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

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

January Recap

Insomnia allowed for massive amounts of reading time. I think this is a personal best in page count…never to be duplicated!

Number books read is 20 (three of those were box sets/omnibus) in addition I finished a box set that I started in December…not counted in stats for the month.

Total number of pages read is 9,555 😳
Ratings
💖💖💖💖💖 5
💖💖💖💖 10
💖💖💖 3
💖💖 2
💖 0

Finished 3 of my 12+4 and all my color challenge and PIFM books
These 20 included 13 of the 50 books from my old must go TBR challenge (owned) and 13 new-to me authors

Total number of books in each genre

Science / Speculative Fiction 4
Fantasy 1
Classic 1
Literary Fiction 2
Non Fiction 1
Romance and/ Women’s Fiction 10
Historical Fiction 1

*Translated 3 of the 20

Don’t think I will ever read 3 box sets in a month again.

Plans for February about 20 books (only 1 is a box set) This includes some short story and essay collections, which I rarely read because as soon as I get invested in a story it is over and on to the next one.

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "3 books finished since my last update, 2 were yesterday to make it a clean end to the month! So 6 in total this month, with 2,671 pages - if I can keep that up, I'll smash both my book and page tar..."

Great job of crushing your monthly goal! Sorry to hear about your eye, but taking holiday in February to snuggle up with a book sounds amazing📚☕️🫖=💖

Rhonda wrote: "I will read a rust colored book this month with a tinge of pink. :)"

This looks like an interesting read. Looking forward to your review.

Managed to finish my final selection for the month, 3.5 but rounded up. The alternating story lines were disjointed at times but overall interesting speculative fiction on how technology can influence our lives. Especially when it lurkers in a cute robotic animal.

Jennifer wrote: "I was unfamiliar with your last three picks (and I admit, attracted by that flurry of color) -- what a contrast with the Asimov! You'll have good reading in February, methinks."

I hope for a good month of reading. Trying to get some old romances off the TBR. Looking forward to Asimov to counteract the overdose of contemporary romance.

I am going with

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Sorry for the delay ..."

Nothing to be sorry for, no delay!
Thank you for the great picks. They will add a good variety to February. Also thanks for thinking of cover colors! I did not have a rust color, I was just going with a few old pink covered romance books to get them off my TBR. Good Science Fiction is a much better choice.

Sonsoles wrote: "Hi,
I'd like to join. Only 1 book for me please =)
PIFM
Thank you!"

So many great options to pick from Solsones. My choice is .

Happy Reading.

Three for me please, https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Finished my second pick, Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City Giving it 3.5. Liked the anti hero and it was very funny at times.

Finished my second set, Heller Brothers Hockey. Decent romance series about brothers in the NHL.

Can not believe I had so much time to read this month! Twelve sets still seems like an impossible goal let alone sixteen.

Veronica wrote: "Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewel 5.0 stars

I just discovered this author last year and I am hooked. Invisible Girl is my favorite, I love the charac..."

That does sound like a good read!📚 On my TBR now📚

Pam wrote: "I'm reading The Aviator by Eugene Vodolazkin, which is excellent so far!
"

This does sound interesting and I haven’t heard of it. I just started and have on my TBR

Alondra wrote: "Final verdict: What we aren't going to do is argue and nitpick. The MODS set a vote, and members said 500 pages. If you do not like that or agree with it, then do not participate.

Also, you do NOT get to change the rules. It is what it is and the MODS stated what they stated.."

Never said I wanted the rules changed, I just wanted clarification. Thank you all for your input.

Vikki wrote: " . Omnibus editions have pros and cons - if you count it as 1 big book, then it only counts as 1 book read for any challenges based on number of books read rather than 4 books.."

Yes I agree and GR actually has the box set listed as one book…Kacy Chronicles Boxed Set: The Revelations of Oriceran . And my 12+4 has 16 box sets…. Each listed as one “book” and I am reading them each as a long book. Of course since this seems an issue I will only count books not boxes for this challenge.

Finished my first box set, Kacy Chronicles Boxed Set: The Revelations of Oriceran. 💖💖💖 the world building was piggy backed off of what Karl and Anderle had already set up in this universe. Had great potential but was slow to start then rushed to coherently close the loose ends. Development could have been handled better but overall a decent, light fantasy.

Finished The People in the Photo by Hélène Gestern. My second read of this award wining book. Fast epistolary style that does not waste words to move the action along; following the two MCs as they learn about the past of their parents and develop a connection. Wonderfully translate. Can’t recommend this book enough . This book stayed with me after the first reading and I think it will be something I go back to periodically.

Finished two more of my color Challenge Books, on a roll.

my third book, Four by Four by Sara Mesa 💖💖💖1/2
Still trying to process this strange read. The GR page has few reviews or ratings, tagged science fiction/ dystopian/ science fiction-fantasy along with tags like Spanish, gothic, horror, literary fiction. My best “classification” is Bizarre Dysfunctional Spanish Gothic. Science Fiction classification would depend on the reader’s interpretation.

Set in three sections, the first is multiple POVs of occupants of the “school”, the second is a “diary” of a substitute teacher, and the third is the writing another teacher who no longer is at the school. This is translated but I think some of my issues were not due to the translation but my lack of understanding of some of the author’s influences. Curious to see if anyone else has tried this. I need to digest this and possibly reread. Highly recommend to readers of mystery, horror, psychological thriller, literary fiction. Hard to pigeon hole this read. Something for everyone, weather you like it, love it or hate it.

The fourth read The People in the Photo by Hélène Gestern is just as amazing in a second read. Still an engrossing 💖💖💖💖 read. Writing style and the choice to make this epistolary was brilliant. A fast paced read that connects you with the two MCs as they try to solve the mystery surrounding their parents. Definitely deserved all the awards heaped on the book.

Madeline wrote: "This challenge is for fun and is not policed. Lol
Please have fun and enjoy yourself."

Ann wrote: " I was under the impression that these challenges were just for fun but perhaps there are cash prizes..."

You two have my rotflmao 😂🤣😂

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "I finished my second book The Shadow Sister this has been my favourite of the series, I was so impressed with both the strong, independent animal loving women from the past, and the..."

Adding this series to my TBR. Going to be smart and get from the library….lol… unless I can find them in discount stores.