amanda4242's second thread

Books read

October
306. How to Be a Pirate ★★★★
307. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 1 ★★★1/2
308. Beowulf ★★★
309. Despicable Deadpool ★★★1/2
310. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell ★★★★★
311. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 1: Millionaire With A Mouth ★★★1/2
312. Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower ★★★★
313. How to Speak Dragonese ★★★★
314. The Hole ★★1/2
315. How to Train Your Dragon stories ★★★1/2
316. Seven Shakespeares Vol. 1 ★★1/2
317. Mrs. Deadpool and the Howling Commandos ★★★
318. The Paper Boat: A Refugee Story ★★★
319. Beowulf ★★1/2
320. Catwings ★★★
321. Deadpool kills the Marvel Universe ★★★1/2
322. Deadpool Killustrated ★★★1/2
323. Deadpool Kills Deadpool ★★★
324. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe Again ★★1/2
325. Deadpool by Daniel Way: The Complete Collection - Volume 1 ★★★1/2
326. Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More ★★1/2
327. Dracula, Motherf**ker ★★★
328. Mirka Andolfo's Mercy Vol. 1: The Fair Lady, the Frost and the Fiend ★★★
329. Lady Mechanika: Sangre ★★★★1/2
330. Pirate Stew ★★
331. Serpentine ★★★1/2
332. Deadpool Assassin ★★★
333. The Cloven Viscount ★★★1/2
334. The Tale of Kitty-In-Boots ★★★1/2
335. How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse ★★★★
336. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 2: End of an Error ★★★
337. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 3: Deadpool Vs. Sabretooth ★★★
338. Seven Shakespeares Vol. 2 ★★★
339. The Perfect Nine: The Epic of Gĩkũyũ and Mũmbi ★★★1/2
340. Absolute Carnage vs. Deadpool ★★1/2
341. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 4: Temporary Insanitation ★★★
342. The Count of Monte Cristo: Manga Classics ★★★★
343. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 5: Civil War II ★★★
344. How to Twist a Dragon's Tale ★★★★
345. A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons ★★★★
346. Animal Farm--BAC & 1001 ★★★★
347. The Gospel of Loki--BAC ★★★1/2

November
348. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 6: Patience: Zero ★★★
349. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 7: Deadpool Does Shakespeare ★★1/2
350. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 8: Til Death Do Us ★★★
351. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 9: Deadpool in Space ★★★
352. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 10: Secret Empire ★★★1/2
353. The Rules of Life--BAC ★
354. The Drops of God Vol. 23 ★★★
355. Deadpool the Duck ★★1/2
356. The Drops of God Vol. 24 ★★★
357. Deadpool by Daniel Way: The Complete Collection - Volume 2 ★★★1/2
358. Justice League Dark Vol. 1: In the Dark ★★★
359. Soulscape 1/2
360. Deadpool: Too Soon? ★★1/2
361. The Bear ★★★1/2
362. Secret Agent Deadpool ★★★1/2
363. The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life--BAC ★★★
364. Doctor Who: The Runaway TARDIS ★★★1/2
365. The Drops of God Vol. 25 ★★★
366. Deadpool's Secret Secret Wars ★★★
367. Deadpool: Back in Black ★★★
368. Justice League Dark Vol. 2: The Books of Magic ★★★
369. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 0: Don't Call It A Team-Up ★★★
370. The Rabbi's Cat ★★★1/2
371. The Case of the Missing Marquess ★★★1/2
372. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 1: Isn't it Bromantic ★★★
373. The Drops of God Vol. 26 ★★★
374. How to Ride a Dragon's Storm ★★★★
375. The Drops of God Vol. 27 ★★★
376. Miracles of Life--BAC ★★★★1/2
377. Deadpool & the Mercs For Money Vol. 0: Merc Madness ★★★
378. Deadpool Versus The Punisher ★★★1/2
379. Deadpool: Bad Blood ★★1/2
380. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 2: Side Pieces ★★1/2
381. The Nonexistent Knight ★★★1/2
382. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 2 ★★★1/2
383. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 3: Itsy Bitsy ★★★
384. Hellblazer Vol. 23: No Future ★★★★
385. Masquerade in Lodi ★★★★
386. Pippi Longstocking--1001 ★★★
387. Deadpool & the Mercs for Money Vol. 1: Mo' Mercs, Mo' Monkeys ★★★
388. Deadpool & the Mercs for Money Vol. 2: IVX ★★1/2
389. Moriarty the Patriot Vol. 1 ★★★
390. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 3 ★★★
391. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 4: Serious Business ★★1/2
392. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 4 ★★★
393. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 5: Arms Race ★★
394. The Poe Clan Volume 1 ★★1/2
395. Deadpool Vol. 1: Mercin' Hard for the Money ★★★1/2
396. Deadpool by Daniel Way: The Complete Collection Volume 3 ★★★1/2
397. Deadpool Vol. 2: Good Night ★★★1/2
398. Deadpool Vol. 3: Weasel Goes to Hell ★★★1/2
399. How to Break a Dragon's Heart ★★★★
400. Lyric Novella ★★
401. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chosen Ones ★★★1/2
402. The Drops of God Vol. 28 ★★★

December
403. The Case of the Left-Handed Lady ★★★1/2
404. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 6: WLMD ★★
405. The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets ★★★1/2
406. Asterix and the Chieftan's Shield ★★★
407. The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan ★★★1/2
408. The Drops of God Vol. 29 ★★★
409. The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline ★★★1/2
410. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 7: My Two Dads ★★1/2
411. Lucky Luke Saddles Up ★★★
412. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers Vol. 5 ★★★
413. How to Steal a Dragon's Sword ★★★★
414. John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol. 1: Marks of Woe ★★★★
415. The Case of the Gypsy Goodbye ★★★1/2
416. The Drops of God Vol. 30 ★★★
417. Asterix at the Olympic Games ★★★
418. The Drops of God Vol. 31 ★★★
419. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 8: Road Trip ★★★
420. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 9: Eventpool ★★★
421. Deadpool by Daniel Way: The Complete Collection Volume 4 ★★★1/2
422. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 6 ★★★
423. Little Death ★★★1/2
424. Deadpool's Art of War ★★★★
425. Firefly: Watch How I Soar ★★★
426. Asterix and the Cauldron ★★★
427. Asterix in Spain ★★★
428. The Drops of God Vol. 32 ★★★
429. Doctor Who Archives: Tenth Doctor Volume 1 ★★★
430. Hawkeye vs. Deadpool ★★★
431. Magneto: Not a Hero ★★★
432. The Hundred Dresses ★★★★
433. The Drops of God Vol. 33 ★★★
434. Modem Times 2.0--BAC ★★1/2
435. Deadpool: The Gauntlet ★★★★
436. The Snow Dancer ★★★1/2
437. Peer Gynt ★★
438. How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel ★★★★
439. Tales from Earthsea ★★★1/2
440. The Rose of Versailles Volume 2 ★★★
441. The Bitch ★★1/2
442. Justice League Dark Volume 3: The Death of Magic ★★★
443. Petite Fleur ★★
444. The Other Wind ★★★★
445. Stories of Earthsea ★★★★
446. Yuki and the One Thousand Carriers ★★★
447. Asterix and the Roman Agent ★★★1/2
448. Asterix in Switzerland ★★★
449. The Rose of Versailles Volume 3 ★★★
450. How to betray a dragon's hero ★★★★
451. The Door in the Wall ★★★
452. King Deadpool Vol. 1: Hail to the King ★★★1/2
453. Deadpool vs. Old Man Logan ★★★
454. The Mansions of the Gods ★★★
455. Asterix and the Laurel Wreath ★★★
456. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader ★★★★1/2

Books read

January
1. Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles--BAC ★★★1/2
2. Mothering Sunday--BAC ★★★1/2
3. Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead--BAC ★★★1/2
4. The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories ★★★★
5. Tokyo Ueno Station ★★★1/2
6. La Bastarda ★★★1/2
7. Women Without Men ★★1/2
8. Along the Tapajós ★★★
9. Come Tumbling Down ★★★1/2
10. Unfit to Print ★★★1/2
11. The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday ★★★★
12. Blood of Elves ★★★1/2
13. The Heart of Thomas ★★★1/2
14. Fifteen Poems ★★★★
15. Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor - Old Friends ★★★1/2
16. Claudine ★★★
17. Lighthousekeeping--BAC ★★★1/2
18. Imajica--BAC ★★★★1/2
19. Bowie: An Illustrated Life ★★1/2
20. Liebestrasse ★★★★
21. The Drops of God Vol. 1 ★★★
22. The Drops of God Vol. 2 ★★★
23. We Should All Be Feminists ★★1/2
24. The Cost of Sugar ★★★1/2
25. High Fidelity--BAC ★★1/2
26. The Three Musketeers--1001 ★★1/2
27. Notes of a Crocodile ★★★
28. Only You Can Save Mankind--BAC ★★★1/2
29. Heart of the Night ★★★1/2

February
30. Johnny and the Dead--BAC ★★★1/2
31. The Drops of God Vol. 3 ★★★
32. The Drops of God Vol. 4 ★★★
33. Johnny and the Bomb--BAC ★★★1/2
34. The Drops of God Vol. 5 ★★★
35. Upright Women Wanted ★★1/2
36. Stranger Things: Zombie Boys ★★1/2
37. Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles ★★★1/2
38. The Drops of God Vol. 6 ★★★
39. The King's Swift Rider--BAC ★★1/2
40. The Revenge of the Foxes ★★1/2
41. Hellblazer Vol. 18: The Gift ★★★★
42. The House on Mango Street ★★★
43. The Drops of God Vol. 7 ★★★
44. Hellblazer Vol. 20: Systems of Control ★★★★
45. The Drops of God Vol. 8 ★★★
46. The Drops of God Vol. 9 ★★★
47. Naughty Ninja Takes a Bath ★★★1/2
48. Alpha and Omega ★★★1/2
49. The Shining Company--BAC ★★★★
50. The Drops of God Vol. 10 ★★★
51. The Drops of God Vol. 11 ★★★
52. Anna Karenina--1001 ★★★1/2
53. Vampire Science ★★★1/2
54. Hellblazer Vol. 21: The Laughing Magician ★★★★
55. Hellblazer Vol. 22: Regeneration ★★★★
56. Brother Cadfael's Penance--BAC ★★1/2
57. The Black God's Drums ★★★1/2
58. Farm Boy--BAC ★★★1/2
59. Falling in Love with Hominids ★★★
60. Dominion--BAC ★★1/2

March
61. Doctor Who: The Road to the Thirteenth Doctor ★★★
62. Lady Susan, The Watsons, Sanditon--BAC ★★★★
63. Heathen Volume 1 ★★★1/2
64. The Witch in the Wood ★★★★
65. Rosie: Stronger than Steel ★★
66. The Barefoot Woman ★★★1/2
67. Unexpected Stories ★★★1/2
68. A Wizard of Earthsea ★★★1/2
69. The Tombs of Atuan ★★★1/2
70. The Ill-Made Knight ★★★★1/2
71. The G Ring: How the IUD Escaped the Nazis ★★★1/2
72. The Farthest Shore ★★★★
73. A Thousand Ships--BAC ★★★1/2
74. Heroes: Mortals and Monsters, Quests and Adventures--BAC ★★★★
75. Just One Damned Thing After Another--BAC ★★★★
76. Ivanhoe--BAC & 1001 ★★★1/2
77. A Symphony of Echoes ★★★★
78. Rough Crossings--BAC ★★1/2
79. A Second Chance--BAC ★★★★
80. Wolf Hall ★★★
81. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Vol. 1 ★★★
82. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Vol. 2 ★★1/2
83. A Trail Through Time ★★★★
84. No Time Like the Past--BAC ★★★★
85. Angel Vol. 1: Being Human ★★★
86. Angel Vol. 2: City of Demons ★★★
87. Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel: Hellmouth ★★★
88. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Vol. 3 ★★1/2
89. The Last Dragonslayer--BAC ★★★★
90. Asterix the Gaul ★★★1/2
91. Shubh Diwali! ★★★★
92. What Could Possibly Go Wrong? ★★★★

April
93. Lies, Damned Lies, and History--BAC ★★★★
94. Bear and Fred ★★★
95. The Sword in the Stone ★★★★★
96. Deadpool, Vol. 1: Secret Invasion ★★★1/2
97. Tales of Glass Town, Angria, and Gondal: Selected Writings--BAC ★★★
98. And the Rest is History--BAC ★★★★
99. Bring Up the Bodies--BAC ★★★
100. Witchblade Origins Volume 1 ★★★
101. The Hellbound Heart ★★★★
102. The Emperor's Babe--BAC ★★★1/2
103. An Argumentation of Historians ★★★★1/2
104. Gloriana, or The Unfulfill'd Queen--BAC ★★★1/2
105. The Moon Opera ★★★
106. The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel ★★1/2
107. World War II Tales: The Barrel Burglary--BAC ★★★1/2
108. World War II Tales: The Phantom Farm--BAC ★★★
109. Call Me by Your Name ★★★★1/2
110. Witchblade Origins Volume 2 ★★★
111. The Song of the Quarkbeast--BAC ★★★★
112. Glass Town: The Imaginary World of the Brontës ★★★
113. Deadpool & Cable: Split Second ★★★
114. Fool Moon ★★★★1/2
115. Midnighter Vol. 1: Out ★★★
116. iZombie, Vol. 1: Dead to the World ★★★
117. The Witcher: Reasons of State ★★★
118. Jazz and Palm Wine ★★★
119. Penric's Demon ★★★★1/2
120. Penric and the Shaman ★★★★1/2
121. iZombie, Vol. 2: uVampire ★★★
122. Renée Stone 1: Murder in Abyssinia ★★1/2

May
123. Cassio 1. The First Assassin ★★★1/2
124. All Systems Red ★★★1/2
125. Cassio 2. Second to Strike ★★★1/2
126. Rupert Wong, Cannibal Chef ★★★1/2
127. Artificial Condition ★★★1/2
128. Rogue Protocol ★★★
129. Exit Strategy ★★★
130. The Drops of God Vol. 12 ★★★
131. The Drops of God Vol. 13 ★★★
132. An Island Called Moreau--BAC ★1/2
133. The Drops of God Vol. 14 ★★★
134. Network Effect ★★★
135. The Drops of God Vol. 15 ★★★
136. The Crystal World--BAC ★★★
137. The Drops of God Vol. 16 ★★★
138. Gideon the Ninth ★★★1/2
139. Spike vs. Dracula ★★★
140. The Long and Short of It ★★★★
141. Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom ★★★
142. Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom ★★★
143. Howard Lovecraft and the Kingdom of Madness ★★★
144. The House of Shattered Wings ★★★★
145. Docile ★★★1/2
146. Shakespeare for Squirrels ★★★★
147. Penric's Fox ★★★★1/2
148. Cassio 3. The Third Wound ★★★1/2
149. Vei Vol. 1 ★★★1/2
150. Jack ★★★1/2
151. Deadpool Vol. 1: Dead Presidents ★★★
152. Find Me ★★★★
153. The House of Binding Thorns ★★★★
154. The Drops of God Vol. 17 ★★★

June
155. Dominion of the Fallen stories ★★★1/2
156. The Drops of God Vol. 18 ★★★
157. Hope for the Best ★★★★
158. The Drops of God Vol. 19 ★★★
159. Deadpool Vol. 2: Soul Hunter ★★★
160. Deadpool Vol. 3: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly ★★★★
161. The Drops of God Vol. 20 ★★★
162. The House of Sundering Flames ★★★★
163. Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders ★★★★
164. Deadpool Vol. 4: Deadpool vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. ★★★1/2
165. Deadpool Vol. 5: The Wedding of Deadpool ★★★1/2
166. Any Old Diamonds ★★★★
167. Deadpool Vol. 6: Original Sin ★★★1/2
168. Deadpool Vol. 7: Axis ★★★1/2
169. Deadpool Vol.8: All Good Things ★★★★
170. Think of England ★★★★
171. Ease--BAC ★★
172. Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor, Vol. 1 - Weapons of Past Destruction ★★★
173. Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Volume 2 - Doctormania ★★★
174. Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Volume 3 - Official Secrets ★★★
175. Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor, Vol. 4 - Sin Eaters ★★★
176. The Mark of Aeacus ★★★1/2
177. The Drops of God Vol. 21 ★★★
178. Long Story Short ★★★★
179. The Drops of God Vol. 22 ★★★
180. Harleen ★★★★
181. The Priory of the Orange Tree ★★★
182. The Blue Flower--BAC ★1/2

July
183. Luthor ★★★★
184. Spike: Asylum ★★★1/2
185. Cassio 4. Final Blood ★★★1/2
186. A Discovery of Witches ★★★1/2
187. Shadow of Night ★★★1/2
188. The Book of Life ★★★
189. Death Trick ★★★
190. Witchblade: Shades of Gray ★★1/2
191. Sebastian O/The Mystery Play ★★★1/2
192. Poe & Phillips ★1/2
193. The Silence of the Wilting Skin ★★
194. Spike: Shadow Puppets ★★★
195. Behind These Doors ★★★1/2
196. Spellbound ★★★
197. Cassio 5. The Road to Rome ★★★1/2
198. Starcrossed ★★★
199. Second Coming ★★★1/2
200. Swimming in the Dark ★★★★
201. Loki: Agent of Asgard Volume 1: Trust Me ★★★
202. The Zig Zag Girl--BAC ★★★
203. The Rose of Versailles Volume 1 ★★★
204. Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of the Iliad ★★★1/2
205. The Wanderings of Odysseus ★★★
206. An Unseen Attraction ★★★1/2
207. Asterix and the Golden Sickle ★★★
208. Asterix and the Goths ★★★
209. Farquhar ★★★1/2
210. Spike: Old Wounds ★★1/2
211. Spike: Lost & Found ★★★
212. The Guild ★★★1/2
213. Smoke and Mirrors--BAC ★★★1/2
214. The Ancient Guide to Modern Life ★★★1/2
215. Midnighter Vol. 2: Hard ★★★
216. The Red Years: Forbidden Poems From Inside North Korea ★★★
217. Phoresis ★★★
218. Like Water for Chocolate ★★★
219. Asterix the Gladiator ★★★
220. Asterix and the Banquet ★★★
221. Asterix and Cleopatra ★★★
222. Ross Poldark ★★★★
223. Rampokan Java ★★★
224. Song of the Trees ★★★1/2
225. Asterix and the Big Fight ★★★
226. A Drunken Dream and Other Stories ★★★

August
227. Tales from the Folly ★★★★
228. Slippery Creatures ★★★★
229. Redemption in Indigo ★★★★1/2
230. Loki: Agent of Asgard Volume 2: I Cannot Tell a Lie ★★★
231. Loki: Agent of Asgard Volume 3: Last Days ★★★
232. Penric's Mission ★★★★★
233. Mira's Last Dance ★★★★1/2
234. Beyond the Rice Fields ★★★★
235. The Prisoner of Limnos ★★★★1/2
236. Running with Mother ★★★★
237. The Meursault Investigation ★★1/2
238. The Orphans of Raspay ★★★★1/2
239. Woeful Second World War--BAC ★★★
240. The Physicians of Vilnoc ★★★★1/2
241. The Death of Stalin ★★★1/2
242. Teaching English in Swaziland: essays on the life of Gordon James Thomas ★★
243. The Bike Escape--BAC★★★
244. The Apple Spy--BAC ★★★
245. The Blood Card--BAC ★★★1/2
246. The Daughters of Ys ★★★
247. Empire: The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Civilizations ★★★1/2
248. Asterix in Britain ★★★1/2
249. Asterix and the Normans ★★★
250. To Terra...Volume 1 ★★★
251. Harrow the Ninth ★★★1/2
252. Silver in the Wood ★★★★
253. Sisters of the Vast Black ★★★1/2
254. Plan for the Worst ★★★★
255. Tales Told in Oz ★★★1/2
256. Rebecca--1001 ★★★★1/2
257. Cassio 6. The Call to Suffering ★★★1/2
258. Drowned Country ★★★1/2
259. The Vanishing Box-BAC ★★★1/2
260. Yoga at the Zoo ★1/2

September
261. Now You See Them--BAC ★★★★
262. Empire of the Sun--BAC & 1001 ★★★★★
263. Dawn of Fear--BAC ★★1/2
264. Put Out More Flags--BAC ★★★★
265. Thornhill ★★★1/2
266. To Terra..., Volume 2 ★★★
267. Tehanu ★★★
268. Doing Time ★★★1/2
269. Seven of Infinities ★★★1/2
270. Wonderstruck ★★1/2
271. Tales from the End of Time--BAC ★★★1/2
272. Tales of Nevèrÿon ★★★★
273. Good Morning Comrades ★★★
274. Tintin in the Congo ★
275. The Adventures of Tintin in the Land of the Soviets ★1/2
276. Tintin in America ★1/2
277. Cigars of the Pharaoh ★★
278. Asterix the Legionary ★★★1/2
279. Cassio 7. The Goddess Awakens ★★★1/2
280. Cassio 8. Painter of the Dead ★★★1/2
281. Cassio 9. The Empire of Memories ★★★1/2
282. Heathen Vol. 2 ★★★1/2
283. Shuri Vol. 1: The Search for Black Panther ★★★1/2
284. Shuri Vol. 2: 24/7 Vibranium ★★★1/2
285. A Long Distance ★★
286. Wakanda Forever ★★★1/2
287. What Are You Thinking About? ★★★
288. Black Panther vs. Deadpool ★★★1/2
289. LaGuardia ★★★
290. Food Baby ★★★
291. Your Mother's Fox ★★
292. Beneath the Dead Oak Tree ★★★1/2
293. Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide ★★1/2
294. To Terra...Volume 3 ★★1/2
295. Stoke ★1/2
296. How to Train Your Dragon ★★★★
297. Eaters of the Dead ★★★★
298. Black Panther: World of Wakanda ★★★1/2
299. Piranesi ★★★★
300. Black Panther and the Agents of Wakanda ★★★
301. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood ★★★★
302. Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return ★★★1/2
303. Andromeda Stories, Volume 1 ★★★1/2
304. Andromeda Stories, Volume 2 ★★★1/2
305. Andromeda Stories, Volume 3 ★★★1/2

British Author Challenge

January: Jeanette Winterson & Graham Swift
Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles by Jeanette Winterson ★★★1/2
Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson ★★★1/2

Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift ★★★1/2

February: The 1990s
1990: The Shining Company by Rosemary Sutcliff ★★★★
1991: Imajica by Clive Barker ★★★★1/2
1992: Only You Can Save Mankind by Terry Pratchett ★★★1/2
1993: Johnny and the Dead by Terry Pratchett ★★★1/2
1994: Brother Cadfael's Penance by Ellis Peters ★★1/2
1995: High Fidelity by Nick Hornby ★★1/2
1996: Johnny and the Bomb by Terry Pratchett ★★★1/2
1997: Farm Boy by Michael Morpurgo ★★★1/2
1998: The King's Swift Rider by Mollie Hunter ★★1/2
1999: Dominion by Nick Walters ★★1/2

March: Jane Austen & Walter Scott
Lady Susan, The Watsons, Sanditon by Jane Austen ★★★★

Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott ★★★1/2

April: Bernardine Evaristo & Caryl Phillips
Rough Crossings by Caryl Phillips ★★1/2

The Emperor's Babe by Bernardine Evaristo ★★★1/2

May: Michael Moorcock, J. G. Ballard, & Brian Aldiss
Gloriana, or The Unfulfill'd Queen by Michael Moorcock ★★★1/2
Tales from the End of Time by Michael Moorcock ★★★1/2
Modem Times 2.0 by Michael Moorcock ★★1/2

An Island Called Moreau by Brian Aldiss ★1/2

The Crystal World by J. G. Ballard ★★★

June: Penelope Fitzgerald & Patrick Gale
Ease by Patrick Gale ★★

The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald ★1/2

British Authors Challenge

July: Elly Griffiths & Winston Graham
The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths ★★★
Smoke and Mirrors by Elly Griffiths ★★★1/2
The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths ★★★1/2
The Vanishing Box by Elly Griffiths ★★★1/2
Now You See Them by Elly Griffiths ★★★★

Ross Poldark by Winston Graham ★★★★

August: The Brontë Sisters
Tales of Glass Town, Angria, and Gondal: Selected Writings by Charlotte Brontë, Branwell Brontë, Emily Brontë, and Anne Brontë ★★★

September: World War II
World War II Tales: The Barrel Burglary by Terry Deary ★★★1/2
World War II Tales: The Phantom Farm by Terry Deary ★★★
Woeful Second World War by Terry Deary ★★★
The Bike Escape by Terry Deary ★★★
The Apple Spy by Terry Deary ★★★
Empire of the Sun by J. G. Ballard ★★★★★
Dawn of Fear by Susan Cooper ★★1/2
Put Out More Flags by Evelyn Waugh ★★★★
Miracles of Life by J. G. Ballard ★★★★1/2

October: Joanne Harris & George Orwell
Animal Farm by George Orwell ★★★★

The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris ★★★1/2

November: Fay Weldon & John le Carré
The Rules of Life by Fay Weldon ★

The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life by John le Carré ★★★

December: The 2010s
2010: The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde ★★★★
2011: The Song of the Quarkbeast by Jasper Fforde ★★★★
2012: Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel ★★★
2013: Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor, read by Zara Ramm ★★★★
2014: A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor, read by Zara Ramm ★★★★
2015: No Time Like the Past by Jodi Taylor, read by Zara Ramm ★★★★
2016: Lies, Damned Lies, and History by Jodi Taylor, read by Zara Ramm ★★★★
2017: And the Rest is History by Jodi Taylor, read by Zara Ramm ★★★★
2018: Heroes: Mortals and Monsters, Quests and Adventures by Stephen Fry, read by the author ★★★★
2019: A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes ★★★1/2

Wildcard: Playwrights
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard ★★★1/2

Create Your Own Visited Countries Map

I thought it would be cool to have a map to show the nationality of authors I've read; perhaps it will inspire me to read a bit more outside the UK!

I'm only listing the first book I read for a country because I don't want the list to get out of hand.

1. United Kingdom--Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles by Jeanette Winterson
2. South Korea--Tokyo Ueno Station by Yu Miri
3. Equatorial Guinea--La Bastarda by Trifonia Melibea Obono
4. Iran--Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur
5. Brazil--Along the Tapajós by Fernando Vilela
6. United States--Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire
7. Bangladesh--The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday by Saad Z. Hossain
8. Poland--Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski
9. Japan--The Heart of Thomas by Moto Hagio
10. Canada--Fifteen Poems by Leonard Cohen
11. Spain--Bowie: An Illustrated Life by María Hesse
12. Nigeria--We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
13. Suriname--The Cost of Sugar by Cynthia McLeod
14. France--The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
15. Taiwan--Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin
16. Egypt--Heart of the Night by Naguib Mahfouz
17. Turkmenistan--The Revenge of the Foxes by Ak Welsapar
18. Russia--Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
19. Jamaica--Falling in Love with Hominids by Nalo Hopkinson
20. Rwanda--The Barefoot Woman by Scholastique Mukasonga
21. India--Shubh Diwali! by Chitra Soundar
22. Israel--Bear and Fred: A World War II Story by Iris Argaman
23. China--The Moon Opera by Bi Feiyu
24. Republic of the Congo--Jazz and Palm Wine by Emmanuel Boundzéki Dongala
25. Belgium--Cassio 1. The First Assassin by Stephen Desberg
26. Malaysia--Rupert Wong, Cannibal Chef by Cassandra Khaw
27. New Zealand--Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
28. Sweden--Vei Vol. 1 by Sara Bergmark Elfgren
29. Croatia--Harleen by Stjepan Šejić
30. Botswana--The Silence of the Wilting Skin by Tlotlo Tsamaase
31. Singapore--Farquhar by Joshua Ip
32. North Korea--The Red Years: Forbidden Poems From Inside North Korea by Bandi
33. Australia--Phoresis by Greg Egan
34. Mexico--Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
35. Netherlands--Rampokan Java by Peter van Dongen
36. Barbados--Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord
37. Madagascar--Beyond the Rice Fields by Naivo
38. Zimbabwe--Running with Mother by Christopher Mlalazi
39. Algeria--The Meursault Investigation by Kamel Daoud
40. Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)--Teaching English in Swaziland: essays on the life of Gordon James Thomas by Sarah Mkhonza
41. Angola--Good Morning Comrades by Ondjaki
42. Italy--Mirka Andolfo's Mercy Vol. 1: The Fair Lady, the Frost and the Fiend by Mirka Andolfo
43. Kenya--The Perfect Nine: The Epic of Gĩkũyũ and Mũmbi by Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʾo
44. Turkey--Soulscape by Bahadir Baruter
45. Switzerland--Lyric Novella by Annemarie Schwarzenbach
46. Germany--Lucky Luke Saddles Up by Mawil
47. Austria--Little Death by Thomas Kriebaum
48. Norway--Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen
49. Columbia--The Bitch by Pilar Quintana
50. Argentina--Petite Fleur by Iosi Havilio
51. Ireland--Deadpool vs. Old Man Logan by Declan Shalvey

reserved

Happy new thread!

Thanks!

306. How to Be a Pirate by Cressida Cowell, read by David Tennant

A delight.

307. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 1 by Fumi Yoshinaga, translated by Akemi Wegmüller

An alternate history manga set during the Edo period. A plague has struck Japan, killing some 75% of the men; women take over the running of the country and men are cossetted breeding stock. The art is beautiful and the story has pricked my interest, although the translation is kind of clunky, with what I'm sure is very formal Japanese translated into absurd faux "ye olden times" English.

Happy new thread, Amanda.

I am sure that this thread will herald your best reading numbers ever!

>13 PaulCranswick: Thanks! My previous record high was 316 in 2018; it seems likely I'll surpass that number this year.

>14 amanda4242: Yep three books a month for the rest of the year. Even I could manage that one!

>15 PaulCranswick: :)

Happy new thread, Amanda!

>17 FAMeulstee: Thank you!

308. Beowulf translated by Michael Alexander

310. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

312. Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower by Tamsyn Muir

313. How to Speak Dragonese by Cressida Cowell, read by David Tennant
315. How to Train Your Dragon stories by Cressida Cowell

314. The Hole by Hiroko Oyamada, translated by David Boyd

316. Seven Shakespeares Vol. 1 by Harold Sakuishi, translated by Jennifer Ward

318. The Paper Boat: A Refugee Story by Thao Lam

319. Beowulf translated by Maria Dahvana Headley

Publicity materials and professional reviews of Maria Dahvana Headley's new translation of Beowulf have been using words like "radical" and "recontextualize" to describe her work, and making much of her use of modern slang. So great has been the effort to cast Headley's version as entirely different that I've been left wondering if it's so divergent that it shouldn't even be combined with other translations. Imagine my surprise when I read it and discovered it's actually a pretty standard translation.

Published reviews I've seen have chosen to quote passages showing Headley's incorporation of modern slang into the ancient poem, but this gives a false impression of most of the text. These lines spoken by Wealhtheow are much more representative of the translation:

Accept this cup from me, my lord of rings, and lift this golden goblet. Give the Geats their due. Be good to them who've been good to you. Gifts are for granting, and your hands should be open, your heart happy, even as you remember--I know you do--the good men who gave kith-gifts to you.

That's definitely modern English, and it isn't deliberately archaic or full of poetic flourishes like some translations, but it's not earth-shatteringly radical either. Headley does use modern slang in places, but she also drops in old-fashioned terms just as often; readers are as likely to come across a "swan-road" and "warp and weft" as they are a "bling" or "hashtag." Oddly, this sparing use of slang actually works less well than more liberal use would have; the effect here is like a poseur trying to sound cool by slipping in words they don't really understand.

The most radical thing about Headley's translation is her clear sympathy for the monsters. Her word choices emphasize Grendel's alienation and his mother's grief-fueled rage at the death of her son. This interpretation isn't unsupported by the text; it's just a different take from most other translations, and it certainly makes for thrilling action scenes. I must say I don't share Headley's enthusiasm for Grendel's mother: I find it hard to stir up much sympathy for someone who goes on a murder spree to avenge a son who was killed while breaking in next door so he could eat the neighbors.

To sum up:

Do I believe this version meets the LT standard for combining with other translations? Yes.

Would I recommend this version to someone looking for an epic poem with some good action in it? Maybe.

Would I recommend this version to someone looking for a good translation of Beowulf, the 1,000+ year old poem? No.

320. Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin

Has its charms, but I'm not sure it would have been a favorite even if I had read it as a child.

326. Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More by Kelly Sue DeConnick

Captain Marvel has this faint air of self-righteousness that has put me off reading the next volume.

327. Dracula, Motherf**ker by Alex de Campi, art by Erica Henderson

Four stars for Henderson's art, which evokes the luridness of a 1970s exploitation film, and one star for de Campi's story, which is thinner than single-ply toilet paper.

Received via Edelweiss.

328. Mirka Andolfo's Mercy Vol. 1: The Fair Lady, the Frost and the Fiend by Mirka Andolfo

329. Lady Mechanika: Sangre by M. M. Chen and Joe Benitez

330. Pirate Stew by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Chris Riddell

331. Serpentine by Philip Pullman

309. Despicable Deadpool by Gerry Duggan
311. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 1: Millionaire With A Mouth by Gerry Duggan
317. Mrs. Deadpool and the Howling Commandos by Gerry Duggan
321. Deadpool kills the Marvel Universe by Cullen Bunn
322. Deadpool Killustrated by Cullen Bunn
323. Deadpool Kills Deadpool by Cullen Bunn
324. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe Again by Cullen Bunn
325. Deadpool by Daniel Way: The Complete Collection - Volume 1 by Daniel Way
332. Deadpool: Assassin by Cullen Bunn

I just really like Deadpool, okay?

333. The Cloven Viscount by Italo Calvino, translated by Archibald Colquhoun

>14 amanda4242: Yep already way past your best figures already. 400 on the way!

>25 PaulCranswick: I figure I'll hit 400 a few days before the end of the year if I keep up my present rate.

334. The Tale of Kitty-In-Boots by Beatrix Potter, illustrated by Quentin Blake

335. How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse by Cressida Cowell, read by David Tennant

336. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 2: End of an Error by Gerry Duggan
337. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 3: Deadpool Vs. Sabretooth by Gerry Duggan

338. Seven Shakespeares Vol. 2 by Harold Sakuishi

339. The Perfect Nine: The Epic of Gĩkũyũ and Mũmbi by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o

340. Absolute Carnage vs. Deadpool by Frank Tieri

341. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 4: Temporary Insanitation by Gerry Duggan
343. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 5: Civil War II by Gerry Duggan

342. The Count of Monte Cristo: Manga Classics by Alexandre Dumas, adapted by Crystal S. Chan

344. How to Twist a Dragon's Tale by Cressida Cowell, read by David Tennant
345. A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons by Cressida Cowell, read by David Tennant

346. Animal Farm by George Orwell

An extremely well-told tale. Orwell's disgust with tyrants of any sort really shines through

347. The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris

Entertaining re-telling of Norse myth narrated by the trickster Loki.

348. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 6: Patience: Zero by Gerry Duggan
349. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 7: Deadpool Does Shakespeare by Gerry Duggan
350. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 8: Til Death Do Us by Gerry Duggan
351. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 9: Deadpool in Space by Gerry Duggan
352. Deadpool: World's Greatest Vol. 10: Secret Empire by Gerry Duggan

353. The Rules of Life by Fay Weldon

Some sort of hand wave-y technology allows for the dead to be summoned up to talk, although they can't be questioned. An unoriginal premise which is not saved by focusing on a self-absorbed dead woman with a laundry obsession.

354. The Drops of God Vol. 23 by Tadashi Agi
356. The Drops of God Vol. 24 by Tadashi Agi

Increasingly improbable situations, but still kind of charming.

355. Deadpool the Duck by Stuart Moore

Technical difficulties cause Deadpool and Howard the Duck to merge. Didn't hate it, but I don't think I'll ever bother reading a Howard the Duck comic.

357. Deadpool by Daniel Way: The Complete Collection - Volume 2 by Daniel Way

Deadpool tries, and fails at, piracy. Deadpool tries, and sort of has some success at, heroism. Just here for the wisecracking and body count.

358. Justice League Dark Vol. 1: In the Dark by Peter Milligan

A handful of DC Comics magic-using characters are brought together to fight the supernatural threats the regular Justice League can't contain. Picked it up because it features John Constantine, and will pick up the next volume because the story has caught my interest.

>30 amanda4242: Ouch, I guess you won't be rushing to read much else by Fay Weldon!

>31 PaulCranswick: Definitely not.

359. Soulscape by Bahadir Baruter

Whoever wrote the description comparing this to Escher needs to have their eyes examined. Never have so few pages with zero dialogue felt so long.

Received via NetGalley.

>33 amanda4242: That's one of the best reviews I've ever read. 😀

>34 drneutron: Thanks! That book is a special kind of awful, and the person who wrote the back copy clearly flunked art history 'cause it looks a helluva lot more like R. Crumb than it does Escher.

>34 drneutron: Amanda does the succinct put down review as well as anyone, Jim, you are right.

Have a great weekend, Amanda.

>36 PaulCranswick: I've always found it easier to pick out why something sucks than say why I like something.

Enjoy your weekend.

361. The Bear by Andrew Krivak

This is the first time I've ever applied the word beautiful to a book about the extinction of the human race. There's no oppressive dystopian government or apocalyptic event; it's just the natural end of a species and the world continuing on in its absence. Highly recommended.

363. The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life by John le Carré

Generally interesting, especially the chapter about his con artist father, but my enjoyment was hampered by the fact I'm not old enough for many of the people and events he talked about to be much more than stuff I vaguely remember from history class. Still, people who are older than I and/or have a deeper knowledge of the Cold War than I do will probably find it fascinating.

364. Doctor Who: The Runaway TARDIS by Kim Smith

Cute picture book about a little girl who meets the Doctor. Whovians with young children will probably find it a delightful bedtime book.

365. The Drops of God Vol. 25 by Tadashi Agi

This series continues to be pretty formulaic, but in a comfortingly familiar way.

368. Justice League Dark Vol. 2: The Books of Magic by Jeff Lemire

This series hasn't blown me away, but it hasn't lost my interest yet. Lemire does a fairly good job of writing John Constantine, my favorite comic character.

360. Deadpool: Too Soon? by Joshua Corin

So, apparently Squirrel Girl is a legitimate character in the Marvel universe and not something dreamed up by crack-smoking comic fans. I spent the entire book hoping Deadpool would cut off her head and mount it on his wall. Seriously, she is lamer than Forbush Man.

362. Secret Agent Deadpool by Christopher Hastings

Deadpool is hired by a cuckolded husband to kill his wife's lover, who turns out to be a spy. The ensuing explosion leaves everyone thinking Deadpool is the spy horribly burned and wacky hijinks ensue.

This is a super fun mini-series that gives the Deadpool spin to a bunch of spy movie tropes. Should appeal to fans of Archer as well as Deadpool.

366. Deadpool's Secret Secret Wars by Cullen Bunn

Deadpool edited into the Secret Wars crossover from the 1980s. Not bad, but I probably would have gotten more out of it if I was familiar with Secret Wars.

367. Deadpool: Back in Black by Cullen Bunn

Deadpool bonds with Venom and becomes slightly less of a horrible person in the bargain.

369. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 0: Don't Call It A Team-Up by Various authors

A collection of issues of Deadpool running into Spider-Man. Sometimes fun, but I'm not really a Spider-fan.

370. The Rabbi's Cat by Joann Sfar

Delightful tale of a cat who gains the power of speech after eating a parrot. Sfar's style of art isn't quite to my taste, but I love how sinuous the cat looks.

371. The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

Charming mystery starring the much younger sister of Sherlock Holmes. Thankfully Springer didn't make the mistake of having her heroine be a Sherlock knock-off, so I'll be picking up the next entry from the library.

372. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 1: Isn't it Bromantic by Joe Kelly

Really fun team-up featuring the epic bromance of Deadpool and Spider-Man, which is put in jeopardy when Deadpool is hired to kill Peter Parker.

374. How to Ride a Dragon's Storm by Cressida Cowell, read by David Tennant

373. The Drops of God Vol. 26 by Tadashi Agi
375. The Drops of God Vol. 27 by Tadashi Agi

Some stats

Books

new reads: 315
re-reads: 60
1001 books (all editions): 6
British Author Challenge: 53

translations: 98
Arabic: 1
Chinese: 2
Dutch: 2
French: 32
Gĩkũyũ: 1
Hebrew: 1
Italian: 2
Japanese: 43
Korean: 1
Old English: 2
Persian: 1
Portuguese: 1
Portuguese (Brazilian): 1
Polish: 2
Russian: 2
Spanish: 3
Swedish: 1

From
shelves: 84
library: 103
new: 78
Kindle Unlimited: 37
Scribd: 47
NetGalley: 12
Prime: 9
Open Library: 2
Edelweiss+: 3

pages read: 67,374
audiobook hours: 205 hours 11 minutes
average rating: 3.296 stars

Authors

female: 152 books by 82 different authors
male: 151 books by 96 different authors
N/A (multiple authors, unknown, etc.): 72 books

nationalities

Algerian: 1 Book
American: 101 books
Angolan: 1 book
Australian: 1 book
Bangladeshi: 1 book
Barbadian: 1 book
Batswana: 1 book
Belgian: 13 books
Brazilian: 1 book
British: 106 books
Canadian: 5 books
Chinese: 1 book
Congolese: 1 book
Croatian: 1 book
Dutch: 1 book
Egyptian: 1 book
Equatorial Guinean: 1 book
French: 21 books
Indian: 1 book
Iranian: 2 book
Israeli: 1 book
Italian: 2 books
Jamaican: 1 book
Japanese: 11 books
Kenyan: 1 book
Malagasy: 1 book
Malaysian: 1 book
Mexican: 1 book
N/A (multiple authors, unknown, etc.): 73 books
New Zealander: 3 books
Nigerian: 1 book
North Korean: 1 book
Polish: 3 books
Russian: 1 book
Rwandan: 1 book
Singaporean: 1 book
South Korean: 1 book
Spanish: 2 books
Surinamese: 1 book
Swazi: 1 book
Swedish: 1 book
Taiwanese: 1 book
Turkish: 1 Book
Turkmen: 1 book
Zimbabwean: 1 book

>41 amanda4242: Congratulations on reaching 5 x 75, Amanda!

>43 FAMeulstee: Well spotted, Anita!

Congratulations, Amanda.

>42 amanda4242: Love the stats!

>43 FAMeulstee: Thank you!

>44 PaulCranswick: Thanks! I thought you'd like the stats. :)

>45 amanda4242: I did like them of course.

Great to see you so active in putting together the BAC for next year and pulling a couple of nifty surprise picks in the process. I think your stewardship will re-energise my BAC reading!

Have a lovely weekend.

>46 PaulCranswick: I've discovered so many great books and authors thanks to the BAC, and I can only hope I can help others do the same.

>47 amanda4242: Looks like it is working so far! I thought my knowledge of British literature was fairly encyclopaedic but you have already come up with two authors I am unfamiliar with.

>48 PaulCranswick: Not having read either of the authors, I make no guarantees regarding their quality!

376. Miracles of Life by J. G. Ballard

377. Deadpool & the Mercs For Money Vol. 0: Merc Madness by Cullen Bunn

378. Deadpool Versus The Punisher by Fred Van Lente

379. Deadpool: Bad Blood by Rob Liefield

380. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 2: Side Pieces by Various

381. The Nonexistent Knight by Italo Calvino

382. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 2 by Fumi Yoshinaga

383. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 3: Itsy Bitsy by Joe Kelly

384. Hellblazer Vol. 23: No Future by Various

Constantine fights a demon in India, gets in touch with his punk roots, and plays cards with gods and demons in the Middle East. Not my favorite collection, but it's decent Hellblazer.

385. Masquerade in Lodi by Lois McMaster Bujold

Loved the latest addition to the Penric and Desdemona series.

386. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, translated by Susan Beard

Despite seeing the movie many times as a kid, I somehow missed reading this one. Pippi got on my nerves, and I don't think I would have liked her even if I had read this as a child.

387. Deadpool & the Mercs for Money Vol. 1: Mo' Mercs, Mo' Monkeys by Cullen Bunn
388. Deadpool & the Mercs for Money Vol. 2: IVX by Cullen Bunn

The first volume was good, but the second apparently requires knowledge of events in the larger Marvel Universe which I can't be bothered to read.

This Brit wishes to express his thanks for the warmth and friendship that has helped sustain him in this group, Amanda.

>53 PaulCranswick: Thank you, my friend, for this and all of the support you've given as I take on the BAC.

>54 amanda4242: Always welcome, Amanda.x

389. Moriarty the Patriot Vol. 1 by Ryosuke Takeuchi

Origin story for Sherlock Holmes' nemesis. A lot better than I thought it would be.

390. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 3 by Fumi Yoshinaga, translated by Akemi Wegmüller
392. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 4 by Fumi Yoshinaga, translated by Akemi Wegmüller

I'm kind of enjoying this alternate history set in Edo Japan. Sadly my library only has the first six volumes, so I may have to shell out the cash to see how the series continues.

391. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 4: Serious Business by Josh Corin and Elliott Kalan
393. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 5: Arms Race by Robbie Thompson

The first three volumes of the series were pretty good, volume four a little weaker, and the quality took a steep dive when Thompson took over in volume five.

394. The Poe Clan Volume 1 by Moto Hagio, translated by Rachel Thorn

Child vampires and Romanticism should make for a better book than this. Not sure if I'll bother with volume two.

395. Deadpool Vol. 1: Mercin' Hard for the Money by Skottie Young
397. Deadpool Vol. 2: Good Night by Skottie Young
398. Deadpool Vol. 3: Weasel Goes to Hell by Skottie Young

I really liked Young's run of Deadpool. It wasn't as complex as Duggan's, but it was damn fun to read.

396. Deadpool by Daniel Way: The Complete Collection Volume 3 by Daniel Way

Way's not my favorite Deadpool writer, but is consistently enjoyable.

399. How to Break a Dragon's Heart by Cressida Cowell, read by David Tennant

Still enjoying my re-read.

400. Lyric Novella by Annemarie Schwarzenbach, translated by Lucy Renner Jones

Rich kid becomes obsessed with nightclub singer in Weimar Berlin; angst ensues. I'm really tired of books with "characters" who are really just objects for the main character's juvenile attachment.

@ >26 amanda4242: you predicted 400 books just before the end of the year. Now 450 looks an outside possibility!

>58 PaulCranswick: It's looking likely. Maybe I should cut back a bit, watch a movie instead.

>59 amanda4242: No don't do that! Go for it!

>60 PaulCranswick: But I just signed up for a year of Hulu for $1.99 a month and I wouldn't want it to go to waste! ;)

My December reading has started reasonably well but I guess you have read a dozen books already! Currently cooped up at home in quarantine as there are some positive cases on one of my project sites (and in my own team) but I did test negative.

Have a splendid weekend.

>62 PaulCranswick: Well, not quite a dozen since I've only been reading two a day. ;)

Glad to hear your test came back negative. Enjoy your weekend.

>63 amanda4242: Hahaha. I am excited to see what your final number will be this year.

401. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chosen Ones by various authors

A pretty good graphic novel looking at incidents in the lives of slayers throughout history. The only clunker was the story about Buffy herself.

403. The Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Nancy Springer
405. The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets by Nancy Springer
407. The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan by Nancy Springer
409. The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline by Nancy Springer
415. The Case of the Gypsy Goodbye by Nancy Springer

A thoroughly delightful series! I wouldn't mind if Springer decided to write a bit more about Enloa Holmes.

411. Lucky Luke Saddles Up by Mawil

412. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers Vol. 5 by Fumi Yoshinaga, translated by Akemi Wegmüller
422. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 6 by Fumi Yoshinaga, translated by Akemi Wegmüller

413. How to Steal a Dragon's Sword by Cressida Cowell, read by David Tennant

414. John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol. 1: Marks of Woe by Simon Spurrier

406. Asterix and the Chieftan's Shield by René Goscinny, translated by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge
417. Asterix at the Olympic Games by René Goscinny, translated by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge
426. Asterix and the Cauldron by René Goscinny, translated by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge
427. Asterix in Spain by René Goscinny, translated by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge

404. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 6: WLMD by Robbie Thompson
410. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 7: My Two Dads by Robbie Thompson
419. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 8: Road Trip by Robbie Thompson
420. Spider-Man/Deadpool Vol. 9: Eventpool by Robbie Thompson

Thompson's stories picked up towards the end of the series but were never great.

421. Deadpool by Daniel Way: The Complete Collection Volume 4 by Daniel Way

Way isn't my favorite Deadpool writer, but I did enjoy his take.

423. Little Deathby Thomas Kriebaum

424. Deadpool's Art of War by Peter David

425. Firefly: Watch How I Soar by various authors

429. Doctor Who Archives: Tenth Doctor Volume 1 by various authors

430. Hawkeye vs. Deadpool by Gerry Duggan

Less a "versus" and more a team-up, as Hawkeye and Deadpool track down who killed the guy who came to Hawkeye asking for help. Not Duggan's best Deadpool story, but still quality reading.

431. Magneto: Not a Hero by Skottie Young

Picked it up because I liked Young's run of Deadpool. I think I need a lot more knowledge of the past couple of decades of X-Men comics to get full enjoyment of this one.

432. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin

Wonderful story and gorgeous illustrations.

402. The Drops of God Vol. 28 by Tadashi Agi, translated by Kevin Gifford
408. The Drops of God Vol. 29 by Tadashi Agi, translated by Kevin Gifford
416. The Drops of God Vol. 30 by Tadashi Agi, translated by Kevin Gifford
418. The Drops of God Vol. 31 by Tadashi Agi, translated by Kevin Gifford
428. The Drops of God Vol. 32 by Tadashi Agi, translated by Kevin Gifford
433. The Drops of God Vol. 33 by Tadashi Agi, translated by Kevin Gifford

Still enjoying it, and looking forward to the release of the last eleven issues.

434. Modem Times 2.0 by Michael Moorcock

The title story is a near-incomprehensible nostalgia-infected tale of Jerry Cornelius in the early 21st century. Fortunately Moorcock's essay on growing up in London and the interview at the end are both top-notch.

435. Deadpool: The Gauntlet by Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan

Deadpool falls in love with a succubus and battles Dracula. Highly entertaining.

436. The Snow Dancer by Addie Boswell, illustrated by Mercè López

Charming story of an aspiring dancer enjoying a snow day in the park with other children. López's illustrations are lovely.

437. Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen, illustrated by Arthur Rackham

Peer is a twat. Rackham's illustrations were the only good thing about it.

438. How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel by Cressida Cowell, read by David Tennant

439. Tales from Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

Liked it more than The Tombs of Atuan, but I think the first three novels are the best works in the series.

440. The Rose of Versailles Volume 2 by Riyoko Ikeda, translated by Jocelyn Allen

Really doubles down on the soap opera.

441. The Bitch by Pilar Quintana, translated by Lisa Dillman

A woman gets a puppy and eventually looses interest in it. If this is the usual quality of National Book Award finalists, then I think I'll give that particular award a miss.

442. Justice League Dark Volume 3: The Death of Magic by Jeff Lemire & Ray Fawkes

Interesting story, told in a coherent manner...so, a cut above most of the New 52 stuff I've read.

443. Petite Fleur by Iosi Havilio. translated by Lorna Scott Fox

Adventures of an unreliable narrator who keeps killing the same neighbor every Thursday evening. Sounds a lot more interesting than it is.

7 for 450 and 6x150.

>70 PaulCranswick: I may squeak just past 450 this year!

I hope you get some of those at least, Amanda, as we all look forward to a better 2021.

>72 PaulCranswick: Thank you for your kind words and steadfast friendship, and may 2021 be a better year for us all.

>73 amanda4242: Ditto and I must reveal that I am your Santa this year and you have five books on the way to you. According to my tracker two of them are already in California so hopefully Monday you may start getting arrivals.

>74 PaulCranswick: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

>75 amanda4242: From memory two were on your list and three were me chancing my arm!

>76 PaulCranswick: You know my reading tastes better than most so I'm sure you chose well.

444. The Other Wind by Ursula K. Le Guin

Much better than Tehanu, but I can't help but be a little sad because The Other Wind clearly shows there was still a lot of Earthsea that was never explored.

445. Stories of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

Not a book exactly, but the last four stories, an essay, and a long description of Earthsea that were collected in the Saga edition of the complete Earthsea, but there was enough there that I'm totally counting it as a book. The final story, Firelight, is an appropriate end to the series.

446. Yuki and the One Thousand Carriers by Gloria Whelan, illustrated by Yan Nascimbene

Set in Japan during the Edo period, a little girl makes a long journey to a new home. The illustrations are lovely and the story is interspersed with haiku which show the girl's emotional journey. Children will probably enjoy, and adults probably won't mind reading it to them.

447. Asterix and the Roman Agent by René Goscinny, translated by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge
448. Asterix in Switzerland by René Goscinny, translated by Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge

Still having fun with Asterix.

449. The Rose of Versailles Volume 3 by Riyoko Ikeda, translated by Jocelyne Allen

Apparently I occasionally enjoy soapy historical manga. Who knew?

450. How to betray a dragon's hero by Cressida Cowell, read by David Tennant

And book 450 is a reread of the penultimate book in a favorite series.

YAY and well done, Amanda. 6x75 books!

Some stats

Books

new reads: 385
re-reads: 65
1001 books (all editions): 7
British Author Challenge: 55

translations: 127
Arabic: 1
Chinese: 2
Dutch: 2
French: 38
German: 3
Gĩkũyũ: 1
Hebrew: 1
Italian: 3
Japanese: 58
Korean: 1
N/A: 1
Norwegian: 1
Old English: 2
Persian: 1
Portuguese: 1
Portuguese (Brazilian): 1
Polish: 2
Russian: 2
Spanish: 5
Swedish: 2

from
shelves: 100
library: 144
new: 83
Kindle Unlimited: 38
Scribd: 52
NetGalley: 13
Prime: 15
Open Library: 2
Edelweiss+: 3

pages read: 80,107
audiobook hours: 225 hours 44 minutes
average rating: 3.28 stars

Authors

female: 179 books by 88 different authors
male: 180 books by 104 different authors
N/A (multiple authors, unknown, etc.): 91 books

nationalities
Algerian: 1 Book
American: 128 books
Angolan: 1 book
Argentinian: 1 book
Australian: 1 book
Austrian: 1 book
Bangladeshi: 1 book
Barbadian: 1 book
Batswana: 1 book
Belgian: 13 books
Brazilian: 1 book
British: 112 books
Canadian: 5 books
Chinese: 1 book
Columbian: 1 book
Congolese: 1 book
Croatian: 1 book
Dutch: 1 book
Egyptian: 1 book
Equatorial Guinean: 1 book
French: 27 books
German: 1 book
Indian: 1 book
Iranian: 2 books
Israeli: 1 book
Italian: 3 books
Jamaican: 1 book
Japanese: 20 books
Kenyan: 1 book
Malagasy: 1 book
Malaysian: 1 book
Mexican: 1 book
N/A (multiple authors, unknown, etc.): 92 books
New Zealander: 3 books
Nigerian: 1 book
North Korean: 1 book
Norwegian: 1 book
Polish: 3 books
Russian: 1 book
Rwandan: 1 book
Singaporean: 1 book
South Korean: 1 book
Spanish: 2 books
Surinamese: 1 book
Swazi: 1 book
Swedish: 2 books
Swiss: 1 book
Taiwanese: 1 book
Turkish: 1 book
Turkmen: 1 book
Zimbabwean: 1 book

>79 PaulCranswick: Thanks! I think I strained something, but I made it!

>78 amanda4242: Congratulations on reaching 6 x 75, Amanda!

>82 FAMeulstee: Thank you!

Amanda

As the year turns, friendship continues

>84 PaulCranswick: :) Thank you, my friend.

451. The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli

Has aged very well for a 70-odd year-old children's book.

452. King Deadpool Vol. 1: Hail to the King by Kelly Thompson

Thompson's Deadpool is a bit more serious than previous versions, but I'm interested in seeing where she takes the character.

453. Deadpool vs. Old Man Logan by Declan Shalvey

Not bad, but I'm not a huge fan of the "versus" books.

454. The Mansions of the Gods by René Goscinny
455. Asterix and the Laurel Wreath by René Goscinny

Such a fun series.

456. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman

And I end the year as I began it: snuggled under the covers with a good book in hand.

Year end stats

Books

new reads: 390
re-reads: 66
1001 books (all editions): 7
British Author Challenge: 55

translations: 129
Arabic: 1
Chinese: 2
Dutch: 2
French: 40
German: 3
Gĩkũyũ: 1
Hebrew: 1
Italian: 3
Japanese: 58
Korean: 1
N/A: 1
Norwegian: 1
Old English: 2
Persian: 1
Portuguese: 1
Portuguese (Brazilian): 1
Polish: 2
Russian: 2
Spanish: 5
Swedish: 2

from
shelves: 103
library: 147
new: 83
Kindle Unlimited: 38
Scribd: 52
NetGalley: 13
Prime: 15
Open Library: 2
Edelweiss+: 3

pages read: 80,716
audiobook hours: 225 hours 44 minutes
average rating: 3.28 stars

Authors

female: 182 books by 91 different authors
male: 183 books by 105 different authors
N/A (multiple authors, unknown, etc.): 91 books

nationalities
Algerian: 1 book
American: 131 books
Angolan: 1 book
Argentinian: 1 book
Australian: 1 book
Austrian: 1 book
Bangladeshi: 1 book
Barbadian: 1 book
Batswana: 1 book
Belgian: 13 books
Brazilian: 1 book
British: 112 books
Canadian: 5 books
Chinese: 1 book
Columbian: 1 book
Congolese: 1 book
Croatian: 1 book
Dutch: 1 book
Egyptian: 1 book
Equatorial Guinean: 1 book
French: 29 books
German: 1 book
Indian: 1 book
Iranian: 2 books
Irish: 1 book
Israeli: 1 book
Italian: 3 books
Jamaican: 1 book
Japanese: 20 books
Kenyan: 1 book
Malagasy: 1 book
Malaysian: 1 book
Mexican: 1 book
N/A (multiple authors, unknown, etc.): 92 books
New Zealander: 3 books
Nigerian: 1 book
North Korean: 1 book
Norwegian: 1 book
Polish: 3 books
Russian: 1 book
Rwandan: 1 book
Singaporean: 1 book
South Korean: 1 book
Spanish: 2 books
Surinamese: 1 book
Swazi: 1 book
Swedish: 2 books
Swiss: 1 book
Taiwanese: 1 book
Turkish: 1 book
Turkmen: 1 book
Zimbabwean: 1 book