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

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

I'm finally getting around to finishing up this thread and the rest of 2022. COVID knocked me out for a week and I'm trying to play catch up now.

#129 To Shake the Sleeping Self: A Journey from Oregon to Patagonia, and a Quest for a Life with No Regret Honest, adventurous and well written account of one young man's journey to Patagonia and to his most authentic self. Nice. This book reminded me of the reason I enjoy memoirs - to peek into another person's reality. 4 stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-Memoir.

#130 A Very Merry Bromance The latest in the Bromance series was a delightful holiday romance. Loved it. 4 stars. Audiobook. Romance.

130 books/14910 pages

Look at you Lea, already knocking out the new list! Glad you enjoyed it.

Congrats Alissa

I felt the same way about Rose Gold. I just couldn't get past my dislike of the characters. Hope the new year brings you all 5 star book!

Way to go Martha! Stay safe and healthy. Best wishes for the new year

Way to knock out that list Bill. Good luck on the remaining.

It's definitely not a light read. Wonderful writing though.

Thanks Jackie

Complete!! Read 25 out of 26. the only one I didn't get is a book you received as a gift. I will update the thread if I happen to read one of those before the end of 2022, but for now I'm calling this challenge finished.


2. A book that takes place in New York, New Mexico, New Jersey, New Hampshire. Go Tell It on the Mountain 11/11/22

3. A book about: book clubs, book stores, libraries The Last Chance Library 2/21/22

4. A book from Moderator Recommends https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... Rose Run4/2/22

5. A new release. Sea of Tranquility 4/24/22

6. A lesser known book written by any author. Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future by Elizabeth Kolbert 3/14/22

7. A book with a two word title. Bloody Rose 1/13/22

8. A book with a different culture than yours.Jade Dragon Mountain 1/23/22

9. A book about someone who is dead.Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy 3//31/22

10. A book from a genre you don’t usually read.Love Looks Pretty on You 4/9/22

11. Read two books by one author, name author. Lee Child Killing Floor and Die Trying

12. Book set in a fictional town.The Cartographers 4/17/22

13. A light hearted or fun book. Sourdough 1/17/22

14. A book about betrayal.The Light Between Oceans 2/27/22

15. A book written by an author who uses initials for his/her name.
ie: J.K. Rowling A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher 1/2/22

16. A book you own but haven’t read yet.The Current2/4/22

17. A book from the bottom of your tbr list. Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy 6/20/22

18. A highly anticipated book. Cloud Cuckoo Land 11/14/22

19. A book you picked up at the library. All the Little Hopes 10/27/22

20. A book you bought/borrowed with out reading the inside blurb.52 Ways to Walk: The New Science and Timeless Joy of How, When, Where, and Why 3/16/22

21. A book that starts with the letter W, X,Y, or Z*We Are Inevitable3/10/22

Here is a list of books that start with x, (who knew?)
https://www.listchallenges.com/books-...

22. A book from a series. The White Mirror From the Li Du series 5/5/22

23. A book with a number in the title.Mickey 7 3/10/22

24. Read a book set in a state with a direction in its name: North, South, East, or West. (N.C, N.D, S.C, S.D, W.V) The Santa Suit, North Carolina 2/25/22

25. A book written by someone from The U.K. (N. Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales) Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls1/5/22

26. A book with an Orange cover. High Fidelity 1/15/22

Glad to be of assistance Lillie:)

Lea wrote: "Ioana wrote: "I don't doubt that someday a new technology will be available to do this. But she did not have that technology yet, she knew that and still lied about it over and over again. And it w..."

It does make it worse. The only reason to send them to jail is to discourage others from following in their footsteps. From all indications it appears they do not think they did anything wrong and they never will. Her entire case (including the pregnancies) was designed to present her as a martyr. Far from it.

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I have so little time to actually hold a book in my hands and read it these days."

I hear you, 90% of my reading is audiobooks. If these would not count, I'd probably read less th..."

They must count. Some days they preserve my sanity. I don't function well without books.

Ioana wrote: "Lillie wrote: "Book #14 Kindred 4.5 stars print book

No idea how to start this review other than wow! So intense, so emotional, so heart wrenching. Time trav..."

Glad you liked Kindred! Octavia Butler never disappoints.

Lea wrote: "Alondra wrote: "I blame Alissa. Lindsey has a whole list dedicated to that enabler!! LOL"

I'm not sure whether to blame Alissa, Lindsey, Jennifer or Michelle. All I know is that every time I go ov..."

Wait, wait, Michelle???? I am a total victim. After years of this early list-making I finally succumbed to the madness. I submit my two lists as evidence of my insanity.

Ioana wrote: "I'm a cynic, and I cannot not wonder about the timing of her 2nd pregnancy...right in time for the trial. Did that play a role in the sentencing? What human being would not feel more lenient and ge..."

After you finish reading the book you really should check out the author's podcast by the same name. It addresses this question directly and the general consensus seems to be that it was more than coincidence. I'm not sure what captivated me so much about this story. The sheer audacity I guess and the fact that no one caught on. There are some people who defend her even today. Saying that she was a visionary, and, in a few years, we will see that she was right about the technology. Maybe they are right but she definitely went about it the wrong way.

Ioana wrote: "You're doing great, reading lots of interesting books. The Jennifer Doudna and Blacktop Wasteland are both on my TBR, and I'm glad to hear they are both good.
Looks like you put a serious dent in ..."

Both of those are great books Ioana. You're going to enjoy them. Sadly, it didn't reduce the pile of books at all. All of the above were audiobooks that I check out from the library. I have so little time to actually hold a book in my hands and read it these days.

#124 The Codebreaker's Secret This is a nice historical fiction centered around a young woman's adventures as a codebreaker during WWII. The story flips back and forth between two timelines to solve a mystery. 3 stars. Audiobook. Historical Fiction.

#125 The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race Weird I should choose these back to back but this was a completely different kind of code breaking. This follows the recent advances in the field of gene mapping. It also included a lot of gossipy tidbits about the major players in recent scientific advances made in the field. I enjoyed (though I can't say I completely understood) the science portions of the book. This is a great read for someone trying to get a basic scientific understanding of recent events. The personal portions of the book were very he said/she said and I found that part a little tiring. Overall good though. 4 stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-Biography.

#126 We Met in December A perfectly light, perfectly enjoyable, perfectly forgettable romance/comedy of errors. Lots of holiday atmosphere so perfectly timed reading also. 3 stars. Audiobook. Rom-Com.

#127 Two Truths and a Lie: A Murder, a Private Investigator, and Her Search for Justice This true crime book was OK, not uninteresting. It just seemed to be a lot of rehashing of a case that had already been sufficiently rehashed. It didn't seem to come to any definitive conclusions or bring up anything new.
3 stars. Audiobook. Nonfiction-True Crime.

#128 Blacktop Wasteland Loved this one. I can't believe I waited so long to read it. The story of a man trying to escape his past. Loved the author's descriptive style. One of my favorite quotes: “When he stepped off the porch, he could feel the sun beating down on him like he owed it money.” I might use that sometime. 4 stars. Audiobook. Contemporary Fiction/Thriller

128 books/14554 pages

Currently:
A Suitable Boy ebook. Not sure I'm going to finish this one before 2023 but I'm giving it a shot
To Shake the Sleeping Self: A Journey from Oregon to Patagonia, and a Quest for a Life with No Regret Audiobook. Really enjoying this one.

Good luck clearing the shelves Lindsey! I gave up on bookcases years ago. Now I just have stacks. They have become interesting side tables.

Lea wrote: "Michelle wrote: "There was so much in Bad Blood that was just mind boggling. How did this woman get away with so much for so long? I listened to the author's podcast after I listened to the audiobo..."

Giving him a longer sentence may not be fair. They both try to blame the other one. My sense was that they were equally guilty. I don't know if 11 years is fair but they definitely need to do jail time if only to serve as an example to others. They deceived both the investors and customers no doubt. I also believe that those who spoke out against them were threatened and worse. I'm not sure how deep that part went but the more you read the more you wonder. This was not a case of buyer (or investor) beware this was intentionally duplicitous.

Lea wrote: "Ioana wrote: "I agree about the writing.
I don't know too much about patents, but it amazes me every time I watch The Shark Tank that they always ask about patents. And a lot of times they pass on ..."

There was so much in Bad Blood that was just mind boggling. How did this woman get away with so much for so long? I listened to the author's podcast after I listened to the audiobook and I was equally fascinated. I also followed the trial. I was surprised that she actually got jail time but I do think it was fair. Maybe in the beginning it was real, at least in her mind, but by the end it was just a con pure and simple.