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

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

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "#52 Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy Wild Dark Shore Mixed feelings about this one. It was a weird book, part mystery, part cli-fi, part dystopia, part psychological thriller..."

I didn’t hate it Lillie. I just felt like it was trying too hard. I also felt like the characters’ motivations were a little off. I mean a strange woman washes ashore and suddenly everyone loves everyone else even though there’s that big secret we’re not talking about. I just couldn’t quite buy it. I’m glad to hear you loved it though. That’s why we need access to all types of books. Not every book speaks to every person.

Wondering if anyone reads these books before banning them with Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.

A young assassin is released from prison in order to compete for a position as the king’s champion. Winning will mean freedom. She soon finds that the fates of her new friends and the future of the nation may be at stake as well.

This was just a good old fantasy story with a tough, jaded, but good hearted heroine and the two handsome fellas that complete her love triangle. There was a lot happening during this story and within the back story so there will be plenty of material for the other 6 or 7 books in the series and for the spinoff series. It wasn’t the greatest thing I have ever read and maybe it has been overhyped on tic tok but it was fun and entertaining. It was also very YA and surprisingly PG. I am told the series gets racier as it progresses so I’m guessing that this book was banned because it’s part of a series. Otherwise there was some low key magic stuff, typical for fantasy and not particularly offensive. I really don’t see a reason to ban this one. Banning series wholesale now? Why don’t we just ban the entire category of fantasy and be done with it?

4 it isn’t great literature but it is fairly innocuous entertainment so I feel bad that it got banned stars.

Quotable:

Guards are of no use in a library.
Oh, how wrong he was! Libraries were full of ideas—perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass

What's the point in having a mind if you don't use it to make judgements?”
― Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass

She had often wished for adventure, for old spells and wicked kings.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass

When she awoke every morning, she repeated the same words: I will not be afraid.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass

Looks like you ended the month with a bang Alondra. You make me think I need to read Wolf Hall but I tried the PBS series and couldn’t get into it. It makes me hesitant. I enjoyed All Our Wrong Todays but don’t remember a lot about it except that it was fun time travel. Hope you enjoy.

old Ansel, who used to manage ranches in California and now spent most of his days rereading the Russians. Chekhov, Turgenev, Pushkin. Ren had once asked him why he loved them, as he himself found the going mostly too dour. “I don’t love them,” Ansel had said. “You don’t?” “Nothing worth serious study is lovable.”
― Peter Heller, The Last Ranger

53 books
4022 pages

41 audiobooks
12 print

#51 The Last Ranger I enjoy Peter Heller's books so much! A recurring theme in all his books is the beauty and harshness of nature juxtaposed against the soul and violence of man. The writing is beautiful and there is always an unexpected twist. This book, about a park ranger in love with the wolves and with the scientist studying the wolves, is no different. 4 lone wolf stars. Contemporary Fiction.

#52 Wild Dark Shore Mixed feelings about this one. It was a weird book, part mystery, part cli-fi, part dystopia, part psychological thriller. It was also compelling in that I needed to finish the story to find out exactly what happened. I did not love the characters and I don't think it lives up to the current hype it is receiving but it was an entertaining book. 3 genre bending stars. Contemporary Fiction.

#53 Forever Strong: A New, Science-Based Strategy for Aging Well Like many fitness books this was mostly an advertisement for the author's plan which can be found on her website and will be shared with you for an undisclosed amount of money. That aside there was some interesting information, and I may check out her exercise videos online. This book did reinforce my personal belief that diets that eliminate or over-emphasize entire categories of food are probably not healthy (BTW that is MY belief not necessarily the one promoted in the book). This book also has me rethinking my protein intake which is good. I will not be paying for "the plan" since I cannot in good conscience participate in any diet which suggests beef jerky as a snack (again just me). 3 sorting out the good from the bad stars. Nonfiction-Health.

Currently:
The Selected Poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay For poetry month. Hopefully it won't take me a month to get through it.
Throne of Glass For my banned book challenge. Really liked it at first but now I'm cooling off.
Wrong Place Wrong Time Time loop.

“But here is the nature of life. That we must love things with our whole selves, knowing they will die.”
― Charlotte McConaghy, Wild Dark Shore

“Contrary to the messaging many of us are getting today, a hearty steak as part of your diet is better for you than ultra-processed plant-based foods such as Twinkies, Lucky Charms, and Impossible Burgers.”
― Gabrielle Lyon, Forever Strong: A New, Science-Based Strategy for Aging Well

Looks like you had a good month Lea. I'm glad Mrs. Mike held up but based on your review I'm not going to go out and buy the sequel. I don't have a good track record with books in a series written that far apart (especially a book I once loved). I also don't feel compelled to finish a series if I am done with it. I think in this case I'm done.

You are both right about that. As I said in my reviews of some of the earlier books, I have even begun to wonder if the publishing companies are sometimes encouraging the inclusion of controversial material in order to get the book banned so that it will spark more talk about the book and encourage more readers.

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "It was a great book in so many ways. It's sad that it is banned in schools. I feel like its message would really reach young people. Kudos to you for passing it on and for being a ..."

Me too! Most of the time though I have to google it or ask my Goodreads friends because I can't see any reason to ban the book. I think that this mainly shows that the book banners aren't actually reading the books. Too many times they get it wrong. I think before they are allowed to ban a book they should be required not only to read it but to participate in an open discussion of the book in which all sides are represented. Often I think that the thing which they are getting all worked up about doesn't mean what they think it means.

“There are a number of smells I’ve loved in my lifetime, but few can compare with the smell of a bookstore.”
― Craig Johnson, Daughter of the Morning Star

50 books
3178 pages

39 audiobooks
11 print

#46 The Old Man and the Sea So glad I finally read this short Hemingway classic. I enjoyed it but it definitely felt like a book you can only appreciate after you have gained a certain amount of life experience. 3 more than just a fish story stars. Fiction-classic.

#47 Daughter of the Morning Star Sheriff Longmire protects a rez basketball protege who has been getting death threats. 4 the Sheriff and the spirit world stars. Mystery.

#48 A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-18 Not terribly long and really interesting. I read this for Narnia and Middle Earth but I actually learned a lot of really fascinating things about WWI and that time period. 3 my geek girl tendencies are showing again stars. Nonfiction.

#49 Lush Life There was a murder, a cop and a tough inner city neighborhood but most of all there was atmosphere and excellent writing. 3 hard core cops and robbers stars. Contemporary Fiction.

#50 Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection John Green uses his platform to shine a light on an important topic. I would probably read anything he wrote but I am impressed at how well researched, eloquent, moving and, yes, even funny this was. 4 leave it to John Green to make even tuberculosis entertaining. Nonfiction.

Current:
Wild Dark Shore Popped up for me on Libby so I am joining the band wagon.
The Last Ranger Love Peter Heller's writing.
Selected Poems of Edna St. Vincent Millay: An Annotated Edition Isn't it poetry month?

“Tolkien and Lewis were attracted to the genres of myth and romance not because they sought to escape the world, but because for them the real world had a mythic and heroic quality.”
― Joseph Loconte, A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-

What's different now from 1804 or 1904 is that tuberculosis is curable, and has been since the mid-1950s. We know how to live in a world without tuberculosis. But we choose not to live in that world.”
― John Green, Everything Is Tuberculosis

We live in between what we choose and what is chosen for us.”
― John Green, Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection

One of my favorite King stories (there are many). Hope everyone enjoys it. King is the godfather of dystopian literature.

It was a great book in so many ways. It's sad that it is banned in schools. I feel like its message would really reach young people. Kudos to you for passing it on and for being a Mom who reads banned books.

Probably a good move Lillie. I would say start with some of his short stories or if you are at all interested in the artists and writers that congregated in Paris after WWI try A Moveable Feast.

I think you will enjoy Sorceress if you have enjoyed others by T. Kingfisher. I wouldn't reread TLH if you didn't enjoy it the first time. There are too many good books out there. Every book is different for every reader, and I could definitely see why some parts of this book might be off-putting. Whatever you decide, happy reading!

Old classics hold true with a hit for The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

Readers follow an old fisherman on his final fishing trip. Luck seems to be with the fisherman when he hooks an epic fish. He struggles against nature, age, and even his own inner voice as he battles to bring home this once in a lifetime catch.

I have no idea why I have never read this short classic. I tried but never got more than a few pages in before abandoning it. It seemed like another big fish story, I guess. (I may have a thing about that since one of the other classics that I have tried to read but never progressed more than a few pages is Moby Dick.) It is much more than a fish tale though. It is a tale about nature vs. human nature, about ageing and life, and about inner strength and moral fortitude. It is well worth the read, but it may be one of those books that readers cannot truly appreciate until they have some life experience.

3 luck is not everything stars.

Quotable:

“Only I have no luck anymore. But who knows? Maybe today. Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.”
― Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea

“Let him think that I am more man than I am and I will be so.”
― Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea

“You did not kill the fish only to keep alive and to sell for food, he thought. You killed him for pride and because you are a fisherman. You loved him when he was alive and you loved him after. If you love him, it is not a sin to kill him. Or is it more?”
― Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea

“Now is no time to think of what you do not have.
Think of what you can do with that there is”
― Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea

@ Ioana LOL Yes. An old man, the Sea, and a really big fish. I hope you enjoy A Sorceress Comes to Call as much as I did.

@ Karol. I also read A Gentleman in Moscow first and loved it just as much as The Lincoln Highway but the two books are very different. They both have exceptional writing and memorable characters in common. Glad you enjoyed them too.

Not bad Bonnie. Hope you enjoy the rest of the list.

“Not all worth knowing can be found between the covers of compendiums, my boy. Let’s simply say that my academy was the thoroughfare, my primer experience, and my instructor the fickle finger of fate.”
― Amor Towles, The Lincoln Highway

45 books
3570 pages

35 audiobooks
10 print

#42 The Lincoln Highway This epic hero's journey was a delight. I won't soon forget this book or it's characters. Amor Towles is a wonderful writer and such a pleasure to read. 5 if you just want a really good book stars. Historical Fiction.

#43 The Unknown For my RL book club. Not my cup of tea but it was a quick listen on audio. 2 short and shallow stars. Mystery/Paranormal.

#44 A Sorceress Comes to Call I have enjoyed everything that I have read by T. Kingfisher but this was on another level entirely. If you enjoy fantasy and want to read a book about women's empowerment, read this. On the surface you have a great fantasy tale but dig a little deeper and there is so much about women and perceptions about women in this book. 4 fantasy that makes you think stars. Fiction-Fantasy.

#45 The Hate U Give I could write so much about this book but I won't. I will just say that it surpassed all my expectations. Not only was the story intense but I feel I'm a little better human for having read it. 4 really, really well done Angie Thomas stars.

Currently:
The Old Man and the Sea A short book but I'm dawdling. Time to wrap it up.
The Last Ranger Need more time to read.
Daughter of the Morning Star My old friend Longmire

“Words could always be said, but could rarely be unsaid.”
― T. Kingfisher, A Sorceress Comes to Call

“Intentions always look better on paper than in reality.”
― Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas another example of a banned book that seems to have been misunderstood.

A young woman witnesses her friend being shot by a policeman. In the aftermath she must decide what it means to witness and how to use her witness to change her community for the best. She struggles with her own emotions and the repercussions of the incident on her family and friends.

There is actually a lot going on in this book. Much more than I could include in a brief summary. At first, I thought the author was just dragging the story out but by the end of the book I realized that she was using all the characters and the setting to present all sides of the story. She was also using this story to help educate/inform the reader about aspects of the story and the character's experiences that the reader may not have considered. Although the book has a definite viewpoint, I felt that it was presented thoughtfully and responsibly. A book like this can make readers think about the things they hear in the news. A book like this can open people's minds. A book like this read and discussed could bring people closer together. So we should definitely ban it right? We wouldn't want children to learn about other people's struggles or even worse to learn to think for themselves.

4 an uplifting story despite the heavy subject matter stars

Quotable:

“What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?”
― Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give

“He was more than any bad decision he made.”
― Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give

“That's the hate they're giving us, baby, a system designed against us. That's Thug Life.”
― Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give

“Daddy claims the Hogwarts houses are really gangs. They have their own colors, their own hideouts, and they are always riding for each other, like gangs. Harry, Ron, and Hermione never snitch on one another, just like gangbangers. Death Eaters even have matching tattoos. And look at Voldemort. They’re scared to say his name. Really, that “He Who Must Not Be Named” stuff is like giving him a street name. That’s some gangbanging shit right there.”
― Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give

“It’s also about Oscar.
Aiyana.
Trayvon.
Rekia.
Michael.
Eric.
Tamir.
John.
Ezell.
Sandra.
Freddie.
Alton.
Philando.
It’s even about that little boy in 1955 who nobody recognized at first—Emmett.”
― Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give

Patricia wrote: "I loved The Lincoln Highway as well. Such a fun, well-told story."

It was a well-told story. I also read and enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow. Very different books but Amor Towles writes such vivid scenes. It is hard to forget his books.

Ioana wrote: "I've read them both (The Lincoln Highway and Midnight in Chernobyl) and enjoyed them both. I did not love The Lincoln Highway at the time, but it stayed with me and that means a lot, so maybe I was..."

I can see why you would have problems with the ending of TLH Ioana. Honestly, I did too with parts of it, but it was such a perfect ending given the rest of the book. I was OK with it. Like you that book will stick with me for a long time.

I can't imagine how you felt reading MIC. I felt outraged by the denial. To downplay the dangers as they did was really criminal. So many lives affected. Unfortunately, I could see something like this happening again. I don't think the human race has learned this lesson yet. I do believe that books like this help though. The more the truth is told the better.