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  1. Diane, "All the Light We Cannot See" is at the very top of my favorites and one of the most exquisite books I have ever read!
    Brenda, I must get "My Name is Lucy Barton". I just read Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge, and was profoundly moved by it. At first it seemed like the story of a somewhat crabby and sour woman, but her profound affect on peoples' lives taught me a wonderful lesson. 🙂

    1. I agree! I try to get used books on Amazon, but either I will have to wait,or simply buy 'Lucy' brand new. This author so speaks to me!

  2. Have you read "All the light we cannot see"? LOVED IT!! I also loved "Girl on the Train" and didn't find it slow at all. I am just starting "The Nightingale" but can't say yet if it is good or not. I also really loved "The Martian". Oh, and "Defending Jacob" was very good too!

  3. I love to read! I am currently reading The Boys in the Boat and am really enjoying it. (You can look it up on Goodreads!). I also loved A Man Called Ove. A final recommendation is 600 Hours of Edward about a 39 year old man with Aspergers. Loved it! It would be fun to connect and become friends with others on Goodreads!
    Happy reading everyone!

    1. After reading this comment, I went straight to Amazon and put 600 Hours of Edward in my cart. It says it's in paperback. I hope it's the bigger paperback, because I just can't read those smaller ones anymore due to aging eyesight.

  4. Since somebody else mentioned The Girl On The Train, I wanted to put my two cents in. I absolutely loved it! I didn't find it slow, and I'm a voracious reader. Please don't cross it off your list.

  5. I keep track of the books I've read on goodreads. I've also done a reading challenge through that site the past few years, too. I haven't read any of the books on your list, but my husband read Girl on the Train last year and said it was fantastic.

    1. I don't tend to write anything on Goodreads (need to change that) but I read what women like you write about the books you've read. I just registered for Shelfari yesterday. Do you use that?

  6. Wowsa! I remember when I was in grade school and I always read a big amount of books from the library every summer. Now I work during the day and only allow myself to read at night. I feel guilty if I'm not doing something work-related (blogging/commenting) from 9 a.m. till 5-6 p.m.

  7. I love to read and will join in this challenge. I read over 100 books last year but want to add some challenging books to my list this year. Thanks for the good suggestions from you list.

    Linda

  8. I had already set 25 books as my goal for this year. Just finished a David Baldacci. Love him! I couldn't get into The Girl on the Train. My DH is a voracious reader and goes to the library at least a couple times a week. I steal from his pile!

    1. I may have to rethink Girl On The Train. I don't like slow-moving books. I get bored and can't finish them.

  9. It doesn't matter at all what genre of book you prefer reading. A book is a book. I happen to love Steinbeck.

  10. I list the books I have read on shelfari.com. Great site. U can list books u have read, books u want to read and u can read book reviews. U can also join book clubs there. I am reading girl on a train, good so far. My favorites biographies, psychological suspense and English, scottish, Irish authors, mysteries

  11. I will be happy to take this on! I am an avid reader and only regret that I did not write down each book I have read throughout the years. I am 74 and it would be interesting to me how many I have read. When I first started reading, I would buy books through a book club but soon found that I couldn't afford that method and the library became my best friend. When I find a new author and I like the way he/she writes, I have a tendency to read right through their list of books. Thanks for the challenge – I look forward to reading some new authors listed above.
    Connie,
    FL/IN

  12. For really good nonfiction try:
    Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
    The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
    Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

  13. I'm still trying to finish my last Christmas book on my kindle – I have to finish one before I start another. The Girl on the Train is loaded on my Kindle App ready to go – I think that's going to be next! Somehow I doubt I will reach 25 books this year….not like the old days when I could read a book in 2 nights! Good challenge, Brenda!

    1. Well, but you work outside the home full-time as well. And have both your girls back home and a sweetie, so I can see why.

    1. And I belong to Goodreads, but always forget to go over there and add the books I've read! But I did go there for book suggestions ideas.

  14. I am an avid reader, and love Liane Moriarty. I read Girl On The Train and found it slow. I am anxious to read some of the books you have on your list. I am currently reading The Scam, Janet Evonovich and Lee Goldberg. I agree with the comment about Joann Fluke, also Diane Mott Davidson for fun mysteries.

  15. I just finished reading Rogue Lawyer and I really liked it … but then John Grisham is one of my favorites. I'm reading Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee right now. It's just so so for me. I'm looking forward to reading The Survivor (Vince Flynn / Kyle Mills) and Guilty by David Baldacci. I like your list and love some of the readers suggestions . . . I'm in!!

    1. I like mystery/thrillers, legal thrillers, and psychological thrillers. I can't seem to get interested in romances and definitely am not a science fiction reader.

    2. I think we read all the same books … except I also love political/action/thrillers. I really like (liked) Vince Flynn books, also Michael Connelly, Brad Thor and John Sandford books.

  16. This sounds very interesting!
    Like many of you,between work and family my leisure time ends up around the 1 am hour,but I like the idea and your list Brenda!
    I am currently reading "The Snowman" by Jo Nesbo. I am not very far into it yet, but like it so far.

    1. I could not stay up that long. I'm lucky to make it to 10 p.m.! I have the leisure time, due to the fact that my children are grown and I live alone (with the pupsters of course) that I can read at night. I find it is easier to go to sleep after reading versus being online or watching TV.

  17. Brenda…
    I am looking for a new book so thank you for the list to get me started.

    A few of my most favorite books (I am a huge historical fiction fan – especially WW2):

    Alicia My Story by Alicia Appleman Jurman
    Ahab's Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund
    The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons

    Many more but those stand out.
    You and your readers are ambitious with your number. I might read 12 – haha!

    1. I look around on Goodreads and Amazon, but I prefer books suggested by someone who I know has read them, like a reader and/or blogger. So I love for others to suggest books that are new to me.

  18. Of course I don't mind! I have to carve out time or I won't do it. And I really love reading. It is so calming.

  19. I'm in Brenda. I'm going to start with your list if you don't mind. One of my resolutions was to allow myself the time to sit and read.
    Thanks for establishing a challenge.

  20. You bet I'm in Brenda!..I believe I said I would read 34 books on Goodreads…Some books I would recommend are: "Station 11"…"The Lovely Bones"…"The Returned"…"The Death of Bees"and "The Book Thief"..I just finished "The Bookseller" which was good but a bit slow in the middle..I have just started reading "The Miniaturist" so I can't yet say how I like it..Just let me know any guidelines or rules..or how and what we should do…

    1. Oh, The Lovely Bones was a great read. I believe I read that one twice. I hope she writes more. I need to check that out. No guidelines, no rules. I'll post once per month with the words Book Challenge in the post title, and we can check in with one another on books we've read, what we thought of them, and which ones we suggest others read.

  21. Brenda, this is a great idea! I'm all in! Currently, I'm listening to The Girl on the Train and it is excellent. There's a lot of changing back and forth among characters, all very intriguing! I want to read it as well!

  22. I need to do this, Brenda. I used to do it but quit a while ago. Love to read! Hope you have a great year! xo Diana

  23. I have read some of these: ROGUE LAWYER and THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN. There are a couple of others I plan to read. Right now I am reading A BANQUET OF CONSEQUENCES by Elizabeth George.

    1. There's been so much talk about The Girl On The Train. I want to see what all the buzz is about.

  24. I'll join you in your challenge, Brenda. I read constantly. One hand stirring the pot, one holding a book, nook or whatever. I've chosen 3 of yours to add to the pile that never ends. Brad devours books faster than me but he speedreads and the doctor I worked for once told me that it takes the enjoyment out of casual reading. He spent years retraining himself not to use that technique.

    1. I only read at night in bed. If I tried to read with one hand and stir the pot with the other, I'd probably catch the place on fire. I'm really clumsy!

  25. I love a good mystery ,Carolyn Hart ,Carolyn Haines,Rhys Bowen,Laura Childs ,MC Beaton,Anne Perry is wonderful, Nancy Martin.For suspence Jeffery Deaver is chilling …..I could go on and on I have always been a voracious reader……I know you will enjoy ant of these.

    1. Carolyn Hart was one of my journalism professors in college. But oddly enough, I've never read one of her books.

  26. I'm in. New Year's Day I decided I would tackle my first resolution and get the Kindle set up for reading…and so far this month, I've read 6 books. A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash, Tears Of the Silenced and On the Winds of Change by Misty Griffin, Church of Marvels by Leslie Parrish, The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty and The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank. I would recommend all except for On the Winds of Change. All but the Dorothea Benton Frank were Kindle $1.99 reads thru Amazon. I'm an avid reader, so I hope to get lots of recommendations from y'all. I'm also a caregiver for my 85 year old Mom and rarely get the chance to get away, so reading has been my lifesaver! Thanks!

    1. I really like Liane Moriarty, so will check that one out. Wow! Six books the first week of the year!

  27. Memory Man was really good as are most of David Baldacci's books. I am currently reading Gray Mountain by Grisham but also have Rogue Lawyer waiting to be read next. 🙂 Good list! 🙂

  28. Thanks for the list of ideas. Steve read Rogue Lawyer while we were in Kauai, but he gave the copy to a neighbor so that one will have to wait.

    1. I still think Grisham's first books were the best. But I've read one of his latest and loved it. Think it was called Gray Mountain.

  29. I have read all of Sarah Addison Allen's books and I look forward to many more. My favorites are "Garden Spells" and "First Frost". Enjoy!

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