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

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

Congrats on finishing the Dublin Murder Squad series. I enjoy Tana French. Her writing is so descriptive. I have enjoyed some of her stand alone also .

Glad to read your review of The Familiar before I plunged into it. I am either hot or cold with Bardugo. I may still read this one but I will adjust my expectations.

Yes Ioana. A moment of insanity.

“Don’t you think scars make better stories than tattoos?”
― Craig Johnson, Any Other Name

#57 Bride The daughter of the vampire leader is married off to the head wolf of the werewolves in order to ensure peace between both parties. I'm sure everyone in the post-Twilight world knows how this one goes but it was fun to read. Kudos to Ali Hazelwood for coming up with some great characters and an interesting plot to offset the trite romance and the TMI sex. 3 he's large, she's smelly, at least no one glittered stars. Audiobook. Romance-Paranormal.

#58 Expiration Dates A young woman always receives a piece of paper at the beginning of a relationship telling her how long it will last. Her most recent one though doesn't seem to have an expiration date. A sweet romance with a serious side and a nice measure of magical realism. The second I have read by Rebecca Serle and both books far exceeded my expectations. 4 message from the universe stars. Audiobook. Romance-Magical Realism.

#59 Any Other Name The sheriff stumbles on to a human trafficking ring enroute to Philadelphia to celebrate the birth of his granddaughter. Enjoyed the book. Love the series. 4 running on top of the train stars. Audiobook. Mystery-Series.

#60 Messenger of Truth Maisie Dobbs investigates the suspicious death of an artist known for his portrayal of wartime. I always enjoy Maisie Dobbs. These books have a calming effect. 4 woman before her time stars. Audiobook. Mystery-Series.

60 books/5955 pages

Current:
The Colors of All the Cattle ebook. Back to Mma Ramotswe for more book therapy.
The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading ebook. Loving the stories of booksellers and librarians.
The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 Audiobook. Starting a new book and a new challenge list.

“Her presence soothes him more than a full-moon run.”
― Ali Hazelwood, Bride

“The truth is hard. It's complicated. It does not always follow a simple structure. It is not always convenient. That's why sometimes we do our best to leave it out of the story for as long as possible. We choose to let it linger in the corners, we don't spotlight it. But eventually, it catches up to us. Of course it does.
You can run but you can't hide.
― Rebecca Serle, Expiration Dates

Counting down with Maisie Dobbs #4 Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear.

Maisie Dobbs takes on an investigation into the suspicious death of an artist noted for his depictions of the great war. As usual Maisie's investigation reveals far more on a professional and a personal level than anyone could have guessed. Billy looses his youngest daughter to diphtheria, prompting Maisie to take up the cause of London's underprivileged. As a result she inspires her client to write about the plight of those in the inner city during the depression.

I always enjoy Maisie Dobbs. This series is one of those that always leaves the reader with a sense of contentment, in spite of the fact that it often touches on very serious subjects. Jacqueline Winspear is an excellent writer and gives readers a real sense of the period in which the story takes place. I don't know if there is such a thing as a hardcore cozy mystery but if there is I think the Maisie Dobbs series would be it.

4 meditation and mystery stars.

Quotable:

“If her soul were a room, it was as if a light were now shinning in a corner that had been dark.”
― Jacqueline Winspear, Messenger of Truth

“With a true masterpiece, there are no words required. Discourse is rendered redundant. That's why the work of a master transcends all notions of education, of class. It rises above the onlooker's understanding of what is considered good or bad, or right or wrong in the world of art. With the artist who has achieved mastery, skill, experience and knowledge are transparent, leaving only the message for all to see.”
― Jacqueline Winspear, Messenger of Tr

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "112 books and we're not even halfway through the year. You're amazing Lillie."

Nah! It’s quite clear that I’m an addict. Need to always have a book going, lol"


Me too. It helps me keep my sanity somehow. Thank goodness for books and audiobooks. How did I survive before Libby?

So glad you liked All Systems Red. Murderbot is one of my favorite characters.

Alissa wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'm really not sure if we can call obsessive list reading and list making an accomplishment but O.K. Sure. Thanks.."


I don't know what you're talking about....... as I'm making m..."

LOL

I'm shooting for 16. We'll see.

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "The other day I did a really stupid thing which has now prompted me to do another really stupid thing. I read one of those lists. You know the ones where they give you the top 100 ..."

Thanks Lillie, I'm going to need all the luck I can get! I admire you for declaring that there are 41 on the list that you will never read. There were some on there that I would not read too but I'm not sure I could definitively rule out that many. Books are just a temptation I cannot resist.

Bill wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Listening to Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear. I always enjoy Maisie Dobbs."

I have enjoyed the first two books. I have a few others waiting on ..."

I am enjoying the series Bill. Maisie Dobbs books are cozy mysteries with heft. The characters and the plots are fully fleshed out and the writing is solid.

Bill wrote: "You have to read the mostest, bestest books. There is no arguing with that. I can't say I've read any of those specific books, oh, except Brave New World. I wonder what you'll think of it. Alice Mu..."

Thanks Bill! I love short stories so I'm looking forward to Alice Munro. Christie and Maugham are both examples of authors I have read but didn't read THE book apparently. I'm going to take care of that. In the case of both of these authors though I'm looking forward to reading THE book because I have enjoyed thier work in the past.

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Thanks for the encouragement, Alondra! I'm going to need it. I do think I will enjoy most of them though mainly because as I said above this just seemed to be a really good list......"

I saw the movie too Alondra and I think that is both the reason I want to read it and the reason I haven't read it before now.

Alissa wrote: "Girl, you have really outdid yourself and as a fellow list person, I am PROUD of you haha

Also, IDK why but mostest bestest books made me laugh haa"

I'm really not sure if we can call obsessive list reading and list making an accomplishment but O.K. Sure. Thanks!

Lea wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'm glad you have read so many of my choices. I feel better knowing they are also Lea approved. I'm going to reluctantly admit that my reasons for including One Hundred Years of So..."

Thanks Lea! Fingers crossed for One Hundred Years of Solitude.

List 3 is out Alondra and Alissa. I'm not sure I call it leaving you guys in the dust when I haven't actually completed one challenge yet.

Alondra wrote: "I only read 33; at least 10, I will never read. About 40 on my TBR.

I'm just so proud of you for making list #3!! Woot!!

I really hope you enjoy these. I enjoyed all 33, so that is saying somet..."

Thanks for the encouragement, Alondra! I'm going to need it. I do think I will enjoy most of them though mainly because as I said above this just seemed to be a really good list.

Lea wrote: "I have read 62 books on that list, and yes, I want to read the others also.

I have read the following books: One Hundred Years of Solitude, Cutting for Stone, Never Let Me Go, Brave New World, Ho..."

I'm glad you have read so many of my choices. I feel better knowing they are also Lea approved. I'm going to reluctantly admit that my reasons for including One Hundred Years of Solitude on the list are not what you might think. Several years ago I read Love in the Time of Cholera by the same author. It was, as you say, beautifully written but it didn't exactly knock my socks off. But you know how it is when you study lists like this (I'm guessing you do know how it is), it seems like certain authors are often included and when they are it is almost always a certain book by that author that makes the list. When I feel like I read the author but not THE book, I wonder if I missed something. Maybe THE book is actually blow you away incredible while the sampling I read from that author was just mediocre. So in this case One Hundred Years of Solitude seems to be THE book. I'm just going to read it and get it out of my system.

The other day I did a really stupid thing which has now prompted me to do another really stupid thing. I read one of those lists. You know the ones where they give you the top 100 mostest bestest books that you should have read a million years ago because obviously everyone else has. I am particularly susceptible to these blasted lists. I always check off how many I have read even when I say I won't. Then I look at the ones I haven't read, and I really want to. Maybe it's some weird competitiveness or just that I really love books, but I immediately want to head to the library.

So the list that I read was the Reader's Digest 100 Best Books That Everyone Should Read List. It was a really good list. Not just classics but modern classics as well. Fiction and nonfiction. Just a very well thought out list. I had read 55 of them. The books I hadn't read though, just seemed to be overwhelmingly books that I have been meaning to read for a long time. I started checking Libby to see if the library had them. I even put one on my hold list. And then here is where I double down on my book stupidity. I thought to myself there are enough books here to make a new challenge list. And sooo....

If you have read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie you will see what happened here. If you give Michelle a list about reading she will want a book to go with it.

Here is my list of 16 of the books that I really really need to read from the Reader's Digest 100 Best Books list.

1. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah Complete 8/1/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Selected Stories, 1968-1994 by Munro, Alice (1997) Paperback by Alice Munro Complete 8/18/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Invisible ManbyRalph Ellison Complete 10/19/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. One Hundred Years of SolitudebyGabriel García Márquez Complete 8/6/24 ⭐⭐⭐
5. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese Complete 11/3/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie Complete 08/14/24 ⭐⭐⭐
7. The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich Complete 8/14/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
8. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Complete 9/1/24. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
9. The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright Complete 5/29/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
10. The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe. Complete 9/14/24 ⭐⭐⭐
11. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Complete 9/11/24 ⭐⭐⭐
12. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Complete 11/14/24. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Alternates (we all know they are not really optional but we are going to pretend for the sake of the challenge format):
13. The Stranger by Albert Camus Complete 12/29/24 ⭐⭐⭐
14. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton Complete 10/31/24 ⭐⭐⭐
15. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson Complete 9/1/24 ⭐⭐
16. Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham Complete 12/22/24 ⭐⭐

Listening to Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear. I always enjoy Maisie Dobbs.