On The Same Page discussion

I have some of Erdrich's books but haven't read her yet. Need to up them based on your review, Lillie! You had a good month with quite a bit of variation across genres.

You had an excellent August. Such a nice variety.

Lillie wrote: "Book #124 All Systems Red 4.5 stars audiobook

A RLBookclub book as well as a reread for me. Read the print book last time and listened to the a..."

I love, love this series. I am on my way to the last book, which is novel sized. I'm still not feeling Murderbots ongoing "human" attributes. I don't like it at all.

Thanks everyone, haven't been on here due to the heatwave we're having. Yesterday we hit 108°F/42°C and the day before we hit 113°F/45°C 🥵

Even though I felt I hadn't read a lot during August, I guess I did ok. And having a 5 star, The Sentence elevated it.

Alondra wrote: "I love, love this series. I am on my way to the last book, which is novel sized. I'm still not feeling Murderbots ongoing "human" attributes. I don't like it at all."

I hear you! I've had a couple of quibbles about the series including how human it seems. The other was when I listened to the audiobook, why was I so disappointed that the narrator was male and not female? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Lillie wrote: "Thanks everyone, haven't been on here due to the heatwave we're having. Yesterday we hit 108°F/42°C and the day before we hit 113°F/45°C 🥵

Even though I felt I hadn't read a lot during August, I g..."

Wow, stay hydrated! Hope you get a cool front soon.

Between the heat here and the loss of our second dog, it's been a tough couple of weeks. I've managed to read 3 books in the last 2 weeks. I have 6 print books from the library waiting as well as 4 audiobooks from libby plus a print book on my nightstand. Ugh.

Onto the books I've read:

Book #134 Upgrade 3.5 stars print book

I desperately wanted this to be the book of the year, it's sci-fi, it's time travel, what's not to love. The author's past 2 books, Dark Matter and Recursion did not disappoint. I was really enjoying this until about the last quarter. And then, what? Oh well, it was still good just not great.

Book #135 Love & Other Great Expectations 3 stars audiobook

Someone in this group had read this (tried to look back to see who it was) and I wanted to thank them. This was an easy YA summer reading romance. Read it at the right time. It's a competitive literary scavenger hunt in England with a budding romance. Did I think some of the scenarios were a bit out there? Sure, but who cares. Lighthearted and fun read.

Book #136 Miss Moriarty, I Presume? 3.5 stars audiobook

It may be because there's been such a gap in reading this next book in the series but I was a bit lost in the beginning. There's something to be said for a series book having a small recap during the first chapter or so. But once I got into it and remembered events, the book was a fun mystery with some nice twists. Am intrigued to see where the series is heading.

Library Books:
Rabbits I've had this for 8 weeks now, it's due back next week. If I don't pick it up anytime soon, I'll know it wasn't meant to be this time around
Civilizations Had this one for some time too. I think I have one more renewal on it but if I don't pick it up, it'll go the same way as Rabbit
Keya Das's Second Act new
The Lincoln Highway new and started it. Oh boy is it massive
Haven new
Metropolis new

Libby Audiobooks:
Providence I'm really not having any luck with this one. May have to try the print version
Wife of the Gods am about 11% done and already enjoying Det Darko Dawson's grumpy demeanor :)
Version Zero about 27% done but I'm not enjoying it yet, I keep hoping it gets better. It's on a challenge list so I will finish it
The Exiles haven't started! And it's for bookclub on Tuesday! I need to stop fooling around.

Nightstand Print Book:
Games without Rules: The Often-Interrupted History of Afghanistan about 2/3's done. Very interesting history of Afghanistan

Lillie wrote: "Between the heat here and the loss of our second dog, it's been a tough couple of weeks. I've managed to read 3 books in the last 2 weeks. I have 5 print books from the library waiting as well as 4..."

The loss of your dog is heartbreaking. Mine are like my children…geriatric children, but children all the same.

Sad to hear it’s been a tough few weeks.

〰️Beth〰️ wrote: "The loss of your dog is heartbreaking. Mine are like my children…geriatric children, but children all the same.

Sad to hear it’s been a tough few weeks. "

Thanks Beth. We knew both dogs were going to be gone by end of summer and unfortunately, it came true. I have 2 kids and I kept telling them that the dogs were our favorites. They never talked back and actually wanted to be with us ;) They were our babies, our constant companions. I hope you get several more years with your dogs.

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your second dog, never easy even when it is expected. I did chuckle at you telling the kids your dogs were your favourites though.

Lillie wrote: "Between the heat here and the loss of our second dog, it's been a tough couple of weeks. I've managed to read 3 books in the last 2 weeks. I have 6 print books from the library waiting as well as 4..."

I'm reading this as I sit on the sofa on a Sunday morning with both of our dogs sleeping beside me. My wife and I have dealt with the loss of two previous doggy companions. I know how you feel. They bring such joy and affection and don't ask for much, just food.. food... food... and love. My heart goes out to you. Know that your doggy was much loved.

So sorry to hear about your dogs, Lillie, I'm sure they were much loved and will be missed for a long time.

I'm a big fan of the Darko Dawson series, glad to see you're enjoying it too.

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your second dog, never easy even when it is expected. I did chuckle at you telling the kids your dogs were your favourites though."

Thank you. My kids would just roll their eyes at me whenever I said that. But, you know, I wasn't kidding, not really, lol

Bill wrote: "I'm reading this as I sit on the sofa on a Sunday morning with both of our dogs sleeping beside me. My wife and I have dealt with the loss of two previous doggy companions. I know how you feel. They bring such joy and affection and don't ask for much, just food.. food... food... and love. My heart goes out to you. Know that your doggy was much loved."

Thanks Bill. It's the strangest thing, I never realized that I would come to love them so much. It's been an adjustment not having them by me. I'm sorry that you had to go through it as well. And it's nice that you're with some new companions. They really do just need love and lots of food and treats :)

Carolien wrote: "So sorry to hear about your dogs, Lillie, I'm sure they were much loved and will be missed for a long time.

I'm a big fan of the Darko Dawson series, glad to see you're enjoying it too."

Thanks Carolien.

It's been very interesting reading the first of each of the author's series. Such a contrast between the two detectives but both series set in Ghana. I'm wondering if they exist in the same world and if there'll be a crossover at anytime.

I've gotten back to reading through audiobooks with a vengeance. Yay!

Book #137 Wife of the Gods (Darko Dawson #1) 3.5 stars audiobook

Enjoyable start to a mystery series set in Ghana. Det Darko Dawson works in a larger city and is sent to a smaller town to solve the murder of a young woman. Not only does he investigate her death but his own mother's disappearance from the same town when he was young. Last year I read Quartey's first book, The Missing American, in his other series featuring Emma Djan. I like both series but I prefer the Emma Djan one more. Having said that, I will be reading the next book in each series.

Book #138 Version Zero 2 stars audiobook

This has been on my list since I first heard of it. Sci-fi ✔
big tech vs little guy ✔
not the thriller it was advertised as ✔
unnecessary unrequited love ✔
boring ✔
oh well.

Book #139 Games Without Rules: The Often Interrupted History of Afghanistan 4 stars print book

Very good book about the history of Afghanistan without being dry. I really liked that the author is from Afghanistan and that we do get to know a little about his family. It felt more authentic to me. I would love to read a book by him of the different cultures and ethnicities of the country.

Book #140 The Exiles 4 stars audiobook

Historical fiction about the women who were on the convict ships to Australia in the 19th century and one lonely Aboriginal girl who gets taken away from her family to be "civilized". So much history that I was unaware of, so much brutality, so much heartbreak, and a smidgeon of hope. The author kept me engaged until the last words. Fantastic.

Book #141 Providence 3 stars audiobook

Ok, do you ever read a book and wonder what the heck? This was my reaction in the beginning. 4 people are chosen to go on a spaceship to go and fight the aliens far away from Earth. The spaceship is an AI and they picked the crew. Why are they fighting the aliens? Who are these aliens? Why is everything so over the top? When I realized that it really is a spoof on "serious" sci-fi, I was able to relax and enjoy the story.

Lillie wrote: "I hear you! I've had a couple of quibbles about the series including how human it seems. The other was when I listened to the audiobook, why was I so disappointed that the narrator was male and not female? 🤷🏻‍♀️..."

NNnnoooo; ugh! Martha Wells needs to answer for that!?? I really loved that we had/have no idea of gender. *sigh*

Lillie wrote: "Bill wrote: "I'm reading this as I sit on the sofa on a Sunday morning with both of our dogs sleeping beside me. My wife and I have dealt with the loss of two previous doggy companions. I know how ..."

The house will seem quieter. Automatic habits you've become accustomed to, such as sharing your snacks, etc. will be a constant reminder of what's missing. But just know they are always with you and looking down on you and thanking you for the love you gave them and they returned and continue to do. (Sorry didn't mean to get maudlin there.)

Alondra wrote: "NNnnoooo; ugh! Martha Wells needs to answer for that!?? I really loved that we had/have no idea of gender. *sigh* "

I've thinking about this for a bit and I'm actually upset about the fact that the default is male. I don't know, I'll just continue to believe in Murderbot being an it/they

A question out to anyone, have you read any fantasy by Martha Wells? And what did you think?

Bill wrote: "The house will seem quieter. Automatic habits you've become accustomed to, such as sharing your snacks, etc. will be a constant reminder of what's missing. But just know they are always with you and looking down on you and thanking you for the love you gave them and they returned and continue to do. (Sorry didn't mean to get maudlin there.)"

Thanks Bill. It's been about 3 weeks with them both being gone and it's a weird feeling. I'm hoping we get to the place where you and your wife are and welcome more dogs in our lives. It doesn't seem like it'll be doable for a long time.

In quick succession I was able to actually read a couple of books off of the Reading Group Challenge list. They were so different for each other although I rated them the same 3.5 stars.

Book #142 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil 3.5 stars print book

A gossipy book of non-fictional events that took place in and around 1981. A New York author decides to live part time in Savannah, GA and meets all kinds of quirky characters. It captures all the racism, classism, snobbery and homophobia as it unfolds the story of the murder of a young man who had been in the employment of an older art dealer and the subsequent trial. Liked that it was told by an outsider who slowly met and interacted with the different characters.

Book #143 Purple Hibiscus 3.5 stars print book

A converted highly religious Nigerian man has demons that he needs to fight while his family try to survive. Trigger warning for abuse. Had I known how much it contained, I would've never picked it up. Told by the teenage daughter, it's a slow awakening of her precarious position in the world. Of how little freedom she had and of the conflicting emotions she had for her father. I didn't love it but felt compelled to finish it.

Lillie wrote: "Alondra wrote: "NNnnoooo; ugh! Martha Wells needs to answer for that!?? I really loved that we had/have no idea of gender. *sigh* "

I've thinking about this for a bit and I'm actually upset about ..."

Same here. I am keeping it as IT, non-binary. In the book it seemed more feminine to me, though. *sigh*

Book #144 Keya Das's Second Act 3.5 stars print book

About the accidental death of a daughter after a strained relationship with her family after she told them that she was gay. This book is the coming to terms of her death and their guilt in pushing her away. The Bengali family finds an unfinished play their daughter had written, hidden up in their attic. Such a quiet bittersweet novel that brings up the question of can we forgive ourselves when we make mistakes? How do we move on from the overwhelming grief?

Lillie wrote: "Bill wrote: "The house will seem quieter. Automatic habits you've become accustomed to, such as sharing your snacks, etc. will be a constant reminder of what's missing. But just know they are alway..."

You'll know if and when you are ready.

Book #145 Flying Solo 2 stars audiobook

Romance kind of? I guess contemporary fiction is a better label. A woman comes back to the small town she was raised in to go through her great-aunt's house after her death. She reconnects with her first love, gets to spend time with her bff and deals with a unscrupulous antique dealer who steals a possibly valuable carved wood duck. Sounded light and fun. I was bored. The best part of the book was that she was a very grounded woman who knew exactly how she wanted to lead her life and where and wasn't willing to compromise. Gave it an extra 1/2 star because she knew her mind.

Book #146 The Kingdoms 2.5 stars audiobook

This start of the book was so engaging. A man on a train to London with amnesia. How did he get there? Why are the conductors speaking French? Such a promising start. Got to about 1/2 through and I didn’t know what was happening, 3 different timelines, 3 different years, why did the man still have amnesia? Felt like 2 books sewn together, loved the first half and was left mostly confused with the second. I do want to give the author a second chance and have The Watchmaker of Filigree Street on my tbr.

Book #147 One Night on the Island 3.5 stars audiobook

Woman goes on a journey of self discovery and stumbles on an enemy to (holiday) lovers relationship. Luckily the romance didn't overtake the novel, it felt more realistic and modern. This isn't the kind of romances I read when I was younger and I'm good with that.

Book #148 Less Is Lost 3 stars audiobook

Honestly I debated between giving this a 3 star or a 3.5 star and ended up going with the higher rating. This follow up to Less is slightly less quirky and a little forced. When the writing and situations were on, it was amusing and sometimes funny. Unfortunately, there were some situations that I found dumb and unnecessary (view spoiler)[I’m talking to you last chapters of the book (hide spoiler)]. Ok, now that I’ve written this, I’m downgrading the rating.

Book #149 The End of the World Running Club 4 stars audiobook

As I was reading this I kept trying to figure out what this reminded me of and it finally came to me, The Walking Dead tv show. This time people weren't fighting in a world devastated by a virus that turned people into zombies but meteorites fell in the Northern Hemisphere and destroyed life as it was. And the monsters in this world weren't zombies but other people. Which rings true. It's an apocalyptic world where Ed is separated from his family and he needs to get to them before they leave on a ship to somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere. Fun read and I'd definitely watch this as an episodic show.

Book #150 Snap 2 stars print book/audiobook

You know how there are books that people just love and your experience is so different? That was this book for me. It caused me great anxiety and had to put it down way too many times. And then I switched between the print and audiobook hoping one of them would pull me in. Oh well, it's been on my shelf for years and now it's been read and I can donate it.

*reposted from Reading Group Challenge*

Book #151 The Dead Romantics 4 stars audiobook

Last book of September and it was a good one though I have to admit that I pushed through the first couple of chapters and almost gave up. Glad I hung in there because it developed into a story worth reading. Unless, of course, you don't like ghosts. I liked that I didn't really know how it was going to end up. Enjoyable contemporary romance.

September Wrap Up :
18 books read (6 print/12 audiobooks)
10 books from challenge lists (20 books left)
Overall ratings:
4 - 4 star reads
6 - 3.5 star reads
4 - 3 star reads
4 - 2 star reads

Top Read: Games Without Rules: The Often Interrupted History of Afghanistan
Second Top Read: The End of the World Running Club
Third Top Read: The Exiles
Bottom books: tie between Snap and Version Zero

Most Disappointing Book: Upgrade thought it would be amazing. Didn't turn out that way for me. Still a 3.5 star read.

Currently Reading :
Kindred
The Lincoln Highway

DNF :
Haven this author is a hit or miss for me, I've loved some of her books and others just haven't worked for me

On Deck :
The Bullet That Missed
Carrie Soto Is Back
Desperation in Death
The Ink Black Heart
Metropolis

Excellent month. Good luck with your October selections.

Bill wrote: "Excellent month. Good luck with your October selections."

Thanks Bill :)

Book #152 Metropolis 2.5 stars print book

5 people's lives intertwine because they all are connected to the storage facility, whether they own it, work there, run an office out of there or live there. The book's alright. The writing is good, the storylines are good, I just would've preferred to read them as short stories rather than alternating chapters. This is a me gripe. I think there's an audience for this type of book, just not me.

Lillie wrote: "
September Wrap Up
:
18 books read (6 print/12 audiobooks)
10 books from challenge lists (20 books left)
Overall ratings:
4 - 4 star reads
6 - 3.5 star reads
4 - 3 star reads
4 - 2 star reads

T..."

Great update, Lillie; 18 books! Not too shabby!

I feel you on the disappointment with Blake Crouch. I felt the same about Dark Matter. Sorry, not sorry. LOL

How are you liking Kindred??? I still need to read that one.

How is The Lincoln Highway? i'm eyeballing it for a 2023 book contender ..

Great month! I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on The Lincoln Highway as well as The Ink Black Heart. Both need to be excellent to get all the way through them!

Alondra wrote: "
I feel you on the disappointment with Blake Crouch. I felt the same about Dark Matter. Sorry, not sorry. LOL

How are you liking Kindred??? I still need to read that one.

reply | flag"

Crouch, I’m holding on to the hope that his next book will be better🤷🏻‍♀️🤞🏼

Ok, I know this going to sound weird but I stopped reading Kindred because I want to save it, want to savor it closer to the end of the year. I’m such a sucker for time travel, I feel excited when I think about the story. Really liked the first several chapters, definitely looking forward to picking it up and immersing myself. Thinking it’ll be a December read.

Patricia wrote: "Great month! I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on The Lincoln Highway as well as The Ink Black Heart. Both need to be excellent to get all the way through them!"

Alissa wrote: "How is The Lincoln Highway? i'm eyeballing it for a 2023 book contender .."

😬 Unfortunately, I wasn’t pulled into the story (have read 2 chapters) and put it down to finish a couple of other books. Will be reading it this month though cause it’s due at the end of October.

Lillie wrote: "rouch, I’m holding on to the hope that his next book will be better🤷🏻‍♀️🤞🏼

Ok, I know this going to sound weird but I stopped reading Kindred because I want to save it, want to savor it closer to..."

Doesn't sound weird at all. Sounds like a reader to me! LOL

I love when books make you feel like that. Crouch books waver from 2-5, depending. The Pines trilogy was awesome all the way through.

#153 The Queen's Gambit 3 stars audiobook

I mostly liked it, my eyes did glaze a bit whenever chess moves were written about in detail. I know, I know, this book is about chess. Didn’t realize how much of it talked about specific moves in games. I know nothing about the game and those parts went over my head. I did really enjoy the rest, the underdog who continually strives for championship.

Book #154 And Then There Were 4.5 stars ebook

Wish there was a way to properly categorize short stories. That aside, this is fantastic. It combines sci-fi in the form of alternate worlds and a murder mystery. Sarah Pinskers from all over the alternate realities have a come together at a convention on an isolated island. Which has been cut off from the mainland due to a storm. The one detective aka insurance fraud investigator is called upon to solve the mystery. A great palate cleanser.

Book #155 The Lincoln Highway 2.5 stars print book/audiobook

I haven't looked to see what others thought of this book yet, unfortunately, it didn't work for me. I loved A Gentleman in Moscow, it was different, original and a quiet book. Was expecting more of the same magic here, thought I would love his character studies. Yeah, no. I mostly felt impatient. A good editor could've cut this book in half and it would've been better. The meandering was too much for me. I knew it wasn't going well when I had to switch from the print book to the audiobook fairly early. Oh well.

Book #156 A Thousand Steps into Night 4 stars audiobook

What a refreshing book! After several books that were mediocre, this book worked its magic on me. A YA fantasy loosely based in a Japanese like country, a young girl gets marked and slowly turns into a demon. This is her adventure in trying to stop the transformation. Along the way, she meets all kinds of magical creatures, some she bonds with and others who are against her quest. First book to make me smile in a while. It may have helped that I had no expectations of the book.

Book #157 The Merciless Ones 4.5 stars print book

Namina Forna has done it again. Wasn’t sure if this was going to be a duology or a trilogy going in, I was prepared either way. Luckily for us, we have one more book coming. This is Deja’s awakening to all around her, to what her world really is. There was a little too much of people coupling up but I had to remind myself this is a YA fantasy. Even with that little quibble, it was a very good book. Looking forward to the third book.

Book #158 The House of the Spirits 5 stars audiobook

Quarter of the way through I got to a part that was pretty wretched and I thought how did I ever like this book before? Why did I give it 5 stars? Oh boy, what a ride. The lows (hating characters), the highs (loving the beautiful writing), the what just happened and getting to the end, thinking, how am I at the epilogue already. I remember why I loved the family drama that takes place alongside the post colonial upheaval and, then later, terror of a military coup in Chile. This book took me through all of the emotions.

Lillie wrote: "Book #158 The House of the Spirits 5 stars audiobook

Quarter of the way through I got to a part that was pretty wretched and I thought..."

A great review. It's one of those books that you feel so mixed up about at the end that you can hardly explain to people what it was about or why you liked it. You did a great job with it!

Michelle wrote: "A great review. It's one of those books that you feel so mixed up about at the end that you can hardly explain to people what it was about or why you liked it. You did a great job with it!

You get what I was saying! It's so hard to review I had to go with my feelings. I don't think I'll be able to reread it for another several years.

Book #159 Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times 3.5 stars print book

Well written memoir of a midwife/district nurse in 1950's London. Decided to read this after having watched the series. It's slightly different, as are most books from their episodic series or movie versions, but still very sweet.

Book #160 Salvage the Bones 4 stars audiobook

This book is so intense! A family drama set in the 12 days before Hurricane Katrina, you can feel the stress of the dad who's trying to get hurricane ready while his 4 kids have their own dramas going on. Mainly focused on the only daughter's story who, at 14, is worried that she may be pregnant. As she tries to hide her possible condition, one brother is obsessed with his pitbull & her puppies, another is worried about getting a scholarship for summer camp and the little one is just trying to keep up with his siblings. Want to put a big trigger warning about the dog storyline. It made me want to put the book down. (view spoiler)[dog fighting, at points it was a little too vivid (hide spoiler)] But having said that, this author is soooo good. I really felt like I was there.

While waiting for the Halloween tricker treaters I'm going to do my wrap up. Hope it's coherent.

Awww...we got our first 3 kids, they were so little and so adorable! Ok, back to the regularly scheduled program.

October wrap up: Read 13 books, 5 print, 7 audiobooks, 1 ebook

Have completed some of my challenge lists (contemporary, YA and rereads) and have a total of 12 books left from the other lists. Pretty sure that's doable.

The 4 books I haven't reviewed yet:
Book #161 Thank You for Listening 4 stars audiobook

Fun book. It is a romance so if that genre isn't your thing, you may not want to pick it up. The author narrates the book and she's very good. It never felt like it was just one narrator.

Book #162 Strange Weather in Tokyo 2.5 stars print book

Had a very hard time connecting with either character and couldn't see their motivation in their actions. The story of 2 lonely people who connected by just being in each other's orbit was alright. I feel like we lost a lot in the translation.

Book #163 Desperation in Death 4 stars print book

Pretty sure that you know by now my love for this series. They are my comfort books. Didn't particularly enjoy this one as much as previous ones (we are on book 55 in the series) because of the subject matter. But it's still Eve and Roarke and Peabody and Mavis so still good.

Book #164 Persephone Station 2 very generous stars audiobook

So, a narrator can really elevate or kill a book. Unfortunately, this narrator killed the book. I couldn't tell which character was which, what the storylines were. I'm sure some of this due to the author but I won't be listening to anymore audiobooks by this narrator.

Best book of the month: The House of the Spirits
Worst book: Persephone Station

Forgot to include what I have on my pile for November:
The Shadow Murders (Department Q #9)
Woman of Light
The Effort
Blitz (The Checquy Files #3)
The Rabbit Factor
The Lost Ticket (audiobook)
The Second Life of Mirielle West (audiobook)

Great month Lillie! I enjoyed Thank you for Listening as well. Could the author have crammed one more romance trope into that book? And yet it worked. I just finished The Lost Ticket and enjoyed it as well. Hope you do too.

We had no trick or treaters.. Mind you we were exhausted from just flying back from Ontario.. lol.. You had a great month. I've got to start the JD Robb series. One for 2023... :)