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

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

Enjoying Thanksgiving in Wyoming with The Cold Dish.

Adding:

10. A book set in the 1980’s. The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson
19. A new book by your favorite author. All That Is Mine I Carry with Me

Glad to see you enjoyed Legends and Lattes. That is on my radar.

Enjoying more Jack Reacher with Echo Burning. A Psalm for the Wild-Built is checked out and next in line.

#91 The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson I should start this by saying that I am just not a sportsball person. My husband likes to watch baseball but not with me. I get bored and pay attention to all the wrong things. So, I am not sure what attracted me to this book other than a fit of nostalgia. I am also not sure what the author's purpose in writing this book was (Hint: it was not nostalgia). It could have been that he wanted to highlight what an incredibly gifted athlete Bo Jackson was, to which I say, Ho-hum. It could have been that he wanted to demythologize Bo, to which I say mission accomplished at least where I am concerned. It could have been that he wanted to point out the inherent evils of our collegiate and professional ball systems, to which I say didn't we already know, I'm pretty sure it's in the news almost every day. What I got out of this was that Bo Jackson was an unbelievable natural athlete but not a very nice person who was completely used up by the system. Don't put too much stock in that though. Like I said when it comes to sports, I always pay attention to the wrong things. 3 Did you say Bo ran up a wall? Why? stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-Biography.

#92 All That Is Mine I Carry with Me I am a fan of William Landay's Defending Jacob so I was looking forward to this book and it did not disappoint. Lots of delicious twists. Lots of different POV's analyzing the crime. 4 who done it stars. Hardback. Mystery/Thriller.

#93 The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich. I didn't love this as much as Stephanie Plum but I needed something lighthearted and fast paced. This definitely fit the bill. 3 action packed and plenty of playful banter stars. Audiobook. Thriller/Action.

#94 Pony I have had this book on the TBR forever. This was very different from R.J. Palacio's Wonder series which I loved but I enjoyed this one too. I liked the main character and his companion, and I particularly liked how everything came together at the end. 4 there are no coincidences stars. Audiobook. YA/Adventure.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 11
4 stars - 45
3 stars - 34
2 stars - 4

Current:
Echo Burning paperback Reacher is back!
Night Train to Lisbon ebook. Very cerebral so far.
What Alice Forgot Audiobook. More like what didn't Alice forget?

Bill wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Bill wrote: "The Longmire books are just as good as the TV series. Enjoy."

I'm not sure that it wasn't better but maybe I just enjoyed the characters so much after watching the se..."

Glad we're not alone.

Bill wrote: "The Longmire books are just as good as the TV series. Enjoy."

I'm not sure that it wasn't better but maybe I just enjoyed the characters so much after watching the series. My husband and I never watched it until it hit Netflix then we watched one a night until we made it through all the seasons. We loved that so many character actors from the 80's popped up on the show. They had aged of course so that became our game figuring out what the somewhat familiar actor had appeared in years ago. My husband is way better at it than I am.

You make the comment about your series reads that you have really made no progress, but you have found series and characters that you love, and you visit them occasionally that's all the progress you need. No worries! Besides the only way you could truly complete a series is for the author to stop writing it. If you love the series, you definitely don't want that. So glass half full - it's just that you always have something good to read.

I didn't even think about a third one. I can actually see following the characters a little further.

Three 4 stars rounding out my vacation reads.

#88 Fire Touched The Mercy Thompson series is always a light fun read for me. This one seemed better than most as Mercy seems to come into her own as a leader of the pack. Also, there were plenty of laughs. There was a little aside on essential oils that made me smile. 4 stars. ebook. Urban Fantasy.

#89 Hello, Summer A young reporter suffers a career setback and ends up back home at the local family-owned newspaper. She not only stumbles upon the story of her life but finds out that her priorities may have changed and the small town and the family newspaper might be just what she needs. A perfect beach read by Mary Kay Andrews the fictional town was even located in the part of the country where I was vacationing. Perfect! 4 toes in the sand stars. Paperback. Mystery/Romance.

#90 The Cold Dish My husband and I binge watched the TV series a few months ago so I knew I would enjoy the series but I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. Nice writing laced with humor anchored to a good solid mystery. A great reader on the audiobook too. 4 sharpshooter stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 11
4 stars - 43
3 stars - 32
2 stars - 4

Current:
The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson Audiobook.
All That Is Mine I Carry with Me Hardback.

On a roll with The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson.

Sheriff Longmire is just trying to get a handle on his life as he leads his small town cast of characters in pursuit of a killer bent on administering his own brand of justice. The sheriff tries to solve the case before there is another death, even if it means putting himself in harm's way.

I knew I would like this book because my husband and I binge watched the series on Netflix and I really enjoyed it. What I did not anticipate is how well written it would be. The plot was tight, and the writing was really nice with just the right touch of humor.

4 cowboys and indian stars

Quotes I liked:

“Scientists say there is a noise that snowflakes make when they land on water, like the wail of a coyote; the sound reaches a climax and then fades away, all in about one ten-thousandth of a second.”
― Craig Johnson, The Cold Dish

“Seeing her again was like unearthing an emotional library card with a lot of overdues.”
― Craig Johnson, The Cold Dish

“I'd say the depths of his stupidity have yet to be plumbed, and yours is comin' up fast on the inside turn.”
― Craig Johnson, The Cold Dish

“It is another beautiful evening here at the Red Pony bar and continual soirée, how can I help you?”
― Craig Johnson, The Cold Dish

Fire Touched read!

Mercy grants the protection of the pack in response to a petition for safety and inadvertently pits the pack against the entire fae nation.

I enjoy the lighthearted, funny tone of this series as much as the paranormal fantasy which includes werewolves, shapeshifters, vampires, fairies, and the occasional ghost. Mercy is a great character, a bad ass take no prisoners female lead with a kind heart. This was a great kick off to my beach vacation. A perfect fun under the sun read.

4 werewolves, and vampires, and fairies, oh my! stars.

Quotes I liked:

“He was a better fighter than I was, but he wasn’t faster than me. Nor was he as motivated, and I think he underestimated me. He thought he was fighting a girl with a stick when he was fighting Adam’s mate, Coyote’s daughter, armed with Lugh’s staff.”
― Patricia Briggs, Fire Touched

“Holy Avon, Batman, I thought as worry relaxed into annoyance-tinged humor, I’ve been attacked by a multilevel marketer.”
― Patricia Briggs, Fire Touched

“We are all monsters here, he said. It's too late for any of us to be anything else.”
― Patricia Briggs, Fire Touched

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "#82 Witch King by Martha Wells Witch King I don't want to be too hard on this book because it wasn't bad fantasy, but it was something of a muddle. Names and places and who was wha..."

You are probably right about book 2, I'm just not sure that I will care enough to find out. Do finish Murderbot though, the character alone is worth the read. So much fun.

I did like it. I know a lot of Golem and the Jinni fans didn't but I thought it was a good follow-up. It maybe took a step down on atmosphere but it wasn't enough to keep me from enjoying the book.

@ Vikki Good to hear you enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to it.

Updating one more time before leaving on vacation!

#85 Becoming Elisabeth Elliot Excellent biography of the early years of this Christian author and speaker. Well written and researched and very much the right book at the right time for me. I will be looking for the next book Being Elisabeth Elliot: The Authorized Biography: Elisabeth’s Later Years This was an awsome pick from my RL book club. 4 stars. ebook. Nonfiction-Biography

#86 Dead Man's Hand A very entertaining urban fantasy about a young wizard trying to make it in the world. Written by James J. Butcher son of Jim Butcher author of the Dresden files. Father and son seem to share a sense of humor. 3 stars. ebook/Audiobook. Urban Fantasy.

#87 The Hidden Palace I loved this beautiful sequel to The Golem and the Jinni. I wasn't quite as mesmerized by the writing as I was with the first book but I enjoyed finding out what happened to all the characters. 4 stars. Audiobook. Fantasy.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 11
4 stars - 40
3 stars - 32
2 stars - 4

Currently
The Cold Dish Audiobook.
Fire Touched ebook.

Reading Fire Touched and listening to The Cold Dish.

Just finished The Hidden Palace!

In this follow up to The Golem and the Jinni the story expands to include several of the support characters of the first book. These characters are explored more deeply and the next chapters of their stories unfold. The Golem and the Jinni also continue their stories and draw all the characters back to them in the end.

I was hesitant to read this book because I loved the first one so much. I am very glad I did read it. It really enriched and gave closure to the characters. The first book did leave me wanting to know more about what happened next. That said this book lacked some of the magic of the first book. I did not feel that the writing was as mesmerizing or that the historic aspect of the story was as prevalent. The writing was still very good, however, and I was right there for the final scene between the Golem and the Jinni.

4 magical stars

Quotes I liked:

“He'd given her his silences, and she'd filled them with her fears.”
― Helene Wecker, The Hidden Palace

“I am no saint, and he is no monster for me to slay.”
― Helene Wecker, The Hidden Palace

“It made little sense, and yet it was the truth.”
― Helene Wecker, The Hidden Palace

Dead Man's Hand by James J. Butcher completed with a smile!

This urban fantasy follows Grimsby a young witch who's dreams of being an auditor (some sort of witch police) were crushed by the auditor trainer who failed him. The same trainer who has been murdered. It seems that Grimsby has been framed for the murder and now must convince his teacher's old partner that he is not to blame.

A great beginning to a series. There were great characters and lots of humor. This book was a lot of fun. Interesting side note, the author, James J. Butcher, is the son of Jim Butcher of the Dresden Files. I'm not sure I liked Grimsby as much as Harry but their writing shares a similar tone. I would recommend it to those who might be experiencing Dresden File withdrawal.

3 packed full of potential stars.

Quote I liked:

“You don’t find the right path. You make it. Whichever one you choose, walk it, and walk it hard, and you’ll do all right for yourself.”
― James J. Butcher, Dead Man's Hand

I think the author settled down a little in book 2. He had the characters down already. He just needed to not have such a frenzied plot. I think he did that in book 2. I liked it better too.