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

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

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

Waffles and books sounds like a great idea for a book shop. It would smell amazing inside.

Bill wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Call Us What We Carry Overlooked! Thanks to the Goodreads friends who nominated this one. I might never have read it other..."

Thanks Bill. Worth the read.

Ioana wrote: "It was high school Romanian class, but probably same difference when it comes to poetry.
Funny thing though, I used to love reading poetry and plays (in prose or verse). But we had a wonderful teac..."

Oops! Sorry. Just trying to say that this is not stilted verse written by dead guys. It's relevant.

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Call Us What We Carry A beautiful poetry collection by Amanda Gorman centered around the events of 2020. This poetry does not shy away from the ugliness but it can help heal and in..."

This is not the poetry of your high school English class. I think you would find it easy to read and interesting since it references something we all lived through.

Ioana wrote: "Lea wrote: "And not paying any attention to Ioana next time she tries claim she's not part of the enabling group around here. :-) 8 weeks hold for Demon Copperhead, who thinks I can squeeze in Davi..."

You might win the race if you keep convincing us to add them on 2 at a time. 34 hours is one long audiobook.

#23 One Last Gift A story about a young woman's grief for her brother after his death; a posthumously delivered christmas gift and an old friend who helps her overcome it. This was a sad but sweet story. There was romance but I wouldn't call it a romance exactly. The characters didn't always react in ways that I thought were realistic but that is my main criticism. Did I mention it was sad. 3 stars. Paperback. Contemporary Literature.

#24 Killers of a Certain Age An all-female assassin team has miraculously reached the golden age only to find their well-deserved retirement interrupted by someone trying to kill them. Only one thing to do. Go back to work. This book was a hoot. 4 menopausal murder stars. Audiobook. Mystery/Thriller.

#25 Call Us What We Carry A beautiful poetry collection by Amanda Gorman centered around the events of 2020. This poetry does not shy away from the ugliness but it can help heal and inspire compassion. A must read. 5 no better compass than compassion stars. ebook. Poetry.

Star Tally 2023
5 stars - 5
4 stars - 13
3 stars - 5
2 stars - 2

Current
A Suitable Boy ebook. Now and forever.
Running Blind Paperback. I'm such a Reacher fangirl now.
The Grace of Kings Audiobook. Just settling into this one.

Your review of Demon Copperhead is so good and so convincing that I just added not one book but two to my to read library list. Demon Copperhead and David Copperfield. I don't know when/how it will happen but I'm totally sold.

Call Us What We Carry Overlooked! Thanks to the Goodreads friends who nominated this one. I might never have read it otherwise and that would be a shame.

Amanda Gorman wrote and compiled a gorgeous selection of poems which document and witness to the events of 2020 and the pandemic. The poems address the helplessness, the ugly events and even the historical precedence and background. Examining our motives and feelings through the lens of poetry. And in the end ultimately giving hope that we will learn from what we went through and grow as a people and a nation.

Good poetry can capture a moment in time as well or better than a photograph because it lets you not only see the moment but feel it. This is good poetry. Gorman captures the fear, rage, futility, and hope of 2020 pandemic perfectly in this series of poems. This is poetry that can teach as well as heal if the reader is willing. I can't think of anything better to recommend it.

5 Hopeful stars

Favorite quotes:

“Anxiety is a living body, Poised beside us like a shadow. It is the last creature standing, The only beast who loves us Enough to stay.”
― Amanda Gorman, Call Us What We Carry

“There is no better compass than compassion.”
― Amanda Gorman, Call Us What We Carry

“We lay down our arms
so we can reach out our arms
to one another
We seek harm to none and harmony for all
Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:
That even as we grieved, we grew
That even as we hurt, we hoped
That even as we tired, we tried”
― Amanda Gorman, Call Us What We Carry

“Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed
A nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished.”
― Amanda Gorman, Call Us What We Carry

Updating:

1. A book with a villain. Verity
3. A book released over 5 years ago. Three to Get Deadly
4. A book with a protagonist that is over 40. Killers of a Certain Age
8. A book with alternating time periods. The Liar's Dictionary
14. A book with a one word title. Fallen
16. A book that starts with “H”. His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life
21. A book that is co-authored.Mad Honey

I'm so relieved to see that I'm not the only one who had problems with The Maid. Not only do I agree with you about justice vs. revenge, I thought that the author took the easy way out with that resolution to the mystery. I expected better after all the hype for the book.

Lillie wrote: "And, of course, all of my library holds came in at the same time. My reading for the foreseeable future

Print
[bookcover:Murder at Mallowan Hall|5..."

Wow, that's a lot of holds hitting at once and you're not even panicking. That many would make me crazy. I already delay and delay and delay my holds. If they all came up at once that would stress me out.

Lillie wrote: "February wrap up:
Books Read ~ 16 (Audiobooks 11, Print 5)
Books Off of the Challenge ~ 7
Shiny "new" Books ~ 9

Top 2 Books (both 4.5 stars)
[bookcover:S..."

You're top 2 are on my list glad to see you enjoyed them.

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I started Running Blind Jack Reacher #4 over the weekend. This one had me at hello."

I was not a fan of Killing Floor, but I've heard the books get bett..."

If you weren't a fan Ioana maybe you should think about it. I just really like the Reacher character. I like that he is so basic and enjoys the simple things but when trouble hits (and it always does) he gets the job done without a fuss. Reacher reminds me a lot of Murderbot and I like them for basically the same reason. There is a lot of violence in these though. If you don't enjoy that these may be a no. The books are action packed but not that cerebral. I wouldn't call them book candy more like a book power bar.

Bill wrote: "Sounds like an interesting book."

A fun one Bill but with plenty of twists and tangles to keep the plot interesting.

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "4 Experience trumps youth stars"

Yay! Glad you enjoyed it :)"

Thanks Lillie, I did!

Bonnie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Killers of a Certain Age Overlooked!

Four senior women on a cruise to celebrate their retirement find that someone is ..."


Thanks Bonnie! It was hard to choose there were so many good lines.

Now listening to The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu.

Killers of a Certain Age Overlooked!

Four senior women on a cruise to celebrate their retirement find that someone is trying to kill them. Unfortunately for the killers, these women have worked together for the last 40 years as an all-female assassin team. Under the circumstances there is only one thing they can do. Forget retirement and do what they do best.

If you've ever felt discounted for being female and/or over 50, then this book is for you. These four no nonsense characters target their enemies and take them out. Along the way there are lots of twists and a few good laughs. If you're lucky you may learn something useful. I had no idea that nondairy creamer was highly flammable. Live and learn.

4 Experience trumps youth stars.

Favorite Quotes:

“Only women are ever called persnickety," Mary Alice said. "Men get to be 'detail oriented.”
― Deanna Raybourn, Killers of a Certain Age

“She might be less than what she had once been, but she was still worth a hell of a lot.”
― Deanna Raybourn, Killers of a Certain Age

“I’m a woman. Guilt is our birthright.”
― Deanna Raybourn, Killers of a Certain Age