老虎机稳赢方法

1- Biography, autobiography or memoir

2- Business, economics, finance (personal, business or home) F or NF

3- Health, fitness or diet

鉁�4- History
Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World byMary Beard (2023)

5- Historical fiction

6- Humorous story, or comedian wrote it, or light hearted fun read

7- Legal or lawyer character F / NF

8- LGBTQ+ character F/NF

9- Medical or character related to topic F/NF

10- Mystery, Thriller, or suspense

11- Political, social science or governments F/NF

12- romance, relationships or love. F/NF

13- science F/NF

14--travel F/NF

15- philosophy, ethics, morality

16- Young adult book F/NF

17- Spiritual or inspirational F/NF

18- book that takes place during a holiday. Any holiday.

19- book with a relationship in the title (father, mother, daughter, son, sister or brother)

20- The Arts: Music, art, theater, acting, dance or poetry.

21- Banned book or Challenged book

22- Debut novel

23- Award winning book or nominated for award

24- A play

25- A book published before you were born

26- Published in 2024

27- Nature, environment or animals. F/NF

28- book that takes place in WWI, WWII, or other war F/NF

29- cosmology, space, astronauts, outer space- F/NF

30- Sports F/NF

31- Horror or scary

32- Self help or creative or How to

33- psychology

34- food mentioned in book, recipes or chef mentioned in book F/NF

35- about a disability or character has a disability F/NF

36- a book about one of your 5 senses ( touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste) F/NF

37- color in title

38- Weather related F/NF

39- Myth, sci fi, magical realism, or fantasy

40- Dystopian

41- Author last name begins with B, N or C

42- audio book

43 - Topic or a character has one of the 7 deadly sins or more! (pride, greed, envy, gluttony, sloth, wrath, and lust) F/NF

鉁�44- Book with one word title
Holly by Stephen King (2023)

鉁�45- A book over 500 pages
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray (2023)
(clocking in at 656 pages and prompting the question, "Are there no editors?")

I thought about this one for #43, as just about every character in this story can claim at least one of those, but given my taste in reading material and fondness for lurid subject matter, I'm sure I'll find something else for that one.

46- A book with either an Index, Map, photographs or Glossary

47- Translated into English

48- Book that takes place in or is about a country you don't live in. F/NF

49- Short story collection Or Essay collection

50- book written by a BIPOC author or character is BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color ) F/NF

51- Author not a native of the country in which the book is set.

52- Book written by an Indie author or Indie press.

鉁�53- Read 2 books by Vendela Vida
Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name (2007)
We Run the Tides (2021)

鉁�54- Read 2 3 books by Sara Gran
Dope (2006)
The Infinite Blacktop (2018)
The Book of the Most Precious Substance (2022)


55- Crime, F/NF

56 - immigrants/immigration F/NF

Glad you're joining the challenge again James. Looking forward to seeing your book picks and reviews!

Lindsey wrote: "Glad you're joining the challenge again James. Looking forward to seeing your book picks and reviews!"

Thanks, Lindsey -- it was fun for me this year to find some new books that I might not have otherwise through reading remarks and reviews from those in this community filling in their challenge and determination lists. It was also satisfying to me to be able to mention some of the books that I really liked that were maybe not on everyone's radar.

That last sentence is the glory of sharing our Challenge books. I've learned about many titles that i likely would not have found on my own.

鉁�44- Book with one word title
Holly by Stephen King

Very happy to have the first prompt for this year checked with a new-ish (2023) book by one of my favorites, Stephen King. This one is straight suspense/crime; the crimes are horrific to be sure, but there is nothing paranormal or otherworldly in this work, despite protagonist private investigator Holly Gibney's experiences with all KINDS of weird in the "Mr. Mercedes" trilogy, then in The Outsider, and in the novella If It Bleeds.

I like Holly. She is not now who she first seemed to be, but she retains those qualities that retired police detective Bill Hodges initially saw and appreciated in her when she was introduced in Mr. Mercedes, and her evolution and growth through these works has been fun to follow.

All in all, another solid tale from King. Note of caution, however -- there is some super creepy stuff that goes on in this one, all the creepier because it is really quite plausible.

Well done, James ! It does feel good to get that first one under ones belt.

I have a friend who is a Stephen King super fan. She also recommended Holly to me. Though I think I need to read the other two in the trilogy first.

Alias Reader wrote: " . . . I have a friend who is a Stephen King super fan. She also recommended Holly to me. Though I think I need to read the other two in the trilogy first."

Strictly speaking, Holly isn't really part of a trilogy; Holly (the character) becomes an increasingly important player in the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, but both The Outsider and If It Bleeds stand on their own.

However, your point is well-taken -- to immediately recognize the recurring characters and the references and call-backs to Holly's challenges and successes from the previous works is part of the fun, at least for me.

Maybe I'll try a few chapters and see if I think I have to read some of the prior books to follow along. If Holly can be read as a stand alone, I would prefer that.

James wrote: "鉁�44- Book with one word title
Holly by Stephen King

Very happy to have the first prompt for this year checked with a new-ish (2023) book by one of my favorites, Steph..."

Well done, James. You are off to a fine start.

Congratulations! Did you start it last month?

John wrote: "Congratulations! Did you start it last month?"

Thank you, John and madrano, and yes, John, I did start it last month -- got to the top of the hold list on December 29th, downloaded it that night, starting reading on the 30th, finished on January 3rd.

I wonder whether or not most of us began our first New Year book last year. I did...and still haven't finished it.

I don't know. I always go by when I finish a book here and also in my Journal.

I'm partway through one I started late last month, though not read much of it in 2023.

I had a very serious Stephen King phase a few decades ago. I got every book as soon as it came out--that's how I started buying hardcover books, which are so much easier to read!! The last Stephen King I actually did read was 11/23/63. Meh. I think I'm finally over him. Note: he lives very near my daughter in Bangor, ME.

When I was a student at U Maine, I lived not far from his place. Not a big horror fan myself.

Alias Reader wrote: "I don't know. I always go by when I finish a book here and also in my Journal."

As do i. Given my last three months of reading, i am glad that's the way i record them. One a month!

Spent some time recently thinking about a few books I'm checking off in in my 2024 Book Challenge, and so here are a few brief reviews:

鉁�4- History
Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World byMary Beard (2023)

A solid, informative, and typically entertaining Mary Beard look at the 鈥渏ob鈥� of Emperor -- not just "How did they rule?", but also "What was an Imperial dinner party like?" "Where did they live, and what did their palaces look like"? "What did they do for entertainment?" -- over approximately the first 230 years of one-man rule in Ancient Rome. Although this book isn't necessarily about the time and acts of each one of the Emperors during the period, here's a spoiler alert; a fair number of these fellows had their reigns abruptly shortened, shall we say, by wives, brothers, cousins, staff, guards, and even by mom. There are many photographs, illustrations, and color plates, as well as an extensive section at the end suggesting further reading and places to visit based on each chapter.

鉁�45- A book over 500 pages
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray (2023)
(clocking in at 656 pages and prompting the question, "Are there no editors?")

I thought about this for #43 (Seven Deadly Sins), as just about every character in this story can claim at least a few of those, but given my taste in reading material and fondness for lurid subject matter, I'm sure I'll find something else for that one.

鉁�53- Read 2 books by Vendela Vida
Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name (2007)
We Run the Tides (2021)

Both of these stories have at their heart the telling of a lie or a series of lies, and the repercussions of those lies. Vida鈥檚 writing voice is distinct, at times sounding as if she is narrating a dream from the inside of a balloon and at other times clear and crisp and cold. Thanks for this prompt, I don鈥檛 know that I would have ever gravitated to this unique voice without it.

鉁�54- Read 2 3 books by Sara Gran
Dope (2006)
The Infinite Blacktop (2018)
The Book of the Most Precious Substance (2022)

I read these three books in reverse chronological order (not on purpose), but that really didn鈥檛 much matter; Gran鈥檚 style is different in each, and though the craft does sharpen in the later books, the story-telling is strong from the start. Her attraction to noir and ability to work within that genre (contemporary, mostly, in 鈥楤lacktop鈥�; period in 鈥淒ope鈥�) is clear, but there was also something, as in the best noir, that was profoundly sad behind the adventure-filled 鈥淭he Book of the Most Precious Subject鈥�. I hope that won't put you off the book, as it is so well-written, but that said I think that Gran uses other devices and explores other topics in the telling of these stories that might easily offend some people. All three books have greater or lesser degrees of sex, drug use, and violence evident throughout, not to mention internal and external philosophical debates, attraction to nihilism, and at times some actual laugh-out-loud hard-boiled humor.

It was mentioned in this community that 鈥淭he Infinite Blacktop鈥� may not be similar in form as the other two books that Gran has written featuring the 鈥渨orld鈥檚 greatest PI鈥�, Claire DeWitt, so that number up top is likely to get scratched out again before too long, unless I drop other books of hers into other prompts 鈥� but I鈥檒l have to see for myself, and I am looking forward to it.

Thanks to John, madrano, Alias, and everyone else who has mentioned Sara Gran for putting her on my radar; once again, without this community it might have been quite a while before I happened across this marvelous writer.

James wrote: "Spent some time recently thinking about a few books I'm checking off in in my 2024 Book Challenge, and so here are a few brief reviews:

鉁�4- History
[book:Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman ..."

I decided on Prompt 23 For The Bee Sting. It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2023.

鉁� 23- Award winning book or nominated for award
The Bee Sting


I enjoy reading your reviews very much, James.

I have some other books on Rome that I already purchased. However, I am noting your title in my TBR notebook. I'll see how engaged I am with the topic.

James wrote: "Spent some time recently thinking about a few books I'm checking off in in my 2024 Book Challenge, and so here are a few brief reviews:

鉁�4- History
[book:Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman ..."

Whole lotta reading going on, James!

The more i hear about Beard's work, the more i wonder why i haven't read her. This one, answering such questions as you mentioned, is reason enough to pick it up! Thanks.

I am very pleased that you like both Vida and Gran. I didn't realize when i added them to the Challenge that it would be up for grabs for everyone. Both voices make me happy in a refreshing sort of way.

Your description of Vida's writing--balloon--was terrific.

Congratulations on achieving so many prompts, James.

madrano wrote: ". . . I am very pleased that you like both Vida and Gran. . .

Alias Reader wrote " . . . I enjoy reading your reviews . . ."

Thank you madrano and Alias for your comments, and as others have mentioned in other threads, I am very happy to have a place to talk a bit about the books I'm reading and to hear from others about the books they're reading.

I'm also happy that this is a place to write, read about, and discuss movies seen, serial television programs watched, plays attended, general thoughts thought, presidents, poems, recipes, illnesses, travels, travails, and so forth.

Thanks again for this forum.

Interesting about the Mary Beard illustrations as I listened to the audiobook.

Congrats on the prompts!

James wrote: "I'm also happy that this is a place to write, read about, and discuss movies seen, serial television programs watched, plays attended, general thoughts thought, presidents, poems, recipes, illnesses, travels, travails, and so forth...."

I agree with your full post, James, but i do sometimes wonder how others feel about our random topics. Personally, i like them & believe they help fill us in (sometimes) on the opinions about books that they share.

Thanks for the post.

One thing my mom loves about her book club are the spin-off discussions with examples from members' lives.

Well, here we are at the end of the year, and due to one thing and another I have been not-so-good about adding books read and descriptions of same since fairly early on. Here's my final checklist, with additions and comments. Newly mentioned books in this post will have links and descriptions; otherwise, I've already blurbed them.

I'm awfully glad to have my eyes opened to authors Sara Gran, Vendela Vida, John Banville, Kate Atkinson (why am I just now discovering her?) and others through this group.

Speaking of the group, I appreciate the work of Alias and madrano as moderators, as well as for their (and all of our members) thoughtful comments, compelling reviews, funny observations, and general participation. Thank you all -- and onward to 2025!

鉁�1- Biography, autobiography or memoir
In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson (2011) Professor William Dodd becomes America's ambassador to Germany in 1933, as Hitler has become Chancellor and the Nazi party is establishing a stranglehold on government. Dodd brings his wife, son, and vivacious daughter Martha to Berlin with him. Much is made (too much, I think) in this book of Martha's many involvements with men while in Berlin, including her tryst with the first head of the Gestapo, Rudolf Diels.

鉁�4- History
Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World by Mary Beard (2023)

鉁�5- Historical fiction
The Hunger by Alma Katsu (2018). What if there was actually something more sinister, more evil, to the Donner Party story than what is told in the familiar narrative?

鉁�6- Humorous story, or comedian wrote it, or light hearted fun read
The Golem of Brooklyn by Adam Mansbach (2024) A very funny book with an incredible premise, but the ending is smart, sharp, and like a punch to the gut.

鉁�7- Legal or lawyer character F / NF
Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly (2024)
Mickey Haller, the "Lincoln Lawyer", is back and again joining forces with his half-brother, retired LAPD Homicide detective Harry Bosch, to bring justice to an imprisoned woman who swears her innocence to the crime of murdering her ex-husband, a sheriff's deputy.

鉁�8- LGBTQ+ character F/NF
The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng (2023) In 1921 Penang, Lesley and her husband Robert are visited by Robert's old friend W. Somerset Maugham ("Willie") and his secretary, Gerald. Maugham's life is unraveling; investments have gone bust and he must find a subject for a new book. Lesley's past involvement with Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat Sen, a society murder trial, and a potentially scandalous affair all may work their way into the plot.

鉁�10- Mystery, Thriller, or suspense
The Drowned by John Banville (2024). Another great read by Banville, featuring DI St. John Stratford unraveling a mystifying case, with an assist from Dr. Quirke.

鉁�12- romance, relationships or love. F/NF
Leaving by Roxana Robinson (2024). Not a book that I ever expected to a) start reading or b) finish reading, yet something about this story of lost love rekindled and the devastating choices that such brings kept me turning the pages.

鉁�18- book that takes place during a holiday. Any holiday.
Flight by Lynn Steger Strong (2022). Siblings Henry, Kate, and Martin, along with their spouses and children, are getting together over the Christmas holiday for the first time after their mother's passing; part of the purpose of the gathering is to determine what will happen with the mother's house, the only inheritance for the three. Each of the families are troubled in different ways, and in this three-day period they all are confronted with conflicting needs, desires, and ultimately an external crisis that in the moment overshadows the interfamilial troubles that are being played out.

鉁�20- The Arts: Music, art, theater, acting, dance or poetry.
The Great Man by Kate Christensen (2008). A deceased artist's biographers dig into his life; the women who figured prominently in it (wife, mistress, sister) are the real main characters in this story.

鉁�23- Award winning book or nominated for award
The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin (first published 2006, 2015 Hugo Award winner, after first English translation) [see also #29 and #47 for books 2 and 3 of this trilogy] Possibly the grandest, most epic science-fiction work of this age. With immense imagination and vision, a sure hand at world-building, a vast background in hard science, history, and technology, and a story-telling voice that is strong, I can not praise Liu's work enough. It's not for everyone, to be sure -- but it sure was for me.

鉁�26- Published in 2024
The Waiting by Michael Connelly The latest Ballard/Bosch novel has a twist; Detective Renee Ballard of the LAPD Open-Unsolved unit adds a new volunteer to the team, Patrol Officer Maddie Bosch, daughter of Ballard's mentor Harry Bosch, but Ballard finds that Maddie may have a separate agenda of her own in joining.

鉁�27- Nature, environment or animals. F/NF
Bear by Julia Phillips (2024) Two sisters live in a rundown house with their dying mother on an island in the Pacific Northwest. The sisters have a long-held plan in place to leave, but the sudden and mysterious presence of a bear nearby throws intentions and relationships into turmoil.

鉁�28- book that takes place in WWI, WWII, or other war F/NF
Transcription by Kate Atkinson (2018) During World War II, 18 year-old Juliet is recruited into transcribing the conversations of a group of fifth columnists who have been infiltrated by British intelligence. Ten years later, as a producer for the BBC, Juliet finds that all of her past choices have present consequences. A smart, sharp, and marvelously written book with an ending you might not expect.

鉁�29- cosmology, space, astronauts, outer space- F/NF
The Dark Forest by Liu Cixin (2008) [see also #23 and #47 for books 1 and 3 of this trilogy]

鉁�31- Horror or scary
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim (2024) Not many "jump scares" or screams in the night here; it's a slow burn of revenge horror born of racism, misogyny, and fetishism.

鉁�37- color in title
The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich (2024) In a small farming community in the Red River Valley of North Dakota, a mother, her daughter, her daughter's suitors, and a host of characters from the community deal with various challenges during the financial crisis of 2008-2009.

鉁�39- Myth, sci fi, magical realism, or fantasy
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (2024) - Fantasy, magical realism, call it whatever; the characters feel real and the worlds Bennett creates are fascinating, full of political intrigue, mystery, and adventure. Bennett is one of my go-to's, like Stephen King -- I've read everything this author has written and have never been disappointed.

鉁�40- Dystopian
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch (2023 Booker Prize)
A late-evening knock on the door; two officers wish to speak to scientist and mother Eilish's husband, a Dublin trade unionist. This is the opening salvo. Strains on civil liberties and the rule of law, an increasing lack of checks on detention and questioning, random and sudden violence, a breakdown of basic services, and eventual civil war -- and the terror of a mother trying to protect her children and her father, who is losing touch with an increasingly confusing and abhorrent reality. This bleak yet brilliant story, written in a challenging and unique style, will certainly not be to everyone's taste, but hey, the prompt is "dystopian", right?

鉁�41- Author last name begins with B, N or C
Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (2024) A wealthy businessman is kidnapped in 1980; decades later, the act continues to reverberate with he and his family. Every character in this book is horrible. The book is beautiful.

鉁�44- Book with one word title
Holly by Stephen King (2023)

鉁�45- A book over 500 pages
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray (2023)
(clocking in at 656 pages and prompting the question, "Are there no editors?")

鉁�47- Translated into English
Death's End by Liu Cixin(2010) [see also #23 and #29 for books 1 and 2 of this trilogy]

鉁�48- Book that takes place in or is about a country you don't live in. F/NF
It seems that several of the books that I've read this year not set in my home country of the United States of America took place in Ireland; I'll just choose Snow by John Banville (2020) to fill this prompt.

鉁�49- Short story collection Or Essay collection
You Like It Darker by Stephen King (2024)

鉁�50- book written by a BIPOC author or character is BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color ) F/NF
Exposure by Ramona Emerson
Din茅 crime-scene photographer Rita Todacheene is back, now uncovering the trail of a serial killer who has created his own religion while Rita is haunted by the ghosts of the killer's native victims.

鉁�51- Author not a native of the country in which the book is set.
The Hunter by Tana French (2024) Tana French is an American who lives in Ireland but who writes very convincingly in Irish voices -- she's the author of the "Dublin Murder Squad" series, as well as a previous book (The Searcher 2020) featuring retired Chicago detective Cal Hooper, now settled in the Irish countryside. A nicely plotted, well executed mystery revolving around local legends and a land scam.

鉁�52- Book written by an Indie author or Indie press.
Lublin by Manya Wilkinson (2024 - published by And Other Stories - Sheffield, London, New York) In 1907 Poland, three Jewish teenagers, entrepreneurial jokester Elya and his cousins Ziv, a radical Marxist, and yeshiva-boy Kiva, set off from Mezritsh to sell bristle brushes in the market town of Lublin. The journey is full of adventure, close calls, Elya's non-stop catalog of jokes ('What does a Russian bride get from her husband on her wedding day that's long and hard?' a restored Elya asks his friends. 'A new last name!') and an increasing sense of foreboding as the road gets ever more dangerous. Spoiler alert: Jews don't fare particularly well in 1907 Poland.

鉁�53- Read 2 books by Vendela Vida
Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name (2007)
We Run the Tides (2021)

鉁�54- Read 2 3 6 books by Sara Gran
Dope (2006)
Come Closer (2003)
The Infinite Blacktop (2018)
The Book of the Most Precious Substance (2022)
Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead(2011)
Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway(2013)

鉁�55- Crime, F/NF
Taking a look at "My books on 老虎机稳赢方法", I see that a great many that I've read this year (as in most years) just happen to be about crime in general, a particular crime, a series of crimes, etc. etc. So, what to put in for this prompt? I'm going to go with a re-read of a long-time favorite, No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy. Although not for the squeamish (or the punctuation-sensitive), this is in my opinion one of the great books of the 21st Century, and brings us one of the most unforgettable characters of modern literature in Anton Chigurh, a killer who at first seems more shark than human -- but what shark lets the toss of a coin determine another's life or death?

James wrote: "Well, here we are at the end of the year, and due to one thing and another I have been not-so-good about adding books read and descriptions of same since fairly early on. Here's my final checklist,..."

I have nothing to add, but WOW!

Okay, Claire deWitt is so well done that I've "saved" the last story for later. Your 45 Bee Sting comment I often wonder about myself. Bosch videos evoke L. A. in an amazing feat of cinematography.

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson (2011)
That was one of my favorite, Larson books.

------------------
鉁�45- A book over 500 pages
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray (2023)
(clocking in at 656 pages and prompting the question, "Are there no editors?")

I'm with you there, James. I think that is my refrain for many books.
------------------------

鉁�4- History
Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World by Mary Beard (2023)

John also read and recommended this one. I now have quite a few books that I own on Rome. I hope to read at least one in 2025.

----------------------
Kate Atkinson

I've only read one but I enjoyed it. I read it with a face to face library group years ago. It was enjoyed by all.
Life After Life

---------------------

James, I enjoyed reading your review. Thank you for sharing them with us. You did really well on the challenge.

Thanks for your comments Alias and John, they are appreciated.

James, what a wonderful reading year you've had! Congratulations on succeeding with this Challenge.

I'm tickled by the way you used each book in the Liu Cixin trilogy to complete a different prompt. Clever. Until your review of the first, 3 Body Problem, i hadn't figured out what reread i would enter for prompt #11 in next year's challenge. This will be it. While i liked it the first time, having tried to watch the streamed versions, i realize i need another reading. Then, i want to complete the series, as close to one after another as possibly. Thank you, James, for inspiring that idea.

A number of books you read are ones i liked, including Exposure. The combination of Din茅 woman, photography and living away from her reservation interested me. It was well accomplished, imo.

And thank you for the kind words to Alias & myself. This group is rewarding, so it's a pleasure to be a part of it.