Colleen ’s Comments (group member since Nov 01, 2020)

Colleen ’s comments from the Talk @ Books! group.

Darren wrote: "Hey Everyone, my name is Darren and I live in Ireland. Like everyone else here, I love to read but haven't been great at updating my profile here for the last number of years but I decided this yea..."

I'm having difficulty recalling that far back Darren :) but if memory serves me well (since I did not record past books read, much to my regrets), I was enjoying Black Beauty and Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective series back then. I'm not sure about anything contemporary these days, although my boy likes Diary of a Wimpy Kid series but he is not a huge reader.

I recently read Out of My Mind and loved it. I also enjoyed The War That Saved My Life. YA books tend to be really touching. Has she read Wonder?

How cool you live in Ireland! Good luck with recording your reading and nothing beats a book club for meeting social and mental needs.

Angela M wrote: "I read The Absolutist. 5 stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Angela - I forgot about this one - it was really good and nicely reviewed by you!

Lynnski wrote: "I recently read, and loved, . It's historical fiction centered around The American Library in Paris during WWII. Highly recommend."

Thanks Lynnski!

@Kirsten - added to TBR :)

Janice wrote: "I'm currently reading Octavia Butler's Dawn. Some of the characters are humanoid but have strange tentacles covering their bodies. It's a bit difficult to conceptualize them. But I'm i..."

Janice wrote: "I'm currently reading Octavia Butler's Dawn. Some of the characters are humanoid but have strange tentacles covering their bodies. It's a bit difficult to conceptualize them. But I'm i..."

I've only read Parable of the Sower (YEARS ago) and haven't forgotten its impact.

Kirsten wrote: "My last sci-fi read was Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline back in January. Quite enjoyable."

Thanks for reminding me of #2! Loved the first one,,,

Gw wrote: "I’m reading Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix, becuz it’s only taking me a thousand years to finish this series🙄. I’m also reading New Suns....an anthropology by Nisi Shawl. A book my book ..."

This series went quick for me, but I listened to them on audio and was really into it. I think the narrator helped a lot adding to the whole storytelling. I haven't seen all the movies yet, maybe bits and parts.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a book set in Germany during the 12-1500s? Maybe fiction or non-fiction? I'm just curious about this time and what was going on back then and what life was like.

@Sandra and stephanie

My neighborhood book club read A Prayer for Owen Meany last year and it was my chance to read it (was confused if I had actually read this a long time ago, but after listening in to the discussion I decided I hadn't actually read it, just had heard of it and wanted to) but who knew, the library hold list for the book was way too long and I didn't get to it in time. Then other books I *had* to read got in the way. I've been meaning to get to it anyway since it sounds like a worthy read. Who knows, maybe after I start it I'll decide after all I have read it! But then obviously will need a re-read, lol. #fail

stephanie wrote: "Finishing The Chicken Sisters and Fortune and Glory

Next up.......
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe - [book:The House in the Cerulean Sea|4..."

Please let me know how House in the Cerulean Sea goes - I've seen so much love about it and placed a (long) hold on the library. I'm very excited to read it.

Parker wrote: "I'm out of county for this particular library. They do have curbside service, but I really love to browse (I've found some of my favourite books that way). The sign outside the library says only th..."

So sorry to hear of your troubles Parker :( seems this will never end.

@Karen - yes, I think so, I'll need to keep an eye out for her new one to see what she does. And yes, I think I would prefer the audio here (I don't say that too often, but it does happen). The audio just kept it moving and with different voices for the characters it almost seemed as if I were watching it all play out and was effortless and entertaining.

I wouldn't mind laughing all the way to the bank either! A nice success story.

Jen wrote: "I’m late to the party! Thanks
for the invite, Colleen. I’m Jen - from Toronto, Ont Canada 🇨🇦 I am married with 2 kids, 2 dogs 🐶 I work FT and am getting close to taking an early retirement likely ..."

Better late than never Jen! Welcome! Congrats on the early retirement plan - 5 years? You can definitely see the light then. :) Sounds like a great retirement reading plan. I am looking forward to someday do that myself.

Same! I'm always checking on what Angela's up to. ;) I love the library as well and have resolved not to buy anymore - free books, now that's another story. I am letting go of some around the house knowing I can use the library's audiobooks. It has increased my books per year and always keeps me company while I go about my daily tasks which do not require concentration so I can listen in i.e. walks, runs, mindless cleaning.

Will love to see you around here. Stay warm - Minnesota is snowy here right now but not too cold/windy - just wet.

Martha wrote: "My goal for this year was 77. If I make it I’ll set a goal of 78 for 2021. If not, I’ll keep it at 77. Mostly series & making a dent in my stacks of books at home & on my phone."

Mine is 77 as well! I only made it to 75/77 last year after pretty consistently surpassing my mark. Book length definitely does play a factor here.

Ulyssicia wrote: "30 books is my goal for 2021. chances are I may do more but want to be realistic of my ability due to my work. This year I chose to read books I had on my TBR list for a while and also books I coll..."

Have you read Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed? Our book club read it this year and thought it was great. I learned a lot - pretty fascinating and comforting.

Janice wrote: "Janice wrote: "Our book club will be discussing Remember Us: My Journey from the Shtetl Through the Holocaust at our January meeting, so I will be reading it this month."

This was a..."

Oh boy Janice. I see it has a very high rating - but if it was that hard to get through I don't blame you for not getting through it. Sounds like your book club was of the same mind. I added to my TBR, but we'll see.

@Martha - I am definitely, finally getting to The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America this year and soon. I have only read his Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania - which I liked, but feel I need to try his others.

@Libby - exactly! Follett can be my history teacher any day....

Sandra wrote: "I finished Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents and rated it 5 stars. It is a MUST read, in my opinion.

She's a great writer isn't she? I'm being enthralled with Warmth of Other Suns and our book group likely will read Caste as well.

Angela M wrote: "Like some of you, I have read a good number of WWII books. Many of the favorites listed in the thread are favorites of mine as well and I’ll be adding more from your recommendations . Thanks .
Here..."

I love your additions here Angela - all I have not read yet - looking forward to it. :)