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

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

Connie Willis is great Pam!Hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think.

Definitely move L&L to the top of the list Alondra

“Books may well be the only true magic.”
― Alice Hoffman

Has to be romance for February!

I read To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers earlier in the month. I strongly recommend reading this or any of Chambers' other books if you have not tried her yet. This was great SciFi but so much more than SciFi was packed into this little book.

Curses! Goodreads friends strike again. Just added Jade City to my library list.

“It’s dangerous to make a cult of your own unhappiness. Hard to get out, once you’ve been in there too long. You forget how.”
― Robert Galbraith, The Running Grave

#10 The Running Grave Robert Galbraith AKA J.K. Rowling knocked it out of the park with this one. I have enjoyed the entire series but I would say this book was easily the best. Robin goes undercover in a cult to help rescue a client's son while Strike on the outside runs the agency and struggles with his true feelings for Robin. In the final pages Strike delivers a line which might become as well known as the Harry Potter's series' "Always" - “she knew I was in love with you.” 4 kept me reading like it was Harry Potter stars. Hardback. Mystery.

#11 Lady Tan's Circle of Women Another winner. I have to be honest the first third of the book I found only mildly interesting but when the story kicked in it really kicked in. In addition to being a great story from that point on, it was also meticulously researched and the information about ancient China varied from Huh! (small pox innoculation) to Eeeww! (foot binding). In short I would strongly recommend this one. 4 ancient Chinese remedy stars. Audiobook. Historical Fiction.

#12 Strange Sally Diamond Well, strange at least was the right word. The entire story was just that - strange. While I admit to a little tabloidesque fascination with the story, my overall feeling was one of extreme discomfort. Every single relationship in the book had a tone of wrongness. I am not sure why this particular topic needed to be explored in fiction. The whole book just had a strange POV. 2 I'm just not comfortable with all that stars. Audiobook. Contemporary Fiction.

12 books/1622 pages

Currently reading:
Homecoming ebook. Liking this one just need reading time.
The Invisible Hour Audiobook. Wow! Love Alice Hoffman.

“There’s nothing deader than dead love.”
― Robert Galbraith, The Running Grave

Adding:

1. A humorous book - Seven Up

17. A house on the cover - The Confession Club

Currently reading Homecoming by Kate Morton

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Finished Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See. No doubt on this one thumbs up 👍!

A young girl from an..."


Lisa See is not an author I am automatically drawn to but everything I have read of hers I have enjoyed. She is definitely a talented writer.

I have begun reading Homecoming by Kate Morton.

Finished Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See. No doubt on this one thumbs up 👍!

A young girl from an upperclass family in ancient China is mentored by her grandmonther. Her grandmother advises her to always surround herself with a circle of women she can trust and she trains her to be a doctor with a special emphasis on the ailments of women. Following her grandmother's advice on both accounts brings her both sorrow and joy. What follows is a life unlike other women of her class, focused on helping others particularly women.

This book was meticulously researched. Many of the customs of ancient China are described and explained in some detail. The descriptions of footbinding were horrifying but presented with some insight into the mindset of those who followed the practice. Interesting. I have to say I found the first third of the book to be somewhat slow. When the pace picked up though it became unputdownable. I couldn't wait to see where the story would take me next.

4 female friendship stars.

Quotable:

“I’ve been lucky to have been cared for and loved since childhood by a circle of women. Now it’s time for me to create a wider circle, so I can do for my daughters and other women in the household what Grandmother, Miss Zhao, Meiling, and even Poppy have done for me.”
― Lisa See, Lady Tan's Circle of Women

“Friendship is a contract between two hearts. With hearts united, women can laugh and cry, live and die together,”
― Lisa See, Lady Tan's Circle of Women

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Wow Lillie, you are a reading machine. Love reading your reviews on so many of these. Lady Darby mysteries check. I'm glad you liked Bookshops and Bonedust. It seems like some peop..."

I haven't read the Verity Kent mysteries but since I'm nearly caught up on my library's selection of Lady Darby I may have to check out that series next.

Ok you're making me want to read these last two. Even though I've already decided not to. Great reviews!

Lillie wrote: "Didn't realize I had missed that you had read Bookshops & Bonedust. Looks like we had a similar reaction to it. Can't wait till the next one's out.

Since I generally agree with you..."

Ditto to Bookshops and Bonedust. I can't wait to read the next installment. I hope it comes out as quickly as this one did. Love that series! Weyward on the other hand. It wasn't a horrible book but it didn't blow me away either. I could have lived without at least one of the three timelines.

Wow Lillie, you are a reading machine. Love reading your reviews on so many of these. Lady Darby mysteries check. I'm glad you liked Bookshops and Bonedust. It seems like some people felt it didn't hold up to the first book but I think I enjoyed it more. The Golden Spoon was fun. I'm a British Baking show fan so this knock off mystery version was fun. And T. Kingfisher, a best kept secret right? I read A Wizard's Guide first and then Nettle and Bone. Enjoyed them both. I'm trying to squeeze in more of hers after I get my 2024 challenges under control. I also read Guncle and I keep looking at Celebrants but I'm hesitant. Your review is nudging me toward reading it.

So much in one small book Ioana. Not an easy read but I'm glad I read it.

Ann at the Beach wrote: "Completed book #1 Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. I gave it 3 ***. It was beautifully written, great character development but I just didn't connect with it. The b..."

I felt similarly about Angle of Repose Ann. So well written but too many characters I didn't enjoy and let's face it it just dragged on a bit too long. No need to wallow in the misery.

“This is who we are: the richest country on earth, with more poverty than any other advanced democracy.”
― Matthew Desmond, Poverty, by America


#6 Poverty, by America This is difficult to review because there was so much packed into this brief book and because some of the concepts I agreed with and some I do not. Suffice it to say that this book has me thinking about the problem of Poverty in our country. Like the author I think that poverty is a state that compounds making it difficult for individuals to break free from it. Like the author I think that the solution will out of necessity involve nationwide changes in government and will be painful for all. Where we disagreed were his proposed solutions. I am not sure that his numbers were entirely right or that some of his proposals would have the desired effect. This book is well worth the read no matter how you stand on the issue. Only through discussion and opening our mind to new ideas will the problem ever be solved. 4 tough read but good brain exercise stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-Political.

#7 The Keeper of Hidden Books Mixed feelings about this one. I thought the characters and some of the plot fell flat but the dramatization of history and the discussion of the importance of books to individuals and free societies was excellent. 3 somewhere in the middle stars. Audiobook. Historical Fiction.

#8 The Confession Club The final installment of Elizabeth Berg's Mason series wraps up the story for many of our favorite Mason characters. Berg's writing as always steals the show. 4 beauty in the ordinary stars. ebook. Contemporary Fiction.

#9 Seven Up Stephanie Plum is always a wonderful way to forget your troubles for a while. I'm giving this one 3 stars because I'm not sure I liked the reader. The book was still a lot of fun. 3 just another day in "the berg" stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

9 books

Current:

The Running Grave Hardback. A brick but I can't stop reading!
Lady Tan's Circle of Women Audiobook. I didn't think I was going to like this one but the story is drawing me in now.

“It whispered to her in the silence, a promise only a book can make to a reader, to offer a journey unique to them, tailored to the path that life had led them.”
― Madeline Martin, The Keeper of Hidden Books

Adding another number to the Stephanie Plum series completed list with Seven Up .

In her latest escapade Stephanie seems to be in constant pursuit tracking down her latest contract, Eddie DeChooch, rescuing Mooner and his buddy, getting engaged to Morretti while still imagining a night with Ranger. But not to worry Stephanie Plum alwayse get her man or does she?

I just love this madcap series. This audiobook included a little interview with the author at the end. In the interview Janet Evanovich says that she considers herself more of an entertainer than a writer. I would say she is a smashing success. Her writing is nothing if not entertaining. Good fun that makes you forget the real world for a minute. I did dock this book one star for the change in narrators. I normally like Loreli King a lot but in this case I enjoyed the previous reader with her accents better. No worries though I'm sure I will adapt as I move on through the series.

3 LOL stars.

Quotable:

“It's been almost a month since you found a body. I knew you were due."
Carl Costanza - Seven Up”
― Janet Evanovich, Seven Up

“Thinking very often resembles napping, but the intent is different. --Stephanie Plum”
― Janet Evanovich, Seven Up