Reading Challenge 2020

I know this will be an unpopular opinion, but since the thread is titled “Reading Challenge” should t it be limited to, you know, actual reading not listening to audiobooks?

Now I like a good audiobook as much as anyone but I would never count that as “reading”.


Anyway, my goal is 24. Realistically with work and family probably can’t do more than 2 a month.

I'm in - 35 books also going to try and also use audible while on the road for additional books.

35 Books

(1) Endymion by Dan Simmons ~ 570 pages (Finished)
(2) Gardens of the Moon by Stephen Erikson ~ 675 pages (Finished)
(3) Deadhouse Gates by Stephen Erikson ~ 835 pages (Finished)
(4) Putting: The 4 Secret Body Locks by Erick Kaplan ~ 105 pages (Finished)
(5) Morning Star by Pierce Brown ~ 550 pages (Finished)
(6) Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence ~ 390 pages (Finished)
(7) King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence ~ 420 pages (Finished)
(8) Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence ~ 400 pages (Finished)
(9) The Guns of Empire by Django Wexler ~ 465 pages (Finished)
(10) The Infernal Battalion by Django Wexler ~ 500 pages (Finished)
(11) Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan ~ 530 pages (Finished)
(12) The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan ~ 590 pages (Finished)
(13) The Autumn Republic by Brian McClellan ~ 575 pages (Finished)
(15) Lord of Light by Roger Zalazny ~ 295 pages (Finished)
(16) Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neal Gaiman ~ 495 pages (Finished)
(17) Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan ~ 700 pages (Finished)
(18) Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan ~ 820 pages (Finished)
(19) Traitor's Blade by Sebastian de Castell ~ 370 pages (Finished)
(20) Knight's Shadow by Sebastian de Castell ~ 590 pages (Finished)
(21) Saint's Blood by Sebastian de Castell ~ 575 pages (Finished)
(22) Tyrant's Throne by Sebastian de Castell ~ 590 pages (Finished)
(23) The Real Story by Stephen R. Donaldson ~ 245 pages (Finished)
(24) Forbidden Knowledge by Stephen R. Donaldson ~ 455 pages (Finished)
(25) A Dark and Hungry God Arises by Stephen R. Donaldson ~ 520 pages (Finished)
(26) Chaos and Order by Stephen R. Donaldson ~ 675 pages (Finished)
(27) This Day All Gods Die by Stephen R. Donaldson ~ 690 pages (Finished)
(28) Warrior of the Altaii by Robert Jordan - 338 Pages (Finished)
(29) The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein ~ 380 pages (Finished)
(30) Salamandastron by Brian Jacques ~ 390 pages (Finished)
(31) Lord Brocktree by Brian Jacques ~ 365 pages (Finished)
(32) Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques ~ 379 pages (Finished)
(33) Mossflower by Brian Jacques - 427 pages (Finished)
(34) Going Postal! by Terry Pratchett ~ 375 pages (Finished)
(35) Making Money by Terry Pratchett ~ 390 pages (Finished)
(36) Raising Steel by Terry Pratchett ~ 400 pages (Finished)
(37) The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov ~ 192 pages (Finished)
(38) Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan ~ 650 pages (Finished)
(39) Rise of Empires by Michael J. Sullivan
(40) Heir of Novron by Michael J. Sullivan


Audio Books

(1) Skyward by Brandon Sanderson (Finished)
(2) Starsight by Brandon Sanderson (Finished)
(3) Writing Great Fiction by James Hynes (Finished)
(4) On Writing by Stephen King (Finished)
(5) The Poppy War by R. F . Kuang (Finished)
(6) The Dragon War by R. F. Kuang (Finished)
(7) Children of Dune by Frank Hebert (Finished)
(8) Assassins Apprentice by Robin Hobb (Finished)
(9) Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb (Finished)
(10) Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb
(11) The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (Finished)
(12) Elantris by Brandon Sanderson (Finished)
(13) Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin (Finished)
(14) The Tombs of Atuan by Ursual Le Guin (Finished)
(15) The Farthest Shore by Ursula Le Guin (Finished)
(16) The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan(Finished)
(17) The Great Courses: Ancient Mesopotamia (Finished)
(18) The Great Courses: Ancient Mythology (Finished)
(19) Pimp: They Story of My Life by Iceberg Slim (Finished)
(20) The Black Prism by Brent Weeks (Finished)
(21) The Great Courses: Classical Music (Finished)
(22) The Great Courses: The Other Side of History (Finished)

To Read List:

Operation Gladio by Paul Williams ~ 320 pages
The Peregrine
Persian Fire by Tom Holland ~ 370 pages
The spy and the Traitor
Hyperspace
The Fabric of the Cosmos
Tigana
Theft of Swords
Rise of Empire
Heir of Novron
Ordinary Men
Shadow rising
Towers of Midnight
Memory of Light
Memories of Ice
House of Chains
Rise of Endymion
A Good Day to Die by Jim Harrison
My Dog Skip
Ready Player One
No Country For Old Men
Rising Tide
Power of the Dog
The Cartel
The Border
The Orphan Masters Son
City of Theives

Water Margin: Heroes of the Marsh
- 14th century Chinese masterpiece, kind of like Robin Hood but with way more wine and murder.

Romance of the 3 Kingdoms
- Best. Book. Ever. 14th-century historical novel attributed to Luo Guanzhong. It is set in the turbulent years towards the end of the Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history, starting in 169 AD and ending with the reunification of the land in 280 by Western Jin.

Shogun
- About a European who lands in Japan and gets caught up in this dudes quest to become Shogun. Based on a true story. Super badass.

Did 77 last year. Gonna dial it back to 52 this year.

Update 1/4/21...finished 88:

Title Author Pages Score
1 Legacy of Ash (Legacy Trilogy #1) Matthew Ward 800 4.25
2 Tribe Jeremy Robinson 360 3.75
3 Malice (The Faithful and the Fallen 1) John Gwynne 641 4.25
4 Valor (The Faithful and the Fallen 2) John Gwynne 680 4.25
5 Ruin (The Faithful and the Fallen 3) John Gwynne 792 4.25
6 Wrath (The Faithful and the Fallen 4) John Gwynne 736 4.25
7 A Time of Dread (Of Blood and Bone 1) John Gwynne 512 4.25
8 A Time of Blood (Of Blood and Bone 2) John Gwynne 512 4.25
9 Drones Rob J. Hayes 200 3.75
10 The Choice of Magic (The Art of the Adept 1) Michael G. Manning 626 4.25
11 Secrets and Spellcraft (The Art of the Adept 2) Michael G. Manning 525 4.25
12 The Mountains Rise (Embers of Illeniel Book I) Michael G. Manning 530 4.25
13 The Silent Tempest (Embers of Illeniel Book 2) Michael G. Manning 516 4.00
14 Betrayer's Bane (Embers of Illeniel Book 3) Michael G. Manning 380 4.00
15 The Blacksmith's Son (Mageborn Book 1) Michael G. Manning 386 4.00
16 The Line of Illeniel (Mageborn Book 2) Michael G. Manning 548 4.00
17 The Archmage Unbound (Mageborn Book 3) Michael G. Manning 545 4.00
18 The God-Stone War (Mageborn Book 4) Michael G. Manning 561 4.00
19 The Final Redemption (Mageborn Book 5) Michael G. Manning 600 4.00
20 Along the Razor's Edge (The War Eternal #1) Rob J. Hayes 281 4.25
21 Black Stone Heart Michael R. Fletcher 487 4.25
22 A Time of Courage (Of Blood and Bone 3) John Gwynne 720 4.50
23 Thornbear (Champions of the Dawning Dragons Book 1) Michael G. Manning 488 4.00
24 Centyr Dominance (Champions of the Dawning Dragons Book 2) Michael G. Manning 400 4.00
25 Demonhome (Champions of the Dawning Dragons Book 3) Michael G. Manning 542 4.25
26 Mordecai (The Riven Gates Book 1) Michael G. Manning 423 4.00
27 The Severed Realm (The Riven Gates Book 2 ) Michael G. Manning 349 4.00
28 Trancendence and Rebellion (The Riven Gates Book 3) Michael G. Manning 386 4.25
29 Scholar of Magic (The Art of the Adept Book 3) Michael G. Manning 527 4.25
30 The Girl and the Stars (The Book of the Ice #1) Mark Lawrence 380 4.25
31 Spirit (The Cartographer #3) A.C. Cobble 550 4.00
32 The Lessons Never Learned (The War Eternal #2) Rob J. Hayes 528 4.25
33 From Cold Ashes Risen (The War Eternal #3) Rob J. Hayes 326 4.25
34 The Bone Ships (The Tide Child #1) R.J. Barker 513 4.25
35 The Monster Baru Cormorant (The Masquerade Book 2) Seth Dickinson 464 3.50
36 A Town Called Discovery RR Haywood 364 4.00
37 Decimus Fate and the Talisman of Dreams (Decimus Fate Book 1) Peter Flannery 218 4.00
38 Brilliance (Brilliance Saga #1) Marcus Sakey 454 3.75
39 A Better World (Brilliance Saga #2) Marcus Sakey 391 3.75
40 Written in Fire (Brilliance Sage #3) Marcus Sakey 348 3.75
41 Tales of Ioth (The Wildfire Cycle #2.5) D.P. Woolliscroft 244 3.75
42 First and Only Peter Flannery 270 4.00
43 Paternus: War of Gods (The Paternus Trilogy Book 3) Dyrk Ashton 852 4.00
44 Augmented James D. Prescott 391 3.75
45 The Cleansing Flame (Swords and Saints #1) Alec Hutson 243 3.75
46 The Twilight Empire (Swords and Saints #2) Alec Hutson 239 3.75
47 We Are the Dead (The Last War #1) Mike Shackle 429 4.50
48 The Book of Koli (Rampart Trilogy #1) M.R. Carey 416 4.25
49 Incursion (The Necromancer's Key #1) Mitchell Hogan 532 4.00
50 The Last Monument Michael C. Grumley 329 3.50
51 The Hollow God (Swords and Saints Book 3) Alec Hutson 249 3.75
52 The Killing Fog (The Grave Kingdom #1) Jeff Wheeler 404 4.25
53 The Buried World (The Grave Kingdom #2) Jeff Wheeler 336 4.25
54 The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids (Amra Thetys #1) Michael McClung 207 4.25
55 The Thief Who Spat in Luck's Good Eye (Amra Thetys #2) Michael McClung 202 4.25
56 The Thief Who Knocked on Sorrow's Gate (Amra Thetys #3) Michael McClung 181 4.25
57 The Thief Who Wasn't There (Amra Thetys #4) Michael McClung 247 4.25
58 The Thief Who Went to War (Amra Thetys #5) Michael McClung 209 4.25
59 Hero Forged (Ethereal Earth #1) Josh Erikson 346 4.25
60 Fate Lashed (Ethereal Earth #2) Josh Erikson 375 4.25
61 Blight Marked (Ethereal Earth #3) Josh Erikson 397 4.00
62 Darkdawn (The Nevernight Chronicle #3) Jay Kristoff 488 4.25
63 Age of Death: Book Five of The Legends of the First Empire Michael J. Sullivan 341 4.00
64 Age of Empyre: Book Six of The Legends of the First Empire Michael J. Sullivan 395 4.00
65 Ash and Bones (City of Sacrifice #2) Michael R. Fletcher 661 4.25
66 Shadows of Ivory (The Godforged Chronicles Book 1) T.L Greylock/Bryce O'Conner 478 4.00
67 Ninth House (Alex Stern #1) Leigh Bardugo 459 4.00
68 Kings of Heaven (Ash and Sand #3) Richard Nell 411 4.00
69 The Trouble with Peace (The Age of Madness #2) Joe Abercrombie 640 4.75
70 The Trials of Koli (Rampart Trilogy #2) M.R. Carey 496 4.25
71 The Immortal Words (The Grave Kingdom #3) Jeff Wheeler 341 3.75
72 The Black Book (The Cycle of the Scour Book 2) Edward W. Robertson 345 3.75
73 Fate of the Fallen (Shroud of Prophecy Book 1) Kel Kade 347 3.75
74 Wintersteel (Cradle #8) Will Wight 540 4.50
75 The King's Ranger A.C. Cobble 368 4.00
76 Foundryside (The Founder's Trilogy #1) Robert Jackson Bennett 512 4.00
77 Shorefall (The Founder's Trilogy #2) Robert Jackson Bennett 497 4.00
78 The Lost City of Ithos (Mage Errant #4) John Bierce 543 4.00
79 Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds Brandon Sanderson 340 3.50
80 Legacy of Steel (The Legacy Trilogy #2) Matthew Ward 704 4.00
81 Rhythm of War (Book Four of The Stormlight Archive) Brandon Sanderson 1,232 4.75
82 The Forever King (The Scalussen Chronicles Book 1) Ben Galley 574 4.25
83 Temple of Sand (The Gods of Men #2) Barbara Kloss 523 4.25
84 Shadow of a Dead God (Mennik Thorn #1) Patrick Samphire 460 4.25
85 The Lost War: Eidyn Book 1 Justin Lee Anderson 551 4.25
86 The Cobat Codes (The Combat Codes Saga #1) Alexander Darwin 410 4.00
87 Grievar's Blood (The Combat Codes Saga #2) Alexander Darwin 356 3.75
88 Disciple of War (Art of the Adept Book 4) Michael G. Manning 672 4.25

quote:

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hope I'm not taking anyone's union job by starting this

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I started it in 2018. Just happy to see it created each year, after. Thanks to you and the gent from last year (I was in timeout).



I had a down year in 2019 (a bunch of work and biz books), so I’d like to set a decently high mark for 2020.

My goal is 40 books for 2020: LFG!!

Currently reading (will bold when complete)
1. The last wish 4*
2. 12 Rules For Life - Jordan Peterson - still reading
3. Sword of Destiny 4*
4. Developing the Leader Within you 2.0 - John Maxwell
5. Blood of Elves 3.75*
6. Time of Contempt

Last year I missed several books I had wanted to read (like the silmarillion) and read others instead. Also didnt read much plain scifi. Hopefully I can remedy that

Goal: 25 Books - Completed

Completed
1. The Puppet Masters - Robert A. Heinlein, 407 pages, 5/5

2. The Fall of Troy - Quintus of Smyrna, translated by Arthur S. Way, 290 pages, 5/5
Epic poem written by a Roman to fill in the gap between the Iliad and Odyssey caused by missing poems. Filled in the gaps real well and matches the originals based on what is known about them

3. Planet of the Apes - Pierre Boulle, translated by Xan Fielding, 248 pages, 4/5

4. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury, 158 pages, 5/5

5. Apollodorus' Library of myths and Hyginus' Fabulae - translated by R. Scott Smith and Stephen M. Trzaskoma, 182 pages, 5/5

6. Count Zero - William Gibson, 308 pages, 1/5

7. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo - unknown, translated by J.R.R. Tolkien, 214 pages, 4/5

8. Conan (screenplay) - Oliver Stone, 141 pages, 3/5
The original script for Conan before Dino Delaurentus bought it and had John Milius rewrite it into what became Conan the Barbarian. It diverges quite a bit from the final movie, and reuses heavily many of the original Howard stories for its own. Not bad, woulda been a fun movie, but it's not as good as the final product and it is a good thing changes were made.

9. The Silmarillion - JRR Tolkien, 304 pages, 5/5
Finally got around to reading it. Was great, especially Turin and Numenor stories.

10. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - C. S. Lewis, 189 pages, 5/5

11. Cobra (Cobra Book #1) - Timothy Zahn, 289 Pages, 5/5

12. The Counterfeit Man and Other Science Fiction Stories - Alan E. Nourse, 185 Pages, 3/5

13. I am Legend and Other Stories - Richard Matheson, 444 pages, 2/5
I am legend is a 5/5. Great story. However pretty much every single one after that sucked or was wasted potential except the last one, person to person.

14. Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story - Arnold Schwarzenegger, 624 pages, 3/5
Book is essentially 4 parts. Childhood, body building, movies, and politics. Was surprised how little there was about most of his movies in it.

15. The Heart of Hebrew History: A Study of the Old Testament - H. I. Hester, 330 pages, 5/5

16. Red shirts - John Scalzi, 317 pages, 4/5

17. The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponesian War - Thucydides, translated by Richard Crawley, 625 pages, 4/5
Finally finished it. Thucydides is no Herodotus, but after dragging it really picks up in the last two books. The loss at Syracuse and the overthrowing of the Athenian democracy by their own aristocracy are fascinating to read about. Maps in this edition helped alot

18. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress- Robert A. Heinlein, 382 pages, 5/5
Have had this one for a couple years, finally got around to reading it. Am happy I did.

19. Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton, 400 pages, 4/5
Some differences between it and the movie. Liked it better than the movie

20. The Forever Peace - Joe Haldeman, 326 pages, 2/5

21. The History of the Kings of Britain - Geoffrey of Monmouth, 287 pages, 5/5
Covers Britain's kings from Brutus to Cadwallader.

22. Foundation and Empire - Isaac Asimov, 282 pages, 5/5

23. Second Foundation - Isaac Asimov, 256 pages, 4/5

24. Foundation's Edge - Isaac Asimov, 452 pages, 4/5

25. Foundation and Earth - Isaac Asimov, 494 pages, 5/5
This was the best of the series. Serious space Odyssey, and it was pretty good

26. Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others - translated by Stephanie Daley, 316 pages, 2/5
There's a reason Greek myths are talked about and these aren't (aside from Gilgamesh). Most are fragments, and those that aren't fragmented that badly aren't very good

27. The Expedition of Cyrus (AKA: The Anabasis) - Xenophon, translated by Robin Waterfield, 231 pages, 5/5
First hand account of Greek mercs losing their leaders in Persia and then running free through the Empire to get home, raiding and fighting off enemies as they go

28. A History of My Times (AKA: Helenica) - Xenophon, translated by Rex Warner, 403 pages, 4/5

29. The Heart of the New Testament - H. I. Hester, 350 pages, 5/5

Didn't set a goal for 2019, and ended up reading 20 books - one being an audiobook.

I wasted some time in 2019, so I think 30 is easily attainable this year.

Goal - Read 30 books in 2020. Completed 1

1. Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon - I forgot I had already read it when I bought it. Dumbass. 3 out 5

If I can get 5 books in this year I will be happy. Trying to finish an MBA and I am drained.

As always, I have no goal. Books read for my book club will be designated BC.
Happy reading, everyone.

1- Run to Daylight. Vince Lombardi 186pgs
2- You Got Nothing Coming. Lerner 397pgs
3- Double Play. Robert B. Parker 288pgs
4- New Bill James H.B.A. James 970pgs
5- Duel of Eagles. Peter Townsend. 460pgs
6- (BC)The Secrets We Kept. Laura Prescott.
7- Thinning the Predators. Graziunas/Starlin 326pgs
8- Stormy Weather. James Gavin 485pgs
9- You're OK, It's Just a Bruise. Huizenga 326pgs
10- (BC)Ordinary Heroes. Scott Turow 368pgs
11- Dynastic, Bombastic, Fantastic. Jason Turbow 344pgs
12- The Birth of Loud. Ian Port 281pgs
13- Twisted Prey. John Sanford 387pgs
14- G-Man. Stephen Hunter 443pgs
15- (BC)Fallen Out. Wayne Stinnett 246pgs
16- The Big Blowdown. George Pelecanos 313pgs
17- Darwin's Blade. Dan Simmons 439pgs
18- The Midnight Line. Lee Child 368pgs
19- One Year After. William Forstchen 302pgs
20- Topgun. Dan Pedersen 286 pgs
21- Deep Freeze. John Sandford 391 pgs
22- Elvis in Vegas. Richard Zoglin 249pgs
23- (B)The Killer Across the Table. Douglas/Olshaker 336pgs
24- The Hunter Killers. Dan Hampton 351pgs
25- Pay Back. David Nees 370pgs
26- The Never Open Desert Diner. James Henderson 293pgs
27- The Revelators. Ace Atkins 336pgs
28- The Wanted. Robert Crais 322pgs

Last year was 53 audiobooks (I drive a good bit) and 7 print/kindle. This year going to try to up it to 60 audiobooks and 12 print/kindle.

Currently listening to Why We Sleep and reading Measure What Matters by John Doerr.

Audio

1.Why We Sleep - Matthew Walker
2. South of the Border, West of the Sun, Haruki Murakami
3. Digital Minimalism - Cal Newport
4. Hamilton - Lin-Manuel Miranda et al
5. The Martian - Andy Weir


Books

1. Measure What Matters - John Doerr