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

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

My thoughts on Death of Grass were very similar to yours. The Day of the Triffids was much the same I found.

Malaysia - a visit to Kuala Lumpur and from this story I'm getting out fast! The Extinction Parade, Volume 1 by Max Brooks 3.5 stars

My review of The Extinction Parade, Volume 1 by Max Brooks, getting horror month warmed up.. 3.5 stars

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

Next is a short story collection, Tales of Gooseflesh and Laughter by John Wyndham

Linette wrote: "Bill wrote: "I'm continuing to vet my bookshelves and books I'm reading. I've been reading The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson and have decided not to finish the boo..."

It does indeed. Btw, have you watched the first episode of Murder in a Small Town, Linette? It's based on the LR Wright Karl Alberg mysteries. I enjoyed the first.

Lillie wrote: "Bill wrote: "I love love love Kate Atkinson, a true story teller. I'm behind a bit with Jackson Brodie. It's such a great series."

She really is a great writer. I loved [book:Life After Life|15790..."

Having him narrate would be perfect.

My review of The Extinction Parade, Volume 1 by Max Brooks 3.5 stars

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

It's right up your alley, Alondra, if you haven't tried it before.. Zombies and vampires, Oh My.

Lea wrote: "Alissa wrote: "So, you working on your list for 2025? ;-)"

I have a rolling list for the following year. It isn't the same as it was on January 1st, but anytime I want to add a book, I have to rem..."

Congrats and good planning... I have no ideas right now what challenges I want for next year...

On The Same Page Monthly Reading Challenge OCTOBER 2024
Start Date: 10/01/2024
End Date: 10/31/2024

Total Pages Read: 2889 pages
Bonus Points: 200

Books Read:
1. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson completed 357 pages, DNF, NR
2. The Extinction Parade, Volume 1 by Max Brooks 160 pages, finished 2 Oct, 3.5 stars
3. Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy by Arthut La Bern 218 pages, finished 4 Oct, 3.5 stars
4. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 390 pages, finished 9 Oct, 5.0 stars
5. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin 319 pages, finished 12 Oct, 4.0 stars
6. Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks 286 pages, finished 13 Oct, 4.0 stars
7. Cosmic Engineers by Clifford D. Simak 158 pages, finished 14 Oct, 3.0 stars
8. Tales of Gooseflesh and Laughter by John Wyndham 150 pages, finished 17 Oct, 3.5 stars
9. Old Man's War by John Scalzi 355 pages, finished 23 Oct, 4.5 stars
10. The House at the End of Lacelean Street by Catherine McCarthy 161 pages, finished 24 Oct, 4.0 stars
11. Through the Woods by Emily Carroll 208 pages, finished 26 Oct, 3.5 stars
12. Steeple Volume 3: That's the Spirit by John Allison 176 pages, finished 27 Oct, 3.0 stars


10 pts:

-October is Thanksgiving in Canada. Read a story set in Canada.
- Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl was born Oct 6, 1914. Read a book about exploration. (An extra 25 points if you read either The Kon Tiki Expedition or the Ra Expedition).
- Oct 15, 1917. Mata Hari was executed by a French firing squad. Read a spy novel set during WWI.

25 points:

- Oct 3, 1990. East and West Germany were reunited, Read a cold war spy novel. (Additional 25 points if it's set in divided Germany).
- Oct 6, 1927 - The first talkie opened in New York (The Jazz Singer). Read a book set in the world of film.
- Playwrights Oscar Wilde and Eugene O'Neill were born in October. Read a play and add 25 points if you read one of their works.

50 points:

- Oct 4, 1957. The Space Age begins with Russia's launch of the first satellite. Read an outer space adventure.
-- The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin (50 pts)
-- Cosmic Engineers by Clifford Simak (50 pts)
-- Old Man's War by John Scalzi (50 pts)
- Oct 11,, 1899. The Boer War starts. Read a book set in South Africa.
- German philosopher Friedrich Nietsche was born in 1844. Read a story featuring a historical philosopher. (An additional 25 points if you read something by Nietsche... brave you).

For 25 points:
Because it's Spooky Season, read a spooky/creepy/scary book!
-- The Extinction Parade, Volume 1 by Max Brooks (Vampires and Zombies, oh my!) 25 pts
-- Devolution by Max Brooks (Sasquatch) 25 pts
-- Through the Woods by Emily Carroll (Gothic) 25 pts

I'm starting with The Extinction Parade, Volume 1 by Max Brooks and have been working on a couple of others that should fall into the category - Wanderers by Chuck Wendig & Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks

Some others I'm thinking of for the October genre are -
1. Tales of Gooseflesh and Laughter by John Wyndham
2. The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown
3. Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
4. The House at the End of Lacelean Street by Catherine McCarthy
5. The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin
6. The Furies by Keith Roberts
7. Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson
8. Black Helicopters by Caitlín R. Kiernan
9. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

I'm continuing to vet my bookshelves and books I'm reading. I've been reading The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson and have decided not to finish the book. I like the concept but ultimately just couldn't bring myself to finish it. Sorry to Mr. Sanderson. I'm sure he's got more than enough fans to survive my decision. So it's a DNF with NR for me... My few thoughts below

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

I'm starting my October focus next with The Extinction Parade, Volume 1 by Max Brooks

Lea wrote: "You've always got so many interesting books on the go and in the hopper. I've read Wanderers, In the Lives of Puppets, Lessons in Chemistry and Simple Genius. I really hope Baldacci decides to writ..."

Thanks, Lea. I always like checking on the books you're reading. We have similar and differing tastes, which is great.

Lea wrote: "Bill wrote: "You had an excellent month and your year is really progressing. I'm focusing on horror this month but I hope in December to try reading lighter fare. Might be able to get another Oz bo..."

I know the feeling.

End September Update
I completed six books by mid - month;
1. Linghun by Ai Jiang 4.5 stars
2. Steeple by John Allison 3.0 stars
3. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE CASTLE by Emily Carroll 4.0 stars
4. Odd Jobs: Six Files from the Department of Inhuman Resources by Ai Jiang 4.0 stars
5. Warriors Graphic Novel: The Prophecies Begin #1 by Erin Hunter 3.5 stars
6. The Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton (Lara McClintoch #1) 3.5 stars

I've completed nine books / graphics since mid September. (one did not finish)

1. Death of a Celebrity by M.C. Beaton (Hamish MacBeth #17. I prefer the Hamish mysteries to Agatha Raisin. This one was a nice entertaining story about the murder of a TV investigative reporter. 4 stars
2. The Time Hoppers by Robert Silverberg (part of my Sci Fi 12 + 0) Interesting story about time travel and temporal paradoxes) 4.5 star
3. How America Works... and Why it Doesn't: A Brief Guide to the US Political System by William Cooper Interesting non - fiction on the Constitution, the levers of government and the issues. 4.0 stars
4. Homecoming by Patricia Briggs Graphic novel featuring skinwalker Mercy Thompson who does battle with rogue werewolves. Neat (3.5 stars)
5. Steeple, Volume 2: The Silvery Moon by John Allison fun graphic novel, #2 in the series. One more to go.3.0 stars
6. Age 16 by Rosena Fung A rich, touching graphic novel, crossing 3 generations stretching from China to Toronto ON 4.5 stars
7. The Deadly Dance by M.C. Beaton (Agatha Raisin #15). This was my DNF. I just didn't engage anymore with Agatha. I'll stick with Hamish MacBeth. NR
8. & 9. Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 16 & Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 17 by Stephen McCranie. One of my favorite YA Sci-Fi series. Both 4.0 stars. Now to get Vols 18 - 21...

Currently Reading
Still too many on the go but I am enjoying all of them. I switched my October Focus from author Colin Cotterill to the Horror genre.
1. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight #1). I've been reading this since April. Maybe it's telling me something.
2. Wanderers by Chuck Wendig My 2nd tome. I've been working through it since June but it's got a grip on me so far.
3. In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune It's getting more interesting after a slow build
4. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin not my favorite of the Hainish books but I do like her writing.
5. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Quirky and interesting so far.
6. Old Man's War by John Scalzi I like how it's developing (kind of like Battle Cry but in space)
7. Skyscraper by Faith Baldwin Love and romance in the business world of the 30's from a woman's perspective
8. Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia (Harlem Renaissance #1) I'm just getting into the murder mystery but it's interesting so far.
9. Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks I loved World War Z and this story about a massacre by sasquatches after Mount Rainier explodes is getting fairly intense.
10. Cosmic Engineers by Clifford D. Simak Interesting outer space adventure
11. Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy by Arthut La Bern the movie was based on this. I'm enjoying comparing the book and movie.

In the Hopper
1. The Extinction Parade, Volume 1 by Max Brooks (first book in my look at horror). Vampires battle zombies to protect mankind, coz what will they eat if zombies win?
2. Beyond the Black Enigma by Bart Somers for my 12 + 0 Sci Fi challenge
3. The House at the End of Lacelean Street by Catherine McCarthy (non series and horror)
4. The Wind's Twelve Quarters by Ursula K. Le Guin next in my 12 + 4 Ursula Le Guin challenge
5. Simple Genius by David Baldacci (King & Maxwell #3)

There you go, folks. Enjoy your pumpkin latte & horror month.

Laurel wrote: "#48 Moby-Dick or, The Whale
Reread. Still 3 green stars.

My 2012 review: Long, rambling, and something of a sea monster of a book. Called b..."

It's seems to me I gave up many many years ago on Moby Dick after just a page or so..

I love love love Kate Atkinson, a true story teller. I'm behind a bit with Jackson Brodie. It's such a great series.

You had an excellent month and your year is really progressing. I'm focusing on horror this month but I hope in December to try reading lighter fare. Might be able to get another Oz book in then... Have a great October.

A review of Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 16 by Stephen McCranie 4.0 stars (excellent series)

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

I also finished Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 17. Review to follow shortly

Here is the review for Vol 17. 4.0 stars

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

1392. Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 16
1393. Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 17

I decided not to finish The Deadly Dance , the 15th book in the Agatha Raisin mystery series by M.C. Beaton. After 25 pages, I just decided that I'm not really invested in the stories. I much prefer her Hamish MacBeth books. So good-bye Agatha. I hope you finally get the husband you want. NR, DNF.

In a rash of decisions, I've switched my October focus from one specific author to the horror genre. All of the horror readers in this group, Alondra have got me reading more and more... My first book will be a graphic novel, The Extinction Parade, Volume 1 by Max Brooks, the war between vampires and zombies! I'm currently enjoying his Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre, which is excellent so far.

You're almost there!