I just finished reading Bohemians of the Latin Quarter which was the December Book of the Month at the French Literature group. It was also the 100th book I read this year to complete my 2014 Challenge at goodreads.
This is the only challenge in which I participated this year. Why? It’s the only one I knew about. But now . . . over the last month or so, I have discovered a multitude of challenges. Fun! At this point, there are seven in which I’ll be participating. I may discover more over the next week or so plus there are some that are starting in February that are of interest. Many of the books count for more than one separate challenge, so it’s not as difficult as it appears.
My ten favorite reads for the year:
The Family Way by Rhys Bowen
The Closers by Michael Connelly
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
The Narrows by Michael Connelly
The Montmartre Investigation by Claude Izner
Duma Key by Stephen King
Full of Heart by J. R. Martinez (autobiography)
The Four Feathers by A.E.W. Mason
White Fire by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
* * * * * * * * * *
I have so many books lined up for 2015, that I hardly know where to begin. Onward!
How about you? How was your bookish year and what are you planning for 2015?
Vauquer Boarding House 
Happy New Year!
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Thanks, the same to you. Won’t be long now!
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HAPPY NEW YEAR–a bit more than six hours from where I sit.
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Thanks, Fred. You too. I’ll bet you’re warmer than I am here. It’s probably about down to freezing here now. But I’m indoors, so no matter. Ringing in the new year with Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Ranch marathon. Love watching obstacle course races.
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Dagny,
It’s 41 now and predicted to drop to 31 tonight. Drizzling now and might get some mixed rain and snow, but I’m not holding my breath waiting for it. Keep warm. Dusky, the Grey Mouser, has settled down in my lap now and has been for almost half an hour. I think she’s planning to spend the evening there. She saw the weather report, I guess.
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Cold for Tucson? I thought the only time it got cold there was that time I went camping there, lol. Came down from the White Mountains where people were building snowmen and camped near Tucson. It was nice and warm – that is until the sun went down. Dusky has the right idea.
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At midnight, the fireworks went off as usual. I looked out the window and actually saw patches of snow on the ground, and vehicles were covered in snow. However, this morning when I got up around 6:30, the snow was gone–melted overnight. A very unusual way for us to begin the new year. Is that a omen of some sort?
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If it is an omen, let’s hope it’s a good one! The sun was out briefly here this morning, but the clouds are already starting to roll in. I watched the ball drop at 11 my time on CNN and then for midnight watched the Moon Pie drop in Mobile.
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Happy New Year, Dagny 🙂 and congratulations on reading 100 books! Im amazed the French Literature group is still going. You are referring to the Yahoo Group I suppose? I will try to read only French this year and I will try to limit book buying this year to non-fiction only. Btw, that book about murder investigation in Montmartre sounds really interesting.
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Thank you, Nino. Happy New Year to you also. I hope 2015 will be a great year for you.
Yes, it is the Yahoo French Literature group. It’s not really very active. Jim, Mike, Horvallis and I are about the only ones who ever nominate. Once in a while someone else will comment on a read, but there is very little conversation. The Claude Izner book actually got more conversation than most. I think it was the third one we read there. I seem to nominate one of theirs about once a year. It’s a treat to read about Paris at the time. That’s almost a ‘character’ in the book.
I am going to try to read more non-fiction this year also. I have some that have been on my shelves for ages and I’m really excited about them, but between book group choices and mysteries, I never seem to pick them up.
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Happy New Year!
I’ve already got about a year’s worth of reading on my TBR, so my main plan for this year is to stop adding to the pile! Hmm…another resolution I’ll fail to keep… 😉
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LOL, yes it is a lost cause. I probably have about 300 unread books in my house, so three years’ worth. I just looked at my Goodreads to-read shelf and it shows 188.
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Happy New Year of reading! I need to try Izner
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They’re charming books with such likeable characters. I could almost call them cozies even though they are set in Paris.
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I finally changed my settings for The French Literature yahoo group to get regular notices in my email and try to participate. I actually meant to read Fantomas at one point. how does this work? I could not find a precise schedule. is there a schedule for what chapters to read per week or?
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The group is very quiet. Maybe Fantomas will perk us up! There is no schedule per se. We gave up on that and everyone reads at their own pace whenever they can get around to the book. It will probably be several days before I can start it. For posting, anytime during the month that you have a comment is fine. If it happens to be something from the end of the book that would be a ‘spoiler’ and it is near the first of the month, you might warn them in the subject line. I hope you have time to get to this one!
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Happy New Year! I’m guessing that you like Michael Connelly since you have three of his books in your top ten. I still want to read Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore but ran out of reading time in 2014.
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Indeed, I do like Connelly’s books. I was late getting started with his series, so am catching up. I had thought I might not read his Mickey Haller (Lincoln Lawyer) series since I didn’t think I’d enjoy a legal thriller, but when I found out that Harry Bosch is in some of the later ones, I knew I had to include that series too. It was great and very suspenseful.
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Michael Connelly is one of my favorite writers. I’m happy to see you enjoyed his books.
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Thanks, Michael.
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100 books! What a fantastic year of reading you’ve had.
This year, I plan to *not* give myself a Goodreads challenge, so as not to stress myself out, and to read whatever I’m in the mood for. I’m still doing a few challenges (TBR Pile, Classics Club), but other than that I’m keeping my options open. I do love read-a-thons, though, so I’ll definitely be participating a bunch!
Happy new year. 🙂
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Congratulations on your recent Bout of Books! It looks like such fun – as does the Classics Club.
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