December 2023 - Books with Two Words in the Title

[Jayme, Moderator]

You are not limited to the two chosen books. You may read any book within the theme "Books with two words in the title" if you prefer.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have read the book before or during December 2023.

2. discussed it in this thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read. Please elaborate on your thoughts on at least 5 of the following topics:
- Setting
- Characters
- Writing style
- Genre
- How the book made you feel
- Which parts stood out
- Did you/will you read more by the author
- Anything else related to the book you find worth mentioning

This can be done in one post after finishing the book, but preferably in a few posts while reading. Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.

3. Report that you have read AND discussed the book in the reporting thread (include a brief summary of what you thought of the book).

General Rules:
1. Please mark your spoilers with the spoiler tags along with mentioning what stage of the book you are at so other's don't get a nasty shock. Chapter numbers/titles are generally best as they are the same across all formats and editions. See our spoiler policy
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge, Topplers, and Monthly Challenges.

Happy reading!

[Kristie, Moderator]

I'm still wrapping up Fourth Wing, which I almost nominated. It's a bit long though and definitely has some steamy parts. lol Fantasy isn't really my favorite genre and I almost didn’t read this one, but I have really liked the other books I read by Yarros and a few of my friends have recommended it so I thought I’d give it a try. I’m so glad I did! My mom was visiting for Thanksgiving and stayed with us for the past week, so I haven’t gotten any reading done, but now that she has gone home I’m going to have to dig into my reading to finish up some challenges before the end of the year. I should be able to finish this one in a day or two.

I also plan to read The Heiress, The Women, and Starter Villain.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm debating about Starter Villain. The one I'm currently reading, My Bonny Light Horseman: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War defiitely won't fit. :)🤣

[Sandra, Moderator]

Lol, Janice. It fits a few times actually.

[Janice, Moderator]

I've changed my mind and will read Ragged Company. I'll be reading it anyway since it's our next rl bookclub selection.

[Kabrada]

I just noticed that my current book for the yearly challenge fits here: Space Team.

The book has been described as "a hilarious, fast-paced space adventure", and so far, it delivers.
(view spoiler)[You really have to feel sorry for the protagonist, Cal, a small-time criminal who gets mistaken for a cannibalistic mass murderer and abducted into deep space.
His quick-wittedness has helped him out of a few tough situations so far. I love the cutural references to such classics as Star Trek (e.g. the space ship being named Shatner) and Back to the Future. In the current scene, on an alien planet far out, a recording of Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" is playing. (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie, Moderator]

I changed my mind on my book for the monthly challenge and went with The Women, which also happens to fit our monthly theme. I'm only about 10% in, but I'm really enjoying it. I like Kristin Hannah's writing. I have to admit that I teared up at one point early on. (view spoiler)[

The main character decides to join the army and go to Vietnam to help in the war effort in part because she misses her brother who is there. He really sanitized his letters to her so she wouldn't worry too much. The day she tells her parents that she is going and has already signed on two soldiers come to the door to tell her family that her brother was killed in combat and no remains were able to be salvaged. I felt terrible for her, but also for her mother who was having a difficult time dealing with the news she had just received that her daughter was going off to Vietnam when she received the news that her son had been killed there. Just heartbreaking. And it was too late for our MC to get out of going at that point. (hide spoiler)]

The story has moved to Vietnam now and Hannah did a great job of describing what it would have been like to arrive there and how unprepared people were for what they were about to experience.

[Janice, Moderator]

The book, Ragged Company is a unique story. No formulaic mystery, romance, or fantasy. It follows the lives of 4 people who live on the streets. It's interesting their thoughts and observations about movies and the stories they become enchanted in. After watching The Rain Man, one man was comparing himself to The Rain Man. His observations were very poignant.

Imagine going from surviving on the streets, having no money and no home, to suddenly winning the lottery. As the Chinese convenience owner said, "Winna Big", and it kept coming across as "Winnipeg", confusing Timber who didn't understand what Winnipeg had to do with anything. the 13.5 million dollar win threw the group into fear and uncertainty. Suddenly, they're faced with the need for identification, and a bank account.

The theme so far is about stories. We all have stories. No matter our experience in life, there are similarities and differences. For most of us, having identification is a normal thing. Yet, there are many others who don't see a need for such a thing.

This book really makes you contemplate the stories of those living in the streets, and gives you a whole new perspective.

[Kabrada]

I am thorougly enjoying Space Team. The dialogues are often hilarious especially where swear words are replaced by the automatic translating/communicating functionality.
"Eat that, bedge!”
“Oh, fonk it”/“Fonk that shizz!”

The rest of the crew have just found out that Cal (view spoiler)[ is not who they thought he was. (hide spoiler)] Uh-oh ...

[Janice, Moderator]

I like a book with some humour in it. I may have to check yours out Kabrada.

[Kabrada]

It's definitey entertaining. I guess I'll be reading the whole series, but probably not (as I usually do) one right after the other.

[Jannene]

I'm starting The Coroner which happens to take place in my state. (Hoping that 'The' counts as a word.)

[Kristie, Moderator]

I put aside Fourth Wing for a while for other reads and ended up with too many books going at once again. I finally finished it today. I'm so glad I decided to read it. There is certainly a fantasy element involving dragons and magic, but there is also a lot more to the story. I plan to continue with the series and I'm looking forward to Iron Flame. I hope to read it fairly soon so that I don't forget any of the threads going on in the story.

I am still reading The Women as well. It is a story about a woman who joins the army as a nurse and goes to Vietnam during the Vietnam War and so far it is pretty heartbreaking as you would expect. She was completely unprepared when she arrived and, of course, situations over there were not what she expected them to be.

[Jannene]

I read The Coroner. This was a new author for me and had been sitting on my Audible shelf for a long time. Had I known how delightful the book would have been, I would have started it sooner. Unfortunately I loved it so much to add the series to my list to finish it out. Fortuately, that's just 2 more books and they can be borrowed from the library.

The author walks you through a very realistic story. You genuinely love the characters. Emily is like a friend and you love the sheriff, Nick.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished reading Ragged Company and tagged it as my third and final 5 star for 2023.

The story focused on home, homelessness, and community. It seems that Richard Wagagmese's approach to story telling is to hold a spotlight on humanity. Even the most down and out have a story about what brought them there, and often keeps them there.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I finished both Fourth Wing and The Women. They were completely different books, but both excellent. I think they were both interesting stories and were very well-written, which makes all the difference. I'm planning to read Iron Flame next year. I want to read it before I forget too much.

[Jayme, Moderator]

Don't forget to report your read book in the December reporting thread. I can't believe 2023 is almost gone.