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

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

Lea wrote: "Dear Mr. Dahl,

I might have read Matilda wrong. I might have fallen prey to having too high of expectations for this book. I might have been too old for this book when I finally got i..."

I'm laughing as I type. I haven't read Matilda but I always have problems with Roald Dahl as a children's author. All his stories have a hard edge to them as far as I'm concerned. Kids do still love them though. Love your letters. Keep them coming.

The older I get, the less I understand.”
― Blake Crouch, Dark Matter

29 books
2669 pages

21 audiobooks
8 print

#27 Dark Matter This was a reread or more accurately a re listen for my RL book club. I enjoyed it just as much the second time around. I also recently watched and enjoyed the AppleTV version. I’ve read several books by Blake Crouch but this was my first and so far the best. 4 stands up to multiple reads stars. SciFi.

#28 Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space. This was a great overview of the Challenger disaster and of NASA during that time period. The background information at the beginning was slow but necessary. Ultimately though I enjoyed this realistic and even fallible history of space travel so much more than the glittery version that I got from The Right Stuff. 4 things get real stars. Nonfiction-history.

#29 Shotgun Lovesongs. What a gorgeous book about love, and forgiveness and friendship; about growing up and small towns and the difficulty of being a good human. I highly recommend. 5 it gave me all the feels stars. Literary Fiction.

Currently:

The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore Not as exciting as I thought it would be LOL
Birds, Beasts and Relatives. This is really making me want to go to Corfu and live in a rundown house on the beach.

she recalls the final conversation she had with Greg on the beach that afternoon at Cape Canaveral: But if something happens, just be happy. At first, she was angry about the way he died. “But anger isn’t constructive,” she said recently. “People make mistakes. And other people pay for it sometimes.”
― Adam Higginbotham, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space

Sometimes that is what forgiveness is anyway, a deep sigh”
― Nickolas Butler, Shotgun Lovesongs

I just want to comment here that so far this year 2 out of the 4 books that I have given 5 star ratings have been books from this list. Even the books I gave a miss to, I’m glad I read. It’s really starting to look like everyone is right after all.

Bullseye! Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler is a definite hit.

Five friends grow up together in a small town, experiencing all the normal ups and downs of adolescence together. As they grow older and venture out to seek their fortunes they remain friends. Now, however, facing middle age and the crises that come with it their friendship is challenged once again. Will their shared past and the anchor of their little town be enough to help them hold on to their relationships?

I just can’t tell you how much I loved this book. First of all the writing was beautiful, capturing perfectly the small town life and the bonds of friendship. Secondly Nickolas Butler has a gift for writing about male friendship. Finally, I just loved the characters, these four guys and Beth who married one of them but was important to them all. If you want to read a book about love and friendship and people trying to be their best selves, read this one. You won’t be sorry.

5 it made me sad, it made me nostalgic, it made me laugh, it made me happy stars.

Quotable:

America, I think, is about poor people playing music and poor people sharing food and poor people dancing, even when everything else in their life is so desperate, and so dismal that it doesn't seem there should be any room for any music, any extra food, or any extra energy for dancing. And people can say that I'm wrong, that we're a puritanical people, an evangelical people, a selfish people, but I don't believe that. I don't want to believe that.”
― Nickolas Butler, Shotgun Lovesongs

It's all been worth it. Every fight, all those years of childish experimentation, the occasional heartbreak, the paltry checking account, the used, old trucks. To have lived with another human being, another person, this man, as long as I have and to see him change and grow.”
― Nickolas Butler, Shotgun Lovesongs

This is my home. This is the place that first believed in me. That still believes in me.”
― Nickolas Butler, Shotgun Lovesongs

I live here, I have chosen to live here, because life seems real to me here.”
― Nickolas Butler, Shotgun Lovesongs

Lea wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Interesting Lea. I liked this book but did not love it. I agree the writing was stellar but I didn't enjoy a single character and I thought the overall story was....unlikely? For m..."

I totally agree.

Lea wrote: "Dear Ms. Moore,

I recently finished The God of the Woods. While I think your writing is top notch and was entertained by the book, I must confess that I vastly preferred [book:Lon..."

Interesting Lea. I liked this book but did not love it. I agree the writing was stellar but I didn't enjoy a single character and I thought the overall story was....unlikely? For me it was a good book that didn't make it to a great book even though I wanted it to very much.

Patty wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Patty wrote: "Re-reads but had to get ready for Onyx Storm

"

I have both the Encyclopedia of Faeries and Uprooted o..."

Totally agree Patty! So much potential wasted on Onyx Storm. She had a great set up for a classic quest fantasy novel, but those parts were cut short and sidelined to complete irrelevance in order to make room for more romantasy and tension building for the romance part of the story. It got boring after a while. Especially since the other part of the story was so much more interesting.

Lea wrote: "Haha, I love your thoughts about Onyx Storm. I haven't read it yet, but I imagine I am going to think the same. The dragons are the best part of those books. I've never heard of Shotgun Lovesongs, ..."

She actually does such solid world building, I can’t help but think as I’m reading it what a great epic quest fantasy book she could have if so many pages weren’t wasted with you know. LOL. Give Nickolas Butler a try sometime. His writing is just beautiful. I also read and enjoyed his book The Hearts of Men.

Updating

1. An author you have read a book from more than 2 times. Dark Matter Blake Crouch

7. A book with a persons name in the title.The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

8. A ghost story.The Lost Bookshop

10. A book based on historical events.Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America

11. A book about revenge. Mrs. Plansky's Revenge

12. A book that has more than 40 chapters. The Wild Robot

15. A book with a strong female character.Onyx Storm

17. A book that the timeframe spans more than 10 years. The God of the Woods

18. A book from a different culture.Pachinko

23. A book that has people on the cover. The Boys of Riverside: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory

25. A book that has a tree on the cover. The Lost Story

Never too late Kristen. Good luck with your list.

I started Shotgun Lovesongs after finishing The Thirteenth Tale and I am loving this book so far. Excellent writing.

“Reading can be dangerous.”
― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale

“For me to see is to read. It has always been that way.”
― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale

26 books
2334 pages

19 audiobooks
7 print

#24 Onyx Storm The third in what I thought was a trilogy but now learn is an ongoing series. Unfortunately, I'm kind of over it with this one. A decent story with fairly good world building and an ongoing romance. My complaint is the same as it always is with romantasy. I resent having a good fantasy tale constantly interrupted by explicit sex scenes. But that's just me apparently. 3 needs more dragons stars. Fiction-Romantasy.

#25 The Thirteenth Tale A good gothic tale and a good book for book lovers. I did enjoy it and I'm glad I finally read it but I'm not sure it lived up to the hype. 3 why are twins in literature always creepy? stars. Fiction-Gothic.

#26 Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America Wow! So glad I picked this one up for my presidents challenge. A great overview not only of Nixon's political career but also of that time period. And even better an explanation of the reverberations from that period that are felt even today. That said it is written with an extremely liberal bias so if that bothers you don't read it. 5 unbelievable stars. Nonfiction-History-Presidents Challenge.

Currently:
Shotgun Lovesongs Blowing me away right now.
Dark Matter A re-listen for my RL book club.

“But honesty was a dull blade to take into a knife fight with Richard Nixon — who was simply willing to lie.”
― Rick Perlstein, Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America

“Being hated by the right people was no impediment to success. The unpolished were everywhere the majority.”
― Rick Perlstein, Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America

“How did Nixonland end? It has not ended yet.”
― Rick Perlstein, Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Currently reading The Thirteenth Tale. I'm anxious to see where this story goes."

I hope you enjoy this story, Michelle. A nicely done gothic story, I thought."

I did enjoy it Alondra just had a little quibble with the resolution of the plot.

Counting them down with The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I’m chalking it up as a Miss but I could go either way really.

A young biographer is summoned to the secluded home of a popular novelist in order to write her story. We quickly learn that the novelist is dying and wants the truth of her life recorded. In spite of her doubts and the mysterious surroundings the biographer agrees. In doing so she not only confronts the truths revealed by the novelist but some of her own as well.

I feel very conflicted about calling this book a miss. It implies that I didn’t like the book and that was not the case. I would actually recommend it to anyone who enjoys gothic tales steeped in atmosphere and full of twists. It is also a book lover’s book, with amazing observations about books and reading. If you loved the Bronte’s you would probably love this book. There I think is where my problem lies. I have a love hate relationship with the Bronte’s. Jane Erye I have loved Wuthering Heights I have hated. There were elements of both in this book. The ongoing tales of the two writers lives-loved. The strange emotional relationships that warped their lives-hated. Ultimately though this book was a miss for me because I felt the plot was too contrived. The twists were fun but really? I just didn’t buy it.

3.5 beautiful gothic atmosphere cancelled by over the top coincidence stars.

Quotable

“I read old novels. The reason is simple: I prefer proper endings. Marriages and deaths, noble sacrifices and miraculous restorations, tragic separations and unhoped-for reunions, great falls and dreams fulfilled; these, in my view, constitute an ending worth the wait. They should come after adventures, perils, dangers and dilemmas, and wind everything up nice and neatly. Endings like this are to be found more commonly in old novels than new ones, so I read old novels.”
― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale

There are too many books in the world to read in a single lifetime; you have to draw the line somewhere.”
― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale

There is something about words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they take you prisoner. Wind themselves around your limbs like spider silk, and when you are so enthralled you cannot move, they pierce your skin, enter your blood, numb your thoughts. Inside you they work their magic.”
― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale

Of course I loved books more than people.”
― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale

I enjoyed both Vera Wong and The Dreamers. Glad to see you did too. You make me think I need to add Starter Villain to my TBR. I was sort of trying to ignore that one.

Lea wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I love the Bigfoot stories too Alondra. Maybe he should do a spin off series.."

That and the werewolves. We don't get to hang with them as much anymore."

Yes! Spi..."

I wouldn’t mind a story or two about some of the other wizards either. Really he could just give us anything Dresden.

Alondra wrote: "Completed: Brief Cases #15.5



4 Stars

Another set of short stories in Dresdens world; but the difference is, we get differing viewpoints from seco..."

I love the Bigfoot stories too Alondra. Maybe he should do a spin off series.

Alondra wrote: "Great update, Michelle. Glad you got through The Bluest Eye. A great book and it tore me up too.

Kudos on your progress, as always!! <3"

Thanks Alondra! Such an impact with The Bluest Eye. I didn't expect it to affect me so much.

I was more of a Fudge fan (Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing) with Judy Blume. With Beverly Cleary I favored Ramona the Pest.

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "My first Toni Morrison was Beloved. A wonderful book but brutal. I went into this one with a little hesitation because of that. This one was an entirely different story. Still brut..."

Sula is starting to look like a new must read.