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

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

Jennifer wrote: "Behind is a way of life LOL."

Where do I get the t-shirt?

I’ll take 1 please. Still playing catch up because like Jelena I got distracted 🙄📚💖📚🙄

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

Michelle wrote: "Linda wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I just finished Pinkalicious byVictoria Kann. That’s right Pinkalicious is a banned book. Banned from th..."

She did make some good points. I am saddened how a few loud parents can get hundreds of books banned from schools in both small and large school districts. Unfortunately it’s happening in public libraries as well. I have tried looking things up on HOOPLA and so much has been removed on the platform that was there a year or two ago.

I am having a hard time choosing. I am amazed at some of the lists. Not just the school list and historical lists but lists that prisons ban…. The Texas Prison system must think prisoners reading George Carlin will cause riots. Just looking up all the books that are restricted is an education and a sad commentary of past and present times of peoples need to control thoughts and ideas.

I will probably start with Crank by Ellen Hopkins.

She is currently the #1 banned author in most US libraries. There is not only controversy around subject matter for this debut book but also a debate about the way she wrote it about her daughter’s addiction. This is a work of fiction but apparently many feel she outright used her daughter’s experiences without consent.

Finished
4💖 another fun romance and humor mystery in this series

5💖 The start of a dynastic romance mystery series

Jackie wrote: ""

Definitely a big series banned recently.

If anyone is looking for suggestions below is a link to Pen America’s list of Banned Books 2025

https://pen.org/banned-books-list-2025/

Also the Banned Book Group has a resource page

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

You might also want to check out the group shelves for ideas.

Madeline wrote: "Beth.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

I loved this book. I hope you do, too."
Thank you Madeline. I keep putting this off and I am not sure why!

Denise wrote: "One for me:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list..."

Hi Denise,
I picked Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino. It seems to be a great way to prepare for summer. Who can resist the Jersey shore and a Jewish matchmaker.


Hope you enjoy the book and have a great May 📚🌷💖

Still working on April so only one for me please. Thank you 🌷

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

May already! Time flies🦋🪰🐝

Finished gave it 4💖 but not really sure how to review haiku. Such a short version of poetry, makes you think but you would like a few more words, better yet lines.

Finished 5💖 Even if you don’t like cats you might like this novel filled with characters who have some issues and go to a clinic they have “heard about”. The magical realism just adds to the mystery.

I have been debating because I have two group reads I forgot about plus some other books but I have decided on
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day, celebrating the fundamental principles of free press so can we consider “banned books” , not newspapers or magazines… sorry journalists, we still support you…

Banned books is considered a genre on GR.

Finished The Understory by Saneh Sangsuk. 4 stars. Wonderful novella about an elderly monk sharing his life through oral story telling. Everything from elephants and tigers to urban development. The hard part was adjusting to paragraphs that went on for pages… just like an older person (95) might when passing on the history of his village.

I finished . Gave it 4 stars. I enjoy Haruki Murakami writing style. I noticed in the reviews men seem to give him higher reviews. I am not sure if that is because this book is all from the POV of a 36 year old male engineer who leads a fairly mundane life then his girlfriend encourages him to explore past issues from his high school and college days but I enjoyed the book. Some may find it slow going, he is obsessed with train stations.

On a side note: if you watch the Hulu show The Bear at the beginning of season 2 when Richie says he is reading a book where four friends “drop this guys ass” and he doesn’t want to be that guy, but he has not read far enough to know why they dropped him; this is the book he is referencing.

This has been on my kindle forever, back in 2012 or so it was 99 cents when published? Finally I have to read it. Last month a Stephen King book, now this! What will May bring 🫣

Denise wrote: "Beth my Picks for you:
..."

Thanks Denise