Kathy’s Comments (group member since Apr 06, 2020)

Kathy’s comments from the Classy and Trashy Book Club with the Moorhead Public Library group.

Hi All! My plan was to attend tonight but now I have a conflict and can't. Such is life. I love that you are trying older books. It's a good reminder that we don't always have to read the latest bestseller! Happy discussion. Kathy

Hi Ladies! Always so good to see what everyone is reading. I'm currently reading Nomadland by Jessica Bruder. I just finished Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. This one was quite convoluted for the first 40% of the book, then little by little subtle clues starting piecing the story together. By the time I was finished, I was loving it! Backman is quite the writer. Since most of you live in Minnesota, you should look at a Minnesota history book called Minnesota 1918: When Flu Fire and War Ravaged the State by Curt Brown. Unbelievable book about what happened in that time period and how resilient the people were!! Excited to help with your next book sale. See some of you there! Kathy

Good morning! Thanks for adding me as a friend to Moorhead!! I so appreciate seeing what others are reading. This will be wonderful. Hope you will add me as a friend too. Any more thoughts on whether Wheel of Time is appropriate for a 7th grade avid boy fantasy reader?? This gramma has to be in the know!
I just read Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen and Minnesota 1918 flu fire and war. Both were wonderful reads. I'm working on Anxious People by Fredrick Backman but really think it's a waste of time. It has a most unusual writing style and I'm curious to see how the plot resolves, but that writing style is enough to make any reader turn neurotic:)
Congratulations on the approval to collect sales tax for a new library! I hope to get your May book read and join the discussion. I believe it is I Capture the Castle, correct?? For now, we are in warm places and then April will be filled with medical appointments and procedures.

Hi Deb! If you click on my name in my post (it is blue) you can find and friend me. Brittany found and friended me today. thanks! Hopefully Jenny can find me. If not I'll try looking for her once again.

Hi Ladies! Somehow all my friends on Goodreads were deleted in the recent past. Could those of you on goodreads send me a friend request? I am Kathy Vander and joined in December 2008. I have 308 ratings. Thanks for taking the time to search for me and friend me! You can see my picture in this feed hopefully! Deb, can you ask Jenny Rodger to friend me too and also Brittany, your ILL staffer?? Thanks! It's going to be a process to rebuild my friends!

Sounds good Deb. He is 13 and has read all of the Harry Potter books several times plus many other fantasy series.

Glad to see that you’ve been reading the wheel of Time series Deb. Would that series be appropriate for an eighth grade boy who is an avid fantasy reader? Years ago I had a teen volunteer who loved that series. I’m assuming it’s appropriate for a young man based on this volunteer’s experience but would love your input. The avid reader is my grandson. Thanks.
I’m just finishing the book writers and lovers by Lily King. It’s a very conversational book and would not recommend it highly unless someone is looking for a light snd recently published read . Kathy PS Did you all see the new west side story movie? If not it is fantastic. The music and casting of characters was phenomenal

Hi!! So enjoy hearing about what you are reading and about the book club. I did not get This Rough Magic even started but maybe I can try it over vacation. Such a classic author. Merry Christmas everyone! Kathy

Hi ladies! I see you are doing a Mary Stewart book in December. If I can get my act together I hope to read and participate! I attended the Lorna Landvik watch party on Monday night. It was fabulous. Kathy

Hi All! I've had an interesting summer of reading. I read at random and thoroughly enjoyed The Book of Lost Names and The Four Winds. Our last book discussion at WF was on the book The Mountains Sing. I think that was my favorite book of the year. Take care all! Kathy

Hi all! I’d be happy to do any of Mary Stewart’s books. I remember how much of a Stewart fan my mother was. I’m sure whatever we would pick would be nostalgic for me.

Hi All! I am so impressed with all the books you ladies read. Karen, I know you listen to lots of your books. Deb, do you listen or do it book-in-hand style?? I just finished The Splendid and the Vile and Fargo Fire 1893. Both were excellent. Now I'm reading A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell and next will be Jack by Marilynne Robinson. It seems that even in retirement I am too busy to read a lot. So many cleaning out projects and so little time:( Let me know if you do a Mary Stewart book for book club anytime soon. Would love to join you again!! Kathy

Hi ladies! So good to read all your comments regarding Christie and Mary Stewart. Did anyone watch the Agatha Christie 2-part documentary that was recently on PBS? I thought it was fabulous + watched a recent filming of And Then Were None that was published by Acorn TV. Karen, I'd like more info on the free Mystery class. Deb, I remember how much my mother loved Mary Stewart. I think the only Stewart book I've read is The Moonspinners but I have several of her books on my basement bookshelf. How about doing one of her books for book club this fall?? I recently finished The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue and am now working on a classic The Sound of the Mountain. In my book bag is Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys and Alan Brennert's sequel Daughter of Molokai. Happy Monday! Kathy PS So exciting to see that MPL now has book club kits + I saw the 60th anniversary celebration with the $60 donation suggestion. Such a small price to pay for such a dynamic library!

I'm nearly finished with Lady Clementine. It is interesting to feel that one has a look through the eyes of this woman, even though it is fictional. I've learned a great deal about the personality of Winston Churchill and how the couple's children were ignored by their parents for the sake of politics and the pursuit of the couple's personal goals. There are also lots of snippets of English war history. It is a light read and is causing me to want to read more factual books about both Clementine and Winston. Benedict writes in a very light manner but is not a profound writer in any way. That said, she can take a reader on to learn the facts about the characters in her historical fiction by spurring them on to nonfiction writings. For those who don't want to pursue more factual titles on the featured personalities, her fiction does suffice in teaching the reader about the character.

Hi Ladies! I recently finished Becoming by Michelle Obama. A most interesting listen--the book was read by Michelle herself. Can't remember if I told you about Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler. I am now in the middle of Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict and rereading Molokai by Alan Brennert. I'm leading discussions on both of these books in the last two weeks of January so will not be attending the Moorhead Tuesday night discussion. I need to take a break from this group for a while but hope you'll keep me in this discussion thread. It's good to stay in touch and hear what others are reading:) Kathy

Ok-thanks!! Sounds like quite a night for Bury My Heart!?

How big is the Classics group?? I may keep track of their reads and join sometime.

Hi Ladies! I like Anthony Horowitz's writing too and I see he has a new one just published. It's exciting to know that Magpie Murders will be a tv series. Do you know anything about which network will be airing it?? I have never read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee--I see FPL's Classics group just discussed it. Karen, did you attend? Last night I read a middle grade novel called Amina's Voice by Hena Khan. I think it would be a great read for kids, teaching them about acceptance and courage. Next month my other book clubs are discussing A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich and Redhead at the Side of the Road. I start listening to Ivan today. Have either of you ever read it? If so, what am I in for??? Happy Thanksgiving.

Ha! I think I checked it out about 5 times too:) I finally read it and enjoyed all the references to murder mystery titles mentioned in it. In general I thought it was above average but not page-turning-can't put-it-down reading. Try it and let me know what you think!!

Moorhead Public Library wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Karen, you get a medal for all the reading you accomplish!! I've read a bit too--much more than normal, but then life isn't normal right now! I've recently read Out of the Silent Plan..."