Kristen’s Comments (group member since Jan 30, 2025)

Kristen’s comments from the On The Same Page group.

479. Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America
480. Be Free or Die: The Amazing Story of Robert Smalls' Escape from Slavery to Union Hero
481. Want
482. Credence

I started reading The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu and Their Race to Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts a few months back!!! I had to DNF it, not because it wasn't good - I definitely plan on getting back to it, but it's very history heavy and I needed to focus on other things. I hope you enjoy it!!
Great list - good luck on your reading challenge :-)

3 down... 9 + 4 to go! :-)

This book was so-so for me and I partly blame myself for my assumptions about the book.

The majority of the book tells the story of how Amanda was singled out by some pro-censorship people after she spoke up at a town hall meeting for her public library. She was called out online for promoting child p*rn and called a ped*phile. For several chapters after she recounts this day, and the days which followed, and how she felt, and the reaction of those people around her. At some point she starts talking about her decision to file a lawsuit against the persons who defamed her online. She devotes the last chapter to various facts and resources people can use to fight book banning and book censorship.

I (wrongly) assumed this book would be like a rallying call against book banning and an uplifting story of how people rallied together in support of an unfairly maligned person. It was none of those things. In fact, this book felt more like a personal journal of repetitive information, complaining, and childhood memories. That is not to say that I don't feel for Amanda Jones and the horrible events she has experienced, because I think what is happening to her is awful - but this story isn't really about book banning. At it's core I simply think this book was written too soon. The court case is still on going and it reads like Amanda's own struggle to wrap her head around these events is also still evolving. Perhaps this story would have made for good reading if written by a journalist as an in-depth report of what librarians are facing on the front lines of this fight, but this did not warrant a 275+ page book.

387. That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America
388. Lights Out
389. City of Glass
390. A Lesson in Thorns
391. Say You'll Remember Me
392. Butcher & Blackbird

Lillie wrote: "Nice list! So what's next? I've only read The Princess Bride and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Enjoyed both."

Thanks! I'm hoping one of my book clubs chooses The Princess Bride for our May read - so that's on hold.

Next month I have Be Free or Die: The Amazing Story of Robert Smalls' Escape from Slavery to Union Hero on my reading list... and I'll probably also tackle Great Big Beautiful Life as soon as it's out at the end of April.

Two down - 10 + 4 to go!
:-)

Finished The Fall Risk. I really enjoyed it. While it was a bit too short (I feel like it left a bit of the story unfinished), Abby Jimenez is becoming one of my favorite authors.

283. Sinner
284. City of Ashes

269. Priest

228. Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions
229. The Fall Risk

Holy cow, this book was... rough to read, to say the least. I don't think I would have the same composure as these poor people who were railroaded by our legal system. I'm so glad that Grisham and McCloskey took the time to highlight these cases and the ongoing injustices they represent.

I'm committing to a re-read actually - City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare.

Awesome! I already have The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez on my March reading list.

193. The Law of the Elementari

Thanks - I feel the healing power of the happy dance :-)

I'm in the same boat as you, Alondra. I've had a sinus infection for almost 9 weeks now. And a heart infection on top of that! My plan was to read at least 1 book a week this year and I haven't even finished 1 book in February. Ugh :-(

This is a fantastic idea! I'm always saving books from Instagram or Tiktok and I never get to them - most of them are series and I don't think I want to go down a series rabbit hole this year, but this inspires me to see if I saved any good stand-alone or duology series!

Thanks Lea & Alissa!

Most of these have been on my TBR for a while so I figured this challenge was a good opportunity to start whittling down that list. I'm most looking forward to Lights Out and The Princess Bride.

Wow - 475+ books in your physical book list! I can't even image what that looks like! Ime overwhelmed (and a bit jealous) just thinking about that many books.
This is an awesome goal - many, many best wishes!