Book a Week 2021 - BW52: Year End Wrap Up

[Robin M]

Happy Sunday, dear hearts. Our infinite sky reading adventure on board the time traveling Pumdeg Dau o Lyfrau airship during 2021 is coming to an end; however our armchair travels will continue on. It's time to trade in our airship for a new means of transportation. Maybe a new pair of walking shoes and a backpack…   

 

Meanwhile please join me for our end of the year tea and book party.  Help yourself to a cup of tea, a glass of wine or a mug of my hubby's special roast coffee while we chat about our reads.  

•  What were your reading goals for the year?  How many books did you read? 
• Did you explore outside the box, delve into new worlds or take comfort in the old.  Let your fingertips doing the walking, sorting through your TBR stacks, reading whichever book caught your eye or yelled the loudest for your attention. Did you heed the call  of your dusty books calling your name, whispering read me, read me. That's not creepy at all, is it? Only a bookworm would understand and listen.... *grin*  

“We read books to find out who we are. What other people, real or imaginary, do and think and feel... is an essential guide to our understanding of what we ourselves are and may become.” ― Ursula K. LeGuin

• What was your most entertaining read of the year? 
• Which stories stuck with you the longest?

“When we read a story, we inhabit it. The covers of the book are like a roof and four walls. What is to happen next will take place within the four walls of the story. And this is possible because the story's voice makes everything its own.” ― John Berger, Keeping a Rendezvous
 

• Which characters did you fall in like or love with?  
• Which stories or characters made you want to dive into their world and live there?

“I will go to my grave in a state of abject endless fascination that we all have the capacity to become emotionally involved with a personality that doesn't exist.”  ― Berkeley Breathed
 

• Which stories surprised you, made you reflect, laugh out loud, tear up, or irritated the heck out of you?
• Which stories inspired web wonderings and lead you on rabbit trails? 

“I’ve always thought that a good book should be either the entry point inward, to learn about yourself, or a door outward, to open you up to new worlds.” –Taylor Jenkins Reid

• Which stories would you read again and again? 

“Isn't it odd how much fatter a book gets when you've read it several times?" Mo had said..."As if something were left between the pages every time you read it. Feelings, thoughts, sounds, smells...and then, when you look at the book again many years later, you find yourself there, too, a slightly younger self, slightly different, as if the book had preserved you like a pressed flower...both strange and familiar.”  ― Cornelia Funke, Inkspell

• One book you think everyone should read?
• Where in the world and through what time periods did your reading adventures take you? 

“What I love most about reading: It gives you the ability to reach higher ground. And keep climbing.”–Oprah

• Share your stats, new to you author discoveries, favorite quotes, or covers. 

Thank you for sharing your reading adventures with me this year. I appreciate each and every one of you and hope you had fun along the way and look forward to more bookish adventures. Cheers to a happy, enlightening, and inspiring reading new year!

  

Link to week 51

Visit  52 Books in 52 Weeks where you can find all the information on the annual, mini and perpetual challenges.  

 

Edited December 26, 2021 by Robin M

[Robin M]

Currently on page 131 of “Wolf Hall.” Enjoying how the narrators thinks and phrases things such as ‘quick as a needle, she darts at him.”

“He will never tell the cardinal about Mary Boleyn, though the impulse will arise. Wolsey might laugh, he might be scandalized.  He has to muggle him the content, without the context.”

Also reading “Gray Hair, Don’t Care” by Karen Booth, a new to me author. 

“At 47, newly divorced makeup artist Lela Bennett is dreading her next steps. Dating. Meeting people. Not letting herself go. But then she runs into Donovan James and tries something different-sleeping with her sexy crush from college. Unfortunately, in a post-orgasm stupor, Lela confesses she was in love with Donovan all those years ago. He responds by leaving while she sleeps. The next morning, her gray hairs are practically taunting her. She knows she has to get it together. Forget men. Embrace her age. Own her gray.”

Will post my year end wrap up later in the week.
 

[mumto2]

Thank you for starting us off this week as well as planning everything Robin!

I’ll post my year end wrap up later this week.

I did finish my A to Z by Title this week by listening to a relatively recent release called Saint X for X. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43782399-saint-x  It was what I would call a fake true crime book for roughly the first half of the book……a wealthy college student goes on a Caribbean holiday with her family and is murdered there.  Who did it is not known, her younger sister needs to know years later.  It turned pretty odd, as in if I hadn’t been listening I probably would have abandoned it.

Honestly this hasn’t been a great week in books for me.  I have been reading historical romances that I feel obligated to read because I checked them out of the library.  “Someone Perfect”  is Mary Balogh’s latest in her long running Westcott series and was good simply because of the favorite characters reappearing……it was actually pretty good otherwise! Lol

I am almost done with a Georgette Heyer Christmas mystery that is called The Christmas Party. As well as writing her famous beloved romances she wrote 12 cozy mysteries, several with Christmas themes.   It’s a locked room mystery and done well.  I have no clue who did it beyond that fact that there are a couple of characters with more motive than most.  It’s quite good https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25974277-a-christmas-party

My audiobook is The Christmas spirits on Tradd Street.  I really enjoyed the first book in this series and never seem to like the sequels as much!  These are set in Charleston and are very ramped up on the spooky scale (as much horror as I can handle level) so not really cozy as just too much.  It’s almost done, yeah!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43581956-the-christmas-spirits-on-tradd-street

[Negin]

Robin, thank you, as always for this lovely thread. Oh my, that picture is gorgeous! I wish that we could all be together in a room like that!

I read 55 books this year. I don't pay attention to goals. I only do them because of GR, otherwise I really don't care. 

I'll just go ahead and share my favorites. I wish that I could take the time to answer the questions, but I don't know when I'll have the time. I need to think about some of those. 

      

   

    

    

    

 

 

 

 

[Kareni]

I don't set reading goals, thus I have no fear of failing at them. I simply read whatever seems appealing of what I have on hand from past purchases (paper or Kindle) or the library (paper and e-book). The most directed reading I do tends to be for my two book groups... those books tend to get me out of my rut of pure pleasure reading. While I'm generally glad to have read books for my book groups, they only rarely are books that I truly enjoy. (My book groups tend to read rather morose books.)

I abandon books with vigor -- sometimes because I don't care for them at all. Often though, I abandon books that I would likely finish were they the only books at hand. I abandon them for other books that might be a new favorite...or I abandon them to spend time here or on other online sites.

While I've read many enjoyable books this year including some I'll likely re-read, I haven't found any books that I'd call new favorites. It has still been a good reading year. I don't keep track of my reading, but I've likely read upwards of two hundred books/novellas.

Regards,

Kareni

[Maus]

I have my usual stacks and stacks of library books approaching the due date, and may get a few more done before New Year's. DH has the week off, and we don't have any plans beyond relaxing.

Favorite new character: Enola Holmes; Favorite new author: John McWhorter

73. "Talking Back, Talking Black" by John McWhorter.

72. "Speechless" by Michael Knowles. (Audible plus book)

71. "The Power of Babel" by John McWhorter.

70. "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. (Audible book)

69. "An American Son" by Marco Rubio.

68. "From Fire by Water" by Sohrab Ahmari.
67. "52 Weeks of Family German" by Eileen Mc Aree. 
66. "Fault Lines" by Voddie T. Baucham, Jr.
65. "Irreversible Damage" by Abigail Shrier.
64. "Beowulf" A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Gareth Hinds. 
63. "The Manga Guide to the Universe" by Kenji Ishikawa and Kiyoshi Kawabata. 
62. "Funny, You Don't Look Autistic: A Comedian's Guide to Life on the Spectrum" by Michael McCreary.
61. "The American Dream? A Journey on Route 66" by Shing Yin Khor. 
60. "Utah State Parks" by Jan Bannan. 
59. "With All Due Respect" by Nikki R. Haley.
58. "One Vote Away" by Ted Cruz.
57. "Weekend Makeover" by Don Aslett. 
56. "Saints, Vol. 2. (LDS)
55. "Written Out of History" by Mike Lee.
54. "A Time for Truth" by Ted Cruz.
53. "Scorch Trials" by James Dashner. Audible. 
52. "Quidditch Through the Ages" by J.K. Rowling. Audible. 
51. "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling/Newt Scamander. Audible. 
50. "An Excellent Mystery" by Ellis Peters. Audible.
49. "Tales of Beadle the Bard" by J.K. Rowling. Audible.
48. "Maze Runner" by James Dashner. Audible.
47. "Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle. Audible.
46. "The Rational Bible: Exodus - God, Slavery, and Freedom" by Dennis Prager. 
45. "A Better Heart: The Impact of Christ's Pure Love" by Tom Christofferson. (LDS)
44. "That We May Be One: A Gay Mormon's Perspective on Faith & Family" by Tom Christofferson. (LDS)
43. "Surviving Columbine" by Liz Carlston.  (LDS)
42. "The Right Side of History" by Ben Shapiro.
41. "Guerilla Learning" by Grace Llewellyn and Amy Silver.
40. "Don't Burn This Book" by Dave Rubin.
39. "The Madness of Crowds" by Douglas Murray.
38. "The Case of the Gypsy Good-bye" by Nancy Springer.
37. The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline" by Nancy Springer.
36. "The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan" by Nancy Springer.
35. "The Case of the Bizarre Bouquet" by Nancy Springer.
34. "The Case of the Left-Handed Lady" by Nancy Springer.
33. "Stuff Matters" by Mark Miodownik. Audible Book.
32. "Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World" by Sy Montgomery. Audible Book.
31. "Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism" by Barry M Prizant. Audible Book.
30. "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park. 
29. "The Kidnapped Prince: The Life of Olaudah Equiano" by Olaudah Equiano, adapted by Ann Cameron. 
28. "Journey to Jo'Burg" by Beverley Naidoo. 
27. "United States of Socialism" by Dinesh D'Souza.
26. "For the Love of Europe" by Rick Steves. 
25. "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. Audible book.
24. "The Case of the Missing Marquess" by Nancy Springer. 
23. "Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen" by J.K Rowling. Audible book. 
22. "Blackout" by Candace Owens.
21. "An Excellent Mystery" by Ellis Peters. Audible book.
20. "The Pilgrim of Hate" by Ellis Peters. Audible book.
19. "Dead Man's Ransom" by Ellis Peters. Audible book.
18. "4:50 from Paddington" by Agatha Christie. Audible book.
17. "Man in the Brown Suit" by Agatha Christie. Audible book. 
16. "The Mysterious Mr. Quin" by Agatha Christie. Audible book. 
15. "I Will Repay" by Baroness Orczy. Audible book. 
14. "Dead Man's Ranson" by Ellis Peters. Audible book.
13. "The Scarlet Pimpernel" by Baroness Orczy. Audible book.
12. "The Devil's Novice" by Ellis Peters. Audible book.
11. "The Sanctuary Sparrow" by Ellis Peters. Audible book.
10. "The Virgin in the Ice" by Ellis Peters. Audible book. 
9. "Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?" by Caitlin Doughty. 
8. "Law and Disorder: The Legendary Profiler's Relentless Pursuit of Justice" by John Doublas and Mark Olshaker. Audible book. 
7. "The Leper of St. Giles" by Ellis Peters. Audible book.
6. "The Cases That Haunt Us" by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. Audible book. 
5. "From Here to Eternity: Travelling the World to Find the Good Death" by Caitlin Doughty. 
4. "Not a Day Care: The Devastating Consequences of Abandoning Truth" by Dr. Everett Piper. Audible book. 
3. "The Innocence of Father Brown" by G.K. Chesterton. Audible book.
2. "St. Peter's Fair" by Ellis Peters. Audible book.
1. "The Mysterious Mr. Quin: A Harley Quin Collection" by Agatha Christie. Audible book.

Edited December 28, 2021 by Maus
Sticking on two I just finished, rather than starting a whole new post.

[Kareni]

Currently FREE fantasy and science fiction but only through December 27 ~

The Lord of Stariel

Troupe of Shadows (Strange Frontier Book 1)

Ember and Stone (Ena of Ilbrea Book 1)

Hollow Core (School of Swords and Serpents Book 1)

The Citadel at the End of the World

The Wolf and the She-Bear

The Troll Bridge

From this Reddit thread ~ Over 400 books FREE or $/£0.99! More than 150 participating authors! The 2021 Holiday MegaSale to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has begun! - (posted with moderator approval) -

Regards,

Kareni

[bookbard]

I read a lot of books this year, but I didn't keep count. I read every night though so it'd be at least 50 if not closer to 100. Just checked - I ordered 59 ebooks this year - that's a bit of a shock! I always have a pile of 'real' books by my bed as well, so yeah, quite a few books. 

Best surprisingly good for me was Elena Ferrente's Naples series. I didn't like her other books so much, but that series is powerful! 

2021 was great for sequels or other books by good authors, such as The Witness for the Dead, which I enjoyed, Lois McMaster Bujold's latest Penric novellas and Becky Chamber's final Wayfarer and first Monk & Robot book.  Oh, and I just finished Project Hail Mary and thought it was really enjoyable (bit boring at the start but then gets good) - if you liked The Martian, this is very similar in style but no swear words lol. 

I listened to some great books this year with my kids, including quite a few by Katherine Rundell such as The Explorer and The Wolf Wilder. 

In 2022 I'm looking forward to further books by Ilona Andrews, Becky Chambers and Katherine Addison, as well as discovering some new authors. 

 

 

 

[Negin]

8 hours ago, Kareni said:

I abandon books with vigor -- sometimes because I don't care for them at all. Often though, I abandon books that I would likely finish were they the only books at hand. I abandon them for other books that might be a new favorite.

I love this so much. 

[tuesdayschild]

On 12/26/2021 at 9:05 PM, Robin M said:

Will post my year end wrap up later in the week.

I'm hoping to do this too, yet I'm not sure I'll be able to respond to the list of thought provoking questions in your opening post.

15 hours ago, mumto2 said:

Georgette Heyer Christmas mystery that is called The Christmas Party.

I enjoyed this too.

1 hour ago, bookbard said:

Project Hail Mary and thought it was really enjoyable (bit boring at the start but then gets good) - if you liked The Martian, this is very similar in style but no swear words lol. 

Thank you for your comments, they are the perfect catalyst for me to listen to this.

[Granny_Weatherwax]

I'm contemplating the questions and should prepare a response for later. I need to update Goodreads and The Storygraph with my final books and pages read. I have decided, without equivocation, that getting an active breed puppy is detrimental to reading.🐺

Edited December 27, 2021 by Granny_Weatherwax

[Granny_Weatherwax]

What were your reading goals for the year? I wanted to read 52 books, not buy any books and get all of my books for free, and clear out my TBR pile. How many books did you read? I read 60 books, bought one book, but still have many of the same books in my TBR. 

• Did you explore outside the box, delve into new worlds or take comfort in the old.  My reading was all over the place so I can answer yes to just about all of these questions. Let your fingertips doing the walking, sorting through your TBR stacks, reading whichever book caught your eye or yelled the loudest for your attention. Did you heed the call  of your dusty books calling your name, whispering read me, read me. That's not creepy at all, is it? Not creepy at all(now my potato chips calling me from the pantry, well, that might be creepy) Only a bookworm would understand and listen.... *grin*  
• What was your most entertaining read of the year? Terry Pratchett's Wyrd Sisters
• Which stories stuck with you the longest? Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by M. A. Shaffer
• Which characters did you fall in like or love with?  Granny Weatherwax from Wyrd Sisters. I knew about her before but this book solidified my fan girl status.
• Which stories or characters made you want to dive into their world and live there? Everything by Terry Pratchett
• Which stories surprised you, made you reflect, laugh out loud, tear up, or irritated the heck out of you?
  • Reflect-  The Happiest Man on Earth, Big Magic, Isaac's Storm
  • LOL - The Graveyard Book,Wyrd Sisters, Norse Mythology, Hold On But Don't Hold Still, Works Well With Others
  • Tear up - Nothing made me tear up this year
  • Irritated - We Are Never Meeting in real Life(Abandoned after 20 pages or so),A Clockwork Orange, Scrappy Little Nobody
• Which stories inspired web wonderings and lead you on rabbit trails? Isaac's Storm, Braving the Wilderness, In the Time of the Butterflies
• Which stories would you read again and again? I rarely reread book (just like a rarely rewatch movies or tv shows) but I would reread Terry Pratchett and maybe Neil Gaiman 
• One book you think everyone should read? The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku
• Where in the world and through what time periods did your reading adventures take you? All over the US, Germany, UK, space, imagined worlds, 2000s, 2010s, 1880s, future
• Share your stats, new to you author discoveries, favorite quotes, or covers. 
  My biggest success - reading The Count of Monte Cristo. I had four or five false starts and began to think I wasn't going to be able to read it. Then, after I picked it up the fifth or sixth time, I fell in love with it and couldn't put it down.
• I have completed 60 books, 14, 897 pages, 13 nonfiction, 47 fiction, 17 mysteries (a lot of Nancy Drew since my mother has been gifting these to me; I read them when I donate platelets),40 print, 5 ebooks, 15 audiobooks (mostly while driving to see my DGDs).
  I read the most books in June (11 books) and the least in July (3). July is when I really got into the Count and focused on it.
  I had three 5 star books: The Happiest Man on Earth, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Works Well with Others.
  Lowest rated book was 2.75 - Ziggy Stardust and Me
  Most common rating was 3.0 (12 books).
  I abandoned three books. 
  I bought one book for myself on support independent bookstores day. A book by Neil Gaiman which I have not yet read.
  I bought a ton of books for my DGDs, my DS, and other members of my family.
  I love using the Free Little Libraries and make sure to put in just as many books as I take out.
  I created my own TBR bingo in an attempt to force me to read from my TBR pile. I did not get a blackout; I still have a few squares to fill in but that won't happen before the end of the year. I did work on it though and it was fun.
   
• I bought a planner sticker book from The Happy Planner based on reading. I'll use it for my Bujo reading tracker.
  I have created my 2022 reading challenges pages for my Bujo. My challenges include: 52 Books, TBR bingo Version 2.0, public library's January reading Program, public library's Summer reading program, and No Spend Reading.
• Books or authors I know I'll read: Haruki Murakami, Charles Dickens, Terry Pratchett, book from David Bowie's reading list, Agatha Christie, and a book from the Star Trek universe.
  
  It's been a fun reading year. I am looking forward to 2022

[Kareni]

I enjoyed reading your account, @Granny_Weatherwax. And I hear you on those potato chips!

58 minutes ago, Granny_Weatherwax said:

Books or authors I know I'll read: ... a book from the Star Trek

How does this come to be on your list? And which Star Trek book? (I have recommendations if you are interested in the original series.)

Regards,

Kareni

[Granny_Weatherwax]

@Kareni - I am a Trekker/Trekkie and try to read one every year. I have a bunch on my TBR list but if you have a 5 star recommendation, I'll take it. I've also read books written by Star Trek cast members (Shatner, Nimoy, Nichols).

[Kareni]

@Granny_Weatherwax, 

My Star Trek favorites:  

Yesterday's Son and Time for Yesterday both by A.C. Crispin;

 Uhura's Song by Janet Kagan; 

Ishmael by Barbara Hambly; 

The Kobayashi Maru by Julia Ecklar; and 

 Doctor's Orders by Diane Duane

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

I posted this in another thread but will post it here, too.

While researching ideas for the unique gift thread, I came across an Etsy vendor who makes personalized prints, mugs, and totes when provided with a list of books (and possibly photos). Here is a link to her store.

My sister was kind enough to order a tote personalized with eight of my favorite books and a quote. I'll attach some pictures.

Front:

Back:

@Granny_Weatherwax, you might notice that Uhura's Song is pictured!

Regards,

Kareni

[Ottakee]

I have not really been doing the challenges but saw this post and looked on my Overdrive App from the library.  I am at 95 books for the year from there.  Now, I know that I didn't read/listen to ALL of them but I also read some real books as well as several free ones on my kindle so about 100 is a good estimate.

The Best Yes started out my year and would be worth a re-read.

Other favorites included

Caste by Isabel Wikerson

When Breath Becomes Air

Being Mortal  A good, and timely read.  Not a pleasant topic (death) but so important to find out what someone's wishes are

When the Emperor was Divine by Julia Otsuka   This was a really good read about Japanese living in the US during WW II

[Granny_Weatherwax]

@Kareni - I did see it. Right near the top.

I love that tote. That is a really great gift idea. Now I'm planning gifts for 2022.

[Robin M]

I started listening to Tom Hanks Uncommon Type in the car which are literary short stories. Enjoying his humor.  For some reason I thought it was non fiction but the first story made me realize it wasn’t when he mentioned watching Netflix with a date and I was like, what a minute, he’s only a couple years only than me and Netflix didn’t exist 30 years ago.  *facepalm*

Currently on page 165 on Wolf Hall. Yes, reading very slowly and at breakfast time. It’s keeping me from devouring the whole story in large gulps and not remembering most of it.  I’m at the point where poor Thomas has suffered many losses and the cardinal is in a world of trouble.

Quote of the day:

“He say to her, “I wish we have a baby, it seems such a long time since there was a baby in the house.”

“Don’t look at me,” Johane says.

He does, of course. He says “Does John Williamson not do his duty by you these days?”

She says, “His duty is not my pleasure.”

As he walks away, he thinks, that’s a conversation I shouldn’t have had.”

I was in the mood, so dove into Cormac McCarthy’s The Road finally.  It’s one of the books on SWB’s Well Educated Mind fiction list of which I’ve read 13, I think.  I have to keep better track. Anywho, his writing immediately drew me in and the imagery really paints a dark story of hope and survival.

[bookbard]

I went to Ilona Andrew's website/blog and there's a lot of free short fiction there which was a lovely surprise, really enjoyable.

Tried to read the second book in Nora Robert's Dragonheart Legacy (The Becoming), and it sadly was not much good, I struggled to get through it.

Reading Dragon Pearl by Yoon Hae Lee which is a middle grade book in the Rick Rioardan presents series. It's ok, lots of references to Korean culture even though it's a space drama. 

[Robin M]

On 12/26/2021 at 4:12 PM, Kareni said:

I abandon books with vigor -- sometimes because I don't care for them at all. Often though, I abandon books that I would likely finish were they the only books at hand. I abandon them for other books that might be a new favorite..

This is my new favorite quote. 

On 12/26/2021 at 6:53 PM, Maus said:

DH has the week off, and we don't have any plans beyond relaxing.

Isn't it a wonderful feeling! Enjoy! 

On 12/27/2021 at 12:27 PM, Granny_Weatherwax said:

Not creepy at all(now my potato chips calling me from the pantry, well, that might be creepy

LOL!

 

On 12/27/2021 at 12:27 PM, Granny_Weatherwax said:

Which stories stuck with you the longest? Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book

I luv Neil Gaiman and yes, that particular book stuck with me long after I read it.  All his books are different. Do you read his online Journal?

 

On 12/27/2021 at 12:27 PM, Granny_Weatherwax said:

My biggest success - reading The Count of Monte Cristo. I had four or five false starts and began to think I wasn't going to be able to read it. Then, after I picked it up the fifth or sixth time, I fell in love with it and couldn't put it down.

Congratulations! This is encouraging because I fell out of the mood and know that if I persevere and try again, I'll be able to get through it all at some point.  

On 12/27/2021 at 12:27 PM, Granny_Weatherwax said:

I created my own TBR bingo in an attempt to force me to read from my TBR pile. I did not get a blackout; I still have a few squares to fill in but that won't happen before the end of the year. I did work on it though and it was fun.

Awesome and glad you had fun. 

[Robin M]

On 12/27/2021 at 2:35 PM, Kareni said:

My sister was kind enough to order a tote personalized with eight of my favorite books and a quote. I'll attach some pictures.

How cool and what a wonderful gift. 

[Kareni]

Over the past couple of days, I read with pleasure Dearest Milton James by N.R. Walker; this is a contemporary romance that has an epistolary component. (Significant adult content)

"Malachi Keogh finds himself in a job he neither wanted nor asked for when his father, boss of Sydney’s postal service, sends him to the end of the business line, aka The Dead Letter Office. Malachi expects tedious and boring but instead discovers a warehouse with a quirky bunch of misfit co-workers, including a stoic and nerdy boss, Julian Pollard.

Malachi’s intrigued by Julian at first, and he soon learns there’s more to the man than his boring clothes of beige, tan, and brown; a far cry from Malachi’s hot pink, lilac, and electric blue. Where Julian is calm and ordered, Malachi is chaos personified, but despite their outward differences, there’s an immediate chemistry between them that sends Malachi’s head—and heart—into a spin.

To keep his father happy, Malachi needs to keep this job. He also needs to solve the mystery of the pile of old letters that sits in Julian’s office and maybe get to the bottom of what makes Julian tick. Like everything that goes through the mail centre, only time will tell if Malachi has found his intended destination or if he’ll find himself returned to sender."

**

I also read the short sequel which is set four years later. I enjoyed that, too. Dearest Malachi Keogh (Dearest Milton James Book 2) by N.R. Walker

Regards,

Kareni

[Robin M]

18 hours ago, bookbard said:

Tried to read the second book in Nora Robert's Dragonheart Legacy (The Becoming), and it sadly was not much good, I struggled to get through it.

So sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy the story.  It did immediately pick up right where the first book ended so if I hadn't read it, would have been completely lost.  It picked up where Marco latched onto Breen’s hand just as she jumped through the time travel gate in Ireland. I thought his fascination with Talamha and Breen's world of magic and dragons enlivened the story and loved the give and take between them.  I didn't  exactly feel the relationship between Breen and Keagan, something was missing there.  But overall, I enjoyed it. 

[bookbard]

46 minutes ago, Robin M said:

So sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy the story.  It did immediately pick up right where the first book ended so if I hadn't read it, would have been completely lost.  It picked up where Marco latched onto Breen’s hand just as she jumped through the time travel gate in Ireland. I thought his fascination with Talamha and Breen's world of magic and dragons enlivened the story and loved the give and take between them.  I didn't  exactly feel the relationship between Breen and Keagan, something was missing there.  But overall, I enjoyed it. 

Yes, Marco was the best part of the book, I agree. I had reread the previous one so could follow the plot, it was just not as interesting, I don't think.

Someone gave me an online book voucher for Christmas! So fun spending time working out what to buy - with boxing day discounts, enough for a book for my daughter and my dad as well as myself.

[Kareni]

2 hours ago, bookbard said:

Someone gave me an online book voucher for Christmas! So fun spending time working out what to buy - with boxing day discounts, enough for a book for my daughter and my dad as well as myself.

Ooh, that is fun! Do you care to share the various books you chose?

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

Currently FREE for US Kindle readers ~

Under the Sugar Sun by Jennifer Hallock

Thief of Dreams (Court of Dreams Book 1) by Bec McMaster

Warleader: A Sci-fi Alien Romance (The Borderlands Book 1) by Susan Grant

Marry the Scot series: Volume I Jolie Vines

Diviner's Prophecy (Diviner's Trilogy Book 1)

Beneath the Canyons (Daughter of the Wildings Book 1)

LGBT historical ~ A Case for Christmas

Regards,

Kareni

[bookbard]

1 hour ago, Kareni said:

Ooh, that is fun! Do you care to share the various books you chose?

 

For my daughter, one of the "twisted" Disney books.

For my dad, a book with maths puzzles (he's into Sudoku)

For me, the book Stoner by John Williams, an American book from 1965 which has been described as "the perfect novel". Should be an interesting read!

[Kareni]

26 minutes ago, bookbard said:

For me, the book Stoner by John Williams, an American book from 1965 which has been described as "the perfect novel". Should be an interesting read!

I have heard excellent things about that book and look forward to hearing your thoughts at some point.

26 minutes ago, bookbard said:

For my dad, a book with maths puzzles (he's into Sudoku)

That sounds neat. One of my husband's gifts this year was 

The Big Book of Riddles, Puzzles and Enigmas by Fabrice Mazza & Sylvain Lhull

which includes math puzzles and more.

Regards,

Kareni

[mumto2]

15 minutes ago, Kareni said:

That sounds neat. One of my husband's gifts this year was 

The Big Book of Riddles, Puzzles and Enigmas by Fabrice Mazza & Sylvain Lhull

which includes math puzzles and more.

 

That sounds like a book that my kids would enjoy!

[Granny_Weatherwax]

@Robin M -I had not seen the blog (I haven't been a blog person but really should begin looking into them) and just went down a long rabbit trail looking through Neil's blog. Reading about his friendship with Terry Pratchett is wonderful. I wish I had known about both authors when I was much younger. I feel like I have missed out on literary history, esp with Terry Pratchett having passed away.

[Robin M]

4 hours ago, Granny_Weatherwax said:

@Robin M -I had not seen the blog (I haven't been a blog person but really should begin looking into them) and just went down a long rabbit trail looking through Neil's blog. Reading about his friendship with Terry Pratchett is wonderful. I wish I had known about both authors when I was much younger. I feel like I have missed out on literary history, esp with Terry Pratchett having passed away.

I love his journal blog and have read a few of his books including Anansi Boys so am excited to see what they are going to do video wise. have Good Omens on the shelves for 2022 read.  In my humble opinion, I kind of look at coming to some books and authors later in life as it being a matter of timing and ready to enjoy, appreciating them more, than I would have when younger and not as wise.  

[Kareni]

One day only offer (December 30) ~

Are you a voracious romance reader? For ONE DAY ONLY, stuff your Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Apple Books or Google Play ebook reader with 500+ FREE ROMANCE READS!!!

Regards,

Kareni

[Negin]

Kindle book on sale today. Has anyone read this?

[mumto2]

8 hours ago, Kareni said:

One day only offer (December 30) ~

Are you a voracious romance reader? For ONE DAY ONLY, stuff your Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Apple Books or Google Play ebook reader with 500+ FREE ROMANCE READS!!!

Regards,

Kareni

I now have 20 something new books!  Thank you!

[Robin M]

This year turned out differently than planned, but that's quite all right.  There's a quote I saw somewhere that said "Time is never wasted, it's just spent on something else." The thought crossed my mind the other day, that we come to some books, when we are ready to appreciate and enjoy or learn from them. We can make all the plans we want, but it just may not be that book's time yet, and need to put it aside for another day until it is. Sometimes you'll know, other times, it will be a matter of trial and error, and maybe the third time will be the charm.  This year wasn't the year for some of my chunky wanna reads and I gave up, intending to still read them at some point.  So on to answering our wrap up questions for this year. 

What were your reading goals: 

To read more physical than ebooks - Failed. I lost track at some point and I'm not counting the Nora Rereads. 

Read at least 12 non fiction - Failed with only three completed. 

Read 10 books in 10 categories -  Win, win, and only had to change a couple categories.  

In January decided to reread the books I currently own from Nora Robert's bibliography.  Win Win. Reread several series and spent a lot of time in Ireland. 

Last but not least, finish Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Win Win. Happily I did finish the Memory of Light, the last book in the series.  I don't know why it took me years to do so when I devoured the Outlander series a couple years ago in a matter of months.  I think it's because Jordan's series was a dense, intense, massive undertaking for the characters, it took time to absorb between each reading.  That's my theory and I'm sticking with it. LOL!  Maybe I'll binge read it one of these years when I have nothing else to read.  Ha Ha! 

How many books did you read?  The official goal is 52 but usually read twice as many. 100 or so. Not really sure since I counted all the series as one book. 

Did you explore outside the box, delve into new worlds or take comfort in the old.  Yes, definitely

Let your fingertips doing the walking, sorting through your TBR stacks, reading whichever book caught your eye or yelled the loudest for your attention.  Nora's books yelled the loudest. LOL!

Did you heed the call  of your dusty books calling your name, whispering read me, read me. Unfortunately I didn't heed the call this year. Soon, my darlings, soon

That's not creepy at all, is it? Only a bookworm would understand and listen.... *grin* 

What was your most entertaining read of the year?  I think it is The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, a new to me author. Addie makes a deal, her soul to live forever, but didn't realize part of the deal was that no one would ever remember her. The moment she left someone's sight, they forgot who she was. Imagine waking up in the morning and the person she's with had no idea who she was. 

The most entertaining series of the year is Darynda Jones Charley Davidson series  which was hilarious as well as charming about Charley who is the Grim Reaper and a part time investigator. The dead help her solve crimes and her knowledge makes the police might suspicious.  I binged the 13 book series within a couple weeks and will definitely be rereading. 

Which stories stuck with you the longest:  The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. It was beautifully written story within a story within a story and you never were quite sure which world was real. Also The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. The story drew me in with its vivid imagery, and you can almost feel the bite of the freezing snow, and played on your emotions with plenty of love, fear, and anger, as well as evil and hope and magic.

Which characters did you fall in like or love with?  So many.  The Bridgeton clan in Julie Quinn's series and The Dove sisters in Karen Hawkins Dove Pond series. 

Which stories or characters made you want to dive into their world and live there?  Ireland has always been a big draw and a mystical land and I would have loved to live in Talamh with the characters from Nora Roberts Dragon Heart Series.  And I'd love to live in the Library from Genevieve Cogman's Invisible Library series.  

Which story surprised you: My Christmas Number One by Leonie Mack.  I was in the mood for a cozy romance and what I got instead was a poignant story about two characters, singers from different cultures, both affected by long term grief, brought together to create a Christmas song. 

Which story made you reflect: Matt Haig's Midnight Library where the character was given a change to try on another life to see if anyone of them was better than the one they had currently. 

Which story made you laugh out loud:  Darynda Jones Charley Davidson series. 

“After a long pause in which he took the time to blink several times, he asked, "You named your breasts?"

I turned my back to him with a shrug. "I named my ovaries, too, but they don't get out as much.”

Which story made you cry:  I had five hanky moments with several books including My Christmas Number one, Karen Hawkins A Cup of Silver Linings, Also The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George.

"What task do the departed want us to do?  

"To carry them within us-that is our task. We carry them all inside us, all our dead and shattered loves.  Only they make us whole. If we begin to forget or cast aside those we've lost, then..then we are no longer present either.  All the love, all the dead, all the people we've known. They are the rivers that feed our sea of souls. If we refuse to remember them, that sea will dry up too."

Which story irritated the heck out of you?  Charlaine Harris Real Murders, the first book in her Aurora Teagarden series. I couldn't make up my mind whether I disliked Aurora or the writing which drove me crazy with all the telling vs showing. There were several times I almost quit reading because Aurora annoyed me, but liked the premise and didn't have a clue who committed the murder, so was pleasantly surprised.

Which story made you want to keep reading?  I immersed myself in Jennifer Armentrout's world in the Blood and Ash series.  Really fat books at 600 some odd pages each full of vampires, wolves, gods, deities, royalty and magic.  And of course, hot sex.  #1 From Blood and Ash, #2 A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, and #3 The Crown of Gilded Bones which are all so very good. But damn, it ended in a cliff hanger and now I have to wait until the next book comes out in a year or so probably. I really hate that. 

Which stories inspired web wonderings and lead you on rabbit trails? The Sworn Virgin by  Kristopher Dukes. I had to find out if there really was such a practice 

Which stories would you read again and again?  So many, I can't narrow it down to just a few. 

One book you think everyone should read?  The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern.

Where in the world and through what time periods did your reading adventures take you? Outer space, Victorian era, England, Russia, Ireland, Albania, France, South America, 

Stats wise, I read 30 new to me authors, 26 known authors of which 44 were female and 9 were male. 

All in all, now that I've reviewed the year, I'd have to say it was a very good reading year. I discovered some great authors and read some very interesting series. 

~Cheers to a wonderful reading new year and new adventures.     

Edited December 31, 2021 by Robin M

[tuesdayschild]

This is my last post for 2021, in about 15 mins it'll be 2022:  wishing all here a safe and gentle start into the New Year (when you get there).

I'm appreciating the wrap up comments and the lengthier posts in this thread; and, as I posted quite a few wrap up lists in last weeks thread I've decided to just post my favourite titles:

5 out of 5 stars

The Count of Monte Cristo ~ Alexandre Dumas, narrated by Bill Homewood    I was surprised at how much I ended up enjoying this book.  Extra: The author uses the 'n' word once.

KJV Life Application Study Bible (kindle) 

Music in the Hills: Dering Family Bk2 ~ D.E. Stevenson, narrated by Lesley Mackie  (I wasn’t going to include any repeat listens, but as this one became a full stars listen this year, I decided to include it.)  I gifted the story its full 5 stars, since I was prepared for that abrupt ‘Stevenson-ish’ ending this time through.

How the Heather Looks ~ Joan Bodger  

84, Charing Cross Road ~ Helene Hanff, narrators Juliet Stevenson & John Nettles

Roxanne: Kings Lake Investigation Bk3 ~ Peter Grainger, narrated by Gildart Jackson   Though everything is discussed pretty euphemistically, there are some really gritty topics in this Kings Lake investigation.

Mary Barton ~ Elizabeth Gaskell, narrated by Juliet Stevenson   

The Leper of Saint Giles: Chronicles of Brother Cadfael Bk5 ~ Ellis Peters, narrated by Johanna Ward

The Other Bennet Sister ~ Janice Hadlow, narrated by Kristin Atherton   

All the Tears in China: Rowland Sinclair Bk9 ~ Sulari Gentill    Extra: Brutality in prison, opium addiction, gang lifestyle, the discussion of bigotry/ racism/ racial prejudice,  an ex-boyfriend is an abusive, controlling manipulator and a stalker.

Willful Grievance: The Lillie Mead Historical Mystery Series Bk2 ~ Lisa Zumpano, narrated by Claire Storey    Extra:  Some cursing and using God's name as an expletive. No f-bombs. Abandoned children, orphans, a policeman has O.C.D.

Dogs as I See Them ~ Lucy Dawson 

The Spy and the Traitor ~ Ben MacIntyre, narrated by Ben Macintyre    Extra: some cursing and swearing, no f.bombs.

The Resilient Farmer: Weathering the Challenges of Life and Land ~ Doug Avery   Another book that I wasn't expecting to appreciate as much as I did.  Extra: some curse words.  Suicides.  Farming accident kills young worker.

The Quick Roasting Tin: 30 Minute One Dish Dinners ~ Rukmini Iyer  These two cook books have reinvented how I cook this year

The Roasting Tin: Simple One Dish Dinners ~ Rukmini Iyer

 

4.5 out of 5 stars

A Gentleman in Moscow ~ Amor Towles, narrated by Nicholas Guy Smith

Parnassus on Wheels ~ Christopher Morley, narrated by Nadia May 

The Forest of Wool and Steel ~ Natsu Miyashita    Extra: one of the characters has anxiety attacks, and has an OCD issue about dirt.

 

 

[mumto2]

Year End Wrap Up

What were your reading goals for the year?  How many books did you read? 

I tend to plan for the next reading year throughout December pretty intently.  I make lists, shelves on Goodreads, whatever I can think of that make the next year more successful.  In 2020 I completely lost my way and read whatever struck my fancy for much of that year and 2021 was somewhat the same.  My goals are almost always to step outside my normal favorites of romance and mystery so my goals tend to be read fantasy, Sci Fi, and steampunk!  I did manage 10 in the Sci Fi category. Somehow I have a dozen books sitting on my fantasy shelf for last year so yay to that accomplishment.  Series cozy’s really called to me this year as well as classic crime.  I binged on a couple of great cozy series........library lovers and the haunted wool shop.   I have started rereading Nora Roberts.........

I finished the main challenge goals I planned for.  My book chains and the monthly spelling of the Librarians.  I actually have 10 of my 10’s but they are the easy ones.  I read a book from 10 new to me cozy series.  10 books set in Libraries, 10 in bookstores.  Just not 10 Steampunk or about Dragons.  My 10’s finished different.  I didn’t complete this years bingo.  Maybe next year...... 

I listen to a whole bunch of audiobooks while I quilted.  I completed over 30 quilting projects so many hours of listening happened!  I listened to 117 audiobooks, most at 2x speed.  I have started using my audiobooks as the way I read many of my chunkier books.  

I also record short stories and novellas on Goodreads.  This means that some of my books are short.....this year one was 19 pages long!lol I read 14 shorts last year........my cut off is around 100 pages.  The 19 pager was Home by Martha Wellls, part of Murderbot.  My series reading record keeping meant I had to record it.

Finally books.....well mainly ebooks.  I read 233 books last year.  

I read slightly more than 200 mystery books when I add my cozy, mystery and thriller bookshelves together.  I read over 80 romances. The rest are a mixture.....

So my grand Goodreads total is 364 books.  Yes, I technically managed to in Goodreads read 364 books.  So a book a day.  Don’t be overly impressed......I read a great deal of fluff and watch very little Telly.  That said it’s my largest total ever so I am a bit chuffed about it.

 

What was your most entertaining read of the year? 

Bullet Train was pretty hard to put down!  I loved so many books that picking one or two is hard.

Which characters did you fall in like or love with?  

So many!  The first character to pop in to my mind is a ghost called Geneva who is a character in the Haunted Yarnshop cozy series by Molly MacRae.  I love to listen to that character on the audiobooks.  She is enjoying haunting the main character way too much! Lol

 

Which stories would you read again and again? 

Rereading is one of my reading goals for next year.  Perhaps calling it the “freedom to reread” as a goal.  I used to love to reread and used to reread most series that I enjoyed every time a new book in the series came out.  Now that some of my series number over 50 books that doesn’t work well.  I would never get beyond JD Robb and her new books! Lol. I actually am contemplating starting a reread of Robbs books in order.  I need to finish my Sue Grafton reread.  Same for Sayers.  I also want to relisten to Anne Bishop’s Others series which starts with Written in Red before the new book is released......I have already reread it once.  Same with the Matthew Shardlake series by Sansom.  The Expanse reread needs to be finished first.  

 

Where in the world and through what time periods did your reading adventures take you? 

All over the place!  I started the year reading a time travel series by Julie McElwain in which a FBI agent enters a passage in a modern Castle and returns to 1815 to help a Duke and his nephew solve crime.  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25790952-a-murder-in-time   I also enjoyed a couple of Japanese audiobooks set in a cafe where you can travel in time before your coffee gets cold which I enjoyed.       https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44421460-before-the-coffee-gets-cold. I love the time travel genre and am glad I was able to read so many last year. 

I completed  my worldwide detective challenge.  I read some Nordic Noir.  At least 13 of my books were translated into English. 

 

Overall it was a successful reading year!

Edited December 31, 2021 by mumto2

[Robin M]

Why the heck I choose to read Cormac McCarthy's The Road as my last book of the year I don't know. But once I started reading, couldn't put it down. McCarthy's writing pulled me deep into the apocalyptic world of the man and boy and their journey through a devastated world, bleak and dangerous, full of obstacles to overcome from nature itself and the people left behind. I began to wonder what and why? Why did the man need to get to the coast? What was he expecting to find there? Who was he expecting to find? When they found safe places with water and food, why didn't they stay here. What would I have done in his place? I, for one, would have hunkered down in the bunker and stayed there. What was this great need to keep going? It was bleak and dark, but full of perseverance, hope, love, and goodness in the face of evil. I'm glad I finally read it. 

"He pulled the boy closer. Just remember that the things you put into your head are there forever, he said. You might want to think about that. You forget some things, don't you? Yes. You forget what you want to remember and you remember what you want to forget."

[The Governess]

As a whole, this was not the most productive reading year for me. However, we were quarantining over the last week and I read 6 books (and started a seventh) during that time. Overall, I read 21 new books and re-read at least 7 favorites (didn’t keep track of these, really)
 

My 5 favorite new fiction books this year:

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

Circe by Madeline Miller

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

 

Favorite non-fiction:

Think Again by Adam Grant

 

Favorite re-reads:

The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell 

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

The Shades of Magic Series by VE Schwab

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

[Robin M]

14 hours ago, tuesdayschild said:

This is my last post for 2021, in about 15 mins it'll be 2022:  wishing all here a safe and gentle start into the New Year (when you get there).

Happy new year and enjoying perusing your book lists. 

 

9 hours ago, mumto2 said:

So my grand Goodreads total is 364 books.  Yes, I technically managed to in Goodreads read 364 books.  So a book a day.  Don’t be overly impressed......I read a great deal of fluff and watch very little Telly.  That said it’s my largest total ever so I am a bit chuffed about it.

Wowzer! I'd be chuffed too. Glad you enjoyed your reading year.  I'll be continuing my Nora reread as well. 

 

1 hour ago, The Governess said:

As a whole, this was not the most productive reading year for me. However, we were quarantining over the last week and I read 6 books (and started a seventh) during that time. Overall, I read 21 new books and re-read at least 7 favorites (didn’t keep track of these, really)
 

My 5 favorite new fiction books this year:

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

Circe by Madeline Miller

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

 

Favorite non-fiction:

Think Again by Adam Grant

 

Favorite re-reads:

The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell 

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

The Shades of Magic Series by VE Schwab

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Yes, I loved Invisible Life of Addie Larue.  I'll have to reread The Poisonwood Bible at some point. Great book.  Hope everyone is feeling okay.  

[Robin M]

Link to 2022 week one  - Please continue the conversation in the new thread. 

Edited January 1, 2022 by Robin M