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

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

Just finished The Final Revival of Opal & Nev. Written in mock interview style this novel about a controversial, fictional rock n roll duo connects with the reader on so many levels. The larger-than-life characters and the rock n roll atmosphere are nostalgic and fun while the heart of the story deals with serious issues of social justice. The novel centers around the rock scene of the 70's but addresses so many issues that we are dealing with today.

I listened to the full cast audiobook and that added so much to my enjoyment of the story. The interview style that the novel was written in lends itself to audio so well. The readers were also excellent in portraying the characters.

It is rare that a book can be wonderfully entertaining and at the same time give the reader real weighty issues to think about. This book does both and I enjoyed it on so many levels. This would be a great one for a book club discussion.

4 stars for rock n roll glitter with a social justice back beat.

Favorite Quotes:

“I'd like to think that we couldn't help but get famous just because we were that good. I'd like to think that folks didn't have to end up destroyed for Opal and Nev to have made a name.”
― Dawnie Walton, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

“I felt pride, of course, but something more, something better: freedom. freedom to trust my tastes, take my own counsel, make bold moves.”
― Dawnie Walton, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

So starting the year off with Goodnight Nobody for Connecticut and Sourdough for California. Maybe one more in January fingers crossed.

Bill wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Checking Jade Dragon Mountain off the list. 5 stars for the setting in this book. Ancient China with its customs and beauty..."

This is the kind of writing I love. The writing transcends genre. Glad you thought highly of it too.

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'm just starting The Final Revival of Opal & Nev and already I'm hooked. The audiobook on this one reminds me of Daisy Jones & The Six which makes ..."

Glad you are a fan. I'm predicting high marks for this one.

I'm just starting The Final Revival of Opal & Nev and already I'm hooked. The audiobook on this one reminds me of Daisy Jones & The Six which makes it a win for me. I guess I'm a sucker for a rock-u-mentary, even a fictional one.

Checking Jade Dragon Mountain off the list. 5 stars for the setting in this book. Ancient China with its customs and beauty actually steals the show in this well written, old-fasioned who-done-it mystery. The exiled scholar Li Du feels compelled to find the killer when one of his cousin's guests is murdered. In the process he not only saves the day but learns the secrets of many of the people involved.

The author here uses the Ancient China setting to turn what would otherwise be a good, closed door mystery into something exceptional. The descriptions become almost meditative as the reader is drawn in by descriptions of ancient libraries, swimming koi and ceremonial tea not to mention colonial politics.

I really enjoyed this one. While I really think overall the book might be a four star, I was blown away by the detail given to time and place. I felt that it was so well done it deserved an extra star.

5 stars for Hart's descriptive gifts.

Favorite Quote:
“The sun set and the moon rose parchment yellow, the marks on its surface like traces of lead someone had tried to rub away. Li Du walked alone on the path to the mountain. A painter could have captured it well: a defeated curve of shoulders at odds with a determined stride against a mountain that filled the sky.”
― Elsa Hart, Jade Dragon Mountain

Bill wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Bill wrote: "Michelle wrote: "#4 High Fidelity Rob's latest break up sends him on a journey of introspection. In spite of his gene..."

So true! Especially when you find one so well written that it really transports you there. This is one of those.

Starting off the journey in my home country with Sourdough which takes place in the San Francisco Bay Area. A very appealing setting which makes you want to visit the area. Stopping off next in London, England with High Fidelity. Setting did not play a huge part in this book other than lending it a nerdy, cool London vibe.

Bill wrote: "Michelle wrote: "#4 High Fidelity Rob's latest break up sends him on a journey of introspection. In spite of his general ineptness, I loved this ch..."

Thanks Bill! I am appreciating it more and more as I get further into it. I like the mystery but the setting is great.

#4 High Fidelity Rob's latest break up sends him on a journey of introspection. In spite of his general ineptness, I loved this character with his observations about music and life, his lists, and his mixtapes. audiobook. 4 stars. Contemporary Classic.

#5 Goodnight Nobody I always enjoy Jennifer Weiner's characters. They are so real. A reluctant stay at home mom tries to solve a local murder between carpooling and play dates. paperback. 4 stars. Mystery.

#6 Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change An inspirational collection of quotes and short essays about dealing positively with life's setbacks. audiobook. 4 stars. Inspirational.

#7 Sourdough Not as good as Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by this author but still a lot of fun. Like MP24HB, this book juxtapositions current technology with ancient skills (in this case breadmaking) for a zany little tale. Yes, it was farfetched but like I said - fun. My favorite line: “Here’s a thing I believe about people my age: we are the children of Hogwarts, and more than anything, we just want to be sorted.” hardback. 3 stars. Contemporary/Mystical Realism?

7 books/1900 pages

Current:
Jade Dragon Mountain audiobook. Very interesting so far.
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art ebook. Still learning the oh so many ways that I am breathing wrong.
The Current Hardback. I think this one is next but I haven't actually started it so it's not written in stone. You know ... Squirrel!

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "High Fidelity completed over the weekend. A classic novel about a man on an existential journey to understand what brought him to his ..."

You should give it a try Alondra. It was a good moody read. Good for winter cold and the post holiday blues. Not too perky but not too depressing either.

Jade Dragon Mountain up next!

High Fidelity completed over the weekend. A classic novel about a man on an existential journey to understand what brought him to his current break up and what he needs to do about it. Rob is a list maker, opinionated, self-centered and insensitive and yet the reader roots for him all the way. He is the underdog. The guy you want to see get the girl. In his insecurities the reader sees himself.

I did enjoy this book. The main character's nerdy persona appealed to my nerd girl heart. While I grew impatient sometimes with his general ineptness, I did enjoy his opinions on music and life and yes, even his lists. Especially his top 5 breakups list of which Laura, who inspires the list and the entire story, is not one.

I also admit that while I found the book to be a lot better than the movie (which was apparently changed up quite a bit), the whole thing did make me want to watch a John Cusack movie.

Four stars for Rob and his spectacular break up.

Favorite quotes:
“I'm very good at the past. It's the present I can't understand.”
― Nick Hornby, High Fidelity

“The unhappiest people I know, romantically speaking, are the ones who like pop music the most; and I don't know whether pop music has caused this unhappiness, but I do know that they've been listening to the sad songs longer than they've been living the unhappy lives.”
― Nick Hornby, High Fidelity

Thanks Emily. Best of luck with your challenge. Just keep it fun.

Yes the parts of book 2 that involved the original band were my favorite.

I started High Fidelity yesterday. I am really enjoying the audiobook but I can tell this would have been awsome in print. I hope the audiobook can measure up.

Time to post my first reads of the year. I wish, somehow, that they were more consequential, but I guess fluff is what I need now. There has been a lot going on in my real life so my reading life has been light and limited.

#1 A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking A light YA Fantasy. A young, magical baker has to solve a murder mystery and save a kingdom. This was a fun one! ebook. 3 stars. YA/Fantasy.

#2 Sweet Sorrow A young man from a troubled home finds friendship and first love in a summer Shakespeare production. Aptly named this was a sweetly romantic look back at a formative love. The book did indulge a little too much in teenaged angst in some parts but other than that a nice read. ebook/audiobook. 3 stars. YA Romance.

#3 Bloody Rose The sequel toKings of the Wyld this book dealt with what happened to Rose after her infamous rescue by her father. This book was a fun fantasy adventure. I enjoyed the humor but I did not enjoy the characters as much as I did the characters in the first book. Also, I felt the main character's reasons for the adventure fell short. Funny but a little underwheming compared to book 1. audiobook. 3 stars. Fantasy.

3 books/1265 pages

Current:
Goodnight Nobody paperback
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art ebook
High Fidelity audiobook

Lillie wrote: "Book #4 The Girls I've Been 4 stars

Never having read Tess Sharpe I had no expectations from this book. I'd forgotten why I had added this ..."

I've been wanting to read this one but I was unsure. Glad to see your positive review.

Lea wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Ioana wrote: "Book #3 of 2022: The Last Thing He Told Me. I liked the beginning, it was interesting, but as the book advanced it became too far fetched and not beli..."

I also gave it 3 stars Lea, so it wasn't terrible. It just had issues. Try to suspend disbelief.

Ioana wrote: "Book #3 of 2022: The Last Thing He Told Me. I liked the beginning, it was interesting, but as the book advanced it became too far fetched and not believable. The ending? Not believa..."

I felt the same about this book. Such an interesting idea at the beginning but then it went off the rails somewhere. Too bad the pacing was good for a suspense novel. The conclusion was just not good.