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 'occupation in the title'.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have read the book before or during July 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. Please elaborate on your thoughs on at least 5 of the following topics:
- Setting
- Characters
- Writing style
- Genre
- How the book made you feel
- Which parts stood out
- Did you/will you read more by the author
- Anything else related to the book you find worth mentioning

This can be done in one post after finishing the book, but preferably in a few posts while reading. 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'm not sure whether I'll read a book for the theme. But here are my options:
Royal Assassin
The Republic of Thieves
The Dark Monk
Starship Troopers
The Toymakers
An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth

Do you think Thieves and Monk count? They are more vocations than occupations but it is basically their work?!

Good question, Sarah.
I asked Google if a vocation was the same thing as an occupation? and this is what I got back:

"Vocation is a synonym of occupation.
As nouns, the difference between vocation and occupation is that vocation is an inclination to undertake a certain kind of work, especially a religious career; often in response to a perceived summons; a calling while occupation is an activity or task with which one occupies oneself; usually specifically the productive activity, service, trade, or craft for which one is regularly paid; a job.

I think we could justify a thief being an occupation, because one does get paid, either right away in money, or after any goods are sold, but I am not sure a monk applies because they do not get paid (except in "heavenly points" maybe). However, they DO work, very hard work too. One could say the same thing about a housewife too though.

I think I took this task a little less literally and just think of occupations as what someone does for a living. If that's the case, then monk would work too. Also, they may not get paid, but they do get food and shelter for being a monk, right?

I was wondering if "orphan collector" might fit? I mean, it's not an official title (and would be pretty politically incorrect), but it sounds like it would be a job. In this case, it is definitely self-imposed. Are there people who are collectors for careers? It sounds like a hobby to me, but I know people can make a lot of money with it. What do you think?

Thanks guys, that's helpful. Gives me a few moree options.

With the ophan collector, they might collect the children on behalf of social services?! Or look after the children himself (collecting ophan children) like a foster parent?! Definitely not a conventional occupational title. But he could also collect orphans to do nasty things to and that wouldn't be an occupation, he'd be a psychopath.

I guess we can pretty much justify anything with our YLTO world rules, can’t we? I say go for it, Kristie. She did it for a living, after all, correct?

lol The book is set during the 1918 "Spanish flu". The woman in question decided that the orphan children of immigrants should be made into upstanding citizens so I think she's basically kidnapping and rehoming them. I'm not exactly sure, as I haven't read it but that's the idea I got from the blurb. She hasn't been hired to do it, but I'm not sure if she'll make money off of it or not.

I was just trying to decide if a collector was an occupation. I guess it could be, but not always. The Orphan Collector

Oh, I thought you were talking about a different book, Kristie.
I have seen a couple of posts for The Orphan Collector and considered reading it for my TT challenge, but I already own a book with orphan in the title.

I just had to look that up, Cherie. I don't have that task. I wish I did though. I seem to be finding several books with "orphan" in the title recently.

Kristie wrote: "lol The book is set during the 1918 "Spanish flu". The woman in question decided that the orphan children of immigrants should be made into upstanding citizens so I think she's basically kidnapping..."

Yep, not as straightforward as a normal job, but she does do it for money, Kristie. How long does someone need to be in the job for it to be the person’s occupation? Inquiring minds want to know! For our fun monthly theme read, I’d say It was her creative job for a bit and would qualify, but then I’m not Sarah :-)

I think we say it counts!

Ok, sounds good! lol

I've started The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster. Although of course very sad, I can't help being intrigued by the job, the people, the stories.. There's this Dutch youtube channel of a similar company, so they also clean up after suicides and homicides, but also hoarders and neglected homes. It's not all easy to watch so I only saw a few videos some time ago. I think I can handle it better when it's only in writing. They don't have the interaction with people though, which seems to be a big part of Sandra Pankhurst's job as well.

I finished ch 3 and 4 of The Trauma Cleaner. I've been avoiding depressing books (war, refugees etc.) since March, mostly reading fantasy or fluffy books. I maybe should have skipped this one too. It's a hard read.. not so much the factual descriptions of what they come across, but all the pain and hurt behind it. Sandra's own life story isn't any different, it nearly made me cry.

Peggy wrote: "I finished ch 3 and 4 of The Trauma Cleaner. I've been avoiding depressing books (war, refugees etc.) since March, mostly reading fantasy or fluffy books. I maybe should have skipped this one too. ..."

I think when you nominated I said I was interested in it but didn't think it was the right time for me. I figured it would be a difficult read. Are you going to continue with it or put it on hold?

I remember you saying that Sarah. I'll continue, but I have a good fantasy book lined up next so I might just alternate between the two, with just one or two chapters of The Trauma Cleaner per day.

That sounds like a good idea!

Can I choose Assassin's Apprentice for the theme?

Bash wrote: "Can I choose Assassin's Apprentice for the theme?"

I would say so.

I am reading a horrid book. Lab Girl

Does this work as occupation? I may chuck it but will keep going if its badge worthy.

Sarah wrote: "Bash wrote: "Can I choose Assassin's Apprentice for the theme?"

I would say so."

I actually downloaded this title from my library, but unfortunately, I do not like the narrator's voice.

Cherie wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Bash wrote: "Can I choose Assassin's Apprentice for the theme?"

I would say so."

I actually downloaded this title from my library, but unfortunately, I do not like the ..."


Same! It was disappointing but I have the 1996 edition book I really like it so I'll stick to reading instead. I have 3 credits I haven't used on Audible, its hard to make a decision.

Renee wrote: "I am reading a horrid book. Lab Girl

Does this work as occupation? I may chuck it but will keep going if its badge worthy."

Yeah I didn't get on with the book either Renee. I think I only read one chapter. I think it counts! I'm being quite flexible with the theme this month it seems.

I read a few more chapters of The Trauma Cleaner. There's something that bugs me about the writing. I think it's the author talking about herself every now and then, and also that she writes unneccessarily complicated at times, and that she makes assumptions that she can't verify based on what she knows about Sandra. So 3 things that bug me about the writing, basically ;-)

I decided to read The Dressmaker's Gift for this Group Read. I was reading it anyway for the Trivia Challenge. The book is set in Paris 1940s during the Nazi Occupation and 2017.

I am sorry to say even though it would work for book with occupation in the title I will not subject myself to Lab Girl.

I wonder what ever made that arrogant woman write a memoir.

I’m not a fashionista, definitely not a Vogue reader, nor do I follow the various fashion designers. But I liked the descriptions of the 3 1940s seamstresses (Mireille, Claire and Vivi) at work. From the descriptions of them working, much of the intricate beadwork was hand done. What talent to be able to do such painstaking, precise work. I'm jealous of that talent.

I've never been to Paris but if I ever get there I'd like to visit Palais Galliera. I enjoyed reading about not so much the haute couture exhibits, but rather the simpler ones, especially those fashions made during the Nazi years when people had to make do and improvise. The author noted that some of the “fashions” such as worn and faded denim became quite fashionable today. What goes around comes around. (view spoiler)[Although I realize that it's fictional, the description of the midnight blue gown that Claire handmade using offcuts of material in such a way that it was difficult to tell that it wasn’t one piece of fabric embellished with hand sown beading, sounded fantastic. I'd love to see a dress like that. (hide spoiler)]

I enjoyed reading the chapters that took place in the 1940s and the lives of Mireille, Claire and Vivi. The three young women came to Paris for different reasons, (view spoiler)[ to escape their village lives, looking for adventure, or in the case of Vivi, as we find out later, to help with the French Resistance. (hide spoiler)], but soon become close friends, looking out for each other during difficult times under Nazi occupation.

I found that I didn’t really like Harriet (Claire’s granddaughter in the 2017 parts of the story) in the beginning of the book. Maybe because the 1940s seamstresses were such strong characters and Harriet (view spoiler)[comes across as weaker, believing she is destined to follow in her mother’s footsteps, that her life will be as sad and tragic as hers was. This raises the question of nature vs nurture. Do we follow in the footsteps of our parents? Is it a forgone conclusion that a tragic (or happy) life will be handed down through the generations through our DNA? There’s much debate on the subject. Personally, I don’t think that our lives and who we become are set in stone. Circumstance and chance encounters/events play a large role in our lives. If not, murderers would beget murderers, talent would beget talent, and so on. Just doesn’t happen that way. I was glad that by the end of the book, Harriet was able to understand her background better and was able to build a better more positive future for herself. (hide spoiler)]

This is the kind of book I like reading – WWII historical fiction with strong female characters. Some of the good guys may die in their struggles but even in death, they win. Would I read another book by this author? Perhaps I'll read The Beekeeper's Promise, it's listed as Historical Fiction, WWII but not her others (too much romance for me).

I considered reading Lab Girl when the group read it, even though the blurb doesn't really appeal to me. After reading the comments here, I'm really glad I didn't waste my time. I'm not sure why it's so highly rated.

Re Lab Girl. I really did not think the author was arrogant.
I got about half way through the book and just was never drawn back into it. I just had too many other things going on. What I did not like was the format. I did not like flipping back and forth between the science of the plant stuff and then back into life in the lab and the lab hardships. I liked the chapters about the plants the best, but I actually learned a lot about how much it takes to have to continually apply for grants to keep a lab project going. I never dreamed that the grants had to pay for the other people's wages. For some reason, I thought they were paid by the University. The other thing that bugged me, was that the lab project had nothing to do with the growing things. It was to prove that their process for calculating something with their machine was going to work.

I finished The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster. I rated it 3 stars, but only just.

I thought Sandra, her life and her job were very interesting, but as I mentioned before, the way the book was written didn't work for me. By the end I was almost skimming through it.

WoF Bash

I finished Assassin's Apprentice


The writing style is very rich It did take time to get used to it, It was somewhat difficult as times but eventually I got used to it.

I really enjoyed the story, I don't remember a moment where I was bored of it , even to the specific details on his usual routine or a bit of history about the six Duchies or a certain character, I was still entertained.

The Fool is an interesting character and I cannot wait to get to know him more!

I saw people complaining the series very boring and had little "action" in it? but it was perfect for me, the pacing was just perfect not too fast or too slow. I really glad I found something good

I have just started reading The Dark Monk. I'm looking forward to getting back into this world. I remember liking the characters very much. From what I recall, the settting,time period and characters were all losely based on the author's family history which appeals to me as someone who also researches family history and we've found some interesting tales. None quite so interesting as the ones in his bookss though.

I'm glad it worked out for you, Bash. I just did not like the narrator of the audiobook that I downloaded when I tried the book. I might give it a try again sometime, with a text or ebook copy.

I've started The Orphan Collector. It seems that Bernice's story is based on grief and prejudice. I feel sorry for her, but I can't really relate to her viewpoints. I'm only at 14%, but I am definitely feeling for our younger MC, Pia, especially knowing that she has more fear and loss to come.

Kristie wrote: "I've started The Orphan Collector. It seems that Bernice's story is based on grief and prejudice. I feel sorry for her, but I can't really relate to her viewpoints. I'm only at 14%,..."

Ugh, I don't think I can read that one, Kristie. too depressing right now...

LOL! I just entered "apprentice" into the B&N bookstore and had to get out FAST! I thought I was just going to look for the first Farseer Trilogy book.

Cherie wrote: "LOL! I just entered "apprentice" into the B&N bookstore and had to get out FAST! I thought I was just going to look for the first Farseer Trilogy book."

Haha! Good move Cherie!

I just realized that I read The President Is Missing, and the post of President is a job, isn't it? It has a serious interview process, and a paycheck for a term of service . . .
The President of the United States trying to save the world from a cyber attack . . .
Unfortunately, I didn't really care for the book. It looked like it might have an interesting premise, but it was to rah, rah, and the ends justify any means with no oversight required.

Yes I'd say it counts Jenn. Please could you expand upon your discussion a little to cover at least 5 of the areas listed in the first post.

Cherie wrote: "Kristie wrote: "I've started The Orphan Collector. It seems that Bernice's story is based on grief and prejudice. I feel sorry for her, but I can't really relate to her viewpoints. ...

Ugh, I don't think I can read that one, Kristie. too depressing right now... "

It really is rough. I feel like it's kind of timely albeit a bit morbid within the current world circumstances. I'm glad our current situation is still better than what they had to deal with a hundred years ago.

I read Apprentice in Death. I think we can consider Apprentice as an occupation.

This is #43 of the In Death series. Set in futuristic New York where Eve and her colleagues solve crimes with some help from her husband Roarke. In this book, new technologies for tracking the source of a sniper attack is introduced and it was interesting. This had full fledged action and the book completely focuses on solving the crime, nothing new happened in character development and all behaved as expected. Sniper attacks on public places killing many people keep continuously leads the police to find out if it one killer or does he/she have an apprentice. Is the attack random or is there a link between the killings. It was interesting to see how the police find out the answers to the above. I liked the final interrogation with the evil villain. I'll be surely continuing with the series.

Sarah wrote: "Yes I'd say it counts Jenn. Please could you expand upon your discussion a little to cover at least 5 of the areas listed in the first post."

Not for the badge anymore lol, but I have realized that I did still need to come back and finish my thoughts . . .

So, I didn't like that it fell into a bunch of the same tired American espionage p(l)ot holes, and I really didn't like the writing with respect to every time he walked into a room, either verbally or in his head, he would name (first and last) and title introduce everyone in the room . . . it got really old :( for me anyways

Cherie wrote: "Re Lab Girl. I really did not think the author was arrogant.
I got about half way through the book and just was never drawn back into it. I just had too many other things going on...."

I loved Lab Girl. I'm sorry y'all hated it so much!

Put me on the list of Lab Girl Haters. The book made me want to go out and kill a tree. (just kidding)

re Lab Girl

I did not hate it, I just was not into reading it at the time and nothing called me back to it, when I stopped reading. I may give it another try in the future.