Alexi Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Hello! Happy New Year everyone - hope 2016 treats you all well both in reading and elsewhere. Time to set this up... AIMS FOR 2016 To read at least 52 books To read 10 from the 1001 list Progress with English Counties and World Challenges ... I miserably failed with the reduce pile by one in 2015. I in fact increased by...50. Oops. So let's try this one again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted January 1, 2016 Author Share Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) BOOKS READ 2016JANUARYYear of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks 4.5/5Why Didn't They Ask Evans? By Agatha Christie 4/5A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam 3.5/5Love in the Present Tense by Catherine Ryan Hyde 3/5FEBRUARYA People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn 4/5Just William by Richmal Crompton 3/5The Thirty Nine Steps by John Buchan 3.5/5North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell 4.5/5Race of a Lifetime by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin 4/5Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming 4/5Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes 4/5MARCHBobby Moore: The Man in Full by Matt Dickinson 3.5/5The Cider House Rules by John Irving 5/5My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier 3/5Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper 4/5Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie 3/5APRILWuthering Heights by Emily Bronte 5/5Glory for Sale by Jon Morgan 4/5The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein 3/5Hillsborough: The Truth by Phil ScratonMAYParis by Edward Rutherfurd 2/5The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper 2/5The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle 3/5The Stars Look Down by A J Cronin 4/5Tricky Twenty Two by Janet Evanovich 3/5JUNEAu Revoir Europe by David Charter 4/5Fear and Loathing in La Liga by Sid Lowe 4/5The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall 2/5Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf 3/5JULYTime and Again by Jack Finney 5/5The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford 4/5Emma by Jane Austen 5/5An Officer and a Spy by Robert Harris 5/5AUGUSTThe ABC Murders by Agatha Christie 4/5At the Sign of the Sugared Plum by Mary Hooper 3.5/5The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle 3/5The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett 4/5SEPTEMBERA Child Al Confino by Eric Lamet 2/5The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North 4/5Another World by Pat Barker 3/5Seven Deadly Sins by David Walsh 3.5/5OCTOBERA Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara 5/5The Promised Land by Daniel Harris 3/5Lady Chatterley's Lover by D H Lawrence 2/5The Giver by Lois Lowry 4/5NOVEMBERWatership Down by Richard Adams 4/5Boy by Roald Dahl 3/5 Going Solo by Roald Dahl 4/5 Up There by Michael Walker 4/5 The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett 4/5DECEMBER Death Descends on Saturn Vila by M R C Kasasian 2/5 The Bat by Jo Nesbo 4/5 Summer Lightning by P G Wodehouse 3/5 Edited December 19, 2016 by Alexi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted January 1, 2016 Author Share Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) TBR A -K Ben Aaronovitch - Rivers of LondonDouglas Adams - Hitchhikers Guide to the GalaxyRichard Adams – Watership DownMitch Albom – The first phone call from heavenUwem Akpan – Say You’re One of ThemTahmima Anam - A Golden AgeMaria Angels Anglada - The Auschwitz Violin[/font][/color]Fredrick Backman – A Man Called OveDavid Baldacci - Absolute PowerSam Baldwin - For Fukui's SakeJG Ballard - Empire of the SunNonna Bannister - The Holocaust DiariesLaura Barnett – The Versions of UsAnthony Beevor - StalingradJeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian – The SystemDennis Bergkamp - Stillness and SpeedArnold Bennett - The Old Wives TaleTracy Bloom - No one Ever Has Sex on a TuesdayJudy Blume - Tiger EyesJudy Blume - Are You There God? It's Me, MargaretAttilio Bolzoni - White ShotgunKathryn Bonella- Hotel KAnthony Bourdain - Kitchen ConfidentialAnthony Bourdain - A Cook's TourMark Bowden - Killing PabloTom Bower - No Angel: The Secret Life of Bernie EcclestoneRay Bradbury - Farenheit 451Rodric Braithwaite - Moscow 1941: A City and it's People at WarAnne Bronte - The Tenant of Wildfell HallGeraldine Brooks – Year of Wonders Max Brooks - World War Bill Browder – Red NoticeHelen Bryan - War BridesEdward Bunker - Mr Blue: Memoirs of a RenegadeJimmy Burns - La RojaJessie Burton – The Miniaturist Luca Caioli - MessiMichael Calvin – FamilyMichael Calvin - The Nowhere MenMark Cappell - Run Run RunLewis Carroll - Alice's Adventures in WonderlandNoel Cawthorne - Witch Hunt: History of a PersecutionMichael Chabon - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and KlayDavid Charter - Au Revoir, EuropeTracy Chevalier - Falling AngelsLee Child - Killing Floor Lee Child - The AffairNoam Chomsky – OccupyAgatha Christie – Why Didn’t They Ask EvansDavid Cohen - Bringing them up RoyalSuzanne Collins - The Hunger GamesSuzanne Collins - Catching FireSuzanne Collins - MockingjayDavid Conn - Richer Than God Thomas H Cook - The Last Talk with Lola FayeSusan Coolidge - What Katy DidGeorge Cooper - The Origin of Financial Crises[/size]Mitch Cullin – Mr HolmesRobert Dallek - John F Kennedy: An Unfinished LifeJames Dashner –The Maze RunnerRobert Davies - The Man Who Lived at the End of the WorldJohn Deering - Bradley Wiggins: Tour de ForceBarbara Demick – Nothing to EnvyDiana Dempsey - Falling StarBecky Dennington - Me and the Ugly CArthur Conan Doyle - The Sign of the FourArthur Conan Doyle - The Valley of FearMark Dunn - Ella Minnow PeaSteven Dunne - The ReaperSam Eastland - Siberian RedDamien Echols - Life After Death: Eighteen years on Death RowHelen Edwards and Jenny Lee Smith - My Secret SisterNick Edwards - In StitchesBen Elton - Two BrothersBen Elton – Time and Time AgainTan Twan Eng - The Gift of RainEskimo Folk TalesJeffrey Eugenidies - The Virgin SuicidesMichel Faber – The Hundred and Ninety Nine StepsJoseph Finder - ParanoiaJack Finney - Time and AgainHelen FitzGerald - The CryJonathan Safran Foer - Extremely Loud and Incredibly CloseKen Follett - Pillars of the EarthEric Foner - Give Me LibertyJohn Foot - CalcioMichael Frayn - SkiosBarbara Freethy - Ryan's ReturnDawn French - A Tiny Bit MarvellousNeil Gaiman - Stardust Robert Galbraith – Career of Evil Alex Garland - The BeachAntonio Garrido - The Corpse ReaderLisa Genova - Still AliceTess Gerritsen - The Silent GirlTess Gerritsen - BloodstreamGeorge Gissing - The Unclassed Alex Grecian - The Black CountryGraham Greene – Brighton RockPhillippa Gregory - The Kingmaker's DaughterIoan Grillo – El NarcoGeorge Grossmith - Diary of a NobodyRichard Guard - Lost LondonHeather Gudenkauf - These Things HiddenCarla Guelfenbein - The Rest Is SilenceRomesh Gunesekera - ReefMatt Haig – The HumansDuncan Hamilton - Provided You Don't Kiss MeDashiell Hammett - The Maltese FalconChad Harbach - The Art of FieldingDaniel Harris - The Promised LandRobert Harris - ImperiumThomas Harris - Red DragonJonathan Harvey – The Secrets We KeepNadia Hashimi - The Pearl that Broke its ShellBen Hatch - The P45 DiariesNoah Hawley - The Good FatherTerry Hayes - I am PilgrimRichard Herley - The Penal ColonyJason Hewitt – The Dynamite Room Howard Hockin - High StakesAndrew Hodges – Alan Turing: The EnigmaSteena Holmes - Finding EmmaNinni Holmqvist - The UnitA M Homes – May We Be ForgivenMary Hooper - At the Sign of the Sugared PlumRafael Honigstein – Das RebootAnthony Horowitz- MoriartyJohn Hoskison – InsideThomas Hughes – Tom Brown’s SchooldaysVictor Hugo - Notre Dame de ParisVictor Hugo - Les MiserablesGraham Hunter – BarcaCatherine Ryan Hyde – Love in the Present TenseChristopher Isherwood – Goodbye to Berlin Eowyn Ivey - The Snow ChildQuintin Jardine - Lethal IntentLiz Jensen - War Crimes for the HomeLisa Jewell - The House We Grew Up InGraham Johnson - Football and GangstersJonas Jonasson - The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and DisappearedAndy Jones – The Two of UsOwen Jones - The EstablishmentRachel Joyce - PerfectMRC Kasasian – Death Descends on Saturn VillaAndrew Kaufman – Born WeirdCarolyn Keene - The Secret of the Old ClockLindsey Kelk - I Heart HollywoodLindsey Kelk - I Heart LondonJames Kelman – Keiron Smith, BoySimon Kernick – RelentlessSimon Kernick - The Business of DyingJudith Kerr- When Hitler Stole Pink RabbitYasmina Khadra – What the Day Owes the NightSue Monk Kidd – The Invention of WingsStephen King – JoylandStephen King – Mr MercedesBarbara Kingsolver - Flight BehaviourAyse Kulin - Last Train to IstanbulSimon Kuper – The Football Men Chris Kyle – American Sniper Edited December 12, 2016 by Alexi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted January 1, 2016 Author Share Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) TBR L-ZCamilla Lackberg - The Ice PrincessPaul Lake - I'm Not Really HereEric Lamet - A Child Al ConfinoErik Larsen – In the Garden of BeastsDoreen Lawrence - And Still I RiseValerie Lawson - Mary Poppins, She WroteDebra Lee – TakenHarper Lee – Go Set a WatchmanSheri Leigh - Graveyard GamesEric Lomax - The Railway ManKaren Lord - Redemption in IndigoSid Lowe - Fear and Loathing in La LigaLois Lowry – The GiverSamantha Mackintosh - Kisses for LulaKevin Maher - The Fields Emily St John Mandel – Station ElevenNelson Mandela - Long Walk to FreedomHilary Mantel - Wolf HallScott Mariani - The Alchemist's SecretHoward Marks - Mr NiceAndrew Marr - History of Modern BritainAndrew Marr - My TradeIan Marshall - The Class of 92Ann M Martin - Kristy's Great IdeaDaniel Martin - Black Tie, White NoiseGeorge R R Martin – A Clash of KingsGeorge R R Martin – A Storm of Swords: Steel and SnowGeorge R R Martin – A Storm of Swords: Blood and GoldGeorge R R Martin – A Feast for CrowsGeorge R R Martin – A Dance with Dragons: Dreams and DustGeorge R R Martin - A Dance with Dragons: After the Feast Robert K Massie - Nicholas and AlexandraKimberly McCreight - Reconstructing AmeliaBob McElwain - Free to DieKatie McGarry - Pushing the LimitsBrian McGilloway - Little Girl LostReg McKay - The Last GodfatherChristina McKenna - The Disenchanted WidowPhilipp Meyer - American RustCandy Miller - Kalahari PassageKimberley Rae Miller - Coming CleanBrian Moore - Beware of the DogJon Morgan – Glory for SaleLiane Moriarty - What Alice ForgotRoger Mortimer and Charlie Mortimer - Dear Lupin: Letters to a Wayward SonMotley Crue – The Dirt Haruki Murakami - 1Q84Urzula Muskus - Long Bridge out of the GulagsJo Nesbo - The BatJo Nesbo - NemesisJo Nesbo - The RedeemerJo Nesbo - PhantomJo Nesbo - The SnowmanJo nesbo - The Devil's StarJo Nesbo - The LeopardPatrick Ness - A Monster CallsPatrick Ness - The Crane WifeDavid Nicholls - Starter for TenJohn Niven – Kill Your FriendsClaire North - The First Fifteen Lives of Harry AugustSolomon Northup - 12 Years A SlaveSean O’Connor - Handsome BruteJoseph O'Neill - Crime CityLouise O’Neill – Only Ever YoursMichael Ondaatje - The English PatientS J Parris - HeresyS J Parris - TreacheryJames Patterson - Kiss the GirlsJames Patterson - Cat and MouseChris Pavone - The ExpatsChris Pavone – The AccidentStef Penney - The Tenderness of WolvesKaren Perry – The Boy That Never WasSylvia Plath – The Bell JarOliver Potzsch - The Hangman's DaughterJeff Ragsdale, David Shields and Michael Logan - Jeff, One Lonely GuyIan Rankin - Fleshmarket CloseLouise Rennison - Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal SnoggingLexi Revellian - ReplicaDavid Revill - London by TubeTom Reynolds - Blood Sweat and TeaKate Riordan – The Girl in the Photograph Graham Robb - Parisians: An Adventure History of ParisTrevor Roberts – Caught by Cameras Veronica Roth – Divergent Angus Roxburgh - Strongman: Vladimir Putin and the struggle for RussiaEdward Rutherfurd – SarumLouis Sachar - There's a Boy in the Girls BathroomC J Sansom - Winter in MadridDorothy L Sayers – Whose BodyPhil Scraton - Hillsborough the TruthVictor Sebesteyen – 1946: The Making of the Modern WorldTina Seskis - One Step Too FarAnna Sewell - Black BeautyMartin Sixsmith - PhilomenaKarin Slaughter - IndelibleChristopher Smith - Fifth AvenueTom Rob Smith - Child 44Diana Souhami - Murder at Wrotham HillAli Sparkes - Frozen in TimeDana Stabenow - A Cold Day for MurderGarth Stein - The Art of Racing in the RainKathryn Stockett - The HelpHarriet Beecher Stowe – Uncle Tom’s CabinMari Strachan - The Earth Hums in B FlatWilliam Styron - Sophie's ChoiceAntal Szerb - Journey by MoonlightDonna Tartt - The GoldfinchJodi Taylor – A Trail Through TimeHunter S Thompson - Fear and Loathing in Las VegasGeorgie Thompson and Imogen Lloyd Webber - The Twitter DiariesLesley Thomson - The Detective's DaughterRosy Thornton - NinepinsPeter Thurgood - The Stories behind London's StreetsScott Turow - Reversible ErrorsAnne Tyler – A Spool of Blue ThreadTimur Vermes – Look Who’s BackKurt Vonnegut - Slaughterhouse FiveDavid Wailing - Fake KateKaren Thompson Walker - The Age of MiraclesMichael Walker – Up ThereDavid Walsh - Seven Deadly SinsSam Warburton - Refuse to be DeniedMark Ward - HammeredMike Ward - GullhangerHeather Wardell - Seven Exes is Eight too ManySarah Waters - Tipping the VelvetSarah Waters – The Paying GuestsSarah Waters - FingersmithKatherine Webb - The MisbegottenAndy Weir – The MartianIrvine Welsh - TrainspottingIrvine Welsh - SkagboysScott Westerfeld – UgliesKate Williams – The Storms of WarBarry Wilner and Ken Rappoport – On the Clock Jacqueline Wilson - The Story of Tracy BeakerJacqueline Wilson - The Bed and Breakfast StarSarah Winman - When God was a RabbitDavid Winner - Brilliant OrangeScott Wittenberg - The May Day MurdersChristian Wolmar - The Great Railway RevolutionJennifer Worth - Call the MidwifeMona Yahia - When the Grey Beetles Took Over BaghdadNathan Yates - Beyond EvilA B Yehoshua - Friendly FireCarlos Ruiz Zafon - The Angel's GameMarkus Zusak – I Am the MessengerStefan Zweig - The Post Office GirlAnonymous - Tales from the Secret Footballer Edited December 12, 2016 by Alexi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted January 1, 2016 Author Share Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) BOOKS ACQUIRED 2016Burial Rites by Hannah KentA People's History of the United States by Howard ZinnJust William by Richmal CromptonJonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna ClarkeRace of a Lifetime by John Heilemann and Mark HalperinThe Stand by Stephen KingWuthering Heights by Emily BronteFriday Night Lights by H G BissingerPietr the Latvian by Georges SimenonThe Game of our Lives by David GoldblattThe Stars Look Down by A J CroninSummer Lightning by P G WodehouseParis by Edward RutherfordReady Player One by Ernest ClineNW by Zadie SmithOrdinary Thunderstorms by William BoydA Little Life by Hanya YanagiharaFishbowl by Bradley SomerDouble Down by John Heilemann and Mark HalperinThe Well of Loneliness by Radcliffe HallMrs Dalloway by Virginia WoolfEmma by Jane AustenParcells: A Football Life by Bill ParcellsThe Marble Collector by Cecilia AhernThe Stand by Stephen KingThe Secrets of Gaslight Line by MRC KasasianAnother World by Pat BarkerLady Chatterley's Lover by D H Lawrence Second Life by S J Watson Edited December 19, 2016 by Alexi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted January 1, 2016 Author Share Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) THE ENGLISH COUNTIES CHALLENGE - ALEX'S VERSIONTwo substitutions for books I had already read before the challenge started (Greater London and Leicestershire)Books in RED are ones I've read.1. Bedfordshire - My Uncle Silas by H. E. Bates2. Berkshire - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame3. Bristol - The Misses Mallett by E. H. Young4. Buckinghamshire - The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper5. Cambridgeshire - The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers6. Cheshire - Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell7. City of London - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens8. Cornwall - Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier9. Cumbria - Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome10. Derbyshire - Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks11. Devon - And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie12. Dorset - Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy13. County Durham - Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens14. East Riding of Yorkshire - South Riding by Winifred Holtby15. East Sussex - Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne16. Essex - The Turn Of The Screw by Henry James17. Gloucestershire - Cider With Rosie by Laurie Lee18. Greater London* - Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf19. Greater Manchester - North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell20. Hampshire - Watership Down by Richard Adams21. Herefordshire - On The Black Hill by Bruce Chatwin22. Hertfordshire - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen23. Isle of Wight - England, England by Julian Barnes24. Kent - The Darling Buds of May by H. E. Bates25. Lancashire - Oranges are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson26. Leicestershire - The Right to an Answer by Anthony Burgess27. Lincolnshire - The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot28. Merseyside - An Awfully Big Adventure by Beryl Bainbridge29. Norfolk - The Go-Between by L. P. Hartley30. North Yorkshire - Dracula by Bram Stoker31. Northamptonshire - Mansfield Park by Jane Austen32. Northumberland - The Stars Look Down by A. J. Cronin33. Nottinghamshire - Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence34. Oxfordshire - The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford35. Rutland - Set In Stone by Robert Goddard36. Shropshire - Summer Lightning by P. G. Wodehouse37. Somerset - Lorna Doone by R. D. Blackmore38. South Yorkshire - A Kestral For A Knave by Barry Hines39. Staffordshire - The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett40. Suffolk - The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald41. Surrey - Emma by Jane Austen42. Tyne and Wear - Another World by Pat Barker43. Warwickshire - Tom Brown's School Days by Thomas Hughes44. West Midlands - Middlemarch by George Eliot45. West Sussex - Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons46. West Yorkshire - Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë47. Wiltshire - Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope48. Worcestershire - The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall30/48 completed Edited December 19, 2016 by Alexi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted January 1, 2016 Author Share Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) A LOOK BACK AND A LOOK AHEAD I failed miserably in reducing my pile by one in 2015. Instead, it grew. But, I had a good reading year, I enjoyed the majority of what I read - with a couple of exceptions! Book of 2015: Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier/The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion Duffer of 2015: The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud. This year, I want to clock off another 10 from the 1001 list and make (unspecified) progress in my other challenges. I would also like to read more books from my older stack. I started keeping track of when I bought books at the start of 2014, so there is a big stack of 'pre-2014 TBR' and I'd like to make some progress with it. I have a new job so reading has taken a bit of a hit on a day to day basis but I do a lot of train travelling so I tend to do it in bursts these days. Here's to some good bursts in 2016! Edited January 1, 2016 by Alexi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted January 1, 2016 Author Share Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) US STATES CHALLENGE Another list! Books in RED are ones I have read. 01. To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee (Alabama)02. White Fang - Jack London (Alaska)03. The Bean Trees - Barbara Kingsolver (Arizona)04. True Grit - Charles Portis (Arkansas)05. East of Eden - John Steinbeck (California)06. Plainsong - Kent Haruf (Colorado)07. Revolutionary Road - Richard Yates (Connecticut)08. The Saint of Lost Things - Christopher Castellani (Delaware)09. To Have and Have Not - Ernest Hemingway (Florida)10. Gone With the Wind - Margaret Mitchell (Georgia)11. From Here To Eternity - James Jones (Hawaii)12. Housekeeping - Marilynne Robinson (Idaho)13. The Adventures of Augie March - Saul Bellow (Illinois)14. The Magnificent Ambersons - Booth Tarkington (Indiana)15. A Thousand Acres - Jane Smiley (Iowa)16. In Cold Blood - Truman Capote (Kansas)17. Uncle Tom's Cabin - Harriet Beecher Stowe (Kentucky)18: Interview with the Vampire - Anne Rice (Louisiana)19. The Cider House Rules - John Irving (Maine)20. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant - Anne Tyler (Maryland)21: Walden - Henry David Thoreau (Massachusetts)22. Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides (Michigan)23. Main Street - Sinclair Lewis (Minnesota)24. As I Lay Dying - William Faulkner (Mississippi)25. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Mark Twain (Missouri)26. A River Runs Through It - Norman Maclean (Montana)27. My Antonia - Willa Cather (Nebraska)28: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson (Nevada)29. Peyton Place - Grace Metalious (New Hampshire)30. Independence Day - Richard Ford (New Jersey)31. Red Sky at Morning - Richard Bradford (New Mexico)32. The Great Gatsby - F.Scott Fitzgerald (New York)33. Cold Mountain - Charles Frazier (North Carolina)34. The Round House - Louise Eldrich (North Dakota)35. The Broom of the System - David Foster Wallace (Ohio)36. Paradise - Toni Morrison (Oklahoma)37. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey (Oregon)38. Rabbit, Run - John Updike (Pennsylvania)39. The Witches of Eastwick - John Updike (Rhode Island)40. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd (South Carolina)41. Welcome to Hard Times - EL Doctorow (South Dakota)42. A Death in the Family - James Agee (Tennessee)43. No Country for Old Men - Cormac McCarthy (Texas)44. The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff (Utah)45. Pollyanna - Eleanor H. Porter (Vermont)46. Prodigal Summer - Barbara Kingsolver (Virginia)47. Snow Falling on Cedars- David Guterson (Washington)48. Washington DC - Gore Vidal (Washington DC)49. Shiloh - Phillis Reynolds Naylor (West Virginia)50. The Art of Fielding - Chad Harbach (Wisconsin)51. Close Range: Wyoming Stories - E. Annie Proulx (Wyoming) 8/51 completedAnd I do declare this thread open!Happy reading guys Edited August 16, 2016 by Alexi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Hope you have a good reading year, Alex. Looking forward to more of the English Counties challenge this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 I hope you have a great reading year in 2016. Nevermind about not decreasing your TBR pile by one....as long as you are reading and acquiring interesting books, no harm done I say. We have a fair few of the same titles on our TBR piles. Some on your list that I have really enjoyed are: Louise O’Neill – Only Ever YoursGarth Stein - The Art of Racing in the RainDonna Tartt - The GoldfinchJudy Blume - Tiger EyesJudy Blume - Are You There God? It's Me, MargaretAlex Garland - The BeachMatt Haig – The HumansRichard Herley - The Penal Colony And ones that I have absolutely loved are: Terry Hayes - I am Pilgrim Emily St John Mandel – Station ElevenStef Penney - The Tenderness of WolvesKen Follett - Pillars of the Earth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inver Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 Have a great year of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 I hope you have a great reading year in 2016, Alex ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 Good reading Alex! Oh my gosh what a fearsome TBR. You did have rather a lot on in 2015, if I recall correctly.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Begins Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 If "like" could be the right word, I hope you get to Uwem Akpan – Say You’re One of Them, it was one of my BCF awards this year... tremendously emotional and somewhat traumatizing, but totally worth it. Have a wonderful 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 You did have rather a lot on in 2015, if I recall correctly.... With more to come in 2016! Happy reading in 2016, Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted January 3, 2016 Author Share Posted January 3, 2016 Thanks muchly, everyone. I hope to make 2016 a cracker! And ones that I have absolutely loved are: Terry Hayes - I am Pilgrim Emily St John Mandel – Station ElevenStef Penney - The Tenderness of WolvesKen Follett - Pillars of the Earth Thanks BB! I will definitely try and get to those before the year is out. If "like" could be the right word, I hope you get to Uwem Akpan – Say You’re One of Them, it was one of my BCF awards this year... tremendously emotional and somewhat traumatizing, but totally worth it. Have a wonderful 2016 Thanks Anna. I am fairly sure I bought that one on your recommendation so will certainly let you know what I make of it Good reading Alex! Oh my gosh what a fearsome TBR. You did have rather a lot on in 2015, if I recall correctly.... True on both counts My TBR is now getting to ridiculous levels, must make a serious effort to reduce it... With more to come in 2016! Happy reading in 2016, Alex. ....but life does get in the way! (Am currently posting save the dates I should have sent before Christmas. Sigh.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peacefield Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Happy reading in 2016, Alexi! I loved The Goldfinch and Joyland. Can't wait to hear what you think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I hope you have a smashing reading year, Alexi! And good luck with the 1001 Books challenge TBR A -K Fredrick Backman – A Man Called Ove Michael Chabon - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay Alex Garland - The Beach Lisa Genova - Still Alice Stef Penney - The Tenderness of Wolves Garth Stein - The Art of Racing in the RainKathryn Stockett - The Help Kurt Vonnegut - Slaughterhouse Five Sarah Waters - Fingersmith Irvine Welsh - Trainspotting Oh boy, you have ^ so many amazing reads ahead of you, I'm jealous that you get to read those books for the first time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 Happy reading in 2016, Alexi! I loved The Goldfinch and Joyland. Can't wait to hear what you think! Thank you! I've been eyeing up The Goldfinch for two years or so now, I really must get it read before the end of this year! I hope you have a smashing reading year, Alexi! And good luck with the 1001 Books challenge Oh boy, you have ^ so many amazing reads ahead of you, I'm jealous that you get to read those books for the first time! Thanks Frankie The 1001 books challenge is really enjoyable - I doubt I will ever read half the books on it, but the ones I'm reading and trying have all been worth it in different ways. When I first looked at the list I had only read 20 something and I was quite ashamed of it - I felt I should have read way more. I think 60 is healthier but it's suckered me in now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 Completed my first book of 2016! As ever in January I aim to be prompt with reviews. By March it will have fallen down... Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks Synopsis: A young woman’s struggle to save her family and her soul during the extraordinary year of 1666, when plague suddenly struck a small Derbyshire village. In 1666, plague swept through London, driving the King and his court to Oxford, and Samuel Pepys to Greenwich, in an attempt to escape contagion. The north of England remained untouched until, in a small community of leadminers and hill farmers, a bolt of cloth arrived from the capital. The tailor who cut the cloth had no way of knowing that the damp fabric carried with it bubonic infection. So begins the Year of Wonders, in which a Pennine village of 350 souls confronts a scourge beyond remedy or understanding. Desperate, the villagers turn to sorcery, herb lore, and murderous witch-hunting. Then, led by a young and charismatic preacher, they elect to isolate themselves in a fatal quarantine. The story is told through the eyes of Anna Frith who, at only 18, must contend with the death of her family, the disintegration of her society, and the lure of a dangerous and illicit attraction. (From Amazon) Thoughts: I had never heard of this book before embarking on the English Counties Challenge but given its choice for Derbyshire I looked it up and immediately was intrigued by the synopsis. It didn't disappoint. Although the Christmas period meant I read the first 100 pages in snatches, when I sat down properly I gobbled this book up. It does deserve to be read in chunks I think and is much improved for it. Brooks is a wonderful writer who can conjure up vivid descriptions and strong emotions through the power of her words and characters. Anna, our protaganist, is a complex figure and often I forgot she was only 18, she had seen so much of life - most of it horrendous. This is based on the true story of the villagers of Eyam, who decided to isolate themselves when the plague came to save surrounding villages and their inhabitants. Cut off from the world and seeing friends and neighbours cut down in their midst, this is a wonderful exploration of the human condition and what it might be driven to in the right circumstances, especially in a world of 1666 which was driven by religion rather than science. It took a dark turn several times in completely unexpected ways and Brooks does have the power to shock even when you think she's dealt everything she can throw at you, more comes. It's a rollercoaster ride through death and life, told in beautiful words. I'm really glad we picked this book - this story deserves to be told and Brooks is the woman to do it. 4.5/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Although I've not read anything by Geraldine Brooks yet, I've heard lots of praise for her writing, so I'm already looking forward to reading this one. Glad to hear you enjoyed it so much, Alex! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Wow, that sounds like a really fascinating read! Gonna throw it on the wishlist. Solid start to your year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 Love the sound of Year of Wonders Alex .. great review My goals are similar to yours .. though I didn't write them down .. to read more from the 1001 and the Counties Challenge. I have some books from both already waiting on the shelves so no excuse. Well done for already making a start! Happy Reading in 2016!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted January 8, 2016 Author Share Posted January 8, 2016 Although I've not read anything by Geraldine Brooks yet, I've heard lots of praise for her writing, so I'm already looking forward to reading this one. Glad to hear you enjoyed it so much, Alex! She's one of those wonderful writers (IMO) who can write really beautifully without that becoming the main thing about the book. She combines great writing with a good plot - my favourite type of book! I shall look forward to seeing your thoughts when you get to it Wow, that sounds like a really fascinating read! Gonna throw it on the wishlist. Solid start to your year! Great start to the year! Although it's sometimes unavoidable (no one deliberately selects to read a dud!) it's always nice to start on a positive note. I had very few total duds last year, here's to more of the same. Love the sound of Year of Wonders Alex .. great review My goals are similar to yours .. though I didn't write them down .. to read more from the 1001 and the Counties Challenge. I have some books from both already waiting on the shelves so no excuse. Well done for already making a start! Happy Reading in 2016!! Thanks Kay I have 20 odd books from the 1001 list on my TBR so I genuinely have no excuse whatsoever! The ECC is proving greatly enjoyable. Very few books I've not really, really liked - although I loathed A Very Big Adventure... At least that one was from Merseyside, I hope to get on with "my own" county so to speak! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Happy reading, Alex! Not to worry about not meeting your goal last year. I'm sure all of your new additions had to be acquired, so it's totally OK. Great review of Year of Wonders! I've heard the book mentioned a lot but never felt the need to look into it further. Based on the subject of the book and your review, I'll definitely be adding it to my wish list now. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.