Book Challenge by Erin 9.0

The categories were announced today and I couldn’t wait to get home from work to check my book shelves and scan goodreads for recommendations. Two titles are audiobooks, the rest I own and have had them laying on my to be read pile for ages.

Here’s my selection

• 5 points: Freebie - read a book that is least 200 pages-  Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
• 10 points: Read a book that starts with the letter N - Nothing to declare: memoirs of a woman travelling alone by Mary Morris
• 10 points - Read a book that has mostly an orange cover - The adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
• 15 points: Read a book with an unlikeable character - Americannah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
• 20 points: read a book from the of 100 books that PBS calls “The Great American Read” - A tree grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
• 20 points: read a book with something related to the water in the title- The secret river by Kate Greenville
• 25 points: read a book you’ve owned the longest but haven’t read yet - (audible) Swimming lessons by Clare Fuller
• 30 points: Read a book with an emotion word in the title- For the love of a son by Jean Sassoon
• 30 points: Read a book where each word in the title of the book begins with same letter. - Foreign Fruit by Jojo Moyes
• 35 points: Read a book featuring a character who shares your profession or similar one (teacher) -Because of Mr Terrupt by Rob Buyea

Starts July 1st 

Week 20

I really enjoyed the thriller from last week and decided to stick with the genre. A step too far by Tina Seskis was on playlist and so I launched into the story. This story had me at the beginning. Emily/Cat runs away and in the opening chapter you want to know why. The storyline had me engaged the whole way through. You are waiting for a twist, and it delivers twist after twist until the end. A gripping story.

Week 19

This week I listened to Little Sister by Lucy Dawson and Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill. Last year I read You Sent Me a Letter by Lucy Dawson which I found a really good thriller and so I added Little sister to my to be read pile. This book did not disappoint, Anya disappears in Mexico 🇲🇽 and her sister Kate struggles as they try and find her. It was really gripping.

I then wanted something a little light, and Meant to Be joined my to be read pile as it had this attractive cover and the story took place in London. I just spent a week in London and as Julie and Jason visit tourist sites as part of a school trip, I imagined myself with them. This was a light young adult read, highly predictable.

And so I am at 27 books for the year..

Week18

This week I listened to the audiobook, The Woman in Cabin 10. I hadn’t read this author before but as I was listening to the book, it reminded me of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. There is a burglary and then Lo (a travel journalist) boards a luxury ship to the fjords of Norway. Then there is a murder... this book is full of twists, it kept me intrigued right until the end.

Week 17

This book was on a list I discovered on Pinterest. I use Pinterest, goodreads and blogs to find new titles. I had read a Jojo Moyes title off the list and then added A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan to my to be read pile. I had this title on my audible app. 

A window opens reminds me of a Sarah Jessica Parker movie, I just don’t know how she does it. Alice is a working mum, juggling a career and raising three children. Her father’s cancer returns sending her life a curve ball.

This was my final title in Erin’s book challenge... Read a book by an author whose first and last name begins with the same letter. I originally chose a Monica McInerney novel, but didn’t take it on holidays with me.

24 books read so far this year. 

Week 15

I enjoyed Sophie Kinsella’s Finding Audrey version from audible this week.  The narration was quite good and I quickly got into the story. Audrey is a funny, sweet and heartwarming character who is struggling with interacting with anyone. She wears dark glasses in front of her family and can’t face strangers let alone her acquaintances and friends. This book handles the subject of mental health well.

 

Week 14

I had previously discovered Nicola Yoon after reading Everything, everything, and I added The sun is also a star to my audible app. This was another young adult book about first love. I fell in love with the characters and wished that they would get their happy ever after despite all the oppposing forces in the story.

The other book read is also a young adult novel called One of us is lying. This book started off like the Breakfast club movie, the main characters were in detention when someone is murdered. It then read like the murder club full of twists. I loved it.a minor character had the same name as myself.

Another two books 

Two more books towards my challenge.