My Month in Books
This month, in addition to my ongoing challenges, I participated in Series September hosted by Sarah's Nightstand and Krista's Books and Jams on YouTube. In total, I read 17 series books and 11 stand-alone books.
Series
Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines (3 stars)
After the Game by Abbi Glines (3 stars)
This series is directed at teens, but the content is very adult. Like the characters on a TV teen drama, the kids in these books deal with alcohol abuse, the death of parents, teen pregnancy, rape, parental infidelity, and more. The publisher sent me the 6th book so I've been reading the whole series so I won't be lost when I read that one. I'm learning some things about structuring a novel from reading these, so I do plan to read to the end, but I don't consider them remotely appropriate for kids.
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson (5 stars)
North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson (4 stars)
The Monster in the Hollows by Andrew Peterson (4 stars)
My writing friends on Instagram kept talking about this series, and I decided it was time to check it out. I really like the writing and the author's narration of the audiobooks. I plan to finish the last book in October.
I read the most recently published book in this series back in March and then went back for the prequel and book one this month. The stories are all enemies-to-lovers romances, and the writing is quick and concise. A new book comes out at the end of October, and I will try to read that one too.
All the Little Liars by Charlaine Harris (2 stars)
Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris (2 stars)
One of the prompts for Series September was to finish a series, so I bit the bullet and listened to the last two Aurora Teagarden books. The writing was pretty poor, but it's nice to have finished.
The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg (4 stars)
A friend of mine was reading this author's books on Kindle Unlimited, and she said they were good, so I decided to try this one. I listened to the audio and I really enjoyed it. The type of magic in this story - paper-folding - is unique and interesting
The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell (3 stars)
I had grand plans at the start of this year to possibly finish this series in 2022, but this is only the fourth one I've gotten to, and there are 5 (soon to be 6) more to go. I might get to a couple more, but I doubt I will finish. This one was a perfectly fine installment, but not earth-shattering.
A Better Man by Louise Penny (4 stars)
This is another series I thought I might finish in 2022, and it's still possible. I only have 3 left including the new book that comes out in November. This was a good one. I always love visiting Three Pines.
Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon (5 stars)
Yet another series I'd hoped to finish in 2022, but this is the first one I've read all year. I still have four to go, and I do like reading these in fall, so there is probably still a chance. This installment was one of my very favorites of the entire series. I loved exploring Father Tim's past.
Ensign Carey by Ronald Welch (2 stars)
My husband and our friend and I are getting closer to finishing this series. We have three left, so we should finish in December. I really liked the beginning of this one, but the second half of the book felt like a totally different story.
Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories by Colin Dexter (3 stars)
Most, but not all, of the stories in this collection are about Inspector Morse. We've been watching the TV adaptations of some of the books, but this was my first time reading a Morse book. I mostly enjoyed it.
Stand-Alones
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien (4 stars)
I first read part of this in high school, and I believe I read it again in college. I got it free on Audible with a Prime trial as part of my 40 Rereads Before 40 project. While I don't love the content, the writing is beautiful. It was definitely worth revisiting.
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (5 stars)
This was my favorite book that I read during the early days of Covid. Two-plus years later, I still love the characters and it still made me laugh.
The Stand by Stephen King (5 stars)
My husband and I watched the 90s TV miniseries based on this book during Covid, and I had been wanting to read the book ever since. The September theme for #WorldFullofBooks was big books so I decided now was the time. It took me two weeks to finish, switching between paperback and audiobook, and part of me finished feeling like I could have read 200 more pages about these characters.
Trouble Brewing by Suzanne Baltsar (3 stars)
I found this romance on Scribd. It had more suggestive language in it than I prefer, but I did like the unique brewery setting.
Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr (5 stars)
I chose this as a travel book for the September prompt of the Goldberry Reading Challenge. Anthony Doerr's lyrical writing is beautiful, and I loved all the details about life with infant twins.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving (5 stars)
I read this with my daughter who just turned 7 after my sister mentioned she was in Sleepy Hollow, NY recently. I don't think she grasped everything, but she did enjoy the story, with some extra explanation from me about what was going on.
The Charmed List by Julie Abe (3 stars)
I'm beginning to realize that I like fantasy, but it's hard for me to find the kind of fantasy books I like. This one was promising, but the world-biilding ending up being kind of weak.
The Star That Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson (4 stars)
Crimson Twill: Witch in the City by Kallie George (3 stars)
I received a review copy of this from the publisher. I love most Kallie George books, and this isn't her strongest, but it's still a fun Halloween read, and after previewing the content, I gave my kids the greenlight to read it.
As for the rest of the family's reading...
A (girl, 2.5 years)
- More More More said the Baby by Peggy Rathmann
- Red Car, Green Car by Roger Priddy
- The Three Bears by Byron Barton
- Eloise Wilkin Stories
- 10 Reasons to Love a Bear by Catherine Barr
- Master Salt the Sailor's Son by Allan Ahlberg
- Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Eddie and the Fire Engine by Carolyn Haywood
- Eddie the Dog Holder by Carolyn Haywood
- Meet Thomas Jefferson by Marvin Barrett
- Here Comes the Bus by Carolyn Haywood
C. (girl, 7 years)
- Tum Tum and Nutmeg: Adventures Beyond Nutmouse Hall by Emily Bearn
- Mossflower by Brian Jacques (still in progress)
- Our Little Frankish Cousin of Long Ago by Evaleen Stein (still in progress)
- Crimson Twill: Witch in the City by Kallie George
M (girl 8 years, 10 months)
- Courage At Sea by Marguerite Vance
- All stations! Distress! by Don Brown
- On Board the Titanic by Shelley Tanaka
- The Titanic by Deborah Kent
- Titanic Voyage from Drumshee by Cora Harrison
- August the Fourth by Penelope Farmer
- The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston
- Thunder in the Sky by K. M. Peyton
- War Horse by Michael Morpergo
- Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators in the Mystery of the Green Ghost by Robert Arthur
- The Good Master by Kate Seredy
- Gay-Neck by Dhan Gopal Mukerji
- The Honest Dollar by Dorothy Simpson
- Simpson and His Donkey by Mark Greenwood
- Captain by Sam Angus
My husband
- The Weathermonger by Peter Dickinson
- A Grenville Goes To Sea by Hester Burton
- The Impossible Journey by Gloria Whelan
- Last Look by Clyde Robert Bulla
- Ensign Carey by Ronald Welch
- The Hill Road by William Mayne
No comments:
Post a Comment