Open Discussion

[Book Buzz]

Use this folder to discuss anything book related.

What are you reading?

[Book Buzz]

I have not been really paying attention to controversy over Margaret Atwood's recent Op Ed. I've had a cold and sometimes I have to tune out angry people online to give myself a break.

What did you think of the op ed?
What are your thoughts about the response to the article?

[Sonia]

I'm reading "The Final Days" by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.
Events leading up to Nixon's fall reads like a whodunnit.
Also reading "The Water Will Come" by Jeff Goodell - about climate change and
"The Storm Before the Storm" by Mike Duncan - Roman history in the years 146-78 BC.

[M]

My best book in ages was The Dry by Jane Harper. I'd been hearing so many good things about it that I was reluctant to read it. But it turns out that the critics and awards committees were right. It's a brilliant mystery about a drought-stricken farming community in Australia. Former resident turned police inspector Aaron Falk is drawn into the past when his childhood friend is suspected of murdering his wife and child before committing suicide. Falk hasn't seen Luke for many years. How well did he really know his friend?

It was great. I have to say that I tried the audiobook first but the narrative transitions between past and present were hard to distinguish for me--I'm not good with audio. The print version worked a lot better.

Can't wait for the next book in the series--due in March.

[Rare]

Book Buzz wrote: "Use this folder to discuss anything book related.

What are you reading?"I just finished reading "When Breath becomes Air" written by a neurosurgeon who was struck by cancer. It was fascinating reading about his neurosurgical techniques and his perspective on his cancer, but very sad and the ending was very teary.

[Book Buzz]

I know what you mean, gourmetkat.
I'm currently reading 2 hardcovers and yesterday they were both in my backpack. As soon as I got home I took them out.

Of course today I was rushing to a meeting and didn't bring either of them. I hope I've got my ereader at least. I have a partly read book on that too.

Sometimes I think I should just concentrate on one book at a time.

[Kelli]

I know what you mean Book Buzz. I have one print book on the go (Two Cousins of Azov), one in ebook (Then She Was Gone) and a nonfiction in audiobook. It can get a bit confusing at times if the books are too similar.

[Book Buzz]

gourmetkat wrote: "I would post this to the BookBuzz discussion about the book, but couldn't figure out how to put it there as opposed to a general discussion area for the entire GoodReads community. "

Sorry about that. I have now created the discussion forum.

[Book Buzz]

Kelli wrote: "It can get a bit confusing at times if the books are too similar. "

Yes! I listened to two audiobooks back to back recently (Into the Water by Paula Hawkins and Behind her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough)--the books were quite different but both had a major character named Louise. I had to keep reminding myself who Louise was in this book.

Audiobooks are not a great format for me. My mind really wanders.

[Book Buzz]

Today I got my hold for Jane Harper's second book (see my rave review of her first above).

I can't wait to read it, but I really should finish some of the partially read things first.

[Despina]

I have a few partially read items;

Trevor Noah
The Light Between the Ocean
Joy in the Morning
The Rosie Project

Wish me luck!

[Kelli]

I just finished reading The Dry by Jane Harper. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for the recommendation M. How is the second book?

[Book Buzz]

This week's audiobook is I'm Thinking of Ending Things.

I'm about half way through and it's going some very interesting places. It's narrated by a young woman in a relationship with a man she seems quite fond of but she tells us that she's thinking of ending things with him. No real explanation is given.

They are on a road trip to visit his parents...and then the story becomes something else entirely. I can't wait to see where it ends up.

[M]

Kelli wrote: "I just finished reading The Dry by Jane Harper. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for the recommendation M. How is the second book?"

I just started it last night--I couldn't sleep, it was snowing and I'd had too much coffee.

It's pretty good so far. There is corporate team building event in the wilderness. Two teams (one with women and one with men) were given a map and a compass and told to navigate to a meeting place but the women don't make it by the scheduled time. When they arrive, one of their team is missing.

Aaron Falk from The Dry is called in because the missing woman, Alice, was a corporate whistleblower who was working with him to expose corruption in the firm.

Note to self: maybe don't go into the wilderness with people you're spying on and accusing of corruption.

[M]

Hello all.
Why is there still snow?
I'm reading a great SF book now called Six Wakes about clones on a space ship trying to solve the murders of basically themselves.

The clones who staff the ship create "new" clones when they die but someone or something has messed with the backup system and the newly created clones have lost 25 years of memory. They have no idea who murdered their previous versions or why the ship has gone off course but it's in their best interest to find out--quickly.

It was recently nominated for the Hugo award for best novel.

Here's the TPL catalogue record if you're interested:
Six Wakes

[Book Buzz]

Yes, I am a late convert to audiobooks too.
I don't love them but I'm finding that non-fiction tends to hold my attention better.

I was riveted by Erik Larson's Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania but most audiobooks leave me a bit cold.

[Book Buzz]

gourmetkat wrote: "Ah, I just finished one more for the 2018 challenge, but now I can't find the challenge... (Chil..."

Hi, gourmetkat
I just realized I could enter the challenge in the Challenge section. So, it should now be pinned to the home page. Each of us can track our own challenge but if you post a comment, I'll keep track of it on the master list.

[Book Buzz]

Hello, everyone
I had a couple of days off. How are you all?

Well...because North York Central library is still closed for renovation, I've been bouncing around a bit. Currently, I'm assigned to the Mobile Library Service, which distributes library materials to patrons who are homebound or otherwise require a delivery service.

It's a terrific service. The staff here works incredibly hard and they do a fantastic job. It's a very intense department, though, everything has a deadline and if anyone gets sick the whole department has to pick up the pace to get things done on time.

The good news is that I'm back at the NYCL location, though not in the actual library--which is still under construction. It looks like we'll be reopening pretty soon. Yay!

[Book Buzz]

Time Magazine came out with a Best of 2018 Novels So Far List

Have you read any of these?
I loved An American Marriage by Tayari Jones but I haven't read the others.

[Mary]

https://torontopubliclibrary.typepad....

[A.B.]

Test looks good. I am in.

[A.B.]

Thanks Mary.

[Book Buzz]

gourmetkat wrote: "Ok since we moved to Goodreads things are not the same ... Case in point after THREE years of challenges a. No rewards b. This year it looks like nobody has even been on this discussion forum for a..."

Hi, gourmetkat
I am really sorry about the rewards. I've only recently gotten access to the boxes in storage with the prize books and I'm going through them to make sure they're still in good condition. Right now, I'm on vacation but I hope to get that part sorted out before too long.

My mom was in the hospital till a few days ago so this is my first chance to update Goodreads in 2019.

I will be adding a discussion forum for the TPL challenge right now.

[Mary]

I’m feeling a little overwhelmed; the challenge is already being discussed on Facebook, Twitter and ‘typepad’ (link below).

https://torontopubliclibrary.typepad....

[Book Buzz]

Mary wrote: "I’m feeling a little overwhelmed; the challenge is already being discussed on Facebook, Twitter and ‘typepad’ (link below).

It's true, we do have a lot of ways to discuss it. I'd probably pick one social media platform and stick to it.

And of course, there is no requirement to communicate your process on the challenge. It is completely self-directed and you are free to go it alone.

[Book Buzz]

Sorry for being absent lately. I moved AND took a vacation in the past month, so there is nothing left in my brain for books.

I propose we take a breather and work on our challenge books for the rest of June.

Next week (by June 13th) I will propose books for July, August and September.

[M]

Hello, everyone
I've updated the schedule if you chose to participate in the discussion.

In July, in the spirit of summer reading, a classic children's book, The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. I've never read it but I'm looking forward to it.

August: The People We Hate at the Wedding by Ginder Grant
September: Love and Ruin by Paula McLain
October: Adele by Leila Slimani