AvidReaderAmy’s Comments (group member since Jan 05, 2022)

AvidReaderAmy’s comments from the The Nerd Herd Book Club group.

The Challenge Book for the month of April is The Best Thing You Can Steal by Simon R. Green.

Why this book?
April's challenge was: to read a book that has less than 200 reviews on Goodreads. After searching and searching books with lower ratings, I gave up on the lower than 200 rating. I wanted a book and/or author that I really hadn't read much of (if anything), and since it has a around 600 reviews, it's still a lower number than most of the books we have read as a group. I thought I would give it a shot.
Set in the magical underbelly of London, the main character Gideon Sable is a con man and a thief. He has been asked to plan a major heist and bring together a crew (misfits?) for this heist. The glue that holds them together? They all want revenge on the person they have agreed to steal from, Frederick Hammer, an evil collector of rare magical artifacts.
I love a good heist story. A heist story with the undead, ghosts, evil collectors and a rag-tag heist crew? Yes, please.

For the month of April, our Group Read will be, Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris.
Why this book?
Grave Sight sounds like an interesting read; a cross between paranormal fiction and a mystery. Harper Connelly can find dead people, by seeing the last few seconds before they died. She uses this ability, along with her step-brother, to travel around and help people locate their lost loved ones. When she takes the request of a grieving mother in Alabama, she becomes the target of someone who would rather not have the truth uncovered...
I was looking for a fast and easy Group Read for the month of April, with some suspense, interesting characters, and some twists and turns to help move the story along. I hope this is it!

Those of you who have read this book, what did you think? Was it what you were expecting? Did it end like you thought?


I am familiar with Andy Weir, as I read The Martian before this book. This book was mostly"read" with an audiobook. I absolutely loved the narrator and the use of his voice and sounds. And I really expected to like this book and follow along on a space adventure with some maths and science thrown in. What I didn't expect was it to be so awesome! And with an alien encounter and overall friendship. That sometimes really hit me with emotional punches. And I absolutely love that the aliens are not humanoid. Brilliant engineering space spiders? Awesome. Really though, I love how Grace grew as a character, and really became someone new. Someone brave and a real friend, even after the amnesia drugs stopped altering his memory. I love that he did the right thing and not just the easiest thing. And my favorite part was the friendship that he developed with Rocky and when he saved Rocky. Man ..I was listening to this at work and I was smiling like an idiot. Also, I loved how this ends, Grace back as a teacher, just like he started, but more.

Ok ... Let's talk, group. What did we think of this month's group read?? Was it what you were expecting? Did it end like you thought?

I started this book as an audiobook and I got to chapter 20...but the narrator just wasn't reading it fast enough for me! I had to know what happened, so I switched to the book copy and sailed through it. And what a wild ride! I really liked this book, even more than I thought I would. It had humor, it had mystery, it had unexpected outcomes, it had a sprinkle of romance; really it just checked all the boxes for me for a fun read. Seriously though, that ending?! Who put the hit out on Steven?? I have to get the next book.

Rachel,I know!!!! I have to see where it goes, too.

Roseann, I read the challenge book. It was crazy! But so awesome!! I will start a spoiler post for both books. I think both books this month are worth talking about.

Roseann, I am so happy to hear that. There are a lot of great books out there, I am happy to have a group willing to try them out with me. I am working through the second book in the series. I really like the series, too!

Laurie, I am loving the audiobook of the challenge book. I like how the "language" is done and the way the narrator speaks all the parts, with all the accents. I will be looking for more audiobooks narrated by him in the future.

Hey everyone,
I just wanted to check in and see what everyone is thinking about the March books, both the Group Read and the challenge book. I have been so busy with work lately (March seems to be a crazy month!) that I haven't had time to sit down and do a check in post. I hope you are liking them.

I haven't had a chance to start reading the Group Read, yet. I finally got it from the library. I guess this one was a popular one. Everyone seemed to have trouble getting a copy of it. Anyone get a chance to finish it? Without going into any kind of spoilers, what did you think?

I have been "reading" (with the help of Audible) the challenge book. I can do that to and from work on my commute and a little during the day at work. It's so very different from the Martian (which I loved). I am liking it and I will most likely finish it later this week and I can give more thoughts about it then. What do you think about it?

I just wanted you to know that I hadn't forgotten about you guys and that I hope you are all still with me. Which leads me to another thought....

Is there a book that you have been hoping to read? I would love to know; tell me what it and why we should read it. I hope you have some great suggestions. I can't wait to see what they are.

Have a blessed day!
-Amy

I'm still waiting for my library copy of the Group Read to come, too. I have the challenge book, so I think I'll start with that. 👍

Nick,
I am so sorry about your library not having enough copies of the Group Read book. I hope it isn't too much money for you to buy. I was basing it off my library; where there were something like 30 copies of the book. I hope I can get books in the future that you can just check out, or that are free on the Kindle. At least you have the challenge book, already! 👍

I hope you enjoy the books I have chosen for March.

For those of you using the app and not the online version of Goodreads, the March Group Read book is: Finlay Donovan is Killing it, by Elle Cosimano.

Why this book?
Finlay's life is going downhill. She's an author with writer's block. She's newly divorced. And is flat broke. While discussing a book plot she is mistakenly taken for a contract killer. While she's not really an assassin, she really could use the money... This book seems to be part mystery, part improbable (yet hilarious), adventure. Most reviewers have said it's a lot of fun to read. I thought we could use a bit of fun. ;)

The March Challenge book is: Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir

Why this book?
On a doomed mission an astronaut wakes up alone, he doesn't remember who he is, or what he is supposed to do. He has no idea where he is. All he knows is that his fellow astronauts have passed, and he is connected to tubes. From there he has to remember to figure it all out.
March's challenge was to read a book you saw someone reading. I saw so many people reading this book, last year. I have heard that even people who have no interest in science or science fiction, really liked it. I loved The Martian, by Andy Weir, so I have high hopes for this one, too.

Hey everyone-
I plan to announce the March Group Read and Challenge Books on Feb 21st.

Hints:

The Group Read looks to be a somewhat crazy, lighthearted adventure of "Oh crap, how did that happen??"... that I hope will keep us laughing....

The Challenge Book ("A book you saw someone reading") looks to be a fast paced Sci-Fi adventure.

Roseann, I am almost done with it. I really like it. I plan to continue with the series, too. I'm glad you like it!

Nick, I finally got started on it. It so far has been good. Very dark, dystopian. (I like those.) I've made it to chapter 8. If I didn't have to work, I would stay up and read it all...

Nick, she got pregnant by sperm purchased on the internet. Apparently from a PhD candidate. Which was strange. I'm not naive, but is that possible?? I wasn't stated exactly how Noelle did that to Ellie, but it did say that she was knocked out by drugs first and that Noelle was keeping track of Ellie's cycles/ovulation..

Ok . I think it's time for those of us that have finished to have an actual discussion about this book.
Here are some questions to maybe get some conversations going.

What are your thoughts about the book?

What did you rate the book? Why?

Were you able to tell who the guilty one(s) were right away? Why or why not.

Have you read any other books from this author? If yes, how does this one compare?

What did you think about seeing the different characters' point of view, as the story progressed?

What are your thoughts about the ending of this book?



I'm just not sure about this one. It had such great ratings and high reviews. But for me, it fell kind of flat of the hype. There were some more interesting parts that moved the story along, but I feel that the story, overall, was a bit disjointed.

I ended up giving it 3 stars. And that's probably the best I could do for it. I liked it enough for that but probably not enough to recommend it.
Maybe I have read too many mysteries and/or thrillers, but from the very beginning, it wasn't too difficult to piece out that Noelle was going to do something to Ellie. I found their interaction to be predictable, in that way. I still wonder if it was part of the author's purpose. Maybe she was looking for a way to let us all see inside the plan, as we watched it unfold. I'm not sure if it was as successful for me, as it could have been.

I have never read anything before from this author. I think she has a simple writing style that allows you to read her book quickly. I did enjoy that it was a quick read. However, I did miss some of the more complex thoughts and hang-on-the-edge-of-your-seat twists and turns that I've experienced with other writers of this genre. Based on this book alone, I am not sure that I will be looking to jump into another book by this author.

I found the character POVs, a strange thing. On one hand I liked knowing their thoughts, but I don't think the author used this idea fully. We could have really delved into selfish thoughts or even manic thoughts. I think it may have given the characters more dimension.

The ending of this book was odd. The suicide had me scratching my head. Yes, he killed Noelle...and yes Poppy wasn't his...but Poppy still loved him. That poor kid. I guess the point was guilt? Remorse? But I don't think his character ever felt that. So that seemed a bit of a stretch for me. The letter in the book, however, was a nice touch. Some kind of closure.

I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it either.

I would love to hear what everyone else thinks.

I started the book. 50% through it. Even though I kind of see the end coming, I think I am enjoying the different perspectives, when a character's different point of view happens. In a way, I wonder if you are supposed to kind of know what happens. And the build up for the unsuspecting people is part of it? (Trying to say things with no spoilers. lol)

Nick, I just got a message from the library today saying that it's available to be picked up tomorrow. So I will start it tomorrow. Have you started reading it??

Nick and Laurie, Awesome! I was hoping people might join me. 👍