ChelleBearss reads into 2019 (April)

Welcome to my slightly late June thread. My goals are merely to try and read more and work on the Pop Sugar Challenge.
Chloe's 5th birthday was last week and she celebrated with her little friends and had a blast!




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For those that don't know me I am Chelle from Ontario, Canada. Late 30's, wife, mother of two and a police dispatcher. Hubby is an officer and between our two shift work schedules we share in all duties of house and children. I read at work when it is slow and after our daughters are in bed or relaxing.
My reading ebbs and flows pretty badly at times. Some years I have read as low as 36 books and in 2018 I hit 140. We shall see what 2019 brings!

Starting 2019 I am setting a few goals for myself and hoping to keep them going through the whole year, and not just January!
I had great fun in 2018 with the Pop Sugar Challenge and will be doing that again this year!
As well I would like to try and up my audiobook game and am setting a goal of two audiobooks per month.


Print 📗:


Audio 🎧:


Finished

June
66) Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
67) China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan
68) Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan
69) Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
70) Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
71) Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
🎧72) The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths
73) Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear
74) I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
**75) Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
🎧76) The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths
77) We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor
78) The Shape of Water by Guillermo Del Toro
79) The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

July
80) The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
🎧81) A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths
82) Mister Tender's Girl by Carter Wilson
83) Caraval by Stephanie Garber
🎧84) The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire by Drew Hayes
85) Today Will be Different by Maria Semple
86) The History of Bees by Maja Lunde
🎧87) The Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths
88) Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
89) The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths
90) The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths
91) The Woman in Blue by Elly Griffiths
🎧92) The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg
93) Lyrebird by Cecilia Ahern
🎧94) Only Human by Sylvain Neuvel
95) The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths
96) The Outlander by Gil Adamson (200pages read, DNF)
97) Behind her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough
98) The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths
99) Necessary People by Anna Pitoniak
100) The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths

Books Purchased in 2019
Mine
How Not to Kill Your Houseplant: Survival Tips for the Horticulturally Challenged by Veronica Peerless
All Clear by Connie Willis
Speaking from among the Bones by Alan Bradley
The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley
A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
Thick as Thieves by Megan Whalen Turner
Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong
Outrage by Arnaldur Indridason
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

Kids
Mango & Bambang: Tapir All at Sea by Polly Faber
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 2: The Revenge of the Ridiculous Robo-Boogers: Color Edition
Fancy Nancy Valentine
There's a Monster in Your Book by Tom Fletcher
Hedgehugs by Steve Wilson
I Need a Hug by Aaron Blabey
Big Bear, Small Mouse by Karma Wilson
The Dot by Peter H Reynolds
Hugs by Robert Munsch
Little Penguin and the Lollipop by Tadgh Bentley
Go Go Gorillas: A Romping Bedtime Tale by Patrick Wensink
Pinkalicious Phonics Box Set (My First I Can Read) by Victoria Kann

Books Finished in 2019

January
1) Blackout by Connie Willis
2) Mango and Bambang by Polly Faber
3) The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
4) A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley
5) I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley
🎧6) The Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend
7) All Clear by Connie Willis
8) Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 1 by Dav Pilkey
9) Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea by Nancy Atherton
10) Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
11) Pretty Little Mistakes by Heather McElhatton
12) Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties by Dav Pilkey
🎧13) Red Clocks by Leni Zumas
14) The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
15) The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler
16) Dog Man and Cat Kid by Dav Pilkeu
17) The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
🎧18) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling
19) Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
🎧20) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
21) A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner

February
22) Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
23) Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald by JK Rowling
🎧24) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
🎧25) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
🎧26) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling
27) Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
🎧28) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
29) The Overnight Kidnapper by Andrea Camilleri
30) Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong
🎧31) Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
32) The Nightmare by Lars Kepler
33) The Child by Fiona Barton
34) After You by Jojo Moyes
35) Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

March
36) Bird Box by Josh Malerman
37) Still Me by Jojo Moyes
38) Thick as Thieves by Megan Whalen Turner
39) Year One: Chronicles of the One by Nora Roberts
40) An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
41) Seven for a Secret by Lyndsay Faye
42) The Fatal Flame by Lyndsay Faye
🎧43) Let Me In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
44) The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
45) I Found You by Lisa Jewell
46) The Troop by Nick Cutter

April
47) Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye
48) The Low-FODMAP Cookbook: 100 Delicious, Gut-Friendly Recipes for IBS by Dianne Benjamin
49) The Complete Low-FODMAP Diet by Sue Shepherd
50) The Low-FODMAP Diet Cookbook by Sue Shepherd
51) The Low-FODMAP 6-Week Plan and Cookbook by Suzanne Perazzini
52) The Low FODMAP Diet for Beginners nu Mollie Tunitsky
53) The Bloated Belly Whisperer by Tamara Duker Freuman
🎧54) An Unattractive Vampire by Jim McDoniel
55) The Suspect by Fiona Barton
56) The Hunger by Alma Katsu

May
57) The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks
58) American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis
59) The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
60) Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson
61) When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson
🎧62) Rooms by Lauren Oliver
63) Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
64) The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
🎧65) The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

ROOT
I'm trying something new this year and I've joined the ROOT group.
I am going to attempt to reduce my unread books by almost half (not including audio or ebooks) and my goal is 30. (I think there are about 75 up there). I won't do anything silly like pretend I can make myself stop buying (as if) but to count towards this I had to own the book prior to December 2018.




Here is the link to my ROOT thread
1) The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs (owned since 2018)
2) A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley (owned since 2011)
3) I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley (owned since 2011)
4) Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea by Nancy Atherton (owned since 2016)
5) The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (owned since May 2018)
6) The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (owned since May 2018)
7) Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (owned since April 2018)
8) An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (owned since 2018)
9) Seven for a Secret by Lyndsay Faye (owned since 2017)
10) The Fatal Flame by Lyndsay Faye
11) I Found You by Lisa Jewell

These are my TBR shelves

2019 PopSugar Reading Challenge

45/50

01 - A book becoming a movie in 2019 - Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
02 - A book that makes you nostalgic - Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
03 - A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction) - Bird Box by Josh Malerman
04 - A book you think should be turned into a movie - The Troop by Nick Cutter
05 - A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling
06 - A book with a plant in the title or on the cover - Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
07 - A reread of a favorite book - Harry Potter and the Giblet of Fire by JK Rowling
08 - A book about a hobby - The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
09 - A book you meant to read in 2018 - The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
10 - A book with "pop", "sugar" or "challenge" in the title - The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
11 - A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover - The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
12 - a book inspired by mythology, legend or folklore - Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
13 - A book published posthumously - I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
14 - a book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson
15 - A retelling of a classic - Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
16 - A book with a question in the title - When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
17 - A book set on a college or university campus
18 - a book about someone with a super power - The Chronicles of One: Year One by Nora Roberts
19 - a book told from multiple POVs - Blackout by Connie Willis
20 - a book set in space - We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor
21 - a book by two female authors - The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
22 - A book with a title that contains "salty", "sweet", "bitter" or "spicy" - Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear
23 - A book set in Scandinavia - The Nightmare by Lars Kepler
24 - a book that takes place in a single day - Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple
25 - a debut novel - The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler
26 - a book that's published in 2019 - The Overnight Kidnapper by Andrea Camilleri
27 - a book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature - The Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend
28 - a book recommended by a celebrity you admire - An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (Opera's Book Club)
29 - a book with "love" in the title
30 - a book featuring an amateur detective - A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley
31 - A book about a family - I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley
32 - A book written by an author from Asia, Africa or South America - The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes (Africa)
33 - A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title - The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
34 - a book that includes a wedding - Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
35 - A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
36 - A ghost storyRooms by Lauren Oliver
37 - a book with a two-word title- All Clear by Connie Willis
38 - A novel based on a true story - Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
39 - A book revolving around a puzzle or game >/strike> - Caraval by Stephanie Garber

40 - Your favourite prompt from a past Pop Sugar Reading Challenge - 2018 #3 Next book in a series - Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan

Advanced:
41 - A "cli fi" book - The History of Bees by Maya Lunde
42 - A "choose-your-own-adventure" book - Pretty Little Mistakes by Heather McElhatton
43 - An "own voices" book - Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
44 - Read a book during the season it is set in - Seven for a Secret by Lyndsay Faye (winter)
45 - A LitRPG book
46 - A book with no chapters / unusual chapter headings / unconventionally numbered chapters Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple
47 & 48 - Two books that share the same title - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon & The Outlander by Gil Adamson
49 - A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom
50 - A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent

June & July
35 - A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter - Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
40 - Your favourite prompt from a past Pop Sugar Reading Challenge - 2018 #3 Next book in a series - Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan
12 - a book inspired by mythology, legend or folklore - Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
06 - A book with a plant in the title or on the cover - Where the crawdads sing by Delia Owens
1 - A book becoming a movie in 2019 - Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
22 - A book with a title that contains "salty", "sweet", "bitter" or "spicy" - Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear
13 - A book published posthumously - I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
43 - An "own voices" book - Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
20 - a book set in space - We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor
10 - A book with "pop", "sugar" or "challenge" in the title - The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

39 - A book revolving around a puzzle or game - Caraval by Stephanie Garber
24 - a book that takes place in a single day by Today Will be Different by Maria Semple
41 - A "cli fi" book - The History of Bees by Maya Lunde
47 & 48 - Two books that share the same title
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon & The Outlander by Gil Adamson

~~~~~~~~~~~IDEAS~~~~~~~~~~~~
17 - A book set on a college or university campus
❊ The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis

29 - a book with "love" in the title
❊ A serial killer's daughter : my story of faith, love, and overcoming by Kerri Rawson

45 - A LitRPG book
❊Wildcard by Marie Lu

49 - A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom
❊The Godfather
Fellowship of the ring
Dracula
The vampire lestat

50 - A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent
❊Murder at the vicarage by Agatha Christie

My other threads are sad and lonely. I'd like to try and add a few books to each this year, perhaps these ones that I've listed below:

Women's Prize for Fiction
🔵2018 Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
🔵2009 Home by Marilynne Robinson
American Marriage by Tayari Jones

1001 books list
🔵American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis
🔵The Godfather by Mario Puzo

Booker Prize
🔵2017 Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
🔵1992 The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

Happy new thread, Chelle!

I hope you've turned the corner and will start feeling better ASAP.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Chelle and thanks for the lovely photographs of those gorgeous girls.

Happy new thread, Chelle!

You were listing all the shows you've been binging while sick. Have you watched Kim's Convenience? Mr. Fine and I binged the two seasons currently on Netflix over the past couple days and we loved it.

Happy new thread, Chelle!
Belated happy 5th birthday to Chloe!

>6 ChelleBearss: I've got Lincoln on the Bardo on Mount TBR. I've heard mixed reviews on it. I'll be interested to hear your take on it.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Chelle! And happy belated birthday to Princess Chloe!

Oh those photos!!! Be still my heart. They are so adorable.

Oh yes, and happy new thread :)

Beautiful photos - and more birthday wishes from me too to your eldest.

Happy New Thread, Chelle. I love those toppers. Those girls always put a smile on my face. Miss seeing you around. I hope all is well.

Happy New Thread, Chelle!

Love the photos up top. Adding my belated Happy Birthday wishes for 5 year old (!) Chloe.

Happy new thread, Chelle!

Happy new thread, Chelle. Your girls are beautiful.

Happy new thread Chelle my dear, great thread topper photos of your lovely girls, sending love and hugs.

Happy new thread, Chelle! Looks like the party goers celebrated in style!
Chloe looks lovely in her tiara!

Happy Monday, folks! I am feeling back to normal now. Turns out my virus was actually a sinus infection and I'm now on antibiotics and feeling human again!

We spent the weekend outside in the beautiful 28c weather. The girls did some pool splashing while I read quite a bit. It's nice to be able to focus on books again and not having a pounding headache any longer!

Thanks everyone for warming my new thread!


66) Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
75 Books Challenge
Pop Sugar Challenge: 35 - A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter


67) China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan
75 Books Challenge

Yay for feeling better, Chelle!

Glad to hear you are feeling better, Chelle, and able to enjoy reading again. I am finishing up my Reading Bingo Card this month and then I will be able to put more of my attention on finishing the 2019 PopSugar Challenge.

68) Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan
75 Books Challenge
Pop Sugar Challenge: 40 - Your favourite prompt from a past Pop Sugar Reading Challenge - 2018 #3 Next book in a series

I really enjoyed this series! I kept putting off reading it because I thought of it as fluff and I really should stop being such a snob! I ended up reading all three books in 5 days!

>24 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! It's amazing what a little pill can do!

>25 DeltaQueen50: Good luck, Judy! I have 18 books left for the pop sugar challenge and I hope to finish by August!

Happy new thread, Chelle! I miss Ellie's sad little snow face at the top, though :-)

Glad you're feeling better. And I also loved the Crazy Rich Asians series - I thought it was very well done (even if fluffy)!

Hi Chelle! Glad you're enjoying Crazy Rich Asians and following books. I was skeptical, but the consensus seems to be that they're great.

Glad to see you enjoyed the Crazy Rich Asians series. So delightful! Any plans to watch the film?

Hey Chelle. I've still not got to the Kwan - think I might get there eventually! Glad you found some good reading.

69) Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
75 Books Challenge
Pop Sugar Challenge: 12 - a book inspired by mythology, legend or folklore

70) Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
75 Books Challenge
Pop Sugar Challenge: 06 - A book with a plant in the title or on the cover

This was excellent! Five stars all the way
I started this at 9am this morning and finished it at work around 14 hours later.

>28 susanj67: Sorry that you miss grumpy Ellie. I'll leave her here for you!


>29 The_Hibernator: I was skeptical too but glad that I finally read them!

>30 MickyFine: Not sure if I will watch the film. I tend to only watch tv or movies with Nate and I'm not sure he would enjoy that one. I do plan on starting Good Omens with him soon, though!

>31 charl08: Hope you give him a shot! :)

Sweet Thursday, Chelle. Glad you are feeling better. We miss you. Hooray for Crawdads!

>34 ChelleBearss: I love this photo of Grumpy Ellie!

>34 ChelleBearss: Chelle, ha! That really is *the* most unimpressed little face :-) She looks much happier in the topper, no doubt partly because it looks warmer!

Six of Crows
Abandoned. I could not get into this one at all.

>37 ChelleBearss: Too bad about the book above. It happens. I keep meaning to try Where Crawdads Sing. It certainly seems popular. Happy New Thread!

Raptors win!!

My nerves the last few minutes of the game! We the North!

>35 msf59: Hiya, Mark! Grumpy Ellie is one of my fave pics from this past winter!
I'll try and get around to all the threads this weekend during my time off. I miss having time to visit everyone!

>36 susanj67: She is her Mother's child and loves the warm weather. I think she was mostly upset about the snowsuit, less upset about the cold and snow.

>38 vancouverdeb: Yeah, I also started and put down A Clockwork Orange tonight. My head was just strong enough during a night shift to try and figure out a new language of slang lol

>40 raidergirl3: The last 40 seconds lasted soooo long!! We watched it at work and everyone in Ontario must have been watching as we had no 911 calls and no officer transmissions for the last 10 mins of the game lol

71) Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
75 Books Challenge
Pop Sugar Challenge: 1 - A book becoming a movie in 2019


🎧72) The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths
75 Books Challenge

Congratulations to your Raptors, Chelle! I was sorry that GSW had so many injuries, but it still was a great series, with every game close.

>37 ChelleBearss: what book did you abandon? I can’t see the pic.

>43 jnwelch: Thanks Joe! I was glad I was working and could watch it last night as if I had been home I wouldn’t have been able to stay up and watch. I’m not a big basketball fan but I love see any Toronto team do well. If only my Blue Jays could do better!

>44 raidergirl3: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. I’ve heard good things but I just couldn’t get into it

You are kicking butt with your reading this year! *impressed*
happy belated birthday Chloe :)

That's so funny about no one calling during the last ten minutes of the match. Hope you have a good weekend.

>46 LovingLit: Thanks! I had a bit of a reading lull where I watched too much TV but I'm feeling myself again and back to reading lots when I can find time :)

>47 charl08: Thanks, Char! I would have bet money that every available officer was glued to whatever TV they could find that night. I know all the dispatchers were watching, even ones like me who wouldn't normally care about basketball.

Happy Father's Day!!

And happy Sunday, folks! Hope you all are enjoying your weekend. This girls and I have kept busy with soccer and Turtlefest here yesterday. We went to the local museum and they had a Turtle scavenger hunt in every room. We had to find all the turtles in the building and they ranged from scultures to stuffed animals. The girls got their faces painted, got balloon animals, got crafts to take home and got to see some real turtles. They seemed to have a blast but were super tired the rest of the day.

Sounds like you had a great Saturday and hope your Sunday is turning out well too.

>50 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! Hope you are enjoying your weekend!


73) Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear
75 Books Challenge
Pop Sugar Challenge: 22 - A book with a title that contains "salty", "sweet", "bitter" or "spicy"

This was a great debut novel! I got sucked right into the plot line and really loved the main character. I hope to see more from Frear some day.

Hi Chelle, thanks for stopping by my dear, I hope Nate has had a good Father's Day. I love the Kathy Reichs books and have another 14 or 15 on the TBR pile and hope to read two or three more this year.

I hope you, Nate and the girls are having a really nice weekend dear friend.

>42 ChelleBearss: I'm glad to see another reader of the Griffiths series, Chelle. I quite enjoy it.

Hi Chelle!

Turtlefest sounds sweet. I hope you have a wonderful day.

>52 johnsimpson: Thanks, John! Hope you enjoy the rest of the Kathy Reichs novels. I loved them and am waiting for the next, although I don't think she has a new one planned yet

>53 BLBera: I am quite enjoying them on audio. I've been listening to them in the car and while cleaning and I really love the narrator

>54 karenmarie: Hi Karen! It was a relaxing day and now I'm at work, boo hiss :)

74) I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
75 Books Challenge
Pop Sugar Challenge: 13 - A book published posthumously

I found this book to be very interesting. It's amazing that someone could do such terrible things and get away with it for 40+ years. The book lagged a bit in the middle for me, but I still managed to finish it in a couple days.

Only one more to go!

Hi, Chelle. I am so glad you are somehow finding time to bookhorn in your reading and I am looking forward to your thoughts on I'll Be Gone in the Dark. I loved that book. I just wish she could have completed it.

75) Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
75 Books Challenge
Pop Sugar Challenge: 43 - An "own voices" book

This was a great short novel by Canadian novelist Waubgeshig Rice from the Wasauking First Nation near Sudbury. I randomly picked up this novel when my library had it displayed on the front counters. I'm a big fan of apocalyptic novels and this was told from an interesting First Nations point of view. Recommended.

>57 richardderus: Done!! Next goal is a second 75 :)

>58 msf59: I agree! She put so many years and so much work into that book. At least people who loved her were able to finish it and get it published. Big spoiler I was a little disappointed that the man they arrested wasn't on her radar at all. All that work and even if she had lived she wouldn't have solved the crime. I found that a little sad.

Congratulations on reaching the magic number!

Glad you liked book # 75 so much, Chelle. Congrats and good luck on getting another 75!

Hi Chelle, I am taking a BB for The Moon of Crusted Snow, I love apocalyptic stories and this one sounds really intereting.

Congrats!

>59 ChelleBearss: YAY CHELLE!!


I liked that book when I read it, and was very impressed by Waubgeshig Rice's economical but evocative prose.

Congratulations on reaching 75, Chelle!

Congrats on getting to 75, Chelle. I don't know how you do it with two adorable little ones claiming your attention.

Congrats on reaching the 75 book mark, Chelle!!

Did you like Anansi Boys? Probably my favorite Gaiman, so you know my bias.

Congratulations, Chelle!

Congrats on 75, Chelle.

Congrats, Chelle!

Way to go, Chelle!

Congratulations on 75, Chelle -- and we aren't even (quite) half way through the year yet!!

Congratulations on reaching 75, Chelle!

I have I'll Be Gone in the Dark on my list for a challenge category too, so I'm glad to hear it's a good one :-)

76) The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths
75 Books Challenge

Still really enjoying listening to this series. I love the author's voice and accent, my only complaint would be about the audio controls. Sometimes the narrator raises her voice to mimic yelling and it becomes much too loud in my headphones.
I am continuing with this series and sad that I have to wait for my next audible credit to purchase the next one!

>61 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! I'd have to go back and check but I think I hit it early this year.

>62 aktakukac: Thanks, Rachel! I love hitting the magic mark with a good book and not a dud!

>63 DeltaQueen50: I hope you enjoy it, Judy! It's sparse and doesn't waste words, but I found it to be great.

>64 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>65 richardderus: I like how you put that, economical. He didn't waste words like some authors (King comes to mind).

>66 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!

>67 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! I'm lucky that it's warm out now and I can read while the girls play in the sandbox or kiddie pool or when they sleep, plus I can read at work when it's slow :)

>68 ronincats: Yes, Roni, I did enjoy it. I don't think it was my favourite Gaiman, but I did really like it. I need to go figure out which of his books that I haven't read yet and get caught up.

>69 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl!

>70 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen!

>71 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley

>72 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe!

>73 RebaRelishesReading: I'm a bit early to hit 75 this year! :) I'm hoping that means I can finally hit 150 this year!

>74 susanj67: Oh good, Susan! I think you will like it!

Yesterday Chloe and I went on her end of school field trip. It was at a small park a few towns over and she was excited to ride the school bus (we lived in walking distance to her school so she doesn't get to ride the school bus often.) The park had some huge climbers and equipment and a large splash pad. There were tons of volunteers so I only had to watch Chloe and one other kid. They had a blast and I was exhausted by the end of the day!

>80 ChelleBearss: What a punkin-precious picture! That's one happy lassie.

Adorable photo -- so glad everyone had a fun day!

Hi Chelle my dear, what gorgeous photos of the girls, they are both so cute. Hope you are all having a good start to the weekend and send love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

77) We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor
75 Books Challenge
Pop Sugar Challenge:20 - a book set in space

This had a lot of great qualities but it just wasn't for me. I finished it and can appreciate the humor and it had some very interesting ideas about space exploration and human nature, but I'm just not a big sci-fi fan. I haven't decided if I will bother to continue with the trilogy. I'd love to see how a few things were resolved but I'm not I want to commit the time to two more books.

>81 richardderus: She was a very happy girl that day. She has been very tired and the tantrums have been coming out a bit but she was such a good girl and her little friend was an angel. I definitely had the easy group that day!

>82 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! I'm paying for it at work this weekend though. I agreed to work overtime in the morning yesterday and today, extending my start time to 6am instead of 9am. I am very tired now. I had forgotten how hard it was to wake up at 4am and it didn't help matters that the house behind us has their annual start of summer party and some kid had a vuvuzela! I was ready to lose it by the time they shut it down at 10pm as I had wanted to go to bed at 8 lol

>83 johnsimpson: Thanks, John! They had a good day with Nate while I was working yesterday. He filled up the pool and put out the bouncy castle for them

Hi Chelle!

>80 ChelleBearss: Cute pic of Chloe.

>85 ChelleBearss: I've been rejoicing that the Women's World Cup is not in South Africa - those damned vuvuzelas just about ruined the Men's 2010 World Cup for me.

>86 karenmarie: Do you think they will manage to keep them out of the World cup? Seems those things have traveled from South Africa as they were in Tillsonburg, Ontario yesterday

Hi Chelle. Congratulations on reaching 75 -- and right at the halfway mark for the year!

I also hate the vuvuzelas. Constant, irritating white noise. Ugh. I have been watching the women's world cup and not noticing the sound in the background.

Cute picture of Chloe at the park. She's on summer vacation! I remember those..... so fun.

Laughing about the Vuvuzelas. My dad insisted on bringing one back from a trip to Cape Town: it mysteriously "disappeared" after a few months.

And congrats on the 75!

Hi Chelle. Congratulations on reaching 75! Turtlefest sounds like a lot of fun (love the picture of the girls with their balloon animals). Chloe looks like she really enjoyed her end of school field trip!

I have yet to read any of the books in the Ruth Galloway series. I didn't have the greatest reading experience with Griffiths latest novel The Stranger Diaries, but audio sounds like a good way to try out her archaeological crime/mystery series.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful week ahead.

>75 ChelleBearss: Oh, glad you liked this one--I have it waiting for me. : )

>80 ChelleBearss: Cute pic!

Congrats on...

Happy Thursday, folks! (or happily known here as payday!)
Today is a big day here. It's Chloe's last day of Junior Kindergarten and Ellie's yearly cardiologist appointment!
Chloe is very excited for her last day and is extra excited about the fact that they are having an ice cream party at school!

This was her picture from her first day of school in September. I'll post this year's once I take it on the way to school.

Morning, Chelle. Sweet Thursday! Hooray, for hitting our magic number!! Finally back home, after my whirlwind trip but get to enjoy several more days off, before returning to work on Tuesday.

Love Chloe's school pic.

78) The Shape of Water by Guillermo Del Toro
75 Books Challenge

I loved everything about this. The story, the characters, the fact that it was a quick read but full of drama and interesting ideas and twists. I have enjoyed everything I've read by Del Toro so far.

>88 EBT1002: Thanks! Chloe is happy to be on summer break now! Hopefully I can manage to keep her entertained until September :) Thankfully she doesn't get bored easily and can entertain herself in her craft room often

>89 charl08: Ha! If one came in this house it would disappear too (just like the whistle that went missing!)

>90 charl08: Thanks!

>91 lkernagh: I am on book four and still enjoying listening to them. I'm listening on my commute this weekend and will probably finish this one by Sunday night.

>92 Berly: Thanks! Hoping to hit a double this year for the first time!

>94 msf59: Glad to see you had a great trip! Enjoy the last of your days off!

79) The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
75 Books Challenge
Pop Sugar Challenge:10 - A book with "pop", "sugar" or "challenge" in the title

This was a sweet, feel good book with touch of magical realism. I enjoyed it even though it isn't my normal go-to type of novel.

I enjoy Sarah Addison Allen's books. Garden Spells is still my #1, but The Sugar Queen is a favorite. That touch of magic realism she brings always works for me.

>98 jnwelch: I'll have to add Garden Spells to my wishlist! :)


80) The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

75 Books Challenge

I enjoyed this although I don't think it lives up to the hype that I had read about it and I didn't really care for the ending. A little underwhelmed.

Ellie celebrated her second birthday this past weekend! She was very happy about cake and had her candles blown out before I was even close to her with the cake! We were shocked that she had such a strong blow lol.

Happy birthday, little Ellie!! Strong lungs are a very good thing to have :)

Hi Chelle my dear, Happy Canada Day. Sending love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

Happy Birthday, Ellie! I enjoy watching these girls grow up.

Happy Birthday to Ellie, and Happy Summer Holidays to Chloe. It been many, many years for me but I remember how the summer holidays seemed so endless - now those couple of months just fly by!

Happy Birthday to Ellie! You have the cutest pair of little darlings, Chelle!

Yes, I recall trying to keep my two entertained over the summer. It's not easy! Day camps with outrips to water parks, the zoo, the PNE etc were popular with my guys at a certain age. It's a challenge though, I know. And having a spouse that also worked shift work like your husband does, yeah, it's not that easy.

A belated happy birthday to Ellie! It looks like she loved that cake :-)

What Mark and Susan said - looks like a fun celebration. Hope summer is going well.

Hi Chelle!

Congrats to Chloe on finishing school and to Ellie for turning two!

Happy Thursday, everyone!
I'm on my last shift this week and looking forward to the weekend off! Chloe has craft camp tomorrow and Ellie has daycare which gives me one of those rare days off by myself! I will listen to an audio book (yet to be decided) while I clean and do some yard work then possibly a bit of reading at the new coffee shop in town!

>101 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks! I think she surprised herself that she blew them both out lol

>102 johnsimpson: Thanks, John! We didn't do much for Canada except play at home and the park as Nate had to work. It was a hot day though so the kids were happy to splash in the kiddie pool

>103 msf59: Thanks, Mark! It's amazing how much they change from post to post! Chloe is so tanned and her hair has gone even more blond in the sun!

>104 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy! I think the summer may go fast as we have it pretty jam packed with work, events, vacation and appointments. I am hoping to enjoy my vacation (I have 3 weeks off in August!)

>105 vancouverdeb: I agree, Deb, it can get hard to entertain them sometimes. Thankfully we have lots to do around the house and Chloe is still big into doing crafts so she can entertain herself sometimes.

>106 susanj67: Thanks, Susan! Both my girls are big cake lovers so I don't really have to get too creative at birthdays :)

>107 charl08: Thanks, Char! We are surviving summer so far :)

>108 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen! It's been a whirlwind month!

🎧81) A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths
75 Books Challenge

Not the best of the series, but I still enjoyed it. Now I'm debating buying the next book or waiting for my next audible credit at the end of this month.


82) Mister Tender's Girl by Elly Griffiths
75 Books Challenge

This was enjoyable but a little predictable. I knew what was going to happen about 3/4 of the way through the book.

>99 ChelleBearss: I've been wondering about that one, Chelle. I think I'll pass.

83) Caraval by Stephanie Garber
75 Books Challenge
Pop Sugar Challenge: 39 - A book revolving around a puzzle or game

I wish I could say I enjoyed this more than I did. I just never really got into it much although I did have the desire to finish and find out what happened. I doubt I will continue with the next book.


84) The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire by Drew Hayes
75 Books Challenge

From the title I thought this would actually be more interesting. I was wrong.

>112 ChelleBearss: Bummer! Better luck with the next one.

>112 ChelleBearss: The title did catch my eye, Chelle. If it was utterly uninteresting, you can't say you were not warned ;-)

It looks like you have had a few less than stellar reads. Better luck with the next book. Nice - a new coffee shop in town!

85) Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple
75 Books Challenge
Pop Sugar Challenge: 24 - a book that takes place in a single day

This was a decent read but I enjoyed her Where'd You Go, Bernadette? a little more.

>99 ChelleBearss:
I thought the same about The Immortalists that you did. It wasn't a total waste of time, but I expected more and didn't get it.

I am in the middle of reading travel books for my real life book discussion group. I finished a good one Riding With Rilke: Reflections on Motorcycles and Books about a motorcycle trip from Edmonton to Austin, Texas so that a college professor could do some work in the archives at the University of Texas. There was lots in that book about motorcycling as well as about archives and books. It turned out to be very interesting. The current travel book is Desert Memories by Ariel Dorfman. It is about the Atacama desert in northern Chile. I have already learned some fascinating things - like Chile is the worlds largest producer of processed copper - but it hasn't been as interesting at the first Riding with Rilke book.

I am starting on The Luminaries and have a good feeling about this chunkster. Have you read it?

86) The History of Bees by Maya Lunde
75 Books Challenge
Pop Sugar Challenge:41 - A "cli fi" book

🎧87) The Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths
75 Books Challenge

88) Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
75 Books Challenge

The books are coming thick and fast for you in July, Chelle, whilst I still haven't finished anything.

Have a great weekend.

Thanks, Paul. Hope you get your reading mojo back soon!
I've upped my audiobooks which helps my stats!

🎧89) The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths
75 Books Challenge

I am very much enjoying this series, although I've hit a snag and can't find the next two on audio. Audible.ca doesn't carry the next two and all the libraries that I have access to do not have it. I guess I'll be switching to paper for the next two.

90) The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths
75 Books Challenge

I just read that Andrea Camilleri has passed away. How incredibly sad, although at 93 I say he lived a long and successful life

You're *this*close* to triple digits! Go Chelle!

>126 richardderus: So close, eh! I should hit triples in August

I love that I have two new series to work on! I am going to run out of Elly Griffith's too soon, but at least I am just starting Lackberg's series.


91) The Woman in Blue by
75 Books Challenge


🎧92) The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg
75 Books Challenge

Hi Chelle!

I'm following behind you on the Ruth Galloway series - halfway through #3, The House at Sea's End.

I hope you and your family are all doing well.

Hi Chelle, hope that you are having a good start to the weekend unless you are working, hope all is well with the girls and Nate and send love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

>129 karenmarie: Hi Karen! I just picked up #9 from the library last night before heading to work. I was hoping to have some reading time for my current book Lyrebird but we had a big storm come through southwestern Ontario and we just got hammered at work. So tired and can't wait to go home and sleep in an hour.

>130 johnsimpson: Thanks, John! I am at work and the girls are at a sleepover with their grandparents this weekend. xo

93) Lyrebird by Cecilia Ahern
75 Books Challenge

This was a random pickup at the library and so glad that I saw it. It wasn't what I expected but it ended being a beautiful read. Very worth the time!


🎧94) Only Human by Sylvain Neuvel
75 Books Challenge


95) The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths
75 Books Challenge

Another great edition in the Ruth Galloway Series. I have the next book on hold already!


96) The Outlander by Gil Adamson
75 Books Challenge
Pop Sugar Challenge:47 & 48 - Two books that share the same title (Outlander by Diana Gabaldson already finished)

I greatly disliked this book. It was slow and not very interesting. I hung in for over 200 pages but just couldn't bring myself to finish it. I'm counting it as read though because I read over half of it before bailing out.

>132 ChelleBearss: I totally agree with you about The Outlander, Chelle. I really disliked that one!

>132 ChelleBearss: - Hi Chelle. I didn't count it as read because I bailed long before you did! On the other hand, I was hooked right from the get-go to the Diana Gabaldon books and forward from there! ;-).. I saw her speak when she came to TO several years ago. She is hilarious and witty and smart!

97) Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough
75 Books Challenge

Blew. My. Mind.

>133 DeltaQueen50: sorry to see that you didn’t like it either 😟

>134 jessibud2: I figure after 200 pages that’s the equivalent of a small book so I’m counting it. Too bad I couldn’t finish it but life is too short for crappy books.

Happy Friday, Chelle. Glad to see you getting plenty of reading in. I saw your enthusiasm for Behind Her Eyes and requested it for my wife. It is more her cuppa.

Sorry, The Outlander didn't work for you. It has been many years, but I remember enjoying that one quite a bit.

Hi Chelle!

>137 msf59: hiya Mark! Hope Sue likes it! Let me know what she thinks!

>138 karenmarie: Hiya Karen! Happy weekend

>132 ChelleBearss: I have both books on my shelves and I know which one I'll read first now! Love the series of The Outlander by the way.

Have a splendid weekend, Chelle.

>140 PaulCranswick: I have a low tolerance for slow builds right now as I'm busy at work and with the girls. Mark liked it much better than I did. I think you and Mark may have similar tastes so perhaps you'll like it better than I did, but yes start with Gabaldon!!

98) The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths
75 Books Challenge

Elly Griffiths has quickly become one of my faves this summer. This was her stand alone novel and it moved quickly and was very interesting. I thought I had it figured out and she surprised me in the end!

I had fun with The Stranger Diaries, too, Chelle. Good fill-in for those caught up on the Ruth Galloway mysteries.

Sorry to have been so spotty about visiting everyone lately! Life, and summer, has gotten away from my lately! The girls are keeping us so busy each day with playing outside or getting to their summer activities. My normal time to get caught up while at work has been taken away because I've been training for a supervisor position and they keep me hopping dealing with a million tiny issues all day long. I'm not sure the supervisor position is going to be a good fit for me, but at least they will have someone trained as a back up for when someone is sick or off.
I start three weeks vacation this Friday and hope to have a bit of down time to get caught up.

>143 jnwelch: Too true, Joe! I am on 8 of, I think, 11 of the Ruth Galloway series and I will probably be finished by August :(

>142 ChelleBearss: Another rider on the Ruth Galloway Excursion Line, I see. Happy kid-wrangling!

I am also reading the Camilla Lackberg books. This part of a mystery challenge that I host - the link to the thread appears below. Every other month we are reading a Lackberg title. We started with the first one in January. I would appreciate your comments, or you can monitor the thread and see what others have to say about the titles. I just finished reading The Stranger, last night. It is book number 4 in the series.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/301787

The other months we are reading one of the Guido Brunetti books by Donna Leon. This is the second year for this series so we are starting book 11 in August Willful Behavior. You don't have to read the Leon books, but it would interesting for you to add your comments on the Lackberg books to the thread.

>146 richardderus: Yep, I started reading them in May on audio and loved them so much I just kept going with them! I did get annoyed when two of the middle books were not available on audible (so weird?!) but my library had them in print.

>147 benitastrnad: Thanks, Benita, I'll check out that thread. I am listening to the second book in the Lackberg series right now and I'm not loving the narrator. I may end up finding them somewhere in print, but my library doesn't carry them.

I haven't heard of the Donna Leon series. I'll have to add that to my list to check out! Thanks :)

>149 ChelleBearss: It's always worth checking whether your library has a suggest for purchase option. We don't say yes to everything, but it's worth a shot. :)

>150 MickyFine: I’ve done that a few times and my library bought one of my suggestions, but it was quite a long time after I suggested it. I usually give up and buy it if I really want to read something lol

99) Necessary People by Anna Pitoniak
75 Books Challenge

I picked this up because I saw Stephen King tweeted that he loved it. I ended up really enjoying it and glad that I read it. It didn't quite blow me away, or as much as it did King perhaps, but I would recommend it!

100) The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths
75 Books Challenge