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

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

No question! It's 👍 for Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood.

A recent high school graduate struggling to help her family survive after the death of her father enters the world of grandmaster's chess in order to make money. In her first match she defeats a silent, sullen but of course hot young man who turns out to be rated number one in the world. I think you can guess where the plot goes from there.

I really enjoyed this one. It was a nice little romance, billed as YA, though I'm not entirely sure I agree. I did think though that it had a good mix of plot and romance with an acceptable level of detail. I guess that means I should stick to YA romance but really, I just feel plot and characterization are more important than - ahem! - detail. It takes a good writer to get all of that right whether they are writing romance or anything else. That said I did enjoy the view into the world of chess and the discussion of women who play chess. Hazelwood stays true to her smart girl trope and her defense of women in all areas that were once considered men only.

3 Ali Hazelwood does it right stars.

Quotable:

“He is offensively, uniquely, devastatingly handsome.”
― Ali Hazelwood, Check & Mate

“Some scientist in Europe took a bunch of women and had them play online chess against male opponents in their same rating bracket. When the female players didn’t know the gender of their opponent, they won fifty percent of the games. When the female players were led to believe that their opponent was a woman, they won fifty percent of the games. When they were told that they were playing against men, their performance dropped. But in truth, their opponents were always the same.”
― Ali Hazelwood, Check & Mate

I felt like TLMATEOTW tried too hard to be too many things and ultimately didn't do anything well. I couldn't get invested in either the plot or the characters. Neither of those were bad. It could have just been the wrong time for a difficult book.

Check & Mate“God bless libraries.”
― Ali Hazelwood, Check & Mate

#78 The Last Murder at the End of the World A murder mystery in a strange dystopian setting. In spite of my attraction to apocalypse and dystopain novels, I couldn't enjoy this one. 2 not enough dystopia/not enough murder mystery too much genre bending stars. Audiobook. SciFi-Dystopia/Mystery.

#79 Check & Mate A top ranking grand master chess player falls for the unknown newbie who beats him in their first match. The romance was nice but I really enjoyed the look into the world of chess. 3 girls can play chess too stars. Audiobook. Romance.

#80 The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra A sad but very interesting look at the lives of the Romanov Sisters of Russia. This was a great follow up to I Was Anastasia which I just finished. I did hope for more information into the legend of Anastasia but the book ended with the assasination. 4 they seemed like nice people just oblivious stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-History.

#81 A Novel Love Story A girl finds herself in the fictional town of her favorite romance series. A great concept and I enjoyed all the book references but on the whole this was just too sickeningly sweet for me. 2 gag me with a spoon stars. Audiobook. Romance.

81 books/7436 pages

Current:

Margo's Got Money Troubles Funny. Audiobook.
Selected Stories, 1968-1994 by Munro, Alice (1997) Paperback This one just went back to the library hold list. I haven't had a lot of reading time lately. Hopefully it will be back soon. ebook.
Of Human Bondage Still working on this one. ebook.

“It’s hard to explain that to someone who doesn’t read, or who has never felt their heart bend so strongly toward a story that it might just snap in two. Some books are a comfort, some a reprieve, others a vacation, a lesson, a heartbreak. I’d met countless stories by the time I read a book that changed my life.”
― Ashley Poston, A Novel Love Story

Lillie wrote: "#139, 143, 144, 147, 148, 149, 150
[bookcover:Storm Cursed|..."

Wow Lillie you are ripping right through the series! Mercy is always fun.

Definitely worth a read if you are familiar with Beth Moore.

@Bill Ahhh Bill even on my own thread you add to my TBR. Shameless!

@Lillie I felt guilty about it the whole time I was listening at 1.5 speed on my phone but there was so much more covered in the book and I don't think I would ever have read it in print. So my advice would be go ahead and pop in your earbuds and take off.

@Alondra Rattlesnakes was classic King in addition to all the references to his previous work he managed to give me the hibbee jibbees too.

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention— and How to Think Deeply Again An in-depth analysis of the phenomenon of lack of focus that is currently changing our society and our brai..."

It was interesting Ioana. There was so much here and a lot of it made a lot of sense. I actually might need to read through this one again.

“The more novels you read, the better you were at reading other people’s emotions. It was a huge effect. This wasn’t just a sign that you were better educated—because reading nonfiction books, by contrast, had no effect on your empathy.”
― Johann Hari, Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention - and How to Think Deeply Again

“Some 57 percent of Americans now do not read a single book in a typical year.”
― Johann Hari, Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention - and How to Think Deeply Again

“Take care what technologies you use, because your consciousness will, over time, come to be shaped like those technologies.”
― Johann Hari, Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention - and How to Think Deeply Again


#73 Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention— and How to Think Deeply Again An in-depth analysis of the phenomenon of lack of focus that is currently changing our society and our brains. This book was eye opening. Whether you buy into all the author's theories or not, this one will make you think about your habits and our world. A must read. 4 the irony that I listened to this one on audio instead of reading it is not lost on me stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction.

#74 Summers at the Saint A nice little mystery beach read by Mary Kay Andrews. Perfect light summer read. 3 exclusive summer hotel stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#75 How to Solve Your Own Murder A young would be mystery writer finds that her Great Aunt Francis wrote her into the will at the last minute. The catch is that Aunt Francis was murdered immediately afterwards and since Aunt Francis had been expecting to be murdered for most of her life her will stipulates that in order to inherit her heir must identify the murderer. I enjoyed this one way more than I thought I would. It was actually a fun little mystery. 3 move over Agatha Christie stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#76 Ultra-Processed People: The Food We Eat That Isn't Food and Why We Can't Stop This was actually a great companion to Stolen Focus since the two books cover some of the same ground. This book does focus primarily on the dangers of ultra processed food and only alludes to some of the other issues at work in the world today. This book was not as well organized as Stolen Focus but still gives you a lot to think about. 4 reading this will make you hate your next Dorito stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction.

#77 I Was Anastasia Another winner by Ariel Lawhon. This historical fiction explores the myths surrounding grand duchess Anastasia Romanov. The book is written in a reverse timeline that draws the reader in until the final mystery is revealed. 4 a pleasure to read stars. Audiobook. Historical Fiction.

77 books/7413 pages

Current:
The Last Murder at the End of the World Audiobook.
Selected Stories ebook.
Somerset Maugham - Of Human Bondage, & The Moon and Sixpence ebook.


“It’s not food. It’s an industrially produced edible substance.”
― Chris van Tulleken, Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn’t Food … and Why Can’t We Stop?

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "“#71 You Like It Darker by Stephen King You Like It Darker I am a huge fan of King's short stories. I think that is where he does his best work. A couple of my favorites from this ..."

I can't tell you how much I enjoy his short stories. King seems like an entirely different writer to me when he writes short stories. I like short stories in general, but I think it takes a writer who really knows his craft to write an excellent short story. King does write excellent short stories. I would even argue that Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption might be a standard that other short stories should be compared to. The stories in You Like It Darker contained nods not only to his own writing but to other classic literature. I think this collection was a book lover's delight.

Ann wrote: "A fun topic here, Michelle. I see you're making your way through The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Those have been my comfort reads this year, too. I just completed book #24 [b..."

They definitely are comfort reads, familiar and most importantly kind.

Bill wrote: "Munro is an excellent short story author."

She is. It takes a lot of talent to convey so much with so few words.

“A book captures a story within its pages. Not like a specimen pinned out lifelessly for display, but vivid and alive. A whole world lies within the cover, a life waiting to be lived by each new reader.”
― Jay Kristoff, Aurora's End

#70 The Rom-Commers Katherine Center never disappoints. In her latest an unknown romcom screenplay writer gets her big break ghost writing for a blockbuster screenplay writer. Center always tempers her witty romcom plots with enough real life to give the reader at least an illusion of believability along with the fun. 4 perfect on-screen kiss stars. Audiobook. Romance-Comedy

#71 You Like It Darker I am a huge fan of King's short stories. I think that is where he does his best work. A couple of my favorites from this collection are Two Talented Bastids and The Answer Man. I think Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream was the star of the book, but I won't forget Rattlesnakes either. I also appreciated the nod to Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man Is Hard to Find. 5 definitely Great King stars. ebook. Short Stories/Horror.

#72 Aurora's End An action packed end to the Aurora Cycle series. It could have been tighter but it was enjoyable. 3 that's a wrap stars. Audiobook. SciFi.

Current:

Of Human Bondage ebook
Selected Stories, 1968-1994 by Munro, Alice (1997) Paperback ebook.
Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention— and How to Think Deeply Again Audiobook.

“Because someone is always painting pictures, someone is always telling stories, someone is always playing “Call Me the Breeze” on the guitar. Most are forgettable. Some are competent. A very few are indelible. Why that should be I don’t know.”
― Stephen King, You Like It Darker: Stories

Still working on Of Human Bondage but also starting Selected Stories, 1968-1994 by Munro, Alice (1997) Paperback by Alice Munro.

Getting so close to the end with Aurora's End.

So, this wraps up the Aurora series for me. The members of Squad 312 flung to different times and locations at the end of the last book have to figure out what is happening and come together once again in order to defeat the enemy and preserve the universe.

There was plenty of action in this final book in the series and I liked how each of the main characters played a part. Everything came together at the end. I will only say that the end went on a bit too long. I think the authors could have wrapped up this book and maybe even the series without a lot of the filler that stretched it out so long. Sometimes less is more and makes for a tighter more enjoyable book.

3 time travel, space travel, alien invasion stars.

Quotable:

I will see you in the stars.”
― Amie Kaufman, Aurora's End

You should give it a try Karol. I appreciated her story and her willingness to share her life story.

Only two more to go on this list! Mostly thumbs up so far. I guess Goodreads readers do know what they are talking about.

👍 for Beth Moore's memoir All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir

Beth Moore writes a frank and often moving account of her life from childhood through her rise as a Christian speaker and teacher.

I really did not know much about Beth Moore before reading this. I knew who she was but had never participated in one of her very popular Bible studies. I appreciated the honesty that she used in approaching her memoir and also the obvious tenderness she held for the past both good and bad. I also applauded her speaking out for women and attempting to hold those in leadership accountable for their political stances. It will take many more like Beth Moore before we get this thing right.

3 Stand up for what you believe in stars.

Quotable:

“All this time, I'd accepted the rampant sexism because I thought it was about Scripture. What I was watching in the wake of the report, however, did not appear to be a whit about Scripture, nor did it evidence fruit of the Holy Spirit, as far as I could discern. In my estimation, this thing playing out in front of the world was about power. This was about control. This was about the boys’ club.”
― Beth Moore, All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir

“We have gone through agonizing situations of our own makings. Our own foolishness, selfishness and sinfulness. The most relentless winds that have battered our four walls for decades on end; beaten our windowpanes with frozen rain; whistled through cracks in our door and threatened to blow our house down, however, are outside of our doing. Outside our causing. Outside our fixing.”
― Beth Moore, All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir

“A teenager doesn't know she's still a child. A teenager feels like an adult, I suppose primarily because her outside, her flesh and her face, her body, her size, her width and height, look like - and can function like, get pregnant like, can party like, get arrested like, and die just like - an adult. She thinks she's making decisions as a grown-up with a fully developed brain and, in a case like mine, a fully developed faith. She's wrong about both of those beliefs. But chances are, she will not realize what a child she was until, as a full-grown adult, she knows and loves a teenager.”
― Beth Moore, All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir

“When men come under the influence of fanaticism, there is no telling where their impulses or passions may drive them.”
― Erik Larson, The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War

#64 Storm Cursed 11 in the Mercy Thompson series. Nice to read something I don't have to take too seriously. 3 cuddly mini zombie goat stars. Audiobook. Fantasy-Paranormal.

#65 The Homesman: A Novel I am still not sure what to say about this one. It was well written, and I was invested in the story, but it was a terrible story and seemed a little futile at the end. Then I read the afterward by the author's daughter and discovered that no real scenario like this was actually recorded. This was just the author's idea of what would have been done.?? The whole book seemed like it was making a huge overall point but what I got was life is hard and men are idiots. 3 I probably misinterpreted this one stars. Paperback. Fiction-Historical.

#66 The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War Erik Larson's latest explores in depth the firing of Fort Sumter that is credited with beginning the American Civil War. Larson explores the major players and motivations on both sides and one cannot help but make some comparisons to more recent history. 3 Learn from history, don't repeat it stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-History.

#67 The Paradise Problem Christina Lauren can always be counted on for fun. A good break from more serious reads. Also I thought that the audio production on this one was top notch. The casting of the male and female readers was perfection. 3 Perfect pitch stars. Audiobook. Romance-Comedy

#68 Ruthless Vows A very satisfactory conclusion to this wonderful duology. Good writing and really nice world building. 3 Mythology, magic and romance stars. Audiobook. Fantasy.

#69 All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir A frank and often moving memoir by Beth Moore, controversial Christian speaker and author. 3 Call for accountability stars. Audiobook. Non-fiction.-Memoir

Current:
You Like It Darker Stephen King and short stories - the best combination!
The Rom-Commers Katherine Center never disappoints.
Of Human Bondage Got to get back to this one.

“The thing about life is that, for most folks, it hurts from the start.”
― Beth Moore, All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir