Book Challenge by Erin 20.0 is finished!

I’m so impressed that Erin has hosted a successful book challenge 20 times. Wow! And now it’s time to compile my reading list for 21.o. (I know, I’m behind schedule. Sigh.)

But first, I thought I’d wrap up what I read for Book Challenge by Erin 20.0.

Here are the categories and the books I read with some comments:

Building on cover: The Hacienda by Isabel Canas

I double-dipped by reading this historical ghosty novel for the annual October Supernatural Readers selection at Goodreads. Recommended.

Memoir: Crying in HMart by Michelle Zauner

Lots of entries about cooking. Too much food-related cooking stuff for me, but this book will definitely give you a craving for Korean food!

Historical fiction: The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

What a stunning novel this is! Lyrical prose and complex characters. There’s even a house ghost, always a plus in my book. Highly recommended.

Favorite author [not a re-read]: Red Bones by Ann Cleeves

I love the atmospheric, evocative prose of the Shetland Series. I think I’ve read five of these books. This one did not disappoint.

Edgar Award: The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths

I listened to the audio of this book. An entertaining read.

Book made into movie: Dune by Frank Herbert

Dune is one of those cases in which I liked the movie better than the book. Other examples of this for me are Woman in Black and Little Women (the version with Winona Ryder).

Non-human main character: Thor by Wayne Smith

I loved Thor the main character, but there were several problems with this book. For one thing, I felt there was normalized dog abuse such as hitting and saying “no” in ways dogs don’t process. In addition, there was misinformation about wolves and their relationship with humans. Also sort of a mixed-genre book—starting with realistic fiction about a family dog that morphed into a werewolf story. Overall, not recommended.

LGBTQIA main character: The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka 

Positives: narrator is wonderful. Writing is full of beautiful imagery. However, there wasn’t enough story for me, and there was a little too much description of dead body parts. Imagine that, from a ghostlit lover like me!

Character name in title: OCDaniel by Wesley King

Really good introduction to mental illness (though tough to read at times). Targeted for the middle school set with a wonderful narrator who employs lots of voice.

Freebie: The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts

This was an interesting snapshot of a bygone era when a determined woman of a certain age decided to travel from Maine to California by horseback to see the ocean before she died. Her journey (a true story) garnered the public imagination, and it was fun to see how small town America chronicled her trip. Strangers often opened their homes and stables to her along the way. Annie Wilkins got lost, snowed on, and injured, but she made friends in unexpected places.

And I participated in the bonus round! And read 7 bonus books. Somehow I rarely manage to read 10 books for the bonus round. I guess 17 books in two months is not too bad.

Bonus Round 20.0

Aussie book: The Dry by Jane Harper

An okay mystery in rural Australia.

Favorite author: The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

This was such fun to read! Sometimes you just need a laugh-out-loud book. My review of it is here.

Freebie: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

I listened to this on audio. You can’t go wrong with Meryl Streep. However, I found much of this book slow moving and even boring at times. I really liked the ending though. Your enjoyment of this novel increases if you like the play Our Town (which I do.)

To in title: Third to Die by Allison Brennan

An enjoyable Washington state mystery and the beginning of a promising series.

Same letter: Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

An English country village mystery with a lay detective reminiscent of Agatha Christie or Midsomer Murders (though not campy the way Midsomer Murders can sometimes be).

Animal on the Cover: Pax by Pennypacker

This is a lovely middle grade novel written in lyrical prose about loyalty and family—family you are born into and family you create (including the four-legged variety).

Set in Your State, City, Town: The Match by Harlan Coben

This crime novel about unexpected DNA matches (haven’t you noticed a lot of this unknown genetic connection trope appearing lately?) takes place in New Jersey, which is not the state of my hometown. But the challenge rules stipulate that bonus round picks come from other challenge readers’ lists. I think Harlan Coben (along with Stephen King, of course!) is the plot king. I love the salty secondary character, defense lawyer Hester Crimstein. Such a great name she has as someone involved in crime. I hope she continues to appear in future Harlan Coben books.

So, there you have it. I read 17 challenge books in four months for Book Challenge by Erin 20.0. One of these times I will manage to do all 20 books. Readers, have you tried any of these books? What did you think?

Till next time, happy reading!