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

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

I'll nominate short stories.

I bought my first James Oswald book on your recommendation.. 😎 You've had a great month.

I need to read #3 in the Murderbot series... I will dammit! Great month.

You've had a good month. I enjoyed Artificial Condition too. Looking forward to reading #3. The Rome mysteries look interesting.

Karol wrote: "End of January update:

Yesterday I removed two unfinished books from my To-Read:
Beautiful Exiles, and The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History.
- [book:Bea..."

I'm getting more impatient with some of my books too. Didn't finish a few last year. I've got Horse in my To Read folder and I really enjoyed Miss Peregrine... especially the photos... I'm hoping to read Book 2 this year.

On The Same Page Monthly Reading Challenge FEBRUARY 2024
Start Date: 02/01/2024
End Date: 02/29/2024

Total Pages Read: 2755 pages
Bonus Points: 55 pts

Books Read:
1. Lore Olympus: Volume Five by Rachel Smythe 400 pages, finished 2 Feb, 4.0 stars
2. The Fall Of The Sparrow by Nigel Balchin completed 160 of 300 pages, DNF, NR
3. The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi 107 pages, finished 6 Feb, 4.0 stars
4. The Beginning Place by Ursula K. Le Guin 246 pages, finished 9 Feb, 4.0 stars
5. Very Far Away from Anywhere Else by Ursula K. Le Guin 133 pages, finished 10 Feb, 5.0 stars
6. Planet of Exile by Ursula K. Le Guin 126 pages, finished 12 Feb, 4.0 stars
7. Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang & LeUyen Pham 345 pages, finished 14 Feb, 4.5 stars
8. Look To The Lady by Margery Allingham 249 pages, finished 17 Feb, 3.0 stars
9. Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood by Marjorie M. Liu 152 pages, finished 18 Feb, 3.5 stars
10. The Ninth Directive by Adam Hall 188 pages, finished 21 Feb, 3.0 stars
11. Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney 372 pages, finished 23 Feb, 4.0 stars
12. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown 277 pages, finished 25 Feb, 4.0 stars

10 pts:
- Read a book with a red cover.
- Read a book of poetry.
- Read a love story.
-- Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang & Leuyen Pham (10 pts)
-- Lore Olympus Vol 5 by Rachel Smythe (the ongoing romance between Persephone & Hades) (10 pts)
-- Very Far Away From Anywhere Else by Ursula K. Le Guin (10 pts)
- Read a book with a red or pink cover. Double points if both.
- Feb 13th is Galentine's Day. Read a book with best friends or girls go on a girls night out or a girls trip.
- Feb is American Heart Month. Read a book with a heart on the cover.

25 pts:
- Since it's Cupid month, read a book featuring the Greek or Roman gods (fiction or non-fiction) (10 extra pts if you read about Cupid and Psyche).
-- Lore Olymnpus Vol 5 by Rachel Smythe (focus is on Persephone & Hades but most of the other gods make an appearance or two) (25 pts)
- Read a story set in Paris, France, the city of LOVE.
- Read a story with any kind of flowers in the title (10 extra points if they are roses).
- Its winter time Read a book with winter, snow or cold in title.
- Feb 8 is take your child to the library day Read a book set in a library or MC is a librarian.
- National Margarita Day is Feb 22 MC is a bartender or the MC drank a little too much.

50 pts:
- James Joyce was born 2 Feb 1882. Read a story set in Dublin.
(If you want to read a book by Joyce, claim an additional 25 pts).
- Charles Lindbergh was born on 4th Feb 1902. Read a story involving air flight.
- Charles Dickens was born 7 Feb 1812. Read a story by or about Dickens.
- Black History Month Read a book written by a African American author.
- Presidents day. Read a book about a US president fiction or nonfiction.
- Mardi Gras is here. Read a book set in New Orleans.

End January 2024 Reading Update
Not a great month but reasonably satisfying. Total books read = 9 and total pages = 2300.

In my mid-month update I mentioned
1. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (4.5 stars)
2. Rocannon's World by Ursula K. Le Guin 3.5 stars
3. The Big Four by Agatha Christie (3.0 stars)
4. Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.5 stars

Remaining Books completed
5. Murder and the First Lady by Elliott Roosevelt (4.0 stars). A fun mystery featuring Eleanor Roosevelt, written by her son, Elliot. Lots of historical characters with a murder mystery in the lead up to WWII
6. They Do It With Mirrors by Agatha Christie A Christie mystery featuring Miss Marple as she tries to help a friend under threat at a mansion that also is a home for troubled boys. Miss Marple is great as always 4.0 stars
7. By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie This Christie mystery features husband and wife sleuths, Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, the 4th of 5. Tuppence tries to find an elderly woman who has disappeared and many adventures ensue. Most enjoyable. 4.0 stars
8. Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon Cat Bohannon discusses the evolution of humankind from a woman's perspective. Very interesting. 4.0 stars
9. DeKok and the Geese of Death by A.C. Baantjer Mystery set in Amsterdam, if you're looking for a Dutch story in your Around the World challenge. Dekok and his partner try to find a killer who escaped custody and also try to help an elderly woman in fear for her life. 3.0 stars

b>Favorite book - Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin

Currently Reading
12 + 4 Challenge (Ursula K LeGuin's books) - The Beginning Place
Series Challenge - Lore Olympus: Volume Five by Rachel Smythe
Non - Series Challenge - The Fall Of The Sparrow by Nigel Balchin
Tome Challenge - The White Road by John Connolly
Monthly Focus Author - Feb - Adam Hall - The Ninth Directive

Upcoming
12 + 4 Challenge - Ursula K. LeGuin - Very Far Away from Anywhere Else
Series Challenge - Look To The Lady by Margery Allingham
Non-Series Challenge - Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney
Tome Challenge - The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
February Focus Author - Adam Hall - The Striker Portfolio

Enjoy your February reading choices.

My review of DeKok and the Geese of Death by A.C. Baantjer (Inspector Dekok #20) 3.0 stars

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

Next series book (graphic novel) also fits the Feb Romance genre, Lore Olympus: Volume Five by Rachel Smythe

25. A book translated from another language - DeKok and the Geese of Death by A.C. Baantjer 3.0 stars. (translated from Dutch by HG Smittenaar)

170. DeKok and the Geese of Death

Wow! What a month. You're on a roll. I am enjoying the Oz books very much so far. I'm looking forward to trying The Fourth Wing, not sure when though. Of all the Highsmith books I've read, for some reason I've not wanted to try the Ripley books.

Continued enjoyment of your selections.

I'll probably read the latest Lore Olympus graphic or Heartstopper...

Lore Olympus: Volume Five by Rachel Smythe

Finished 2 Feb, 4.0 stars

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

2. The White Road by John Connolly (Charlie Parker #4 / 2003) 503 pages, started 29 Jan, finished 14 Mar, 4.0 stars

Alondra wrote: "Bill wrote: "OK, Alondra. Your comment made me go to my book list (Series) to see how many series I've started and not yet got to #2.... I got down to the C's and hit 25... *sigh*... I'm great at s..."

Yeah that's it.. 😉👌

Ioana wrote: "Bill wrote: "I got down to the C's and hit 25."

I should've known, of course you have them alphabetized :-)"

*blush* 😊

Finished my first book in my Tome challenge, Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon 4.0 stars

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

Next tome is the 4th Charlie Parker mystery, The White Road by John Connolly

Lindsey wrote: "Finished my 3rd book of the list - The Rules of Magic . 4 stars

I have been somewhat avoiding this book because it's not a normal genre I rea..."

I have to read this. Practical Magic was excellent and was a great movie. Glad you enjoyed.

Vikki wrote: "2nd book finished
Ward D my first Freida McFadden book. I've heard a lot of positive reviews about her books and this one caught my attention. There's some fascinating about books..."

I'll have to check it out.

Anne wrote: "I finished The Locked Room this morning. It was a good book, and the author did a good job of capturing the weirdness of the early stages of the pandemic. Most authors of long-runni..."

I do need to explore Elly Griffiths more.

You're off to an excellent start. The Wife Between Us sounds interesting.

162. Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution