〰️Beth〰️’s Comments (group member since Dec 10, 2021)

〰️Beth〰️’s comments from the On The Same Page group.

Well I was trying to do less challenges this year while also trying to be more organised… I was keeping track of this challenge on my main individual thread and not here. Light bulb moment today when I notice I hit my goal in June but never documented it here, lol.

My goal was 10 and I am currently done with 11. Even better these were some of the best reads this year…. I’m still not ready to tackle War and Peace however!

Congratulations on retirement and being able to knock out this challenge. I think War and Peace alone was a full year challenge. Looks like the first half had some great reads. Wishing you more great reads in the second half.

Lance wrote: "While the book was Michigan-centric, I didn’t expect chapters on LSU and Florida Atlantic, nor did I think he would gloss over Michigan’s win in the Big 10 championship game and the trip to the CFP..."

That is surprising now I definitely what to read it, especially having spending yrs surrounded by rabid LSU fans…. I got so sick of purple and gold

Jennifer wrote: "I like that title. For some reason it reminds me of that old joke about how someone was watching a fight and a hockey game broke out."

LOL it is Michigan so the field might double as a hockey rink after bowl games🙄. In the distance I hear the Big 10 officials qgasping😂

Lance wrote: "Finished the first of my 4, The Hot Seat: A Year of Outrage, Pride, and Occasional Games of College Football. Not quite what I expected but one that I enjoyed."

Glad you liked it. How did it differ from what you expected?

Kristine wrote: "Beth~you are doing great 😌 I see you added in Boxed Trilogy Sets, so those must count for an extra couple of 🌟 Stickers or something."

I wish! LOL They have just been lingering on my kindle and I need motivation to either read or delete.

Joy D wrote: "Finished book 1 of 3 for July and very much enjoyed it - Masih is a wonderful writer:
How We Disappear: Novella & Stories by Tara Lynn Masih - 4* - My Review"

That looks like a great collection, adding to my TBR.

Faouzia wrote: "Starting the new challenge with (don't you just love that cover!)
It is the last book of the series, and i am really looking forward to it.
I remember first coming acro..."

I admit I would definitely consider buying it for the cover art! I have to start the series, it was buried in my TBR.

Carolien wrote: "I read more than I expected in June as we lived in limbo.

Crime across the world and centuries
I read a lot of crime spanning nearly 150 years and multiple countries. I ended up reading one crime..."

Sounds like a fantastic month. I have The Moonstone on my TBR but adding the French classics today. I unfortunately did not enjoy Fieldwork in Ukrainian Sex as much as I expected but I think it was the timing and I need to reread.

June Update


June dragged, worst reading month so far so this year. I delayed writing an update. My first book of July was great so decided I needed to reflect on the disappointment of June because the second July book is looking promising and I don’t want June’s “ bad book mojo” interrupting my momentum.

I managed 14 books (13 and a DNF) yet so many were lack lustre. I had planned several Non Fiction books(my genre challenge of the month) but chose a statistic laden The Economics of Prohibition, while interesting I had to dust off my economic and statistics “hats” and power on. Good book but definitely not light summer reading, lol. The DNF was also non fiction but I managed a book of essays that was enjoyable. I had hoped for 5-6 NF books but oh well.

June was also the third month in a row I didn’t finish my color challenge (got to 3 of 5). Unfortunately this was also the first month I did not finish a box set, again my selection just didn’t hold my interest.

Number books read for June = 14 , 12 new authors!
No translated books but I would have liked an Economics tutor this month because at times it felt like a foreign language and a doctoral thesis. (I’m rusty because I loved economics in undergrad and grad school)

Total number of pages read is 4,628

Ratings
💖💖💖💖💖 1 Find Layla
💖💖💖💖 5
💖💖💖 3
💖💖 4😫
💖 1 😵‍💫

July is looking good. The Genre challenge is game month so we were given four tasks, that allows for fiction and non fiction.

Currently reading The Son of the House and When It Falls Apart. Looking forward to:

Editorial Wild Oats, can’t go wrong with Twain
The Nineties
Strange the Dreamer series
Firekeeper's Daughter
The Gulf: The Making of An American Sea
The Six of Crows Duology Boxed Set

Hope everyone has a safe, not too hot, great reading July!

Epistolary #3 We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets

Had no idea when I picked up this novella at the library that it was one big letter to a legal representative of the MC’s former coworkers that filed a lawsuit against a big tech company. Realistic fiction of how those hired to monitor social media posts for “culturally sensitive issues “ are affected by watching hundreds of videos daily. 4 stars

Kristine wrote: "I just got in another, by Yaa Gyasi. I loved this book so much!

I put it on my TBR 2 years ago. So, think I am up to date: Read 10 of 16, but want to read sooner an..."

I have had it on my TBR for a year, definitely bumping it up to read sooner. Congratulations on hitting 10 done!

Glad to hear you arrived safely and can’t wait to see what fun reads you find at your new library! Also best wishes on unpacking once things arrive. I usually find that drags on more than the packing.

Congratulations on another great month of reading Bill. Looks like July will also be excellent.
Happy Reading!

Lillie wrote: "Before I start the wrap up, I have to say that June has been the longest month and the shortest month simultaneously. I had double cataract surgery and am still recovering from that. Added to that,..."

So saddened to hear what a bad month you had. Some people do not understand about 4 legged children. Snoopy is over the rainbow enjoying treats and toys. I hope Skye maintains. I have two 13 year olds with cancer and liver issues. I always worry if one goes first how will the other cope because they have been inseparable since they were 4 month old pups.

Also hope recuperation from surgery speeds up. Several people I know have said how the procedure improved their vision even with slow recovery and/ or complications. Impressed you got so much reading in as well!

Fingers crossed for a better July.

I deleted note 347 because Tony and I were inputting data at the same time. List correct below

887. Shattered Altar
888. Find Layla
889. Memoria
890. Escape into Meaning: Essays on Superman, Public Benches, and Other Obsessions

Wonderful Bonnie! Hope it’s a great read to finish the challenge.

Denise wrote: "Finished , gave it 4 stars. Classic book that I am disappointed in myself for not reading it sooner."

Thank you for reminding me I need to complete this series. I’ve only read O Pioneer and that was decades ago.

Finished another essay collection Escape into Meaning: Essays on Superman, Public Benches, and Other Obsessions by Evan Puschak. 💖💖💖💖 Won this in a GR giveaway and was surprised how much I enjoyed the collection.

Finished sadly yet another disappointing book this month. I like the art history mystery aspect but poor character development and plot holes made it a very hard to finish. Two sad stars.

Patricia wrote: "Finished the 8th on my list (7th prize winner)--Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line. This was a tough read but I'm glad I read it. The author worked as a reporter in India for many year..."

Glad to see you both liked it. This has been on my TBR since 2020. Maybe I will add it to my 12+4 next year