Wrap-Up of the 12th Annual Graphic Novel and Manga Challenge

I signed up to read 12 comics this year but more than met the challenge with 39 books. At one point I thought that I would go for 52 books but gave up on that. 22 of the comics were written by new (to me) authors. Here is what I read:

Parenthesis by Elodie Durand

Run by John Lewis

Wicked Things by John Allison

The Grand Odalisque by Ruppert and Mulot

Women Discoverers by Marie Monard

Royal City by Jeff Lemire

Primer by Jennifer Muro

Freiheit by Andrea Grosso Ciponte

Shadow Life by Hiromi Goto

Reckless by Ed Brubaker

Redfork by Alex Paknadel

The Banks by Roxane Gay

Idle Days by Thomas Delsaulniers

Hawking by Ottaviani and Myrick

Credo by Peter Bagge

Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang

Hand Me Down by Alex Paknadel

The Pull by Steve Orlando

Sentient by Jeff Lemire

Sara by Garth Ennis

Double Walker by Michael Conrad

Red Team by Garth Ennis

Tunnels by Rutu Modan

Sweet Tooth Compendium by Jeff Lemire

Snow Angels by Jeff Lemire

The Waiting by Klum Suk Gentry-Kim

COVID Chronicles by Ethan Sacks

The All Nighter by Jason Loot and Chip Zdarsky

Home by Julio Anta

Fire by Peter Bagge

The Father of All Things by Sebastian Girner

Pound for Pound by Natalie Chaidez

Let's Not Talk Anymore by Weng Pixin

Night Train by Steve Foxe

Rebecca and Lucie by Pascal Girard

Factory Summers by Guy Delisle

Hailstone by Rafael Scavone

The All Nighter by Chip Ddarsky and Jason Loo

Favorite Book:  Tunnels

2nd Favorite Book:  The Waiting 

3rd Favorite Book:  The Grand Odalisque

Least Favorite Book:  Snow Angels

Wrap-Up of the 2021 Library Love Reading Challenge

I read 48 books this year for the Library Love Challenge.  I signed up to read 60 books from my public library but didn't quite meet the challenge. 14 of the books were written by new (to me) authors. Here is what I read:

Piece of My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark

A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee

Death and the Maiden by Ariana Franklin

A Yellow House by Karien Van Ditzhuizen

Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anapa

One by One by Ruth Ware

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

The Binding by Bridget Collins

America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray

The Lost Daughter by Gill Paul

The Queen's Marriage by Lady Colin Campbell

The Blended Quilt by Wanda Brustetter

The Woman in the Green Dress by Tea Cooper

The Girl From Silent Lake by Leslie Wolfe

The Henna Artist by Alka Josh

Beneath an Indian Sky by Renita D'Silva

The Night Away by Jess Ryder

The Hawaiian Discovery by Wanda Brunstetter

The Marriage Clock by Zara Raheem

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray

Idle Days by Thomas Desaulniers-Brousseau

Portrait of Peril by Laura Joh Rowland

Midnight Fire by P. K. Adams

Well Behaved Indian Women by Saumya Dave

China by Edward Rutherford

The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey

The Perfect Daughter by Daniel Palmer

Return to the Big Valley by Wanda Brustetter

Peaches and Schemes by Anna Gerard

The Night Gate by Peter May

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur by Alka Joshi

The Cellist by Daniel Silva

Dominus by Steven Saylor

The September Society by Robert Finch

Viral by Robin Cook

Hemlock by Susan Wittig Albert

The Bone Code by Kathy Reichs

An Untidy Death by Simon Brett

Murder at the Metro by Margaret Truman

The First Actress by C. W. Gortner

The Last Odyssey by James Rollins

The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali

The Beginning by Beverly Lewis

A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy

Twisted Tea Christmas by Laura Childs

The Widow Queen by Elzbieta Cherezinska

The Good Death by S. D. Sykes

Favorite Book:  China

2nd Favorite Book:  The Widow Queen

Least Favorite Book:  The Bone Code

Wrap-Up of the 2021 What's in a Name Challenge

I read 6 books for the challenge:

One by One by Ruth Ware

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

White Ivy by Susie Yang

The Art Collector's Daughter by Derville Murphy

The Woman in a Green Dress by Tea Cooper

The Moonlight Child by Karen McQuestion

Favorite Book:  The Moonlight Child (my only 5 star rated book)

Second Favorite Book:  White Ivy (my only 4 star rated book)

Least Favorite Book:  The Woman in the Green Dress  (my lowest rated book with 2 stars)

I have been doing this challenge on and off for years and I love it. I wish that there were more categories but 6 has been the limit since the challenge began. Let's hope that it returns in 2022.  I haven't heard anything yet.

Wrap-Up of the 2021 Creativity Reading Challenge

The 2021 Creativity Reading Challenge did not require that a set number of books be read. I always read several books on art and crafts each year but not many of them. This year I read five books.  They are:

Sarawak Sketchbook by A. Kasim Abas

Amsterdam Sketchbook by Graham Byfield

Botany for the Artist by Sarah Simblet

Yellow by Michael Pasteaureau

Menorca Sketchbook by Graham Byfield

Favorite Book:  Sarawak Sketchbook

2nd Favorite Book:  Botany for the Artist

Least Favorite Book:  Yellow

The Challenge will be open in 2022 and I am going to sign up.  I hope some good arty books come out next year.

Wrap-Up of the 2021 Nonfiction Reader Challenge

I signed up to read six books for this year's nonfiction reading challenge. I read seven, which is more than I have read in the past 10 years. Non-fiction is not a genre I have ever read much of but I found that I really liked the books that I selected for the challenge.

The Queen's Marriage by Lady Colin Campbell

The Cartiers by Francesca Cartier Brickell

The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson

The Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

Yellow by Michael Pasteaureau

Dear Abigail by Diane Jacobs

Revolutionary Mothers by Carol Berlin

Favorite Book:  Empire of Pain

2nd Favorite Book:  Revolutionary Mothers

Least Favorite Book:  Yellow

I purchased an additional three books for the challenge but have not read them yet.  If the challenge is renewed in 2022 I will definitely join.  This was a successful challenge for me as every author was new to me.

Wrap-Up of the 2021 Chunkster Challenge

 

The rules for the Chunkster Challenge had no limit on the number of books required to read but the books had to be 450 pages or more.  I found 16.  Actually, I found 17 but will not have time to read Edward Rutherford's London until next year.  Here's what I read:

With No One as Witness by Elizabeth George

America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray

The Lost Daughter by Gill Paul

The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson

The Cartiers by Francesca Cartier Brickell

My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray

Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

Beneath an Indian Sky by Renita D'Silva

China by Edward Rutherford

Dear Abigail by Diane Jacobs

The Cellist by Daniel Silva

Dominus by Steve Saylor

Sweet Tooth Compendium Edition by Jeff Lemire

Peril by Bob Woodward

The Stolen Lady by Laura Morelli

The Widow Queen by Elzbieta Cherezinska

Favorite Book:  China

2nd Favorite Book:  Dominus

Least Favorite Book:  With No One as Witness. 

All of these books except one was rated 5 out of 5 stars. With No One as Witness was rated 2 out of 5 stars so it gets the least favorite title.  9 of the authors were new to me!

I love going to my local bookstore and roaming for chunky books.  They stand out on the bookshelves and are easy to find.  Usually they are epic historical fiction novels but this year some of my favorite mystery writers published big books. The challenge is running again in 2022 and I will be signing up.

What Makes a DNF Book?

What makes a "did not finish" (DNF) book? I try to finish every book that I am reading, mainly because I paid for the book and don't want to waste money. Some books are just too dull to finish though. I usually give a book 50 pages to get me interested and then I will reassess it.  If I took the book out of the library then I have no predicament. I stop reading. 

So, what makes a DNF book? Sometimes I am not in the mood to read at all and just want to work on my art. Other times my mood prefers a light read such as a cozy and other times my mood wants something different. Assessing how you feel can help a reader determine whether the book should be saved for another day. 

The next issue is whether to review the book or not. I try to be fair but have been known to write punishing reviews on occasion. If a book is not in a genre that I like, I will review the book and state that I don't like the genre. I will also say what type of reader will enjoy it and give an "objective" review of the plot and characters. If there is anything about the book that I like, I will add that to my review.  I know that many bloggers do not review books that they don't like. I think it is more fair to your readers to know your true feelings.  Folks who read your blog do so because they have the same reading interests that bloggers do. I believe they will respect your views on a book that you do not like.

How do you handle those DNF books?

My Favorite Graphic Novel Authors

I began reading comic books and graphic novels about eight years ago.  I particularly enjoy those that are illustrated with bright colors.  After reviewing the types of comics that I have reviewed in the past on this blog it appears that I like the "coming to America" books the best. I am always fascinated by these stories, particularly the ones that have occurred in the past twenty years.  These immigrants have personal stories that are much different from those told by people who came to America a hundred years ago or earlier.  

I have been regularly following these authors: 

Mimi Pond:  fiction

Riad Sattouf:  autobiographical

Joe Sacco:  reportage

Gene Luen Yang:  autobiographical and history

Lucy Knisley:  autobiographical

Dan Dougherty:  autobiographical Beardo series

Guy DeLisle:  autobiographical travelogue series

Sarah Glidden: reportage

Rutu Modan:  fiction

This past year I have found new favorites:

Marieke Nijkamp:  fiction

Robin Ha:  autobiographical

Owen Pomeroy:  historical fiction 

Malaka Gharib:  autobiographical

Cynthia Copeland:  autobiographical

Philippe Thibault:  history

Robert Mailer Anderson:  history

I look forward to finding new (to me) authors next year and beyond.

Favorite Historical Fiction Series

For the past couple of years I have been reading a lot of historical fiction.  While I prefer historical mysteries, there are several series and authors that I follow. They include:

C J. Sansom - Matthew Shardlake
Anna Castle - Francis Bacon Mysteries

Laura Morelli - Renaissance Artisan Series

Ariana Franklin - Mistress of the Art of Death

S. D. Sykes - Oswald de Lacy, Somershill Manor Series

C. De Melo - Medieval Mysteries

Ruth Downie - Medicus
Sharon Kay Penman
P. K. Adams
Conn Iggulden
Brenda Rickman Vantrease
Nancy Bilyeau
C. W. Gortner

Unfortunately, Ariana Franklin has passed away and there will not be any more novels coming from her. Anna Castle is currently working on the 7th Francis Bacon Mystery, Now and Then Stab, but also is writing another series that I am not that fond of. I loved Conn Iggulden's Conqueror series but have struggled with reading his other series. The Conqueror series concerns the lives of the Mongol warlords Ghengis and Kublai Khan. P. K. Adams is a fairly new author.  She has written three books. Two of them are a duology on the life of Hildegard and the last one is the beginning of a new series that takes place in Poland and Lithuania. Christine De Melo has published quite a few books and I have loved them all, with the exception of the last one which is not a historical fiction book.  Freelance is a spy romance based in Florence, Italy. Of course, anything C. W. Gortner and Nancy Bilyeau write are superb.

The medieval period is my favorite era. I would love to read about the Visigoths  though, but don't even know if anyone has tackled this era yet.  I have been having thoughts about writing one myself.  I would need to do alot research and am not sure that I am capable of writing historical fiction.  I have written some mystery short stories and feel much more confident about writing that genre. Anything is possible though.  

What are your favorite historical fiction series and authors?

My Favorite Cozy Mystery Serieses

While at one time I primarily read cozies, I currently only regularly read six cozy book authors. These authors write more contemporary cozies that are mysteries as well.

Cleo Coyle - Coffeehouse Mysteries
Susan Wittig Albert  - China Bayles
Laura Childs - Indigo Tea Shop
Julie Hyzy - White House Chef
Gary Corby - Athenian Mysteries
Ellen Crosby - Wine Country

The White House Chef series is over and I am not sure what is happening with Gary Corby's ancient Greece series.  He should have published another installment of the series in 2018 and 2019 but hasn't.  I used to read additional serieses but gave up on them. They are traditional cozies with more simple plot lines.

Joanna Carl - Chocoholic Mysteries
Leslie Meier - Lucy Johnson
Joanne Fluke - Hannah Swenson
Lillian Jackson Braun - Cat Who Loved Series
Dorothy Gilman - Mrs. Pollifax Series
Chris Cavender - Pizza Lover's Series
Margaret Frazer - Sister Frevisse Series

The latter four ended for various reasons. They may have not gotten their publisher's agreement to continue publishing the series or the author moved on with writing something different.  My favorites from this group are the Mrs. Pollifax and Sister Frevisse Novels.  I have been thinking lately about rereading them since I already know that they will be satisfying reads.  While caregiving for my mother twentysome years ago, we read many of the same books. She would read them first and then I would read them.  My mother loved the Mrs. Pollifax series too and we would talk about them, anxiously waiting for the next book to be published. This is one of my fond memories of that time period. Lillian Jackson Braun's series was another of her favorites. She did not read the other series that I have listed above but I know that she would have loved them. 

I have been searching for a new series to follow. Eileen Watkins' cat grooming series is enjoyable. There are only four books in that series to date and I have read three of them.  I also liked Molly MacRae's Last Wool and Testament, a haunted yarn shop mystery.  Since I am not fond of ghost stories I don't know whether this series will work for me. I did enjoy the fiber art aspect of the book though.

What cozy series do you read?

Favorite Mystery Series

Mysteries have been my favorite genre ever since I began reading.  It is wonderful that many sub-genres have evolved since the beginning of the mystery novel.  Political and spy mysteries used to be my favorite sub-genre but the medical mystery, psychological thriller, historical and treasure hunts have taken over my top spot.  My favorite authors include:

Michael Palmer - medical mysteries

Robin Cook - medical mysteries

Brad Thor - spy novels

Steve Berry - treasure hunt mysteries

Dan Silva - spy novels

Vince Flynn - spy novels
Mary Higgins Clark - suspence
Clive Cussler - military mysteries
Tom Clancy - military mysteries
Peter May - murder mysteries
Chris Culver - Ash Rashid detective mysteries
Preston and Child -  action/technothrillers

James Rollins - action and adventure 

There are 32 sub-genres that I have counted.  They include straight murder mysteries, cozy mysteries, medical mysteries, historical mysteries, military novels, spy novels, political mysteries, treasure hunts, police procedurals, private detective stories, forensic mysteries, supernatural/fantasy mysteries, action, adventure, hard-boiled, noir, classic/golden era, western, techno thrillers, magic realism, gothic, amateur sleuth, legal, paranormal/urban, suspense, thriller, romance, science fiction, locked room, psychological thrillers, young adult and religious thrillers.  Newer sub-genres are still being created by authors who combine sub-genres, i.e., medical treasure hunts, cozy amateur sleuths, etc . . .  The most recent sub-genre was created by Dan Brown when he wrote The DaVinci Code. It is a treasure hunt novel and has sparked other writers to write their own treasure hunts.  The mystery novel is always evolving.

What are your favorite mysteries?

Popular Book Series That I Have Never Read

I am always looking for my next read. Friends give recommendations and become shocked when learning that I have never read their favorite series or favorite authors. I am a fan of many series in the cozy, mystery and historical fiction genres. However, I seem to have bypassed these twenty popular ones:

Janet Evanovich - Stephanie Plum Mysteries
Anne Perry - Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Mysteries
Elizabeth Peters - Amelia Peabody
Tana French - Dublin Murder Squad
Sue Grafton -.Alphabet Series
Ellis Peters - Brother Cadfael
Patricia Cornwell - Kay Scarpetta
Faye Kellerman - Decker/Lazarus Series
MC Beaton - Agatha Raisin Mysteries
Laurie R. King - Mary Russell Mysteries
Elizabeth George - Inspector Lynley Mysteries
Alexander McCall Smith  - Ladies Detective Series
Rhys Bowen - Her Royal Spyness
Ruth Rendell - Inspector Wexford
Diana Gabaldon - Outlander
Nancy Atherton - Aunt Dimity
Donna Leon - Commissario Guido Brunetti Series
Bernard Cornwell
Toni Morrison
Louise Penny

I make no apologies here. I am just too busy reading other books to get involved in these popular serieses. With my favorite authors publishing a new book every year it is unlikely that I will ever have the time to read them. Ciao!