District 7 Showing 101-150 of 1,981

[Melindam]

Thanks, Suzanne.😊 I have never read anything by Robert Jackson Bennett so far, even though I have Foundryside sitting on my Audio shelf (was a 2-for-1 deal on Audible).

I read Orphan X this year for UNO -as so many of my GR friends read and recommended it- and enjoyed it very much, despite not being comfortable with this genre in general. I already bought Book 2 and hoping to read it for Book Games. :)


@Sophie
I also loved Starter Villain last year and I should really read more Scalzi -my husband's bookshelf is full of them and I enjoyed The Interdependency series. Old Man's War should be a good place to continue.

[Maritza]

Oh, I would love to re-read the series.

[Melindam]

My 2023 recs would be

by Dorothy Dunnett (I'd say all the 6 books in The Lymond Chronicles series, but that would be cheating 😉), which was one of the most challenging historical fiction series I have encountered to date. First I picked up this book in 2022 and abandoned it, b/c I was not ready for it. I rallied again last year and this time went through the whole series one after the other and found it such a rewarding experience.

by Ian Nathan
If you love The Lord of the Rings movies, this can be great read, though I 'd recommend the audiobook, the narrator is fabulous. :)


by Paul Gallico - 2 books in one. Lovely, heartwarming stories.

2024 recs
One of the highlights was by Connie Willis.
Once again, fantastic audiobook narrator and the whole package was so lovely and full of sunshine despite the SciFi frame. A homage to Jerome K. Jerome, Oscar Wilde, P.G. Wodehouse, Agatha Christie, etc. Loved it.

by Donald L. Miller. I have not seen the series with Austin Butler, but this non-fiction book is deep and thorough and full of sympathy for every single person on both sides who had to face ww2.

by Martha Wells, because MURDERBOT. 😉

[Suzanne]

Oh I adore Murderbot!
And I love those recommendations - what a nice variety. I've thought quite some time that I need to check out Connie Willis! I enjoyed the movie Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris - how did I not know there was a book!? And it is so nice to learn of relatable non-fiction.

Sophie - I agree that Starter Villain was excellent! Such a great book - plus cats!

[Melindam]

Suzanne, I think the Mrs Harris book is better than the movie (and different), though the movie was lovely, too. :)

[Cecily]

Teacher by Freida McFadden
The Therapist by B. A. Paris
The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Black

Best reads I've had this year so far.

[Suzanne]

Thanks Cecily! Those look really good - and I was hoping for some good change of pace recommendations from my fantasy/scifi stuff!

[Sophie, The other one]

Lymond is on my list of things to reread once I eventually finish reading her Niccolo series which I've had on the go for about 10 years.

And the rest of you have added a lot to my tbr which I'd finally begun to shrink this year!

[Melindam]

I am also planning to finally start on the Niccoló series.... unsurprisingly also planned it for Book Games.... lol

Will see. I am prepared to leave off careful planning for chaos at one point. :D

[Sonia]

Hello District 7!!!

Sorry for the late visit... I was on my way, but got lost in the hoods... I was promised gingerbread men cookies among the trees... fortunately, some friendly tribute was passing by...

[Melindam]

:D Yaay for Sonia and her Lumberjacks. :D

[Suzanne]

I love the woods :) Thanks Sonia

[Maritza]

Ooh, let's keep him.

[Sophie, The other one]

Melindam wrote: "I am also planning to finally start on the Niccoló series.... unsurprisingly also planned it for Book Games.... lol

Will see. I am prepared to leave off careful planning for chaos at one point. :D"

Given how chunky they are I appreciate that restraint and patience!

[Sophie, The other one]

Sonia, feels free to get lost in our neck of the woods more often if you are bringing friends!

[Teddie]

I have added more to my TBR - thank you all. I love the audiobook-specific suggestions too.

From 2024, has been the standout so far. Banished to a Greek isle where you can be left alone to talk to animals and learn witchcraft from the flora? Where do I sign up?

A recent audiobook standout is
I don't think "Goddamnit Donut!" would have cracked me up as hard in just text - the narrator Jeff Hays was awesome. (If you like the John Scalzi / Wil Wheaton pairing, you should like this as well.)

I read last year, and really liked it. I'll be reading soon as I just got it from the library. The audiobook version of was amazing - I couldn't stop listening.

[Sophie, The other one]

If you like snarky audio books (Scalzi and Wheaton is a pairing from heaven), then Bobiverse is worth a listen

With that cover and the habit of brown covers turning up as tasks you might want to hold off a bit though!

[Melindam]

I have Bobiverse 1 on audio, but mine is with a blue cover.

[Teddie]

I really liked We Are Legion (We Are Bob), but read it a while ago and have been thinking of doing a reread to get back into the series - will try it next as an audio - thanks!

Speaking of pairings, the Harry Dresden / James Marsters duo is still my #1 - these audiobooks got me hooked on audiobooks during covid. Another good pairing I listened to recently was for The Marlow Murder Club books. Nicolette McKenzie's voice has that smokey, whiskeyed experience in it that works perfectly for a older woman character who sometimes likes to skinnydip in the river outside her stately English house.

[Melindam]

For me Murderbot + Kevin R. Free is a perfect combination, but Scalzi & Wheaton are also a match made in heaven. :)

I haven't listened to Ray Porter's narration before, so something to look forward to with Bobiverse. :)

[Melindam]

Added Dungeon Crawler Carl to my Audible TBR with Jeff Hayes. I see a purchase of 3 extra credits in my very near future, lol.

[Sophie, The other one]

Rivers of London on audio is another of my all time pairings. Can't bare to read the books rather than listen!

Mel - I know! This could get expensive.

[Sophie, The other one]

I'm starting a new job tomorrow (argh!) and the only downside of it is that it's only a 12 mins drive from home so my audio time is being hugely shrunk.

[Suzanne]

Haha spoken like a true book lover. "Unfortunately it's a short commute. "

[Melindam]

Sophie, hope your first day and every other will go well. ♡

[Melindam]

But I feel you, when I'm working from home, my 1st thought is always "home office equals reduced listening time".

[Melindam]

Sophie, I guess walking is not an option? :)

[Sammy]

Sneaking in again from district 1 to say Bob rules! 😁

Also, Ray Porter is one of my favourite narrators, highly recommend him!

[Melindam]

Sammy, I always listen to you recommending audiobooks.... you never disappoint.... well, you may disappoint my bank account, but not me. ;)

[Sophie, The other one]

Melindam wrote: "Sophie, I guess walking is not an option? :)"

2hr and 20min walk including cross-country sections suggests maybe not! 40 mins cycle is theoretically more possible but not with the possibility of home visits and needing to look presentable through the day. Not sure anyone wants a sweaty mud stained Dr.

[Sophie, The other one]

Also, no listening time if cycling as need to hear the cars/tractors etc.

[Melindam]

Not ideal, for sure. :(

[Sammy]

Melindam wrote: "Sammy, I always listen to you recommending audiobooks.... you never disappoint.... well, you may disappoint my bank account, but not me. ;)"

Teehee. I should really buy shares in audible... 😆

[Marty]

This is a great collection of stories that I'm reading right now: . If you like awesome, short and weird tales, this is one for you.

Haven't read the Hunger Games series in a long time. It'll be a nice refresher

@Maritza, I spend too much time on Reddit. I need to read more too.

@Sonia, he can be our mascot.

[Cecily]

Not sure if anyone has spotify premium but you get 15 hours of listening time a month included (roughly 2 books)

[Cecily]

My Libby holds are full, my check out limit reached and only one credit left on audible. Dove into my "next in series" tag on my TBR and will be picking some of those up!

Has anyone seen the cover for Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose. It looks like a VHS tape. I am obsessed. I am currently reading it and it's pretty good so far

[Marty]

Cecily wrote: "Not sure if anyone has spotify premium but you get 15 hours of listening time a month included (roughly 2 books)"

I didn't know that. Thanks!

[Sophie, The other one]

Reddit is a rabbit hole that I occasionally stick my head into but have somehow not gone full Alice in Wonderland yet. I know that it's a possibility, but I keep trying it anyway.

Thanks Cecily - I didn't know that about Spotify Premium.

[Melindam]

Wishing you a great start with your new work, Sophie. :)

[Sophie, The other one]

Thanks! Predictably I didn't sleep at all well last night. Need to get in and start making friends now and then all will be well.

[Lauri]

Here are my favorites from 2023!
The Language of Flowers, Crying in H Mart, Deeply Odd& Saint Odd from the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares, The Secrets of Jin-shei…

I’m sure there are a TON more! As you can tell, I’m all over the place! I will read just about anything & don’t normally stick to my TBR list.

[Melindam]

Lauri,

with all of us being awesome and what-not, we should accept that tiny little flaw in our characters: being unable to resist the siren call of books. (giggles)

[Sonia]

Sophie wrote: "Sonia, feels free to get lost in our neck of the woods more often if you are bringing friends!"

Ehehehehehe

[Sophie, The other one]

Lauri wrote: "Here are my favorites from 2023!
The Language of Flowers, Crying in H Mart, Deeply Odd& Saint Odd from the Odd Thomas series by [aut..."

There are people who stick to the TBR list? Or to one genre? I don't recognise that at all.

[Marty]

Sophie wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Here are my favorites from 2023!
The Language of Flowers, Crying in H Mart, Deeply Odd& Saint Odd from the Odd Thomas ..."

Blasphemers! Where's my pitchfork??? (Just kidding.)

Serious question about the game: I assume we don't put any books in our folders until we read them, right? Or can we use it as a to-read-for-the-game list?

[Melindam]

It's your decision. Sometimes I add a few books beforehand , but not always. The main thing is that books are on your shelf by the time you finish them. :)

[Marty]

Melindam wrote: "It's your decision. Sometimes I add a few books beforehand , but not always. The main thing is that books are on your shelf by the time you finish them. :)"

Thanks, that helps!

[Sophie, The other one]

I normally try to add books as I finish them (but am not always the best at remembering!) but if it works better for you to add it early so you don't forget, that's fine too.

[Sophie, The other one]

Since today's task is to complete 18 modules of mandatory elearning, it's time for my first random discussion question of the challenge!


Given we are the team of lumber and the woods, are you green fingered or do houseplants wither and die as soon as you look at them?

I like the concept of houseplants and having a pretty garden, but have mixed success. There are a few low maintenance houseplants scattered round which are currently surviving. I like to blame the lack of success of some of the garden plants on the fact we live in a new house and the builders put an absolute minimum of soil on top of rubble to create the garden.

That said, I finally planted the wisteria I've wanted for the last 8 years since we moved in 2 months ago, so fingers crossed I can keep that going.

[Cecily]

I love plants but they do not work well with my animals, they are too tempted but I want to try to do at least one outdoor large mixed pot this year!