Currently Reading - 2022

[Simon]

Please post on this thread as of January 1, 2022 what you're currently reading. Kindly include author's name for reference or add a book/author link via Goodreads so others can add to their TBR :)

[Simon]

I’ll start this off with that I open 2022 reading ‘The Personal Librarian’ by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray for my historical fiction book club :)

[Simon]

Finished reading today The Personal Librarian

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Annette]

Happy New Year Simon

Somehow, I didn't get a notification.

Anyway, glad that you enjoyed The Personal Librarian :)

[Annette]

Hanging Mary


5/5 Hanging Mary vividly reimagines the life of Mary Surratt who could have changed the course of history, but something stopped her from intervening in the plans leading to the assassination of President Lincoln.

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

[Simon]

All good Annette :) Glad to hear from you again!!

[Simon]

Decided yesterday (January 16), to start reading Half Life as Marie Curie interests me. I did try to read this one before, but couldn't get my mind adjusted to the mirrored life, so trying again!

[Annette]

Hmm, it says that I'm following the discussion and should be receiving notifications, but I'm not.

I enjoyed Half Life very much. Hope it gets better this time.

[Annette]

A Long Petal of the Sea


5/5 A Long Petal of the Sea begins in 1930’s Spain and progresses from turbulent times of social conflicts in Spain to the ones in Chile, where the two main characters, Victor and Roser, after leaving their homeland of Spain try to make Chile their new home.

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

[Simon]

Annette wrote: "Hmm, it says that I'm following the discussion and should be receiving notifications, but I'm not.

I enjoyed Half Life very much. Hope it gets better this time."

I am a few chapters in this time, and think I've gotten adjusted to the flipping back and forth. As for the notifications, make sure you checked the box to receive notifications when people reply - you can either receive them via email or texts.

[Annette]

Yes, I had the box checked. Now, I got it.

Glad to hear that you're adjusting to the style of writing. I enjoyed it very much and her latest book Beautiful Little Fools.

[Simon]

Annette wrote: "Yes, I had the box checked. Now, I got it.

Glad to hear that you're adjusting to the style of writing. I enjoyed it very much and her latest book Beautiful Little Fools."

I feel like so far I cannot wait to get back to the Marie Curie timeline :)

[Simon]

Finished reading Half Life

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Annette]

Simon, glad to see your 4 stars and that you enjoyed some part :)

[Annette]

Inés of My Soul


5/5 Ines of My Soul brings two historical figures whose paths cross in Peru. She is a poor seamstress with no prospects for a better life in Spain and he is a Spanish war hero who seeks honor and glory. They share the same illusions, him of founding a kingdom and her being part of something grander.

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

[Simon]

Annette wrote: "Simon, glad to see your 4 stars and that you enjoyed some part :)"

Thanks Annette - I really was more engaged in the Marie Curie chapters, but was interesting to ponder the what if scenario :)

Scary I think to think, what if she didn't go to Paris, study at the Sorbonne and discover radium as an element?? What would history have been like?

[Annette]

Yes, a lot of ifs, as with many other scientists :)

[[deleted user]]

Hi All, I just started Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis. I am excited for this one!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

[Annette]

Hi Keira, looking forward to your thoughts :)

[Simon]

Keira wrote: "Hi All, I just started Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis. I am excited for this one!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4..."

Welcome Keira!

[Simon]

Finished the month of January off by reading The Other Einstein

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Annette]

Simon wrote: "Finished the month of January off by reading The Other Einstein

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Glad that you enjoyed it Simon :)

[Annette]

The Cape Doctor


5/5 The Cape Doctor recreates a most remarkable journey, inspired by the life of Dr. James Miranda Barry, a trailblazer of remarkable convictions, who studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, which was possible only to the disguise as a male.

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

[Simon]

Annette wrote: "Simon wrote: "Finished the month of January off by reading The Other Einstein

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Glad that you enjoyed it Simon :)"

Thanks Annette :) - will start something new tomorrow

[Simon]

Kicking off February with The Lost Apothecary for my historical fiction book club

[Simon]

Finished The Lost Apothecary

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Annette]

Simon, did you like both timelines? I wasn't into modern one.

[Simon]

Annette wrote: "Simon, did you like both timelines? I wasn't into modern one."

Hi Annette,

I am so sorry I missed this message from you. I did enjoy both timelines yes, and the modern day one worked into the historical one quite well. I did find the modern one did take a little while to really get going though :)

[Simon]

Finished Ridgeline

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Annette]

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle


5/5 The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle is based on true events – when clothes rationing during WWII leaves young brides in challenging situations, a group of women comes up with an idea to start a charity to give out white wedding dresses. In the process, they lift spirits and learn resilience.

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

[Annette]

Violeta

The year is 1920, in an unnamed country in South America. Violeta is born into Del Valles family with five boys, a father who takes risky ventures, and mother who refuses to socialize.

5/5 It is an inspiring story of a woman who lives her life passionately, and despite the challenging times for women of her time, she still lives it on her own terms.

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

[Simon]

Started my March’s historical fiction book club pick ‘Yellow Wife’ by Sadeqa Johnson

[Annette]

It's a very good story, not easy to read at times.

[Simon]

Hi Annette,

So I’ve heard

[Simon]

Finished today Yellow Wife, and started Her Hidden Genius

[Annette]

Simon, it doesn't take you to your review.

[Simon]

Annette wrote: "Simon, it doesn't take you to your review."

Haven't done one yet on Yellow Wife

[Annette]

China: The Novel


5/5 As with all his previous historical novels, Edward Rutherfurd weaves sagas with wide range of characters and events. He is a great architect of complex characters, richly layered with challenging historical events.

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

[Simon]

Annette wrote: "China: The Novel


5/5 As with all his previous historical novels, Edward Rutherfurd weaves sagas with wide range of characters and events. He i..."

Glad you read this novel - I thought it was a really good one :)

[Annette]

Yes, it is Simon :)

[Simon]

Annette wrote: "Yes, it is Simon :)"

China's a very challenging country as to where to start and end as its history goes way back - Beijing's been the capital since 1421! Not as long as previous works of his, but still long enough :)

[Simon]

Hi Annette,

Here's my review on Yellow Wife: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Annette]

Hi Simon,

I see four stars :) I take it that it was still a good read for you :)

[Simon]

Annette wrote: "Hi Simon,

I see four stars :) I take it that it was still a good read for you :)"

It was a very good book to me :)

[Simon]

Finished recently Her Hidden Genius

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (sorry for the length)

[Annette]

Simon, I know something about the length. I just did it with my newest review, too :)

Madwoman


Madwoman weaves a fascinating true story of the world’s first female investigative journalist, Nellie Bly.

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

[Simon]

Annette wrote: "Simon, I know something about the length. I just did it with my newest review, too :)

Madwoman


Madwoman weaves a fascinating true story of the world’..."

Just "long" reviews are abnormal for me, but in this case this novel deserved a longer review :)

[Cindy]

Good day everyone;
I have started a new release by a debut author Crystal Caudill called "Counterfeit Love"....quite intriguing so far I must say. It's set in 1884 Ohio..... had great reviews and I am only too glad to support a new author while enjoying the pleasure of a captivating read perhaps :)

[Simon]

Cindy wrote: "Good day everyone;
I have started a new release by a debut author Crystal Caudill called "Counterfeit Love"....quite intriguing so far I must say. It's set in 1884 Ohio..... had great reviews and..."

Welcome to the group Cindy :)

[Cindy]

Simon wrote: "Cindy wrote: "Good day everyone;
I have started a new release by a debut author Crystal Caudill called "Counterfeit Love"....quite intriguing so far I must say. It's set in 1884 Ohio..... had gre..."

Thank you, thank you very much ;)