Cozy Mysteries discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Archived
>
When You're Not Reading a Cozy
Mod
Well, I tried anyway. It was 12:30 am when I crawled into bed, but I couldn’t fall asleep so read another short story from the anthology I am determined to finish this year. Did not sleep well.
1 pm now and I have just finished Dandelion Wine. Loved loved loved this. Even though it is set in summer 1928, there is much about it that still resonates with a childhood summer today. At least, many of my childhood memories are relatable. One of my favorite chapters is chapter 7 (Season of Sitting), which depicts the annual migration to the front porch, and sitting outside or playing games long after dark. We’re on the verge of that season now.
Heather L wrote: "Brenda wrote: "And now I guess you're sleeping :) Glad it's a little better Heather.."Well, I tried anyway. It was 12:30 am when I crawled into bed, but I couldn’t fall asleep so read another sho..."
Glad you enjoyed it Heather! Sorry you didn't sleep well - early to bed tonight ;)
I can see a market opening up for dog buttons! How Stella Learned to Talk: The Groundbreaking Story of the World's First Talking Dog is a fascinating look at author Christina Hunger's work with pre-lingual kids who need help communicating and how she adapted her techniques so her dog Stella can communicate. And boy, does Stella 'talk'! Terrific!
5★ Link to my review of How Stella Learned to Talk
It's almost beyond me how Aussie journalist Shannon Molloy survived his teens as a gay kid in a country town, but I'm glad he did! His memoir, Fourteen: My year of darkness, and the light that followed is sad and funny and worth a listen. 
4★ Link to my review of Fourteen
Mod
I was actually in bed by 11, light out about half an hour later. Woke 2:30 and 6 am, but otherwise slept fairly well. Crazy, active dreams kept waking me.
Here is my 4 star review of an action-packed thriller novella: Hard Target
by Leo J. Maloney:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It is the first novel in a new spin-off series.
Mod
This is my third attempt at reading it, and I have gotten further along with each try. Even though considerable time had passed since setting it aside, I decided not to start over for a fourth time, but I did go back and reread the last chapter read, so as to refresh my memory a bit. I have managed to plow through 97 pages (so far) today, 80 to go. I do not expect to finish it tonight (going on 10 pm here), though I will try for a few more chapters. Definitely my least favorite Austen! 🙄
Heather L wrote: "Brenda write: “Glad you enjoyed it Heather! Sorry you didn't sleep well - early to bed tonight ;)”I was actually in bed by 11, light out about half an hour later. Woke 2:30 and 6 am, but otherwis..."
Good to hear - that often breaks the 'bad sleeping' cycle for me when I have a good one :) I hope it does for you too!
Heather L wrote: "Against my better judgment, I picked up Emma by Jane Austen again today. I abandoned it at the midpoint ages ago and decided this morning that I am going to stop shuffling it around ..."May I just ask 'why' Heather? Life is too short and if it was 'against your better judgment' and 'the fourth time'..... that would be a message to me to move on :)
Mod
Mod
Brenda wrote: “Good to hear - that often breaks the 'bad sleeping' cycle for me when I have a good one :) I hope it does for you too!”
Alas, I am going through an active dream cycle, and they often leave me feeling more drained than when I went to bed, lol. Though I did get a rare 8 hours last night, I remember waking a few times, and felt tired when I got up. It’s all that running around in my sleep....
Mod
Brenda wrote: “May I just ask 'why' Heather? Life is too short and if it was 'against your better judgment' and 'the fourth time'..... that would be a message to me to move on.”
The fact is, I rarely don’t finish a book once started. I never got past chapter three of Moby-Dick or, the Whale and have no desire to finish it. I got an ‘A’ on the paper by paying attention to the class discussion and taking good notes. There was a book in the early 2000s I ended up discarding after meeting the author. Not because of anything the author did or the book, but because she had a very distinct accent/voice. When I sat down to read her book soon after, I could not get into the book as I kept hearing her voice in my head as I read. It proved to be quite distracting, so I passed it on to a friend who also knew this author and did not experience the problem I did. I have discarded a couple of ebooks after reading only one chapter due to lack of grammar and structure without any regrets—and thankful they were free.
With Emma, it was more of a case of I would grow bored with it, or would set it down “for awhile” to read something else, and then years would go by. So I would pick it up again and start over. This time, I did not start over from the beginning, but picked up where I left off during attempt number three, with a determination to finish it once and for all.
Since I love the other five books I have read by Austen (some multiple times), it was not only wanting to complete her canon of work, but an attempt to try and figure out what it was that made me dislike it so immensely. Having finally finished the book, I believe the problem is a cast of characters who are completely unlikable. Emma did grow on me a bit towards the end, but not much, and I have no desire to keep or reread this particular book.
Also, there’s a feeling of satisfaction at having finished it. Plus, it helps me complete two challenges. 😀
Heather L wrote: "Grrr...GR is seriously ticking me off today. Have been trying to post in this discussion and another all afternoon/evening. Doesn’t seem to like html all of a sudden. Luckily, I was able to C&P my ..."Heather, this might help you:
New problem as of this morning.
If you put any html code in your message (this includes hitting the reply button) then your message will not go through.
Temporary solution is to type your message without html - post it - edit it - add the html.
I did the temporary measure to get your message included in that Heather :)
Heather L wrote: "It’s still not allowing my long message, so let’s try splitting it up....Brenda wrote: “Good to hear - that often breaks the 'bad sleeping' cycle for me when I have a good one :) I hope it does ..."
Haha! Trying to stay fit while you sleep - I wish that would work!! lol
Heather L wrote: "Yes, it worked! Here goes part two....Brenda wrote: “May I just ask 'why' Heather? Life is too short and if it was 'against your better judgment' and 'the fourth time'..... that would be a messa..."
I admire you for being able to do that. And yes, those challenges eh!! Most important to finish :)
Mod
Yes, one of the other mods worked it out after a lot of effort and posted it so we'd be aware of what's going on! I can't believe how many issues GR has going on at the moment :(
Mod
I agree Heather!! I just had to do the post, edit and repost with a challenge of book choices. It wouldn't take the whole book links until I did that, and now it's fine. But how to explain that to members :(
I am reading Her Last Flight
by Beatriz Williams. Loosely based on Ameila Earhart. Very well written and enjoyable.
I loved Aussie author Garry Disher's country cop mystery in the dry, dusty (dangerous) outback of South Australia. Peace is the 2nd book featuring demoted cop Hirsch. The powers-that-be did not appreciate his whistle-blowing.
4.5~5★ Link to my review of Peace
The Last Reunion by Aussie Kayte Nunn is historical fiction with a war story (Burma), romance, and mystery (stolen works of art).
4★ Link to my review of The Last Reunion
I finished An American Witch in Paris
by Michele Hauf. My 3 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm currently reading
The Smoking Gun Sisterhood by Thad Brown.
Heather L wrote: "Against my better judgment, I picked up Emma by Jane Austen again today. I abandoned it at the midpoint ages ago and decided this morning that I am going to stop shuffling it around ..."I understand your problem. I had the same issue a few years ago and decided for me Jane Austin is okay in movies but I will leave her books for others. I normally like books over movies so this surprised me.
Mod
There are five books by Austen I have read and loved. I have even reread a couple of them. It was only Emma that I had difficulty getting into and finishing. It did feel good to finally make it through to the end, but definitely not one I will read again.
Mod
Finishing up the week with
"S" is for Silence by Sue Grafton https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Heather L wrote: "Read The Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danziger for a reading challenge. It’s a middle grade book I somehow missed when I was growing up."Haha! What a great title - better than the dog ate my homework!!!
Here is my review of a dark, disturbing, and atmospheric crime novel. It's for Where the Truth Lies
by Anna Bailey. My 4 star review of this debut novel: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Heather L wrote: "Hi Tammy! There are five books by Austen I have read and loved. I have even reread a couple of them. It was only Emma that I had difficulty getting into and finishing. It did feel goo..."
Thank you, maybe I won't write her off completely.
I finished a historical romance: About a Rogue
by Caroline Linden. This is the first novel in the Desperately Seeking Duke series and I received it in a Goodreads Giveaway.My 4 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm still reading a collection of 10 short stories that I am enjoying. I should get started on the 6th one read today.
The Smoking Gun Sisterhood by Thad Brown. I'm also reading
Secret Enemy by Katie Reus.
Currently listening to Louise Penny's 11th Inspector Gamache,
The Nature of the Beast. This is the first one by a new narrator, Robert Bathurst (from Downton Abbey, I believe), and I'm slowly warming up to his narration. (The original narrator had passed away, RIP)
Meg wrote: "Currently listening to Louise Penny's 11th Inspector Gamache,The Nature of the Beast. This is the first one by a new narrator, Robert Bat..."I haven't listened to any of the Gamache series, but I've certainly enjoyed all the ones I've read. I hope the new narrator does them justice, Meg.
NOT A COZY!Blacktop Wasteland is where author S.A. Cosby's Beauregard 'Bug' Montage earned his reputation as a high-speed wheelman and risks everything for one last job. Promise. Yeah, right.
5★ Link to my review of Blacktop Wasteland
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "NOT A COZY!Blacktop Wasteland is where author S.A. Cosby's Beauregard 'Bug' Montage earned his reputation as a high-speed wheelman and risks everything for one la..."
I've seen this book around and thought it seemed interesting. Would you recommend giving it a shot even if its different from what you usually read?
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Cozy Mysteries
Books mentioned in this topic
Bitter Falls (other topics)Eleanor (other topics)
The Line (other topics)
Cost of Care (other topics)
The Echo Chamber (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Rachel Caine (other topics)Betsy Robinson (other topics)
Amor Towles (other topics)
John Boyne (other topics)
Louise Forster (other topics)
More...
My 4 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...