Smilez4u1390- Silvia Renews Her Love of Reading in 2021
Talk 75 Books Challenge for 2021
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1smilez4u1390
Happy New Year!
My name is Silvia and though I did not join any groups in 2020, I tracked my reading goals with this group the previous 4 years. I'm a middle school teacher who loves learning. I had low expectations of being able to read much at all in 2020, until a friend told me about an app that allows me to borrow and listen to audiobooks. This has renewed my energy and with the help of these audiobooks, 2021 might be the year I finally read 75 books!
Happy reading everyone!!
My name is Silvia and though I did not join any groups in 2020, I tracked my reading goals with this group the previous 4 years. I'm a middle school teacher who loves learning. I had low expectations of being able to read much at all in 2020, until a friend told me about an app that allows me to borrow and listen to audiobooks. This has renewed my energy and with the help of these audiobooks, 2021 might be the year I finally read 75 books!
Happy reading everyone!!
2smilez4u1390
2021 Reading Goals
1. Read at least 75 books in 2021.
2. Read at least 2 books in another language.
3. Read at least 3 books on education.
4. Read at least 3 books about spirituality/religion.
5. Read/study the Bible.
6. Read at least 3 classics.
7. Read at least 10 books from my shelf/TBR list.
8. Re-read at least 5 books.
3smilez4u1390
Read 75 Books in 2021
Currently Reading
January
1. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 1-1-2021 π§
2. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood 1-5-2021 π§
3. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey 1-8-2021 π§
4. Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline 1-11-21 π§
5. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 1-17-21 π§
6. Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods by Suzanne Collins 1-20-21 π§
7. A Tale of Witchcraft by Chris Colfer 1-23-21 π§
February
8.Washington by Ron Chernow 2-06-21 π§
9. Uprooted by Naomi Novak 2-12-21 π§
10. The Near Witch by V. E. Schwab 2-14-21 π§
11. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 2-14-21
12. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn 2-23-21 π§
March
13. Grit by Angela Duckworth 3-3-21 π§
14. And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman 3-3-21 π§
15. Matilda by Roald Dahl 3-6-21 π§
16. Hoot by Carl Hiaasen 3-14-21 π§
17. Refugee by Alan Gratz 3-15-21 π§
18. Esperanza Rising by Pam MuΓ±oz Ryan 3-18-21 π§
19. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas 3-30-21 π§
April
20. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper 4-7-21 π§
21. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain 4-11-21 π§
22. DoΓ±a Barbara by Romulo Gallegos 4-12-21 π§
23. Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father by Fr. Donald Calloway 4-17-21
24. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams 4-19-21 π§
25. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 4-23-21 π§
26. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows 4-30-21 π§
May
27. Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado 5-3-21 π§
28. Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore 5-19-21 π§
29. A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore 5-26-21 π§
June
30. The Lost Sisters by Holly Black 6-1-21 π§
31.Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer 6-8-21 π§
32. This Present Paradise by Claire Dwyer 6-14-21
33. The One World Schoolhouse by Salman Khan 6-19-21 π§
34. The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman 6-24-21
July
35. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling 7-22-2021 π§
August
36. The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly 8-2-21 π§
37. The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells 8-4-21 π§
38. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams 8-11-21 π§
39. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling 8-25-21 π§
September
40. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart 9-3-21 π§
41. The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie 9-4-21
42. Storm Front by Jim Butcher 9-7-21 π§
43. Unselfie by Michele Borba 9-11-21 π§
44. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher 9-13-22 π§
45. Cien aΓ±os de soledad by Gabriel GarcΓa MΓ‘rquez 9-24-2021 π§
46. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn 9-26-21 π§
October
47. Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore 10-03-21 π§
48. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling 10-17-21 π§
49. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler 10-22-21 π§
50. An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn 10-23-21 π§
51. Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn 10-25-21 π§
November
52. To Sir Philip With Love by Julia Quinn 11-1-21 π§
53. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton 11-5-21 π§
54. Finding Zero: A Mathematician's Odyssey to Uncover the Origins of Numbers by Amir D. Aczel 11-8-21 π§
55. When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn 11-11-21 π§
56. It's in His Kiss by Julia Quinn 11-12-12 π§
57. On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn 11-17-21 π§
58. The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn 11-19-21 π§
59. Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn 11-23-21 π§
60. The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn 11-25-21 π§
61. The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn 11-27-21 π§
62. First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn 11-29-21 π§
December
63. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen 12-4-21 π§
64. Grave Peril by Jim Butler 12-11-21 π§
65. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg 12-11-21'l π§
66. The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes 12-17-21 π§
67. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher 12-21-21 π§
68. The Call of the Wild by Jack London 12-21-21 π§
69. Foundation by Isaac Asimov 12-23-21 π§
70. Doll Bones by Holly Black 12-24-21 π§
71. Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind by Annaka Harris 12-26-21 π§
72. El mercenario que coleccionaba obras de arte by Wendy Guerra 12-26-21
73. Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie 12-27-21 πΎΏ
74. Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers 12-27-21 π§
75. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 12-30-21
Currently Reading
January
1. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 1-1-2021 π§
2. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood 1-5-2021 π§
3. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey 1-8-2021 π§
4. Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline 1-11-21 π§
5. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 1-17-21 π§
6. Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods by Suzanne Collins 1-20-21 π§
7. A Tale of Witchcraft by Chris Colfer 1-23-21 π§
February
8.Washington by Ron Chernow 2-06-21 π§
9. Uprooted by Naomi Novak 2-12-21 π§
10. The Near Witch by V. E. Schwab 2-14-21 π§
11. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 2-14-21
12. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn 2-23-21 π§
March
13. Grit by Angela Duckworth 3-3-21 π§
14. And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman 3-3-21 π§
15. Matilda by Roald Dahl 3-6-21 π§
16. Hoot by Carl Hiaasen 3-14-21 π§
17. Refugee by Alan Gratz 3-15-21 π§
18. Esperanza Rising by Pam MuΓ±oz Ryan 3-18-21 π§
19. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas 3-30-21 π§
April
20. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper 4-7-21 π§
21. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain 4-11-21 π§
22. DoΓ±a Barbara by Romulo Gallegos 4-12-21 π§
23. Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father by Fr. Donald Calloway 4-17-21
24. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams 4-19-21 π§
25. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 4-23-21 π§
26. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows 4-30-21 π§
May
27. Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado 5-3-21 π§
28. Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore 5-19-21 π§
29. A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore 5-26-21 π§
June
30. The Lost Sisters by Holly Black 6-1-21 π§
31.Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer 6-8-21 π§
32. This Present Paradise by Claire Dwyer 6-14-21
33. The One World Schoolhouse by Salman Khan 6-19-21 π§
34. The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman 6-24-21
July
35. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling 7-22-2021 π§
August
36. The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly 8-2-21 π§
37. The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells 8-4-21 π§
38. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams 8-11-21 π§
39. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling 8-25-21 π§
September
40. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart 9-3-21 π§
41. The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie 9-4-21
42. Storm Front by Jim Butcher 9-7-21 π§
43. Unselfie by Michele Borba 9-11-21 π§
44. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher 9-13-22 π§
45. Cien aΓ±os de soledad by Gabriel GarcΓa MΓ‘rquez 9-24-2021 π§
46. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn 9-26-21 π§
October
47. Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore 10-03-21 π§
48. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling 10-17-21 π§
49. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler 10-22-21 π§
50. An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn 10-23-21 π§
51. Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn 10-25-21 π§
November
52. To Sir Philip With Love by Julia Quinn 11-1-21 π§
53. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton 11-5-21 π§
54. Finding Zero: A Mathematician's Odyssey to Uncover the Origins of Numbers by Amir D. Aczel 11-8-21 π§
55. When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn 11-11-21 π§
56. It's in His Kiss by Julia Quinn 11-12-12 π§
57. On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn 11-17-21 π§
58. The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn 11-19-21 π§
59. Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn 11-23-21 π§
60. The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn 11-25-21 π§
61. The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn 11-27-21 π§
62. First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn 11-29-21 π§
December
63. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen 12-4-21 π§
64. Grave Peril by Jim Butler 12-11-21 π§
65. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg 12-11-21'l π§
66. The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes 12-17-21 π§
67. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher 12-21-21 π§
68. The Call of the Wild by Jack London 12-21-21 π§
69. Foundation by Isaac Asimov 12-23-21 π§
70. Doll Bones by Holly Black 12-24-21 π§
71. Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind by Annaka Harris 12-26-21 π§
72. El mercenario que coleccionaba obras de arte by Wendy Guerra 12-26-21
73. Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie 12-27-21 πΎΏ
74. Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers 12-27-21 π§
75. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 12-30-21
4smilez4u1390
Books in Another Language
1. DoΓ±a Barbara by Romulo Gallegos 4-12-21
2. Cien aΓ±os de soledad by Gabriel GarcΓa MΓ‘rquez 9-24-2021
3. El mercenario que coleccionaba obras de arte by Wendy Guerra 12-26-21
1. DoΓ±a Barbara by Romulo Gallegos 4-12-21
2. Cien aΓ±os de soledad by Gabriel GarcΓa MΓ‘rquez 9-24-2021
3. El mercenario que coleccionaba obras de arte by Wendy Guerra 12-26-21
5smilez4u1390
Books on Education
1. The One World Schoolhouse by Salman Khan 6-19-21
2. Unselfie by Michele Borba 9-11-21
3. Finding Zero: A Mathematician's Odyssey to Uncover the Origins of Numbers by Amir D. Aczel 11-8-21
1. The One World Schoolhouse by Salman Khan 6-19-21
2. Unselfie by Michele Borba 9-11-21
3. Finding Zero: A Mathematician's Odyssey to Uncover the Origins of Numbers by Amir D. Aczel 11-8-21
6smilez4u1390
Books About Spirituality/Religion
1. Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father by Dr. Donald Calloway
2. Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado
3. This Present Paradise by Claire Dwyer
1. Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father by Dr. Donald Calloway
2. Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado
3. This Present Paradise by Claire Dwyer
7smilez4u1390
Bible Reading
Reading along with Father Mike "The Bible in a Year" podcast. So far, it is an amazing podcast and I'm much more into it than I expected to be.
Reading along with Father Mike "The Bible in a Year" podcast. So far, it is an amazing podcast and I'm much more into it than I expected to be.
8smilez4u1390
Classics
1. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain 4-11-21 π§
2. The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells 8-4-21
3. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton 11-5-21
4.Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen 12-4-21
5. . The Call of the Wild by Jack London 12-21-21
1. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain 4-11-21 π§
2. The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells 8-4-21
3. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton 11-5-21
4.Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen 12-4-21
5. . The Call of the Wild by Jack London 12-21-21
9smilez4u1390
My TBR List
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
The Complete Enneagram by Beatrice Chestnut
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline
A Time for Mercy by John Grisham stopped halfway-not interested
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer
The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer
The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer
The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer
The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer
The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer
The Last Guardian by Eoin Colfer
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Math Doesn't Suck by Danica McKellar
Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie
The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie
The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz
La Sombra del Viento by Carlos Ruiz ZafΓ³n
The President's Lady by Irving Stone
The Space Between by Dete Meserve
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
The Foundation by Isaac Asimov
Dragonwings by Laurence Yep
Mary Poppins Comes Back by P.L. Travers
Loving Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan
Flip Your Classroom by Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams
Spectacular Things Happen Along the Way by Brian D. Schultz
A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers
A HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
The Ickabog by J.K. Rowling
The Complete Enneagram by Beatrice Chestnut
The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer
The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer
The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer
The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer
The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer
The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer
The Last Guardian by Eoin Colfer
Math Doesn't Suck by Danica McKellar
Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie
The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz
La Sombra del Viento by Carlos Ruiz ZafΓ³n
The President's Lady by Irving Stone
The Space Between by Dete Meserve
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
Dragonwings by Laurence Yep
Mary Poppins Comes Back by P.L. Travers
Loving Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan
Flip Your Classroom by Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams
Spectacular Things Happen Along the Way by Brian D. Schultz
A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers
The Ickabog by J.K. Rowling
10smilez4u1390
Re-Reads
1. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling
3. The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells 8-4-21
4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling
5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
6. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen 12-4-21
1. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling
3. The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells 8-4-21
4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling
5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
6. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen 12-4-21
11PaulCranswick
And keep up with my friends here, Silvia. Have a great 2021.
12FAMeulstee
Happy reading in 2021, Silvia!
13drneutron
Welcome back! Mrsdrneutron is a big fan of audiobooks, but never was much of a reader. Now we get to exchange ideas about books in our favorite formats, and itβs been fun to share something I love with her. I hope it works well for you!
14thornton37814
Hope you have a great year in reading!
15fairywings
The majority of my reading last year was audio books. Hopefully they work for you this year, happy reading.
16smilez4u1390
>11 PaulCranswick: Amen to that! Have a great 2021!
17smilez4u1390
>12 FAMeulstee: Thanks! You too!
18smilez4u1390
>13 drneutron: Thanks! Yes, audiobooks are not for everyone, but they have been a real lifesaver for me!
19smilez4u1390
>14 thornton37814: Thanks! You too!
20smilez4u1390
>15 fairywings: Yes! So far, I'm off to a great start with the audiobooks! Happy reading to you too!
21smilez4u1390
The Handmaid's Tale
β β β 1/2
I remember reading this book in high school and really liking it. I didn't remember any details about it beside the basic premise. I found myself surprised at the fact that this book was studied at my Catholic high school! I still liked it, but nowhere near as much as I expected.
This book is an important social commentary and an important book for women to read. It carefully explores a dystopian future that comes about as a result of the conflict between extreme feminism and Puritanical beliefs. This is a book that is better read than listened to, as it jumps around a bit. Overall, it is well written and immersive. It's a book that makes you feel uncomfortable, because the world it creates is an uncomfortable world.
β β β 1/2
I remember reading this book in high school and really liking it. I didn't remember any details about it beside the basic premise. I found myself surprised at the fact that this book was studied at my Catholic high school! I still liked it, but nowhere near as much as I expected.
This book is an important social commentary and an important book for women to read. It carefully explores a dystopian future that comes about as a result of the conflict between extreme feminism and Puritanical beliefs. This is a book that is better read than listened to, as it jumps around a bit. Overall, it is well written and immersive. It's a book that makes you feel uncomfortable, because the world it creates is an uncomfortable world.
22smilez4u1390
The Testaments
β β β β 1/2
This sequel to The Handmaid's Tale is told from three different perspectives. At first, these perspectives seem to be telling different stories, but at a certain point the three stories converge into one cohesive tale. That of the downfall of Gilead.
I liked this story much better than its predecessor. I found these characters to be much more interesting and relatable than Offred. It also made for a better audiobook than the original.
β β β β 1/2
This sequel to The Handmaid's Tale is told from three different perspectives. At first, these perspectives seem to be telling different stories, but at a certain point the three stories converge into one cohesive tale. That of the downfall of Gilead.
I liked this story much better than its predecessor. I found these characters to be much more interesting and relatable than Offred. It also made for a better audiobook than the original.
23smilez4u1390
Greenlights
β β β 1/2
Ok, I honestly don't know that I would have read this book if I had not come across it in audiobook form. The audiobook is read by Matthew McConaughey himself, and that made all the difference for me.
This is not a typical memoir. It is an honest and quirky reflection and more a collection of thoughts from Matthew McConaughey's life. Matthew's life is also atypical. He speaks about many taboo experiences in an unashamed manner. The honesty and authenticity is refreshing. It's also an inspiring account of how hard work and humility mixed with a bit of boldness can take you to great heights. This is the story of a man who knows exactly who is and fights for his dreams.
β β β 1/2
Ok, I honestly don't know that I would have read this book if I had not come across it in audiobook form. The audiobook is read by Matthew McConaughey himself, and that made all the difference for me.
This is not a typical memoir. It is an honest and quirky reflection and more a collection of thoughts from Matthew McConaughey's life. Matthew's life is also atypical. He speaks about many taboo experiences in an unashamed manner. The honesty and authenticity is refreshing. It's also an inspiring account of how hard work and humility mixed with a bit of boldness can take you to great heights. This is the story of a man who knows exactly who is and fights for his dreams.
24smilez4u1390
Ready Player Two
β β β β 1/2
Another great sequel and audiobook! The audiobook is read by Will Wheaton who does an incredible job bringing the story to life. I was instantly immersed in this fictional world.
This sequel picks up some years after the events of Ready Player One. It shows the advantages and struggles of finding oneself in a position of wealth and power. It also carefully represents the dangers of advancing technology and artificial intelligence, while also highlighting its benefits.
β β β β 1/2
Another great sequel and audiobook! The audiobook is read by Will Wheaton who does an incredible job bringing the story to life. I was instantly immersed in this fictional world.
This sequel picks up some years after the events of Ready Player One. It shows the advantages and struggles of finding oneself in a position of wealth and power. It also carefully represents the dangers of advancing technology and artificial intelligence, while also highlighting its benefits.
25smilez4u1390
The Midnight Library
β β β β β
I stumbled across this audiobook completely by chance and I'm so glad I did!
This beautiful story is interesting and deep. It takes the idea of alternate realities to discuss the important role that regret plays in depression and suicidal thoughts. It is a story of hope and potential. Ultimately, it is a story about life and the beauty it holds even in the midst of suffering.
β β β β β
I stumbled across this audiobook completely by chance and I'm so glad I did!
This beautiful story is interesting and deep. It takes the idea of alternate realities to discuss the important role that regret plays in depression and suicidal thoughts. It is a story of hope and potential. Ultimately, it is a story about life and the beauty it holds even in the midst of suffering.
26smilez4u1390
A Time for Mercy
Unfinished
This was my first John Grisham novel and I got about 2/5 of the way through the audiobook before deciding it wasn't for me.
The story was interesting enough and I would have liked to see the trial through to the end, but I felt like the author included way too much extra detail about the lawyer's life and other trials. It honestly took me out of the story and I decided it wasn't worth the nearly 20 hours of playtime. Are all of his books like this?
Unfinished
This was my first John Grisham novel and I got about 2/5 of the way through the audiobook before deciding it wasn't for me.
The story was interesting enough and I would have liked to see the trial through to the end, but I felt like the author included way too much extra detail about the lawyer's life and other trials. It honestly took me out of the story and I decided it wasn't worth the nearly 20 hours of playtime. Are all of his books like this?
27PaulCranswick
Very solid reading start to the year, Sylvia. Quite a burst of activity too with your reviews. I have seen a lot of positivity for The Midnight Library and will give it a go fairly soon.
28smilez4u1390
>27 PaulCranswick: Yes, I am happy to be off to a good start! I highly recommend The Midnight Library. Hope you enjoy it!
29smilez4u1390
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
β β β
Book three in the Underland Series buy Suzanne Collins and I find myself starting to lose interest. The story was okay enough for me to want to finish the series, but it's definitely not my favorite. The world is interesting, but the story lines don't seem different enough from one another for my taste.
In this third story, Gregor is called back into the Underland World to help find a cure for a plague that is affecting all warmbloods. There is another quest, and as in the previous books of the series, there are plenty of twists as the prophecy is not to be taken at face value.
β β β
Book three in the Underland Series buy Suzanne Collins and I find myself starting to lose interest. The story was okay enough for me to want to finish the series, but it's definitely not my favorite. The world is interesting, but the story lines don't seem different enough from one another for my taste.
In this third story, Gregor is called back into the Underland World to help find a cure for a plague that is affecting all warmbloods. There is another quest, and as in the previous books of the series, there are plenty of twists as the prophecy is not to be taken at face value.
30smilez4u1390
A Tale of Witchcraft
β β β β 1/2
Chris Colfer does it again! Admittedly, these are the kinds of books I prefer to read in print, rather than listen to the audiobooks. That being said, I loved hearing Chris read his own story. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite children's literature authors.
This story is the sequel to A Tale of Magic. This new series is a prequel to Colfer's The Land of Stories series. It chronicles the rise of magic in this fictional land and the establishes the Fairy Godmother's backstory. In this story, we see that Brystal and her fairy friends have successfully made magic not only acceptable, but admired throughout the Kingdom. Despite this success, Brystal can't seem to shake her foul mood and self-critical thoughts. When she is attacked by a secret magic-hating society and threatened by a new rival school of witchcraft, it becomes almost too much for Brystal to handle. As in Colfer's other books, compassion remains an underlying message. There is a lot of parallelism between the events in his series and current social/political issues. By enforcing the idea of compassion as a resolving force, Colfer is helping to mold children (and adults alike) into kinder and more empathetic people.
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Chris Colfer does it again! Admittedly, these are the kinds of books I prefer to read in print, rather than listen to the audiobooks. That being said, I loved hearing Chris read his own story. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite children's literature authors.
This story is the sequel to A Tale of Magic. This new series is a prequel to Colfer's The Land of Stories series. It chronicles the rise of magic in this fictional land and the establishes the Fairy Godmother's backstory. In this story, we see that Brystal and her fairy friends have successfully made magic not only acceptable, but admired throughout the Kingdom. Despite this success, Brystal can't seem to shake her foul mood and self-critical thoughts. When she is attacked by a secret magic-hating society and threatened by a new rival school of witchcraft, it becomes almost too much for Brystal to handle. As in Colfer's other books, compassion remains an underlying message. There is a lot of parallelism between the events in his series and current social/political issues. By enforcing the idea of compassion as a resolving force, Colfer is helping to mold children (and adults alike) into kinder and more empathetic people.
31PaulCranswick
>29 smilez4u1390: Not sure that I will ever find time for Suzanne Collins, Sylvia. Probably shouldn't have watched those daft movies!
32smilez4u1390
Washington
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Admittedly, I haven't read very many biographies. I don't know how this one compares to others, but my impressions were positive, aside from the intense length.
Washington is a thorough account of Washington's life and accomplishments! This biography was written in an easy to follow tone. At times I found there to be too much detail, and some sections to be repetitive. The audiobook was over 40 hours long! Even still, I learned a lot. The book was interesting and became even more so as it went on.
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Admittedly, I haven't read very many biographies. I don't know how this one compares to others, but my impressions were positive, aside from the intense length.
Washington is a thorough account of Washington's life and accomplishments! This biography was written in an easy to follow tone. At times I found there to be too much detail, and some sections to be repetitive. The audiobook was over 40 hours long! Even still, I learned a lot. The book was interesting and became even more so as it went on.
33smilez4u1390
Uprooted
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I'm not sure if it was the audiobook format or the story itself, but this one just didn't grab me. With all the positive reviews, and my appreciation for Naomi Novak's writing, I had high expectations. The story just didn't make much sense to me. It seemed a bit disjointed.
The premise is that on this land near an evil magical wood, lives a wizard the town calls "The Dragon." Every ten years, he selects a girl from the town and takes her to his tower and the girls are never the same afterward. When he selects the protagonist, Agnieszka, it turns out that she possesses a lot of magic. The dragon teaches her to use her magic and they end up fighting the Woods together.
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I'm not sure if it was the audiobook format or the story itself, but this one just didn't grab me. With all the positive reviews, and my appreciation for Naomi Novak's writing, I had high expectations. The story just didn't make much sense to me. It seemed a bit disjointed.
The premise is that on this land near an evil magical wood, lives a wizard the town calls "The Dragon." Every ten years, he selects a girl from the town and takes her to his tower and the girls are never the same afterward. When he selects the protagonist, Agnieszka, it turns out that she possesses a lot of magic. The dragon teaches her to use her magic and they end up fighting the Woods together.
34smilez4u1390
>31 PaulCranswick: I loved The Hunger Games series when I read them in college. I am a huge fan of YA literature. The movies were quite superficial and didn't do justice to the nuance or depth in the books. This other series of hers seems like it's written for younger kids, upper elementary aged, and geared more toward boys. The first book was fine, but as a series I found it a bit tired.
35smilez4u1390
This message has been deleted by its author.
36PaulCranswick
>34 smilez4u1390: The films rarely hit the heights of the books probably because our metal visualisation is far richer that the ocular stimulation.
37smilez4u1390
The Near Witch
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Great story! I really enjoyed this one. There was also a bonus short story called "The Ash-Born Boy," which was an interesting and fun way to remain in the world a little longer.
A stranger enters a small town and the next day children begin to go missing. The town immediately accuses the young man and start hunting him. With the help of the nearby sister witches, Lexi tries to determine the real reason for the disappearances as she tries to keep her sister safe. She befriends the nameless stranger and together they discover that there's more to all the old legends than anyone believed. This story of love and magic pulls you in and keeps you there even after you've finished reading.
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Great story! I really enjoyed this one. There was also a bonus short story called "The Ash-Born Boy," which was an interesting and fun way to remain in the world a little longer.
A stranger enters a small town and the next day children begin to go missing. The town immediately accuses the young man and start hunting him. With the help of the nearby sister witches, Lexi tries to determine the real reason for the disappearances as she tries to keep her sister safe. She befriends the nameless stranger and together they discover that there's more to all the old legends than anyone believed. This story of love and magic pulls you in and keeps you there even after you've finished reading.
38smilez4u1390
Where the Crawdads Sing
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My first physical book of the year!! What a beautiful one it was!! I absolutely loved this book and read mostly all of it in 2 sleepless nights. It has a little bit of everything and is just an enchanting read!
This begins as two stories in ones. On the one hand, we follow the life of Kya, the Marsh Girl, as she grows up and learns to survive alone. At the same time, we follow a murder investigation that takes place in the near future. Eventually, the stories catch up to each other in fascinating ways. Beautifully written and full of surprises, heartbreak, and beauty, I will be thinking about this one for quite some time.
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My first physical book of the year!! What a beautiful one it was!! I absolutely loved this book and read mostly all of it in 2 sleepless nights. It has a little bit of everything and is just an enchanting read!
This begins as two stories in ones. On the one hand, we follow the life of Kya, the Marsh Girl, as she grows up and learns to survive alone. At the same time, we follow a murder investigation that takes place in the near future. Eventually, the stories catch up to each other in fascinating ways. Beautifully written and full of surprises, heartbreak, and beauty, I will be thinking about this one for quite some time.
39smilez4u1390
The Duke and I
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I had rather low expectations for this series, for whatever reason, but was pleasantly surprised. I decided to read the first book before watching the new Netflix series. The characters were enjoyable and the story was interesting.
A young girl of high society, Daphne Bridgerton, is frustrated with her mother's attempts to find her a husband. When she meets her eldest brother's best friend, she thinks she may have found a solution to her problems. Simon, this friend, has overcome a troubled past and has become a Duke who has vowed never to marry. Daphne and Simon strike up a friendship and make a deal to help each other out. The story follows the development of their relationship for years. The double epilogues provide satisfaction to the reader who wants to longer with the characters.
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I had rather low expectations for this series, for whatever reason, but was pleasantly surprised. I decided to read the first book before watching the new Netflix series. The characters were enjoyable and the story was interesting.
A young girl of high society, Daphne Bridgerton, is frustrated with her mother's attempts to find her a husband. When she meets her eldest brother's best friend, she thinks she may have found a solution to her problems. Simon, this friend, has overcome a troubled past and has become a Duke who has vowed never to marry. Daphne and Simon strike up a friendship and make a deal to help each other out. The story follows the development of their relationship for years. The double epilogues provide satisfaction to the reader who wants to longer with the characters.
40smilez4u1390
Grit
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Maybe it's because I've already read/learned so much about this topic, but I was kinda let down by this book.
Grit explores the important role of passion and perseverance in the lives of successful people. It is broken into three main sections, each with a different focus: 1) definition and explanation of grit and its importance, 2) intrinsic and personal grit, 3) a culture of grit/raising gritty kids. Grit is another argument for growth mindset. It uses examples of real and well-known gritty people, along with statistics from research studies to illustrate how grit works.
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Maybe it's because I've already read/learned so much about this topic, but I was kinda let down by this book.
Grit explores the important role of passion and perseverance in the lives of successful people. It is broken into three main sections, each with a different focus: 1) definition and explanation of grit and its importance, 2) intrinsic and personal grit, 3) a culture of grit/raising gritty kids. Grit is another argument for growth mindset. It uses examples of real and well-known gritty people, along with statistics from research studies to illustrate how grit works.
41smilez4u1390
"And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer"
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What a beautifully written novella!
This is a tender story about an old man as he begins to lose his memory. It's a short experience of his love for his grandson, his regrets with his son, and his everlasting love for his deceased wife. The story is told as though it is set in the grandfather's mind itself.
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What a beautifully written novella!
This is a tender story about an old man as he begins to lose his memory. It's a short experience of his love for his grandson, his regrets with his son, and his everlasting love for his deceased wife. The story is told as though it is set in the grandfather's mind itself.
42smilez4u1390
Matilda
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Some books are just magic. I can't believe I had never read this one before!
Matilda is a wonderful story of a brilliant young girl with terrible parents. She is gifted with an incredible mind and teaches herself to read and calculate numbers. When Matilda finally starts school, she immediately impresses and befriends her teacher. When the cruel headmistress takes things too far, Matilda realizes that her brain is capable of more than anyone would believe possible.
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Some books are just magic. I can't believe I had never read this one before!
Matilda is a wonderful story of a brilliant young girl with terrible parents. She is gifted with an incredible mind and teaches herself to read and calculate numbers. When Matilda finally starts school, she immediately impresses and befriends her teacher. When the cruel headmistress takes things too far, Matilda realizes that her brain is capable of more than anyone would believe possible.
43PaulCranswick
>42 smilez4u1390: I think that is my favourite of his books.
44scaifea
>42 smilez4u1390: Oh, how wonderful to experience Matilda for the first time! I'm so glad you loved it.
45smilez4u1390
Hoot
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This was a good story for middle grade students that deals with several important themes. It was a good, short read.
This story is about a boy named Roy who moves Florida just as a string of vandalism has started at a construction site. Roy deals with a bully and tries to learn more about a mysterious boy who runs around without shoes and plays with poisonous snakes. Throughout his adventures, Roy learns to appreciate his family and to stand up for nature.
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This was a good story for middle grade students that deals with several important themes. It was a good, short read.
This story is about a boy named Roy who moves Florida just as a string of vandalism has started at a construction site. Roy deals with a bully and tries to learn more about a mysterious boy who runs around without shoes and plays with poisonous snakes. Throughout his adventures, Roy learns to appreciate his family and to stand up for nature.
46smilez4u1390
Refugee
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Wow! Just... Wow! Such an awesome book! I couldn't stop reading!
This story, written for middle grade students, is an excellent example of historical fiction. It explores three stories of child refugees: a young boy escaping Nazi Germany, a young girl escaping Castro's Cuba in the 90s, and another young boy escaping Syria's Civil War in 2015. This beautiful and in-depth account of the refugee experience really makes you think and feel about how we treat our fellow humans. The stories intertwine beautifully in the end.
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Wow! Just... Wow! Such an awesome book! I couldn't stop reading!
This story, written for middle grade students, is an excellent example of historical fiction. It explores three stories of child refugees: a young boy escaping Nazi Germany, a young girl escaping Castro's Cuba in the 90s, and another young boy escaping Syria's Civil War in 2015. This beautiful and in-depth account of the refugee experience really makes you think and feel about how we treat our fellow humans. The stories intertwine beautifully in the end.
47smilez4u1390
Esperanza Rising
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Great book for middle school age readers!
This is the story of a young Mexican girl who loses everything when her father, a wealthy rancher, dies. She and her mother escape to the United States to work in a farm labor camp. Having been raised as a member of the upper class, Esperanza learns to appreciate the humanity of adversity faced by the laboring class. She grows to become a hard worker who is able to help her mother. This is a story of loss, love, family, gratitude, and difficulty.
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Great book for middle school age readers!
This is the story of a young Mexican girl who loses everything when her father, a wealthy rancher, dies. She and her mother escape to the United States to work in a farm labor camp. Having been raised as a member of the upper class, Esperanza learns to appreciate the humanity of adversity faced by the laboring class. She grows to become a hard worker who is able to help her mother. This is a story of loss, love, family, gratitude, and difficulty.
48smilez4u1390
Finally!! After so many years of trying, I finally reached my goal! This year, thanks to audiobooks, I read 75 books! Not only that, but I met all of my reading goals this year. I wish I had been able to keep up with my reviews, because that was fun when I started, but it was taking too much time and I couldn't keep up with it. Either way, this year was a definite win!
