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

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

Using my first four reads of 2023 to knock out four books in the Motley Challenge.

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

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

22. Winner of the GR awards of 2023-Weyward

24. First book in a series-Bookshops & Bonedust

Completed Weyward 👎 Thumbs down but only barely.

This historical fiction follows three different women from the same family line in three different periods of time. Each woman is considered "different" by those around her and each of the women face similar challenges as a result. The connection that they each have to nature is both a source of their separation from society and their salvation.

I can already see my thumbs up thumbs down rating is going to be difficult. This was not a bad book at all. There were aspects of it I did not enjoy. I am not a fan of multiple timelines in historical fiction even though they are hugely popular in the publishing industry right now. I always end up liking one character and being bored/impatient with the remaining timelines. That was the case here. The ending did tie all three stories together in a way that was very satisfying. I just didn't enjoy the journey as much as I would have liked. So while I gave it a thumbs down I am still going to give it 3 stars and I would not discourage you from reading it. Good book, just maybe not my cup of tea.

3 I liked it fine but it just didn't shine stars.

Quotable:

“Weyward, they called us, when we would not submit, would not bend to their will. But we learned to wear the name with pride.”
― Emilia Hart, Weyward

“The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet.”
― Emilia Hart, Weywar

Alissa wrote: "I have Legends & Lattes on my list this year (for individual challenge)- Should I read the prequel first?"

Good question! I enjoyed reading it in the order I did. Meeting Viv, the MC, later in life at the end of her career then learning about the beginning. I think you could go either way though. Both were strong books in my opinion though some reveiws on Goodreads favor Legends and Lattes over Bookshops and Bonedust.

Lea wrote: "Dear Mr. Lehane,

I could not put down Small Mercies. Wow. What an intense book. After reading [book:Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Ce..."

Amazing book but difficult to read. Glad you liked it too.

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "First book of the list completed!
Bookshops & Bonedust 👍 Thumbs-up!

Travis Baldree fills in some of the ..."

I hope you enjoy them Ioana. They are feel-good fantasy with a little sword fighting thrown in because, you know, it's fantasy.

Alissa wrote: " BOOK 4

Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane



4 STARS
Book

If you are looking for a brilliantly told novel with raw and real charac..."

It was brilliant, raw and real. Such amazing writing! Glad to see you enjoyed it too. Although enjoy is not exactly the right word for this book. Maybe that should be appreciated it too.

Lillie wrote: "Yay! I’m so happy to hear that the prequel holds up. I’m impatiently waiting for my library hold to come in"

I think you will like it Lillie!

First book of the list completed!
Bookshops & Bonedust 👍 Thumbs-up!

Travis Baldree fills in some of the backstory to Legends & Lattes in this charming prequel. In spite of the fact that it adds background to the first book it is a complete and satisfying stand-alone story on its own. With book shops, baked goods, an evil magician and a cute little gryphet, Bookshops & Bonedust will draw the reader in and put a smile on his face.

I think I enjoyed this prequel even more than Legends & Lattes. It felt like the world building and the plot were more solid but managed to convey that same cozy atmosphere as the first book. I hope there will be more of this cozy fantasy series. I would definitely be in for another tale.

4 you have to love a book that has books, swordplay, and scones stars.

Quotable:

“Every book is a little mirror, and sometimes you look into it and see someone else looking back.”
― Travis Baldree, Bookshops & Bonedust

“You’re just trying to make it to the other end, and while you’re in it, there’s nothing to either side. Only the way forward. You know, the tunnel. Maybe when you find a way out, you can look around, but until then …”
― Travis Baldree, Bookshops & Bonedust

“See you in the story past the story.”
― Travis Baldree, Bookshops & Bonedust

Thanks Jackie!

The Wayfarer series was terrific. Enjoy Bill!

@Ioana &Alondra Thanks guys. I think you would both enjoy To Be Taught. It is a short book but Chambers packs a lot into it. I really enjoy her work. Her writing is always quiet but impactful.

Starting off the first book reviews with a quote for the new year:

“This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.”
― Taylor Swift

#1 Silver in the Bone This was a Goodreads Choice nominee and is the first book I completed in 2024. I would like to say I loved it but I really can't get that excited about it. A young woman travels with some of her cohorts to the legendary Avalon of Arthurian legend in hopes of curing her brother's curse. It gets very complicated from there. I eventually came to like the characters, but it took some time. I found the plot to be many faceted and unnecessarily complicated. It was pretty good fantasy but as a YA book it was held back by the requisite amount of angst and immature emotion. Kudos for being able to include witches, werewolves and zombies in the Arthurian legend in a somewhat believable manner. 3 maybe I'm finally too old for YA stars. Audiobook. YA-Fantasy.

#2 To Be Taught, If Fortunate I loved this novella by Becky Chambers. A group of space exploring astronauts travel the universe adapting to different ecosystems as needed. The only real challenge they cannot overcome is what is happening back on Earth. Like all of Chambers writing this is both charming and thought provoking. 4 great writing, great SciFi stars. Audiobook. SciFi.

2 books

Current:
Weyward Audiobook.
The Confession Club ebook.
Bookshops & Bonedust Paperback.

I should close this post out with a quote from one of the books above but the quote that kept running through my head while listening to To Be Taught, If Fortunate was this one:

"Space the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Its five year mission to explore strange new worlds to seek out new life and new civilizations to boldly go where no man has gone before." -Captain Kirk, Star Trek Intro.

Once a Trekkie always a Trekkie I guess.

Also starting to listen to Weyward by Emilia Hart.

My hubby gifted me Bookshops & Bonedust for Christmas (he knows me so well) so I am starting this list with that. I am enjoying it too. I have to say I love this cozy fantasy series.

Kicking this list off with The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg. I have been wanting to read more Elizabeth Berg and this will make me only one book short of completing her Mason series.

As predicted I did finish one more book in 2023, my 34th print book for the year with a four star rating. 156 books total for 2023.

#156 Iron Flame Not bad for the second in the series. I know this book is Romantasy by genre and so I should expect it to be equally heavy on romance and fantasy but I still say this could have been improved by downplaying the romance somewhat. The dragon fantasy portion of the story is solid and kept me reading but the trumped-up relationship problems bored me and I could have lived without the soft porn play by play. Still I did keep reading and I will definitely check out the next book so I can't really dock a book stars for being what it says it was. 4 Twilight for grown-ups stars. ebook. Romantasy.

I loved reading about your top 5. I have only read Lone Women but that one was crazy good so I'm thinking I had better check out some of the others.

Thanks Alondra and Lillie!

Wow 237 books! You're my hero. Happy New Year!

That counts as 2024 in my book. Otherwise I would have to abandon the strays started in 2023 to late to finish.