2donan
TBR Plan
Fiction
The Princess Bride
The Secret of Platform 13-- I loved this book!
The Cuckoo's Calling-- Surprised by how much I enjoyed the main character. Perhaps too long... but I can never really tell if they wander more than needed.
Here Be Dragons-- not interested enough in these characters for 800 pages
Grasshopper Jungle-- too teenage boy for me
Postcards from No Man's Land-- started slow, enjoyed the character development but disappointed by the ending. Themes felt tired in 2023.
The White Darkness-- a strange book, tale of a madman who killed multiple people in his search for an underground world. Protagonist is caught up in his schemes. Compelling setting and history but such a disturbing plot.
Ulyssess
The Glass Sentence
We Are Ants
Everything I Never Told You
After Tupac and D Foster:Jacqueline Woodson writes beautiful characters.
Orphan Train: some time I find the parallel time/character setting too gimmicky. It worked here.
Ajax Penumbra 1969: clever plot and setting in this monograph
The Moviegoer
Today Will Be Different
A Duty to the Dead
The Underground Railroad
The Jesus Cow: 70 pages in and I just didn't care about main characters.
Ask the Passengers
Just a Couple of Days
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald
Drown
Memoirs
Heart Berries
We Came, We Saw, We Left
The Year of Magical Thinking-- counted in BingoDog
The Color of Water-- beautifully written, compelling plot, amazing people
So Many Books So Little Time
The Getaway Car-- couldn't find a copy of this. Apparently released as a Kindle single but no longer available
A Severe Mercy-- on Kindle unlimited
H is for Hawk
The Irrational Season
Waiting for God
Letters by a Modern Mystic
Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching
The In-Between: Embracing the Tension between now and the next big thing
Spare-- fascinating but a bit too long. Driven by frustration with the press.
All My Knotted-Up Life
I'm Glad My Mom Died
Counting the Cost
Fiction
The Princess Bride
The Secret of Platform 13-- I loved this book!
The Cuckoo's Calling-- Surprised by how much I enjoyed the main character. Perhaps too long... but I can never really tell if they wander more than needed.
Postcards from No Man's Land-- started slow, enjoyed the character development but disappointed by the ending. Themes felt tired in 2023.
The White Darkness-- a strange book, tale of a madman who killed multiple people in his search for an underground world. Protagonist is caught up in his schemes. Compelling setting and history but such a disturbing plot.
Ulyssess
We Are Ants
Everything I Never Told You
After Tupac and D Foster:Jacqueline Woodson writes beautiful characters.
Orphan Train: some time I find the parallel time/character setting too gimmicky. It worked here.
Ajax Penumbra 1969: clever plot and setting in this monograph
Today Will Be Different
A Duty to the Dead
The Underground Railroad
Ask the Passengers
Just a Couple of Days
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald
Drown
Memoirs
Heart Berries
We Came, We Saw, We Left
The Year of Magical Thinking-- counted in BingoDog
The Color of Water-- beautifully written, compelling plot, amazing people
A Severe Mercy-- on Kindle unlimited
H is for Hawk
The Irrational Season
Waiting for God
Letters by a Modern Mystic
Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching
The In-Between: Embracing the Tension between now and the next big thing
Spare-- fascinating but a bit too long. Driven by frustration with the press.
All My Knotted-Up Life
I'm Glad My Mom Died
Counting the Cost
3donan
Bingo Dog
Finished 10/22/23
Completed
1. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev-- I almost gave up in the first third. I didn't find anything compelling to keep me reading. And then, the bombshell dropped and I was hooked. Opal and SarahLena are compelling, thoughtful characters. Grateful for this book.
2. Keeper of Enchanted Rooms
3. Breakfast at Tiffany's
4. Kingdom of the Blind-- Armand Gamache always helps me appreciate life.
5. The Water Dancer
6. The Year of Magical Thinking
7. America Jake Grafton #9-- I remember this political thriller genre from 20 years ago. I didn't like it then and I still don't. Good to try new things but not my cup of tea.
8. The Bean Trees: A Novel-- delightful characters. Intriguing setting. Enjoyable.
9. Replay
10. Hermanas
11. The Messy Lives of Book People
12. The Miniturist-- I had such high hopes for this book but the plot fell flat for me. In end, I wasn't even sure what role the Miniturist played in the plot?!
13. From the Desk of Zoe Washington-- KiddieCat February.
14. A Red Herring Without Mustard-- Flavia De Luce is at is again-- delightful 11 year old.
15. Lessons in Chemistry-- delightful! Strong female protagonist. Strong historical setting. Mystery. Happy ending. This book has all the things I love!
16. The Pearl That Broke Its Shell-- beautiful family story about the strength of women in the face of incredible odds.
17. Strange The Dreamer
18. The Goldfinch
19. Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs-- compelling stories about the people behind the war on drugs which argue for various forms of legalization
20. Love Medicine-- a collection of short stories about a Native ended family. I appreciated the variety of characters.
21. Peak
22. Nine Liars
23. Promise Boys
24. The Aquanaut
25. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow-- Friendship, love, pain and creativity through the ups and downs and life. Love it! (maybe move to 18?)
Bingos
#1: 3/11
#2: 4/2
#3: 4/23
#4 & 5: 5/26
#6: 8/30
#7: 9/9
#8 & #9: 10/12
#10, #11, #12: 10/22
Finished 10/22/23
Completed
1. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev-- I almost gave up in the first third. I didn't find anything compelling to keep me reading. And then, the bombshell dropped and I was hooked. Opal and SarahLena are compelling, thoughtful characters. Grateful for this book.
2. Keeper of Enchanted Rooms
3. Breakfast at Tiffany's
4. Kingdom of the Blind-- Armand Gamache always helps me appreciate life.
5. The Water Dancer
6. The Year of Magical Thinking
7. America Jake Grafton #9-- I remember this political thriller genre from 20 years ago. I didn't like it then and I still don't. Good to try new things but not my cup of tea.
8. The Bean Trees: A Novel-- delightful characters. Intriguing setting. Enjoyable.
9. Replay
10. Hermanas
11. The Messy Lives of Book People
12. The Miniturist-- I had such high hopes for this book but the plot fell flat for me. In end, I wasn't even sure what role the Miniturist played in the plot?!
13. From the Desk of Zoe Washington-- KiddieCat February.
14. A Red Herring Without Mustard-- Flavia De Luce is at is again-- delightful 11 year old.
15. Lessons in Chemistry-- delightful! Strong female protagonist. Strong historical setting. Mystery. Happy ending. This book has all the things I love!
16. The Pearl That Broke Its Shell-- beautiful family story about the strength of women in the face of incredible odds.
17. Strange The Dreamer
18. The Goldfinch
19. Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs-- compelling stories about the people behind the war on drugs which argue for various forms of legalization
20. Love Medicine-- a collection of short stories about a Native ended family. I appreciated the variety of characters.
21. Peak
22. Nine Liars
23. Promise Boys
24. The Aquanaut
25. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow-- Friendship, love, pain and creativity through the ups and downs and life. Love it! (maybe move to 18?)
Bingos
#1: 3/11
#2: 4/2
#3: 4/23
#4 & 5: 5/26
#6: 8/30
#7: 9/9
#8 & #9: 10/12
#10, #11, #12: 10/22
4donan
Good Housekeeping 50 Books Every Woman Should Read Before 40
Well, I didn't make this cutoff but since I'm still in my *early* 40s, I'm going to keep working at it. Of course, I want to read more classics by women. I have finished 19 and have 31 left to read (or re-read... I'm not counting the time I read Diary of Anne Frank in high school)
Total: 10/30
Up Next:
Ain't I A Woman: Black Women and Feminism
The Beauty Myth
Fear of Flying
Feminine Mystique
A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories
Jane Eyre
The Joy Luck Club
Finished:
The Bean Trees: A Novel
The Goldfinch
The House of Spirits
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl-- I find it shocking that I have never read this book. It is delightful. Not at all what I expected-- much more dialogue on the interior of Anna as an adolescent.
The Color Purple-- I thought I had read this book but I think that I confused it with Beloved. So much hope in this story for life after suffering.
The Bell Jar
In Time of Butterflies
Interpreter of Maladies
A Visit From the Goon Squad
The Liar's Club: A Memoir
Well, I didn't make this cutoff but since I'm still in my *early* 40s, I'm going to keep working at it. Of course, I want to read more classics by women. I have finished 19 and have 31 left to read (or re-read... I'm not counting the time I read Diary of Anne Frank in high school)
Total: 10/30
Up Next:
Ain't I A Woman: Black Women and Feminism
The Beauty Myth
Feminine Mystique
Jane Eyre
The Joy Luck Club
Finished:
The Bean Trees: A Novel
The Goldfinch
The House of Spirits
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl-- I find it shocking that I have never read this book. It is delightful. Not at all what I expected-- much more dialogue on the interior of Anna as an adolescent.
The Color Purple-- I thought I had read this book but I think that I confused it with Beloved. So much hope in this story for life after suffering.
The Bell Jar
In Time of Butterflies
Interpreter of Maladies
A Visit From the Goon Squad
The Liar's Club: A Memoir
5donan
IVP challenge
One book a month for a total of 12 in the year... is it possible? Record so far is 10.
Currently reading
Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church
Finished
1. Calling in Context
2. Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal-- a perfect length book to give to someone learning about the liturgical tradition. Not overly technical but gives background. Not quite a devotional. Potentially good to use with a team.
3. A Multitude of All Peoples: Engaging Ancient Christianity's Global Identity-- took Mamher Bantu's class so read this in conjunction with Early African and Asian Church History
4. Hermanas: Deepening Our Identity and Growing Our Influence
5. Restless Devices
6. Advent: The Season of Hope
One book a month for a total of 12 in the year... is it possible? Record so far is 10.
Currently reading
Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church
Finished
1. Calling in Context
2. Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal-- a perfect length book to give to someone learning about the liturgical tradition. Not overly technical but gives background. Not quite a devotional. Potentially good to use with a team.
3. A Multitude of All Peoples: Engaging Ancient Christianity's Global Identity-- took Mamher Bantu's class so read this in conjunction with Early African and Asian Church History
4. Hermanas: Deepening Our Identity and Growing Our Influence
5. Restless Devices
6. Advent: The Season of Hope
6donan
CATS and KITS
RandomKIT
9/12
January: And the Pursuit of Happiness
February: Clap When You Land which has two people on the cover. Beautifully written in verse.
March: related to water so thinking about Freshwater Road
April: New Boy which was intriguing, well-written and made me think,
May: royal names-- Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
June: Walls-- tried The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez but didn't seem like the right time. What else might fit here?
July: Muppets-- I couldn't think of a better fit for this category than Crenshaw. With a giant cat on the cover (which my daughter insists is purple), this is a sweet story of a 5th grade wrestling with his parents' underemployment. He remembers a previous period of living in their family van and worries that might happen again. Crenshaw (his imaginary friend) helps him figure out what to say and when about his worries. Great juvenile fiction!
August: Bravely--- I thought this book might celebrate bravery but I think it celebrates the human spirit. Lovely Merida story.
September: Western genre so I moved Some Kind of Courage here as it is 12 year old in late 1800s Central Washington (Cashmere, Ellensburg, Yakima)
October: a treat which for me meant a Flavia De Luce novel so I read The Dead in their Vaulted Arches which was a fascinating development to Flavia's story including more details about her mom and aunt. I also read The Curious Case of the Copper Corpse because it was a novella that seemed like an easy tag-a-long. Novella stood on its own. Nothing notable.
November: a little light, planning on Hello Sunshine
December: Wildwood Dancing
KiddyCAT
6/12
January: Stargazing
February: YA/Children's Mystery so I read From the Desk of Zoe Washington
March: YA Historical fiction likeCode Name Verity, so glad that I went with The Black Kids-- '92 LA Riot, coming of age story.
April: Middle Grade/YA Fantasy like The Glass Sentence
May: Middle Grade/YA Classic like The Diary of Anne Frank
June: Animal Classics like Black Beauty or Rascal
July: Arts & Crafts through Pocket Full of Colors which was delightful
August: Series through The Truth About Stacey, graphic novel style. Loved this update.
September: Children's history or biography
October: Featuring siblings
November: Fairy Tales
RandomKIT
9/12
January: And the Pursuit of Happiness
February: Clap When You Land which has two people on the cover. Beautifully written in verse.
March: related to water so thinking about Freshwater Road
April: New Boy which was intriguing, well-written and made me think,
May: royal names-- Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
June: Walls-- tried The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez but didn't seem like the right time. What else might fit here?
July: Muppets-- I couldn't think of a better fit for this category than Crenshaw. With a giant cat on the cover (which my daughter insists is purple), this is a sweet story of a 5th grade wrestling with his parents' underemployment. He remembers a previous period of living in their family van and worries that might happen again. Crenshaw (his imaginary friend) helps him figure out what to say and when about his worries. Great juvenile fiction!
August: Bravely--- I thought this book might celebrate bravery but I think it celebrates the human spirit. Lovely Merida story.
September: Western genre so I moved Some Kind of Courage here as it is 12 year old in late 1800s Central Washington (Cashmere, Ellensburg, Yakima)
October: a treat which for me meant a Flavia De Luce novel so I read The Dead in their Vaulted Arches which was a fascinating development to Flavia's story including more details about her mom and aunt. I also read The Curious Case of the Copper Corpse because it was a novella that seemed like an easy tag-a-long. Novella stood on its own. Nothing notable.
November: a little light, planning on Hello Sunshine
December: Wildwood Dancing
KiddyCAT
6/12
January: Stargazing
February: YA/Children's Mystery so I read From the Desk of Zoe Washington
March: YA Historical fiction like
April: Middle Grade/YA Fantasy like
May: Middle Grade/YA Classic like The Diary of Anne Frank
June: Animal Classics like Black Beauty or Rascal
July: Arts & Crafts through Pocket Full of Colors which was delightful
August: Series through The Truth About Stacey, graphic novel style. Loved this update.
September: Children's history or biography
October: Featuring siblings
November: Fairy Tales
7donan
Printz potentials
February: Promise Boys
March: group picked She is a Haunting but I'm going to read...
In Limbo: A Graphic Memoir
Nearer My Freedom: a unique book, combo of primary source documents with historical insets. I can see this being a powerful addition to a high school syllabus on abolition.
Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim: a compelling story with thoughtful writing about ethnicity and identity formation in high school. Highly recommend!
April: The Next New Syrian Girl-- loved the concept, powerful ending but the dialogue needed a boost.
May: Warrior Girl Unearthed-- I really liked this book especially the information about how native artifacts are/are not being returned
June: Forever is Now
July: Invisible Son
August: Give me a Sign
September: The Spirit Bears Its Teeth-- not the type of book I usually read so we'll seee...
October:
Plan A
Those Pink Mountain Nights
All the Fighting Parts
November: Bittersweet in the Hollow
December: Check & Mate
February: Promise Boys
March: group picked She is a Haunting but I'm going to read...
In Limbo: A Graphic Memoir
Nearer My Freedom: a unique book, combo of primary source documents with historical insets. I can see this being a powerful addition to a high school syllabus on abolition.
Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim: a compelling story with thoughtful writing about ethnicity and identity formation in high school. Highly recommend!
April: The Next New Syrian Girl-- loved the concept, powerful ending but the dialogue needed a boost.
May: Warrior Girl Unearthed-- I really liked this book especially the information about how native artifacts are/are not being returned
June: Forever is Now
July: Invisible Son
August: Give me a Sign
September: The Spirit Bears Its Teeth-- not the type of book I usually read so we'll seee...
October:
Plan A
Those Pink Mountain Nights
All the Fighting Parts
November: Bittersweet in the Hollow
December: Check & Mate
8donan
For the books that don't fit in another category...
...and I read them anyway!
Finished
1. Becoming Brave: I expected this book to be more of a memoir so I was bummed when it didn't meet my expectations. I found the conclusions (with calls to action) to be the most compelling. Exegesis of Esther was interesting and very different from my own reading of that text.
2. How Did I Get Here: Finding Your Way Back to God When Everything is Pulling You Away-- I loved the bookends of this one-- ringing the bell to get out of the challenge vs. ringing bells in celebration. Fine devotional reading but not the depth I was hoping to find (with the exception of intro, chapter 1 and conclusion)
3. Praying Like Monks Living Like Fools
4. Rooted Leadership
5. The Ordination of Women for class
6. The World According to Humphrey-- the only completed audiobook for our family during our Hawaiian drives
7. Redwall-- read-aloud with my soon. I wasn't sure he'd make it through with all the dying but he the story drew him in. I loved the vocabulary and rich characterizations. We're going to keep reading in this series!
8. Mr. Kiss and Tell-- always love me some Veronica Mars.
9. The Woman They Wanted-- memoir that released August 2023.
10. Demon Copperhead because everyone was talking about it. Loved the characters. Found the plot challenging (predictable? necessary trope?) and did not enjoy the ending.
11. How Far to the Promised Land
...and I read them anyway!
Finished
1. Becoming Brave: I expected this book to be more of a memoir so I was bummed when it didn't meet my expectations. I found the conclusions (with calls to action) to be the most compelling. Exegesis of Esther was interesting and very different from my own reading of that text.
2. How Did I Get Here: Finding Your Way Back to God When Everything is Pulling You Away-- I loved the bookends of this one-- ringing the bell to get out of the challenge vs. ringing bells in celebration. Fine devotional reading but not the depth I was hoping to find (with the exception of intro, chapter 1 and conclusion)
3. Praying Like Monks Living Like Fools
4. Rooted Leadership
5. The Ordination of Women for class
6. The World According to Humphrey-- the only completed audiobook for our family during our Hawaiian drives
7. Redwall-- read-aloud with my soon. I wasn't sure he'd make it through with all the dying but he the story drew him in. I loved the vocabulary and rich characterizations. We're going to keep reading in this series!
8. Mr. Kiss and Tell-- always love me some Veronica Mars.
9. The Woman They Wanted-- memoir that released August 2023.
10. Demon Copperhead because everyone was talking about it. Loved the characters. Found the plot challenging (predictable? necessary trope?) and did not enjoy the ending.
11. How Far to the Promised Land
9donan
NW Book Bingo 2023
Finished 08/17/23
1. Joyful: Forever is Now
2. Seattle Reads: The Turner House
3. Local Author: Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy. My daughter bought this before Christmas and encouraged me to read it. I put it off until it fit this category-- loved it especially the illustrations.
4. Hip Hop: On the Come Up
5. Includes a recipe: Voracious. I was more eager to finish this challenge than the book so I powered through. Interesting memoir-esque stories. Recipes a little too time consuming for my tastes.
6. Indigenous Author:Carry: A Memoir of Survival on Stolen Land
7. Recommended by an independent bookseller: Out There by Seaerra Miller-- middle grade graphic novel recommended by Powells. Loved the art. Liked the story.
8. Translated: The Story of the Lost Child
9. Sea creatures: Remarkably Bright Creatures
10. Trans or nonbinary author: Icebreaker could have been great.
11. Library book list or display:The Talk
12. True crime or crime fiction: The Wager
13. Free
14. A SAL speaker: A Better Man
15. Workers' Rights: Radium Girls
16. Debut essays or short stories: Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions: A Novel in Interlocking Stories
17. Older protagonist: The Wyrd Sisters
18. Chosen by the cover: Pet
19. BIPOC Poetry Collection: Call Us What We Carry: Poems
20. Manga or Graphic Novel: Class Act
21. Read with a friend: Good and Beautiful and Kind
22. BIPOC or LGBTQIA Horror: Scout's Honor-- surprising delightful
23. Audiobook or E-book: Finding Me
24. Same author, different genre #1: The House of the Spirits
25. Same author, different genre #2: The Soul of a Woman
Finished 08/17/23
1. Joyful: Forever is Now
2. Seattle Reads: The Turner House
3. Local Author: Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy. My daughter bought this before Christmas and encouraged me to read it. I put it off until it fit this category-- loved it especially the illustrations.
4. Hip Hop: On the Come Up
5. Includes a recipe: Voracious. I was more eager to finish this challenge than the book so I powered through. Interesting memoir-esque stories. Recipes a little too time consuming for my tastes.
6. Indigenous Author:Carry: A Memoir of Survival on Stolen Land
7. Recommended by an independent bookseller: Out There by Seaerra Miller-- middle grade graphic novel recommended by Powells. Loved the art. Liked the story.
8. Translated: The Story of the Lost Child
9. Sea creatures: Remarkably Bright Creatures
10. Trans or nonbinary author: Icebreaker could have been great.
11. Library book list or display:The Talk
12. True crime or crime fiction: The Wager
13. Free
14. A SAL speaker: A Better Man
15. Workers' Rights: Radium Girls
16. Debut essays or short stories: Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions: A Novel in Interlocking Stories
17. Older protagonist: The Wyrd Sisters
18. Chosen by the cover: Pet
19. BIPOC Poetry Collection: Call Us What We Carry: Poems
20. Manga or Graphic Novel: Class Act
21. Read with a friend: Good and Beautiful and Kind
22. BIPOC or LGBTQIA Horror: Scout's Honor-- surprising delightful
23. Audiobook or E-book: Finding Me
24. Same author, different genre #1: The House of the Spirits
25. Same author, different genre #2: The Soul of a Woman
10thornton37814
Enjoy your 2023 reads!
11rabbitprincess
Welcome back and have a great reading year!
15lowelibrary
Good luck with your 2023 reading.
17DeltaQueen50
Enjoy your 8th year of the Category Challenge!
