What Are You Reading - 2024

[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.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "Both of my book clubs have a holiday get together, but no books to read in December."

We do the same thing. In December we just get together and do a book exchange. The challenge is that you can't buy a book. It has to be something from your library or similar.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I finished The Frozen River and gave it 4 stars. It was really good. I haven't read a good historical fiction in a while. It is like the genre became very popular a few years ago and a huge amount of them were published, but so many lack all sense of time and place, and it seems authors don't do a serious research. I've been avoiding the genre the last couple of years, but I am glad my book club picked this one, because it was great. I have to admit that my first reaction was "no, not another book about midwives, please", but there is so much more in it. Highly recommended.

I will start today Long Island Compromise, which is for the January book club meeting. It is a little early to read it, but the waiting list was huge so I will just read it now.

[Jayme, Moderator]

Sandra wrote: "I finished The Frozen River and gave it 4 stars. It was really good. I haven't read a good historical fiction in a while. It is like the genre became very popular a few years ago a..."

The Frozen River will be one of my top reads for the year. I am leading the discussion for it in January with my F2F book club. I ended up down the Google rabbit hole finding out about her life.

[PattyMacDotComma]

I recently finished the final two novellas in Amazon's Busybodies Collection of six cosy mysteries and especially enjoyed the last one.

One Lucky Subscriber by Kellye Garrett features an imaginative YouTube celebrity hosting a tricky hide-n-seek with big prize money in the the American Dream Mall.
My review of One Lucky Subscriber
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Classic Case by Alicia Thompson is my favourite - a delightful rom-com mystery with a nice twist. Good finish to an uneven collection.
My review of A Classic Case

[Sandra, Moderator]

Jayme wrote: "The Frozen River will be one of my top reads for the year. I am leading the discussion for it in January with my F2F book club. I ended up down the Google rabbit hole finding out about her life."

We had a great discussion last Monday! I'm sure you will also enjoy the discussion. She was an amazing woman.

[PattyMacDotComma]

I always enjoy Australian Aboriginal author Tony Birch's excellent writing, often short stories, and his recent novel, Women & Children is another winner.

This takes place in a Melbourne suburb in the 1960s, and although he says this isn't him and his family, I suspect it's awfully close. Great read.
My review of Women & Children

[PattyMacDotComma]

I'm not a reader of Oscar Wilde, but I enjoyed his short fairy tale, or whatever you'd call it, The Fisherman and his Soul, which was a recent Goodreads group The Short Story Club choice.
My review of The Fisherman and his Soul

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Navy Christmas by Geri Krotow

[Christine]

[Janice, Moderator]

Oh, I forgot to post here. I finally finished up The Dark Mirror and Holly. Both were chunksters, and both had slow starts but finished off with a wham.

Now reading The Sculthorpe Murder on audiobook and Dark, Witch & Creamy on kindle.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I started Something Wilder and immediately decided I wasn't in the mood for it. I need to read it before the end of the year for a challenge, but I'll try to read it later. I just received an early copy of The Memory Library and I think I'm going to start that. It publishes in a few days.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Remember Her Name by Lisa Regan

[Kristie, Moderator]

I finished The Memory Library.

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

Started Beautiful Ugly.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Stolen Daughters by Carolyn Arnold

[Christine]

[Vernell]

I am currently reading, Target: Alex Cross by James Patterson.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Hide and Seek by Mary Burton

[Saar The Book owl]

The last book I' ve read, was Gobbelino London & A Complication of Unicorns:
This is the third book of Gobbelino London and it gets better and better. This series grows on you. There are a lot of new interesting and dangerous characters in this one: imps, elves, trolls (vegetarian ones!) and most of all: unicorns. If you had the idea that the unicorns are somewhat like cute My Little Pony's, well think again: they are even worse than Gobs with swearing and attitudes. They are dangerous, murderous and always in for a fight. I think Gobs might be a secret fan when it comes to the swearing words of the unicorns.
Also, entering Callum's sister Ez and a throwback on their history, who isn't all sunshine and rainbows. This book was maybe the most serious book so far, because there's a tip of the cover revealed about Callum's past and maybe there's more to come about that.
Gobs might be a bit sarcastic, ironic, full of swear words...but he would give his nine lives for Callum. You can just feel that reading between the lines and Callum, well, he's still so quiet and to himself, but he feels the same about Gobs.
I wonder how the series will continue. Each time it's a feast of action packed scenes, humour and laughter with the occasional emotional moments, high lights and a nice wrap up.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Murder at Queen's Landing and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd yesterday, and have started the next books on my list for the hiking challenge:

The Miracles of the Namiya General Store
Pretty Girls

[Jayme, Moderator]

I have finished the annual challenge and am now relaxing with holiday mysteries and romances. Finished The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year last night (cute story) and will be starting Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret sometime today.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I just realized I haven't updated in a while. I was reading Beautiful Ugly, but I put it aside for a while to read The Queens of Crime for the monthly challenge, which I am much more in the mood for. I enjoy intelligent women working together. Also, there's an interesting mystery.

Beautiful Ugly was taking me a while to get through and I realized that I might not have time to read everything I want to this month if I keep dragging my feet through it. It's one of those books that I think a lot of people will love, but it has too many things I don't like all combined. It makes you wonder what is going on the whole time, so it just doesn't make sense...yet. I don't enjoy that, but then you add in two fairly unlikable MC's and one has a drinking issue and is unreliable. I have to finish it because it's for a review and I'm already at 70%, so I'll definitely go back to it. I hate to say it because it was SO overdone for such a long time, but I think it's one you'll love if you like books like Gone Girl.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Shark by Mary Burton

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Pretty Girls which I needed for my hiking challenge. I'm working on the final one, Five Decembers, on audiobook. Pretty Girls was my only 1 star of 2024 (so far).

Now that I'm basically finished the challenge, I will finish December by reading short books that don't qualify for our page length minimums in challenges, starting with Elevation.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I finished The Queens of Crime and started James for the group read. I was thinking about using The Queens of Crime for the monthly challenge, but I am planning to read something else that I think is a better fit. The Queens of Crime was really enjoyable though.

- Queens of Crime review

[Sandra, Moderator]

I'm still listening to The Idiot. I also started yesterday The Time of the Hero (La ciudad y los perros) which I was planing to use for this month challenge. I hope to be able to finish it on time.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I'm listening to The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies which I am hoping to finish up with the last run of Christmas shopping across town this arvo and then watering the garden after a 30 something degree day. It wasn't going to be, but I think I will use it as my last book in the yearly challenge.

I am also reading HHhH which I am weirdly enjoying, but I haven't really had time to sit down and get into it due to trying to get all the chores I have neglected for the past 2 months done before Christmas on my first week off. Maybe over the weekend. My copy of the book doesn't have page numbers though, and I am not sure how far I am in which is weirdly confusing.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Christmas Promise by Lindsay Gibson

[Christine]

[Christine]

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called The Surrogate Mother by Freida McFadden

[Janice, Moderator]

In keeping with my new strategy, I'm starting all new books:

Bitter Passage on kindle, a 2025 release available on Amazon's first read.
The Blackhouse on audiobook

[Jayme, Moderator]

I'm only reading inspiring, heart-warming books to end 2024, so I am starting My Beloved Monster: Masha, the Half-wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me.

[Janice, Moderator]

That sounds good Jayme. Caleb Carr died earlier this year. I enjoyed his books.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I was traveling for Christmas, so I listened to An Inconvenient Wife, What Remains, and Nemesis. I haven't written any reviews yet.

I am home now and have three books to finish up before the new year. I am currently reading James (78%), 12 Days of Book-Club-Mas (80%), and Beautiful Ugly (73%).

I need to get myself organized again and ready for the new year, but other than the three I'm already most of the way through I only expect to finish my toppler book, then I'll be ready to start my house/home books for January.

[Christine]

[Jayme, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "That sounds good Jayme. Caleb Carr died earlier this year. I enjoyed his books."

I did not know that. It completely changes the perspective because he is now getting into his illness in the book.

[Christine]

I’m reading a book called Want to Know a Secret? by Freida McFadden

[Kristie, Moderator]

I got a couple of reviews wrapped up before the end of the year:

- Beautiful Ugly review
- Nemesis review

[Kristie, Moderator]

I'm finishing up James and 12 Days of Book-Club-Mas. Then starting The Lost House and The House of Eve.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I finished James today. I thought it was good, but not great.

I also finished 12 Days of Book-Club-Mas. It was a fairly average book of short stories. I don't tend to love short stories and try to remember to lower my expectations as there isn't much time for character development or growth really much of a plot. There were some stories in this book that were good and others that were not. I did find a new author that I plan to check out though - Jessica Booth.

I started The House of Eve, but only made it 2% so far. I'm already concerned for our MC.

After dinner I am starting The Lost House.

I feel like I ended the year with a handful of good, but not great books. I'm hoping to start the new year on an upswing.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Ohurgh. Finished HHhH before the end of the year! My eyes are so wonky now. But my personal, annual, five books allocated randomly from around the world challenge is done.

I have an hour left on The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies but may go and stare at the horizon for a bit. Have five hours to go to finish the Yearly!

[Sarah]

Rusalka wrote: "Ohurgh. Finished HHhH before the end of the year! My eyes are so wonky now. But my personal, annual, five books allocated randomly from around the world challenge is done.

I have an..."

What did you think of HHhH? I remember attempting it many years back but abandoned it.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I actually really enjoyed it, which I feel weird saying about a book about the worst Nazis that I read over Christmas time.

I can see why you may have abandoned it though, the style takes some settling in to. Setting the author up as a character, no page numbers, really short chapters that aren't linear or in one place or flick from the present with the author to Heydrich takes some getting used to.

I needed a read for the Czech Republic and it was the only one I had, and a friend of mine wrote a really good review about it which prepared me a little for the style. Otherwise I reckon I may have 50-50ed abandoning it. But I am glad (urgh I know) I didn't.

[Sarah]

Yes, now you mention the format, I remember that was the issue for me. Glad you enjoyed it.

[Jayme, Moderator]

I am currently not reading anything. Everything I pick up - "it's oh no wait that's for the annual challenge." So Dec 31st will be a nonreading day - oh the horror!

I did finish What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella so spent the last of 2024 weepy, but it is very good and quick (122 pages).

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Done. Finished the book 90mins ago, and watched the Doctor Who special to recover. *phew*

[Kristie, Moderator]

Rusalka wrote: "Ohurgh. Finished HHhH before the end of the year! My eyes are so wonky now. But my personal, annual, five books allocated randomly from around the world challenge is done...."

Congrats!

[Sandra, Moderator]

Rusalka wrote: "Ohurgh. Finished HHhH before the end of the year! My eyes are so wonky now. But my personal, annual, five books allocated randomly from around the world challenge is done."

Congrats!

[Sandra, Moderator]

I'm still reading The Hamlet and listening to The Idiot and I doubt I will finish any of them today, but it is ok. I had a great reading year, so I will not complain. :)