosvenor Square near the US Embassy in London for the 67 British citizens who were victims of 9/11 .
Sara wrote: "Lisa wrote: "3. Someone Knows My Name
Lawrence Hill
5/5 stars"
This one looks really interesting-added it to my 'to read' list :)"
I hope you enjoy it!
Sara wrote: "Lisa wrote: "3. Someone Knows My NameLawrence Hill
5/5 stars"
This one looks really interesting-added it to my 'to read' list :)"I think this book has an alternate title. I read a book by Lawrence Hill called
and I enjoyed it. If it's the same book, it is a book I would recommend.
It's the same book. It's titled The Illustrated Book Of Negroes in Canada and Someone Knows My Name in the US.
4. The Borgia Bride
Jeanne Kalogridis
4/5 stars
This is the first book I've read on the Borgia's. I didn't know anything about the family going into the story and wasn't sure what to expect. This book didn't lack for action or intrigue. The Borgia's terrorized those around them and were responsible for many deaths while they climbed to power, including members of their own family. Of course with a historical fiction novel, you can't be sure which parts of the story are based on fact or have been exaggerated for fiction. I'd be interested in reading a non-fiction book on the family to learn more.
Thanks Sara! I had to take a bit of a break over the weekend when my kids came home for a visit. ;) My daughter had an entire day marathon watching A Game of Thrones. Now that the story and characters are fresh in my mind I'm ready to start reading A Clash Of Kings - my next door stopper.
8. A Storm of SwordsGeorge R.R. Martin
5/5 stars
I finally finished it! Life has been distracting me from my reading. I really enjoyed this book. It was full of twists and turns and kept me engrossed in the story line from beginning to end.
Lisa wrote: "5. Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman
Robert K. Massie
5/5 stars"
Oooh. I will definitely have to add this to my to-read list.
9. A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin4/5 stars
It's hard to believe that in the 4th book of the series, A Song of Ice and Fire, that Martin can continue to surprise the reader with twists and turns. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars since I wasn't as interested in some of the lesser character's chapters, but on the whole the book kept me enthralled and in disbelief at what was happening with the main characters of the story. I wish I had the next book so I could delve right into it.
Sara wrote: "Lisa-you're doing great on your challenge! At this rate you're going to exceed your goal :)"Thanks Sara. I have a feeling my numbers are going to drop for a while. You know I've been sick for the last 2 weeks... well, yesterday I woke up with Bells Palsy. It's affecting the left side of my face and my eye is really bothering me. It's hard to read when your eye hurts. :(
I hope you had a nice get away weekend with your family. :)
14. Skinny Bitch: Home, Beauty, and Style A No-Nonsense Guide to Cutting the Crap Out of Your Life for a Better Body and a Kinder World by Kim Barnouinnot rated...
I don't know what to say about this book. The author is full of passion for a green, healthy environment. I'd venture to say that most people are in favor of that, though on a more realistic scale. Small changes can make a big difference. Kim's advice is pretty overwhelming.
15. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein4/5 stars
Having recently lost my sweet dog, this book really touched me. I didn't love everything that went on in the story line, but I absolutely loved Enzo.
Sara wrote: "Great job so far! If you ever want to up your goal number just let me know, you're already halfway to your goal :)"Ha ha... I know Sara. My goal is REALLY for 22,000 pages, not a particular number of books. I just figured that if I read more long books, it would be less books to reach my page goal. Also, I think I always read more at the beginning of the year than later. That's what happened last year.... I'll keep you posted if I find that I don't have a slow period and I'm going to exceed my goal. ;)
17. The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea3/5 stars
I had a hard time forcing myself to read this book until about halfway through. It really picked up for me at that point and became very interesting.
Sara wrote: "Great job so far! If you ever want to up your goal number just let me know, you're already halfway to your goal :)"Hi Sara, I updated my goal to 50. I'm really working toward a page count goal, but since I've been reading quite a few 'unplanned' shorter books, my book count is higher than I expected.
Sara wrote: "Lisa wrote: "21. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak3.5/5 stars"
I'm reading this in May :)"
It was part of my "all the library books are here at once" issue. ;)
Lisa wrote: "Sara wrote: "Lisa wrote: "21. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak3.5/5 stars"
I'm reading this in May :)"
It was part of my "all the library books are here at once" issue. ;)"
haha, I have that issue all the time!! grr.
The Book Thief was fantastic. One of the greatest books I've ever read and I don't like reading historical fiction!
Adriana wrote: "The Book Thief was fantastic. One of the greatest books I've ever read and I don't like reading historical fiction!"It's great to read something out of your usual genre and enjoy it so much. :)
30. The Queen's Vow: A Novel Of Isabella Of Castile by C.W. Gortner4/5 stars
31. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
4/5 stars
32. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
3/5 stars
34. Cathedral of the Sea: A Novel by Ildefonso Falcones1/5 stars
I'm not sure if it's completely fair to count this book as "read" since I didn't finish it, but after slogging through 300 pages of complete boredom I don't think it's fair to myself to not at least take credit for reading as much as I did. I think this is the first book that I wasn't able to finish. There are too many books that I want to read to continue boring myself with one that I'm not enjoying. Sorry Ildefonso. I think it had a lot of potential to be a great story and maybe it was boring due to the translation... I don't know.
Lisa wrote: "There are too many books that I want to read to continue boring myself with one that I'm not enjoying."You deserve credit, Lisa! That's a long way to slog through a book. I always feel so guilty putting a book to the side, but you're right!
2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Great Gatsby (other topics)The Stolen Crown: The Secret Marriage that Forever Changed the Fate of England (other topics)
Knit Fix (other topics)
Itty-bitty Toys (other topics)
Knit Fix (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
F. Scott Fitzgerald (other topics)Susan Higginbotham (other topics)
Donna Kooler (other topics)
Lisa Kartus (other topics)
Robin Hobb (other topics)
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So far I've read 22,639 pages in 2012. I'm going to fall short of my 50 book challenge, but I surpassed my 22,500 page challenge for myself this year. I just wish I had more time to read at the end of the year, but with company coming for the holidays I know that I won't be able to "really" read until I'm done entertaining. Happy Holidays everyone!