The Next Best Book Club discussion

I finished The Fireman, You, and The Forever War so far this year.

Now, I'm reading Sleeping Giants.

’Round Midnight – Laura McBride – 3.5***
As she did in her debut work, McBride tells the story of four different characters with little apparent connection, until their stories come together in one specific event. The reader gets a pretty clear idea of the connection of at least two of these women early on but must wait for events to unfold over several decades before the characters will catch on.
LINK to my review

I'm listening to Hardcore Twenty-Four and reading The Ninth Hour.

Loved my return to Three Pines during The Cruellest Month of April courtesy of Canadian author Louise Penny.
4.5★ Link to my review

I finished Census. 4 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished by Ruta Sepetys
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just starting . Seems promising so far.

It’s All in the Frijoles – Yolanda Nava – 2**
Subtitle: 100 Famous Latinos Share Real-Life Stories, Time-Tested Dichos, Favorite Folktales, and Inspiring Words of Wisdom. Nava has compiled the wisdom of our ancestors through the stories, legends, folktales and sayings they imparted. She divides the book into chapters, each dealing with a basic value: Responsibility, Respect, Hard Work, Prudence, Chastity, etc. These short vignettes (many barely a page long), are perfect for a daily meditation, so it’s a nice book to have around the house for that purpose. But reading it straight through just emphasizes how repetitious it is.
LINK to my review

Finished The Ninth Hour which was a great book and now have gone back in time with The Human Factor by Graham Greene. Remember the British/Russian spy scandals?

I finished The Dream Daughter. 4 stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Karen M wrote: "Finished The Ninth Hour which was a great book and now have gone back in time with The Human Factor by Graham Greene. Remember the British/Russian spy sca..."

I'm on a wait list for The Ninth Hour, Karen. Glad to know you like it! Did you ever write a review?

A tiny farting angel in an English school- what's not to love? Very cute, irreverent 'chapter' book for young readers. The Tale of Angelino Brown by David Almond and artist Alex T Smith.
4.5★ Link to my review
(I included a couple of the wonderful illustrations, too.)

Autobiography of a Face – Lucy Grealy – 4****
What is more important to your sense of self than to recognize yourself in the mirror? What if the face you saw in the mirror was one you could not bear to look at? A face that could not possibly reflect the you inside? Grealy writes so eloquently and honestly about what she went through as a result of childhood cancer, and how she felt growing up “ugly.”
LINK to my review

I finished Educated: A Memoir. 5 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

You Remind Me of Me – Dan Chaon – 3.5***
Chaon’s skill as a short-story writer shows in his debut novel. The first four chapters of the book introduce us to four different characters and time frames. Eventually the connections between them will be clear to the reader. What I really like about Chaon’s writing is how he explores issues of identity, how characters are shaped by their environment, by chance and opportunity, and by the choices they make. There is much to dislike about these damaged people, and yet I am drawn to these characters and their stories.
LINK to my review

I am reading Origin by Dan Brown and found this video and was wandering what is your opinion of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuujy...

Just finished The Memory Watcher by Minka Kent
Incredible psychological thriller!
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Loved The Heart's Invisible Furies by Irish author John Boyne.

5★ Link to my review

I read We Own the Sky. 4 stars. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished Sleeping Giants. It was very good.

This morning I started Boy's Life. I have heard great things about this one.

The First Deadly Sin – Lawrence Sanders – 4****
I first read this back in about 1975 and was completely gripped by the writing and the suspenseful story. I liked it just as much on re-reading it.
LINK to my review

I'm just starting

Bereft by Aussie author Chris Womersley takes place after WW1. A soldier who fled from home in country NSW as a boy accused of a crime wants to return to clear his name.
4★ Link to my review

Isn’t It Romantic – Brett Fletcher Lauer & Aimee Kelley – 2**
Subtitle: 100 Love Poems By Younger American Poets. I like poetry, and I do not need a neat rhyme or rhythm to enjoy the form. However, many of these poems did absolutely nothing for me. Definitely not a “romantic” collection, in my humble opinion.
LINK to my review

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Bereft by Aussie author Chris Womersley takes place after WW1. A soldier who fled from home in country NSW as a boy accused of a crime wants to return to clear his n..."

This sounds really interesting. Thanks for the review.

Finished Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage
It's a buzzy psychological thriller that is generating a whole lot of discussion..
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Silas Marner – George Eliot – 3***
A classic tale of the redemptive power of love, first published in 1861. A reclusive, miserly weaver’s life is changed when he finds a toddler on a snowy evening. As is typical of the novels of the era, the plot includes numerous coincidences that stretch this reader’s tolerance. There is much misery, but Eliot does give us a few moments of joy, and an ending full of hope.
LINK to my review

Crumb wrote: "Finished by Ruta Sepetys
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Almost picked this book up yesterday at the bookstore, Crumb, but finally put it down and figured I'd get it at the library. Your review has reminded me about why its been on my 'to read' list for a while. Must get my hands on it.

Currently reading, effective: Sunday, Feb 25

TEXT - Snow Falling on Cedars by David Gutterson

AUDIO in the car - My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk

MP3 audio - Plaid and Plagiarism by Molly MacRae

A Morbid Taste For Bones – Ellis Peters – 3***
I’ve heard about this series set in 12th century England for some years, and always wanted to try them. I found it rather slow moving, but really liked the lead character, Brother Cadfael. I’d be willing to read another in the series.
LINK to my review

Book Concierge wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Bereft by Aussie author Chris Womersley takes place after WW1. A soldier who fled from home in country NSW as a boy accused of a crime wants..."

Thanks, BC. I just added a link about the influenza epidemic of 1918 that wiped out 3-5% of the WORLD’S population! I knew it was bad, but I didn’t realise it was that bad. The main character’s mother is dying of it, which is one reason he’s gone home. Good book.

I'm a fan of Jacob M. Appel who writes quirky short stories. I just read The Amazing Mr. Morality: Stories. A mixed bag.
3.5★ Link to my review

I'm just starting

I read Among the Living. 4 stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've been reading Oathbringer whenever I have a chance at home (not really something you can pull out on th e job since its 1000+ pages) , and Red Rising on Audible while at work. I'm also back and forth between the Saga and Ratqueens graphic novels.

Currently I'm reading The Wife The Maid The Mistress by Ariel Lawhon and I'm enjoying it so far.

If you are a fan of Leo Tolstoy, you might like Dover Publication’s new book of Selected Short Stories.
Link to my review

Thanks, Patty. I've never read Tolstoy's short stories, and now I will.

I'm reading David Grossman's prize-winning novel "A Horse Walks into a Bar." The book is beautifully written. However, the main character is a difficult person, which makes reading the book not so pleasant. I'm reading it for a book group, so I'll persevere.

Finally got around to reading A Man Called Ove.

Barbara wrote: "Thanks, Patty. I've never read Tolstoy's short stories, and now I will."

This is a pretty mixed selection, and you can get some freebies of the classics sometimes, but they are often so badly formatted that they’re hard to read.

I’m not going to win any popularity contests with my review of The Rules of Magic, the ‘prequel’ to Practical Magic which Alice Hoffman wrote 20 years earlier. (I think I should have read it first.)
3.5★ Link to my review

I read West: A Novel. 4.5 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've just this morning stared The Quaraq https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... - Stephen Weinstock. Interesting concept, but I'm only at the start so too soon for a review. My jury is still out...

Big Little Lies – Liane Moriarty – 4****
Moriarty uses the “minor” drama of helicopter parents to explore larger issues of school bullying and domestic abuse. The reader knows from the first chapter that someone has died … but who died and who was responsible will have to wait until the last 40 pages of the novel. Using multiple narrators, and different timelines seems a popular technique in novels these days. It’s difficult to do this well, but Moriarty is a master. Even the secondary characters fairly leap off the page.
LINK to my review

Book Concierge wrote: "

Big Little Lies
– Liane Moriarty – 4****
Moriarty uses the “minor” drama of helicopter parents to explore larger issues of school bullying and domestic abu..."

This was a favorite read for me. I thought it was well done.

Material girl 2

Finally started to read the oldest books in my book stash and the one I started today is one my sister sent years ago. Don't know why I didn't check it out earlier, its actually pretty good reading: Sin in the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for America's Soul by Karen Abbott. Its focus is on Chicago's Everleigh Club, apparently at the turn of the 20th century one of the most famous brothels in America ... Lots of famous names are referenced in the book.

Elephant Winter – Kim Echlin – 3***
When she learns that her mother is dying, Sophie Walker must give up her nomadic lifestyle and leave Zimbabwe to return to the family farm in southern Ontario. This is really a character-based story, though there are some significant events, including a couple of violent altercations. Mostly, however, Echlin treats the reader to Sophie’s thoughts as she considers her mother’s condition, her role as daughter, lover, friend, her past and future. I really liked Echlin’s writing style. There was something so quiet and comforting about it. And still her imagery is very vivid.
LINK to my review

A Long Way from Home begins in twice-Booker winning author Peter Carey's hometown of Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, in the 1950s. Quirky characters enter a Redex Reliability Trial around the continent and learn more about the country and themselves than they expected.
4.5★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...