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

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

“A reader is never lonely.”
― Amity Gaige, Heartwood

95 books
8026 pages

76 audiobooks
19 print

#93 Heartwood A woman goes missing from the Appalachian trail, as time runs out for a rescue she, those who search for her, and those who hold the key to her survival meditate on their life journey. Some really beautiful thoughts about parent/child relationships and our connectedness to each other and nature. I enjoyed this book a lot but it was more cerebral than I expected, not really a thriller. 3 I always love a book about the AT stars. Contemporary Fiction.

#94 Tooth and Claw Continuing the good vibes with this Longmire short. 4 polar bears and ghost ships stars. Fiction-Novella.

#95
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil Sigh! I really want to like V.E. Schwab but I just can't quite get there. Like the other books that I have read by her, this begins with a stellar concept, but it stretched out on and on. Always promising something that I didn't feel like it ever delivered. Great idea. Good writing. But... 3 toxic lesbian vampire stars. Fiction-Horror.

Current:
Never Flinch Much more engaging than anything else I'm reading currently.
No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson Sacklers move over.
Edna Saint Vincent Millay Poetry Illustrated So close.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell I'm close to calling it on this one.

“The world and its people are too much for me.
I am crushed between empathy and impotence.
I don't think I'm important. Not at all!
In fact, I am embarrassingly insubstantial.
Then why was I given this heart?
It is so much more than I need.”
― Amity Gaige, Heartwood

“You are slurring your words.” I stared at him for a moment and then poured one for myself, raising it in a toast. “I prefer to think of it as speaking in cursive.”
― Craig Johnson, Tooth and Claw

“But you cannot have what you want until you know what you want. And once you do know,” she adds, “it’s only a matter of what you’re willing to do to get it.”
― V.E. Schwab, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

Destiny of the Republic is definitely one I would recommend if you want to read the presidents Karol. Nixonland was also a great read. Good luck! I can't wait to see what you read.

You definitely need to read Destiny of the Republic Lea. You will enjoy it. Never Flinch is great so far. I love Holly Gibney.

“You must make time for reading or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.”
― Craig Johnson, The Longmire Defense

92 books
7487 pages

74 audiobooks
18 print

#90 Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President Wow, I did not expect this. I thought I was just checking Garfield off of my Presidents challenge but I discovered the best book. A story that reads almost like fiction. Not only was Garfield himself fascinating as a self-educated, liberal and patriot dedicated to helping the United States recover from the Civil War, but he also never campaigned for president, even asked not to be nominated and still won the election. He died from an infection that developed in wounds inflicted by a would-be assassin, but the infection was caused by the ignorance of his doctors making them almost as culpable in his death as the shooter. Witnessing the shooting was the son of Abraham Lincoln who was actually present at the attempted assassination of three presidents, making him something of an albatross if you ask me. Inventor Alexander Graham Bell in an attempt to help save the president actually invented a machine that would detect the location of the bullet in the body. An invention which did not help Garfield but obviously led to other remarkable advances in the field of medicine. The book followed Garfield, his assassin and the inventor Alexander Graham Bell. Read this one! Really. 5 Garfield is clearly one of our underrated Presidents. Nonfiction-Biography. Presidents Challenge.

#91 Great Big Beautiful Life The first Emily Henry book that I have read that didn't have me raving about the misleading title. It was also a decent story. Fun not too deep. Nice break from heavier stuff. Although.... it did read like a Taylor Jenkins Reid rip off without the drama or the unforseen twist. 3 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo-light stars. Fiction-Romance.

#92 The Longmire Defense The last few Longmire books have been a bit too dark for my tastes but this one was spot on. It even opened up some new storylines which makes me think that one of my favorite series will be continuing on and on. 4 retirement???? stars. Fiction-Mystery

Currently:
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil Slow going but finally getting good.
Never Flinch A shiney new read pulling me away from all the others.
Heartwood An AT thru hiking thriller.
Edna Saint Vincent Millay Poetry Illustrated Back from the hold list and trying to finish.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell I've all but given up.

“Love isn’t something you can cup in your hands, and I have to believe that means it’s something that can’t ever be lost.”
― Emily Henry, Great Big Beautiful Life

If wrinkles must be written upon our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should not grow old. JAMES A. GARFIELD”
― Candice Millard, Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President

“he had dangerous enemies and problematic friends,”
― Candice Millard, Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President

“I must say that I thought there was some derangement of his mental organization.”
― Candice Millard, Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "“#88 The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan, #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett The Tainted Cup A fantastic cozy mystery fantasy. Great world building, good mystery but above all inte..."

I think you will enjoy it Alondra. Solid mystery, oddball characters and unique world building.

Glad you are getting some reading time Alondra. I can't wait to see what you read. I have a feeling some Horror books are about to be added to my TBR.

I did think the author made some good points. It was the solutions that I had problems with. I did not disagree with them. I just thought they were over-simplifications. Like telling a smoker to just stop doing that.

Great month Alissa! Looks like you've got a great July lined up too.
I really enjoyed Expiration Dates. Hope you do too.

Looks like June was good to you Lea! I read Stegner's Angel of Repose a few years ago and I felt similarly. Beautiful writing, loooong drawn out story. A shame because your Stegner book looks really enticing but I'm still gun shy.

I can't wait to see your thoughts about The Anxious Generation. I though the author was spot on and made some great points but as a parent of some of the anxious generation I was put off. I could not have followed his suggestions without making us all social pariah or having someone call in CPHS. We didn't know then what we know now. I don't think people today could follow his more extreme suggestions either. It's going to take social change to get this accomplished and for that we are all going to have to get off our phones.

I'm in the queue for number 2 now Lillie. The first one was so enjoyable

“Being human was such a lonely endeavor.”
― Taylor Jenkins Reid, Atmosphere

89 books
7464 pages

71 audiobooks
18 print

#87 Abundance A series of essays analyzing where we are as a society, what brought us here and what it will take for us to meet the future. Written with reality in mind but an optimistic outlook. 4 stop bickering and get to work stars. Nonfiction.

#88 The Tainted Cup A fantastic cozy mystery fantasy. Great world building, good mystery but above all interesting characters. 4 Sherlock and Watson got nothing on these two stars. Fantasy/Mystery.

#89 Atmosphere Wow! Even though none of her books seem to be my type, when I read them Taylor Jenkins Reid never fails to impress me. This was a great fictional tale about women astronauts and a great romance. 4 just really, really good reading stars. Fiction.

Current:
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell Back from the library for another round
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil Sort of struggling to get into this one but I suspect I just need uninterrupted reading time.
Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President I had no idea Garfield was so interesting.

“Happiness is so hard to come by. I don’t understand why anyone would begrudge anyone else for managing to find some of it.”
― Taylor Jenkins Reid, Atmosphere

“crisis is a focusing mechanism. But leaders define what counts as a crisis. And leaders are the ones who choose to focus.”
― Ezra Klein, Abundance

“We have a startling abundance of the goods that fill a house and a shortage of what’s needed to build a good life.”
― Ezra Klein, Abundance

“Civilization is often a thing that is barely managed.”
― Robert Jackson Bennett, The Tainted Cup

Alissa wrote: "Completed Five Survive by Holly Jackson



2.5 STARS
Audiobook

I loved Holly Jackson's audiobook version of AGGGTM [bookcover:A..."

Thank you! You have just helped me firm up my resolve to not read Holly Jackson. I just finished AGGGTM #3 and I'm still traumatized.

Yes! The complete flip on the characters' personalities was so. wrong. The revenge plot was wrong and out of character. But most of all, the methodology was so very wrong. I just couldn't accept any of it. Plot twists are great but they need to be at least mildly believable.

No but I may have to now.

Glad you liked BOBH. I thought it was great. Excellent world building. Good story. Characters you can care about.

Also a good explanation. It definitely didn't fit with the character or the rest of the series. it was a completely unpredictable and shocking twist though. I'll give her that much. I also have to get this off my chest and I'll try not to make it a spoiler. I don't think the author has ever used bleach before. There's just no way.

Lea wrote: "I agree with you and Lillie about the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series. What a disappointment! What happened to the Pip from the first book? I haven't been able to read a Holly Jackson book since."

I'm afraid that was my last Holly Jackson book too Lea which is a shame the first book was so good. What happened? I'm wondering if AI wrote the last book or something. It was just way off.

Love it! You've got some great books on this list. I can't wait to see what think about them.

Lillie wrote: "I so agree with you regarding Holly Jackson's A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series. Loved the first one, second one was alright but the third one??? Why? Just why?"

Why? and am I supposed to buy this? Even before things went dark, I had thought out a better plot ending in my head. Also, after things went off the rails it just went on and on. My audiobook would not shut up. It just kept coming up with chapter after chapter and I was in the car talking to it and telling it how stupid and unrealistic it was being, and it just did not listen. I've had teenagers I don't need to have to deal with that kind of stuff anymore.

Lillie wrote: "134. The Dollhouse Academy 2*
I really need to stop reading boarding school type novels. I end up disliking so many of the people. Thoug..."

I'm interested in the Ina Garten book. I'm glad to see you liked it. Still not sure about reading it though.