Gloria Coles’s Comments (group member since Nov 16, 2017)

Gloria Coles’s comments from the Flint Public Library Reads! group.

Katie wrote: "Just started reading I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga"

Hi Katie,
Thanks for sharing? How is the book? Let us know!

Smootchez wrote: "I started reading “August Snow”. It’s part of the 2018 Michigan Notable Books."

We've heard good things about "August Snow"! Let us know what you think when you are finished.

Have you read any other Michigan Notable Books that you would recommend?

Tracey wrote: "Just finished "Neighborly" by Ellie Monago and started "The Great Marsh King" by Karen Dionne, from the Michigan Notable Book list :)"

So many Flint Public Library patrons are reading the Marsh King's Daughter. Please let us know what you think of it!

Have you read any other books from the Michigan Notable Book list? I hear "August Snow" is very good as well.

Diane wrote: "I just finished a biography called "The Daughters of the Winter Queen" about Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia and her children. Now I am reading a science fiction book called "Smoke and Mirrors" by Jane ..."

Thanks for your input, Diane! You have to let us know if you liked "Smoke and Mirror"!

Jacquie wrote: "I am reading the latest book in the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley, "The Grave's a Fine and Private Place". I really enjoy this series."

Several Flint Public librarians are reading the Flavia de Luce series! Very clever books. And Flavia is such a precocious, endearing character.

Let us know what you're reading this summer! We would love to know! Let's get the discussion started :)

We had a great discussion (and luncheon!) yesterday. Most members liked the Unmade World. Several stated that they liked Bogdan and were truly rooting for him. Deep down, he was a good person with a conscience who was the victim of circumstances. And circumstances play a vital role in how our lives turn out. But he was truly remorseful for what he had done, from robbing a house, to killing an innocent dog, and, of course, taking the lives of two people and destroying a man's life. Many were happy that Bogdan was allowing himself to find happiness again.

We also discussed Richard Brennan and how he coped with the loss of his wife and daughter, although some members felt they couldn't sympathize with him as much as Bogdan. Perhaps his character was not as flushed out as Bogdan's?

Some members didn't think the subplot of the murder investigation with fellow reporter Maria was necessary; they wished more time would have been spent on Bogdan and Richard. Some thought it just showed that Richard was not ready for a relationship at that time. And in fact, he may never be.

If you read the book. but couldn't make the meeting, please tell us what you thought of the book! Or if you attended the meeting and have some additional thoughts, please post :)

If you can’t join us today, June 20, in person, please join us virtually any time! Let us know what you thought of The Unmade World!

We missed you at the meeting, Marilyn but thank you for commenting!

We discussed the narrator giving up her baby, although a few of us didn't remember the passage (including myself, probably because it appeared so early in the book) and thought like you: that it certainly might have some bearing on her detachment. And probably her reluctance to have children in adulthood.

The significance of the lotteries was not discussed although winning certainly allowed her and Tumi to take a trip and not want for anything. (Especially after she let her ex-husband have just about all the marital assets.)

You're not the only one who didn't finish the book. And those who did said you probably didn't miss much. It ended rather abruptly, with the narrator planning a trip abroad with Tumi (his mother will have her hands full with new born twins).

Perhaps she just wanted time to herself, not necessarily seeking anything in particular. I think in the end she came to realize that even though she always thought she could never raise a child, that it wasn't something she could ever do, that yes, she can take care of a child (to a certain degree!)
Ann

Today, the Fiction Only Book Club discussed "Butterflies in November. And for a book that the majority of members thought was "just ok", we had a very interesting and lively discussion.

Members agreed that the unnamed main character was emotionally distant and apathetic. She didn't seem to take an interest in much and everything was taken in stride.

We also agreed that she wasn't the best caregiver (and most likely won't become one in the future!) as she left Tumi by himself an awful lot.

And most members stated that she had rather loose morals!

Quite a few thought they learned a lot about Iceland, however, one member, who visited Iceland, said the terrain and landscape was nothing like what she saw!

While Butterflies in November certainly wasn't the most popular selection, I think the discussion was very good! And the homemade cookies shaped liked puffins (or dinosaurs :) were delicious!

Let us know what you think of the book, even if you weren't at the discussion.

Join us next Wednesday, May 16 at 12:00, for a discussion of Butterflies in November. We would love to hear your opinions about the book!
And if you can't make the meeting, please post your comments here, in our new Goodreads forum. We look forward to reading your posts!

Fiction Only Book Club members are reading Jimmy Bluefeather for this month’s discussion. Have you read it? Please let us know your thoughts, even if you can’t make the meeting.

Readers, let's jump ahead to the book's ending: What are your thoughts on the confinement and confession of The Narrator? Were you surprised that he was kept in isolation while he wrote his confession? Were you surprised/puzzled that he was required to write a confession at all?

Fiction Only Book Club members' opinions about The Sympathizer were a mixed bag indeed. Some members liked the book, some thought it was an important book, others appreciated the book, yet some chose not to read it for different reasons, including the subject of the Vietnam War brought back too many painful memories. And many members just did not like it. One thing that most members could agree on was the book's length: most thought The Sympathizer was way too wordy!

I will say that this was probably one of the more interesting book discussions we've had, which proves the point that you do not have to like a book to have a meaningful discussion about it!

If you've read The Sympathizer, please let us know your thoughts. If you attended the meeting and have something to add, please do. Let's keep the discussion going!

Join us this Wednesday, March 21st, for the Fiction Only Book Club's discussion of The Sympathizer. If you can't make the meeting, please leave your comments here. This is a great way to participate if you can't make a meeting!

Michael wrote: "The book followed fairly closely to non-fiction books I have read on Malcolm X, just the added benefit of dialogue. I also wondered about the mother, what was she suffering from. Even if she wasn't..."
Thanks for commenting, Michael. I agree with you in that Malcolm was self-assured for his age. There came a point while reading the book that I surprised to learn he was still only a teenager. He was doing what I consider to be very adult things (late night dance clubs, the train job, living with a friend, etc.)
What non-fiction books have you read and would recommend about Malcolm X?

Erin wrote: "It's really interesting reading this historical fiction book. I'm constantly asking myself, which part of this is fact and which part is fiction? And a lot of it I think has to do with perspective...."

Thanks for your comment, Erin. That is a very good point and one I wish I knew the answer to. Does anyone else have thoughts on Erin's comment?

The Fiction Only Book Club (FOBC) met today to discuss X. As always, we had a lively conversation with plenty of insight and opinions. While members had different opinions about the book, whether they liked the book or not, most thought the book was an excellent introduction to Malcolm X's life, especially for young adults.
Some questions that arose: Was Malcolm's mother really unstable or mentally ill? Or was she a victim of racism? Why was Malcolm drawn to "city life"? Why did the death of Malcolm's father effect him so deeply when he only knew him for 6 years ?
Please let us know your thoughts and opinions. We would love to know what you think.

The Fiction Only Book Club had a full house for our discussion of "His Bloody Project." Central to our discussion was Roddy's mental state: was Roddy insane? We also discussed Roddy as an unreliable witness. How much of his manuscript accurately reflects the actual events? And what was Roddy's true motivation for killing three members of the Mackenzie household? We also talked quite a bit about the life of a crofter and how it influenced Roddy's behavior.
Please let us know your thoughts!

Please feel free to share commentary about the book X by Ilyasah Shabazz.