Walklover’s 75 Books Challenge for 2026

Happy New Year everyone!

Happy New Year, Debbi!

Welcome back!

New Year greetings from Kuala Lumpur. My project is at least physically completed and an addition to the city scape.

Look forward to keeping up with you in 2026, Debbi

Hey, lovely one. Happy New Year!

Are you going to list/review your ‘26 books read here? I’m so glad you loved When the Cranes Fly South as much as I did!

>2 kidzdoc: Happy New Year, Darryl! Think of you and your mother often and wish only the best for you both.

>3 drneutron: Thanks! It’s good to be back. Happy New Year!

>4 PaulCranswick: Quite a project!! What’s next for you?

Happy New Year to you and yours.

>5 Berly: And a Happy New Year to you!

>6 jnwelch: Of course I am. Was just waiting for a quiet moment to do so. :)

1. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - I was positive I had read this in the past and wanted to read it again due to the times we’re living in. I’m also trying to read more banned books. Turns out, I had never read it and I’m definitely glad to have finally done so. Hit very close to home - things are really crazy all around right now.

2. When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen - Thank you to Joe for recommending this book. A beautiful story about aging, love, loss and friendship. I was particularly taken by it being written from the perspective of the main character “talking” to his wife who is in a care home due to advanced dementia.

>13 walklover: Reading this one with my RL bookclub the year. Glad it is being so well received. And F 451 was indeed a good one. You are on a roll -- great start!

>9 walklover: Thanks Debbi.

Am currently considering options. The project is in dispute at the moment so I will probably have to oversee the arbitration process but we also have projects in Malaysia for Google and a project I am interested in which is about to start in Cairo.

Longer term though I want to get back to the UK.

3.Hum by Helen Phillips - This is a mixture of a story involving a dystopian society and one exploring family and love. Really well-written - it kept me riveted right up to the end.

4. Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day - I really liked Rader-Day’s The Day I Died, so I was excited to borrow this one from Becca. A beautifully written book centered on WWII, the children evacuated from their homes in London and taken to the country and the people who took care of them and lived in the surrounding area. And - it’s also a murder mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

5. The Day Moon and Earth Had an Argument by David Duff - Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this picture book whose main purpose was to teach about the planets. The information regarding each planet seemed like a throwaway to me - too quick and, I feel, something that would have little to no impact on the knowledge of the children reading it. I also wasn’t fond of the illustrations.

6. The Crystal Heart retold by Aaron Shepard - A beautifully written book retelling of a Vietnamese legend. In simple terms, it confirms the saying that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover and the consequences that might occur if you do. It’s aimed at those with a 6-9 reading age, but this is one I would recommend for all ages.

7. Stillwater and Koo Save the World by Jon J. Muth - Poo, a panda who speaks in haikus, wakes up one morning and decides he wants to save the world. With his friend Stillwater (another panda) he performs acts of kindness during the day that do, indeed, make the world a better place. Beautifully written with wonderful illustrations.

>20 walklover: OK, I am going to have to read that one! Thanks for the recommendation, Debbi.

Have a marvelous Monday!

>16 walklover: I have that on the shelves, Debbi, and hope to get to it soon.

>21 alcottacre: Looking forward to seeing what you think of it.

>22 PaulCranswick: Let me know when you do.

8. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris - Wonderfully written, but a difficult book to read due to the subject matter. The choices many of those in the concentration camps had to make are heartbreaking. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to all because the subject matter is something we all should never forget.

9.Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh - Thank you to Joe for this recommendation. A young adult novel that can be read and enjoyed by adults as well. It tells the story of two young boys - one an American and one a Syrian refugee - who meet in Brussels and help each other face many challenges while realizing the strength they each have.

Dropping by to wish you a lovely weekend, Debbi.

>27 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. It was an enjoyable one. I hope the same was true for you.

10. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - Thank you to Joe for this recommendation. I’m a sucker for epistolary novels and this was a fabulous one. Through these letters, you slowly learn about the writer and what her life has been like . She makes many discoveries about herself along the way.

11. the lucky one by Lori Rader-Day - Of the three Rader-Day books I’ve read so far, this is my least favorite. It might be my muddled brain at work, but I had a lot of trouble keeping some of the characters straight. But, as always, her writing is so very good - she really brings you into each scene.

>29 walklover: First When the Cranes Fly South and now my other bookclub is reading The Correspondent later this year. We could do bookclub together!! LOL

>31 Berly: That would be fun!

12. People Like Us by Jason Mott - Although I really enjoyed reading it, I find this book very difficult to describe. Suffice it to say that until I read more about the book after I finished reading it, I didn’t realize it was talking about two writers, but thought it was about just one. I would definitely recommend it.

13. Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah - I’m a major fan of Hannah’s writing and this book did not disappoint me. A truly fascinating story of a young girl who comes out of the woods into civilization - something she has no experience with. Everything is new and frightening. She is taken in by a renowned child psychiatrist whose reputation has been greatly tarnished by incident involving one of her patients. Together they learn (and teach each other) how to reenter the world.

14. The Little Beach Bakery by Jenny Colgan - I was in the mood for a light read with some romance and this book fit the bill. Well written, great characters and a beautiful setting.

>35 walklover: Wendy Wax OCEAN BEACH books offer another romantic getaway.

>36 m.belljackson: Thanks for the recommendation. Will definitely check them out.

15. Animal Farm by George Orwell - Not the smartest thing to read before I go to sleep, but well worth the time. I’m trying to read more banned books and this classic is one of the best.

16. Simply More by Cynthia Erivo - I really admire Cynthia’s talent.Joe and I were lucky to see her in The Color Purple on Broadway which was an experience I don’t think i’ll ever forget. I also thought she was wonderful in Wicked. I learned a good deal about her personally from this book which was very interesting. However, many of the “lessons” she hopes to teach are ones i’ve read or heard in other forms many times.

17. Ada’s Violin by Susan Hood - This is a picture book I found for Rafa’s 8th birthday which is coming up soon. But, I think it’s one that all ages should read.It’s the story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay which came about because of one man who saw the beauty in music and what it could do for the children who live in a town on a landfill. Their time is spent gathering whatever they can find in the landfill that can be sold to help their families. He makes them instruments from the the recycled trash and they eventually play for audiences all over the world and the money they make goes back to help their families and community.

>37 walklover: Be sure to read OCEAN BEACH books in order - the third one wraps things up with a lot of new character fun & great dialogue!

>40 walklover: I will look for that Debbi, it sounds absolutely fascinating.

Shoot, Tom’s work in the basement wiped out my post. Oh well, I’ll try again with no wi-fi.

So many good books and reviews! I love the reading year you’re having. I’ll grab Ada’s Violin. What a find! Perfect for Rafa - and for others like me.

Do you think I’d enjoy Magic Hour? I’ve liked her others I’ve read, and your review is intriguing.

18. Death at a Firefly Tea by Laura Childs - I have never been disappointed by this authors cozy Cozy Teashop mysteries. I enjoy reading about characters I have come to know very well - and meeting the newcomers. The mysteries are always well-written - and this one kept me guessing to the very end.

19. Woods and Words by Sara Holly Ackerman - This picture book about the life of poet Mary Oliver is geared towards younger children, but as a fan of Mary Oliver’s poetry, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I always enjoy learning more about writers I admire. Thank you to Joe for the recommendation.

20. The Wanderer by Peter Van Den Ende - Another wonderful recommendation from Joe. This picture book is wordless, which only adds to the impact of the story.

21. Drawing on Walls by Matthew Burgess - This picture book tells the story of Keith Haring. It covers his whole life, right up to his death from AIDS. The illustrations by Josh Cochran are wonderful and truly capture Haring’s style. Thanks again to Joe for this recommendation.

22. This Book Made Me think of You by Libby Page - A beautiful story which introduces us to Matilda Nightengale, a young recent widow. Matilda’s late husband, knowing he was going to die, left twelve books for her at a bookstore with the instructions that she would be given one a month from January through December. The books were chosen to help Tilly navigate her life alone and heal. I loved it!

22. This Book Made Me think of You by Libby Page - A beautiful story which introduces us to Matilda Nightengale, a young recent widow. Matilda’s late husband, knowing he was going to die, left twelve books for her at a bookstore with the instructions that she would be given one a month from January through December. The books were chosen to help Tilly navigate her life alone and heal. I loved it!

23. This Book Made Me think of You by Libby Page - A beautiful story which introduces us to Matilda Nightingale, a young recent widow. Matilda’s late husband, knowing he was going to die, left twelve books for her at a bookstore with the instructions that she would be given one a month from January through December. The books were chosen to help Tilly navigate her life alone and heal. I loved it!

24. Cross and Sampson by James Patterson - Patterson’s Alex Cross books are by far my favorite. This one placed emphasis on his friend and colleague, John Sampson, as well as- and it was very well done.

25. The Book Tour by Emily Ohanjanians - Like Joe, I’m a sucker for any book with the word Book or Bookstore in the title. This was a lovely, if a bit predictable, story of an author and her publicist and their growing romance. An easy read which is what I’ve been buying lately.

Popping in to say Hi! >50 walklover: and >52 walklover: sound really good. Adding to the WL. : )

PS -- link doesnt' work for The Book Tour.