Linda keeps amazing records and statistics on the books she reads and helps take care of my various lists as well ... it is wonderful to have a retired Mother who shares one's own reading tastes!

As of 30 June, Linda has read 78 books (back to that "retired" part). Her favorites so far (restricted to top 5) are Moloka'i, Alan Brennert; Doc, Mary Doria Russell; The Forest Laird, Jack Whyte; Death of Kings, Bernard Cornwell & Fall of Giants, Ken Follett.

I have read 34 books and am inclined to name only my top three: The Vizard Mask, Diana Norman, Doc, Mary Doria Russell & The Whiskey Rebels, David Liss.

How 'bout you? Looking back over the past six months, what are your stand-outs?

Kelly

I am starting book #50 today.  So far my only 5 star read has been Voyager by Diana Gabaldon but there are several 4 star reads I really enjoyed: Instruments of Darkness by Imogen Robertson, The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau, The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot and The Technologists by Matthew Pearl and The Forest Laird by Jack Whyte are favorites so far. 

My Goodreads challenge counter says I've read 89 books so far this year. Five of those are the first in the Angelique books, which I liked a lot - Angelique in Revolt being tops. Don't let those covers fool you, there's a lot of history and real historical characters packed in them. Kaki Warner's Open Country trilogy, while not heavy reading, were a lot of fun for a lighter minded reading day. Mariana by Susana Kearsley and The Flower Reader by Elizabeth Loupas are right up at the favorites this year as well.

I love reading about your favorites!  I've read 36 books to date.  My top 5:  The Sisters Brothers; Doc; Destiny of the Republic:  A Tale of Madness,

Medicine and the Murder of a President; The Spanish Bow; Moloka'i.  Also 5 stars to a re-read - To Kill a Mockingbird.

I love reading about people's favorites.  I had actually listed 10 favorites, but Kelly limited me to naming only five.  Another of my favorites, Holly, was The Crown.  And, noticing other favorites I'm moving Flower Reader and Pieces of Sky to the top of the TBR stack.

Linda

Y'all are killing me!

I've got to get to The Vizard Mask. Jeanne sent it to me a while back and I keep seeing it recommended.

My Goodreads counter says I've read 56 books so far this year. Thank gawd for a long train commute!

My top 5 are As Meat Loves Salt, The Tennis Partner, Catherine the Great, Cutting for Stone, and Defending Jacob.

I'm almost finished with book 57.

My top 5 reads so far are:

Blood Fued by Rosemary Sutcliff

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

The Chrystal Cave by Mary Stewart

Leopard Unleashed by Elizabeth Chadwick

The Rose Garden by Susannah Kearsley

I've finished 48 books this year thus far, but then I have had lots of spare time for reading for some reason this year.  My h/f favorites so far are:

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

The Hollow Hills and The Crystal Cave both by Mary Stewart

I have read 78 books so far and my faves, have been Imogen Robertson and Caro Peacock's series.  I have also loved Lucinda Brants books, these are a bit more on the romance side of things.

I've read 70 books so far this year. In the historical fiction-historical fantasy genres, my Top Five Favorites are:

Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Gillespie and I by Jane Harris

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson 

I have had a very bad year in reading, with only 28 books under my belt so far.  So far, I don't have any #1 books this year, but a couple of my favorites have been (not just HF) Elizabeth Street by Laurie Fabiano and Partials by Dan Wells.

A lot of great books read so far this year!  Must try and find some of them. :D

Have a great day everyone!

Hi Lori!

This is what I love about this group, I'm about in the middle as far as reading accomplishments :)  I finished June at 61 books read.  According  to Goodreads, I've read five five-star books, two religious in nature; two YA Classics I re-read (Anne of Green Gables and The Outsiders) and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which was non-fiction.

My four star Historical Fiction reads were "The Midwife" by Gay Courter; "The Lost Quilter" by Jennifer Chiaverini; "In This House of Brede" by Rumer Godden; "The Dovekeepers" by Alice Hoffman; and I have to give props to a mystery "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" by Sharyn McCrumb, which I didn't think was a fabulous mystery, but was a really lovely rendering of the people and history of Appalachia. 

I have read 40 books so far this year. My goal is 75, so I'm a little ahead of schedule. Some of my favorite Historicals so far are:

Wonderland Creek ~ Lynn Austin

Terra Incognita ~ Ruth Downie

A Light to My Path ~ Lynn Austin

These is My Words ~ Nancy Turner

The Magic of Ordinary Days ~ Creel

Scarlet ~ Stephen Lawhead

I have read 108 books so far.

Here are my favorites

Timeless by Alexandra Monir YA historical

Veil of Lies by Jeri Westerson Historical mystery

Hunted by Rebecca Zanetti - paranormal romance

Native Star by M.K Hobson - Steampunk

Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray - HF

Fair Game by Patricia Briggs - Paranormal

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok - contemp fict

Marianna by Suzanna Kearsley

Books I thought were over rated

11/22/63 by Stephen King

State of Wonder by anna Packet

If you count my audiobooks (and I do ) I'm at 76 books so far.  I've been working on series this year, in addition to my stand-alone reads.  I'm working my way through Sue Grafton's books, and I read Aaron Elkins' series about the forensic anthropologist Gideon Oliver; I'm going through Amelia Peabody's adventures and of course I met the lovely Lady Julia Grey!

My top five books so far would have to be:

The Crystal Cave, Mary Stewart (a wonderful re-read for me!)

Fire from Heaven and The Persian Boy, by Mary Renault.  

Blood Feud by Rosemary Sutcliff

The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner

And for a contemporary read: The Litigators by John Grisham.  I listened to this one, and it was delightful!  Lots of humor, and the reader was excellent.  A very pleasant surprise.

My non-fiction pick is Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand.  It just leaves me speechless.  Incredible story.