April's Ultimate Reading Challenge 2023

Hello, I am April. This is my 5th reading challenge. I took the name of this challenge from a book I received from my mom for Christmas. The Ultimate reading challenge is a list of 25 topics. You complete the challenge and open the envelope to receive a bookish gift. See the next post >2 lowelibrary: for details.
I will be posting my 16 categories. These will include the CATs and personal reading goals. I have based my categories on the idea of clearing books off Mount TBR. Books can and will count for more than one challenge.
My previous years were a monthly book log, this year I am following the lead of several others on this site, and listing the books as I read them (listing the categories they match). This method seems more efficient and cleaner. Thank you to all I stole the idea from.
My goal this year is to hit a record high of 150 books. In the latter half of the year, I figured out a system that allows me to read at least 12 books a month.

The Ultimate Reading Challenge. I received this book for Christmas from my mom. There are 25 envelopes as shown. You finish the challenge and open the envelope to receive a bookish gift.

✔ 1. Read a novella or short novel under 200 pages - Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings 48 pages --- PRIZE (a hanging tag that says "There are a lot of books in here")
✔ 2. Find and read a book that is much longer than your usual reads - The Ink Black Heart 1012 pages --- PRIZE (gift tags with books and book-themed photos)
3. Read a book you selected purely on its cover design
4. Read a book about a person with a disability
5. Re-read a classic you hated in high school
6. Re-read a book you loved as a child
✔ 7. Read a graphic novel - Everything Is OK --- PRIZE (a light blue post-it notepad with "Books > Everything Else" across the top)
✔ 8. Read a book by an author whose ethnicity is different from yours - This Is How We Do IT: A Pep Talk - Kevin Hart ---PRIZE (some "this book belongs to" labels)
9. Read a new book that is intended primarily for children
10. Read a book in a genre you've never read before
✔ 11. Read a book published this year - The Vanishing at Castle Moreau --- PRIZE (2 sets of paper tabs 1 says brilliant thought here, the other says noteworthy)
✔ 12. Read a book currently on the bestseller list - The House of Eve ---PRIZE (a pencil engraved with a Shakespeare quote "Brevity is the soul of wit")
✔ 13. Read a book that features an indigenous person - Native American Night Before Christmas --- PRIZE (small pink bookmark with books, glasses, and cups of tea on it)
✔ 14. Read a book that's been sitting on your shelf, unread, for more than a year - The Year Of Eating Dangerously on shelf when I joined in 2015 --- PRIZE (a mini notebook that says reading notes)
15. Go to your favorite section of the library or bookstore: blindly take a book off the shelf and take it home to read.
16. Visit your local bookstore and ask the bookseller to recommend a book based on your recent favorites
17. Ask a family member what book made a lasting impression on them. Find and read that book.
✔ 18. Participate in a book club, in person or virtually. - Reese Witherspoon's Book Club - The House in the Pines ---PRIZE (note pad that looks like a library check-out card)
19. Read in a place you have never read before
20. Listen to a reading-themed podcast
21. Attend an author event - in person or virtually
22. Make (or order) a snack or meal described in a book you've read
23. Gift a copy of your favorite book to a friend or family member - a special occasion not required
24. Write down a favorite quote or passage from a beloved book. Display it in your home.
25. Write a letter to someone who has influenced your reading life. This could be a parent, teacher, author, bookstore owner, or friend. It's okay to make it anonymous.

RandomKIT hosting October

January (Hidden Gems)
Witch Hearts by Liz Long
The Year of Eating Dangerously by K Bennett
February (Second or Two)
Buy A Whisker by Sofie Ryan
Theodore Boone: The Abduction by John Grisham
March (Water, Water, everywhere)
The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
April (Seven ages of (wo)man)
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

ScaredyKIT hosting June and October

January (Comedy Horror)
The Year of Eating Dangerously by K Bennett
February (Historical Horror)
The Wolf's Hour by Robert McCammon
March (Indie author or small press)
Shiners by John T Biggs
April (food horror)
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

MysteryKIT hosting January and December

January (TV/Movie Detectives)
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith
Four Blind Mice by James Patterson
February (Classic Settings)
Ten Little Indians by Agatha Chhristie
March (Paranormal)
Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton
April (Tartan Noir)
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

KiddyCAT hosting June

January (Picture books/Graphic Novels) -
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
Somebunny Loves You by Melinda Lee Rathjen
February (Mysteries)
Theodore Boone: The Abduction by John Grisham
March (YA Historical fiction)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
April (Middle Grade and YA Fantasy)
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Continuing my read of the Alex Cross series in order. Hope to read one a month.

1. Four Blind Mice --- read in January
2. The Big Bad Wolf
3. London Bridges
4. Mary, Mary
5. Cross
6. Double Cross
7. Cross Country
8. Alex Cross's Trial
9. I, Alex Cross
10. Cross Fire
11. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross
12. Alex Cross, Run

I have a large collection of books about cats. The goal is 6 fiction and 3 non-fiction.

Fiction
1. Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings by Ursula K Le Guin
2. Buy A Whisker by Sofie Ryan

Non-fiction
1. The Cat and the Tao by Kwong Kuen Shan

I have decided to join Reese Witherspoon's book club. This category is for her monthly choices. This will help me read more current books. The book is announced on the first Tuesday of the month.

✔ January - The House In The Pines by Ana Reyes
✔ February - The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
March - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

My husband bought me Harry Potter: A Magical Year last year, a book of daily quotes from the book series. This has prompted me to re-read the Harry Potter series this year. I have decided to do the re-read as a "new " read of the illustrated versions of the books.

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone --read in March

I hope to read 6 books on my Kindle this year.
1. Witch Hearts by Liz Long - read and deleted in January
2. This Is How We Do It: A Pep Talk by Kevin Hart - read in February
3. Dear Coca-Cola by Terry Ravenscroft- read and deleted in March

I am participating in the historical fiction challenge as posted by Tanya-dogearedcopy
The bonus will only be met if one of the books qualifies.

1. Read a work of historical fiction set in the country you are from
2. Read a work of historical fiction set in a different country to the one you're from
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
3. Read a work of historical fiction set in your favorite historical time period to read about
4. Read a work of historical fiction set in a time period you're less familiar with
5. Read a work of historical fiction with a speculative element
The Wolf's Hour by Robert McCammon
6. Read a work of Historical fiction about a real historical figure or specific historical event
7. Read a classic work of historical fiction

8. Bonus: Read a work of historical fiction over 500 pages.
The Book Thief
The Wolf's Hour

Nonfiction reading. I hope to read 12 books this year.

1. The Feud: The Hatfields & McCoys by Dean King
2. This Is How We Do It: A Pep Talk by Kevin Hart
3. Laughing With Obama by M. Sweeney
4. Dear Coca-Cola by Terry Ravenscroft
5. The Dark Side of Apple Pie, Baby Food, & Bunnies by Ken Lytle and Katie Corcoran Lytle

03. Buy A Whisker
04. Four Blind Mice - Alex Cross series
08. Aunt Dimity's Death
10. True Crime Trivia
11. I Will Judge You By Your Bookshelf
12. The Cat and the Tao
13. The Story of Ferdinand -January KiddyCAT
14. The Feud: The Hatfields & McCoys
16. Disney Family Story Collection
17. Shiners
18. The Stranger in the Lifeboat
20. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
22. Ten Little Indians
25. Theodore Boone: The Abduction

This is for all my favorite authors with unread books on my shelf. The books were on my shelf prior to 2023. I hope to read at least one from each.

✔ Mitch Albom
The Stranger in the Lifeboat
Dan Brown
✔ Agatha Christie
Ten Little Indians
Lisa Gardner
✔ John Grisham
Theodore Boone: The Abduction
Joe Hill
✔ Stephen King
The Dark Man: An Illustrated Poem
Barbara Michaels
James Patterson (not counting Alex Cross)

These are all the books I have been gifted this year (including Christmas gifts and Early Review books)

SantaThing 2022
A Whisker of A Doubt by Cate Conte
A Trip With Trouble by Diane Kelly
Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley
Getaway With Murder by Diane Kelly
The Crime That Binds by Laurie Cass

Previously unread SantaThing gifts (I have 5 left)
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (SantaThing 2016)
Heist Society by Ally Carter (SantaThing 2016)
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (SantaThing 2017)
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara {SantaThing 2017)
Ghost of a Chance by Simon R Green (SantaThing 2018)

Christmas gifts 2022
The Black Phone: Stories by Joe Hill
Everything I Need to Know I Learned From Dolly Parton by Editors of Media Lab Books
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith - read in January
The Answer is.... by Alex Trebek
Who Is Alex Trebek? by Lisa Rogak
Who Was Alex Trebek? by Pamela Pollack
I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf by Grant Snider - read in January
Everything Is OK by Debbie Tung - read in January
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill read in December 2022

Birthday gifts 2023
I Love You Like No Otter by Rose Rossner =- read in March
The Witch's Path by Thorn Mooney

ER books I have won and received
December 2022 - Somebunny Loves You by Melinda Lee Rathjen - read in January
January 2023 - True Crime Trivia by Michelle Tooker -read in February
February 2023 - The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright - read in March

I first heard about Thingaversary in 2021 and began celebrating mine. I joined on April 7th, 2015.
I have 6 books left to read before this year's haul.

My 2021 Thingaversary books
All Around Town by Mary Higgins Clark
Patriot's Dream by Barbara Michaels
The Medicine Wheel by Sun Bear and Wabun

My 2022 Thingaversary books
Disney's Family Story Collection by Sheryl Kahn - finished in February
Wolves of the Beyond: Lone Wolf by Kathryn Lasky
What the Cat Saw by Carolyn Hart

Hope you have a great year of reading!

Stopping by to wish you a wonderful year of reading in 2023!
>11 lowelibrary: - I love that!

What great pics! I'm sure I will take a few BB's from those CATS!

Great pictures! Have a good reading year.

>18 thornton37814:, >19 lkernagh:, >20 Tess_W:, >21 hailelib: Thanks for stopping by and the good wishes. My 2023 reading officially begins tomorrow.

Hi April, I love all the pictures you have chosen! I can't even decide which is my favourite one! Happy New Year and have fun reading!

>5 lowelibrary: Great picture! Happy reading in 2023.

Happy New Year! I hope you have a great reading year!

>23 MissBrangwen:, >24 pamelad:, >25 cbl_tn: Thank you for the well wishes.

Enjoy your reading year!

Love the pictures you chose for your challenges. They all speak to me!

Great pics! Good luck and happy New Year.

>27 DeltaQueen50:, >28 MissWatson:, >29 majkia: Thank you for the well wishes and glad you like the pics.

1. I Will Judge You By Your Bookshelf by Grant Snider
Bingo - Read a book with a book on the cover
Gifts - Christmas 2022

It’s no secret that we are judged by our bookshelves. We learn to read at an early age, and as years pass some of us shed our old books for new ones. But, also, some of us surround ourselves with books, unwilling to let them go. We collect them, decorate with them, pile them up, hoard them, are inspired by them, and treat them almost like sacred objects.
In this lighthearted collection of one- and two-page comics, writer-artist Grant Snider explores bookishness in all its forms, and the love of writing and reading, building on the beloved literary comics featured on his website, Incidental Comics. With a striking package including a die-cut cover, I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf is a full-color graphic novel celebrating books, authors, and reading, and the perfect gift for any book lover, young or old.

I found this book to be greatly illustrated although a lot of the writing comics did not relate to me and fell short. I thoroughly enjoyed the comics about books and reading.

>31 lowelibrary: Sounds fun! Going to see if my library has it!

>31 lowelibrary: - Just put this on hold at the library. Sounds like fun.

I've only just found your thread! I think your category pictures are fantastic, they really made me smile!

>32 Tess_W:, >33 dudes22: I hope you enjoy the book.
>34 Jackie_K: Thank you. I am glad you like the pics.

2. Everything Is OK by Debbie Tung
Gifts - Christmas 2022
Ultimate Reading Challenge - read a graphic novel (see >2 lowelibrary: for the prize)

Everything Is OK is the story of Debbie Tung’s struggle with anxiety and her experience with depression. She shares what it’s like navigating life, overthinking every possible worst-case scenario, and constantly feeling like all hope is lost. In this graphic memoir, Debbie aims to provide positive and comforting messages to anyone who is facing similar difficulties or is just trying to get through a tough time in life. She hopes to encourage readers to be kinder to themselves, to know that they are not alone and that it’s okay to be vulnerable because they are not defined by their mental health struggles. The dark clouds won’t be there forever. Everything will turn out all right.

This book was not as quick a read as I thought it would be, simply because the book hits all the truths about living with depression and I had to step away after some of the comics and feel the feels.

Let me take a moment here to say I discovered Debbie Tung on Instagram (@wheresmybubble) and was super excited when she started writing books.
I highly recommend all of them
Book Love for all book lovers
Quiet Girl in a Noisy World my favorite of all the books -written for introverts
Happily Ever After & Everything in Between - about being in a relationship

3. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
Bingo- read a CAT
KiddyCat - January - picture book

Ferdinand is the world's most peaceful--and--beloved little bull. While all of the other bulls snort, leap, and butt their heads, Ferdinand is content to just sit and smell the flowers under his favorite cork tree.

I found a 1964 edition of this book last year, part of my quest to collect my childhood favorites. This was just one of many many re-reads of the story.

4. Somebunny Loves You by Melinda Lee Rathjen
Gifts - Early Review December 2022 - review here

A playful, sweet music book that celebrates love for a child. This delightful book is centered around a love poem to a child: Right from the start, since you were new, You've had Somebunny loving you. I'll give you hints. Can you guess who? Somebunny loves you.

I won this book from the Early Reviewer book thinking I could pass it on to my newborn granddaughter on her first birthday. Now I have to decide if I am giving it away or keeping it at Grandma's house.

>36 lowelibrary: That sounds really good - I've added Everything is OK and Book Love to my wishlist.

>38 lowelibrary: That definitely sounds like a book for Grandma's house to me! :)

>39 Jackie_K: I have never been disappointed in Debbie Tung's books. Hope you love them.

>38 lowelibrary: How cute! I love the cover and the wordplay.

5. Witch Hearts by Liz Long
RandomKIT - Hidden Gems
Kindle

How does a witch stay safe if a killer can get through her protection spells?
Witches like Ruby and Courtney can take care of themselves. So when Courtney is murdered, Ruby’s world crashes to a halt. The only thing keeping her grounded is the return of Courtney’s brother, Cooper. He seeks revenge, but Ruby wants to help other witches stay alive. To do that, she’ll have to reunite with her old coven’s High Priest, who also happens to be her cheating ex-boyfriend. If that wasn’t awkward enough, when the killer gets too close, Cooper temporarily moves into Ruby’s place while a police officer tails her every move. Cooper’s presence distracts Ruby as they fight their desire against their need to stay safe. Then Courtney begins to haunt Ruby’s dreams and secrets are spilled, things from Cooper’s past that could get them both killed. The killer continues to stalk Ruby and the more she discovers, the more she fears she won’t be able to keep her heart in her chest.

This book started good then became predictable and then just started jumping to the end.

I have changed the category New Authors >9 lowelibrary: to the Reese Witherspoon Book Club reads. This will fit new authors and allow me to begin reading more current books.

6. Addams and Evil by Charles Addams

Addams and Evil is a book by Charles Addams. First published by Simon & Schuster in 1947, it is his second anthology of drawings of The Addams Family.
As usual, the main characters are not named, but one cartoon mentions Uncle Eimar.

I have been looking for these cartoons for ages. The best cartoons are the Addams family and the witch doctor ones.

Good luck with your 2023 challenges.
>2 lowelibrary: This gift from your mom is fantastic.
>44 lowelibrary: WANT

7. The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith
Gifts - Christmas 2022
MysteryKIT - TV/Movie Detectives
Ultimate Reading Challenge - find and read a book that is much longer than your usual read (see >2 lowelibrary: for the prize)

The latest installment in the highly acclaimed, internationally bestselling Strike series finds Cormoran and Robin ensnared in another winding, wicked case.
When frantic, disheveled Edie Ledwell appears in the office begging to speak to her, private detective Robin Ellacott doesn’t know quite what to make of the situation. The co-creator of a popular cartoon, The Ink Black Heart, Edie is being persecuted by a mysterious online figure who goes by the pseudonym of Anomie. Edie is desperate to uncover Anomie’s true identity. Robin decides that the agency can’t help with this—and thinks nothing more of it until a few days later when she reads the shocking news that Edie has been tasered and then murdered in Highgate Cemetery, the location of The Ink Black Heart. Robin and her business partner, Cormoran Strike, become drawn into the quest to uncover Anomie’s true identity. But with a complex web of online aliases, business interests and family conflicts to navigate, Strike and Robin find themselves embroiled in a case that stretches their powers of deduction to the limits – and which threatens them in new and horrifying ways . . .

While I love Cormoran Strike and Robin, this book did not need to be 1012 pages. The story could have been told in half that and still been enjoyable. My only complaint is that the wait for the inevitable is like waiting on Benson and Stabler. Get on with it already. The teasing of a relationship is getting unbearable. The story itself was good and I kept changing my mind about who Anomie was, so the plot kept me interested. Fans of the series will enjoy this book, but don't pick it up as a one-off.

>46 lowelibrary: - I'm somewhat behind in this series and 1000+ pages isn't encouraging.

8. The Year of Eating Dangerously
RandomKIT - Hidden Gems
ScaredyKIT - Comedy Horror
Ultimate Reading Challenge - read a book that's been sitting on your shelf, unread, for more than a year - was in my collection when I joined LT in 2015 - (see >2 lowelibrary: for the prize)

As a lawyer, Mallory Caine considers it her duty to defend the innocent. As a flesh-eating zombie, she knows how to take a bite out of crime. So when a scared 10-year-old boy asks for her help - claiming that his mother wants to eat him - Mallory rises to the occasion. Before you can say "The devil made me do it", Mallory is caught between a family of freaks, fire-breathing demons, and the final battle of good versus evil. If she doesn't have enough on her plate, the brain-chomping lawyer has to defend her zombie-hunting father in court. What's a zombie girl to do...?

I am of mixed opinions on this book. I loved the sarcastic Mallory Caine and the style in which the book is written (think a cross between a cozy mystery and a noir detective novel), but I was not overly thrilled with the battle of good vs evil. The book is lacking in that part, this may be because this is book 2, and some details were obviously covered in the first book and a lot remains unsolved for the next book. Will probably read them if I find them, but will not purposely search them out. I expected a bit more from a book that has the opening line "I looked down on the motorcycle gang and thought, Lunch."

>48 lowelibrary: Haha that is quite the first line for a book!

9. The House In The Pines by Ana Reyes
Reese's Book Club -January pick
Ultimate Reading Challenge - Participate in a book club, in person or virtually (see>2 lowelibrary: for the prize)

"This is an absolute, can’t-put-it-down thriller...It’s truly a wild ride that had me flying through chapter after chapter—which I think is the perfect way to kick off your year of reading." —Reese Witherspoon
Maya was a high school senior when her best friend, Aubrey, mysteriously dropped dead in front of the enigmatic man named Frank whom they’d been spending time with all summer. Seven years later, Maya lives in Boston with a loving boyfriend and is kicking the secret addiction that has allowed her to cope with what happened years ago, the gaps in her memories, and the lost time that she can’t account for. But her past comes rushing back when she comes across a recent YouTube video in which a young woman suddenly keels over and dies in a diner while sitting across from none other than Frank. Plunged into the trauma that has defined her life, Maya heads to her hometown to relive that fateful summer—the influence Frank once had on her and the obsessive jealousy that nearly destroyed her friendship with Aubrey. At her mother’s house, she excavates fragments of her past and notices hidden messages in her deceased Guatemalan father’s book that didn’t stand out to her earlier. To save herself, she must understand a story written before she was born, but time keeps running out, and soon, all roads are leading back to Frank’s cabin....

This book captivated me quickly and it became more intriguing as the story progressed. Every step of Maya's revelations drew me in and I was unraveling the story as she did. The nature of the crimes was stunning. Took away 1/2 star for the ending.

10. Four Blind Mice by James Patterson
Alex Cross #8
Bingo - next in a series
MysteryKit - TV/Movie Detectives

Detective Alex Cross is on his way to resign from the Washington, D.C., Police Force when his partner's oldest friend-a Vietnam veteran-is arrested for murder. He is subject to the iron hand of the United States Army, and the evidence against him is strong enough to send him to the gas chamber. Sampson is certain his friend has been framed, and Alex's investigation turns up evidence overlooked or concealed by the military authorities. Drawing on their years of street training and an almost telepathic mutual trust, Cross and Sampson go deep behind military lines to confront the most terrifying and deadly killers they have ever encountered. Behind these three highly skilled killing machines there appears to be an even more threatening controller. Discovering the identity of this lethal genius will prove to be Cross's most terrifying challenge ever.

This was on the level of most of the Cross novels. Nothing super surprising to rate it super high. Enjoyable but not surprising.

>51 lowelibrary: I've not read any of the Alex Cross novels, YET! However, my sister is really into them and she only reads paperbacks so I will probably be getting them at sometime.

11. Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings by Ursula K Le Guin
Cat books
Ultimate Reading Challenge - Read a novella or short novel under 200 pages (see >2 lowelibrary: for prize)

When a spoiled kitten named Wonderful Alexander gets caught in a tree, it's up to Jane to save him. Once he is rescued and adopted by the Catwings, Alexander decides to repay Jane's favor by helping her to overcome her mysterious fear of speaking.

This was my first Catwing and my first Ursula Le Guin book. I will be finding all of these short novels and adding them to my collection. I will also try to read another LeGuin book. The story itself is cute and I found myself rooting for Alexander amidst his many misadventures.

JANUARY ROUND-UP

I read 11 books this month and discarded 1 Kindle book.

The best read was Everything Is OK by Debbie Tung
The worst read was Witch Hearts by Liz Long

Ratings
5 star - 4 books
Everything Is OK
Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings
The Story of Ferdinand
Somebunny Loves You
4 1/2 stars - 1 book
The House in the Pines
4 stars - 3 books
Addams and Evil
Four Blind Mice
The Ink Black Heart
3 1/2 stars - 2 books
I Will Judge You By Your Bookshelf
The Year of Eating Dangerously
2 1/2 stars - 1 book
Witch Hearts

I am enjoying the new format of listing the books individually and posting my thoughts while they are fresh.

12. The Cat and the Tao by Kwong Kuen Shan
Bingo - Art or craft related
Cat books

Timeless and elegant, The Cat and the Tao is a rich selection of sayings and quotes from ancient Chinese masters that weds the inspired creativity of The Tao of Pooh with the spare beauty of calligraphic art. Artist and author Kwong Kuen Shan has combined the quiet power of eastern philosophy with the serene and playful beauty of her cat paintings, creating a book sure to comfort and move readers with its infectious appreciation for the wisdom of both. Her exquisite watercolor-and-ink paintings portray a variety of cats in settings ranging from the garden to the pond to the windowsill, each scene bringing to life the specific Taoist or Confucian text that accompanies it.

The paintings are cute and whimsical, but the chosen texts could have been better suited to the paintings.

13. The Dark Man: An Illustrated Poem by Stephen King Illustrator Glenn Chadbourne
Favorite authors

Stephen King first wrote about the Dark Man in college (over 40 years ago) after he envisioned a faceless man in cowboy boots and jeans and a denim jacket forever walking the roads. Later this dark man would come to be known around the world as one of King's greatest villains, Randall Flagg, but at the time King only had simple questions on his mind: where was this man going? What had he seen and done? What terrible things...? This Cemetery Dance Publications hardcover is a true marriage of words and art, with Chadbourne pulling the images from King's imagination and illustrating them in magnificent detail. This incredible blending of King's words with Chadbourne's art creates a unique page-turning experience you can return to again and again, always finding new details hidden on every page.

I agree that the illustrations make the book. There are so dark and detailed that every time you look at them you see something new. My favorite is the painting of Mr. King at the end. The poem itself is simple and uninspiring (I had to remind myself it was written by a college kid). 1 1/2 stars for the poem itself. 5 stars for the illustrations.

14. The Feud: The Hatfields & McCoys: The True Story by Dean King
Bingo - Small town or rural setting
Nonfiction

For more than a century, the enduring feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys has been American shorthand for passionate, unyielding, and even violent confrontation. Drawing upon years of original research, including the discovery of previously lost and ignored documents and interviews with relatives of both families, best-selling author Dean King finally gives us the full, unvarnished tale, one vastly more enthralling than the myth. Unlike previous accounts, King's begins in the mid-19th century, when the Hatfields and McCoys lived side-by-side in relative harmony. Theirs was a hardscrabble life of farming and hunting, timbering and moonshining - and raising large and boisterous families - in the rugged hollows and hills of Virginia and Kentucky. Cut off from much of the outside world, these descendants of Scots-Irish and English pioneers spoke a language many Americans would find hard to understand. Yet contrary to popular belief, the Hatfields and McCoys were established and influential landowners who had intermarried and worked together for decades. When the Civil War came, and the outside world crashed into their lives, family members were forced to choose sides. After the war, the lines that had been drawn remained - and the violence not only lived on but became personal. By the time the fury finally subsided, a dozen family members would be in the grave. The hostilities grew to be a national spectacle, and the cycle of killing, kidnapping, stalking by bounty hunters, and skirmishing between governors spawned a legal battle that went all the way to the United States Supreme Court and still influences us today. Filled with bitter quarrels, reckless affairs, treacherous betrayals, relentless mercenaries, and courageous detectives, The Feud is the riveting story of two frontier families struggling for survival within the narrow confines of an unforgiving land.

I found this to be a relatively easy read that follows the feud in a chronological sequence. Since the author stays focused on facts, the story is not as compelling as some of the movies based on the story. Reading this book will make you wonder why the Hatfields and McCoys were blown up to be larger-than-life people when the reality is that hill folks handle their own problems in their own methods and I am sure that other families were doing the same things if not worse.

15. Buy A Whisker by Sofie Ryan
Bingo - Features a member of the cat family
Cat books
RandomKIT - Second or Two

Things have been quiet in the coastal town of North Harbor, Maine, since Sarah Grayson and her rescue cat, Elvis, solved their first murder. Sarah is happy running Second Chance, where she sells lovingly refurbished and repurposed items. But then she gets dragged into a controversy over developing the waterfront. Most of the residents—including Sarah—are for it, but there is one holdout—baker Lily Carter. So when Lily is found murdered in her bakery, it looks like somebody wanted to remove the only obstacle to the development. But Sarah soon discovers that nothing is as simple as it seems. Now, with the help of her cat’s uncanny ability to detect a lie, Sarah is narrowing down the suspects. But can she collar the culprit before the ruthless killer pounces again?

This is the second book in the Second Chance Cat mystery series. This was a cute cozy mystery, but it focused more on the characters and their relationships than the murder mystery. We discover the body and then forget about solving the murder until the book is three-fourths over.

16. A Little Book of Love Stories and Recipes by Welcome Enterprises

It's easy enough to say "I love you." But lovers often want more creative ways to express their passion, explore their devotion, and communicate affection. A Little Book of Love Stories and Recipes will give them just the right place to start. Within the pages of this delightful small book, readers will find the best classic love poems of all time, excerpts from some of the finest love-oriented literature, and aphrodisiac recipes for meals and cocktails.

The photos in this little book are reminiscent of vintage valentine cards. Picked it out to read for Valentine's Day. The snippet from Mark Twain's The Diary of Adam and Eve will have me finding the original, but mostly I discovered that I will probably never read Jane Eyre.

17. This Is How We Do It: A Pep Talk by Kevin Hart
Kindle
Nonfiction
Ultimate Reading Challenge - Read a book by an author whose ethnicity is different from yours (see >2 lowelibrary: for prize)

Entertainment icon Kevin Hart shares fifteen heartfelt lessons about harnessing your potential in the here and now. You’ve heard this advice before. It’s straight out of the self-help bible. But wait. Are you ready to hear it from a guy who’s made so many mistakes he could fill eighteen other books about them? A guy who went to community college for exactly two weeks and earned a degree in nothing? A guy who wore long tights for a marathon? That’s this guy: Kevin Hart. He wants to share some lessons he’s learned along the way—lessons that helped him get to where he is now. He wants to talk to you about “what-is-ness,” “cowboying up,” and “teddy bearing.” No idea what those are? Don’t worry. That’s why you’re here. In this funny, heartfelt collection of pep talks, Kevin Hart reveals the power of a positive mindset. In this book, the tables are turned. Kevin Hart isn’t just a box office juggernaut and superstar comedian. He’s your biggest fan.

The advice is the same advice you can receive from any self-help book but told only the way Kevin Hart could tell it. He never judges and is always encouraging when writing the chapters. It truly is a pep talk.

18. Ten Little Indians by Agatha Christie
Bingo - contains number or quantity in the title
Favorite Authors
MysteryKIT - Classical settings

Ten people, each with something to hide and something to fear, are invited to an isolated mansion on Indian Island by a host who, surprisingly, fails to appear. On the island, they are cut off from everything but each other and the inescapable shadows of their own past lives. One by one, the guests share the darkest secrets of their wicked pasts. And one by one, they die… Which among them is the killer and will any of them survive?

One of my favorite Agatha Christie mysteries. Also released as And Then There Were None.

19. Theodore Boone: The Abduction by John Grisham
Bingo -a book in >1000 libraries on LT
Favorite Authors
KiddyCAT - Mysteries
RandomKIT - Second or Two

When his best friend, April, disappears from her bedroom in the middle of the night, no one, not even Theo Boone -who knows April better than anyone- has answers. As fear ripples through his small hometown and the police hit dead ends, it's up to Theo to use his legal knowledge and investigative skills to chase down the truth and save April.

A well-written legal thriller, perfect for younger kids (no graphic violence or horrific crimes). This is a simple mystery premise with a simple and realistic solution. Theo Boone is Nancy Drew for the new generation.

20. Disney Family Storybook Collection adapted by Sheryl Kahn
Bingo - 4+ LT rating
Thingaversary book - 2022

With stories about living, loving, and learning, Disney's Family Story Collection teaches important messages to today's children. Adapting more than 30 different Disney movies and featuring both old and new favorites, this lavish collection includes 75 heartwarming stories and life lessons for the whole family to share together.

3 stars for the writing. 1 1/2 stars for the nostalgia. This collection of stories uses morals and pictures from the movies. While reading the story, I fell back in love with Beauty & the Beast and Bambi, as I saw the scenes enacted in my head.

21. True Crime Trivia by Michelle Tooker
Bingo - a book that taught you something
Gifts - Early Review January 2023 - review here

Are you the ultimate true crime fan? How much do you know about your favorite cases? Did a serial killer roam the Titanic? Which food is the most shoplifted? Did a fax machine identify the Black Dahlia? Play true crime trivia to find out: Discover the answers to eye-opening questions like these in True Crime Trivia. Each question is multiple choice or true/false so you can play trivia against yourself or your friends. Correct answers include surprising stories and shocking details about true crime cases you thought you knew about and ones you have never heard of before. Quiz yourself, challenge your friends, or host a trivia night to see who is the ultimate true crime enthusiast.

I love it when I win an Early Review book from the author and they take the time to sign it.

My first book fair of the year and the biggest was the Oklahoma City Friends of the Library sale, held this weekend. This is a large fair (over 800,000 books). I did extremely well and spent less than $45 dollars on my haul.

Fiction
SantaKid by James Patterson - been looking for this for years
Private Berlin by James Patterson
Confessions: The Private School Murders by James Patterson
Penguins of America by James & Jack Patterson
Sooley by John Grisham
Last Puzzle & Testament by Parnell Hall
Plot Boiler by Ali Brandon
Not A Creature Was Purring by Krista Davis
State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny
Mr. Monk Goes to Germany by Lee Goldberg - thanks to mstrust for introducing me to the fact that these books existed.
Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants by Lee Goldberg
Three Bedrooms, One Corpse by Charlaine Harris
Bleeding Kansas by Sara Paretsky
Enchanting the Beast by Kathryne Kennedy - hoping this is a Beauty and the Beast retelling.

Non-fiction
Murder By the Book: The Crime That Shocked Dicken's London by Claire Harman
James Patterson by James Patterson
Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul by Jack Canfield
The Little Book of Bob by James Bowen
Backstage Pass by Paul Stanley
Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming
Idol Truth by Leif Garrett - a childhood crush, looking forward to this one
Dark Shadows: The Visual Companion by Mark Salisbury
Quilted Northern 100th Anniversary Bathroom Book by Uncle John's Bathroom Reader - a unique find
New Junior Cookbook by Better Homes and Garden - I learned to cook with this book, now I have a copy to use to teach the grandkids

>65 lowelibrary: What a great haul!

>65 lowelibrary: That's brilliant that you were able to get so many books! Looks like a very varied selection!

That sounds like a great book sale. And all those for only $45!

>67 Jackie_K:, >68 dudes22:, >69 lowelibrary: Thank you. I am very happy with the haul and hope to actually read some of them this year.

22. The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
Reese's Book Club - February pick
Ultimate Reading Challenge -Read a book currently on the bestseller list (see>2 lowelibrary: lowelibrary: for the prize)

1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college, in spite of having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising a daughter. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation passed on to her like a birthright. Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his par­ents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done. With their stories colliding in the most unexpected of ways, Ruby and Eleanor will make decisions that shape the trajectory of their lives.

I was immediately drawn into the lives of both Ruby and Eleanor. The book alternates between them to forward the story and show you where each of them is in that moment. Highly recommended.

FEBRUARY READS

I read 11 books this month and discarded 0 Kindle books.

The best read was The House of Eve
The worst read was A Little Book of Love Stories and Recipes

Ratings
5 star - 2 books
The House of Eve
Ten Little Indians
4 1/2 stars - 2 books
Theodore Boone: The Abduction
Disney Family Storybook Collection
4 stars - 2 books
This Is How We Do It: A Pep Talk
The Feud
3 1/2 stars - 3 books
Buy A Whisker
The Dark Man: An Illustrated Poem
True Crime Trivia
3 stars-1 book
The Cat and the Tao
2 1/2 stars - 1 book
A Little Book of Love Stories and Recipes

I started reading my February ScaredyKIT book but did not finish it in February due to real-life interruptions.

23. The Wolf's Hour by Robert McCammon
Historical Fiction - Read a work of historical fiction with a speculative element
Historical Fiction - Read a book over 500 pages
ScaredyKIT (February) - Historical Horror

Allied Intelligence has been warned: A Nazi strategy designed to thwart the D-Day invasion is underway. A Russian émigré turned operative for the British Secret Service, Michael Gallatin has been brought out of retirement as a personal courier. His mission: Parachute into Nazi-occupied France, search out the informant under close watch by the Gestapo and recover the vital information necessary to subvert the mysterious Nazi plan called Iron Fist. Fearlessly devoted to the challenge, Gallatin is the one agent uniquely qualified to meet it—he’s a werewolf.

I first read this book in the 90s when I was in my teenage werewolf obsession. This time around I enjoyed the spy thriller aspect of the book a lot more. This book is a historical fiction of World World II and the upcoming D-Day invasion.

>65 lowelibrary: What a great haul!

>71 lowelibrary: Two five-star books! That's what I call a good month!

>73 VivienneR: Thank you.

24. Laughing With Obama by M. Sweeney
Nonfiction

Laughing with Obama is a photographic tribute to President Barack Obama’s most clever, witty, and smile-worthy moments from his time in office and beyond. Re-experience the ear-to-ear grins and laughter that President Obama shared with the world, and reminisce about a presidential tenure that spread as much joy as it did optimism. Together with these uplifting photographs is a collection of the most humorous one-liners, playful jokes, and good-natured quips to come from the 44th President of the United States. Enjoy this fun celebration of a presidency that was defined not just by leadership, integrity, and hope, but also by warmth, charisma, and laughter.

The photos are great reminders of the way President Obama stayed balanced. The quotes were a glimpse into the president's humor and humility.

>75 lowelibrary: I will take a BB for my hub. He needs some uplifting humor right now. I'll put it on my holds list. Thanks!

25. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Historical Fiction - Read a work of historical fiction set in a different country to the one you’re from
Historical Fiction - Read a book over 500 pages
KiddyCAT - YA historical fiction

When Death has a story to tell, you listen. It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier and will become busier still.
Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids and with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

The author made me care for and about the characters (even the minor ones) so much that the end of the book devastated me. Although being Nazi Germany and narrated by Death, I knew how the book would end. I didn't plan on investing so much into the book, but it drew me in and held me captive. This is technically a YA book, but not really. It can be read by anyone. Highly recommend it if like me you have not read it yet.

>77 lowelibrary: I loved that one, too!

26. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slim chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute. The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined -- every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute... and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

Once the book got going the story captured my attention and held my interest. Fans of the Hunger Games will enjoy this prequel. Throughout the book my feelings for Snow were confirmed.

>79 lowelibrary: That is a series I mean to return to! So far I have only read the first book. I had heard of this additional book but did not know that it was a prequel, so I read your words with interest.

>79 lowelibrary: Ditto Miss B. Read the first one so that I knew what the kids were talking about! This goes on my WL!

>80 MissBrangwen: >81 Tess_W: I suggest you read the trilogy first and then this prequel. This book has more meaning that way.

27. Native American Night Before Christmas by Gary Robinson
Ultimate Reading Challenge - Read a book that features an indigenous person (see >2 lowelibrary: for the prize)

An innovative retelling of the classic Christmas tale, this full-color book takes a whimsical look at what Christmas Eve might be like for a Native American family when Old Red Shirt (the Native American Santa Claus) comes a-calling with his team of flying white buffalo to deliver fry bread, commodities, and other goodies. Renowned Cherokee artist Jesse Hummingbird’s inspired illustrations transform the author’s playful adaptation into a fresh and modern work of art.

I loved this bright colorful rendition of the Night Before Christmas. Very funny to read aloud.

28. The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jamie Jo Wright
Gifts - Early Review February 2023 - review here
Ultimate Reading Challenge - Read a book published this year (see >2 lowelibrary: for the prize)

A haunting legend. An ominous curse. A search for a secret buried deep within the castle walls. In 1870, orphaned Daisy François takes a position as a housemaid at a Wisconsin castle to escape the horrors of her past life. There she finds a reclusive and eccentric Gothic authoress who hides tales more harrowing than the ones in her novels. As women disappear from the area and the eerie circumstances seem to parallel a local legend, Daisy is thrust into a web that could ultimately steal her sanity, if not her life. In the present day, Cleo Clemmons is hired by the grandson of an American aristocratic family to help his grandmother face her hoarding in the dilapidated Castle Moreau. But when Cleo uncovers more than just the woman's stash of collectibles, a century-old mystery and the dust of the old castle's curse threaten to rise again . . . this time to leave no one alive to tell the sordid tale.

I wanted to like this book because I loved the idea, but I couldn't.

29. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: The Illustrated Edition by J.K. Rowling and Jim Kay
Bingo - Popular author's first novel
Harry Potter re-read - book 1

Award-winning artist Jim Kay now fully illustrates the beloved first book of the Harry Potter series. Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility. All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley - a big, swollen, spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years. But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry - and anyone who reads about him - will find unforgettable.

10 stars. The illustrations are beautiful and highly detailed and only add to the enjoyment of the book.
This is my first re-read of the series. I found it still an enjoyable read and was intrigued to go back and read the stories now that we all know the ending. I found myself quickly drawn back into the books and interpreting certain parts differently now that I know the whole story. The amount of foreshadowing in the first book is unbelievable. I can't wait until next month and the next Hogwarts adventure, from a loyal Hufflepuff.

Touchstone does not go to the right book - https://www.librarything.com/work/5403381/book/235042089

30. Dear Coca-Cola by Terry Ravenscoft
Kindle
Nonfiction

Putting pen to paper with hilarious results, in Dear Coca-Cola Terry Ravenscroft homes in on the Food & Drink industry. Household names such as Heinz, McDonald's, Tesco, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and those wonderful people at Coca-Cola are the targets for his entertaining epistles, resulting in a laugh-out-loud letters book with a difference.

As a customer service rep, I did not find these intentionally funny letters to real companies as hilarious as most seem to find them. Although I was amused by the sheer amount of stock letters and coupons he received in reply.

31.Shiners by John T Biggs
Bingo - local or regional author
ScaredyKit - Indie Month

What’s the matter with Glenna? When you get struck by lightning before you're even born, things can only get worse—or that’s what everyone believes. Poor Glenna is a pretty girl but her brain has been short-circuited. She hardly ever talks. When she does, it's mostly to people no one else can see. She calls them Shiners. Maybe they’re ghosts. Maybe they’re Indian spirits. Glenna isn’t sure, but her invisible friends come in handy when unsavory men try to take advantage of the childlike young woman. A charismatic preacher takes a special interest in Glenna. He whisks her away to his Paraguayan mission where he can have her all to himself. But she finds lots of friends in the rainforest—more Shiners. They’ve been waiting for someone like Glenna for more than a thousand years. Could she be the messianic visitor the spirits and the natives have awaited for so long?

This was not as promising as the description. The Shiners are more just window dressing than actually involved as the blurb led me to believe.The book was a good read, but I don't think a plot was ever truly contrived. It is just the story of the life of Glenna and how being struck by lightning gave her an ability that affected her and others around her.

>85 lowelibrary: I have the first three illustrated books, too, and yes, they are so beautiful! I just finished my first read of the series, but plan to reread them in these editions in a few years. I also agree about the foreshadowing - now that I have read all the books, I am amazed by the amount of it!

32. The Dark Side of Apple Pie, Baby Food, & Bunnies by Ken Lytle and Katie Corcoran Lytle
Non-fiction

Everything is not always as it seems—it's usually worse. From cute and cuddly kittens that carry parasites to the cotton gin sealing the fate of American slaves, you'll find a fascinating look into the flippin' flip side of life that is as hilarious as it is horrifying. Even the warmest and fuzziest things have a dark side—and this book guarantees you'll never look at anything the same way again.

While I did learn some new things, the book was very dull. Here is a cute thing, here is what is bad about it, and here is one time the bad thing happened.

33. I Love You Like No Otter by Rose Rossner
Gifts - Birthday 2023

There's no better way to say "I love you" than with a sweet and heartfelt animal pun book! I Love You Like No Otter combines a warm message of love with beautifully illustrated animals families will love to read and share together. From baby shower gifts for new parents to bedtime read-alouds all year long, this adorable board book is purrfect for anyone you love beary much!

A gift from my husband for my birthday. He knows I am a sucker for puns and baby animals. Very cute puns with adorable illustrations by Sydney Hanson

34. Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton
Bingo - a plant in the title or on the cover
Mystery - Paranormal

The debut that kicked off twenty-two books (and counting...) of the bestselling, beloved Aunt Dimity series. Watch out for Nancy Atherton's latest, Aunt Dimity and the King's Ransom, coming in July 2018 from Viking!

Lori Shepherd thought Aunt Dimity was just a character in a bedtime story...Until the Dickensian law firm of Willis & Willis summons her to a reading of the woman's will. Down-on-her-luck Lori learns she's about to inherit--if she can discover the secret hidden in a treasure trove of letters in Dimity's English country cottage. What begins as a fairy tale becomes a mystery--and a ghost story--in an improbably cozy setting, as Aunt Dimity's indomitable spirit leads Lori on an otherworldly quest to discover how, in this life, true love can conquer all.

A cute introduction to the cozy series. Aunt Dimity is a ghost although, in this book, she did not have much to do with solving the mystery. This book struck me as more of an introduction to the characters instead of a full-fledged mystery.

35. The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
Bingo - involves an accident
Favorite Authors
RandomKIT - Water, Water Everywhere

What would happen if we called on God for help and God actually appeared? A group of shipwrecked passengers pulls a strange man from the sea. He claims to be “the Lord.” And he says he can only save them if they all believe in him. Adrift in a raft after a deadly ship explosion, ten people struggle for survival at sea. Three days pass. Short on water, food, and hope, they spot a man floating in the waves. They pull him in.
“Thank the Lord we found you,” a passenger says. “I am the Lord,” the man whispers. So begins Mitch Albom’s most beguiling novel yet. The story is narrated by Benji, one of the passengers, who recounts the events in a notebook that is discovered—a year later—when the empty life raft washes up on the island of Montserrat. It falls to the island’s chief inspector, Jarty LeFleur, a man battling his own demons, to solve the mystery of what really happened.

This book is easy to read and hard to put down. The story is interesting and the ending is unexpected (at least for me). While I am not a religious person, I am spiritual and love how Mitch Albom's books allow you to question these subjects and your own beliefs in a manner that does not lead you to a presumptive
conclusion.

MARCH READS

I read 13 books this month and discarded 1 Kindle books.

The best read was The Book Thief
The worst read was The Dark Side of Apple Pie, Baby Food and Bunnies

Ratings
5 star - 4 books
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone -re-read so disqualified from the best read
The Book Thief
I Love You Like No Otter
Native American Night Before Christmas
4 1/2 stars - 1 book
The Stranger in the Lifeboat
4 stars - 1 book
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Laughing with Obama
3 1/2 stars - 2 books
The Wolf's Hour
Aunt Dimity's Death
3 stars-1 book
Shiners
2 1/2 stars - 1 book
The Vanishing at Castle Moreau
2 stars - 1 book
Dear Coca-Cola
1 star - 1 book
The Dark Side of Apple Pie, Baby Food and Bunnies

Note to self: Reese's book club choice for March is still on hold at the library. Your goal to read 12 Alex Cross novels this year is behind 2 books. These 3 books will put you back on track to finish 150 by year-end.

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