Joanna’s
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(group member since Nov 17, 2010)
Joanna’s
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from the Reading with Style group.
Showing 801-820 of 2,306
15.6 EotPWedlocked: A Memoir by Jay Ponteri
2014 Oregon Book Award
+15 Task
Task total: 15
Grand total: 1265
15.4 EotPThe Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
2021 Hugo Award
+15 Task
Task total: 15
Grand total: 1235
10.10 Group ReadsWest with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
I started out reading this on my phone (in the kindle app), but about halfway through, I switched to the audio version because this felt like a story begging to be told out loud. The narrator for the audiobook is good and it's definitely a story written in a way that makes for a fun audiobook.
I loved the idea that we live multiple lives and that sometimes even a short experience can have a huge impact on the rest of our lives. This book traces the story of a cross country trip bringing two giraffes from New York to California in the 1930s. There are some great scenes in the dust bowl and telling the stories of some of the characters living through that time.
But the heart of the story and the none-too-subtle moral of the story is the importance of animals and more broadly nature and the environment. The connection that these characters make with the giraffes is beautiful and well-told.
+10 Task
+10 Review
+15 Combo (10.2, 10.7, 20.9)
Task total: 35
+50 Halfway finish (10 pt tasks)
Post total: 85
Grand total: 1220
One list:A-T Avery Hunicutt
C-F Clea Koff
H-Y Hugh Howey
I-O I.W. Gregorio
J-B JD Robb
L-E Laura Reese
M-R Melissa Broder
N-K Naomi Novik
S-G Stephen King
X-Z Xóchitl González
20.9 ABCsNeed: Ari & Jackson by Lilia Moon
This is the seventh and final book in the highly formulaic erotic romance series set in Seattle. Each book in this series features the budding relationship of two characters from that are overlapping from book to book. Here, we have a woman who has been around and hasn't been able to form a deep connection with anyone in a long time finding her connection to the drummer of a band that has been playing. He's been secretly watching her for months and hoping that he could attract her interest. I thought this was the best book of the series. The connection between these characters was the most believable.
These books are my cotton candy space fillers for times when I'm really busy at work and need something to help me shut down the whizzing brain to get some much needed sleep. I find thirty minutes or so of a mindless audiobook generally does the trick. I've got one more week of trial and I'm going to finish this series before it ends, so I'm going to have to find another set of books for this particular book need.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.4, 10.9)
Task total: 40
Grand total: 1135
20.9 ABCsPlay: Chloe & Eli by Lilia Moon
This is the sixth book in the highly formulaic erotic romance series set in Seattle. Each book in this series features the budding relationship of two characters from that are overlapping from book to book. Here, we have the rekindling 26-years-later of two people who were each other's first relationship back when they were 16. The question at the heart of this story is whether these people who loved each other as children can make a relationship work as adults. Here, the relationship speed felt less silly because of the pre-existing connection between the characters. I'm still not convinced by the theme of this series that what every couple wants is an instant monogamous love relationship, but again, that's part of the guardrails for the romance genre.
These books are my cotton candy space fillers for times when I'm really busy at work and need something to help me shut down the whizzing brain to get some much needed sleep. I find thirty minutes or so of a mindless audiobook generally does the trick. I've got one more week of trial and I'm going to finish this series before it ends, so I'm going to have to find another set of books for this particular book need.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.4, 10.9)
Task total: 40
Grand total: 1095
20.4 SaramagoDragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
I can't believe I never discovered this series when they first came out. My high school self would have loved these books--right up there with the Clan of the Cave Bear books that I adored around the same time.
These dauntingly long audiobooks are excellently narrated by Davina Porter, one of the greats in audiobook narration. She carries this 39-hour book effortlessly and manages the Scottish accents enchantingly.
These books are guilty pleasures for nerdy readers. A huge step up from the trashy romances I've been otherwise reading along side this book, the book still offers plenty of passion, lots of adventure, and some entertaining bits of history. The time-travel aspect of the book here allows for a strong female protagonist with knowledge of things that she shouldn't have.
I definitely have to space these books out because they are such a long read, but this was a lovely balance between seriousness and candy. I'm sure I'll read the next one at some point, but not real soon.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+20 Jumbo (947pp)
+5 Oldies (1991)
+20 Combo (10.2, 10.4, 20.9, 20.10)
Task total: 75
+50 Mini-finish 20pt tasks
Post total: 125
Grand total: 1055
20.9 ABCsTrust: Meghan & Quint by Lilia Moon
This is the fifth book in the
These books are my cotton candy space fillers for times when I'm really busy at work and need something to help me shut down the whizzing brain to get some much needed sleep. I find thirty minutes or so of a mindless audiobook generally does the trick. I've got one more week of trial and I'm going to finish this series before it ends, so I'm going to have to find another set of books for this particular book need.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.4, 10.9)
Task total: 40
Grand total: 930
10.5 Autumn ColorsMaster of the Dark Side by Cherise Sinclair
This is an erotic romance novella from the Dark Haven series. The male protagonist is a police officer in a rural California mountain town. He meets a nurse at a club and they have a fast connection. The book is only about 150 pages, so there isn't a lot of time for character development, but the writing is reasonably good for the genre. I've read other books by this author and she's one of the better writers even if I don't always like her characters that much.
This book too serves the mindless outlet to try to stop the brain buzz that comes with overwork and undersleep that seems to be part and parcel of civil jury trial work.
+10 Task (Dark)
+10 Review
+20 Combo (10.2, 10.4, 20.8 - "He handed her a fat ham sandwich from the basket and a thermos of tomato soup. 'Eat, sweetheart.'", 20.9)
Task total: 40
Grand total: 890
In post 428, I posted Journey to the River Sea for 10.5.I would like to move that to 10.7 instead.
This doesn't change the number of points.
20.9 ABCsKnow: Mattie & Milo by Lilia Moon
This is the fourth book in the slightly formulaic erotic romance series set in Seattle. Each book in this series features the budding relationship of two characters from that are overlapping from book to book. Here, we have a newly introduced character, Mattie. She's been hanging around for years, but never found the right match. Now, she's interested in a deeper relationship, and maybe a family. Suddenly, she sees a guy that she's known for years and thought wasn't a good fit in a new light. I liked the deeper discussion in this book about how needs change over time and how to decide what things are non-negotiable deal breakers and what things might be able to adjust to fit a particular relationship. As happened in all the books in this series, the timeline for the relationship is approximately six seconds, so typical of romance novels but not especially realistic.
I'm tearing through this series, which is a sign that I'm not sleeping as well as I wish I were. These books are my cotton candy space fillers for times when I'm really busy at work and need something to help me shut down the whizzing brain to get some much needed sleep. I find thirty minutes or so of a mindless audiobook generally does the trick.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.4, 10.9)
Task total: 40
Grand total: 850
20.9 ABCsDesire: Gabby & Daniel by Lilia Moon
This is the third book in the slightly formulaic erotic romance series set in Seattle. Each book in this series features the budding relationship of two characters from that are overlapping from book to book. Here, we have 44-year-old cookie baking grandmother getting together with playboy rich guy Daniel. As happened in the last book, the timeline for the relationship is approximately six seconds, so typical of romance novels but not especially realistic.
As a side note, I think it's sort of hilarious that these mid-40s main characters are considered practically too old for romance.
These books are my cotton candy space fillers for times when I'm really busy at work and need something to help me shut down the whizzing brain to get some much needed sleep. I find thirty minutes or so of a mindless audiobook generally does the trick.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.4, 10.9)
Task total: 40
Grand total: 810
20.9 ABCsReveal: Scorpio & Harlan by Lilia Moon
This is the second book in the slightly formulaic erotic romance series set in Seattle. Each book in this series features the budding relationship of two characters from that are overlapping from book to book. Here, we have former rocker Scorpio getting together with bad-boy Harlan. As happened in the last book, the timeline for the relationship is approximately six seconds, so typical of romance novels but not especially realistic.
These books are my cotton candy space fillers for times when I'm really busy at work and need something to help me shut down the whizzing brain to get some much needed sleep. I find thirty minutes or so of a mindless audiobook generally does the trick.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.4, 10.9)
Task total: 40
Grand total: 770
20.9 ABCsYield: Emily & Damon by Lilia Moon
I am in the midst of two jury trials, which means it's time for mindless romance novels to help me shut down the whizzing brain and get to sleep. This book fits the bill. The plot is completely formulaic--it's a fish out of water story involving a buttoned-up wedding planner who is asked to plan a wedding in a BDSM club and falls for the wholly inappropriate but dashing club owner. There's nothing special about this book, but it served its purpose for the week of trial. The audiobook is narrated by two narrators--one male and one female--for the alternating point of view chapters. Both were fine--again, good enough for the quality of the book.
+20 Task
+10 Combo (10.9 - Seattle, 10.4)
+10 Review
Task total: 40
Grand total: 730
20.5 FaulknerGiovanni's Room by James Baldwin
This short book took me nearly a month to read because it was so powerful and so gut-wrenching that I could only really manage it in small doses. It's not an easy book to review. Baldwin is an absolutely masterful writer. The book moves through time so seamlessly that you hardly notice that it's not just progressing chronologically, but the tension of the novel is maintained partly through the structure.
I never liked any of these characters. But I so strongly wanted them to find happiness and satisfaction even though I didn't especially like any of them. The descriptions of the protagonist's relationships with the different people in his life--his father, his lover, his fiancée, and the other characters populating the book--were so compelling vibrant and vulnerable and real that I almost felt like I knew these people.
I really should read more Baldwin.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+10 Combo (10.2, 10.3)
+5 Oldies (1956)
Task total: 45
Grand total: 690
20.3 VonnegutThe Poems of Wilfred Owen by Wilfred Owen
I'd never heard of Wilfred Owen before his name came up as one of the quintessential examples of anti-war work. As part of my effort to read more poetry, I thought I'd take a look. My library had this edition available as an ebook. To read it on my phone, I had to turn the phone sideways because otherwise the formatting was impossible, but it worked fine holding the phone horizontally.
I feel inadequate to review these poems. They are powerful and gripping. I'm not well enough educated in poetry to understand how they relate to other poetry or whether they are subtly doing something cool with the form or the meter. But what I can say is that I felt the emotion and raw energy radiating from every word.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+5 Combo (20.5)
+10 Oldies
Task total: 45
Grand total: 645
10.8 HouseThe Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
I've come to think of Sarah Waters as writing strong and interesting female characters, so I was somewhat disappointed to realize that this book was told from the perspective of a male doctor. He frequently assesses the women in the book based on their physical appearance and their fashion choices, which seemed very male, but also kind of annoying.
But the book won me over with its pacing and its creepy story of the crumbling mansion lashing out at the family living there. I loved the way that the secrets of the house were slowly revealed to both the characters and the reader. There are no tidy answers here about what's really going on and the reader is left to wonder--were these people suffering some sort of hysteria? Is there really a paranormal presence?
Simon Vance is an outstanding narrator and he nails it on the audiobook version. This book translates really well to audio format and I highly recommend it for audiobook readers.
+10 Task
+10 Review
+15 Combo (20.8 - "Almost as soon as he had sat down he poured himself a glass of wine, and when Betty had taken the bottle to the other end of the table and approached him with the tureen of soup, he put his hand across his bowl.", 20.9, 20.10 - 2009)
+5 Jumbo
Task total: 40
Grand total: 600
10.5 Autumn ColorsJourney to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson
Lexile: 860
There's definitely a good story here, but the abridgment for the audiobook ruined it. Whatever you do, do not listen to the audio version unless they release an unabridged one. My daughter and I found ourselves frequently confused at the abrupt transitions from scene to scene and we missed out on a lot of the character development that I think made other readers really like this book.
Unfortunately, I didn't like it enough to want to go back and reread the whole thing, so I guess I'll just be left with the feeling that it's likely I missed the point.
+10 Task (Sea)
+10 Review
+25 Combo (10.3, 10.7, 20.8 - "They did not feel especially hungry but the managed to get to the dining room, holding on to everything they could find, and to eat some of the soup which the waiters poured into the bowls fastened to the table with a special gadget that came out in storms.", 20.9, 20.10 - 2001)
Task total: 45
Grand total: 560
