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Trim 2020 Continuation - Announcement, Community, and Chit Chat Thread
June - #19
A Breath of Snow and Ashes - Diana Gabaldon - 4 Stars
You really can't do much to summarize the almost thousand page book six of the Outlander saga that doesnt include tons of spoilers. To sum it up, there's lot of birth, a lot of death, and a lot of intrigue.
ABOSAA picks up where the Fiery Cross left off. Brianna has mostly adjusted to life in the 1770’s with her husband, Roger and her son Jem. Ian has returned from his life with the Indians but he struggles to readjust to his current life. The Revolutionary War causes changes for all the characters on Fraser's Ridge.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was that Claire is the one in peril again. This is not to excuse any of the awful things that happen to her in this book, but she spends so much of her time fixing everyone else’s problems and not being the center of the action. There’s an instant change in dynamic and tension when she’s the one who needs help. One thing remains true throughout the series..........if rescue is required, we know Jamie will be there to take care of it.
There is so much happening in this book. We have at least two different kidnappings, two murder mysteries, rape, other mysteries surrounding a missing slave, missing gold, and the identity of who fathered a young woman's baby,
Throughout all of this, many residents of the Ridge gradually turn against Jamie and Claire, which will vault the action to another direction. No matter what they have to deal with, Jamie and Claire are each other's rock to cling to through all the storms in their lives.
There are lots of little story threads, many tying back to earlier books, that are finally wrapped up in ABOSAA. By the time we reach the end of the book, many unexpected changes occur for our main characters. These have made me much more excited to see what's in store for all of them in the coming volumes, while hoping that everything turns out well for everyone in the long run.
The whole Outlander series is a fantastic journey filled with astounding historical detail. I really enjoyed this so much more then Fiery Cross. It is, however, not for the faint of heart.
Olivermagnus wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "June was # 19 .... Do we have a number for July?"I think July was #15."
It is #15.
Book Concierge wrote: "June was # 19 .... Do we have a number for July?"Hi BC - I believe the number drawn for July is 15.
Book Concierge wrote: "June was # 19 .... Do we have a number for July?"July is #15.
Finished my number 15 - Incantation. Charlotte - shall I send it to you?
I liked The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield too. The angle I liked is the one including those two sisters. If I remember correctly, they were very different from one another.
Theresa wrote: " Olivermagnus wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "June was # 19 .... Do we have a number for July?"I think July was #15."
It is #15."
Well I obviously missed that announcement .... LOL
But I've already read the book - YAY ... Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows.
Book Concierge wrote: "Theresa wrote: " Olivermagnus wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "June was # 19 .... Do we have a number for July?"I think July was #15."
It is #15."
Well I obviously missed that announcement .... L..."
Oh nice, I loved that one.
Meli wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "Theresa wrote: " Olivermagnus wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "June was # 19 .... Do we have a number for July?"I think July was #15."
It is #15."
Well I obviously missed t..."
That was a fave of mine!
#15The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M Graff
5 stars
This book is an oral history of 9/11. It is comprised of hundreds of interviews relayed by the people who lived through this event. The author used both existing interviews and ones he did himself. This format made the stories personal and show fear, bravery and how much was unknown at the time. Views of those in the targeted buildings are told, as well as, messages from passengers on hijacked planes. Words from responders who knew that may not come out after they went in burning buildings are included. It is also interesting that the author added what was happening in the White House and on Air Force One with the president.
Graff creates a full picture of the day. It begins with a beautiful blue sky in New York. Then so many unimaginable things happen. The air is soon filled with smoke, ash and debris. Many heroes are highlighted, but so are losses. This book is well researched and organized. The interviews are emotional and I will remember them for a long time.
I just realized I never posted 21.
The Emerald Affair - Janet MacLeod Trotter - 4.5 Stars - 5/29/20
The Emerald Affair is the first book of The Raj Hotel, a new series from writer Janet MacLeod Trotter, which tells the story of four longtime friends from Scotland. Shortly after end end of WWI, Esmie, Lydia, Tom, and Harold move to India. All four did their part in the war: Esmie, the main protagonist, was a nurse on the battlefront, Lydia was a fundraiser for the hospitals, Tom was a captain, and Harold was a doctor. Now the four are moving forward with their new post-war lives.
Esmie is captivated by Tom’s charisma, but he ultimately marries Lydia. The couple begins their new lives and adventures in India, where Lydia becomes disappointed in not being able to enjoy the same social standing she's accustomed to in Scotland.
Tom’s doctor friend, Harold, offers Esmie marriage and a chance to work in India. She desperately wants to work as a nurse there, but cannot be employed as an unmarried woman.
The Emerald Affair is an incredibly descriptive and atmospheric tale. The author details British life in India during colonialism and the interactions of two cultures. The Afghan border conflicts are brought into the story at the Taja hospital outpost where Harold and Esmie live and work.
I thought this was an engrossing story that left me looking forward to the second book, A Sapphire Child, which is expected to be released in November.
CompletedJuly - #15
The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson - 3 stars - My Review
Miranda Brooks inherits a bookshop from her uncle. She travels across country for his funeral from her home in Philadelphia to Los Angeles. It is supposed to be a short trip, but her uncle has left her a trail of clues that leads her to discover the root of a family mystery and the secret of her uncle’s estrangement from her family.
I have mixed thoughts on this one. I generally enjoy books about books. The bookshop is almost like a separate character. I liked the literary references that held the clues. However, some are so obvious it seems odd that a book lover would not solve them immediately and others are so far-fetched it is amazing anyone could figure them out. The author engages in long expository passages. The subplot between Miranda and her boyfriend, who lives in Philadelphia, is immature. I did not get a sense of chemistry between any of the participants in the love triangle. Miranda is the narrator for most of the book, but at several points the narrative switches perspectives without warning, which detracts from the flow.
I think regular readers of contemporary fiction will enjoy this book more than I did. I can say I liked it, but it also had some drawbacks. I am going with three stars.
(I'm still working on the one for June)
Amy wrote: "Finished my number 15 - Incantation. Charlotte - shall I send it to you?"
Thank you for thinking of me... it's available with no wait at my library... I'm so behind on reading library books and so many came available at one time. Not sure when I'll get to incantation.
You’re welcome to. Unless you wanna wait for Joanne to get back from her trip and get organized. Either way. She can just pick the next two. Thank you for being on it. I like everyone else I’m excited to see what my August is going to look like.
Amy wrote: "You’re welcome to. Unless you wanna wait for Joanne to get back from her trip and get organized. Either way. She can just pick the next two. Thank you for being on it. I like everyone else I’m exci..."Oh yeah, OK that's fine!
If people get anxious and there is no pick in a couple days I will go ahead and pick.
*I'm anxious* (if you couldn't tell)
@Johanne same! haha!
@Meli if you think the list for witches is impressive, you should have seen the one for grad school!
@Meli if you think the list for witches is impressive, you should have seen the one for grad school!
OK, so I will defer to Joanne for the next two picks (hope that's OK, Joanne!). The August number is....
#4!
My number 4 is We That Are Young, but I doubt I will get to it in August, already have a bunch of other stuff lined up.
So far I have only read 2 of my picks :P
I've got a few books on my Trim that are tagged "witches". I have my fingers crossed.
Jenny wrote: "@Johanne same! haha!@Meli if you think the list for witches is impressive, you should have seen the one for grad school!"
That's wild, you wouldn't think there are so many grad school tags 😂
My #4 is I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, which I have been meaning to read for roughly a million years, so that's exciting.Although, I'm still pretty behind this month... I haven't even cracked my July pick, which I kinda shamelessly swapped out with my actual #15 so that it could fit "southern" (Sing, Unburied, Sing). Oh well, July isn't over yet...
Meli wrote: "Oh, Charlotte :("I knew I shouldn't have added it to my trim...
I've gotten halfway through the print version before I fizzled out... I did find an audio version read by Maggie Gyllenhaal that I'll try. I've been trying to finish this damn thing for years.
That could be good, I love her voice! I wanna read the retelling (loose adaptation?) Anna K.
My #4 is Four to Score, the next in the Janet Evonovich series for me. I think there is a good chance I'll read it this month- I think some laugh out loud bounty romance would be good for my soul right now.
@Meli to be fair, my degrees are in english literature, so my list wasn't too surprising for me!
Anyway, my #4 is An Almond for a Parrot.
Anyway, my #4 is An Almond for a Parrot.
Thank you!My #4 is 'On a winter's night a traveller' by Italo Calvino. It's been on my TBR for ages.
Oh and it would be good if 1979 is called in bingo next, it's on my card and 'If on a winter's night...' is from that year.
My #4 is The Question of Red which is sitting on my Kindle from Amazon's World Literature giveaway last year.
Jenny wrote: "@Meli to be fair, my degrees are in english literature, so my list wasn't too surprising for me!Anyway, my #4 is An Almond for a Parrot."
That's cool! May come in handy for us here at PBT sometime ;)
My number 4 is Mean and Lowly Things: Snakes, Science, and Survival in the Congo. I'm very excited to be reading this.Now I need to catch up on the past couple of months.
Fabulous book Joanne! I had dinner with the author! You can have September and October! How was the trip?
Amy wrote: "Fabulous book Joanne! I had dinner with the author! You can have September and October! How was the trip?"Lovely time had by all. Beautiful weather, walks in the woods, time on the beach. It really was relaxing and helped me de-stress a bit. Still a lot of fools walking around without masks, but very easy to avoid them as the park was not over crowed and we were able to isolate our camp site with our trailer and cars.
Charlotte wrote: "F$*& Anna Karenina"
I just finished Anna Karenina (audio version) last month. I enjoyed it and glad to finally get it finished!
Heather Reads Books wrote: "My #4 is I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, which I have been meaning to read for roughly a million years, so that's exciting..."I really enjoyed this book! Great choice!
My #4 is On the Road I am glad it is picked as I wanted to read it this year but was holding off since I put it on trim.
Rose wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "F$*& Anna Karenina"
I just finished Anna Karenina (audio version) last month. I enjoyed it and glad to finally get it finished!"
I really loved Anna Karenina when I read it. You know the translation can make a big difference...might want to research a little. Some are really flat and pedestrian, others bring to story to life. It is also very different than what most people expect.
This is an entertaining discussion of translations : https://mirabiledictu.org/2016/06/05/...
Finally finished June #19Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor - 4 stars - My Review
PBT Comments: Many thanks to the lovely Amy for mailing me a copy while my library was still closed due to the pandemic!
Lazlo Strange is an orphan raised by monks in the city of Zosma. He yearns to discover the secrets of the legendary Unseen City far away across a vast desert. He becomes a junior librarian and looks up books that describe the legends. One day a caravan arrives, and Lazlo takes advantage of an unexpected opportunity.
This book is a blend of adventure, a search for identity, and a romance. It is highly creative with a likeable protagonist. The plot flows well, though it takes time reach the point where the various threads come together. The world is intricately developed. I felt immersed in this beautiful, eccentric world Taylor has created.
High fantasy is not a genre I often read, but despite it not being in my wheelhouse, I found it captured my interest. I enjoyed accompanying Lazlo on his journey of discovery. His character conveys a sense of wonder at all he finds. The primary drawback, for me, is the ending. I usually do not care for setups to a sequel and this book ends with a cliffhanger. I prefer each book, even if it is a series, to be capable of standing on its own. Still, I am glad I read it and think regular readers of fantasy will appreciate it as much, or more, than I did.
Finished July's just in time!
Gentleman Captain - J D Davies - 4 1/2 stars
Blurb: 1662. Cromwell is dead but Charles II presides over an uncertain court. Now, with rumour of treason brewing in the Scottish Isles, the king needs men he can trust... Men like young Matthew Quinton, a loyal but inexperienced sea captain. Matthew's first command was lost at sea but this time he is determined to complete his mission. Vital to his success is Kit Farrell, a young mariner who has promised to help Matthew. In return, Matthew will teach Kit to read and write. And there is the surly Phineas Musk. Unpleasant he may be, but Musk will protect his master with his life. With their help, Matthew must tackle a resentful Cornish crew and the growing conviction that treason lies closer to home...
Review: This book took a long time for me to get into (the last 150 pages made it), as there's a lot of description! But I'll definitely continue the series, as most of it was necessary to set the scene.
Gentleman Captain - J D Davies - 4 1/2 stars
Blurb: 1662. Cromwell is dead but Charles II presides over an uncertain court. Now, with rumour of treason brewing in the Scottish Isles, the king needs men he can trust... Men like young Matthew Quinton, a loyal but inexperienced sea captain. Matthew's first command was lost at sea but this time he is determined to complete his mission. Vital to his success is Kit Farrell, a young mariner who has promised to help Matthew. In return, Matthew will teach Kit to read and write. And there is the surly Phineas Musk. Unpleasant he may be, but Musk will protect his master with his life. With their help, Matthew must tackle a resentful Cornish crew and the growing conviction that treason lies closer to home...
Review: This book took a long time for me to get into (the last 150 pages made it), as there's a lot of description! But I'll definitely continue the series, as most of it was necessary to set the scene.
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I think July was #15.