The Next Best Book Club discussion

Spook Street by Mick Herron is #4 in the wonderful London-based Slough House spy series.
4.5★ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am just starting .

My review for:
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
One of the best books I've ever read.

I'm reading . It's been good but I could say that about her others I've read as well. : )

Finished The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and for something completely different I decided to finish a trilogy, The Death Cure. I know there is prequel book but I have no intention of reading it, I'm not a fan of prequels that are written after the previous book or books are hits. Either continue the books with a second trilogy or stop where you are. This is my personal opinion and you are certainly entitled to your own. LOL

I so agree with you about prequels.

I read Anatomy of a Miracle. 4 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Beartown – Fredrik Backman – 4****
A character wonders: “what are principles worth, if you don’t win?”. That may be the essence of this novel, set in a small town where hockey is everything. This is definitely a departure from the kinds of novels that have made Backman an international literary star. No cranky old men or grandmothers who spin fantasy adventure tales here. But you will recognize Backman’s gift for drawing characters – good, bad, young, old, talented young people, and alcoholic has-beens.
LINK to my review

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny. This is the 11th book in a series of literary mysteries set in Quebec Canada. I discovered the series last summer and it quickly became my new favorite mystery series. All of the books feature Chief Inspector Gamache and his team in the Surete, and most of them take place (at least partly) in the small picturesque village of Three Pines. The setting initially gave the series a "cozy" feel, but it progressed to deal with more complex cases, darker themes, and corruption and violence within the Surete itself. Every book in the series has a little poetry, art or music (the village residents include artists and a famous poet). This one had me humming By the Rivers of Babylon every day.

Lord Edgware Dies – Agatha Christie – 3***
Hercule Poirot and his faithful sidekick, Colonel Hastings have their work cut out for them. All these suspects … All these conflicting stories … And those “little grey cells” get a workout! Christie writes wonderful characters, even if she uses stereotypes that are jarring to modern sensibilities. She’s also very good at crafting intricate plot twists. These mysteries are my go-to reading “comfort food.”
LINK to my review

NancyJ wrote: "The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny. This is the 11th book in a series of literary mysteries set in Quebec Canada. I discovered the series last summer and it quickly became my n..."

I've loved the little bit I've read of the series, Nancy, so I'm saving them and reading here and there when I feel the need to visit Three Pines and refresh myself!

Have you ever been embarrassed mistaking a woman for a man (or vice-versa)? This is an unusual little graphic publication about a subject we all need to understand, gender-neutral language. A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns by Archie  Bongiovanni
My review explains a lot. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm in the mood to finish as many series as I can until I tire of it so I'm reading V is for Vengeance which sadly only leaves three more to read in this series. Sue Grafton has written a character that in a few ways I identified with and she and Kinsey will be missed.

Hi my name is Hayley, I’m sixteen years old and just recently had started this app which has been very useful. I had already set of reading goal, it’s to read 150 books by the end of this year.

I’m currently reading numerous books but I’ll list two of them that I’m reading.

A Court Of Mist And Fury by Sarah J. Maas. Its the second book in the series and it has grabbed my attention since the very first word. I’ve always been a fanatic when came to anything involving fantasy.

The second book I’m reading The Young Elites by Marie Lu. So far it’s been very great, it’s full of amazing characters, and I love how Marie Lu has portrayed them so far.

Cork Dork – Bianca Basker – 2.5**
Subtitle: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste. I picked up the book only because it’s a selection for my face-to-face book club. Bosker’s writing pulled me in. She’s funny and irreverent, and also entertaining and informative. Still, I found much of it repetitive. Just not my cup of tea (or glass of wine), I guess.
LINK to my review

Hayley wrote: "Hi my name is Hayley, I’m sixteen years old and just recently had started this app which has been very useful. I had already set of reading goal, it’s to read 150 books by the end of this year.

..."

Welcome to the group, Hayley. 150 books is an ambitious (but totally achievable) goal!

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

I am reading for the millionth time, The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo,

Acclaimed Aussie author Helen Garner’s first novel, Monkey Grip, was a controversial eye-opener for many readers when it was first published in 1977. Sex and drugs and rock-n-roll. These days it’s studied in schools as a classic.

It now feels dated (to me, since I knew some fringe-dwellers back then). She has since admitted that much of it is autobiographical, taken from her diaries of the time. I have no doubt that Nora is Helen.
My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished The Madonna of the Mountains. 4+ stars. My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

My review for I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am reading Jack and Jill by James Patterson

Missoula – Jon Krakauer – 4****
Subtitle: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town. Krakauer explores the issue of acquaintance rape, and particularly, the ways in which universities dismiss victim complaints in favor of all-star athletes. Disturbing and distressing, but important enough to read. Most rapists are NOT strangers in ski masks hiding in dark alleys; rather, they are the boys next door or men in the office.
LINK to my review

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

Snap! Just finished my review of by Mick Kitson

I totally loved SAL, I have to say - a coming of age novel narrated in the highly distinctive voice of 13-year-old Sal, who has fled from neglect and abuse to the wilderness of the forest of Galloway, Scotland with her younger sister Peppa. Touching, uplifting and bloody funny too

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

I started reading pride and prejudice and thankfully reading it is not as hard as I expected

Reading one from another series I started forever ago, A Thief of Time by Tony Hillerman. It also is another mystery.

by M.J. Arlidge
Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

With Hemingway – Arnold Samuelson – 4****
Subtitle: A Year in Key West and Cuba. This is Samuelson’s memoir of a year spent with Ernest Hemingway, learning from the master about writing and living. I can definitely see the influence of Hemingway’s style, and yet Samuelson’s writing is all his own.
LINK to my review

This one is not a series book just a murder mystery, Lost Creek. It's been sitting in my Kindle for 5 years, shame on me.

Hi! I just finished The Oasis by Mary McCarthy. Review below:

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

Another for the James Lee Burke fans. Robicheaux, the latest in the series. It’s the first I’ve read and I enjoyed it without knowing much back story.
4★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished The Home for Unwanted Girls. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Kissing in America – Margo Rabb – 2.5**
This is a young-adult “romance” with very little romance. Instead, it is more of a coming-of-age story. Eva learns some important life lessons – about grief, friendship, and forgiveness. Final verdict: it’s a decent YA novel. But not really my cup of tea.
LINK to my review

Admired by many, An Isolated Incident by Aussie author Emily Maguire has been nominated for numerous awards - but not by me.

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

The Radium Girls – Kate Moore – 5*****
Moore brings to life the stories of the brave women who painted luminous watch dials in the early 20th century, using radium-infused paint, which ultimately became their death sentence. The reader is in turns incensed and outraged, surprised by the ignorance and cavalier attitudes, and heartbroken by the pain and suffering these women endured.
LINK to my review

I finished Flying at Night. 4 stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

One of Us Is Wrong – Donald Westlake (writing as Samuel Holt – 3***
Westlake/Holt’s crime capers are not great literature, but they are loads of fun to read. Fast-paced, likeable characters, some funny dialogue, a great sidekick (I need a “Robinson” in my life!), leggy ladies, handsome leading man, car chases, guns, and crazy coincidences.
LINK to my review

I finished Nothing Forgotten. 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars. My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney and I wrote a review made up of all animated gifs..
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Switching to a non-mystery book, more or less. I'm reading Ethan Frome but there is a bit of mystery so far. :=)

Very much enjoyed Memento Park by Mark Sarvas. Searching for his family's connection to a painting reveals more about Matt's own connections with his family. Good read!
4.5★ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've just started reading Eleanor oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. I'm only 20 odd pages in but already enjoying her quirky character.

I finished Ethan Frome and am now trying to read W is for Wasted but I think the battery on my tablet is starting to go. It now takes longer to charge then the amount of time one charge lasts. Oh, well, I'll just have to wait.

The Nest – Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney – 3.5***
This is a wonderful debut novel, a character-driven tale that explores sibling relations, family dynamics, and a host of other issues that require open communication … something the Plumb siblings have never learned to do. I got drawn into their dynamic fairly quickly, but I think Sweeney was a bit too ambitious, covering many more issues and including many different points of view. I’ll be interested to see what Sweeney’s next novel is about.
LINK to my review

I'm reading The Brooklyn Follies, by Paul Auster. This is the second book I've read of his. He seems to like to write about intellectuals or intellectually inclined characters. It's very interesting without becoming pretentious or self-absorbed.

I 've just started The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. I have high expectations for this book.

There is a new one by Madeline Miller, Circe which looks very interesting.

Stephen wrote: "There is a new one by Madeline Miller, Circe which looks very interesting."

Thanks!

Just started the Copper Chain by James Maxwellif it is anything like the first two I will be giving it 5 stars.
You must read them in order
Golden Ages and Silver Roads