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

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

Ioana wrote: "You have to stop!!!
I've been looking at this book for a long time and resisted adding it to my TBR. And then you come along with a great review and a 5 star rating. What can I do now???"

Read it! Definitely read it. It was great! I had to stop the audio at one point because I was afraid of what I thought was about to happen to this young man.

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Just started listening to Iron Lake byWilliam Kent Krueger. I've loved Krueger's stand alones, time to delve into the Cork O'conner series."

Can't w..."

Exactly why it's taken me so long to give them a try. Time to find out.

Just started listening to Iron Lake byWilliam Kent Krueger. I've loved Krueger's stand alones, time to delve into the Cork O'conner series.

The Violin Conspiracy Fini! Overlooked!

A young black man pursues a career in classical music against all odds. A gift of an old family violin from his grandmother turns out to be the key that opens doors when it is identified as a Stradivarius. Unfortunately, the discovery puts him at odds with a number of people who want to claim his grandmother's gift for themselves. When the violin is stolen from his hotel room there are many suspects.

When I picked this book for this list, I expected to enjoy it. I never expected to love it like I did. After only a few pages, I was so invested in this character. I ached for him with every twist and turn. And every child deserves someone like his grandmother in their life. I can't say this was the best mystery, but it was great fiction and very timely. Written by a classical musician, all the musical parts of the story rang true. The audiobook production was also excellent. I strongly recommend this one.

5 master storyteller stars

Favorite quotes:

“We’re here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark.”
― Brendan Slocumb, The Violin Conspiracy

“Alone, we are a solitary violin, a lonely flute, a trumpet singing in the dark. Together, we are a symphony.”
― Brendan Slocumb, The Violin Conspiracy

“Music’s the gift. Caring’s the gift. And you give it to others now. There are a lot of ways apart from a concert hall to make a difference in someone’s life.”
― Brendan Slocumb, The Violin Conspiracy

Lea wrote: "I just keep hitting the move forward 15 seconds button, if there's something happening that I find boring. I find that if you hit that button 8 or 10 times, (for me I have a song rhythm), it's like..."

That is my answer for anything I just don't want to hear but not usually for boredom. I guess making myself listen to it, even at top speed is my form of being a completist. Besides it's hard to fast forward when you're snoozing.

You're going to love it Alondra

Fair enough

Ioana wrote: "I see...that's why I abandon the book. Very rarely I can bump it up to 1.25x, but it's mostly normal speed. It takes forever if the book is boring."

I guess you have to train your ears but that means listening to a lot of boring books so not worth it.

Ioana wrote: "You probably know this by now:
1) read beginning of 1st paragraph on the page
2) fight description? Y - go to last paragraph on the page; N- continue reading
3) if you skipped from #2 above - still..."

Solution for audiobooks:

Speed audio up to maximum speed you can tolerate. For me that is about 2X I usually listen at 1.5X

#26 Running Blind Reacher unwillingly helps the FBI catch a serial killer. I knew who the killer was almost immediately, but I read the rest of the book to find out how. I enjoyed every word. Reacher is such a great character. I had a few problems with this book, but they weren't enough to spoil the story for me. 4 fan girl stars. Paperback. Thriller.

#27 The Grace of Kings This was good epic fantasy with solid writing. Unfortunately, it also had a LOT of detail on military strategy, martial arts and weaponry. It was like Bruce Lee trying to play Frodo in Lord of the Rings. Just not a good fit. 3 stars. Audiobook. Fantasy.

#28 Lessons in Chemistry Loved this book. It was humorous, heartbreaking and still drove home a serious message. It was historical fiction but I think the message still needs to be heard today. I strongly recommend this one. It won't be the book you think it is. I promise. 5 Go girl! stars. Audiobook. Historical Fiction.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 6
4 stars - 14
3 stars - 6
2 stars - 2

Current
A Suitable Boy ebook. Of course.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold ebook. Interesting concept.
The Violin Conspiracy audiobook. This one already has me hooked.

I should be fair to Grace of Kings and let you know that I am constantly teased by my family for falling asleep during the fight scenes in a movie. I don't think I've ever seen a complete Marvel movie because the big finale is always an epic blow by blow fight scene which I find boring. I mean we know who's going to win right? Somehow when the fighting starts it says to my brain go to sleep until its over. I'm as predictable as Pavlov's dog. Apparently this failing extends to audiobooks. This was a probelm here because I mainly listen to audiobooks when driving and cooking. You really don't want to fall asleep during either one of those.

Ioana wrote: "It's bad when a book is boring....it's terrible when a 640 pages book it boring.
You did well, at least you finished it."

Not all 640 pages were boring just the 400 that described military or political strategy, martial arts, or swords and other weapons.

The Grace of Kings Finished.

Two men one a warrior one an adventurer find themselves brothers in rebellion. However, once the old regime has been extiguished they find they must turn and fight each other. Only one can win. Only one can rule. What happens to the other one is up to the grace of the king.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Epic fantasy: good. ZZZZZZZZZZZ Lots of characters: OK. Lots of backstory: not OK. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Lots and lots and lots of military strategy and detailed blow by blow battles: boring. ZZZZZZZZZZZ I kept drifting off. ZZZZZZZZZZZZ Sorry, couldn't help it too much fighting: puts me to sleep. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ I won't give it 2 stars because the part I was awake for was well written and great fantasy. Just me, but I don't really have to know about every stroke of the sword. This guy fought that guy. That guy won. Enough said.

3 boring martial arts stars.

Favorite quotes:

“It's easy for men to be friends as close as brothers when they're poor and struggling, but much harder when things are going well. Friends are never as close as blood. Remember that, Rat.”
― Ken Liu, The Grace of Kings

“He was like a seed still tethered to the withered flower, just waiting for the dead air of the late summer evening to break, for the storm to begin.”
― Ken Liu, The Grace of Kings

Next up The Violin Conspiracy

Lessons in Chemistry Overlooked! Oh my goodness yes! This book! Yes!

No-nonsense chemist Elizabeth Zott only wants to live her life and pursue her career by the same rules as the men she works with. Unfortunately, in the early 1960's that just isn't going to be allowed. After a heartbreaking series of unfortunate events, she finds herself the hosting an afternoon cooking show to support herself and her child. But maybe against all odds this show will lead to her finally being able to show the world who she really is.

This book was amazing. A sweet love story, a zany cast of characters, an amazing dog, a smart kid, and a serious underlying message about feminism. This was above all an entertaining story, but it did have a serious side. The points made about women and the expectations that society places on them are still valid even today. We have made great strides, but women still struggle for equality. I would never have read this if it hadn't shown up on the Goodreads Choice list. Somehow I thought it was just another cheesy contemporary rom-com. It was not. It was nominated in several categories and won for Best New Fiction. Well deserved.

5 Girls Rule stars.

Favorite Quotes:

“Sometimes I think," she said slowly, "that if a man were to spend a day being a woman in America, he wouldn't make it past noon.”
― Bonnie Garmus, Lessons in Chemistry

“Every day she found parenthood like taking a test for which she had not studied. The questions were daunting and there wasn’t nearly enough multiple choice.”
― Bonnie Garmus, Lessons in Chemistry

“Whenever you feel afraid, just remember. Courage is the root of change - and change is what we're chemically designed to do. So when you wake up tomorrow, make this pledge. No more holding yourself back. No more subscribing to others' opinions of what you can and cannot achieve. And no more allowing anyone to pigeonhole you into useless categories of sex, race, economic status, and religion. Do not allow your talents to lie dormant, ladies. Design your own future. When you go home today, ask yourself what YOU will change. And then get started.”
― Bonnie Garmus, Lessons in Chemistry

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Running Blind Done!!

An FBI profiling unit hauls Reacher in because apparently, he is a perfect match for the profile of a serial..."

Thanks Alondra! I'm really liking my series list. I'm thinking of doing a follow up one. We'll see. Hope you like Running Blind when you get to it. It was really good!

Alondra wrote: "7 out of 12 books read on this list. Thats awesome!!

Plus, you read some really good books. :)"

Thanks Alondra! With two lists I'm trying really hard to stay on task and not notice other shiny pretty books but it is hard. Luckily these have been really good for the most part. I guess Goodreads readers really know their stuff.

Running Blind Done!!

An FBI profiling unit hauls Reacher in because apparently, he is a perfect match for the profile of a serial killer. Turns out the match is not so perfect but they do need Reacher's help to solve the case. Meanwhile Reacher decides a quiet life with Jodi may not be in the cards.

This was not my favorite Reacher book, but they always keep me engaged. Not only do I love the character, but I always want to see Reacher solve the case and administer a little Reacher justice. In this case I spotted the killer early on but I had to stick around to the end to understand how it was done.

4 vagabond stars.

Favorite Quotes:

“lifetime in the service was like rushing down a narrow corridor, eyes fixed firmly to the front. There was all kinds of enticing stuff off to the sides, which you rushed past and ignored. Now he wanted to take the side trips. He wanted a crazy zigzag, any direction he felt like, any old time he wanted. And returning to the same”
― Lee Child, Running Blind

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "#24 Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn Killers of a Certain Age An all-female assassin team has miraculously reached the golden age only to find their well-deserved retire..."

LOL. Yep! I kept thinking through the whole book, no one should mess with these women even if they weren't trained assassins. After a "certain age", women just don't put up with a lot of crap.

Just off the top of my head, how about the Bronte Banana Foster waffle