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

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

Good luck Denise. New books are always a temptation.

Carolien wrote: "Another book down (more of a novella actually). The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish written in 1664 is generally regarded as the oldest piece of science fiction ..."

Ooooh! SciFi from 1664. How interesting.

#33 Celia Garth This is a book I checked out multiple times from the school library as a young teen. I wanted to see if I would still enjoy it. The answer was yes with a few reservations. The story centers around a female Johnny Tremaine-like character who acts as a spy in revolutionary Charleston. There is also a romance of course though not like the contemporary romances I read today. I'm pretty sure Mrs. Phillips, our librarian, wouldn't have put those on the shelf. The novel was actually written in 1959 and it shows. ( For clairity I was not a schoolgirl in 1959. These must have been considered clean reads for teens of the 1980's or someone donated them.) It was definitely written before feminism and political correctness were a thing. I never noticed it then but I'm pretty sure now I would deck any guy who called me "honeychild". There were also a few anachronisms particularly with the language. I really don't think the colonialists used the word wow?? In spite of that it was a good coming of age story and I was surprised at how much revolutionary history was included with a fair amount of accuracy. 3 blast from the past stars. ebook. Historical Fiction.

#34 Shrines of Gaiety More historical fiction. I'm on a roll. I enjoyed this one as well but it was a lot more complicated. The story centers around the Coker family who operate a series of nightclubs in 1920's London. The book really gave you a good feel for the times but I did not really care for the characters. I didn't feel some of their motivations rang true. It all felt sort of pointless at the end. It's possible that was the point. 3 stars. Audiobook. Historical Fiction.

#35 The Golden Spoon I loved this one. I'm a big fan of The British Baking Show. This cozy mystery basically sets a murder mystery right in the middle of a competitive baking competition that suspiciously resembles The British Baking Show but is set in America and runs on the fictional Flicker rather than Netflix. I loved it. If you are a fan of the show you can probably make a good guess at the murder victim. Fun one. 4 perfectly baked stars. Audiobook. Cozy Mystery.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 7
4 stars - 16
3 stars - 10
2 stars - 2

Current:

Prisoners of the Castle: An Epic Story of Survival and Escape from Colditz, the Nazis' Fortress Prison Audiobook.
A Gentleman in Moscow paperback.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold ebook
A Suitable Boy ebook.

Lindsey wrote: "Finished my 3rd book - The Stationery Shop . 4 stars!

Wow, what an incredibly beautiful and heartbreaking book all in one. I feel like Celi..."


I added it too Lindsey. Sounds so good! Thanks for adding to my never ending TBR.

Alissa wrote: "Started

Audiobook.
Not sure how I feel about one of the narrators being an octopus but I'm keeping an open mind!"


I have this one checked out and will begin it soon so I'm anxious to see what your thoughts will be. I'm equally unsure about the octopus.

Next up from this list Prisoners of the Castle: An Epic Story of Survival and Escape from Colditz, the Nazis' Fortress Prison.

Shrines of Gaiety Overlooked or Over-rated??? I'm on the fence about this one.

The night-life of 1920's London provides the backdrop for this sweeping saga which follows the members of the infamous Coker family as they operate a network of night clubs in Soho. Each family member pursues his or her own aspirations ruthlessly with sometimes far-reaching effects.

I enjoyed this novel but not as much as some other Kate Atkinson books that I have read. The writing was solid, taking you back to the roaring 20's London. I definitely got the 'futility of life' that marked the times. I just didn't get the roaring devil may care gaiety in the title. The story successfully wove together the various plot lines. However, with one exception, I didn't really like the characters or buy their motivations. I feel like this book made the Goodreads Choice list before it really had the chance to be read and maybe won its place based on the reputation of the author alone. I wouldn't dispute that. As I said I enjoy Kate Atkinson. I enjoyed this book. It just wasn't as spectacular as I wanted it to be.

3 lackluster stars.

Favorite Quote:

“Life was for absorbing, not recording. And in the end, it was all just paper that someone would have to dispose of after you were gone.”
― Kate Atkinson, Shrines of Gaiety

60 books! You're amazing Lillie! I'm glad you enjoyed There There that's one that I've been considering a while. Good to know you enjoyed it.

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "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 great storyteller."
"


He has a new standalone out soon I think. The Levee. It looks like a short audiobook.

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "#29 The Violin Conspiracy Excellent! A young man stakes his future on a priceless gift he receives from his grandmother, o..."

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 great storyteller.

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "#29 The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb The Violin Conspiracy Excellent! A young man stakes his future on a priceless gift he receives from his grandmother, only to have it ta..."

Thanks Lillie! You're going to like Violin Conspiracy I think. In addition to a great story the audiobook production was top notch.

I have started Shrines of Gaiety. So far I'm not sure about this one but I usually enjoy Kate Atkinson so I'm reserving judgement. Early days!

Books! No better distraction!

#29 The Violin Conspiracy Excellent! A young man stakes his future on a priceless gift he receives from his grandmother, only to have it taken away. The mystery was good but the star of this book was the empathy you feel for this young man as the tension mounts throughout the book. So well written! 5 bravissimo stars. Audiobook. Mystery.

#30 Iron Lake A former small-town sheriff struggles with his demons while trying to solve a local murder and repair his marriage. This was well written and an interesting mystery/thriller but I wanted to like the characters better. I did enjoy it and I will probably read more in the series. 4 stars. Audiobook. Mystery/Thriller.

#31 Widowland What would have happened if Britain had signed a treaty with Nazi Germany rather than going to war? A young woman carefully navigates that new society where women are sorted into castes and widows are exiled to widowland. The reimagined history in this book was really well done and the story was interesting. It was well worth the read. It was just too derivative (see The Man in the High Castle, The Handmaiden's Tale, 1984) for me to give it more than 3 stars. Paperback. Fantasy/Alternative History.

#32 Properties of Thirst Past, present and future swirl together in this sweeping saga of a California family on the cusp of WWII. This book was beautifully written but sadly open ended. 3 left me thirsty for closure stars. Audiobook. Historical Fiction.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 7
4 stars - 15
3 stars - 8
2 stars - 2

Current:
A Suitable Boy ebook. Yes, I really am still reading it just not very much.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold ebook. I've set this one aside for the moment but I will get back to it.
Celia Garth ebook. An old favorite of mine from junior high days. I'm going to see if it holds up.
Shrines of Gaiety Audiobook. Just starting.

Wow! So many in one week! Your earbuds must be melting! Glad you liked The Book of Cold Cases. I enjoyed that one. I keep thinking I need to check out more by that author.

Alissa wrote: "I LOVE this list and you are KILLING it =) I own Killers of a Certain Age and I may have to make sure I get to it in April..."

I think you will love Killers of a Certain Age, Alissa! It was like a 007/Golden Girls mashup. I'm loving this list too. I think it just proves that Goodreads readers know their stuff.

Lillie wrote: "#50 The Body in the Garden 3.5 stars audiobook

Another series I've started, I really need to start keeping track. Need a spreadsheet. Ma..."

Glad to hear you liked Station Eternity at least a little. I also enjoyed Six Wakes and I know I'm going to have to read this one eventually. Your side note made me laugh out loud. I had to explain to my book club (who mainly want to read mysteries by the way) what a closed door mystery was. Is there a name for people who say they like to read but don't really read? I think that's my group.

Lea wrote: "You are slaying this list! And reading so many good books.

Re: the move forward button, if anything interesting is being said when I start to listen, I do have to go back and listen. I can't say ..."

Thanks! I'm enjoying this list even more than I thought I would. Ditto on the forward button. It is usually a graphic section that I just can't handle. Sometimes listening is more intense than reading. It depends on my mood. Unfortunately, with Grace of Kings it was not too graphic for me just too boring. I guess martial arts is not my thing.

Iron Lake Another one down!

Former sheriff Cork O'Connor finds more than he bargained for when he begins to investigate the disappearance of a teenaged boy. Meanwhile, he struggles with his separation from his wife and family. The fate of his community and his marriage may depend on what he discovers.

This was an engaging mystery with lots of action and an interesting substory. I did not love the characters as much as I expected to, but I did not dislike them. I do love the way William Kent Krueger writes. His emotion and his phrasing provided the perfect tempo for the book. This story was enhanced by the prequel Lightning Strike which I had read earlier but it was not necessary to read it first.

4 complicated and conflicted main character stars.

Favorite Quotes:

“sometimes the only way a man learns the true spirit of a rock is to stub his toe on it.”
― William Kent Krueger, Iron Lake

“What life gives us, good or bad, we seldom deserve.”
― William Kent Krueger, Iron Lake

Nice month Bill. You've got me interested in the Becky Chambers series but I think I'd better finish her other series first.