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

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

Polly - I totally agree! I'd love a sequel.

I had every intention of re-reading this, but I must have loaned it to someone. I really have to start keeping track of that stuff.

I'm obsessively reading articles and frustrated that our government is more concerned with the economy than the humanity. I firmly believe that more isolating needs to be done, and that flattening the curve is critical. My father-in-law is in a nursing home, and I am terrified for him. But he has wound care and IV antibiotics and we don't have the skills to take care of him either. I believe my office should be closed to the public at least - I work for Social Security, and of course our primary clients are the disabled and elderly. We can do most of our work over the phone, through the mail or online. There is no need for them to gather in our lobby.

I finished up which was a book from last year. It was objectively good - well written, societal observations very sharp, but it fell a little flat to me because of the lack of character development. I just need more depth of characters than this book provided.

I've got to get my library card updated...apparently they have a new system and I'm failing at checking my ebooks out.

I started reading this one, and I'm finding it to be a fun distraction from my other obsessive reading just now. I love spunky women protagonists.

My 5 Star Reads

January:



This book from multiple POV is just a power house. I loved how much heart and personality the book displayed. It's written as a biopic, but it is fiction.

February:



This is a classic piece of fiction that is based on an epic tale of revenge. I'll be honest, there are about 300 pages in the middle that I slogged through, but the parts on either side are still pretty epic.



This is something of a supernatural thriller, and it was creepy and a page turner!



Funny, queer romance - I laughed out loud in places, and the sex scenes were pretty steamy.

I'm going to re-start an old tradition...

What are your 5 star reads this year? Please let us know genre and why it got 5 stars from you.

@Elizabeth - I feel so frustrated and angry most of the time lately when thinking about what a disgraceful place the US has become in terms of basic humanity. y

I read over the weekend and it made me bawl. Like dozens of kleenexes type of crying. I have cried very little in the past few years, this gave me a shock. I gave it 5 stars just because it moved me that much.

FYI - this one is currently just $2.99 on Kindle!

So, this series was my pick. John Sandford is hands-down one of my favorite authors. I've loved all his series, and they are all very relatable. The series intertwine some, and I selected the Virgil Flowers series because it's the most recent, but if you want some great early computer hacker (late 80's - early 90's) the Kidd Series is so much fun too.

I ended up choosing because I loved by the same author. I also chose because I'm a sucker for a good thriller and an older BOTM, because as I'm looking for next book and craving a light, happy read, I realize I have virtually nothing like that on my shelves right now.

I finished . It had a lot of relevant issues in it, but the characters and story were just meh. I felt like it's a winner for Reese because it would likely adapt very easily and be a great show.

Hour of the Assassin by Matthew Quirk
Thriller


The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
Magical Romance


The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson
History


Writers & Lovers by Lily King
Literary Fiction


A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler
Contemporary Fiction

Kim, I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s never ok.

I hope you are well distracted by the book.

No. TBH my real life has been pretty difficult, so I’ve been staying away from books that might hurt to read.

Have either of you read it? I'm interested to hear your thoughts.

I am interested to see Gyllenhaall adapting a book and directing as well. I love this new wave of women in Hollywood. The original series that are being written for Netflix/Hulu/HBO etc are really getting some fantastic actors and writers.

I finished - it is one of those books that has some really amazing parts...but then also a lot of mediocre. So It was worth reading, but it's one of those I likely won't read it again.

I'm nearly done with the audio version of . I recently watched the movie version - which was SO GOOD. But, you have to also know that the movie was "inspired by" as opposed to "based on" the book. I read the book as soon as it was released - and I had forgotten so many good things.

I am getting so addicted to audio books...the productivity that I have when I'm listening is just amazing.

I read an article recently that stated that audio books actually trigger the mind in the same way that reading books do. I'm kind of thrilled by that.

Funny Charlotte's Web story - when my son was little (3 or 4) - my in-laws bought the DVD for Charlotte's Web and would watch it with him when he was visiting. If you remember, Wilbur has a rather whiney voice...and there is a particularly shrill scene where he squeals "But I don't want to die!"

Cue my son getting scolded in the grocery store..."But Mommy!!!! I don't WANNA die!!!!"

Explain that one to all the judgy strangers.