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

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

Lea wrote: "I love all of your quotes from all the books you read. And your stars are making me laugh. What did happen to fantasy stories that were complete? And I haven't read about mysterious spy rings and p..."

Thanks Lea! I am really enjoying the quotes and thinking up new star ratings. I am planning to keep it up on next year's challenge.
Cutting for Stone is going beautifully. I'm glad I finally picked it up. I'm also glad I started Invisible Man but for different reasons. It is both amazing and terrible. Gather your courage and read it. I don't think you will be sorry.

Wow Lillie! You are really zipping through the books. Seems like I might need to take a look at DCI Warlow.

“Characters in fiction must remain believable. It is not so in real life.”
― Alan Bradley, What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust

#129 What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust Flavia De Luce #11! I have to admit the concept behind this series is getting a little old to me and the plots seem to be getting less and less believable. But...then I listen to the next audiobook and Flavia wins me over somehow. 3 mysterious spy rings and people returning from the dead stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#130 The Book Club Murders This was for my IRL book club and I wasn't really looking forward to it. I was too quick to judge. This turned out to be a nice little homage to cozy mysteries with a pretty decent plot. It didn't hurt that I had recently read And Then There Were None 3 shades of Agatha stars. ebook. Mystery.

#131 Sword Catcher A new series by Cassandra Clare. I enjoyed this high fantasy story, but I did think it dragged on in places. It ended of course with a multitude of unanswered questions and potential love triangles ready for the next book. 3 what happened to fantasy stories that just ended stars. Audiobook. Fantasy

131 books/13352 pages

Current:
Invisible Man Audiobook. Wow! this one is tough.
Cutting for Stone ebook. I avoided reading this for so long but then it had me at hello as soon as I read the first line.
Of Human Bondageebook. There have actually been a few pages of progress.

“The greatest minds in the world are often cranky when they first awaken in the morning, and mine is no exception.”
― Alan Bradley, What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust

120 books! Congratulations Bill!

I love your list of book 3's. I wish all my series reads were so nicely synced. Looks like you are doing great and will finish soon. Keep reading!

You had an amazing month Lea! Way to go.

Listening to Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. Terrific narration. I can tell this will be another book that makes an impact.

So many big books Amanda. You're awesome!

Congratulations on finishing the challenge! Good luck with the final four.

Alondra wrote: "I love the Percy Jackson series. It was really good. I guess I need to grab this next one!"

Like I said Alondra nothing earth shattering but once you get back into the Percy Jackson flow very satisfying.

Bill wrote: "My review of Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, a truly wonderful book. 5.0 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/s..."

Nice review Bill. Glad you enjoyed the book, I certainly did. I haven't caught the TV show yet but it sounds like I should check it out.

Lea wrote: "Ooh...the best Bardugo book you've read yet? I was going to give that one a miss, but it appears I will have to reconsider! :-)"

It really was Lea. She is such a talented writer. I did not enjoy Shadow and Bone and therefore I did not read any of her other YA books. I am reading and enjoying the Alex Stern series. This one is a great mix of history and fantasy and of the beautiful and the macabre.

Kristine wrote: "Alissa wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I checked out the read banned books thread on our group’s homepage and just so you all know, I have read only 26 of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books list. Ob..."

What a good idea and a great way to promote banned books. I hope you enjoy your pick. I haven't read it either but like you I consider its inclusion on the Banned Books list a recommendation.

Alissa wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I checked out the read banned books thread on our group’s homepage and just so you all know, I have read only 26 of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books list. Obviously somethi..."

Ok I love the 2025 list sneak preview. I'm not sure I can commit this far out but I love your picks. I'm looking forward to Alissa Vs. Banned Books 2025.

I recently listened to A Master of Djinn Lillie. I just wanted to say you were so right on that one. Thanks for the recommend.

“Writing is the closest thing we have to real magic. Writing is creating something out of nothing, is opening doors to others lands. Writing gives you power to shape your own world when the real one hurts too much.”
― Leigh Bardugo, The Familiar

#125 The Chalice of the Gods I don't know how I missed it but Rick Riordan is releasing a whole new bunch of Percy Jackson books. I was so miffed about having to play catch up on a series that I thought I had finished, I almost decided ahead of time not to enjoy this book. Once I got over that and started listening, I found that it was still the good old Percy that I rembered. Nothing earth shattering but still enjoyable. 3 Percy is back stars. Audiobook. Fantasy-YA.

#126 Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame I had no expectations for this book and ended up loving it. Jenny Quinn at 77 is selected as a contestant on Brittain Bakes and gets way more than she bargained for from the experience. This was a sweet little book that fed my British Baking Show fangirl cravings. 4 perfectly uniform beautifully decorated stars. Audiobook. Fiction.

#127 The Familiar At the height of the Inquisition, a housemaid attempts to parley her small magical talent into power and position. This was the best Leigh Bardugo I have read yet. I recommend this one to anyone who enjoyed her previous books. 4 love vs. ambition stars. ebook. Fantasy/Historical Fiction??

#128 Dark Storm Rising A Kate Burkholder short story. Apparently, Sheriff Burkholder has to solve an Amish mystery even on her honeymoon. 3 at least no one died stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

128 books/13089 pages.

Current:
The Book Club Murders ebook. For IRL book club.
What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust Audiobook. Flavia's back.
Of Human Bondageebook. Keeping it on the list.

“I am a guy of limited talents. If I can't kill it with water, a sword, or sarcasm, I am basically defenseless.”
― Rick Riordan, The Chalice of the Gods

Lea wrote: "There's also Wrath of the Triple Goddess.

Just helping out your TBR."

Well so there is! Thanks for the help Lea. Where would my TBR be without you guys.

How do you do that Alondra? You review something called The Death of Grass (which has to be the most boring title ever) published in 1956 and suddenly I'm not only checking it out on Goodreads. I'm searching the library for it too. You are so bad for my TBR. I think a SciFi list for 2025 sounds great but I don't want to encourage you too much. That will add 16 more books to my TBR.

“I can't give you the past...but we could have a future”
― Rainbow Rowell, Slow Dance

#122 The Burning Kate Burkholder solves another murder mystery in Amish country. 3 Painters Mill is a deathtrap stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#123 Slow Dance I have loved Rainbow Rowell since I read Eleanor & Park. Until now that was my favorite of her books. I think Slow Dance may have replaced that one. So good. 5 no one writes star crossed lovers like Rainbow Rowell stars. Audiobook. Romance.

#124 The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty I read this for my IRL book club but I am embarrased to admit that I am as gruesomely fascinated with this case as the rest of Netflix America. This was an in depth look at the case and all the background behind it. What a mess! 4 talk about breeding evil stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-True Crime.

124 books/12318 pages

Current:
The Chalice of the Gods What! a new Percy Jackson when did this happen? Audiobook.
The Familiar Really good! ebook.
Of Human Bondage I will finish it. ebook.

“You can find meanness in the least of creatures, but when God made man the devil was at his elbow. A creature that can do anything. Make a machine. And a machine to make the machine. And evil that can run itself a thousand years, no need to tend it.”
― Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West

“If you steal, steal a camel, she heard her mother whisper. And if you love, love the moon.”
― P. Djèlí Clark, A Master of Djinn

#119 A Master of Djinn A steampunk Cairo with Djinn and plenty of magic is the setting for this fast-paced mystery. Exotic and with great characters this one held my attention until the very end. 3 dripping with atmosphere stars. Audiobook. Fantasy/Mystery.

#120 Weekend Warriors Women who have suffered wrongs that went uncorrected by the law form a vigilante group to get the revenge they were denied. This was for my IRL book club and it was a harsher book than I anticipated. That was OK but unfortunately the writing was to me subpar. 2 good concept but poor execution stars. ebook. Fiction.

#121 Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and Beyond Charming, open, honest but sometimes lacking the insight that I would have liked. What really came across was that Henry Winkler loves what he does which speaks to his success. 3 I would have preferred less information about the pets stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-Memoir.

121 books/12307 pages

Current:
The Burning Audiobook. A Kate Burkholder mystery just started. I hope she is on vacation in this one. Painters Mill could use a break.
The Familiar ebook. Leigh Bardugo I'm excited about this one.
Of Human Bondage ebook. I'm going to start reading this again.......really I am.......really.

Release the negative thought before you put a period on the end of it. If you put a period on the end of it, you’re in the morass. On the other hand, if you don’t finish the negative thought, you can get it out of your brain by replacing it with a positive. What kind of positive? What I always say in my talks is that it is a moist chocolate Bundt cake with soft chocolate chips. No frosting.”
― Henry Winkler, Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and Beyond