Bill’s Comments (group member since Nov 30, 2021)

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

Lillie wrote: "Elbows Up!: Canadian Voices of Resilience and Resistance sounds like a really great compilation of Canadian voices in these super charged days. Putting it on my list.

Also intrigu..."

It was definitely different, Lillie. I'll keep you posted on Coup de Grace.

How is everybody doing on their Non-Fiction reading?

1029. Elbows Up!: Canadian Voices of Resilience and Resistance

My review of Elbows Up!: Canadian Voices of Resilience and Resistance by Various edited by Elamin Abdelmahmoud (2025) 4.0 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Next in line will be Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram

Lea wrote: "Bill wrote: "Congrats on completing your 16. Have you made any lists for next year? 😎👍👌"

Only about 35, Bill. How about you?"

I've thought about it but so far I've been satisfying my list making habit by posting various book lists on my Blue Sky account.. :)

Congrats on completing your 16. Have you made any lists for next year? 😎👍👌

Lea wrote: "Bill wrote: "You have such variety in your reading selections. I find that I sometime like Stephen Fry and sometimes think he's a bit of a blowhard (to be fair, I think I'm a bit of a blowhard too,..."

There is no denying that he is a very smart man. He hosted a show on the BBC called QI, humorous and also educational, and he was a great host of that.

Alexandra wrote: "Finished book #25Always Remember: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and the Storm 5 St..."

Such a beautiful story. You should find the movie made based on the book. Simple and lovely. It might be on You Tube..

Started a mix of poetry and essays from various people, mainly Canadian, Elbows Up!: Canadian Voices of Resilience and Resistance by Various, edited by Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Completed 23 Oct. 4.0 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Patricia wrote: "But the series is not exactly like the books. Neither is the Vera series."

But still excellent.

Lillie wrote: "Bill wrote: "She has so many excellent series. I have to finish Shetland first before I start a new one, I think.. But who knows."

I'd finish the Shetland series first before starting the new offs..."

Oh yes. My wife and I love it.

Lea wrote: "Oooh, you're reading some seasonal books this time of year. I always try to read one or two also. :-)"

It's fun, isn't it?

My review of Coven: A Graphic Novel by Soman Chainani (2025) 2.5 stars Great for middle school kids I think.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

1014. Coven: A Graphic Novel

An excellent month so far, Patricia. I have to try Tad Williams. I have one of his books on my book shelf. At least I used to.. :)

Lillie wrote: "Bill wrote: "You've had an excellent October so far, Lillie. Enjoy the rest of the month."

Thanks Bill. I've just started the newest Ann Cleeves, The Killing Stones..."

She has so many excellent series. I have to finish Shetland first before I start a new one, I think.. But who knows.

Ioana wrote: "Lillie wrote: "Same Michelle! My list is anywhere I can write it down, lol
"

You 2 are too funny. How do you remember all these places with bits of papers and bits of lists?
You're young and have ..."

How true.. LOL

Alondra wrote: "Great update, Bill.

I enjoyed both The Bone Yard and Hell House. Giving both 4 Stars. Its been many years since I read Hell House, though. Matheson is a great writer, so, I may have to think abou..."

I'm enjoying, if you can call being creeped out as enjoying, Hell House a lot. I haven't opened The Bone Yard yet but I enjoy the series very much so far.

Mid-October Reading Update
7 books completed, managing to catch up and finish some longish reads, plus squeezed in a couple of graphics. Pages - approx 2100.

Completed
1. Watership Down: The Graphic Novel by James Sturm A beautifully drawn and told re-imagining of Richard Adams. 4.5 stars
2. Star Shapes by Ivy Grimes A quirky horror-lite novella. 2.0 stars
3. Joanna Russ: Novels & Stories (LOA #373): The Female Man / We Who Are About To . . . / On Strike Against God / The Complet e Alyx Stories / Other Stories by Joanna Russ This collection contained many if not all of Joanna Russ's works; a mix of Sci Fi and LGBTQ+ stories. It was a long read but all in all I enjoyed her writing. Didn't get every story but was glad to be exposed to her work. (3.5 stars)
4. A Writer's Diary: Being Extracts from the Diary of Virginia Woolf by Virginia Woolf I'd previously read two of Woolf's novels. They were interesting but I can't say they blew me away. Reading these selections from her diaries added to my interest of her work. She was a fascinating person whose life ended tragically. I think I'll continue to explore her writing. I've got Orlando on my bookshelf and I've ordered A Haunted House and Other Short Stories. (4.5 stars)
5 & 6. Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 5 & Vol 6 by James Tynion IV. Great horror graphic novel series. These volumes are set in New Mexico and are very scary.... but darn, they continue in the next one at least. I've ordered... 4.0 stars for both
7. High Country by Nevada Barr (Anna Pigeon #12) This Anna Pigeon mystery is set in Yosemite. Always comforting to revisit Anna's life as a park ranger and the mysteries she's involved with. She's undercover this time. 3.5 stars

Currently Reading
(Books started since my end September update; a few horror...)
1. The Bone Yard by Jefferson Bass (Body Farm #6)
2. Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson
3. Hell House by Richard Matheson It's creepy so far....
4. Our Love Will Devour Us by R.L. Meza
5. The Girls in the Cabin by Caleb Stephens

In the Mill
(Possibles, anyway)
1. Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram
2. The Doctor Digs a Grave by Robin Hathaway (Cr. Fenaway #1)
3. Songs in the Year of the Cat by H. Leighton Dickson (Book 3)
4. Coven: A Graphic Novel by Soman Chainani

So there you go. Enjoy the rest of October. Happy Hallowe'en!

You have such variety in your reading selections. I find that I sometime like Stephen Fry and sometimes think he's a bit of a blowhard (to be fair, I think I'm a bit of a blowhard too, so it's probably just jealousy because he's so smart), but that's only on TV (QI vs the UK's Jeopardy). I liked his autobiography... ish. I may have to check out his look at the Odyssey. I've never read but have absorbed info on it just from movies and all that sort of thing. Enjoy the rest of the month's selections, Lea.