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

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

Joy D wrote: "Finished 12 of 16:
Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson - 6/18/24 - 5* - My Review"

Excellent review.

Ioana wrote: "Bill wrote: "8. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin I'm enjoying this again. I've read two or three times before.."

The Left Hand of Darkness must be really good. It's on m..."

I've seen other reviews where folks don't get it or like it. I just know that I did. And I'm still enjoying so far.

You've had a good month so far. Sorry to hear that Leviathan hasn't grabbed you. I hope you enjoy. Good luck the rest of the month

Lea wrote: "Lots of great progress, Bill. Hope the rest of June goes as well as the first half!"

Thanks, Lea. You too.

Mid - June Reading Update
Completed 6 books, albeit one was only 40 pages long. I'm about ready to give up on one book but I'll focus on it a bit to see if I can get it moving. A couple that were very good.. So let's see.

Completed
1. Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin A cute children's story about flying kittens, part of a series that I'm going to read. That was the 40 page book. 3.5 stars
2. How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future by Maria Ressa Excellent biography. The struggle to maintain a free press in the Phillipines under a dictatorship. Very applicable. 4.5 stars
3. A Circus of Hells by Poul Anderson (Flandry #2). A space adventure, somewhat silly but entertaining. 2.0 stars
4. The Big Jump by Leigh Brackett The second book in my new 12 + 0 challenge, short Sci Fi stories. I really enjoyed this one. 4.0 stars
5. When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohamed; Victoria Jamieson. A wonderful graphic novel based on the life of Omar and Hassan Mohamed as they try to survive in a refugee camp in Kenya. 4.5 stars
6. Ms. Tree Vol. 5: Heroine Withdrawal by Max Allan Collins. Hard crime graphic novel. It was ok.. 3.0 stars

Currently Reading

1. The Paton Street Case by John Bingham This is my June focus story, an interesting police procedural from 1955, about the investigation of a fire in a furniture store and a murder.
2. Ratlines by Stuart Neville. The June genre focus is thrillers. This was my choice and I've barely scratched the surface so far.
3. The Caves of Night by John Christopher The 3rd book in my 12 + 0 challenge. I'm just about to start
4. The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler-Colonial Conquest and Resistance, 1917-2017 by Rashid Khalidi I'm finding this book somewhat ponderous but feel I should read it. I'll keep trying for awhile.
5. Six Ostriches by Philipp Schott (Dr. Bannerman #2). I'm just getting into it but enjoying the concept so far.
6. Surfeit of Lampreys by Ngaio Marsh Marsh is my June focus author. I've so many books on the go, I may only get to one of her books. We'll see. I always enjoy an Inspector Alleyn mystery
7. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson for my tome challenge. I'm plugging along. Interesting fantasy so far. Where is it going??
8. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin I'm enjoying this again. I've read two or three times before.

In the Hopper
1. Kronk by Edmund Cooper. This will be the next book in my 12 + 0 Sci Fi challenge
2. With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo I've enjoyed two previous books by Acevedo. this is for my Non-series challenge
3. Death and the Dancing Footman by Ngaio Marsh If I get around to another Inspector Alleyn mystery before end month, this is it.
4. Old Man's War by John Scalzi The first book in this series for my Series Challenge
5. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin continuing the Hainish cycle.
6. Wanderers by Chuck Wendig My next tome...

Enjoy the rest of June and your selections.

Laurel wrote: "#31 Still Life
3.5 pink stars, rounded up

This is a long-running series with a devoted fan base. So perhaps I was expecting too much. The characters are..."

I like your review. Excellent.

Karol wrote: "Finished a book today for my Around the World challenge: Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe

I was surprised that this book is a bit of a classic - I had not heard of it..."

I tried to read it in university but never finished it. I should try again.

Congratulations. How to go, Bonnie!

My review of the 5th installment of the Ms. Tree PI graphic novel series, Ms. Tree Vol. 5: Heroine Withdrawal by Max Allan Collins. Not my favorite. 3.0 stars

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

850. Ms Tree: Heroine Withdrawal

Ioana wrote: "This sounds really good and interesting, even though not an easy read. My library has it, so I'll try to get it soon."

It's just a good story as well..

Kenya - My 33rd country if I can count correctly spent in a refugee camp in Kenya with Omar Mohamed and his brother Hassan. Beautiful story. When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohamed; Victoria Jamieson 4.5 stars

My review of When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohamed; Victoria Jamieson, a wonderful graphic novel. A true story about Omar Mohamed and his younger brother and their life growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya. 4.5 stars

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

844. When Stars Are Scattered

My review of The Big Jump by Leigh Brackett. Most enjoyable (4.0 stars)

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

Next in line might be more horror than Sci Fi, but all the same, it's The Caves Of Night by John Christopher

842. The Big Jump

Finished my first book in this challenge, A Circus of Hells by Poul Anderson (Flandry #2). Not a classic in my mind but entertaining. 2.0 stars

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

The Big Jump by Leigh Brackett is next

827. A Circus of Hells

Karol wrote: "Bill wrote: "Something light, short and fuzzy to start off June. Catwings , the first of 5 books in this children's series by [author:Ursula K. Le Guin|87..."

It was that.

I finished How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future by Maria Ressa a bit late but better late than never, eh? Very good book. 4.5 stars

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

I'm still reading the other Non-Fiction book I started so will provide my review of that when I complete.