Walklover’s 75 Books Challenge for 2019

Happy New Year everyone! Sending wishes for health, happiness and good will towards all in the New Year!

1. Anne Frank’s Diary: A Graphic Adaptation by Ari Folman - A wonderful adaptation with extraordinary illustrations by David Polonsky. I would recommend this for all ages - and people of all religions and beliefs.

>3 walklover: That one looks really good! Thank you for the recommendation, Debbi!

2. Tiny House Big Fix by Gail Anderson-Dargatz - This was an ER I received in 2018 and I’ve just gotten the chance to read it. It totally read like the preface to a book - ending with what I thought the whole thing would cover. Not worth my time, unfortunately.

>4 alcottacre: Too bad about that one. I hope your next read is better for you.

3. Arranged Marriage by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni - This is truly one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. It is a series of essays about marriage in the Indian culture - happy, sad, entertaining, disturbing. I would recommend it to everyone.

4. Brazen - Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Penelope Bagieu - A graphic novel giving wonderfully strong, brave, intelligent women their due.

5. Take Me With You by Andrea Gibson - A terrific book of poetry.

“Autumn
Is the hardest season.
The leaves are falling like
They’re falling in love
With the ground.”

6. Life Inside My Mind edited by Jessica Burkhart - In this book, 31 authors share their personal struggles with mental health issues. It was quite eye opening in many cases and confirmed a great deal that I already knew. If you have family, friends or know anyone who is dealing with a mental illness, you should definitely read this.

7. Eleanor by Barbara Cooney - A terrific “picture book” about Eleanor Roosevelt. There is a lot of text, so it might be better for middle graders and up - all the way up to adults because there is so much interesting information.

You're off to a good start with 7 completions!

Nice start of the year, Debbi!

Welcome back!

Good to see you!!! Yay for Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World I loved that one.

>2 Berly: - Yay for both!! Wishing you a Happy 2019!!

>4 alcottacre: - I can’t wait to hear what you think of it.

>3 walklover: - It most definitely was.

>12 thornton37814: - Thanks - it’s been a good reading month so far.

>13 FAMeulstee: - It’s been terrific! Thanks!

>14 drneutron: - Thank you!!

>15 SuziQoregon: - Same here! I knew we both had good taste! :)

8. Birding Without Borders: An Obsession, a Quest, and the Biggest Year in the World by Noah Strycker - An interesting account of a year spent by Strycker traveling the world in a successful attempt to surpass the previously set record for number of different birds seen. I personally found Strycker’s accounts of the places he visited and the people who helped him along the way more interesting than the lists of birds he saw.

9. Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh - An amazing middle grade novel that should be required reading for all ages. It’s the story of a 14 year old Syrian refugee who seemingly has lost everything - family and possessions - and 13 Max, an American big from Washington, D.C. - who meet in Brussels. Their meeting changes both of their lives for the better.

10. Death by Chicklit by Lynn Harris - Thank you to Becca for her recommendation. A well-written and entertaining mystery.

11. Vox by Christina Dalcher - Women are no longer allowed to have jobs, read books, have bank accounts - or speak more than 100 words a day. This is the story of what one woman will do to protect her family - and, particularly, her daughter- in a world that is slowly becoming dangerous for anyone not agreeing with those in the highest government offices and those who influence them. A very interesting read - particularly to how it parallels many moments in our current government.

Go Mom go!

12. Delicious by Ruth Reichl - A lovely love story/mystery by the famous food writer. Got hungry reading all of her descriptions of meals and cheeses and other delicacies.

>27 seasonsoflove: - Thank you, my wonderful daughter!!

You are on a roll!! I really enjoyed Vox -- scary and thought provoking. Happy Sunday.

13. When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors - An exceptional book that I would recommend be read by all. It not only chronicles the Black Lives Matter movement, but digs deeply into the way blacks and other people of color were thought of and treated - and how different it is/was than for many whites.

14. The Truthers by Geoffrey Girard - Did 9/11 occur as and because of what we’ve been told? This question is what drives Katie Wallace into the world of Truthers - those who see conspiracy around every corner. It’s a well-written book filled with conspiracy theories, hackers, government agents - and a father who isn’t a father.

15. before i fall by Lauren Oliver - Thank you to Joe for convincing me to stick with this book when I was ready to give it up after 75 pages. It’s not the best thing I’ve ever read - but the story of a young girl who relives her own death and has the ability to change her story is worth the read.

16. Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert’s Story by Debbie Tung - Thank you to Joe for this recommendation. This is a terrific book written from an introvert’s point of view. I truly identify with the author in so many of the things she says - and would recommend this for introverts and extroverts (to help them better understand the introverts in their lives).

Hi Debbi!

First time visitor, although I’ve been friends here on LT with Joe for quite a while. Lots of interesting books, congrats on already reading 16.

>28 walklover: Delicious is already on my shelves, and I’ve tagged it ‘2019 read’. I sometimes forget the good stuff I already have on my shelves. I’ve started tagging them, now I just need to remember to read them when it’s time to look for a book. *smile*

>35 karenmarie: - Welcome and thank you! I tend to stick pretty close to my own thread - mainly using it to keep track of books read and respond to comments - but I really enjoy that. I’m working hard on my TBR shelves - really want to give those books a chance (and let myself let go of those I don’t enjoy - even not finishing a few).

17. Book Love by Debbie Tung - Another by the author of Quiet Girl in a Noisy World. I loved it - she really gets all of us who love books, reading and other readers so much.

18. The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted by Elizabeth Berg - I wasn’t sure that I would like this book of essays after the first few - I think I was spoiled by the high quality of the writing in Arranged Marriage - but I ended up really enjoying it. A wide range of topics were covered - all tied together by the thread of food.

19. The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg - Doris, a 96 year old woman, lives alone in Stockholm. She Skypes weekly with her grandniece, Jenny, who lives in America and is her only living relative. Doris has an address book given to her by her father and many of the names have been crossed out with the word “Dead” placed after. Doris begins to write about each of these people and their place in her life so that Jenny will more fully understand what life has been like for her. I won’t reveal it here, but the ending is especially lovely. I really enjoyed this book.

20. Code Girls by Liza Mundy - An interesting (and previously untold) story about the women code-breakers of World War II. I enjoyed the story, but did get bogged down a bit in the myriad of specifics used to described how the codes were broken.

21. Hello Universe by Erin Estrada Kelly - A lovely YA story of a friendship between four wonderful misfits. I loved it!

22. Deadline by Mira Grant - This is the second book in the Newsflesh Trilogy (see Feed). I actually enjoyed this one even more than the first book - and I look forward to reading Blackout, the third book.

23. Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine - It’s truly hard for me to find the right words to describe this book. It’s poetry in a form I’m used to because of my experience with slam poets - it’s one of the most impactful discussions of race relations I’ve ever experienced - it’s beautifully lyrical, but harsh as well. I am so glad I read it - and, once again, I thank Joe for the recommendation.

24. The Beekeeper’s Promise by Fiona Valpy - Those of you who follow my reviews know how much I enjoy books that cover the stories of two people, each living in a separate time, whose lives are intertwined in some way. This was such a book - and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Abi, in 2017, takes a job at a chateau in rural France - hoping to work through heartbreak and recover from a devastating accident. While there, she discovers the story of Elian’s life from 1938-1944 - a life lived during the war and all the hardships and loss that brought.

25. Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson - I generally enjoy Bryson’s writing, but this was one time I did not. Bryson set forth on a farewell tour of England right before he moved back to the States - and this is his description of that trip. I found it repetitive - I tired quite quickly of his many descriptions of hotels and inns, most of which were negative - and I particularly did not enjoy his description of the elderly. Not a recommendation for this one from me.

Hi, Debbi. Sorry to hear you're still under the weather.

Hope you have fully recovered Debbi.

Have a lovely Sunday.

>46 ffortsa: - Thanks, Judy! Definitely feeling better and enjoying the weather warm up. All the best to you and Jim!

>47 PaulCranswick: - Thanks, Paul! It took quite awhile, but I’m definitely better. Hope this finds you and yours well.

26. The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell - A lovely daily journal kept by bookstore owner, Bythell. For those of us who love books, have worked in bookstores and have wanted to open our own, this is a delight.

I’m glad that you’re feeling better, Debbi!

Good to hear you're feeling better. I

Ditto!! : )

>51 kidzdoc: - Thanks, my friend! Now if our weather would just stabilize on the warm side, maybe we all won’t get sick again.

>52 SuziQoregon: - Thanks, Juli! It’s so good to have a bit of get-up-and-go again.

>53 Berly: - Thanks, Kim! Congrats on all the great martial arts work!!

27. The Art of Inheriting Secrets by Barbara O’Neal - After Olivia Shaw’s mother dies, she discovers that she has inherited an English estate and a title - part of her family history she knew nothing about. This - and a few of the books that follow - is a light romantic tale with delightful, well-developed characters - and a perfect choice for me to read as I was recovering.

28. The French for Love by Fiona Valpy - Another young woman suffering loss - her job, her boyfriend and her favorite aunt - who inherits a house - this time in France. Delightful.

29. The French for Always by Fiona Valpy - I enjoyed The French for Love so much, that I sought out this prequel - and enjoyed it as well.

30. I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg - Maggie Fortenberry is planning to commit suicide and has gone so far as to donate all of her clothes and planned out her death to the last detail. However, life, neighbors and coworkers keep getting in the way. Another good one by Fannie Flagg.

31. Blackout by Mira Grant - The final book of the Newsflesh Trilogy - and I enjoyed this read as much as the other two. So happy to find there is an ebook novella, Countdown which I have already bought for my Kindle.

62. Out of This World: The Surreal Art of Leonora Carrington by Michelle Markel - A wonderful picture book recommended by Joe. It tells the fascinating story of an artist with an unlimited imagination.

63. My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman - By the author of A Man Called Ove, this book took me a few chapters to decide I really liked it. It’s a lovely story of Elsa and her grandmother, whose death is the beginning of a wild adventure for Elsa. Very well-developed characters - and a wonderful land filled with many fascinating kingdoms.

>63 walklover: I really liked that one. In fact, anything by Backman I like. : )

>64 Berly: - Those are the only two I’ve read so far - definitely plan to try more.

64. Broken Bone China by Laura Childs - My favorite cozy mystery author - and she didn’t fail me. I really enjoy her Tea Shop series - and look forward to the next in the series.

65. The Cornwalls are Gone by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois - This is a stand-alone novel and I really enjoyed it. The characters were well-developed, the story moved along and the mystery was quite interesting.

66. Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle - Another good cozy mystery set right where I like them - surrounded by books.

67. Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall - A gift from Joe who knows how much I love lighthouses. A lovely story filled with much information about lighthouse keepers that I never knew. Beautifully illustrated - Blackall is a Caldecott Medalist.

68. The Handbook by Jim Benton - A librarian and Kirkus Review seemed to really like this book, but not me. It’s based on kids finding a Parents’ Handbook filled with simplistic rules of parenting and the chaos that ensues - a boring chaos that I can not recommend.

69. The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley -
This is the sequel to the Newberry Honor-winning The War That Saved My Life. I thoroughly enjoyed them both and would recommend them to all whether you regularly read YA books or not. I’m a big fan of historical fiction and this one was beautifully written and well-researched.

70. Rough Magic by Lara Prior-Palmer - I received an advanced copy of this memoir, but it should be available for purchase at this point. The story of a young woman who enters the Mongol Derby - racing 25 ponies across 1,000 kilometers. I found the story itself quite fascinating, but the writing quite self-indulgent and overwrought.

I loved Hello Lighthouse so much I gifted it to my niece - I was so excited when it won the Caldecott! And I'm also a fan of The War That Saved My Life series. Do you like a particular time period for your historical fiction?

>73 bell7: - I really don’t have a specific time period, but I do like historical fiction regarding strong women. Any recommendations?

71. The Rental Heart and Other Fairy Tales by Kristy Logan - “Twenty tales of lust and loss These stories feature clockwork hearts, lascivious queens, paper men, island circuses and a flooded world.....all explore substitutions for love.” This was a very interesting assortment of short stories - not all hit the right note for me - but they were all worth reading if only to experience Logan’s brilliant creativity.

72. The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia - A beautifully written book (the first of Segovia’s to be translated into English) set in the time of the Mexican Revolution and the influenza of 1918. It tells the story of one family and their many struggles as they begin to accept what to many was unbelievable.

73. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo - I’ve never been a big fan of DiCamillo, but I gave this story a try on the recommendation of a cousin whose opinion I hold in high regard. So glad I did. It’s a beautiful story about a toy rabbit and his many adventures after he was lost by his first “owner”. The lives he touches along the way are fascinating - and I was sorry when the story ended. I highly recommend this.

74. The Never Games by Jeffery Deaver - Becca and i are big fans of Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme series - and I have her to thank for recommending this one. It’s the story of Colter Shaw, a man who finds people when someone offers a reward (he states more than once that he is not a bounty hunter0. Raised by survivalist parents, he has all the right skills for the job. I hope this is the first of many books Deaver writes about Shaw.

75. Shadow Show edited by Sam Weller and Mort Castle - This is a series of short stories inspired by the life and writing of Ray Bradbury written by authors such as Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood and Weller himself (the authorized biographer of Bradbury). Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy all of the stories - there were actually a few that made no sense to me. I haven’t read a lot of Bradbury, so that might have been the problem.

2019 75 Book Challenge complete!! Already looking at the shelves for my next books.

Congrats!

>74 walklover: I liked Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon and want to read her latest book, I was Anastasia, which I've read covers both the historical Anastasia and Anna Anderson, the woman who claimed to be *the* Anastasia for decades. The House Girl by Tara Conklin goes back and forth between the 1850s with Josephine - the "house girl" of the title - and a current-day reparations litigation case. Another Civil War-era book that I really liked was The Secrets of Mary Bowser that focused on women spies for the Union who lived in Richmond. And Circling the Sun by Paula McLain is biographical fiction about a pretty fascinating woman who was the first female pilot to fly the hard way (West to East) over the Atlantic.

Congrats on reaching 75!

Woo-hoo! Way to go, Hon. 75 books halfway through the year! What a great year you're having.

As I mentioned, I'm really enjoying The Alice Network. I'm about halfway through.

Congratulations on reaching 75, Debbi!

Congratulations, Debbi!

Congrats Debbi!!

>81 drneutron: - Thanks! Surprised myself!

>82 bell7: - Thanks for the congrats and for the recommendations. I particularly like books that go back and forth between two time periods - so I’ll be on the lookout for The House Girl.

>83 jnwelch: - Thanks! And thanks for all of your good recommendations.

>84 FAMeulstee: - Thanks!

>85 kidzdoc: - Thanks, Darryl! Looking forward to seeing you soon.

>86 SuziQoregon: - Thanks!

76. Splinter by Sasha Dawn - This was a well-written mystery with very well-developed characters. I was invested from the very beginning.

77. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo - A beautifully written YA novel revolving around a young girl who uses slam poetry to help her figure out her life - and her relationship with her mother. I’m quite partial to slam poetry, but I think anyone would enjoy this.

78. Invisible by James Patterson - Emmy Dockery is obsessed with finding her sister’s killer and it has caused her to have to take a leave from her job as an FBI research analyst. However, it is just those job skills that lead her on her search to find the person who killed her sister - and many others. This is a very good book - and Emily and “Books” (her ex-fiancé) should be partnered for mor mysteries.

79. The Round House by Louise Erdrich - Thank you to my friend, Virginia, for recommending this book. It’s the first Erdrich I’ve ever read and I definitely intend to read more. That said, this was one of the hardest and saddest books I’ve ever read, but I’m so glad I did.

80. The Day I Died by Lori Rader-Day - This was a terrific book and I’m going to use Sara Paretsky’s review because she states it perfectly - “This literate, understated novel shines a spotlight on domestic violence, loneliness, and the deadly secrets that lurk just below the surface of small-town America”.

81. Private London by James Patterson and Mark Pearson- Becca introduced me to Patterson’s Private series. It concerns an exclusive detective agency and in this novel, they are racing to catch a killer. As always with Patterson, it was a fast-paced book and I enjoyed it.

82. Saga - Volume 9 by Fiona Staples and Brian K. Vaughan - The Saga series is not for everyone - foul-language, sometimes somewhat pornographic - but I really love the story, the humor and the way it deals with differences (race, species, good vs evil).

83. The Games - A Private Novel by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan - Another fast-paced mystery from Patterson and Company. I enjoyed it.

Good mini-reviews, esteemed one.

The Saga series is not for everyone - foul-language, sometimes somewhat pornographic - but I really love the story, the humor and the way it deals with differences (race, species, good vs evil). Well said!

I'm so glad you enjoyed the very different The Poet X and The Round House. Me, too.

>101 jnwelch: - Thanks - and thanks for being my reading cheerleader!

A belated congratulations for blowing through the 75 level!

>103 ffortsa: - Thanks!

84. Y is For Yesterday by Sue Grafton - I read many of the Grafton Alphabet novels, but had stopped quite a while ago. I wanted to read this one as it was her last and I’m very glad I did. It was an excellent story with very interesting characters,

85. Shell Game by Sara Paretsky - Really enjoyed this one - fascinating cast of characters. At times, I found it a bit difficult to keep track of everyone, but it was worth the work to be able to visit with V.I Warshawski again.

86. Jessica Jones - The Secrets of Maria Hill by Brian Michael Bendis - I love the Jessica Jones television show, but had some trouble with this graphic novel as it took her story into places I didn’t always understand.

87. Unsolved by James Patterson and David Ellis - Really enjoyed this. Two serial killers being hunted at the same time, but the authors did a great job of keeping their stories straight - and interesting.

88. The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - There are not enough positive words in my vocabulary to describe just how amazing this book was for me. It had me in its grip from the very beginning - I’m a big fan of stories covering two different times and Makkai did it beautifully. READ THIS BOOK!!

89. The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester - A very interesting book which takes place during WWII (1940) and the present day. Family secrets, loves lost and found, and great tragedy make for a fascinating and romantic novel.

90. The Stone Circle by Elly Griffiths - Well worth the wait - this is a terrific series and The Stone Circle a welcome addition.

91. Dying for Strawberries by Sharon Farrow - I needed a light cozy mystery after completing The Round House and this one definitely fit the bill. Good character development, an interesting mystery - perfect timing for me.

92. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor - A wonderful recommendation from my son, Jesse - who always picks terrific science fiction for me. Sunny was born in America, lives in Nigeria, is an albino and can’t seem to fit in anywhere - until she finds out she has mystical powers. She belongs!! - and gets to use her powers to fight evil criminals. I’m looking forward to reading Akata Warrior, the second book in the series.

Woo, so many good books! I'm glad Akata Witch worked for you, and I thought you'd love The Great Believers. Ruth Galloway - now we have to patiently wait for the next one.

>114 jnwelch: - I don’t know how patient I can be - her books are so good.

93. Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor - If it’s possible, I enjoyed this even more than Akata Witch. Highly recommend!!

94. Strange Diaries by Elly Griffiths - It doesn’t involve Ruth Galloway - it’s a stand alone - but a really good read.

95. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid’s Tale was the first book I ever stayed up all night to read. I would have done the same with this one, except that I’m a good deal older and was definitely experiencing jet lag from our latest trip. Atwood is a genius and this book is actually beyond what I could have hoped for in a sequel.

96. Fish in a Tree by Linda Mullaly Hunt - This was recommended to me by my soon-to-be-a-teenager cousin. I really enjoy reading a good middle grade novel - and this one was great. It involves a young girl with dyslexia and how she views herself and deals with the trials her dyslexia brings - and how she works through things with the help of a terrific teacher. This book was also important for me as I’m working on a middle grade novel about a young girl with asthma - and I can only hope my book reaches the level of this one.

97. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout - I just recently read some excellent fiction by Strout in the New Yorker and it renewed my interest in reading some full length work by her. Olive Kitteridge is not an easy book - and Olive herself is not an easy character to like - but it takes you on an amazing journey through Olive’s interactions, large and small, with a wide variety of her neighbors and family.

Way to go, Walklover! You've got me looking forward to The Testaments. Kudos you for reading Olive Kitteridge. I'm not sure I ever will, but it sounds like a good one.

Hi, Debbi. Looks like you had another great trip to England.

>120 walklover: I like your comments here on Olive. She is not an easy character, but her life and situation is not easy either, and her journey is very poignent.

>Hi, Judy The trip was terrific - there’s so much to enjoy in London - and we keep finding new places and things every trip.

98. Good Talk by Mira Jacob - Another wonderful referral from Mr. Joe. I really wasn’t a graphic novel person until quite recently and I’m glad I gave them a chance, otherwise I would have missed out on a lot of very good books. Jacob hits many of the struggles we are having with our country and ourselves - and does it in a very meaningful way, by using her explanations to and conversations with her child.

99. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo - Since I’ve recently read two books by DiCamillo and enjoyed both, I’m going to have to give Because of Winn Dixie another try. The Tale of Despereaux shows us the life of a little mouse and how he committed to a goal and stuck to it - no matter what. A good lesson for all of us.

100. They Called Us Enemy by George Takei - A brilliant graphic novel which tells the first person tale of Takei’s internment (along with his family) during the war. I would recommend this for middle school on up - there are important things contained in it that all should know.

101. My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite - Thank you, Joe, for this recommendation. Who knew someone would/could write a very funny story about a serial killer??

102. The Unkindest Cut by Honor Hartman - At the moment, I’m in desperate need of easy reads and this cozy mystery hit the spot. It’s “Bridge Club” based and at times there was a bit too much bridge discussion for me, but I enjoyed the characters and felt it was a good mystery.

103. Another by Christian Robinson - A beautifully illustrated wordless picture book about “the dream journey of a little girl and her cat”. Thanks again, Joe.

104. Killer Instinct by James Patterson and Howard Roughan - Not my favorite Patterson book by any means, but an enjoyable read.

I’m glad the recommendations worked out well! Good Talk and They Called Us Enemy are two of my favorite books of the year. My Sister, the Serial Killer was such an unexpected pleasure, and that Christian Robinson one is a charmer, isn’t it.

104 books - woo!

I really enjoyed They Called Us Enemy and now I really need to read this funny serial killer story -- Everyone seems to like it! Patterson is a go-to favorite.

104!!!

105. The Proof Is in the Pudding by Melinda Wells - I needed a break from anything serious for awhile, so I decided to start to work on my Cozy Mystery TBR pile(s). This one concerns a celebrity cook off - and a murder. Fun.

106. Half-Price Homicide by Elaine Viets - The main action in this one takes place in a thrift store. I enjoyed it.

107. Meow is for Murder by Linda O. Johnston - A pet-sitter mystery, this involved murder and a very nasty ex-wife.

108. Needled to Death by Maggie Sefton - A knitting mystery, this one was only okay.

109. Looming for Murder by Carol Ann Martin - A weaving mystery, with interesting subplots.

110. Leftover Dead by Jimmie Ruth Evans - A trailer park mystery, this was one of my favorites. There was excellent character development and the unsolved mystery that was the center of the story was really interesting.

111. Hunted by James Patterson with Andrew Holmes - One of Patterson’s Bookshots, this is the story of a group of very wealthy gentlemen who hunt humans on the weekend.

112. Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell - Thank you, Joe, for this recommendation. A graphic novel that boils down to a story of young love told in the setting of The Pumpkin Patch, a seasonal offering. I really enjoyed it - and Hicks’ illustrations are wonderful.

>140 walklover: You're welcome! Isn't Pumpkinheads a sweet one?

Congrats on passing 100!! And Happy Day After. Hope you are enjoying leftovers. Food, not books.

>142 Berly: - And Happy Holidays to you!!Pie for breakfast the day after - yum!!

113. Dial Om for Murder by Diana Killian - A fun cozy mystery and a very quick read.

114. Drip Dead by Christy Evans - I really enjoyed the characters in this cozy mystery.

115. Nail Biter by Sarah Graves - Another enjoyable cozy.

116. The Chef by James Patterson with Max DiLallo - Becca and I really enjoy reading James Patterson. The mysteries are usually very good - and the books are good reads for those times when your brain isn’t’t up to anything heavy. That’s where my brain has been for awhile.I really enjoyed this one. Great characters, great mystery - and love the setting of New Orleans during Marci Gras.

117. Cross Kill by James Patterson - An excellent BookShots - short and very good. Any book with Alex Cross is a good one in my opinion.

118. French Twist by James Patterson - I really like Detective Luc Moncrief - this is my first exposure to him and I look forward to finding others in which he plays a part. Another BookShot.

Woo, great numbers, Walklover. As you know, I go through periods when lighter reading is on the menu - Harry Dresden or J.D. Robb or whatever. I'm glad you and Becca enjoy Mr. Patterson and the cozies when the timing is right.

>150 jnwelch: - Thanks! Those lighter reads have definitely helped lately - and I’m about to list 3 more. :)

119. Deadly Collection by Elaine Flinn - I really enjoyed this one - great character development, a terrific setting - and a very good mystery.

120. Killer Chef by James Patterson and Jeffrey J. Keyes - This is another Patterson BookShot - and a very good one. I enjoy the character of Caleb Rooney and hope there are more to come involving him.

121. Criss Cross by James Patterson - A good read with a lot of suspense - and my favorite Patterson lead character, Detective Alex Cross.

Go Debbi! Do you think I’d like Deadly Connection?

Thank you for keeping me company in 2019.......onward to 2020.

Best wishes this holiday season!! See you in 2020!

Happy New Year!

>155 jnwelch: - My apologies - it’s Deadly Collection, not Connection. I wouldn’t think you would enjoy it as much as me.

>156 PaulCranswick: - Hi Paul! Happy New year to you and yours!! Will be putting up my new thread very soon.

>157 Berly: - The same to you, my friend. Here’s to a terrific 2020!