My mother was an avid reader. Soon after I graduated from college, she suggested I read the book, War and Remembrance. It was historical fiction that began at Pearl Harbor the day after the attack. It opens with protagonist, Admiral Pug Henry, assessing what's left of the US Navy in the Pacific. The story was about the exploits of him and his family, who were scattered around the world and were witnesses to the events of World War 2. This well written tale inspired me to learn about the real* history of WW2.

The author of the book (and its prequel, Winds of War) is Herman Wouk who, to my amazement, is still alive at age 103. These are truly excellent books that are well worth reading.

Old Blue

I suggest you first read War and Remembrance, as I did. It's not the only time I've done things backwards.

• There is not a real history of WW2; it is millions of stories, some of which are true, some which are not true, and some a mix if each... just like all history.

I agree, Herman Wouk is a great author. I haven't read War and Remembrance but I did read Winds of War back in '87. I don't remember the plot but I must have liked the book and the author because I've read 10 of his books, 4 in one year. He also wrote The Caine Mutiny.

Is anyone else doing a reading challenge this year? I've decided to try one that is 52 books in 52 weeks--simple enough for me-- but has 52 different categories, which is what will be the challenge! I feel I am stuck in a cozy mystery rut and want to expand out a bit, so hopefully this will give me some impetus and direction.

I found several good lists but settled on [www.mommymannegren.com]

Would love to share the experience!

Mama Stork

I love reading challenges and I try to do one every year. I think I want to read 75 books and 55 picture books this year :)

I’m doing the Ultimate Popsugar Challenge as well as a Goodreads challenge. Last year I managed 55 or 56 books across many genres. This year, I’m shooting for 65 books. But, full disclosure, I work in an indie bookstore, so the pressure is great.

Ps If anyone has a favorite book to recommend, I’d love to hear about it.

Ps If anyone has a favorite book to recommend, I’d love to hear about it.

If you like mysteries, ANY book by Ruth Rendell is aways great.

Mary Roach writes these amazing, fascinating non-fiction books about different subjects that you think you'd never want to read about but then you can't put it down.

A Gentleman in Moscow is my favorite this year.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba

No reading challenge here. I just want to read one book at a time. I usually have 4 or 5 books going at the same time. No goals on number of books either. Just however many I can squeeze between now and December 31st, 2019. I try not to have a book unfinished at the end of the year. I started reading R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton today.

No reading challenge here

Me neither. I just read. lol

I'm working on the Popsugar Reading Challenge for 2019. I did it last year and really enjoyed it. I'm still finishing it up. ;) I have about 4 books left for the last challenge before I start this one so I want to get it done. I read more than 50 books last year (the number in the challenge) but not everything fit a prompt!

I'd like to get my hands on a copy of that graveyard book of yours. When are you going to publish it?

One of the categories in my challenge is "a self-published book". I know there are several LB authors...anybody self published?

I don't know anything about self-publishing, but I have a short story in an anthology published with Untreed Reads and they've been wonderful to work with, very professional and available. It's worth checking out their submission policy.

I have a number of self-published books. The Amazon link is in my profile.

I know there are several LB authors...

Oooh! Ooh! I wrote a book!! Try:
https://www.amazon.com/Blog-Post-Mortem-Mark-Berkeland-ebook/dp/B01IJE2X08

I will definitely try at least one--they all look so interesting!

This looks good too! Adding it to my list

I have wanted to read Marjorie Morningstar by him for years. It is always on my TBR list, but I just have not gotten to it yet. Maybe this will be the year.

-amanda from seattle

Every summer our Seattle Library has a reading bingo card challenge and you are to read the books and get a Bingo. Of course, being a BIG reader, I usually do the Black out of the card and read everything. Sometimes the different categories are challenging to me. They usually always have a "read something out of your comfort zone" Blah. Poetry and graphic novels are always a challenge for me, but luckily they are usually quite short and quick to get through! LOL

-Amanda from Seattle

Doing the PopSugar challenge again—plus personal goal of 95 books for the year (including audiobooks).

My granddaughter, Buttermilk, wrote, illustrated, and self-published a book as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award. The title - Saving KB: The Story of Karner Blue. It is the story of New Hampshire's both state and federally endangered state butterfly - the Karner Blue. She was 17 years old when she did this. The book is for sale on Amazon.

I have many self published novels :)
http://francespauli.com

Also some very intriguing choices! Thanks for sharing--can't wait to delve into some of these

So...... I am busy. I have at least three books Meddling Kids, They Dared Returned, and thanks to Amanda, Priceless, on top of editing my next book in the wings. But.....I just saw a movie preview of My Cousin Rachel and I am intrigued. Really intrigued. But, do I really need this book????

The bibliophile in me says “yes”. The sensible person in me says “no”....

Aughhhhhh

Csk

Yes, yes you do need it. The book will patiently wait for you to find the time for it and doesn't need much--just a small space

Oooohhh, I read Meddling Kids from one of Amanda's lists and it was good! Then I read his previous book The Supernatural Enhancements which I liked even more. Maybe there will be a sequel to that one. Couldn't get in to This Body's Not Big Enough For Both Of Us. I'll have to try later. That's my two cents on Edgar Cantero.

It's that sort of thinking that found me moving thousands of books half way across the country last fall. Books are heavy especially when they're in cahoots with each other inside boxes.

Has anyone read this?

I am dying to talk about it and determine if anyone thought about it as much after they finished as I did. . . .