Race to the End? Or Save for Next Year?

 I had hoped to get to these three books by the end of the year. Sadly, I will only get to one of them: Return of the Spider. 

My Christmas tradition, for many years, has been to stay up all night on December 25 and read the new Alex Cross, which I had just received (or bought for myself) for Christmas. 

Realistically knowing that I would not get to these books but optimistically thinking I might, on Saturday I bought this book because, not only am I intrigued by it, just about everyone I follow on tik tok has recommended it, and it was one of the picks of one of my local independent bookstore's book club's last month. (It's the book club I like to say I belong to although I've never been to a meeting. I do buy the books, though.)

 

 

 

The reason I believe I will not get to all of those books is that I am currently reading/listening to these: 

I have a nearly one-hour commute (half an hour each way) every day and needed something for the next couple of days so I searched Libby for something "available now." Ann Patchett: Good. Narrator: Meryl Streep. Yes, please! I started it yesterday and had to remind myself to save some of it for today and Tuesday. It's so good! (The reason I had to remind myself is that on Saturday "The Favorites" by Layne Fargo was available on Libby via audiobook. I couldn't stop listening and finished it that day.)

Anyway, I can't remember where I saw a snippet of an interview with Jodi Picoult where she was talking about "nineteen minutes" being one of the most banned books in the country. Of course that made me want to read it. Thankfully, because this was very late on a Thursday night and too late to go out shopping and I wanted it now, it was available on Libby e-reader.

I started "bright lights, big Christmas" a couple of weeks ago because I hadn't read a Christmas-y book in a while. I had been reading some pretty dark stuff lately and needed a change. And, you can't go wrong with Mary Kay Andrews, right? (I might finish before Christmas if I put everything else aside -- other reading, crafting, cleaning -- Tuesday after work and Wednesday.)

But, wouldn't you know it? I belong to a trivia team that plays once a month at the local library. We came in first last week and three books, two of which I had already read, were in the prize package. This was the third:

Well, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this will be my Christmas read for next year.

Don't worry, though. Not finishing those books does not put me in danger of not reaching my goal for the year. My original goal was 26 books. (I had been in a slump for a few years.) I reached that fairly early in the year so I bumped it up to 33. I reached that, too, but didn't change the goal because I didn't want to tempt fate. So far, I have read 108 books (327% of my goal). That could be the most I've ever read in a year. It's the most I've read since I started keeping track.

Next year's goal is 52 (the fate thing again) and I have four picked out already.

Book Shots

I'm a big fan of James Patterson, in case you can't tell by this photo. And there are more Patterson books all over my apartment. Now, that includes books from the "Book Shots" collection, too.

I love Book Shots for so many reasons. Two of them are that nobody can say anymore that they don't have the time or money to read. (They're only about 4 bucks.)* With Alex Cross, for example, I didn't have to wait a whole year for the next book. It's a little fix -- or shot, if you will -- right when I start getting antsy waiting for the next one.

The only problem is that because they're a different size than other books, I may have to buy another bookshelf. Ah, book nerd problems.

James Patterson's Book Shots

*The library, people!

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Book Review Hope to Die

I have been anxiously awaiting "Hope to Die" since I finished "Cross My Heart" last year and it was worth the wait. (By the way, I am not one of the people who was disappointed with the ending to "Cross My Heart." I just wanted Mr. Patterson to write faster!) This book starts where the other left off -- Alex Cross's family is missing and presumed dead.

It's hard to give a synopsis without giving away too much of the story, but I can say that the Cross's foster daughter Ava returns and plays a major role in figuring out who the murderer/kidnapper is.

If you're one of the people who usually finishes an Alex Cross book in one sitting, you will be doing that again. Even as Alex reaches the depths we never thought his spirit would reach, his character and perserverence shine through and he does what he needs to do to get the job done.

I have read some Goodreads reviews in which people are saying they are sad because this is the last Alex Cross book. I don't know where they got that idea. There is one paragraph where Alex says he'd give it all up if ... But the next paragraph talks about Nana Mama telling him you can't bargain with God. And let's face it, folks. Alex Cross is a goldmine for James Patterson. Why would he stop writing Alex Cross stories. I hope I'm right about that, and he never stops.

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