Moorhead Public Library’s Comments (group member since Apr 06, 2020)

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

I realized I forgot to mention another book I read and really liked - 'The Last Smile in Sunder City' by Luke Arnold. On the surface it shouldn't really be my thing - a bit too grim, noir, etc. Magic has been destroyed, magical creatures have died or had to adapt to living w/out magic, the main character is one promise away from suicide. But the hardboiled descriptions actually made me smile and chuckle (not sure they were supposed to, but it helped lighten the book a bit) and I feel like there was a thread of hope that gets thicker as the book progresses...at least enough to keep me from throwing the book across the room in despair. Looks like it's the start of a series, so we'll see if I'm right about that.

The idea of hope brings up another thing I liked about the book -the world is complex enough that although the destruction of magic is clearly horrible and tragic, the existence of it wasn't all rainbows and unicorns, especially for the main character, Fetch (although he clearly misses it). So I'm not sure as a reader if I hope for the return of magic, or something different. I'm definitely rooting for Fetch, the main character. His backstory with all his mistakes totally won me over and I'm set for him to at least make progress towards some sense of redemption or peace. I'll be very disappointed if it turns into an ongoing tragedy.

On a final note, there's some great myths behind the magical creatures and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the world in the next book. Hope you're all intrigued because I've added 'Last Smile' to our list of picks for next year :) - deb

I've got the link for us to use Tuesday night. It's: meet.google.com/shc-pqod-kxx

Just click that around 7:00 to join us in discussing 'Montana Sky' by Nora Roberts. Hope to see you all there! (I also sent the regulars an invite through Google Meet, so you can just use that too). - deb

I am just coming off of an awesome vacation where I read/listened to a number of good books. I kicked it off with the newest Hidden Legacy book by Ilona Andrews, 'Emerald Blaze.' This isn't my favorite Ilona Andrews series but the book was still entertaining. The series just feels a little more teeny-bopper to me than the others.

I also read the the new Westcott book by Mary Balogh, 'Someone to Romance.' Didn't completely get sucked into this one like some of the others in the series, but I liked seeing Jessica get her own book and am thinking maybe I just wasn't in quite the right mood for it?

Then I finished the Deborah Crombie book that I was on - 'The Sound of Broken Glass.' AGAIN, not my favorite. I'm kind of thinking nothing was going to make me completely happy and it's a good thing I had vacation. Although there's been an ongoing conspiracy-type storyline that is not my favorite thing (too serious) and that also probably dampened my enjoyment. I'm really hope they get some resolution to that in the next book.

Then I dove into the Aunt Dimity series by Nancy Atherton. These are so fluffy, and so fit my mood, that not even a seriously atrocious narrator could ruin them for me. I went through the first 3 books in a marathon and plan to continue with the 4th. Has anyone else read them? - deb

Hi everyone! Feel free to use this thread to discuss any books you happen to be reading this month. I'll be posting what I read on my vacation soon! - deb

Welcome back everyone! We'll meet the third Tuesday of the month via Google Meet (I'll post the link in this Discussion Thread) to discuss 'Montana Sky' by Nora Roberts. In the meantime, if you want to share any thoughts while you're reading, feel free to post them here! - deb

I've finished at least 2 books since I last posted - 'Nobody's Sweetheart Now' by Maggie Robinson and 'The Falcon Always Wings Twice' by Donna Andrews.
'Nobody's Sweetheart' is the first in a series of mysteries that revolve around a main character who is haunted by her dead husband. It was entertaining, and I'll probably get to the others in the series, but it didn't make it onto my favorites list.
'The Falcon' is the newest Meg Langslow mystery, and that IS one of my favorite series. As usual it was entertaining - I'd probably give it a solid 4 stars in relation to books in general, but maybe only 3 stars in relation to the other books in the series. It definitely wasn't my favorite, but I still enjoyed it. I especially appreciate how Meg is such a strong, kind of bossy character who is just a little evil/real? (quite often she's thought of murdering the person who ends up getting killed).
I also finished 'No Mark Upon Her' by Deborah Crombie since I last posted. It is one of the darker ones in the series (not that any of them are necessarily cozy like the Andrews series). It concerns a serial rapist and corruption within the police, and overall left me a little down and angry and wondering if progress ever gets made.

I finished the new Linda Howard book, 'After Sundown,' this past weekend. It was entertaining as most of hers are, about a massive solar flare that takes out power across the globe and how the residents of a small town deal with it (while the main characters fall in love, of course). Although it's a pretty extreme situation, I feel like her books haven't been quite so entertainingly absurd recently (some of my favorites include "Prey" where the protagonists have to deal with bad guys, nature in the form of storms and floods, and a homicidal bear! and 'Cover of Night' where a whole town gets taken hostage). But it was still a fun read that kept me turning the pages. - deb

Karen wrote: "I finally took the time to listen to that podcast with Ann Patchett and found it really interesting. I hadn't remembered a lot of the details, but they discussed the book with spoilers which remind..."

Thanks for the link! - deb

Just getting this started so I don't forget. Here's to many entertaining reads in August!

Hannah wrote: "Hi everyone! I've been catching up on the Alex Versus series. It's an urban fantasy series about a wizard who specializes in seeing the future and has to navigate all these magical politics. I enjo..."

Hi Hannah! Heads-up for you too - we've been creating a new Salon Discussion thread for each month to manage the length; feel free to check out the Classy and Trashy Readers' Salon: July 2020 (and soon August 2020). Also - I've read one of the Alex Versus Series! It was ages ago though and I totally don't remember it - just that I thought it wasn't bad, but I wasn't sucked in enough to continue to ILL the books. But I keep seeing it on lists compared to Butcher and Aaronovitch, so it's stayed on my radar :) - deb

Amy wrote: "I have been reading through Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache series. I am on #9 now. I really enjoy them, especially the ones that take place in the winter—helps me to not obsess about how st..."

Hi Amy! Just a heads-up - there's actually a new salon post for each month to limit how far we have to scroll down :) so feel free to check out the "Classy and Trashy Readers' Salon: July 2020" or, soon, the August one. Also - I still need to get back to the Gamache series - I think I'm on the 4th one, 'A Rule Against Murder.' But as I think I've mentioned, I've been completely sucked into the Deborah Crombie Kincaid/James series - definitely recommended for fans of Gamache. - deb

Karen wrote: "Glad you are enjoying St Cyr, but no - definitely not feel-good romance. I'd say historical mystery and relatively dark rather than cozy. I'm all caught up on those at the moment, which I have mixe..."

Moorhead Public Library wrote: "I've finished a few books since my last post, although I think they've all been in series I've already posted about. I'm still working my way through the audiobooks of the River of London series by..."

didn't they make 'The Far Pavillions' into a mini-series or something? I think it might have been on Acorn at some point....also, did you see there's a fantasy re-telling of Pride and Prejudice involving dragons or something? I think it's called 'Heartstone.' - deb

I finished the 1st St Cyr book, "What Angels Fear." There definitely seemed to be a lot set up to explore in future books....especially interested if they pursue Kat's links to the French or if that gets dropped? Sadly, I don't think the audiobooks are available on overdrive. sigh.

I'm on the 14th book of the Kincaid/James series by Deborah Crombie. I think Crombie really excels at creating characters you're interested in, especially in many cases the murder victims. And she illuminates the void left by their deaths. There's a definite emotional element in some of her books: 'Necessary as Blood' was downright heart-wrenching and 'No Mark Upon Her' is definitely bringing out some anger.

Still looking for a feel-good romance; I actually went back and re-listened to some Tessa Dare as a diversion because I wasn't having much luck getting into a new one. I often feel like her books kind of fizzle out towards the end, but I don't even mind because the beginnings crack me up so much. - deb

I've finished a few books since my last post, although I think they've all been in series I've already posted about. I'm still working my way through the audiobooks of the River of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. I know I've said this before, but I really like the narrator of the books and how he captures the main character, Peter Grant. I finished book 5, 'Foxglove Summer,' and feel like we're maybe getting a little more character development for Peter, which is also nice. They wouldn't be my favorite urban fantasies (Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews), but they're definitely entertaining.

I've also listened through book 12, "Where Memories Lie" of Deborah Crombie's Kincaid/James series. Still enjoying the mysteries, although I think I may have a slight preference for the ones that take place outside of London.

I also have numerous books that I've started and haven't finished yet, but I will! ...or at least some of them. I've been trying to find a feel-good romance and getting annoyed by the ones I've tried. I'm just giving up on some of those. If anyone has any recs for feel-good romances (maybe with a little suspense), let me know.

I'm also partway through the 1st St. Cyr book per Karen's rec - liking that and will probably finish it next. Although I wouldn't describe it as a feel-good romance.

Here's a spot to discuss for July - hope you're all enjoying some good summer reading!

Karen wrote: "I just saw this and didn't know if anyone would be interested. Gretchen Rubin is the author of The Happiness Project and other books and does a podcast with her sister.

Attention book-lovers! Eliz..."

Thanks for the heads-up! Considering the number of things I thought were kind of weird, it would be interesting to hear her talk and see if she addresses any of them. - deb

Karen wrote: "I listened to the first Deborah Crombie book and finished in the last day or two. I liked it, and it reminded me of lots of other cozy mysteries I've read or listened to, but I admit my mind wander..."

I'm interested to hear what you think of Evelina - I'm pretty sure I read it back in a college, although I don't remember it well at all. Is it in letters?

Sorry the Crombie book didn't blow you away - some of the later ones (maybe 3-10?) have a stronger historical element that I think adds a nice layer. I have the first St Cyr on my phone right now - will let you know what I think of it! (so is the series ending that you don't have any more to look forward to?). - deb

Just a quick post about what I'm reading - I was all excited to read the new Nora Roberts, 'Hideaway' (you might remember I did the NR binge a while back), but turns out I'm stalling out on it a bit. Definitely not my favorite of hers so if anyone else reads it and wants to complain, let me know. I've also been continuing w/ Deborah Crombie and am on book 9, 'Now May you Weep.' I'm still enjoying this series but am getting a little bit of an itch to take a break from them; I just can't figure out how I want to switch it up. - deb

I'm going to get June's Discussion up a smidgen early, because who knows how Monday will go. Hope to keep hearing what you're all reading!

Hi Everyone! I just want to say thanks to all of you who made our 1st video meeting - I thought it went great and it was wonderful to see you all.
Also, if any of you (whether you made it to the meeting or not) happen to catch this post, can you reply and let me know what rating you'd give the Dutch House? We've been trying to post what we think the book clubs would rate a book here on goodreads. From our discussion, I'm thinking we'd give it a 4 star, but not 100% positive about that.
And finally, I'm going to keep the Book Salon posts going over the summer, so I hope to hear from you all on there! - deb