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

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

Wow this one sounds like one of your nonfiction must reads.

Ioana wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Hey, it's 4 stars; so it may not be your favorite, but you liked it! LOL."

Exactly, it was fun and an easy read. A fairy tale, after all 😉"

Maybe not the best SK but a great dog.

Ioana wrote: "Both your #36 and #37 are on my list, actually on a long waiting list for Remarkably Bright Creatures. So many people wanting to read about an octopus 😱"

Strange isn't it but he was really a great character.

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "You should definitely give Krueger a try Alondra. I enjoyed This Tender Land but my all time favorite Krueger was Ordinary Grace. Not so much for the mystery as the story. He is a ..."

If you're on the fence read the preface (or forward whichever it's called) and see if it doesn't hook you.

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Remarkably Bright Creatures Done! Overlooked.

Tova, alone and heartbroken, cleans the aquarium at night and confid..."

It was a good one Alondra. Despite the subject matter it turned out to be surprisingly upbeat and the octopus was fun. Hope you win the giveaway!

#36 Prisoners of the Castle: An Epic Story of Survival and Escape from Colditz, the Nazis' Fortress Prison A history of the Colditz Castle POW camp during WWII. The problem enemy officer POW's were sent to the castle which proved to be difficult but not impossible to escape. The ingenuity and determination of these prisoners was remarkable. 4 stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-History.

#37 Remarkably Bright Creatures Tova lives a solitary, heartbroken life and confides only to Marcelus, the octopus on exhibit in the aquarium where she works. Marcelus is determined to help Tova's story have a happy ending. A surprisingly upbeat but unusual book, partially narrated by the octopus. Nice one. 4 stars. Audiobook. Contemporary Fiction.

#38 The Bodyguard I always enjoy Katherine Center but this may be my favorite. A down on her luck personal security agent is assigned to protect a Hollywood megastar home for a visit. Sweet. 4 stars. Audiobook. Rom-Com.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 7
4 stars - 19
3 stars - 10
2 stars - 2

Currently reading or at least pretending to:
A Suitable Boy ebook
A Gentleman in Moscow paperback Loving this one but taking it slow.
Defending Jacob Audiobook. I read this several years ago. Listening now for my IRL bookclub.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold ebook

Glad you're OK Martha!

Oh Redwall! I read some of those with my kids. We all enjoyed them. Hope you do too! And murderbot of course, I know you will like. What a great reading quarter you have to look forward to.

And another one down! The Bodyguard Overlooked. But not really. I love Katherine Center and I would have gotten to this one eventually even without the list.

Hannah recently lost her mother, got dumped by her boyfriend and betrayed by her best friend. Her work for a personal security company is her only refuge. When her boss assigns her to guard a spoiled Hollywood star things couldn't get much worse. Or maybe this assignment will actually make everything better.

This was a lighthearted romantic comedy. Sweet and funny but still smart. A perfect light read. If you were looking for it on the book menu, you would find it in the desert section. I always enjoy Katherine Center's books but I think this might be my favorite so far. I would recommend it to anyone who needs and upbeat read.

4 if you'll be my bodyguard stars.

Favorite Quotes:

“You can’t make people love you. But you can give the love you long for out to the world. You can be the love you wish you had. That’s the way to be okay. Because giving love to other people is a way of giving it to yourself.”
― Katherine Center, The Bodyguard

“People who want to be famous think it’s the same thing as being loved, but it’s not. Strangers can only ever love a version of you. People loving you for your best qualities is not the same as people loving you despite your worst.”
― Katherine Center, The Bodyguard

Alissa wrote: "Completed Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt



4 STARS
Audiobook

Who would have thought that having..."

Ditto. A sweet little book.

Next up The Bodyguard.

Remarkably Bright Creatures Done! Overlooked.

Tova, alone and heartbroken, cleans the aquarium at night and confides in the sole octopus, Marcelus. With his help lonely people are drawn together and old mysteries solved.

This was an unusual book. The octopus narrates his portion of the story and is surprisingly charming. The storylines of the people in the book seem a little farfetched at times but they all come together in the end with the help of Marcelus. This was a sweet story and the observations from the octopus made it more interesting. On the whole very enjoyable and quite sweet.

4 warms the cockles of your heart stars.

Favorite Quotes:

“Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.”
― Shelby Van Pelt, Remarkably Bright Creatures

“It seems to be a hallmark of the human species: abysmal communication skills. Not that any other species are much better, mind you, but even a herring can tell which way the school it belongs to is turning and follow accordingly. Why can humans not use their millions of words to simply tell one another what they desire?”
― Shelby Van Pelt, Remarkably Bright Creatures

Thanks Ioana. Hope you enjoy Prisoners. I thought it was really interesting.

The Golden Spoon was a fun read Patricia. Happy reading!

Lea wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Looks like you had a good month Lea and knocked out a couple of huge books. I totally agree with you about The Rooster Bar. Not Grisham's best and I would add depressing. I think h..."

Now that you remind me her other series was supposed to be the next Harry Potter. It really wasn't. After checking the library I am pleased to say that it will probably be about 5 years before I can get the book. By that time I am sure my outrage will have died down and maybe I will be able to talk myself out of this one. Again. Still, The Hobbit?

I've begun listening to Remarkably Bright Creatures. I'm not sure what the book is about yet but I'm surprised how much I like the octopus.

Prisoners of the Castle: An Epic Story of Survival and Escape from Colditz, the Nazis' Fortress Prison Complete! I would have to say overlooked on this one. It was far more entertaining than I expected.

During WWII, Colditz Castle was the Nazi POW camp for the most incorrigible enemy officers. Those who repeatedly tried to escape or insisted on being openly defiant. The castle was also almost impossible to escape from but escape and transmission of intelligence from behind the lines became the prisoner's main occupation for the duration of the war. The stories of their ingenuity and their determination are both entertaining and inspiring.

When I was a kid before cable etc. after school TV meant reruns of popular old TV shows, The Brady Bunch, The Beverly Hillbillys, Gilligan's Island. My brother was a fan of the Hogan's Heroes reruns. A comedy show about POW's in Nazi Germany who don't try to escape but work to foil the Nazi war machine from their POW camp. This book was as close to a real Hogan's Heroes as I think you could come. While it wasn't all light-hearted, it was fascinating. I was amazed at what they were able to do and the ideas they came up with. Of course there were also terrible atrocities. I was relieved that the author covered the liberation of the camp and what happened to some of the major players after the war. I needed the closure. A good read and not one I would have picked up without this list so thanks again Goodreads Choice.

4 medal of honor stars.

Favorite quote:

“parapets…I felt the battlements close in, enfolding”
― Ben Macintyre, Prisoners of the Castle: An Epic Story of Survival and Escape from Colditz, the Nazis' Fortress Prison

Wow! 23 books! Great month Lillie.

Nice month Alissa. I have just started Remarkably Bright Creatures. I'm not sure I know where this story is going yet but I am surprised at how much I like the octopus.

Looks like you had a good month Lea and knocked out a couple of huge books. I totally agree with you about The Rooster Bar. Not Grisham's best and I would add depressing. I think he must have needed money. Your discussion of TPOTOT has totally upset me. It looks like a book I would like but I read two from this authors previous series and I have to say I had a lot of problems with them. I finally convinced myself to give up on the series. Because of that I have been resisting reading TPOTOT, very successfully I might add, until your review. And you tell me it has been compared to The Hobbit? JRR Tolkien? Sacred text for fantasy nerds? Now I'm going to have to read it if only to say TPOTOT I have read The Hobbit and you sir are not The Hobbit. Thanks a lot! I'm going to Libby now to put it on reserve. Also the first cover is definitely the prettiest.