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

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

Listening to The Galaxy, and the Ground Within. I have really enjoyed this series. Sadly this is the last book.

#52 Solito An incredible memoir of a young man who crossed the border into the United States completely on his own as nine-year-old. A deeply moving story. Extremely well written. 5 you will need a box of kleenex stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-Memoir.

#53 The Spare Man Mary Robinette Kowal turns her retro-SciFi vibe to the mystery genre with this closed door, deeply noir murder mystery set on a cruise ship in outer space. 4 stars. ebook. Mystery/SciFi

#54 The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder David Grann has a knack for finding obscure but fascinating stories in history and bringing them to life. 3 shipwrecked stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-History.

#55 Night Broken A great urban fantasy series about a shape shifter married to a werewolf who lives in a world where a lot of other dangerous, mythical beings roam free and cause trouble. Don't think about it too much, just enjoy the ride. 3 Mercy kicks butt stars. ebook. Urban Fantasy.

Star Tally 2023

5 stars - 10
4 stars - 25
3 stars - 18
2 stars - 2

Currently:
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within Audiobook. Love this series.
A Suitable Boy ebook. I'm reading this one again. I will finish. I will finish. I will...
Before the Coffee Gets Cold ebook. Still ignoring this one.
Sweet Enough: A Dessert Cookbook ebook. I'm perusing this dessert cookbook. When my grandson eats dinner with me he requires dessert.

Checking it off! Night Broken

Mercy Thompson and her cast of werewolves, shape shifters, vampires and fae are always a lot of fun. In this one Mercy encounters the scariest monster yet. The ex-wife. Don't worry Mercy always wins the day.

I really enjoy this urban fantasy series by Patricia Briggs. Mercy Thompson is an auto mechanic, shapeshifter who sees ghosts and is married to a werewolf. Vampires, fae and a host of other mythical beings roam the pages of these stories and Mercy deals with them all. She's a badass but loveable. These are always fun, light reads. I like the Mercy Thompson world and it holds up pretty well, especially if I don't overthink it.

3 paranormal paramour stars.

Favorite Quotes:

“Sometimes the only action you can take leads to more trouble. ”
― Patricia Briggs, Night Broken

Lea wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Only one left on this list! I'm hoping to finish it up by the end of the month."

Very impressive. I think you've found quite a few overlooked books, which is better than finding q..."

Definitely better! Of course, these were all 2022 Goodreads Choice nominees that appealed to me in the first place. Even with that though, I think that it shows that Goodreads readers just know what they are talking about. If the Goodreads crowd likes it, it's probably worth reading.

Only one left on this list! I'm hoping to finish it up by the end of the month.

Solito Overlooked but not one I will ever forget reading!

An incredible memoir! Javier Zamora tells the story of his migration to the United States alone at the age of nine. He left El Salvador where he lived with his grandparents to join his parents in the USA. His grandfather was able to accompany him as far as Guatemala but from there through crossing the Mexican border he was completely on his own. He was befriended by a group of fellow migrants he calls his family who risked their own lives to make sure that he survived the crossing.

This book was beautifully written and deeply moving. When one of the heroes who befriended this child literally tried to carry him across the border, I was moved to tears. That a nine year old was able to do this was a miracle and a testimony to the good in others. I can only imagine what this would be like. And yet as the author points out he is only one of many who have made and are still making this trip. There must be a better way.

5 this left me breathless stars

Favorite Quotes:

“My hope for this book is that somehow it will reunite me with Chino, Patricia, and Carla, that I will find out what happened to them after we separated and learn what their lives have been like in this country. I don't believe I ever thanked them. I want to thank them now, as an adult, for risking their lives for a nine-year-old they did not know.”
― Javier Zamora, Solito

“Mom likes to call them my "angels," but I worry that takes away their humanity and their nonreligious capacity for love and compassion they showed a stranger.”
― Javier Zamora, Solito

I just started Solito and I'm already hooked. So close on this challenge now. So close!

#49 You Have a Friend in 10A: Stories A collection of short stories featuring various aspects of modern life. Good stories but not particularly memorable. 3 stars. Audiobook. Contemporary Fiction/Short Story.

#50 Chapel of Ease You can't hate a hillbilly fairy story that ends with a dance off. This is a series that has improved with each book and this one is definitely the best so far. 3 Broadway VS Cloggers stars. Audiobook. Fantasy.

#51 Symphony of Secrets After The Violin Conspiracy, I had to read Brendan Slocumb's latest. It does not disappoint. This man really knows how to tell a story. The view into the world of music - so interesting. The characters and story - so relevant. 4stars. Audiobook. Fiction.

Star Tally 2023

5 stars - 9
4 stars - 24
3 stars - 16
2 stars - 2

Currently:
The Spare Man ebook
Solito audiobook

Still intend to finish just not currently motivated:
A Suitable Boy ebook
Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Another one down! Chapel of Ease

A broadway actor travels to Needsville to return the ashes of his Tufa friend to his family. And also to solve some of the mysteries surrounding his friend. Needless to say some of the Tufa don't take this very well.

This is a series I started reading due to connections between the writer and the story to locations in my home state. There are also fairies and a mysterious Appalachian tribe and lots of magic if you like that sort of thing. It is a series that I think has improved with each book and this was the best of the series so far. You really can't hate a book that ends with a dance off instead of a fist fight.

3 hillbilly ho-down stars.

Favorite Quote:

“We have to face the world like it is before we can make it what it should be.”
― Alex Bledsoe, Chapel of Ease

( I love that the above quote comes from a book about magic and a lost tribe of fairies. That's facing reality right?)

Great month Alissa! I love that you are reading along with your kids. I used to read some great books that way once upon a time. Believe me it will pay off. Your kids will look back when they are older and remember talking about books with you and they will learn a lot from hearing you talk about their books.

Alissa wrote: " BOOK 52

Sorry Michelle, another dog book lol
This one was on my Children's book list as well as in a Classics group I am in.

White Fang by Jack London

[bookcover:Wh..."

I actually love it when one book leads to another similar or related one like this. And who doesn't love a good dog book. You definitely picked three good ones.

Currently listening to Chapel of Ease. This is definitely a series that has improved as it progresses.

Jackie wrote: "Russia is in Asia and Europe, however, Moscow is in Europe, I believe."

OK thanks!

Bill wrote: "Michelle wrote: "You're so lucky to live near so many bookstores. We only have one and its not much. I have to find them when I travel. I love that you have a Little Free Library. You should post a..."

I love it! That must be so much fun.

You're so lucky to live near so many bookstores. We only have one and its not much. I have to find them when I travel. I love that you have a Little Free Library. You should post a picture of it. That is so much fun.

#18 adding A Gentleman in Moscow for Russia. I'm calling that Asia. Is Russia Asia or is it Europe? I mean I know where it is but what do we consider it? I'm calling it Asia.

Enjoying a quick spring break in Florida with The Orchid Thief.

All these dog books! I'm getting teary eyed just thinking about it.

Thanks to my husband I did read Baldacci's The Christmas Train. That's a great one for anyone who likes to read a Christmas book around the holidays.

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "#45 Nettle & Bone A fairy tale for the modern ages with a princess who solves her own problem and a hero that has her back. Along ..."

I don't know if you telling me that makes me less eager or more eager to read the rest of the series.