I love reading. I prefer to do that than watch TV, go to the gym, floss my teeth, pay bills, or wash the laundry. I review a lot of the books I read, usually received from NetGalley, the library, or an Indie efriend, but I also buy quite a few. I collect my writing book reviews here and my education ones here. When I read, I choose thrillers, historical fiction, education (for my other passion), and then anything else.
Here are my ten favorite books read in 2021 (in alphabetic order):
- Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman
- A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry
- Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
- Chet and Bernie Mysteries by Spencer Quinn
- Gray Man series by Mark Greaney
- Grizzly Killer series by Lane Warenski
- Just Before Sunrise by Carol Balawyder
- Keeper Tyree by Sandra Cox
- The Princess of Las Pulgas by C. Lee McKenzie
- Villa del Sol by Martha Reynolds
A few books that I read every year and have always loved fell off the list because they chose to go political, or woke. That’s not why I read.
I read 170 books according to Goodreads.
This included a whole lot of Indie and blogging efriend books. Any you like or have also read?
One more thing. I don’t have enough social media followers. If you would follow me, I’ll follow you back! Here’re my handles:
Twitter: @worddreams
Instagram: JacquiMurrayWriter
LinkedIn: Jacqui Murray
GETTR: JacquiWriter
A note about GETTR: I just joined so have almost no followers! BUT–I don’t approve followers whose focus is politics so that could explain it. Just a free exchange of writing ideas and support for your (and my) books. If that fits you, I’d love to see you over there. I’m still trying to figure out how to clean out the politics so I apologize in advance if you run into it.
Since I read about three books a week, I’m always eager for new material. What’s your favorite book from 2021?
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Man vs. Nature saga, the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers, and the acclaimed Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, blog webmaster, an Amazon Vine Voice, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Natural Selection, Winter 2022
Hi Jacqui – what an amazing range of books read … I’d like to read The Pleistocene Era or his other book … sometime! I just have to read more this year … and not buy – I prefer to have them available to read … so must get on and read – but mine are educational. Cheers Hilary
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Pleistocene Era was surprisingly readable. The Charles Rivers Editors make science simple enough for the masses like me who are interested but not pros. I’ve read several of their books, enjoyed each.
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That’s a lot of books in one year! I managed 43, which is slow for me, but I’ve never gotten close to 100!
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Well, I don’t have grandkids I care for weekly. That might have impacted your reading!
I wish I did, btw.
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It impacts my writing and editing, too, but I don’t mind. 🙂
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Wow, that’s an astounding amount of books! Good on you! And thanks for reminding me to push up Carol’s book. 🙂
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I wish she’d write more!
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You read 3.27 books a week, 1 book every 2 days in 2021, Jacqui! You still have so much time in writing, planning, blogging, interacting with comments. That’s amazing. Even though I didn’t see my children’s book “Tina” on your list, I used it as part of the sample reviews to introduce the book to my fellowship group. I sold almost 50 books for fundraising! I appreciated your review. I read some of the books on your list and will read more of them this year.
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It’s in the long list–Tina. A wonderful read. Congratulations on the fundraiser. That is a win by any standards, Miriam. I’m impressed.
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Thank you so much, Jacqui! I tried to get my book to the OC Liberties. It’s not as easy as I thought. I need to get one or more reviews from major library journals, then submit the the purchase request to the OC headquarters with the reviews attached. Only large publishers can get those reviews. Another way is to get a review from LA Times Sunday review. I got frustrated from the library journals, so I’m taking a breathing break. 😄
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Hi Jacqui, we had 8 books in common last year. Classics are to me what Westerns are to you. Where do I see how many books I read last year on Goodreads?
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If you join the yearly Challenge, it’s easy. It costs nothing, takes less than a minute to register.
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Let me see if I can find that on Goodreads. I’m sure it isn’t difficult but sometimes I am obtuse.
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Thank you for these recommendations. I am thinking and writing about grief at the moment, as well as other dramatic change, such as sudden deracination, so ‘Villa del Sol’ by Martha Reynolds interests me.
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It was wonderful for that. And not at all depressing–more a lesson in how to move on. Loved that book.
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I always love this yearly post of yours Jacqui. I know both you and I (and many of our blogging friends) would prefer to read than watch TV. Many of my friends ask “how do you read so much?” and underlying in the question is the thought that I don’t do much else during the day. Ha. Nothing could be further from the truth. But using the night-time hours to read instead of watch TV is a glorious way to spend our time and elevate our mind. Your reading list is much different from mine (and much larger too). But we’ve read a lot of similar Indie books, and lets count our blog reading here too. Lots of great stories and essays that improve our reading level and understanding of the human condition.
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I read a ton of Indies–to broaden my interests and help efriends–but otherwise, I read Westerns or thrillers. So, we do have divergent interests in a way. I have to say, I’m so glad I discovered Indies and my blogging buddies because they’ve opened up an amazing world to me. Thanks for hanging around with me!
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I totally agree! I have enjoyed so many wonderful Indie books that if authors did not publish them themselves we’d never get to read these amazing stories. Your own books are a prime example of that.
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Super post
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Thanks! I checked your cooking videos. Pretty interesting!
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Buenos libros gracias por compartirlos. Te mando un beso
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My pleasure!
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Dear Jacqui,
an interesting choice of books. There are three books only we have read as well, they are of the Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman. We always find it interesting to get books recommended we would otherwise never read.
Thanks and all the best
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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If I were picking one for you, I’d pick A Wolf Called Wander. It’s Middle Grade, but one of those compelling, emotional books you will never forget. It’s based on a true story of wolf remains found a thousand miles from known habitats for wolves. How did this lonely wolf get there, so far from his pack and alone? It has received a ton of accolades, has beyond beautiful pictures to accompany text. I wish I could read it again for the first time.
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Thank you so much, dear Jacqui 🙏🙏 that`s VERY kind of you to recommend one of these books for me.
I will read it when I have finished “The Morning Star” by Karl Ove Knausgård and “The Taking Of Annie Thorne” by C.J. Tudor. I allways read two books at the time. One for daytime reading and one I read at night in the bed. Tudor is for the bed.
Thanks again
Klausbernd 🙂
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It’s easy reading, centered in the natural world you love. I’d put it as the night reading.
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Thank you, dear Jacqui,
Klausbernd 🙂
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I served as the travel coordinator at our local children’s author festival. We had 25 different children’s authors attend. One was Rosanne Parry, so it was fun for me to see her name on your list. I recommend Heart of a Shepherd by her.
Thanks for reading my book by the way. Hopefully, I’ll someday have another one.
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Read my comment to Klausbernd above–that book is sticky. Its beauty, wisdom, insights will stay with me forever.
Yours kept a smile on my face, constantly. Not because it was always happy stuff but because I recognized so much of my teaching world in yours. Very fun. Not the wonderful mentoring you got, though. As a tech teacher, people tended to be afraid of me! Sigh.
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Thanks for the list of recommendations!
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At least half are Westerns so if you’re not into that genre, you can skip them!
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OK. My grandfather loved westerns, but I have not read too many of them. Not saying I wouldn’t like them though.
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When I was going to school I had a friend who knew exactly what to recommend to me: every book and every movie he recommended were an absolute delight to me. And it was interesting, because he knew what to recommend to me regardless of whether he enjoyed them himself or not.
I’m glad you have an eFriend who is able to recommend to you books!
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Nice way to find good books! Thanks for dropping by.
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Keeper and I are honored to have made your top 10 list. In fact, he wanted to take you out and buy you a drink to celebrate but Cathleen put the kibosh on that idea.
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Darn! That guy–he sure flattened his lifelong learning curve.
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Heh.
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I am so far behind on my reading list. *sigh* I wish I could go back to when I was a kid and reading 30 books a week. I tell myself, though, that what matters is that I still enjoy the reading process in the same way as I did when I was a kid.
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30 books a week! Yikes! And then life got in the way. I understand.
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My reading rate is more like two books a month – mostly for my Bible study groups, or WWII history, or the occasional novel. I avoid all social media with political content as almost all of that is filled with lies and hate. I read about peace, love and furry kitties … okay, sometimes I’ll read a story about a dog, but mostly it’s cats for me …
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I probably don’t have any about cats, but I wouldn’t mind finding one.
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I’m very honored and humbled to have my book Villa del Sol included, Jacqui. Thank you!
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I was wowed to read it! Thank YOU!
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That’s a whole lot of books! I’m impressed!!
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Think of all those joyous hours of reading!
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I’m thinking of it!
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We have different reading genres, but we do overlap in places: Christmas romance, Guns of Perdition (you read that? fun stuff!), some of the more mysterious or spooky indie stories. You had a great reading year!
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I read a lot of literary fiction at one point. Now, I’m more into genre fiction.
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That was a lot of books! I know two authors in your top ten.
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Probably a few IWSG members, for sure.
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Jacqui, I am curious to know how to read while flossing your teeth! 😀
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You do have to pause to turn a digital page at times. I also read while on my Peloton Tread. I mirror my Kindle app to the TV and off I go!
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You gobble up those books! I was so excited to see you read and liked Princess of Las Pulgas. You made my morning by including me in your book list. Thank you.
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I loved that book, Lee, which I hadn’t expected. I don’t read a lot of YA but I am now your reader!
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That makes me very happy. Intelligent readers are my favorites!
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How do you do it? Writing, blogging and reading all those books. Wow do you sleep. Thanks for your dedication to the craft of writing in all forms.
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Usually, I’m writing by 8 am, but lately, I haven’t been able to start until after 10 am. So, something isn’t working as well!
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I know the feeling. I think the virus has us all exhausted in how we go about our day. Not as much flexibility to do our normal day. I am cooking more and thinking about how to stay safe before going out.
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Isn’t that the truth! I wonder how we’ll get back to normal.
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That is an astronomical amount of books, Jacqui! I too love to read and will choose that over TV most any day. What a great list! I think I have Keeper Tyree on my Kindle, but if not, I’m headed off to purchase it! Thank you for sharing!
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You will love it. Among other reasons, Keeper is an older cowboy sort, supposedly at the end of his usefulness in that job. But, is he? (Can’t give anything away).
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170 books. Wowza, Jacqui. That’s amazing. And what fun. Thanks for sharing your favs for the year. I’ve read Sandra’s Keeper Tyree and can definitely see why it made the list. Thanks for the other recommendations too. And it was fun to see The Ferryman in the mix. Thanks! And Happy Reading!
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The Ferryman is such an unusual book. It stays with me, as I read other books. There is so much there that is intriguing.
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Thanks, Jacqui. 😀
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I followed your twitter and IG. Hope it helps!
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Thank you! That does. They’re both pretty small. I’ll check yours out, too.
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lol i don’t post anything.
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OK, can’t do, you have none which I very much respect. I think you’re in HS? So good on you to stay away from those platforms!
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How do you mean?
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I couldn’t find your SM to follow. I assume because you’re too young for SM? Or you don’t use them? Either way, you’re making good decisions!
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I have twitter and IG. You followed my IG…
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i don’t post anything though. I like Real life better. lol
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Good on you. You are wise already.
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Thanks. That is not what my friends and family think… 😂
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You are a ferocious reader, Jacqui. Three books a week, wow! It often appears to me that your days consist of 48 hours instead of 24. How do you negotiate that and with whom? 🙂
My favorite book of 2021? “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein
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Oh I loved that book. I often think about it, forget the name, start Googling “racing… rain… dog” and usually find it! I watched the movie, too.
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Wow! 170 books?!?!? I remember your post about being a “whale reader” and that definitely applies. Like you, I would rather read than watch TV or do just about anything else. I read several of the books on your list (thanks for reading those of mine), and I still want to get to the Alex Delaware series. What a fabulous reading year you had!
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It was wonderful. I love reading the titles of the book, remembering. I love reading.
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I read a few of the whopping 170 books you read, but not many. I don’t read a lot of westerns, so that eliminated a big percentage right there. But kudos to you on your amazing list last year!
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I read too many Westerns, but I love the attitude of the people, their can-do approach to anything. Sigh.
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I’m a Yellowstone addict. I should read more westerns. I have no idea why I don’t.
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I love Yellowstone! And it seems, we have a lot of company. Maybe the MSM will figure out we-all like that sort of show and not the ones that make so many people look … less than smart (I struggled with that).
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You mean like all the ridiculous reality shows they try to shove down our throats? You’d think by now they’d realize most people don’t care what the Kardashians are doing. Or how people are conniving to find a mate (in 90 minutes or less). Or whatever other gimmicky nonsense they think their click-baity ads will entice us to watch. There’s very little I watch these days. But I won’t miss Yellowstone. Bring on the next season already!
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You read my mind! Yes, and more. I’m trying to think of a show I like on NBC, ABC, CBS–drawing a blank.
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Great list of books, Jacqui. I loved Carol’s Just Before Sunrise!
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Carol is a warning to any reader to not stick to a genre! Her books aren’t my usual category, but she is my writer. I love how she strings her words together.
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I know that you like Agatha Christie’s mysteries. I’ve read a few of them in recent years. I’d like to read more of them. Are there two or three that you can recommend?
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Hercule Poirot is my current favorite. I’m binging on his 80+ TV episodes right now on YouTube. That Suchet is amazing in his rendition of Poirot.
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wow, 170 books! I thought I was doing well with 54 (I just posted my reading list and links to those I reviewed in my blog. Glad to see you read my friend, Billy Beasley’s book, “A Girl in the River.” I have “How to Read Water” on my list.
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A Girl in the River–I think I found that through you. It was excellent. Has he written any others? I read books about how to evaluate the natural world because that’s what my characters do. It’s really opened my eyes to a lot of things.
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Inspiration, as always. Thank-you. so much. Top of my to do list ? Make a a sign to hang on my door, Reading. Do Not Disturb.
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Hehee. I like that. Husby and I each take over one floor of the house. He rarely bothers me, especially when I’m working or reading (which is 90% of the time).
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Excellent list, Jacqui. You’re my all-time reading hero!
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There are quite a few people who read more than me. Actually surprised me to find that out!
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Reblogged this on Zero Lift-Off and commented:
Got to love it Jacqui! You’re what they call a Die Hard or a Trooper when it comes to literary edification! Heck even though you didn’t mention it, I’m sure you prefer reading new books over clipping ya toe-nails or painting them; right? Just don’t be saying that you don’t take more interest in it over eating, at least one square meal a day! I would really get worried if you said that; because that’s Risky Business!
Now there was a fun flick; I’m a movie buff same way you’re a reader of many books, only with me its flicks; problem is for me, they don’t make many worthy ones anymore! Some I’ve seen over a dozen times!
Any of You Stoners Out There, You Take this Fine Lady’s Book Suggestions to Heart and Start Reading! Or you could end up like me; a flicker-kicker, as in a person who gets their kicks in one place or is that space; anyhow becoming more of a person who watches rather than jumping in and using one’s own imagination! After a while it gets hard to kick it! They should have come with a warning label saying that they could be hazardous to your health and quite habit forming!!!
Really Got To Love It! (reading)
Peace-Out!
Lorenzo
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I agree about not many movies I like right now. They always want to teach me something rather than entertain. I love the old movies.
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We sail on the same ship Jacqui! I only watch older movies now, I have a DVD and File collection with hundreds, and I mean anything from the dawn of Motion Pictures on through the Golden Age to the 70’s and 80’s are all good to decent! Then into the 90’s and early 2000’s the good stuff gets slim. I do love some made over the last 20 years but few and far between those.
Passion of the Christ absolutely of course and then Mel’s Apocalypto. But, there are some really well made films with fine actors to be found like Seraphim Falls with Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan who are really good actors and the story is awesome being a period piece too! The Rite with Anthony Hopkins who I think is fabulous, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Notebook, In The Electric Mist, which Tommy Lee Jones did some subtle & kick ass acting and the whole southern flavor with a tricky cool musical score I’ll watch just for the music, Flags of Our Fathers, Meet Joe Black! The Manchurian Candidate with Denzel who’s work I always enjoy and met some years ago on a film set; in another Fallen he is very good too! Brave Heart which is end of the 90’s and same for Last of the Mohicans which is early 90’s but a new Director’s cut version came up so I have that to watch and that movie is beautiful with the locations, the acting and musical score it’s incredible! This last one is such a great period story around the birth of America, as I’m sure you are aware of all of these most likely, but, these are the kind of films that are worth seeing more than once.
Who’s making epic and top shelf films like this now! I think like many things in this world growing sicker all the time, the yesteryear quality and efforts are a thing of the past with the mindset out there these days! What’s left to ruin if anything? Quality people is part of the downturn or lack thereof; and they with the times can’t help it I suppose, being a byproduct of what’s going on in culture now, or the man behind the curtain pulling so many strings!
That Devil is the ultimate kill joy! Reminds me I will watch Fallen tonight that is about the dark force messing with people and it’s a good story.
Thanks again for stirring my mental pot and getting me going on the films and books!
Take care.
God bless
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What a list! That Seraphim Falls sounds excellent. I’ll see if I can find it without a fee. Thanks for the list!
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Hi again Jacqui! WOW, so good you picked the one that I would have told you to watch if you haven’t seen any of those! You want to see that movie, the story and everything about it is so powerful and great entertainment like you and I want out of a good film! Great character study of these characters too! Now you got me thinking I may watch that one again tonight its been about a year since the last viewing! I always love that one and a sister of mine says exactly the same thing she loves that film, the story and the actors! She has seen it multiple times and will again; we even spoke not long ago about hanging out and watching together!
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Ooh, I like number 1 as well, and haven’t read number 4 but think I will have to on your recommendation.
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I grab every new Alex Delaware book. Luckily, NetGalley often gives me one (yay!). The Chet and Bernie–what fun books. I powered through that series in a few weeks and wished I’d read slower.
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Congrats on reading 170 books, Jacqui! I have some of your top ten reads on my TBR list and loved Keeper Tyree!
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That Keeper Tyree–I wish there was a sequel, but not sure how Sandra could extend the story. That a great book.
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A prequel?
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That has possibilities.
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Jacqui, what a fabulous collection of read books and yikes, so many! Is 170 a record for you? I’ve read some of these, many more on my Kindle patiently waiting and lovely to see my book here! Happy Reading … and yep, leave the politics etc away from the joy of this immersive and creative time!
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Oh, Oskar’s Quest–what an amazing book, Annika. The mix of words and pictures is perfect. Dare I say that is your niche?
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Jacqui, you’re too kind, thank you so much! xx
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You have a fantastic list here, Jacqui. I’ve read several and have many waiting on my Kindle. I hear you on politics…blah! Thanks for including my book!
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I followed a bunch of writers on Gettr, but all they talk about is politics. I haven’t decided what to do about it…
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Jacqui, you have an impressive list of books there and I will go through it carefully to find some more for my list. Like you I much prefer reading to TV and watch little.
💕
Miriam
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If you’re not into westerns, you’ll get through the list pretty quickly. If you like Indies, you’ll find some real gems.
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What an amazing collection of boos you have read. I was delighted to see Amanda in Malta listed. Have fun with your 2022 list.
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There would be more of your books, but I read them in earlier years!
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I know and thanks! Hopefully, Amanda in France will be on next year’s list.
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Hi – your top ten list for 2021 is interesting and were all new to me (#3 is on my TBR list) – and whew, I hear you about the politics and woke – it can really distract and pull from essence –
__
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I review every comment that goes up on my blog. The only comments I delete are toxic political.
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🙂
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