Michelle’s Comments (group member since Dec 08, 2021)

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

“She took the facts and in a natural way charged them with tension; she intensified reality as she reduced it to words, she injected it with energy.”
― Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend

136 books
11435 pages

109 audiobooks
27 print

#134 The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism A Christian journalist's search to understand the politicalization of the Christian Evangelical movement in the United States in recent years. 5 informative, inciteful, and hopeful stars. Nonfiction.

#135 My Brilliant Friend The story of two young girls growing up together in post WWII Naples. I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. It is well written and compelling, but I don't feel entirely satisfied with the plot. It ended abruptly without resolution. 4 I think it left me wanting more but I'm not really sure stars. Fiction.

#136 Rage Human trafficking comes to Painters Mill. Just when I think this series has become too predictable, I read one like this that sparks my interest again. 4 why is crime in Amish country so fascinating stars. Mystery.

Current:
The Sweetness of Water Still not sure about this one.
The Marlow Murder Club Only a few more pages to go. I just need reading time.
Orbital I'm taking this one in small bits but I like it.

“There was something unbearable in the things, in the people, in the buildings, in the streets that, only if you reinvented it all, as in a game, became acceptable. The essential, however, was to know how to play, and she and I, only she and I, knew how to do it.”
― Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend

“What you've done is you've baptized your worldview and called it Christian.”
― Tim Alberta, The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism

Congrats Vikki!

Ioana wrote: "My RL book club picked The Personal Librarian followed by a visit to The Morgan Library & Museum in NYC. I've been wanting to visit the library for a long time, so I'm very excited ..."

That sounds like so much fun. I really wish there were more book related destinations near me. I love to follow up a good read with a real-life adventure.

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I've read several by Grady Hendrix and really liked them. Looks like I'm going to be adding this one to the TBR too."

I hope to read more of his books, too. Any recommendation?"

I really enjoyed The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires.

“The power of language. Preserving the ephemeral; giving form to dreams, permanence to sparks of sunlight.”
― Penelope Lively, Moon Tiger

133 books
11,423 pages

106 audiobooks
27 print

#131 A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck I enjoyed the survival story of a husband and wife adrift at sea. I also appreciated the overall story about a successful marriage. I think it was the format of the book that lost me. The writing felt very much like the story was being told third or fourth hand. 3 for a story about a couple committed to a life of adventure there was not much here about the adventures stars. Nonfiction.

#132 Moon Tiger A play about a woman on her deathbed reliving the seminal moments of her life. I actually appreciated the structure of this story, but I found a play difficult reading. 3 what we remember most stars. Fiction/Play.

#133 Service Model This book had a lot of potential. A robot's journey after a robot apocalypse was a really good concept. The plot moved very slowly and because all the characters were robots everything fell a little flat, especially the humor. 2 I wanted it to be more clever than it was stars. SciFi/Apocalypse.

Currently:
Orbital Just getting started.
The Marlow Murder Club Trying to wind this one up.
The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism Fascinating.

“Misfortune can seem abstract in the midst of celebration. At the beginning, we imagine the bad weather might pass us by. It’s only natural, part of the long business of self-preservation, because how impossible it would be to go through life in full awareness of all that will befall us. Somewhere, deep within, unspoken, we must know, we do know, that we’ll all have our time adrift. For what else is a marriage, really, if not being stuck on a small raft with someone and trying to survive?”
― Sophie Elmhirst, A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck

“None of these things are efficient or logical. I wish to report an error in the way that everything works.”
― Adrian Tchaikovsky, Service Model

Bill wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Lists upon lists! I should start with the books I meant to read this year & didn't. But, I probably won't. :)"

I was thinking of maybe doing a Sparkly New Book challenge, make a l..."

I love the sparkly new book challenge idea Bill.

Ioana wrote: "Witchcraft for Wayward Girls was my first book by Grady Hendrix and it was good. GR puts it in the "horror" category, only because it has to do with some magic. There is nothing ho..."

I've read several by Grady Hendrix and really liked them. Looks like I'm going to be adding this one to the TBR too.

That's some heavy duty print reading you are planning Lillie. Looks like you are having a great month and a great year though. Enjoy!

Alissa wrote: "All i am waiting on is and my best friend is shipping me her copy. I am sitting and twiddling my thumbs lol"

It will be worth the wait. It was excellent.

Congrats Jami!

“Why the hell shouldn't I run away with the circus?”
― Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants

130 books
11,190 pages

104 audiobooks
26 print

#127 Water for Elephants Happy to have finally read this modern classic. I had a few quibbles but overall, I thought it was great. Most importantly it kept me engaged and eager to hear more of the story. Also, I loved that the ending was way better than I had imagined it would be. 4 how much do elephants drink anyway stars. Historical Fiction.

#128 The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club A group of young women form a book club to help each other through the hard times during WWII. The setting and the period were fascinating. 3 spies and submarines stars. Historical Fiction.

#129 Part of Your World An enjoyable princess and the commoner romance. The story touched on some tough subjects but overall it was a sweet and funny romance. 4 baby goats and bar room bets stars. Rom-Com.

#130 Our Infinite Fates Time travel. Romance. This one should have been a winner, but I just couldn't ever connect. The characters: tragic teen aged lovers destined never to live past 18. The writing: dramatic and overwrought (as one would expect eternal teen-agers to be). The reader: bored and impatient. 2 it was probably just me stars. Fantasy.

Current:
A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck Just started but I can't wait to see where it's going.
The Marlow Murder Club Still enjoying this one. I just need time to read.
Moon Tiger Hoping to wind this one up soon.

“Without you, there would be no poetry.”
― Laura Steven, Our Infinite Fates

“I'd follow a clown into a storm drain if he had a baby goat in pajamas.”
― Abby Jimenez, Part of Your World

“Life is the most spectacular show on earth”
― Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "had read it as a teen. Reading it now for the first time the scary parts weren't really too scary and the gross parts (of which there were many) were extra gross. It made me sick t..."

Yeah, maybe I'm wrong about reading it as a kid. It was just an icky book I guess no matter how old you are. It was well written and I can see why it has held up over the years. I'm not sorry I finally read it just ... ick.

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "“One doesn’t need magic if one knows enough stories.”
― Heather Fawcett, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

122 books
10629 pages

97 audiobooks
25 print

#120 [bookcover:Flow..."

I actually think there might have been less of an ick factor and more of a horror vibe if I had read it as a teen. Reading it now for the first time the scary parts weren't really too scary and the gross parts (of which there were many) were extra gross. It made me sick to my stomach more than anything else.

Lillie wrote: "Woohoo! Congrats on finishing the challenge"

Thanks Lillie! That wraps up my challenge lists for 2025. I hate to admit it but I'm beginning to consider lists for 2026.

Lea wrote: "Yes! Sometimes I have to wait until the hype dies down too, but I do find some gems in the books that everyone else is reading and recommending. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your list!"

I think I'm going to have to find that sweet spot between when everyone on the planet is reading a book and when it becomes a modern classic. I was too slow on some of these and on a couple probably too quick. That said I think I would have judged a few of these more harshly if everyone was still raving about them.

Patty wrote: "Wow - what a fantastic read

"

I loved that one too. So glad to hear you enjoyed it!

This challenge is DONE! And I have to say overall it was a hit. Out of 16 books I judged 13 to be hits and only 3 to be a miss. The three misses were all actually good books. I just felt after reading them that somehow, they did not live up to the level of hype that surrounded them. I would not hesitate to recommend any of the books on this list whether hit or miss. They were all good in their own way. I gave four of them a 5-star rating, 6 a 4-star rating, and 6 of them a 3-star rating (3 star is still a good rating in my books).

So, I guess I'm going to have to reluctantly admit that when "everyone" tells me I "have" to read a book, I probably should just go ahead and read it. Chances are I'm going to like it. Maybe I'll wait until the hype dies down though.

Finishing out the list. Water for Elephants hits the spot. One final Hit!

During the depression a veterinarian with nowhere else to turn joins a traveling circus. As he learns more about the circus life he begins to care for the animals in his charge and for some of the people he has met. Unfortunately, both he and everyone he cares about suffer under the tyrannical rule of the circus owner and his second in command. The choices he makes will set him on the path he will follow for the rest of his life.

This book was a pleasant surprise. I was convinced I would not enjoy it. I will say it took a minute but when the story finally got to the circus, I was hooked. It was cleverly written from the POV of an elderly man in a nursing home looking back on his life with just enough foreshadowing to keep you reading. I don't know if this one deserved the hype around it when it was first published but it was well written with a decent storyline. It had a better ending than I anticipated and for that I'm going to give it an extra star.

4 Coming of age with hard times and forbidden love stars.

“You do right by me, I'll show you a life most suckers can't even dream of.”
― Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants

“Age is terrible thief. Just when you're getting the hang of life, it knocks your legs out from under you and stoops your back”
― Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants

“When two people are meant to be together, they will be together. It's fate.”
― Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants

“Life is the greatest show on earth!”
― Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants

Glad you enjoyed Nettle and Bone. I loved that chicken.

The one about Martin Luther was also interesting but I enjoyed AMAZING GRACE about William Willberforce the most.