Kristel's 2025 Journal
This topic was continued by Kristel's 2025 Journal 2nd Quarter.
Talk 75 Books Challenge for 2025
Join LibraryThing to post.
1Kristelh
A New Year is like a blank book and the pen is in my hands. It is my chance to write a beautiful story. I will continue to participate in various challenges.
Reading1001
Booker and International Booker
Pulitzer
American Author
British Author
The European Tour Challenge
Benreadsgood challenge
Reading1001
Booker and International Booker
Pulitzer
American Author
British Author
The European Tour Challenge
Benreadsgood challenge
2Kristelh
Reading 1001
Year Long Read: Tale Genji
Quarterly Reads:
Daniel Deronda April -June
Botm and others
The Circle - Dave Eggers
Spring Flowers, Spring Frost
Sunset Song
England Made Me
Cranford
Elective Affinities
Others
The Professor's House - Willa Cather
Night Boat to Tangier
The Successor
Doctor Zhivago
The Story of the Lost Child
TBRtakedown
READING1001, 2025 TBR takedown
1. The Joke - Milan Kundera (H)
2. Quicksand - Nella Larson (H)
3. Cement Garden - Ian McEwan (H)
January 4. The Heather Blazing - Toibin (H, B) COMPLETED
5. Wise Blood - O’Connor (H)
6. Tropic of Cancer - Miller (H)
7. Tropic of Capricorn - Miller (H)
8. Berlin Alexanderplatz (A)
9. Life Life - Moore (H)
10. Anagrams - Moore (H)
11. Violent bear it away - O’Connor (H)
March12. Coming Up For Air - Orwell (H) COMPLETED
13. Keep the Aspidistra Flying - Orwell (H)
February 14. Doctor Zhivago - (L,B) COMPLETED
15. Sabbath’s Theater (L)
16. Operation Shylock (L)
17. The Notebook of Malte Laurids Brigge (H)
18. The Moor’s Last sigh - Rushdie (H)
19. The Devil’s Pool (H)
20. London Orbital (A)
21. Viper’s Tangle (H)
22. Ben Hur (A)
April23. Smiley’s People (H) April’s tbr
24. The Home and the World (H)
Year Long Read: Tale Genji
Quarterly Reads:
Daniel Deronda April -June
Botm and others
The Circle - Dave Eggers
Spring Flowers, Spring Frost
Sunset Song
England Made Me
Cranford
Elective Affinities
Others
The Professor's House - Willa Cather
Night Boat to Tangier
The Successor
Doctor Zhivago
The Story of the Lost Child
TBRtakedown
READING1001, 2025 TBR takedown
1. The Joke - Milan Kundera (H)
2. Quicksand - Nella Larson (H)
3. Cement Garden - Ian McEwan (H)
January 4. The Heather Blazing - Toibin (H, B) COMPLETED
5. Wise Blood - O’Connor (H)
6. Tropic of Cancer - Miller (H)
7. Tropic of Capricorn - Miller (H)
8. Berlin Alexanderplatz (A)
9. Life Life - Moore (H)
10. Anagrams - Moore (H)
11. Violent bear it away - O’Connor (H)
March12. Coming Up For Air - Orwell (H) COMPLETED
13. Keep the Aspidistra Flying - Orwell (H)
February 14. Doctor Zhivago - (L,B) COMPLETED
15. Sabbath’s Theater (L)
16. Operation Shylock (L)
17. The Notebook of Malte Laurids Brigge (H)
18. The Moor’s Last sigh - Rushdie (H)
19. The Devil’s Pool (H)
20. London Orbital (A)
21. Viper’s Tangle (H)
22. Ben Hur (A)
April23. Smiley’s People (H) April’s tbr
24. The Home and the World (H)
3Kristelh
Booker Unread
BOOKER Unread
1. 1969: P. H. Newby, Something to Answer For - Own
2. 1970: Bernice Rubens, The Elected Member - OWN
3. 1972: John Berger, G. - OWN-K
4. Holiday - Stanley Middleton OWN
5. 1976: David Storey, Saville
6. 1984: Anita Brookner, Hotel du Lac - OWN
7. 1985: Keri Hulme, The Bone People
8. Barry Unsworth, Sacred Hunger
9. 1993: Roddy Doyle, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha OWN
10 1999: J. M. Coetzee, Disgrace - OWN
11. 2001: Peter Carey, True History of the Kelly Gang-
12. 2003: DBC Pierre, Vernon God Little
14. 2021, The Promise by Damon Galgut READ
Booker International
15. 2018 - Flights - Olga Tokarczuk - Poland OWN
16.2019 - Celestial Bodies - Jokha al-Hearth - Oman (Hoopla)
17. 2020 - The Discomfort of Evening - Marieke Lucas Rijneveld - Netherlands
18. 2022 - Tomb of Sand - Geetanjali Shree - India (Hoopla)
19.2024- Kairos - Jenny
BOOKER Unread
1. 1969: P. H. Newby, Something to Answer For - Own
2. 1970: Bernice Rubens, The Elected Member - OWN
3. 1972: John Berger, G. - OWN-K
4. Holiday - Stanley Middleton OWN
5. 1976: David Storey, Saville
6. 1984: Anita Brookner, Hotel du Lac - OWN
7. 1985: Keri Hulme, The Bone People
8. Barry Unsworth, Sacred Hunger
9. 1993: Roddy Doyle, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha OWN
10 1999: J. M. Coetzee, Disgrace - OWN
11. 2001: Peter Carey, True History of the Kelly Gang-
12. 2003: DBC Pierre, Vernon God Little
14. 2021, The Promise by Damon Galgut READ
Booker International
15. 2018 - Flights - Olga Tokarczuk - Poland OWN
16.2019 - Celestial Bodies - Jokha al-Hearth - Oman (Hoopla)
17. 2020 - The Discomfort of Evening - Marieke Lucas Rijneveld - Netherlands
18. 2022 - Tomb of Sand - Geetanjali Shree - India (Hoopla)
19.2024- Kairos - Jenny
4Kristelh
Pulitzer
Pulitzer
1. 1918 HIS FAMILY - Ernest Poole
2. 1923 ONE OF OURS - Willa Cather
3. 1924 THE ABLE MCLAUGHLINS - Margaret Wilson
4. 1926 ARROWSMITH - Sinclair Lewis (Declined) library COMPLETED 2/13/25
5. 1927 EARLY AUTUMN - Louis Bromfield
6. 1929 SCARLET SISTER MARY - Julia Peterkin
7. 1930 LAUGHING BOY - Oliver Lafarge Own
8. 1939 THE YEARLING - Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
9. 1943 DRAGON'S TEETH - Upton Sinclair
10. 1945 A BELL FOR ADANO - John Hersey
11. 1947 ALL THE KING'S MEN - Robert Penn Warren
12. 1952 THE CAINE MUTINY - Herman Wouk
13. 1955 A FABLE - William Faulkner
14. 1956 ANDERSONVILLE - McKinlay Kantor
15. 1963 THE REIVERS - William Faulkner
16. 1968 THE CONFESSIONS OF NAT TURNER - William Styron
17. 1970 THE COLLECTED STORIES OF JEAN STAFFORD - Jean Stafford (audio/Hoopla)
18. 1985 FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Alison Lurie (audible)
19. 1987 A SOMMONS TO MEMPHIS - Peter Taylor (Hoopla)
20. 1990 THE MAMBO KINGS PLAY SONGS OF LOVE - Oscar Hijuelos (audible
21. 1991 RABBIT AT REST - John Updike (audible)
22. 1993 A GOOD SCENT FROM A STRANGE MOUNTAIN - Robert Olen Butler (audible)
23. 1996 INDEPENDENCE DAY - Richard Ford (hoopla)
24. 1997 MARTIN DRESSLER - Steven Millhauser (hoopla)
Pulitzer
1. 1918 HIS FAMILY - Ernest Poole
2. 1923 ONE OF OURS - Willa Cather
3. 1924 THE ABLE MCLAUGHLINS - Margaret Wilson
4. 1926 ARROWSMITH - Sinclair Lewis (Declined) library COMPLETED 2/13/25
5. 1927 EARLY AUTUMN - Louis Bromfield
6. 1929 SCARLET SISTER MARY - Julia Peterkin
7. 1930 LAUGHING BOY - Oliver Lafarge Own
8. 1939 THE YEARLING - Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
9. 1943 DRAGON'S TEETH - Upton Sinclair
10. 1945 A BELL FOR ADANO - John Hersey
11. 1947 ALL THE KING'S MEN - Robert Penn Warren
12. 1952 THE CAINE MUTINY - Herman Wouk
13. 1955 A FABLE - William Faulkner
14. 1956 ANDERSONVILLE - McKinlay Kantor
15. 1963 THE REIVERS - William Faulkner
16. 1968 THE CONFESSIONS OF NAT TURNER - William Styron
17. 1970 THE COLLECTED STORIES OF JEAN STAFFORD - Jean Stafford (audio/Hoopla)
18. 1985 FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Alison Lurie (audible)
19. 1987 A SOMMONS TO MEMPHIS - Peter Taylor (Hoopla)
20. 1990 THE MAMBO KINGS PLAY SONGS OF LOVE - Oscar Hijuelos (audible
21. 1991 RABBIT AT REST - John Updike (audible)
22. 1993 A GOOD SCENT FROM A STRANGE MOUNTAIN - Robert Olen Butler (audible)
23. 1996 INDEPENDENCE DAY - Richard Ford (hoopla)
24. 1997 MARTIN DRESSLER - Steven Millhauser (hoopla)
5Kristelh
American Author Challenge
American Author Challenge
JANUARY Pacific Northwest including Western BC and Southeastern Alaska
FEBRUARY -- MUSLIM AMERICAN AUTHORS PAUL: Ayann Hirsi Ali - Heretic
MARCH STEWART O’NAN Katie. Emily Alone
APRIL APPALACHIAN AUTHORS
MAY Pulitzer Prize Winners in HISTORY
JUNE Willy Vlautin
JULY ROMANCE LAURA
AUGUST True Crime & its Fictional Offspring
CAROLINE
SEPTEMBER Alice Hoffman
OCTOBER The Western KRISTEL https://www.servicescape.com/blog/book-genre-encyclopedia-144-genres-and-subgenr...
NOVEMBER David Treuer
DECEMBER Meg Wolitzer
WILD CARD: Select from the 2016 list
American Author Challenge
JANUARY Pacific Northwest including Western BC and Southeastern Alaska
FEBRUARY -- MUSLIM AMERICAN AUTHORS PAUL: Ayann Hirsi Ali - Heretic
MARCH STEWART O’NAN Katie. Emily Alone
APRIL APPALACHIAN AUTHORS
MAY Pulitzer Prize Winners in HISTORY
JUNE Willy Vlautin
JULY ROMANCE LAURA
AUGUST True Crime & its Fictional Offspring
CAROLINE
SEPTEMBER Alice Hoffman
OCTOBER The Western KRISTEL https://www.servicescape.com/blog/book-genre-encyclopedia-144-genres-and-subgenr...
NOVEMBER David Treuer
DECEMBER Meg Wolitzer
WILD CARD: Select from the 2016 list
6Kristelh
British Author Challenge
January: theater/arts
Morality Play by Barry Unsworth - Audible
The Praise Singer by Mary Renault - Audible $16.48
February: Kia Abdullah Truth be Told
& Adrian Tchaikovsky Walking to Aldebaran
March: Norah Lofts - none
The Lute Player (A)
Madselin (A)
The Wayside Tavern (a)
& Gerald Durrell (Hoopla) My Family and other Animals
April: PD James (Libby)
& Paul Bailey
May: Nancy Mitford
Pursuit of Love, Audible
& Paul Scott Raj Quartet
June: Tudor & Jacobean Eras (1485-1625)
July: Dodie Smith I capture the castle Hoopla
& Mervyn Peake Titus Alone (Hoopla)
August: Emily Tesh
& Alex Wheatle
September: Leone Ross & Alan Moore
October: Sarah Moss & Christopher Isherwood
November: Doctor Who and related series
December: Historical Mysteries
Wildcard: Susanna Clarke & Terry Pratchett
January: theater/arts
Morality Play by Barry Unsworth - Audible
The Praise Singer by Mary Renault - Audible $16.48
February: Kia Abdullah Truth be Told
& Adrian Tchaikovsky Walking to Aldebaran
March: Norah Lofts - none
The Lute Player (A)
Madselin (A)
The Wayside Tavern (a)
& Gerald Durrell (Hoopla) My Family and other Animals
April: PD James (Libby)
& Paul Bailey
May: Nancy Mitford
Pursuit of Love, Audible
& Paul Scott Raj Quartet
June: Tudor & Jacobean Eras (1485-1625)
July: Dodie Smith I capture the castle Hoopla
& Mervyn Peake Titus Alone (Hoopla)
August: Emily Tesh
& Alex Wheatle
September: Leone Ross & Alan Moore
October: Sarah Moss & Christopher Isherwood
November: Doctor Who and related series
December: Historical Mysteries
Wildcard: Susanna Clarke & Terry Pratchett
7Kristelh
European Challenge:
January : Prelude - Europe in the 19th Century (European Literature of the 19th Century)
The Children of the New Forest - Frederick Marryat
The Return of the Native
February : The Journey Begins - A Wider Scandinavia (Books by authors from Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland)
Let the Right One In - John Ajvide Lindqvist
Autumn - Karl Ove Knausgard
James Thompson - Snow Angels
March : Into the Red Zone - Books from authors from Countries which were part of the Warsaw Pact)
The Successor - Ismail Kadare (Albania)
Read Spring Flowers, Spring Frost in February
April : Scimitar and Cross - Books from authors from European Countries within the Ottoman Empire
The Last Tempation of Christ (Audible)
May : Interlude - Non National Languages - Books originally written in European languages that are not tied to a particular nation i.e. Yiddish, Regional languages such as Catalan, French, Spanish and Portuguese outside their borders including Latin America, Africa etc)
June : Caesar to Meloni - Books written originally in Latin or Italian.
July : The Germanic World - Books written by authors writing in German from Germany, Austria, Switzerland
August : Anita Fameulstee Memorial Month - Books by authors from the Benelux countries (Netherlands, Belgium. Luxembourg)
September : Interlude #2 - Books About Places in Europe (Travel, Non-fiction)
October : La Belle France - Books by Authors from France
November : The Iberian Peninsula - Books by Spanish authors
December : Welcome Back to the Future - Translated Literature in the 21st Century
January : Prelude - Europe in the 19th Century (European Literature of the 19th Century)
The Children of the New Forest - Frederick Marryat
The Return of the Native
February : The Journey Begins - A Wider Scandinavia (Books by authors from Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland)
Let the Right One In - John Ajvide Lindqvist
Autumn - Karl Ove Knausgard
James Thompson - Snow Angels
March : Into the Red Zone - Books from authors from Countries which were part of the Warsaw Pact)
The Successor - Ismail Kadare (Albania)
Read Spring Flowers, Spring Frost in February
April : Scimitar and Cross - Books from authors from European Countries within the Ottoman Empire
The Last Tempation of Christ (Audible)
May : Interlude - Non National Languages - Books originally written in European languages that are not tied to a particular nation i.e. Yiddish, Regional languages such as Catalan, French, Spanish and Portuguese outside their borders including Latin America, Africa etc)
June : Caesar to Meloni - Books written originally in Latin or Italian.
July : The Germanic World - Books written by authors writing in German from Germany, Austria, Switzerland
August : Anita Fameulstee Memorial Month - Books by authors from the Benelux countries (Netherlands, Belgium. Luxembourg)
September : Interlude #2 - Books About Places in Europe (Travel, Non-fiction)
October : La Belle France - Books by Authors from France
November : The Iberian Peninsula - Books by Spanish authors
December : Welcome Back to the Future - Translated Literature in the 21st Century
8Kristelh
Benreadsgood challenge for 2025
1. January: Ann-uary - Read a book by an author called Ann, or with Ann in the title (115 added)
Anne, An, Annie and any other variation also count.
2. February: Flame-uary - Read a book with fire on the cover (103 added)
We're looking for an image of fire here, not just the word - but if it has both then great!
3. March: Ides of March - Read a book with 15 letters in the title (135 added)
The Ides of March was the 15th of March on the Roman calendar, and most famous for being the day Julius Caesar was betrayed and murdered.
But this prompt isn't about Caesar - we're just going with the whole '15th' thing.
Looking for a book with 15 characters in the title. Spaces and punctuation don't count, only letters.
4. April: Read a book nominated for the Women's Prize (100 added)
Read any book that has ever been nominated for the Women's Prize (fiction or non-fiction).
Full list of previous winners and shortlistees. If you want to venture into longlistees, you may need to look up each specific list.
5. May: May-ja Vu - Re-read a book, or read an author you've previously read (116 added)
This is here because I couldn't pass up the deja vu pun. And I don't re-read enough.
But if you hate re-reading, read a book by an author you've read before.
6. June: Reading Shame Forgiveness Month (92 added)
Everyone's favourite month-long public holiday is back!
Read that book you feel ashamed not to have read yet. Whether it's the book that's been on your shelf the longest, or one you've told everyone you already read but actually you haven't (you fibber). No judgement here.
7. July: Read a work in translation (116 added)
Pretty self-explanatory: read a book translated from one language to another.
8. August: Read a book by a Booker Prize-winning author (77 added)
Read any book by an author that has won the Booker Prize (either English language or International). It doesn't have to be their prize-winning book!
9. September: Sapphire September - Read a book with a blue cover (109 added)
Sapphire is the birthstone for September. I don't really subscribe to that sort of thing, but it was a nice opportunity to ask you to read something blue.
10. October: Ug-tober - Read a book with an ugly cover (104 added)
We all judge books by their covers, so don't feel bad about that. Maybe it's put you off a certain book until now. But it's time to get over it, dust that little ugly duckling off, and read it.
11. November: No Comfort November - Read something outside your comfort zone (92 added)
Switch up your reading. If you normally read lit fic, give romance a go. If you're a non-fiction aficionado, try some poetry. Maybe read about a subject that intimidates you, or a person you don't agree with.
12. December: Decem-bros - Read a book about brothers or brotherhood (55 added)
There are lots of books about sisters right now, so let's read something about brothers.
bonus
Wildcard: Agatha All Along (7 added)
Swap out any prompt you're struggling with for an Agatha Christie. You can do this once.
To make sure your reading challenge still looks complete, add your Agatha to this prompt, and to the prompt you're swapping.
If you see an erroneous Agatha in another prompt: the person isn't going mad, it's just their wildcard.
This is dedicated to the dearly missed Alice and the Giant Bookshelf.
1. January: Ann-uary - Read a book by an author called Ann, or with Ann in the title (115 added)
Anne, An, Annie and any other variation also count.
2. February: Flame-uary - Read a book with fire on the cover (103 added)
We're looking for an image of fire here, not just the word - but if it has both then great!
3. March: Ides of March - Read a book with 15 letters in the title (135 added)
The Ides of March was the 15th of March on the Roman calendar, and most famous for being the day Julius Caesar was betrayed and murdered.
But this prompt isn't about Caesar - we're just going with the whole '15th' thing.
Looking for a book with 15 characters in the title. Spaces and punctuation don't count, only letters.
4. April: Read a book nominated for the Women's Prize (100 added)
Read any book that has ever been nominated for the Women's Prize (fiction or non-fiction).
Full list of previous winners and shortlistees. If you want to venture into longlistees, you may need to look up each specific list.
5. May: May-ja Vu - Re-read a book, or read an author you've previously read (116 added)
This is here because I couldn't pass up the deja vu pun. And I don't re-read enough.
But if you hate re-reading, read a book by an author you've read before.
6. June: Reading Shame Forgiveness Month (92 added)
Everyone's favourite month-long public holiday is back!
Read that book you feel ashamed not to have read yet. Whether it's the book that's been on your shelf the longest, or one you've told everyone you already read but actually you haven't (you fibber). No judgement here.
7. July: Read a work in translation (116 added)
Pretty self-explanatory: read a book translated from one language to another.
8. August: Read a book by a Booker Prize-winning author (77 added)
Read any book by an author that has won the Booker Prize (either English language or International). It doesn't have to be their prize-winning book!
9. September: Sapphire September - Read a book with a blue cover (109 added)
Sapphire is the birthstone for September. I don't really subscribe to that sort of thing, but it was a nice opportunity to ask you to read something blue.
10. October: Ug-tober - Read a book with an ugly cover (104 added)
We all judge books by their covers, so don't feel bad about that. Maybe it's put you off a certain book until now. But it's time to get over it, dust that little ugly duckling off, and read it.
11. November: No Comfort November - Read something outside your comfort zone (92 added)
Switch up your reading. If you normally read lit fic, give romance a go. If you're a non-fiction aficionado, try some poetry. Maybe read about a subject that intimidates you, or a person you don't agree with.
12. December: Decem-bros - Read a book about brothers or brotherhood (55 added)
There are lots of books about sisters right now, so let's read something about brothers.
bonus
Wildcard: Agatha All Along (7 added)
Swap out any prompt you're struggling with for an Agatha Christie. You can do this once.
To make sure your reading challenge still looks complete, add your Agatha to this prompt, and to the prompt you're swapping.
If you see an erroneous Agatha in another prompt: the person isn't going mad, it's just their wildcard.
This is dedicated to the dearly missed Alice and the Giant Bookshelf.
9Kristelh
And reading Good literature from around the world;
*Favorite books by author/country.
Afghanistan
*A Thousand Splendid Sun (this author is now in US) Khaled Hosseini
The Patience Stone (this author is in France now) - Atiq Rahimi
Albania
*Broken April - Ismail Kadare
Spring Flowers, Spring Frost
Algeria
*The Plague - Albert Camus
Andorra
Angola
A General Theory of Oblivion - Jose Eduardo Agualusa
Antigua and Barbuda
*Annie John - Jamaica Kincaid
Argentina
Jorge Luis Borges - Fictions
*Fever Dream - Samanta Schwebin
Santa Evita - Tomas Eloy Martinez
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Armenia
Australia
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
The Deep Road to the North - Richard Flanagan
*Remembering Babylon = David Malouf
Austria
*Old Masters - Thomas Bernhard
The Piano Teacher - Elfriede Jelinek
Wittgenstein's Nephew - Thomas Bernhard
Correction - Thomas Bernhard
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Svetlana Alexievich Secondhand Time not read
Belgium
The Lion of Flanders - Hendrik Conscience
Fear and Trembling - Amelie Nothomb
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnian Chronicles - Ivo Andric (not read)
Bridge on the Drina - Ivo Andric (not read)
The Death and the Dervish - Meša Selimović (not read)
Botswana
Brazil
* Posthumous Memoir of Bras Cubas - Machado de Assis
Dom Casmurro- Machado de Assis
Devil in Pay in the Backland - Joao Guimaraes Rosa
Paulo Coelho
Brunei
Bulgaria
* Time Shelter - Georgi Gospodinov
Auto de Fe - Elia Canetti
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
*Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood
The Stone Diaries - Carol Shields
Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Alice Munro
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
Cape Verde
Central Affrican Republic
Chad
Chile
Robert Bolano Savage Detectives
*Of Love and Shadows - Isabel Allende
China
*Monkey King: Journey to the West
Half a Man is Woman
Columbia
Our Lady of Assassins - Fernando Vallejo
One Hundred Years of Solitude -
*Love in a Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Comoros
Congo, Democratric Republic
Congo, Republic of
Costa Rica
Cote d'Ivoire
Croatia
Slavenka Drakulic, want to read If I am Not There
Cuba
*The Lost Steps - Alejo Carpentier
Cyprus
*The Maidens - Alex Michaelides
Czech Republis
*Closely Watched Trains - Bohumil Hrabel
Milan Kundara
Denmark
*Smilla's Sense of Snow - Peter Høeg
Djibouti
Dominica
Phillis Shand Allfrey - The Orchid Housee (not read)
*Wide Sargasso Sea - Jean Rhys
Dominican Republic
* The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao - Junet Diaz
The Time of the Butterflies - Julia Alvarez
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
*Midaq Alley - Naguib Mahfouz
* Woman at Point Zero - Narwal El Saadawi
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
* Professor Martens' Departure - Jaan Kross
Ethiopia
*Cutting for Stone - Abraja, Verghese
The Shadow King - Maaza Mengiste (not read yet)
Fiji
Finland
The Year of the Hare - Arto Paasilinna
Purge - Sofi Oksanen (not read yet)
France
*Les Misérables - Victor Hugo
Life: a User's Manual - Georges Perec
Raymond Queneau, Guy de Maupassant, Honore de Balzac
Gabon
The Bambia
Georgia
Germany
*Buddenbrooks - Thomas Mann
The Safety Net - Heinrich Böll
Ghana
Greece
*Deadline in Athens - Pétros Márkarīs
Nikos Kazantzakis
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
*The Dark Child - Camara Laye
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
László Krasznahorkai Melancholy of Resistance
*Embers - Sándor Márai
Iceland
Independent People - Halldór Laxness
India
The Great Indian Novel - Shashi Tharoor
Indonesia
The Rainbow Troops - Andrea Hirata
Iran
The Blind Owl - Hidāyat, Ṣādiq
Reading Lolita in Tehran - Azar Nafisi
*Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi
Iraq
Ireland
*Amongst Women - John McGahern
The Sea - John Banville
Ulysses - James Joyce
Israel
The Myth of Samson - David Grossman
*To The End of the Land - David Grossman
Italy
I'm Not Scared - Niccolo Ammaniti
*If This is Man - Primo Levi
Jamaica
A Brief History of Seven Killings - Marion James
Japan
Kafka on the Shore - Haruki Murakami
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Dance of the Jakaranda - Peter Kimani
Ngũgĩ wa Thiongo
Kiribati
Kurdistan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Because They Hate - Brigitte Gabriel (NF)
Lesotho
Chaka - Thomas Mofolo (Wishlist)
Liberia
Libya
Hisham Matar - My Friends Booker Long list
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
*The Garden of Evening Mist - Tan Twan Eng
The Storm We Made - Vanessa Chan
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Island
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Life Water for Chocolate - Laura Esquivel
The Devil's Highway - Luis Alberto Urrea
Micronesia, Federated States of
Moldova
Monaco
Mozambique
Myanmar (Burma)
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
*All Souls' Day - Cees Nooteboom
Harry Mulisch
New Zealand
Keri Hulme
Janet Frame
Eleanor Catton
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Half a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
*Arrow of God - Chinua Achebe
North Korea
The Girl with Seven Names - Hyeonseo Lee
Norway
*Kristin lavransdatter - Sigrid Undset
Growth of Soil - Knut Hamsun
Jon Fosse Septology
Oman
Pakistan
Home Fire - Kamila Shamsie
The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Exit West
Palau
Palestine
A Woman is No Man - Etaf Rum
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Deep Rivers Jose Maria Arguerdas
Philippines
Poland
Drive your Plow over the Bones of the Dead - Olga Tokarczuk
Flights on my TBR, International Booker
Stanislaw Lem science fiction Solaris
Portugal
The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis- Jose Saramago
Qatar
Romania
Russia
*The First Circle - Aleksandr Solzehenitsyn
Anna Karenina - Tolstoy
Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
So Long a Letter - Mariama Bâ
Serbia
Dictionary of the Khazars - Miorad Pavic TBR
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Alamut - Vladimir Bartol
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
*Cry, the Beloved Country - Alan Paton
J.M. Coetzee
Nadine Gordimer
South Korea
The Vegetarian - Han Kang
South Sudan
Spain
The Hive - Camilo José Cela
Sri Lanka
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida - Shehan Karunatilaka
Sudan
Seasons of Migration to the North - Tayeb Salih
Suriname
Swaziland (Eswatini)
Sweden Let the Right One In John Ajvide Lindqvist
The Red Room - August Strindberg
Switzerland
The Judge and the Hangman - Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Syria
No Knives in the Kitchens of this City - Khālid Khalīfah
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Bangkok Wakes to Rain - Pitchaya Sudbanthad
Togo
Tongo
Trinidad and Tobago
A Bend in the River - V.S. Naipaul
Jumbies - Tracey Baptiste
Tunisia
Turkey
My Name is Red - Orhan Pamuk
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
A History of Burning -
Ukraine
The Cathedral - Oles Honchar
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
England
Day of the Triffids - John Wyndham
Scotland
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - Muriel Spark
Wales
Northern Ireland
C.S.Lewis - A Grief Observed
United States Of America
Uruguay
The Shipyard - Juan Carlos Onetti
Memory of Fire - Eduardo Galeano
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Paradise of the Blind - Thu Huong Duong
The Best We Could Do - Thi Bui
Yeman
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Nervous Conditions - Tsitsi Dangarembga
*Favorite books by author/country.
Afghanistan
*A Thousand Splendid Sun (this author is now in US) Khaled Hosseini
The Patience Stone (this author is in France now) - Atiq Rahimi
Albania
*Broken April - Ismail Kadare
Spring Flowers, Spring Frost
Algeria
*The Plague - Albert Camus
Andorra
Angola
A General Theory of Oblivion - Jose Eduardo Agualusa
Antigua and Barbuda
*Annie John - Jamaica Kincaid
Argentina
Jorge Luis Borges - Fictions
*Fever Dream - Samanta Schwebin
Santa Evita - Tomas Eloy Martinez
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Armenia
Australia
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
The Deep Road to the North - Richard Flanagan
*Remembering Babylon = David Malouf
Austria
*Old Masters - Thomas Bernhard
The Piano Teacher - Elfriede Jelinek
Wittgenstein's Nephew - Thomas Bernhard
Correction - Thomas Bernhard
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Svetlana Alexievich Secondhand Time not read
Belgium
The Lion of Flanders - Hendrik Conscience
Fear and Trembling - Amelie Nothomb
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnian Chronicles - Ivo Andric (not read)
Bridge on the Drina - Ivo Andric (not read)
The Death and the Dervish - Meša Selimović (not read)
Botswana
Brazil
* Posthumous Memoir of Bras Cubas - Machado de Assis
Dom Casmurro- Machado de Assis
Devil in Pay in the Backland - Joao Guimaraes Rosa
Paulo Coelho
Brunei
Bulgaria
* Time Shelter - Georgi Gospodinov
Auto de Fe - Elia Canetti
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
*Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood
The Stone Diaries - Carol Shields
Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Alice Munro
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
Cape Verde
Central Affrican Republic
Chad
Chile
Robert Bolano Savage Detectives
*Of Love and Shadows - Isabel Allende
China
*Monkey King: Journey to the West
Half a Man is Woman
Columbia
Our Lady of Assassins - Fernando Vallejo
One Hundred Years of Solitude -
*Love in a Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Comoros
Congo, Democratric Republic
Congo, Republic of
Costa Rica
Cote d'Ivoire
Croatia
Slavenka Drakulic, want to read If I am Not There
Cuba
*The Lost Steps - Alejo Carpentier
Cyprus
*The Maidens - Alex Michaelides
Czech Republis
*Closely Watched Trains - Bohumil Hrabel
Milan Kundara
Denmark
*Smilla's Sense of Snow - Peter Høeg
Djibouti
Dominica
Phillis Shand Allfrey - The Orchid Housee (not read)
*Wide Sargasso Sea - Jean Rhys
Dominican Republic
* The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao - Junet Diaz
The Time of the Butterflies - Julia Alvarez
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
*Midaq Alley - Naguib Mahfouz
* Woman at Point Zero - Narwal El Saadawi
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
* Professor Martens' Departure - Jaan Kross
Ethiopia
*Cutting for Stone - Abraja, Verghese
The Shadow King - Maaza Mengiste (not read yet)
Fiji
Finland
The Year of the Hare - Arto Paasilinna
Purge - Sofi Oksanen (not read yet)
France
*Les Misérables - Victor Hugo
Life: a User's Manual - Georges Perec
Raymond Queneau, Guy de Maupassant, Honore de Balzac
Gabon
The Bambia
Georgia
Germany
*Buddenbrooks - Thomas Mann
The Safety Net - Heinrich Böll
Ghana
Greece
*Deadline in Athens - Pétros Márkarīs
Nikos Kazantzakis
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
*The Dark Child - Camara Laye
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
László Krasznahorkai Melancholy of Resistance
*Embers - Sándor Márai
Iceland
Independent People - Halldór Laxness
India
The Great Indian Novel - Shashi Tharoor
Indonesia
The Rainbow Troops - Andrea Hirata
Iran
The Blind Owl - Hidāyat, Ṣādiq
Reading Lolita in Tehran - Azar Nafisi
*Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi
Iraq
Ireland
*Amongst Women - John McGahern
The Sea - John Banville
Ulysses - James Joyce
Israel
The Myth of Samson - David Grossman
*To The End of the Land - David Grossman
Italy
I'm Not Scared - Niccolo Ammaniti
*If This is Man - Primo Levi
Jamaica
A Brief History of Seven Killings - Marion James
Japan
Kafka on the Shore - Haruki Murakami
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Dance of the Jakaranda - Peter Kimani
Ngũgĩ wa Thiongo
Kiribati
Kurdistan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Because They Hate - Brigitte Gabriel (NF)
Lesotho
Chaka - Thomas Mofolo (Wishlist)
Liberia
Libya
Hisham Matar - My Friends Booker Long list
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
*The Garden of Evening Mist - Tan Twan Eng
The Storm We Made - Vanessa Chan
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Island
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Life Water for Chocolate - Laura Esquivel
The Devil's Highway - Luis Alberto Urrea
Micronesia, Federated States of
Moldova
Monaco
Mozambique
Myanmar (Burma)
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
*All Souls' Day - Cees Nooteboom
Harry Mulisch
New Zealand
Keri Hulme
Janet Frame
Eleanor Catton
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Half a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
*Arrow of God - Chinua Achebe
North Korea
The Girl with Seven Names - Hyeonseo Lee
Norway
*Kristin lavransdatter - Sigrid Undset
Growth of Soil - Knut Hamsun
Jon Fosse Septology
Oman
Pakistan
Home Fire - Kamila Shamsie
The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Exit West
Palau
Palestine
A Woman is No Man - Etaf Rum
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Deep Rivers Jose Maria Arguerdas
Philippines
Poland
Drive your Plow over the Bones of the Dead - Olga Tokarczuk
Flights on my TBR, International Booker
Stanislaw Lem science fiction Solaris
Portugal
The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis- Jose Saramago
Qatar
Romania
Russia
*The First Circle - Aleksandr Solzehenitsyn
Anna Karenina - Tolstoy
Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
So Long a Letter - Mariama Bâ
Serbia
Dictionary of the Khazars - Miorad Pavic TBR
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Alamut - Vladimir Bartol
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
*Cry, the Beloved Country - Alan Paton
J.M. Coetzee
Nadine Gordimer
South Korea
The Vegetarian - Han Kang
South Sudan
Spain
The Hive - Camilo José Cela
Sri Lanka
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida - Shehan Karunatilaka
Sudan
Seasons of Migration to the North - Tayeb Salih
Suriname
Swaziland (Eswatini)
Sweden Let the Right One In John Ajvide Lindqvist
The Red Room - August Strindberg
Switzerland
The Judge and the Hangman - Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Syria
No Knives in the Kitchens of this City - Khālid Khalīfah
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Bangkok Wakes to Rain - Pitchaya Sudbanthad
Togo
Tongo
Trinidad and Tobago
A Bend in the River - V.S. Naipaul
Jumbies - Tracey Baptiste
Tunisia
Turkey
My Name is Red - Orhan Pamuk
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
A History of Burning -
Ukraine
The Cathedral - Oles Honchar
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
England
Day of the Triffids - John Wyndham
Scotland
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - Muriel Spark
Wales
Northern Ireland
C.S.Lewis - A Grief Observed
United States Of America
Uruguay
The Shipyard - Juan Carlos Onetti
Memory of Fire - Eduardo Galeano
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Paradise of the Blind - Thu Huong Duong
The Best We Could Do - Thi Bui
Yeman
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Nervous Conditions - Tsitsi Dangarembga
10Kristelh
January Bingo Card
1. The Circle - Dave Eggers (1001)
2. Morality Play - Barry Unsworth (BAC)
3. The Praise Singer - Mary Renault (BAC)
4. Far to Go - Noel Streatfeild
5. Shepherds For Sale
6. The Children of the New Forest - ET
7. The Return of the Native - ET
8. The Professor's House 1001
9. House Mother Normal 1001
10. This Tender Land Bookclub
11. Saving My Assassin Bookclub
12. The Heather Blazing 1001, tbr takedown
13. Arrowsmith - Sinclair Lewis Pulitzer
14. When the Angels Left the Old Country JBC
15. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont BB
16. The Eclipse of God - Lutzer
17. Black Dekker, TIOLI
18. Truth and Beauty - Anne Patchett
19. Martyr! best of 2024
20. You Dreamed of Empires best of 2024
Bookspin:
Double Spin:
1. The Circle - Dave Eggers (1001)
2. Morality Play - Barry Unsworth (BAC)
3. The Praise Singer - Mary Renault (BAC)
4. Far to Go - Noel Streatfeild
5. Shepherds For Sale
6. The Children of the New Forest - ET
7. The Return of the Native - ET
8. The Professor's House 1001
9. House Mother Normal 1001
10. This Tender Land Bookclub
11. Saving My Assassin Bookclub
12. The Heather Blazing 1001, tbr takedown
13. Arrowsmith - Sinclair Lewis Pulitzer
14. When the Angels Left the Old Country JBC
15. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont BB
16. The Eclipse of God - Lutzer
17. Black Dekker, TIOLI
18. Truth and Beauty - Anne Patchett
19. Martyr! best of 2024
20. You Dreamed of Empires best of 2024
Bookspin:
Double Spin:
11Kristelh
I will be traveling to Florida from December 28th and it usually takes 3 days so my presence will be decreased. See you in 2025.
12PaulCranswick
Safe travels, Kristel. Great to see you back for another year. xx
14Kristelh
>12 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. I can't even imagine not being a part of the 75ers.
>13 drneutron:. Thank you, Jim. Thanks for all you do.
>13 drneutron:. Thank you, Jim. Thanks for all you do.
15PaulCranswick
Happy 2025, Kristel.
17Kristelh
>16 alcottacre: Thank you Stasia. I did arrive in Florida and travels went perfect!
19Kristelh
>18 BLBera:, Thank you Beth, Happy New Year to you!
20thornton37814
Enjoy your 2025 reads!
21vancouverdeb
Happy New Year, Kristel! I hope you are enjoying the Florida weather.
22Kristelh
>20 thornton37814:. Thank you Lori, wishing you good 2025 reads!
>21 vancouverdeb:. Thanks Deborah. The weather was super when I first got here but there is a cold front coming in and temps are going down. Supposedly temps are to be 30 degrees below normal. But it is also going to be very cold in Minnesota. So its good! Lots of dogs here in our park, so I'll be able to get my doggie fix. Just walked to the drug store and back, so about a 2 mile walk.
>21 vancouverdeb:. Thanks Deborah. The weather was super when I first got here but there is a cold front coming in and temps are going down. Supposedly temps are to be 30 degrees below normal. But it is also going to be very cold in Minnesota. So its good! Lots of dogs here in our park, so I'll be able to get my doggie fix. Just walked to the drug store and back, so about a 2 mile walk.
23Kristelh
1. First book of 2025
Book The Circle - Dave Eggers
Format: audiobook (Audible)
Original publication date: 2013
Acquisition date/place: 8/31/2018
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: everyone is watching
Challenge(s): Reading 1001 botm
Author: US
List book: 1001
Genre science fiction/dystopia
Liked: I liked how it pointed out the dangers of the slippery slope of technology
Disliked: sexual content
Book The Circle - Dave Eggers
Format: audiobook (Audible)
Original publication date: 2013
Acquisition date/place: 8/31/2018
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: everyone is watching
Challenge(s): Reading 1001 botm
Author: US
List book: 1001
Genre science fiction/dystopia
Liked: I liked how it pointed out the dangers of the slippery slope of technology
Disliked: sexual content
24Kristelh
#2
Book The Heather Blazing - Colm Toibin
Format: book/audio
Original publication date: 1992
Acquisition date/place: 2010/September 14
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.75 stars
Book description/summary: grief and loss makes for difficulty connecting
Challenge(s): TBR takedown/reading1001
Author: Irish
List book: 1001
Genre domestic fiction, literary fiction
Liked: I liked the quiet look at grief/loss/marriage and family
Disliked: did not need to include sexual details
Book The Heather Blazing - Colm Toibin
Format: book/audio
Original publication date: 1992
Acquisition date/place: 2010/September 14
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.75 stars
Book description/summary: grief and loss makes for difficulty connecting
Challenge(s): TBR takedown/reading1001
Author: Irish
List book: 1001
Genre domestic fiction, literary fiction
Liked: I liked the quiet look at grief/loss/marriage and family
Disliked: did not need to include sexual details
25Kristelh
Summary Week 1, January 1-3. From Florida.
Books finished - 2
Best book would be The Heather Blazing though The Circle is both relevant and thought provoking. Both are 1001 books.
My year long read for this year is The Tale of Genji
the Washburn translation. I am at 2% which is on target. My goal is to stay on track.
I am listening to a podcast on Genesis by Andrew Woods and The Book of Genesis Expositional commentary by Chuck Missler and Revelations by Dave Jones (UK). These are all on u.tub
I arrived in Florida on 12/30/24. The trip down went super. No hitches. My family (daughter's) came down also so we had a good time traveling together. We toured the Jack Daniel's distillery in Tennesee and The Corkskcrew Audobon Sanctuary, ate at Seed to Table and went to the beach. They left the next day to give them time to go back to Tennesee and see the Titanic Museum.
Today I will attend the church that I go to here in Florida as well as the church here at IBE. The weather is on the cool side but it has warmed up during the day. Next week is predicted to be very cold for Florida. It's all good when it is -1 in Minnesota.
Currently reading:
The Professor's House - Willa Cather
The Praise Singer - Mary Renault
Tale of Genji - Shikibu Murasaki
(all female authors by the way).
On deck
Black - Ted Dekker
The Return of the Native
You Dreamed of Empires maybe
Martyr! also a maybe
Happy reading, everyone!
Books finished - 2
Best book would be The Heather Blazing though The Circle is both relevant and thought provoking. Both are 1001 books.
My year long read for this year is The Tale of Genji
the Washburn translation. I am at 2% which is on target. My goal is to stay on track. I am listening to a podcast on Genesis by Andrew Woods and The Book of Genesis Expositional commentary by Chuck Missler and Revelations by Dave Jones (UK). These are all on u.tub
I arrived in Florida on 12/30/24. The trip down went super. No hitches. My family (daughter's) came down also so we had a good time traveling together. We toured the Jack Daniel's distillery in Tennesee and The Corkskcrew Audobon Sanctuary, ate at Seed to Table and went to the beach. They left the next day to give them time to go back to Tennesee and see the Titanic Museum.
Today I will attend the church that I go to here in Florida as well as the church here at IBE. The weather is on the cool side but it has warmed up during the day. Next week is predicted to be very cold for Florida. It's all good when it is -1 in Minnesota.
Currently reading:
The Professor's House - Willa Cather
The Praise Singer - Mary Renault
Tale of Genji - Shikibu Murasaki
(all female authors by the way).
On deck
Black - Ted Dekker
The Return of the Native
You Dreamed of Empires maybe
Martyr! also a maybe
Happy reading, everyone!
26Kristelh
Additions so far in 2025
The Praise Singer - Mary Renault (1 credit)
The Bitter Glass - Eilis Dillon Kindle
Shirley - Charlotte Brontë Audible, 1 credit
The Praise Singer - Mary Renault (1 credit)
The Bitter Glass - Eilis Dillon Kindle
Shirley - Charlotte Brontë Audible, 1 credit
27SqueakyChu
>24 Kristelh: The only book I've read by Colm Toibin is Brooklyn which is about a young Irish immigrant to the United States. I like that book and would recommend it.
28Kristelh
>27 SqueakyChu:, Madeline, I've read The Master, Brooklyn, and now The Heather Blazing. My favorite would The Master. I think people are really liking Long Island. I think that is a follow up to Brooklyn.
29vancouverdeb
The Heather Blazing sounds interesting, Kristel. I've read a couple ( more ? ) books by Colm Toibin and enjoyed them. I have read Brooklyn and Long Island and liked them book. I'm glad your trip went well and that your daughter's family travelled with you. Enjoy the weather!
30Kristelh
>29 vancouverdeb:, It's chilly cold, Deborah, for Florida. 42 degrees F this morning and my heat pump has decided to fail. Well at least it is warmer than Minnesota.
31laytonwoman3rd
>30 Kristelh: "my heart pump has decided to fail" Oh, PLEASE tell me that's a typo!
32Kristelh
>31 laytonwoman3rd:, yes, yes, that is a typo. My heart is fine. Thanks for catching that. I will fix it now.
33Kristelh
#3, 
Book The Praise Singer - Mary Renault
Format: audible
Original publication date: 1978
Acquisition date/place: January 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: life in ancient Greece for a poet
Challenge(s): BAC
Author: British
List book: no
Genre historical fiction
Liked: look into life in Ancient Greece
Disliked: in general, well research, no c/o
Book The Praise Singer - Mary Renault
Format: audible
Original publication date: 1978
Acquisition date/place: January 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: life in ancient Greece for a poet
Challenge(s): BAC
Author: British
List book: no
Genre historical fiction
Liked: look into life in Ancient Greece
Disliked: in general, well research, no c/o
34vancouverdeb
Oh no about the heat pump fail, Kristel ! Can you fix it yourself or do you have someone coming in to fix it soon ?
35Kristelh
>34 vancouverdeb: Deborah, I had to call the people who installed my unit last April. The code was unknown to the technician and he didn’t know what to do. He opened the thermostat and shut it and it reset. I am concerned that I have a bad thermostat. Hopefully I’ll solve this before I return to Minnesota. I’ve never used so much heat in Florida before. Happy I brought lots of sweatshirts.
36figsfromthistle
Dropping in to say hello!
Sorry to hear about the heat pump. Hopefully you are able to get it fixed soon.
Sorry to hear about the heat pump. Hopefully you are able to get it fixed soon.
37Kristelh
>36 figsfromthistle:, The heat pump is okay, Anita. I might have a faulty thermostat however. Thank goodness I will be here for a while to see if the thermostat has further hiccoughs.
38Kristelh
Weekly Summary January 5 -11
Books read: 1
Total books read YTD: 3
Best book so far in 2025: The Heather Blazing - Colm Tóibín
Bible Studies: I am studying Genesis and listening to The Book of Genesis Expositional Commentary and to Genesis study by Andy Wood. So far have read Genesis 1:1-11.
Currently reading:
The Tale of Genji - Shikibu Murasaki (year long read) 4%
The Professor's House - Willa Cather 75%
Black - Ted Dekker - 78%
On Deck:
The Children of the New Forest - Captain Frederick Marryat
An Ann book
I've been at my Florida home now for 13 days. The weather has been on the cool side for Florida but it is definately not Minnesota. So many activities to do that the reading time has slowed. I did some work on the yard and power washed my home this week. I also went to two funerals this week. Hopefully this week will be a bit slower so I can get some reading done.
Books read: 1
Total books read YTD: 3
Best book so far in 2025: The Heather Blazing - Colm Tóibín
Bible Studies: I am studying Genesis and listening to The Book of Genesis Expositional Commentary and to Genesis study by Andy Wood. So far have read Genesis 1:1-11.
Currently reading:
The Tale of Genji - Shikibu Murasaki (year long read) 4%
The Professor's House - Willa Cather 75%
Black - Ted Dekker - 78%
On Deck:
The Children of the New Forest - Captain Frederick Marryat
An Ann book
I've been at my Florida home now for 13 days. The weather has been on the cool side for Florida but it is definately not Minnesota. So many activities to do that the reading time has slowed. I did some work on the yard and power washed my home this week. I also went to two funerals this week. Hopefully this week will be a bit slower so I can get some reading done.
39Kristelh
4. 
Book Black - Ted Dekker
Format: Kindle book/audio
Original publication date: 2004
Acquisition date/place: 2017, Amazon
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: The Fall retelling, evil and rescue
Challenge(s): Reading from my shelf, first in a series
Author: US author
List book: no
Genre fantasy, horror, thriller
Liked: interesting story of an impending pandemic
Disliked: some grossness which qualifies as horror
Book Black - Ted Dekker
Format: Kindle book/audio
Original publication date: 2004
Acquisition date/place: 2017, Amazon
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: The Fall retelling, evil and rescue
Challenge(s): Reading from my shelf, first in a series
Author: US author
List book: no
Genre fantasy, horror, thriller
Liked: interesting story of an impending pandemic
Disliked: some grossness which qualifies as horror
40Kristelh
5. 
Book The Children of New Forest - Captain Frederick Marryat
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1847
Acquisition date/place: Hoopla Digital, 1/2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: English Civil War
Challenge(s): European Tour, 19th century literature
Author: British
List book: no
Genre Children's historical, adventure, romance
Liked: a good telling of the war
Disliked: all was good, no c/o
Book The Children of New Forest - Captain Frederick Marryat
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1847
Acquisition date/place: Hoopla Digital, 1/2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: English Civil War
Challenge(s): European Tour, 19th century literature
Author: British
List book: no
Genre Children's historical, adventure, romance
Liked: a good telling of the war
Disliked: all was good, no c/o
41vancouverdeb
Sorry you had to attend two funerals this week, Kristel. I hope you are enjoying Florida. I hope you find more reading time soon. But real life is important too.
42Kristelh
>41 vancouverdeb:, Deborah, living in a retirement community means that death is very present. We call this piece of paradise "God's waiting room". In the past year, 25 of our residents passed. We will have a memorial service this Sunday in remembrance of them. Of course I did not know all of them.
43SqueakyChu
>42 Kristelh: Wow, Kristel! And I thought just being my age (late 70s) was too full of deaths. :(
44vancouverdeb
>42 Kristelh: I didn't realize that you were in a retirement community, Kristel. That's a lot of people that passed in one year, Kristel. I'm glad it's a piece of paradise. Thanks for your good wishes regarding Muffin's dog day care tomorrow. I am a little anxious, I admit. But while walking Muffin today , we ran across a lady walking her dog, and we chatted and her dog has gone to the same day care for a few years, and they are very happy. I think sometime God puts people in our path to comfort, or to provide us with comfort, so I think it will go well. My sister took her dog there in the past and she was happy too-,so fingers crossed.
45Kristelh
>44 vancouverdeb:. Hey, Deborah. It sounds like Muffin will do well at day care. She has already started socializing on her walks. My dog never did well in meeting other dogs. She was afraid and would come across defensive. She did better with male dogs than female dogs.
My home in Florida is a cooperative and we have an RV park within are cooperative. Because of the RV park revenue, it is relatively inexpensive place to live. There are so many activities that you could be so busy you would never get any reading done. Our age ranges are 55 and up. Only one person has to be 55 so you could be younger and be here. A lot of the residents have been here many years. Some are second generation members and they're growing old now, too. The memorial service recognizes not only members of the cooperative but also our RVers if they are regular renters. We also have a Village who are not members of the cooperative but still connected to us by joining in our activities. So, yes it is a large number, but I do not know all of them. Oh, and we are dog friendly. Members and RVers can have up to 2 dogs per unit. I get to pet dogs on a regular basis which I enjoy. We have Manatee in our river when its cold. Some alligators but they stay in the river thank goodness. I saw a coyote a couple years ago. We have plenty of squirrel and rabbits to torment the dogs.
My home in Florida is a cooperative and we have an RV park within are cooperative. Because of the RV park revenue, it is relatively inexpensive place to live. There are so many activities that you could be so busy you would never get any reading done. Our age ranges are 55 and up. Only one person has to be 55 so you could be younger and be here. A lot of the residents have been here many years. Some are second generation members and they're growing old now, too. The memorial service recognizes not only members of the cooperative but also our RVers if they are regular renters. We also have a Village who are not members of the cooperative but still connected to us by joining in our activities. So, yes it is a large number, but I do not know all of them. Oh, and we are dog friendly. Members and RVers can have up to 2 dogs per unit. I get to pet dogs on a regular basis which I enjoy. We have Manatee in our river when its cold. Some alligators but they stay in the river thank goodness. I saw a coyote a couple years ago. We have plenty of squirrel and rabbits to torment the dogs.
46Kristelh
6. 
Book The Professor's House - Willa Cather
Format: Kindle
Original publication date: 1925
Acquisition date/place: 10/23/22, Kindle
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: loss and change
Challenge(s): Reading1002, TIOLI
Author: US
List book: 1001
Genre fiction
Liked: I liked the exploration of change; consumerism, politics, marriage
Disliked: disliked the women but I think I was meant to dislike them. Interesting novel written by a woman. So not really a dislike.
Book The Professor's House - Willa Cather
Format: Kindle
Original publication date: 1925
Acquisition date/place: 10/23/22, Kindle
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: loss and change
Challenge(s): Reading1002, TIOLI
Author: US
List book: 1001
Genre fiction
Liked: I liked the exploration of change; consumerism, politics, marriage
Disliked: disliked the women but I think I was meant to dislike them. Interesting novel written by a woman. So not really a dislike.
47Kristelh
7. 
Book Truth & Beauty - Anne Patchett
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2005
Acquisition date/place: Hoopla Digital, 1/2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: story of a friendship
Challenge(s): read an "Ann" book.
Author: US
List book: no
Genre memoir
Liked: I can't say I liked much of this story, it is misery from beginning to end. Supposedly it is also about writing and there is some of that.
Disliked: this is a story of a child damaged by cancer. It is also about the failure of the medical system in the US.
Book Truth & Beauty - Anne Patchett
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2005
Acquisition date/place: Hoopla Digital, 1/2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: story of a friendship
Challenge(s): read an "Ann" book.
Author: US
List book: no
Genre memoir
Liked: I can't say I liked much of this story, it is misery from beginning to end. Supposedly it is also about writing and there is some of that.
Disliked: this is a story of a child damaged by cancer. It is also about the failure of the medical system in the US.
48Kristelh
I really haven't done very well at organizing my reading plan for January and here January is half over.
Challenges #1-6
1. Read a book which has a least one set of double letters in both the title and the author's name - msg #1 The Professor's House - Willa Cather - COMPLETED
2. Read a book that is the first or last in a series, or contains those words in the title - msg #15
The Circle - Dave Eggers, #1 COMPLETED
Black - Ted Dekker #1 COMPLETED
3. Read a book listed on a best of or must read list for 2024 - msg #5
You Dreamed a Empire - Alvaro Enrigue
Martyr! - Kaveh Akbar
4. Read a book by an author called Ann, or with Ann in the title - msg #4
Truth & Beauty -Ann patchett COMPLETED
Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott
5. Read a book by a new-to-you author NOT recommended by anyone, that you've stumbled across (and explain why...) - msg #7
The Praise Singer - Mary Renault
6. Read a book you acquired in December 2024 without paying for it - msg #9
Challenges #7-12
7. Read a book that has either salt or pepper in the title - msg #12
8. Read a book which has a connection to a New Year's resolution or to something someone might want to give up - msg #16
9. Read a book F/NF about a forgotten or often overlooked woman in history (your choice) - msg #20 Silence of the Girls
10. Read a book with the name of something you'd drink from in the title or author's name - msg #21
The Bitter Glass - Eilis Dillon
11. Read a book you acquired in January of 2025 - msg #22
12. Read a book that has the name of a coin, either obsolete or in current use, in the title - msg #25
Challenge #13-16
13. Read a short book (less than 150pgs) or short story collection - msg #27 Paris France - Gertrude Stein
14. Read a book in which a title word begins or ends with an L or a T - msg #38
15. Read a book about a city you’ve never been to msg #71
16. Read a book for the Rags to Riches rolling challenge - msg #107
BAC (British Author Thread)
The Praise Singer
AAC (American Author Thread)
ET (European Tour)
19th century - The Children of the New Forest - Marryat
Bookclub Reads
Bookspin: The Praise Singer
Doublespin: Black
1001 Reads
Heather Blazing - Colm Toibin
The Professor's House - Willa Cather
Booker
Pulitzer
Challenges #1-6
1. Read a book which has a least one set of double letters in both the title and the author's name - msg #1 The Professor's House - Willa Cather - COMPLETED
2. Read a book that is the first or last in a series, or contains those words in the title - msg #15
The Circle - Dave Eggers, #1 COMPLETED
Black - Ted Dekker #1 COMPLETED
3. Read a book listed on a best of or must read list for 2024 - msg #5
You Dreamed a Empire - Alvaro Enrigue
Martyr! - Kaveh Akbar
4. Read a book by an author called Ann, or with Ann in the title - msg #4
Truth & Beauty -Ann patchett COMPLETED
Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott
5. Read a book by a new-to-you author NOT recommended by anyone, that you've stumbled across (and explain why...) - msg #7
The Praise Singer - Mary Renault
6. Read a book you acquired in December 2024 without paying for it - msg #9
Challenges #7-12
7. Read a book that has either salt or pepper in the title - msg #12
8. Read a book which has a connection to a New Year's resolution or to something someone might want to give up - msg #16
9. Read a book F/NF about a forgotten or often overlooked woman in history (your choice) - msg #20 Silence of the Girls
10. Read a book with the name of something you'd drink from in the title or author's name - msg #21
The Bitter Glass - Eilis Dillon
11. Read a book you acquired in January of 2025 - msg #22
12. Read a book that has the name of a coin, either obsolete or in current use, in the title - msg #25
Challenge #13-16
13. Read a short book (less than 150pgs) or short story collection - msg #27 Paris France - Gertrude Stein
14. Read a book in which a title word begins or ends with an L or a T - msg #38
15. Read a book about a city you’ve never been to msg #71
16. Read a book for the Rags to Riches rolling challenge - msg #107
BAC (British Author Thread)
The Praise Singer
AAC (American Author Thread)
ET (European Tour)
19th century - The Children of the New Forest - Marryat
Bookclub Reads
Bookspin: The Praise Singer
Doublespin: Black
1001 Reads
Heather Blazing - Colm Toibin
The Professor's House - Willa Cather
Booker
Pulitzer
49Kristelh
Books acquired in January
The Bitter Glass - Kindle
Shirley - Audible, Charlotte Bronte, 1 credit
The Praise Singer - audible, 1 credit
Jesus in Me and study guide - Anne Graham Lotz (B)
Holiday - Stanley Middleton (B)
The Bitter Glass - Kindle
Shirley - Audible, Charlotte Bronte, 1 credit
The Praise Singer - audible, 1 credit
Jesus in Me and study guide - Anne Graham Lotz (B)
Holiday - Stanley Middleton (B)
50vancouverdeb
A friend of mine goes to a retirement in community in Arizona, Kristel. She is still working so her time is limited there, but she really loves it and says it like a a summer camp, in the sense that there is always something to do, people do things with, and she has a great time. I am glad you are able to get a your dog fix in. We have coyotes too, and I have seen one a few times. Just once I was within about 20 feet of one, but luckily there were several other people in the area, so we all walking away together. That coyote was busy staring at us and our dogs, not moving on, so it was a bit scary.
51Whisper1
>50 vancouverdeb: Deb, This sounds like quite a scary incident. I recently read a blurb about five dangerous animals in PA, a coyote was on the list.
52Kristelh
>50 vancouverdeb:. At my home in Minnesota, I have coyote packs in my neighbor hood. A couple years ago I had a couple of young coyotes hanging out in my yard. They did not know how to hunt for food yet so were consisting on eating my ornamental cherries and then the apples as the summer progressed. I could see them in the fields trying to catch rodents or frogs. They would sit and watch me and Lucy (my dog). Lucy was too brave if I was out with her but she also knew she didn't want to be outside without me. I'm not particularly afraid of them. I do live in the country but the fact that coyotes and other animals have become urbanized is fascinating to me. I think my neighbors who have chickens do not feel that same as I do.
53alcottacre
I lost track of you too, Kristel! Easy to do at this time of the year, I think!
Have a fantastic Friday!
Have a fantastic Friday!
54Kristelh
>53 alcottacre:, Thank you Stasia, you have a great weekend as well.
55Kristelh
8. 
Book The Silence of the Girls - Pat Barker
Format: book/audio
Original publication date: 2018
Acquisition date/place: 9/1/2018
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: retelling of the Illiad from Brisels POV or war is brutal
Challenge(s): TIOLI challenge
Author: British
List book: no
Genre retelling
Liked: liked reading a retelling
Disliked: sexual, brutal, offensive
Book The Silence of the Girls - Pat Barker
Format: book/audio
Original publication date: 2018
Acquisition date/place: 9/1/2018
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: retelling of the Illiad from Brisels POV or war is brutal
Challenge(s): TIOLI challenge
Author: British
List book: no
Genre retelling
Liked: liked reading a retelling
Disliked: sexual, brutal, offensive
56Kristelh
Weekly Summary January 12-18
Total books read YTD: 8
Best book so far in 2025:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Heather Blazing - 1001, domestic fiction
The Children of the New Forest - Children's lit
The Professor's House - 1001, domestic fiction
Both Heather Blazing and Professor's House explored older men and their relations to wife, children and I liked both of them.
Nonfiction read
Truth & Beauty: a Friendship
Bible Studies: I am studying Genesis and listening to The Book of Genesis Expositional Commentary and to Genesis study by Andy Wood. So far have read Genesis 1:1-11. This week, read a part of Revelations 13 and reviewed Genesis 1: first day of creation. Quantum theory. Reading Jesus in Me for women's Bible Study
Currently reading:
The Tale of Genji - Shikibu Murasaki (year long read) 6%
Jesus in Me: experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion
The Bitter Glass - Eilis Dillon
On Deck:
Paris France - Gertrude Stein
I think I would like to review my progress on weeks of the year rather than weeks by day, so I will review this every Wednesday. This would be Week 2.5 of the year.
Weather: we had a bit of sun and warmth but will again be cold next week. The temps are good for pickleball. This coming week I will go to Buddy Holly at the Barbara B Mann Theater in Fort Meyers.
Remembered my husband on his birthday by dining at Olive Garden (a favorite of his) with friends. Also my daughters 48th birthdday and always sad that I am far away on her birthday.
Today will be church and in the evening will have our memorial service remembering IBE members that have passed this past year. Always heartfelt time.
Jigsaw puzzle: working on a White Mountain Fairy Tales 1001 piece puzzle.
Total books read YTD: 8
Best book so far in 2025:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Heather Blazing - 1001, domestic fiction
The Children of the New Forest - Children's lit
The Professor's House - 1001, domestic fiction
Both Heather Blazing and Professor's House explored older men and their relations to wife, children and I liked both of them.
Nonfiction read
Truth & Beauty: a Friendship
Bible Studies: I am studying Genesis and listening to The Book of Genesis Expositional Commentary and to Genesis study by Andy Wood. So far have read Genesis 1:1-11. This week, read a part of Revelations 13 and reviewed Genesis 1: first day of creation. Quantum theory. Reading Jesus in Me for women's Bible Study
Currently reading:
The Tale of Genji - Shikibu Murasaki (year long read) 6%
Jesus in Me: experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion
The Bitter Glass - Eilis Dillon
On Deck:
Paris France - Gertrude Stein
I think I would like to review my progress on weeks of the year rather than weeks by day, so I will review this every Wednesday. This would be Week 2.5 of the year.
Weather: we had a bit of sun and warmth but will again be cold next week. The temps are good for pickleball. This coming week I will go to Buddy Holly at the Barbara B Mann Theater in Fort Meyers.
Remembered my husband on his birthday by dining at Olive Garden (a favorite of his) with friends. Also my daughters 48th birthdday and always sad that I am far away on her birthday.
Today will be church and in the evening will have our memorial service remembering IBE members that have passed this past year. Always heartfelt time.
Jigsaw puzzle: working on a White Mountain Fairy Tales 1001 piece puzzle.
57figsfromthistle
>47 Kristelh: So far I have enjoyed everything I have red by Patchett but this books seems different from the others. I think I will pass on it.
Hope you have a wonderful Sunday!
Hope you have a wonderful Sunday!
58Kristelh
>57 figsfromthistle:, I have too, Anita, but this is not fiction but a memoir and it is about Lucy Grealy who wrote an Autobiography of a Face. I've not read it and was never drawn to it but it might appeal to others who are familiar with this author and poet.
59Kristelh
9. 
Book Paris France - Gertrude Stein
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1940
Acquisition date/place: January 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: memoir of childhood and examination of the French and French culture
Challenge(s): TIOLI; read something short
Author: US
List book: no
Genre memoir/essay
Liked: I liked the parts about the culture
Disliked: in general, not too bad
Book Paris France - Gertrude Stein
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1940
Acquisition date/place: January 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: memoir of childhood and examination of the French and French culture
Challenge(s): TIOLI; read something short
Author: US
List book: no
Genre memoir/essay
Liked: I liked the parts about the culture
Disliked: in general, not too bad
60vancouverdeb
I'm glad that you remembered your husband birthday at the Olive Garden. I am sure that you miss him so much. I look forward to seeing the puzzle you are working on. My brother and sister in law were over today, and my sister in law worked on the puzzle I have been working on since November! Since Dave's car crash and getting Muffin, I have been so busy that I've only worked on it briefly once. My sister in law just texted me - have you finished it yet ? No, and it's going to take a while!
61Kristelh
>60 vancouverdeb: Oh, Deborah, I hope your life can slow up a bit so you can do some puzzles and read. I hope you’re able to sleep. Thoughts are with you, Dave and Muffin.
62Kristelh
10. 
Book bird by bird; Some instructions on Writing and Life - Anne Lamontt
Format: book/audio
Original publication date: 1994
Acquisition date/place: IBE 2024
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: about writing
Challenge(s): TIOLI, read an "Ann" book
Author: US
List book: no
Genre nonfiction
Liked: good information that can be used to review books as well as write
Disliked: I mostly liked her, some quibbles but not a big deal
Book bird by bird; Some instructions on Writing and Life - Anne Lamontt
Format: book/audio
Original publication date: 1994
Acquisition date/place: IBE 2024
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: about writing
Challenge(s): TIOLI, read an "Ann" book
Author: US
List book: no
Genre nonfiction
Liked: good information that can be used to review books as well as write
Disliked: I mostly liked her, some quibbles but not a big deal
63Kristelh
This is week beginning of the 4th week of the year. Time seems to be really flying by. It's been cold here in Florida but it's colder back in Minnesota.
Books read this year 10
Fiction read: 7
Nonfiction: 3
Best book so far:
Fiction: The Professor's House - 1001, domestic fiction and The Children of New Forest
Nonfiction: bird by bird and Paris France
Currently reading
Tale of Genji year long read
The Bitter Glass
Starting, Shepherds for Sale - Megan Basham
On Deck:
Undecided
Books read this year 10
Fiction read: 7
Nonfiction: 3
Best book so far:
Fiction: The Professor's House - 1001, domestic fiction and The Children of New Forest
Nonfiction: bird by bird and Paris France
Currently reading
Tale of Genji year long read
The Bitter Glass
Starting, Shepherds for Sale - Megan Basham
On Deck:
Undecided
64vancouverdeb
I was reading that it is cold in Florida, Kristel. That is too bad! Thanks, I am able to sleep. I catch forty winks quite often in the afternoon if can. I've never read anything by Anne Lamontt. I should look into some of her books.
65Kristelh
Summary Week 4; January 22 - 28
Books read:
Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott, nonfiction
Shepherds for Sale - Megan Basham
Currently Reading:
Tale of Genji, @ 8%, on target for finishing in 1 year
The Bitter Glass - Eilis Dillon, @ 46%
You Dreamed of Empires - Alvaro Enrigue, @ 85%
Best book this week: 5 ⭐ for Shepherds for Sale
but I also really liked Bird by Bird. Reading is down this week.
Weather has improved here in Florida. 50s at night, 70s in the day. Soaking up vitamin D!!!!!
Happy Lunar New Year, year of the wood snake.
Books read:
Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott, nonfiction
Shepherds for Sale - Megan Basham
Currently Reading:
Tale of Genji, @ 8%, on target for finishing in 1 year
The Bitter Glass - Eilis Dillon, @ 46%
You Dreamed of Empires - Alvaro Enrigue, @ 85%
Best book this week: 5 ⭐ for Shepherds for Sale
but I also really liked Bird by Bird. Reading is down this week.
Weather has improved here in Florida. 50s at night, 70s in the day. Soaking up vitamin D!!!!!
Happy Lunar New Year, year of the wood snake.
66Kristelh
11. 
LT has changed and now I am struggling to do what I like to do. I am not sure I like these changes. I cannot take covers from LT for posting in the way that I have been doing.
Book Shepherds for Sale - Megan Basham
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2024
Acquisition date/place: January 2025, Decimal/ Star rating: 5 stars
Book description/summary: infiltration of the world view into the evangelical church
Challenge(s): just wanted to read this one
Author: US
List book: no
Genre nonfiction, Christian
Liked: I loved how it addresses the misinformation the Bible
Disliked: nothing to dislike
LT has changed and now I am struggling to do what I like to do. I am not sure I like these changes. I cannot take covers from LT for posting in the way that I have been doing.
Book Shepherds for Sale - Megan Basham
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2024
Acquisition date/place: January 2025, Decimal/ Star rating: 5 stars
Book description/summary: infiltration of the world view into the evangelical church
Challenge(s): just wanted to read this one
Author: US
List book: no
Genre nonfiction, Christian
Liked: I loved how it addresses the misinformation the Bible
Disliked: nothing to dislike
67Kristelh
12.
Book You Dreamed of Empires - Alvaro Engigue
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2022
Acquisition date/place: January 2025, Libby
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: Moctezuma meets Cortez
Challenge(s): TIOLI, read a book on a best 2024 list.
Author: Mexican American author
List book: NYT notable and others
Genre historical fiction, alternate history
Liked: reading a book about Cortez and Moctezuma is new to me, also the author played a bit with translations in this book. Creative
Disliked: it was read with an accent which fit the story but added some difficulty in concentration.
Book You Dreamed of Empires - Alvaro Engigue
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2022
Acquisition date/place: January 2025, Libby
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: Moctezuma meets Cortez
Challenge(s): TIOLI, read a book on a best 2024 list.
Author: Mexican American author
List book: NYT notable and others
Genre historical fiction, alternate history
Liked: reading a book about Cortez and Moctezuma is new to me, also the author played a bit with translations in this book. Creative
Disliked: it was read with an accent which fit the story but added some difficulty in concentration.
68vancouverdeb
I noticed the changes to LT too, Kristel. Apparently the trouble with loading covers is supposed to be temporary or so I read. Let's hope it's true. Here is a link and discussion of the changes to LT if that helps. https://www.librarything.com/topic/368002#n8745351
69vancouverdeb
Here is thread dedicated to cover issues with the changes on LT . https://www.librarything.com/topic/367993
70Kristelh
>68 vancouverdeb:, >60 vancouverdeb:, Thank you Deborah. Change is always so hard.
71Kristelh
13. 
Book Morality Play - Barry Unsworth
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1995
Acquisition date/place: January 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: a troup of theater performers get involved ina murder investigation
Challenge(s): read a book about theater by a British author
Author: British
List book: Booker Short List
Genre historical
Liked: mystery
Disliked: some sexual content
Book Morality Play - Barry Unsworth
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1995
Acquisition date/place: January 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: a troup of theater performers get involved ina murder investigation
Challenge(s): read a book about theater by a British author
Author: British
List book: Booker Short List
Genre historical
Liked: mystery
Disliked: some sexual content
72Kristelh
14. 
Book The Bitter Glass - Eilis Dillon
Format: Kindle
Original publication date: 1958
Acquisition date/place: January 2026, audible
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5
Book description/summary: Irish civil war/love, death, war
Challenge(s): Randomizer selection
Author: Irish
List book: 1001
Genre literary fiction, historical
Liked: it was short so that was good
Disliked: the women characters were annoying but it all ends well
Book The Bitter Glass - Eilis Dillon
Format: Kindle
Original publication date: 1958
Acquisition date/place: January 2026, audible
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5
Book description/summary: Irish civil war/love, death, war
Challenge(s): Randomizer selection
Author: Irish
List book: 1001
Genre literary fiction, historical
Liked: it was short so that was good
Disliked: the women characters were annoying but it all ends well
73Kristelh
January summary
Reading1001
I read 4 books from the complete 1001 list. I made progress on The Tale of Gengi and am about where I need to for this year long read. I am not enjoying it. I don't like Gengi but I have to keep in mind that this is written by a woman and it is more about the women than Gengi.
I read a total of 14 book this month.
Fiction: 10
Nonfiction: 4
Books Acquired in January
The Bitter Glass - Kindle
Shirley - Audible, Charlotte Bronte, 1 credit
The Praise Singer - audible, 1 credit
Jesus in Me and study guide - Anne Graham Lotz (B)
Holiday - Stanley Middleton (B)
Morality PLay - Audible, 1 credit
England Made Me - Graham Greene, used book
February Plans:
1001
Night Boat To Tangier - COMPLETED
Nightwood
Spring Flower, Spring Frost - COMPLETED
Doctor Zhivago reading
British Author Challenge
Take it Back - Kia Abdullah
Truth Be Told
Saturation Point - Adrian Tchaikovsky
Walking to Aldebaran
American Author Challenge
Moslem American Heretic - Ayaan Hirsi Ali
European Tour - Scandinavian
Let the Right one In - John Ajvide Linqvist
Autumn - Karl Ove Knausgard
Booker/Pulitzer
Arrowsmith
The Promise - Damon Galgut
A Summons to Memphis
TIOLI Challenges
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont
Red - #2 by Dekker
This Rebel Heart
Burn Baby Burn - COMPLETED
Eden Mine - Hulse
Easy Prey CATherine Lo
Reading1001
I read 4 books from the complete 1001 list. I made progress on The Tale of Gengi and am about where I need to for this year long read. I am not enjoying it. I don't like Gengi but I have to keep in mind that this is written by a woman and it is more about the women than Gengi.
I read a total of 14 book this month.
Fiction: 10
Nonfiction: 4
Books Acquired in January
The Bitter Glass - Kindle
Shirley - Audible, Charlotte Bronte, 1 credit
The Praise Singer - audible, 1 credit
Jesus in Me and study guide - Anne Graham Lotz (B)
Holiday - Stanley Middleton (B)
Morality PLay - Audible, 1 credit
England Made Me - Graham Greene, used book
February Plans:
1001
Night Boat To Tangier - COMPLETED
Nightwood
Spring Flower, Spring Frost - COMPLETED
Doctor Zhivago reading
British Author Challenge
Take it Back - Kia Abdullah
Truth Be Told
Saturation Point - Adrian Tchaikovsky
Walking to Aldebaran
American Author Challenge
Moslem American Heretic - Ayaan Hirsi Ali
European Tour - Scandinavian
Let the Right one In - John Ajvide Linqvist
Autumn - Karl Ove Knausgard
Booker/Pulitzer
Arrowsmith
The Promise - Damon Galgut
A Summons to Memphis
TIOLI Challenges
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont
Red - #2 by Dekker
This Rebel Heart
Burn Baby Burn - COMPLETED
Eden Mine - Hulse
Easy Prey CATherine Lo
74Kristelh
15. 
Book Spring Flower, Spring Frost - Ismail Kadare
Format: Kindle/audio
Original publication date: 2000
Acquisition date/place: 2020/Amazon Kindle
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: Albania grapples with end of communism
Challenge(s): botm, February Reading1001
Author: Albania
List book: 1001 Man Booker International 2005 for full body of his work
Genre fiction
Liked: explores Albania end of communism
Disliked: sexual content
Book Spring Flower, Spring Frost - Ismail Kadare
Format: Kindle/audio
Original publication date: 2000
Acquisition date/place: 2020/Amazon Kindle
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: Albania grapples with end of communism
Challenge(s): botm, February Reading1001
Author: Albania
List book: 1001 Man Booker International 2005 for full body of his work
Genre fiction
Liked: explores Albania end of communism
Disliked: sexual content
75Kristelh
16. 
Book Burn Baby Burn - Meg Medina
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2016
Acquisition date/place: 7/2020
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: 1977 coming of age
Challenge(s): Flame uary
Author: US
List book: no
Genre YA
Liked: a good coming of age story
Disliked: -
Book Burn Baby Burn - Meg Medina
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2016
Acquisition date/place: 7/2020
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: 1977 coming of age
Challenge(s): Flame uary
Author: US
List book: no
Genre YA
Liked: a good coming of age story
Disliked: -
76Kristelh
17. 
Book Night Boat to Tangiers - Kevin Barry
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2016
Acquisition date/place: Libby Electronic Books
Decimal/ Star rating: 2.5 ⭐
Book description/summary: old crooks reminense over their loser lives
Challenge(s): reading 1001, word of the month, February
Author: Irish
List book: 1001
Genre Irish literature
Liked: lyrical writing
Disliked: disgusting use of *?&*
Book Night Boat to Tangiers - Kevin Barry
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2016
Acquisition date/place: Libby Electronic Books
Decimal/ Star rating: 2.5 ⭐
Book description/summary: old crooks reminense over their loser lives
Challenge(s): reading 1001, word of the month, February
Author: Irish
List book: 1001
Genre Irish literature
Liked: lyrical writing
Disliked: disgusting use of *?&*
77vancouverdeb
You are getting lots of reading done, Kristel. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont was very good read. I hope you enjoy it.
78Kristelh
>77 vancouverdeb:, My reading has slowed up. I am starting Doctor Zhivago and that will not be such an easy read I fear. I am looking forward to The Lost List of Mabel Beaumont. Have a good day, Deborah. I see that you’ve had some snow for the puppy to play.
79PaulCranswick
I don't love some of the format changes made in the last weeks, either Kristel.
80Kristelh
>79 PaulCranswick:, I accept that I may not understand the need to make changes and I guess I will adapt.
81Kristelh
Summary Week 5, January 30 through February 4
Books read:
Morality Play - Barry Unsworth, BAC
The Bitter Glass - Eilis Dillon (1001)
Spring Flowers, Spring Frost - Ismail Kadare (1001)
Night Boat to Tangier - Kevin Barry (1001)
Burn Baby Burn - Meg Medina
Currently Reading:
Tale of Genji, @ 11%
Doctor Zhivago 79%
Best book this week: YA book, Burn Baby Burn
Weather is Florida weather but I've been struggling to feel well. I think I've been dealing with influenza. Today, I feel better.
Books read:
Morality Play - Barry Unsworth, BAC
The Bitter Glass - Eilis Dillon (1001)
Spring Flowers, Spring Frost - Ismail Kadare (1001)
Night Boat to Tangier - Kevin Barry (1001)
Burn Baby Burn - Meg Medina
Currently Reading:
Tale of Genji, @ 11%
Doctor Zhivago 79%
Best book this week: YA book, Burn Baby Burn
Weather is Florida weather but I've been struggling to feel well. I think I've been dealing with influenza. Today, I feel better.
82Kristelh
18. 
Book Doctor Zhivago - Boris Pasternak
Format: audiobook/book
Original publication date: 1957
Acquisition date/place: 2016, used book
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: Russian epic
Challenge(s): TBR takedown, Reading 1001
Author: Russian
List book: 1001
Genre fiction
Liked:
Disliked: lots of characters with various names in the Russian tradition
Book Doctor Zhivago - Boris Pasternak
Format: audiobook/book
Original publication date: 1957
Acquisition date/place: 2016, used book
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: Russian epic
Challenge(s): TBR takedown, Reading 1001
Author: Russian
List book: 1001
Genre fiction
Liked:
Disliked: lots of characters with various names in the Russian tradition
83alcottacre
>62 Kristelh: I enjoyed Bird by Bird when I read it 10 or so years ago. It is high time for a re-read. Thanks for the mention of the book, Kristel.
>66 Kristelh: I am still not sure if I like the changes either, although the problem with the pictures appears to be resolved now.
>71 Kristelh: My local library does not have any of Barry Unsworth's books, which surprises me no end.
>73 Kristelh: Nice summary for January, Kristel!
>75 Kristelh: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation.
>66 Kristelh: I am still not sure if I like the changes either, although the problem with the pictures appears to be resolved now.
>71 Kristelh: My local library does not have any of Barry Unsworth's books, which surprises me no end.
>73 Kristelh: Nice summary for January, Kristel!
>75 Kristelh: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation.
84Kristelh
19. 
Book Let the Right One In - John Ajvide Lindqvist
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2004
Acquisition date/place: Hoopla Digital/Feb 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: Vampire friendship or grooming
Challenge(s): Nordic Authors; European Tour
Author: Swedish
List book: NPR Horror
Genre Horror
Liked: good story telling
Disliked: very gross and sexual
Book Let the Right One In - John Ajvide Lindqvist
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2004
Acquisition date/place: Hoopla Digital/Feb 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: Vampire friendship or grooming
Challenge(s): Nordic Authors; European Tour
Author: Swedish
List book: NPR Horror
Genre Horror
Liked: good story telling
Disliked: very gross and sexual
85Kristelh
20. 
Book Walking to Aldebaran - Adrian Tchaikovsky
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2019
Acquisition date/place: 2025/February
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: nightmare in space
Challenge(s): BAC
Author: British
List book:
Genreno
Liked: it was well written
Disliked: it was creepy
Book Walking to Aldebaran - Adrian Tchaikovsky
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2019
Acquisition date/place: 2025/February
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: nightmare in space
Challenge(s): BAC
Author: British
List book:
Genreno
Liked: it was well written
Disliked: it was creepy
86Kristelh
21. 
Book Truth Be Told - Kia Abdullah
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2020
Acquisition date/place: 2025/Feb Hoopla Digital
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: male rape
Challenge(s): BAC
Author: British
List book: no
Genre legal thriller
Liked: interesting look at male rape
Disliked: didn't like emotionally fraught
Book Truth Be Told - Kia Abdullah
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2020
Acquisition date/place: 2025/Feb Hoopla Digital
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: male rape
Challenge(s): BAC
Author: British
List book: no
Genre legal thriller
Liked: interesting look at male rape
Disliked: didn't like emotionally fraught
87vancouverdeb
Well, I watched Dr Zhivago, Kristel, but have never read it. I was on bed rest with my younger son during my pregnancy and my dad brought it over a VHS tape for me to watch. I was not sure if I would like it, but I did. Twenty - one books read so quickly, Kristel!
88Kristelh
>87 vancouverdeb:, I’ve been under the weather but not so sick that I can’t read so that has been about all I’ve been able to accomplish. Today I am better so I think I will start back at other activities and reading will slow down. Just starting Arrowsmith today. I have not watched Dr. Zhivago.
89Kristelh
6th week summary
Books read: 4
Doctor Zhivago
Walking to Aldebaran
Truth be Told
Let the Right One In
Currently reading Arrowsmith - Sinclair Lewis. I should finish this today.
Plans:
Eden Mine
Easy Prey
The Promise
Heretic
Books read: 4
Doctor Zhivago
Walking to Aldebaran
Truth be Told
Let the Right One In
Currently reading Arrowsmith - Sinclair Lewis. I should finish this today.
Plans:
Eden Mine
Easy Prey
The Promise
Heretic
90Kristelh
22. 
Book Arrowsmith - Sinclair Lewis
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1925
Acquisition date/place: Audible Play
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: the fly in the ointment
Challenge(s): reading the Pulitzers
Author: US, Minnesota
List book: Pulitzer
Genre fiction
Liked: Pretty accurate representation of politics influence in health care and academia
Disliked:
Book Arrowsmith - Sinclair Lewis
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1925
Acquisition date/place: Audible Play
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: the fly in the ointment
Challenge(s): reading the Pulitzers
Author: US, Minnesota
List book: Pulitzer
Genre fiction
Liked: Pretty accurate representation of politics influence in health care and academia
Disliked:
91Kristelh
23. 
Book Easy Prey - Catherine Lo
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2018
Acquisition date/place: 2020 AudioFile free summer program
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5
Book description/summary: young girl takes revenge after pictures posted on-line
Challenge(s): TIOLI "cat"
Author: US
List book: no
Genre YA
Liked: it's a good story
Disliked: disliked some of the content, unnecessary use of swear words especially Jesus Christ.
Book Easy Prey - Catherine Lo
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2018
Acquisition date/place: 2020 AudioFile free summer program
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5
Book description/summary: young girl takes revenge after pictures posted on-line
Challenge(s): TIOLI "cat"
Author: US
List book: no
Genre YA
Liked: it's a good story
Disliked: disliked some of the content, unnecessary use of swear words especially Jesus Christ.
92Kristelh
24. 
Book The Promise Damon Galgut
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2021
Acquisition date/place: audible, 1 credit
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: 4 deaths, one should keep their promise.
Challenge(s): reading the booker's 2021
Author: South Africa
List book: Booker winner
Genre Lit fiction
Liked: reasons to keep your promise
Disliked: in general it was good
Book The Promise Damon Galgut
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2021
Acquisition date/place: audible, 1 credit
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: 4 deaths, one should keep their promise.
Challenge(s): reading the booker's 2021
Author: South Africa
List book: Booker winner
Genre Lit fiction
Liked: reasons to keep your promise
Disliked: in general it was good
93Kristelh
7 of 52 weeks:
Read this week:
Books read:
Best book this week: Arrowsmith
Currently reading
Tale of Genji
England Made Me
On Deck:
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont
Summons to Memphis
Autumn
Heretic
Read this week:
Books read:
Best book this week: Arrowsmith
Currently reading
Tale of Genji
England Made Me
On Deck:
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont
Summons to Memphis
Autumn
Heretic
94vancouverdeb
I'll keep The Promise in mind, Kristel. I hope you enjoy The Last List of Mabel Beaumont. I really did.
95Kristelh
>97 Kristelh:, Hi Deborah. I am looking forward to reading Mable and fully expect it will be a good one!
96figsfromthistle
>90 Kristelh: I will add this to my list. It looks to be an interesting read
Hope you are feeling better!
Hope you are feeling better!
97Kristelh
>95 Kristelh:, I was quite impressed with it. I will look forward to your thoughts, Anita.
99Kristelh
25. 
Book Autumn by Karl Ove Knausgard
Format: book/audio
Original publication date: 2015
Acquisition date/place: 12/19/2017, from JenP
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars to 4
Book description/summary: autobiographical essays
Challenge(s): Nordic Authors
Author: Sweden
List book: no
Genre nonfiction
Liked: there were topics I could relate to. Box of Buttons, etc
Disliked: I liked how he wrote to his unborn daughter
Book Autumn by Karl Ove Knausgard
Format: book/audio
Original publication date: 2015
Acquisition date/place: 12/19/2017, from JenP
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars to 4
Book description/summary: autobiographical essays
Challenge(s): Nordic Authors
Author: Sweden
List book: no
Genre nonfiction
Liked: there were topics I could relate to. Box of Buttons, etc
Disliked: I liked how he wrote to his unborn daughter
100PaulCranswick
Kristel, I liked The Promise a lot but did you read it twice, as it is number 24 and number 25 in your list?
101Kristelh
>100 PaulCranswick: No, Paul, I didn't read it twice. I think I missed it once and so added it again but I will have to check. Perhaps I made a mistake.
103Kristelh
>102 PaulCranswick:,Thanks Paul
104Kristelh
26. 
Book The Last List of Mabel Beaumont
Format: Laura Pearson
Original publication date: 2023
Acquisition date/place: February 2025/Libby
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: grief/aging and friendships
Challenge(s): BB
Author: UK
List book: no
Genre fiction/women's lit
Liked: I liked the aging/grief/friendship aspects
Disliked: a bit woke which was it necessary
Book The Last List of Mabel Beaumont
Format: Laura Pearson
Original publication date: 2023
Acquisition date/place: February 2025/Libby
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: grief/aging and friendships
Challenge(s): BB
Author: UK
List book: no
Genre fiction/women's lit
Liked: I liked the aging/grief/friendship aspects
Disliked: a bit woke which was it necessary
105alcottacre
>84 Kristelh: Horror is not my thing at all, so I will be staying far away from that one, lol.
>85 Kristelh: Creepy is not my thing either. . .
>86 Kristelh: I already know that my local library does not have any of Abdullah's books, so I will be giving that one a pass in any case.
>90 Kristelh: That one is a blast from the past for me. It has been so long ago since I read it that I cannot even remember it! High time for a re-read.
>92 Kristelh: Dodging that BB as I have already read it.
I hope you are having a marvelous Monday, Kristel!
>85 Kristelh: Creepy is not my thing either. . .
>86 Kristelh: I already know that my local library does not have any of Abdullah's books, so I will be giving that one a pass in any case.
>90 Kristelh: That one is a blast from the past for me. It has been so long ago since I read it that I cannot even remember it! High time for a re-read.
>92 Kristelh: Dodging that BB as I have already read it.
I hope you are having a marvelous Monday, Kristel!
106vancouverdeb
I'm glad you enjoyed The Last List of Mabel Beaumont, Kristel. I think I enjoyed it more than you.
107Kristelh
>106 vancouverdeb:, yes, I think you rated it higher but there was much I liked about it. It hit many of my favorite things. One BB down and many to go, Deborah!
108Kristelh
27. 
Book Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation - Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2015
Acquisition date/place: Hoopla Digital
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: A message to the Western mind.
Challenge(s): American Muslim Author
Author: Born in Somali, lived many places, Netherlands/US. Female
List book: no
Genre nonfiction
Liked: I liked a lot about this book.
Disliked: I don't think it will do any good.
Book Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation - Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2015
Acquisition date/place: Hoopla Digital
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: A message to the Western mind.
Challenge(s): American Muslim Author
Author: Born in Somali, lived many places, Netherlands/US. Female
List book: no
Genre nonfiction
Liked: I liked a lot about this book.
Disliked: I don't think it will do any good.
109Kristelh
28. 
Book A Summons to Memphis - Peter Taylor
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1986
Acquisition date/place: February 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: Man reminences about family; It is the recollection of Phillip Carver who is summoned back his sisters to help prevent the marriage of their elderly father to a younger woman.
Challenge(s): reading Pulitzer.
Author: US
List book: Pulitzer
Genre boring
Liked: hmm
Disliked: surprised that it won Pulitzer and was also finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.
Book A Summons to Memphis - Peter Taylor
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1986
Acquisition date/place: February 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: Man reminences about family; It is the recollection of Phillip Carver who is summoned back his sisters to help prevent the marriage of their elderly father to a younger woman.
Challenge(s): reading Pulitzer.
Author: US
List book: Pulitzer
Genre boring
Liked: hmm
Disliked: surprised that it won Pulitzer and was also finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.
110laytonwoman3rd
>109 Kristelh: I agree with you about the Taylor...I read it a few years ago, and thought it just went nowhere interesting. If it's autobiographical at all, I hope writing it did more for the author than reading it did for me.
111Kristelh
>110 laytonwoman3rd: It sure felt autobiographical. I read your review and agree with you.
112Kristelh
Week 8 summary
Eight weeks of 2025 have passed. This past week I read.
Best book this week was Fiction: The Last List of Mabel Beaumont and Nonfiction: Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation.
Currently reading
Jesus in Me
Tale Genji
Snow Angels - James Thompson (Finland).
Working on March TIOLI. Will update data and post plans soon. Have a great Wednesday.
Eight weeks of 2025 have passed. This past week I read.
Best book this week was Fiction: The Last List of Mabel Beaumont and Nonfiction: Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation.
Currently reading
Jesus in Me
Tale Genji
Snow Angels - James Thompson (Finland).
Working on March TIOLI. Will update data and post plans soon. Have a great Wednesday.
113Kristelh
March TIOLI
Index of Challenges:
Challenges #1-6
1. Read a memoir written by and about someone you've never heard of before 2025 - msg #1
As Fast As Her
Someone Like Me
2. Read a book with a beverage in the title - msg #3
Hot Milk
3. Read a book that features a character who works in a creative profession - msg #4
This is What I Know About Art
4. Read a book with a four-letter word embedded in a longer word in the title - msg #5
EngLAND Made Me
NowHERE Man A. Hemon
5. Read a book where one of the author's names starts with one of LMNOP - msg #6
Coming Up For Air - George Orwell
Nora Loft
6. Read a classic by a European author - msg #7
Gerald Durrrell My Family and Other Animals
Challenges #7-12
7. Read a book with 15 letters in the title - msg #8
The House of Doors
8. Read a book with an adjective that can be applied to a geometric solid - msg #16
9. Read an Irish book - author or setting - msg #20
10. Read a book with a silent consonant letter in the title, subtitle, or series name - msg #21
11. Read a book translated from Korean, or a non-fiction book about Korea - msg #22
Welcome to the Hyanam-Dong Bookshop
12. Read a book about trees or has tree in the title - msg #23 The Island of Missing Trees
Challenge #13-16
13. Read a book with GARDEN in the title/subtitle, and/or series name - msg #24
The Garden Against Time - Olivia Laing or
The Gardener's Plot -Deborah Benoit
Challenge #14: Read a book with something in the title you could give up for Lent
15. - msg #
16. - msg #
17. - msg #
18. - msg #
Index of Challenges:
Challenges #1-6
1. Read a memoir written by and about someone you've never heard of before 2025 - msg #1
As Fast As Her
Someone Like Me
2. Read a book with a beverage in the title - msg #3
Hot Milk
3. Read a book that features a character who works in a creative profession - msg #4
This is What I Know About Art
4. Read a book with a four-letter word embedded in a longer word in the title - msg #5
EngLAND Made Me
NowHERE Man A. Hemon
5. Read a book where one of the author's names starts with one of LMNOP - msg #6
Coming Up For Air - George Orwell
Nora Loft
6. Read a classic by a European author - msg #7
Gerald Durrrell My Family and Other Animals
Challenges #7-12
7. Read a book with 15 letters in the title - msg #8
The House of Doors
8. Read a book with an adjective that can be applied to a geometric solid - msg #16
9. Read an Irish book - author or setting - msg #20
10. Read a book with a silent consonant letter in the title, subtitle, or series name - msg #21
11. Read a book translated from Korean, or a non-fiction book about Korea - msg #22
Welcome to the Hyanam-Dong Bookshop
12. Read a book about trees or has tree in the title - msg #23 The Island of Missing Trees
Challenge #13-16
13. Read a book with GARDEN in the title/subtitle, and/or series name - msg #24
The Garden Against Time - Olivia Laing or
The Gardener's Plot -Deborah Benoit
Challenge #14: Read a book with something in the title you could give up for Lent
15. - msg #
16. - msg #
17. - msg #
18. - msg #
114Kristelh
29. 
Book Snow Angels - James Thompson
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2010
Acquisition date/place: February 2025, Hoopla Digital
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: a murder in the snow and dark of Finland
Challenge(s): European Tour: Nordic
Author: Finland
List book: no
Genre mystery, police procedural
Liked: liked reading about Finnish culture.
Disliked: there is some graphic violence
Book Snow Angels - James Thompson
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2010
Acquisition date/place: February 2025, Hoopla Digital
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: a murder in the snow and dark of Finland
Challenge(s): European Tour: Nordic
Author: Finland
List book: no
Genre mystery, police procedural
Liked: liked reading about Finnish culture.
Disliked: there is some graphic violence
115Kristelh
Women’s Prize for Literature.
1996. A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore
1997. Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels READ
1998. Larry's Party by Carol Chields
1999. A Crime in the Neighborhood by Suzanne Berne
2000. When I Lived in Modern Times by Linda Grant
2001. The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville
2002. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett READ
2003. Property by Valerie Martin
2004. Small Island by Andrea Levy
2005. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
2006. On Beauty by Zadie Smith READ
2007. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie READ
2008. The Road Home by Rose Tremain
2009. Home by Marilynne Robinson READ
2010. The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver READ
2011. The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
2012. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
2013. May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes
2014. A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing by Eimar McBride. READ
2015. How to be Both by Ali Smith
2016. The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney
2017. The Power by Naomi Alderman READ
2018. Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie. READ
2019. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones READ
2020. Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
2021. Piranesi by Susannah Clarke READ
2022. The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
2023. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver READ
2024. Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganesthanathan
12 read.
1996. A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore
1997. Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels READ
1998. Larry's Party by Carol Chields
1999. A Crime in the Neighborhood by Suzanne Berne
2000. When I Lived in Modern Times by Linda Grant
2001. The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville
2002. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett READ
2003. Property by Valerie Martin
2004. Small Island by Andrea Levy
2005. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
2006. On Beauty by Zadie Smith READ
2007. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie READ
2008. The Road Home by Rose Tremain
2009. Home by Marilynne Robinson READ
2010. The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver READ
2011. The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
2012. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
2013. May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes
2014. A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing by Eimar McBride. READ
2015. How to be Both by Ali Smith
2016. The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney
2017. The Power by Naomi Alderman READ
2018. Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie. READ
2019. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones READ
2020. Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
2021. Piranesi by Susannah Clarke READ
2022. The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
2023. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver READ
2024. Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganesthanathan
12 read.
116Kristelh
Summary for February; I read 15 books this month. I won't be reading anymore this month,
1001 books completed
Night Boat to Tangier
Spring Flowers, Spring Frost
Doctor Zhivago
I am on target with my year long read of The Tale of Genji at 22%.
Booker and International Booker
The Promise - Damon Galgut
Pulitzer
Arrowsmith = Sinclair Lewis
A Summons to Memphis = Peter Taylor
American Author Muslim/American
Heretic - Ayaan Hirsi Ali
British Author
Truth Be Told - Kia Abdoullah
Walking to Aldebaran - Adrian Tchaikovsky
The European Tour Challenge - Nordic
Let the Right One In - John Ajvide Lindqvist (Sweden)
Autumn - Karl Ove Knausgard (Sweden)
Snow Angels - James Thompson (Finland)
Benreadsgood challenge - Burn Baby Burn
Others:
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont - Laura Pearson, BB
Easy Prey - Catherine Lo
This is My America - Kim Johnson
1001 books completed
Night Boat to Tangier
Spring Flowers, Spring Frost
Doctor Zhivago
I am on target with my year long read of The Tale of Genji at 22%.
Booker and International Booker
The Promise - Damon Galgut
Pulitzer
Arrowsmith = Sinclair Lewis
A Summons to Memphis = Peter Taylor
American Author Muslim/American
Heretic - Ayaan Hirsi Ali
British Author
Truth Be Told - Kia Abdoullah
Walking to Aldebaran - Adrian Tchaikovsky
The European Tour Challenge - Nordic
Let the Right One In - John Ajvide Lindqvist (Sweden)
Autumn - Karl Ove Knausgard (Sweden)
Snow Angels - James Thompson (Finland)
Benreadsgood challenge - Burn Baby Burn
Others:
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont - Laura Pearson, BB
Easy Prey - Catherine Lo
This is My America - Kim Johnson
117Kristelh
Plans for March
1001 books
The Successor - Ismael Kadare. COMPLETED
England Made Me - Graham Greene READING
Nowhere Man - Aleksander Hemon
Coming Up For Air - George Orwell READINg
The Story of the Lost Child - Elena Ferrante
Booker and International Booker
Pulitzer
American Author:
Snow Angels or Emily, Alone
British Author
Nora Loft
Gerald Durrell
The European Tour Challenge - Warsaw Pact
The Successor - Kadare (Albania). COMPLETED
Benreadsgood challenge - 15 letters - The House of Doors
Others:
As Fast As Her
This is What I know About Art
Jesus in Me
Someone Like Me
An Irish Country Doctor
The Island of Missing Trees
The Gardener's Plot
1001 books
The Successor - Ismael Kadare. COMPLETED
England Made Me - Graham Greene READING
Nowhere Man - Aleksander Hemon
Coming Up For Air - George Orwell READINg
The Story of the Lost Child - Elena Ferrante
Booker and International Booker
Pulitzer
American Author:
Snow Angels or Emily, Alone
British Author
Nora Loft
Gerald Durrell
The European Tour Challenge - Warsaw Pact
The Successor - Kadare (Albania). COMPLETED
Benreadsgood challenge - 15 letters - The House of Doors
Others:
As Fast As Her
This is What I know About Art
Jesus in Me
Someone Like Me
An Irish Country Doctor
The Island of Missing Trees
The Gardener's Plot
118Kristelh
Currently reading; Coming Up For Air, England Made Me Tale of Genji, Jesus in Me by Lotz. Completed The Successor but need to review/post.
Here in Florida I am not as observant of birds os I’ve decided to walk about a bit and actually look for birds and check out feeders. Today was number one. I heard a lot of bird sounds but did not see many. I did not see any feeders with this walk. What I saw; a loggerhead Shrike, either a blue gray gnatcatcher or an eastern phoebe (I think it was the gnatcatcher), Northern Mockingbird, Northern Flicker, and a swallow tailed kite. That is Day #1. It’s also great because this will get me out walking more. Something I don’t do as much since I no longer have my walking companion dog, Lucy.
Here in Florida I am not as observant of birds os I’ve decided to walk about a bit and actually look for birds and check out feeders. Today was number one. I heard a lot of bird sounds but did not see many. I did not see any feeders with this walk. What I saw; a loggerhead Shrike, either a blue gray gnatcatcher or an eastern phoebe (I think it was the gnatcatcher), Northern Mockingbird, Northern Flicker, and a swallow tailed kite. That is Day #1. It’s also great because this will get me out walking more. Something I don’t do as much since I no longer have my walking companion dog, Lucy.
119Kristelh
Day 2: bird walk. Still no feeders found. I also did not see many birds. The mockingbird of course, a couple of fish crow, a sparrow of some sort, and I walked by the martins. I love hearing the chatter of martins. I also saw a grackle. Not what I would call an auspicious day of bird watching.
120Kristelh
30. 
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2003
Acquisition date/place: March 2025, audible play
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: mysterious death of the man who would be Successor
Challenge(s): Reading1001, Warsaw Pact/European Tour
Author: Albania
List book: 1001
Genre literature
Liked: I liked the story that was based on real political event
Disliked:
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2003
Acquisition date/place: March 2025, audible play
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: mysterious death of the man who would be Successor
Challenge(s): Reading1001, Warsaw Pact/European Tour
Author: Albania
List book: 1001
Genre literature
Liked: I liked the story that was based on real political event
Disliked:
121Kristelh
31. 
Book Coming Up For Air - George Orwell
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1939
Acquisition date/place: March 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: a ramble down memory lane by a fat man
Challenge(s): Reading 1001, tbr takedown
Author: British
List book:
Genre 1001
Liked: I liked some of the ideas that Orwell brings out in the book. It seemed autobiographical the way it was written.
Disliked: doesn't seem to have much plot, just a lot of reminences and excuses
Book Coming Up For Air - George Orwell
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1939
Acquisition date/place: March 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: a ramble down memory lane by a fat man
Challenge(s): Reading 1001, tbr takedown
Author: British
List book:
Genre 1001
Liked: I liked some of the ideas that Orwell brings out in the book. It seemed autobiographical the way it was written.
Disliked: doesn't seem to have much plot, just a lot of reminences and excuses
122vancouverdeb
Well, I have few reading plans for March, Kristel. I need to finish my current read Small Bomb At Dimperly, which is excellent and then try to get to some from the Women's Prize Longlist.
123Kristelh
Day 3 Bird Walk, 6:00 am. Much better time for spotting birds. No feeders.
1. Double crested cormorant
2. Doves; Eurasian colored
3. Hairy Woodpecker
4. Fish Crow
5. Mockingbirds (Northern)
6. Northern Cardinal, female
7. Ibis (flock)
Birds of Southern Florida: including the Everglades, the Keys, Sanibel, and Captiva Islands and Birds of Southwest Florida: A Guide to Common and Notable Species
I saw other birds but not able to identify them. One was black and white, quite large, flying toward the holding pond. Another was small, greyish bird with hardly any tail.
Currently trying to decide what will be my next audio; but Isola came in from my hold so I will start there so I can return it for others to read. I am also reading England Made Me as my book book. Read another section in Jesus In Me by Lotz.
1. Double crested cormorant
2. Doves; Eurasian colored
3. Hairy Woodpecker
4. Fish Crow
5. Mockingbirds (Northern)
6. Northern Cardinal, female
7. Ibis (flock)
Birds of Southern Florida: including the Everglades, the Keys, Sanibel, and Captiva Islands and Birds of Southwest Florida: A Guide to Common and Notable Species
I saw other birds but not able to identify them. One was black and white, quite large, flying toward the holding pond. Another was small, greyish bird with hardly any tail.
Currently trying to decide what will be my next audio; but Isola came in from my hold so I will start there so I can return it for others to read. I am also reading England Made Me as my book book. Read another section in Jesus In Me by Lotz.
124vancouverdeb
Enjoy Isola Kristel. I think that you will.
125Kristelh
>124 vancouverdeb: Good morning Deborah. You were up late last night. I am half way through Isola and I am enjoying it.
126Kristelh
My holds list.
Martyr! just came in but I extended it for another 30 days. Deliver after April 5th
We Do Not Part 20 weeks
Good Dirt 16 weeks
Tell Me Everything 8 weeks
Nesting 7 weeks
Ministry of Time 6 weeks
The Dream Hotel 5 weeks
Confessions - Airey 4 weeks
Summary of 8th week of 2025.
Books Read: 31 books this year, 2 books this past week
Fiction: 2
Nonfiction: 0
Currently reading
Isola - Allegra Goodman
England Made Me
Jesus In Me; experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion
Tale of Genji
On Deck
Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop
Sunset Song
Plans for the day: Bird Walk, Exercise, Pickleball. I will probably buy groceries today. I have a block party Saturday and a Cookout on Sunday. It’s March and this is the last official month of the 2025 season.
Martyr! just came in but I extended it for another 30 days. Deliver after April 5th
We Do Not Part 20 weeks
Good Dirt 16 weeks
Tell Me Everything 8 weeks
Nesting 7 weeks
Ministry of Time 6 weeks
The Dream Hotel 5 weeks
Confessions - Airey 4 weeks
Summary of 8th week of 2025.
Books Read: 31 books this year, 2 books this past week
Fiction: 2
Nonfiction: 0
Currently reading
Isola - Allegra Goodman
England Made Me
Jesus In Me; experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion
Tale of Genji
On Deck
Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop
Sunset Song
Plans for the day: Bird Walk, Exercise, Pickleball. I will probably buy groceries today. I have a block party Saturday and a Cookout on Sunday. It’s March and this is the last official month of the 2025 season.
127Kristelh
My walk and bird watching wasn't very informative. Same culprits but I did see a Great Egret while driving home from grocery shopping.
128vancouverdeb
I am a nightowl, Kristel. I see you are an early bird , up at 6 am watching birds. I roll out of bed at about 9 am to walk the dog. I literally get out of bed, drink some water, put on some clothes and get Muffin in her harness and leash and off we go. Wild hair and all. I think I am going to start reading Fagin The Thief this evening.
129Kristelh
>128 vancouverdeb: Yes, I am awake and out of bed most days at 5 am. Lucy and I would often go walking shortly after that. When I was still working that meant we were walking in the dark. I am much happier to walk after the sun is up. About ready to leave for a bird watching walk soon. I finished Isola by Goodman and loved it. Thanks for the BB. I did recommend it to my book club group and they did vote it in. I think they will love it and I think I might suggest it to my other book group.
130msf59
Hi, Kristel. It has taken me forever to get over here but I am finally stumbling in. I hope you are enjoying Isola. I loved that book. I also love your Holds list up there. I have Martyr on my TBR, so I will watch for your thoughts on that one. Tell Me Everything was fantastic. You got some fine reading ahead of you.
I plan on getting out for a solo bird walk this AM. Hoping to see some new arrivals. Have a good weekend.
I plan on getting out for a solo bird walk this AM. Hoping to see some new arrivals. Have a good weekend.
131Kristelh
Morning walk. The birds were pretty quiet until around 7:30 am. There was a light fog this morning. It is suppose to be a beautiful day today.
Beside the usual, I saw these
Blue Jay (2)
Muscovy Duck (this is the black and white bird I saw the other day). These are not in the identifier books. The web site calls them feral in Florida. They live in trees (kind of like the wood duck).
I heard the cardinals and walked past the Martins today.
It was a very nice walk.
Beside the usual, I saw these
Blue Jay (2)
Muscovy Duck (this is the black and white bird I saw the other day). These are not in the identifier books. The web site calls them feral in Florida. They live in trees (kind of like the wood duck).
I heard the cardinals and walked past the Martins today.
It was a very nice walk.
132Kristelh
32. 
Book Isola - Allegra Goodman
Format: audio book
Original publication date: 2025
Acquisition date/place: March 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 4.5 stars
Book description/summary: young woman alone on an island in the St. Lawrence Seaway. This is based on a real person
Challenge(s): BB
Author: USA
List book:
Genre historical fiction
Liked: survival story based on a real person
Disliked:
Book Isola - Allegra Goodman
Format: audio book
Original publication date: 2025
Acquisition date/place: March 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 4.5 stars
Book description/summary: young woman alone on an island in the St. Lawrence Seaway. This is based on a real person
Challenge(s): BB
Author: USA
List book:
Genre historical fiction
Liked: survival story based on a real person
Disliked:
133Kristelh
33. 
Book Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop - Hwang Bo-reum
Format: audio
Original publication date: 1922
Acquisition date/place: March 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: quiet story of books and coffee and life
Challenge(s): TIOLI
Author: Korean
List book: no
Genre philosophical, urban
Liked: it looked at how a younger generation thinks about life
Disliked:
Book Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop - Hwang Bo-reum
Format: audio
Original publication date: 1922
Acquisition date/place: March 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: quiet story of books and coffee and life
Challenge(s): TIOLI
Author: Korean
List book: no
Genre philosophical, urban
Liked: it looked at how a younger generation thinks about life
Disliked:
134msf59
Hooray for Isola. The muscovy duck is an odd one, not only because it's homely looks but it is also considered an invasive species. I did not realize they originated in Texas. I saw my first one in New Orleans.
135Kristelh
>134 msf59:. I saw my first one in Florida, Mark. They’re pretty ugly. I wonder though, if they are good to eat since they have been domesticated.
136Kristelh
Bird walk using Merlin App. Thanks so much Mark for pointing me to it.
1. Tricolored Heron. At River Bend, eating fish.
2. Male Cardinal also seen at River Bend.
3. Yellow-Rumped Warbler, seen at River bend
4. Heard Blue Jay
5. Mockingbird
6. Dove
It was a good walk today. Saw one small empty bird feeder and did find a feeder over on the farside of the park (outside of the park) where I live.
Currently reading Sunset Song, Jesus in Me, England Made Me.
Tuesday, traveling to Port Charlotte to see a friend who used to live next door. It will be a day spent with friends. Not much reading happening today.
1. Tricolored Heron. At River Bend, eating fish.
2. Male Cardinal also seen at River Bend.
3. Yellow-Rumped Warbler, seen at River bend
4. Heard Blue Jay
5. Mockingbird
6. Dove
It was a good walk today. Saw one small empty bird feeder and did find a feeder over on the farside of the park (outside of the park) where I live.
Currently reading Sunset Song, Jesus in Me, England Made Me.
Tuesday, traveling to Port Charlotte to see a friend who used to live next door. It will be a day spent with friends. Not much reading happening today.
137Kristelh
34. 
Book Sunset Song - Lewis Grassic Gibbon
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1932
Acquisition date/place: March 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 star
Book description/summary: Change of life in farming community
Challenge(s): Reading1001, botm March
Author: Scottish
List book: 1001
Genre fiction/literature
Liked: its a story of life in Scotland/farming
Disliked: there is some violence and sexual content
Book Sunset Song - Lewis Grassic Gibbon
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 1932
Acquisition date/place: March 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 star
Book description/summary: Change of life in farming community
Challenge(s): Reading1001, botm March
Author: Scottish
List book: 1001
Genre fiction/literature
Liked: its a story of life in Scotland/farming
Disliked: there is some violence and sexual content
138Kristelh
My holds list.
Martyr! just came in but I extended it for another 30 days. Deliver after April 5th
We Do Not Part 6 weeks
Good Dirt 12 weeks
Tell Me Everything 6 weeks
Nesting 3 weeks
Ministry of Time 5 weeks
The Dream Hotel this one came in but I extended it to after March 28
Confessions - Airey 4 weeks
Summary of 9 week of 2025.
Books Read: 33 books this year, 2 books this past week
Fiction: 2
Nonfiction: 0
Currently reading
England Made Me
Jesus In Me; experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion COMPLETED today
Tale of Genji
Sunset Song COMPLETED today
On Deck
The Story of the Lost Child - Elena Ferrante
The House of Doors - Tan Twan Eng
Plans for this week: Lunch with lady friends to celebrate their birthdays, dance tonight, Friends of Library book sale, pickleball, bird walks.
Martyr! just came in but I extended it for another 30 days. Deliver after April 5th
We Do Not Part 6 weeks
Good Dirt 12 weeks
Tell Me Everything 6 weeks
Nesting 3 weeks
Ministry of Time 5 weeks
The Dream Hotel this one came in but I extended it to after March 28
Confessions - Airey 4 weeks
Summary of 9 week of 2025.
Books Read: 33 books this year, 2 books this past week
Fiction: 2
Nonfiction: 0
Currently reading
England Made Me
Jesus In Me; experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion COMPLETED today
Tale of Genji
Sunset Song COMPLETED today
On Deck
The Story of the Lost Child - Elena Ferrante
The House of Doors - Tan Twan Eng
Plans for this week: Lunch with lady friends to celebrate their birthdays, dance tonight, Friends of Library book sale, pickleball, bird walks.
139figsfromthistle
>116 Kristelh: Excellent stats!
>117 Kristelh: Sounds like great reads ahead. I really need to pay more attention the the prize lists. I have been reading less of the these past years.
>138 Kristelh: Hope you had a great lunch with your friends and that you were able to find a few books at the library sale!
>117 Kristelh: Sounds like great reads ahead. I really need to pay more attention the the prize lists. I have been reading less of the these past years.
>138 Kristelh: Hope you had a great lunch with your friends and that you were able to find a few books at the library sale!
140Kristelh
Thursday bird walk.
I left at about 7:45 Florida time and walked until 8:45 am.
Today's birds (sitings and sounds)
1. Boat tailed grackle
2. American Coot
3. tricolored heron
4. white ibis
5. Mockingbird
6. Blue Jay
7. Martin
8. House Sparrow
6. Palm warbler
Sound only
7. Carolina Wren
It was a nice day for a walk. Temperature 55. Sunny.
Hope to read a bit this morning. Other possibilities are jigsaw puzzle. Possibly cards. Dominoes tonight. Eat left overs.
Currently reading England Made Me. Starting The Story of the Lost Child.
I left at about 7:45 Florida time and walked until 8:45 am.
Today's birds (sitings and sounds)
1. Boat tailed grackle
2. American Coot
3. tricolored heron
4. white ibis
5. Mockingbird
6. Blue Jay
7. Martin
8. House Sparrow
6. Palm warbler
Sound only
7. Carolina Wren
It was a nice day for a walk. Temperature 55. Sunny.
Hope to read a bit this morning. Other possibilities are jigsaw puzzle. Possibly cards. Dominoes tonight. Eat left overs.
Currently reading England Made Me. Starting The Story of the Lost Child.
141Kristelh
Morning bird walk sitings:
1. Boat tailed Grackle
2. Common Crackle
3. Red-bellied Woodpecker
And the other common sightings.....
Currently reading The Story of the Lost Child - Elena Ferrante. I can not say that I really like this story, or its characters. It has its moments and I am liking the last part of the book more than the first.
1. Boat tailed Grackle
2. Common Crackle
3. Red-bellied Woodpecker
And the other common sightings.....
Currently reading The Story of the Lost Child - Elena Ferrante. I can not say that I really like this story, or its characters. It has its moments and I am liking the last part of the book more than the first.
142Kristelh
35. 
Book The Story of the Lost Child - Elena Ferrante
Format: audiobook, audible
Original publication date: 2014
Acquisition date/place: 9/2/18, audible
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: one women reflects on her lifetime friendship and motherhood.
Challenge(s): Reading1001, word of the month
Author: Italian
list/awards 1001
Genre novel, fiction
Liked: I liked some of the aspects of motherhood that was explored
Disliked: I didn't like some of the choices, it felt like a soap opera
Book The Story of the Lost Child - Elena Ferrante
Format: audiobook, audible
Original publication date: 2014
Acquisition date/place: 9/2/18, audible
Decimal/ Star rating: 3 stars
Book description/summary: one women reflects on her lifetime friendship and motherhood.
Challenge(s): Reading1001, word of the month
Author: Italian
list/awards 1001
Genre novel, fiction
Liked: I liked some of the aspects of motherhood that was explored
Disliked: I didn't like some of the choices, it felt like a soap opera
143Kristelh
Summary of week 11, 2025, March 12 through 18
Books Read: 3, 2 fiction, 1 nonfiction.
Sunset Song - Lewis Grassic Gibbon (1001)
Jesus in Me - NF (Christian living, Holy Spirit)
The Story of the Lost Child - Elena Ferrante (1001)
Best book this week was Jesus in Me. I really liked Sunset Song too but The Story of the Lost Child was so so for me.
Hold List:
The Dream Hotel - Laila Lalami
Martyr! - Kaveh Akbar
Confessions - Catherine Airey
Nesting - Roisin O'Donnell
The Ministry of Time - Kaliane Bradley
Tell Me Everything - Elizabeth Stout
We do Not Part - Han Kang
Good Dirt - Charmaine Wilkerson
The God of the Woods
Fagin the Thief - Allison Epstein
Currently reading The House of Doors - Tan Twan Eng.
England Made Me
Tale of Genji
The season is winding down here at IBE, Florida and so it has been a busy week with eating and saying bye. I don't leave until probably first part of May and things will be much quieter after this week and even more so in April.
Books Read: 3, 2 fiction, 1 nonfiction.
Sunset Song - Lewis Grassic Gibbon (1001)
Jesus in Me - NF (Christian living, Holy Spirit)
The Story of the Lost Child - Elena Ferrante (1001)
Best book this week was Jesus in Me. I really liked Sunset Song too but The Story of the Lost Child was so so for me.
Hold List:
The Dream Hotel - Laila Lalami
Martyr! - Kaveh Akbar
Confessions - Catherine Airey
Nesting - Roisin O'Donnell
The Ministry of Time - Kaliane Bradley
Tell Me Everything - Elizabeth Stout
We do Not Part - Han Kang
Good Dirt - Charmaine Wilkerson
The God of the Woods
Fagin the Thief - Allison Epstein
Currently reading The House of Doors - Tan Twan Eng.
England Made Me
Tale of Genji
The season is winding down here at IBE, Florida and so it has been a busy week with eating and saying bye. I don't leave until probably first part of May and things will be much quieter after this week and even more so in April.
144Kristelh
36. Book The House of Doors - Tan Twan Eng
Format: audiobook, Audible
Original publication date: 2023
Acquisition date/place: Audible 3/16/24
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.75 stars
Book description/summary: unfaithful spouses, colonialism, murder.
Challenge(s): read for challenge to read a novel with 15 letters and I owned it.
Author: Maylasian
List book: Booker long list
Genre historical fiction
Liked: in general I did like the story. A story of homosexuality without the details. Thank you.
Disliked: it's pretty good so nc
145vancouverdeb
I'm glad you enjoyed The House of Doors, Kristel. I hope some of your holds come in fairly soon. I'm just about finished Three Days in June and enjoying it. It is very short too at 176 pages.
146Kristelh
>145 vancouverdeb:. Oh, good to hear that you liked Three Days in June as I had heard a negative review. I generally like her writing. I had a few of my holds come in but had to delay them because I wasn't quite ready for them. Maybe I will had Three Days in June.
147Kristelh
37. 
Book My Family and other Animals - Gerald Durrell
Format: audio book
Original publication date: 1956
Acquisition date/place: March 2025, Hoopla Digital
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.75 stars
Book description/summary: childhood memoir, exaggeration, humor
Challenge(s): BAC
Author: British
List book: no
Genre memoir, humor
Liked: it was fun
Disliked: np
Book My Family and other Animals - Gerald Durrell
Format: audio book
Original publication date: 1956
Acquisition date/place: March 2025, Hoopla Digital
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.75 stars
Book description/summary: childhood memoir, exaggeration, humor
Challenge(s): BAC
Author: British
List book: no
Genre memoir, humor
Liked: it was fun
Disliked: np
148Kristelh
38. 
Book Hot Milk
Format: Kindle, audio
Original publication date: 2015
Acquisition date/place: 1/7/17
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: a lot of Hot Milk (mother/daughter relationship)
Challenge(s): TIOLI
Author: British
List book: short list for Booker
Genre psychological novel
Liked: it was creepy, not overly offensive, well written
Disliked: it does address sexual power including same sex
Book Hot Milk
Format: Kindle, audio
Original publication date: 2015
Acquisition date/place: 1/7/17
Decimal/ Star rating: 4 stars
Book description/summary: a lot of Hot Milk (mother/daughter relationship)
Challenge(s): TIOLI
Author: British
List book: short list for Booker
Genre psychological novel
Liked: it was creepy, not overly offensive, well written
Disliked: it does address sexual power including same sex
149Kristelh
I forgot to review a book that I read between Sunset Song and the ...Bookshoppe.
39.
Book Jesus in Me: Experiencing the Holy
Spirit as a Constant Companion - Anne Graham Lotz
Format: book, study guide and video
Original publication date: 2019
Acquisition date/place: January 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 5 stars
Book description/summary: This is a book that explores the Holy Spirit who is sent to be are constant companion. It explores what the Holy Spirit does in our lives.
Challenge(s): Bible Study, IBE
Author: US
List book: no
Genre Christian Living
Liked: I liked the book more and more as I read it.
Disliked: I think it might not work for everyone, especially the study guide. I have my way of studying and did not really need a different format but this would be a good way to start.
39.
Book Jesus in Me: Experiencing the Holy
Spirit as a Constant Companion - Anne Graham Lotz
Format: book, study guide and video
Original publication date: 2019
Acquisition date/place: January 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 5 stars
Book description/summary: This is a book that explores the Holy Spirit who is sent to be are constant companion. It explores what the Holy Spirit does in our lives.
Challenge(s): Bible Study, IBE
Author: US
List book: no
Genre Christian Living
Liked: I liked the book more and more as I read it.
Disliked: I think it might not work for everyone, especially the study guide. I have my way of studying and did not really need a different format but this would be a good way to start.
150Kristelh
40. 
Book This is What I Know About Art - Kimberly Drew
Format: audio book
Original publication date: 2020
Acquisition date/place: 5/21/21
Decimal/ Star rating: 3⭐
Book description/summary: art curator/activist
Challenge(s): read about someone in the arts
Author: US
List book: no
Genre short story, autobiography,
Liked:
Disliked: hate
Book This is What I Know About Art - Kimberly Drew
Format: audio book
Original publication date: 2020
Acquisition date/place: 5/21/21
Decimal/ Star rating: 3⭐
Book description/summary: art curator/activist
Challenge(s): read about someone in the arts
Author: US
List book: no
Genre short story, autobiography,
Liked:
Disliked: hate
151Kristelh
Summary of week 11, 2025, March 19 through 26
Books Read: 4; 2 fiction, 2 nonfiction
The House of Doors
My Family and other Animals
Hot Milk
This is What I Know About Art
Worse book this week: What I know About Art
Hold List:
The Dream Hotel - Laila Lalami, available soon
Martyr! - Kaveh Akbar, ~ 2 weeks, 3rd in line
We do Not Part - Han Kang ~ 2 weeks, 3rd in line
Nesting - Roisin O'Donnell ~ 3 weeks, 3rd in line
Tell Me Everything - Elizabeth Stout, ~ 4 weeks, 22 in line
Confessions - Catherine Airey ~ 4 weeks, 2nd in line
Good Dirt - Charmaine Wilkerson ~ 8 weeks, 18th in line
The God of the Woods - Liz Moore ~ 15 weeks, 224th in line
Three Days in June - Anne Tyler, ~ 16 weeks, 95th in line
Currently reading
England Made Me
Tale of Genji
The Gardener's Plot - Deborah J Benoit
On Deck:
The Island of Missing Trees
Emily, Alone
Nora Loft
The Ministry of Time - Kaliane Bradley
Books Read: 4; 2 fiction, 2 nonfiction
The House of Doors
My Family and other Animals
Hot Milk
This is What I Know About Art
Worse book this week: What I know About Art
Hold List:
The Dream Hotel - Laila Lalami, available soon
Martyr! - Kaveh Akbar, ~ 2 weeks, 3rd in line
We do Not Part - Han Kang ~ 2 weeks, 3rd in line
Nesting - Roisin O'Donnell ~ 3 weeks, 3rd in line
Tell Me Everything - Elizabeth Stout, ~ 4 weeks, 22 in line
Confessions - Catherine Airey ~ 4 weeks, 2nd in line
Good Dirt - Charmaine Wilkerson ~ 8 weeks, 18th in line
The God of the Woods - Liz Moore ~ 15 weeks, 224th in line
Three Days in June - Anne Tyler, ~ 16 weeks, 95th in line
Currently reading
England Made Me
Tale of Genji
The Gardener's Plot - Deborah J Benoit
On Deck:
The Island of Missing Trees
Emily, Alone
Nora Loft
The Ministry of Time - Kaliane Bradley
152alcottacre
I am almost 50 posts behind, Kristel, and not trying to catch up, but wanted to drop by and thank you for helping keep my thread warm while I was gone.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!!
Have a wonderful Wednesday!!
153Kristelh
>152 alcottacre:, Thank you Stasia. Glad you're back.
154vancouverdeb
Hot Milk sounds interesting, Kristel. I'll have a think on that one. I am trying to read for the Women's Prize Longlist, not all, but some, and then I went to the library today and picked up several new books that I have never heard of, so I am getting nowhere fast.
155Kristelh
41. 
Book The Gardener's Plot - Deborah J. Benoit
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2024
Acquisition date/place: March 2025, Hoopla Digital
Decimal/ Star rating: 2 stars
Book description/summary: cozy mystery featuring community garden
Challenge(s): TIOLI
Author: US
List book: no
Genre cozy mystery
Liked: no unneeded sexual content or explicit language
Disliked: totally unbelievable and annoying
Book The Gardener's Plot - Deborah J. Benoit
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2024
Acquisition date/place: March 2025, Hoopla Digital
Decimal/ Star rating: 2 stars
Book description/summary: cozy mystery featuring community garden
Challenge(s): TIOLI
Author: US
List book: no
Genre cozy mystery
Liked: no unneeded sexual content or explicit language
Disliked: totally unbelievable and annoying
156Kristelh
>154 vancouverdeb:. Yes, I think Hot Milk is worth a read. I am trying to finish off March books. Been too busy with the end of season here in Florida. Lots of people heading back. My Canadian friends from the east coast will head back mid April. Me around first part of May.
157klobrien2
>155 Kristelh: Well, you found something good to say about it! How do you make yourself keep reading a book that annoys you? Good thing you’re a fast reader!
Minnesota weather has been gorgeous lately. My outdoor thermometer says 63 degrees F. right now What?! What am I doing inside? But, forecasts warning of small chance of rain/snow coming. Of course, northern MN seems to always have threat of winter storm nonsense.
Karen O
Minnesota weather has been gorgeous lately. My outdoor thermometer says 63 degrees F. right now What?! What am I doing inside? But, forecasts warning of small chance of rain/snow coming. Of course, northern MN seems to always have threat of winter storm nonsense.
Karen O
158Kristelh
>157 klobrien2:, Hey, Karen, thanks for stopping by. I have been watching Minnesota weather. It's been really a great spring. The weather in Florida has been very nice too. I will be back in Minnesota in May.
159Kristelh
42. 
Book England Made Me - Graham Greene
Format: book
Original publication date: 1935
Acquisition date/place: January 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: "all the world owes me a living" Walt Disney
Challenge(s): Reading1001, botm March
Author: British
List book: 1001
Genre fiction
Liked: interesting take on twins, flawed characters
Disliked: why was the woman so masculinely portrayed?
Book England Made Me - Graham Greene
Format: book
Original publication date: 1935
Acquisition date/place: January 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 stars
Book description/summary: "all the world owes me a living" Walt Disney
Challenge(s): Reading1001, botm March
Author: British
List book: 1001
Genre fiction
Liked: interesting take on twins, flawed characters
Disliked: why was the woman so masculinely portrayed?
160vancouverdeb
You read so many interesting books, Kristel. I think you will enjoy Three Days in June when you get to it.
161Kristelh
43, 
Book Emily Alone - Stewart O'Nan
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2011
Acquisition date/place: March 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 ⭐
Book description/summary: dealing with being old and alone
Challenge(s): AAC
Author: US
List book: no
Genre fiction, domestic
Liked: I like books about aging.
Disliked: no concerns
Book Emily Alone - Stewart O'Nan
Format: audiobook
Original publication date: 2011
Acquisition date/place: March 2025
Decimal/ Star rating: 3.5 ⭐
Book description/summary: dealing with being old and alone
Challenge(s): AAC
Author: US
List book: no
Genre fiction, domestic
Liked: I like books about aging.
Disliked: no concerns
162vancouverdeb
>161 Kristelh: I really loved Emily Alone, too, Kristel.
163Kristelh
>162 vancouverdeb:, Thanks for stopping by Deborah. I think we have similar tastes.
This topic was continued by Kristel's 2025 Journal 2nd Quarter.
