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

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

Lillie wrote: "Oh! I’ve never seen anyone else who’s read Six Wakes. Read it for book club a couple of years ago and I still remember it. Such a unique (to me) take. The author has a new book that..."

I enjoyed it too Lillie (more to follow). I'm going to have to check out the new one.

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Well done for reading over 100 books!"

Thanks Desley!

I felt the same way about the little reading program that schools used when my kids were in elementary school. They had to read books from a list and take a quiz on them. They got so many points and the school usually rewarded points in some way. Teachers almost always made the points part of the grading system which made participation mandatory. This was OK if your child was already someone who loved reading but if they weren't it was more likely to make them hate it than love it. Sad. I hope they don't still do that in classrooms.

Lillie wrote: "Book #158 The House of the Spirits 5 stars audiobook

Quarter of the way through I got to a part that was pretty wretched and I thought..."

A great review. It's one of those books that you feel so mixed up about at the end that you can hardly explain to people what it was about or why you liked it. You did a great job with it!

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I completed Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe over the weekend. I'm glad I finally read this modern classic. Th..."

I can see how your daughter might feel that way. You could not really like the characters of the story but you could recognize the eternal patterns of life represented in the story and enjoy the practical wisdom of the author. If this book was required reading for your daughter, (rather than a curious need to read books that others have raved about and to understand what they saw in them as it was for me) then I can definitely appreciate her feelings. This was not a feel-good book and required reading has turned more than one fine piece of classic literature into a hated forever book. For me that book would be The Red Badge of Courage. During my school years I had to read it three times. A tiny book but I hated it and could hardly make it to the end. I read it a fourth time voluntarily to see if I just misjudged it. Nope. Still hated it. Hate thinking about it now. Sorry your daughter feels that way but I get it.

#100 A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting A fun little regency romance. The MC has to marry rich in order to save her four sisters from a life of poverty and only one man stands in her way. Light, predictable but with lots of witty banter. Audiobook. 4 stars. Romance.

#101 The Golden Enclaves I thought this was a good ending to a series that I have enjoyed. I'm not sure the magic held up or maybe I just didn't follow it well but I thought the author finished up all the loose story lines nicely. Audiobook. 4 stars. Fantasy.

#102 Things Fall Apart A tale of colonialism and one man's struggles with changing times by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. ebook. 4 stars. Historical Fiction.

#103 Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant: All Volumes Volumes 1 & 2 only because these were the ones available on audiobook from my library. Well written and detailed these first two volumes cover the period from Grant's boyhood until he as appointed Lieutenant General over the Union forces during the Civil War (the War of Succession as Grant consistently refers to it). Much of the military portions dealt with battles that took place in the area that I live in so that added interest for me. I do have to apologize to President Obama, however. I was highly critical of the length of his memoir. Little did I know that Mr. Grant had published six volumes which basically include an entire Civil War reenactment. Keep writing Mr. Obama you are cleared to go. Audiobook. 4 stars. Nonfiction-Memoirs.

103 Books/11409 Pages
Blew past the 100 book marker! Woohoo!

Currently:
Six Wakes Audiobook. SciFi Mystery. I'm liking it.
Other Birds ebook. Latest by Sarah Addison Allen an author I usually enjoy.
New and Selected Poems, Volume One by Mary Oliver ebook. Still enjoying this one a nibble at a time.
Cloud Cuckoo Land Hardback. I'm ignoring this one again. I can't figure out why this one is to difficult. I enjoy it when I can sit down and read it. Oh wait, maybe that is it. I haven't really been able to just sit down and read lately. I'm in that mid life squeeze stage of life, a sandwhich with me in the middle children/grandchild on one side and parents on the other. Its great to have them all but terrible for reading time.

Today I finished listening to Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant: All Volumes. Lauded as one of the best presidential memoirs of all time. Grant was a larger-than-life character living in extraordinary times. This memoir discusses those times in a straightforward manner and in great detail while still giving the reader a picture of the type of man that Grant was. A man of action and strong opinions who could be generous of spirit when called for. A rugged, pioneer type of patriot who thrived in military life.

Full disclosure. I listened to Volumes 1 & 2 of 6 volumes of this extensive memoir. These volumes began with boyhood and extended through his appointment as Lieutenant General of the Union forces during the Civil War or as Grant refers to it the War of Succession. These were the only volumes my library has on audiobook and for purposes of this and all other challenges I am calling it complete. I may one day go back and read the remaining volumes because it was interesting. The portion of the war covered in volume 2 centered around the part of the country that I live in and that made them even more interesting. However, I take back everything I said about Obama's memoir being too long. He definitely had precedence.

4 Union Jack stars for good old Mr. Grant.

Favorite Quotes:

But my later experience has taught me two lessons: first, that things are seen plainer after the events have occurred; second, that the most confident critics are generally those who know the least about the matter criticised.”

“The distant rear of an army engaged in battle is not the best place from which to judge correctly what is going on in front.”

I completed Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe over the weekend. I'm glad I finally read this modern classic. The story follows the life of one man and his tribe as he enters manhood, carves out a place of good standing within his tribe, is exiled, and finally, returns to the tribe which has changed in his absence. The main character's story runs parallel to the story of the early colonization of Nigeria which makes this also the story of colonization as it has been repeated throughout history.

Achebe's style is sparse and direct but deeply poignant at times in spite of that. The main character is not particularly likeable, but the reader has sympathy for him, nevertheless. In spite of everything he lives by the principles of the tribe as he perceived them. His steadfastness should have been his greatest strength but in the face of swiftly changing times became his greatest weakness.

4 stars for wisdom passed through story.

Favorite Quotes:

“There is no story that is not true, [...] The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.”

“There was a saying in Umuofia that as a man danced so the drums were beaten for him.”

"Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness.
It was deeper and more intimate that the fear of evil and capricious gods and of magic, the fear of the forest, and of the forces of nature, malevolent, red in tooth and claw.
Okonkwo’s fear was greater than these. It was not external but lay deep within himself.”

Wow you are killing list number 2! I feel like such a slacker.

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Last night my husband and I watched Mr. Harrigan's Phone on Netflix. This was an adaptation of Stephen King's short story by the same name. I love King's short stories and I think ..."

I think you will like it Alondra. No real gore or super villain here just good old fashioned round the campfire scary story. At one point watching the action on screen I told my husband OK I would have peed my pants just then. Creepy like that.

If you like a romance now and then to lighten things up, this would probably be perfect for you. Just be prepared to suspend disbelief now and then. I find I have to do that as much with the romance genre as I do with fantasy.

Last night my husband and I watched Mr. Harrigan's Phone on Netflix. This was an adaptation of Stephen King's short story by the same name. I love King's short stories and I think this is one of his better ones. They did a great job converting it to the screen. It was very true to the original story. Donald Sutherland was great as Mr. Harrigan. It looked like Stephen King was involved in the production so that is probably why it turned out so well. Anyway I would encourage all of you King fans who have access to Netflix to watch it. A great creepy movie for October. Movie. 5 stars. Great King.

I'm still reading Things Fall Apart. I have been listening to Personal Memoirs on audiobook and I finished volume 1 of 2. I'm taking a break between volumes but it is quite good.

Glad to hear you are all OK after Ian!. Prayers for the people of Florida.

oooh you're going to love Boys Life. I wish I was reading it again for the first time.

#97 Ellie Dwyer's Great Escape A senior woman takes to the open road in a camper after her husband abandons her. This was for my RL book club. An improvement over last month's selection. Audiobook. 3 stars. Contemporary Fiction.

#98 The Alzheimer's Solution: A Breakthrough Program to Prevent and Reverse the Symptoms of Cognitive Decline at Every Age A lot of good information and real ideas about non-pharma ways to fight dementia. At the same time the lifestyle if you followed all the "rules" would seem somewhat bleak. Very thorough in the areas that were covered. ebook. 4 stars. Nonfiction-Health.

#99 Thank You for Listening I needed something funny and peppy after the above. This fit the bill nicely. I don't think I have ever seen a romance author cram as many romance tropes into one novel as Julia Whelan managed to do in this one. Fortunately, with the playful banter, sweet family side story and endless hot innuendo, this story really works. Also the author happens to be a popular audiobook reader and since the story centers around an audiobook narrator it made for a great audio production. Audiobook. 4 stars. Romantic Comedy.

99 books/11146 pages

Current:
Personal Memoirs Audiobook.
A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting Audiobook.
Things Fall Apart ebook.
Cloud Cuckoo Land Hardback.

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "#94 Fairy Tale For Stephen King I would call this story whimsical. Don't get me wrong there was plenty of grit and gore but overall i..."

Happy reading Alondra!!!

I'm trying to get into it Bill. Fall activities are interfering with my fall reading plan.

Beginning Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Time to get serious about finishing this challenge.

Megan wrote: "So I failed this challenge LOL!! so many books so little time, and my Dad sent me money to by some books for my birthday and I think I need to go to books anonymous or something, cause that is all ..."

Don't beat yourself up. There are a lot worse habits and there are still a few months left in the year.