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

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

Hmmm. I haven’t read many of these but now I’m thinking I might need to join the book of the month club. Good luck with the list Alissa!

Denise wrote: "I have only read The Sun Is Also a Star and I gave it 4 stars. Good luck with your challenge."

Thanks Denise!

Anne wrote: "The Hate U Give and The Nickel Boys are excellent books. I think I may have read Forever..., but I'm not certain (I read so many books as a child that t..."

Thanks Anne! I remember Forever and Flowers in the Attic circulating among teenagers when I was a young teen too. Seems like the ban might be a little late doesn’t it.

100 books challenging but doable and so many good ones to choose from. Happy reading!

I have only read the Frozen River and Chain Gang from your list. I loved Fozen but felt Chain Gang didn’t live up to the hype. So many other great books on your list. I will be following your reviews to see which ones I need to read.

Alondra wrote: "I love this idea, and agree with your sentiments.

TN has been on a run lately, but it is a beautiful state with great people in, i'm sure.

Though, I cannot believe NO, David; is on that list. Ch..."


Thanks Alondra! I was also surprised by many of the books on the list. Many of the ones that surprised me I had already read and so I didn’t include them. I really think that it is important to read books that expose you to other viewpoints and experiences. How do you do that if someone is limiting your reading to what they consider normal. They say books are one way we learn empathy for others. If we ban books beginning in elementary school aren’t we in effect stunting the growth of the children we are supposed to be teaching? Sorry for the rant. Obviously I feel strongly about this topic but I do respect the fact that other people have a different opinion, including apparently a majority of the Tennessee state legislature. I will not be offended if others want to offer the other side of the argument here as long as it remains respectful.

First I want to say that this challenge was inspired by Alissa who challenged us all to read banned books with her. Her call to action made me start thinking about a banned list. I am afraid that I live in one of the states where banning books in public schools has become the norm. With our governor’s support the Tennessee legislature recently passed a law allowing schools and school districts to ban any books that are deemed inappropriate for a given age group. This has led to wholesale banning with one school district eliminating over 300 titles from their schools including the ones on this list. Many of these books have also been censored statewide..

I am reading books banned in the great state of Tennessee so that others will know that not everyone in Tennessee agrees with our new law and how it is being interpreted. Please understand also that I love the people and the spirit of Tennessee where I have lived all my life. There are many wonderful and beautiful things that I love about Tennessee. Banning books is just not one of them. I also do believe that not every book is appropriate for every age group. I just believe that parents should be the ones to make those decisions. I am grateful that my parents usually let me choose my own books, discussing with me any sensitive topics. I tried to follow that model with my own children. I like to think it taught me to be more discerning not less and to think about what I read.

1. No, David! Completed 2/1/25 3 stars
2. Pinkalicious. Completed 5/3/25. 5 stars
3. The HatersCompleted 1/18/25 2 stars
4. Forever... Completed 2/4/25 3 stars
5. Darius the Great Is Not Okay. Completed 4/12/25 3 stars
6. Monday's Not Coming Completed 08/09/25 3 stars
7. Last Night at the Telegraph Club Completed 04/23/25 3 stars.
8. The Sun Is Also a Star Completed 3/4/25 3 stars
9. The Hate U Give Completed 3/20/25 4 stars
10. Out of Darkness Completed 1/21/25 3 stars
11. The Nickel Boys Completed 1/13/25 4 stars
12. The Bluest Eye Completed 2/2/25 5 stars

Alternates:
13. Nineteen Minutes Completed 3/5/25 4 stars
14. Throne of Glass. Completed 4/6/25 4 stars
15. The First Part Last Completed 1/5/25 3 stars
16. Flowers in the Attic Completed 8/23/25 3 stars

LOL I love this challenge Bill! If confession is good for the soul, you should be in good shape for 2025. No way am I telling you guys how long some of my reads have literally sat on my shelf much less lingered on my TBR list. Best of luck!

Great idea for a list Bill! Nothing more satisfying than finishing a series. Good luck Bill!

“Then, and now, one of the most effective ways to stop cultural change is to create a moral panic around it. Moral panics have been around since this country’s inception, with the Salem witch trials being among the first widely publicized (and deadly) panics. Since then, moral panics have been used as a tool to subvert and dismantle movements that the dominant caste views as a threat. And this included civil rights.”
― Sharon McMahon, The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, From the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement

I sometimes think this country is an eternal battle between our best and our worst angels. Hopefully we're listening to the good angel more often that the bad one.”
― Kate Quinn, The Briar Club

#145. The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement. If you are looking for something uplifting in this time of transition, this is the book for you. 5 hope for the future found in the past stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-History.

#146. The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties. I loved the first book in this series but I was underwhelmed by the second. This book revived my interest in the series. 5 forget the mafia give me the aunties stars. Audiobook. Fiction-Mystery.

#147. The Briar Club. I loved everything about this book: the vivid historical setting, the unforgettable characters, the house as a POV and most of all the slow reveal. 5 g-men, McCarthyism, and supper club stars. Audiobook. Fiction-Historical/Mystery.

#148. Blood Over Bright Haven. Now THIS is good fantasy people! 5 world building trumps romantasy stars. Audiobook. Fiction-Fantasy.

#149. The Witness Wore Red: The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice. The memoir of Rebecca Musser who escaped polygamy and then made it her personal crusade to see that no other women had to endure what she did. 4 inspiring story of a woman who stood up for truth stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-Memoir.

149 books/14,538 pages


Current:
The Stranger paperback. Slowly, slowly.
Of Human Bondage ebook. Even more slowly.
Soul Taken Audiobook. Good distraction.

It’s much easier to tell yourself you’re a good person than it is to actually be one.”
― M.L. Wang, Blood Over Bright Haven

Nobody was all bad, and nobody was all good. We were human.”
― Rebecca Musser, The Witness Wore Red: The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice

Always read what you love Ioana! Besides you are my Nonfiction spirit guide. I look forward to checking out this challenge in 2025 so I know what nonfiction to add to my reading list.

I love your Rainbow challenge. I can sympathize with your burn out. I have turned to audiobooks to destress but still miss reading sometimes. Your challenge sounds like a perfect antidote.

If birds fly over the rainbow why oh why can’t I

Ioana wrote: "Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America Another book on the opioid crisis, but this is the book of the mothers and the fathers of the ones affected. I..."

A great book.Glad you enjoyed it.

Congratulations! This was such a cool list. I wish I could coordinate that many of my series. I would never have to wonder which book I was ready for. I have dropped series before because I couldn’t be sure which book I was on.

Nice list Linette. I have read a few of them but the ones that stand out to me are Moon of the Crusted Snow and The Frozen River. Both were recent favorites for me. Enjoy!

Great list Pam! I look forward to your reviews

Karol wrote: "Michelle wrote: " The Plot: A very satisfying mystery but I wasn't as blown away as I expected to be. Two problems (both plot issues): 1) I saw the twist coming way off ..."

Michelle, I am 100% wi..."

It really wasn't a bad book at all. I just think it received too much hype. The "bad guy" was obvious very early on even if the reader didn't know exactly why. Also I couldn't understand why the MC would get so worked up over "the plot". A good book but those two things kept niggling at me as I read.

Congrats on finishing Karol!

LOL. I felt somewhat the same way Alondra but the romance part was nice. Imagine though if other people had gotten the books. I decided that was unlikely based on the fact that someone had written all over them. I wouldn't pick the one with scribbling anyway. How annoying.

Lea wrote: "I felt much the same way about The Plot and Homegoing! Good luck on your 2025 list! I'm on the struggle bus trying to get my list back to a manageable number. Too ma..."

So many books to read! Right? I feel multiple challenge lists coming on for 2025. I am hoping to trim down all my great list ideas and come up with just a couple of really nice ones.