Good luck, Andrew!

Thanks Zain 👍

Happy reading!

Many thanks, Fran 🙏

all the best! happy reading Andrew!

Thank you, Praveen!

I was going through my email and one from Goodreads said you had read 81 out of 80 books. I click the link to congratulate you and it now says 78. Well, I’m here to congratulate you early!

Congratulations! 🥳

Autumn wrote: "I was going through my email and one from Goodreads said you had read 81 out of 80 books. I click the link to congratulate you and it now says 78. Well, I’m here to congratulate you early!

Congra..."

Thanks, Autumn. I’m not sure why it came up with 81, but I should complete my target within a week, I’d guess. I always like to win (I’m competitive) so I tend to set targets I’m confident I’ll achieve! :))

It was definitely a weird situation. Lol. I wonder if it just glitched. Within a week of reaching your goal must feel great! As for me, I always set mine low at 12 because I know I’ll read that much in a year. I just never know if I’ll read 13. 😅

Autumn wrote: "It was definitely a weird situation. Lol. I wonder if it just glitched. Within a week of reaching your goal must feel great! As for me, I always set mine low at 12 because I know I’ll read that muc..."

Yes, it must have been a glitch. Yes, I feel good - I always feel satisfied when I reach my number. I don’t think it’s been my best reading year, though. Too many average books and very few that were outstanding. It goes like that though, some years.

I hope you make your target 🤞

It does go like that sometimes. You go from one meh book to the next and you begin to wonder if the entire year is going to be a dud. I’ve had a great year, but then, I’ve mostly read manga (can’t normally go wrong with those lol) and Hercule Poirot. I’ve found some gems in the Poirot series.

Thanks! I have reached my very low target this year. Again, most of the books read are manga, so...take that as you will. 😅

I was looking through the books I’ve read (well, actually I listened to about half of them) and there are a lot of mysteries there, more than usual. And a few strange books I don’t know why I chose. But some really good ones too. I don’t really plan, I usually just pick what comes to mind at the time. You’re right too, some years are just like that.

I haven’t tried manga - I don’t think it’d be my thing - but I have read and enjoyed Agatha Christie. In fact she was born and lived just a few miles from where I live. Though I haven’t actually read any of her Poirot books - maybe I should try them (I probably know most of the stories from the tv series).

You shouldn’t under celebrate hitting your target - you read Ink Black Heart which is the biggest book I’ve consumed this year - a monster! I didn’t initially think I’d like it (all the chat room stuff) but when I got used to it I became enthralled by the mystery. One of my top books this year.

I don’t normally plan either. I’m more of a mood reader. I was really in the mood for Poirot. I do recommend them. The tv show has probably spoiled you, but I think it’s worth the read still. I haven’t read one that beats Lord Edgware Dies, but one or two came close. I think I have 7 left to read overall.

The thing about manga is you have to read it backwards and you have to really pay attention to the page where it shows you how to read the panels. It can be just a little tricky. Once you master that, you just need to sit back and enjoy. Graphic novels not originating from Japan are read like a normal book. If you’re interested in fantasy, I recommend FullMetal Alchemist.

I’d recommend Detective Conan/Case Closed (I’m not sure if Case Closed is just the American name because there was an issue with higher ups thinking kids would confuse an anime with Conan the Barbarian...I think that was misguided. Lol) but it’s a labor of love and the series isn’t done yet. It’s at over 100 volumes now and still going strong. lol

I did read that monster! The ending...I still liked it a lot. I kinda want to reread it already, ngl. 😅

I looked at some statistics and realized at this moment that 3/4 of my reading challenge were Poirot and manga (manga making up 32% and 41% Poirot). I’ve had an interesting year so far.

I’m not really a fantasy reader, though I like some science fiction (but it has to be somewhat grounded in what I believe to be possible - so no beings from another planet), time travel stories and dystopian fiction. I’ve not really tried graphic novels - maybe I’ll give one a go. The manga, though, sounds like something I’d struggle with.

You can’t beat a long book that has you hooked, but it’s a big undertaking to read it a second time. That said, I read Papillon three times - twice in fairly quick succession and again some years later.

Maybe you should mix it up a bit - try something new, something challenging?

FullMetal Alchemist could be termed science fiction as well, I think. It involves alchemy, which is magic/fantasy, but there are rules to it. But then there’s automail, which are prosthesis that connect to your nerve endings. It’s a funny series, but it’s also very serious too. And sad. I would suggest looking up the first volume and if you struggle with it, there is an anime (two actually) that you might be interested in consuming instead. Brotherhood is the one that follows the manga closely.

True! My favorite book is The Count of Monte Cristo and that’s longer than The Ink Black Heart. I’ve yet to read it completely a second time, but I did get pretty far into it before I put it down. Suffice to say, it scratched the itch to reread it. 😅

Oh, I’ve tried to switch it up. Nothing was making me happy. I was struggling with fantasy and just finding one that was satisfactory. I finally gave up and let myself be swept away by Hercule Poirot.

Ok, thanks for the suggestions. I might take a look 👍

I’ve not read Monte Christo, though I’m familiar with the basic outline of the tale. For some reason, it’s the big, complex books that draw me back.

Nothing wrong with that - I’ve read about 100 books from one of my favourite crime fiction writers, Lawrence Block.

Big books are still daunting. Lol I don’t blame anyone who takes their time considering reading big books. The Count of Monte Cristo is complex and you really need to read all of it because there are tiny things that mean something later.

Nice! When you find what you like…why not go for it? 😄

Yes, I totally agree. And maybe I should think about giving Monte Christo a go 🧐

I’m a long time fan of crime fiction and when I find a writer I like I tend to read everything they’ve written. But as you say, why not? 😁

I hope you do give the book a try.

Yes, why not! Enjoy! 😊