What are You Reading - 2023

[PattyMacDotComma]

Tasmanian writer Richard Flanagan is one of the very best Aussie authors, whether it's for his prize-winners and best-sellers or his essays and articles, some of which are collected in And What Do You Do Mr. Gable?. Intelligent, thoughtful, passionate, unique. Love his work.
My review of And What Do You Do, Mr. Gable?

[Christine]

[PattyMacDotComma]

CRIKEY! Colourful Aussie Steve Irwin's exclamation was heard around the world. Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara's bright little book is bound to inspire another generation of Wildlife Warriors.
My review of Steve Irwin

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin

[PattyMacDotComma]

As we move further into Spooktober, I've read the last two stories from the Creature Feature Collection. I'm not a horror reader, but I've enjoyed getting a taste of how these authors write. Horror fans will enjoy them all.
My review of In Bloom by Paul Tremblay

My review of Best of Luck by Jason Mott

[Kristie, Moderator]

These are the last two books I finished during the toppler.

- my Paris Never Leaves You review

- my Nora Goes Off Script review

[Kristie, Moderator]

I just started Holly and I am finishing People We Meet on Vacation for the yearly challenge and The Great Catsby for the group read.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I'm reading Jamaica Inn, and should start The Palm-Wine Drinkard] soon.

[Saar The Book owl]

I've finished a while ago and this is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman

[Janice, Moderator]

I've finished the books I was reading before the toppler started, so I'll be reading two new books.

The Winter Siege on ebook
Wrong Place Wrong Time on audiobook

[PattyMacDotComma]

I don't think I know anyone who dislikes Dolly Parton. Tracey Laird has compiled a comprehensive 'scrapbook' of biographical details in Dolly Parton: 100 Remarkable Moments in an Extraordinary Life, which is the perfect coffee table book for a fan.

My review of Dolly Parton... with several photos

[PattyMacDotComma]

In the old days, we could drop our children off at the local playground because it was a happy place, right? Ray Bradbury's 1953 short story, The Playground is a good Spooktober read.

My review of The Playground

[Dem]

Finished Babi Yar: A Document in the Form of a Novel; New, Complete, Uncensored Version

My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/5916885632

[PattyMacDotComma]

I've enjoyed John Steinbeck's people and their stories for years. Sweet Thursday is just as funny and touching now as it was when I read it as a teen.
My review of Sweet Thursday

[PattyMacDotComma]

Death at the Dance by Verity Bright is a light-hearted, kind of silly cosy that fans of Lady Swift will enjoy more than I (at the moment).

My review of Death at the Dance

[Saar The Book owl]

I'm reading The Only Good Indians. It took me about the first 100 pages to really grasp the story and to understand as what is happening, but now I can't let it go. There's so much creepiness and Indian history in it. It weaves tightly together. Also it refers to how Indians are struggling in reservations and how they are being threathed and seen by other persons.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Wrong Place Wrong Time today. It was kind of complex in that the main character is living her life backwards. It worked in solving the mystery, but I'm not so sure about whether all the logistics worked.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm not sure what I'll read next. I have to plan November reads, and that will determine it for me I suppose.

[Christine]

[Christine]

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Don't Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders

[Janice, Moderator]

I've started two books - Heir of Uncertain Magic on audiobook, and Deeper Than the Dead on paperback.

[PattyMacDotComma]

I got more than I expected with Aussie author Alexander Thorpe's debut novel Death Leaves the Station. Western Australia, early 1900s, "Halfwell Station", a rural property, not a train stop. More Agatha Christie than 'outback noir', with humour to boot. Good read 😊

My review of Death Leaves the Station

[Saar The Book owl]

I'm currently reading the last book for badge 1: . It has been on my TBR - pile after lending it from the liabry and bringing it back, unread.
I never thought that this book creeps under the skin so much and I'm not halfway yet.

[Christine]

[PattyMacDotComma]

"The artist" is nameless, houseless (NOT homeless), and only 17 when she sees Lola in the Mirror. Award-winning Aussie author Trent Dalton's wonderful new novel shows the precarious life of people living on the edges.
My review of Lola in the Mirror with a couple of the unique illustrations

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Heir of Uncertain Magic today. I'd call it Book of Uncertain Story.

Tomorrow, I will start Invisible Man.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth

[Dem]

Finished The Scapegoat www.goodreads.com/review/show/5894700548 by Daphne du Maurier

My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/5894700548

[PattyMacDotComma]

Dark Angel aka Wildflower Girls is promoted as gripping and unputdownable, but I lost my grip, skimmed to the end, and put it down quickly. D.K. Hood has a lot of fans and some very high ratings, so I guess it's just me.

My review of Dark Angel

[Margo]

Just started Starling House. Enjoying it so far.

[Kristie, Moderator]

It's been a while since I updated. I'm currently reading Fourth Wing and Check & Mate.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Vanished in the Mountains by Tanya Stowe

[PattyMacDotComma]

I always enjoy Irish writer Claire Keegan's work and her new collection, So Late in the Day: Stories of Men and Women, is a good one to start with if you haven't read her yet. Few words but big impact.
My review of So Late in the Day: Stories

[PattyMacDotComma]

Chris Hammer is a former Aussie journo who now writes great mysteries, often set in the hot, dry interior, as with Treasure & Dirt aka Opal Country. Excellent read and enjoyable audio as well.
My review of Treasure and Dirt

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Fixer by Joseph Finder

[Janice, Moderator]

I've got 2 books on the go. Omens on audiobook, and The Spy Coast on Kindle.

[Roz]

I'm reading The Book of Goose. Let me say I was sucked into reading it because I liked the cover and the blurb used words like haunting, "magnificent, beguiling tale", gripping, heartbreaking. I waited a long time before the book became available for me through my library. I was so excited. So I'm all ready to enjoy this wonderful book. Nope.... I'm having a hard time liking it. So far I don't like the characters (2 13 yr old girls) and I'm not beguiled or gripped by the plot or the author's writing. I'll keep trying to find something redeeming about it, but if I don't find it soon, it's going on my dnf shelf. I hate it when that happens.
On a better note, I'm also reading Lime Kiln Road and Dressed for Death and liking both.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I've just started A Brighter Flame for the group theme. Only a few pages in, but I think it could be good.

[Christine]

[PattyMacDotComma]

I've read some DARK and some LIGHT fiction recently.

I just enjoyed a return visit to Chief of Police Bruno Courrèges in southern France in Martin Walker's Dordogne Mysteries. In The Dark Vineyard, wine, food, and festivities are disturbed by sabotage and suspicious deaths.
5★ My review of The Dark Vineyard

[PattyMacDotComma]

Terry Pratchett has left us with libraries full of fun, so of course I enjoyed The Light Fantastic. Discworld is on a fatal collision course and inept wizard Rincewind is needed to stop it. As entertaining as ever.
4★ My review of The Light Fantastic

[Margo]

I finished Starling House. It was pretty much bog standard, paranormal romance. Not much horror and verged on YA.

Tried Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown of Stranger Things fame. Picked it up mostly from curiosity and put it back down very quickly! My biggest problem was with the authors self-narration which was very stilted for an actress.

Moving onto The Heroines.

[Peggy]

I'm reading Farilane. I recently read Nolyn, and bought Esrahaddon too. Love the books, I think I'll have read all of them when I finish these two.

Speaking of fantasy... I started The Stormlight Archive in 2016 but after the first 3 books decided to put it on hold because there were still 7 more books to come spread out over 20 years or something. You never know if that will actually happen and there are several years between books and my memory is not good enough to remember it all, but the books are massive at over 1000 pages each, so you don't go and reread them every time. So I figured I would just read them all when I retire. But! I just found out that it's going to be two 5-book arcs, and the 5th book will come out next year. Then he will take a break from this series for some years, and write the final 5 with a focus on different characters. I absolutely loved the series so I'm now super excited to start rereading them and picking up the new ones!

[PattyMacDotComma]

If you enjoy edgy fairy tales, The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia might be one you'll enjoy. It's another Amazon Original Short Story.
My review of The Lover

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey

[Saar The Book owl]

I've finished and this is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Janice, Moderator]

I marked the two books I was reading as DNF today -

The Spy Coast (kindle)
Sabriel (audiobook)

And now I don't know what I want to read. I hope I'm not experiencing the dread reader's slump. I seem to have dnf a few books lately.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Janice, it's not you, it's the books! I hope it's not a slump and your next read is the best of 2023.