A Good Thriller discussion
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Melanie wrote: "Hi EveryoneI am wondering how you decide that you will not continue with a book. I always finish books and right now I am reading two that I am really not enjoying. To make it worse they both come..."
I have a given up on a few books in life, but not too many. I'm struggling through one now. It's not as bad as some others, but its not nearly as good as I thought it would be. I think if there are parts to it that have you intrigued, go for it. Maybe put it down for now and come back to it at another time. Or, if there is nothing you can see pulling you in, let it go. Some times when I struggle, I go back and read some of the reviews of the book that are positive and see if anything those say that make me want to keep reading or try it again later.
Melanie wrote: "Hi EveryoneI am wondering how you decide that you will not continue with a book. I always finish books and right now I am reading two that I am really not enjoying. To make it worse they both come..."
I really like THe TIme Traveller, but I had to decide to quit trying to make sense of it, relax and just go with it. OTOH, I've read books highly rec'd by others that just make me wonder if we're reading the same book. If it's not for you, no guilt about stopping!
That happens to me all the time. Someone will tell me a book was horrible, but it was so good for me I ended up crying. Also, on books not finished, this rarely happens to me. But once it did with a book that was highly recommended all over the place: The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Melanie, I have no hesitation quitting a book when it becomes a chore to read. Sometimes it's the book, but just as often it's because of me. I'm in the wrong frame of mind or just don't have enough time to create a connection. There are sooo many books out there and time is precious.
If it doesn't stop making me nod off by the time I hit page 50.
Not at the moment, Cosmos. That's just when I know it's time to quit a book, barring any other reason...like a font too small for me to read.
Perri wrote: "Melanie wrote: "Hi EveryoneI am wondering how you decide that you will not continue with a book. I always finish books and right now I am reading two that I am really not enjoying. To make it wors..."
I am listening to Time Travellers wife and wonder if that is a big part of the problem...it's so slow
Brenda wrote: "Melanie, I have no hesitation quitting a book when it becomes a chore to read. Sometimes it's the book, but just as often it's because of me. I'm in the wrong frame of mind or just don't have enoug..."Exactly!
Thank you everyone for all your great answers to my query.
Brenda I didnt like The Time Travelers Wife. I DNF it.
I'm with Mary. I finished but I did not like it. A coworker of mine was recently reading it and didn't like it. I told her to quit while she was ahead :-)
Gosh......I really hate not getting to read messages. I miss our group when things go so crazy, you cannot sit and relax. Not only have we been working like beavers on our "new" house (still)..... Our grandson bought his first house and we have been painting and decorating over there. It is wonderful to be back in MO, helping our family.......and visa versa.We just finished having our deck built. We are totally outside people, when the skeeters are not biting.
The most important news.......and my latest b_______ is that a vet tech butchered our little parrot and broke her wing!!!! Lola has been my sweet, dear bird for 11 years. She is very well behaved, and polite! The tech did not even have permission to groom Lola..........I was told one of the avian vets was going to do it.
Needless to say, we have been on the hunt for a new vet (we have dogs too) and we have had to take Lola to an emergency avian vet. Poor baby is wrapped up like a little sausage.........and will stay this way for three weeks. We don't know if she will regain the use of her wing or not. Granted, she does not fly...........but she does practice her yoga and climb and balance on her toys, using her wings.
I have been so upset.........(I know - in the big spectrum, this is a small problem)......but this bird is so sweet. I cannot imagine anyone hurting her. Right now, she is totally dependent on us and has been in pain. When Lola does not eat - you know something is wrong.
Well.......thanks for letting me vent. I miss all my buddies on here........and miss greeting all our new members. Sean, we are growing in leaps and bounds. So proud of thus group!!!!! Proud of you and hope you are feeling better.
Ter'e, poor little Lola!! How in the world does a tech break a bird's wing -what was she trying to do?!?!
Oh, Ter'e, that's terrible! Perri, vets & vet techs are only human. And birds are specialized. Our dog once had his ear hurt by a vet and he didn't trust men vets ever since. We lucked out by moving to a vet clinic that only had women.
I hope your Lola gets better, Ter'e. Parrots are so cool. I once roomed with a lady that had a Macaw. We all had to make sure we had shoes on if he was out of his cage as he had a toe fetish.
Oh Kirsten, that made me laugh!!! I thought you were going to comment on bird poop. A macaw with a toe fetish??? Yikes. Owie.Lola is a Blue Crown conure.......about 198 grams. She is really a good bird. She's like having a major guard dog.
I am just sick watching her manipulate her 5' tall cage. The first couple nites, she climbed to the top and hung by her beak and feet on the side of the cage. I hated seeing that and put her perch up there so she could sleep. She's happiest on her nite-nite perch. Broken wing or not.
Yes, I know techs are human........I was paying for a specialist.......and was lied to about one not being available ( after the fact). Then the tech lied to the owner of the animal hospitals.........and said everything went fine with Lola. The tech that was transporting Lola between rooms gave a diff picture.
From now on.......Lola will not be groomed unless I am present. Period. I want to know who and what. Lola is still trembling from her ordeal, and not eating much.
It will be a long time before she trusts someone other than myself. I admit.......I am protective over my family........bird, dogs and kids.
Never once did my Vet, the owner of the hospitals.......ever apologize. That severed my ties with him. My furry ones will go elsewhere.
Kirsten, I get that techs are human it's just I dont' understand how it happened-too rough? Ter'e why do birds need to be groomed? Dont' they do it themselves? Excuse my ignorance about our feathered friends.
Check out this blog post by Michael Koryta about his pirated book at Amazon:http://www.michaelkoryta.com/pirated-...
Update with pictures:
http://www.michaelkoryta.com/update-p...
Brenda wrote: "Melanie, I have no hesitation quitting a book when it becomes a chore to read. Sometimes it's the book, but just as often it's because of me. I'm in the wrong frame of mind or just don't have enoug..."I agree. Time is precious and if a book doesn't grab me, I abandon it without guilt. Like you Brenda, I'm probably in the wrong frame of mind. Although, there are so books out there that are just hard work.
Birds do groom themselves, in the wild, Perri but I guess pet birds need all the grooming help they can get.
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Life is hectic...
Good vets are so important to us animal lovers
I just had my 40th birthday as some of you know. Since I get to read others' thoughts in here a lot - I thought I'd share my blog post that I wrote on my birthday, to reflect on the milestone. Read if you like - I'd be honored, and I am an open book, so:My Thoughts, Looking Back 40 Years
Forty years? Has it really been that long? It doesn't seem like it to me - until I take time to look back and consider everything I have experienced. Why am I writing about it? Well, as a writer, I think I am obligated to write about such a milestone. And although I've not suffered from extraordinary circumstances or experienced any worldly events first hand, I've been blessed with encounters with so many wonderful people, and I've had the chance to be part of things that I think have made a positive impact in other people's lives. A simple man like me can't ask for much more than that. So for those folks out there around the world, just outside my community and in countries outside the US that take the time to read my blog sometimes - and for those of you who already know me...I thought I would share with you my reflections of my life after forty years.
Anyone who knew me as a young child - folks that remember back that far :) - could tell you that I was a shy little boy. Although I loved meeting people, I still didn't know what to say to someone when I met them for the first time, so I would just smile and react to whatever they did first. My, how the times have changed me; little did that little fella know he would one day be pretty outgoing and be willing to tell the world and everyone he encountered what he was thinking; even get up in front of people and teach them things! But I remember being the shy boy in Mrs. Osteen's class, and the only thing people really started to notice about me way back then was that I could draw pictures pretty well. That became my trademark through school; elementary all the way through high school. Some people that know me now would be surprised to know that. But I even have certain drawing phases I went through, and I remember them well. In elementary school I mainly drew animals, He-man figures, and transformers. In middle school, I started to try my hand in drawing more detailed transformers, as well as muscular action heroes. I specifically remember drawing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the backs of all my friends' yearbooks. And finally, once I got to high school, I began to focus on my drawing talent, drew self portraits, and drew pictures of my favorite athletes (mostly the great Michael Jordan), and sharpened my skills at drawing animals, other people I knew, and scenery. I even attended the Fine Arts Center of Greenville County for my artwork. I have fond memories of that senior year, despite my attendance there changing the entire dynamic of my high school days in twelfth grade.
Somewhere amid all the school days was my Greenville ARP Church youth group. Although I discovered a lot of my abilities in school, my church youth group is what helped mold me socially. Going to church on Wednesday nights kept me grounded. If it weren't for the youth group, I don't think I ever would have learned how to properly manage and control the old Fort Temper. I learned things that I took to heart from a very early age, and thankfully, the good Lord had a plan that somehow kept me from ever falling into the wrong crowd; ever caring too much about what other people thought just because I didn't want to try some of the things they were trying. At school, I even felt judged sometimes because I didn't want to be part of that crowd. I tried to fit in at a bare minimum, but the party scene that all the movies about high school showed never, EVER appealed to me. And that stuck with me through my college days as well. But the best friends a guy could ask for early in life grew up in the youth group with me. And of course my life wouldn't be the same without Big G and Cool C: you guys know who you are.
Then there were the Erskine days. Erskine College...a tiny private college in the middle of nowhere, in the small little town of Due West, SC. 'Due West of what?' they'd say. Never quite figured that out, but on the SC map, it is pretty due west of Columbia, SC I guess.
Anyway, the people I met at good ol' EC helped bring this simple artist out of his shell. I discovered in college, at least according to some, that I could sing. So I joined the Erskine Choraleers, where I met some of the kindest and most talented people I will ever know. I met one of my favorite instructors ever - Dr. Porter Stokes, who taught me more about myself than he would probably realize. I met girls I had crushes on; I was a sucker for pretty eyes and an angelic voice. In my four years with the Choraleers I was able to travel throughout different parts of the South, and got to experience singing in some of the largest cathedrals in Europe. I even had the opportunity to serenade girls and make a fool of myself...but I don't regret a single note. I'd do it again if I had the chance.
While at Erskine I also made friends with a host of brothers from a society on campus called the Euphemian Literary Society, and some of those guys made lasting impressions on me that I enjoy reflecting on to this day. Some of the funniest times I ever had were as a 'Euphie.' I got to be the society's Recording Secretary and Sergeant at Arms; even got to draw my fair share of T-shirt designs for our dance events and formals. But the camaraderie and brotherhood - that was something I will remember to the day I die.
Those are the days that seemed to go by at a slow pace. I can look back at those times growing up and relish the things I learned and the things that I got to enjoy. But where has the time gone since? My adult life has seemed like a whirlwind. As I tell participants in my classes when I train, I've been everything from an elementary PE teacher, to a personal trainer and Wellness Director, to a police officer - and somewhere along the way I was also a bouncer! And I think it is safe to say that I've experienced just as many influential events in adulthood that I did the first 18 to 22 years of my life. But I see what my grandmothers meant when they always told me when I was a boy: "Enjoy it while you can, Jason, because when you grow up, time sure will fly!" my Nannie and Granny would say one way or another.
I've been blessed to experience what it's like to teach young children some of their first exercises and sports, and see the results later in life. I've been blessed with the opportunity to send a couple of people who were morbidly obese in a better direction, and witness physical change for the better. I've been blessed to encounter people who were perhaps not in the best states of mind, at just the right place, at just the right time, to perhaps keep them from making a mistake they'd permanently regret. And I've been blessed to keep people safe from harm, arrest dangerous people and put them where they belong, and make people feel safer about where they work. And I got to experience all that, AND meet the girl of my dreams and have the son I always wanted on top of all that!
So to sum it all up, if you took the time to read this, you can see I've had a pretty good life. If I complain, it's usually about the world and all its faults...but it is rarely about my life. I consider myself very fortunate to make it to where I am, and I couldn't have made it this far without the loving support of my family, my friends, and of course the divine providence of God. But after taking the time to write this, and seeing how short the last paragraph was compared to all the stuff before - I can't help but think that God has a lot more in the works for this simple man. If you've had a part in sharing this life with me, and taken the time to get to know me, whether personally or just reading my books or blog - thank you. It's been a good 40 years; here's to hoping I have at least 40 more! Cheers!
Ter'e wrote: "Oh Kirsten, that made me laugh!!! I thought you were going to comment on bird poop. A macaw with a toe fetish??? Yikes. Owie.Lola is a Blue Crown conure.......about 198 grams. She is really a good..."
Definitely! I would sever my relationship too! In fact we did after that vet hurt Berkeley's ear.
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Great news, great win for Jo
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Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends. Enjoy your turkey! I was slow this year, so I am cooking the turkey dinner tomorrow.
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His 40th career title.
On a scale of 1 to 10 what is your favorite color of the alphabet?
I m reading an awesome french thriller, but I m feeling weird, I need my Stephen King dose... I m hopeless only God can save me now!
I'm posting a link to a Huffington Post article regarding Trump and a trending hashtag , but I absolutely am not making a political statement here. I promise this is book related!!! And funny!http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/d...
Brenda wrote: "I'm posting a link to a Huffington Post article regarding Trump and a trending hashtag , but I absolutely am not making a political statement here. I promise this is book related!!! And funny!htt..."
Did you see the Trump Dr Seuss article too? That's HI-LARI-OUS!!
Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I'm posting a link to a Huffington Post article regarding Trump and a trending hashtag , but I absolutely am not making a political statement here. I promise this is book related!!! ..."Just googled and read them, Kirsten! LOL!
Amber wrote: "Oh..priceless, Brenda. Thank you!"You're welcome, Amber! Glad you enjoyed them!
*sigh* I have a copy of a book on my Currently Reading List that has 29 pages more than the closest edition listed via the GR database.Not a problem, Brenda.
Amber wrote: "*sigh* I have a copy of a book on my Currently Reading List that has 29 pages more than the closest edition listed via the GR database."Using a Nook I get that a lot. When I update my reading progress I end up using percentage read more than page count.
I don't care for ebooks because IMHO they AREN'T books at all!
Anyone else in Twitter? Know when we might be able to log back in?
Just said on the news that twitter has been hacked. Netflix too.
I just finished watching some stuff on Netflix. That's weird. Don't and will never do Twitter.
OK.......when you have a stupid book question........where do ya go??? I have racked and racked my brain and I cannot pull out the answer. This is what I would call a MAJOR brain fart. So please help! I know my fellow book buddies will know the answer.Seems to me......I got a notice from Goodreads....or Bookbub.......or Amazon.......that another book has become available in a series I have an interest in. Oh crap! Bad grammar.
This book is no. 4 or 5 in the series........and it is either about 2 brothers or 2 families. My brain first thought Jeffrey Deaver.......as I do remember the author being relatively famous. I rec'd this notice in the past two weeks or so and I remember thinking, I have the earlier books to this series. I am not sure if this new book is the last in the series or not. I've ruled out several of my FAV authors, but sure can't pull the authors name again.
Dang!!!!! ( y'all know, I do not mean dang!!!!! But I am being a good girl). I know I am not the only one to receive this notice.........from the Gods, for all I know. Does this ring anyones bell????? Normally I can pull things up to the surface, with no trouble. But not today. I am blaming it on SW paint fumes. Plus, we are bone weary from painting!!!!!
TIA!!!!!!!
Ter'e wrote: "OK.......when you have a stupid book question........where do ya go??? I have racked and racked my brain and I cannot pull out the answer. This is what I would call a MAJOR brain fart. So please he..."Wasn't there a link to click on to get to the book?
Ter'e wrote: "OK.......when you have a stupid book question........where do ya go??? I have racked and racked my brain and I cannot pull out the answer. This is what I would call a MAJOR brain fart. So please he..."I use fantastic fiction to keep track of authors I read, they listed all the books in order or by series. I also keep a small leather bound notebook, were I listed the authors I like, list the series I read, mark what I have or need, highlight what I've read and use that for when I shop in a used bookstore. I read a combination of ebook or paperback, so have found this to be helpful, also like that I keep track of it going old school, verse being a geek that uses technology to keep track of it.
Diane.....Well, there probably was a link.......but since I can't remember who it came from.....or how long ago I rec'd it........I could be looking til I am blue in the face.
I was hoping someone would recognize the new book out about families/friends/brothers and have an answer to the author for me.
I did not add the book to my Wish List on Amazon.......so........
Gosh, I hate it when I do something like this and not pay full attention at the time.
Hummmmmmm wonder if I can look up recent books I have listed under my Want To Read section. I know this had to happen within the past 3 weeks.
Brain has been stretched too thin lately. Thx
Mike,Like you.......I need to carry a little leather notebook! A cheat shewt, so to speak.
I have hundreds of books downstrs........and even went down and cleaned some shelves, hoping to see the name of the elusive author pop out at me.
All that did was remind me how behind I am in reading Child, Nesbo, Carter, Baldacci.....etc.
Gonna take one more stab at trying to remember the authors name.
GRrrrrrrrrrr. I am usually smarter than this. I could kick my own butt!!!
Thx
A Good Thriller
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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I am wondering how you decide that you will not continue with a book. I always finish books and right now I am reading two that I am really not enjoying. To make it worse they both come highly recommended and so perhaps I am prematurely passing on them. I don't know if its because lately I have been reading lots of different genres. This as taken me out of my mystery/thriller genre. The two books I am struggling with are