What Are You Reading - 2024

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Getaway by Emily March

[PattyMacDotComma]

Would You Like to Choose the Race? is the thought-provoking question suggested by Arvind Ethan David in his clever 'Earworm' series dramatisation.
My review of Would You Like to Choose the Race?

[PattyMacDotComma]

George Saunders is one of the very best short story writers. He reveres the Russian masters. I, on the other hand, prefer his work, like the moving, inventive, bizarre stories in Tenth of December. What an imagination!
My review of Tenth of December

[PattyMacDotComma]

The skies of the Scottish Hebrides in Peter May's Lewis Trilogy mysteries are often as dark as the covers suggest, but the people's stories are fascinating. The Chessmen was the last, but a new fourth one just came out that I'm looking forward to. A trilogy+1?
My review of The Chessmen

[Janice, Moderator]

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "The skies of the Scottish Hebrides in Peter May's Lewis Trilogy mysteries are often as dark as the covers suggest, but the people's stories are fascinating. [book:The Chessmen|1583..."

I would like to start reading this series.

[Sarah]

I enjoyed listening to The Narrow Road Between Desires for the toppler. Decided to stidk with the fantasy and now im listening to The Hidden Queen. I've read all the books by this author, this is the first audiobook though. He has created an interesting culture with lots of unusual wordswhidh i pronounced in my own way. And its weird hearing them spoken, sometimes in the same way as me, other times not, and the latter was confusing me at the beginning but i think i have my ear in now. I'm enjoying the narration a lot. I am reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo which I'm really enjoying too.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I started Get Lucky by Katherine Center. I enjoy her writing and this is one of her earlier books (2010).

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished The Flower Sisters yesterday, and I'm sorry to say that I really disappointed in it. I decided to bump it up to 3 stars because it brought a little known true tragedy to light. Now that I've had a day to think about it, I think I should put it back down to 2 stars.

I started The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Oh, that's disappointing, Janice. It had such promise.

[Janice, Moderator]

I thought it did too. You may feel differently when you read it. I'll be interested in hearing your thoughts when you do.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Other Mistress by Shanora Williams

[Kristie, Moderator]

I gave up on Get Lucky at 35%. I did not like our MC and she was getting even worse. I don't think she can come back from where she was and I don't care if she does 'get lucky.' Moving on...

I was planning to use Get Lucky for my yearly challenge and I haven't decided which book I'm going to replace it with yet. I will either start Funny Story, which is a group read in a different group, or Somewhere Beyond the Sea, which goes back to the library soon. Either would fit my link.

[Saar The Book owl]

I've read and it's even better than the first one. It got me out of my reading slump.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Janice, Moderator]

It looks like a lot of fun to read, Saar.

[Saar The Book owl]

It really is. I enjoy the series so much!

[Kristie, Moderator]

I decided to start Funny Story for the yearly challenge and a group read in another group.

I am also going to start The Berry Pickers tomorrow. I am traveling, so I will listen to some of it in the car and I'll be sure to take notes for the group read next month.

My plan is to listen to The Berry Pickers while traveling tomorrow and during my return Wednesday, then continue through the remainder starting on Nov 1st (Friday). I don't think I've ever had an alternate days plan with my reads before, but that seems to be my best option this week.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm so looking forward to Berry Pickers. Safe travels Kristie.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I am too. Thanks, Janice.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called I Told You This Would Happen by Elaine Murphy

[PattyMacDotComma]

Janice wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "The skies of the Scottish Hebrides in Peter May's Lewis Trilogy mysteries are often as dark as the covers suggest, but the people's stories are fascinating..."

I would like to start reading this series.

It should be easy to find copies, Janice. Do it!

[PattyMacDotComma]

Colum McCann's well-known novel Let the Great World Spin is a great read. Some of the characters are Irish (as he is known for writing about), but there are blacks, Latinos and others in this mixed NY neighbourhood where a tightrope walker crossed between the twin towers in 1974. YIKES!
My review of Let the Great World Spin

[Janice, Moderator]

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Janice wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "The skies of the Scottish Hebrides in Peter May's Lewis Trilogy mysteries are often as dark as the covers suggest, but the people's stories ..."

I have it on my list of priorities so I likely will get at least the 1st book in the series soon.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Janice wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Janice wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "The skies of the Scottish Hebrides in Peter May's Lewis Trilogy mysteries are often as dark as the covers suggest, ..."

😊

[PattyMacDotComma]

Why have I waited so long to read this classic? The Big Sleep is the first in Raymond Chandler's iconic private eye series featuring Philip Marlowe. I can sure see why it would have raised some eyebrows back then.
My review of The Big Sleep

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Christmas on 4th Street / Yours for Christmas by Susan Mallery

[Saar The Book owl]

I've finished The Hole. If you like Haruki Murakami and other Japanese books, than this is an interesting one. It needs some time getting into the book, but it's good.

[Christine]

[Roz]

I read All the Colors of the Dark and absolutely loved it. It’s long (over 500 pages), but I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended.

[PattyMacDotComma]

A couple more fun ones from Amazon's Busybodies Collection, cosy mysteries.

Crime of Fashion by Emma Rosenblum takes place at a fashion shoot where a minor underling is accused of stealing a necklace worth $3million! Poor kid.
My review of Crime of Fashion
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Nosy Neighbor is by Nita Prose, who wrote the popular The Maid, among other things. It seemed straightforward, but I should have known better. Nicely twisty.
My review of The Nosy Neighbor

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Balancing Act by Emily March

[Jesse]

I just finished Red Rising, absolutely loved it. Haven't got a bad thing to say about it, enjoyed every page.

I think I'm going to start reading The Lies of Locke Lamora, but I'm not entirely sure. Got a whole shelf waiting to be read.

[Sarah]

Jesse wrote: "I just finished Red Rising, absolutely loved it. Haven't got a bad thing to say about it, enjoyed every page.

I think I'm going to start reading [book:The Lies of Locke Lamora|2958..."

Lies of Locke Lamora is an awesome book, I highly recommend it!

[Kristie, Moderator]

I just finished The Berry Pickers. I thought it good overall, but it didn't meet my expectations and I wasn't really engaged with it until later in the story.

I am going to start Lady Tan’s Circle of Women for my face-to-face book club this month. This is actually my first book by Lisa See. I planned to read a couple of hers previously, but never got around to them.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I'm finishing The Big Sleep today. A very recommendable noir.

I will start The Frozen River for my book club.

[Jesse]

Sandra wrote: "I'm finishing The Big Sleep today. A very recommendable noir.

I will start The Frozen River for my book club."

Interested in what you think once you finish it, it's on my tbr!

[Janice, Moderator]

I've got a new slate of books on the go:

Wolfsong on Kindle
The Secret History of Audrey James on Audiobook.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Sandra wrote: "I'm finishing The Big Sleep today. A very recommendable noir.

I will start The Frozen River for my book club."

I thought The Frozen River was excellent. I hope you love it.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Great to know, Kristie!

Jesse, I will.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Michael Connelly has Harry Bosch and The Closers reopening unsolved murder cases using new testing technologies on old evidence. Another excellent story.
My review of The Closers

[PattyMacDotComma]

Switchblade by Michael Connelly is a Harry Bosch short story which I enjoyed as an audio. It's another cold case solved with the help of an unexpected tip and new DNA testing.
My review of Switchblade

[Peggy]

I finished The Hunger of the Gods. I'm really enjoying this series, looking forward to the final book!

I've now started The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. The first few chapters are very promising already.

[PattyMacDotComma]

I recently enjoyed the third and fourth novellas from the excellent Wisdom Tree series of five by Aussie author Nick Earls.. It's worth having a look at his Goodreads bio. He's an interesting guy and a talented, insightful writer. The titles are the cities in which the stories take place.

My review of Vancouver
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My review of Juneau

[Kristie, Moderator]

This one published today:

- my Sunflower House review

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Gift of Christmas: A Special Collection of Joyful Holiday Stories by Jack Canfield

[PattyMacDotComma]

Brightly Shining is a translation of Ingvild H. Rishøi's short novel about two young girls and a very cold Christmas in Norway. The original was very popular, and now it's in English. Did I mention it is very cold?! Brrr
My review of Brightly Shining

[PattyMacDotComma]

Aussie author and former journo Chris Hammer writes complex mysteries with a broad range of characters. The Valley has gold mining, politicians, cops (straight and bent), hippie types, and a couple of favourite detectives. Another excellent read.
My review of The Valley

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Wolfsong for my annual challenge. I really enjoyed it but it dragged on at the end. That was what kept it from being a 5 star read.

Next up is my second attempt at Holly. It's another hiking challenge read.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women took me a lot longer to get through than I expected. I got to a point about halfway through where I just didn't care and would have left it unfinished if it weren't for a book club. Fortunately the last 25% has really picked up and I'm looking forward to finishing it today. Almost there...

I am planning to start Just for the Summer today for the monthly and yearly challenges. I think it'll be an easy read for me.

[Janice, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "Lady Tan’s Circle of Women took me a lot longer to get through than I expected. .."

Last month, I couldn't believe how many books I was completing. This month, I've slowed considerably. It doesn't help that I've saved chunksters for the last of my challenge.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I think this was probably just not the right time for that book or the right book for me really, but it was for my F2F book club. It's actually my last F2F book club read of the year, which is nice. Both of my book clubs have a holiday get together, but no books to read in December. It'll give me a chance to catch up on other things and wrap up my year.