JulieLill's 2023 Reading Challenge

Hoping for another year of great books!

2023 Reading Challenge
1. 1970 - Button, Button - Uncanny Stories by Richard Matheson 4/5 stars 1/4/2023
2. 1971- Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor 4/5 stars 1/11/2023
3. 1972- All My Friends Are Going To Be Strangers by Larry McMurty 3.5/5 stars 1/21/2023
4. 1973- Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown 4/5 stars 1/25/2023
5. 1974- Lady by Thomas Tyron 5/5 stars 2/14/2023
6. 1975- Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters 3.5/5 stars 2/6/2023
7. 1976- The Great Santini by Pat Conroy 4/5 stars 3/2/2023
8. 1977- The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson 4/5 stars 3/15/2023
9. 1978- For Her Own Good: Two Centuries of the Experts' Advice to Women by Barbara Ehrenreich and Deidre English 3.5/5 stars 2/27/2023
10.1979- The Dog of the South by Charles Portis 3.5/5 stars 3/12/2023

11.Geography/Africa - River of the Gods: Genius, Courage and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by
Candice Millard 4/5 stars 3/25/2023
12. Mark Kurlansky Book - Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World by
Mark Kurlansky| 3.5/5 stars 2/19/2023
13. Peter Heller Book - The River by Peter Heller 4/5 stars 3/26/2023

Cassie Dewell Series
14. The Highway by C.J. Box 4/5 stars 1/5/2023
15. Badlands by C.J. Box 4/5 stars 1/18/2023
16. Paradise Valley by C.J. Box 4/5 stars 2/7/2023
17. The Bitterroots by C.J.Box 4/5 stars 3/30/2023
18. Treasure State by C.J. Box 4/5 stars 4/26/2023

14 Books About Film/Televison
19. Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard by Tom Felton 4/5 stars 1/2/2022
20. Ghostbuster’s Daughter - Life With My Dad Harold Ramis by Violet Ramis Stiel 4/5 stars 1/26/2023
4/5 stars
21. Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show by Daniel de Visé
4/5 stars 3/6/2023
22. All about Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business by Mel Brooks 4/5 stars 3/17/2023
23. Laughing On Writing M*A*S*H, Tootsie ,Oh,God! and a Few Other Funny Things by Larry Gelbart
3/5 stars 4/10/2023
24. The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man - A Memoir by Paul Newman 4/5 stars 4/2/2023
25. You Might Remember Me: The Life and Times of Phil Hartman by Mike Thomas 4/5 stars 7?14?2023
26. We'll Always Have Casablanca: The Legend and Afterlife of Hollywood's Most Beloved Film by Noah Isenberg 4/5 stars 7/24/2023
27. That's Not All Folks! by Mel Blanc 5/5 stars 8/10/2023
28. We Don't Need Roads: The Making of the Back to the Future Trilogy by Caseen Gaines 4/5 stars 8/28/2023
29.
30.John Hughes: A Life in Film: The Genius Behind Ferris Bueller, The Breakfast Club, Home Alone, and more by Kirk Honeycutt
4/5 stars 9/14/2023
31. Silver Screen Fiend: Learning About Life from an Addiction to Film by Patton Oswalt 3/5 stars 9/28/2023
32. My Word is My Bond by Roger Moore 4/5 stars 10/18/2023

Business
33. Brandwashed by Martin Lindstrom 4/5 stars 5/28/2023
34. Levi Strauss: The Man Who Gave Blue Jeans to The World by Lynn Downey
4/5 stars 6/16/2023
35. Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way by Richard Branson
4/5 stars 10/6/2023
36. Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall by Alexandra Lange 3/5 stars 10/14/2023

37.Fairy Tale Darling Girl by Liz Michalski 3/5 stars 6/10/2023

Extraordinary Women
38. In on the Joke: The Original Queens of Standup Comedy by Shawn Levy 4/5 stars 2/8/2023
39. Battleship A Daring Heiress, A Teenage Jockey, and America's Horse by Dorothy Ours 4/5 stars 4/19/2023
40. Finding Me by Viola Davis 4/5 stars 4/23/2023
41. Becoming by Michelle Obama 5/5 stars 5/9/2023
42. A Natural Woman: A Memoir by Carole King 4/5 stars 5/23/2023
43. The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan 4/5 stars 8/18/2023

Animals
44. Last Chain On Billie: How One Extraordinary Elephant Escaped the Big Top by Carol Bradley 4/5 stars 4/18/2023
45. The True Tails of Baker and Taylor: The Library Cats Who Left Their Pawprints on a Small Town . . . and the World
by Jan Louch 5/5 stars 5/5/2023
46. The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation by Elizabeth Letts 4/5 stars 6/28/2023

Authors
47. Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her by Melanie Rehak 5/5 stars 5/16/2023
48. Born to Be Posthumous: The Eccentric Life and Mysterious Genius of Edward Gorey by Mark Dery
3/5 stars 6/25/2023

Crime
49. Peppermint Twist: The Mob, the Music, and the Most Famous Dance Club of the '60s by John Johnson, Jr., Joel Selvin and Dick Cami 4/5 stars 7/9/2023
50. The Old Man and the Gun: And Other Tales of True Crime by David Grann 3/5 stars 9/25/2023

Science
51. The Premonition: A Pandemic Story by Michael Lewis 4/5 stars 6/14/2023
52. Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach 4/5 stars 9/7/2023

Love Stories
53. The Confessions of Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean Greer 4/5 stars 9/17/2023

Books by Pamela Aidan
54. An Assembly Such as This by Pamela Aidan
3/5 stars
55. Duty and Desire by Pamela Aidan 3.5/5 stars 8/4/2023
56. These Three Remain by Pamela Aidan 4/5 stars 8/22/2023
57. Young Master Darcy: A Lesson in Honour by Pamela Aidan 4/5 stars 8/21/2023

58. Ruth Reichl Book - Save Me The Plums: My Gourmet Memoir by Ruth Reichl 5/5 stars 1/10/2023
59. Paulette Jiles Book - Lighthouse Island by Paulette Jiles 3/5 stars 5/6/2023
60. Banned Book - Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan 4/5 stars 5/6/2023

Books Off of My Reading List
61. Deliberate Cruelty: Truman Capote, the Millionaire's Wife, and the Murder of the Century by Roseanne Montillo 4/5 stars 4/7/2023
62. Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain 3/5 stars 5/24/2023
63. The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart 4/5 stars 5/31/2023
64. Cool Dead People: Obituaries of Real Folks We Wish We'd Met a Little Sooner by Jane O'Boyle 4/5 stars 6/6/2023
65. Edward Gorey: His Book Cover Art and Design 3/5 star 7/2/2023
66. How Y'all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived by Leslie Jordan 4/5 stars 7/23/2023
67. The Final Solution: A Story of Detection by Michael Chabon 3/5 stars 7/27/2023
68. The Haunted Looking Glass by Edward Gorey by 4/5 stars 7/28/2023
69. Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig byJonathan Eig 5/5 stars 8/8/2023
70. Bones: An Alex Delaware Novel by Jonathan Kellerman 4/5 stars 9/3/2023

70/70

Well, look at you! All ready and prepared for the new year. Congratulations and Happy Reading.

>1 JulieLill: I'm impressed. Looks like that took some long thought and good planning. Wishing you good luck and much happy reading.

Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard
Tom Felton
4/5 stars
Tom Felton relates his acting career and the ups and downs of being a child actor, especially being in one of the most popular movie series of all times. Nicely written and very interesting! Books About Film/Television

Button, Button - Uncanny Stories
Richard Matheson
I have always enjoyed Matheson's eerie stories and this one does not disappoint. This book is a compilation of dark short stories, one which became a film and a Twilight episode. Very enjoyable! 1970

The Highway
C.J. Box
4/5 stars
Cassie Dewell, investigator, is on the lookout for 2 girls who have disappeared driving on a Montana highway. Can she find them and her ex-partner Cody Hoyt? I really enjoyed this and I look forward to the rest of the series. Cassie Dewel Series

Save Me The Plums: My Gourmet Memoir
Ruth Reichl
5/5 stars
I love Ruth Reichl and this book doesn’t disappoint. Ruth relates her life at Gourmet magazine from her beginnings there to when the magazine closed. The funny thing is that I remember when that happened because I was in charge of the magazine department at my library around that time. Gourmet was not the only serial to fold and we have lost a lot of magazines and it continues on as a lot of magazines have reverted to being online only. Reichl is an amazing author and I highly recommend her books! Ruth Reichl Book

Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont
Elizabeth Taylor
4/5 stars
Mrs. Palfrey has decided to move into a senior housing at her age. Her son and daughter live nearby but never seem to come and visit her. Fortunately, she meets a young man named Ludo when she was shopping at Harrods and he starts to visit her. Her friends from the home all seem to think he is her son but she doesn’t dissuade them either way. This was a sweet, sad novel and I enjoyed Taylor’s writing. I would read more of her. 1971

Badlands
C.J. Box
4/5 stars
Cassie Dewell, investigator is on the job again as the new deputy sheriff in Grimstad, North Dakota. The story surrounds a twelve-year-old named Kyle who is the slow kid and has no friends. One day while riding his bike on newspaper route, he sees a car crash and finds a package on the ground which he takes with him. Unfortunately, the package is filled with drugs and his life is going to be a lot different now and more dangerous as the owners of the package try to find it. I enjoyed this! Cassie Dewell Series - Book #2

All My Friends Are Going To Be Strangers
By Larry McMurty
3.5/5 stars
Danny Deck is going to have his first book published but his female relationships are not going as well as he planned. On top of all this turmoil he takes off, leaving Houston to hopefully get his life back on track. Nicely written! 1972

Rubyfruit Jungle
Rita Mae Brown
3.5/5 stars
This is a coming of age story about Molly Bolt, a young woman adopted by a poor couple, living in the South who vows to go her own way and forge her own path and loves who she wants to without any regard to what her family and friends want for her. I have never read anything by this author but am looking forward to reading more of her and I feel this book though written in 1973 still holds up! 1973

Ghostbuster’s Daughter - Life With My Dad Harold Ramis
By Violet Ramis Stiel
4/5 stars
This was a very interesting book on her family and her father Harold Ramis who was probably best known as one of the Ghostbusters but was also involved in writing and directing. She relates her unusual rearing and also talks about her children and partners along with talking about her father’s many films. Film/Televison

Crocodile on the Sandbank
Elizabeth Peters
3.5/5 stars
Amelia Peabody, orphaned and who has inherited a fortune takes off on a trip to Cairo and is soon ensconced in a mystery after she meets Evelyn, a young woman who was dumped by her lover. Is there a plot against Evelyn? What is the mystery of a mummy running amok? Does Amelia have the grit to uncover these mysteries? Interesting story! 1975

Paradise Valley
C.J. Box
4/5 stars
Cassie Dewell was working for the sheriff’s department in North Dakota while trying to apprehend the Lizard King, known for his kidnapping and murdering women but things fell apart and she is now on her own. In the meantime, a young man Kyle and his friend take off and are kidnapped by Ron Pergram. His grandma wants Cassie to look for them and so she tries to trail them and return them home. I am enjoying this series! Cassie Dewell Series

>13 JulieLill: I read this book when it first came out. I really enjoy Harold Ramis's films and it was nice to learn a little bit about him.

In on the Joke: The Original Queens of Standup Comedy
Shawn Levy
4/5 stars
Levy relates the fascinating tales of how these female comedians made it into show business. He includes Moms Mabley of the Black vaudeville circuit, Jean Carrol, Minnie Pearl, Sophie Tucker, Phyllis Diller, Elaine May, Totie Fields and Joan Rivers. He goes fairly in depth about their lives and careers. Extraordinary Women

>14 JulieLill: Is this the first one in the Amelia Peabody series?

>18 threadnsong: Yes!

>19 JulieLill: I bought and read that a few years back and rather liked it. A bit dated, and definitely Victorian in its outlook, but well worth the read. Glad you found our Amelia!

Lady
By Thomas Tyron
5/5 stars
Set in New England in the 30’s and 40’s and before the WWII, Woody, a young man befriends Lady, an older, wealthy woman neighbor who is widowed and lives with her servants Jessie Griffin who chauffeurs her around and his sister Ag who cleans and cooks for her. However, Lady has a secret and when it is revealed Woody has to decide whether he will still remain loyal to her. Well written and I had a hard time putting this down. 1974

Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World
Mark Kurlansky|
3.5/5 stars
Kurlansky is one of my favorite writers and in this book he writes about the history of the Cod fish and the cod fish industry in this book. Though this was not my favorite of all his books it was quite interesting. I learned a lot of information about Cod fish and industrial fishing. There is also a section on cod recipes. Mark Kurlansky Book

For Her Own Good: Two Centuries of the Experts' Advice to Women
Barbara Ehrenreich and Deidre English
"First published in 1978, this classic history, now revised and updated, brilliantly exposes the constraints imposed on women in the name of science. Authors Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English have never lost faith in science itself, but insist that we hold those who interpret it to higher standards. Women are entering the medical and scientific professions in greater numbers but as recent research shows, experts continue to use pseudoscience to tell women how to live. This edition of For Her Own Good provides today's readers with an indispensable dose of informed skepticism." from Goodreads. 1978

Lengthy read but so very interesting!

The Great Santini
Pat Conroy
4/5 stars
This novel is based on the author's father, the mercurial "Great Santini'", a Marine pilot. They led a nomad's life with having to move from town to town when their father had to go to different bases. Conroy relates the ups and downs of Marine life, not to mention the stress of having to kowtow to all his father's demands. Wonderfully written! 1976

Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show
Daniel de Visé
4/5 stars
Daniel de Vise writes a fascinating book about the relationship between Andy Griffith and Don Knotts as he follows their lives and careers and especially their time on The Andy Griffth Show. Highly recommended! Books About Film/Television

The Dog of the South
Charles Portis
3.5/5 stars
Charles Portis who wrote True Grit explores the ups and mostly downs of Ray Midge's life after his wife takes off with another man and his car. Ray is determined to find his wife, his car and is able to track her down with his credit card statements but along the way he meets a variety of kooky and interesting people. 1979

The Amityville Horror
Jay Anson
4/5 stars
In 1975 the Lutz family has moved to Amityville, New York because of George Lutz's new job. However, things go terribly wrong when they moved in. Strange and horrible things were happening in the house. They were never informed that the son of the previous family, Ronald J. DeFeo Jr. killed his family. As much as they tried to live there, they eventually had to move out. What a fascinating story. Several film versions were made of the events. 1977

All about Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business
Mel Brooks
4/5 stars
What a great book about all the films that Mel Brooks wrote and filmed! He also writes about his life growing up, his time in the military in WWII, how he got into show business and how he met his wife, the lovely Anne Bancroft and their relationship. Definitely for film fans! Books About Film and Television

River of the Gods: Genius, Courage and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile
Candice Millard
4/5 stars
Millard relates the tale of English explorers Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke, along with the guide/slave Sidi Mubarak Bombay as they try to find the source of the Nile River in the 19th century and reap the rewards from the Royal Geographical Society who was offering a prize for those who found it first! However, the two men clashed, and this undertaking would prove too much as they separated. Fascinating! Geography/Africa

The River
Peter Heller
4/5 stars
Wynn and Jack take off canoeing in Canada and encounter a couple fighting but they disappear. Later on they find the woman injured and they can't leave her because a forest fire has taken over. They grab the woman and take her in their boat but are afraid that the husband may come after them. Heller doesn't disappoint in this novel. Peter Heller Book

The Bitterroots
C.J. Box
4/5 stars
Cassie Dewell, who is now living and working in Montana as a private investigator in her own practice. Asked to investigate a rape, she now has to come up against the Kleinsassers’ family dynasty and Blake Kleinsasser, the one who is accused of raping his niece. Hard to put down! Cassie Dewell Series

Deliberate Cruelty: Truman Capote, the Millionaire's Wife, and the Murder of the Century
Roseanne Montillo
4/5 stars
This was the fascinating, true story about the death of a millionaire's wife, Ann Woodward in the 50's and the role Truman Capote figured into her death.
Books Off My Reading List

Laughing On Writing M*A*S*H, Tootsie ,Oh,God! and a Few Other Funny Things
Larry Gelbart
3/5 stars
Larry Gelbart, who brought the series M*A*S*H to television, relates his career in show business, the movies and TV Series he was involved in and the people he worked with. I liked it but parts of it dragged on. Books About Film/Television

Last Chain On Billie: How One Extraordinary Elephant Escaped the Big Top
Carol Bradley
4/5 stars
Bradley relates the tale of the elephant Billie who was captured in Asia and taken to the states to perform in circuses in the most horrible of conditions and who eventually with a lot of help is released into an animal sanctuary. The author also details the cause of animal rights, those who helped and those who tried to rig the system in their favor. Animals

The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man: A Memoir
Paul Newman
4/5 stars
Wonderful autobiography written by Newman about his life but in between his chapters, his family and friends also contributed their thoughts. They then were compiled by Stewart Stern. I liked the way they set this up and enjoyed reading about him. Books About Film and Television

Battleship A Daring Heiress, A Teenage Jockey, and America's Horse
Dorothy Ours
4/5 stars
This is a fascinating true story, mainly set in the 30's and 40's, that features Marion duPont, a wealthy woman who lived for her horses and the racing industry; Bruce Hobbs, a 17-year-old jockey who was raised by his father who was also a jockey and a horse named Battleship who becomes the unlikely hero of this book. Very interesting! Extraordinary Women

Finding Me
Viola Davis
4/5 stars
Davis, who is an actress, relates her life of poverty as a child and how she got out of it and became an award-winning actress who won awards in all the major entertainment categories. This was a fascinating read! Extraordinary Women

Treasure State
C.J. Box
4/5 stars
Cassie Dwell is back and trying to solve two mysteries in this latest book. Cassie is hired to find a con man who meets wealthy women and convinces them to give them their fortunes. Also on her to do list is to find a client who claims to have buried treasure and he wants her to find him. I am enjoying this series. I hope that Box continues with the Cassie Dewell series. Cassie Dewell Series

The True Tails of Baker and Taylor: The Library Cats Who Left Their Pawprints on a Small Town . . . and the World
Jan Louch
5/5 stars
What a wonderful story about a library who took in two Scottish Fold cats, Baker and Taylor. The library and the patrons embraced them and let them live in their library. After the cats were photographed for a poster they became minor celebrities and their fans traveled to the library to see them or write letters to them. Animals

Lighthouse Island
Paulette Jiles
3/5 stars
This story revolves around Nadia, who was left by her mother and father and ended up living in an orphanage. But now she is grown up and on her own. She believes that her family is now on Lighthouse Island. She meets up with James Orotov who makes maps. They decide to try and find Lighthouse Island while evading arrest. Will the island be refuge they think it will be? Interesting concept but not my favorite book of hers. Paulette Jiles Book

Becoming
By Michelle Obama
5/5 stars
This is a fascinating look at Michelle Obama’s life from her childhood growing up in Chicago, meeting Barack and through her role as First Lady of the White House. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it will definitely be on top of my favorites list. Extraordinary Women

Killing Mr. Griffin
Lois Duncan
4/5 stars
A group of students in Mr. Griffin's class are tired of his berating them. So, a few of them decide to prank him and they tie him up and kidnap him. Unfortunately, things go horribly wrong and now they have to cover up their tracks. Very well written and a fast read! Banned Book

Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her
Melanie Rehak
5/5 stars
Rehak tells the fascinating story of how book serials began. These serials included The Bobbsey Twins, Hardy Boys and in particular the Nancy Drew stories which were written by Harriet Stratemeyer Adams and Mildred Benson. Harriet Stratemeyer’s father had started the business in which he wrote the synopsizes and then farmed them out to other authors to flesh out the stories. These books took off and became a worldwide phenomenon and are still popular. Authors

A Natural Woman: A Memoir
Carole King
4/5 stars
This is a wonderfully, written memoir by Carole King, who relates her life and family history up to 2012. Included in the book is her rise to fame, her personal life and her collaborations with other artists. Definitely for King fans. Extraordinary Women

Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole
Susan Cain
3/5 stars
I loved Susan Cain's book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. This new book of hers was very interesting. She discusses the topic that without sadness and yearning that we cannot be a whole person. If you haven't read any of her books, I would start with Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. Books Off My Reading List

Brandwashed
Martin Lindstrom
4/5 stars
Fascinating book about how businesses use different tactics to promote certain brands, especially name brands. Lindstrom also wrote Buyology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy. I knew marketing brands was/is popular but I never knew the lengths that marketing companies would go to get a product to sell. Very interesting. This book was written in 2011. I wonder what new tactics businesses use today! Business

The Little Broomstick
By Mary Stewart
4/5 stars
Sweet story about Mary Smith, a ten-year-old girl who goes to visit her Aunt Sue and her family. When her aunt becomes ill, she is sent to live with her Aunt Charlotte who was kind of an outcast. But Mary and her Aunt became close and she experiences thing she has never done before, going on journeys, learning witchcraft and spells and befriending animals. Although this a juvenile book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Books Off of My Reading List

Cool Dead People: Obituaries of Real Folks We Wish We'd Met a Little Sooner
Jane O'Boyle
4/5 stars
This was such an original book about people we didn't know but still lived unusual lives. O'Boyle gathered these obituaries and compiled them in this book. Not a lengthy read but oh so interesting! Books Off My Reading List

Darling Girl
Liz Michalski
3/5 stars
This is a dark remake about the Peter Pan story which revolves around Holly, whose mother is the original Wendy from the fairy tale. Holly finds out that her daughter Eden, who has been in a coma for years is gone. Holly is convinced that Peter Pan took her and she gets help from Christopher Cooke, a former soldier to find her daughter before it is too late.
Fairy Tale

The Premonition: A Pandemic Story
by Michael Lewis
4/5 stars
Fascinating look at epidemics particularly revolving around Covid. The author discusses what caused it, who was affected by it and the men and women who fought it and tried to deter it. Well written! Science

Levi Strauss: The Man Who Gave Blue Jeans to The World
By Lynn Downey
4/5 stars
This is an interesting biography/nonfiction about the life and times of Levi Strauss. Born in Germany, he left for America and ended up in San Francisco in the 1850’s dealing with imported goods. He met Jacob W. Davis, a customer who invented the the riveted denim pants. Davis partnered with Levi in 1871 to produce the blue jeans.
Never married, he supported his family and encouraged his employees to better their lives. Business

Born to Be Posthumous: The Eccentric Life and Mysterious Genius of Edward Gorey
Mark Dery
3/5 stars
Interesting biography of Edward Gorey, illustrator and writer. He published and illustrated over a hundred books and influenced other writers and artists. Was known as an eccentric and secretive. Interesting book but at times it dragged on. Authors

The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation
Elizabeth Letts
4/5 stars
Snowman was a horse that was to be sent to the slaughterhouse if it weren't for Harry de Leyer. He saw this horse and ended up buying him for $80 dollars. Turns out that it was a great decision for Harry, an immigrant and his family, who cleaned him up and entered him in the sport of show jumping. What a wonderful story about their relationship! Animals

Edward Gorey: His Book Cover Art and Design
3/5 stars
There is not much to say about this book. There is a brief review about his artwork but the book mainly contains his book covers. Definitely, for Gorey fans!
Books Off My Reading List

Peppermint Twist: The Mob, the Music, and the Most Famous Dance Club of the '60s
by John Johnson Jr., and Dick Cami
The title tells it all. This is a very interesting story of the mob and the 60's dance club that they hung out at, along with the singing stars that performed there.
Crime

You Might Remember Me: The Life and Times of Phil Hartman
Mike Thomas
This is a well-written biography of the fabulous and funny Phil Hartman, comedian and actor. Author, Mike Thomas does a great job of chronicling the life and career of Hartman and the tragic outcome of his life. Books About Film and Television

An Assembly Such as This
Pamela Aidan
3/5 stars
This is the story of Fitzwilliam Darcy, the love interest of Elizabeth Bennett from the novel Pride and Prejudice. In this book, the author covers Darcy's storyline including his family and friends. He does meet Elizabeth, at a party but she is hardly in this as the emphasis is on Darcy. Very interesting. Aidan has written four books in this series so it will be interesting to see where she goes with this storyline. Books By Pamela Aidan

How Y'all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived
Leslie Jordan
4/5 stars
Leslie Jordan writes about his life and his career on TV, Instagram and films. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about his life. A fast read, you'll get a kick out of this book! Books Off of My Reading List

We'll Always Have Casablanca: The Legend and Afterlife of Hollywood's Most Beloved Film
Noah Isenberg
4/5 stars
This is the wonderfully interesting book about the film Casablanca. Isenberg discusses the origins of the film, the actors, parodies of the movie and discussions about a sequel. Definitely, for Casablanca fans! Books About Film and Television

The Final Solution: A Story of Detection
Michael Chabon
3/5 stars
In England, post WWII, Linus, a nine-year-old mute from Nazi Germany, whose only companion is a parrot meets a former detective. The parrot is very verbal and recites a string of German numbers. Not knowing what it means the detective looks into this very puzzling mystery to solve.
Books Off My Reading List

Duty and Desire
Pamela Aidan
3.5/5 stars
This is the second book in the Fitzwilliam Darcy Series. The story surrounds Darcy and there is only a little mention of Elizabeth Bennet. In this book Darcy takes off to see an Oxford classmate. However, at this reunion, Darcy meets Lady Sylvanie who is up to no good and there is a sinister plot involving the slaying of a pig and a kidnapping of a local child. This book is a little darker than I expected. Books By Pamela Aidan

Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig
Jonathan Eig
5/5 stars
What a wonderful book about the life of baseball star Lou Gehrig. I highly recommend this for anyone to read. I also had read Eig's book The Birth of the Pill: How Four Crusaders Reinvented Sex and Launched a Revolution and loved that book. Looking forward to reading more of his books. Books Off My Reading List

That's Not All Folks!
Mel Blanc
5/5 stars
What a wonderful book about Mel Blanc! He writes about his time voicing cartoon characters Bugs Bunny and many others, also his life on radio, films and on television! He also talks about his wife and son and also how show business affected his life. Highly recommended!
Books About Film and Television

The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II
Denise Kiernan
4/5 stars
Interesting story about the women who left their homes to come to Oak Ridge, Tennesse in the Appalachian Mountains to help with the winning of the World War II effort. The women did not know at the time what they were doing at this secretive site till the end of the war. Well written! Extraordinary Women

Young Master Darcy: A Lesson in Honour
Pamela Aidan
4/5 stars
Pamela Aidan explores the life of Master Darcy as a teen in 1797. His mother is ill and he is struggling with her illness as the Christmas season begins and he has to return to Pemberly and the expectations of his family. Books by Pamela Aidan

These Three Remain
Pamela Aidan
4/5 stars
I do love the original book and the movie of Pride and Prejudice and was so happy to find this four-book series. The books encompassed Fitzwilliam Darcy as the lead character and which tells his side of the story. Highly recommended! Books by Pamela Aidan

We Don't Need Roads: The Making of the Back to the Future Trilogy
Caseen Gaines
4/5 stars
Wonderful book about the Back To The Future Trilogy. Gaines writes a thorough synopsis of the movies and what has been going on with the films and actors, and how the movies impacted on the public and fans. Books About Film and Television

Bones: An Alex Delaware Novel
Jonathan Kellerman
4/5 stars
When several murdered prostitutes and a young pianist are found in L.A.'s Bird Marsh preserve, Detective Milo Sturgis contacts his friend and colleague - psychologist Alex Delaware to help him on the case. Books Off My Reading List

Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex
Mary Roach
4/5 stars
I have read several books by Mary Roach who writes about non-fiction subjects and she is never boring. This book talks about all things surrounding the science of sex. Very interesting! Science

>69 JulieLill: ah, I will have to add that to my list. I recently read her Fuzz, which is about animals getting in various types of trouble, and it was both enlightening and entertaining.

>70 Darth-Heather: She is one of my favorite non-fiction authors! I especially liked her book on outer space -Packing For Mars The Curious Science of Life In The Void.

Fortune and Glory
Janet Evanovich
3/5 stars
Stephanie is back! However, her grandmother's new husband, Jimmy Roselli died on their wedding night and leaving a hidden fortune. Stephanie and her grandmother are now searching for the money along with his several others and Gabriela Rose, a soldier of fortune. Will they find it before anyone else does?
Not on my reading challenge but I read this because it is a quick read while waiting for my other books to come in!

John Hughes: A Life in Film: The Genius Behind Ferris Bueller, The Breakfast Club, Home Alone, and more
Kirk Honeycutt
4/5 stars
Kirk Honeycutt recaps and discusses the films of John Hughes. This book does also talk about his life but not in an in-depth way. I enjoyed it. Books About Film and Television

The Confessions of Max Tivoli
Andrew Sean Greer
4/5 stars
In the early 20th century we meet Max Tivoli who was an unusual character. He was born in San Francisco but lived his life backwards. He started out as an older person and dies as a child. However, he falls in love with the lovely Alice, a beautiful woman who he meets several times in his lifetime, her never knowing that Max will always be in her life. Nicely written! Love Story

The Old Man and the Gun: And Other Tales of True Crime
David Grann
3/5 stars
Interesting book on true crime! There are three stories of crime in this book. The first one was The Old Man and The Gun which was made into a movie with Robert Redford. True Crime and The Chameleon were next. The second story was just okay but I really enjoyed the The Chameleon and The Old Man and The Gun. Crime

Silver Screen Fiend: Learning About Life from an Addiction to Film
Patton Oswalt
3/5 stars
Actor/Writer/Standup Comedian Patton Oswalt talks about his love of films and that he had seen three times a week through the nineties at the New Beverly Cinema. Interesting! Books About Film and Television

Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way
by Richard Branson
4/5 stars
Richard Branson talks about his life, his businesses and making a fortune. This was a very interesting look at how he dealt with all of his businesses. This was published in 1998 so it would be interesting to read what has happened to him since 1998. Business

Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall
Alexandra Lange
3/5 stars
Lange writes about the history of the shopping malls and the high and lows of being in the business of building and running malls. Not the most fascinating book I have ever read but I learned a lot about malls! Business

My Word is My Bond
Roger Moore
4/5 stars
Roger Moore, actor and James Bond portrayer talks about his life, family, his film career and his philanthropic endeavors. This covers his life up to 2008. He died in May 23, 2017. Very well written and he definitely led a very interesting life! Books About Film and Television

This is my last book in my 2023 reading challenge and now I am going tackle my never ending reading list!

Hangman: A Decker/Lazarus Novel (Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus Book 19)
Faye Kellerman
4/5 stars
This is the 19th book in the Decker/Lazarus series which I have been reading for years and I still enjoy them. In this book Decker is asked to look after a young man, Gabe while his mother Terry is gone and then goes missing. Among other things, Decker is also on the case of a nurse who left work and later found hung. Compelling!

Hangsaman
Shirley Jackson
4/5 stars
Natalie, a seventeen-year-old, is the main character in this novel by Shirley Jackson. Her life at home is stifling and when she finally gets away to go to college she doesn't like her life at college either. This story is based on a true event about a young college coed who went missing in the 1940's and was never found. Intriguing!

Desperate Hours: The Epic Rescue of the Andrea Doria
Richard Goldstein
4/5 stars
This is the story of the Andrea Doriaocean liner built in 1951, who was taking passengers on a cruise in 1956 when it was hit by the Swedish ship Stockholm during a dense fog and tells the aftermath of the disaster. Goldstein relates the ship's history, the sinking of the ship and the stories of the passengers on board. The collision killed 51 people—46 from the Andrea Doria and 5 from the Stockholm. Very interesting but sad!

Barbra Streisand: the Music, the Albums, the Singles
Matt Howe
3/5 stars
This large book details everything that Streisand sang, wrote and her collaborations with other famous musical artists. This was just okay for me. At times it just dragged. I can't recommend it but I am looking forward to reading her new autobiography.

Iceman: My Fighting Life
Chuck Liddell
This is the autobiography of Chuck Liddell who is a mixed martial artist. I am not a big sports fan but I learned a lot about wrestling and being a mixed martial artist! I thought this was very interesting!

Paperweight
Meg Haston
4/5 stars
Stevie is a teenage girl in an eating disorder home. Along with that her brother's anniversary of his death is coming up and she plans to end her life. Well written but very sad! Off My Reading List

Vacuuming in the Nude: And Other Ways to Get Attention
Peggy Rowe
4/5 stars
Peggy Rowe is the mother of Mike Rowe host of Dirty Jobs. She is also a talented writer and has written other books. She talks of her life with her family. This was very enjoyable and I look forward to reading her other books.

Born to Run
Bruce Springsteen
3/5 stars
This is Bruce's autobiography about his family and his career as a musician. This was published in 2016. Very interesting but it is a long book.

Finding Chika: A Little Girls, An Earthquake, and the Making of A Family
Mitch Albom
5/5 stars
What a wonderful but sad story about Mitch Albom who with his wife befriend an orphan girl named Chika in Haiti at their Have Faith Haiti Orphanage. Unfortunately, she becomes quite ill and Albom and his wife try to get her treated medically and hopefully cured of her condition.

Ubik
Philip K. Dick
3/5 stars
This is a science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick. It surrounds Glen Runciter, businessman who has people who work for him that are preventing psychic spies accessing data from his clients. However, Runciter is injured, and now time is moving backwards. His groups are trying to reverse his condition and how the product Ubik is involved. Very interesting!
Last book of the year!!