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I am a sucker for lists of books. The best of, the greatest, read before you die, book lust, books found in a book about books, just any list has me tallying the score of how many I have read and looking up books that I haven't. This also means I have a never ending TBR running through my head of books I NEED to read. So this year's challenge is to check a few books off that list.

You may recognize the lists these come from. They may come from your list. One of the reasons I enjoy ŷ������ is getting to take a peek at other people's reading lists. Feel free to check off what you've read and what you haven't. Pat yourself on the back if you know you added to the list.

Michelle's 2022 12 + 4 List
1. Jade Dragon Mountain complete 1/23/22 5 stars
2. High Fidelity complete 1/15/22 4 stars
3. Moon of the Crusted Snowcomplete 2/11/22 5 stars
4. North and South complete 7/6/22 4 stars
5. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev complete 1/28/22 4 stars.
6. A Suitable Boy
7. Memoirs of a Geisha complete 5/21/22 4 stars.
8. Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynastycomplete 5/24/22 5 stars.
9. Firekeeper's Daughter complete 3/12/22 4.5 stars
10. The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
11. Go Tell It on the Mountaincomplete 11/11/22 4.5 stars
12. Things Fall Apartcomplete 9/8/22 4 stars

Alternates:
13. The Last Picture Show complete 11/30/22 3 stars
14. Shoeless Joe complete 9/3/22 5 stars
15. The Complete Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S Grant complete 9/11/22 4 stars
16. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everythingcomplete 11/8/22 4 stars

Good luck, Michelle! 🐾

You are welcome to check what I’ve read and my endless TBR lists as well! 🐾

Good luck, I also like lists

Emily wrote: "You are welcome to check what I’ve read and my endless TBR lists as well! 🐾"

Thanks Emily and I'm definitely going to check them out.

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Good luck, I also like lists"

Don't pretend Desley. You are a creator of lists. You've added plenty to the mental TBR.

Oops!! ;) Actually, I'm good at starting lists, I even bought a laptop to do a nice spreadsheet, but I can't keep up with my book buying!

I've only read North & South which I enjoyed. I do like a good classic. Good luck with your challenge

Vikki wrote: "I've only read North & South which I enjoyed. I do like a good classic. Good luck with your challenge"

Thanks Vikki!

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Oops!! ;) Actually, I'm good at starting lists, I even bought a laptop to do a nice spreadsheet, but I can't keep up with my book buying!"

Spreadsheets are too organized for me. ŷ������ is about all I'm capable of. Anything else takes up too much reading time.

Good luck on your challenge! Haven’t read any of those, but the list looks interesting!

Good luck, Michelle. I hope you enjoy Jade Dragon Mountain as much as I did. Enjoy your 2022 selections.

I like your list. Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty was one of my few 5 stars books in 2021. I have a few others on my TBR, I'll lurk here for your reviews. Good luck!

Good luck, Michelle! I take no credit for any of these selections, and will also accept no blame. :-) :-) :-) But I did love Jade Dragon Mountain, North and South, Memoirs of a Geisha and Freakonomics...so here's hoping you do too. I'm also going to read Empire of Pain and The Firestarter's Daughter this year, plus probably whatever you read that you like...well...you know how it goes. No credit, no blame. Just lots of good books.

Dawn wrote: "Good luck on your challenge! Haven’t read any of those, but the list looks interesting!"

Thanks Dawn!

Bill wrote: "Good luck, Michelle. I hope you enjoy Jade Dragon Mountain as much as I did. Enjoy your 2022 selections."

Thanks! I'm sure I will Bill. It comes highly recommended by you and other list makers.

Ioana wrote: "I like your list. Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty was one of my few 5 stars books in 2021. I have a few others on my TBR, I'll lurk here for your reviews. Good luck!"

You are definitely one of the reasons Empire of Pain made the list Ioana. Also, Hulu's Dopesick (which you should definitely try to watch). It was not like the book but they did a great job dramatizing the events. They also gave more time to the Sacklers than the book so I'm interested in learning more.

Lea wrote: "Good luck, Michelle! I take no credit for any of these selections, and will also accept no blame. :-) :-) :-) But I did love Jade Dragon Mountain, North and South, Memoirs of a Geisha and Freakonom..."

Ahh Lea, methinks thou dost protest too much but like you say no credit, no blame, just good books.

I haven't read any; but have quite a few on my TBR. That seems to be my quote of the year.

I hope you enjoy all of your reads this year. Good luck

I’m excited to see The Final Revival of Opal & Nev on your list! It’s such a fantastic book and more people should read it.

I have Firekeeper’s Daughter on my individual challenge so I look forward to what you think of it.

Good luck on your challenge.

Lillie wrote: "I’m excited to see The Final Revival of Opal & Nev on your list! It’s such a fantastic book and more people should read it.

I have Firekeeper’s Daughter on my individual challenge so I look forwa..."

I've heard so many great things about Opal & Nev. I really hope it lives up to the hype.

Michelle wrote: "You are definitely one of the reasons Empire of Pain made the list Ioana. Also, Hulu's Dopesick (which you should definitely try to watch). It was not like the book but they did a great job dramatizing the events. They also gave more time to the Sacklers than the book so I'm interested in learning more."

It's a fascinating history, and the book goes into the family history, too. A lot. Dopesick is on my short list for 2022, I was not aware of a movie. I don't have Hulu, but I'll see if I can find it somewhere else. Hope you'll like the book.

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "You are definitely one of the reasons Empire of Pain made the list Ioana. Also, Hulu's Dopesick (which you should definitely try to watch). It was not like the book but they did a ..."

Dopesick is one of those books that constantly has you saying "How could this have happened?" Another nonfiction on a different topic but which had me asking the same question was Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup. I would also recommend the podcast on that one as well.

Michelle wrote: "Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "You are definitely one of the reasons Empire of Pain made the list Ioana. Also, Hulu's Dopesick (which you should definitely try to watch). It was not like the book b..."

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty is the same. You keep reading and wondering the same. I've read Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup and had the same reaction. On a totally different subject, but eliciting the same reaction:
The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder,
Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans

Do you want more? 😉

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "You are definitely one of the reasons Empire of Pain made the list Ioana. Also, Hulu's Dopesick (which you should definitely try to watch). It was no..."

I was already excited to see some of the books on Michelle's list because I really want to read Empire of Pain and Firekeeper's Daughter, and now I am expanding my desires, as it should be.

I've read Just Mercy and you're right. The Good Nurse has been on my radar. Now I'll be researching the rest of this list. Look out TBR here they come.

I started High Fidelity yesterday. I am really enjoying the audiobook but I can tell this would have been awsome in print. I hope the audiobook can measure up.

High Fidelity completed over the weekend. A classic novel about a man on an existential journey to understand what brought him to his current break up and what he needs to do about it. Rob is a list maker, opinionated, self-centered and insensitive and yet the reader roots for him all the way. He is the underdog. The guy you want to see get the girl. In his insecurities the reader sees himself.

I did enjoy this book. The main character's nerdy persona appealed to my nerd girl heart. While I grew impatient sometimes with his general ineptness, I did enjoy his opinions on music and life and yes, even his lists. Especially his top 5 breakups list of which Laura, who inspires the list and the entire story, is not one.

I also admit that while I found the book to be a lot better than the movie (which was apparently changed up quite a bit), the whole thing did make me want to watch a John Cusack movie.

Four stars for Rob and his spectacular break up.

Favorite quotes:
“I'm very good at the past. It's the present I can't understand.��
�� Nick Hornby, High Fidelity

“The unhappiest people I know, romantically speaking, are the ones who like pop music the most; and I don't know whether pop music has caused this unhappiness, but I do know that they've been listening to the sad songs longer than they've been living the unhappy lives.��
�� Nick Hornby, High Fidelity

Jade Dragon Mountain up next!

Michelle wrote: "High Fidelity completed over the weekend. A classic novel about a man on an existential journey to understand what brought him to his current break up ..."

I've had this on my list forever. Great review Michelle.

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "High Fidelity completed over the weekend. A classic novel about a man on an existential journey to understand what brought him to his ..."

You should give it a try Alondra. It was a good moody read. Good for winter cold and the post holiday blues. Not too perky but not too depressing either.

Checking Jade Dragon Mountain off the list. 5 stars for the setting in this book. Ancient China with its customs and beauty actually steals the show in this well written, old-fasioned who-done-it mystery. The exiled scholar Li Du feels compelled to find the killer when one of his cousin's guests is murdered. In the process he not only saves the day but learns the secrets of many of the people involved.

The author here uses the Ancient China setting to turn what would otherwise be a good, closed door mystery into something exceptional. The descriptions become almost meditative as the reader is drawn in by descriptions of ancient libraries, swimming koi and ceremonial tea not to mention colonial politics.

I really enjoyed this one. While I really think overall the book might be a four star, I was blown away by the detail given to time and place. I felt that it was so well done it deserved an extra star.

5 stars for Hart's descriptive gifts.

Favorite Quote:
“The sun set and the moon rose parchment yellow, the marks on its surface like traces of lead someone had tried to rub away. Li Du walked alone on the path to the mountain. A painter could have captured it well: a defeated curve of shoulders at odds with a determined stride against a mountain that filled the sky.��
�� Elsa Hart, Jade Dragon Mountain

I'm just starting The Final Revival of Opal & Nev and already I'm hooked. The audiobook on this one reminds me of Daisy Jones & The Six which makes it a win for me. I guess I'm a sucker for a rock-u-mentary, even a fictional one.

Michelle wrote: "I'm just starting The Final Revival of Opal & Nev and already I'm hooked. The audiobook on this one reminds me of Daisy Jones & The Six which makes it a win for me. I guess I'm a sucker for a rock-u-mentary, even a fictional one."

I’m so happy that you’re enjoying it! It was one of my top reads for last year.

Michelle wrote: "Checking Jade Dragon Mountain off the list. 5 stars for the setting in this book. Ancient China with its customs and beauty actually steals ..."

It's more than just a mystery, which was also interesting. As you say, the setting, the description, the history, the characterization.. All so good.

Michelle wrote: "You should give it a try Alondra. It was a good moody read. Good for winter cold and the post holiday blues. Not too perky but not too depressing either..."

I definitely will. :)

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'm just starting The Final Revival of Opal & Nev and already I'm hooked. The audiobook on this one reminds me of Daisy Jones & The Six which makes ..."

Glad you are a fan. I'm predicting high marks for this one.

Bill wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Checking Jade Dragon Mountain off the list. 5 stars for the setting in this book. Ancient China with its customs and beauty..."

This is the kind of writing I love. The writing transcends genre. Glad you thought highly of it too.

Just finished The Final Revival of Opal & Nev. Written in mock interview style this novel about a controversial, fictional rock n roll duo connects with the reader on so many levels. The larger-than-life characters and the rock n roll atmosphere are nostalgic and fun while the heart of the story deals with serious issues of social justice. The novel centers around the rock scene of the 70's but addresses so many issues that we are dealing with today.

I listened to the full cast audiobook and that added so much to my enjoyment of the story. The interview style that the novel was written in lends itself to audio so well. The readers were also excellent in portraying the characters.

It is rare that a book can be wonderfully entertaining and at the same time give the reader real weighty issues to think about. This book does both and I enjoyed it on so many levels. This would be a great one for a book club discussion.

4 stars for rock n roll glitter with a social justice back beat.

Favorite Quotes:

“I'd like to think that we couldn't help but get famous just because we were that good. I'd like to think that folks didn't have to end up destroyed for Opal and Nev to have made a name.��
�� Dawnie Walton, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

“I felt pride, of course, but something more, something better: freedom. freedom to trust my tastes, take my own counsel, make bold moves.��
�� Dawnie Walton, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

Michelle wrote: "Just finished The Final Revival of Opal & Nev. Written in mock interview style this novel about a controversial, fictional rock n..."

Good to hear you enjoyed it, it's on my TBR too. Have you read Daisy Jones & The Six? How do they compare?

As far as great audio productions that really make the story come alive the two are right on par with each other. Daisy Jones lacks the social justice understory and so I would say is lighter but I enjoyed both books equally.

Goodluck with your list Michelle! I loved North and South and Things Fall Apart is a must read in my opinion. I hope you enjoy your list!

Since I last checked in you've read a few more that I have now added to my tbr list (had to include the word "list" somewhere.

I'm wanting to read several different genres and purposes about China (both regarding history and current life, but also more related to the setting, and this sounds great to help in that process.

And of course now added Opal & Nev. I really like how you add a favorite quote from each book you read.

Mary wrote: "Goodluck with your list Michelle! I loved North and South and Things Fall Apart is a must read in my opinion. I hope you enjoy your list!"

Thanks Mary! I'm glad to know you enjoyed those two. I'm hoping to get to them soon.

Kim. E. wrote: "Since I last checked in you've read a few more that I have now added to my tbr list (had to include the word "list" somewhere.

I'm wanting to read several different genres and purposes about Chin..."

Thanks Kim! I would say you couldn't go wrong adding Jade Dragon Mountain and Opal & Nev to any list. Hope you enjoy them!

I just started listening to Moon of the Crusted Snow. This one had me at hello. I don't know what list it came from but I already know I'm going to like it.

Michelle wrote: "I just started listening to Moon of the Crusted Snow. This one had me at hello. I don't know what list it came from but I already know I'm going to like it."

Oh, boy, that's one I didn't have on my TBR, but that's fixed now! :-)

Lea wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I just started listening to Moon of the Crusted Snow. This one had me at hello. I don't know what list it came from but I already know I'm going to like it."

Oh, b..."

Ooops :D

Michelle wrote: "I just started listening to Moon of the Crusted Snow. This one had me at hello. I don't know what list it came from but I already know I'm going to like it."

I had this on my TBR...somewhere down at the bottom, or somewhere....now it's on the short list. 😉

I take back what I said above. I do know what list it came from. It was from a list found in The Sentence by Louise Erdrich which I recently read and loved. The main character works in a bookstore and her reading list is found in the back of the book. I was intrigued. Of course, I can never say no to an apocalypse.