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

Please read through the reporting thread carefully to ensure to report correctly to get your badge/s.

After you have read your chosen book(s) for this month's group theme read, please report in the thread below.

Please state what book you read (and link it), how it fits the theme, that you discussed it (and where), and briefly summarise what you thought of the book and/or link to your review if you have written one.

If you lead the discussion, please state this in your post.

Here is an example for how to report your read:

“I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and discussed it in the [Harry Potter/Buddy Read/Other books in theme] thread. I really enjoyed the book. I watched the film first so I already knew the story line but I was surprised how much I enjoyed the book more as there was more detail involved. Plus I listened to the audio which was narrated by Stephen Fry who is a superb narrator. 4 stars.”

If you read more than one book which fits the theme, please report all your reads in the same post rather than in separate posts.

Please note, there are THREE different badges that can be obtained for group reads. Those reading and discussing one of the two chosen group reads will receive a colourful badge similar to those for previous group reads. Those reading and discussing any other book in the theme will receive a stamp. The discussion leader for the two chosen group reads will receive a badge stating they led the discussion. Maximum amount of badges you can receive for the group reads is TWO - one for the chosen group read/discussion leader and one for any other book in the theme.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. put your Wall of Fame Name at the beginning of your post as follows: WoF Name - Peggy
2. have read the book(s) before or during March 2021.
3. discussed it in the relevant 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 that thread.
4. Report that you have read AND discussed the book

WoF Marnie

I read Holding for the group theme and discussed it in the thread. I enjoyed this book. I didn’t think the blurb about the book matched my reading experience of it. I was expecting more quirky and less serious but the characters were intriguing to me. The story line and it’s resolution were satisfying as well. My biggest drawback to the book was the emphasis on the weight of one of the main characters. Though to be fair, these were the character’s feelings as know one else mentioned it.

All in all 3 stars and I’m glad I read it.

WoF - Janice

I read The Good People and discussed it in the theme thread.

I really enjoyed the book and gave it 4 stars. The book apparently was based on a true case that Hannah Kent stumbled across when researching Burial Rites. The Good People is a similar theme, exploring women's roles and their acceptance in society. It also delves into the discussion of the ignorance of superstition. I thought the three women in the story were very strong minded and yet their weaknesses were evident.

WoF Shirley
I read A River in the Trees.
Here's my review.
Rereading my review, it seems quite negative, but I gave it 3 stars. The positives, particularly in the first half, outweighed the negatives.

Janice wrote: "WoF - Janice

I read The Good People and discussed it in the theme thread.

I really enjoyed the book and gave it 4 stars. The book apparently was based on a true case that Hannah K..."
Yes I've enjoyed both her books. Looking forward to the next one.

WoF: Sandra from PA

I read The Pull of the Stars. I'm also leading the discussion.

I liked the setting the topic, and some of the characters. I struggled with the first person narrations, and in the overall I found it flatter than previous works by the author. Still I'm glad I read it. The sense of time is very intense, and it made me want to read more about the 1918 flu pandemic, and also about Ireland.
In addition the discussion is being very interesting.

WoF SharonBiskit

I read both The Pull of the Stars and Holding

I discussed both books on the pages dedicated to these discussions.

I thought that The Pull of the Stars was an intense read. I thought the ending rushed. It was hard to read at times because of the pandemic then (1919) and now (2021). The main character was strong and determined and I felt her behavior at the end of the story a bit of a departure from this. I enjoyed the book. I did struggle at first with the lack of punctuation but soon was able to forget about it. Someone said this may have been a device used to mimic how one loses time when immersed in serious work. I had not thought of that and spent a good bit of time looking at it from that perspective.

Holding started off slow for me. I was a bit turned off by the author’s “fat shaming” of the main character, P.J. I did think the book was very well written, kept me reading to find out what happened next and made me care about most of the characters. I do think it was very well done and I enjoyed it very much. I adored Brid and her strength and the silent tragedy of Mrs. Meany. I did not see PJ making the decision he did at the end, but I like being surprised.

I think my reading benefitted from the discussions about both books.

WoF Aya

I read The Lost Child and discussed it in the thread. I have never read any work from the author and found it while gophering on goodreads' list. I'm glad I picked it up because it's cleverly written. No space for resting, always in hectic situations, and full of events. I love the characters and will read her other books, hopefully in the near future! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I read The Pull of the Stars and discussed it in the thread. I enjoyed the book a lot. It was pretty intense and interesting to draw parallels between that pandemic and ours. I am certainly glad I live now and not then!

WoF Linkinn

I read Holding and discussed a little of it in the thread.
Did enjoy the scenery (could have a little more of it), and the mystery in it, looking forward to read more books from the author.

Wof- Christina

I read The Searcher and discussed it in the theme read thread.

This is the first book from Tana French and with my rating of 5 stars I plan are reading more by her. The story had scenes in it that drew me right in. I literally feel that I can't say anything about the book without possible giving a snippet away.

WOf Esther

I read The Pull of the Starsand discussed it in the thread. I enjoyed it but it fell just bit short for me. Being thrown in the story l did not totally work for me.

WoF Cherie
I had recently read The Pull of the Stars and I participated in the group discussion thread. I enjoyed the story, the characters and the setting. I also thought the ending was a bit short, but it was satisfying. I appreciated the author's research and the information she presented about the 1918 flu and several things about child birth that I had to look up. I have read several of the author's books and enjoy her writing style.

I also read In the Woods. It had me on the edge of my chair and I am still having flash backs to some of the dialogue and scenes in the story. I am looking forward to the second book.

WoF - Lilisa

I read The Irish Cottage: Finding Elizabeth and discussed it the appropriate discussion thread. It was an easy okay read - a chick lit/finding one’s roots/romance novel and it was great to have a reason to mark it as “read” on Kindle. Had not realized it is the first in a series of five books and will remain blissfully unrequited about the ending, which I’m sure will all end swimmingly well! Loved the descriptions of Ireland - brought back fond vacation memories - best part of the book.

WoF Vicki

I read The Pull of the Stars and discussed it in the thread. I enjoyed listening to this one. The audio was very calm yet I was gritting my teeth and tense during quite a lot of the book. I am very glad medicine has advanced so much in the last 100 years :)

WoF Kay

I read The Pull of the Stars and participated in the discussion thread. I found this a very difficult read. You do not read a book like this for relaxation. The author is extremely skilled in providing detail and atmosphere making you feel apart of the despair of the pandemic. The main characters are both strong and vulnerable. It was an amazing look at the struggles of the pandemic from an all female point of view on the health care front line. The comparisons between our current pandemic and this one highlights how little has changed in the measures used to combat this type of situation, we just have better technology and communication streams.

WoF: Kristie

I thought I had already reported, but I guess not! I read Holding and was the discussion leader in the group read thread. I thought the writing was simple in an easy to read way that was enjoyable. The story unfolded in an interesting way. I also thought it would be funnier than it was (I was expecting more of a Miss Fortune type of read with Miss Marple type characters?), but I liked it. It was a 3.5 star read for me and I'd be interested to read more of Graham's work in the future.

WofF: Jannene

I read and discussed the book Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland. It was an enjoyable read for a true crime and did not come off as a research book.

It was a 3.5 star for me and the best part of the book for me was learning new things that I hadn’t heard of or realized had been happening in the 70’s, like the IRA.

WoF name - Amanda(Lily)

I read The Pull of the Stars and discussed it in the appropriate thread.

I found the book to be very sad and depressing, which makes sense since 1918 was a sad and depressing time to live. I thought it was interesting that the book took place over just three days, and yet was packed with stuff happening - a very realistic thing given that the book was set in a maternity ward during a pandemic.

WoF Annerlee

I read Holding and took part in the discussion - although I was pretty late to the party - I managed to finish on 31 March.

I enjoyed the book. I thought it captured the small-wordly feeling of living in a small village really well - some of the details were extremely well observed, which I enjoyed. I thought the mystery fit very well into the setting.

It wasn't really the book I was expecting. I know Graham Norton as a TV host and have a lot of time for him. I love his quick-witted comments and devilish humour and expected to find more of this in his novel. There were glimpses, which I really enjoyed - I would have liked more.

This is the author's first novel. Maybe his indomitable style will shine through more confidently in future work? I expect to read more and find out.

WoF Poongothai

I read Holding and took part in the group discussion.
It was a good cozy mystery set in a Irish village. I enjoyed reading this book. The characters seemed stuck in the past. The twist was good and the ending was satisfactory. I rated it 3 stars.

Badges have been posted. Give me a shout if I missed you.