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I'm currently on book 10 for 2018 which is my goal (I'm sure I'll find time to finish it over the holidays). So I've decided to challenge myself to 12 (or more) books in 2019.

Awesome job Jess I hope 2019 is a great year in books for you.

Good luck next year!

Off to a great start this year....managed to complete 3 books in the first month or so. I don't expect to keep up that pace but it is nice to get off to a good start.

The Gender Game by Bella Forrest was the first book I completed. I only read it because it was selected by a member book club (we only meet once every few months) I'm in. I didn't enjoy this book at all - it wasn't well written and there were quite a few holes throughout the story.

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover was the second book completed. I really enjoyed this book although I found part 3 of the book dragged on a bit. Excellent read and eye opening on many different fronts.

The Convictions of John Delahunt by Andrew Hughes is the third book I read. This book was a page turner that I just couldn't put down. Although there were parts that were hard to read due to the nature. Based on a true story - the writing, setting and overall story were on point.

Looks like you are right on track, great job!

Haven't updated for most of the year - but I'm on track to read 12 books as 2019 comes to an end. If I make it or not is yet to be seen. Books 4-9 that I've read:

Version Control by Dexter Palmer is the fourth book I read in 2019. I didn't find it had much to do with time travel (although it does tie together in the end) and found it hard to get into this book. There were chapters that were just to 'sciencey' for my liking as I was expecting more of a fiction book.

Bellevue Square by Michael Redhill was the next book I read. This book was ok - not great but not bad either. I think I was expecting a different book which doesn't necessarily mean it was a bad book but just made it hard to really like.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton was book number six. I loved this book and Kate Morton is quickly becoming a favourite author of mine.Kate Morton does a brilliant job weaving in and out of a story to find ones true past and discover family mysteries oThe Day We Disappearedver three generations. It read like a real life, olden fairy tale.

The Seance by John Harwood is the seventh book of 2019. It wasn't the paranormal book I was expecting as it had very little to do with ghosts or anything paranormal. The Victorian Gothic setting was bang on but the story line never lived up to what it could have been.

The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson was book number eight. It was a good easy read that didn't take much time to get through. For most of the book you will be left wondering if there is any point to the book but it all ties in at the end.

In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner is the ninth book I've gotten through this year. A heartbreaking autobiography fictional book that will make you cry and feel anger that we could treat each other as such. There is also happiness that others can come together even in the hardest of times. I learned a lot about the Cambodian revolution (something on which I didn't know much). Beautifully written from the eyes of a child - this read will get you right in the heart.

Hopefully I'm able to read at least another three books this year. Life is busy so we'll see.

I've surpassed my goal of 12 books and have currently completed 13. I'm also very close to finishing my 14th book of the year so I'm thinking I might complete 16 or 17 books by end of year.

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy was book number ten to be completed. This book is beautifully written and it deals with many complex political and social issues within India. On the other hand, I felt as though there were too many characters to keep track of and I would have preferred a more focused story.

The Midnight Side by Natasha Mostert was the eleventh book I've read this year. The book was ok and moved along at a decent pace but I found it difficult to connect with the characters and I thought it would have been a bit more suspenseful. The paranormal aspects of the book were interesting and I was able to complete this book fairly quickly.

The Days When Birds Come Back by Deborah Reed was book number twelve and finally got me back onto a book I enjoyed. In this book we discover the tragic backgrounds of the characters but we also get to watch them come to terms with their lives and heal. The descriptive writing allows for the characters and story to intertwine with the setting and it is just marvelous.

The Summer We All Ran Away by Cassandra Parkin was the last book I've finished reading so far. A book about strangers and their stories as they are brought together over a summer - as well as the stories of those who used to live in the house. This book was ok but I found the twists to be predictable or unnecessary and I didn't get too much from this book. It was just ok.

Hopefully I can squeeze a few more books into 2019.

Congrats on surpassing your goal!

Ilona wrote: "Congrats on surpassing your goal!"

Thank you for the congratulations! It is nice that I have been able to sneak in enough reading time for a few extra books this year.