Jessi Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 (edited) 2009: Read 48 books2010: Read 79 books2011: Read 74 books2012: Read 92 books 2013: Read 59 books 2014: Read 45 books 2015: Read 49 books Reading Goals ~ To have less than 303 books on my TBR list on 1st January 2017. Unless I am going to begin reading it that minute, make a list of kindle books I want. Don't just download - the only exceptions to this rule is books I want from the Daily Deal. I am still hoping one year I will read 100 books in a year - maybe this will be the one. Read some thrillers! Review every book! Read 2016 ~ J A N U A R Y 1. Days 50 - Greg Meng 2. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas 3. Quentin and Flora - Bishop Chip 4. A Royal Match - Tyne O'Connell 5. A Study In Scarlet - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 6. The Invisible Woman - Claire Tomalin 7. Barmy British Empire - Terry Deary 8. The Sign of Four - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 9. The World Of Poldark - Emma Marriott 10. Sisters of the East End - Helen Batten F E B R U A R Y 11. Billy and Me - Giovanna Fletcher 12. North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell 13. The 1950s Housewife - Shelia Hardy 14. Liar, Temptress, Solider, Spy - Karen Abbott 15. Doctor Turner's Casebook - Stephen McGann 16. When Harry Met Rose - Maria Malone 17. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle M A R C H 18. Villainous Victorians - Terry Deary 19. The Churchill Secret KBO - Jonathan Smith 20. Poldark Script Book - Debbie Horsfield 21. The Savage Stone Age - Terry Deary 22. East End Angel - Kay Brellend 23. While We Were Watching Downton Abbey - Wendy Wax A P R I L 24. Out of The Hitler Time - Judith Kerr 25. Outlander - Diana Gabaldon 26. Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon 27. Voyager - Diana Gabaldon Edited May 2, 2016 by Jessi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessi Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share Posted January 2, 2016 (edited) 1 - 36: gained in 2009 or before37 – 80: gained in 201081 - 105: gained in 2011106 – 148: gained in 2012149 – 177: gained in 2013178 – 224: gained in 2014225 – 303: gained in 2015 Books in blue - finished in January to March Books in red - finished April to June To Be Read List ~ 1. Campbell, Christy: Band of Brigands2. Foreman, Amanda: The Duchess3. Garfield, Simon: Our Hidden Lives4. Gristwood, Sarah: Elizabeth and Leicester5. Guy, John: My Heart Is My Own6. Massie, Robert: Nicholas and Alexandra7. Rees, Laurence: Behind Closed Doors8. Williams, Stephanie: Olga’s Story9. Weir, Alison: Henry VIII10. Anderson, Hans Christian: Anderson’s Fairy Tales11. Austen, Jane: Mansfield Park12. Boyne, John: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas13. Dunant, Sarah: In the Company of the Courtesan14. Fforde, Jasper: The Eyre Affair15. Furnivall, Kate: The Russian Concubine16. Gaskell, Elizabeth: North and South17. George, Margaret: Helen of Troy18. Gee, Sophie: The Scandal of the Season19. Gregory, Philippa: The Queens Fool20. Gilbert, Henry: Robin Hood21. Grahame: The Wind in the Willows22. Lawrence, D. H: Lady Chatterley’s Lover23. Lee, Harper: To Kill A Mocking Bird24. Lewis, Hilda: I, Jacqueline25. McIntosh, Fiona: Royal Exile26. Montefiore, Santa: The Swallow and the Hummingbird27. Montefiore, Santa: The Butterfly Box28. Montgomery, L.M : Anne of Green Gables29. Nesbit, E: The Railway Children30. Ryan, Robert: Early One Morning31. Sheers, Owen: Resistance32. Sittenfeld, Curtis: American Wife33. Steel, Danielle: Silent Honour34. Thomes, Rosie: Isis and Ruby35. Tolkien, J.R.R: The Silmarillion36. Tolkien, J.R.R: Unfinished Tales37. Adams: The Letters of John and Abigail Adams38. Brands: Traitor to his Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt39. Byatt, AS: The Children's Book40. Burstein, Andrew: Jefferson’s Secrets41. Campion, Emma: The King's Mistress42. Cheek, Mavis: Amenable Women43. Clark, Mary Higgins: The Christmas collection44. Deighton, Len: SS – GB45. Didion, Joan: The Year of Magical Thinking46. Duff, David: Alexandra: Princess and Queen47. Dunant, Sarah: Sacred Hearts48. Erikson, Carolly: Great Catherine49. Erickson, Carolly: The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette50. Figes, Orlando: Natasha’s Dance51. Follett, Ken: The Pillars of the Earth52. Furnivall, Kate: Under A Blood Red Sky53. Gill, Gillian: We Two54. Gordon Reed, Annette: The Hemingses of Montecello55. Harrods-Eagles, Cynitha: Anna56. Hibbert, Christopher: Victoria – a Personal History57. Hosseini, Khaled: The Kite Runner58. Kerr, Judith: Out of Hitler Time59. Lieven, Dominic: Russia Against Napoleon60. Lovell, Mary S: The Mitford Girls61. Lukyanenko, Sergei: The Day Watch62. Mantel, Hilary: Wolf Hall63. McCullough, David: Mornings On Horseback64. Mitchell, Margaret: Gone With The Wind65. Morrow, James: The Last Witchfinder66. Motley, Annette: Men on White Horses67. Norton, Elizabeth: Jane Seymour68. O’Brien, Stacey: Wesley69. O’ Grady, Paul: At My Mothers Knee70. O’Toole, Patricia: When Trumpets Call71. Pakula, Hannah: An Uncommon Woman72. Plaidy, Jean: Plantagenet Prelude73. Quinn, Kate: Mistress of Rome74: Smith, L.J: The Night World75. Snyder, Maria V: Storm Glass76. Van Der Kiste, John: Queen Victoria’s children77. Weir, Alison: Katherine Sywnford78. Weir, Alison: The Captive Queen79. Weir, Alison: The Lady in the Tower80. Withey, Lynne: Dearest Friend81. Adornetto, Alexandra: Halo82. Atkinson, Kate: Case Histories83. Chamberlin, E. R: Everyday Life In Renaissance Times84. Fraser, Antonia: Love and Louis XVI85. Graham, Laurie: The Importance of Being Kennedy86. Gilbert, Elizabeth: Eat, Pray, Love87. Greene, Graham: Brighton Rock88. Harris, Charlaine: The Sookie Stackhouse Guide89. Lewis, CS: Mere Christianity90. Lovell, Mary S: The Churchill’s91. Montefiore, Santa: The French Gardener92. Newman, Janis Cooke: Mrs Lincoln93. Nicholas, Katie: William and Harry94. Obama, Barack: Dreams of My Father95. O’Connell, Tyne: A Royal Match96. Orzel, Chad: How To Teach Quantum Physics To Your Dog97. Patch, Harry: The Last Fighting Tommy98. Parsons, Tony: Starting Over99 Pasternak, Boris: Doctor Zhivago100. Perry, Tasmina: Kiss Heaven Goodbye101. Richman, Alyson: The Lost Wife102. Sanderson, Jane: Netherwood103. Sebba, Anne: That Women104. Tremlett, Giles: Catherine of Aragon105. Trotter, Janet MacLeod: Never Stand Alone106. Adams, Douglas: The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy107. Angelini, Josephine: Starcrossed108. Bach, Richard: Jonathan Livingston Seagull109. Brown, Kate Lord: The Beauty Chorus110. Cast, PC and Kristen: Hidden111. Carnarvon, Countess of: Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey112. Carter, Aimee: The Goddess Test113. Clare, Cassandra: City of Bones114. Clare, Cassandra: Clockwork Angel115. Collins, Suzanne: The Hunger Games116. Dickens, Charles: Great Expectations117. Doyle, Arthur Canon: The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection118. Edward. Anne: Matriarch119. Harvey, Greg: The Origins of Tolkien's Middle Earth120. Follett, Ken: Winter of the Worlds121. Foster, RF: Randolph Churchill122. Goldman, Lisa: The No Rules Handbook for Writers123. Hardy, Thomas: The Mayor of Casterbridge124. Holt, Maggie: A Nurse at War125. Huth, Angela: Land Girls126. Jackson, Nancy: The Cook's Tale127. Jones, Nigel: Tower128. King, Stephen: 11.22.63129. Kerr, John: A Dangerous Method130. Magorian, Michelle: A Little Love Song131. Magorian, Michelle: A Spoonful of Jam132. Magorian, Michelle: Cuckoo in the Nest133. Massie, Robert K: Peter The Great134. McInerney, Monica: Those Faraday Girls135. McKay, Sinclair: The Secret Life of Bletchley Park136. Moyes, Jojo: The Girl You Left Behind137. Newman, Michael: Socialism138. Plaidy, Jean: The Merry Monarchs Wife139. Plummer, Rosemary: The Maids Tale140. Powell, Margaret: Below Stairs141. Prentis, Evelyn: A Nurse and Mother142. Prentis, Evelyn: A Nurse in Time143. Rice, Anne: Interview with the Vampire144. Stachniak, Eva: The Winter Palace145. Stockett, Kathryn: The Help146.Townsend, Sue: The Secret Diary of Afrian Mole Aged 13 3/4147. Tsaraidze, Alexandre: Wife Before God148. Wilcock, Penelope: The Hawk and the Dove148. Wolff, Jurgen: Your Writing Coach149. Berkowitz, Eric: Sex and Punishment150. Bower, Sarah: House of Borgia151. Carpenter, Teresa: New York Diaries152. Collins, Suzanne: The Hunger Games153. Dalton, Kathleen: Theodore Roosevelt154. George, Margaret: Elizabeth I 155. Garcia, Kami and Stohl, Margaret: Beautiful Creatures156. Garcia, Kami and Stohl, Margaret: Beautiful Darkness157. Garcia, Kami and Stohl, Margaret: Beautiful Chaos158. Garcia, Kami and Stohl, Margaret: Beautiful Redemption159. Green, Graham: Writing for Dummies160. Harman, Patricia: The Midwife of Hope River161. Ives, Eric: The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn162. Lanchaster, John: Capital163. Marschall, Rick: Bully164. Northup, Soloman: Twelve Years a Slave165. O'Neill, Glenda: Our Street166. Penman, Sharon: The Sunne in Splendour167. Phillips, Winifred: Mum’s Army168. Renshaw, Anne: A Grave Inheritance - read in 2014169. Rogers, Hannah: The Art of Deduction 170. Salisbury, Harriet: The War on our Doorstep171. Schwalbe: The End of Your Life Book Club172. Sibley, Brian: The Hobbit173. Sparks, Nicholas: Safe Haven174. Sparks, Nicholas: The Lucky One 175. Spence, Jon: Becoming Jane176. Weir, Alison: Elizabeth of York177. Wilson, Derek: The Uncrowned Kings of England 178. Adam, Max: The King in the North179. Ashdown-Hill, John: The Third Plantagenet180. Canon Doyle, Arthur: His Last Bow181. Canon Doyle, Arthur: Return of Sherlock Holmes182. Clare Castor: City of Ashes183. Conklin, Tara: The House Girl184. Deary, Terry: Savage Stone Age185. Deary, Terry: Groovy Greeks186. Deary, Terry: Cut Throat Celts187. Deary, Terry: Angry Aztecs188. Deary, Terry: Incredible Incas189. Deary, Terry: Villainous Victorians190. Deary, Terry: Barmy British Empire191. Deary, Terry: Frightful First World War192. Eden, Dorothy: Never Calling It Love193. Follett, Ken: Fall of Giants194. Hugo, Victor: The Hunchback of Notre Dame195. Ingelman-Sundberg, Catharina: The Little Old Lady Who Broke all the Rules196. Larman, Alexander: Blazing Star197. Lefebure, Molly: Blitz198. Mantel, Hilary: Bring Up The Bodies199. Meyer, E J: The Borgias200. Montefiore, Simon Sebag: One Night in Winter201. Puzo, Mario: The Godfather202. Rowell, Rainbow: Fan Girl203. Spencer, LaVyrie: Then Came Heaven n204. Taylor, Jodi: Just One Damn Thing After Another205. Tomalin: The Invisible Woman206. Wainwright, Robert: Shelia207. Bolitho, Hector: Albert, Prince Consort208. Burton, Jessie: The Miniaturist209. Clements, Rory: The Queens Man210. Fletcher, Giovanna: Billy and Me211. Fraser, Antonia: Charles II212. Gelardi, Julia P: From Splendour to Revolution213. Graham, Margaret: Easterleigh Hall214. Holmes, Frederick: The Sickly Stuarts215. Iggulden, Conn: War of the Roses: Stormbird216. Jones, Dan: The Plantagenet’s217. Jones, Dan: The Hollow Crown218. Langford, Elizabeth: The Oxford Book of Royal Anecdotes219. Lewis, Damien: War Dog220. Martin, R R George: The World of Fire and Ice221. Plaidy, Jean: The Reluctant Queen222. Plaidy, Jean: Victoria Victorious223. Strong, Roy: Coronation224. Tribe, Steve: Sherlock Chronicles225. Aaronovitch, Ben: Rivers of London226. Abbott, Karen: Liar, Temptress, Solider, Spy227. Aronson, Theo: A Family of Kings228. Austin, Lynn: Candle In The Darkness229. Batten, Helen: Sisters of the East End230. Beer, Anna: Bess231. Bishop, Chip: Quentin and Flora232. Brellend, Kay: The Windmill Girls233. Brellend, Kay: East End Angel234. Bolt, Rodney: As Good as God, as Clever as the Devil235. Castries, Duc De: The Lives of the Kings and Queens of France 236. Colfer, Chris: A Grimm Warning237. Crewdson, Dorethea, Dorethea’s War238. Dumas, Alexandre: The Three Musketeers239. Dunn, Dot May: Around the Village Green240. Farthing, Pen: Wylie241. Farquhar, Michael: Bad Days In History242. Follett, Ken: Edge of Eternity243. Gabaldon, Diana: Outlander244. Genova, Lisa: Inside the O’Breins245. Graham, Winston: Warleggon246. Graham, Winston: The Black Moon247. Graham, Winston: The Four Swans248. Graham, Winston: The Angry Tide249. Gregory, Phillipa: The Kings Curse250. Gristwood, Sarah: Blood Sisters251. Hadlow, Janice: The Strangest Family252. Hancock, Sheila: Miss Carters War253. Hardy, Shelia: The 1950s Mother254. Hardy, Shelia: The 1950s Housewife255. Hawking, Jane: The Theory of Everything256. Henderson, Casper: The Book of Barely Imagined Beings257. Hibbert, Christopher: The Virgin Queen258. Hines, Jerri: Belle of Charleston259. Hobb, Robin: Assassin’s Apprentice260. Hobb, Robin: Royal Assassin261. Hobb, Robin: Assassin’s Quest 262. Hyans, Jackie: Frances Kray263. Hugghes, Kathryn: The Letter264. Jensen, Marie-Louise: The Lady In The Tower265. Jones, Andy: The Two of Us266. Jones, Dan: Magna Carta267. Kay, Susan: Legacy268. King, Sophie: Do You Take This Man?269. Knight, Lynn: Lemon Sherbet and Dolly Blue270. Lake, Deryn: Pour The Dark Wine271. Licence, Amy: In Bed With The Tudors272. O’Brien, Anne: The King’s Sister273. Maitland, Karen: The Vanishing Witch274. Marriott, Emma: World of Poldark275. McCallin, Luke: The Pale Horse276. McCallin, Luke: The Man From Berlin277. Meng, Greg: Days 50278. Montefiore, Santa: Songs of Love and War279. Mottershead, June: Our Zoo280. Moyes, Jojo: One Plus One281. Pemberton, Margaret: A Season of Secrets282. Pevel, Pierre: The Cardinal’s Blades283. Pulley, Natasha: The Watchmaker of Filigree Street284. Purnell, Sonia: First Lady285. Rees, Tracy: Amy Snow286. Rees, Peter: The Anzac Girls287. Ribchester, Lucy: The Hourglass Factory288. Rothschild, Hannah: The Improbability of Love289. Sibley, Brian: The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies Movie Guide290. Smith, Michael: The Debs of Bletchley Park291. Sparks, Nicholas: See Me292. Stewart, Mary: The Crystal Cave293. Sunners, Julie: Jambusters294. Thomson, Oliver: The Impossible Bourbons295. Tolkien, J R R: The History of the Hobbit296. Tolkien, J R R: Children of Hurin297. Tolkien, J R R: Return of the Shadow298. Tolkien, J R R: Treason of Isengard299. Tolkien, J R R: Sauron Defeated300. Tolkien, J R R: War Of The Ring301. Wards, Geffrey and Ken Burns: Roosevelts: An Intimate History302. Wax, Wendy: While We Were Watching Downton Abbey303. White, T H: The Once and Future King Edited April 8, 2016 by Jessi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessi Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share Posted January 2, 2016 (edited) Brought 2016... Bryson, Bill: A Walk In The Woods Burge, James: Heloise and Abelard Fennell, Emerald: Monsters Fletcher, Giovanna: You're The One That I WantGibson, Mary: Gunner Girls and Bomber Boys Grahame-Smith, Seth: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Hay, Daisy: A Strange Romance - Mr and Mrs Desrali Horsfield, Debbie: Poldark Script Book Kareem, Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem and Anna Waterhouse: Mycroft HolmesMalone, Maria: When Harry Met RoseMcLain, Paula: The Paris Wife McGann, Stephen: Doctor Turners Casebook Montefiore, Simon Sebag: The Romanov's Smith, Jonathan: The Churchill Secret KBO Tolstoy, Leo: War and Peace White, Karen: Grand Central: Original Stories of Postwar Love and Reunion And I am ready to go for the new year Edited April 1, 2016 by Jessi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 Hope you have a great reading year, Jessi. Some I've really enjoyed from your TBR pile: Lee, Harper: To Kill A Mocking Bird Follett, Ken: The Pillars of the Earth Mitchell, Margaret: Gone With The Wind Rice, Anne: Interview with the Vampire Lanchester, John: Capital Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 I wish you a great reading year in 2016, Jessi . You have some great books on your TBR, and also some that are on my TBR too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Good luck with your goals for this year Jessie I've picked out my highlights from your TBR ... Austen, Jane: Mansfield ParkFforde, Jasper: The Eyre AffairSittenfeld, Curtis: American WifeLanchaster, John: Capital All very highly recommended by me ... hope you enjoy them too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessi Posted January 3, 2016 Author Share Posted January 3, 2016 Thanks all! That's two recs for Capital - I am definitely going to have to get to that this year! Its funny you picked Mansfield Park, Claire - I am currently in the middle of North and South, but I am pretty sure MP is where I am going next! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Wow Jessi you have some crackers ahead of you! Have a wonderful 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessi Posted January 3, 2016 Author Share Posted January 3, 2016 Thank you - I hope you do too!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Thanks all! That's two recs for Capital - I am definitely going to have to get to that this year! Its funny you picked Mansfield Park, Claire - I am currently in the middle of North and South, but I am pretty sure MP is where I am going next! Hope you enjoy Mansfield Park ... I'm one of the few who puts it up there as one of Austen's best! I'm hoping to read North and South this year myself, so looking forward to reading your thoughts on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessi Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 I think so far my favourite has been Northanger Abbey! I am really enjoying it so far - just over half way through! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessi Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 Days 50 – Greg Meng. (4/5) So – my guilty secret. I am a soap opera fan and Days of our Lives is one of my shows. Thus, when they released a book for their fiftieth anniversary last year I had to get it. It was a really fun read and had some beautiful pics! I learned a bit about the history’s of my favourite characters so – big thumbs up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I wish you a great reading year in 2016, Jessi! 12. Boyne, John: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas 14. Fforde, Jasper: The Eyre Affair23. Lee, Harper: To Kill A Mocking Bird 64. Mitchell, Margaret: Gone With The Wind82. Atkinson, Kate: Case Histories143. Rice, Anne: Interview with the Vampire145. Stockett, Kathryn: The Help146.Townsend, Sue: The Secret Diary of Afrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 These were all wonderful reads! I hope you enjoy them a lot I think my TBR stands at 303, too, at the moment, so we're in the same boat TBR-wise! I'd really like to have a smaller TBR pile.... Good luck reducing yours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessi Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 Thanks Frankie Same to you!!! I am hoping to get to nearly all of those this year! 303 is quite the number, isn't it? I am hoping to finish with less than 275! Good luck to you getting the number down too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Good luck with your reading goals this year, Jessi! You have some fantastic books on your list. How is The Three Musketeers going? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessi Posted January 9, 2016 Author Share Posted January 9, 2016 Thank you Kylie - you too! Finished! I started it way back last spring and finally got to the end this week - I really enjoyed it. I should have tried to read it in a shorter time span though, I am convinced I dropped a few of the threads as I went along! It has gone straight back on the re-read list lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessi Posted January 9, 2016 Author Share Posted January 9, 2016 And here is my review! The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas. (4/5) I really enjoyed reading this book – it is a brick but what an adventure. I was inspired to read it after having seen The BBC’s The Mucketeers so I came to the book with ideas about it and characters already formed in my head. There was some things that stayed the same – others that have turned out very differently, which I was expecting having read reviews. Nevertheless, like I say, I really enjoyed the books, getting to know the original Musketeers and their story. It was a real adventure, great characters mixed in with a great deal of history – right up my street! I will definitely be reading more Dumas in the future! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Glad you enjoyed it, Jessi. We used to have reading circles on the forum, and I read it as part of one of those a while back (here's our discussion thread for it http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/4212-the-three-musketeers-by-alexander-dumas/). I thoroughly enjoyed it too, and still have some other Dumas books on my wishlist, but you know how it is, so many books, so little time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Great review! The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favourite ever books, so I hope you'll read that one day, if you haven't already. It's a huge book but a rollicking good read. I just know that I'll love The Three Musketeers when I get around to reading it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 I agree, The Mount Of Monte Cristo is one of my favourite books too, it's incredibly demanding in length but so worth it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexi Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 I haven't read any Dumas yet but really inspired to now! I'm currently listening to North and South on audiobook on work journeys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessi Posted January 11, 2016 Author Share Posted January 11, 2016 Glad you enjoyed it, Jessi. We used to have reading circles on the forum, and I read it as part of one of those a while back (here's our discussion thread for it http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/4212-the-three-musketeers-by-alexander-dumas/). I thoroughly enjoyed it too, and still have some other Dumas books on my wishlist, but you know how it is, so many books, so little time! Thanks - the reading circle must have been fun I liked your answers to the questions. Totally agree with you about the pace picking up at the end of the book and Milady's imprisonment going on just a little too long! Great review! The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favourite ever books, so I hope you'll read that one day, if you haven't already. It's a huge book but a rollicking good read. I just know that I'll love The Three Musketeers when I get around to reading it. I agree, The Mount Of Monte Cristo is one of my favourite books too, it's incredibly demanding in length but so worth it! Ohh, I definitely want to read it! May have to see if I can get about to it this summer! I haven't read any Dumas yet but really inspired to now! I'm currently listening to North and South on audiobook on work journeys. It's really enjoyable - a great read How are you doing with it? I really like it, but for some reason I feel as if I am reading it fairly slowly (though that may be because I keep on picking up all my half read books from last year to finish them at the same time!) My only complaint is how long the paragraphs become at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessi Posted January 14, 2016 Author Share Posted January 14, 2016 Quentin and Flora – Chip Bishop (4/5) This historical biography was always going to break my heart – I knew it the moment I picked it up. The fate of these two young sweethearts is the devastating story of so many young couples of the First World War – that being of the solider fiancée leaving… and not returning. Out of the fourteen months of their engagement, Flora Payne Whitney and Quentin Roosevelt spent two together and the rest pining for a reunion that was sadly never to come due to the death of the young aviator. I thought Bishop did the story justice and there is something wonderful to me about their story being told and remembered hundred years after the events. Just at the end, Bishop lets himself down a bit as he begins to jump around too much and loses the flow he created so beautifully in earlier chapters. Nevertheless, a solid read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Happy Reading in 2016 Jessi I love stories like Quentin and Flora .. it's a world away from how we live now (or how most of us thankfully live now) but it's both fascinating to look back and sobering. So many young people never got the chance to live out their lives as they should have but, like you, I like reading about their experiences .. even though it's upsetting (did the author say what became of Flora?) I'm enjoying reading your reviews Jessi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 (edited) I've come a bit late to your thread, so I hope you don't mind my picking out some favourites on your TBR list - I love the variety, especially the non-fiction books (I will be especially interested if you get round to the Dominic Lieven and Claire Tomalin, as they are both on my TBR list too - Tomalin is one of my favourite writers). I absolutely loved those below - they all earned 5 or even 6 stars when I read them: 11. Austen, Jane: Mansfield Park 13. Dunant, Sarah: In the Company of the Courtesan 14. Fforde, Jasper: The Eyre Affair 16. Gaskell, Elizabeth: North and South 23. Lee, Harper: To Kill A Mocking Bird 47. Dunant, Sarah: Sacred Hearts 62. Mantel, Hilary: Wolf Hall 82. Atkinson, Kate: Case Histories 116. Dickens, Charles: Great Expectations 180. Canon Doyle, Arthur: His Last Bow 181. Canon Doyle, Arthur: Return of Sherlock Holmes 216. Jones, Dan: The Plantagenets 225. Aaronovitch, Ben: Rivers of London I'd agree with Nollaig too - The Count of Monte Cristo is a brilliant read. I have to admit I didn't notice its length, as it just galloped along so brilliantly. Edited January 15, 2016 by willoyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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