You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

If the two chosen books are not to your liking, you can read another book that fits this month's theme of 'Fatal words in title'. These are the words death, murder, kill, or words that have these words as their root.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have read the book before or during February 2020.
2. discussed it in this thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favourite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc. You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread. Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.
3. Report that you have read AND discussed the book in the reporting thread (include a brief summary of what you thought of the book).

General Rules:
1. Please mark your spoilers with the spoiler tags along with mentioning what stage of the book you are at so other's don't get a nasty shock. Chapter numbers/titles are generally best as they are the same across all formats and editions. See our spoiler policy
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge, Topplers, and Monthly Challenges.

Happy reading!

I have read Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI and don't fancy the other so I am looking at what I have on my TBR or on-day shelves

I quite fancy
The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir

does anyone else fancy this? a buddy type read would be great

Sorry Marie, that's not going to work. The fatal word needs to be in the title, not subtitle.

I'm hoping to read Killers of the Flower Moon, but I'm also going to read Life Will Be the Death of Me: . . . and You Too!.

I don't own either of the chosen books, so will go with one of the books that had been nominated but didn't make the cut - Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident.

I started it last night and I think it's going to be a compelling read. The book reads almost like a novel and starts off with the two students who head out to search for their missing friends, thinking they are on a rescue mission. I'm quite intrigued at this point.

I think I will stick to the book I nominated, One Word Kill. I really want to read Deathless but my library doesn't have it and I have already bought one book and it's only the 1st day of February :(

Margo wrote: "I think I will stick to the book I nominated, One Word Kill. I really want to read Deathless but my library doesn't have it and I have already bought one book and it'..."

I debated about that book but Dead Mountain was really pulling at me. I've had it on my TBR longer as well and I'm trying to read some of my older books and get them off my tbr.

Peggy wrote: "Sorry Marie, that's not going to work. The fatal word needs to be in the title, not subtitle."

ok thanks for letting me know don't think i have anything else that thrills me I can do Vengeance in Death i love these books but it is difficult to tak much about them

Janice wrote: "Margo wrote: "I think I will stick to the book I nominated, One Word Kill. I really want to read Deathless but my library doesn't have it and I have already bought on..."

I love anything with time travel in it!

Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident:

I don't think my comments below are spoilers. They are more observations I made about the history of Russia than about the expedition.

One of the things that I like about this book is that the author includes interesting history. I had never heard of Ekaterinburg, yet it is the 4th largest city in Russia. It was the city where Czar Nicholas and his family were massacred. I had always assumed it was in Moscow, or just outside of it. I'll be reading I Was Anastasia sometime this year so hopefully will learn more of the history of that dark time.

The author comments about the conspiracy theory that Anastasia survived. I had to chuckle at his comment, "Russian conspiracy fabulists, it seems, never let facts let in the way of a good story." That is even more true today with the myriad of conspiracy theories that abound.

In 2010, Eichar interviewed the sister of one of the hikers lost in the incident. "She promptly ushered us through the door, as if she were worried that someone in the hallway might be transcribing our conversation." That really speaks to the left over fears from the Bolshevik regime - even in 2010. It reminds me of comments my parents made when they returned from a visit to Russia.

When my grandparents emigrated to Canada in 1912, they were allowed to leave with the promise that my grandfather would return if called by the Red Army. When his summons came, he ignored it, thus becoming a defector. All contact with family was lost. I remember in the 1960's when my grandfather finally reestablished contact with a couple of his brothers. He was so excited!

In the 1970's, my parents went on a trip to Russia and met my mother's uncles. My mother asked if they attended church. They didn't answer her. They went for a walk in a nearby park. One of the uncles apologized and said that they do not discuss such things in the house for the fear of being overheard. In the park, they felt more free to discuss things openly.

It just occurred to me that I have always spoken of my grandparents as German, which they were. Their parents were German-Russians, invited by the Russian government to farm the land and retain their German nationality. Both of my grandparents were born in Russia. Somehow, I have never acknowledged that Russia is just as much a part of my heritage, if not more so, than Germany. My grandparents never lived there. I think it's time for me to learn more about Russia and its history.

Back to the book - got a bit sidetracked there. (view spoiler)[ From the sister, the author learned that victim's bodies had aged. Tatiana had seen the bodies from the open caskets before burial. They had all aged - skin had darkened, hair had turned white. In fact, her brother was identified from the gap between his front teeth. These hikers were all in their 20's. She speculated that they didn't freeze to death because their skin wouldn't have darkened like that. I wonder if that's true, or if science can explain the condition of the bodies. (hide spoiler)]

I'm on chapter 10 of One Word Kill. It is an easy read with short chapters which make you feel you're making great progress. It is fun! Set in the 80s (good for the annual challenge ) there are a nice sprinkle of pop culture references. This has a bit of a Stranger Things vibe going on. So far there are more than enough D and D referances and techno babble about time travel to more than content my inner geek 😊

Margo wrote: "I'm on chapter 10 of One Word Kill. It is an easy read with short chapters which make you feel you're making great progress. It is fun! Set in the 80s (good for the annual challenge..."

It sounds similar to Ready Player One with all the 70's references.

yes, it is similar but there are less references. I think I compared it to stranger things because of the D&D stuff - that's not a spoiler BTW as it is made obvious from the start.

Margo wrote: "I'm on chapter 10 of One Word Kill. It is an easy read with short chapters which make you feel you're making great progress. It is fun! Set in the 80s (good for the annual challenge..."

I enjoyed the book very much, Margo. I read it at the end of last year.

I read a bit more in my book and it's starting to focus more on the rescue. It reminds me a bit of the Jon Benet Ramsey case. In fact, one of the interviewees asked the author, "Do you not have unsolved cases the U.S.?" That brings up a good point about why this author is so interested in this unsolved mystery in Russia 1959.

I'm one hour from the end and TBH I'm not as into to it as I was at the start There is a lot of (view spoiler)[ D&D role playing which I never really get. It always felt a bit "Meh" to me. I get a kick out of the occasional reference as it brings me to my college days when the gamevwas at its height over here, but to listen to entire scenarios being played out leaves me cold. It there are more parallels to Ready Player One in the game play but without real risk it seems a bit hollow. (hide spoiler)]
I think this could be another oue that might work better in print as I'm not loving the narration, it's not bad but neither is it good. It is quite bland and monotonous.

@janice, don't be put off. I think you will like better then me - it's not fantasy, which we do mostly agree on!

Well, I'm finished One Word Kill. I really liked the ending. A good ending makes up for a lot so I will give it 4 stars (3.5).
I have the second book of the series - an impulse buy - and will read it soon. I'm very curious where this story is going.

Margo wrote: "I'm one hour from the end and TBH I'm not as into to it as I was at the start There is a lot of [spoilers removed]
I think this could be another oue that might work better in print as I'm not lovi..."

I'm a gamer, so I probably won't have the same reaction as you. I have this one on Kindle.

I'm about 50% into my book, Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident. He mentions "Russianized Germans". I'd never heard that term. I've always heard "German Russians" which is what my grandparents were. So I had to google it. It's "a form of cultural assimilation process during which non-Russian communities (whether involuntarily or voluntarily) give up their culture and language in favor of Russian culture." (Wikipedia) This would have been what happened to my grandparents' families, because they lost their German nationality and became Russians, likely involuntary.

I'm at the part of the book of the rescue, where theories about what happened were already being formulated. It seems that the author is leaning towards (view spoiler)[ a government cover up. The head investigator was replaced by Lev Ivanov whose personal motto was "I am honey, not corrupt, and I sleep well." The author notes, "By the end of the case, however, Ivanov would betray his motto on at least two of these counts."

At this point, I wonder about a government coverup as well. I guess I'll find out more as I continue. (hide spoiler)]

Margo - what I loved about the D & D role playing scenes in the book was the imagination and faith that they all had in each other to go along with the story.

Yes, it's the first time that I realised how it inspires teamwork but I didn't know (view spoiler)[ that you had to be ready to sacrifice teammates! A friend tried to show me how to play once but I was really into it. (hide spoiler)]

Janice wrote: "I'm about 50% into my book, Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident. He mentions "Russianized Germans". I'd never heard that term. I've always heard "Germa..."

The involuntary assimilation process sounds very like what happened here in ireland when the British invaded. They were the first invader that we didn't manage to assimilate into our culture.

Re: Russianized Germans. I had an interesting conversation with my dad last night.

I have a minor correction to make. When my parents met with my mother's uncles in Moscow, they did not go to their home. The uncles met with my parents in their hotel room and were nervous about the rooms being bugged so were cautious about what they spoke about. That was 1978.

Dad was saying that when the German Russians and other ethnic groups were assimilated into Russia, losing their nationalitities, families and communities were separated and sent to different locations. This was so that people would not band together and form insurrections. One of my mother's aunts was sent to Siberia. One uncle to Moscow, and another to Minsk. I don't know about the others.

I must read more about Russian history! And I must have a conversation with my cousin who is our family historian.

The book is now discussing more of the search and recovery. I'm finding this book fascinating.

I'm still reading my book, Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident. I'm finding it fascinating. Now, the discussion has turned to weather phenomenon and new research. Hopefully I can finish it tonight. Participating in a 4 day quilt retreat has kept me from reading.

I finished Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident last night. I gave it 4 stars, squeaking close to 5 stars. I think the solution the author arrived at the 60 year old mystery was very plausible. Unfortunately, many family members of the victims have died without learning the circumstances of their deaths.

Janice wrote: "I finished Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident last night. I gave it 4 stars, squeaking close to 5 stars. I think the solution the author arrived at th..."

I changed my mind. This is a 5 star read.

So, I was listening to Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania yesterday for TT, card 2, history, set between 1900 and 1920, and realized that it fit here too - and it was great.

It is focussed on the last voyage of the American ship - Lusitiana, in May of 1915. It pulled in some of the history of the ship, those on board, as well as the Captain and crew of U-20 - the sub that sunk her. It also tied in connected events in American politics, the intelligence community, and the war at large.
I wasn't sure initially, the cover made me think of a cheesy cruise ship murder, but as soon as I opened it, I was hooked.
I knew it was going to be good when the author said "he started reading about the Lusitania following his between book strategy of reading volarciously and promiscuously" lol
It is a true account of the final voyage drawn together from first hand accounts, letters, diaries, telegrams, ships logs, etc, but it reads like a gripping novel.
Totally surprised, totally blown away, five star read ⭐️

OOOH i have just realised i have

Killing Commendatore i shall read this for this month

This is a big book and Murakami can be a difficult author so i think i will have to keep a note of what is going on.

A celebrated portrait painter in Japan suddenly and without any warning finds himself divorced from his wife Yuzu (on her instigation). He leaves home and spends some weeks travelling across Japan living out of his car and the odd hotel before settling down in a remote house formerly occupied by another Japanese Artist - the father of an old friend. During this time he has decided he no longer wants to paint portraits but cannot seem to find anything else that he does want to paint.

The book is what happened next if you like - he describes it as the effect of dominoes falling against each other. The first two dominoes are

- "Killing Commendatore" which seems to be the name of a painting
and
- a Mysterious neighbour

I have read many books by this author no two appear to be alike. This seems to be a more prosaic everyday start to one of his novels - however its MPG is magical realism so I expect bigger things to come.

Jenn wrote: "So, I was listening to Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania yesterday for TT, card 2, history, set between 1900 and 1920, and realized that it fit here too - and it was gre..."

That sounds really interesting, Jenn. Many people have wondered why the Lusitania isn't as well known as the Titanic. Is there any discussion in the book about that?

Not directly Janice, but I think if you read between some of the lines it paints a pretty dark picture. There was an intelligence department that didn't want to give away the fact that they were listening, messages that were sent were incomplete or outright contradictory, and once it was clear that she was going down the large ships that could possibly have gotten there in time to save more life were called back to harbor to protect them. The U-boats were torpedoing a ship as bait then targeting the ships that came to assist, so they put a standing order in place that no ship was to go to the aid of a ship that had been torpedoed.

It was interesting that the book named three Canadians that were on board, can't remember the names but there was a lady from Saskatoon, a preacher from Winnipeg, and someone from Montreal.

I am so glad that I didn't let the cover throw me off permanently, because it was so good. The research for the book had to be so much fun, amazing.

Jenn wrote: "So, I was listening to Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania yesterday for TT, card 2, history, set between 1900 and 1920, and realized that it fit here too - and it was great..."

I'm glad to see that you really liked the book, Jenn. I picked that one up from Audible a while back.

My book, Life Will Be the Death of Me: . . . and You Too!, came in from the library. I'm planning to start it tomorrow for the toppler because Chelsea owns two dogs. I'm hoping they are in the book to make it fit the task, but didn't want to start it today just in case.

I'm hoping it's at least somewhat funny since it was nominated in the Goodreads Humor category last year. It sounds like it's going to be more serious though and some of the reviews I've read suggest that it is. Some thought that was a good thing and others not so much, so I guess we'll see how it goes. I get the feeling it was one of those books that might have been mis-categorized because the author is a comedienne.

Jenn wrote: "Not directly Janice, but I think if you read between some of the lines it paints a pretty dark picture. There was an intelligence department that didn't want to give away the fact that they were li..."

Sounds interesting! I've added it. :)

I was able to attend a round table discussion with the author of Dead Wake. He is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. The Lusitania story is as fascinating as the Titanic. But the Titanic contains more glamour , The whole unsinkable concept meets the force of nature. Man verses nature is another way of saying it.

So far, I don't think my book knows what it wants to be. Some parts are really funny, some parts she is choking up talking about. I feel like I'm sitting in her therapy sessions with her for most of it.

It sounds like a contradiction between funny and sad, Kristie.

Janice wrote: "It sounds like a contradiction between funny and sad, Kristie."

It's almost as if the book was too serious and she threw in some other stories in to lighten it up a bit. It's not necessarily bad, but it seems random and a little strange. It gives the book a weird flow.

I've read a couple of books like that Kristie. It is like the authors feel it necessary to add what they think is humor into the story, to make it a little more interesting, I guess. One of Whoopie Goldberg's books was like that.

I finished Life Will Be the Death of Me: . . . and You Too!. It was ok. I thought it had good parts, but was pretty disjointed. Some of the stories were funny, some tried too hard to be funny. Some were heartfelt, but mostly it felt like sitting with her through therapy while she worked through her issues. It was interesting from a therapeutic standpoint.

Was it as political as you thought it might be Kristie?

Janice wrote: "Was it as political as you thought it might be Kristie?"

No, it wasn't. I mean she clearly can't stand Trump and has a very negative opinion of him, but she didn't focus on that as much as I thought she might. She focused more on her therapy, family, dogs, etc.

Would you recommend it?

I'm not disappointed that I read it, but I don't think I would have missed much if I hadn't read it either. I don't know that I would really recommend it, but I wouldn't tell someone not to read it if they were interested in it either.

It's really about her trying to figure herself out with some other stories thrown in. So, I guess if you're interested in hearing what her therapist had to say or following along with her making some self discoveries, it's worth a try.

Thanks Kristie. I might give it a pass unless it finds its way into a sale or something.

Marie (UK) wrote: "OOOH i have just realised i have

Killing Commendatore i shall read this for this month

This is a big book and Murakami can be a difficult author so i think i will have to keep a ..."

There was some discussion about Murakami in the reporting thread, based on Marie's review of it. We can continu that discussion here.

I read one Murakami book (Norwegian Wood) and didn't care much for it. I'm not at all in a hurry to pick up another book by him.

Marie, you finished your read? What did you think of it? I've never read anything by Murakami.

Peggy wrote: "Marie (UK) wrote: "OOOH i have just realised i have

Killing Commendatore i shall read this for this month

This is a big book and Murakami can be a difficult author so i think i w..."

My bbad for discussing it over in the reporting thread!

My bad also.. I just get so excited when someone mentions Murakami.

Lol, I think we all know that we can get overly excited about books ;-)