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

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

Patricia wrote: "I loved Firekeeper's Daughter as well. Definitely more than I expected to.--I've been listening to Empire of Pain. A couple of hours left. It's amazing (and tragic) how people can b..."

Thanks Patricia! Sounds like we are reading from the same list. I have recommended Firekeeper's Daughter to so many people. Empire of Pain is indeed a tragic read. One of the facts that I found most upsetting was that Perdue Pharma had detailed sales data that revealed where the worst abuses were occuring but they used it to market the product not to help regulators identify the hotspots.

Alissa wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I finished Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by [author:Patric..."

Thanks Alissa! It is well worth the read.

#52 My Heart Is a Chainsaw Loved this horror novel by Stephen Graham Jones. Horror movie classics and their final girl victims became the theme that the author played with in this novel. The final girl is a popular trope right now but this author's excellent writing kept it fresh. A little more gore than I would have liked but otherwise a good one. Audiobook. 4 stars. Horror.

#53 American Dirt An excellent story. A thrill ride from start to finish. I actually read this some time ago but I listened to it on audio for my IRL book club this month. I thought the audioproduction lacked some of the intensity I felt when I read the print version but that could also be because I knew what was coming this time. Audiobook. 5 stars. Contemporary Fiction.

#54 Memoirs of a Geisha The tale of a young girl sold into slavery who struggles to become a Geisha and then to live on her own terms. This was a slow start for me but once I connected I loved the story and the characters. A modern classic that I'm glad I finally read. ebook. 4 stars. Historical Fiction.

#55 Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty I will be thinking about this for a very long time. I had no idea how much of the Sackler's wealth was based on addictive painkillers or how far back their manipulation of the pharmaceutical industry extended. The revelation that Perdue Pharma had hard data on just which doctors, pharmacies and parts of the country were abusing Oxycotin but used the information for marketing purposes instead of alerting authorities is still upsetting to me. This was an excellent book for understanding the opioid crisis and current related events. Audiobook. 5 stars. Nonfiction.

55 books/6970 pages

Current:
Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy Paperback. Still.
The Homewreckers ebook. Something lighter to counteract the above.

I finished Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe. This book was full of information about the Sackler Family, Perdue Pharma, the role of both of those in the opioid crisis, and the litigation that has come from it. It is essential reading for an understanding of the current events surrounding the opioid crisis. It is also sad commentary on the fact that the very capitalist system on which our country is based, if not monitored and regulated, can lead to so much destruction and devastation. In this case, it allowed the upper and middle classes (not just the Sacklers but the Perdue Pharma employess, doctors, and pharmacists that either participated or turned a blind eye) to make an obscene profit on the backs of working people who depended on the system to regulate and safe guard pharmaceutical products.

I read Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America some time ago and was astounded at the devastation of the opioid crisis and the fact that it could have been avoided. This book was equally disturbing, especially, the realization of how far back the family's history of manipulation of the pharmaceutical industry extended and how much of their fortune was amassed from dangerous and addictive pain killers.

5 eye opening stars for Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty

Favorite quotes:

“In fact, more Americans had lost their lives from opioid overdoses than had died in all of the wars the country had fought since World War II.”
― Patrick Radden Keefe, Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty

“The Sacklers took the view that the same should go for OxyContin. To the degree that people are misusing the drug and overdosing, the blame lies with any number of potentially irresponsible parties—the prescribing doctor, the wholesaler, the pharmacist, the trafficker, the abuser, the addicted person—but not with the manufacturer. Not with Purdue. Much less the Sacklers.”
― Patrick Radden Keefe, Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty

“The saga of their lives and the dynasty they would establish was also the story of a century of American capitalism. The three brothers had purchased Purdue Frederick back in the 1950s. “It was a much smaller company, originally,” Kathe said. “It was a small family business.”
― Patrick Radden Keefe, Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty

“They’re going to regret fucking with a linguist,”
― Patrick Radden Keefe, Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty

Lea wrote: "Glad you liked Memoirs of a Geisha. If you want to read who the book was based on, Geisha, a Life is an interesting read.

I have Empire of Pain on my list, I hope to get to it somet..."

I'm adding that one to the TBR Lea. Thanks!

Finishing up Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty on audio. Wow, this just gets worse and worse. I can't believe these people.

Memoirs of a Geisha completed! This was the unforgettable story of a young girl sold into slavery, her struggle to become a Geisha, and her longing for something more. Wonderful writing and a wonderful depiction of the life of a Geisha from the depression era until after WWII.

I have had this book on my mental TBR forever so I'm glad I finally read it. It did not disappoint. We see the growth of the main character who is sold into slavery at a young age and the wisdom she gains at each stage in her life. It was a moving portrait of the Geisha lifestyle and the limited choices available to these women. It was also a top notch story. Great characters. A well developed story arc. Well written.

4 graceful Geisha stars for this modern classic.

Favorite Quotes: (I'm going to try to limit myself.)

"We none of us find as much kindness in this world as we should.

Grief is a most peculiar thing; we’re so helpless in the face of it. It’s like a window that will simply open of its own accord. The room grows cold, and we can do nothing but shiver. But it opens a little less each time, and a little less; and one day we wonder what has become of it.

Adversity is like a strong wind. I don’t mean just that it holds us back from places we might otherwise go. It also tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that afterward we see ourselves as we really are, and not merely as we might like to be.

Hopes are like hair ornaments. Girls want to wear too many of them. When they become old women they look silly wearing even one.”

Lea wrote: "I'm glad you liked The White Mirror, I liked it too. Too bad Argo was not as much fun as it could have been. It's been on my list for some time."

Argo was different from the movie Lea, not as lighthearted but don't let that discourage you. When I said there was lots of cool spy stuff, I really meant it. There were a lot of wow moments when I was listening to this one and the Hollywood aspect of the Argo rescue plan was really - well, cool!

I think you would like it Alondra. It's a mystery lover's mystery.

I started Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty today and already I can't believe some of this stuff.

Thanks Amy it is nice

Touring on through Idaho with My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones. I don't love the gore but I love the way this author combines great writing with classic horror.

20 out of 26 Woohoo!

Alissa wrote: "Finished another book off my Birthday list.

Book #63: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks

3.5 STARS

I listened to the audiobook and I loved i..."

I think we share a passion for the interview style audiobook. I liked WWZ too. So much better than the lame movie. Glad you enjoyed it!

I think you will like it Bill good mystery excellent writing.

Thanks Carolien. I'm not sure about storming but I am enjoying.

Time for an update

#47 Northwind A nice YA adventure story. Think Hatchet for Vikings. Audiobook. 3 stars. YA-Adventure.

#48 The White Mirror The second book in the Li Du series. I can't say enough good things about this series. Each one is like an Agatha Christie mystery reimagined in an ancient Asian setting, this time ancient Tibet. Great writing. Great characters. Audiobook. 4 stars. Mystery.

#49 Ramón and Julieta Obviously this romance was a play on Romeo & Juliet. The traditional Mexican chef meets the son of the Taco King and things go pretty much as you imagine. It was a fun, easy read and the food descriptions were amazing. Audiobook. 3 stars. Romance.

#50 Love Looks Pretty on You Poetry, not my usual but I was curious after reading a poem by this author on facebook. I connected with several of these poems. ebook. 3 stars. Poetry.

#51 Argo: How the CIA & Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History Not as much fun as the movie but lots of cool spy stuff. Audiobook. 3 stars. Nonfiction-Adventure/History.

51 books/6484 pages

Currently:
My Heart Is a Chainsaw Audiobook. Loving this author.
Memoirs of a Geisha ebook. Good story but I'm having trouble getting any momentum going.
Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy Paperback.

Adding:

10. A book from a genre you don’t usually read.Love Looks Pretty on You. Poetry which I don't read often.

And

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

Just checked out Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty I hope I can get through it before it returns to the libary. I've got a lot of other books ahead of it in the queue.

Adding Argo: How the CIA & Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History for Iran in the Middle East. Cool spy stuff. Also The White Mirror for Ancient Tibet in Asia. This was the sequel to Jade Dragon Mountain so I'm queuing up for the next in the series and hoping it takes me to another ancient Asian setting.