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

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

“There are only so many plots in the world. It's how they unfold that makes them interesting.”
― Lauren Beukes, The Shining Girls

#41 The Shining Girls A time traveling serial killer committing perfectly unsolvable crimes and disappearing into another time until one victim survives and will not rest until his crime spree is ended. This genre bending crime thriller was unlike anything I have read before. 3 how do you track a time traveling creeper stars. Audiobook. Fantasy?/Thriller?/Horror?

#42 Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator Continuing in the crime vibe with this memoir by a former FBI hostage negotiator, Gary Noesner. The book covers the FBI's early negotiation efforts through Waco and beyond. Really interesting to hear from this point of view. 3 the power of a good listener stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-Memoir.

#43 Happy Place Happy Place maybe but not a happy book. Not a bad story but the disconnect between the titles and the actual book almost always make Emily Henry a disappointment for me. 3 whiny angsty adults not adulting stars. Audiobook. Romance?????????

#44 The Stolen Heir I don't know what this book was really about. There was pretty cool world building and decent writing but without reading the trilogy written in this world I don't think you could possibly understand the plot of this book. 3 definitely not a stand-alone book stars. ebook. Fantasy.

44 books/4575 pages

Currently:
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers audiobook Funny so far.
The Colors of All the Cattle ebook. Quiet so far.


Before we can influence others we must first listen and understand. Listening is the cheapest concession we can ever make.”
― Gary Noesner, Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator

Big thumbs down 👎 for The Stolen Heir !!!!

There was this girl fairy thing and this boy prince fairy thing and the prince was on a quest and needed the girl so he basically kidnapped her until about half way there she decided she wanted to go so then she was all team prince but also all I can't really trust him and they got there and she saves him from the evil queen but maybe he really manipulated her into that but it's alright anyway. Happy ever after the end.

I'm sorry this book was so bad for me that I really cannot tell you what it was about. While there was obviously some stellar world building going on there was literally no back story. Unless you have already read the previous trilogy set in this world do not start this duology you will not know what the hell is going on or why you should care. This was definitely NOT one of those books written in an author's fantasy world that could stand alone if necessary. I actually read the ending three times because it ended so abruptly that I wasn't sure it was actually the end. I don't mean it ended in a cliff hanger it just stopped. I thought my ereader had a glitch. I have read other books by Holly Black and enjoyed them. I would recommend The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. Read that instead of this.

2 fairies are nice but backstory is better stars.

Quotable:

“All of Faerie is beautiful like this, with carnage hidden just beneath.”
― Holly Black, The Stolen Heir

Listening now to Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

I feel like Emily Henry suckered me again. 👎 Thumbs down for Happy Place.

Six friends gather at their favorite cottage on the beach for what will be their last gathering there. Two of the group, engaged for years but recently split up, feel compelled to pretend their relationship is still intact so that they don't spoil the week for their friends but there are plenty of spoilers ahead.

I want to be clear. This was in no way a bad book. It was also not in any stretch of the imagination a happy book. Everyone in the book was sad, mad and angsty, the two main characters most of all. The story was not boring or off putting but once again Emily Henry's book title set my expectations for something the book did not contain. Even the relatively happy ending did not make this better for me. To be fair dysfunctional friend/family groups are not my cup of tea. I didn't hate it but I didn't enjoy it either.

3 so much angst here I thought I was reading YA stars.

Quotable:

“I sit on the edge of the bed, feeling the loneliness swell, not knowing whether it's pressing against me from the outside or growing from within. either way, it's inescapable, my oldest companion.”
― Emily Henry, Happy Place

“Everything’s different and nothing’s changed, Harriet,” he says. “I tried so hard to let you go, to let you be happy, and when I see you, I still feel like—like you’re mine. Like I’m yours. I got rid of every single piece of you, like that would make a difference, like I could cut you out of me, and instead, I just see everywhere you’re supposed to be.”
― Emily Henry, Happy Place

Patricia wrote: "I think reading The Stolen Heir, etc is better if you start with The Cruel Prince & that trilogy. I enjoyed the whole series but felt I should go back & read them all together.
Enjoy Happy Place. J..."

It is marketed as #1 of a new duology but I do feel like I'm missing a lot of backstory.

Still trying to finish up The Stolen Heir and starting to listen to Happy Place.

Lea wrote: "Well. I'm hoping to read Newsflesh this year too, so I will lower my expectations for the later books. Are you planning to read Feedback also, or are you going to abandon this one?"

I'm not sure. Maybe with some time I would read it but it sounds like a rehash of the first book. On the good side it also sounds like it gets back to the zombies so maybe???

“My childhood in Corfu shaped my life. If I had the craft of Merlin, I would give every child the gift of my childhood.”
― Gerald Durrell, My Family and Other Animals

“It was no half-hearted spring, this: the whole island vibrated with it as though a great, ringing chord had been struck. Everyone and everything heard it and responded.”
― Gerald Durrell, My Family and Other Animals

#38 Hard Eight Stephanie Plum is looking for a missing girl and her mother, dragging along all our favorite characters. This book probably had the zaniest plot yet. 3 full of laughs stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#39 My Family and Other Animals My husband and I watched all the seasons of The Durrells of Corfu recently and I just had to check out Gerry's memoir. I couldn't decide if the television version was funny or just annoying. I think the audiobook was definitely funny; also charming and beautifully written. Either way the series is worth reading or watching. 3 outlandish family adventure stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction?-Memoir.

#40 A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team A very different type of memoir. The story of a young man who uses the opportunities offered to him and his teammates by rowing crew to help him overcome his inner city upbringing. 4 investing in others stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-Memoir.

40 books/3830 pages.

Current:
The Shining Girls Audiobook.
The Stolen Heir ebook.


“It’s like a bank account: You have nothing to withdraw if you don’t make a deposit. A lot of times teachers and parents just want to withdraw from us. They want to know our problems, secrets, and the things that are going on in our lives. They wonder why we never tell them anything, and the reason is because they’ve never made any deposits. Ken is excellent at making trust and faith deposits in our lives.”
― Arshay Cooper, A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team

“I feel close to this group and know that the moment we experience pain together, we become a team. We feel the same agony because we care about the same thing.”
― Arshay Cooper, A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team

Looks like you have been busy Ioana. Glad you liked Nettle & Bone and If It Bleeds. Do pick up Holly. If you love the character, I don't think you will be disappointed. I totally agree with you on Weyward and The Wager. Both were unmemorable. You are really branching out into Fantasy/Sci Fi with Kingfisher and Scalzi. Scalzi is one I have mixed feelings about. I am always drawn in by the premise, but I think he looses sight of the story by the end. Kaiju was one of the few of his that I have read that I did not feel that way. Glad you liked it.

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "he series strayed away from its zombie apocalypse plot into the world of evil political cover ups and just never really recovered. Also, I'm just going to say that there was a rela..."

Yep! Too bad. It had so much promise but the author just lost control of the plot somehow.

Laughing out loud with Stephanie Plum and Hard Eight.

Stephanie and Joe have called it quits. Mostly. Maybe. Ranger takes advantage of the break and makes his big move. In the meantime Stephanie has been asked by a neighbor to find a missing woman and her child. In order to do it she has to stay one step ahead of the other bounty hunter on the case and the local thugs. As usual Stephanie is ready for all challenges.

With corpses, multiple exploding vehicles, and killer bunnies, this may be the zaniest book in the series so far. There is nothing like a Stephanie Plum book for mindless entertainment. That isn't a slur to the series. Sometimes what we need most is mindless entertainment.

3 if you think Stephanie is tough you should meet her Mom and her Sister stars.

Quotable:

“Holy Mary, mother of God," my mother said. "You were being chased by Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, and a rabbit.”
― Janet Evanovich, Hard Eight

“If the Jetsons had hired Tim Burton to decorate, it would have turned out like this.”
― Janet Evanovich, Hard Eight

“He reached out, opened the glove compartment, and took out a gun. It was a Smith & Wesson .38 five-shot special. It looked a lot like my gun.
"I stopped by your apartment this morning and picked this up for you," Ranger said. "I found it in the cookie jar."
"Tough guys always keep their gun in the cookie jar."
"Name one."
"Rockford."
Ranger grinned. "I stand corrected.”
― Janet Evanovich, Hard Eight

Alondra wrote: "Completed: Red Rising



4 Stars

This turned out better than I thought. Initially, and well into the story; I felt like this tale was just "okay"... ..."

Great review Alondra. Glad the story finally clicked for you. And no you shouldn't trust any of them ever.

A perfect read when you need something you can depend on to be light and funny.

Adding:

12. A novella under 100 pages-Divorce Horse

“Do they train you people to say stupid things when in mortal danger? I'm just curious, you understand, I'm not judging you.”
― Mira Grant, Blackout


#36 Pardonable Lies Maisie Dobbs takes on a couple of cases to investigate the circumstances of the death of soldiers in the war. As the cases become increasingly entangled, she discovers that someone is trying to kill her. I just love this well written quiet series. 3 smart, strong, but ladylike stars for Maisie Dobbs. Audiobook. Mystery.

#37 Blackout Georgia is cloned by the bad guys to use as bait for Shaun. Fortunately she is rescued and together they take down the evil CDC. I didn't love this one. The switch from zombies to clones and political intrigue just got to be a little much for me. 2 clones bore me (it's the repetition) stars. Audiobook. Fantasy-Zombie Apocalypse (sort of).

37 books/3836 pages

Current:
Hard Eight Audiobook.
The Stolen Heir ebook.


“My child, when a mountain appears on the journey, we try to go to the left, then to the right; we try to find the easy way to navigate our way back to the easier path.” He paused. “But the mountain is there to be crossed. It is on that pilgrimage, as we climb higher, that we are forced to shed the layers upon layers we have carried for so long. Then we find that our load is lighter and we have come to know something of ourselves in the perilous climb.”
― Jacqueline Winspear, Pardonable Lies

Just started listening to Hard Eight. Stephanie Plum back in action!

Finishing the Newsflesh series with an underwhelming Blackout.

In this final installment of the Newsflesh series Georgia Mason is brought back to life by the bad guys via cloning and some fictional memory restoring science. The plan is to use her as bait to capture and control her brother Shaun Mason. Unfortunately, Shaun rescues his sister's clone and together they expose the evil CDC and it's plot to control the world.

This series started out with a bang but fizzled the closer it got to the end. This third book was still humorous and had some good action moments but mostly there was a lot of dialog. Lots of talking. Lots. The series strayed away from its zombie apocalypse plot into the world of evil political cover ups and just never really recovered. Also, I'm just going to say that there was a relationship throughout the series that, while the author explained it away, I still found to be very uncomfortable. I couldn't see any real reason for that particular plot device and it became increasingly prominent as the series progressed. I'm going to make the last book pay for some of the flaws in the series and give it:

2 you should have just stuck to the zombies stars.

Quotable:

“Some people say I have issues. I say those people need to expand their horizons because I don't have issues, I have the Library of Congress”
― Mira Grant, Blackout

“You don’t go that far past the borders of Crazytown and come waltzing out unscathed.”
― Mira Grant, Blackout

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Darn! I think I just checked that one out."

You may like it (I hope you do)! Are you reading a physical copy? Had a hard time connecting with the narrator on the audiobook."

I put it back on the hold list. I'm going to think about that one a bit.

Lillie wrote: "Book #3 A Tempest of Tea 2* A

Let me start this by saying I was underwhelmed with the narrator and maybe I would've had a different reaction..."

Darn! I think I just checked that one out.

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Beginning The Stolen Heir."

I have a couple of her works on my TBR. Maybe, next year? I have The Cruel Prince a..."

Thanks Alondra!

I read Book of Night and I would say so far that seems like the stronger book. I haven't read The Cruel Prince. But I may get around to it eventually. So many books so little time.