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

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

Lillie wrote: "Quirky novels alert! Just read 2 that were very enjoyable.

#208 The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society 4* A

A l..."

OK both of these look really interesting. I'm going straight to my library app to see if I can get either one of these.

Still chipping away at The Stranger and Of Human Bondage. I am having visions of myself still reading one or both of these at 11:59 on 12/31/24.

I vote to eliminate 83, 51, and 18

9 books! You're killing it Patricia.

I'll be watching to see what you think about The Sequel Patricia. I'm on the fence about it.

Martha wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Martha wrote: "Not sure how serious I will actually be about this since I haven't finished a book in some months.

I'll start by listing some series that are ongoing for me and tha..."

I hate it when that happens. Soldier on Martha!

Never read Joe Ledger? You’re definitely going to want to add that to the list.

Lillie wrote: "You've been a reading machine!

I enjoyed The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club and Bluebird, Bluebird as well.

Looking into reading [book:The Plot|55..."

I’ve actually been a listening machine. I wish I had more time to sit down with an actual book. You will like The Plot it was unique.

I hate to admit this but my Goodreads friends have been a bad influence. I am actually toying with several list possibilities for next year. Let’s hope my earbuds hold out.

History is Storytelling.”
― Yaa Gyasi, Homegoing

#142 Colton Gentry's Third Act. I have become a Jeff Zentner fan. I don’t like to miss any of his books. With this book Zentner steps away from YA with a little more adult romance. 4 sexy storm watching stars. Audiobook. Fiction-Romance.

#143 Homegoing One family’s story told throughout generations, from Africa to America and back. A beautiful and moving history. 4 interconnected short stories rock stars. Audiobook. Fiction.

#144. Bluebird, Bluebird. A Texas Ranger struggles with his sense of justice as he tries to determine the truth in a murder case in which he becomes inadvertently entangled. 3 secrets in small southern towns stars. Audiobook. Fiction-Mystery.

144 books/14511 pages

Current:
The Stranger. Paperback.
Of Human Bondage ebook.
The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights MovementAudiobook.

Maybe love doesn't die when you run from it. Maybe it waits by the door for you to come home.”
― Jeff Zentner, Colton Gentry's Third Act: A Novel

He had forgotten that the most elemental instinct in human nature is not hate but love, the former inextricably linked to the latter.”
― Attica Locke, Bluebird, Bluebird

Taking it home with Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi.

A series of interconnected short stories follow the lives of a family through generations. The stories begin with two sisters raised in the heart of their tribe and continues through generations from Africa to America and back again.

Once again I can’t believe it took me so long to read this book. It was excellent. Well written and compelling. Through the story of this family the author reveals history in a way that cannot be denied or misunderstood. Another beautiful example of the way that good books can foster understanding and bring people together.

4 our experiences can be felt for generations stars.

Quotable:

We believe the one who has power. He is the one who gets to write the story. So when you study history, you must ask yourself, Whose story am I missing? Whose voice was suppressed so that this voice could come forth? Once you have figured that out, you must find that story too. From there you get a clearer, yet still imperfect, picture.”
― Yaa Gyasi, Homegoing

The family is like the forest: if you are outside it is dense; if you are inside you see that each tree has its own position.”
― Yaa Gyasi, Homegoing

This is the problem of history. We cannot know that which we were not there to see and hear and experience for ourselves. We must rely upon the words of others. Those who were there in the olden days, they told stories to the children so that the children would know, so that the children could tell stories to their children. And so on, and so on.”
― Yaa Gyasi, Homegoing

No one forgets that they were once captive, even if they are now free.”
― Yaa Gyasi, Homegoing

Congrats Patty!

So I'm still working on The Stranger and Of Human Bondage (although I'll admit not working very hard) and I just started listening to Homegoing. If I can clean these all up I think that will take care of this list.

I've read about 19 of the winners. I have to say I'm not sure about the rest of them. They seem to repeat authors a lot. For an award representing the SciFi genre, they seem to lack imagination.

“Good writers borrow, great writers steal. —T. S. Eliot (but possibly stolen from Oscar Wilde)”
― Jean Hanff Korelitz, The Plot

“Either it’s a good plot or it isn’t. And if it’s not a good plot, the best writing isn’t going to help. And if it is, the worst writing isn’t going to hurt it.”
― Jean Hanff Korelitz, The Plot

#139 The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club Helen Simonson is always a good read. I enjoyed this story of a young woman coming into her own as WWI draws to a close. 4 sidecars and barnstormers stars. Audiobook. Fiction-Historical.

#140 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 2) I really didn't see the issue with "the plot". As they said in the book you can't copywrite a plot and the author wrote every word so is that really plagerism? 3.5 highly entertaining but a little contrived stars. Audiobook. Fiction-Mystery.

#141 The Book Swap Sweet romantic story of two people who exchange books at a little library and begin a correspondence of sorts in their comments in the margins. 4 a love story for book lovers stars. Audiobook. Fiction-Romance.

141 books/14501 pages.

Current:
Colton Gentry's Third Act Audiobook. I am really enjoying this one.
The Stranger Paperback. Struggling a bit.
Of Human Bondageebook. Determined.

Cause I’m telling you, I read all the time. Seventy-five novels last year, I counted! Well, Goodreads counted.”
― Jean Hanff Korelitz, The Plot

“They couldn’t stand each other at the end, but they loved each other so much.”
― Helen Simonson, The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club

“The world makes no sense without you.”
― Tessa Bickers, The Book Swap

Readme sounds like typical Stephenson. Good stories, good writing but looooooonng books.

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Finished another heavy hitter Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison.

The story follows a young black man in 20th century America..."

Perfect for a challenge Alondra. Better make room on that read pile.

Bill wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Started The Stranger. Only 3 more. That seems doable."

One of those books I took in university but I don't believe I finished. Good luck."

Thanks Bill. On the one hand it is only 5 chapters long. On the other hand I can already see that it is more cerebral than action oriented. Fingers crossed.

Started The Stranger. Only 3 more. That seems doable.

mmmm.....Sounds like I had better not plunge right in.

I truly did. Have you read other books by this author? I'm wondering if I should put more by him on my TBR.