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

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

Melissa wrote: "A little disappointed in Jamaica Inn. It seemed like I was reading the screenplay for a 1930's black and white gothic movie. Nothing wrong with it, but it seems to h..."

Sorry to hear that Jamaica Inn is on my Challenge list too. I don't mind that its retro so hopefully it will still be a good experience.

Lea wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I love that you refer to Mrs, Mike as a childhood favorite. I have fond memories of that one too. I’m glad to know it holds up. I hate it when the ones you loved as a child let you..."

I didn't even realize there was a sequel. I'm going to wait for you to preview it for me. That seems like too big of a gap. I'm skeptical.

Lea wrote: "Yay, I'm glad you appreciated The Lincoln Highway also. It was one of my favorite books I read a couple of years ago, and it has stuck with me. I also really appreciated [book:Midni..."

I did enjoy Lincoln Highway Lea. It was as you said memorable. Midnight in Chernobyl was fascinating and horrifying. I just keep wondering what is going on in that area today with a war raging. This has been an excellent list so far. I'm actually really glad I have read every one of these books and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend most of them to others. Why do I get so stubborn when people tell me what I need to read? Clearly they are right.

Traveling on with The Lincoln Highway. A hit by Amor Towles. Why haven’t I read this one before?

Following the outlines of a classic hero’s journey, Amor Towles spins a tale of disaster, adventure and unforgettable characters. Finding himself suddenly the guardian of his younger brother, Billy, Emmett wants nothing more than a fresh start far from the little town where they were raised. Together he and Billy decide to follow the Lincoln Highway west. Unfortunately friends from Emmett’s past show up with ideas of their own. Their journey west is soon derailed and their fresh start at risk unless they can complete the tasks fate has set them and get back on the Lincoln Highway.

I loved every bit of this story. The characters were amazing. Emmett the jaded warrior, Billy the uninitiated, Sally the independent heroine, noble Wooly and Duchess the personable villain. This was a classic adventure tale in the spirit of Greek literature or a Shakespearean play complete with daring deeds, inner conflict and moral lessons. The ending was not happy or carefree but somehow just.

5 it’s complicated stars.

Quotable:

There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried.”
― Amor Towles, The Lincoln Highway

If you take a trait that by all appearances is a merit—a trait that is praised by pastors and poets, a trait that we have come to admire in our friends and hope to foster in our children—and you give it to some poor soul in abundance, it will almost certainly prove an obstacle to their happiness. Just as someone can be too smart for their own good, there are those who are too patient for their own good, or too hardworking.”
― Amor Towles, The Lincoln Highway

And I do it because it’s unnecessary. For what is kindness but the performance of an act that is both beneficial to another and unrequired?”
― Amor Towles, The Lincoln Highway

Thanks Bill!

For the hopeless romantics. And the reluctant ones too.”
― B.K. Borison, First-Time Caller

41 books
2971 pages

32 audiobooks
9 print

#37 Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster. Well written and compelling. This one will keep you awake at night. So much that was kept out of the news. An astonishing level of denial. They just kept exposing more people to clean up and cover up. 4 willful ignorance seems to be the true disaster stars. Nonfiction.

#38 Birds, Beasts and Relatives. This was a welcome vacation from more serious reads. Gerald Durrell’s writing is excellent and his memories of a childhood on Corfu make me want to drop everything and spend a year or two there myself. 3 beautiful scenery and hilarious relatives stars. Nonfiction-Memoir.

#39 The Wedding People. I’ll admit I had misgivings about this one due to the level of hype it has been receiving. I was wrong. This is a great book. The characters were fully developed and they all experienced growth along the way. The plot was a lot less predictable than I had imagined. While the book dealt with some pretty heavy issues, it was also genuinely funny. 3 not the wedding party trope romance you are expecting stars. Contemporary Fiction.

#40 First-Time Caller This is the Sleepless In Seattle romance trope that you are expecting but satisfyingly so. 3 mostly sweet romance with a heavy dash of spice stars. Rom-com.

#41 Beowulf. I feel like this one needs some explanation. I have discovered that Ann Patchett does videos on Fridays from her Nashville bookstore. In these videos she recommends books that she loves. Often backlist books. Sometimes classics. Not usually new releases. It is a great way to find out about good books. So recently I saw one where she recommended a particular translation of Beowulf and called it a comfort read. I had to try it of course. The only version of that translation that my library had was an unfortunately abridged audiobook. From this abbreviated version though, I do think she was right. There are kings and monsters and gold and glory; all in this very accessible translation of Beowulf. 3 dependable classic read stars. Classic Fiction.

Currently:
The Lincoln Highway Need more book time.
The Unknown For RL book club.
The Old Man and the Sea

She is so good at predicting what will happen in books, so bad at predicting what will happen in life. That is why she has always preferred books - because to be alive is so much harder.”
― Alison Espach, The Wedding People

Behaviour that's admired
is the path to power among people everywhere.”
― Seamus Heaney, Beowulf

Sorry about all the long quotes on this thread. I just feel like I’m giving a little more in depth review here and I want the quotes to give you a feel for the book. Just skip them if it’s too much.

I was blown away by Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham. Definite hit!

In this intense nonfiction account Adam Higginbotham reveals little known facts about the Chernobyl disaster. Beginning with the designers and builders he explores how the Chernobyl plant came to be and the events of that fateful day. Even more unbelievably the actions taken afterwards in an attempt to clean up and cover up.

There was so much about this event that I did not know. The author expertly sets the stage and then takes the reader through the events of the fateful day. This was a nail biter. Then the long story of the clean up begins. So many lives affected. Young people were actually conscripted and sent into highly radioactive areas to clean this up? Unbelievable. Throughout the book I just marveled at man’s infallible ability to self-destruct. A sad and disturbing book but well written and important for those who don’t want to repeat history.

4 when will we ever learn stars.

Quotable:

the origins of the accident lay with those who had designed the reactor and the secret, incestuous bureaucracy that had allowed it to go into operation.”
― Adam Higginbotham, Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster

Slowly at first, but then with gathering momentum, the Soviet public began to discover how deeply it had been misled—not only about the accident and its consequences but also about the ideology and identity upon which their society was founded. The accident and the government’s inability to protect the population from its consequences finally shattered the illusion that the USSR was a global superpower armed with technology that led the world. And, as the state’s attempts to conceal the truth of what had happened came to light, even the most faithful citizens of the Soviet Union faced the realization that their leaders were corrupt and that the Communist dream was a sham.”
― Adam Higginbotham, Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster

For the first time, Soviet scientists admitted that 17.5 million people, including 2.5 million children under seven, had lived in the most seriously contaminated areas of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia at the time of the disaster. Of these, 696,000 had been examined by Soviet medical authorities by the end of 1986. Yet the official tally of deaths ascribed to the disaster to date remained the same as that announced the previous year: 31.”
― Adam Higginbotham, Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster

Karol wrote: "From my "Priority Reads" challenge:

Maisie Dobbs, by Jacqueline Winspear

I absolutely loved reading this book, despite the straightforward presentation of the harsh re..."

The Maisie Dobbs series is wonderful. You remind me that I need to get back to them.

I guess I’m adding the Cash Blackbeard series to my TBR. I have read and enjoyed one by the author already and’s it sounds like these will be just as good.

I love that you refer to Mrs, Mike as a childhood favorite. I have fond memories of that one too. I’m glad to know it holds up. I hate it when the ones you loved as a child let you down.

Kristine wrote: "Michelle~You are doing such an impressive job. Reading so many books on my TBR. Agree, The Lincoln Highway was good. Also, liked The Year of Magical Thinking and The Silent Patient. His Latest book..."

Thanks Kirstine! Most of the ones you mention are from one of my 12+4 Challenges. I'm going back and reading all of those books that people said "you have to read this". So far all of those people have been pretty spot on.

Ioana wrote: "The Lincoln Highway and Midnight in Chernobyl are both good, can't wait to see what you think of them."

I'm blown away by both of them. I'm at a point in The Lincoln Highway where I'm not sure the direction it's going to go. I hope I don't end up hating this book. I've enjoyed it so much so far.

Lillie wrote: "I think you were the reason that I restarted then binged the Mercy Thompson series. Now I’m waiting impatiently for the next one.

Midnight in Chernobyl is a good book. I knew nothing about what ha..."

So much that was never in the news or at least I don't remember it being. So many thousands who lost their life as a direct result of the disaster. So much denial.

Lillie wrote: "8. A Desolation Called Peace 1*
Teixcalaan #2
Not for me, unfortunately. Felt lost throughout, didn’t care about any of the character..."


It's not just you. I enjoyed the first one but the second was unnecessary. Too bad.

Wow, you're going to make me add a shark book to my TBR. I'm also a sucker for odd titles and Fatal Fried Rice is tough to ignore. I'm going straight to my library app now.

“When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.”
― Craig Johnson, Next to Last Stand

36 books
3289 pages

38 audiobooks
8 print

#33 Next to Last Stand Sheriff Longmire solves a mystery revolving around a stolen painting of Custer's last stand. Enjoyable as always. Great audiobook series. 3 Longmire takes on the art world stars. Mystery.

#34 The Sun Is Also a Star Star-crossed lovers have one day to share before fate tears them apart. Great little love story. 3 Romeo and Juliet stars. YA Romance.

#35 Nineteen Minutes As always Jodi Picoult writes a fictional novel that is not only controversial and emotionally charged but realistic as well. This story revolves around a school shooting and it's aftermath. Readers cannot help but be drawn into this story. 4 nineteen minutes can change everything stars. Contemporary Fiction.

#36 Winter Lost A little lighthearted Mercy Thompson adventure after the previous heavy hitter. Coyote finds a way to heal Mercy from her previous injuries. 3 Mercy prevents the apocalypse-again stars. Urban Fantasy.

Currently:
The Lincoln HighwayHardback. Hoping to get back into this one soon.
Birds, Beasts and Relatives ebook. This one makes me smile.
Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster Audiobook. Another heavy hitter I think.

“You can’t undo something that’s happened; you can’t take back a word that’s already been said out loud.”
― Jodi Picoult, Nineteen Minutes

Bill wrote: "I think that's where teachers (& librarians?) need to be given the tools to discuss books that cover tough topics. Simply banning them to keep kids blind to them doesn't educate kids or help their ..."

Absolutely right Bill! I would say though that the teachers and librarians I know have the tools they need to do that. They just need the freedom to do it without losing their job. As you point out there are different ideas about what is acceptable but surely, we could agree on some boundaries without wholesale banning. The method currently used clearly doesn't make any sense.

Lea wrote: "I was shocked that the reason the book was banned was not because of the violence, but because of the sex. That seems to be backward priorities. I also agree that it could be beneficial to older te..."

You're kidding! It was in there of course but there were so many other reasons to tread carefully with this book and teen readers. I can't believe that was the reason given. I'm glad you gave an example of a way that this book could be helpful. I do think if discussed with an adult who cares this book could be helpful to teens. I think as a way to open a discussion about bullying or abuse it would be awesome. Unfortunately, Picoult did such a good job of making the school shooting and the related violence believable. My feelings when reading it were that it should be handled carefully due to violence. It is hard for me to believe that I was supposed to be worried about teenaged sex instead. I'm really terrible at this book banning thing.

Picoult often tackles tough contemporary topics. Sometimes I think her books sensationalize them a little too much, but her books do open the doors for discussion of sensitive topics. If all parties could handle the discussion maturely, we could probably all learn from conversations based on her books. The world would probably be a better place if we were teaching teens to read with an open mind and have that kind of conversation with others. Before that can happen though we have to learn to do that ourselves.

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult brings another aspect of the book banning question to light.

One ordinary morning at the local high school a young man, bullied throughout his school years, shatters the safety of a small town. Ten people are killed but many more have their lives irreversibly marked by the tragedy. A local judge and her daughter are at the center of the fallout as the trial begins.

Unlike the previous book which I couldn't see a reason to ban, the reasoning here is all too clear and brings up other questions about book banning. Are there topics so triggering and toxic that they should be banned? Is there a way to protect students in school libraries from triggering topics without banning a book? Do books that examine violent or criminal acts encourage similar acts? Should books dealing with violent acts be eliminated from school libraries? This fictional book explored a school shooting incident from all sides. Like most of Jodi Picoult's books it was excellent but also emotionally charged. I must admit that even though I don't want books to be banned, putting this one in a school library seems inappropriate. This book deals heavily with bullying as well as physical and mental abuse much of which occurs in or around a school setting. The author did not hold back on the violent acts in the book either. While they are responsibly written, they read very much like real incidents of school shootings. The book was very well done, thought provoking, and would be a good discussion starter. Should teens be protected from a book like this one or should they be allowed open access? I really don't have an answer to any of these questions. This is a book that could be beneficial to teen readers if handled correctly. On the flipside it could be very triggering for teens who are affected by some of the issues the book addresses.

4 probably needs a warning label stars.

Quotable:

“When you begin a journey of revenge, start by digging two graves: one for your enemy, and one for yourself.”
― Jodi Picoult, Nineteen Minutes

“What’s the difference between spending your life trying to be invisible, or pretending to be the person you think everyone wants you to be? Either way, you’re faking.”
― Jodi Picoult, Nineteen Minutes

“if there isn’t a them, there can’t be an us.”
― Jodi Picoult, Nineteen Minutes

“You can’t undo something that’s happened; you can’t take back a word that’s already been said out loud.”
― Jodi Picoult, Nineteen Minutes