2021 Reading Discussions

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Emily wrote: "Anyone else having trouble with Goodreads search feature? I was trying to add Educated to a listopia, but the only book it's pulling up is Educated / Where the Crawdads Sing, which ..."

Yes, I contacted a GR librarian yesterday, it's an overall glitch. Really a pain if you are trying to do challenges that require you to list a link.

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads)]

I knocked out 11 prompts in January! It's always faster at the beginning though. In a few months I'll be down to the prompts that I have to work for instead of the ones I just accidentally fill through my normal reading. :-)

I don't have many specific plans for February, but will likely knock out both 'book set on an island' and 'book set in a country you have never visited' as I hope to finish up the last few books in a manga series set in Japan.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Jillian wrote: "There is some glitch going on with GR for searching for books. Hopefully, it gets fixed soon. It seems using ISBN or googling the book for it’s GR page seems to be the best thing to do currently."

The problem seems to be fixed.

[Sherri]

I read Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi over the weekend. It was 3 stars for me. I got tired of the loop of religion, depression, drug addiction. I felt it was in a rut & I was waiting for something to change directions. I’m not sure I worded that correctly. I wasn’t tired of those topics I just felt the story was stuck in those characters & nothing changed for them. There was a lot of hand wringing but nobody helped anyone.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Dang. I plan on reading that one before the month is over (probably will tackle it during the Read-a-Thon).

I just finished Concrete Rose in 24 hours. It was really good... hard to compare to The Hate U Give, but I think it did it justice. I'm thinking I'll start Things Fall Apart next.

[Sam]

I finally started my reads for February and went with a kind of random ARC for mystery/thriller and it was... not good lol. The Maidens was a two star read for me: a thriller lacking thrills, literary pretensions but all surface level characters and lackluster writing, it just didn't deliver.

Going to definitely be more intentional about my next pick this month, although hopefully I will finish the audio of Their Eyes Were Watching God shortly which I am thoroughly engrossed in.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Oh goodness, really Sam?! I loveddddddd The Silent Patient by that author so I was really looking forward to reading The Maidens.

Although I really didn't like Their Eyes Were Watching God, so maybe we have different tastes in books 😂

I've been in a weird reading funk this month, probably because I am not enjoying All Boys Aren't Blue so I have it sitting on the backburner -slash- hanging over my head. The writing just feels too elementary to me, so even though the story is great, I feel like I'm grading my student's essays with the writing style lol.

I'm 30% in to Things Fall Apart, which is flying by but not really capturing my interest. I'll probably go back to a YA book after I finish this one because that seems to be the only thing that I'm really falling into right now.

[Sam]

I 100% hope that it works for you, Emily!!! I am also not the biggest thriller reader so it could be I simply wasn't the right reader for this book (although as a non-thriller reader I'd think I'd be more thrilled by and unprepared for the twists.

I do think the audio for Their Eyes Were Watching God makes it really immersive, not sure if I'd like it as much in written form? And I'm totally friend requesting you to do the book comparative chart thing lol.

[Pam]

I am having a very hard time sticking with a book. I’ve started several but nothing is calling out to me. Yesterday, I downloaded Blackhearts of Battersea by Joan Aiken, a mid-grade alt-history adventure book I read in the 70s. I think I can finish it! In December, I read the first book in the series. I’m planning to read Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. I downloaded the soundtrack from Hoopla, for inspiration to get started! I’ve also started A Month in the Country, a novella by British author J. L. Carr. I found it while cleaning out my mom’s closet in January.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Sam, I definitely think the audio helps with Their Eyes Were Watching God, since the dialect is so tough. I'm from south Louisiana, though, so I generally hate all books set in the south with a southern dialect lol

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

Anyone watch the new Netflix show, Firefly Lane? I started it over the weekend and blew through the whole thing in 2 days. I kept thinking the narrative would make a great book and then realized it's actually based on the book by Kristin Hannah - Firefly Lane

I'm really hoping it gets renewed for a second season given the ending.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I will probably watch it this weekend! I read the book a couple years ago.... I hear that the show is pretty different from the book, but I don't really remember the book (other than it made me sob, because Kristin Hannah is so good at that), so I probably won't be fussed by the changes.

[Sherri]

I read Memorial by Bryan Washington for a love story prompt. I liked the dual protagonist, the plot, and the author. I gave it 4 stars.

[JenniferAustin]

Sam wrote: "I 100% hope that it works for you, Emily!!! I am also not the biggest thriller reader so it could be I simply wasn't the right reader for this book (although as a non-thriller reader I'd think I'd ..."

Sam, I may look you up, as I am relieved to be not the only person not thrilled by Alex Michaelides. I read The Silent Patient and will not likely read The Maidens. I have a number of friends who adore Michaelides, but The Silent Patient was not my cup of tea.

Not every book is for everybody, for sure, and I am thankful to have so many books to choose from!

Emily, I hope that The Maidens is a good one for you!

[JenniferAustin]

I just read The Shawlby Cynthia Ozick for prompt #3, a book related to the lyrics for the song "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music. It was gorgeous and disturbing and dark and I will not forget it anytime soon.

I was glad I read it cold, but if a review is of interest, here's the one from the NYT:
https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytim...

[JenniferAustin]

Sherri wrote: "I read Memorial by Bryan Washington for a love story prompt. I liked the dual protagonist, the plot, and the author. I gave it 4 stars."

Okay, wow, this looks really interesting!

[Bana AZ]

Laura wrote: "Anyone watch the new Netflix show, Firefly Lane? I started it over the weekend and blew through the whole thing in 2 days. I kept thinking the narrative would make a great book and then realized it..."

I started it yesterday. I like it so far, but I'm only in the third episode. I love the actress who plays teenage Kate.

[Steve]

Sherri wrote: "I read Memorial by Bryan Washington for a love story prompt. I liked the dual protagonist, the plot, and the author. I gave it 4 stars."

Sherri, have you read Lot by Washington? Curious how you think it compares if so!

[Sherri]

I haven’t read Lot by Bryan Washington.

[Sherri]

I finished Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements by Adrienne Maree Brown (Editor/Contributor), Walidah Imarisha (Editor/Contributor),Sheree Renee Thomas (Foreword). 3 stars. It's an anthology. I was just getting into some of the science fiction then the story was finished. I understand the theme & it worked for the most part.

[Laurel]

Had my first DNF of the year - The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West by David McCullough. A much smaller focus than the title suggests (mostly the settling of one small town in Ohio) and too much veneration of the religiosity of the main characters.

[Alicia]

Has anyone read The House in the Cerulean Sea as an audiobook? Is it good or should I read in print?

[Jillian]

Alicia wrote: "Has anyone read The House in the Cerulean Sea as an audiobook? Is it good or should I read in print?"

I’m about an hour into the book and I think the narrator fits. I’m not very pick on narrators, so, you might want to listen to a sample and see if you like it.

[Traci]

Alicia wrote: "Has anyone read The House in the Cerulean Sea as an audiobook? Is it good or should I read in print?"

I loved it on audio, and I'm someone audio doesn't always work for (my mind drifts or I have troubles keeping details straight). Chauncey's voice is the best!

[Alicia]

That’s good to know! I actually do 50% audiobooks throughout the year. But I have such high expectations based on this groups love of the book, I didn’t want anything to possibly ruin it.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I know how you feel, Alicia! I had to stop listening to All Boys Aren't Blue on audio because I didn't like his narration and I'm afraid it spoiled the whole book for me.

But I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea and now I want to listen on audio lol

[Milena]

I loved the audiobook of The House in the Cerulean Sea.

[Kelly Sj]

I took The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa to bed with me last night to start it, and had to fight off sleep to stay up and finish it. Best book of the year for me so far!

[Sherri]

I finished The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South by Michael W. Twitty. I used it for a book related to a word given by a random word generator. For some reason I didn't write down the word I used. my generated words were: Grandmother,produce,vegetation. All three were covered heavily in the book. I gave the book a 3. I liked it but got bogged down with the different genetic tests & how all of that works. I loved the history part which is a big part of the book.

[Sherri]

I finished Nothing Like I Imagined. 6 essays by Mindy Kaling for a collection of short stories,essays, or poetry. I listened on audio book. I really needed a break from the heavy books I have read lately. I laughed out loud several times. It felt good.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I love Mindy Kaling so much!

I just gave my first two-star rating of the year to All Boys Aren't Blue 😕 Not sure what I'm going to pick up next but I hope it's good lol

[Alicia]

I would trade many friends if it meant Mindy Kaling would be my best friend!

Just finished The Midnight Library and I'm torn. It was darker than I expected, which I liked. But about halfway through I was like let's get on with it. There were only 2 ways it could end, so I just wanted to know which he went with. Then, I actually wished it would have been the other option.

[Sherri]

I finished One Crazy Summer (Gaither Sisters,#1) by Rita Williams-Garcia. I used it for a book related to siblings. I liked it & will read the others in the series later. It's good to have a supple of middle grade books when you do reading challenges.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Alicia, I completely agree with you on The Midnight Library!! Which is nice, because I haven't seen many reviews saying that. I just didn't like Nora much and it got so repetitive and then the end disappointed me as well. I mean, I gave it 4 stars, because there was definitely some merit there, but it was not my favorite.

[Roxana]

Alicia, I felt exactly the same way about The Midnight Library. And I saw SO many people raving about it for weeks and weeks before I read it, it was really a letdown to end up not caring much for it.

[Ali]

Hah absolutely. I was a bit like 'whatever' about The Midnight Library - I gave it 3 stars, just couldn't really care less about it....

[Harry]

So far this month I finished two books. For #17, a book with a Muslin character or author, The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty & for # 51, a book whose title refers to person(s) without giving their name, The Good Shepherd by C.S. Forester.

Currently reading The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I figure with close to 1000 pages it should take me all year to finish! LOL. Also reading Revolutionary Founders: Rebels, Radicals, and Reformers in the Making of the Nation by Alfred F. Young

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Harry, what did you think about City of Brass? I really enjoyed it when I read it last month!

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I've posted the February Best Books of the Month thread, if anyone has read anything awesome and knows it won't get topped this month lol

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Harry]

Emily wrote: "Harry, what did you think about City of Brass? I really enjoyed it when I read it last month!"

Hi Emily, where to start. I gave it 4 stars. I think this book could've worked for 2 other prompts as well; #24 on racism & race relations & #43 elements of magic. There are numerous examples of both throughout the book.

I liked Nahri the best. She's a con artist & survivor thrown for a loop in the opulence of Daevabad & by the shocking knowledge that she is the Banu Nahida. She also has as they say a liking for "dangerous boys" which Dara certainly is.

Dara & Ali needed more character development which I'm sure will happen in The Kingdom of Copper.

This is my 1st year doing the ATY, between this & PS, I'm certainly reading a lot of books that are outside my normal realm. It's good to expand my horizons.

[Alicia]

Harry wrote: "Currently reading The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I figure with close to 1000 pages it should take me all year to finish! LOL."

I'm a little biased, but I actually think you'll find that you get through his books quicker than you think. They are long, but they are easy, entertaining reads. It's definitely not a dry read.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I actually put The City of Brass as female villain/criminal since Nahri is a con-artist (especially in the first in the trilogy). I used the second in the trilogy for Muslim author, and the third for Grand Egypt Museum... this series really helped me knock out some tough prompts early on.

I really loved the third book the most, but they were all wonderful and it felt good to knock out a whole series after starting and stopping... a lot... of series lol.

[Ali]

Oh man you've all got me so hyped.... I read City of Brass in January and have been waiting on Kingdom of Copper from the library since then. It came in yesterday but I need to finish book for my book club first..... Can. Not. Wait.

[Steve]

I just added it to the "Best of" thread, but cannot recommend When These Mountains Burn enough! It can be gritty as it describes the drug trade of rural NC, but I also found it beautifully poetic throughout. Definitely my favorite read of the year so far.

Other reads so far this month that I definitely recommend include Anxious People, The Midnight Library, The Vanishing Half, and, FINALLY because it's been on my TBR forever, Angela's Ashes (listen to the audiobook for Frank McCourt's lovely Irish accent).

Didn't love Mexican Gothic or Interior Chinatown as much as the hype surrounded them; they were good not greats in my mind.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Wow what a good reading month, Steve!

[Sherri]

I finished this book. I used it for a book with more than 2 people on the cover. 3 stars.

[Alicia]

I’ve never won a book giveaway. Today I get an email that says “More About The Russian Cage Giveaway” and I was sooo excited! This was my time to win!!!!

It was an email to tell me I didn’t win. Wah wah. I never received an email to tell me I lost before. Mean morning tricks.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Yea I noticed they started doing that, Alicia. When you don't win, they are like, sorry you didn't win but you can buy it here here and here. Which is not the point... I wanted the book for free!

On another note, I won a giveaway this week! One Two Three by Laurie Frankl, which I'm super pumped about because I loved This Is How It Always Is!

[Milena]

I won my first ever giveaway last week. It was a digital copy of First Comes Like. Sorry to rub it in, Alicia.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

I have been getting the "you didn't win" for a while. I won a physical book years ago, when I was new to GR. I thought maybe they deliberately give it to new people. I have won 1 or 2 ebooks since then. At least one of them, when I got it, I realized I didn't really like it.