What are You Reading - 2023

[PattyMacDotComma]

Robert Bryndza's latest novel, Fear the Silence, is a standalone thriller that takes place on a remote Croation island in wild, stormy weather. English doctor Maggie is alone and terrified!
My review of Fear the Silence

[Christine]

[PattyMacDotComma]

It isn't marketed as a thriller, but Blood by acclaimed Aussie Aboriginal author Tony Birch had me so nervous I couldn't stop reading. Little kids with a slack mother who keeps some seriously bad company makes for a scary read. Just terrific!
My review of Blood

[PattyMacDotComma]

My only regret with All the Devils Are Here is that Louise Penny set the story in Paris instead of Canada. All the family are together, though, and all are in life-threatening danger.
My review of All the Devils Are Here

[PattyMacDotComma]

When I link the title and cover, my post won't stick. But the review link seems to work.

"Calypso's Guest: A Short Story" is a unique, marooned-in-space retelling of Calypso's story from Homer's classic, The Odyssey. Pulitzer Prize winner, Andrew Sean Greer, combines tenderness with the Twilight Zone.

Here is my review of Calypso's Guest

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished reading The Fires. It wasn't what I expected but the science behind it was interesting.

I will start Don’t Forget to Write tonight.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I am once again reading too many books at once, but I plan to finish one today. I am reading:

West with Giraffes for the yearly challenge and my face-to-face book club
The Prisoner for the monthly challenge. It is also a past due book for review.
Anxious in Nevada for the yearly challenge.
The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch for review.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I am also reading so many books for me.

Inland have about 10% of this to listen too. The anxiety in this book has ramped up and the threads started to tie together, but still not one I would recommend. Reading for Arizona task in the yearly challenge.

The Constant Princess for the yearly for Princess (female title) and for the monthly (grandfather gifted this to me in 2006ish). Telling the story of Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII. She just married her first husband, Arthur, who was Henry's older brother.

The Shifting Fog listening as the library reservation came though and I have 6 days. For the yearly photograph on the cover. In a stately home in Essex, UK at the moment in 1916 with a little old lady in 1998 telling us the story of a fateful night. I cannot stand the narrator's voice of the now 11 year old, but otherwise I'm enjoying it.

[Christine]

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

[Peggy]

I just finished Wonder which I really enjoyed. I'm about to start Where the Crawdads Sing. I feel like after a year or so I'm finally getting out of the biggest reading slump ever.

I'm also listening to SOLO: What running across mountains taught me about life which I find very interesting, but I had to put it aside during my holiday. Will pick it up again soon.

[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

[PattyMacDotComma]

David Nicholls is so good at showing awkward relationships where each person of a couple blows hot and cold at different times. One Day is St Swithin's Day, when a boy and girl, later as man and woman, plan to stay in touch or meet each year through their lives.

My review of One Day

[PattyMacDotComma]

One Little Word is all it takes to avert a crisis, as these children discover when The Argument (monster) takes over their playground in this expressive little book.

My review of One Little Word with lots of illustrations

[Lilisa]

I’m reading Stories of the Sahara by Sanmao and Deadline by Barbara Nadel. I’m also listening to The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise by Pico Iyer.

I finished Turtle Under Ice by Juleah del Rosario - what a gem! My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Christine]

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

[Kristie, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "...I will start Don’t Forget to Write tonight."

I'll be interested to see what you think of this one. I haven't chosen my Prime book yet this month. I am still trying to decide between this one and The Starfish Sisters. They both look really good to me.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm enjoying it, Kristie. Naughty girl gets sent to her 75 great aunt who is a cracker and puts up with no nonsense. I love those feisty women. It's fluff, but nice for a break from serious stuff.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished The Weaver and the Witch Queen and gave it 5 stars. Those seem to be few and far between these days. This is the 2nd book I've read of Genevieve Gornichec and both were 5 star reads for me.

I will start Salt to the Sea next for our real life book club selection.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Thanks, Janice. I think I'll go with that one. I love feisty women and female friendships or women supporting women. Sounds good.

I hope you enjoy Salt to the Sea. I thought it was great. I love Sepetys's writing. I met her at an author talk once and she was lovely.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Just for the record, I haven't forgotten about this thread. I just haven't finished any book in ages!

[PattyMacDotComma]

Sandra wrote: "Just for the record, I haven't forgotten about this thread. I just haven't finished any book in ages!"

📚🤣🤣

[PattyMacDotComma]

I recently enjoyed the seventh adventure with Master Mercurius (now Doctor, thank you very much!) in the Netherlands, 17th century. This time, author Graham Brack has him investigating a 'locked-room' Murder In Maastricht where he is supposed to be engaged in a debate about witches. An impossible crime scene? Witches?
My review of Murder in Maastricht

[Christine]

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

[PattyMacDotComma]

Great picture book! I loved The Story of Conservation: A first book about protecting nature. Illustrator Amy Husband's artwork adds delightful detail to author Catherine Barr's excellent and simple timelines and history.
My review of The Story of Conservation with several of the illustrations

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Salt to the Sea (5 stars) and Don’t Forget to Write (3 stars) and will start 2 new books.

Sing, Wild Bird, Sing (audiobook)
Cards on the Table (Kindle)

[Kristie, Moderator]

I finished Anxious in Nevada (3 stars) for the yearly challenge and started None of This Is True. I've also gone back to reading The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch.

[Janice, Moderator]

Ooooh, I'm interested in what you think of None of This is True.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I've just barely started it, Janice. Immediately I was surprised that it is told from the perspective of both women. I assumed it would be from one's perspective and the other was the obsessed one or something like that, but now I have no idea which makes me more excited to read it.

[PattyMacDotComma]

If you have someone in your life who thinks they're hopeless, show them Beatrice Blue's cute book, Once Upon a Witch's Broom. It follows a pair of little witches, one confident, one anxious, from toddlerhood to old age.
My review of Once Upon a Witch's Broom with several of the illustrations

[PattyMacDotComma]

Now I have to read the next two! The Black House is the first of Peter May's popular Lewis Trilogy, and it was terrifying, moving, and compelling. Great read.
My review of The Black House

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Judgment by Joseph Finder

[Christine]

[PattyMacDotComma]

Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder is Aussie author Kerryn Mayne's debut novel, which shows how childhood trauma could break or make lonely primary school teacher Lenny.
My review of Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder

[Grainne]

I have finished The Climate Book: The Facts and the Solutions (5 stars) and The Body in the Attic (4 stars).

I am also reading:
The Knife of Never Letting Go
The Hobbit
and The Bean Trees

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm starting all new books today. I finished Sing, Wild Bird, Sing on audiobook and Cards on the Table on Kindle yesterday.

Today, I'll start In the Lives of Puppets (audiobook) and The Boy in the Suitcase (kindle) today.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Fan-bl**dy-tastic kids' book for everybody: The Book of Time by Clive Gifford. What the heck IS time anyway? Spend a little time enjoying science, history, philosophy, mythology, all about time, from cosmic to nano.

My review of The Book of Time with several illustrations

[Christine]

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

[PattyMacDotComma]

The Sebastian St. Cyr historical mystery series is a favourite. In #10, author C.S. Harris asks, Who Buries the Dead? (And who steals their heads?!) Great atmosphere, stories, and characters.

My review of Who Buries the Dead?

[PattyMacDotComma]

I've enjoyed several of Amazon's Original Stories, this one in particular. The Scenic Route is by Christina Baker Kline. A woman tells us why she took to the road in a small van, because staying put was destroying her. Good short read.
My review of The Scenic Route

If you're a NetGalley reviewer, the story will be archived on Sept 15.

[Prosenjit]

I have started on a great journey with Michael Connelly's detective thrillers starring LAPD detective Harry Bosch. It was highly recommended by another thriller fan, and I caught an episode of the TV series recently as well which I liked. Started with the first book and was hooked- now on the 8th book. All 7 finished books have been 5 rated for me!!

[Kristie, Moderator]

I finished both of my current reads yesterday.

None of This Is True

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

and

The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch

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

[Kristie, Moderator]

I am starting Black Cake for the group read (finally) and A Day of Fire: a novel of Pompeii for the yearly challenge.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I only read about 20 pages of A Day of Fire before realizing I'm not in the mood for it. It feels too depressing right now and I keep finding reasons to put to down. So, I am going to put it aside and start The Bell in the Fog instead.

[Janice, Moderator]

I started The Cove last night, another one that's been on my tbr forever.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I'm not even 10 pages into my book and I can already tell that it's a better fit for me right now.

[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 finished Black Cake for the group read. I thought it was a great debut. The characters and relationships felt very realistic.

I have started Paper Doll for the monthly challenge because I don't think I'll have time to read In the Lives of Puppets. I should be done today. So far, it is ok, but 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.

[PattyMacDotComma]

The Caretaker, by Aussie author Gabriel Bergmoser, is a tense thriller about a woman who is hiding out alone on a snowy mountaintop.
My review of The Caretaker