Author Topic: 50 Books in 2018!  (Read 115584 times)

Tick-Tock

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 167
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #300 on: March 24, 2018, 09:16:16 AM »
36.  John Scalzi, Redshirts
37.  Kerry Greenwood, Queen of the Flowers
38.  Kerry Greenwood, Murder in the Dark
39.  Kerry Greenwood, Urn Burial
40.  The Usual Santas:  A Collection of Soho Crime Christmas Capers
41.  Genevieve Cogman, The Invisible Library
42.  Kerry Greenwood, Death by Water
43.  Kerry Greenwood, Unnatural Habits

woopwoop

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 346
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #301 on: March 24, 2018, 02:44:28 PM »
1. Cane River - this was for a book club, which is the only reason I finished it. Five hundred pages of depressing slavery historical fiction, ranging from super depressing slave rape and torture to slightly-less-depressing institutional racism by the end of the saga. Would not recommend.
2. The Road Less Traveled - this is a psychology cult classic from the 70s that's fun to read. In one chapter he mentions in a footnote that "the only healthy marriage is an open marriage." Lol, the seventies were awesome.
3. Down Among the Sticks and Bones - a well-written and darkly funny YA fantasy novella. Think CS Lewis with vampires.
4. The Hating Game - this was just a bubble gum contemporary romcom about a love-hate-love relationship. Super fast and sexy read, recommended as a nice beach read if you like romance.
5. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue - How did I end up reading so much YA at the beginning of this year? I don't even particularly like YA, these were all recommended to me. This was a fun romp of pirates and highwaymen and gay interracial relationships in the 1800s, but it was very very YA. I can't even put my finger on what "Very YA" means, but whatever it was, this book was that. My next read is YA, too, then I think I'm done for a while. I think it's the quirkiness that gets me. Everyone is so goddamn quirky in YA books.
6. Jane Unlimited - ugh, another YA, this one with a quirky main character who makes artsy umbrellas. Four mentions of Doctor Who in the first half of the book, how weird and nerdy lolol!!! I'm so done with YA.
7. Dead Wake - okay, this one is historical fiction about the Lusitania. I don't know history so this is always good for me. Plus Erik Larsen is the tits, this was a guaranteed Good Book after my latest string of failures. This book is not quite as good as his epicly awesome Devil in the White City that I love love loved, but it's still good and suspenseful.
8.The Duke and I - Regency romance, definitely more erotic than Jane Austen. Fun and light but not particularly great. Recommended all over the place as one of the best contemporary-written regency romances, which probably means I just don't really like this genre. I love Jane Austen, though, oh well.
9.Paris To the Moon - Another French travelogue about an American moving his family to Paris. Funny, well-written, but not epically hilarious like my favorite of this genre, Toujours Provence.
10. Drop the Ball - nonfiction, about how women need to stop trying to do it all. Kind of a companion book to Lean In, which I also didn't like. This book just feels repetitive. It did get my husband and I to make a spreadsheet for our grocery lists, though.
11. A Man Called Ove - another book club read, I guess it was a movie? Anyway, it made me ugly cry at the end although the opening chapters were hard for me to get into. Old grumpy man inspirational lit, I would classify it.
12. The Artist's Way - I am not in the right spot to get into this kind of book, in that I have a toddler and would love to do "morning pages" but it's clear from the way this author writes that she cannot imagine not having alone time every day. Well, bully for her. I'll pick this back up in a few years.
13. Designs for Living and Learning - really great book about childhood learning environments. Gave me a bunch to think about as I create living spaces for my young toddler.
14. Voyage  -a play by Tom Stoppard that's a witty sendup of every Russian play from the greats. Lots of philosophizing and wordplay, but not nearly as entertaining as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, which everyone should read (and watch the movie version!) if they have ever read Hamlet. For you Game of Thrones fans out there, Jorah is Hamlet, and that should seal the deal. He also wrote Shakespeare in Love which was a fun screenplay.
15. Chrysalis - nonfiction, an account of female naturalist Maria Meriam. The book I'm writing is going to have a main character named after her, so I thought I'd do some research. Really interesting so far, she was a gifted artist and scientist back when science was stuck more in naming and classifying rather than experimenting. Makes me excited to write my book!
16. The Kingmaker's Daughter - historical fiction by the same woman who wrote The Other Boleyn Girl which I loved. This was a great book, made even greater by the fact that I don't know any history at all. What will happen to Anne and Richard? I don't know, it's a mystery! Makes reading historical fiction all the better, imo.
16b. The Shadow of the Wind - I... really didn't like this. I didn't even finish it, so that's why it's going on the list as 16b. Just awful, pretentious writing. Maybe it's the translation? I had high hopes and a lot of people recommended it, but I found it utterly lacking.
17. The Refrigerator Monologues - On recommendation by this thread. I didn't really care for this one, maybe because I don't know an awful lot about comics. Most of the characters had the same voice, there weren't any great new perspectives. I dunno, I might have been in the wrong frame of mind for this.
18. The Whole-Brain Child - Some really good suggestions for how to handle parenting decisions, based on brain science of developing children. Some of it was for older kids so not quite as useful, but a lot of excellent practical advice for toddler meltdowns, etc. We have been lucky so far with our kid (not quite 2!) but I'm sure she'll be testing our patience soon enough so I want to be prepared.
19. Transatlantic - Another historical fiction about Ireland, transatlantic flight, Frederick Douglass, and some other things that are not really interesting to me. Also the author uses way too many. Sentence fragments. For dramatic effect. And I'm sick of it.
20. Brain on Fire - Nonfiction account of a NY Post journalist who went crazy due to a rare form of encephalitis. Super interesting, like reading a House episode. Ending kind of dragged on weakly but otherwise very engaging.

Raenia

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2631
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #302 on: March 24, 2018, 02:54:47 PM »
1. The Small-Scale Poultry Flock - Harvey Ussery (1/9/2018)
2. Oathbringer - Brandon Sanderson (1/19/2018)
3. The 4-hour Work Week - Timothy Ferriss (1/21/2018)
4. Smilla's Sense of Snow - Peter Hoeg (1/23/2018)
5. Home Cheese Making - Ricki Carroll (1/25/2018)
6. A Darker Shade of Magic - V.E. Schwab (1/26/2018)
7. Dead of Winter - Matt Lake, Susan Fair, Laurie Hull, H.W. Lawson, Brian Goodman (1/27/2018)
8. Coraline - Neil Gaiman (1/30/2018)
9. The Not So Big House - Sarah Susanka (2/5/2018)
10. Le Petit Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupery (2/21/2018)
11. Purity - Jonathan Franzen (2/22/2018)
12.  Democracy in America - Alexis de Tocqueville (2/27/2018)
13. In Cold Blood - Truman Capote (3/4/2018)
14. Running & Being: The Total Experience - George Sheehan (3/7/2018)
15. Leviathan Wakes - James S.A. Corey (3/10/2018)
16. Plato's Republic - trans. C. D. C. Reeve (3/17/2018)
17. The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem - Nathaniel Branden (3/21/2018)
18. Caliban's War - James S.A. Corey (3/23/2018)

19. The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage - Philip Pullman (3/24/2018)

A surprisingly quick read, the first half was definitely stronger than the second half, but I enjoyed it.

Rosy

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2742
  • Location: Florida
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #303 on: March 25, 2018, 08:46:33 AM »

15. & 16. La carte et le territoire by Michel Houellebecq. I’m counting this as two books since it is in French and over 400 pages long. This novel won France’s Prix Goncourt (prize for the best & most original novel published in France) in 2010. I found it engrossing and strange. It offers lots of philosophical discussion on art, architecture, photography, the art world, the art market, the “science” of economics, economics in general. All that and father-son relationships. It shifts genres about half-way through becoming a thriller/detective story (complete with new main characters) when one of the main characters is murdered in a particularly horrific (yet somewhat artistic) manner. Stranger still, the character who was murdered was the “author” of the novel, or the fictional persona of the author (his name is Michel Houellebecq and is a well-known French author who has written the works the real-life Houellebecq has written). After the murder is solveld, the book shifts back again to being an art-philosophical novel.

This is the kind of book that would seemingly reward re-reading. “La Carte et le territoire” means “the map and the territory”— in other words — representation and reality or representative artefact and natural phenomenon. And, sure, enough the novel seems to work through this opposition on quite a few levels. In addition to the above-mentioned embedding and killing off of the “author,” there is also the artistic trajectory of the main character Jed who begins his career photographing instustrial objects and ends it many years later by creating strange montages of similar objects being eaten away by vegetation. So, there is a lot to unpack/interpret. But it’s not something I want to re-read immediately.

This sounds fascinating--albeit convoluted @Melisande!  Wish I spoke French :)



There’s an edition in English entitled The Map and the Territory, but I don’t know how good the translation is.

Now that sounds like an intriguing book - thanks for letting us know it is available in English.

Rosy

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2742
  • Location: Florida
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #304 on: March 25, 2018, 09:09:33 AM »
1. Four Weddings and a Sixpence by Julia Quinn ...
2. Elites of Eden by Joey Graceffa
3. Children of Exile by Margaret Peterson Haddix
4. Children of Refuge
5. Heartless by Mary Balogh
6. Son by Lois Lowry
7. Lady Sophia's Lover by Lisa Kleypas
8. Lady of Sin by Madeline Hunter
9. A Precious Jewel by Mary Balogh
10. A Secret Affair by Mary Balogh
11. Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean
12. Only Enchanting by Mary Balogh
13. Only a Kiss by Mary Balogh
14. Irresistible by Mary Balogh

15. The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch - Part of a Fantasy Series - Curious mixture of brilliant insightfulness, heavy use of base cuss words, easy-flowing adventure dialog with clever stories and an entire archaic play a la Shakespeare alongside the adventure story. Enjoyed it even though it was a tough read at times, but will not read another book by this author - even though I greatly enjoyed the storyline.

16. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - I read this eons ago and it always stayed with me - re-reading was just as good - food for thought.
17. The Inheritance by Charles Finch - Fun read - historic setting, quintessentially British, leisurely developed mystery.

18. A Summer To Remember by Mary Balogh - love historical romances by Mary Balogh.
21. Armada by Ernest Cline - YA - fantasy-sci-fi - OK for YA
22. Sweet Ruin - by Kresley Cole - lots of steamy sex scenes, good Fantasy plot and a little bit of other world development. Fun at first but the soft porn aspect killed it for me.
23. Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole - same as above.
24. MacRieve by Kresley Cole - same as above.
These three are part of the Immortal Series - wish he/she would write more plot, less sex. Not reading anything else by this author.
25. The Wicked Duke by Madeline Hunter - forgot I read this one before, one of her best - I like all Madeline Hunter historical romances.
27. The Temporary Wife by Mary Balogh - loved it
28. A Promise of Spring by Mary Balogh - loved it
29. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard - first book in a series - pretty good
30. Knave of Hearts by Elizabeth Boyle - enjoyed it
33. Unforgiven by Mary Balogh - fun read
35. Pony Express Christmas Bride by Rhonda Gibson - Christian references - mostly meh
36. A Highlander Christmas by Janet Chapman - Romance and Druid Magic intertwined. Had the potential to be a really great book, but missed the mark. Needed more fluidity and depth and background, character development. Overall, still a mildly entertaining read. 
37. The Reluctant Viking by Sandra Hill - I have no idea why I finished this book to the bitter end - misogynist piece of crap.


SUBSET - Money and/or Finance/Economics/Politics/Society/Science (goal of 15 books)

19. How to Retire with Enough Money by Theresa Ghilarducci - interesting read. Discusses social security and medicare/medicaid in some detail, but in an abstract economic sense. Discusses the economic disparity in the US a bit and lays out improvements to social security via a link to a proposed bill - good read, good points. 

20. Cheaper, Better, Faster by  Mary Hunt - Excellent Money Saving Tips for household and car buying ... common sense, DIY - worth a read.

26. The Behavior Gap by Carl Richards - Loved it! It is a quasi MMM philosophy seen from a different, kinder angle. The author is engagingly human and utterly relatable - he called it a book about how you can make good money decisions. He is a CFP  ... identify your personal behavior gaps and make a plan to avoid them in the future. No investment advice but a compelling read about our money fears. Insightful - caused me to reflect on several topics. Lighthearted book with a positive vibe - recommended, especially if you struggle with the harsher demands of MMM:)

31. The Unbanking of America by Lisa Servon - fascinating read. I had no idea fintech was so active in this area and had never heard of tandas or ROSCAS.
The subtitle is How the New Middle Class Survives and while I do not agree with all of the conclusions drawn - it revealed just how predatory the banks have become.
I started out on page 121 with - Chapter 7 - Borrowing and Saving under the Radar:) which was one of the best chapters in the book. My only complaint is that since this book is a mix of live research and historic and current data - she should have started out with some of the more interesting live research because I found the first two chapters a tad tedious. 
Overall a rather enlightening book - much better read than I expected!

32. Next up - Nasty women - a collection of essays-protest and solidarity in Trump's America. SKIPPING FOR NOW
34. Second Chance - For Your Money, Your Life and Our World by Robert T. Kiyosaki - still reading....and wondering why:)
« Last Edit: March 25, 2018, 09:13:29 AM by Rosy »

Melisande

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 284
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #305 on: March 25, 2018, 12:38:38 PM »
1. The World As I Found It by Bruce Duffy
2. The Girl with a Pearl Earing by Tracy Chevalier
3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
4. & 5.  Mémoires d’Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar
6. In the Land of the White Death by Valerian Albanov
7. The Hours by Michael Cunningham
8., 9. & 10. Churchill: A Biography by Roy Jenkins
11. 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric H. Cline.
12. The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
13. Conquistador Voices: Volume 1 — Christopher Columbus; Hernán Cortés, by Kevin H. Siepel.
14. Conquistador Voices: Volume 2 — Francisco Pizarro and his brothers; Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca; Hernando de Soto by Kevin H. Siepel
15. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles .
15. & 16. La carte et le territoire by Michel Houellebecq.
17. Among Penguins: A Bird Man in Antarctica by Noah Stryker. This is a book for birders and other wildlife/nature enthusiasts. The author recounts his three months spent as a penguin researcher in Antarctica. It is an easy read. Well, relatively easy. While his experience was fascinating, valuable and very mustachian (he didn’t spend a cent in three months and had a great time), the writing itself is pretty poor (stilted, trite, sophomoric) which made it hard for me to get through sometimes. I had read some of his later books which were much better written. Either he has matured or has gotten himself a really good editor.

My favorite chapter — “Christmas” — detailed their Christmas Bird Count — the first ever undertaken in Antarctica. My least favorite chapter — “Stranded” — detailed his having to poop really really badly in really cold weather in the middle of an Adélie penguin colony. “The penguins must have wondered about my sudden stiff-legged gait, but I knew what it meant. Cargo needed to be unloaded, a hostage released.” And on and on and on ....

Bracken_Joy

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8927
  • Location: Oregon
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #306 on: March 25, 2018, 05:45:47 PM »
1. A Torch Against The Night- Sabaa Tahir- 1/8/18
--I cannot wait until the next one. Excellent books.
2. Hounded - Kevin Hearne - 1/17/18
3. Hexed - Kevin Hearne- 1/23/18
--fun short reads. Doritos for the brain. Not quite as good as Dresden, but still entertaining.
4. Hammered- Kevin Hearne- 2/9/18
--this one wasn't quite as good at the first two, but it was readable. Hope the next is better again.
5. Lab Girl- Hope Jahren- 2/24/18
--God this took me forever. It just was not compelling for me. Got better at the half way point, but just not my cup of tea. My book club all loved it, though, so maybe I'm alone on this one! I think it would be way more interesting to people who haven't worked in research before, because it'd be 'exploring an unknown life' style.
6. Tricked- Kevin Hearne- 3/2/18
7. World War Z- Max Brooks - 3/5/18
--As always (it was a reread for book club), an excellent book.
8. Trapped- Kevin Hearne - 3/12/18
9. Hunted- Kevin Hearne - 3/23/18

10. Shattered- Kevin Hearne

tnrunner

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 274
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #307 on: March 26, 2018, 06:46:19 AM »
1. Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich
2. Three to get deadly by Janet Evanovich
3. Four to Score by Janet Evanovich
4. Seamless by Angie Smith
5. High Five by Janet Evanovich
6. Hot six by Janet Evanovich
7. Seven up by Janet Evanovich
8. hard eight by janet evanovich
9. Daring to Hope by Katie Davis Majors
10. To the nines by Janet Evanovich
11. Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich

12. Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich

formerlydivorcedmom

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 701
  • Location: Texas
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #308 on: March 26, 2018, 08:28:28 AM »
@Rosy  , I'm so disappointed that you didn't like The Reluctant Viking.  I haven't read this one yet, but overall I love Sandra Hill.  The contemporary Viking Navy Seal books are so sexy.

ahptex

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 209
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #309 on: March 27, 2018, 08:27:16 AM »
(1) Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
(2) A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny
(3) The Water Will Come by Jeff Goodell
(4) Wildwood by Colin Meloy
(5) Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin
(6) Little Soldiers: An American Boy, a Chinese School, and the Global Race to Achieve by Lenora Chu
(7) Family Matters:Why Homeschooling Makes Sense by David Guterson
(8) Street of Eternal Happiness:  Big City Dreams Along a Shanghai Road by Rob Schmitz
(9) Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
(10) The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
(11) Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits by Pema Chodron
(12) The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
(13) The Year of Less by Cait Flanders
(14) Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
(15) The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
(16) The End of Alzheimer's by Dale Bredesen
(17) Christodora by Tim Murphy
(18) How Democracies Die: What History Reveals about our Future by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt

(19) Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny

Rosy

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2742
  • Location: Florida
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #310 on: March 27, 2018, 10:54:49 AM »
@Rosy  , I'm so disappointed that you didn't like The Reluctant Viking.  I haven't read this one yet, but overall I love Sandra Hill.  The contemporary Viking Navy Seal books are so sexy.

@formerlydivorcedmom - Yes, I do rather like Sandra Hill:), although I haven't read anything by her in a long time. However, this one just hit me wrong, the more I read the madder I got:) it is IMHO a definitely skewed view and a not so subtle misogynist viewpoint that she keeps elaborating on throughout the book.
It is a second chance type book and I appreciated that part of it, but I'd hate for a young woman to read this book and consider some of the actions in the book OK or be swayed by the author's viewpoint.
Yes, it is "just" a romance book, but you never know who will read and be influenced by it. Maybe I had such a strong reaction because I am a feminist and have seen and experienced too much in my lifetime, but it made my skin crawl, because I kept thinking of all the real-life implications.
She seemed to pound home a moral conviction that this is what should happen to women who ... and well deserved cruel punishment it is.

I don't want to spoil the book for you, you may well read it completely different and FWIW it will not stop me from picking up another book by Sandra, because I don't recall her other books having this strong slant.

Rosy

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2742
  • Location: Florida
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #311 on: March 27, 2018, 11:30:07 AM »
1. Four Weddings and a Sixpence by Julia Quinn ...
2. Elites of Eden by Joey Graceffa
3. Children of Exile by Margaret Peterson Haddix
4. Children of Refuge
5. Heartless by Mary Balogh
6. Son by Lois Lowry
7. Lady Sophia's Lover by Lisa Kleypas
8. Lady of Sin by Madeline Hunter
9. A Precious Jewel by Mary Balogh
10. A Secret Affair by Mary Balogh
11. Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean
12. Only Enchanting by Mary Balogh
13. Only a Kiss by Mary Balogh
14. Irresistible by Mary Balogh

15. The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch - Part of a Fantasy Series - Curious mixture of brilliant insightfulness, heavy use of base cuss words, easy-flowing adventure dialog with clever stories and an entire archaic play a la Shakespeare alongside the adventure story. Enjoyed it even though it was a tough read at times, but will not read another book by this author - even though I greatly enjoyed the storyline.

16. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - I read this eons ago and it always stayed with me - re-reading was just as good - food for thought.
17. The Inheritance by Charles Finch - Fun read - historic setting, quintessentially British, leisurely developed mystery.

18. A Summer To Remember by Mary Balogh - love historical romances by Mary Balogh.
21. Armada by Ernest Cline - YA - fantasy-sci-fi - OK for YA
22. Sweet Ruin - by Kresley Cole - lots of steamy sex scenes, good Fantasy plot and a little bit of other world development. Fun at first but the soft porn aspect killed it for me.
23. Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole - same as above.
24. MacRieve by Kresley Cole - same as above.
These three are part of the Immortal Series - wish he/she would write more plot, less sex. Not reading anything else by this author.
25. The Wicked Duke by Madeline Hunter - forgot I read this one before, one of her best - I like all Madeline Hunter historical romances.
27. The Temporary Wife by Mary Balogh - loved it
28. A Promise of Spring by Mary Balogh - loved it
29. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard - first book in a series - pretty good
30. Knave of Hearts by Elizabeth Boyle - enjoyed it
33. Unforgiven by Mary Balogh - fun read
35. Pony Express Christmas Bride by Rhonda Gibson - Christian references - mostly meh
36. A Highlander Christmas by Janet Chapman - Romance and Druid Magic intertwined. Had the potential to be a really great book, but missed the mark. Needed more fluidity and depth and background, character development. Overall, still a mildly entertaining read. 
37. The Reluctant Viking by Sandra Hill - I have no idea why I finished this book to the bitter end - misogynist piece of crap.
38. The Handmaiden's Necklace by Kat Martin - part of a trilogy, loved the story development, twists and turns. Love all her books.

39. An English Bride in Scotland by Lynsay Sands - great read, fast-paced, well written - like a favorite piece of candy slowly releasing a lasting taste of sweetness.


SUBSET - Money and/or Finance/Economics/Politics/Society/Science (goal of 15 books)

19. How to Retire with Enough Money by Theresa Ghilarducci - interesting read. Discusses social security and medicare/medicaid in some detail, but in an abstract economic sense. Discusses the economic disparity in the US a bit and lays out improvements to social security via a link to a proposed bill - good read, good points. 

20. Cheaper, Better, Faster by  Mary Hunt - Excellent Money Saving Tips for household and car buying ... common sense, DIY - worth a read.

26. The Behavior Gap by Carl Richards - Loved it! It is a quasi MMM philosophy seen from a different, kinder angle. The author is engagingly human and utterly relatable - he called it a book about how you can make good money decisions. He is a CFP  ... identify your personal behavior gaps and make a plan to avoid them in the future. No investment advice but a compelling read about our money fears. Insightful - caused me to reflect on several topics. Lighthearted book with a positive vibe - recommended, especially if you struggle with the harsher demands of MMM:)

31. The Unbanking of America by Lisa Servon - fascinating read. I had no idea fintech was so active in this area and had never heard of tandas or ROSCAS.
The subtitle is How the New Middle Class Survives and while I do not agree with all of the conclusions drawn - it revealed just how predatory the banks have become.
I started out on page 121 with - Chapter 7 - Borrowing and Saving under the Radar:) which was one of the best chapters in the book. My only complaint is that since this book is a mix of live research and historic and current data - she should have started out with some of the more interesting live research because I found the first two chapters a tad tedious. 
Overall a rather enlightening book - much better read than I expected!

32. Next up - Nasty women - a collection of essays-protest and solidarity in Trump's America. SKIPPING FOR NOW
34. Second Chance - For Your Money, Your Life and Our World by Robert T. Kiyosaki - still reading....and wondering why:)

formerlydivorcedmom

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 701
  • Location: Texas
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #312 on: March 27, 2018, 12:18:32 PM »
Yes, it is "just" a romance book, but you never know who will read and be influenced by it.

@Rosy I'm having this same reaction to a Christie Craig book that I'm almost finished with.  The hero constantly makes jokes about things being "queer".  That kind of "humor" really turns me off...and more so since the book is set where I live now and I know too many people who hide ugly attitudes behind similar "jokes".  It's turned me off quite a bit.

eliza

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 377
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #313 on: March 28, 2018, 06:54:49 AM »
2018 Focus: Russia - Goal is 50 Books About Russia, Written by Russians, or Novels Set in Russia
1. The Duel - Anton Chekhov
2. The Bear and the Nightingale - Katherine Arden
3. The Unwomanly Face of War - Svetlana Alexievich
4. Lost and Found in Russia: Lives in the Post-Soviet Landscape - Susan Richards
5. Dressed Up for a Riot: Misadventures in Putin's Moscow - Michael Idov
6. The Girl in the Tower - Katherine Arden

Currently Reading:
Secondhand Time - Svetlana Alexievich - This is so good - a collection of oral history from the Soviet era.  But, it's taking forever, because I can only digest it in small chunks.
Russia: A Short History - Abraham Ascher   

Gave Up On:
A History of Russia - Nicholas Riasanovsky - Apparently I'm not dedicated enough to get through an actual textbook - switched to an audio version of a shorter primer to brush up on my (sadly, pretty basic) general understanding of Russian history.

Also, I'm so far behind on my Russia focus goal, but que sera, sera.  Most of my recent reading has been more social justice focused, which was an unexpected direction for me.  But I've been learning a lot and have had my eyes opened to just how much I don't know or have just never bothered to think about re: how our society works.

FireHiker

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1141
  • Location: So Cal
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #314 on: March 29, 2018, 09:51:28 AM »
1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
2. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson
3. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
4. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
7. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (re-read in one night since it's been 20 years and my son was reading it in school)
8. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
9. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
10. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
11. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
12. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
13. All's Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare (I WILL get through his complete works...eventually)
14. As You Like It by William Shakespeare
15. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
16. Here in Berlin by Cristina Garcia
17. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
18. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
19. Meet the Frugalwoods by Elizabeth Willard Thames

20. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Not as fantastic as The Shadow of the Wind, unfortunately. I still enjoyed most of the book, but the last third or so got a little too weird for me. Hoping the third book clears some of it up.

ringer707

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 311
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #315 on: March 31, 2018, 06:41:02 AM »
1. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
2. The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini
3. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
4. How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway
5. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
6. Between the World and Me by Ta Nahisi Coates
7. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
8. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
9. The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Illustrated) by J.K. Rowling
11. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
12. Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
13. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
14. Beloved by Toni Morrison
15. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
16. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Raenia

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2631
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #316 on: March 31, 2018, 08:27:47 AM »
1. The Small-Scale Poultry Flock - Harvey Ussery (1/9/2018)
2. Oathbringer - Brandon Sanderson (1/19/2018)
3. The 4-hour Work Week - Timothy Ferriss (1/21/2018)
4. Smilla's Sense of Snow - Peter Hoeg (1/23/2018)
5. Home Cheese Making - Ricki Carroll (1/25/2018)
6. A Darker Shade of Magic - V.E. Schwab (1/26/2018)
7. Dead of Winter - Matt Lake, Susan Fair, Laurie Hull, H.W. Lawson, Brian Goodman (1/27/2018)
8. Coraline - Neil Gaiman (1/30/2018)
9. The Not So Big House - Sarah Susanka (2/5/2018)
10. Le Petit Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupery (2/21/2018)
11. Purity - Jonathan Franzen (2/22/2018)
12.  Democracy in America - Alexis de Tocqueville (2/27/2018)
13. In Cold Blood - Truman Capote (3/4/2018)
14. Running & Being: The Total Experience - George Sheehan (3/7/2018)
15. Leviathan Wakes - James S.A. Corey (3/10/2018)
16. Plato's Republic - trans. C. D. C. Reeve (3/17/2018)
17. The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem - Nathaniel Branden (3/21/2018)
18. Caliban's War - James S.A. Corey (3/23/2018)
19. The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage - Philip Pullman (3/24/2018)

20. Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson (3/30/3018) - first reread of the year
« Last Edit: April 04, 2018, 04:08:44 PM by Raenia »

tnrunner

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 274
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #317 on: March 31, 2018, 09:20:06 AM »
1. Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich
2. Three to get deadly by Janet Evanovich
3. Four to Score by Janet Evanovich
4. Seamless by Angie Smith
5. High Five by Janet Evanovich
6. Hot six by Janet Evanovich
7. Seven up by Janet Evanovich
8. hard eight by janet evanovich
9. Daring to Hope by Katie Davis Majors
10. To the nines by Janet Evanovich
11. Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich
12. Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich

13. The Lazarus Vendetta by Patrick Larkin

tnrunner

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 274
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #318 on: April 02, 2018, 06:51:52 AM »
1. Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich
2. Three to get deadly by Janet Evanovich
3. Four to Score by Janet Evanovich
4. Seamless by Angie Smith
5. High Five by Janet Evanovich
6. Hot six by Janet Evanovich
7. Seven up by Janet Evanovich
8. hard eight by janet evanovich
9. Daring to Hope by Katie Davis Majors
10. To the nines by Janet Evanovich
11. Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich
12. Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich
 13. The Lazarus Vendetta by Patrick Larkin

14. Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
15. Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben

Serendip

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2210
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #319 on: April 02, 2018, 09:21:16 AM »
1. Why Buddhism Is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment (Robert Wright) *IMO very good!
2. Plastic Free : How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too (Beth Terry)
3. Taking the Leap : Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears (Pema Chodron)
4. Sapiens : A Brief History of Humankind (Yuval Noah Hurari)
5. Move Your DNA: Restore Your Health Through Natural Movement (Katy Bowman)
6. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning (Margareta Magnusson)
7. The Year of Less  (Cait Flanders)
 *more personal drama than I expected, I thought it would be about her no-shopping challenge
8. The Psychobiotic Revolution: Mood, Food, and the New Science of the Gut-Brain Connection (Scott C. Anderson) *quite liked this, neuroscience and food
9. Why Isn't My Brain Working: Brain decline and effective strategies to recover your brain's health ( Datis Kharrazian)
10. The Back of the Turtle (Thomas King)
11. The War of Art  (Steven Pressfield)
12. Millionaire Teacher: The Nine Rules of Wealth You Should Have Learned in School (Andrew Hallam)
13. Homo Deus : A Brief History of Tomorrow (Yuval Noah Harari)
14. Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression--and the Unexpected Solutions (Johann Hari)
15. Spark : The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain  (John J. Ratey)
16. Tonglen: The Path of Transformation (Pema Chodron)--a more advanced meditation style than I am currently at
17. The Hate U Give (Angie Thomas) --fiction, quite a good/fast read. I am going to aim for 1 fiction/month
18. When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing (Daniel. H. Pink)

19. What Doesn't Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude, and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength (Scott Carney)
20. Every Word Is A Bird We Teach To Sing : Encounters with the Mysteries and Meanings of Language (Daniel Tammet)

jeninco

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3997
  • Location: .... duh?
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #320 on: April 02, 2018, 11:39:33 AM »
1. An Anthropologist on Mars, Oliver Sachs
2. Song of the Quarkbeast, Fford
3. David and Goliath, Gladwell
4. Why Buddhism is True, Wright
5. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Mark Twain
6. B is for Burglar, Sue Grafton
7. Siddhartha, Hesse
8. Sapiens, A Brief History of Humankind, Harari
9. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime,  Haddon. Talked about this with a high school student on my way out of tutoring last week, and grabbed it to (re-) read so I can ask him about it more next week. Love it!
10. Glass Houses (librarian recommendation when I asked for something lightweight)
11. Lavinia, Le Guin
12. Speaker for the Dead, Orson Scott Card (Yuck)
13. Debt Free U (I liked it! Lots of good ideas and perspective in here.)
14. Fledgling, Octavia Butler (loved it!)
15. How to Tame a Fox, Dugakin (also very good, especially in tandem with #14)
16. Lab Girl, Jahren (BJ, I loved it, although I see how various parts could slow one down...)
17. Grocery, Ruhlman LOVED IT! How did our food system get this crazy way! What can be done?
18. Hard Truth, Nevada Barr: HATED IT! I do not need to know that much about (how you imagine) the inside of the mind of a sadistic psychopath. To be fair, I've enjoyed some of her earlier books.

Next:
Borrowed Between the World and Me from my HS junior. We're traveling this weekend, so we'll get to discuss it. (Still working on this: it's a slow read)

Where you go is not who you'll be (yeah, we'll be sending a kid to college in a year and a half, so that's a sub-theme for this year)

A Janet Evanovich mystery (One for the Money). I dislike the tone and the portrayal of the narrator. Not sure if I'm going to pitch this one and go back to the library.

My husband has Flatterland out from the library, so I may take a crack at that, and see what I think. Also, the guy next to me on a flight last week had a bunch of tasty-sounding non-fiction recommendations. (Plus, I got caught up on New Yorkers, so I can pass them on to my neighbors and get them out of my house.)

diapasoun

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4426
  • Location: California
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #321 on: April 02, 2018, 11:48:39 AM »
1. Your Money or Your Life, Vicki Robin (library)
2. A Room of One's Own, Virginia Woolf (library)
3. The Blue Sword, Robin McKinley (library)
4. The Bad-ass Librarians of Timbuktu, Joshua Hammer (mine)
5. The Sagas of Ragnar Lodbrok, trans. Ben Waggoner (mine)
6. Practical Sigil Magic, Frater U.:D.: (pdf)
7. The Refrigerator Monologues, Catherynne Valente (library)
8. What It Means When A Man Falls From The Sky, Lesley Nneka Arimah (library)
9. Loitering with Intent, Muriel Spark (library)
10. Everfair, Nisi Shawl (library)

11. Bobbed Hair and Bath-tub Gin, Marion Meade (library). This was a book club choice; a semi-biography of Zelda Fitzgerald, Dorothy Parker, Edna St Vincent Millay, and Edna Ferber during the 1920s. The women all knew (or at least knew of) each other, and ran with a number of related characters, so this spends a great deal of time chronicling the New York milieu they ran in. It was fun, but not incredibly in depth on any of the women; a nice introduction, but not something you really sink your teeth into very deeply.

12. Ghost Talkers, Mary Robinette Kowal (mine). Another book club choice, this one for my scifi club. Super great concept (ghosts are real, mediums are real, and let's win WWI by interviewing the ghosts of the fallen). This isn't an astounding literary read, but it was enjoyable and pleasant and got me through waiting during my mother's surgery, so I will take that whole-heartedly!
« Last Edit: April 02, 2018, 07:16:22 PM by diapasoun »

Rosy

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2742
  • Location: Florida
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #322 on: April 02, 2018, 07:00:13 PM »
1. Four Weddings and a Sixpence by Julia Quinn ...
2. Elites of Eden by Joey Graceffa
3. Children of Exile by Margaret Peterson Haddix
4. Children of Refuge
5. Heartless by Mary Balogh
6. Son by Lois Lowry
7. Lady Sophia's Lover by Lisa Kleypas
8. Lady of Sin by Madeline Hunter
9. A Precious Jewel by Mary Balogh
10. A Secret Affair by Mary Balogh
11. Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean
12. Only Enchanting by Mary Balogh
13. Only a Kiss by Mary Balogh
14. Irresistible by Mary Balogh

15. The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch - Part of a Fantasy Series - Curious mixture of brilliant insightfulness, heavy use of base cuss words, easy-flowing adventure dialog with clever stories and an entire archaic play a la Shakespeare alongside the adventure story. Enjoyed it even though it was a tough read at times, but will not read another book by this author - even though I greatly enjoyed the storyline.

16. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - I read this eons ago and it always stayed with me - re-reading was just as good - food for thought.
17. The Inheritance by Charles Finch - Fun read - historic setting, quintessentially British, leisurely developed mystery.

18. A Summer To Remember by Mary Balogh - love historical romances by Mary Balogh.
21. Armada by Ernest Cline - YA - fantasy-sci-fi - OK for YA
22. Sweet Ruin - by Kresley Cole - lots of steamy sex scenes, good Fantasy plot and a little bit of other world development. Fun at first but the soft porn aspect killed it for me.
23. Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole - same as above.
24. MacRieve by Kresley Cole - same as above.
These three are part of the Immortal Series - wish he/she would write more plot, less sex. Not reading anything else by this author.
25. The Wicked Duke by Madeline Hunter - forgot I read this one before, one of her best - I like all Madeline Hunter historical romances.
27. The Temporary Wife by Mary Balogh - loved it
28. A Promise of Spring by Mary Balogh - loved it
29. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard - first book in a series - pretty good
30. Knave of Hearts by Elizabeth Boyle - enjoyed it
33. Unforgiven by Mary Balogh - fun read
35. Pony Express Christmas Bride by Rhonda Gibson - Christian references - mostly meh
36. A Highlander Christmas by Janet Chapman - Romance and Druid Magic intertwined. Had the potential to be a really great book, but missed the mark. Needed more fluidity and depth and background, character development. Overall, still a mildly entertaining read. 
37. The Reluctant Viking by Sandra Hill - I have no idea why I finished this book to the bitter end - misogynist piece of crap.
38. The Handmaiden's Necklace by Kat Martin - part of a trilogy, loved the story development, twists and turns. Love all her books.

39. An English Bride in Scotland by Lynsay Sands - great read, fast-paced, well written, it doesn't get any better in romance land than this book  - like a favorite piece of candy slowly releasing a lasting taste of sweetness.
40. An Affair with a notorious Heiress by Lorraine Heath - good plot and rather well presented, but so much repetition as to why she just couldn't and he just wouldn't - over and over again - I finally skipped to the last two chapters, surprise, more good plot twists and development than I expected. Would have been great if you cut out all the repetition, about a good third of the book.
Forbidden to Love the Duke by Jillian Hunter - enjoyable read- part of the Fenwick Sisters Affairs series
41. The Twilight Wife by A.J. Banner - loved it - great mystery writing, nothing is as it appears to be. Now I'll have to track down the author's other book The Good Neighbor.


SUBSET - Money and/or Finance/Economics/Politics/Society/Science (goal of 15 books)

19. How to Retire with Enough Money by Theresa Ghilarducci - interesting read. Discusses social security and medicare/medicaid in some detail, but in an abstract economic sense. Discusses the economic disparity in the US a bit and lays out improvements to social security via a link to a proposed bill - good read, good points. 

20. Cheaper, Better, Faster by  Mary Hunt - Excellent Money Saving Tips for household and car buying ... common sense, DIY - worth a read.

26. The Behavior Gap by Carl Richards - Loved it! It is a quasi MMM philosophy seen from a different, kinder angle. The author is engagingly human and utterly relatable - he called it a book about how you can make good money decisions. He is a CFP  ... identify your personal behavior gaps and make a plan to avoid them in the future. No investment advice but a compelling read about our money fears. Insightful - caused me to reflect on several topics. Lighthearted book with a positive vibe - recommended, especially if you struggle with the harsher demands of MMM:)

31. The Unbanking of America by Lisa Servon - fascinating read. I had no idea fintech was so active in this area and had never heard of tandas or ROSCAS.
The subtitle is How the New Middle Class Survives and while I do not agree with all of the conclusions drawn - it revealed just how predatory the banks have become.
I started out on page 121 with - Chapter 7 - Borrowing and Saving under the Radar:) which was one of the best chapters in the book. My only complaint is that since this book is a mix of live research and historic and current data - she should have started out with some of the more interesting live research because I found the first two chapters a tad tedious. 
Overall a rather enlightening book - much better read than I expected!

32. Next up - Nasty women - a collection of essays-protest and solidarity in Trump's America. SKIPPING FOR NOW
34. Second Chance - For Your Money, Your Life and Our World by Robert T. Kiyosaki - still reading....and wondering why:)

FireHiker

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1141
  • Location: So Cal
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #323 on: April 03, 2018, 12:32:16 PM »
1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
2. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson
3. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
4. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
7. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (re-read in one night since it's been 20 years and my son was reading it in school)
8. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
9. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
10. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
11. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
12. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
13. All's Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare (I WILL get through his complete works...eventually)
14. As You Like It by William Shakespeare
15. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
16. Here in Berlin by Cristina Garcia
17. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
18. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
19. Meet the Frugalwoods by Elizabeth Willard Thames
20. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

21. A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle
22. The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
23. Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

Bracken_Joy

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8927
  • Location: Oregon
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #324 on: April 04, 2018, 11:33:12 AM »
1. A Torch Against The Night- Sabaa Tahir- 1/8/18
--I cannot wait until the next one. Excellent books.
2. Hounded - Kevin Hearne - 1/17/18
3. Hexed - Kevin Hearne- 1/23/18
--fun short reads. Doritos for the brain. Not quite as good as Dresden, but still entertaining.
4. Hammered- Kevin Hearne- 2/9/18
--this one wasn't quite as good at the first two, but it was readable. Hope the next is better again.
5. Lab Girl- Hope Jahren- 2/24/18
--God this took me forever. It just was not compelling for me. Got better at the half way point, but just not my cup of tea. My book club all loved it, though, so maybe I'm alone on this one! I think it would be way more interesting to people who haven't worked in research before, because it'd be 'exploring an unknown life' style.
6. Tricked- Kevin Hearne- 3/2/18
7. World War Z- Max Brooks - 3/5/18
--As always (it was a reread for book club), an excellent book.
8. Trapped- Kevin Hearne - 3/12/18
9. Hunted- Kevin Hearne - 3/23/18
10. Shattered- Kevin Hearne - 4/2/18

11. Staked - Kevin Hearne (Last one that's out, so I'll be updating with other stuff eventually, LOL)

formerlydivorcedmom

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 701
  • Location: Texas
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #325 on: April 04, 2018, 01:06:58 PM »
I officially hit 50 books read in 2018.   My personal goal is 50 nonfiction books, and I've only read 17 of those (34%).

I'm a data nerd, so I categorized my reading habits so far.
   
Total nonfiction   17   33%
Total Romance   32   63%
Total Other         2      4%

Total Rereads = 14 (27%)

Library = 34 (67%)
Own = 17 (33%)

Raenia

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2631
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #326 on: April 04, 2018, 04:10:28 PM »
1. The Small-Scale Poultry Flock - Harvey Ussery (1/9/2018)
2. Oathbringer - Brandon Sanderson (1/19/2018)
3. The 4-hour Work Week - Timothy Ferriss (1/21/2018)
4. Smilla's Sense of Snow - Peter Hoeg (1/23/2018)
5. Home Cheese Making - Ricki Carroll (1/25/2018)
6. A Darker Shade of Magic - V.E. Schwab (1/26/2018)
7. Dead of Winter - Matt Lake, Susan Fair, Laurie Hull, H.W. Lawson, Brian Goodman (1/27/2018)
8. Coraline - Neil Gaiman (1/30/2018)
9. The Not So Big House - Sarah Susanka (2/5/2018)
10. Le Petit Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupery (2/21/2018)
11. Purity - Jonathan Franzen (2/22/2018)
12.  Democracy in America - Alexis de Tocqueville (2/27/2018)
13. In Cold Blood - Truman Capote (3/4/2018)
14. Running & Being: The Total Experience - George Sheehan (3/7/2018)
15. Leviathan Wakes - James S.A. Corey (3/10/2018)
16. Plato's Republic - trans. C. D. C. Reeve (3/17/2018)
17. The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem - Nathaniel Branden (3/21/2018)
18. Caliban's War - James S.A. Corey (3/23/2018)
19. The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage - Philip Pullman (3/24/2018)
20. Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson (3/30/3018) - first reread of the year

21.  Abaddon's Gate - James S.A. Corey (4/4/2018)

ahptex

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 209
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #327 on: April 05, 2018, 07:58:34 AM »
(1) Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
(2) A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny
(3) The Water Will Come by Jeff Goodell
(4) Wildwood by Colin Meloy
(5) Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin
(6) Little Soldiers: An American Boy, a Chinese School, and the Global Race to Achieve by Lenora Chu
(7) Family Matters:Why Homeschooling Makes Sense by David Guterson
(8) Street of Eternal Happiness:  Big City Dreams Along a Shanghai Road by Rob Schmitz
(9) Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
(10) The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
(11) Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits by Pema Chodron
(12) The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
(13) The Year of Less by Cait Flanders
(14) Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
(15) The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
(16) The End of Alzheimer's by Dale Bredesen
(17) Christodora by Tim Murphy
(18) How Democracies Die: What History Reveals about our Future by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt
(19) Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny

(20) Trumpocracy by David Frum
(21) The More of Less by Joshua Becker

jeninco

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3997
  • Location: .... duh?
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #328 on: April 06, 2018, 10:14:01 AM »
1. A Torch Against The Night- Sabaa Tahir- 1/8/18
--I cannot wait until the next one. Excellent books.
2. Hounded - Kevin Hearne - 1/17/18
3. Hexed - Kevin Hearne- 1/23/18
--fun short reads. Doritos for the brain. Not quite as good as Dresden, but still entertaining.
4. Hammered- Kevin Hearne- 2/9/18
--this one wasn't quite as good at the first two, but it was readable. Hope the next is better again.
5. Lab Girl- Hope Jahren- 2/24/18
--God this took me forever. It just was not compelling for me. Got better at the half way point, but just not my cup of tea. My book club all loved it, though, so maybe I'm alone on this one! I think it would be way more interesting to people who haven't worked in research before, because it'd be 'exploring an unknown life' style.
6. Tricked- Kevin Hearne- 3/2/18
7. World War Z- Max Brooks - 3/5/18
--As always (it was a reread for book club), an excellent book.
8. Trapped- Kevin Hearne - 3/12/18
9. Hunted- Kevin Hearne - 3/23/18
10. Shattered- Kevin Hearne - 4/2/18

11. Staked - Kevin Hearne (Last one that's out, so I'll be updating with other stuff eventually, LOL)

I was at the library yesterday, and it looks like he's started a new series, with A Plague of Giants. Um, not to enable you or anything...

Bracken_Joy

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8927
  • Location: Oregon
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #329 on: April 06, 2018, 10:32:41 AM »
1. A Torch Against The Night- Sabaa Tahir- 1/8/18
--I cannot wait until the next one. Excellent books.
2. Hounded - Kevin Hearne - 1/17/18
3. Hexed - Kevin Hearne- 1/23/18
--fun short reads. Doritos for the brain. Not quite as good as Dresden, but still entertaining.
4. Hammered- Kevin Hearne- 2/9/18
--this one wasn't quite as good at the first two, but it was readable. Hope the next is better again.
5. Lab Girl- Hope Jahren- 2/24/18
--God this took me forever. It just was not compelling for me. Got better at the half way point, but just not my cup of tea. My book club all loved it, though, so maybe I'm alone on this one! I think it would be way more interesting to people who haven't worked in research before, because it'd be 'exploring an unknown life' style.
6. Tricked- Kevin Hearne- 3/2/18
7. World War Z- Max Brooks - 3/5/18
--As always (it was a reread for book club), an excellent book.
8. Trapped- Kevin Hearne - 3/12/18
9. Hunted- Kevin Hearne - 3/23/18
10. Shattered- Kevin Hearne - 4/2/18

11. Staked - Kevin Hearne (Last one that's out, so I'll be updating with other stuff eventually, LOL)

I was at the library yesterday, and it looks like he's started a new series, with A Plague of Giants. Um, not to enable you or anything...


haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #330 on: April 06, 2018, 01:52:21 PM »
1. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood - Finished 1/14/18
2. How to Make Your Money Last by Jane Bryant Quinn - Finished 1/16/18
3. Animal Farm by George Orwell - Finished 1/20/18
4. The Awakening by Kate Chopin - Finished 2/7/18
5. J is for Judgement by Sue Grafton - Finished 2/9/18
6. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins - Finished 2/20/18
7. K is for Killer by Sue Grafton - Finished 3/17/18
8. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne - Finished 3/21/18
9. L is for Lawless by Sue Grafton - Finished 3/30/18
10. Candide by Voltaire - Finished 4/6/18

11. Devil in the White City by Erik Larson - Currently Reading
12. Wild by Cheryl Strayed - currently reading


10/50 Read

Rosy

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2742
  • Location: Florida
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #331 on: April 07, 2018, 01:56:36 PM »
1. Four Weddings and a Sixpence by Julia Quinn ...
2. Elites of Eden by Joey Graceffa
3. Children of Exile by Margaret Peterson Haddix
4. Children of Refuge
5. Heartless by Mary Balogh
6. Son by Lois Lowry
7. Lady Sophia's Lover by Lisa Kleypas
8. Lady of Sin by Madeline Hunter
9. A Precious Jewel by Mary Balogh
10. A Secret Affair by Mary Balogh
11. Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean
12. Only Enchanting by Mary Balogh
13. Only a Kiss by Mary Balogh
14. Irresistible by Mary Balogh

15. The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch - Part of a Fantasy Series - Curious mixture of brilliant insightfulness, heavy use of base cuss words, easy-flowing adventure dialog with clever stories and an entire archaic play a la Shakespeare alongside the adventure story. Enjoyed it even though it was a tough read at times, but will not read another book by this author - even though I greatly enjoyed the storyline.

16. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - I read this eons ago and it always stayed with me - re-reading was just as good - food for thought.
17. The Inheritance by Charles Finch - Fun read - historic setting, quintessentially British, leisurely developed mystery.

18. A Summer To Remember by Mary Balogh - love historical romances by Mary Balogh.
21. Armada by Ernest Cline - YA - fantasy-sci-fi - OK for YA
22. Sweet Ruin - by Kresley Cole - lots of steamy sex scenes, good Fantasy plot and a little bit of other world development. Fun at first but the soft porn aspect killed it for me.
23. Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole - same as above.
24. MacRieve by Kresley Cole - same as above.
These three are part of the Immortal Series - wish he/she would write more plot, less sex. Not reading anything else by this author.
25. The Wicked Duke by Madeline Hunter - forgot I read this one before, one of her best - I like all Madeline Hunter historical romances.
27. The Temporary Wife by Mary Balogh - loved it
28. A Promise of Spring by Mary Balogh - loved it
29. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard - first book in a series - pretty good
30. Knave of Hearts by Elizabeth Boyle - enjoyed it
33. Unforgiven by Mary Balogh - fun read
35. Pony Express Christmas Bride by Rhonda Gibson - Christian references - mostly meh
36. A Highlander Christmas by Janet Chapman - Romance and Druid Magic intertwined. Had the potential to be a really great book, but missed the mark. Needed more fluidity and depth and background, character development. Overall, still a mildly entertaining read. 
37. The Reluctant Viking by Sandra Hill - I have no idea why I finished this book to the bitter end - misogynist piece of crap.
38. The Handmaiden's Necklace by Kat Martin - part of a trilogy, loved the story development, twists and turns. Love all her books.

39. An English Bride in Scotland by Lynsay Sands - great read, fast-paced, well written, it doesn't get any better in romance land than this book  - like a favorite piece of candy slowly releasing a lasting taste of sweetness.
40. An Affair with a notorious Heiress by Lorraine Heath - good plot and rather well presented, but so much repetition as to why she just couldn't and he just wouldn't - over and over again - I finally skipped to the last two chapters, surprise, more good plot twists and development than I expected. Would have been great if you cut out all the repetition, about a good third of the book.
Forbidden to Love the Duke by Jillian Hunter - enjoyable read- part of the Fenwick Sisters Affairs series

41. The Twilight Wife by A.J. Banner - loved it - great mystery writing, nothing is as it appears to be. Now I'll have to track down the author's other book The Good Neighbor.
42. A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford - Surprisingly good. No Vampires involved. Mortals/Immortals - Suicide - Teen Love, angels caught between heaven and hell, all woven together in a unique, but rather dark romp of a novel that leaves you guessing where it may lead next.  Young Adult Fiction.
43. The Eternal Kiss - 13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire - loved every short story in the book - entertaining read. Young Adult Fiction.

44. Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn - meh, tepid, repetitive even a tad boring in places. Not the author's best effort.
45. Once upon a Tartan by Grace Burrowes - enjoyed it.
46. Must Love Dukes by Elizabeth Michels - entertaining read from page one to the end - loved it:)

SUBSET - Money and/or Finance/Economics/Politics/Society/Science (goal of 15 books)

19. How to Retire with Enough Money by Theresa Ghilarducci - interesting read. Discusses social security and medicare/medicaid in some detail, but in an abstract economic sense. Discusses the economic disparity in the US a bit and lays out improvements to social security via a link to a proposed bill - good read, good points. 

20. Cheaper, Better, Faster by  Mary Hunt - Excellent Money Saving Tips for household and car buying ... common sense, DIY - worth a read.

26. The Behavior Gap by Carl Richards - Loved it! It is a quasi MMM philosophy seen from a different, kinder angle. The author is engagingly human and utterly relatable - he called it a book about how you can make good money decisions. He is a CFP  ... identify your personal behavior gaps and make a plan to avoid them in the future. No investment advice but a compelling read about our money fears. Insightful - caused me to reflect on several topics. Lighthearted book with a positive vibe - recommended, especially if you struggle with the harsher demands of MMM:)

31. The Unbanking of America by Lisa Servon - fascinating read. I had no idea fintech was so active in this area and had never heard of tandas or ROSCAS.
The subtitle is How the New Middle Class Survives and while I do not agree with all of the conclusions drawn - it revealed just how predatory the banks have become.
I started out on page 121 with - Chapter 7 - Borrowing and Saving under the Radar:) which was one of the best chapters in the book. My only complaint is that since this book is a mix of live research and historic and current data - she should have started out with some of the more interesting live research because I found the first two chapters a tad tedious. 
Overall a rather enlightening book - much better read than I expected!

32. Next up - Nasty women - a collection of essays-protest and solidarity in Trump's America. SKIPPING FOR NOW
34. Second Chance - For Your Money, Your Life and Our World by Robert T. Kiyosaki - still reading....and wondering why:)
Modify message
« Last Edit: April 10, 2018, 05:56:10 PM by Rosy »

ringer707

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 311
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #332 on: April 08, 2018, 01:54:34 PM »
1. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
2. The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini
3. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
4. How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway
5. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
6. Between the World and Me by Ta Nahisi Coates
7. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
8. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
9. The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Illustrated) by J.K. Rowling
11. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
12. Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
13. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
14. Beloved by Toni Morrison
15. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
16. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
17. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley (finally finished this after over a month)

tnrunner

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 274
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #333 on: April 09, 2018, 06:23:36 AM »
1. Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich
2. Three to get deadly by Janet Evanovich
3. Four to Score by Janet Evanovich
4. Seamless by Angie Smith
5. High Five by Janet Evanovich
6. Hot six by Janet Evanovich
7. Seven up by Janet Evanovich
8. hard eight by janet evanovich
9. Daring to Hope by Katie Davis Majors
10. To the nines by Janet Evanovich
11. Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich
12. Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich
13. The Lazarus Vendetta by Patrick Larkin
14. Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
15. Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben

16. Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich

diapasoun

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4426
  • Location: California
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #334 on: April 09, 2018, 09:24:23 AM »
1. Your Money or Your Life, Vicki Robin (library)
2. A Room of One's Own, Virginia Woolf (library)
3. The Blue Sword, Robin McKinley (library)
4. The Bad-ass Librarians of Timbuktu, Joshua Hammer (mine)
5. The Sagas of Ragnar Lodbrok, trans. Ben Waggoner (mine)
6. Practical Sigil Magic, Frater U.:D.: (pdf)
7. The Refrigerator Monologues, Catherynne Valente (library)
8. What It Means When A Man Falls From The Sky, Lesley Nneka Arimah (library)
9. Loitering with Intent, Muriel Spark (library)
10. Everfair, Nisi Shawl (library)
11. Bobbed Hair and Bath-tub Gin, Marion Meade
12. Ghost Talkers, Mary Robinette Kowal

13. Debt: The First 5,000 Years, David Graeber (mine). This was WONDERFUL. Graeber is a good anthropologist, and he tackles economic anthropology -- particularly debt and its (foundational) relationship to markets, states, money, and taxes, and its interplay with slavery, violence, and domination, in incredible depth, especially for a book geared towards non-specialists. The discussions about money and monetary policy are especially interesting, as is the early historical discussion. Things come a bit loose towards the end; it's hard to write about recent history, and Graeber absolutely has opinions on capitalism and debt, the combination of which makes it a bit hard to follow (what's he actually trying to get at there?). That being said, this is currently tied for favorite book of 2018.

Raenia

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2631
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #335 on: April 10, 2018, 04:41:37 AM »
1. The Small-Scale Poultry Flock - Harvey Ussery (1/9/2018)
2. Oathbringer - Brandon Sanderson (1/19/2018)
3. The 4-hour Work Week - Timothy Ferriss (1/21/2018)
4. Smilla's Sense of Snow - Peter Hoeg (1/23/2018)
5. Home Cheese Making - Ricki Carroll (1/25/2018)
6. A Darker Shade of Magic - V.E. Schwab (1/26/2018)
7. Dead of Winter - Matt Lake, Susan Fair, Laurie Hull, H.W. Lawson, Brian Goodman (1/27/2018)
8. Coraline - Neil Gaiman (1/30/2018)
9. The Not So Big House - Sarah Susanka (2/5/2018)
10. Le Petit Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupery (2/21/2018)
11. Purity - Jonathan Franzen (2/22/2018)
12.  Democracy in America - Alexis de Tocqueville (2/27/2018)
13. In Cold Blood - Truman Capote (3/4/2018)
14. Running & Being: The Total Experience - George Sheehan (3/7/2018)
15. Leviathan Wakes - James S.A. Corey (3/10/2018)
16. Plato's Republic - trans. C. D. C. Reeve (3/17/2018)
17. The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem - Nathaniel Branden (3/21/2018)
18. Caliban's War - James S.A. Corey (3/23/2018)
19. The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage - Philip Pullman (3/24/2018)
20. Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson (3/30/3018) - REREAD
21.  Abaddon's Gate - James S.A. Corey (4/4/2018)

22. A Long Fatal Love Chase - Louisa May Alcott (4/9/2018)

jeninco

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3997
  • Location: .... duh?
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #336 on: April 10, 2018, 09:33:19 AM »
1. An Anthropologist on Mars, Oliver Sachs
2. Song of the Quarkbeast, Fford
3. David and Goliath, Gladwell
4. Why Buddhism is True, Wright
5. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Mark Twain
6. B is for Burglar, Sue Grafton
7. Siddhartha, Hesse
8. Sapiens, A Brief History of Humankind, Harari
9. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime,  Haddon. Talked about this with a high school student on my way out of tutoring last week, and grabbed it to (re-) read so I can ask him about it more next week. Love it!
10. Glass Houses (librarian recommendation when I asked for something lightweight)
11. Lavinia, Le Guin
12. Speaker for the Dead, Orson Scott Card (Yuck)
13. Debt Free U (I liked it! Lots of good ideas and perspective in here.)
14. Fledgling, Octavia Butler (loved it!)
15. How to Tame a Fox, Dugakin (also very good, especially in tandem with #14)
16. Lab Girl, Jahren (BJ, I loved it, although I see how various parts could slow one down...)
17. Grocery, Ruhlman LOVED IT! How did our food system get this crazy way! What can be done?
18. Hard Truth, Nevada Barr: HATED IT! I do not need to know that much about (how you imagine) the inside of the mind of a sadistic psychopath. To be fair, I've enjoyed some of her earlier books.
19. Where you go is not who you'll Be, Bruni
20. Artemis, Weir: Meh. The writing is pretty bad, and the main character sounds just like Mark Whitney, i.e. what Andy Weir probably wishes he sounds like.
21. The Leftovers, Perrotta. Saw it at the library next to something I was looking for, thought "why not." Meh.

Next:
Borrowed Between the World and Me from my HS junior. We're traveling this weekend, so we'll get to discuss it. (Still working on this: it's a slow read) (Still working...)
When Breath Becomes Air: So well written! I'm kind of savoring it on purpose.
The Essex Serpent: Been on the list for a while
Fantasyland: Recommended by a guy on a plane. Looks good!

ahptex

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 209
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #337 on: April 10, 2018, 08:00:33 PM »
(1) Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
(2) A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny
(3) The Water Will Come by Jeff Goodell
(4) Wildwood by Colin Meloy
(5) Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin
(6) Little Soldiers: An American Boy, a Chinese School, and the Global Race to Achieve by Lenora Chu
(7) Family Matters:Why Homeschooling Makes Sense by David Guterson
(8) Street of Eternal Happiness:  Big City Dreams Along a Shanghai Road by Rob Schmitz
(9) Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
(10) The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
(11) Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits by Pema Chodron
(12) The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
(13) The Year of Less by Cait Flanders
(14) Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
(15) The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
(16) The End of Alzheimer's by Dale Bredesen
(17) Christodora by Tim Murphy
(18) How Democracies Die: What History Reveals about our Future by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt
(19) Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
(20) Trumpocracy by David Frum
(21) The More of Less by Joshua Becker

(22) The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

diapasoun

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4426
  • Location: California
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #338 on: April 10, 2018, 08:39:39 PM »
(22) The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

I'm curious to hear other people's opinions on this book. I enjoyed it when I read it (I am very prone to Coziness), but also had some critiques about the style and a few other things about it. What did you like/not like about it?

GeekyGirl

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 144
  • Age: 41
  • Location: France
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #339 on: April 11, 2018, 03:16:07 AM »
Still not where I want to be and this is the least I have read my entire life but it's getting better and I love the new library

ENG
  • Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
  • The Privileges by Jonathan Dee
  • Goodnight nobody by Jennifer Weiner
  • Someone Special might be closer than you think by Sheila O'Flanagan
FR*
  • Coucher de soleil à Saint-Tropez (Sunset in St. Tropez) par Danielle Steel
  • Coup de foudre (First Sight) par Danielle Steel
  • A bon port(Safe Harbour) par Danielle Steel
  • Elever son enfant...autrement(Raising kids differently:promotes long breastfeeding, co sleeping, using non violent methods,etc. ) par Catherine Dumonteil-kremer

That book by Sheila O'Flanagan was difficult and boring so it took me ages to finish it. The thing is I don't like leaving books unfinished (We do not have many libraries in my country of origin and when I was younger and eager to read, coming by books was such a hassle than I'd read anything I got my hands on) and I just take longer to read them when I don't like them. While I can read one in a seating if I like it. I just have to let go of those books I dont like. I have access to more books than I'll ever read and I can just read what I like.

* English title (if applicable or summary) in italics

Rosy

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2742
  • Location: Florida
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #340 on: April 11, 2018, 08:37:36 AM »
1. Your Money or Your Life, Vicki Robin (library)
2. A Room of One's Own, Virginia Woolf (library)
3. The Blue Sword, Robin McKinley (library)
4. The Bad-ass Librarians of Timbuktu, Joshua Hammer (mine)
5. The Sagas of Ragnar Lodbrok, trans. Ben Waggoner (mine)
6. Practical Sigil Magic, Frater U.:D.: (pdf)
7. The Refrigerator Monologues, Catherynne Valente (library)
8. What It Means When A Man Falls From The Sky, Lesley Nneka Arimah (library)
9. Loitering with Intent, Muriel Spark (library)
10. Everfair, Nisi Shawl (library)
11. Bobbed Hair and Bath-tub Gin, Marion Meade
12. Ghost Talkers, Mary Robinette Kowal

13. Debt: The First 5,000 Years, David Graeber (mine). This was WONDERFUL. Graeber is a good anthropologist, and he tackles economic anthropology -- particularly debt and its (foundational) relationship to markets, states, money, and taxes, and its interplay with slavery, violence, and domination, in incredible depth, especially for a book geared towards non-specialists. The discussions about money and monetary policy are especially interesting, as is the early historical discussion. Things come a bit loose towards the end; it's hard to write about recent history, and Graeber absolutely has opinions on capitalism and debt, the combination of which makes it a bit hard to follow (what's he actually trying to get at there?). That being said, this is currently tied for favorite book of 2018.

Thanks @diapasoun for the review - I'll add that to my reading list.

eliza

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 377
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #341 on: April 11, 2018, 12:56:58 PM »
2018 Focus: Russia - Goal is 50 Books About Russia, Written by Russians, or Novels Set in Russia
1. The Duel - Anton Chekhov
2. The Bear and the Nightingale - Katherine Arden
3. The Unwomanly Face of War - Svetlana Alexievich
4. Lost and Found in Russia: Lives in the Post-Soviet Landscape - Susan Richards
5. Dressed Up for a Riot: Misadventures in Putin's Moscow - Michael Idov
6. The Girl in the Tower - Katherine Arden
7. Russia: A Short History - Abraham Ascher

vikingtantan

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 16
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #342 on: April 12, 2018, 05:06:14 AM »
I'm in. So far I've read:

1. The Art of Fully Living by Tal Gur
2. From Waitress to World Traveler by Megan Collier
3. The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls by Emilie Autumn
4. The Last Englishman by Keith Foskett

5. Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan
6. El Deafo by Cece Bell
7. If Your Dream Doesn't Scare You, It Isn't Big Enough by Kristine Stevens
8. Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
9. Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
10. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
11. The Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow
12.The Naturalist by Andrew Mayne
13. The Blood of the Hydra by Michelle Madow


Currently limited to what's available for English books at my local library and Kindle Unlimited (which turns out 99% time does not have the financial/life/popular authors or books available that I truly want to read,  and I will promptly get rid of it as soon as I move back to the US next year. What's the point of having a monthly subscription when you can't even access all the books?! Man do I miss my library back home. But some books are better than no books, and at least Jim Collins book is on there. End tiny rant.)

ahptex

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 209
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #343 on: April 12, 2018, 07:24:15 AM »
(1) Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
(2) A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny
(3) The Water Will Come by Jeff Goodell
(4) Wildwood by Colin Meloy
(5) Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin
(6) Little Soldiers: An American Boy, a Chinese School, and the Global Race to Achieve by Lenora Chu
(7) Family Matters:Why Homeschooling Makes Sense by David Guterson
(8) Street of Eternal Happiness:  Big City Dreams Along a Shanghai Road by Rob Schmitz
(9) Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
(10) The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
(11) Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits by Pema Chodron
(12) The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
(13) The Year of Less by Cait Flanders
(14) Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
(15) The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
(16) The End of Alzheimer's by Dale Bredesen
(17) Christodora by Tim Murphy
(18) How Democracies Die: What History Reveals about our Future by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt
(19) Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
(20) Trumpocracy by David Frum
(21) The More of Less by Joshua Becker
(22) The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

(23) The Knowledge by Martha Grimes

ringer707

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 311
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #344 on: April 12, 2018, 07:38:26 AM »
1. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
2. The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini
3. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
4. How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway
5. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
6. Between the World and Me by Ta Nahisi Coates
7. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
8. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
9. The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
10. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Illustrated) by J.K. Rowling
11. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
12. Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
13. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
14. Beloved by Toni Morrison
15. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
16. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
17. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
18. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Bracken_Joy

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8927
  • Location: Oregon
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #345 on: April 12, 2018, 10:06:20 AM »
1. A Torch Against The Night- Sabaa Tahir- 1/8/18
--I cannot wait until the next one. Excellent books.
2. Hounded - Kevin Hearne - 1/17/18
3. Hexed - Kevin Hearne- 1/23/18
--fun short reads. Doritos for the brain. Not quite as good as Dresden, but still entertaining.
4. Hammered- Kevin Hearne- 2/9/18
--this one wasn't quite as good at the first two, but it was readable. Hope the next is better again.
5. Lab Girl- Hope Jahren- 2/24/18
--God this took me forever. It just was not compelling for me. Got better at the half way point, but just not my cup of tea. My book club all loved it, though, so maybe I'm alone on this one! I think it would be way more interesting to people who haven't worked in research before, because it'd be 'exploring an unknown life' style.
6. Tricked- Kevin Hearne- 3/2/18
7. World War Z- Max Brooks - 3/5/18
--As always (it was a reread for book club), an excellent book.
8. Trapped- Kevin Hearne - 3/12/18
9. Hunted- Kevin Hearne - 3/23/18
10. Shattered- Kevin Hearne - 4/2/18
11. Staked - Kevin Hearne - 4/11/18

Not sure what I'll be reading next, TBH. Depends on if my library gets the next book club book in soon!

diapasoun

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4426
  • Location: California
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #346 on: April 12, 2018, 09:53:08 PM »
13. Debt: The First 5,000 Years, David Graeber (mine). This was WONDERFUL. Graeber is a good anthropologist, and he tackles economic anthropology -- particularly debt and its (foundational) relationship to markets, states, money, and taxes, and its interplay with slavery, violence, and domination, in incredible depth, especially for a book geared towards non-specialists. The discussions about money and monetary policy are especially interesting, as is the early historical discussion. Things come a bit loose towards the end; it's hard to write about recent history, and Graeber absolutely has opinions on capitalism and debt, the combination of which makes it a bit hard to follow (what's he actually trying to get at there?). That being said, this is currently tied for favorite book of 2018.

Thanks @diapasoun for the review - I'll add that to my reading list.

It was such a delight. No practical financial advice or anything, just good solid anthropology.

woopwoop

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 346
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #347 on: April 13, 2018, 01:09:00 PM »
1. Cane River - this was for a book club, which is the only reason I finished it. Five hundred pages of depressing slavery historical fiction, ranging from super depressing slave rape and torture to slightly-less-depressing institutional racism by the end of the saga. Would not recommend.
2. The Road Less Traveled - this is a psychology cult classic from the 70s that's fun to read. In one chapter he mentions in a footnote that "the only healthy marriage is an open marriage." Lol, the seventies were awesome.
3. Down Among the Sticks and Bones - a well-written and darkly funny YA fantasy novella. Think CS Lewis with vampires.
4. The Hating Game - this was just a bubble gum contemporary romcom about a love-hate-love relationship. Super fast and sexy read, recommended as a nice beach read if you like romance.
5. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue - How did I end up reading so much YA at the beginning of this year? I don't even particularly like YA, these were all recommended to me. This was a fun romp of pirates and highwaymen and gay interracial relationships in the 1800s, but it was very very YA. I can't even put my finger on what "Very YA" means, but whatever it was, this book was that. My next read is YA, too, then I think I'm done for a while. I think it's the quirkiness that gets me. Everyone is so goddamn quirky in YA books.
6. Jane Unlimited - ugh, another YA, this one with a quirky main character who makes artsy umbrellas. Four mentions of Doctor Who in the first half of the book, how weird and nerdy lolol!!! I'm so done with YA.
7. Dead Wake - okay, this one is historical fiction about the Lusitania. I don't know history so this is always good for me. Plus Erik Larsen is the tits, this was a guaranteed Good Book after my latest string of failures. This book is not quite as good as his epicly awesome Devil in the White City that I love love loved, but it's still good and suspenseful.
8.The Duke and I - Regency romance, definitely more erotic than Jane Austen. Fun and light but not particularly great. Recommended all over the place as one of the best contemporary-written regency romances, which probably means I just don't really like this genre. I love Jane Austen, though, oh well.
9.Paris To the Moon - Another French travelogue about an American moving his family to Paris. Funny, well-written, but not epically hilarious like my favorite of this genre, Toujours Provence.
10. Drop the Ball - nonfiction, about how women need to stop trying to do it all. Kind of a companion book to Lean In, which I also didn't like. This book just feels repetitive. It did get my husband and I to make a spreadsheet for our grocery lists, though.
11. A Man Called Ove - another book club read, I guess it was a movie? Anyway, it made me ugly cry at the end although the opening chapters were hard for me to get into. Old grumpy man inspirational lit, I would classify it.
12. The Artist's Way - I am not in the right spot to get into this kind of book, in that I have a toddler and would love to do "morning pages" but it's clear from the way this author writes that she cannot imagine not having alone time every day. Well, bully for her. I'll pick this back up in a few years.
13. Designs for Living and Learning - really great book about childhood learning environments. Gave me a bunch to think about as I create living spaces for my young toddler.
14. Voyage  -a play by Tom Stoppard that's a witty sendup of every Russian play from the greats. Lots of philosophizing and wordplay, but not nearly as entertaining as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, which everyone should read (and watch the movie version!) if they have ever read Hamlet. For you Game of Thrones fans out there, Jorah is Hamlet, and that should seal the deal. He also wrote Shakespeare in Love which was a fun screenplay.
15. Chrysalis - nonfiction, an account of female naturalist Maria Meriam. The book I'm writing is going to have a main character named after her, so I thought I'd do some research. Really interesting so far, she was a gifted artist and scientist back when science was stuck more in naming and classifying rather than experimenting. Makes me excited to write my book!
16. The Kingmaker's Daughter - historical fiction by the same woman who wrote The Other Boleyn Girl which I loved. This was a great book, made even greater by the fact that I don't know any history at all. What will happen to Anne and Richard? I don't know, it's a mystery! Makes reading historical fiction all the better, imo.
16b. The Shadow of the Wind - I... really didn't like this. I didn't even finish it, so that's why it's going on the list as 16b. Just awful, pretentious writing. Maybe it's the translation? I had high hopes and a lot of people recommended it, but I found it utterly lacking.
17. The Refrigerator Monologues - On recommendation by this thread. I didn't really care for this one, maybe because I don't know an awful lot about comics. Most of the characters had the same voice, there weren't any great new perspectives. I dunno, I might have been in the wrong frame of mind for this.
18. The Whole-Brain Child - Some really good suggestions for how to handle parenting decisions, based on brain science of developing children. Some of it was for older kids so not quite as useful, but a lot of excellent practical advice for toddler meltdowns, etc. We have been lucky so far with our kid (not quite 2!) but I'm sure she'll be testing our patience soon enough so I want to be prepared.
19. Transatlantic - Another historical fiction about Ireland, transatlantic flight, Frederick Douglass, and some other things that are not really interesting to me. Also the author uses way too many. Sentence fragments. For dramatic effect. And I'm sick of it.
20. Brain on Fire - Nonfiction account of a NY Post journalist who went crazy due to a rare form of encephalitis. Super interesting, like reading a House episode. Ending kind of dragged on weakly but otherwise very engaging.
21. The Philosophical Baby - An overview of studies on the cognitive and emotional capabilities of developing babies. I liked it, but not a lot of good parenting takeaways other than "don't neglect your baby".
22. The Importance of Being Earnest   -Reread this one for funsies. It was fun, like all Wilde is fun.


I feel like I've been slacking but it looks like I'm actually still on track, which is nice. Going to dive into another book club book soon!

Rosy

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2742
  • Location: Florida
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #348 on: April 13, 2018, 01:39:59 PM »
1. Four Weddings and a Sixpence by Julia Quinn ...
2. Elites of Eden by Joey Graceffa
3. Children of Exile by Margaret Peterson Haddix
4. Children of Refuge
5. Heartless by Mary Balogh
6. Son by Lois Lowry
7. Lady Sophia's Lover by Lisa Kleypas
8. Lady of Sin by Madeline Hunter
9. A Precious Jewel by Mary Balogh
10. A Secret Affair by Mary Balogh
11. Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean
12. Only Enchanting by Mary Balogh
13. Only a Kiss by Mary Balogh
14. Irresistible by Mary Balogh

15. The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch - Part of a Fantasy Series - Curious mixture of brilliant insightfulness, heavy use of base cuss words, easy-flowing adventure dialog with clever stories and an entire archaic play a la Shakespeare alongside the adventure story. Enjoyed it even though it was a tough read at times, but will not read another book by this author - even though I greatly enjoyed the storyline.

16. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - I read this eons ago and it always stayed with me - re-reading was just as good - food for thought.
17. The Inheritance by Charles Finch - Fun read - historic setting, quintessentially British, leisurely developed mystery.

18. A Summer To Remember by Mary Balogh - love historical romances by Mary Balogh.
21. Armada by Ernest Cline - YA - fantasy-sci-fi - OK for YA
22. Sweet Ruin - by Kresley Cole - lots of steamy sex scenes, good Fantasy plot and a little bit of other world development. Fun at first but the soft porn aspect killed it for me.
23. Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole - same as above.
24. MacRieve by Kresley Cole - same as above.
These three are part of the Immortal Series - wish he/she would write more plot, less sex. Not reading anything else by this author.
25. The Wicked Duke by Madeline Hunter - forgot I read this one before, one of her best - I like all Madeline Hunter historical romances.
27. The Temporary Wife by Mary Balogh - loved it
28. A Promise of Spring by Mary Balogh - loved it
29. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard - first book in a series - pretty good
30. Knave of Hearts by Elizabeth Boyle - enjoyed it
33. Unforgiven by Mary Balogh - fun read
35. Pony Express Christmas Bride by Rhonda Gibson - Christian references - mostly meh
36. A Highlander Christmas by Janet Chapman - Romance and Druid Magic intertwined. Had the potential to be a really great book, but missed the mark. Needed more fluidity and depth and background, character development. Overall, still a mildly entertaining read. 
37. The Reluctant Viking by Sandra Hill - I have no idea why I finished this book to the bitter end - misogynist piece of crap.
38. The Handmaiden's Necklace by Kat Martin - part of a trilogy, loved the story development, twists and turns. Love all her books.

39. An English Bride in Scotland by Lynsay Sands - great read, fast-paced, well written, it doesn't get any better in romance land than this book  - like a favorite piece of candy slowly releasing a lasting taste of sweetness.
40. An Affair with a notorious Heiress by Lorraine Heath - good plot and rather well presented, but so much repetition as to why she just couldn't and he just wouldn't - over and over again - I finally skipped to the last two chapters, surprise, more good plot twists and development than I expected. Would have been great if you cut out all the repetition, about a good third of the book.
Forbidden to Love the Duke by Jillian Hunter - enjoyable read- part of the Fenwick Sisters Affairs series

41. The Twilight Wife by A.J. Banner - loved it - great mystery writing, nothing is as it appears to be. Now I'll have to track down the author's other book The Good Neighbor.
42. A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford - Surprisingly good. No Vampires involved. Mortals/Immortals - Suicide - Teen Love, angels caught between heaven and hell, all woven together in a unique, but rather dark romp of a novel that leaves you guessing where it may lead next.  Young Adult Fiction.
43. The Eternal Kiss - 13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire - loved every short story in the book - entertaining read. Young Adult Fiction.

44. Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn - meh, tepid, repetitive even a tad boring in places. Not the author's best effort.
45. Once upon a Tartan by Grace Burrowes - enjoyed it.
46. Must Love Dukes by Elizabeth Michels - entertaining read from page one to the end - loved it:)

SUBSET - Money and/or Finance/Economics/Politics/Society/Science (goal of 15 books)

19. How to Retire with Enough Money by Theresa Ghilarducci - interesting read. Discusses social security and medicare/medicaid in some detail, but in an abstract economic sense. Discusses the economic disparity in the US a bit and lays out improvements to social security via a link to a proposed bill - good read, good points. 

20. Cheaper, Better, Faster by  Mary Hunt - Excellent Money Saving Tips for household and car buying ... common sense, DIY - worth a read.

26. The Behavior Gap by Carl Richards - Loved it! It is a quasi MMM philosophy seen from a different, kinder angle. The author is engagingly human and utterly relatable - he called it a book about how you can make good money decisions. He is a CFP  ... identify your personal behavior gaps and make a plan to avoid them in the future. No investment advice but a compelling read about our money fears. Insightful - caused me to reflect on several topics. Lighthearted book with a positive vibe - recommended, especially if you struggle with the harsher demands of MMM:)

31. The Unbanking of America by Lisa Servon - fascinating read. I had no idea fintech was so active in this area and had never heard of tandas or ROSCAS.
The subtitle is How the New Middle Class Survives and while I do not agree with all of the conclusions drawn - it revealed just how predatory the banks have become.
I started out on page 121 with - Chapter 7 - Borrowing and Saving under the Radar:) which was one of the best chapters in the book. My only complaint is that since this book is a mix of live research and historic and current data - she should have started out with some of the more interesting live research because I found the first two chapters a tad tedious. 
Overall a rather enlightening book - much better read than I expected!

32. Nasty women - a collection of essays-protest and solidarity in Trump's America. SKIPPING FOR NOW

34. Second Chance - For Your Money, Your Life and Our World by Robert T. Kiyosaki (the rich dad-poor dad author). Did not care for this book, hated the writing style, especially that infernal, condescending question and answer rhetoric - bah, humbug!  I don't know if it was that it felt dumbed down in parts or because the writing style made it confusing at least for me to follow the thought process, it all seemed like a jumbled mess with persistent marketing pitches for his own enterprise. I kept thinking that maybe I'll find that gold nugget of financial wisdom surely contained in this book by such a famous author - nope.
However, I did come away with a (very few) new insights into the world of finance at large and am now inspired to read up on Buckminster Fuller since he kept referencing him, I'd forgotten how much I liked Bucky:).
I always appreciate different perspectives even if I don't find them viable or agree with them. Also, didn't realize he wrote a book co-authored by Trump called Midas Touch, blech.

Raenia

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2631
Re: 50 Books in 2018!
« Reply #349 on: April 13, 2018, 04:07:23 PM »
1. The Small-Scale Poultry Flock - Harvey Ussery (1/9/2018)
2. Oathbringer - Brandon Sanderson (1/19/2018)
3. The 4-hour Work Week - Timothy Ferriss (1/21/2018)
4. Smilla's Sense of Snow - Peter Hoeg (1/23/2018)
5. Home Cheese Making - Ricki Carroll (1/25/2018)
6. A Darker Shade of Magic - V.E. Schwab (1/26/2018)
7. Dead of Winter - Matt Lake, Susan Fair, Laurie Hull, H.W. Lawson, Brian Goodman (1/27/2018)
8. Coraline - Neil Gaiman (1/30/2018)
9. The Not So Big House - Sarah Susanka (2/5/2018)
10. Le Petit Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupery (2/21/2018)
11. Purity - Jonathan Franzen (2/22/2018)
12.  Democracy in America - Alexis de Tocqueville (2/27/2018)
13. In Cold Blood - Truman Capote (3/4/2018)
14. Running & Being: The Total Experience - George Sheehan (3/7/2018)
15. Leviathan Wakes - James S.A. Corey (3/10/2018)
16. Plato's Republic - trans. C. D. C. Reeve (3/17/2018)
17. The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem - Nathaniel Branden (3/21/2018)
18. Caliban's War - James S.A. Corey (3/23/2018)
19. The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage - Philip Pullman (3/24/2018)
20. Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson (3/30/3018) - REREAD
21.  Abaddon's Gate - James S.A. Corey (4/4/2018)
22. A Long Fatal Love Chase - Louisa May Alcott (4/9/2018)

23. The Vanishing Middle Class: Prejudice and Power in a Dual Economy - Peter Temin (4/13/2018) - Disappointing.  I was hoping for more depth, but his analysis basically boils down to 'because racism.'

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!