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

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

My review of American Born Chinese b by Gene Luen Yang 4.0 stars

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

7. A banned or challenged book. I think this qualifies. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang 4.0 stars. It was pulled from the shelves in Clay County, Florida and Madison County, Mississippi. Required parental permission for students to read.

That's an excellent start, Anne. I hope you enjoy the remaining books in your challenge. You've got some challenging ones there.

328. Denison Avenue

I've added Denison Avenue by Christina Wong to my poetry heading. It's not all poetry, but is rather a story. I'd compare it to the work of Elizabeth Acevedo. There is a free flow at times but there are elements of poetry as you go through it. Interesting writing technique. 4.0 stars

My review of Denison Avenue by Christina Wong, a surprisingly good book. 4.0 stars

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

I just got this graphic novel and can't wait to try it. I liked Lunar New Year Love Story so much. So just starting American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

I'll try with graphic novels... although the others are all fine as well..

A good police procedural is always interesting to read. I may check out the Leveler series.

Denise wrote: "I will be reading "

I hope to read that this year... Enjoy

Patricia wrote: "I finished February with 13 reads, so here are the last six.
8) Norwegian Wood I’ve been meaning to read Murakami for some time & heard it is best to start with this one. Most of the b..."

Dark Matter was interesting.

On The Same Page Monthly Reading Challenge MARCH 2024
Start Date: 03/01/2024
End Date: 03/31/2024

Total Pages Read: 3617
Bonus Points: 415 pts

Books Read:
1. Denison Avenue by Christina Wong 280 pages, finished 1 Mar, 4.0 stars
2. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang 233 pages, finished 3 Mar, 4.0 stars
3. Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 15 by Stephen McCranie 224 pages, finished 14 Mar, 3.5 stars
4. An Amateur Corpse by Simon Brett 192 pages, finished 7 Mar, 3.5 stars
5. Saga, Volume 6 by Brian K. Vaughan 152 pages, finished 8 Mar, 3.5 stars
6. Don't Mess with Mrs In-Between by Liz Evans 345 pages, finished 12 Mar, 4.0 stars
7. The White Road by John Connolly 503 pages, finished 14 Mar, 4.0 stars
8. Spaceboy by David Walliams 365 pages, finished 15 Mar, 4.0 stars
9. The Complete Orsinia: Malafrena / Stories and Songs by Ursula K. Le Guin 592 pages, finished 21 Mar, 4.0 stars
10. Murder in the Museum by Simon Brett 382 pages, finished 23 Mar, 3.5 stars
11. Mrs, Presumed Dead by Simon Brett 189 pages, finished 29 Mar, 3.5 stars
12. City of Illusions by Ursula K. Le Guin 160 pages, finished 31 Mar, 3.0 stars

- March is synonymous with St. Patrick's Day, making it a perfect opportunity to delve into Irish literature, folklore, and culture.
10 points - A book with green on the cover
25 Points - A book where the main character has red hair
50 Points - A book where the main character is Irish
50 points - A book with a leprechaun, elf, or fairy.
- March is designated as Women's History Month in many countries, making it a great time to explore literature by and about women, feminist themes, and women's contributions to history and society.
10 Points- A book where the lead character is a woman
-- Denison Avenue by Christina Wong. main character is Wong Cho Sum (10 pts)
-- Don't Mess with Mrs In-Between by Liz Evans (PI Grace Smith) (10 pts)
-- Space Boy Volume 15 by Stephen McCranie (Amy) (10 pts)
-- Spaceboy by David Walliams (Ruth) (10 pts)
-- Murder in the Museum by Simon Brett (Carrie & Jude) (10 pts)
25 Points - A book whose author is a woman
-- Denison Avenue by Christina Wong (25 pts)
-- Don't Mess with Mrs In-Between by Liz Evans (25 pts)
-- The Complete Orsinia: Malafrena / Stories and Songs by Ursula K. Le Guin (25 pts)
-- Mrs, Presumed Dead by Simon Brett (Mrs. Pargeter) (25 pts)
50 points - A biography/autobiography of a woman overcoming some sort of obstacle
- As March heralds the beginning of spring in many places, and the promise of warmer weather. It's a great time to explore themes of renewal, growth, new beginnings, exploration, and adventure.
10 points - Any book where there is an adventure.
-- Space Boy Volume 15 by Stephen McCranie (all sorts of adventures) (10 pts)
-- Spaceboy by David Walliams (10 pts)
-- City of Illusions by Ursula K Le Guin (10 pts)
25 points - A book that is set in the Spring or mentions Spring.
50 points - A self-help book.
- As people engage in spring cleaning and decluttering, March can be a good time to read about organization, minimalism, and simplifying your life.
10 points - A book where any character is cleaning or organizing something.
25 points - A book where the main character "cleans up" their act
50 points - A book about organization or cleaning up.

10 POINTS
- March 20th is Won't You Be My Neighbor Day, a day to spread love and kindness in honor of Mr. Roger's birthday. Read a love story.
- Don't forget to change your clocks! March 10th is Daylight Savings Time. Read a book with the time of day mentioned in the title. (ex: Midnight Library;The Miracle Morning; The 5am Club).
- March 21st is Oranges and Lemons Day. Read a book with an orange or yellow cover. Double points if there are any images of citrus on the cover.
-- by Gene Luen Yang (10 pts)

25 POINTS
- March 14th is Pi (3.14…) Day! Read a book with the number 3, 1, or 4 in the title. OR a book that is 1st, 3rd or 4th in a series.
-- An Amateur Corpse by Simon Brett (Charles Paris #4) (25 pts)
-- Don't Mess with Mrs In-Between by Liz Evans (PI Grace Smith #3) (25 pts)
-- The White Road by John Connolly (Charlie Parker #4) (25 pts)
-- Murder in the Museum by Simon Brett (Fethering #4) (25 pts)
-- City of Illusions by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hainish Cycle #3) (25 pts)
- March 15th is Everything You Think is Wrong Day! Read a book with an unreliable narrator.
- March is Expanding Girl's Horizons in Science and Engineering Month. Read a good where a female character works in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

50 POINTS
- March 4th is Fun Facts About Names Day! Read a book with a person's name in the title. Double points if you add the meaning of that name on your tracker to share with the rest of us.
- March 13th is L. Ron Hubbard Day, celebrating the founder of Scientology. Read a book where a main character or the author has a different religion that your own.
March 1st is International Women of Color Day. Read a book where the author has a different cultural background from you.
-- Denison Avenue by Christina Wong (Asian Canadian culture) (50 pts)
-- American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (Asian American culture) (50 pts)

Laurel wrote: "Happy Saint David's Day!!

Plans for March:

I had hoped to finish more books this week, but alas, I've been distracted by doctor's visits (annual wellness exam) and genealogy and the necessary nev..."

I quite enjoyed Far from the Madding Crowd. Hope you do too.

End February Update
Completed - 12 books, total 2024 - 21 books. Approx. pages in Feb - 2700.

Completed
The books completed since my mid-month update are -

12 + 4 challenge (Ursula K. Le Guin) - 0. Total completed so far - 5
Series Challenge - (completed 8 so far). Since mid Feb
- Look to the Lady by Margery Allingham (Albert Campion #3) - Crime story from one of Agatha Christie's peers. Campion is a bit like Peter Wimsey. Some fun, some action and an entertaining story (3 stars)
- Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood by Marjorie M. Liu, very gritty, somewhat confusing graphic novel, dark, violent and filled with interesting characters (3.5 stars)
- The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (Wild Robot #1). Sweet fantasy about a robot who washes ashore on an island and learns to feel, helping the animals, learning their languages and having adventures. (4.0 stars)

Non-Series 3 complete to-date, 1 since mid-Feb
- Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney. A cautionary story about not taking democracy for granted. VOTE! (4.0 stars)

Tome Challenge, over 500 pages 1 completed in total, none in Feb

Monthly Focus Author - Feb - Adam Hall
- The Ninth Directive (Quiller #2) Spy story set in Bangkok featuring British spy Quiller, who is working to prevent the assassination of a British royal. Not bad (3.0 stars)

Currently Reading
12 + 4 Challenge - Ursula K. Le Guin
- The Complete Orsinia: Malafrena / Stories and Songs. All the stories of Le Guin's Orsinia plus her hand-drawn maps. One of her earlier works. Set in an Eastern European make-believe country. Not sure what to make of it yet, but it's different for her.

Series Challenge -
- Don't Mess with Mrs In-Between by Liz Evans (PI Grace Smith #3). I'm really enjoying this. Kind of a combo of Kinsey Milhone and Stephanie Plum, but set in England. Grace is hard not to like.

Non-Series Challenge
- Twilight by Peter James. A standalone from James who writes the Inspector Grace mysteries. A girl is buried but still alive. Investigated by an intrepid reporter. Interesting so far.
- Denison Avenue by Christina Wong. A Canada-Reads 2024 selection. Mixture of free verse and poetry, dialogue is Toisan (a Chinese dialect) and English translation. Set in Toronto. Follows Cho Sum, whose husband is killed in a traffic accident as she wanders downtown Toronto, trying to live her life. The reverse pages feature pencil drawings of downtown Toronto. Fascinating and touching. Especially interesting if you've lived in Toronto.

Tome Challenge
- The White Road by John Connolly (Charlie Parker #4). Slow read but it is a tome after all. Gritty mystery as Charlie Parker helps an old friend defend a black man accused of murdering a white woman. And other side stories.

Focus Challenge - March - Simon Brett
Brett writes the Charles Paris, the Fethering and the Mrs. Pargeter mysteries. I hope to read at least one of each
- An Amateur Corpse (Paris #4). Actor Paris is helping an amateur acting group review their play. His friend's wife is murdered and his friend seems to be the main suspect. Let the fun begin

Next in Line
- 12 + 4 - City of Illusions by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hainish Cycle #3)
- Series Challenge - Maddie Hatter and the Gilded Gauge by Jayne Barnard (Maddy Hatter #2) - Goth fantasy adventure
- Non-Series Challenge - The Confidential Agent by Graham Greene
- Tome Challenge - The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson I've been looking forward to reading this for awhile now.
- Focus Challenge - Murder in the Museum by Simon Brett (Fethering #4)

So there you go. Enjoy your March reading.

You had an excellent month. I look forward to getting back to Octavia Butler. I've a couple of her books to read sitting on my bookshelf.

I'm glad I never tried Ripley. I can't say I enjoyed the movie very much either. I can't say I 'love' Highsmith's work but she is always interesting. Good luck with War and Peace...

So impressive. I've tried online books, but not too many audiobooks. I don't know that I can focus that well.

At least you gave them a try. They can't all be winners. I'm finding I'm a bit impatient with my choices these days too.. Too many books to read, maybe a bit quicker to give up... Good luck with the rest of your choices.

I'm carrying over 3 mysteries, that will start off my March mystery focus -

1. The White Road by John Connolly
2. Twilight by Peter James &
3. An Amateur Corpse by Simon Brett

I also plan to read a few more Simon Brett mysteries. My next will be Murder in the Museum

We'll see what others..

Laurel wrote: "Bill wrote: "My review of The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, the first book in what is so far a trilogy featuring the Wild robot, Ro..."

I pick up the 2nd and maybe the 3rd tomorrow. It came out in 2023, I believe. The Wild Robot Protects

My review of The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, the first book in what is so far a trilogy featuring the Wild robot, Roz. 4.0 stars

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