Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club discussion
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B the BookAddict wrote: "Nanci, you are brave. Flyboys: A True Story of Courage looks like an horrifying story if the reviews are anything to go by. When men say that the violence if horrific, you know it's r..."You are so right. The first few chapters weren't too bad, but the one I just read was horrific. I didn't know it was going to be so graphic. Still it is reality; war is horrific. I am learning so much on every page, so trying to focus on how much I did not know about that historical time period and skim quickly over the gruesome parts. I will probably read something lighter simultaneously to give me a break.
I finished City of Secrets. 4 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... This haunting story of a holocaust survivor in Palestine tells of a period of time and a place that I knew nothing about . Great writing.
I finished Throne of Glass
. It was enjoyable apart from the fact that there was yet again another love triangle. Pfffff!3.5 ★
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I just started Eeny Meeny by M.J. Arlidge. This is a new author for me. The book is a suspense, thriller, crime/cop type. So far it seems like it will be VERY twisted. The main character who is a cop is NOT your typical officer. Should be good.
Just finished Miller's Valley. A great read. Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just started Now You See Me
. After the last YA book I read, I desperately needed something more "adult". The first few pages already freaked me out.
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The Art of Not Breathing - I'm halfway through this one and cant decide what I think yet. There are parts that are very YA, some threads of the story that are not all that interesting to me, and others that are very interesting. So, some parts I'm enjoying and others not so much.
Fire Touched - I'm really enjoying this addition to the series. There was one part where something happened and I that I thought it really didn't fit with the character's personality to do what he did, but I as the story progressed, I think I get it now and it makes sense why he did what he did, even if it originally seemed out of character. I'm about 30% now and curious where the story is going. My only real issue with this book is that the cover doesn't fit it at all. Mercy is not the type to go around showing off her body. She doesn't think of herself as this gorgeous, sexy thing. lol The cover artist has her personality completely wrong. Yes, she is tough and a car mechanic, but think "car mechanic," as in grease under the finger nails kind of girl. Plus, she is married to a possessive alpha male. She is not a streetwalker. Get it right artists!! Every cover they try to make her sexy and every cover has different tattoos too, which really bothers me. Ugh. The cover = worst part of the book.
Finished The Versions of Us. 3 stars . My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... I liked this one but didn't love it . Cleverly written debut novel of three different versions of a relationship of a couple spanning decades .
I've been reading
Contact by Carl Sagan and listening to
The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman today.
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Kirsten - Can you add a couple sentences about what you think of your books to your posts? I always like to get to get the quick view (liked it, didn't like it, stars...) before heading to a review. :)
Thanks, Mariah, for posting the tidbit about Lucia Jordan's free short books on Amazon. I've been looking for similar things, and appreciate the tip. Do you find her writing style to be ok, that she puts a little effort into it?I'm currently reading Unwound by Loralei James.
It's the 2nd in one of her series, and is definitely not for everyone's tastes. It's ok - she does a decent job of the back story and keeping the current story going and engaging the reader in the characters. I have to admit, I'm mostly reading it for the "smut" aspects, rather than the story. ;)
I finished At the Edge of Summer. 4 stars .My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... A beautifully written story of friendship, love , war , art . Recommended for lovers of historical fiction.
Just finished reading my interlibary loan
Contact by Carl Saganhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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We'd like this new thread to see a bit more discussion about the books we are reading, rather than just posting the book link (and the occasional link to a review). The comments should include:
- Books you just started or are currently reading. You might want to add a few words about the book to let other members know whether you like it or not so far.
- Books you just finished, Please include your rating (1-5 stars) and a few words about the book (even if it's something as short as "I loved it / hated it.") If you wrote a full review, you can share the link to it but please include a short summary of your thoughts alongside it.
Finished The History of Great Things. 4 stars. My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....A uniquely written book where a mother and daughter in alternating chapters tell each other's stories. Reads like a memoir and I imagine that it is definitely autobiographical.
Oh, hey, thanks Lynn. I did not realize that. I'm currently reading the collection The Second Golden Age of Science Fiction Megapack #2 -- Mark Clifton. These are stories from the 1950s. They are actually very human stories for science fiction and the author seems to have a very healthy sense of irony.
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. It's a bit different than I expected and I'm curious where the story will take me. So far, I like it and it's keeping my interest, but I'm not loving it. I'm about 37% now and I know a few people said it gets better as the book goes on, so I'm hopeful that it will be great.
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I'm currently reading the collection The Second Golden Age of Science Fiction Megapack #2 -- Mark Clifton. These are stories from the..."
No problem Kirsten, we knew we'd probably have to remind a few times :)
Finished reading
Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton last night -- finally! I really wanted to enjoy this more than I did. For some reason, it just never really grabbed me.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton last night -- finally! I really wanted to enjoy this more than I did. For ..."That's a shame Kirsten, the blurb sounds interesting.
Finished Eliza Waite: A Novel. 4 stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..... Really enjoyed this story of a gutsy woman , making her way in the world alone until she goes to Alaska , during the Goldrush. . A great debut .
Stephanie wrote: "I highly recommend this non-fiction account on the sinking of the Lusitania. The depth and breadth of resources used by the author in the telling of the story paint for colorful characters and susp..."Erik Larsen is a great author. Everything of his that I've read has been very well done. Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania has been on my TBR shelf for awhile. If you haven't read The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America yet, I highly recommend it too!
Kristie wrote: "Currently reading Tell the Wolves I'm Home . It's a bit different than I expected and I'm curious where the story will take me. So far, ..."Hang in there...it does get better. I read it as a book club read in 2013 and gave it 4 stars. Hope you end up liking it!
Currently reading, Torch. She's the same author who wrote Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail which was made into a movie about a year ago. I liked Wild, so thought I'd read her first book, Torch. The story started out good, but seems to just be falling apart at the end. I'm in the last 70 pages and struggling to finish it.
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Oh good, Kristie. Glad you liked it in the end.I just finished Torch which I would not recommend. The second half was just very limp and the ending so-so. I'm giving it 2.5 stars.
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Lynn wrote: "Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Finished reading Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton last night -- finally! I..."Many people really liked it, I - unfortunately - didn't
Just finished listening to Emma Thompson's incredible performance of The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. Emma really outdid any other narration of this. She kept the tension in this story going up and up. Turn of the Screw is one of those stories that I adore, being a huge fan of gothic fiction. However, Mr James is very wordy and can nearly lose you.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Yes, my next book was better! My Name Is Lucy Barton was very enjoyable. It reads in an evening. It is short but packs a powerful punch. The author's writing is really good.
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So glad that one was better for you!
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Stephanie, I've been on the wait list at my library for Lilac Girls since I first heard about it. Great to have such a strong recommendation from you! I'll let you know when I get to read it.Lord of the Flies is rough. Cool that the author is reading it!
Lilac girls sounds intriguing!I've finished a few books:
(5 stars)The third book in a series about an AU where dragons can shift into humans and are living in secret among us. There's a sect of humans fighting the dragons and an organization of the dragons who is also somewhat questionable. And, our heroine (dragon) is sort of in a love triangle with both a dragon and a human ...
I just love Julie Kagawa's writing style, her heroines and dialogues .. this was a lot of fun.
(4 stars)Despite the hideous cover, this is actually a super sweat and fluffy mm romance (staying safely on the PG13 side) that's sort of a Cinderella story with quests etc. It's completely silly and predictable, but it had me smiling almost the entire time because it's just so lovely.
To balance out all that sugar, I read two crime stories. One was German, and the other was
(4 stars)Super thrilling, but also really brutal and gruesome. I liked it, but it's very tough to read. Not just the violence, but also the psychological level.
and
(5 stars)A feministic satirical "Orange is the New Black" set in space in a dystopian/misogynistic future without much of an actual story (apparently it's about female prisoners (being jailed for such crimes as being overweight or not making room for the hubbie's new young girlfriend) competing in some kind of tv show olympics). It's just a little insane in a good way ...
Finished The Summer Guest. 4+ stars . My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... A beautifully written story that makes me want to read Chekhov.
4 starsI picked this book for my book club. It's a murder mystery that has a great twist at the end. I really enjoyed it, and I don't read murder mystery's too much.
Stacy wrote: " 4 starsI picked this book for my book club. It's a murder mystery that has a great twist at the end. I really enjoyed it, and I don't read murder mystery's too..."
Ooh. Good to know about a book that's good for book club. I don't read much murder mystery either, but every now and again I like one. Going on my TBR list!
I'm trying to finish up my Kindle Unlimited selection today. 
The Second Golden Age of Science Fiction Megapack #2 -- Mark CliftonThe stories come from the late 50's and early 60's. The author has a great sense of irony and judging by some of his philosophy smuggled in his stories, I think I'd really like him.
I just finished my Kindle Unlimited selection.
The Second Golden Age of Science Fiction Megapack #2 -- Mark CliftonI really enjoyed this. The stories range from light and funny (heavy on the irony) to larger narratives about the future of Man.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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I just finished reading
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoulthttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Wow. This book is incredible and I did not see the twist at the end coming. But be warned this is at the least a 6 kleenex cry at the end.
It's been a long time since I read a book where I wanted to go back to page 1 and start over. But I really would like to do that with this one.
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The Art of Not Breathing - I haven't gotten much further in this book since my last update on May 12th. I said I was about 1/2 way then and I'm at 57% now. It's just been a struggle to get through for me and it's taking a lot longer than it should. To be fair, I don't think it's really a bad book. There are certain parts that I'm interested in seeing how they turn out. Unfortunately, there are other parts that I'm not interested in at all and the book seems to be stuck in those storylines at the moment. I hope to finish it soon and move on. 
Stars Above - I'm almost through the fourth short story in this book (page 145) out of nine stories (369 pages, not including the Heartless excerpt, which I may or may not read). It is a fun book and it is interesting to see the backstories for the characters that we met in the Lunar Chronicles series. If you loved the series, I'd recommend this book of short stories. I'm really enjoying them. 
Brother Odd - I just started this one, a bit early for our BOM read next month. I'm only about 6% in, but I'm excited to get back into Odd's world. I really enjoy these stories. I'm curious to see where this one goes. 
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender - Just started this one as well (9%). What a strange, but fascinating story. It has started out differently than I expected, with the story of Ava's great grandparents and her grandmother as a child, obviously years before Ava was born. Very interesting and creative so far with good writing.
Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "I just finished reading Leaving Time by Jodi Picoulthttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Wow. This book is incredible a..."
I liked that one too! Jodi always has a good twist at the end. I rarely figure them out.
Just finished Notes from an Exhibition: A Novel. 4 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... My first book by Patrick Gale but not my last . This is a beautifully told story of a bipolar artist and the affect her illness had on her family .
Nanci wrote: "Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "I just finished reading Leaving Time by Jodi Picoulthttps://www.goodreads.com/revi..."
This is only the 2nd book of hers I read and I just loved it. I still think about the characters, they were so alive. A book hasn't touched me like this since Water for Elephants.
Huh. Both books had elephants? Coincidence?
Just finished reading
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman, part of the Goodreads Choice Awards challenge.Really enjoyed it. Great adventure. But the format can be annoying for someone with impaired eyesight. I wonder if it would've been better as an audio without all the visual tidbits they give you in the book.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Nanci wrote: "Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "I just finished reading Leaving Time by Jodi Picoulthttps://www.good..."
Ooh, I loved Water for Elephants too! Jodi did a ton of research on elephants for that book. My book group read it and the person in my group who presented it told us the details.
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Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Leaving Time (other topics)The Sound of Glass (other topics)
Calculating God (other topics)
Guest Bed (other topics)
Christmas Stories (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Carol Burnett (other topics)Jodi Picoult (other topics)
Jodi Picoult (other topics)
Adam Silvera (other topics)
Jojo Moyes (other topics)
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Beautifully written , story of how people's pasts shape who they are and impact the ability to move forward . Themes of immigrants , family , freedom .