Scott’s Comments (group member since Mar 07, 2017)

Scott’s comments from the Team Hooman group.

Rebecca wrote: "Scott, the theme is just a suggestion!"
I know but I like the idea. :)

For books that fit the theme, I'll suggest (with the caveat that I've already read them)
Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer
Maplecroft


Rebecca wrote: "Anything else you are excited to read?"

Outside the theme, I'll nominate

The Armored Saint
Brimstone

Hmmmm...I'm actually struggling trying to think of something that I haven't read. The only ones coming to mind that fit the theme are books that I've already read.

I'm excited for this. I had a really hard time deciding which book to vote for.

FYI, Rebecca, the group home page still lists Trail of Lightning as the current read, at least on my view.

Rebecca wrote: "I would be down for voting on previous noms of the best few rounds!"

Do we still have the previous poll results? How about we throw up the previous runner ups (just to keep things simple and manageable)?

The Armored Saint by Myke Cole

I'd also be open to any previous nominations that didn't win.

Also, a thought occurred to me. I assume most of us have read Felicia's You're Never Weird on the Internet so I won't make it an "official" nomination yet. But if I'm wrong in that assumption, I feel like it almost has to be a group read given that this is the Team Hooman book club lol

Reading this book, I just couldn't help but wonder how much of the events are inspired by actual Chinese/Japanese history. Sunzi was clearly an analogue for Sun Tzu, as many of his passages and theories are actual passages from The Art of War, and the story about the king's concubines is an actual story about Sun Tzu. And the atrocities of Golinese (sp?) were reminiscent of actual atrocities from Nanking. I also couldn't help but notice the allegories between the destruction of Mungin (sp?) and the atomic bombings of Japan.

I like the way it delved into the themes of modernism vs.traditionalism, and the idea of "total warfare" and revenge. Honestly, this may be the best examination of those themes I've seen in fiction. I can't help but compare Rin to Anakin Skywalker and the way they allowed anger and hatred to consume themselves and lead them to commit unspeakable crimes. But, I could really feel and understand Rin's journey to make the decisions she made much more than I ever felt with Anakin.

I just finished it today. Really enjoyed it. This was another where I probably would've rated it 4.5* if Goodreads allowed it. I definitely plan to pick up the sequel when it's released in August.

I got about 4 hours in today. I'm enjoying it as well so far

I have about 90 minutes left in the S&L read for the month, so I'll probably start The Poppy War tomorrow at work

I am not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells
After On by Rob Reid
Brimstone by Cherie Priest

I really enjoyed it. It was a fun adventure, and the additions of Native mythology was a welcome addition to the fantasy genre. I rated it 5 stars, and while that's fairly accurate, this is one of those situations where I wish Goodreads allowed the ability to do half stars, because I would've probably gone 4.5 for the reason I mention below.

The only criticism I'd have is it kind of got predictable, especially the arena fight. I knew right away that her opponent would be Nizrani (sp? blame the audiobook if I got that spelling wrong LOL).

It was interesting though how Kai and Maggie's dreams tied into the ending though.

I finished it today. Really enjoyed it. Definitely plan to pick up the sequel at some point.

I got about 20% through today while listening to the audiobook at work. Really enjoying it so far!

I finished Lovecraft Country a few days ago. A little cheating I suppose since I "had" to read it for another club lol. It was a really good examination of the horrors of racism and pre-Civil Rights/Jim Crow America. It was interesting to see how the author managed to weave that in with horror and Lovecraftian elements.

i also wouldn't mind reading any of the prior nominations that didn't 'make it.'

I'll try to stick with books I haven't read yet lol

The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova sounds like it might fit the "family" theme. Full disclosure I have read the author before but not this specific book lol

Record of a Spaceborn Few Kind of cheating since we read Book 1 as a group read (and I know many of us continued on) but it probably fits the colonization theme.

For something more on the "thriller" side of spooky, try The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

The only thing that's coming to mind is colonization because of (American) Thanksgiving in November. Or something family-related because of the holidays?

Unless we went super cheesy and picked something like Christmas Carol because of the holidays

I'm not big into horror usually. I'm currently reading Lovecraft Country along with S&L, and I'm enjoying it.

I also recommend Maplecroft by Cherie Priest, and I'm hoping to read I Am Not a Serial Killer at some point. Ian Tregillis' Milkweed Triptych series is good too, though it eases you in with the horror elements

Sounds good! Are we going to have any kind of theme for Nov/Dec?