Joanna’s Comments (group member since Nov 17, 2010)

Joanna’s comments from the Reading with Style group.

Is sherry wine?

How about Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda?

This is really about the creation of the musical rather than a biography of Hamilton, but the musical itself is basically a biography of Hamilton.

Also, I just read The Ponder Heart by Eudora Welty and I think her humor and tone share some of Twain's style.

Last year, I read Joan of Arc, which I'd never heard about, but then read somewhere that he considered it his best book. I loved it.

My son's elementary school class was supposed to go to Hannnibal as a field trip last spring, but it was cancelled when school closed down. He was so disappointed not to get to go as the trip is built up as a big reward for the final year in elementary.

20.5 Wine

The Angel by Tiffany Reisz

I'm blushing to claim this series here, in this literary challenge. These books are well written for what they are - highbrow erotica. But really, this is reading for pure escape. This is the sequel to The Siren and should be read only after reading the first book. This book is less literary but maybe more fun than the first. In this book, there's lots of sex, in various combinations of people all generally having a good time and not taking themselves too seriously. There's no happily ever after for the protagonist here, but there's lots of suspense and revelations about these characters. Anyone who liked the first book will find this a satisfying follow up. Anyone who didn't like the first one has no business reading this one.

+20 Task (Ch 8 "Still shaken from her meeting work the ungodly handsome priest, Suzanne poured a glass of wine to calm her nerves.")
+10 Combo (10.2 - TATR = TART; 10.8 - Kentucky, Connecticut, New York, London)
+10 Review

Task total: 40
Grand total: 110

10.8 Jetsetters

The Siren by Tiffany Reisz

I'm afraid I'm down a rabbit hole with this series. This is erotica with literary flair. Popcorn for the sexy soul, but not for the feint of heart. I loved how sex-positive this book was and how the female protagonist is a fully functional person in charge of her own sexuality rather than a wilting violet or an abuse sufferer in need of saving. This is also a book about books--the protagonist here is an erotica writer trying to break into more literary fiction by changing editors/publishers and her new (handsome, naturally) editor is helping her rewrite her novel. I'm destined to read the whole series.

+10 Task (London, England, Connecticut, and New York)
+5 Combo (20.5 - ch.6 "Or stay," she said, as she took a deliberate sip of her wine before setting the glass down on the table next to her.")
+10 Review

Task total: 25
Grand total: 70

15.3 Power of 9

Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark

+15 Task (auth. b. 1927)

Task total: 15
Grand total: 45

15.2 Power of 9

Loitering with Intent by Muriel Spark

+15 Task (auth. b. 1918)

Task total: 15
Grand total: 30

15.1 Power of 9

The Ponder Heart by Eudora Welty

+15 Task (auth. b. 1909)

Task total: 15
Grand total: 15

Thoughts on How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi? I see that some users have marked it as memoir, but it feels like not a memoir to me...

What about "Devil's"?

Wait, the numerical finish also requires going in order? I hadn't realized that.

Anika wrote: "Joanna wrote: "20.3 Middle East

Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie

...

I was going to use this book for another challenge I'm working on: about what percent is set in Israel and what percent in Jordan? Thank you!"

I couldn't figure that out because I listened to it as an audiobook and I didn't pay enough attention to at what point they went to Petra. That's why I didn't count it for the Going for Green...

20.3 Middle East

Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie

+20 Task (Israel/Jordan setting)
+5 Multiple
+10 Oldies (1937)

Task total: 35
Grand total: 655

I'm looking at Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey. The book traces the life of Oscar, who lived from 1841-1866 and it seems to mostly start in 1858, so it looks to me like 50% will be in the 1861-1865 period.

But if anyone's read it and thinks it spans more time, I'd love a heads up before I dive in.

How about Josh Kilmer-Purcell?

From Wikipedia:

He has written articles for NPR, Huffington Post, Publishers Weekly, AdWeek, OUT Magazine & others.

I'm not sure how much of his living comes from that work...he seems to have a lot of jobs...

10.1 Pick a Card

I picked the 3 of Clubs - 300-399 pages

Herzog by Saul Bellow

+10 Task (371pp)
+5 Oldies (1964)

Task total: 15
Grand total: 520

+100 RWS finish

Grand total: 620

What about Harry Dresden? He has his own office and investigates things, but he's a wizard.

Books I'm remotely interested in for lock in:

Similar to Zone One:
The Glass Hotel
Severance

Similar to The Underground Railroad
The Dutch House
Between the World and Me
Girl, Woman, Other
How to Be an Antiracist
Such a Fun Age
An American Marriage

Similar to Nickel Boys:
Red at the Bone
Ask Again, Yes

10.2 Author name

Island of Shipwrecks by Lisa McMann
Lexile: 800

+10 Task
+5 Multiple

Task total: 15
Grand total: 505