On The Same Page discussion

I felt similarly about Cloud Cukoo Land. I gave it 3 stars because it wasn't bad writing it was just too much. It would have benefitted from serious editing fewer main characters, fewer storylines and fewer pages.

Bill wrote: "You're off to an excellent start. I hope to read another Anne book in December. I was very disappointed in Perfume. I'm enjoying Asimov's Black Widowers mysteries at the moment and also watching Foundation. He had such variety. Good luck the rest of Nov."

Over 35 years ago, I tried to read Foundation and said it was too complicated. I'm thinking my younger brain really needed strong character development, which he doesn't have as much of. I would like it very much right now, I think.

I had no idea Asimov crossed over into mysteries. Mind blown! Well...it seems I have to add some more books to my TBR. This one is all you, Bill. You are a prime enabler. But, I'm excited to read more.

Perfume had so much promise, but the ending was a stinker. Sorry for the pun. I just couldn't resist.

Hope you get to Anne again in December. Enjoy all your November reads!

Alondra wrote: "The only 4 or 5 star is a reread. Yikes. 3 Stars isn't bad, but I always want something that knocks it out the park, ya know?

..and yes, $1 bin or the freebie bin, is the bestest ever. Alissa loved it, so I should as well."

Yes! I always want something that knocks it out of the park too! I wasn't disappointed with all of my reads in November...I'm just happy to be reading again...but some of them could have definitely been better. Like Cloud Cuckoo Land. I was not the correct demographic to enjoy that book. :-)

Lillie wrote: "I need your energy Lea! Look at you crossing off books off of your lists. I really need to read the Anne books. Somehow I missed the series and skipped right on to Victoria Holt and Agatha Christie. My sister loved them though."

I hope you enjoy the Anne books, Lillie. I think they are great, but of course, I have childhood nostalgia on my side. I'm not sure I would be as enraptured by them if I read them for the first time as an adult. That said, I find them mostly readable. (There are some cringeworthy moments in all literature that is over 110 years old...)

I was trying my hardest to get Agatha Christie on my 2023 list, but it isn't going to happen. There's absolutely no way she can be squeezed on, but maybe I can squeeze one or two off list books into my reading next year. I really want to re-read and read her work again!

Michelle wrote: "I felt similarly about Cloud Cukoo Land. I gave it 3 stars because it wasn't bad writing it was just too much. It would have benefitted from serious editing fewer main characters, fewer storylines and fewer pages."

Yes! It's clever. It isn't bad writing. It just wasn't great. I'm not very connected to any of the characters. I don't hate it, but I don't love it either.

Lea wrote: "Lillie wrote: "I need your energy Lea! Look at you crossing off books off of your lists. I really need to read the Anne books. Somehow I missed the series and skipped right on to Victoria Holt and ..."

I was very tempted to put Agatha Christie as my series read next year, but went with something else in the end.

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "I was very tempted to put Agatha Christie as my series read next year, but went with something else in the end."

Too many series, not enough time. I would love to read/re-read some of her books this year, but there are so many other books I'd love to read also.

November Month End Report

Books Read: 14 books this month and 144* year to date
*Includes loads of children's books and short stories
47,595 pages year to date

Books from Filling in the Gaps: 84/100; 2020 Books 6/7, 2021 Books 8/11, and 2022 Books 70/82

Books from First 12+4 Challenge: 16/16
Books from Second 12 + 4 Challenge: 15/16

Previously discussed:

Three Sisters
Flirting with Disaster: Why Accidents Are Rarely Accidental
Anne of the Island
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Cloud Cuckoo Land
The Cocktail Waitress

Recently Finished:

Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain - This is an autobiography written by Portia de Rossi about her experiences with bulimia. She spent quite a bit of time writing about the mania associated with the disease, almost such that is seemed to be a primer. I wish she would have spent more time on her life afterwards, but I think it was written too soon after her recovery to have that information. I liked the book. 3 STARS

The Bullet That Missed - For me, this was sooo much better than the last book, The Man Who Died Twice. This is another book in The Thursday Murder Club series. In the back of the audio book, the author said that he is going to keep writing these books, and I am here for it. I really enjoyed this one. 4 STARS

The Positronic Man - This is a re-working of The Bicentennial Man, but I think the collaboration between Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg was a good one. Mr. Asimov has amazing ideas, and Mr. Silverberg gives the characters life and personality. My favorite of the Robot books, I'm so sad they are now over. 4 STARS

Graveminder - I might be tainted by having just finished Cursed by Death: A Graveminder Novel also this month, so I'll try to keep my thoughts separate. This is a book about a woman who returns to a town where she spent a few years growing up to say goodbye to her adopted grandmother, and discovers that she needs to tend to the graves as her grandmother had done. I loved the premise and the worlds, but the writing is very YA for an adult book. I started this series by reading a short story in a compilation of books and the stories might lend themselves better as short stories. 2.5 STARS

You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism - This book is both lighthearted and super heavy. It is both hilarious and heartbreaking. I was both glad I read it and angry after reading it. 4 STARS

The Crucible - I'd never actually read this play, which was written ostensibly about the Salem Witch trials, but was more about the Communist witch hunt in the McCarthy era. It was extremely short and clever, and I liked it. 3 STARS

Cursed by Death: A Graveminder Novel - This is a sequel to Graveminder. Everything I didn't like about the first book was here ten fold, and there wasn't much development to the world building. Way too much love story. Not enough plot. Way too much of the "we can't tell you everything yet" way of telling a story. Not enough character development. Ends on a cliffhanger. No. Just no. 1 STAR

Family of Liars - This is the sequel to We Were Liars. I've finally figured out the winning combination. I have always disliked the rushed endings that John Grisham writes to his recent novels. I have been bored in the beginning of both books that I've read by E. Lockhart until I got to the end. Maybe he could write the first part of the book and she could end it properly? Something to think about. I certainly preferred the ending to We Were Liars, it fit together very nicely. But the ending was the best part of this book too. For a book that was going to be a 2 STAR book, it solidly became a 3 STAR book in the last 20%. 3 STARS

Currently reading:

Holy Bible: New International Version - I'm on target to finish this by the end of the year.

Anne of Windy Poplars - When I was younger, I was so annoyed that L.M. Montgomery redacted all of the love out of the love letters, but as an adult, I'm so grateful!

The Mountain Shadow - Sequel to Shantaram. This book is long. I'm a little over 1/4 of the way through the book.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - The book version of Bladerunner. It's been on my list for a long time. But I'm only in Chapter 1.

Progress on the Whack-a-Mole Series Situation –

Series Completed this year (for the moment...):
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses (1)
2. Sweet Sanctuary (2)
3. Lunar Chronicles (1)
4. Greentown (2)
5. The Henna Artist (2)
6. Charlie Bucket (2)
7. Shadow and Bone (7)
8. P.S. I Love You (1)
9. Capitaine Nemo (2)
10. Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series (1)
11. Robot (8)
12. Twilight (1)
13. Six of Crows (2)
14. Jane Austen's Heroes (5)
15. Catch-22 (1)
16. King of Scars (2)
17. Anne of Green Gables (2)
18. The Border Trilogy (3)
19. Deathless (2)
20. The Tattooist of Auschwitz (1)
21. Thursday Murder Club (3)
22. Graveminder (2)
23. We Were Liars (1)

Series Started This Year with Books Remaining:
1. Bladerunner (4)

Series Started Last Year with Books Remaining:
NONE

Series That Added Books This Year with number of books I still need to read in that series:
1. Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez (8)
2. Xanth (40)
3. Jake Brigance (1)
4. The Miniaturist (1)
5. Comoran Strike (4)
6. Beartown (1)
7. It Ends with Us (1)
8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1)

Series That Added Books Last Year with number of books I still need to read in that series: (so you can see how I really made no progress!)
1. Ender's Universe (5)
2. Stephanie Plum (7)
3. You (1)

Series that added books this year that I'm abandoning, until I change my mind and read them anyway:
1. Crescent City
2. The Spanish Love Deception
3. Detective Erika Foster
4. Lore Olympus
5. Graceling
6. Saga
7. Arc of a Scythe

Lea wrote: "The Bullet That Missed - For me, this was sooo much better than the last book, The Man Who Died Twice. This is another book in The Thursday Murder Club series. In the back of the audio book, the author said that he is going to keep writing these books, and I am here for it. I really enjoyed this one. 4 STARS"

Phew!! Wasn't quite sure what your reaction would be to this but I'm glad you liked it. I enjoyed the audiobook as well and am looking forward to more in the series.

You're quite right about Asimov, such an imagination. Great writer. Good luck with your December final reads.

Lillie wrote: "Phew!! Wasn't quite sure what your reaction would be to this but I'm glad you liked it. I enjoyed the audiobook as well and am looking forward to more in the series."

I still don't understand some things about the first book, but I'm moving on. Each book has gotten better than the last one, and I'm now looking forward to each new installment.

Bill wrote: "You're quite right about Asimov, such an imagination. Great writer. Good luck with your December final reads."

Thanks, Bill. I'm sad that I definitely don't have any more Robot books to read. I might need to dip into the Foundation series now.

Somehow, notifications on this thread updates stopped coming into my inbox some time ago, no idea why...so I've missed a lot of your progress. And there's been a lot of progress. I've skimmed it, but now I need to go back and really read it, and I'm afraid of what will that do to my TBR....

Lea wrote: "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - The book version of Bladerunner. It's been on my list for a long time. But I'm only in Chapter 1. .."

You really have to put Blade Runner out of your mind, and read the book for what it is. They are not the same. LOL

Ioana wrote: "Somehow, notifications on this thread updates stopped coming into my inbox some time ago, no idea why...so I've missed a lot of your progress. And there's been a lot of progress. I've skimmed it, but now I need to go back and really read it, and I'm afraid of what will that do to my TBR...."

Well, for your TBR there is good news. I've only had 7 5-star reads this year, so how dangerous can this thread really be? :-)

Alondra wrote: "You really have to put Blade Runner out of your mind, and read the book for what it is. They are not the same. LOL"

It's been so long since I've seen Blade Runner, so it was a good time to read the book. I am about 80% into the book now, so I think I will finally finish it this month. I'm enjoying the story. Even the odd twists and turns. :-)

Lea wrote: "Well, for your TBR there is good news. I've only had 7 5-star reads this year, so how dangerous can this thread really be? :-)"

Better than me, I've only had 1, and it was a graphic novel. But I've had a few 4.5 stars and lots of 4 stars, so it's been a good year.
The way I know your rating system, even some 3 stars are dangerous.

Ioana wrote: "Better than me, I've only had 1, and it was a graphic novel. But I've had a few 4.5 stars and lots of 4 stars, so it's been a good year.
The way I know your rating system, even some 3 stars are dangerous."

And as for yours, if you actually finish the book, it must be worth reading for one reason or another. I would be content with a year full of 4 star books, especially if I didn't read any 1 or 2 star books. Sometimes I just keep reading, hoping for it to take a turn, when I should just set the book aside and tell myself, "not every book is for every person..."

Lea wrote: "And as for yours, if you actually finish the book, it must be worth reading for one reason or another. I would be content with a year full of 4 star books, especially if I didn't read any 1 or 2 star books. Sometimes I just keep reading, hoping for it to take a turn."

Unless it's a buddy read and I feel some pressure to finish, I rarely do so if I don't enjoy the book. And a lot of times, that pressure is good because the book was worth it in the end.
For this year, 6 2 stars, 1 5 stars, and everything else 3-4 stars. I'm happy 😄

Ioana wrote: "Unless it's a buddy read and I feel some pressure to finish, I rarely do so if I don't enjoy the book. And a lot of times, that pressure is good because the book was worth it in the end.
For this year, 6 2 stars, 1 5 stars, and everything else 3-4 stars. I'm happy 😄"

Those are some good statistics. For me, I have 7 5 star books, 3 1 star books, and everything else is between 2-4 stars. :-) But, we'll see. The year isn't over yet, and...I'm reading a book now that is kind of a stinker. We'll see if it earns a dreaded 1 star review. Last year, I also had 7 5 star books, but I had 8 1 star books, so I was going to praise this year as being much better, but now I'm not so sure. :-)

December Mid Month Report

Books Read: 3 books this month and 147* year to date
*Includes loads of children's books and short stories
48,141 pages year to date

Books from Filling in the Gaps: 85/100; 2020 Books 6/7, 2021 Books 9/11, and 2022 Books 70/82

Books from First 12+4 Challenge: 16/16
Books from Second 12 + 4 Challenge: 15/16

Recently Finished:

Diper Överlöde - I'm finally caught up with Wimpy Kids books, this one was mostly about Roderick and his band. A lot of people didn't like it, but I tend to prefer the Wimpy Kids books that have a theme, as opposed to the ones that are just a bunch of random journal entries. This theme was amusing for me and a quick read. I liked that 3 STARS

Anne of Windy Poplars - It's still my least favorite in the Anne of Green Gables series. I tend to like books that are epistolary, but this one doesn't work for me. It just seems disjointed. I still enjoyed it though. 3 STARS

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - Wow. I have not really watched Blade Runner in years, I forgot what it was about. I have tried to read this book several times, but I couldn't get past the beginning of the book. I finally did it and I really liked the book. It's set in January 2021, and the bounty hunters are retiring some rogue androids that look and act like humans. 4 STARS

Currently reading:

Holy Bible: New International Version - I'm on target to finish this by the end of the year.

The Mountain Shadow - Sequel to Shantaram. I fell into the camp of people that really liked the characters in Shantaram, and tolerated the writing style. If that was you, you may want to skip the sequel. The characters do not seem to have the same motivations as they did previously and the writing style is far worse than before. If you want to get the feel of the book, it would be quicker to just go out and buy a bag of fortune cookies. Break them all apart and just read all of the sayings. If you do that, I vote you too can mark this book as being read. :-( I'm 81% of the way through, so I'm going to finish the book. Hopefully things will get a little better.

Anne's House of Dreams - Well, the good news is that I'm sleeping better. But that means, less Anne of Green Gables series reading.

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup - This is a book about Elizabeth Holmes, a young woman who founded a company called Theranos, which supposedly patented a new method to diagnose disease with just a drop of blood. It's a great idea, but the technology didn't work. Somehow, it seemed better to continue to try and make it work and swindle more money out of investors.

Wanderers - Another beast of a book, this is about a mysterious group of sleepwalkers. I'm 73% of the way through the book, and it is my first book by Chuck Wendig, but probably not my last. Trigger warnings: this book hits issues of racism, homophobia, sexism, and there's lots of blood and gore, and physical, verbal, and sexual assault. It's entertaining, but I had no idea what I was getting myself in for.

Progress on the Whack-a-Mole Series Situation –

Series Completed this year (for the moment...):
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses (1)
2. Sweet Sanctuary (2)
3. Lunar Chronicles (1)
4. Greentown (2)
5. The Henna Artist (2)
6. Charlie Bucket (2)
7. Shadow and Bone (7)
8. P.S. I Love You (1)
9. Capitaine Nemo (2)
10. Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series (1)
11. Robot (8)
12. Twilight (1)
13. Six of Crows (2)
14. Jane Austen's Heroes (5)
15. Catch-22 (1)
16. King of Scars (2)
17. Anne of Green Gables (2)
18. The Border Trilogy (3)
19. Deathless (2)
20. The Tattooist of Auschwitz (1)
21. Thursday Murder Club (3)
22. Graveminder (2)
23. We Were Liars (1)
24. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (13)

Series Started This Year with Books Remaining:
1. Bladerunner (3)
2. Wanderers (2)

Series Started Last Year with Books Remaining:
NONE

Series That Added Books This Year with number of books I still need to read in that series:
1. Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez (8)
2. Xanth (40)
3. Jake Brigance (1)
4. The Miniaturist (1)
5. Comoran Strike (4)
6. Beartown (1)
7. It Ends with Us (1)

Series That Added Books Last Year with number of books I still need to read in that series: (so you can see how I really made no progress!)
1. Ender's Universe (5)
2. Stephanie Plum (7)
3. You (1)

Series that added books this year that I'm abandoning, until I change my mind and read them anyway:
1. Crescent City
2. The Spanish Love Deception
3. Detective Erika Foster
4. Lore Olympus
5. Graceling
6. Saga
7. Arc of a Scythe

Lea wrote: "Books Read: 3 books this month and 147* year to date
*Includes loads of children's books and short stories
48,141 pages year to date."

That's about twice as much as I managed, so again, congrats!

Re: Shantaram. I was in the camp of those who could not get to appreciate the characters because they could not tolerate the writing. One more time, your self-discipline is admirable.

I found Bad Blood super interesting. What's scary is that earlier this year (I think) I read about another company trying the same thing, with similar results and outcome. People really don't learn... although, at some point, I hope we'll have a better technology for blood testing.

So, I may skip Shantaram for the time being, but it remains on the TBR.

Move Wanderers up; got it.

Glad you ended up liking Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep?! It was so weird.

Lea wrote: "The Mountain Shadow - Sequel to Shantaram. I fell into the camp of people that really liked the characters in Shantaram, and tolerated the writing style. If that was you, you may want to skip the sequel. The characters do not seem to have the same motivations as they did previously and the writing style is far worse than before. If you want to get the feel of the book, it would be quicker to just go out and buy a bag of fortune cookies. Break them all apart and just read all of the sayings. If you do that, I vote you too can mark this book as being read. :-( I'm 81% of the way through, so I'm going to finish the book. Hopefully things will get a little better. "

Rats! Too bad about The Mountain Shadow. I did enjoy Shantaram and was hoping that the sequel would be enjoyable. Well, at least I can take one thing off of my tbr list.

Good luck on the rest of the month!

You've had a great year, Lea. I've just started Windy Poplars; I'll keep your thoughts on it in mind. Philip Dick is one of the most interesting Sci-Fi authors I've read. He rarely disappoints. Good luck with the rest of the year.

Ioana wrote: "That's about twice as much as I managed, so again, congrats!

Re: Shantaram. I was in the camp of those who could not get to appreciate the characters because they could not tolerate the writing. One more time, your self-discipline is admirable.

I found Bad Blood super interesting. What's scary is that earlier this year (I think) I read about another company trying the same thing, with similar results and outcome. People really don't learn... although, at some point, I hope we'll have a better technology for blood testing."

I find myself comparing Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup to Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, and I think the writing was better in Empire of Pain. I seem to be able to put Bad Blood aside. But, we do have a road trip coming up, so maybe I will be able to listen to a bigger chunk of the book all at one time and get back into it. The more I learn about the world of innovation and patents, the more I think our current laws need a bit of an overhaul. There is so much unfairness to the current system, and so many people who are somehow able to protect stuff that isn't really theirs. It just bums me out.

Alondra wrote: "So, I may skip Shantaram for the time being, but it remains on the TBR.

Move Wanderers up; got it.

Glad you ended up liking Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep?! It was so weird."

Yeah, Shantaram is a tough book to recommend. It has so many great characters but the author is all over the place in terms of philosophy. I loved it so much, but I love it less now that I think that the characters must not have been as sincere as they said they were based upon their actions in the sequel. It's one of those books where the sequel should have never happened.

Yep, I think you'll like Wanderers. I'm already glad that there is a sequel to tide me over after I finish this one.

I know what you mean about Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? I finished the book and then thought to myself, "What did I just read?" It really was unusual. I've been reading a lot of books about what makes us human this past year and this was another one with a different perspective. Wanderers also asks that question.

Lillie wrote: "Rats! Too bad about The Mountain Shadow. I did enjoy Shantaram and was hoping that the sequel would be enjoyable. Well, at least I can take one thing off of my tbr list.

Good luck on the rest of the month!"

Do you remember why you liked Shantaram? Did you feel connected with the philosophical questions? Or did you love the characters? I think those who love the philosophy might enjoy The Mountain Shadow. But, I tolerated the philosophy in order to read about the characters, so this book was a disappointment for me.

Bill wrote: "You've had a great year, Lea. I've just started Windy Poplars; I'll keep your thoughts on it in mind. Philip Dick is one of the most interesting Sci-Fi authors I've read. He rarely disappoints. Good luck with the rest of the year."

Thanks, Bill. I haven't read anything else by Philip K. Dick, but I think I'm going to have to. Now that I know what to expect with his writing style, I think future books will read quicker. :-)

Lea wrote: "I think the writing was better in Empire of Pain. I seem to be able to put Bad Blood aside."

I agree about the writing.
I don't know too much about patents, but it amazes me every time I watch The Shark Tank that they always ask about patents. And a lot of times they pass on the investment if the entrepreneur does not have a patent.

Lea wrote: "I know what you mean about Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? I finished the book and then thought to myself, "What did I just read?" It really was unusual...."

Exactly. To me, it was nothing like the movie, except for a few parts. In some way, I am glad about that. I don't need it regurgitated to me.

Shantaram has been on my list, off my list and back on. I will leave it because it does look interesting, just not so soon.

Ioana wrote: "I agree about the writing.
I don't know too much about patents, but it amazes me every time I watch The Shark Tank that they always ask about patents. And a lot of times they pass on the investment if the entrepreneur does not have a patent."

I learned a lot about patents after a bad experience someone I knew had. What a racket. Shark Tank is really an interesting program. I don't watch it very often, but when I do, it is fascinating. I imagine they want to protect their investment in the product, and if there is no patent, you'd be amazed what people will do. I'm just at that part in Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup.

Alondra wrote: "Exactly. To me, it was nothing like the movie, except for a few parts. In some way, I am glad about that. I don't need it regurgitated to me.

Shantaram has been on my list, off my list and back on. I will leave it because it does look interesting, just not so soon."

I read Shantaram in a group, and that turned out to be a good way to read it, in bite size segments with a lot of conversation. The Mountain Shadow was on and off my list for a long time, and I kind of wish I'd left it off...but anyway, it did help me to travel to Sri Lanka for my Around the World Challenge and there were a few good bits to it, so I won't complain about it too much. I've definitely read worse books this year. :-)

Lea wrote: "Ioana wrote: "I agree about the writing.
I don't know too much about patents, but it amazes me every time I watch The Shark Tank that they always ask about patents. And a lot of times they pass on ..."

There was so much in Bad Blood that was just mind boggling. How did this woman get away with so much for so long? I listened to the author's podcast after I listened to the audiobook and I was equally fascinated. I also followed the trial. I was surprised that she actually got jail time but I do think it was fair. Maybe in the beginning it was real, at least in her mind, but by the end it was just a con pure and simple.

Michelle wrote: "There was so much in Bad Blood that was just mind boggling. How did this woman get away with so much for so long? I listened to the author's podcast after I listened to the audiobook and I was equally fascinated. I also followed the trial. I was surprised that she actually got jail time but I do think it was fair. Maybe in the beginning it was real, at least in her mind, but by the end it was just a con pure and simple."

Well, she's appealing her fraud conviction right now and because she's pregnant, she is avoiding jail time at the moment. I was also surprised that she got 11 years whereas her ex-boyfriend got 13 years. I am trying to suspend my judgment until I finish reading the book, to see if I think each conviction is fair. It sounds like you thought Ms. Holmes conviction was fair. What did you think about Mr. Balwani's conviction?

Lea wrote: "I read Shantaram in a group, and that turned out to be a good way to read it, in bite size segments with a lot of conversation. The Mountain Shadow was on and off my list for a long time, and I kind of wish I'd left it off... ..."

Thats a good way to read complex books. Someone said they read a chapter a day. That way, at least there is consistency. I will keep thinking about it.

Lea wrote: "Michelle wrote: "There was so much in Bad Blood that was just mind boggling. How did this woman get away with so much for so long? I listened to the author's podcast after I listened to the audiobo..."

Giving him a longer sentence may not be fair. They both try to blame the other one. My sense was that they were equally guilty. I don't know if 11 years is fair but they definitely need to do jail time if only to serve as an example to others. They deceived both the investors and customers no doubt. I also believe that those who spoke out against them were threatened and worse. I'm not sure how deep that part went but the more you read the more you wonder. This was not a case of buyer (or investor) beware this was intentionally duplicitous.

Lea wrote: "It sounds like you thought Ms. Holmes conviction was fair. What did you think about Mr. Balwani's conviction?"

I think that her claim that she was pressured by Ramesh Balwani into doing and saying things is BS. And I don't think he deserved a longer sentence than hers, she was at least equally (if not even more) guilty.

Lea wrote: "Bill wrote: "You've had a great year, Lea. I've just started Windy Poplars; I'll keep your thoughts on it in mind. Philip Dick is one of the most interesting Sci-Fi authors I've read. He rarely dis..."

I'd recommend The Man In A High Castle and Dr. Bloodmoney or How We Got Along after the Bomb as some of his more accessible works. Some can be quite, quite strange..

Alondra wrote: "Thats a good way to read complex books. Someone said they read a chapter a day. That way, at least there is consistency. I will keep thinking about it."

I read two chapters per day of The Mountain Shadow because they are short. I'm reading one chapter per day of Tales from Watership Down. I've heard that we could get through War and Peace using that methodology, but I'm not yet up for it. Maybe 2024, but I'm a bit tired of doorstopper books at the moment. It is a great idea, though.

Michelle wrote: "Giving him a longer sentence may not be fair. They both try to blame the other one. My sense was that they were equally guilty. I don't know if 11 years is fair but they definitely need to do jail time if only to serve as an example to others. They deceived both the investors and customers no doubt. I also believe that those who spoke out against them were threatened and worse. I'm not sure how deep that part went but the more you read the more you wonder. This was not a case of buyer (or investor) beware this was intentionally duplicitous."

Glad to hear your thoughts. So far, I'm really trying not to have an opinion, just better educate myself about this, but already at this point, I am surprised that the CEO got a lighter sentence than the COO.

Ioana wrote: "I think that her claim that she was pressured by Ramesh Balwani into doing and saying things is BS. And I don't think he deserved a longer sentence than hers, she was at least equally (if not even more) guilty."

Thanks for your thoughts on this too, Ioana. I'm really trying to be impartial, but I've already got it in my head that she's the CEO, he's the COO. It is surprising to me that she would receive a lighter sentence and get to postpone until after her second quick pregnancy. I have questions, but I will wait until I finish the book and read other things before I make my final judgment, but on the surface, things don't smell right at the moment.

I'm a cynic, and I cannot not wonder about the timing of her 2nd pregnancy...right in time for the trial. Did that play a role in the sentencing? What human being would not feel more lenient and generous with a pregnant woman?

Ioana wrote: "I'm a cynic, and I cannot not wonder about the timing of her 2nd pregnancy...right in time for the trial. Did that play a role in the sentencing? What human being would not feel more lenient and generous with a pregnant woman?"

Both pregnancies seemed conveniently timed, but I'm also very cynical. Obviously, if she wanted children, she did need to have them quickly and now, because her fertility may be in question after she gets out. But, it also feels like a ploy to get less of a sentence. Nobody wants to see these poor children grow up without their mother...until you start to really consider her lack of empathy....well...anyway, I need to clear my mind a bit and give her a fighting chance as I read this cautionary tale...

Ioana wrote: "I'm a cynic, and I cannot not wonder about the timing of her 2nd pregnancy...right in time for the trial. Did that play a role in the sentencing? What human being would not feel more lenient and ge..."

After you finish reading the book you really should check out the author's podcast by the same name. It addresses this question directly and the general consensus seems to be that it was more than coincidence. I'm not sure what captivated me so much about this story. The sheer audacity I guess and the fact that no one caught on. There are some people who defend her even today. Saying that she was a visionary, and, in a few years, we will see that she was right about the technology. Maybe they are right but she definitely went about it the wrong way.

I don't doubt that someday a new technology will be available to do this. But she did not have that technology yet, she knew that and still lied about it over and over again. And it wasn't a white lie, she deceived both investors and patients.
I've never listened to a podcast, but I'm going to try to find this one.

Michelle wrote: "After you finish reading the book you really should check out the author's podcast by the same name. It addresses this question directly and the general consensus seems to be that it was more than coincidence. I'm not sure what captivated me so much about this story. The sheer audacity I guess and the fact that no one caught on. There are some people who defend her even today. Saying that she was a visionary, and, in a few years, we will see that she was right about the technology. Maybe they are right but she definitely went about it the wrong way."

I think this story captivated me because I was so excited about the prospect of the new technology, and a science company headed by a young woman. We don't have enough women in the Mathematics and Science fields. It was so disappointing to discover that this company was lying and defrauding and harming people and getting away with it for years. Such a sad ending to something that started with such hope.

I definitely need to check out the podcast.

Ioana wrote: "I don't doubt that someday a new technology will be available to do this. But she did not have that technology yet, she knew that and still lied about it over and over again. And it wasn't a white lie, she deceived both investors and patients.
I've never listened to a podcast, but I'm going to try to find this one."

I totally agree, I'm going to have to check out the podcast too. I don't care how benevolently it all started out, in the end, it was just a complete con. And I can't believe they are still fighting that reality. In my view, that makes it worse. :-(

Lea wrote: "Ioana wrote: "I don't doubt that someday a new technology will be available to do this. But she did not have that technology yet, she knew that and still lied about it over and over again. And it w..."

It does make it worse. The only reason to send them to jail is to discourage others from following in their footsteps. From all indications it appears they do not think they did anything wrong and they never will. Her entire case (including the pregnancies) was designed to present her as a martyr. Far from it.

Michelle wrote: "It does make it worse. The only reason to send them to jail is to discourage others from following in their footsteps. From all indications it appears they do not think they did anything wrong and they never will. Her entire case (including the pregnancies) was designed to present her as a martyr. Far from it."

I have a long car ride ahead of me today, so I'm hoping to make more progress on this book. Not sure I can finish in 2022, but I am eager to do what I can. I'm still trying to keep an open mind, but you and Ioana are already confirming my suspicions about this case. I agree that it makes it worse. It's like they are trying to make their actions acceptable to the general public, and I don't think lying and manipulating others and treating them poorly ever should be acceptable.