August 2022 - Covers with more than 4 colors

[Kristie, Moderator]

You are not limited to the two chosen books. You may read any book within the theme "covers with more than 4 colors" if you prefer.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have read the book before or during August 2022.

2. discussed it in this thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read. Please elaborate on your thoughts on at least 5 of the following topics:
- Setting
- Characters
- Writing style
- Genre
- How the book made you feel
- Which parts stood out
- Did you/will you read more by the author
- Anything else related to the book you find worth mentioning

This can be done in one post after finishing the book, but preferably in a few posts while reading. Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.

3. Report that you have read AND discussed the book in the reporting thread (include a brief summary of what you thought of the book).

General Rules:
1. Please mark your spoilers with the spoiler tags along with mentioning what stage of the book you are at so other's don't get a nasty shock. Chapter numbers/titles are generally best as they are the same across all formats and editions. See our spoiler policy
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge, Topplers, and Monthly Challenges.

Happy reading!

[Jayme, Moderator]

I am currently reading The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
I really like Jennifer Egan's writing. It's hard to classify her and her writing is really "out of the box" with her slant on technology now and in the future and how it impacts us mere mortals. I always end up loving her books after I have read them and I have had a chance to think about them awhile.

Read to page 95: The Section Build
I started the book today and am really enjoying it. It has taken me a bit to get the feel of the book and how each chapter moves forward not only in time, but in technological advancements.

(view spoiler)[I'm finding the future technological ideas that are explored rather frightening (probably how someone 30 years ago would view the idea of people sharing their most intimate thoughts and photos on the internet for strangers to validate- Facebook anyone). It does make me wonder what the next 30 years will bring in technological advancements and if we are ethically ready for them (hide spoiler)]

[Ayacchi]

I'm planning to read in a couple of days. It's been a long time since I last read Gayle Forman's book.

[Jayme, Moderator]

Read to page 178: The Section Break
This section is focused on another family from the 1960s to 2030 and how technology and drugs impact their lives. What's interesting is that this family has brushed up against some of the people in the previous section Build (maybe they had talked once at a party) nothing seemingly significant, but it will change the course of technology.
This book keeps blowing my mind with the future technology. I'm not talking about flying cars here. The (view spoiler)[ "Consciousness Cube" has freaked me out. The idea that you can download your past thoughts and feelings and share them on the internet is crazy. Nothing is private and it's all so normal in the book. Scary. (hide spoiler)]
I was explaining the ideas in the book to my partner last night and it led to a very interesting discussion. This book is thought-provoking - which is my highest praise for a book.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Jayme, I read your spoiler. That is scary. (view spoiler)[ I already think the younger generation shares way too much on social media and I'm glad it wasn't around when I was young. We definitely don't need to be putting everything out there for everyone to see. Having all your thoughts and feelings broadcast would be awful. I definitely prefer some privacy. (hide spoiler)]

[Jayme, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "Jayme, I read your spoiler. That is scary. [spoilers removed]"

I know Kristie. I've been thinking of leaving Facebook and this book makes me want to run and not look back.

[Jayme, Moderator]

Finished and I am just in awe regarding Eagan's writing style, or really her variety of writing techniques to show change in time and technology. She did it in A Visit From the Goon Squad with the chapter told as a power point and in The Candy House she has a chapter written as text messages and one chapter as (view spoiler)[directives from the chip embedded into Lulu's brain when she was a spy. That entire section on "Citizen Agents" who work for the government as spies was freaky. Made me wonder if we are getting close to that technology.

There are a lot of characters in this book and I thought the section written as text messages from certain characters to other characters was a great way to show how all the characters were connected. I almost wanted to start a wall with strings of yarn connecting everyone to get the relationships straight. (hide spoiler)]

In the end I really enjoyed this book and I am crossing my fingers that it won't be another ten years for the third installment.

[Megan]

I just started Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

[Janice, Moderator]

Hi Megan. Welcome to YLTO.

[Tammy]

I read . There are 4 or more colors on the cover. It is a very beautiful cover and it's actually why I chose to read the book. I really am a fan of WW2 fiction. (view spoiler)[ This book did not disappoint. It is the story of a Japanese woman who falls in love with an American soldier and a pregnancy results. I had not thought at all about the racial implications of an interracial baby in Japan at this time. The author did a good job of incorporating actual events within the fictional story. (hide spoiler)]
I would read another of her books. Rated this a 4 star read. I read this on vacation, so no intermediate posts for me.

[Margo]

I'm about half way through Euphoria. This is a short book and is currently available on audible plus.

It's has two narrators, Simon Vance - excellent as always- and Xe Sands, more of an acquired taste. It is set in the jungle of New Guinea and is fictional account of the real life encounter of three anthropologists. So far I've been so enthralled by this story that I haven't even wanted to stop to chat about it!

The three characters are:

Nell (view spoiler)[ My good I love this woman! She is so much ahead of her time that it is dizzying. Her attitude to sex and sexually is openminded even for todays society, never mind the 1930's. I'd say she's bisexual but chose to settle down with her husband so that she could have children. Unfortunately, at this point in the tale, she is childless. The three are studying the same tribe but Nell is streets ahead of the men when it comes to figuring out what make the tribe tick (hide spoiler)]

Fen (view spoiler)[ Nells husband who is not so likeable. Her resents the fact that she is a published (if scandalous!) author. He is the kind of man who needs to be more successful than his wife.
(hide spoiler)]

Andrew (view spoiler)[ The first of the three to start studying this tribe he doesn't feel any sence of having a prior claim to them which is very unusual in this field. He is a stuffy englishman, very much of his time. He lost his brothers in WW1. At this point in the book he just paid a visit to the married pair and has fallen into a severe fever. He is attracted to Nell but, so far, everything is above board - I'm not sure that this will last though! (hide spoiler)]

It's a great story so I have to get back to it ;-)

[Janice, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "I'm about half way through Euphoria. This is a short book and is currently available on audible plus.

It's has two narrators, Simon Vance - excellent as always- and Xe Sands, more ..."

This was one of the first books I listened to that was narrated by Xe Sands and I enjoyed her narration. I've since decided that she is much like Scott Brick - familiarity breeds contempt. I will avoid books narrated by either one of them.

[Cherie]

I loved it, Margo - both the story and the narration!

[Margo]

I finished last night and I'm still blown away! It's a hard book to describe but Euphoria is a must read. It's one ofr those books that defies castigation, a love story but passion rather than romance, definitely historic fiction set just before WW2 in that very tense period - this adds to the tension of the tale as the reader knows what is to come on the world stage.

The writing was incredible. (view spoiler)[ The tension (I know I'm overusing that word but it's the way to describe it!) between the 3 protagonists was portrayed so well. The author let me know well in advance that Nell and And Andrew would end up doing the nasty but it was deliciously long drawn out and by the time it finally happened I was almost giddy with relief!!!

The ending was so sad. I'm sure that Fen finally beat Nell to death on that ship and that captain colluded with him to have a "burial at sea" but I'm aware that the author led me to that conclusion so I'll have to do a bit of online research when I have time - and when the rosy aftermath of a brilliantly told story has worn off a bit more
.
(hide spoiler)]

I'm so happy that I finally listened to this, it is a real gem and one I don't think I would have found if it hadn't been for this group. So many of you have told me how much you loved this one.

[Margo]

Janice wrote: "Margo wrote: "I'm about half way through Euphoria. This is a short book and is currently available on audible plus.

It's has two narrators, Simon Vance - excellent as always- and X..."

I had a similar reaction Janice. I Listened to The Murmur of Bees which she also co-narrated and I quiet liked it but then in Plain Bad Heroines I really went off her. That put me off this story for a long time because the sample on audible is just her. I'd be afraid to make these comments in the audiobook group as I know she monitors it and had blasted a few people who were negative about her :-D

[Kira]

I read today and it has a beautiful cover full of colors. It was an adult romance book and I enjoyed it immensely. I really like books in which characters have depth, face struggles head on and come out stronger as a couple and this one fit the theme perfectly. Noah and Aria's chemistry was something I couldn't properly understand at the start but as the book went on, I ended up admiring their tenacity and their will to make the relationship work. It was a beautiful story.