Book Nook Cafe discussion

Our library has opened up their first floor, limiting the number of people allowed in to 25. The first floor has videos and books for children and teens. Otherwise, they are still doing the curb service after you place your order online.

The Stein book sounds interesting but the unsteady pace is unfortunate. What i know of those times are mostly from documentaries but i only recognized two of the names, Jones & Warner Bros. At least now i have a title if i pursue the topic, so i thank you.

It's sad to read about Stein's death. Oddly (or is it?) my first thought was of the Vanderbilt son's suicide in the same manner. Then to learn it was the same building left me wondering if it's going to create its own myth. I hope not--what a sad legacy.

I was shocked by the suicide. I was looking up to see what else she wrote when I found out. And such a horrible way to die.

Blade Runner
Philip K. Dick
3/5 stars
In the future (which is 1992 in the book), Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter tracks down human replicants who are no longer allowed on Earth. However, life on Earth is no bed of roses. People are obsessed with owning real animals because there are so few left. Deckard’s new assignment is to track down 6 androids that have returned to Earth from Mars and kill them. It has been awhile since I have seen the film but the film really strays from the book IMO. However, I thought this was an interesting look at a possible dark future for Earth. Original title was Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
A book with a mode of transportation on the cover (Hovercraft)

I'd forgotten the original title, although i tried to find the book after seeing the movie. Sadly, even after finding it out, i didn't read it. Hmm. Given your average rating, i'll keep it on the list but won't be rushing toward it. This is a great title, though, imo.

Julie wrote: "I was shocked by the suicide. I was looking up to see what else she wrote when I found out. And such a horrible way to die."

I agree, it sounds like an awful death. The genre she helped transform, of oral history, is one i'm torn about reading. Some of them sound like lazy storytelling & i find myself wishing the author had used the "interviews" (not sure what to call them) as basis for a more standard form of nonfiction. In some ways it seems at times like reading historical fiction because i feel i need to research further to learn "the truth", so to speak.

The First Phone Call from Heaven
Mitch Albom
3.5/5 stars
Coldwater, Michigan is the site of a very small town but unbeknownst to its citizens, it will soon be the gathering place of thousands of people when word gets out that citizens are receiving phone calls from relatives who have died. Is this a hoax? Sully Harding believes so and sets out to prove that the town’s people are getting the wool pulled over their eyes. I thought was a sweet novel about faith and really enjoyed it. A Place in The Title

Sounds nice, Julie. Fun book for the category, i must add.

madrano wrote: "Sounds nice, Julie. Fun book for the category, i must add."

My son (for some reason) had this on his shelf so I went with it for a book with a place in the title. I enjoyed the book so that was a big plus.

Cool!

A Wrinkle in Time
Madeleine L'Engle
4/5 stars
This is the first book in L’Engle’s series about the Murry family whose husband and father goes missing on a space mission. Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace and friend Calvin O’Keefe go looking for him with the help of Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which and Mrs. Whatsit. I had read this book decades ago but never read the entire series. So I thought it was about time that I did and I thoroughly enjoyed this first book and look forward to the rest of the series. A Wrinkle In Time Series

I recall being delighted by the first in the series but never read further. (I was in my 40s.) My daughter liked the entire series but my son wasn't as pleased with this book. Have fun, Julie!

A Wind in the Door
Madeleine L'Engle
4/5 stars
This is the second book in the series about the Murry family. Charles Wallace Murray, who for the young age of 6 is already a genius, but he is now very sick. His mother fears it has something to do with his mitochondria. Meg, his sister, is determined to do something about it and with the help of her friend, Calvin O’Keefe she travels inside Charles’ body to fight an evil force that may kill him. L’Engle weaves such a tale of imagination that it is hard to put down. A Wrinkle In Time Series - Book #2

Great, imaginative reading for young & old alike.

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer
Fredrik Backman
5/5 stars
This story revolves around the time shared between a grandfather and his grandson as they discuss their wife/grandmother and evolves as they both age and take each other’s role in their lives. Backman’s doesn’t disappoint in this wonderful tale. Keep some tissues handy! A Book That Can Be Read In A Day

Julie, thank you for the title. This sounds like a very good story. And the title is outstanding.

Julie wrote: "
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer
Fredrik Backman
5/5 stars
This story revolves around the time shared between a grandfather and his grandson as they discuss their wife/grandmother and evolves as they both age and take each other’s role in their lives. Backman’s doesn’t disappoint in this wonderful tale. Keep some tissues handy! A Book That Can Be Read In A Day"

Julie, I see my library has the eBook and the Audio book. I like the idea of a short book for audio and I listened to the audio sample which sounded good. I only hesitate as I listen to my audio-books as I walk and I don't think walking and sobbing is a good look for me. LOL

Anyway, I've added it to my TBR list. Thank you.

Alias Reader wrote: "I don't think walking and sobbing is a good look for me. LOL..."

LOL, indeed.

The Rosie Result
Graeme Simsion
4/5 stars
Simsion returns with another novel revolving around Don Tillman who despite being autistic continues to learn and grow as a father and husband. This book focuses on the story of his son Hudson and his difficulties at school and making friends especially after the family moves to live in Australia when Rosie is offered a job there. Is Hudson autistic or just having difficulties with the move? How will the family deal with this new issue? I enjoy this series and was delighted to see what was in store for them! Neurodiverse Characters

Julie wrote: "
The Rosie Result
Graeme Simsion
4/5 stars
Simsion returns with another novel revolving around Don Tillman who despite being au..."

I enjoyed book 1, The Rosie Project I should continue with the series. I see I gave it a 4 out of 5 rating.

It's been awhile since I read it and frankly don't recall the plot. Do you think these books could be stand alone or do I need to go back and reread the first book?

Is "neurodiverse" a genre? It certainly could be, i just hadn't heard of it prior to your post, Julie. I've read a number, including his "Project".

madrano wrote: "Is "neurodiverse" a genre? It certainly could be, i just hadn't heard of it prior to your post, Julie. I've read a number, including his "Project"."

Yes, Goodreads has over 100 books to pick from. https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2... I actually had to look up what constituted being neurodiverse was when I was trying to pick out a book on it.

Alias Reader wrote: "Julie wrote: "
The Rosie Result
Graeme Simsion
4/5 stars
Simsion returns with another novel revolving around Don Tillman who de..."
I don't think you need to re-read the first one-just probably you need to read a synopsis of the first one.

Thanks, Julie !

Beartown
Fredrik Backman
3.5/5 stars
Set in a rural area where hockey is king, the author explores the dynamics of small town life and the importance of hockey to everyone in town. The junior hockey team is going to compete in the national semi-finals. However, a young girl is assaulted by a hockey player and this pits the hockey community against the people who believe her. Well written and hard to put down. A Book Set In a Rural Area

I hadn't previously heard of this book or author but most of the GR reviews are very favorable. I appreciate your comments, Julie. When we moved to North Dakota in the '70s, we were introduced to the hockey culture. Coming, as we did, from Texas, where football rules, this was a fascinating comparison for us.

madrano wrote: "I hadn't previously heard of this book or author but most of the GR reviews are very favorable. I appreciate your comments, Julie. When we moved to North Dakota in the '70s, we were introduced to t..."

My dad was a coach in high school - football and baseball but I was never interested in sports but I was always proud of him. He has been gone for awhile but it would have been interesting to talk about this book with him. I am sure that he had to deal with some fanatical parents. When he did pass away so many of his team members came to his funeral.

madrano wrote: "I hadn't previously heard of this book or author but most of the GR reviews are very favorable. I appreciate your comments, Julie. When we moved to North Dakota in the '70s, we were introduced to t..."

Deb, it's the author of A Man Called Ove

Julie wrote: "
Beartown
Fredrik Backman
3.5/5 stars
Set in a rural area where hockey is king, the author explores the dynamics of small town life and..."

I've been toying with reading this book. The only thing stopping me so far is that it is 400+ pages and I don't care about hockey.

Your review seems positive yet you only gave it a middle rating. Any reason ?

There is a follow-up read, Us Against You

Alias, thanks for the Ove title. I just didn't recognize the name! It shouldn't surprise me, i have long acknowledged i have a Big Problem remembering names. In my personal life i seem only to recall names after i've had a good conversation with a person. One would think liking an author's book would mean the name stays...clearly not.

Julie, it is interesting how many sport coaches are respected when they die. No one notified me when my debate coach passed & i would have liked to have known. It's a tribute to your dad that people took time to let his family know his significance in his life.

Recently a neighbor from our years in North Dakota died. She had been a children's librarian in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan for almost 30 years. I was touched to see & hear the acknowledgements of her passing and the way she touched many family's lives. We never know.

Alias Reader wrote: "Julie wrote: "
Beartown
Fredrik Backman
3.5/5 stars
Set in a rural area where hockey is king, the author explores the dynamics of small..."
I like Backman but one of the topics in the book is very distressful. I wanted a better outcome to the book, however the outcome in the book was probably the most realistic. I would still read more of him but I don't know if I would read the follow up.

Your Movie Sucks
Roger Ebert
3.5/5 stars
Ebert reviews some of his most hated films with humor and disdain. I laughed through a majority of the remarks and it made me miss him and his reviews. Not for everyone but if you are a film buff you might enjoy it!

This is not on my challenge but I was without a book that could be included in my challenge so I started to read this and enjoyed it.

Julie wrote: "I like Backman but one of the topics in the book is very distressful. I wanted a better outcome to the book, however the outcome in the book was probably the most realistic. I would still read more of him but I don't know if I would read the follow ups ..."

Thanks for answering my question about the rating.

The Ebert book of reviews sounds fun! I really savor the humor writers use to express disappointment in films. (And books, tv, etc.)

Positively Pippa
Sarah Hegger
3/5 stars
Pippa had a makeover show on TV but when her ex and another member on the show sabotaged her job, she goes home to stay with her grandmother and runs into Matt. Matt is the gorgeous hunk who works on her grandmother’s house and Pippa has trouble keeping her distance from him while she tries to re-establish her career. I enjoyed this funny, romantic novel.

This I picked up off the free shelf at work. It didn't fit into my challenge but I was in-between books and was waiting for one of my challenge books to come in from the library.

Not Longstocking, i hope.* ;-)


*Pippi Longstocking

madrano wrote: "Not Longstocking, i hope.* ;-)


*Pippi Longstocking"

No-definitely not! Though I did read Pippi Longstocking books in grade school!

I'm such a dolt! In the middle of the night i woke up thinking, "She wrote 'Pippa', not 'Pippi!'" Duh.

madrano wrote: "I'm such a dolt! In the middle of the night i woke up thinking, "She wrote 'Pippa', not 'Pippi!'" Duh."

BNC has invaded your sleep. LOL

Agreed--good thing or bad thing? Certainly there can be much worse things.

The Girls
Emma Cline
4/5 stars
Set in the late 60’s in California, we find Evie, whose parents are divorcing, lonely and without friends. Seeing a group of girls in the park, she meets Suzanne who invites her back to the ranch to hang out with the others that live there. She soon meets Russell, the enigmatic leader of the group and she finds herself being drawn in. Loosely based on Charles Manson’s cult, this story really draws you in right away. Well done! A book inspired by a leading news story

It sounds frightening to realize how easy it is to fall into such a group. Chilling. From the GR link, i see it won a number of worthy awards.

madrano wrote: "It sounds frightening to realize how easy it is to fall into such a group. ."

Yes.

Allegedly
Tiffany D. Jackson
3.5/5 stars
Mary B. Addison has been sentenced to a group home for allegedly killing a 3 month old baby when she was 9 years old. Her “mother” Dawn Marie Cooper took in Mary as a young child and visits often but her relationship with Dawn is not good. Mary is smart and is ready to move on. She is allowed to work and is assigned to a nursing home where she meets Ted. Unfortunately, she gets pregnant and her dream to work and go to college is hampered by the pregnancy. In the meantime, she has gotten a lawyer to help her in overturning her conviction. Will Mary ever move on with her life and get away from those awful “allegations”? This story is very compelling with a lot of twists and turns. A

What a sad story. This must be a good author, as your review & what i see on the GR site for the book are glowing. Quite an achievement for a story line that sounds downbeat.

madrano wrote: "What a sad story. This must be a good author, as your review & what i see on the GR site for the book are glowing. Quite an achievement for a story line that sounds downbeat."

This was one of two books I picked out for one of my challenge books but when I read the start of both books, I knew I had to read both and was able to use Allegedly in my challenge.

Very good!

A Swiftly Tilting Planet
Madeleine L'Engle
3/5 stars
“When fifteen-year -old Charles Wallace Murry shouts out in desperation an ancient rune meant to ward off the dark, a radiant creature appears. It is Gaudior, Unicorn and time traveler. Charles Wallace and Gaudior must travel into the past on the winds of time to try and find a Might-Have-Been--a moment in the past when the entire course of events leading to the present can be changed, and the future of Earth-this small, swiftly tilting planet - saved.” Synopsis from the back of the book.
This is the third book in the series. This is not my favorite of the three so far. There was quite a lot of characters in it and a plot that was at times hard to keep track of but I will finish reading the last two books in the series. I would like to know what happens to the family and Charles Wallace.

Your posts had me wondering if i have read the series or not. Turns out, i haven't. After the first, which i read when my daughter read the series, i stopped. I hope you enjoy the next two, Julie.

Dark Remedies
Trent D. Stephens
4/5 stars
This was such an interesting and sad book about the history of Thalomide. The authors trace the drug from its beginning: from the doctor who developed it and who had a questionable history, stories of the families whose children had suffered from phocomelia (malformations of the arms and legs) and to its revival of use in cases of leprosy, multiple myeloma and HIV. I found it to be thoughtful and well written. A Book based on one of the topics in Billy Joel’s "We Didn't Start the Fire"