On The Same Page discussion
2022 Annual Reading Challenge
>
Faouzia's 2022 Annual Reading Challenge
Mod
It really made a strong impression on you l..."
LOL; it did!!
A small break form the challenge, but now back to it.Started reading Fair Warning, third book of the James McAvoy series. The first book of the series is still my favourite, but i am curious about this one.
Hopefully it will be as good as the first.
Finished Fair Warning, 4,5 Stars.This was the third book of the Jack McAvoy series, and it was really good, almost as good as the first one The Poet.
I enjoyed it a lot, and of course most of the time i couldn't put aside and do something else.
In the last couple of years, i read so many thrillers that it became hard to read something "different" or "new" anymore; but not with this series.
I don't think i have read a lot by Michael Connelly, but i am certainly going to remedy that and start his Harry Bosch series soon :D
I finished The Craftsman a couple of weeks ago, and i still feel frustrated and almost angry each time i think of it.My review:
In the last couple of years I read many books by Sharon Bolton and really enjoyed them. I liked her refreshing stories and style.
The Craftsman seemed to be following the same path.
Horrifying crimes set in the late sixties, and from the very beginning we know who the killer is, that he was caught (or was he reslly!) and eventually died in prison. The best part is that while knowing all this, we follow the steps of Florence Lovelady through the investigation, tryingto see through the various clues.
It was really good and enjoyed it a lot. And up until the end, this was a solid 5 Stars book for me, until the last 5-6 chapters when Ms.Bolton lost me.
I hate it when it happens because I liked the story so much, but I can't even bring myself to give it more than 3 stars. The end was not logical for me. It annoyed me to the point that I couldn't write a review until a few days later, and still I feel almost angry when I think of it.
I'm sure most readers don't feel the same (judging by the overall rating) but for me the end ruined the book.
Mod
I'll be interested in your thoughts. Have you ever seen the movie?
Bill wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "Started reading The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, it is not what i expected but i like it so far."I'll be interested in your thoughts. Have you ever seen the movie?"
I didn't know it was made into a movie too. I think i would like to watch it after i finish the book. John Singer is a fascinating character and it would be interesting to see how he was portrayed on screen.
Going to have to add The Thirteenth Tale to the list, it looks interesting.
Mod
I'll be interested in your thoughts. Have you ever seen the..."
Alan Arkin was nominated for an Oscar for his performance. Sandra Locke for her performance as Mick. My wife refuses to watch it with me anymore... (She gets too emotional about it.. not that I don't too, but I love it)
Faouzia wrote: "Started reading The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, it is not what i expected but i like it so far."Looking forward to hearing your thoughts, I have it on my TBR.
Mod
My review:
In the last couple of years I read many books by Sh..."
I hate when that happens. Some books make a complete shift (Hawkes Harbor) and the rest of the story is good; but most times, it really doesn't work for me either.
I finished The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter last week but i couldn't get to writing the review immediately. In any case, i needed some time to distance myself from the story before i could write something.
The story did surprise me, i don't know what i expected when i picked this book. But it was nothing like what i read.
The story make me feel very emotional at times (I am not even thinking about that ending here!!!), the characters were fascinating and i could easily forget everything around while reading.
John Singer, a deaf-mute who until a certain event was always in a separate world from the rest of the town, was the centre of the story and during a year the centre of the lives of so many people. He was able to read lips, and with the kind of outside calm he was emanating, he became like a magnet to some people who needed to talk, and vent their feeling and just express their thoughts. These were as colourful as the character in this town in the south of the US, at the end of the thirties.
Singer himself was the most fascinating of all, in those few instances when the author gave us insight into him, one couldn't but like him and feel sorry for him. I know i am not doing him justice but i think you should read the book to get at what i'm trying to express.
Of all the other characters, i think i liked Mick the best. She was endearing in the way she, at 14, was planning her life, having big dreams and plans for herself.
All along, i was trying to see how the book will end, what exactly will happen and what changes will take place. I was rather shocked and i needed a few minutes to process what happened. But in a way it was inevitable.
Bill wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "Bill wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "Started reading The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, it is not what i expected but i like it so far."I'll be interested in your thoughts. Have y..."
I now understand why your wife gets so emotional about the movie. I think i would too when i watch it (which i'm planning to do very soon!)
Carolien wrote: "Going to have to add The Thirteenth Tale to the list, it looks interesting."I hope you enjoy it as well when you read it Carolien.
Ioana wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "Started reading The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, it is not what i expected but i like it so far."Looking forward to hearing your thoughts, I have it on my TBR."
I think you will like it too Ioana!
Mod
In any case, i needed some time to distance myself from the story before i coul..."
It is one of those rare stories that you feel more than just read. It's one of my all-time favorites ever. It's a great coming of age story, like To Kill a Mockingbird, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Outsiders,, even Walk Two Moons. The movie, like To Kill and A Tree, never fails to affect me emotionally... I'm glad you found it powerful as well.
Thank you Bill. I read To kill a Mockingbird a few years ago, and although I didn't find it as powerful as The Heart is a lonely hunter, I still liked it.The other books you mentioned I didn't know before. So of course I had to add them to my TBR. I hope I can find time for one of them in the near future.
I started reading Slaughterhouse- Five a couple of days ago. And so far the only recurrent thoughts are "what is it that I am reading" and " what a strange book ".I hope things will improve.
Faouzia wrote: "I started reading Slaughterhouse- Five a couple of days ago. And so far the only recurrent thoughts are "what is it that I am reading" and " what a strange book ".I hope things will improve."
I remember reading it years ago, but I don't remember anything about it. Yet I rated it 5 stars. lol
I hope it ends up being a winner for you!
Mod
I hope things will improve."
Good grief, don't say that. I have the book on my shelf..... I may not get to it, now. 😩😩😂
Mod
I hope things will improve."
I read it many years ago. Vonnegut isn't my favorite author but I did like it. I enjoyed the movie more.
Sooo i finally finished Slaughterhouse-Five a couple of days ago and unfortunately it didn't improve for me.My review:
2.5 Stars
When I decide to read a highly acclaimed classic I feel myself under a lot of pressure. Pressure to equally like it, appreciate it and eventually acclaim it as well. But this doesn't always work.
Somewhere in the book it was mentioned that Slaughterhouse Five is an anti-war book. For me it was rather a confusing and strange book.
Vonnegut talked a great deal about war. In fact he kind of caricatured it and there was a lot of sarcasm in the way he described events and people.
Billy Pilgrim, the hero of the story, was pretty much a spectator in the war, he was abducted by aliens (we are treated to so much "wisdom" through them) and he was unstuck in time which allowed him to travel through different periods of his life randomly. The result of these elements is a book that was confusing and at times frustrating for me. Strangely it was gripping as well, for all the annoyance I felt I couldn't put it down or stop reading it.
Well I'm not sure I'll be in a hurry to read anything else by Mr Vonnegut but you never know.
Alissa wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "I started reading Slaughterhouse- Five a couple of days ago. And so far the only recurrent thoughts are "what is it that I am reading" and " what a strange book ".I hope things wil..."
Thanks Alissa, but sadly it wasn't a winner!
I hope the next choice will be better.
Alondra wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "I started reading Slaughterhouse- Five a couple of days ago. And so far the only recurrent thoughts are "what is it that I am reading" and " what a strange book ".I hope things wil..."
You really made me laugh Alondra. But you should give it a try, i'm actually curious to see what you make of it.
Bill wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "I started reading Slaughterhouse- Five a couple of days ago. And so far the only recurrent thoughts are "what is it that I am reading" and " what a strange book ".I hope things wil..."
I wasn't aware there was a movie as well. Maybe i'll watch it sometimes to see how they managed to put such a story in a movie.
Faouzia wrote: "Sooo i finally finished Slaughterhouse-Five a couple of days ago and unfortunately it didn't improve for me.My review:
2.5 Stars
When I decide to read a highly acclaimed classic I f..."
It was a three star for me too, Faouzia. I remember a friend of mine saying that most of the Vonnegut books have the same theme going on and me thinking, "well, I guess that means I don't have to read any more Vonnegut." Of course, it has been almost nine years, so I had sort of forgotten what I struggled with...but now I remember! Better luck with your next book!
Thank you Lea. and I think you saved me the trouble of reading any more Vonnegut, at least in the foreseeable future :)
I started reading A Man called Ove. so far I'm liking it a lot.
Faouzia wrote: "Thank you Lea. and I think you saved me the trouble of reading any more Vonnegut, at least in the foreseeable future :)"I have not read that yet but I really enjoyed My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry and it’s sequel . Looking forward to your review.
finished A Man called Ove.5 stars.
I loved Ove. Grumpy as he is, I simply loved him. He was fascinating with his clear view of right and wrong and I enjoyed getting to know him and how he became the way he is bit by bit. And with every chapter, I got more attached to him. The characters are a very enjoyable and colourful group (aside from the evil white suits).
I expected to like the book and laugh a lot because of it (which happened frequently), but I didn't expect getting so emotional towards the end. I must confess I got tears in my eyes more than once (something that doesn't occur a lot with books).
Well, this book was the most pleasing surprise of this year's challenge and I'm so glad I read it.
Now of course I need the check the other books by this author.
Thanks Beth, I would highly recommend Ove, I think you'll like it.I also added My Grandmother asked me to tell she's Sorry to my TBR, it sounds very interesting as well.
Next in line would be Pines.I'm finally getting to it and i am clearing my reading schedule for its sequel to be read immediately after (I take the warnings of Alondra seriously when it comes to books :D )
Faouzia wrote: "Next in line would be Pines.I'm finally getting to it and i am clearing my reading schedule for its sequel to be read immediately after (I take the warnings of Alondra seriously when it comes to b..."
I agree, stopped everything after book one to read the rest. Thank goodness they were already published.
Mod
Yikes! The book is laying around here somewhere. I will eventually get to it. 😏🤷♀️
Alondra wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "You really made me laugh Alondra. But you should give it a try, i'm actually curious to see what you make of it...."Yikes! The book is laying around here somewhere. I will eventua..."
LOL, your enthusiasm about the book Alondra is rather hilarious! :D
So i finished Pines yesterday. It took me barely 24h to get through it, and i am kind of still processing what i read to right a proper review.Anyway, i definitely didn't see that coming!
The good news: this book is a winner (and Blake Crouch moved up in the list of my favorite authors)
The bad news: it seems that for a mysterious reason, the English edition of this series is no longer available in Germany. There is actually a new release date, which is in October!! and since i bought Pines from a second hand book shop, i have to wait for the other two books to resurface at some point!
I really wanted to read the whole things at one! :/
I actually realised that i finished my 12 Books! This is a first for me and we are still June :DSo now i am tempted to make another list :D
(or maybe just finish the 4 remaining books)
Mod
So now i am tempted to make another list :D
(or maybe just finish the 4 remaining books)"
Congratulations on completing your twelve. Woo hoo!
Congratulations, Faouzia! Sorry to hear that the sequels to Pines are no longer available, I hope you can find them at a second hand book shop sometime.
Faouzia wrote: "I actually realised that i finished my 12 Books! This is a first for me and we are still June :DSo now i am tempted to make another list :D
(or maybe just finish the 4 remaining books)"
do what i did and make another listtttttttttttttttttttttt lol
Congrats, I think you should make a second list
Congratulations on completing the challenge!
Catching up on my updates, so I'll be short:1) Slaughterhouse-Five was a dnf for me, so don't feel bad
2) I loved Ove, too.
3) Yes for Pines and Blake Crouch, I hope you find the other 2 books soon.
4) Congrats!!! You rock!
Mod
So now i am tempted to make another list :D
(or maybe just finish the 4 remaining books)"
Congratulations on completing your challenge!! Woot
It is really weird that the last 2 books have not translated/become available in GE??? That's weird, because they've been out a long time. Very frustrating for you I am sure.
Bill wrote: "Faouzia wrote: "I actually realised that i finished my 12 Books! This is a first for me and we are still June :DSo now i am tempted to make another list :D
(or maybe just finish the 4 remaining bo..."
Thanks Bill :D
Lea wrote: "Congratulations, Faouzia! Sorry to hear that the sequels to Pines are no longer available, I hope you can find them at a second hand book shop sometime."Thanks Lea :)
I am checking almost everyday to see if i can find it. Meanwhile i am busying myself with re-reading Harry Potter :D
Alissa wrote: "do what i did and make another listtttttttttttttttttttttt lol"It is almost ready Alissa :D you gave me the bit of encouragement i needed to make another list!
I love making book lists :D
Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Congrats, I think you should make a second list"Thanks Desley :)
I think that's exactly what i am going to do! :)
Carolien wrote: "Congratulations on completing the challenge!"Thank you Carolien :D
On The Same Page
Books mentioned in this topic
1Q84 (other topics)Pines (other topics)
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry (other topics)
Slaughterhouse-Five (other topics)
Slaughterhouse-Five (other topics)
More...
It really made a strong impression on you lol. No, definitely not just you :D