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2023 Determination Lists
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Ann's 2023 Determination Plus Challenge
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I could pull one I just finished tonight that I didn't get to in 2022 to the top list of 1-10. It would fit my plan to include a mix of print or audible audio owned books for that set. I will think about it first. It's a clean slate and the sky always seems to be the limit in a fresh year. I made my Goodreads challenge amount again at 125. I read 145 in 2022, but don't want to push for reading more than I can handle and enjoy.
Wow, 125! That's great, Ann. And I agree with not racing to a number but doing something you can comfortably enjoy.
You do what you can anything else will be a bonus. If you list the book you can always switch it to another location or remove it to add a different one. I’ve done that in past. I’m probably still adding the short story one we read. If I decide on another before born one I can remove it. I’m just waiting to see what next short story is.
I added #11 just read as the book set in a different country than you live - Exiles by Jane Harper The setting is in the South Australian wine country with an area of wild bushland surrounding the festival and homes. It was great. I could have slotted it at the top in my ten designated for audible backlog books, but since I used a credit in Jan-2023 it is technically not back-log.
Added the award winner and another from the top 10 and the second series book. Award winner Delicious Foods by James Hannaham. PEN/Faulkner 2016 winner - well deserved.
A buddy read with DonnaJo netted my second series book Fun House by Chris Grabenstein. We wish he would write more adult books, his recent ones are all for kids. One more in the series to go.
another audible title added These Toxic Things by Rachel Howzell Hall. also read part on Kindle.
WTG. That’s great. I should mark one of the other books I might have for series book and not wait for a mystery one.
You're doing great, Ann! I have so much current stuff that I *want* to read that it's hard to get to the backlist.
Updated #5 #12 #18 moving along! #12 I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai is my first by this author. The story layers past and present, focused and broad perspectives masterfully.
#18 World of Trouble by Ben H. Winters is my book I meant to read in 2022. Well worth the wait. I savored it.
#5 Head On by John Scalzi, from the top, an audible audio from my backlog.
Ann, WTG. You really are getting them read. I keep forgetting to update my when I’m on laptop. But I only have one to add. Working on three others.
Nice job! And I hate to admit how many of these are authors I had never heard of. Added to my "infinity list"!
Good going, Ann! I'm having fun with this this year for some reason! I think we're all in good shape for the end of April!
Complete with the borrowed check marks! Added two more. #6 and #17City of Dreams by Don Winslow for my published in 2023 #17. A roller coaster of a thriller, waiting for the foreshadowed shoe to drop.
Hades by Candice Fox for #6 at the top, another of my audible backlog, first in a series, not sure how soon I will get back to it... it is intriguing.
Ann wrote: "Complete with the borrowed check marks! Added two more. #6 and #17City of Dreams by Don Winslow for my published in 2023 #17. A roller coaster of a thriller, waiting..."
Aren't the check marks great? They really make the list pop. Thanks to who... Gail maybe?
You're really cooking on the 1-10 list. That's where I need more work.
Nope, just stumbled upon the answer. It was Christene, not Gail, who gifted us the check marks!
Carol: The funny thing about my getting to list a few of the top ten from my audible library is the tiny dent it is making in the backlog. Every little bit helps I suppose. :)Carol/Bonadie wrote: "You're really cooking on the 1-10 list. That's where I need more work."
Ann wrote: "Carol: The funny thing about my getting to list a few of the top ten from my audible library is the tiny dent it is making in the backlog. Every little bit helps I suppose. :)Carol/Bonadie wrote:..."
I find managing my Audible backlog very frustrating. I purchase things that sound good at the time (often on sale) but when I go back to pick something I am no longer pulled. And some of these are books by favorite authors, likeThe Old Man by Thomas Perry. Go figure.
Carol, oh yes I get that. I also find I may not feel the same pull when perusing my audible backlog as when they were added, at least not enough to incentivize my prioritizing them over newer releases and Libby loans.I try to be more discriminating as I add now, and still have twelve more than I started with in 2023. (By design, using my credits for the most part)
Carol: The Old Man is in my wish list. I think it’s probably going to stay there, but I would like to read it. I think it is the basis of the Jeff Daniels tv series.
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Ann wrote: “managing my Audible backlog very frustrating. I purchase things that sound good at the time (often on sale) but when I go back to pick something I am no longer pulled. And some of these are books by favorite authors, likeThe Old Man by Thomas Perry. Go figure.”
I didn't remember there was a Jeff Daniels tv series. Oh yay, another series to get caught up on.... ;-)
Carol, I got my Jeffs confused, it's Jeff Bridges! Season one available on FX, season two paused during the writers strike. Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I didn't remember there was a Jeff Daniels tv series. Oh yay, another series to get caught up on.... ;-)"
My "catching up" is also skewing my reading log for this year and last. I began logging so I could remember what I had already read! I consume so many (especially audiobooks) that I have many times checked out (though thankfully never purchased nor wasted an Audible credit) books I forgot until I got halfway through, lol! But by then, even if I remember whodunit, I usually go ahead and finish again. I only began logging them a couple years ago and I STILL come across entire series that I never marked as "read". Makes me feel like I'm cheating on my yearly goal ; o )
Carol, I never purchase without a credit unless it's by a favorite author. I try to find out if they are on Libby/Overdrive or Hoopla first. Also, for audiobooks, Chirp is a wonderful place to explore "Deals". In that category they only range from $.99 to $6.99 (although I always filter to $2.99 and under) and they are mainly up to date books not just old tired titles! And there is a SAMPLE which is priceless when choosing as I have listened to some which have narrators that are just painful to hear! My requirement is hearing a sample of the voice even if it's reading a different book and for that Audible is super helpful!
Holly wrote: "Carol, I never purchase without a credit unless it's by a favorite author. I try to find out if they are on Libby/Overdrive or Hoopla first. Also, for audiobooks, Chirp is a wonderful place to expl..."Holly, I don't purchase without a credit either. In fact there was a time when I'd have to force myself to use a credit because I was getting all I needed from the library, Before the pandemic I spent a lot of time in the car commuting so between my car CD player and my kitchen CD player I could blast through CDs from the library. Now with more time spent at home I like something I can move around the house with so getting more audiobooks that I can play on my phone. The library still has a decent amount through Overdrive/Libby but I get the newer ones I can't wait for on audible, hence I move through my backlog of credits faster.
And I'll have to check out Chirp (durn you!) as I've never heard of it.
Updated #7 and #14 so now seven to go.#7 top section, Old Man's War by John Scalzi from my audible backlog. Didn't make a dent however, it led me to add another book in the series. Good sci-fi, so worth it
#14 bottom section, Funeral Songs for Dying Girls by Cherie Dimaline. Stretching a bit for the different genre, however I don't read a lot of teenage focused YA, or ghost stories. A favorite author, so an easy choice.
Carol/BonadieChirp has a listening app from which you can check out the "Daily Deals" page or go to Chirp online and go to the "deals" page. Filter by Genre (mine are strictly Mystery/Suspense/Thriller obvs!), Price (I usually choose $2.99 or below), or whatever else you prefer, then goto town! I am please when I find deals that already have ratings but I always check GR first just to be sure! They have recently begun bundling 2 or more books from a series so I am often tempted by those! I still only spend maybe $5 or $6 on 2 or 3 books and have a set budget of $8 total to rein me in. There are time limits on deals but if you wait, they occasionally lower the price as time runs out. And just because the title is only 99¢ doesn't mean it's only worth that!
Holly wrote: "Carol/BonadieChirp has a listening app from which you can check out the "Daily Deals" page or go to Chirp online and go to the "deals" page. Filter by Genre (mine are strictly Mystery/Suspense/Thr..."
Thanks, Holly, never heard of Chirp (great name). I'll check it out.
You are ahead of me I’m so behind with my top section. I only need two on bottom oldest but I’m started on that need recommend which I think I use the book with two stories that I got from neighbor another one said first book in book good she’s the person the book originally came from so I might use was recommend. I just need to get ahead of netgalley arcs, upcoming tule arcs I take, books other library summer reading challenge that I just got which started end of may, and my library summer reading challenge that we don’t get until near end of June. I kind of don’t know which direction to go in. Oh finished one netgalley June live today, now I’m starting another netgalley June that impulse me requested this past week and got approved (spicy one) started graham yesterday planning on reading in morning.
Ann wrote: "I added another audible audio, so up to 18 read. The Kaiju Preservation Society was a fun listen."Thanks! Just added it to my list.
Good job, Ann!! You're getting there!
Only four left, getting closer, I am down to two general entries and the book set in more than one country and one of my oldest to be read shelf books. I added my recommended book #13 thanks to Carol's recommendation of Scott Turow's One L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School. Thanks Carol!
Four stars for making me think more deeply about a subject that has interested me. As many others also do, I like reading legal thrillers, watching television shows about lawyers, and have a general interest in the courts and the impact of lawmaking on our everyday lives.
The author attended law school in a time period I could relate to so reading of his experience was interesting from that (sometimes quite dated) perspective. I could picture the writing of this book benefitting from his journaling with regular jotting down of details and recall of a memorable experience.
I found myself comparing the law and dynamics of the classroom Turow portrays from the mid-1970's to probable changes since and was surprised to learn that being a lawyer was not the real focus of law school which focuses on making legal scholars.
WTF you are doing so much better than me this time but I’m hoping I might be close to finishing with oldest book today. Maybe around 160 pages left left to read in book.
I looked over my 2023 read shelf, hoping to find a book set in multiple countries for #23, and was happy to realize Gone Missin' by Nashville author Peggy O'Neal Peden fit the requirement! The MC, a travel agent travels to Mexico from Nashville in search of a missing client. This was a light mystery, loosely based on a real-life missing person. Three to go, the dreaded oldest book and two from the top list. I have one new release and two audible pre-orders set to decide which books fill those slots.
That’s great I still need to add Mary Jane to mine I forget to do it every time I’ve been on laptop yesterday and today. I was looking at my books on the one cart earlier to see which I feel like adding to current reads.
Ann wrote: "Only four left, getting closer, I am down to two general entries and the book set in more than one country and one of my oldest to be read shelf books. I added my recommended book #13 thanks to Ca..."
Ann you're welcome, and so glad to read your thoughtful reflections on One-L. This has been on my TBR for decades and I was glad to have an excuse to read it.
I am woefully behind on my general reads and am laboring to finish the first John Rain book, Rain Fall. I just don't have much occasion to read print books. I keep thinking about Cheryl, too, she introduced us to her favorite author Barry Eisler.
Carol: I miss Cheryl. I've struggled with the first John Rain book myself on audio. Years ago when she talked about how much she liked him I collected a few of the series books on audible, then when they were recorded again to improve the narration, narrated by Barry Eisler that time, the titles were updated as well. I still have the first Brian Nishii narration of Rain Fall in my audible library, and a Dick Hill narration of Hard Rain to get to. Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I am woefully behind on my general reads and am laboring to finish the first John Rain book, Rain Fall. I just don't have much occasion to read print books. I keep thinking about Cheryl, too, she introduced us to her favorite author Barry Eisler."
one to go - I will decide later which audible book I listen to will qualify - the audio book I added today: James Patterson's 1st to Die, pub 2001, was in my audible library for a few years before I snuck it in and listened recently. I gave it 3 stars; I may read another someday but won't rush.
Ann WTG. I still have 2 and would have been finished except I went and got too many library books again and I’m pushing to get those read. Have requested ones that i now had on waiting list waiting at library for me too. Can’t believe it 4 books out (so far know 1 going back unread I forgot had one in ebook) two are now waiting on shelf at library for me. Im almost half way though one of 3 left that I’m reading (yeah need to check 2 others if I can get ebook or take back for time being). And yea I almost forgot another waiting list one is enroute. It always happens. I did renew audio for still Alice maybe if I speed up and listen when I’m doing other things I might finish one owned to add to determination challenge.
Good job Ann! I had hopes of finishing this year, and it's not too late, but I will have to be purposeful. Like DJ, I keep getting books from the library or downloading an Audible to keep from losing a credit (or well, okay, to take advantage of a 2-for-1 sale, LOL). Attending Bourchercon didn't help! I do look to see if anything I've read qualifies but it seems like cheating to use those in the 1-10 category since I really do intend those to be books from my personal library that I don't get to. I've been reading Rain Fall for like 3 months, that will be first on the list if I ever finish it. I have 2 or 3 personal copies, downloaded it from the library to take on my trip, and STILL not getting to it!!!!
Carol, I bet you came back from Bouchercon with a ton more added to your TBR lists! (Do they still have free books to share too?) I cheated a bit with my top 10 determination list entries not always being a backlog audible book and included a few that were recent adds that were “preventing more audible backlog” listens lol. DonnaJo: Now I am trying to get the library loans to stop interfering with getting to my audible of Stephen King’s Holly. I hear you on those piling up for me too.
Ann wrote: "Carol, I bet you came back from Bouchercon with a ton more added to your TBR lists! (Do they still have free books to share too?) ..."Ann, you have no idea! Today is a good day to go over my notes and prioritize the books I want to follow up with.
Now, instead of giving you a bag of books they give you 5 tickets that you can use in the Book Room, which has lots of books stacked on tables for you to pick from. It's a bit challenging; I can usually find 1 or 2 from a known author but most are new-to-me authors and I don't have time to figure out which look good by reading the book flaps. You can come and go as you like but there's never enough time what with the panels, interviews and evening events.
This time I came home with 4 books and left one ticket unused. Two were from Candice Fox and I have to figure out if they are from "our" Candice Fox and why I never heard of them.
Carol: wow, that five tickets for a big full book room would be a challenge - In a good way of course. Good luck sorting all of your to read lists!
I completed the challenge! (adding ten more - why not!) With three 2023 pre-ordered audible audio books to choose from my recent listens I decided to go ahead and close out this challenge with David Joy's Those We Thought We Knew. It could have been Stephen King's Holly or Karin Slaughter's After That Night, all three excellent.
Do I think I could read ten more challenge books this year from my audible backlog? Probably not, but if I include a couple more preorders and some recent adds, who knows. A new thread coming... noting I failed at this sort of an addition last year. Perhaps the King and the Slaughter will come to the rescue. :)
Yay congrats on finishing the challenge and you got it done before me lol. I hope to finish mine soon. Glad you decided to do another top “10”.
Good going, Ann! You're inspiring me to give a final push. I certainly have 10 books in my Audible backlog that I'd like to knock off.
Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends
Books mentioned in this topic
After That Night (other topics)Those We Thought We Knew (other topics)
Holly (other topics)
Those We Thought We Knew (other topics)
1st to Die (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
David Joy (other topics)David Joy (other topics)
James Patterson (other topics)
James Patterson (other topics)
Peggy O'Neal Peden (other topics)
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23/23 COMPLETED 17-Sep-2023
✔️1. READ 01/18/2023 Mister Impossible by Maggie Stiefvater audible, book two of the Dreamer trilogy
✔️2. READ 01/26/2023 My Darkest Prayer by S.A. Cosby audible, debut novel, very good
✔️3. READ 01/22/2023 No Plan B by Lee Child and brother Andrew audible caught up with the series finally
✔️4. READ 01/27/2023 These Toxic Things by Rachel Howzell Hall audible audio along with Kindle Unlimited companion
✔️5. READ 04/17/2023 Head On by John Scalzi audible audio
✔️6. READ 01-May-2023 Hades by Candice Fox audible audio from backlog
✔️7. READ 04-Jun-2023 Old Man's War by John Scalzi audible audio
✔️8. READ 01-Jul-2023 The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi audible audio
✔️9. READ 19-Aug-2023 1st to Die by James Patterson audible, true backlog
✔️10. READ 27-Aug-2023 Those We Thought We Knew by David Joy audible, 2023 pre-order
The next 13 books is the "Plus" part of the challenge. Hope you enjoy and are able to find some great books that will fit in.
✔️11. A book set in a different country than you live in.
READ 08-Feb-2023 Exiles by Jane Harper set in the South Australian wine country.
✔️12. Read a book by an Author that you never read before or one by a new debut author.
READ 04/10/2023 I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai Libby audio, very well done, layers of depth.
✔️13. A book that someone recommended to you.
READ 07/30/2023 One L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School by Scott Turow audio recommended by Carol - thanks!
✔️14. A book that is a different genre than your normal type of read. (could be out of your comfort zone).
READ 05/27/2023 Funeral Songs for Dying Girls by Cherie Dimaline. Different genre (teenage focused YA)
15 & 16. Two books from a series you haven't completed yet. (Everyone has that one or two books to still read to catch up in a series)
✔️15. READ 02/05/2023 A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn The first Veronica Speedwell book
✔️16. READ 12-Feb-2023 Fun House by Chris Grabenstein enjoyed a buddy read with DonnaJo
✔️17. A book that comes out in 2023.
READ City of Dreams by Don Winslow book two Danny Ryan
✔️18. A book that you mean to read in 2022 but never got around to it.
READ 15-Apr-2023 World of Trouble by Ben H. Winters also an audible book.
A solid end to a fantastic trilogy.
✔️19. A book that came out before you were born. (this one might be harder to do but we know you can handle it)
READ 16-Jun-2023 We by Yevgeny Zamyatin listened to the audio. First published in 1924 in Russia, then suppressed for sixty years. This translation was done in 1988.
✔️20. A book that is done by more than one author (it can be a book of short stories by different authors, or one book that is one story with more than 1 author like Patterson or Evanovich and I'm sure there are others.
READ 03/05/2023 Shadowed Souls paranormal short story anthology Jim Butcher and more
✔️21. A book that won an award.
READ 20-Feb-2023 Delicious Foods by James Hannaham PEN/Faulkner award winner
✔️22. One of the oldest to be read books on your unread mountain.
READ 19-Aug-2023 1st to Die by James Patterson had been in my audible library for years.
✔️ 23. A book set in multiple countries.
READ 03-Jul-2023 Gone Missin' by Peggy O'Neal Peden The main character, a travel agent in Nashville travels to Mexico.