Karli’s Comments (group member since Feb 23, 2010)

Karli’s comments from the Busy as a Bee Books group.

I should look for the movie, I missed that there was one made.

I totally feel you, Elizabeth. Heavier reads are harder than they should be right now.

Welcome Melissa! There are lots of books on our shelves, hopefully you can find something new to love.

Covid has made so many things different in our lives, it's making some people read more. and others less...I am finding it really varies with me.

Our history is horrifically white washed. I've thought for years about the fact that most "new" countries suffer fairly difficult growing pains between 200 and 300 years in...and we are rife for that.

Just the title "Age of Consent" makes me livid, because it reminds me of the term "underage women' which means A CHILD. How can this be a classification? The cognitive dissonance of society in the US makes my head hurt.

Well, dammit...is this a memoir? Because it sounds kind of like one. And it sounds really compelling...and other than I haven't loved Ann Patchett. But this sounds really good. I think I may have found my next audio book.

I finished last night. I saw Lisa gave it a 5* rating. I gave it a 4. I thought the last 1/3 of the novel was great fun. The first 2/3 was a lot of build up. Of course, that's fairly typical for a good Gothic novel, you have to set the scene and build the back story. So, when it comes to back story and the execution of the climax...it is up there with , IMO. I'm not a huge gothic fan. So, yeah. This was pretty good.

I find that so interesting! I agree, that if there is a plot that makes me care more about the action than the characters, it's a great book. Honestly, I don't know that I've really liked any characters in Dickens' books, but the plot drives it. If the book is shorter, I can handle it. But a chunkster without anyone I like...not a happy read for me.

Elizabeth - by staying off Facebook, you have delayed seeing your friends' and families' political beliefs, biases, etc. I've learned how little I have in common politically (and I feel to some degree, morally) than so many people I've known for years. The cognitive dissonance is really hard to fathom sometimes.

Our school hasn't put forward any type of plan yet. Today was the last day our surveys were supposed to be in by, but as the North Dakota High School Athletics Association has given the green light for all sports to go forward, I'm guessing our school who is pretty dominant in athletics is going to lean hard towards whatever makes it easiest for the athletics program. I know that's kind of cynical, but I live in a rural state and our school has won many regional and state titles. It means more than it should (IMO) to the school. So - I will see how they move forward and figure it out from there. But I really cannot see a way I would let my daughter play volleyball this fall...even though she wants to.

I picked up with my July box, so it's found its way to my shelves as well.

I have next to my bed. Simone St James is quickly becoming a favorite author.

I could really see that with YA. I haven't read much lately, so I don't have any examples there at this point, but I used to read a lot more YA than I do now. There is probably a reason for that.

It would be hard to write a YA book that isn't at least half comprised of text messages or snaps...it seems to be the primary method of communication for my teens at least.

@Tanya - or at least so far. I'm about 1/2 done, so we will see where your theory takes us.

@Elizabeth - I hate waiting...I actually have to contact our local library because there seems to be something wrong with my card. I miss being able to use the library!

Hi!

I was writing about and lamenting (again) about the lack of characters I liked or trusted. And then I realized that this is becoming more and more common in my reading life. So, am I getting old? Or am I totally out of touch? It isn't that I don't like these books - some of them I've like a lot, but I think that's where I'm not connecting with any 5 Star books lately. It's hard to be 5 Stars if I don't like anyone I'm reading about, even if their circumstances are interesting.

I'm going to list the books I've read lately that have had no characters I connected with or even liked.







There are more as I dig - but again, it's not that these are bad books. I just can't find anyone I actually like. Maybe I'm old and crabby.

I got Happy and You Know It as well as A Good Marriage - I read Happy and You Know It. It was entertaining, but I thought it reached a little far in its scope to be very believable. The characters weren't terribly well developed, and it is another book where there are very few characters I think are likable.

I got The Last Flight and Home Before Dark.

I really enjoyed The Last Flight! It was as gripping as I'd hoped. I haven't gotten to Home Before Dark yet - but I know where it is at!

A Little Life is one of my favorite books of all time. I love the collection you've provided here, thank you!

My current book is one of our Summer Extravaganza - - the cover is beautiful, and I got it for my BOTM. It is setting up the gothic feel pretty well - but it's hard to feel like this is Mexico, with the chill in the air and constant fogs. I don't know the weather patterns for the whole country, but I think more about the hot days than foggy chilly ones.

@Margie - I read that one when it was a selection, and I cannot imagine how awful it would be. I think the juxtaposition of what hospitals are going through this year without enough beds and staff to care for people is also going to be horrifying.

I'm on page 107 - and I have to say I think it is cheating to have a British family in Mexico for the gothic. Not that it isn't interesting. But I stand by my cheating comment!