Play Book Tag discussion

Hello everyone - this is the buddy read for From Sand and Ash. About 8 people appear to be interested in possibly reading with us this September. Some of us are doing it for Trim, some for interest in the author or the topic, and some because they can't resist a buddy read. I cannot promise if it has any relation to psychological or any of the state tags. But I can say, that any book we read together, is enhanced by our ability to enjoy it together. So looking forward.

As for my timing, it is in at the library for me, and I just finished a book. I have a short one to start tonight or tomorrow - Wind, Sand, and Stars. And if thats done before I can get to the library on Friday, then I will be reading a Bend in the Stars. But Sand and Ash is next up for me, and from the looks of it, I may be first to start.... Lets see who joins in the fun.

I am waiting on my copy to come through our inter-library system-

I am almost done with my massive read And the Ladies of the Club and am definitely interested in a Buddy Read. Will add this to my other six library requests.

What are the others, Sally?

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, which I may have already read
The Memory Police
The Couple Next Door
Sisters
Where the Crawdads Sing
the Bookshop of Yesterdays
After Labor Day my reading time will markedly decrease since I return to school- teaching

I'll probably start it in a week or 10 days - I have it already. But I've got 3 books going right now and I'm not really someone who jumps around so need to finish these. Long weekend coming up though!

I'm slowly finishing Apeirogon. I'v slowed down considerably in July and August and hope to pick up speed again soon.

7-10 days sounds good to me. My husband started reading my Grand Canyon and Great Lakes books, so I'm trying to catch up. Didn't one of you recommend Death and Life of the Great Lakes to me? We both liked it.

I can get to the library today... so it’s my next read after Wind Sand and Stars. Which is 220 pages.

First to go. Look forward to seeing what you guys think.....

Hello everyone! I have wanted to join the buddy reading for so long. And it looks as if this time I'll be able to do it.

I also looked at the book description before joining, of course. And the main problem of the book reminded me of The Thorn Birds. I really liked that book and hope this one will be just as good.

Fabulous! I just finished and would love to talk to you all about it. So happy to have new voices like Sally and Diana.

I just finished it. I thought I would like it better than I actually did, but it was still interesting. I'm going with a 3.5 Star rating.

I am in the process of reading it. So far, I like it, but I am only at about the 25% mark.

I just started it.

I still am waiting for the book to come in-ugh!

I am still waiting for the book as well. I was able to pick up A Constellation of Vital Phenomena at the library today. The cover looks so familiar to me. I think that I took it out from the library before but never got around to reading it,

Sallys wrote: "I am still waiting for the book as well. I was able to pick up A Constellation of Vital Phenomena at the library today. The cover looks so familiar to me. I think that I took it out from the librar..."

Love, love love A Constellation of Vital Phenomena. I have a feeling that it is a much better book than From Sand and Ash.

Booknblues wrote: "I'm slowly finishing Apeirogon. I'v slowed down considerably in July and August and hope to pick up speed again soon."

Bnb are you still safe from the fires?

NancyJ wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "I'm slowly finishing Apeirogon. I'v slowed down considerably in July and August and hope to pick up speed again soon."

Bnb are you still safe from the fires?"

I'm in the middle of well irrigated agricultural lands in the Sacramento valley, so I am safe from fires. After saying that we are beginning the fourth week of extremely unhealthy air due to the fires. The fire due west of me is 95% contained but there are two fires to the north which have grown exponentially.

So you have staying at home due to the pandemic, coupled with staying indoors because the air is unhealthy. I went at work to water lawn on the children's playground and a thick layer of ash has settled on the sidewalks and surfaces every where. It is gross. This ash gets in our lungs.

I've finished and will be posting my review shortly.

Finally finished this one! Now I'm going to read Amy's and Olivermagnus's reviews and then write my own:)

Just got my copy, but I have to finish up a couple of others before I move on.

I am getting toward the end, and not liking it as much as the beginning.

I just finished this also.

My review:

Angelo Bianco is a Catholic American who grows up with a Jewish family in Italy, where he is expected to become a priest. He and the family’s daughter, Eva, are drawn to each other. When WWII arrives, the family is torn apart.

I appreciated the historical aspects and found it accurate in terms of the Catholic church hiding Jews in Rome and the Nazis’ robbing and roundups. Father O’Flaherty and Rabbi Cassuto were real people and are portrayed convincingly. The first half is set up well, with Angelo and Eva developing strong bonds. I was interested to see how the war would affect them.

It lost me in the second half. I had trouble believing Angelo would go through with ordination when he did not seem particularly spiritual or devoted. The relationship between Angelo and Eva becomes increasingly melodramatic. Toward the end, it requires a huge suspension of disbelief, which I just could not muster. I liked parts of this book, so I am going with a middle of the road rating.

Finally found time to post my review:)

Wow! You listened to it in Russian! What an interesting experience of reading the book. Never used to be a fan of audio, and now I’m finding the beauty in it. I’m so glad you decided to read with us Diana!

In case you all missed it- I am out, just cannot bring myself to read a book that seems only "Ok"

Amy wrote: "Wow! You listened to it in Russian! What an interesting experience of reading the book. Never used to be a fan of audio, and now I’m finding the beauty in it. I’m so glad you decided to read with u..."

Thank you, Amy! I enjoyed this experience too. And I'm definitely going to join the future buddy reads.
As for the Russian audiobook, it wasn't difficult because I am from Ukraine and speak fluently both Ukrainian and Russian:)