Authors A to Z Challenge
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LadyCalico2 wrote: »For those having difficulties finding a good X, I can recommend Xinran's Sky Burial. It is a heartbreaker, but if you want a book by an author with the ability to move you to another time and another place, this one's for you. There are a lot of good Q writers, but if you want a fun book, I can recommend Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie mysteries. The mystery itself isn't cozy, Bernie is a pretty serious detective, and is usually a pretty good whodunnit, but they are narrated by the detective's failed police dog, Chet, and that's where the fun comes in. I'm feeling guilty because my U was so short, so I plan on reading Leon Uris's GB VII to compensate.
Thanks for the tip, Lady Calico! That sounds like an interesting book in any case.1 -
A. Arrington, Aminta. Home is a Roof Over a Pig. *** Lags here and there, but I liked it over all.
B. Batuman, Elif. Either/Or. *** Very quirky, but had some funny and some insightful moments.
C. Choukri, Mohamed. For Bread Alone. *** Didn't "like" this tale of Moroccan misery, but it's a vital read.
D. Dongala, Emmanuel. The Bridgetower Sonata. *** Amazing story I'd never heard a word about!
E. Erdrich, Louise. The Sentence. ***. A little chaotic, but I liked the characters, and Erdrich can write!
F. Fforde, Jasper. First Among Sequels. **** Not for everyone, but I've grown to love these wacky books!
G. Galeano, Eduardo. Upside Down: A Primer for the Looking Glass World. IN PROGRESS.
H. Hrabal, Bohumil. Closely Watched Trains. Quirky and deadpan, but full of insights for careful readers.
I.
J. Jeffers, Honoree Fanonne. The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois. *** Sweeping, though not always riveting.
K. Krleža, Miroslav. Journey to Russia. **** Amazing eyewitness account of a difficult time.
L. Li, Zhuqing. Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden. *** Tragedy of divided nations in a microcosm.
M. McCarthy, Mary. Groves of Academe. IN PROGRESS.
N. Nayeri, Daniel. Everything Sad is Untrue (A True Story). ** IMHO this is too depressing for YA.
O.
P. Perry, Imani. South to America. ***. Emigre family history. Took me down a lot of rabbit holes.
Q. de Queirós, José Maria de Eça. The Maias. IN PROGRESS.
R. Russo, Richard. Straight Man. DNF. Just not worth the re-read and I don't like the new series either....
S. Standing Bear, Luther. My People, the Sioux. **** I really enjoyed this memoir, which was new to me.
T. Tschinag, Galsan. The Blue Sky. ***** LOVED this memoir of a rural Tuvan childhood.
U. Umar, Ousman. North to Paradise. A Memoir. *** It's a miracle he survived. Now he's giving back.
V. Verghese, Abraham. The Covenant of Water. ** Not sure WHY I finished this...
W. Wharton, Edith. The Fruit of the Tree. ** Not her best, but I finished it.
X. Xialong, Qiu. Becoming Inspector Chen. ***. Needed a better editor, but okay.
Y.
Zamora, Javier. Solito: A Memoir. *** The tragedy of our borders, as seen by a nine-year-old.2 -
A. Allan, Claire - The First Time I Said Goodbye
B. Bennett, Alan - The Uncommon Reader
C. Clare, Cassandra - City of Bones
D. Durbin, Frederic S- A Green and Ancient Light
E. Extence, Gavin - The Universe Versus Alex Woods
F. Ford, Jamie - Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
G. Grisham, John - The Judge's List
H. Harrow, Alix E. - Once and Future Witches
I. Iles, Greg - Blood Memory
J. Johnson, Jane - The White Hair
K. Knight, Eliza - The Mayfair Bookshop
L. Lockhart, E. - Family of Liars
M. Martin, George R.R. - Game of Thrones
N. Ng, Celeste - Everything I Never Told You
O. Owens, Delia - Where the Crawdad Sings
P. Penner, Sarah - London Seance Society
Q. Quinn, Daniel - Ishmael
R. Reid, Taylor Jenkins - Daisy Jones & The Six.
S. Sloan, Robin - Mr. Penumbra's 24- Hour Book Store
T. Thawler, Tish - The Witches of BlackBrook
U. Urrea, Luis Alberto - The Hummingbird's Daughter
V.
W. Wax, Wendy - While We Were Watching Downton Abby
X. Xiaolong, Qiu - Death of a Red Heroine
Y.
Z. Zevin, Gabrielle - The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry1 -
A.
B. Blume, Judy - Freckle Juice
C. Cloud, Henry - Changes that Heal
D.
E.
F. French, Tana - The Searcher
G. Griffiths, Elly - The Stranger Diaries
H.
I.
J.
K.
L. Langton, Jane - The Fledgling
M. Morrissey, Hannah - Hello, Transcriber
N.
O. Osman, Richard - The Thursday Murder Club
P. Penny, Louise - The Madness of Crowds
Q.
R. Rous, Emma - The Au Pair
S. Sutherland, Tui T. - The Dragonet Prophecy
T. Tarshis, Lauren - I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912
U.
V. Voskamp, Ann - One Thousand Gifts
W.
X.
Y.
Z.
3 -
A. The Blade Itself, Joe Abercrombie
B. The Long War, Stephen Baxter and Terry Pratchett
C. Stranger Things: Rebel Robin, A.R. Capetta
D. Stranger Things: Lucas on the Line, Suyi Davies
E. Winter Tide, Ruthanna Emrys
F. Never, Ken Follett
G. Playing for Pizza, John Grisham
H. City of Lies, Sam Hawke
I. Rust in the Root, Justina Ireland
J. Biscuits and Gravy (Chuckwagon Trail #4), William W. Johnstone with JA Johnstone
K. Joyland, Stephen King
L. The Walking Drum, Louis L'Amour
M. Star Trek: Picard: Second Self, Una McCormack
N. The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger
O. Riot Baby, Tochi Onyebuchi
P. The Long Earth, Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter
Q. Waste Tide, Chen Qiufan
R. Poster Girl, Veronica Roth
S. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, V.E. Schwab
T. The Lincoln Highway, Amor Towles
U. Lies We Sing to the Sea, Sarah Underwood
V. Lincoln, Gore Vidal
W. Doomsday Book, Connie Willis
X.
Y. How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe, Charles Yu
Z. We, Yevgeny Zamyatin3 -
A.
B. Blume, Judy - Freckle Juice
C. Cloud, Henry - Changes that Heal
D.
E.
F. French, Tana - The Searcher
G. Griffiths, Elly - The Stranger Diaries
H.
I.
J.
K.
L. Langton, Jane - The Fledgling
M. Morrissey, Hannah - Hello, Transcriber
N.
O. Osman, Richard - The Thursday Murder Club
P. Penny, Louise - The Madness of Crowds
Q.
R. Rous, Emma - The Au Pair
S. Sutherland, Tui T. - The Dragonet Prophecy
T. Tarshis, Lauren - I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912
U.
V. Voskamp, Ann - One Thousand Gifts
W. Winspear, Jacqueline - Maisie Dobbs
X.
Y.
Z.
2 -
A.
B. Blume, Judy - Freckle Juice
C. Cloud, Henry - Changes that Heal
D. Dickens, Charles - Christmas Stories
E.
F. French, Tana - The Searcher
G. Griffiths, Elly - The Stranger Diaries
H.
I.
J.
K.
L. Langton, Jane - The Fledgling
M. Morrissey, Hannah - Hello, Transcriber
N.
O. Osman, Richard - The Thursday Murder Club
P. Penny, Louise - The Madness of Crowds
Q.
R. Rous, Emma - The Au Pair
S. Sutherland, Tui T. - The Dragonet Prophecy
T. Tarshis, Lauren - I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912
U.
V. Voskamp, Ann - One Thousand Gifts
W. Winspear, Jacqueline - Maisie Dobbs
X.
Y.
Z.
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A. Allan, Claire - The First Time I Said Goodbye
B. Bennett, Alan - The Uncommon Reader
C. Clare, Cassandra - City of Bones
D. Durbin, Frederic S- A Green and Ancient Light
E. Extence, Gavin - The Universe Versus Alex Woods
F. Ford, Jamie - Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
G. Grisham, John - The Judge's List
H. Harrow, Alix E. - Once and Future Witches
I. Iles, Greg - Blood Memory
J. Johnson, Jane - The White Hair
K. Knight, Eliza - The Mayfair Bookshop
L. Lockhart, E. - Family of Liars
M. Martin, George R.R. - Game of Thrones
N. Ng, Celeste - Everything I Never Told You
O. Owens, Delia - Where the Crawdad Sings
P. Penner, Sarah - London Seance Society
Q. Quinn, Daniel - Ishmael
R. Reid, Taylor Jenkins - Daisy Jones & The Six.
S. Sloan, Robin - Mr. Penumbra's 24- Hour Book Store
T. Thawler, Tish - The Witches of BlackBrook
U. Urrea, Luis Alberto - The Hummingbird's Daughter
V. Verghese, Abraham - Cutting for Stone
W. Wax, Wendy - While We Were Watching Downton Abby
X. Xiaolong, Qiu - Death of a Red Heroine
Y.
Z. Zevin, Gabrielle - The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry1 -
A. Allan, Claire - The First Time I Said Goodbye
B. Bennett, Alan - The Uncommon Reader
C. Clare, Cassandra - City of Bones
D. Durbin, Frederic S- A Green and Ancient Light
E. Extence, Gavin - The Universe Versus Alex Woods
F. Ford, Jamie - Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
G. Grisham, John - The Judge's List
H. Harrow, Alix E. - Once and Future Witches
I. Iles, Greg - Blood Memory
J. Johnson, Jane - The White Hair
K. Knight, Eliza - The Mayfair Bookshop
L. Lockhart, E. - Family of Liars
M. Martin, George R.R. - Game of Thrones
N. Ng, Celeste - Everything I Never Told You
O. Owens, Delia - Where the Crawdad Sings
P. Penner, Sarah - London Seance Society
Q. Quinn, Daniel - Ishmael
R. Reid, Taylor Jenkins - Daisy Jones & The Six.
S. Sloan, Robin - Mr. Penumbra's 24- Hour Book Store
T. Thawler, Tish - The Witches of BlackBrook
U. Urrea, Luis Alberto - The Hummingbird's Daughter
V. Verghese, Abraham - Cutting for Stone
W. Wax, Wendy - While We Were Watching Downton Abby
X. Xiaolong, Qiu - Death of a Red Heroine
Y.Yalom, Irvin D. - When Nietzsche Wept
Z. Zevin, Gabrielle - The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry1 -
I did it - with a week to spare! But I have to agree with @Catfish_Fan - life is too short to read bad books. This challenged introduced me to a couple of authors I might not have read, but it also had me finishing things I might not have if it had not fit a certain letter of the alphabet.
I could not have done this without the encouragement from all of you. Thanks and hope you all had fun.2 -
A. The Blade Itself, Joe Abercrombie
B. The Long War, Stephen Baxter and Terry Pratchett
C. Stranger Things: Rebel Robin, A.R. Capetta
D. Stranger Things: Lucas on the Line, Suyi Davies
E. Winter Tide, Ruthanna Emrys
F. Never, Ken Follett
G. Playing for Pizza, John Grisham
H. City of Lies, Sam Hawke
I. Rust in the Root, Justina Ireland
J. Biscuits and Gravy (Chuckwagon Trail #4), William W. Johnstone with JA Johnstone
K. Joyland, Stephen King
L. The Walking Drum, Louis L'Amour
M. Star Trek: Picard: Second Self, Una McCormack
N. The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger
O. Riot Baby, Tochi Onyebuchi
P. The Long Earth, Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter
Q. Waste Tide, Chen Qiufan
R. Poster Girl, Veronica Roth
S. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, V.E. Schwab
T. The Lincoln Highway, Amor Towles
U. Lies We Sing to the Sea, Sarah Underwood
V. Lincoln, Gore Vidal
W. Doomsday Book, Connie Willis
X. Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor, Xiran Jay Zhao (attempting)
Y. How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe, Charles Yu
Z. We, Yevgeny Zamyatin
You said it could start with X if it is an X or Q if it starts with a Q. I am attempting, in the final few days, to finish the challenge. My author's first name (or surname? because it is Chinese, I don't know how that goes) starts with an X!2 -
Well done, @Catfish_Fan !2
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Complete! Thanks for the congrats, @FitMary202 ! How did you do on your challenge?
A. The Blade Itself, Joe Abercrombie
B. The Long War, Stephen Baxter and Terry Pratchett
C. Stranger Things: Rebel Robin, A.R. Capetta
D. Stranger Things: Lucas on the Line, Suyi Davies
E. Winter Tide, Ruthanna Emrys
F. Never, Ken Follett
G. Playing for Pizza, John Grisham
H. City of Lies, Sam Hawke
I. Rust in the Root, Justina Ireland
J. Biscuits and Gravy (Chuckwagon Trail #4), William W. Johnstone with JA Johnstone
K. Joyland, Stephen King
L. The Walking Drum, Louis L'Amour
M. Star Trek: Picard: Second Self, Una McCormack
N. The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger
O. Riot Baby, Tochi Onyebuchi
P. The Long Earth, Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter
Q. Waste Tide, Chen Qiufan
R. Poster Girl, Veronica Roth
S. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, V.E. Schwab
T. The Lincoln Highway, Amor Towles
U. Lies We Sing to the Sea, Sarah Underwood
V. Lincoln, Gore Vidal
W. Doomsday Book, Connie Willis
X. Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor, Xiran Jay Zhao
Y. How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe, Charles Yu
Z. We, Yevgeny Zamyatin0 -
@Catfish_Fan -Way to go!1
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I'm left with I, O and Y undone... Kind of like an IOU for next year?
I probably could have forced myself to do those letters too, but decided to focus on other things.
I enjoyed the challenge in any case!!2 -
@FitMary202 - At the end I was forcing myself to finish books I would probably not have otherwise. But I did also find a couple of authors that I would like to read more of, so wasn't a total loss of time.1
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I agree, @Btrflydog! I'm glad I branched out with some of those different choices, no matter what.
Here's wishing you all a very happy and peaceful 2024!!
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My Alphabet Challenge for 2024:
A Hala Alyan, Salt Houses**
B
C Tom Comitta, The Nature Book*
D-F
G Xochitl Gonzalez, Anita de Monte Laughs Last*
H-J
K Lisa Ko, Leavers***
L
M James McBride, Heaven & Earth Grocery Store****
N
O Tommy Orange, There There ****
P-Q
R Marilynne Robinson, Housekeeping****
S-Z1
