2024 Alphabet Challenge

 Finished this challenge!

Alphabet Challenge

A: American Woman by Katie Rogers

B: The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

C: The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett

D: Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop by Alba Donati

E: Eight World Cups by George Vecsey

F: From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs.Basil E.Frankweiler by E.L Konigsburg

G: The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

H: Holidays in Hell by P.J O’Rourke

I: In Paris by Jeanne Damas

J: Julius Caesar by Shakespeare 

K: Kill Joy by Holly Jackson

L: Lost in Thought by Zena Hitz

M: Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

N: No Voyage by Mary Oliver

O: O Pioneers by Willa Cather

P: Packing My Library by Alberto Manguel

Q: Quiet Girl in A Noisy World by Debbie Tung

R: Red Card by Ken Bensinger 

S: Save Me the Plums by Ruth Reichl

T: That Time I Got Drunk…by Kimberly Lemming

U: Undercover by Thomas L.Bonn

V: Vivian Meier by John Maloof

W: Winner Takes All by Christina Binkley

X: X=poems by Stephen Berg

Y: The Yellow Lighted Bookshop by Lewis Busbee

Z: Zorrie by Laird Hunt

W22: Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks

  W22:

Title: The Paris Novel

Author: Ruth Reichl

Pages: 265

Published: 2024

Started: 5/26/24

Finished: 5/29/24

Summary: A girl receives a gift from her recently deceased mother in form of a ticket that says ‘.         ‘Go to Paris’. She does reluctantly and finds much more than she bargained for.

My thoughts: Very easy read. The book was based from an encounter the writer had in her previous nonfiction book, ‘Save Me the Plums’. Her descriptions of food was excellent. Very vivid, mouthwatering. The only gripe was the main character was a little annoying at times.

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W16: Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks

 W16:

Title: Save Me the Plums

Author: Ruth Reichl

Pages: 260

Published: 2019

Started: 4/14/24

Finished: 4/18/24

Summary: The food writer Ruth Reichl talks about her time as editor in chief of Gourmet magazine from the late 90s till the magazine’s closing in 2009.

My thoughts: I loved it! Ruth’s writing is always a fun and easy read. And it was so interesting to see the behind the scenes of how to run a magazine. Her descriptions of food are always so vivid and mouthwatering. One of my favorite reads of the year!

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W14: Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks

 W14:

W13:

 Title: The Book of Doors

Author: Gareth Brown

Pages: 400

Published: 2024

Started: 3/31/24

Finished: 4/4/24

Summary: Cassie, one day gets a special book, The Book of Doors, from a beloved customer at her place of employment that allows her to go through any door, anywhere,anytime. Using this book, expands her possibilities and unfortunately brings her danger. She has to survive with her best friend, her favorite customer and new friends to keep herself,those she cares about and the book safe.

My thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed it. The twists and turns kept me on my seat. The characters were great and wanted more! Very creative way the author wrote on how the book of doors came to be.

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W13: Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks

W13:

 Title: 60 Songs that Explain the 90s

Author: Rob Harvilla

Pages: 263

Published: 2023

Started: 3/24/24

Finished: 3/28/24

Summary: Music reporter Rob explains 60 songs that he feels incapsulates the 90s. This book is based on his podcast of the same name.

My thoughts: I loved it! As a teen of the 90s, it brought back all wonderful memories of the music I enjoyed. Very easy read, he puts funny anecdotes of his experiences with these songs without making the story about him. Does an excellent job of breaking down the music and why it’s so good.

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W12: Read 52 Books…

 W12:

Title: Southern California in the 50s

Author: Charles Phoenix

Pages: 158

Published: 1999

Started: 3/17/24

Finished: 3/18/24

Summary: A look into Southern California in the 50s using Kodachrome photos along with descriptions of old time restaurants, attractions, lifestyles etc…

My thoughts: I loved it! Wonderful to see old photos of places that my family were familiar with.

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W10 and W11: Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks

 W10 and W11:

W10:  

Title: Perched on Nothings Bench

Author: Attila Jozsef

Pages: 88

Published: 1999

Started: 3/8/24

Finished: 3/12/24

Summary: Attila Jozsef poems when he lived in Hungary before he committed suicide.

My thoughts: I enjoyed them. Very tragic,very illuminating.

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W11:

Title: Eight World Cups

Author: George Vecsey

Pages: 290

Started: 3/10/24

Finished: 3/12/24

Summary: Writer George Vecsey writes about all the World Cups he’s attended and his insights into his experiences as well as what was happening in the soccer world at the same time.

My thoughts: Very easy read. Sped through this. Enjoyed his reflections of the World Cups especially on famous soccer figures like Maradona,Zidane and Landon Donovan.

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