Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club discussion

Guidelines for posting in this thread

We like to see a bit of discussion about the books we are reading, rather than just posting the book link (and the occasional link to a review). The comments should include:

- Books you just started or are currently reading. You might want to add a few words about the book to let other members know whether you like it or not so far.
- Books you just finished, Please include your rating (1-5 stars) and a few words about the book (even if it's something as short as "I loved it / hated it.") If you wrote a full review, you can share the link to it but please include a short summary of your thoughts alongside it.

I'm currently reading Sold on a Monday. I'm enjoying it, but I'm just 9% in and it hasn't grabbed me enough yet that I can't put it down. I was hoping to finish before the end of the year, but that's not likely to happen. I guess it depends how much reading time I have today and how quickly I can get through it.

Susanne - I deleted your comment because there were some spoilers in it. I wouldn't want to ruin the book for anyone that hasn't read it yet. I added your comment with a spoiler tag below.

Susanne V Bell wrote:
"I am currently reading The Outsider. I am enjoying it so far. This is the first Stephen king book for me. I tried to read some of his earlier work years ago but couldn't get into them. I am not a fan of horror books. I have seen some of the movies based on his books. (view spoiler)[ This book had me so excited as I read the first 200 pages it pulled me in and had me thinking about who killed Frank. I even had discussions with my spouse about the book and discussed the possibilities how there was two terry's in two different places. Then the book turned away from what I thought the rest of the book would be like. I was expecting a twin brother or maybe some person who does work with masks ect like in the movies. I offered up someone who took Terry's handprint and made a recreation of it to put prints everywhere to set him up. Anyways the book starts real fast it hooks you in and who does not like a good crime thriller then it peters off into some crazy supernatural thing. I am on page 427 now so almost done. (hide spoiler)] I do like it that he got my mind going to think about the possibilities who done it but drifting this far off was sort of a disappointment. I still like the story because it is still well written."

Kristie wrote: "Susanne - I deleted your comment because there were some spoilers in it. I wouldn't want to ruin the book for anyone that hasn't read it yet. I added your comment with a spoiler tag below.

Susann..." I am sorry still learning the ins and out of posting.

No worries! We just try to be careful about spoilers.

I have just started Little Fires Everywhere . I'm only about 6% in, so I don't think I'm in danger of spoiling anything yet, but I will say that it is set in a town in Ohio that actually exists. I'm from Ohio, but not this town. I'm finding it interesting so far but time will tell. Speaking of Stephen King, I just finished to his son's book, NOS4A2, which I listened to with my husband. That's a fun one to listen to. We are getting ready to start The Outsider today. I look forward to it with reservations, as King tends to be longwinded.

I really enjoyed Little Fires Everywhere, Chris. I hope you do too. I didn't realize it was a real town. That's so interesting.

I thought NOS4A2 was excellent. I just bought it for my daughter for Christmas. She had recently watched the original movie and I thought she'd like a new, alternate version. I think his writing is very similar to his father's. Also a bit long-winded, but a great storyteller. lol

I also listened to The Outsider and thought it was great. It is typical King and I think one of his better more recent books. My husband also listened to it and thought it was really good. I hope you love it.

Kristie, I didn't realize a movie of NOS4A2 had come out, I know that a series on AMC is coming out in April (?) but I didn't know about the movie, I'll have to try to find that, thanks for that info. I hope I like The Outsider as well, if anything, it is quality time spent with my husband not watching TV! :)

Sorry, Chris. I may have worded that poorly. NOS4A2 is a symbolic representation of Nosferatu, which is an old word for vampire. Nosferatu was actually a silent movie from 1922, which is what my daughter watched. There is a tv series coming out in 2019 based off of NOS4A2 though.

Hi, I'm new here but happy to find the group! I'm reading Kate Avery Ellison's Frost Chronicles and really enjoying them. I'm about to start the third one. So far they're a good mix of adventure, fantasy, and romance. I really like the cold, winter world and how well it's described :-)

I'm also listening to the audiobook of Robin McKinley's Sunshine, which I read some years ago. It's a wonderful, unconventional vampire story. She's one of my all-time favorite authors. Next I'm going to re-read the first book I read by her, Deerskin.

Oh! Kristie, I have seen that version of NOS4A2, I love that version. :)

Heartsick, I started this book and about 1/3 of the way through. I am liking it. Murder mystery serial killer story and the first book in a series.
Then Pachinko after a 4 month wait from the library came yesterday. So I have to read this! Before I am thrown back into the waiting list. So far 7 chapters and I am hooked.

Hello everybody! Happy New Year! We made it!

Well, I am between three different books right now.

I'm currently devoting my time to The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, the final installment in the Millenium Series. I'm all about a punk, better-wished-you-never-crossed-me-in-the-first-place heroine. Other reviewers have notoriously been turned off by the down-time moments in these novels, but honestly, I really like them. It seems to neutralize the crazy portions and make the characters seem more realistic... more like us.

I've back-burnered Suttree. I started it earlier this year and put it down at about the 50% mark. While I truly appreciate the vast vocabulary that McCarthy has, it was cumbersome to sit next to my laptop and write down all of these new words to increase my own. Also, how many synonyms do you need for dreary, dark, bleak? My goal is to finish it this month with a deeper understanding for this story, instead of sticking with what I just wrote.

I read the first installment in The Night Trilogy: Night, Dawn, the Accident last year. It took me two hours to read and I had tears streaming down my face. I've always been emotionally charged about the Holocaust. This may not be an eloquent way to say this, but ever since I was young, I've had a regard for learning about the Holocaust --- what it meant, how it changed the world, how it didn't. I'd like to finish the next two installments up this month, as well.

I haven’t seen it, Chris! She just said that she was watching it and I thought she might like the book.

Welcome to the group, Clemency! Glad you found us.

I am reading The Outsider right now as well. I am on audible and I really like the narrator. He has narrated for SK many times and it very excellent.

I also just startedMister Tender's Girl. It is fiction, but it takes the idea of SlenderMan (which was a true crime case in recent years) and does something like that. I have had this one for a while so it is great to get to it!

Hello!!! Happy New Year! Still reading The Snowman by Jo Nesbo!!!

Hi Everyone! I am new to this group and looking forward to reading with all of you. Right as I found this group, I had finished City of Stairs, the first in in a trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett. I really enjoyed the mix of dystopia, fantasy, illusion, otherworldliness. The characters are not entirely revealed and neither is their world, although there are many constructs in development. i wonder if anyone in this group has read this author or others of his books? He reminds me of Frank Herbert and the DuneDune series (giving away my age!).
So happy the group is reading the The Shape of Water. And feeling a little dumb to not realize the book and movie were developed/written together as a concept! What a nice New Year's surprise.
I've also just started Becoming, by Michelle Obama and am hold listed at NYPL for the other January reads. Last I looked Becoming was top scoring on the memoir voting - even if it does not win - I hope there will be fellow readers and commenters here.
That's it for now. 'See' you between chapters!
Happy Reading!

Hi Grace! Welcome to the group. I had never heard of City of Stairs or read Dune, though I remember seeing the movie way back in the 80s. lol I see that the book has high ratings as does Dune. Glad you enjoyed it.

I didn't know that The Shape of Water was developed as a movie and written as a book at the same time either. I thought the book was based off the movie, but should have considered the timeline knowing that it was a 2018 book and a 2018 movie. Thanks for the info!

I'm looking forward to reading Becoming. I'm going to buy it, but I'm torn between buying the book to see all the pictures and buying the audio, which Michelle narrates herself. I've heard very good things about the narration. It seems a little silly to do both.

Kristie wrote: "Hi Grace! Welcome to the group. I had never heard of City of Stairs or read Dune, though I remember seeing the movie way back in the 80s. lol I see that the book has high ratings as does Dune. Glad..."
A solution could be buy the book and then if you want to get the audiobook from the library to hear as well at a later time.

True, Susanne. Funny, I thought the other way around. I was thinking about getting the audio and borrowing the book to see the pictures. Your way may make more sense to me though.

Kristie wrote: "True, Susanne. Funny, I thought the other way around. I was thinking about getting the audio and borrowing the book to see the pictures. Your way may make more sense to me though."
I think that her book will be a book to remember and having your own copy on your book shelf to maybe pass on to your grandkids to tell them about this great first lady. The story of the Obama's and the presidency is truly history at its best.

Very good point! Ordering it now.

Kristie wrote: "Very good point! Ordering it now."I got my copy as a Christmas present I asked Santa for it.

I actually didn't order it yet because one of my local bookstores carries signed copies of popular books. I figured I'd check there first just in case. I don't think they'll have it and it would probably have sold already even if they did, but it's worth looking first. That's one that I'd love to have signed.

Sorry! We got really off topic in this thread!

In addition to Sold on a Monday, I'm currently reading Us Against You. I get the feeling that something bad is going to happen, but I'm not sure what yet. It definitely has a tense element to it. It is also very heartfelt. My last chapter made me tear up for something that happened to one of my favorite characters. Backman is very good at showing his characters hearts and getting you to care for them.

The only issue I have with this book (and I remember it from the first in the series, Beartown, too) is that there is too much foreshadowing and often it doesn't even really lead to what is being foreshadowed. It gets annoying after a while.

I am reading An Innocent Client and The Shape of Water. The innocent client is really good story so far. (view spoiler)[ Mr. Dilliard is a lawyer who wants to retire and takes on one more case a young girl who works at a strip club she is charged with murdering a preacher. (hide spoiler)]

Ann wrote: "Heartsick, I started this book and about 1/3 of the way through. I am liking it. Murder mystery serial killer story and the first book in a series.
Then Pachinko after..."

I loved Pachinko too Ann. I hope you enjoy it till the end.

Kristie wrote: "The only issue I have with this book (and I remember it from the first in the series, Beartown, too) is that there is too much foreshadowing and often it doesn't even really lead to what is being foreshadowed. It gets annoying after a while"

I'm looking forward to Beartown this year. It's on my MUST read list.

I'm currently reading We Were the Lucky Ones as part of a buddy read in this group. I like the fact that it's told from so many points of view in different locations in the world.

I'm also reading The Monk of Mokha for a real life book club. I'm 30% in and I really like it.

And I'm about to finish The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life. This one is great! I love the take of the author on life. As an additional bonus, he's funny and definitely an 80s kid so I can relate to his references. ;)

Savanes wrote: "And I'm about to finish The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life. This one is great!"

Enthusiastically seconded! I first found this author in a blog post based on that book and I laughed until I cried...here's a link to the post if it's allowed. (NSFW - lots of profanity but so humorously written!)

Thanks for the link Clemency! I love this guy!

I'm currently reading All the Light We Cannot See. I'm at the start of Part 5. The last few chapters at the end of part 4 were real heart tuggers and I have the feeling it's going to be probably an emotional read from here on in.

Just finished Then She Was Gone - which was better than I Found You - maybe, but I read TSWG vs. IFY which I heard on audio. There is always a difference. Anyway, I do recommend if you like the psychological thriller mysteries, but had it somewhat figured out. Scary that such a sick & twisted goes on in real life.

I am still reading The Light Between Oceans. Been at it for a year, I am 90% through. Good book just hasn’t kept me on edge or wanting to read more than a few pages at a time. A bit slow but I plan to be completed in two weeks time.

Wow, Keisha! Way to keep at it. That takes some determination to finish. I put that one down and never went back to it. I keep planning to try again.

Happy cozy reading Saturday & caturday for those of you with furry pals! I just started The Outsiders, by Stephen King this morning. To anyone who has read it already, is it do-able over a rainy weekend? I will take leave from my other reads if this might turn out to be a page turner. Going over to the discussion for it next.

Also, on my iPad app and there does not seem to be an option to link to books in comments here but there is on the website ... is there a setting?

Happy reading all!

Grace, I thought The Outsider was completely engaging. I think it is doable in a weekend depending upon how fast of a reader you are and how much time you have to dedicate to it. It's certainly worth a read and I think a rainy weekend curled up all cozy is just the time to do it!

I just started The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride and like the writing so far. I giggled out loud a couple of times. I'm planning to read this one over the weekend, then get back to the other two books I was working on.

Grace wrote: "Also, on my iPad app and there does not seem to be an option to link to books in comments here but there is on the website ... is there a setting?"

I don't think you can add books from the ipad app. You might from the internet on the ipad though! ;)

I finished 3 book already and I’m almost finished with my 4th book

Savanes wrote: "Grace wrote: "Also, on my iPad app and there does not seem to be an option to link to books in comments here but there is on the website ... is there a setting?"

I don't think you can add books fr..."

Yup. That's the way it works. You can't add links from the app, just online.

Just finished and almost done with

Christine wrote: "I finished 3 book already and I’m almost finished with my 4th book"

Wow, Christine; way to go! :-)

Just finished “The light between oceans” starting “My grandmother sends her regards and apologies”

Keisha wrote: "Just finished “The light between oceans” starting “My grandmother sends her regards and apologies”"

What did you think of The Light Between Oceans? I started it once, but didn't get very far and put it aside. One of my friends told me I have to read it.

I finished The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride. It was really good. I mostly knew what was going to happen and still cried.

I also finished Us Against You. It wasn't as good as Beartown, but it was still good. It was also emotional, but a little more political, which I didn't care for and there was far too much false foreshadowing. However, if you liked Beartown, you should give it a try.

I'm just starting The Nowhere Child and The Alice Network, for the buddy read. Both books grabbed my attention right away.

@Kristie. I rated The Light Between Oceans 4 stars and I still remember some parts of it 6 years after reading. I think you should give it a try again.

I finished The Cruel Prince and I looooooved it. I read it in less than three days so basically I couldn't put it down. I started the next book in the series right away The Wicked King. It seems to be the same catchy story but since I'm reading The Alice Network for the buddy read and I can't read two novels at the same time (don't as me why), I put it aside for now.

Thanks, Savanes. I kept it on my list because it seems like one I would like. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood or maybe it just starts slow. I'll give it a try again some time.

Funny, I always have two books going. Of course, one is paper or Kindle and the other audio. I try to have them at least be different genres. If they are too similar I can confuse them.

Kristie wrote: "Funny, I always have two books going. Of course, one is paper or Kindle and the other audio. I try to have them at least be different genres. If they are too similar I can confuse them."

I love audio books but I need to be completely focused when listening in English and the repertoire in French is not that great. When I read 2 books at the same time, I generally have 1 fiction and 1 non fiction.

Since I am retired sometimes when I am reading 2 books at the same time I read one of the them in the first part of the day and the other in the evening. I try to do different genres as well. I like to sometimes digest a book in small pieces especially if it is heavy at the heart reading.

Fiction and nonfiction is a good way to do it.

Different times of day is a good idea too, Susanne. I don't think that would work for me because I never know what I'll be doing. If I have errands to do, then it's audio time in the car. If I have some free time, then it's the physical book.