9th year of 75ing it! Cal8769 is back

I have been falling short of this challenge for a couple of years and this is the year that I need to get back on track.

Hello and happy reading to everyone!

Welcome back!

Hey cal! Happy New Year and good luck with your challenge!

Thanks Doc and LL, I'm glad to be here. This group is super!

Happy new year, Carrie! Have a great year of reading!

Have a wonderful bookfilled 2016, Carrie.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Terri, Paul and Roni. I hope to make this year the best year yet!

Got ya starred

hi Brenda, I am not starting the year out like I intended. I'm in the middle of 3 books and I don't feel like reading. BOO

Hope your reading funk evaporates soon. Sometimes I just have to put everything down and reread a favorite comfort read to kickstart it again.

I'm out of sorts as well, winter funk?

I'm in the middle of 3 books and I don't feel like reading. BOO
I hate when that happens!

Sometimes best to just put aside what you're reading and try to pick up something that you're pretty sure will be fun to read. Though sometimes nothing seems to look good.

Thanks Roni, Brenda and Terri. I went to see my mom in Florida and plane rides are great for reading!

1. In From The Cold by Nora Roberts
Kindle 3 stars

2. The Perfect Victim by Linda Castillo
Kindle, 3 stars

They weren't the best but I finished them!

2.5 Thorn in My Side by Karin Slaughter
Kindle short, 2 1/2 stars

3.5. Written In My Own heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon
Kindle, 5 stars

4.5 Meant to Be by Edie Claire
Nook, 4 stars

5. The Space Between by Diana Gabaldon
E short book, 4 stars.

6. Chicken Soup for the Golfer's Soul
Own, 3 1/2 stars

Rolling along girl!

I'm getting there, Brenda. I need to stay off of Facebook. LOL

7. The Revenant by Michael Punke
Nook, 4 stars

As always the book is much different than the movie but I enjoyed both of them for their own reasons. For once seeing the movie first didn't take away from the book.

Happy March, Carrie!

Thanks, Terri! You too.

8. Submerged by Dani Pettrey
Nook, 3stars

9. Tame a Wild Heart by Cynthia Woolf
Ñook, 2stars

10. Agenda 21 by Glenn Beck
own, 3 stars

11. Rescued by a Highlander by Keira montclair
Nook, 3 stars

12. Jailhouse Doc by William Wright
Kindle, 3 stars

13. In For a Penny by Maggie Toussaint
Kindle, 3 1/2 stars

Looks like you are on a roll for March, Carrie!

I'm trying, Roni. I have put reading on the back burner for too long. I have so many books that I want to read and now I am doing it! Facebook and the internet are such a time suck. Lol

14. Dead Ringer by Lisa Scottoline
Own, 3 1/2 stars

Have a wonderful Easter.

Thanks, Paul. It was such a beautiful day.

15. The Answer to Your Question by Paulette Alden
Kindle, 4 stars

Dang girl, you reading in your sleep 😜

Lol Brenda. I am really trying to decrease the Facebook and game time and increase my reading time. The sad part is every Spring I am a reading mad woman and then it decreases over the year.

16. The Witch of Lime Street by David Jaher
Early Reviewer win, 2 stars

17. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Kindle, 4 stars

Wasn't that excellent!

I spend way too much time on the Facebook and Zynga games online as well. But they are enjoyable...

I know Brenda. That was a twisty kind of mystery that I love. It was so much better than Gone Girl.

Roni, I have overcome my Zynga game addiction, mainly by substituting other games. LOL I liked playing them but I was frustrated that they became more and more dependant on friends 'sending' me items and I didn't have that many friends who played.

18. The Walking Dead #1 by Robert Kirkman
Own, 4 stars

19. Silent Screams by C.E. Lawrence
own, 2 1/2 stars

Written like a 'Police procedural for dummies' I liked the book to start with and then it was just..mush. Very cookie cutter, very predictable, too much inner turmoil, too much coincedence. I'll try another by the author only because I already bought it.

20. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Early Reviewer, 4 1/2 stars

Paul Kalanithi's life is great. He is married to his soul mate and is finishing his neurosurgical residency, one of the hardest, when he finds out he has Stage 4, inoperable cancer. This book is his own words about how he feels when he finds himself on the other side of the exam room.

I was drawn into this book from the start. Paul seems like a genuine caring man and doctor. This was a easy to read book about a deep, hard subject. I think the world lost a wonderful person when Paul died and I am saddened because he was a really good writer and I wish he had more time to write something else.

>45 cal8769: I look at that book every time it crosses the circulation desk at the library, and think that I'd like to read it. Not sure if I've put it on my Ever-Expanding List yet, but I'll check now . . .

eta to add Yes, it's on the list . . . with so many other books . . .

Terri, I really enjoyed his writing. I think because I work in an operating room helped with understanding his trials during residency and surgery but it was still a book that spoke to me.
21. Burning Soul by John Connolly
Nookbook, 3 1/2 stars

22. Silent Victim by C.E. Lawrence
Own, 3 stars

23. The Squad Room by John Cutter and Robert Nivakoff
Early Reviewer win, 4 stars

24. At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen
Kindle, 4 1/2 stars

Rolling up girl!

>50 cal8769: Looks like you really liked that one!

delurking to say hi. Haven't read anything you've been reading, Carrie.

Hi Brenda, I'm trying to roll on. Hopefully I don't loose momentum during the summer months.

Terri, I really enjoy Gruen's books. Her characters just grow and have such dept that I feel like i know them.

Roni, I'm glad to see you.

>53 ronincats: Same as Roni. I really must get to some John Connolly soon though.

Have a great weekend, Carrie.

Thanks, Paul. I hope yours was good. It was very rainy here. My yard looks like a hay field but it is the best shade of green. LOL

I need to catch up on my Connolly. I actually read some out of order *gasp* but they were all I had and I couldn't say no!

25. Always Watching by Chevy Stevens
Own, 3 stars

26. Silent Kills by C.E. Lawrence
own, 2 stars

27. All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Kindle, 4 stars

28. Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
Kindle, 4 stars

Very graphic but well written. Lots of twists that I didn't see coming.

29.Harry Potter and the Socerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Nook, reread, 4 stars

Hi, Carrie! It looks like you've been doing some good reading lately.

Hi Terri, I have been. I needed to get out of the rut I was in and rereads and favorite authors are doing the trick.

30. Harry Potter the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling
Nook, reread, 4 stars

Harry Potter is always good for a lift!

>63 cal8769: Glad you got out of the rut! :)

65 - I forgot how much I enjoy Harry Potter, Roni. I'm glad that I picked them up again.

66- Me too, Terri. I feel energized again.

I re-read all the Potter books last year and watched the movie after each book, it was a fun - but time consuming :) I got the new ditigital versions with really cool illustrations that moved.

The digital versions sound amazing! That's a great idea to watch the movies too. I will have to look for them.

31. The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg
Kindle, 3 1/2 stars

So what did you think of The Paper Magician?

I liked it overall. The middle dragged some and I'm not sure if I like Ceony.

I know, she had some dumb bitch, but overall the concept was kinda cool.

32. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling
E book, 4 stars

33. The Glass Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg
Kindle, 3 stars

Brenda, I didn't mind Ceony too much. I feel that the whole ' It's all my fault, I must fix it without help' theme is used a lot by authors. I was more bothered by the lack of depth in the villians and supporting characters. The authors only brings up others when needed and only offers enough info on them to get by. I think these books would be better if the supporting cast were more personalized. Everyone seems thrown in.

I also didn't like the one chapter told from Emery's POV. 2 books and all of a sudden one chapter is different than all the others. It was weird.

Guess you won't be reading the third one either 😉

I probably will only because I already bought it and it's short. LOL I'm a sinker and it will bother me knowing that I only need one book to finish the series.

34. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny
Kindle, 4 stars

35. A Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
Kindle, 4 1/2 stars

Don't you love those books :)

I do, so much! My mom is now on the Three Pines band wagon. LOL Penny is such a visual writer. I can see everyone and everything. I love it.

Glad to see you enjoying the Three Pines series!

Thanks Terri. I keep nagging my mom to read faster because she needs to get caught up so I can talk about the book I'm reading. Lol

36. The Master Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg
Kindle, 3 stars

Carrie, how was the last book? As in worth to read and finish off the series or just move on?

Hi Brenda, I was just going to write about it on your thread!
It was a short book so I didn't mind reading it. If I didn't already own it I probably wouldn't have looked for it. I really like the idea of what is going on and mostly how Holmberg writes but she seems to drop the ball just when I am getting into it and I just don't like Ceony. It is such a common theme in books to have the 'strong' female conquering evil and overcoming obstacles while finding true love but Ceony is too much. She is just not nice but it seems like everyone just loves her.

I'm glad I finished the series and I even read the beginning of another Holmberg book which intrigued me for all the same reasons that I liked the Magician books but the main character seems like another Ceony. I would have to think a long time on whether I would pick it up.

37. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Own, Kindle, 4 stars

38. Manifest Injustice by Barry Siegal
ER win, 3 1/2 stars

39. The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Galbaldon
Kindle, 4 stars

40. Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
Kindle, 4 1/2 stars

41. Three Truths and a Lie by Lisa Gardner
Kindle, 3 stars

Hi Carrie, yer on a roll girl :)

>90 cal8769: I just checked, and I gave Bury Your Dead 4 1/2 stars, too, Carrie. That may have been the best one in the series, or close to it.

Thanks Brenda. I was reading several books and was almost done with all of them and now I'm on vacation. Woohoo Reading comes easy when you can ignore real life.

42. The Hangman by Louise Penny
Kindle, 3 1/2 stars

I couldn't believe how much Bury your Dead moved me, Terri. I loved how she wrote the flashback sections. There was so much emotion. I was moved to tears in many sections. I actually thought about rereading it as soon as I was rone.

43. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
Kindle, 3 1/2

Hi Carrie, I just finished the new Louise Penny :)

How was it? I can't wait to read them all. I'll go stalk your page.

Just stoping by and saying hi, Carrie.

Hi Roni!

I'm reading the new Penny now. I was enjoying it, but more than halfway through I'm finding errors in logic and continuity that are driving me crazy. I may abandon it.

I'm very disappointed, as I had eagerly looked forward to this book.

Oh no Terri. I enjoy her books so much. I hope that she was 'off' for a book and the rest of her books don't suffer.

A lot of people seem to like it. But at this point, it's not making sense to me. Maybe I'm just too fussy about the logic of things.

Ok, I'm almost done the book and it did get better. I just don't know why she put that one little section in. Made no sense.

edited to add: The end was fabulous. I stayed up to finish it.

Sometimes it seems like stuff is included just to make the book longer. I'm so glad that it got better. I would have been so disappointed

44. A Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny
Kindle, 3 1/2 stars

45. In the Dead of Night by Linda Castillo
kindle, 3 stars

I have started How the Light Gets In and am dying. Jean-guy needs to get his head out of his***. LOL I can't believe that I have to work and can't read.

LOL He's a dick for sure

46. How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
Kindle, 4 stars

47. The Overlook by Michael Connelly
Library, 3 stars

48. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Kindle reread, 4 1/2 stars

I love this book!

Yay!

>112 cal8769: I've heard so many good things about that one!

>114 tymfos: I read it before and consider it one of my favorites. It's so visual!

Harry Potter is a jerk a good deal of the time.

Whiny ass too

Makes ya wonder what the big deal was the first time

I know! I am reading the 5th and he's getting on my nerves. I keep reminding myself that he is a teenager and they are all annoying. Ron and Hermione need to take Neville and find a new friend.

49. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling
Kindle, 3 stars

I'm glad I'm not the only one LOL

I keep reminding myself that he is a teenager and they are all annoying.

LOL!

You are getting a lot of reading done lately, Carrie!

Thanks, Terri. I haven't been reading much the last few years and I finally decided that I need to stop wasting time so much with Facebook and games. I also am returning to old favorites and that really helps.

>122 cal8769: I had to do the same thing with Facebook. Those games can take half or more of the day up, can't they?

>112 cal8769: I really enjoyed The Night Circus myself and gave it 8/10 stars.

>110 cal8769: I want to read more of the Louise Perry books. I read the first two some time ago though and wonder if I need to reread them to get started again.

>123 Morphidae: I adore Louise Penny's writing. Her books make me excited to read.

50. Dead Wrong by Connie Dial
ER win, 2 stars

51. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince By J.K. Rowling
Kindle, 3 1/2 stars

52. Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly
Kindle, 3 stars

53. The Obsession by Nora Roberts
Kindle 3 stars

Go girl!

Woo hoo! I'm getting 75 this year. I know it! Old favorites help every time.

54. Bloody Mary by J. A. Konrath
Kindle, 3 1/2 stars

>129 cal8769: I'm sure that you'll make it Carrie. Apparently if you listen to a Bob Dylan album you can now count it as one book.

>131 PaulCranswick:
That's so funny. I was thinking the same thing when I heard the news. Musicians are poets and story tellers in their own medium.

55. This is Where it Ends byMarieke Nijkamp
Kindle, 4 stars

Wow, what a book.

Have a lovely weekend, Carrie.

>133 cal8769: I will have to go and seek that one out.

Thanks Paul. You too!

Congrats on hitting the 50 mark!

Thanks Morphy. I'm determined to get 75 this year.

56. Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts
Kindle, 2 stars

57. A Long Way Home by Louise Penny
Kindle, 3 stars

58. Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson
Kindle, 4 stars

# 58 looks interesting

It was. It is unbelievable how strong Mother Nature is.

>140 cal8769: That was a favorite book by a favorite author for me!

>143 tymfos: Terri, I don't think he can write a bad book.

59. The Art of Deception by Nora Robert
Library, 1 star

60. Dark Witch by Nora Roberts
Kindle, 3 stars

61. The Trailer Park Princess and the Middle Finger of Fate by Kim Hunt Harris
Kindle, 2 stars

A Christian cozy mystery that got a bit too preachy.

62. The Bell Messenger by Robert Cornuke
Own, 3 stars

63. Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
Kindle, 3 1/2 stars

You are moving right along, Carrie!

go girl!

Thanks, Terri and Brenda. I'm determined to get to 75 this year!

You got this

Lots of time yet, Carrie! Go for it.

Thanks, Brenda and Roni. I got vacation time coming so that will be a big help also if I would just finish all of the half finished books I would be golden. LOL I really need to stop reading so many books at the same time.

64. Count the Roses by Jackie Weger
kindle, 2 1/2 stars

65. The Magician's by Lev Grossman
Kindle, 1 star
I couldn't finish it. Only 100 pages to go and I can't do it.

Put it down and just walk away

66. Fresh Disasters by Stuart Woods
Own, 3 stars

67. Shots on the Bridge by Ronnie Greene
ER win, 3 stars

68. The Mortician's Daughter by Elizabeth Bloom
Kindle, 3 1/2

69. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowlng
Kindle 5 stars

69 books! You're almost to 75, Carrie!

Thanks Terri. I'm glad I have some days off before the end of the year. Lol
70. Interlude in Death by J. D. Robb
Own, 3 stars

getting close girl!

I might not make it but at least I will be close.

You got this!

ugh! Two days of extreme illness before a major holiday stinks!! I am on the mend but I missed out on prime reading time.

well poo, hope you feel better soon and don't forget to head over to the 2017 thread

Thanks, Brenda. I am feeling better. Thanks for the new thread reminder!

Oh, dear! Sorry you were so sick. Glad you're feeling better!

Thanks Terri. Thankfully it was a nasty 24 hour thing and not a long bug. It was awful.

Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.

2017.

Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!

This is the Christmas tree at the end of the Pacific Beach Pier here in San Diego, a Christmas tradition.

To all my friends here at Library Thing, I want you to know how much I value you and how much I wish you a very happy holiday, whatever one you celebrate, and the very best of New Years!

174> Thanks, Paul. That is a beautiful hope. My grandson asked me on Christmas day why there is war. I wish there was a reason but there really isn't. Merry Christmas

175> Thanks, Roni. I love the sunset picture. That would be a fun tradition to see every year. Peace on Earth is what I want for Christmas!

>176 cal8769: Your grandson's question made me think, Carrie and so I looked this up on google which sort of explains things for the kids..........
http://andrew.triumf.ca/andrew/Why_is_there_war.html

>177 PaulCranswick: That article does put it into an easy perspective. I will have to read it to him the next time I see him. It's easy to say that everyone should be nice and co-operative but it can't work like that. One group would want or need something that another group has and it would start again.

71. Midnight in Death by J.D. Robb
Own, 3 stars

72. In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
Kindle , 3 stars

73. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
Nook, 4 stars

You can do it!

Two more! (Read short books! :)

Novellas are going to save me. I refuse to call it cheating. Lol I just started a 90 page book and I have about 100 pages left in another. I can taste victory.

74. Haunted in Death by J. D. Robb
Own, 2 stars

Looking forward to your continued company in 2017.
Happy New Year, Carrie

>184 cal8769: One more! (Looks like you didn't like #74 much.)

Happy New Year! I didn't make 75 but I read a lot of great books. Thanks for stopping by and see you in 2017

74 was nearly as good as!

Thanks Roni. I'm glad that I increased my number of books in a year while rereading some favorites.