1Sean191
I've only ever hit the 75 books challenge goal twice - and I think both were before I actually joined the group. This past year was the lowest number in quite a while, hope to do better this year although I'm sure I won't get near 75 (regardless of my subject line) :)
2009: 87
2010: 100
2011: 31
2012: 34
2013: 26
2014: 26
2015: 26
2016: 11 (sad trombone sound)
2017: 20
2018: 22
2019: 45
2020: 33
2021: 35
2022: 33
2023: 43
2024: 36
2025: 22
2009: 87
2010: 100
2011: 31
2012: 34
2013: 26
2014: 26
2015: 26
2016: 11 (sad trombone sound)
2017: 20
2018: 22
2019: 45
2020: 33
2021: 35
2022: 33
2023: 43
2024: 36
2025: 22
2Sean191
1. The Pacifist - Lyn Bixby
2. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - Alexander Solzhenitsyn
3. The Age of Calamities: Stories - Senaa Ahmad
4. Flowers that Grow on Graves - K.F. Black
5. Running Wild Anthology 9
6. The Story Eaters of Yamm
7. Always One Mistake - Ace Boggess
8. Britt-Marie was Here - Fredrik Backman
9. The Midnight Library - Matt Haig
2. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - Alexander Solzhenitsyn
3. The Age of Calamities: Stories - Senaa Ahmad
4. Flowers that Grow on Graves - K.F. Black
5. Running Wild Anthology 9
6. The Story Eaters of Yamm
7. Always One Mistake - Ace Boggess
8. Britt-Marie was Here - Fredrik Backman
9. The Midnight Library - Matt Haig
3Sean191
1. The Pacifist by Lyn Bixby
Even though there was a blurb on the cover from Kirkus saying "Hard to put down," I found the book a little bit difficult to pick up. The writing style was middling, but the story could have been interesting. The real problem though was that the novel seemed to not know what it wanted to be or where the focus should be.
There were too many characters that seemed to be main characters before their storyline was totally dropped. The dialogue and reactions of each of the characters seemed wooden and unrealistic. And the climactic ending seemed tacked onto an ending of a novel that turned into a romance (without enough real character development to make that romance work).
The ending wasn't realistic and the interactions with the characters for the end seemed totally unrealistic. Again, the characters lacked an emotional core. In all, The Pacifist feels like an outline of a novel rather than a finished piece. I appreciate the conviction behind the book, but just can't get on board with its literary merit.
2 1/2 stars.
Even though there was a blurb on the cover from Kirkus saying "Hard to put down," I found the book a little bit difficult to pick up. The writing style was middling, but the story could have been interesting. The real problem though was that the novel seemed to not know what it wanted to be or where the focus should be.
There were too many characters that seemed to be main characters before their storyline was totally dropped. The dialogue and reactions of each of the characters seemed wooden and unrealistic. And the climactic ending seemed tacked onto an ending of a novel that turned into a romance (without enough real character development to make that romance work).
The ending wasn't realistic and the interactions with the characters for the end seemed totally unrealistic. Again, the characters lacked an emotional core. In all, The Pacifist feels like an outline of a novel rather than a finished piece. I appreciate the conviction behind the book, but just can't get on board with its literary merit.
2 1/2 stars.
5elorin
Welcome! It's not about the numbers so much as the shared love of reading. Glad to see what you are reading.
6Sean191
2. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich seems, like many novels detailing atrocities or a dystopian future (Handmaid's Tale, Fahrenheit 451) to be a book for the times.
In One Day, we learn about the struggles of the protagonist just to get through a day in a Russian gulag in Siberia. Although I believe it was coined by the Germans to use during even greater atrocities, the saying, "Work Shall Set you Free," holds its place in this story. In ways, it's slightly difference though - work in this case offers some respite to the protagonist. His humanity isn't totally stolen, he identifies through work and attaches personal value to his abilities.
It's understandable how the book became a major piece of culture. It shed light on the gulags and also became document of Solzhenitsyn's bravery in creating the novel when the potential repercussions for doing so where probably not clearly known.
The one issue I had with my version (and with numerous other books) is the foreword. I normally read the foreword and get into the book and then read the afterword - it's line up that way, it seems logical. However, some forewords, like this one, contain a lot of spoilers. That seems very problematic. I don't want the story ruined by the person who's writing to extol the value of the story. Don't tell me about what I'm going to read, but you can talk about the cultural impact if you'd like - WITHOUT ruining the story.
Four stars
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich seems, like many novels detailing atrocities or a dystopian future (Handmaid's Tale, Fahrenheit 451) to be a book for the times.
In One Day, we learn about the struggles of the protagonist just to get through a day in a Russian gulag in Siberia. Although I believe it was coined by the Germans to use during even greater atrocities, the saying, "Work Shall Set you Free," holds its place in this story. In ways, it's slightly difference though - work in this case offers some respite to the protagonist. His humanity isn't totally stolen, he identifies through work and attaches personal value to his abilities.
It's understandable how the book became a major piece of culture. It shed light on the gulags and also became document of Solzhenitsyn's bravery in creating the novel when the potential repercussions for doing so where probably not clearly known.
The one issue I had with my version (and with numerous other books) is the foreword. I normally read the foreword and get into the book and then read the afterword - it's line up that way, it seems logical. However, some forewords, like this one, contain a lot of spoilers. That seems very problematic. I don't want the story ruined by the person who's writing to extol the value of the story. Don't tell me about what I'm going to read, but you can talk about the cultural impact if you'd like - WITHOUT ruining the story.
Four stars
7Sean191
3. The Age of Calamities: Stories by Senaa Ahmad
The writing in The Age of Calamities was, at times, stellar. But that came in small bursts - particular lines and phrases were really riveting. However, that's not to be critical of the rest - the remainder of the writing was impressive as well.
So, with that start, one might wonder why just three stars. That comes down to the stories themselves. No story was bad and a couple were very good, but the decision of having some historical figure or figures in every story was too much for me. The stories were always surreal - an undying wife for Henry VIII, a constantly expanding number of Napoleons with different talents, a murder mystery with a group of famous people....
I think any one of these stories could have been longer. Some might have even made a great standalone novella - the one about the wolves of Genghis Khan comes to mind - but the introduction of new and outlandish scenarios and casts of famous historical figures was too much. Lengthening a few of the stories to cut a couple could have made this a four star for me.
Again, the writing topnotch. Even the stories themselves were all creative and interesting, but it was maybe a case of too much of a good thing for me.
That said, I do recommend - I think Senaa Ahmad is a very talented writer and I hope to see a novel from her in the future and would even be up for checking out another collection of short stories.
3 stars.
The writing in The Age of Calamities was, at times, stellar. But that came in small bursts - particular lines and phrases were really riveting. However, that's not to be critical of the rest - the remainder of the writing was impressive as well.
So, with that start, one might wonder why just three stars. That comes down to the stories themselves. No story was bad and a couple were very good, but the decision of having some historical figure or figures in every story was too much for me. The stories were always surreal - an undying wife for Henry VIII, a constantly expanding number of Napoleons with different talents, a murder mystery with a group of famous people....
I think any one of these stories could have been longer. Some might have even made a great standalone novella - the one about the wolves of Genghis Khan comes to mind - but the introduction of new and outlandish scenarios and casts of famous historical figures was too much. Lengthening a few of the stories to cut a couple could have made this a four star for me.
Again, the writing topnotch. Even the stories themselves were all creative and interesting, but it was maybe a case of too much of a good thing for me.
That said, I do recommend - I think Senaa Ahmad is a very talented writer and I hope to see a novel from her in the future and would even be up for checking out another collection of short stories.
3 stars.
8Sean191
4. Flowers that Grow on Graves by K.F. Black
I want to give credit to K.F. Black - for a first novel, this was a significant undertaking. But even clocking in at about 500 pages, it seemed like a rough draft rather than a finished piece. Some of that responsibility was on Black, some on an editor.
To be honest, when there are significant errors or issues with tone, that's the author's problem. However, if there is an editor involved - and there was - it's then the editor's problem, or at least shared blame. There are some great works of literature that owe a lot to a thorough and talented editor. Flowers that Grow on Graves lacked that.
Examples:
There's a car crash. The car is flipped. The occupants are hanging suspended from their belts. They extricate themselves from the car. Later, with no mention of the car being righted, a character removes something from the trunk. Still later, they drive away.
That same car also couldn't be started by anyone without royal blood, but it was being driven all over by someone later.
Another scene mentions a character punching a picture of a family and putting their fist through it. Later, a character recognizes the family in the picture. They take the picture and fold it up and put it in their pocket.
Was the picture large enough to still be viewable with a fist-sized hole through it or small enough to tuck into a pocket?
And then there's just clumsy prose:
"Aria dropped to her knees, her breathing troubled and chest stabbing her insides." - unclear how a chest stabs at insides (no, it wasn't literally stabbing with broken ribs for example).
"Tavian anxiously rolled around with something in his fingers, still hidden behind his back." What? Maybe, "Tavian anxiously rolled something around with his fingers, keeping it hidden behind his back." But the way it's written sounds like he's on the ground....he's not.
I think even at the length it's at, there should have been much more world building. It seemed to squeeze too much into the story and the end result is it didn't make sense.
That said, this would have issues as a trilogy without HEAVY direction from a talented editor because the character development just wasn't there. There was a lot of reactions and dialogue that didn't hold true either and there were VERY brief interactions with different characters that just didn't make sense with how impactful there were - three different romantic relationships develop during the course of the book and the details don't seem like they go further than what you might have on a single good first date and yet the impact for all are lifechanging with the commitment and devotion at a level that's just unbelievable.
The mishmash of modern and magical and archaic was also jarring. There's cars, but castles. Revolvers and daggers.... photos but entertainment is jugglers....the book couldn't decide what it wanted to be. And it showed in the text sometimes - like this line where a character was trying to find another and they "called for her on repeat." It seems too modern and clumsy.
Finally, in addition to a good editor, a proofreader would help. There were some notable typos including the misspelling of a major character's name. They were easy catches for someone paying attention.
So with all that going, how did I still manage to give it two stars? I thought there were some interesting ideas and ideas about characters. There were some interesting powers and demigods.
This book could be much better if there again, was world-building. Too much was squeezed into the story and yet, character development was very weak. If there was more background on characters, there would have been more impact when some didn't make it. I think it also would benefit the book if the rationales and motivations of the characters were better sketched and the reactions based on those details were more realistic.
There's something here, but this is a rough draft with at least a few more drafts ahead before that something should be brought into the world.
2 stars
I want to give credit to K.F. Black - for a first novel, this was a significant undertaking. But even clocking in at about 500 pages, it seemed like a rough draft rather than a finished piece. Some of that responsibility was on Black, some on an editor.
To be honest, when there are significant errors or issues with tone, that's the author's problem. However, if there is an editor involved - and there was - it's then the editor's problem, or at least shared blame. There are some great works of literature that owe a lot to a thorough and talented editor. Flowers that Grow on Graves lacked that.
Examples:
There's a car crash. The car is flipped. The occupants are hanging suspended from their belts. They extricate themselves from the car. Later, with no mention of the car being righted, a character removes something from the trunk. Still later, they drive away.
That same car also couldn't be started by anyone without royal blood, but it was being driven all over by someone later.
Another scene mentions a character punching a picture of a family and putting their fist through it. Later, a character recognizes the family in the picture. They take the picture and fold it up and put it in their pocket.
Was the picture large enough to still be viewable with a fist-sized hole through it or small enough to tuck into a pocket?
And then there's just clumsy prose:
"Aria dropped to her knees, her breathing troubled and chest stabbing her insides." - unclear how a chest stabs at insides (no, it wasn't literally stabbing with broken ribs for example).
"Tavian anxiously rolled around with something in his fingers, still hidden behind his back." What? Maybe, "Tavian anxiously rolled something around with his fingers, keeping it hidden behind his back." But the way it's written sounds like he's on the ground....he's not.
I think even at the length it's at, there should have been much more world building. It seemed to squeeze too much into the story and the end result is it didn't make sense.
That said, this would have issues as a trilogy without HEAVY direction from a talented editor because the character development just wasn't there. There was a lot of reactions and dialogue that didn't hold true either and there were VERY brief interactions with different characters that just didn't make sense with how impactful there were - three different romantic relationships develop during the course of the book and the details don't seem like they go further than what you might have on a single good first date and yet the impact for all are lifechanging with the commitment and devotion at a level that's just unbelievable.
The mishmash of modern and magical and archaic was also jarring. There's cars, but castles. Revolvers and daggers.... photos but entertainment is jugglers....the book couldn't decide what it wanted to be. And it showed in the text sometimes - like this line where a character was trying to find another and they "called for her on repeat." It seems too modern and clumsy.
Finally, in addition to a good editor, a proofreader would help. There were some notable typos including the misspelling of a major character's name. They were easy catches for someone paying attention.
So with all that going, how did I still manage to give it two stars? I thought there were some interesting ideas and ideas about characters. There were some interesting powers and demigods.
This book could be much better if there again, was world-building. Too much was squeezed into the story and yet, character development was very weak. If there was more background on characters, there would have been more impact when some didn't make it. I think it also would benefit the book if the rationales and motivations of the characters were better sketched and the reactions based on those details were more realistic.
There's something here, but this is a rough draft with at least a few more drafts ahead before that something should be brought into the world.
2 stars
9Sean191
5. Running Wild Anthology 9
So this story anthology should probably be a 3.5 star at least - the stories I read were all 3 or above for me. There are two issues that currently have it as a 2.5 star.
The first, a very entertaining tale of romance, fantasy, mystery, and humor, suffered from a lack of proofreading. It's a low-level problem. The tone, pacing and plot were all topnotch. But there were clear typos: "she signed" instead of "she sighed," "moral" instead of "mortal" "cursing them you" instead of "you cursing them" and a couple instances of words smooshed together. Those mistakes were a little jarring particularly because everything else was so good.
The other stories were good as they were, but the problem is that the table of contents listed two more stories than there were. The author bios were also missing. And most problematic of all - the last story apparently cut off by about 20 pages (and it's definitely one worth reading). All told, the book is listed at a page count of 476, but what was delivered was around 280 pages.
I just won another anthology from Running Wild - I'm hoping it doesn't have the same problems. If it's actually complete, I have high hopes. If I ever get a completed copy of this edition, I'll revise this review and actually go into the details about the stories a little and, I assume, I'll up the star rating.
To recap, the stories that were there were good to great. The production issues or whatever occurred derailed things a bit. I hope it gets fixed - these authors deserve an audience!
So this story anthology should probably be a 3.5 star at least - the stories I read were all 3 or above for me. There are two issues that currently have it as a 2.5 star.
The first, a very entertaining tale of romance, fantasy, mystery, and humor, suffered from a lack of proofreading. It's a low-level problem. The tone, pacing and plot were all topnotch. But there were clear typos: "she signed" instead of "she sighed," "moral" instead of "mortal" "cursing them you" instead of "you cursing them" and a couple instances of words smooshed together. Those mistakes were a little jarring particularly because everything else was so good.
The other stories were good as they were, but the problem is that the table of contents listed two more stories than there were. The author bios were also missing. And most problematic of all - the last story apparently cut off by about 20 pages (and it's definitely one worth reading). All told, the book is listed at a page count of 476, but what was delivered was around 280 pages.
I just won another anthology from Running Wild - I'm hoping it doesn't have the same problems. If it's actually complete, I have high hopes. If I ever get a completed copy of this edition, I'll revise this review and actually go into the details about the stories a little and, I assume, I'll up the star rating.
To recap, the stories that were there were good to great. The production issues or whatever occurred derailed things a bit. I hope it gets fixed - these authors deserve an audience!
10Sean191
6. The Story Eaters of Yamm by Kevin Hincker
The Story Eaters of Yamm doesn't stop its absurdity at the title. The title gives just a peek of what the reader is in for and what you're in for is a crazy experience.
A couple chapters into the book (and chapters may or may not be real since the chapters aren't chronological...) it dawned on me as to where I heard the protag's voice before - basically, it's Confederacy of Dunces in a sci-fi send-up. Hincker even nods to Confederacy a few times (along with some other notable literary works).
Throughout the story, the reader is part of the breaking of the 4th wall. For me, I felt it was done well and hilariously. The characters throughout probably shouldn't be likeable, but I found myself enjoying each of them for their over-the-top idiosyncrasies.
There was so much lampooning of science fiction mores but clearly in a self-aware way. This was delivered as a seeming love note. Similar to how the Deadpool movies bash superhero flicks, but with love.
Readers might figure out the story and twists early on, but Hincker throws a few curveballs that felt very satisfactory to me.
The only real problems I saw were some typos "stair" instead of "star" in one instance, some kerning issues regularly popping up (unless those were intentional and the rationale just went over my head). Otherwise, the story moved quickly, the dialogue was hilarious and the characters were vastly entertaining.
I think it lands between 4 and 4.5 stars, but the need for just a tiny bit more proofreading nudges it to the 4 star.
And I almost forgot - the marketing materials that arrived with it - the letter from the author and a kitchen timer - were great touches that show marketing can still be spot on and funny.
The Story Eaters of Yamm doesn't stop its absurdity at the title. The title gives just a peek of what the reader is in for and what you're in for is a crazy experience.
A couple chapters into the book (and chapters may or may not be real since the chapters aren't chronological...) it dawned on me as to where I heard the protag's voice before - basically, it's Confederacy of Dunces in a sci-fi send-up. Hincker even nods to Confederacy a few times (along with some other notable literary works).
Throughout the story, the reader is part of the breaking of the 4th wall. For me, I felt it was done well and hilariously. The characters throughout probably shouldn't be likeable, but I found myself enjoying each of them for their over-the-top idiosyncrasies.
There was so much lampooning of science fiction mores but clearly in a self-aware way. This was delivered as a seeming love note. Similar to how the Deadpool movies bash superhero flicks, but with love.
Readers might figure out the story and twists early on, but Hincker throws a few curveballs that felt very satisfactory to me.
The only real problems I saw were some typos "stair" instead of "star" in one instance, some kerning issues regularly popping up (unless those were intentional and the rationale just went over my head). Otherwise, the story moved quickly, the dialogue was hilarious and the characters were vastly entertaining.
I think it lands between 4 and 4.5 stars, but the need for just a tiny bit more proofreading nudges it to the 4 star.
And I almost forgot - the marketing materials that arrived with it - the letter from the author and a kitchen timer - were great touches that show marketing can still be spot on and funny.
11Sean191
7. Always One Mistake by Ace Boggess
Always One Mistake is a great collection of stories. Ace Boggess does an admirable job of making the characters in each story unique, rather than making them just slightly different story to story.
The writing comes across as a staccato delivery, but not in a bad way. It's punchy, delivers everything the reader needs to know and keeps each story moving. The characters are decently developed for the short time we get to spend with them and the situations are memorable. It's a quick read, but a recommended one.
Four stars.
Always One Mistake is a great collection of stories. Ace Boggess does an admirable job of making the characters in each story unique, rather than making them just slightly different story to story.
The writing comes across as a staccato delivery, but not in a bad way. It's punchy, delivers everything the reader needs to know and keeps each story moving. The characters are decently developed for the short time we get to spend with them and the situations are memorable. It's a quick read, but a recommended one.
Four stars.
12Sean191
8. Britt-Marie was Here by Fredrik Backman
Fredrik Backman's writing is incredibly formulaic (with the possible exception of the Beartown trilogy). I don't care. I have loved every one of his incredibly formulaic stories even if I figure out how they'll go after the first couple chapters.
Almost every character in a Backman book starts off as unlikeable. They don't stay that way. By the end, each is likeable after their backstory is revealed and some character growth happens.
Britt-Marie Was Here is no different and that's great. While Beartown was about hockey and its overwhelming draw, it was a happy coincidence that this story focuses on football while the World Cup is going.
While I met Britt-Marie in a past Backman story (My Grandmother Told me to Tell You She's Sorry), it was nice to see her again even if she was probably the least likeable likeable character by that book's end. In this, she comes out much better and the supporting characters, a motley crew, are hilarious.
Four stars.
Fredrik Backman's writing is incredibly formulaic (with the possible exception of the Beartown trilogy). I don't care. I have loved every one of his incredibly formulaic stories even if I figure out how they'll go after the first couple chapters.
Almost every character in a Backman book starts off as unlikeable. They don't stay that way. By the end, each is likeable after their backstory is revealed and some character growth happens.
Britt-Marie Was Here is no different and that's great. While Beartown was about hockey and its overwhelming draw, it was a happy coincidence that this story focuses on football while the World Cup is going.
While I met Britt-Marie in a past Backman story (My Grandmother Told me to Tell You She's Sorry), it was nice to see her again even if she was probably the least likeable likeable character by that book's end. In this, she comes out much better and the supporting characters, a motley crew, are hilarious.
Four stars.
13Sean191
9. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I had high hopes after reading the teaser and some reviews by others, but to be honest, The Midnight Library didn't make that much of an impression on me.
It felt like a mash-up of Quantum Leap and the movie Sliding Doors (I'm just spitballing at the latter since I never saw the movie, but remembered the premise). It also felt, at times, like a poor man's Ishmael when it leaned hard into philosophy.
Now, I really liked Quantum Leap and the book Ishmael, but I experienced them before. I didn't need a mash-up of them 20 or 30 years later.
I think one thing that did hurt the experience of reading this book was the repetition in two parts - one when there was the constant of "she regretted" and later, the repetition of who she lived as. I got it - I had it after three. There was no need to draw it out to forty or fifty.
It's a quick read, so it does have that going for it. But maybe because I just finished a Fredrik Backman novel (Britt-Marie was Here), I had a hard time liking ANY of the characters in this book. Backman just has the knack for making unlikeable characters that become lovable. Haig on the other hand, just made them too easily and mundanely human and that meant the turn wasn't as extreme so it just felt unfulfilling.
Three stars.
I had high hopes after reading the teaser and some reviews by others, but to be honest, The Midnight Library didn't make that much of an impression on me.
It felt like a mash-up of Quantum Leap and the movie Sliding Doors (I'm just spitballing at the latter since I never saw the movie, but remembered the premise). It also felt, at times, like a poor man's Ishmael when it leaned hard into philosophy.
Now, I really liked Quantum Leap and the book Ishmael, but I experienced them before. I didn't need a mash-up of them 20 or 30 years later.
I think one thing that did hurt the experience of reading this book was the repetition in two parts - one when there was the constant of "she regretted" and later, the repetition of who she lived as. I got it - I had it after three. There was no need to draw it out to forty or fifty.
It's a quick read, so it does have that going for it. But maybe because I just finished a Fredrik Backman novel (Britt-Marie was Here), I had a hard time liking ANY of the characters in this book. Backman just has the knack for making unlikeable characters that become lovable. Haig on the other hand, just made them too easily and mundanely human and that meant the turn wasn't as extreme so it just felt unfulfilling.
Three stars.
