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

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

Congrats on finishing your challenge, Linette! Looks like you read some great books. 4 new series should keep you busy.

“Lances and plumes! I’m a knight! Come up and fight! Why hold back! Knights of the Right Stuff!”
― Tom Wolfe, The Right Stuff

#114 The Right Stuff A non-sentimental account of the race to space and the men who flew the first Mercury missions. I appreciated the deep dive into the politics and circumstances of the time, but I did not enjoy the excessive male posturing. That said it was a remarkable piece of writing. The author was able not just to convey the existence of "the right stuff" attitude but to steep the reader in that tone to the point that the book itself exudes "the right stuff" 3 didn't appreciate the macho man attitude but admired the writing stars. ebook. Nonfiction-History.

#115 One True Loves Taylor Jenkins Reid need I say more. An improbable and often predictable sappy romance that I could not stop listening to and enjoyed thoroughly. 4 nobody does love triangles like Taylor Jenkins Reid stars. Audiobook. Fiction-Romance.

#116 The Rose Code My first book by Kate Quinn. I was caught up in this story from start to finish. The story follows three young women who work at Bletchley Park during WWII. 5 perfect balance of history and fiction stars. Audiobook. Fiction-Historical.

#117 Rogue Male This book was mentioned so many times in The Ministry of Time that I decided to read it. A story from the anonymous POV of an assassin trying to escape after a failed assassination attempt. 3 don't read this if you are claustrophobic stars. ebook. Fiction-Thriller.

#118 The Alice Network A woman searching for her lost cousin after WWII stumbles on the secrets of an all-female spy network. I enjoyed The Rose Code so much I jumped right into another book by Kate Quinn. 4 the newest author I will be following stars. Audiobook. Fiction-Historical.

118 books/11977 pages

Current:
A Master of Djinn Audiobook. I think Lillie recommended this author. She was right.
Weekend Warriors ebook. For IRL book club.
Of Human Bondage ebook. Not reading it but not ready to give it up.

“What did it matter if something scared you, when it simply had to be done?”
― Kate Quinn, The Alice Network

I think there is plenty of blame to go around. I decided not to do any more lists this year so I'm putting it on my possible lists for next year list.

Glad you enjoyed The Will of the Many. You and Lillie are making me think I should read The Plot. It's already on my TBR.

I think you are right Lea. I would say if you find a book objectionable just don't read it but when I look at the reasons given for banning the book it usually seems pretty clear that they didn't read it. Unfortunately just making that choice for themselves is not enough.

Well said Bill.

BTW my grandson's favorite is Brown Bear Brown Bear. I highly recommend it. If it hasn't been banned of course.

Ahh. I guess there is a naked couple. They are an Adam and Eve type representation. But like all Eric Carle books this one uses the collage style so nothing is explicit. It never occurred to me. Isn't that like assuming every one has the same twisted thoughts you do. I can't imagine a child even noticing.

Lea wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I can see why you wouldn't make a spreadsheet for this one. I actually think many of the ones on that list that I haven't read are books that I probably won't read. Still, it was a..."

Clearly, I'm not the one to explain it to you Lea. The Eric Carle book is about the third children's book that my family enjoyed and I didn't have a clue. I guess I raised my kids to read banned books and didn't even know it. I think I've even read the Eric Carle book to my grandson. Oh well, another generation.

Alondra 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..."

I'm actually considering it! You people have turned me into a list maker. ACK!

Actually, maybe don't tell me. I probably don't want to know.

Lea 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..."

I can see why you wouldn't make a spreadsheet for this one. I actually think many of the ones on that list that I haven't read are books that I probably won't read. Still, it was an interesting list. Can anyone tell me why the Eric Carle book is banned? I read that to my kids a lot. It teaches you how to draw a star. Obviously I missed something???

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 something I should work on. Maybe another list???

Meeting the challenge with. The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe.

In his 1979 classic Tom Wolfe writes about the earliest years of the American space program. The Mercury program flights which are considered the first American space missions are the main purview of the book but the real focus is on the men who made the flights. The group of pilots and test pilots who became the first astronauts and the reaction of the world around them. Less time is spent on the actual space flights than on the factors that formed the need for space exploration and the people who pursued it. Wolfe strips all reverence from this moment in history and reveals the politics, the hype, and the bumbling experimentation of that time in history. Mostly though he holds up for examination the “righteous stuff” of the first men in space.

Once again I am of two minds about a book on this list. On the one hand this book not only brilliantly portrays a unique period of time, it also conveys a particular attitude of the major players in that time. It did the latter so well that the book itself carries an unmistakable attitude - the attitude of the right stuff. Writing of this caliber has to be admired and the book is certainly deserving of its status as a classic. I would even agree that it falls into the category of books everyone should read. BUT. I really did not enjoy reading this book. The level of male posturing was unbelievable and don’t even get me started on “Mrs. Astronaut “. And also what was wrong with John Glenn having values? I know we have made great strives in recent years in the way we think about gender roles but I had a hard time reading about this level of misogyny. I’m pretty sure we have proven that “girls” can have the right stuff too.

3 Amazing writing but also a huge load of misogynistic BS stars

Quotable

After all, the right stuff was not bravery in the simple sense of being willing to risk your life (by riding on top of a Redstone or Atlas rocket). Any fool could do that (and many fools would no doubt volunteer, given the opportunity), just as any fool could throw his life away in the process. No, the idea (as all pilots understood) was that a man should have the ability to go up in a hurtling piece of machinery and put his hide on the line and have the moxie, the reflexes, the experience, the coolness, to pull it back at the last yawning moment
― Tom Wolfe, The Right Stuff

The world was used to enormous egos in artists, actors, entertainers of all sorts, in politicians, sports figures, and even journalists, because they had such familiar and convenient ways to show them off. But that slim young man over there in uniform, with the enormous watch on his wrist and the withdrawn look on his face, that young officer who is so shy that he can’t even open his mouth unless the subject is flying— that young pilot— well, my friends, his ego is even bigger!— so big, it’s breathtaking!”
― Tom Wolfe, The Right Stuff

The figures were averages and averages applied to those with average stuff”
― Tom Wolfe, The Right Stuff

Getting closer to completing the challenge


1. A humorous book - Seven Up

2. An autobiography/ biography - All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir

3. A locked room mystery - How to Solve Your Own Murder

7. Banned or challenged book Brave New World

9. About a historical figure - The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra

10. A book with indigenous people - The Night Watchman

11. A holiday or celebration story - The Exception to the Rule- Valentine's Day

12. A novella under 100 pages-Divorce Horse

13. Snow/Winter in the title Depth of Winter

14. Any color in the title-Silver in the Bone

15. A title with more than 4 words-To Be Taught, If Fortunate

16. An animal on the cover - As The Crow Flies

17. A house on the cover - The Confession Club

18. An authors debut The Ministry of Time

20. A place you always wanted to visit- Homecoming - Australia

21. Book has four or more stars on GR The Running Grave

22. Winner of the GR awards of 2023-Weyward

24. First book in a series-Bookshops & Bonedust

25. A book translated from another language - One Hundred Years of Solitude

Stopping off in North Dakota, Ohio, and Nevada with The Night Watchman, When the Sky Fell on Splendor, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas respectively.

“Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly – they’ll go through anything. You read and you’re pierced.”
― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

#111 The Blonde Identity A woman wakes up in Paris with no memories but soon discovers she has an identical twin who is a spy. Her survival depends on her twins' hot partner and her good intincts. I think you can guess where things go from here. This was a fun one. 4 try this if you like playful banter stars. Audiobook. Romance.

#112 Brave New World I'm glad I finally read Aldous Huxley's classic utopian novel. I was impressed by how prescient some of his predictions were. Unfortunately, the story itself was a bit of a snooze fest. 3 Ford knows stars. Audiobook. Fiction-Classic.

#113 Shutter Great mystery about a young forensic photographer who sees ghosts. 3 graphic but well plotted stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

113 books/11032 pages

Current
The Right Stuff ebook. Trying to finish this one before it returns to the library. I have to say I do not like this book's attitude.
One True Loves audiobook. Taylor Jenkins Reid what else is there to say.
Of Human Bondage ebook. Always.

“Bra?” she finished for him because even though he seemed fluent in several languages “girl” obviously wasn’t one of them.”
― Ally Carter, The Blonde Identity

Exactly Bill!

Ioana wrote: "I think I've tried this in the past, and could not get into it, glad to see you succeeded. The quotes are scary..."

If I had not listened to the audiobook Ioana I wouldn't have made it through either. Even then I was wishing for a full cast performance rather than a straight reading. That would have been much more effective.

The quotes are scary. Noticing the parallels between Huxley's utopia and modern life was in fact the most interesting part of the book. But yes a little scary.

Soldiering on with this list to finish Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.

A handful of the members of a utopian society begin to question the status quo after experiencing life outside of their community. Huxley was strangely prescient writing in 1932 about many things that are available today for example cloning, birth control, anti-depressant drugs. There were many comparisons that could be made between Huxley's utopia and modern life. In addition to the above some that spring to mind would be single use consumption, the wellness industry, the sexual revolution, media conditioning and even essential oils.

I am glad I read this classic utopian novel. I am not sure that I would recommend it. It was frankly on the boring side. I was also troubled by some references which would not be politically correct today but since the entire book was satire, I can't be sure that some of those references weren't in fact satirical. I was fascinated by how closely Huxley's utopia predicted the current day. He obviously had commentary on many subjects that he saw society trending toward but I'm not sure if there was one overall message to the book unless it was that true happiness cannot be achieved unless unhappiness can be experienced.

3 after this book I need a Soma vacation too stars.

Quotable:

“But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.”
― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

“...most men and women will grow up to love their servitude and will never dream of revolution.”
― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

“A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive of political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced, because they love their servitude.”
― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World