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

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

Lindsey wrote: "7th book finished - The Wishing Game . 5 Magical Stars! 🪄🪄🪄🪄🪄

I love a book that keeps you thinking far after you read it, a book that just sit..."

I loved that one too! Glad you liked it.

Karol wrote: "Michelle wrote: "“The Secret Lives of Church Ladies Well, I certainly got more than I bargained for with these church ladies. A series of surprisingly risqué short stories. 3 the ladies were a bit ..."

Yes LOL! I truly did not expect that. Maybe I should have done my homework better.

“Because he was a man who took without giving, he left us nothing to grieve.”
― Deesha Philyaw, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

61 books
4926 pages

48 audiobooks
13 print

#58 Darius the Great Is Not Okay A nice coming of age story about a young man finding out who he is while surrounded by a loving family. 3 another book falls victim to banning stars. Fiction YA.

#59 The Quiet Librarian She may have been quiet but she was ruthless and had quite the past. 3 unexpectedly NOT a cozy mystery stars. Historical Fiction/Thriller.

#60 The Situation Room: The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis George Stephanopoulos explores the history of the Whitehouse Situation Room from it's inception with Kennedy through the Biden Whitehouse. This was a fascinating book. I enjoyed the insider history it provided. As interesting as the book was the audio production was even better with many of the players relating their Situation Room experiences in their own voice. 4 a truly great listen stars. Nonfiction-History.

#61 The Secret Lives of Church Ladies Well, I certainly got more than I bargained for with these church ladies. A series of surprisingly risqué short stories. 3 the ladies were a bit bawdy stars. Fiction-Short Story.

Current:
Edna St. Vincent Millay: Selected Poems: This one went back to the library so my poetry month read may be an extended one.
The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem Easter week reading.
The Secret History I'm in for the story at this point but the audio production is terrible and the characters are worse.

“This book examines crisis management in the modern presidency. During the Trump administration, the president was the crisis to be managed.”
― George Stephanopoulos, The Situation Room: The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis

Great month so far Lea! Blink looks interesting. I don't think I have read Malclom Gladwell but maybe I should.

Alissa wrote: "Michelle wrote: "“Oh, the days when people read novels to pass the time.”
― Gillian McAllister, Wrong Place Wrong Time

57 books
4902 pages

44 audiobooks
13 print

#54 [bookcover:Wrong Place Wrong..."

LOL. Don't feel too bad. I listened to the vampire story on audiobook (double gross) and then at the end listened to an excerpt of another book by the same author and added that one to my TBR.

I'm looking forward to the next in the Throne of Glass series too. I don't know if the series lives up to the hype but I did enjoy it. I think in this case the hype may have been the reason I didn't read it.

I hope you enjoy it Lillie. I liked it more than I expected. There was a nice story to go with the time travel.

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "“#57 The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones The Buffalo Hunter Hunter I did not want to like this native american vampire tale as much as I did. It was too dark and, wel..."

I think you will like it Alondra. It was complicated and messy and very dark.

Lea wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I can understand why you threw the book at the wall. The "romance " was less than satisfactory and running off with a scoundrel after barely surviving Jamaica Inn seemed like she d..."


I agree on all points. Let me know if you find a du Maurier that tops Rebecca for you. I want to read it. I’ve also read The House on the Strand which was decent and My Cousin Rachel which I did not enjoy. In all of them though that gothic atmosphere was unforgettable.

I am even less okay with banned books after listening to Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram.

Darius confronts his diagnosis of depression, his relationship with his father, and his sense of who he is as a person during a trip to visit his mother’s homeland for the first time. He meets his first true friend and deepens his relationship with his father and other family members. He also gains confidence and acceptance for himself as a person.

Okay, when I googled this one I saw that it was banned due to the main character’s explicit homosexual relationship. I kept waiting for that part of the book. I was expecting a The Kite Runner moment. That did not happen. Nothing happened. This was the most understated theme in the book. It was at times implied that the young man was gay but it was not discussed. His inner conflict dealt mostly with other issues. That seemed to be a subtext at best. This was a really sweet story about an awkward young man growing into his own at the center of a caring family. It was at times an uncomfortable book but not for the reasons cited; just because the main character was constantly creating awkward situations. Really I felt like this was overall a decent coming of age story that did not center around homosexuality even though the main character might have been homosexual. This banning thing is making me tired.

3 I loved that this kid loved Star Trek, Lord of the Rings and tea stars.


Quotable:

Everyone wants you here. We have a saying in Farsi. It translates ‘your place was empty.’ We say it when we miss somebody."
I sniffed.
"Your place was empty before. But this is your family. You belong here.”
― Adib Khorram, Darius the Great Is Not Okay

The thing is, I never had a friend like Sohrab before. One who understood me without even trying. Who knew what it was like to be stuck on the outside because of one little thing that set you apart.”
― Adib Khorram, Darius the Great Is Not Okay

I was one tiny pulsar in a swirling, luminous galaxy of Iranians, held together by the gravity of thousands of years of culture and heritage.”
― Adib Khorram, Darius the Great Is Not Okay

I can understand why you threw the book at the wall. The "romance " was less than satisfactory and running off with a scoundrel after barely surviving Jamaica Inn seemed like she didn't learn much. But I don't think the end of Rebecca was much better. It did feel like the heroine in Rebecca was just naive and unlucky, whereas the heroine in Jamaica Inn knowingly made poor choices. Maybe that is one reason Rebecca still wins out for me.

Adding:

5. A book you bought because of the author only. The Last Ranger
16. A book about royalty. Throne of Glass Fictional royalty counts right?
24. A book that has a body of water on the cover. Jamaica Inn

Putting a pin in the map for Antartica with Wild Dark Shore.

“Oh, the days when people read novels to pass the time.”
― Gillian McAllister, Wrong Place Wrong Time

57 books
4902 pages

44 audiobooks
13 print

#54 Wrong Place Wrong Time A woman must live her life backwards in time in order to save her son. I thought this was going to be a 3 star at best but when things started to come together at the end I really loved it. 4 how can you hate a good time loop novel stars. Fiction-Myster/Time Travel.

#55 Throne of Glass I read this YA fantasy novel for my Banned Books challenge but it was more than I expected. I enjoyed the story, the writing was competent and for romantasy it was amazingly focused on the story. I might actually continue the series. 4 I guess I like my romantasy PG stars. Fiction-YA/Romantasy.

#56 Jamaica Inn Rebecca still stands as my favorite by Daphne du Maurier but this is now a close second. Du Maurier was the master of the gothic romance, and this book is dripping with atmosphere. 3 I can still feel the dampness of the moors in my bones stars. Fiction-Gothic Romance/Mystery.

#57 The Buffalo Hunter Hunter I did not want to like this native american vampire tale as much as I did. It was too dark and, well, gross. It was layered. So many layers. I'm not even sure I got it all. BUT it was so well written, like any good horror story I could not look away in spite of the gore. Stephen Graham Jones is an excellent writer. 4 a dark and gory nightmare stars.

Current:
The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem For Easter
Darius the Great Is Not Okay For the banned book challenge
Edna St. Vincent Millay: Selected Poems: For poetry month

“What I am is the Indian who can’t die. I’m the worst dream America ever had.”
― Stephen Graham Jones, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter

“Don't you ever do anything other than read?" said Chaol.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass

I almost let Rhode Island slip by me - The Wedding People

Congratulations Lea! You are an inspiration. I only have a few left on mine but getting those last few states is difficult.

Setting makes Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier a hit.

After the death of her mother, Mary travels to Jamaica Inn to live with her aunt. Even before she arrives she learns that Jamaica Inn has a disreputable reputation. Once there she finds that her aunt is not as she remembers but is abused by her overbearing uncle. It seems that the trade at Jamaica Inn is also not as expected. Mary wants only to escape the inn taking her aunt with her but in order to do that she has to understand the mysteries of the inn. A dangerous plan.

This book was steeped in atmosphere. The lonely setting of the inn on the moors takes center stage. Daphne du Maurier famous for gothic mystery and romance out does herself in this book. I think Rebecca is still my favorite du Maurier but this is coming in a close second. So to my high school friend Susanne who kept telling me I had to read this. After all these years I finally did read it and you were right Susanne. You were right. I did need to read it.

3 gothic secluded inns and lonely moors stars.

Quotable:

“However grim and hateful was this new country, however barren and untilled, with Jamaica Inn standing alone upon the hill as a buffer to the four winds, there was a challenge in the air that spurred Mary Yellan to adventure. It stung her, bringing color to her cheeks and a sparkle to her eyes; it played with her hair, blowing it about her face; and as she breathed deep she drew it through her nostrils and into her lungs, more quenching and sweeter than a draft of cider.”
― Daphne du Maurier, Jamaica Inn

“Roads? Who spoke of roads? We go by the moor and the hills, and tread granite and heather as the Druids did before us.”
― Daphne du Maurier, Jamaica Inn

“He took her face in his hands and kissed it, and she saw that he was laughing. "When you're an old maid in mittens down at Helford, you'll remember that," he said, "and it will have to last you to the end of your days. 'He stole horses,' you'll say to yourself, 'and he didn't care for women; and but for my pride I'd have been with him now.”
― Daphne du Maurier, Jamaica Inn

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "“Daddy claims the Hogwarts houses are really gangs. They have their own colors, their own hideouts, and they are always riding for each other, like gangs. Harry, Ron, and Hermione ..."

It was one of my favorite quotes from the book. It was really a great book! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Alondra wrote: "Uhm, did you know you completed this list?? Unless I counted wrong......

CONGRATULATIONS, MICHELLE!

You really knocked this list out. Woot!"

Oh!!! :D Thanks Alondra! I was so focused on reading them all that I didn't realize I had hit the 12 mark. Also, this has turned out to be such a good list, I want to keep going. "Everyone" really knows what they are talking about.

That really is a great week Lillie. Congrats! As always you're beefing up my TBR. I'm going to have to check out Murder by Memory.

Alondra wrote: "Great update, Michelle.

I read Peter Hellers The River, and really enjoyed it.

The Old Man and the Sea was a better read for me this time around, than when I read it in high scho..."


The Old Man and the Sea definitely needs some life experience behind you to enjoy it. I wonder why we insist on making people read it in high school? I was not required to read it then. The Hemingway we were assigned in high school was A Farewell to Arms. I hated it and have not read it since even though I have read and enjoyed other Hemingway novels. Reading this one made me think maybe I should give that one a reread. Maybe there was more to it than I could comprehend at that time.

Peter Hellers is great and The River was one of his better ones. I think there is a sequel. The Guide???