In 2010, I took part in the 100 book challenge (pic) I found somewhere online, and I’ve decided to continue it every year. This is a great idea to encourage reading, and after doing it for a year, I figured it was a good one to do every year. Plus, I like posting the little mini-reviews so I can quickly go back and recommend a few books to friends who also love sci-fi, fantasy, business, etc. I also chart the ratio of fun to serious books here.

Totals
2024 – 116 Books – click here for the list/reviews.
2023 – 102 Books – click here for the list/reviews.
2022 – 101 Books – click here for the list/reviews.
2021 – 108 Books – Click here for the list/reviews.
2020 – 193 Books – Click here for the list/reviews.
2019 – 149 Books – Click here for the list/reviews.
2018 – 170 Books – Click here for the list/reviews.
2017 – 157 Books – Click here for the list/reviews.
2016 – 112 Books – Click here for the list/reviews.
2015 – 141 Books – Click here for the list/reviews.
2014 – 101 Books – Click here for the list/reviews.
2013 – 137 Books – Click here for the list/reviews.
2012 – 146 Books – Click here for the list/reviews.
2011 – 131 Books – Click here for the list/reviews.
2010 – 111 Books – Click here for mini reviews and a list.

For 2025, my goal is to read 100+ books. This year, I am trying to apply a little more intent as I’ve been just reading anywhere, and I want to think about why I am reading each book a bit more (nothing too deep, just going to treat myself a bit more this year to authors I already know and love).

January 2025

1. 2. Books 2 and 3 of the Born of Ash series by Marc Alan Edelheit (Infinity Control and Phoenix Rising) – Fun reads, but not much meat, and the characters just felt undeveloped. I loved Marc Stiger’s Tigers, but he has tended to go super pulpy where there isn’t much in the book, and the characters never feel like they have a deep and meaningful arc (it feels like the TV show Lost). His writing is very clear and it was a fun read, but I won’t pick up the next one. I want more character arcs and deeper thought.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Dungeon Crawler Carl Series – One of the best books I’ve read in years, hilarious, emotionally moving, amazing characters, everything. I can’t wait for book 8, this is on my short list for best reads of the year already. I see why people rave about it.

10. Natural Born Heroes: Mastering the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance – It was ok but really muddled and some junk science.

11. The Big Empty (Elvis Cole and Joe Pike #20) – One of my favorite series, love it, and a good solid read.

12. West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge – Meh, just kinda a boring historical fiction. Characters flat.

13. Camino Island by John Grisham – Fun book club one my dad picked, but not my cup of tea.

14. The Worst Ship in the Fleet by Skyler Ramirez – So short, this is more of a shorty story.

February 2025

15. A Tide of Black Steel by Anthony Ryan – It had a rough start, at 200 pages, but then I loved the characters and the world. I can’t wait for the sequel in August.

16. 17. 18. Damascus Station, Moscow X, and The Seventh Floor by David McCloskey. These are some of the best thrillers (and specifically spy thrillers) I’ve read in a decade. The writer is a former CIA agent, and they were thrilling. I found the first through Shepherd about Syria and read it in my dad/brother book club. We loved it! I blew through the rest as they are fantastic.

19. The Pillars of the Earth – Joel recommended this to me back in 2008 and I finally got around to reading it :). It was fantastic!!! I am looking forward to the second one.

20. 21. 22. The first 3 books of the A Soldier’s Life series. I don’t know why but this series is ADDICTIVE. It is fantasy but set in an Ancient Romeish world, and I just couldn’t put it down. The character isn’t anything special, but for some reason, he just pulled me in. The world just keeps getting bigger and more interesting,g and I can’t wait for book 4 this summer!

23. Falcon’s Call by Mike Waller – Mike did a list on Shepherd and I picked up his book to try it out! It was a really cool idea, and the story went well, but the characters just didn’t click for me. I need to try another book by Mike in the future to see if that one clicks.

24. Book 5 of the Bobiverse series was fantastic (by Dennis Taylor). I can’t wait for the next one as I love this author.

25. I reread Rogue Squadron, a favorite of mine. I just read the first one, as I wanted to make sure it was okay for Calico, and I enjoyed one of my childhood favorites.

26. I read The Russia House by John le Carre. It is my first le Carre, and it was okay but nothing special. I am going to try another of his books soon as he is my brother’s favorite author.

DNF – The Wrong Stars by Tim Pratt. Just didn’t click for me. The characters and story just were not working, I am not sure why (gave up after 55%).

DNF – Shadow of the Eagle by Damion Hunter. The character didn’t click with me. Well written but gave up after 45%.

March 2025

27. Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove – An ok book that I found a long time ago through Shepherd. I didn’t click with the characters but the story/concept was interesting. I wanted a lot more about economics or big-picture stuff, and this was more a concept piece.

28. Of Windmills and War by Diane Moody – I don’t know how I found this, but it must be YA. It was just a bit simplistic but interesting at times. I’d rate it a “like” but wouldn’t read any others. I think at the time, I was looking for a WW2 historical fiction, but this wasn’t a great match. The characters didn’t work for me.

29. Project Hail Mary – I read this many years ago, but I listened to the audiobook with Calico (and half with Lindsey) on some car rides. Calico loved it, and I had fun listening to it again. I hope the upcoming movie is good!

30. The Primal Hunter – One of the worst books I’ve ever read. I HATED the character, and this book was written about a sociopath with no redeeming qualities. And the plot is just so flat and shit. I have no idea how people pick this as a good read.

31. 32. 33. 34. He Who Fights with Monsters books 1 through 4 – I really enjoyed these, they are a bit like a Connecticut Yankee in King Author’s Court. That said, in book 4, they just got bad and needed an editor and some work. Too repetitive and the plot just isn’t working.

April 2025

35. 36. 37. All 3 books in the Century series by Ken Follett. I LOVED these books. They take families and weave them through the last 100 years of history. I cried, it was beautiful, it was fantastic to read.

38. Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei – I found this on Shepherd. Just kinda meh and felt tedious to read. I think if I was in my early 20s I would have enjoyed it. It had really great concepts and ideas, but the story just didn’t engage me. Just not a match for my book dna.

39. The Siege (Agent of Rome, #1) – Ok, but just not enough meat or character to keep going with next book. Good writing.

40. Treasure of Khan: Dirk Pitt #19 – A fun reread, def great as a kid, but not a match for me as an adult. I LOVED these books as a kid.

41. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy  – I listened to this with Calico, it was fun, but as an adult just kinda meh. I think I would love laved it more in my teens or early 20s.

42. Night Soldiers by Alan Furst – Just kinda meh, like 8 short stories, no character arc, well written and reserached though. I won’t read more.

43. I read book 1 of Star Carrier by Ian Douglas. It just didn’t click, kinda meh.

May 2025

44. A Soldier’s Life: Book 4: The Hounds – One of my favorite new series, I really enjoyed it. I don’t know why as much, but it is just super pleasurable and I read it in 2 days.

45. Oath of Blood by Logan D. Irons – I like the writing, but the characters were uninteresting and the story had so much possibility, but then didn’t paint a big world, it just kinda got boring and was micro focused. I love the concept of werewolves in ancient times, especially with hints of this religious battle behind the scenes. But nothing ever came of it. Just kinda mundane.

46. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari – What a powerful book full of ideas and concepts. I know there are a lot of problems with aspects of his theories, but I loved it just for the sheer bravado of what he tries to tackle. I am going to reread it as I did it on audiobook over many workouts. So interesting and I wish I had read this a decade ago.