You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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What Are You Reading - 2024
I've read the Dutch translation of The Humans.This is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just finished Heir of fire and it's so good
I finished two more reviews: 
- my Darling Girls review I really enjoyed this one. It was very engaging and kept me reading. 5★
- my Every Time I Go on Vacation review Too many repetitive footnotes. I feel like I was generous giving this one 3★.
I finished Iron and Magic. It's become apparent to me that I've lost my interest in urban fantasy. The next two books on my hiking challenge are connected by urban fantasy. At least that will clear them from my to read pile. Maybe Dresden will work his magic..
Irish-Aussie author Dervla McTiernan has returned to the US, up in Vermont this time, to ask What Happened to Nina?. I still miss her Dublin mysteries, but I certainly enjoyed this one,
My review of What Happened to Nina?
Who says education can't be fun? The World is Full of Nouns by Elizabeth Lareau will set them straight! Lots of colourful pictures with some nouns identified and where kids can find even more 'things'.
Link to my review of The World is Full of Nouns with several of the illustrations
I am stretching out my favourite Sebastian St Cyr Historical Mystery Series by C.S. Harris to try to make them last. They are the best. Why Kill the Innocent is #13, and the Frost Fair and wintry weather were as chilling as the murders. Terrific atmosphere.
My review of Why Kill The Innocent with a painting of the 1814 Frost Fair
The Ghost Writer by bestselling author Loreth Anne White is an entertaining short story with a good creepy atmosphere. It's another of Amazon's Original Stories.
My review of The Ghost Writer
I finished Their Eyes Were Watching God, and we had a great discussion about it in my book club. I read the first chapter of The Three-Body Problem and so far I am not very engaged. I will read a couple more chapters and decided if I keep going or not.
I enjoyed three body problem but found i rid get a little lost and didnt always know what was going on. It can be a little bleak in places too. See how you feel. If it doesn't work for you, you can always try the tv series. I'm currently half way through it.
Thanks, Sarah. Would you say that the TV series is better, then?
I think the way they have structured the tv show has made it easier to follow. So far, anyway. But it has been quite a while now since i read the book so hard to tell. I had definitely forgotten about some things.
Ok. I get it. I'll give the book a try and probably suggest to my husband to watch the TV show. Thanks, Sarah.
I finished The Phoenix Crown last night. It was set with backdrop of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, and told the story of four strong women whose lives were intertwined.I enjoyed the author's note which pin pointed which characters were fiction and which were historical.
Tonight, I will start Night of Knives. It's been on my list of books to read for several years.
I baled on Night of Knives, and started The Letters We Keep.I need something mindless and fluffy. I started a Dissolution and read two pages before I realized I just wasn't in the right mood for it.
I've been reading Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. It's pretty fascinating even if a little repetitive at times. I now need to decide if I want to finish it or wait for my loan to come back around. I planned it as part of my yearly challenge, but I'm not quite ready for it yet. I did find an alternate, so it wouldn't be terrible if I did finish it early. I am going to read The Colorado Kid tomorrow for a challenge, then I'm going to start Her Last First Dance for our monthly challenge.
Monday I will be listening to Dead Center for our annual challenge. I am reading that series from both ends. Every time a new book comes out I read it, but I've also gone back to the beginning and am slowly making my way through the series. At some point I hope to finish all the books I skipped when I started the series at book #23.
Kristie wrote: "I've been reading Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. It's pretty fascinating even if a little repetitive at times. I now need to decide if I want to finish it or..."That is so funny, Kristie. My RLBC will be discussing Holy Chow (#25) from the Andy Carpenter series. I haven't read any of the earlier books in the series so I'll probably be reading the series "from both ends" if I continue them. I like Andy. He's irreverently funny. No subject is sacred.
Sandra wrote: "I finished Their Eyes Were Watching God, and we had a great discussion about it in my book club. I read the first chapter of The Three-Body Problem and so far I am no..."
This is the third time in 24 hours that someone has mentioned the book/tv show The Three-Body Problem. I think it's a sign that I might have to pick up the book, or I am really behind the times. Hope you end up liking the book.
Roz wrote: "Kristie wrote: "I've been reading Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. It's pretty fascinating even if a little repetitive at times. I now need to decide if I want..."Oh, that's funny. Yes, I find him to be very witty and I like that humor.
It's a little strange to read from both ends because the stories are standalone, but new characters are added along the way and the character's relationships change. So, in one book you will know something about a character, then read a previous book and they're just being introduced or they're in a different situation. It's not my favorite way to read a series, but it's likely the only way I'll keep up with it when there are so many.
Jayme wrote: "This is the third time in 24 hours that someone has mentioned the book/tv show The Three-Body Problem. I think it's a sign that I might have to pick up the book, or I am really behind the times. Hope you end up liking the book."The books were published in the early 2000, but it seems there has been a peak in the interest because of the Netflix series. I haven't picked the book again, but just because of lack of time. I should resume it this weekend, though, because I know I will not be able to renew my loan. There is a waiting list on it.
I finished Dead Beat today. I had the next book in the series slated as the next book for my hiking challenge. When I went to download it, I realized I didn't have it. It's on my wishlist, and I had made a notation that it was available from the library. I sighed in relief. I'm done with this series and didn't really want to read the next book anyway. If I owned the book, I would have felt obligated to read it. I substituted Three Mages and a Margarita for it. The connecting factor was urban fantasy, and I have a few of them. I'll start it tomorrow.
I find myself baling on a few series this year. I get tired of them, especially when they are just repetitious and bring nothing new to the storyline. I'm like that with tv or netflix series too.
I'm the same way with series, Janice. Sometimes they just go on too long and I start to feel like I'm done before they are. Same with TV shows.
I think urban series tend to have so many books now. And as you say, can get very repetitive. I don't blame you for baling. I have quite a few on my kindle but have no incliniation to return to them at the moment. I think the pressure of a lengthy also pute me off these days.
I find that I'm more satisfied with a trilogy these days. I think Robin Hobbs' The Realm of the Underlings was the exception. Her world was so immersive.
I listened to The Colorado Kid while driving yesterday. It was actually pretty boring. There were a couple of times I laughed, but mostly I just waiting for nothing to happen. I only gave it 2.5 stars. I'm going to start Her Last First Dance for our monthly challenge today.
Just finished Holly after having to wait a whole week just to listen to the final 15 minutes. I loved it. I'm now listening toMurder by Other Means, actually, i started it to tied me over while waiting for Holly. I'd read the original novella when it first came out, didnt know there were sequels and they are free on audible with membership. I have 2 months free as i have a student account. I'll probably cancel it after that.
Completely understand Janice. I really like the Dresden Files books, but I recognise 100% that there are so many of them. If you are not enjoying them, sometimes there is a wait for a shakeup and maybe abandoning is the best plan. Good on you for recognising that instead of trying to slog through.I just had that with my monthly read, Nightlife. It took itself SO. SERIOUSLY. The main characters are brothers but only referred to each other as "little brother" or "big brother" in seriousness! Or by nicknames that were never explained in the book to some sort of literary/movie reference (I'm not sure, I refuse to look it up). I have the second book on my shelf and I am just debating throwing them all away. I should.
I picked up Cedar Valley by the wonderful musician/songwriter Holly Throsby, and within 2 pages I felt my back relax. So unpretentious and beautifully genuine writing. So far it is describing every coastal town I have visited, and every beach house I have visited - down to the tub of Gumption under the sink - so incredibly excited to see where it goes.
Kelsey is bubbly when they move into their new (to them) house, but Lauren is freaking out about being watched from The Other Side of the Road. I enjoyed thriller writer Andrea Bartz's suspenseful story and the ending I didn't expect. 
My review of The Other Side of the Road
I started yesterday The Aspern Papers and so far I am loving it. I decided to pause The Three-Body Problem for now. I might give it another try in the future, but I am not enjoying it at this moment.
I just finished Dead Center for the yearly challenge and I think it was one of my favorite books in the series. Lots of funny moments and a great story. I need to go back and finish a couple of other books that I've been reading now starting with Her Last First Dance for the monthly challenge.
I finished The Letters We Keep which was an Amazon First Reads pick. It was just a 2 star read.I also finished Three Mages and a Margarita on audiobook. It was a fun read, nothing serious.
I'll start my final book for badge one later tonight, All the Broken Places and I'll start Starter Villain on audiobook tomorrow.
Ah - a couple of goodies from the #NeverTell short story collection.Both are about women in the desert in very different, life-threatening circumstances. Deserts lend themselves to mystery, I think. One woman is a crook, while one is a tattooist.
This one is the crook:
Scorpions by Rachel Howzell HallMy review of Scorpions
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This one is the tattooist
Jackrabbit Skin by Ivy PochodaMy review of Jackrabbit Skin
I finished Starter Villain for the group themed read. Next up is Lessons in Chemistry for my real life book club.
I'll be interested to see what you think of Lessons in Chemistry, Janice. I've gotten such conflicting opinions from friends.
I'm glad I chose Michael Connelly's Bosch series as one to read each month this year. Angels Flight is the short funicular railway in L.A. that hauls people up and down a very steep hill. Two murder victims are discovered, spoiling Bosch's childhood memories of riding it with his mother. 
My review of Angels Flight
Kristie wrote: "I'll be interested to see what you think of Lessons in Chemistry, Janice. I've gotten such conflicting opinions from friends."That's what I'm afraid of. I have a feeling it might not be to my taste, and if it wasn't for the book club, I wouldn't chose it for myself to read. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.
Janice wrote: "Kristie wrote: "I'll be interested to see what you think of Lessons in Chemistry, Janice. I've gotten such conflicting opinions from friends."That's what I'm afraid of. I have a feeling it might ..."
Fingers crossed. Hope it works out.
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You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
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Jack was gracious enough to explain what happened in a long comment, for which he deserves a lot of credit. Have a look.