Your Reads - currently reading or finished (2023)

[QueenAmidala28]

Token Black Girl by Danielle Prescott. Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Karunatilaka. Just finished Maame by Jessica George. ❤️❤️❤️

[Erin]

I just DNFed this book because we readers get too many grammatical errors, too many comments on how the heroine is oh-so-beautiful and irresistible, and even more, we get endless chapters of the SEVEN LOVE INTERESTS, one who has DID and has his normal, angry side, and then we get his alter, Wrath. I came to this book with hopes of smut, but all I got was too much action from the seven "brothers" instead of them harem-ing for the heroine. All in all, yuck. Do not read this book if you'd like to save your brain cells.

[Bridget]

I just finished Unmasked. It wasn't really what I thought it would be. I'd assumed that this book would be more about a bunch of cold cases that the author had worked on and that it would be really interesting. While the author does talk, briefly, about different cases that he'd worked on, this is primarily a book about his obsession with the Golden State Killer. I gave it three stars, it was fine, but not what I was expecting or hoping for.

Currently reading:
Severed Souls
The Republic of Pirates
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride

[Kristine]

I’m reading , Stephen Graham Jones. I didn’t realize it, but this book #2 in The Indian Lake Trilogy. The 1st was . It is not a book I would usually pick, but finding it pretty interesting. There are many references to Slasher Films and knowing the plot of them is how to stop the killer. So, scary and fun at the same time.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Winter Heat by Larissa Emerald

[Katherine]

I just started The Other Mother by Carol Goodman.

[Rachel]

I recently read one of the classics, Gulliver's Travels, published in 1726 by Irish author Jonathan Swift. Although he takes a snarky satirical view of the political climate of his times and cleverly places it into an imaginative world, I still found this a difficult book to fully enjoy as a modern reader. Here is ⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called More Than A Wish: My Life and Stories from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. by Cory Metz

[Kristie, Moderator]

Finished Red Queen . I thought this had some minor issues, but was very interesting. I'm looking forward to the next in the series. My 4★ review: my Red Queen review

I'm currently reading The Soulmate, which is a little slower than I expected, but still good, and just started The Ferryman, which started off with some interesting world-building.

[Rachel]

The Secrets of Bridgewater Bay is a dual timeline historical fiction by Australian author Julie Brooks. Molly goes to the Luscombe estate in Devon and starts to unravel the mystery of her great-grandmother’s disappearance. Here is my review

[Christine]

[Angela]

warriors: the lost stars by Erin Hunter!! I freakin LOVE these dang cat books so much

[Vicki Willis]

Angela wrote: "warriors: the lost stars by Erin Hunter!! I freakin LOVE these dang cat books so much"
Ha! Me too! When my kids got too old I kept going!

[Clare]

reading two wrongs by mel mcgrath

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

[Vicki Willis]

Oh, I love Harlan Coben. Everything he writes is good for me.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I just finished The Soulmate . It wasn't my favorite by this author, but I still really enjoyed it. 3.5★

my Soulmate review

[Kristie, Moderator]

Vicki Willis wrote: "Oh, I love Harlan Coben. Everything he writes is good for me."

His books always make it onto my TBR, but I've never read one. They always sound so good. I need to actually read one finally.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Currently reading The Man in the Brown Suit and starting The Ferryman.

[Bridget]

I just finished The Last Tale of the Flower Bride. I gave this book 3 stars only because I liked the ending. However, I didn't enjoy the majority of this book. I found most of the characters to be pretentious and annoying, if not downright cruel. The twist at the end kind of got me but not really. I had thought about halfway through that that's what the ending would be, but changed my mind later on. There were parts that surprised me, so that's why it didn't get 2 stars.

[Christine]

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Hanging on to Max by Margaret Bechard

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci

[Bridget]

I recently finished How to Sell a Haunted House. I loved this book. It really kept me engaged throughout the whole book. Although I did guess the twist, it was still really well done, so I'm not counting that against it. If you're really scared of puppets or dolls, I wouldn't recommend this book. I also finished The Republic of Pirates, which is a really good nonfiction book about the Golden Age of piracy. If you're interested in pirates, I'd highly recommend this book.

[Christine]

[Cammy]

Finished:
The Dead YardThe Dead Yard⭐️⭐️Slow going with some funny moments.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks⭐️⭐️⭐️Very interesting but couldn’t feel connection with the family/story line. I wasn’t drawn in.
Norse Mythology⭐️⭐️Some stories were good and interesting.
Wonder⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Such a good heartwarming story from children’s perspective.
The Lies I Tell⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Very enjoyable, a great adventure.
Firestarter⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The story flowed well not one dull moment.
River Woman, River Demon⭐️⭐️Too long and drawn out!
The Bloomsday Dead⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The best of the trilogy.
Bad Moms: The Novel⭐️⭐️⭐️ A fun book. Lighthearted reading,
The Nightingale⭐️⭐️⭐️ Good storyline flowed well between past and present.
Neverwhere⭐️⭐️ It was just ok. Felt too YA for me.
The Housemaid⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What a great twist to this story. I couldn’t put it down.
Rebel Cinderella: From Rags to Riches to Radical, the Epic Journey of Rose Pastor Stokes⭐️Too much history and not enough of Rose.
Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller⭐️⭐️Some parts were interesting.

Currently listening to:
The Angel of the Crows

[Bonnie]

Cammy wrote: "Finished:
The Dead YardThe Dead Yard⭐️⭐️Slow going with some funny moments.
[book:The Immortal Life of Henri..."

I have read Firestarter, The Nightingale, and Neverwhere (liked the last two a bit more than you. That is a lot of good reading for one month :)

[Cammy]

Bonnie wrote: "Cammy wrote: "Finished:
The Dead YardThe Dead Yard⭐️⭐️Slow going with some funny moments.
[book:The Immortal..."

Thank you.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I finished Wonderland . I thought it was really great. There were some areas where you had to suspend your disbelief, but it was twisty and I couldn't wait to finish it. my Wonderland review

Now reading The Last Orphan.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Second Marriage by Jess Ryder

[Christine]

[Rachel]

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus is a feminist historical fiction set in the 1950s featuring scientist Elizabeth Zott who becomes a TV cooking show host. Her male bosses have a sweetly feminine show in mind but Elizabeth is a chemist and she has a different idea about how things will run.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Cicilie (cilleleser)]

Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Lie To Her by Melinda Leigh

[Katherine]

I'm currently reading "Icebreaker" by Hannah Grace. I wasn't a huge fan at first because there was so much smut, but it tapered off a lot and there's a lot more storyline now. I'm almost finished, and it was a decent read.

[Rachel]

The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree is the first book translated from Farsi to be shortlisted for the International Booker award. It is written by Iranian author Shokoofeh Azar who fled to Australia as a refugee when her book was banned in her home country. The story is an historical fiction with strong elements of magical realism and Persian mythology. It tells us about a family from whose lives are turned upside down after the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Here is my review.

[Jane]

I have just finished reading The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer and about to start You are Not Alone by Cariad Lloyd

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called My Wife is Missing by D.J. Palmer

[Kristie, Moderator]

Finally got around to reviewing The Last Orphan . I really enjoy this series.

my Last Orphan review

[Kristine]

I’m reading The Soulmate , by Sally Hepworth. I just started it, so far it’s interesting premise. A couple lives on a cliff that many go to end their lives.

Also, on Audio, Beyond That, the Sea , Laura Spense-Ash. I am really enjoying it, Beatrice has been sent to live with a family in the US, since war is raging in the UK. It’s a character driven novel and those I usually prefer the book, but Audio was available.

[Rachel]

House of Thieves is a collection of short stories by Hawaiian author Kaui Hart Hemmings. They are well written somewhat poignant, angsty stories about teens, families and parents. Here is my review

[Rachel]

The Stationery Shop of Tehran by Iranian Marjan Kamali is a bittersweet love story set amongst the turbulent times of the 1953 political coup in Iran. Here is my review

[Rachel]

The Spider King's Daughter by Nigerian author Chibundu Onuzo is a romance with elements of suspense and political intrigue. Abike is the daughter of a wealthy Nigerian businessman who falls in love with a handsome but poor street hawker. The book is on the list of 50 Books by African Woman that Everyone Should Read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Rachel]

The Tale of Aypi is the first book written by a Turkmen author to be translated into English. The author Ak Welsapar was imprisoned for 18 months before fleeing his country. His books are still banned in Turkmenistan. This story is about the bravery of a fisherman resisting the government relocation of his village. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

Normal People by Irish author Sally Rooney is a contemporary romance novel which deals with the on and off romance between students Connell and Marianne. The book was longlisted for the Man Booker award. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Christine]

[Rachel]

Song of the Sun God by Sri Lankan Australian Shankari Chandran is a brilliant epic historical fiction tracing the story of a family through the ravages of war in Sri Lanka and the difficult choices and sacrifices they must make. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Christine]

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Adrenaline by John Benedict

[GailW]

I just finished reading Night Birds and Other Stories by Khet Mar. I don't always know as much about an author's background, but in this case, I think it is the best way to understand these shorts - some fictional - some non-fictional. I gave both the book and her 5 stars. The book is translated from Burmese.

Night Birds is an allegory of the imprisonment of people in Burma for whatever reason a person with power could make up. It is a story of two young people imprisoned in separate rooms but able to at least talk about themselves, their lives, and their reasons for being there. It is also the story of losing that connection in a blink of an eye. The book itself was banned by the Burmese government in 1997.

Life on Death Row is a short non-fiction piece that was blacklisted by the government in 2007.

The author, Khet Mar, is a trained chemist who became a journalist in Burma (Myanmar). She was imprisoned and physically punished for her writings, in her attempt to write about the lives of real people in Burma. After escaping, she was a writer-in-residence from 2009 to 2012 at the City of Asylum, an organization in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, that provides long-term asylum to writers under threat of severe persecution in their native countries. Sampsonia Way, the publishing arm of the City of Asylum, published this book.