Karen ⊰✿’s Comments (group member since Sep 23, 2012)

Karen ⊰✿’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

The other Sandy wrote: "Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "You’d think in this 'Information Age' it would be so hard to have revisionist history."

I think it's actually easier because (a) anyone can write anything on the internet, and (b)..."

Yes I agree.
I teach critical thinking as one of our leadership programs in businesses now…. It’s not being taught in school and people don’t feel the need to “waste time” on doing that when the algorithm serves you up an answer

😊🤭

♞ Pat wrote: "Eldarwen wrote: "Very little. It isn't a subject that is touched upon much in school here, if at all, so it kind of falls by the wayside, which is a shame. (The same is true for any and all kinds o..."

Funny isn’t it. You’d think in this “Information Age” it would be so hard to have revisionist history but it sticks because people only listen to their own bubble and the ‘now’ rather than critically thinking and researching.

Sammy wrote: "I was doing so well clearing out the TBR closet. Then I had an appointment in town today and I had to walk past through Waterstone's.

When I got home there was an Audible sale.

I have now added 1..."

🤭

The other Sandy wrote: "@Karen -- How did you link to a site off of Goodreads? Every time I try, even in my own little challenge tracking folder, the comment doesn't save and I get a pop-up saying that's not allowed."

Unfortunately GR won’t allow external links within HTML tags anymore. You just have to paste it “as is” which looks ugly but works 😊

Eldarwen wrote: "I also added a couple Inga Simpson books now :-)

They do sound like they'd have wonderful outback descriptions. Something I enjoy very much in Jane Harper's novels as well, even if those usually i..."

She is the best Australian nature writer there is imo. Her audiobooks are dreadful though, so it always takes me a while to get to the paperbacks. Mr Wigg and Understory are my two favourites.

Yes Jane Harper is originally from the UK. I was so surprised to hear her speak. Haha
But she was a journo in Australia running around outback towns and has lived here for some time which is how she writes so well and accurately about the country and the people

Melindam wrote: "And I added Dark Emu ... of course...

Which can work as Karen's audiobook recommendation for February. 🤭"

Haha nice one
I may actually re read it in February too. There is also another one Farmers or Hunter-Gatherers?: The Dark Emu Debate which I want to read but wanted to go back to Dark Emu first

Gtk! I’ve had the first in the series on my tbr for a while (so long it will probably be in the closet challenge next year!!)

Love the recommendations, thanks M! Will check them out when next on a computer 👏👍

Melindam wrote: "I love Frasier!!! 😍"

Me too.
Our go-to TV show when I want something fun and that I don’t have to think about!
Tried the newer series but it just wasn’t the same without Marty, Niles, Ros and Daphne so gave up on it after a few episodes

is probably one of the more popular ones. Some other good recommendations here: https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/must-...
😊

Not overtly about colonisation but I do love all of Inga Simpson’s books as a beautiful look at outback Australia and the intersection of farmers and First Nations people

Teehee

Of course, here you are

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

Start of Month
Total audiobooks to read: 6
Audiobooks in monthly category to read: 2

Books in category: not sure what I'm reading yet !
(Sammy recommendation)
(Mel recommendation)
(Gabby recommendation)
(friend recommendation)

FINISHED
(Sammy recommendation)
(friend recommendation)

End of Month
Total audiobooks read this year: 11 (end of Jan was 6)
Audiobooks in monthly category read: 2

MY MONTHLY RECOMMENDATION (and why):

(Sammy recommendation)
Best book in the series so far, imo

No I understand Tricia and I mostly agree - for example I think male authors can write women and vice versa but if a man was trying to write a feminist book from a female perspective I would feel similarly to this discomfort.

I struggle with this one as it is a particularly sensitive topic. I felt the same with American dirt and couldn’t finish it.

Edit - I should probably say that most other countries likely have very little idea of the issues and debates in Australia related to colonisation and reconciliation and I accept that this wouldn’t be a red flag for most people who are just reading a HF story

Tricia wrote: "#2 off my list completed:
- The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline

I really enjoyed this! The audio was well done and moved quickly. It tells the story of 3 women who..."

Sounds great and I loved her Orphan Train. Just not sure how I feel about a non-Australian and non-indigenous writer creating this story. Perhaps it is because it is Australia Day today which has become more controversial every year … and I have been working with some First Nations groups recently and learning more about the deep intergenerational trauma there is.
So… I’m kind of torn about if I should add this! 😬🤭

Melindam wrote: "In fairness, I must add that I also like the "non-recommendations" where I can see if my decision of not putting a book on my TBR is a good one. :)"

This! ⭐️

Keli wrote: "I have yet to read The Catcher in the Rye. Your discussion is bumping it up my tbr reading list. I want to know whether I like Holden or not.

I won't, however, read [author:Jennifer L. Armentrout|..."

Interesting! I haven’t read any JLA and none of this is changing my mind 😂


I found Cassandra Clare & mortal instruments (well at least book 1) crossed the line in terms of how similar it was to HP. I didn’t even know it started out as fan fiction until after I had read it and then tbh I’m surprised it was able to be published without plagiarism claims. But I also found her writing pretty sloppy so have never picked up another one of Clare’s books

The other Sandy wrote: "I'm not taking it personally that people don't like it. I just keep seeing people in many discussion threads on multiple platforms talking about how much they didn't like it or how much it annoyed ..."

I read it 10 years ago and didn’t enjoy it. I also can’t remember what it was about him as it has been so long but in my review I wrote “Holden is a thoroughly unlikeable and hard to engage with or care about which made this book quite boring and not enjoyable for me.”
And I’m someone that doesn’t enjoy books with unlikeable characters generally whereas it may not bother others 🤷‍♀️

Cat wrote: "Keli wrote: "She is a terrible writer and cringey enough without sex scenes. I can't imagine the horror of added genitalia...."

There's mostly been kissing, which involves detailed descriptions of..."

😂🤭😂🤭

Eldarwen wrote: "Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Ah!! I have started this book so many times on audio. Always got confused and stopped. Need to really try properly this year"

Just roll with it, eventually you'll get the hang of ..."

Thanks, I will give it a try again this year because it is (once again) on my list for this challenge 😂 It is now one of my oldest being added in 2015