EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club discussion
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The Last Book I Read Was...
Finished
Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly. Rated 4 stars. Historical fiction. Link to my spoiler free review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished
Why We Love Baseball: A History in 50 Moments by Joe Posnanski. Rated 5 stars and on my favorite shelf. Highly recommend to baseball fans. Fantastic audio narration by the author and Ellen Adair.
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David GrannIt was more interesting than I had expected given that so much was revealed in the title. Murder, mutiny, disease, and starvation revealed just how thin is the veneer of civilisation that covers man.
My review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Woman Reading wrote: " The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David GrannIt was more interesting tha..."
i thought it was ok. some parts interesting as it was a topic i knew nothing about so i always enjoy learning new things.
Woman Reading wrote: "
Finlay Donovan Rolls the DiceElle Cosimano has written her novels as standalones because she alludes to even..."
i would have to disagree with that. this is a series that each book ends with a cliffhanger lead to the next big issue in the next book. while you could do them out of order as the writer does a good job of summing things up for those who are new to the series but Yeah..it's a series!!! and it's best to read in order.
Jenna wrote: "Woman Reading wrote: " Finlay Donovan Rolls the DiceElle Cosimano has written her novels as standalones becau..."
I usually prefer reading series in chronological order, especially if the author focuses on character development. But that isn't what this author is really doing. Sure there are some changes in Finlay's relationships with her ex & her new romantic partners but they're minor notes. This author writes preposterous high jinks; these circumstances are so outlandish that I hardly remember them from one novel to the next so the author's summaries have been fine for me.
Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry GrabarI was surprised to see this a BOTM in one of my other groups. Urban policies usually aren't key discussion topics even though we're all impacted by the policies adopted by the places where we live. And I tend to hear about parking only if someone is complaining about it. I was thus surprised by how interesting the subject became in this book.
My review -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle CosimanoLabeled as #3.5 by Goodreads, this short story is really a prequel to the Finlay Donovan series. Readers get more insight in Vero's character and learn of the history between her and her childhood crush.
My review -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished
The Case of the Left-Handed Lady #2 Enola Holmes by Nancy Springer. Rated 4 stars. Young Adult historical mystery. Very entertaining & well written. Fantastic audio narration by Katherine Kellgren. Since I'm not much of a Sherlock Holmes fan I was glad to discover this series where the main character is his much younger sister. Enola is smart & delightful. I can see that it will be best to read the series in order.
Finished
A Time of Love and Tartan #12 in the 44 Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall Smith. Rated 4 stars.Link to my short spoiler free review of this charming contemporary fiction:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished/ attended a book club discussion of it and reviewed:The Book of Laughter and Forgetting
Also I am sure I did not get it, anyone wanna help?
Six of Crows by Leigh BardugoThis felt very different, in a good way, compared with Bardugo's Shadow and Bone trilogy though is set in the same universe. It’s not often that I read a high stakes international crime caper in the urban fantasy genre.
My review -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Paradise ProblemChristina Lauren are back. This time, the novel is set in the dreamy island resort in Indonesia and involves the lifestyles of the ultra wealthy.
My review -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Winter Lost Patricia Briggs is back on track after a couple of average installments in the Mercy-verse.
My review -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished The Secret Wife of Aaron Burr: A Riveting Untold Story of the American Revolution
by Susan Holloway Scott. Historical fiction set mostly in late 19th century American colonies. 3.5 stars that I bumped up to 4 stars.Link to my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914Surprisingly not dry, interesting, but a looong account of the construction of the Panama Canal. For those who hesitate at the 700- pages hardcover, there an abridged audiobook that's less than 9 hours.
My Review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished Doc
by Mary Doria Russell. The first in a 2 book series about Doc Holliday and the Earp brothers prior to the shoot out at Tombstone. Set in Dodge City, Kansas after the American Civil War. Put this right up with Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry as one of the best novels about the American West.Link to my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished
Epitaph #2 Earp/Holliday by Mary Doria Russell. Historical fiction. Follows the events leading up to the shoot out at the O K Corral and the tragic aftermath that transpired. Rated 5 stars and on my favorite shelf. Link to my review. No spoilers just some of my favorite quotes:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished
A Murder in Time #1 Kendra Donovan by Julie McElwain. Dual Timeline historical mystery. Rated 3 stars. A contemporary female American FBI agent ends up in Regency England. Will probably continue series. Just a note that this gritty novel features torture and rape.
Finished
Tidewater: A Novel of Pocahontas and the Jamestown Colony by Libbie Hawker. Rated 5 stars and on my favorite shelf. Link to my short spoiler free review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just finished reading Sensational: The Hidden History of America's “Girl Stunt Reporters” by Kim Todd. I'd give it 3.5 stars. Interesting history on the early days of modern newspapers and the role of women.
Finished
Goodnight from London by Jennifer Robson. Rated 3 stars. Read on Libby Kindle while listening to Libby audio. Excellent audio narration by Saskia Maarleveld. She's one of my favorite voice narrators.Even though the storyline of female American journalist reporting on WWII events from London felt somewhat predictable, I still enjoyed this read.
Finished
Arabella by Georgette Heyer. Rated 3 stars. Published in 1949. Delightful Regency romance written in the style of Jane Austen.
Sword of the Sun . The new book from Sinead O`Hart
Finished
The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn. Rated 4 stars. Historical Fiction/Time Travel. Read on Libby Kindle while listening to Libby Audio. Excellent narration by Saskia Maarleveld. Link to my spoiler free review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished
Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor #1 Jane Austen historical mystery by Stephanie Barron. Rated 4 stars. Link to my short spoiler free review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished
The Light Years #1 Cazalet family saga by Elizabeth Jane Howard. The 5 volume series is set in England from late 1930's to early 1950's. Rated 4 stars. Think I'm going to become very attached to this family!Link to my spoiler free review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man by Mary L. Trump
Finished
A Pitch for Justice by Harold Kasselman. Rated 4 stars. Contemporary crime fiction set in the world of baseball. Gave me a lot to ponder about baseball culture. Link to my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Meishuu wrote: "An Ava Reid book because I don’t learn 🤢😭"Your cat is cute, though.
Finished
Marking Time #2 Cazalet family saga by Elizabeth Jane Howard. Rated 4 stars. Historical fiction set in WWII England.
Finished
Hither to London: A Stratford Upon Avondale Mystery #5 Stratford Upon Avondale contemporary cozy mystery by Monica Knightley. Rated 3 stars. Entertaining series.
Finished
Girl with a Gun #1 Annie Oakley by Kari Bovee. Rated 3 stars rounded up from 2.5. OK historical mystery series with a young Annie Oakley set in mid 1880's. I preferred this author's other historical mystery The Pryce of Conceit: An Historical Ghost Cozy Mystery
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Finished
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schulz. Rated 5 stars and on my favorite shelf. Short Graphic Novel/Comic. In my linked review I explain how those in USA can watch the classic TV adapation for free on Apple+ App.Link to my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished
Finding Flora by Elinor Florence. This was an ARC from the publisher in return for a honest review. Think it will be published in April 2025. Historical fiction set in 1905 Canada. Rated 5 stars and on my favorite shelf.Link to my spoiler free review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished
Untrue till Death #2 Master Mercurius by Graham Brack. Rated 4 stars. Historical mystery set in 17th century Netherlands. Link to my short, spoiler free review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I recently finished Beowulf The Seamus Heaney translation read by George Guidall. Time to catch up on some of the classics I was supposed to read in high school. If audio books had been available then, I would have actually read most of the books on that syllabus.
The last book I read was It Was a Riot. It's an LGBTQ+ fiction. First time reading a book of that genre and it didn't disappoint. It was heart-wrenching and a good read!
Finished
A Killer in King's Cove #1 Lane Winslow by Iona Whishaw. Historical mystery set in post World War II Canada. Rated 3 stars. Read on Libby Kindle while listening to Hoopla Audio. Nice narration by Marilla Wex.
Finished
Confusion #3 Cazalet family saga by Elizabeth Jane Howard. Set in 1940's England. Rated 4 stars. Looking forward to reading #4 Casting Off.
EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up...
Books mentioned in this topic
Coronation Year (other topics)The Devil Take Tomorrow (other topics)
The Martian Chronicles (other topics)
Emily of New Moon (other topics)
A Murder for the Books (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Jennifer Robson (other topics)Gretchen Jeannette (other topics)
L.M. Montgomery (other topics)
Victoria Gilbert (other topics)
A.J. Pearce (other topics)
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Elle Cosimano has written her novels as standalones because she alludes to events in previous novels, but she has refrained from making the latest novel completely spoiler-y. So it would be okay to delve into the series here.
My review. -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...