What are You Reading - 2023

[PattyMacDotComma]

I wish everyone could read this and understand the value of ancient cultures and what they can offer the world. I, the Aboriginal, an autobiography, kind of ghostwritten by Douglas Lockwood, has fascinated me for decades. Aussies, especially, should learn our shared history.
5★ My review of I, The Aboriginal

[Sandra, Moderator]

I started listening to Mr. Mercedes

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called A Merciful Secret by Kendra Elliot

[Kristie, Moderator]

I finished Hello Stranger. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


I've started Murder on Thames.

[Sharon]

I’ve just started Just the Nicest Couple, Mary Kubica.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called A Merciful Silence by Kendra Elliot

[Kristie, Moderator]

I read Murder on Thames and Mystery at the Manor today.

I am hoping to start Happy Place either tomorrow or Monday. I am hoping to read it before the toppler. :)

[Christine]

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm starting Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat today.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "I'm starting Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat today."

I'll be interested to see what you think of it. I added it to my yearly challenge options.

[Saar The Book owl]

I've read Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat a while ago. It was an interesting book, also on the importance of animals in hospitals, nursing homes...

Here's my review: Review of 'Making rounds with Oscar.'

[Kristie, Moderator]

Thanks, Saar. I actually brought my older dog into a care home for a visit before. There was a man in there with dementia and he just loved her so much. He was the sweetest and she made him very happy. They have both since passed, but we have nice pictures of him with her.

[PattyMacDotComma]

What a fascinating mix of biography, mystery, and history.The Postcard, by acclaimed French author Anne Berest, is what she uncovered about the disappearance of her Russian Jewish family during WWII. Just remarkable!
5★ My review of The Postcard

[PattyMacDotComma]

Raymond Carver wrote many short stories and a lot has been written about them. A Small, Good Thing is a famous, moving one that I see more in every time I read it.
5★ My review of A Small, Good Thing with links to the story online

[Lilisa]

I’m listening to The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Become Themselves, reading Every Day Is a Gift: A Memoir, and just started The Peacock and the Sparrow.

I finally finished The French Art of Living Well: Finding Joie de Vivre in the Everyday World - review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat. It was a really interesting read. I got so much more than a story about a cat that stays by the side of those imminently dying, but insights into human nature dealing with end of life situations.

I have a client for whom I do payroll. He's on a government funded program where he hires and pays his own caregivers. I was talking to his nurse coordinator today and told her about this book. She wrote down the title and said she'll definitely read it.

I started Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals today which is a memoir about a woman who runs a rescue farm. So far, it's quite interesting as well.

[Kristie, Moderator]

That sounds good, Janice. I may go with Making Rounds with Oscar for my "round" task. I will also add Funny Farm to my list for farm animal covers.

[PattyMacDotComma]

I can't pass up a good sampler, and the latest Buzz Books 2023: Fall/Winter is full of tempting excerpts. I've picked some I like the look of and included many short quotes to tempt you too. These are always available for free online from Publishers Lunch as well. Check the GR blurb for more info.
5★ My review of Buzz Books Fall/Winter 2023

[PattyMacDotComma]

I love Aussie author Robbie Arnott's writing, and I'm sure I would have enjoyed The Rain Heron more if I'd read it instead of listened. It is original, poetic, and magical, but it is also brutal, which is a (little) less confronting on the page than when going straight to the brain.
3.5~4★ My review of The Rain Heron

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Thanks for reminding me of this one, Patty. Been meaning to check this out.

[Janice, Moderator]

I will start The Island of Missing Trees today.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "I will start The Island of Missing Trees today."

I'll be really interested to see what you think of this one. It is the chosen book for one of my face-to-face book clubs this month and I'm not sure about it. It seems to be getting really good reviews though.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I finished Mr. Mercedes and rated it 4 stars. I really like Stephen King. I wish he would stop writing sex scenes, though. He is not good at that.

I'm still deciding what to start next.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I'm still waiting for the Bad Sex Awards -https://www.theguardian.com/books/bad... to be reinstated. I think that was an important service.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I'm reading Flop Dead Gorgeous and almost done with it. I should be finishing very soon today. It is very good so far, just like the previous books in this super long series.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Rusalka wrote: "I'm still waiting for the Bad Sex Awards -https://www.theguardian.com/books/bad... to be reinstated. I think that was an important service."

Sounds great to me! Seriously, no woman talks like that. For real.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I finished Flop Dead Gorgeous and started Thank You for Listening. It starts off with a whopper of a scene. lol

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished The Island of Missing Trees. I wanted to love it and give it 5 stars because it's so highly rated. But, it's not my type of read. It was more character driven than plot driven. I still liked it and gave it 4 stars. Very lyrical, especially from the fig tree's pov. I feel a bit emotional after reading it - the combination of Ada's needing to be heard, her parent's story, and the upheaval of civil war in Cyprus. I thought the idea of a tree being a sentient and observing all the activities year after year, and relating those observations to be quite unique.

Tomorrow, I will start The Nurse's Secret.

[Kristie, Moderator]

The idea of a sentient tree kind of reminds me of The Giving Tree.

[Janice, Moderator]

I haven't read that one. Another could be A Monster Calls, though the yew tree didn't narrate it's pov.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I loved The Giving Tree when I was young. It's a beautiful, sad story about a tree that loves a little boy and gives him everything.

I think I'm one of the few that didn't love A Monster Calls. I am hesitant to read The Island of Missing Trees because I feel like it's going to be one that is highly rated, but doesn't hit quite the same for me. Not sure why I think that. I have had that same expectation in the past and been wrong, so hopefully this will be the same.

[Janice, Moderator]

If you prefer a more plot driven story you might want to pass.

[PattyMacDotComma]

I weakened and started a new (to me) series. (What was I thinking?!) Of course, I enjoyed Martin Walker's French village, so I expect to be squeezing in another visit to Bruno, Chief of Police again before too long.
4.5★ My review of Bruno, Chief of Police

[Janice, Moderator]

I will start The Nurse's Secret today. Still plugging away on my ebook.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda

[Sandra, Moderator]

I started Lessons in Chemistry. I had no interest in reading this one besides all the hype, but it is my RL book club pick. I've read 66 pages so far and I'm very underwhelmed. It is exactly what I thought it would be.

I also started listening to El guerrero del crepúsculo by Uruguayan author Hugo Burel (sorry, no English edition).

[Prosenjit]

After a long time i peed read through a series. I loved the Mark Wahlberg movie- Shooter. Loved it- got to know its based on a book...got it in a book donation camp and became a big fan of Bob Lee Swagger. On the verge of completing the series, on the 11th book and the 12 th is on the shelf. Loved all except for one book, so its a win.

[Prosenjit]

After this planning to read books 4 5 and 6 in the cormoran strike series!! @All- please let me know some good mystery series to read, one friend is suggesting the Harry Boisch books....open to suggestions :-)

[Christine]

[Janice, Moderator]

Sandra wrote: "I started Lessons in Chemistry. I had no interest in reading this one besides all the hype, but it is my RL book club pick. I've read 66 pages so far and I'm very underwhelmed. It i..."

We almost ended up needing to read it for our book club. The hostess was trying to decide between it or another one. Sounds like we dodged a bullet.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Janice, I am half way through it now and my opinion is still the same. Probably a 2 stars. But it has a 4.34 average rating, so I am clearly in the minority here.

[Janice, Moderator]

Is it more character driven than plot driven?

[Janice, Moderator]

I started Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe last night for the monthly challenge.

I hope to finish Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals today. I had set it aside in favor of the toppler.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "Is it more character driven than plot driven?"

No, it is plot driven. I'm not finding it as funny or humorous as the description says. It is very cliche regarding women scientist: cold, hipper rational, hipper focused, not connected with her femininity at all. The "women can do whatever they want" talk goes too far, to the point she becomes an excellent rower in a matter of weeks just because she was said women couldn't. It turns ridiculous. I also think the main character's feminist speech is too modern, and not from the 60s when the book is set, but that's not the worse thing about the book. There might be a twist in the half book I still have to go, though. Who knows.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I am back to Happy Place.

[Janice, Moderator]

Thanks Sandra. I'll give it a pass.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Thanks for the warning and taking one for the team, Sandra.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Summer Melt: An Eternity Springs novella by Emily March

[Roz]

For the toppler I read The Marlow Murder Club (the MC was over 60) and found it quite entertaining. Even laughed out loud a few times. I mean, who swims naked in the Thames? I'm reading the second in the series now, Death Comes to Marlow just to meet up with the "ladies' again, For those of you who liked The Thursday Murder Club series, you may like to give this one a go.