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

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

Lillie wrote: "Congratulation Michelle!

Time to start on your lists for next year? ;)"

Thanks Lillie! Yes I'm already working on it. So many ideas!!

Alondra wrote: "Congratulations again!! LOL"

Thanks again Alondra ;)

Congratulations Alissa!!!!!!!!

Thanks Patricia!

I think Project Hail Mary calls for someone much more nerdy and likeable than Ryan Gosling. Is that just me?

Bill wrote: "I have to get back to Maisie Dobbs and Longmire. Both enjoyable series."

Both have great characters and good solid mysteries. Enjoy Bill!

Thanks Ioana! I don't know. Good sense tells me to just try for one but I have really liked all my challenges this year. That makes me want to go for it.

1, 2, 8, 11, 14, 19, 25, 30, 31, 34, 38, 54, 60, 64, 67, 72, 76, 84, 92, 105, 109, 110 ,112, 117

Alissa wrote: "Did anyone ever read Artemis? I grabbed it from a Little Free Library a bit ago but haven't read it yet. Wasn't sure if it is worth the read or if I should put it back into a LFL lol"

I hate to be the one to say it but Artemis is not Andy Weir's finest hour. It was OK but did not have the momentum of the other two books.

Lea wrote: "Congratulations, Michelle! I'm so happy for you. You've read some good books that I hope to also read some time. :-)"

Thanks Lea! I've had a fun reading year.

Final book! Final Challenge! Bring on 2024!

Completed When Clouds Touch Us

This is a beautiful coming of age young adult book. The story follows the daughter of a refugee family as she transitions from childhood to her teen years while her family struggles to establish themselved in the United States.

The author uses poetry as prose in order to convey the difficulties and confusion this family faces as they adapt to a new country, a new language and a new way of life. It also very effectively captures the disconnect that often occurs between mothers and daughters as daughters enter their teen years. This was a really well written, well thought out book. A book that inspires empathy. It is written I think with middle schoolers in mind, but I would recommend it for anyone.

Quotes that I like:

“Life demands more than the present moment of comfort.”
― Thanhhà Lại, When Clouds Touch Us

I relinquish you to a world unknown to me.
― Thanhhà Lại, When Clouds Touch Us

Last words: everyone in junior high suffers from nerves of a plucked guitar; a few hide it better.
― Thanhhà Lại, When Clouds Touch Us

Contemplate on yourself until you’re a solid anchor, then ensure kindness to family then society then earth. All that from me? You start, pass to your children then their children, who might be positioned to direct fury. Just like Mother to swivel Mỹ Lai into a zen project for grandchildren I don’t have.
― Thanhhà Lại, When Clouds Touch Us

I am there actually!!

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "#133 No Ordinary Time Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in Worl..."

I couldn't have said it better Ioana. It was just like reading the skeleton of the book and longing for the flesh to round out the picture. In this case though I thought they did a pretty good job of covering the subject and giving the reader a feel for Ms. Goodwin's take on this slice of history. There were lots of topics that I would have liked to explore more thoroughly. However, because this book focused on the relationship between the Roosevelts, I'm not sure I could have taken the entire book. It would just be too sad. I may search for a book with a slightly different take on the topic. I do hate it though when I am listening to an audiobook and suddenly realize that it is abridged. I am going to have to start checking more carefully.

#133 No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II Doris Kearns Goodwin gives readers an insider view of the marriage of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevlet and reveals how the relationship of this brilliant couple affected history. I enjoyed this audiobook but realized about halfway through that I had checked out an abridged version of the book and that my library did not offer an unabridged version. I don't think I will seek out the unabridged for another reading but I may pick up another book on Roosevelt to fill in the gaps. For now though I'm counting this one towards my Presidents challenge. 3 two amazing individuals in an unsatisfactory marriage stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-History/Presidents.

#134 The Dark Horse The sheriff goes undercover. Standing Bear and company check in on him from time to time to make sure he doesn't get into trouble. He does. 4 love this series stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#135 Birds of a Feather The second in the Maisie Dobbs series. Maisie takes on a missing persons case which quickly turns into a murder case. Nice mystery! 4 Jacqueline Winspear is awsome stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#136 When Clouds Touch Us Touching YA coming of age story. The use of poetry instead of prose in this book beautifully illustrates this refugee famliy experience. 4 "I relinquish you to a world unknown to me" stars. ebook. YA Fiction.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 16
4 stars - 63
3 stars - 52
2 stars - 5

Current:
When Christmas Comes Audiobook.
Night Train to Lisbon ebook.
Sparring Partners Hardback.

Alissa wrote: " BOOK 129


Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir



4 STARS
Book

Andy Weir's done it again! The perfect combo of nerdy science, n..."


I enjoyed that one too. You are right the Apocalypse and Aliens what could be better?

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'm on hold for Thursday Murder #4. Glad to see you liked it. Congrats on a great month."

Oh, I hope you like the new one. I'm not a critical reviewer at all, it's all emotionally..."

I feel sure I will like it Lillie. I have enjoyed the rest of the series. They are so much fun. I guess I'm an emotional reader too!

Alondra wrote: "Glad you enjoyed Strange the Dreamer. My daughter loved the book. I still need to pick it up"

I really did love it Alondra. The whole book just had a certain magical feel to it. It would have been a five star for me but I felt I would have preferred to have the whole story from one POV. Definitely pick it up. I think you will like it.

Lea wrote: "No Ordinary Time is a long one to squeeze in, but I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. As usual, you are reading so many books that I also want to read! :-)"

I am listening to the audiobook so hopefully it will go quickly. Glad to hear that you enjoyed it. I am finding it interesting so far.

Getting ready to start When Clouds Touch Us. After this one I will have read all 16 on this list. What a fun year with all of these lists!

#130 Another Man's Moccasins I really like this audiobook series. The death of an unknown young woman brings Longmire not only another murder to solve but flashbacks to his days in Vietnam. 4 Henry and the sheriff in Vietnam stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#131 Strange the Dreamer Laslo Strange had dreamed of adventure and magic his entire life. The appearance of a delegation of foriegners results in Laslo being invited along on a desparate mission which will bring him both. A great fantasy book but it ends in a terrible cliff hanger. 4 Adding it to the hold list stars. ebook. Fantasy.

#132 Notes from the Internet Apocalypse: A Novel Ugh! This was occasionally cute, but it never was quite clever enough to pull it off. Was this an internet apocalypse or a mental break down? I don't know. All I know is that it was mercifully short, and I won't be checking out the sequel. 2 Thank goodness that's over stars. Audiobook. Fantasy-Apocalypse - I guess??

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 16
4 stars - 60
3 stars - 51
2 stars - 5

Current:
Night Train to Lisbon ebook. I am going to finish this someday....Maybe.
No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II Audiobook. Squeezing one in for the President's challenge.