Your Reads - currently reading or finished (2023)

[Kristie, Moderator]

What a nice gift!

[[deleted user]]

Recently finished Hello Beautiful, finishing today Widow Basquiat and started last night Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead one of my very favorite authors.

[Manuel]

Just finished Vampires in the Lemon Grove: Stories by Karen Russell and really recommend it. Her writing is fresh and sharp, blending surreal elements with raw realism. Here is my review.

Currently reading:

Don Quixote

Fight Club

Russia: Revolution and Civil War 1917-1921

[Christine]

[Lynn, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "I'm currently reading The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, which I'm enjoying. I'm finding it a cute read.

I also just started The Prisoner. I'm curious a..."

I loved Secret Society, very cozy lovely read

[Kristie, Moderator]

I finished Secret Society, Lynn. I thought it was really cute and enjoyable. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kristie, Moderator]

I'm now at 85% in The Prisoner and about 75% maybe through The Love Hypothesis. I'm really enjoying both of them.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Angels Watching Over Me by Lurlene McDaniel

[Kristie, Moderator]

I finished The Prisoner. It was good, but not great. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am now still working on West with Giraffes. I am also reading both Anxious in Nevada and The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch. I really should put one of those two aside and work my way through one faster, but I probably won't. lol

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called When Dad Killed Mom by Julius Lester

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The House on the Beach by Linda Barrett

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller

[Mary]

I just finished reading, The Glass Ocean by Beatrix Williams

[Rachel]

The Undesired is a standalone Nordic Noir by Icelandic author Yrsa Sigurdardottir. In a gripping, atmospheric story Ódinn is tasked with investigating the Króker Boys Home which took in juvenile delinquents in the 1970s. He soon discovers the mysterious deaths of two of the boys, and as he does so more and more secrets are uncovered. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Judgment by Joseph Finder

[Rachel]

A Company of Swans by Austrian author Eva Ibbotson is a historical rom-com set in England and Brazil 1912, featuring a strict Cambridge professor's daughter Harriet who runs away to join a ballet company performing in the Amazon. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Rachel]

The Moon Sister by Northern Irish author Lucinda Riley is the fifth book in The Seven Sisters series, featuring the adopted daughters of Pa Salt, each named after one of the stars in the Pleiades. This is Tiggy’s story (Taygete) and shifts between her life on the Kinnaird estate in the Scottish highlands and the story of her Gitano (gypsy) ancestors in Spain. Here is my review

[Rachel]

The Distant Hours is a historical fiction with a deliciously gothic feel by award-winning Australian author Kate Morton, featuring a decaying castle, three ancient sisters, a missing man, the mythical story of the Mud Man and a host of secrets. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review (AA)

[Christine]

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena

[Rachel]

Aya: Love in Yop City is the next installment of the YA graphic novel series by Ivorian author Marguerite Abouet. Set in Côte d’Ivoire in the 1970s it follows the loves and heartbreaks of Aya and her friends, while giving you insight into this part of Africa.⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Kristie, Moderator]

I finished two yesterday and both were very good, though very different.

The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch

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

None of This Is True

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

[Kristie, Moderator]

I am starting Black Cake and A Day of Fire: a novel of Pompeii.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called If I Can't Have You: Susan Powell, Her Mysterious Disappearance, and the Murder of Her Children by Gregg Olsen

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Till Murder Do Us Part by James Patterson

[Kristie, Moderator]

I was not in the mood for A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii, so I switched to The Bell in the Fog.

I finished Black Cake. I thought it was a great debut. The characters and relationships felt very realistic.

I have started Paper Doll and should be done today. It is ok. So far, I don't think it's one that I'll really remember later. Once I finish, I will start The Paris Apartment for my face-to-face book club.

[Rachel]

A Girl Called Eel is an unusual stream of consciousness story written by Comorian author Ali Zamir in which a shipwrecked teenage girl in Comoros recounts her life story. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Rachel]

The Lake House by Australian author Kate Morton is a beautifully written, slow and luxurious book with a ruined house in Cornwall, a mystery reaching back to the 1930s and some well fleshed out characters. Here is my review

[Rachel]

Kristie wrote: "I was not in the mood for A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii, so I switched to The Bell in the Fog.

I finished Black Cake. I thought it was a great ..."

Good to hear that Black Cake was enjoyable. This is my bookclub read for this month so hopefully I’ll like it

[Rachel]

Debesa, the story of Frank and Katie Rodriguez is a memoir by Nigena (Nyikina) woman Cindy Solonec about her family’s life on a sheep station in the remote West Kimberley region of Western Australia. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Kristie, Moderator]

Rachel wrote: "Kristie wrote: "I was not in the mood for A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii, so I switched to The Bell in the Fog.

I finished Black Cake. I thought..."

I hope you enjoy it, Rachel. It was a little confusing at times due to a lot of names, but I thought the family dynamics were so interesting.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Sweeter Than Chocolate by Lizzie Shane

[Kristine]

I am reading Sing Her Down, by Ivy Pochoda. I really like this author as her books really take a different look at people’s lives.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called One Night by Debbie Macomber

[Rachel]

Fish Soup by Colombian author Margarita García Robayo is a collection of gritty short stories about life, families and relationships in Colombia. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Rosalyn]

A reimagining of a classic that not only expands on events that were originally off-page, but offers a new point of view and improves upon the source of inspiration, an impressive feat.

Also, Hob FTW!

My full 5/5 star review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

[Rosalyn]

Kristie wrote: "I was not in the mood for A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii, so I switched to The Bell in the Fog.

I finished Black Cake. I thought it was a great ..."

ooh, you're in for a treat w/ the paris apartment, i found it to be higher stakes plotwise than the guest list. i read it at the airport earlier this year and was pulling the most shocked faces and gasping in public while reading the ending LOL

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Merciless by Christy Reece

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker

[Rachel]

The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector’s Story as the title suggests is a memoir by Hyeonseo Lee about her escape from North Korea. It is a gripping read which tells the story of the difficulties of life in North Korea, of the terrifying ordeal of escape, and the adjustment to life outside the regime. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Killer Choice by Tom Hunt

[Rosalyn]

Depression era America comes to vivid life with the harsh realities of poverty masked by glittery costumes and frivolous entertainment, where being at the carnival is just as much an escape for the performers as it is for the attendees. Ultimately, one has to stop running and face their problems head on, which is where the story really begins.

My full 4/5 stars review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Water for Elephants

[Kristie, Moderator]

I just finished 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas. It was cute and just what I expect from an Andy Carpenter book. I often laugh out loud during these books, but after so many (it is #28 in the series) I was able to tell who did what well before the end.

I am now almost done reading Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat. It is ok, a lot more about the author's experiences with his patients than the actual cat.

I am also reading The Only One Left. I am a little more than 1/3 through. I'm wondering if it's more of a haunted house / ghost story than I was expecting. I didn't get that from the blurb and it's not tagged paranormal or anything like that, so I could be wrong. So far, it's well written and interesting. I'm curious what's going on.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called One Fatal Mistake by Tom Hunt

[Christine]

[Kirsten]

I'm reading The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler

[Kristie, Moderator]

I finished Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat. It was ok. It continued to be a lot about the author's experiences and his growth with understanding his patient's families, but it was also about the cat.

I also finished The Only One Left. It was my first Riley Sager. You had to suspend your disbelief a lot, but it was interesting.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I am now reading People We Meet on Vacation and In a Dark, Dark Wood. So, I'll be spending time with ex-friends in both, but I expect with very different results.

[Vicki Willis]

I read The Only One Left as well. I rated it 3 stars. It isn't my favorite from that author.
I also read In a Dark, Dark Wood and rated it 4 stars. I don't really remember much about it though.