You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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Chit Chat About Books
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What are you reading? - 2021
Janice wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Did you like The Last Colony Janice?"Yes, I enjoyed it but I think I'm tiring of Scalzi's writing. It's the same snark in all his books. I've not forgiven him for the ending of the ..."
They do follow a formula. I still enjoy them though. But yes, I can see how the finql book of interdependency might influence your reading. I really liked the Old Man's War series qt thee beginning but with character focus changes as it progresses, I've not been so keen. I have 1 book left to finish the series. I skipped Zoe's tale as it's the same story from a different POV as the previous book and I couldn't bring myself to read it. I'm still a big Scalzi fan though.
I'll finish the Old Man Series. I think I'll read Zoe's Tale, but I'll read it out of order. I don't have a slot for it in my museum challenge but I do for the next book. I finished my ebook, Inspector of the Dead and really enjoyed it. Today, I'll start Dawn which will finish my first badge.
Finished A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II
by Sonia PurnellMy Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/3852965245
Janice wrote: "Which series? The Old Man's War, or the Interdependency?...."I finished The Old Man's War series. Sorry, I meant the Interdependency series. I have The Consuming Fire slated in Museum 34, About (Space Opera task)
I'm reading A Million Things and they just mentioned Great Ocean Road, so I finally figured out where I am in the world! A couple pages later and she said they were getting close to Melbourne. It took half the book to give a marker and now I've had two in two pages. I should have known it was set in Australia due to the publishing, but I never even thought about it until after I saw the locations, then I thought, "of course that's where they are!"
Kristie wrote: "I'm reading A Million Things and they just mentioned Great Ocean Road, so I finally figured out where I am in the world! A couple pages later and she said they were getting close to..."Sounds like an interesting story, Kristie. My "to-read-Austrailia" shelf is sagging terribly. Let me know if I should add it. ;o)
Renee wrote: "I am taking a break from Les Misérables. It is a wonderful book. There is just too much of it. I am rereading an old favorite 
I remember it having more mystery. I s..."The newest Maisie Dobbs is out, now Renee. I just got on the wait list for the audiobook from my library. It is The Consequences of Fear
Cherie wrote: "Kristie wrote: "I'm reading A Million Things and they just mentioned Great Ocean Road, so I finally figured out where I am in the world! A couple pages later and she said they were ..."I've got to admit that it seems everyone else is loving it more than I am.
The writing style really bothered me in the beginning. It is pretty choppy with a lot of sentence fragments. I've gotten mostly used to the writing now that the story has progressed and is getting better.
I also think the little girl is written older than her age, even for an extremely mature and self-sufficient ten year old. It throws me off. The actions and wording of the story just don't quite fit. If she was even a couple of years older, I think I'd be ok with it and the story would still work.
However, I think it's one of those stories where the second half is going to be a lot better than the first half. At least it seems to be heading in a good direction. Fingers crossed. Again, everyone else seems to love it, so it could just be that the book isn't a great match for me. I've disliked some popular books and authors in the past.
Cherie wrote: "Janice wrote: "Which series? The Old Man's War, or the Interdependency?...."I finished The Old Man's War series. Sorry, I meant the Interdependency series. I have [book:The Consuming Fire|3494274..."
I loved The Interdependency for the most part. I'll be interested in how you feel about it overall.
Janice wrote: "I loved The Interdependency for the most part. I'll be interested in how you feel about it overall..."I will. I was re-listening to the end of the first book last night. ;o)
I really am trying to hold off starting another book until I am finished with The Murmur of Bees and Song of Solomon. They are both s o o o slow!
Debra Oswald is a popular Aussie playwright, scriptwriter, and novelist whose brand new 'what-would-you-do' mystery/thriller, The Family Doctor, has just been released. What a nerve-wracking read!
4.5★ rounded up Link to my Family Doctor review
I started The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter. It's been so nice to hang out with Royce and Hadrian again, it's been years!
I just finished A Million Things by Emily Spurr. The first third of the book I thought I might DNF it, but ended up giving it 4 stars due to the way it progressed. Regarding my earlier complaints:
The writing started off choppy, but really improved as the story went on. I'm sure it was meant to give us a sense of the main character's emotions, but it just didn't work for me. Once it started to smooth out I enjoyed it a lot more and couldn't wait to get back to it.
I also thought the main character was written older than her age, but the way it played out made me mostly forgive that. I think if she was just a couple of years older I wouldn't have had to suspend my disbelief so much and could have engaged with the story much sooner.
It's worth a read if you like emotional, heartfelt stories.
Finished The Nature of Fragile Things
by Susan Meissner.My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/3900477680
I'm 75% through The Rose Code and I decided I needed something light to read today that didn't require much thinking, so I started Dear Emmie Blue for the monthly challenge. I read the entire first half in one sitting. It is definitely lighter and easy to read.
I completely enjoyed both the story and the audio narration of Honeybee by Aussie author Craig Silvey. Sam is only 14 years old, but it's been a long 14 years when you can't trust anybody. Loved it!
5★ Link to my Honeybee review
She Doesn't Want the Worms! Ella no quiere los gusanos: A Mystery is a delightful early language book by Karl Beckstrand and talented illustrator David Hollenbach. Kids will laugh and learn Spanish (and so did I) in this cute book. 
4.5~5★ Link to my Worms review with lots of illustrations
The Sympathizer by Asian-American author Viet Thanh Nguyen won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, so I thought War + Big prize = Heavy (UGH). But I loved a preview chapter of his follow-up, The Committed, so I bought this first book and loved it! Some brutality, yes, but funny, informative and thought-provoking.
Plus, it's easy to read. You don't need a thesaurus or a history degree. 😊
5★ Link to my review of The Sympathizer
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "The Sympathizer by Asian-American author Viet Thanh Nguyen won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, so I thought War + Big prize = Heavy (UGH). But I loved a previ..."
I pulled this out of a little library last year. Am very glad you loved it!
I'm reading The Angel's Game for the buddy read.I keep going with the "Reading Macondo" course, and we are now reading Big Mama’s Funeral
I'm listening to La novela luminosa by Uruguayan author Mario Levrero (no English edition, sorry)
Sandra - The story of Big Mama's Funeral is in No One Writes to the Colonel and Other Stories that I am currently listening to.
I saw earlier today that you were reading this one! I took a look to see which stories were included but the blurb doesn't say. This book I was reading (just finished) had 7 short stories, one of them Big Mama's Funeral. I do not think it is the best story in the collection, but it says a lot about the kind of place Macondo is. It is still a good story.I hope you enjoy it, Cherie.
Rusalka wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "The Sympathizer by Asian-American author Viet Thanh Nguyen won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, so I thought War + Big prize = Heavy (UG...I pulled this out of a little library last year. Am very glad you loved it!"
I really hope you enjoy it, too, Rusalka. I certainly don't always agree with the prize committees (which are sometimes only 2-3 people, I think!), but I did think this was a good book.
I loved Trent Dalton's first book (Boy Swallows Universe), which was largely autobiographical. There's no question he can write.All Our Shimmering Skies is good, but I was spoiled by what I know he is capable of.
3.5★ Link to my Shimmering Skies review
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I loved Trent Dalton's first book (Boy Swallows Universe), which was largely autobiographical. There's no question he can write.[book:All Our Shimmering Skies|48..."I totally agree. Certainly AOSS was well-written, but BSU was exceptional- in my opinion.
Shirley wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I loved Trent Dalton's first book (Boy Swallows Universe), which was largely autobiographical. There's no question he can write.[book:Al..."
Yep - but I'm still waiting for Dalton's next one. He is such a good writer.
I just enjoyed Kopp Sisters on the March by Amy Stewart, number five in the series. It's April 1917, just before America enters WW1, and the sisters are off to army camp with another colourful character.
4.5★ Link to my Kopp Sisters review
I finished reading Abaddon's Gate which was great. So good to be back in the Expanse. It took me a while to read as my focus hasn't been great the last few months but I got there in the end. Now on to Grave Peril, another one for the yearly challenge.
I thought I updated here, but I don't see it. I finished The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. I just love her writing. I thought this was another excellent historical fiction with a bit of mystery. I am currently reading The Things We Leave Unfinished for the monthly challenge and The Drowning Kind.
I just finished At the Water's Edge and really enjoyed it. In fact I stayed up until 2:30 a.m. to finish reading it.I am now off to finish Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail and The Mercies
I've started Mexican Gothic and so far I'm enjoying it.I'm also reading In Evil Hour, the fourth book by Gabriel García Márquez I'm reading for the "Reading Macondo" course.
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I just enjoyed Kopp Sisters on the March by Amy Stewart, number five in the series. ..."I enjoy this series and your review is terrific. I'll have to move this one up on my TBR list.
Sarah wrote: "I finished reading Abaddon's Gate which was great. So good to be back in the Expanse..."
This is a favorite series of mine, too. I am waiting for book five to be available in audio format from the library.
I finished reading Snow Falling on Cedars last night. It was for my museum challenge. It was one of the oldest books on my TBR list from when I first joined GR in 2011. I still have 172 books from that time left on my list. I loved the writing. It was sad and heartbreaking at times, but beautifully written. I am looking forward to reading East of the Mountains, written by the same author, David Guterson. I am going to give Kafka on the Shore a try. I have put it off for a long, long time, but it is another book I have owned seemingly forever, and not read. I bought it in 2014, on a shopping trip to Powell's Books, in Portland, OR, with my youngest daughter.
Sarah wrote: "I finished reading Abaddon's Gate which was great. So good to be back in the Expanse. It took me a while to read as my focus hasn't been great the last few months but I got there in..."I have a library hold on Abaddon's Gate right now - I am looking forward to it - glad to hear you liked it!
Sandra wrote: "I've started Mexican Gothic and so far I'm enjoying it.I'm also reading In Evil Hour, the fourth book by Gabriel García Márquez I'm reading for the "R..."
I really liked Mexican Gothic! I made my husband and my mom read it too :)
I just saw that she is coming out with another book in August - I can't wait!
I just finished Maybe in Another Life because I decided to go on a Taylor Jenkins Reid kick after loving Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo books. I also really liked One True Loves. Maybe in another life has been my least favorite of the TJR books. I think her portrayals of the complexities of characters got much better as she went on in her career. I definitley want to check out Malibu Rising too.
Jan wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I just enjoyed Kopp Sisters on the March by Amy Stewart, number five in the series. ..."I enjoy this series and your review is terrific. I'..."
Thanks, Jan. There are two more Kopp Sisters after this one, but I haven't read them yet. Soon, I think!
I'm sadly nearing the end of Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. Number 15 is A Better Man. Freezing spring floods threaten Three Pines and Montreal. 
4.5★ Link to my review of A Better Man
Summer Brother by Dutch author Jaap Robben was a good read and has just been longlisted for the 2021 International Booker Prize. 
4★ LInk to my Summer Brother review
Katrisa wrote: "I have a library hold on Abaddon's Gate right now - I am looking forward to it - glad to hear you liked it"I like the series a lot. I had a bit of a gap between book 2 and 3 so couldn't remember all the details but that wasn't a problem. This story brought about some interesting dynamics amongst the characters involved and was quite thought provoking too in places I thought. I hope you like it.
I just finished The Vanishing Half. I liked it but felt it rambled in parts. It made me cry which doesn't happen often with stories.I started Across the Nightingale Floor: Tales of the Otori Book One. Liking it so far.
Finished Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue about a Cameroonian family - enjoyed it and loved the narrator Prentice Onayemi. Also hung out with private investigator Vish Puri and Mummy-ji in The Case of the Reincarnated Client by Tarquin Hall - always a fun visit. Both books are great for learning about culture/social issues/food.
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I'm sadly nearing the end of Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. Number 15 is A Better Man. Freezing spring floods threaten Three Pines and Montrea..."Love the series! The good news is that her 17th is scheduled for release later this year - The Madness of Crowds. Enjoy the 16th -All the Devils are Here - it’s a great one.
I just read
Clean Eating Kitchen: The Low-Carb Mediterranean Cookbook: Quick and Easy High-Protein, Low-Sugar, Healthy-Fat Recipes for Lifelong Health I thought this cookbook was really good. I need to be on a low-carb and low-sugar diet, but I'm always trying to find ways to increase my nutrition (and my fiber). This was a good blend of low-carb (not Keto low, just lower than average) and Mediterranean. It looks to have some good recipes.
my Low-Carb Mediterranean Cookbook review
Sarah wrote: "Katrisa wrote: "I have a library hold on Abaddon's Gate right now - I am looking forward to it - glad to hear you liked it"I like the series a lot. I had a bit of a gap between book 2 and 3 so co..."
I am up to date on the Expanse series. On one hand I cannot wait to get my hand on the next one. on the other it will be the last one...
The title story of These Precious Days: Essays, by Ann Patchett is a novella-length essay about her amazing and unexpected friendship with an artist who is a personal assistant to Tom Hanks. The book itself is due out in November - here's a link to the story, free online.
https://harpers.org/archive/2021/01/t...
I thought it was wonderful! 5★ Link to my review of These Precious Days with a few of the paintings
Esther wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Katrisa wrote: "I have a library hold on Abaddon's Gate right now - I am looking forward to it - glad to hear you liked it"I like the series a lot. I had a bit of a gap between book..."
I have felt that a few times when approaching the end of a series.
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You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
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Yes, I enjoyed it but I think I'm tiring of Scalzi's writing. It's the same snark in all his books. I've not forgiven him for the ending of the Interdependency series."
Oh, that's disappointing, Janice. I've only read book one of the Interdependency series. I still need to read The Last Colony too. I'll be sure to read that one first.