You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

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Challenges: Year Long Main 2021 > Josée's Low Octane Alphabet Challenge - Author's Last Name

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message 1: by Josée Leon (last edited Dec 13, 2013 06:03PM) (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) Here are my first three! This will be so much fun! This is the first book club I've joined.

A The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood DONE
BThe Crown by Nancy Bilyeau DONE
CThe Good Father by Diane Chamberlain DONE
D The Woman Who Walked Into Doors by Roddy Doyle DONE
E Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides DONE
F Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn DONE
G Gravity by Tess Gerritsen DONE
H Haunted Groundby Erin Hart DONE
I The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey DONE
J The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce DONE
K Mariana by Susanna Kearsley DONE
L The Good Houseby Ann Leary DONE
M The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern DONE
N Vurt by Jeff Noon DONE
O The Death of Beesby Lisa O'Donnell DONE
P The Cobra Eventby Richard Preston DONE
Q One True Thing by Anna Quindlen DONE
R The Source of All Things: A Memoirby Tracy Ross DONE
S Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto DONE
T Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelen DONE
U Rabbit, Run by John Updike DONE
V The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed by John Vaillant DONE
W Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese DONE
X The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices by Xinran DONE
Y Snow Hunters by Paul Yoon DONE
Z The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak DONE


message 2: by Pauline (new)

Pauline (sunny745) | 37 comments Awesome Josee! Yes, me too..I've never joined a book club...it will be fun! :) I have listed up to the letter F so far...check it out in my thread..my name is beside my title. That's how come I saw you joined. :)

Also, I found out that when we add a book in our thread, you can click on "add book/author" and people can click on the link after. Happy reading! Oh, and my first book I'm gonna read is by Margaret Atwood also. Have you ever read "The Handmaid's Tale"? Really good book!


message 3: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) Thanks for inviting me to join this challenge Pauline! (Pauline is my aunt though not much older than me :))

I was wondering about the links. I didn't see that button for adding them. Maybe that function is not available on the android app. Will have to try on my computer as opposed to my tablet.


message 4: by [deleted user] (new)

Josee - it's not a button, as such. Just above the comments box you should see some text that says "add book/author". Clicking this opens a box and allows you to search for a book title, then add a link to a book title, or a cover image, or to an author. It means we can all click on the links to view the books you're reading. It's easy once you've got the hang of it.


message 5: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59905 comments I'm not sure if you are able to link using the apps on smart phones.

Welcome Josee! It's nice to see you joining in. :)


message 6: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) Thanks Helen and Janice. I had to go to the full site to see all the options. Links added!


message 7: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) Pauline wrote: "Awesome Josee! Yes, me too..I've never joined a book club...it will be fun! :) I have listed up to the letter F so far...check it out in my thread..my name is beside my title. That's how come I saw..."

I forgot to mention... yes I have read The Handmaid's Tale... twice. Once was a loooong time ago in highschool and then again a few years ago. I've seen the movie a few times as well. I guess you could say I liked the story then :)


message 8: by Kulbir (new)

Kulbir Kirkland thanks Josee for inviting me to this book club.
Looking forward to doing this challenge with you.


message 9: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) And my first one is done... On to B!


message 10: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59905 comments You read Margaret Atwood, right? How did you like it?


message 11: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) I usually enjoy Margaret Atwood but this one was not one of my favorites. I have to say she's got quite the imagination though in this tale of the future. I remember liking Oryx and Crake much more. The Handmaid's Tale was also good.


message 12: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) The Crown was a very intertaining read! Anything that takes place during the reign of King Henry VIII is bound to be interesting! On to C.


message 13: by Pauline (new)

Pauline (sunny745) | 37 comments Josee wrote: "Pauline wrote: "Awesome Josee! Yes, me too..I've never joined a book club...it will be fun! :) I have listed up to the letter F so far...check it out in my thread..my name is beside my title. That'..."

Oh, wow...I didn't know there was a movie! Mmmm...gonna have to look for it one day. :) I am really enjoying
Oryx and Crake right now. Awesome book! :)


message 14: by Tejas Janet (new)

Tejas Janet (tejasjanet) | 3513 comments You and others here have convinced me to put more Atwood on my TBR list. A friend gave me a couple of books by her, which I enjoyed. The Edible Woman and Bodily Harm. I liked the first better than the second, but both were well-written and engaging.


message 15: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) Tejas Janet wrote: "You and others here have convinced me to put more Atwood on my TBR list. A friend gave me a couple of books by her, which I enjoyed. The Edible Woman and Bodily Harm. I liked the first better than ..."

Yes, she certainly does write well!


message 16: by Pragya (new)

Pragya  (reviewingshelf) | 4027 comments Welcome Josee! You're doing great! Picked up a few from your list.


message 17: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) Pragya wrote: "Welcome Josee! You're doing great! Picked up a few from your list."

Thank you Pragya! I have to say I'm not really enjoying The Good Father right now even though it had some good reviews. I just find that the writing is not all that great. I hope you didn't choose that one :)


message 18: by Pragya (new)

Pragya  (reviewingshelf) | 4027 comments I have already read The Good Father and yes it didn't come up to the expectations created by all the hoopla.

I added The Crown and The Edible Woman.


message 19: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) Good, enjoy!


message 20: by Kat (new)

Kat (katzombie) | 2478 comments I liked The Good Father, but I have a soft spot for Diane Chamberlain - I like her far more than Jodi Picoult, I find her books to be far more intense. The Good Father does have a very intense ending however!


message 21: by jaxnsmom (new)

jaxnsmom | 8341 comments Pragya, have you read Exley by Brock Clarke? It's about a kid searching for Exley, who he's convinced can save his father. Very strange and confusing at times, but a good read.


message 22: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) Interesting! Since I'll be reading a book by Exley I should read this one too.


message 23: by jaxnsmom (new)

jaxnsmom | 8341 comments Josee, I think I meant that message for you anyway! My brain must have shorted out for a moment :)


message 24: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) That's ok jaxnsmom. I kind of figured the message was for me :)


message 25: by Josée Leon (last edited Jan 28, 2013 03:41PM) (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) I had to remove A Fan's Notes by Exley since I couldn't find it in a library and didn't feel like dishing out the money for it. I found an excellent alternative on someone else's list: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides


message 26: by Josée Leon (last edited Feb 03, 2013 03:10PM) (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) D is done The Woman Who Walked Into Doors by Roddy Doyle . A funny book in parts and also very sad as the narrotor describes the abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband.
I've started Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides and two chapters into it, I'm enjoying it.


message 27: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59905 comments Middlesex is quite the book. I hope you enjoy it.


message 28: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) Thanks Janice :)


message 29: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) Middlesex was indeed quite the story! I found it to be a book that can't be read quickly except for the last quarter which is purely Cal's story. I learned some historical facts along the way and even did a bit of research to learn more. Having a scientific background, I found the genetics aspect quite interesting.
I'm now well into Gone Girl which should be a quick read. So far, so good!


message 30: by Josée Leon (last edited Mar 11, 2013 05:43PM) (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) The medical mystery, Gravity Gravity by Tess Gerritsen was pretty good. I especially liked learning about the International Space Sation. Now reading Haunted Ground. So far, so good.


message 31: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59905 comments It's awesome that you were able to fit the group read into your alphabet challenge


message 32: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) Yes, it was perfect timing Janice. I was supposed to read a Joe Hill book. It will just have to wait. :-)


message 33: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) Haunted Ground (Nora Gavin, #1) by Erin Hart is done. It was a very enjoyable read, I gave it 4 stars. Now I'll be taking a small hiatus to read a book for the Books Stephen King recommends book club.


message 34: by April (new)

April | 970 comments Josee wrote: "Haunted Ground (Nora Gavin, #1) by Erin Hart is done. It was a very enjoyable read, I gave it 4 stars. Now I'll be taking a small hiatus to read a book for the Books Stephen King recommends book club."

Great minds think alike! I just finished Haunted Ground (Nora Gavin, #1) by Erin Hart and am moving on to Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay ! I will see over at "Stephen King Recommends"!


message 35: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) See you there!


message 36: by Pauline (new)

Pauline (sunny745) | 37 comments Wow, Josee...you've been busy reading! They all sound like great books. :) I have been reading too but I'm only up to the letter "E". I need to go update my list right now.


message 37: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) E is good :) hope you've been enjoying your books!


message 38: by Pauline (new)

Pauline (sunny745) | 37 comments I have! :) See ya around! Hugs.


message 39: by Josée Leon (last edited May 23, 2013 09:15AM) (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) I really enjoyed The Snow Child and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was a quiet kind of book but with important lessons and a few surprises at the end. I gave them both 4 stars.


message 40: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59905 comments I finished The Snow Child a couple of weeks ago, and will be reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry next month for bookclub.


message 41: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) I see you also gave The Snow Child 4 stars. I hope you enjoy Harold Fry.


message 42: by jaxnsmom (new)

jaxnsmom | 8341 comments I keep meaning to read something by Susanna Kearsley, but haven't gotten around to it. Mariana sounds good - I'll look to see what you think of it.


message 43: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) My mother-in-law lent me Mariana in the fall and I ended up saving it for the Alphabet Challenge. I'm currently reading Mystic Riverwith the SK club and then I can finally get to Mariana.


message 44: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59905 comments We're on a similar course. As soon as I finish Star Troopers, I'll be starting Mystic River for the group read at SK Recommends Group.


message 45: by Sarah (new)

Sarah | 18550 comments jaxnsmom wrote: "I keep meaning to read something by Susanna Kearsley, but haven't gotten around to it. Mariana sounds good - I'll look to see what you think of it."

I really liked the Susanna Kearsley book I read and I look forward to reading Mariana and her others.


message 46: by Pauline (new)

Pauline (sunny745) | 37 comments Wow, Josee, you have been reading a lot! :) I just finished "Daughter Of York". I couldn't get into it at first and it's a very thick book, but I picked it up again and then couldn't put it down for the past week or so. lol It's a historical novel set in the 1400's with Margaret of York, the main character. She became the Duchess of Burgundy later. Good read after all! lol I hope you are having a great summer! :)


message 47: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) I haven't been focusing on my alphabeth though as I've been reading other books too. I'm a few chapters away from starting on L. Getting there...
Good for you for persevering with that historical novel!


message 48: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) Just finished L: The Good House by Ann Leary. I found it just ok - gave it 2 stars. I'm not sure why it's so highly rated. I read up on the author and interestingly found out that she's actor Dennis Leary's wife.
Ok, I must focus on this challenge now, no more being distracted by other books. I've fallen behind!


message 49: by Josée Leon (new)

Josée Leon (join_bookland) I read Vurt by Jeff Noon for my N.
I thought it was extremely bizarre and awful - I gave it one star.
Has anyone here read it? It has really high ratings but I suppose you have to be into that kind of thing - futuristic, alternate reality, characters always high (in virtual worlds) on these "vurt" feathers. Some parts I didn't understand because of the lingo. Not much of a story to it either.


message 50: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 59905 comments Josee wrote: "I read Vurt by Jeff Noon for my N.
I thought it was extremely bizarre and awful - I gave it one star.
Has anyone here read it? It has really high ratings but I suppose you have to be into that kind..."


I think you are right when you say that "you have to be into that kind of thing". There's nothing that appeals to me about this book, yet one of my friends rated it 4 stars and said he couldn't put it down.


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