Janiece’s 2021 50 Book Challenge
Keskustelu50 Book Challenge
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1janoorani24
I’m joining a little late this year, but I have read some books:
1. The Bridge at Andau by James A. Michener — Non-fiction account of the Hungarian Revolution. Not nearly as good as his novels.
2. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer — Among my favorites by Heyer, in fact this one is the first Georgette Heyer I read — about 45 years ago! I’ve been a fan ever since.
3. Parallel Lives: Five Victorian Marriages by Phyllis Rose — interesting look at five Victorian authors and their married lives.
4. Storm Front by Jim Butcher — A modern day fantasy about a magician who uses his magic for good in helping to fight crime.
5. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan — Enjoyable read about a mysterious bookstore, its owner, employees, and patrons.
6. The Provincial Lady in America by E. M. Delafield — Witty “journal” by a lady and her travels to America, third in a series.
7. Bunburry 1-3 by Helena Marchmont — Boring “cozy” mystery with quirky characters. Imitative of far better writers.
8. Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie — Excellent biography of Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra. Tragic.
9. Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley — Great retelling of the story. I needed something light after Nicholas and Alexandra.
So far, nine books and 2,882 pages.
1. The Bridge at Andau by James A. Michener — Non-fiction account of the Hungarian Revolution. Not nearly as good as his novels.
2. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer — Among my favorites by Heyer, in fact this one is the first Georgette Heyer I read — about 45 years ago! I’ve been a fan ever since.
3. Parallel Lives: Five Victorian Marriages by Phyllis Rose — interesting look at five Victorian authors and their married lives.
4. Storm Front by Jim Butcher — A modern day fantasy about a magician who uses his magic for good in helping to fight crime.
5. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan — Enjoyable read about a mysterious bookstore, its owner, employees, and patrons.
6. The Provincial Lady in America by E. M. Delafield — Witty “journal” by a lady and her travels to America, third in a series.
7. Bunburry 1-3 by Helena Marchmont — Boring “cozy” mystery with quirky characters. Imitative of far better writers.
8. Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie — Excellent biography of Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra. Tragic.
9. Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley — Great retelling of the story. I needed something light after Nicholas and Alexandra.
So far, nine books and 2,882 pages.
3janoorani24
>2 rocketjk: Thank you!
4janoorani24
I finished The Formation of England 550-1042 by H. P. R. Finberg last night. I enjoyed the way the history is told, from the very early Anglo-Saxon kingdoms to a more-or-less united England about 24 years before the invasion of William the Conqueror. All aspects of life are covered, though keeping the dynasties of all the separate kingdoms straight was difficult. All in all, an educational book, if a little bit dry in places.
So I have now completed 10 books this year. I'm almost done with a couple of others.
So I have now completed 10 books this year. I'm almost done with a couple of others.
5janoorani24
Just finished the 11th book for the year: Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia by Jean Sasson. This is the story of the pseudonymous Sultana, a niece of the King of Saudi Arabia. The story is a fast-paced and interesting, rich in detail about the daily lives of the Saudi royals. Most of the narrated story takes place before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, so may be dated. Nevertheless, it's packed with vivid personal sketches of the ruling clan and full of examples of Saudi Arabia's sexual mores, women's appalling conditions, politics, religion and culture.
6janoorani24
Here are 12-15:
12. The Grand Inquisitor: On the Nature of Man by Fyodor Dostoyevsky completed on 4/30/2021 -- Yes, it's not really a book, but I have two copies - same translation, different introductions. Originally read in college - one for a political science class and one for philosophy class. I re-read it as one of the books on my list of 1000 Books to Read Before You Die by James Mustich.
13. Never Lost Again: The Google Mapping Revolution that Sparked New Industries and Augmented Our Reality by Bill Kilday completed on 5/4/2021 -- Readable history of Google's involvement in the online mapping revolution.
14. Miss Mapp: Make Way for Lucia by E. F. Benson completed on 5/21/2021 -- This is part of a series, so the ending is abrupt. I'm looking forward to reading more.
15. The Scapegoat by Daphne Du Maurier completed on 5/24/21 -- Excellent novel about switching identities and consequences.
12. The Grand Inquisitor: On the Nature of Man by Fyodor Dostoyevsky completed on 4/30/2021 -- Yes, it's not really a book, but I have two copies - same translation, different introductions. Originally read in college - one for a political science class and one for philosophy class. I re-read it as one of the books on my list of 1000 Books to Read Before You Die by James Mustich.
13. Never Lost Again: The Google Mapping Revolution that Sparked New Industries and Augmented Our Reality by Bill Kilday completed on 5/4/2021 -- Readable history of Google's involvement in the online mapping revolution.
14. Miss Mapp: Make Way for Lucia by E. F. Benson completed on 5/21/2021 -- This is part of a series, so the ending is abrupt. I'm looking forward to reading more.
15. The Scapegoat by Daphne Du Maurier completed on 5/24/21 -- Excellent novel about switching identities and consequences.
7janoorani24
Here are 16-21:
16. Men in War by Andreas Latzko completed on 6/10/2021 -- Very sad stories about the Italian/Austro-Hungarian front in World War One. Hard to read, hard to forget. Eventually banned by 19 governments for the pacifistic depiction of the horrors of WWI.
17. Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson completed on 6/11/2021 -- delightful satire of life in a small English village in the 1920s.
18. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo finished on 6/17/2021 -- Read because I had just watched the Netflix production of the book. The plot in the book differs substantially from the show's plot.
19. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo completed on 6/19/2021 -- Second in the "Grishaverse" series. Good action and storyline.
20. Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo completed on 6/20/2021 -- Last in the "Grishaverse" trilogy. Ending nicely tied up with possible room for sequels.
21. Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman completed on 6/25/2021 -- A sixteen year old aspiring artist dealing with love, art and a bi-polar, narcissistic mother.
By this time last year, I had only read twelve books, so I'm happy with my progress.
16. Men in War by Andreas Latzko completed on 6/10/2021 -- Very sad stories about the Italian/Austro-Hungarian front in World War One. Hard to read, hard to forget. Eventually banned by 19 governments for the pacifistic depiction of the horrors of WWI.
17. Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson completed on 6/11/2021 -- delightful satire of life in a small English village in the 1920s.
18. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo finished on 6/17/2021 -- Read because I had just watched the Netflix production of the book. The plot in the book differs substantially from the show's plot.
19. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo completed on 6/19/2021 -- Second in the "Grishaverse" series. Good action and storyline.
20. Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo completed on 6/20/2021 -- Last in the "Grishaverse" trilogy. Ending nicely tied up with possible room for sequels.
21. Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman completed on 6/25/2021 -- A sixteen year old aspiring artist dealing with love, art and a bi-polar, narcissistic mother.
By this time last year, I had only read twelve books, so I'm happy with my progress.
8rocketjk
7> I've been gradually reading through, and enjoying, the Lucia & Mapp books, too. Cheers!
9janoorani24
Catching up again…
22. Come and Go, Molly Snow by Mary Ann Taylor-Hall completed on 7/1/21 — A fiddler for a Bluegrass band and her relationship problems. Involves the death of and grieving for a child.
23. Lucia in London by E. F. Benson completed on 7/4/21 — The socialite Lucia takes over London society with hilarious results.
24. Something Fresh by P. G. Wodehouse completed on 7/4/21 - first Wodehouse book for me. Humorous mystery involving an Egyptian scarab and house guests at a country estate.
25. A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge completed on 8/14/21 — excellent and complex science fiction involving a daring rescue of children marooned on an alien planet.
26. The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde completed on 9/1/21 - Incredibly inventive novel about anthropomorphous animals living in England and trying to get along with humans.
27. Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World by Fareed Zakaria completed on 9/6/21 — Non-fiction thoughts from a favorite political scientist about what we should learn about our actions or inactions during the height of the pandemic.
28. The Silver Branch by Rosemary Sutcliff completed on 10/15/21 — well researched story about Roman soldiers at the end of the Roman Empire in Britain.
29. Tiger in the Sea: The Ditching of Flying Tiger 923 and the Desperate Struggle for Survival by Eric Lindner completed on 10/29/21 — True story of the crash into the Atlantic of an airliner in the early 1960s. It’s amazing so many passengers and crew survived by clinging to an upside-down life raft during a heavy storm.
30. Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout completed on 11/1/21 — the first mystery starring Nero Wolfe.
31. The Fast Stuff by Mat Oxley completed on 11/6/21 — Engrossing stories written over the years by Mat Oxley, a former Isle of Man TT winner and long-time moto journalist. I especially liked the articles about Valentino Rossi.
22. Come and Go, Molly Snow by Mary Ann Taylor-Hall completed on 7/1/21 — A fiddler for a Bluegrass band and her relationship problems. Involves the death of and grieving for a child.
23. Lucia in London by E. F. Benson completed on 7/4/21 — The socialite Lucia takes over London society with hilarious results.
24. Something Fresh by P. G. Wodehouse completed on 7/4/21 - first Wodehouse book for me. Humorous mystery involving an Egyptian scarab and house guests at a country estate.
25. A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge completed on 8/14/21 — excellent and complex science fiction involving a daring rescue of children marooned on an alien planet.
26. The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde completed on 9/1/21 - Incredibly inventive novel about anthropomorphous animals living in England and trying to get along with humans.
27. Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World by Fareed Zakaria completed on 9/6/21 — Non-fiction thoughts from a favorite political scientist about what we should learn about our actions or inactions during the height of the pandemic.
28. The Silver Branch by Rosemary Sutcliff completed on 10/15/21 — well researched story about Roman soldiers at the end of the Roman Empire in Britain.
29. Tiger in the Sea: The Ditching of Flying Tiger 923 and the Desperate Struggle for Survival by Eric Lindner completed on 10/29/21 — True story of the crash into the Atlantic of an airliner in the early 1960s. It’s amazing so many passengers and crew survived by clinging to an upside-down life raft during a heavy storm.
30. Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout completed on 11/1/21 — the first mystery starring Nero Wolfe.
31. The Fast Stuff by Mat Oxley completed on 11/6/21 — Engrossing stories written over the years by Mat Oxley, a former Isle of Man TT winner and long-time moto journalist. I especially liked the articles about Valentino Rossi.
10rocketjk
> I loved Lucia in London, and I’m very much looking forward to the latest Fforde book, as well. Cheers!
11janoorani24
>10 rocketjk: I love Fforde's Thursday Next stories!
12janoorani24
A final catch-up for 2021:
32. The Poppy Wife: A Novel of the Great War by Caroline Scott -- A novel set in the 1920s with flashbacks to three brothers' service in WWI. It's told from the viewpoint of two people, and sometimes the transitions between the chapters are abrupt, but overall a well-researched and interesting novel set in the period after WWI.
33. Bath Tangle by Georgette Heyer -- Heyer is one of my favorite authors, and this is one I hadn't read before. This one is set mostly in Bath, England during the Regency era, and features the usual delightful characters and plot.
34. The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time by John Kelly -- Very detailed history of the Black Death plague as it moved across Central Asia and Europe in the mid-fourteenth century. Lots of background history for the different locations.
35. Miss Zukas in Death's Shadow by Jo Dereske -- In my opinion only -- a forgettable mystery that is part of a series of books about a librarian living in Northwestern Washington State. Okay read if you have read other Miss Zukas books, but not believable as a mystery.
36. The Shadow of the Bear: A Fairy Tale Retold by Regina Doman -- I enjoyed this retelling of the Snow White and Rose Red Grimm's fairy tale. It is set in New York City and features two high school sisters, Rose and Blanch and a mysterious young man who goes by the name of Bear. I recommend it to people who like a well-told young adult novel now and then.
Well, as you can see, I didn't make it to 50 books for the year, but I did read more books than I read in 2020. The last year I read over 50 books was in 2019 -- the Before Times.
32. The Poppy Wife: A Novel of the Great War by Caroline Scott -- A novel set in the 1920s with flashbacks to three brothers' service in WWI. It's told from the viewpoint of two people, and sometimes the transitions between the chapters are abrupt, but overall a well-researched and interesting novel set in the period after WWI.
33. Bath Tangle by Georgette Heyer -- Heyer is one of my favorite authors, and this is one I hadn't read before. This one is set mostly in Bath, England during the Regency era, and features the usual delightful characters and plot.
34. The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time by John Kelly -- Very detailed history of the Black Death plague as it moved across Central Asia and Europe in the mid-fourteenth century. Lots of background history for the different locations.
35. Miss Zukas in Death's Shadow by Jo Dereske -- In my opinion only -- a forgettable mystery that is part of a series of books about a librarian living in Northwestern Washington State. Okay read if you have read other Miss Zukas books, but not believable as a mystery.
36. The Shadow of the Bear: A Fairy Tale Retold by Regina Doman -- I enjoyed this retelling of the Snow White and Rose Red Grimm's fairy tale. It is set in New York City and features two high school sisters, Rose and Blanch and a mysterious young man who goes by the name of Bear. I recommend it to people who like a well-told young adult novel now and then.
Well, as you can see, I didn't make it to 50 books for the year, but I did read more books than I read in 2020. The last year I read over 50 books was in 2019 -- the Before Times.
13janoorani24
I like the way a Library Thinger on another thread categorized his reading for 2021, so I'm going to try the same thing:
End of year report:
Books read: 36 of which 16 were paper books off of my own shelves
Male/Female authors: 19/17
Books for World War One reading goal: 3
Books originally in English/translations: 34/2
Fiction/Non Fiction: 25/11
Ebooks/Paper Books/Audiobooks: 7/17/12
Library Books: 1
End of year report:
Books read: 36 of which 16 were paper books off of my own shelves
Male/Female authors: 19/17
Books for World War One reading goal: 3
Books originally in English/translations: 34/2
Fiction/Non Fiction: 25/11
Ebooks/Paper Books/Audiobooks: 7/17/12
Library Books: 1
