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

You are not limited to the two chosen books. You may read any book within the theme "Books set in / author from YOUR location on The Ides of March, 3/15" if you prefer. Please explain how your nominated book fits the theme.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have read the book before or during March 2024.

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 thoughts 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'll be at home in Alberta on the 15th, so I will read A Rhinestone Button. I'm not sure when I will be able to start it. Maybe I'll read it on the beach in Hawaii.

Have a wonderful time in Hawaii, Janice!

Thanks Kristie. I'm looking forward to it.

That sounds amazing, Janice! Enjoy!

I am reading Summer Knight by Jim Butcher.

This is the fourth book in the Dresden Files. I love this series so it was a great opportunity to read the next book. I will be in Missouri for March 15 which happens to be the home state of Jim Butcher.

I will be at home in Middle Georgia on the Ides. So, I will be reading Lost Lake which takes place in South Georgia.

I'll be home on that day, so does it mean that you've got to read a book set in the city that you live in or from an author who lives in your city? Or is it the country?

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I'll be home on that day, so does it mean that you've got to read a book set in the city that you live in or from an author who lives in your city? Or is it the country?"

Saar - will you be in a country that you don't normally live?

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I'll be home on that day, so does it mean that you've got to read a book set in the city that you live in or from an author who lives in your city? Or is it the country?"

It just says location, so I'd try to get it as close to home as possible. I think it will depend on where someone lives. For example, I'm in the US so using my country would have been too broad and wouldn't be keeping to the theme really well. I could have narrowed it down to my state, but I thought the city would be better for me.

I think if you're in a small town that you won't be able to find in a book you will need to expand a little maybe to a city that you live near or surrounding town, but don't expand too much. Basically, get as close to your location as you can.

I agree with Kristie. Keeping it too broad misses the point, but that might not look the same for everyone. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to find a book set in my town, so I guess that Pennsylvania would be ok, even better if I can find something set in central Pennsylvania. Now, if you are in Chicago, all of Illinois might be too broad. But, as we often say, it doesn't have to be a chore to find a book. Just try to keep the spirit of the theme.

@Jayme: no, just home and not travelling.
@Kristie and Sandra: I'm going to search books about Bruges or that takes place in Bruges. I've got a series in mind, but that's not my cup of tea.

I love the Noir style mixed with magic and the supernatural in The Dresden books. There is such a great atmosphere of dark nitty grittiness balanced with a wonderful sense of wit and just the right touches of humor. There is a lot of complexity in Summer Knight which I enjoy. I like the way in which the book keeps with the detective genre theme and having a new case to solve but wraps that up in a continuation of events from the previous book. Butcher finds a really good balance of doing homage to both detective novels while also giving a nod to the high fantasy genre. I think one of the good things about his books is how he keeps a balance that makes everything work.

I started my book last night. on March 15th I am at home in Ireland so I'm rereading an old favourite, Watermelon. This is the first book in the Walsh family saga. Marian Keyes is very, very funny and she does family dynamics very well. The genre is chick lit, which is not usually my taste but that depends on who's writing it.

In this story the MC is Claire, the eldest sister. (view spoiler)[ on the day she gives birth to her first child, her husband leaves her for another woman claiming that he couldn't tell her while she was pregnant in case it caused complications. Stunned, she moves home to her parents makes everyones lives hell. (hide spoiler)]

Margo, I've had that book on my TBR for ages. Good to see it's one you've loved. I hope you enjoy your reread equally as much.

The author has decided to revisit some of the characters in middle age. She's already released Again, Rachel and My Favourite Mistake will be released next month. It's so funny to see this family in their 40s and 50s and read how they've changed - or not!

I finished Watermelon last night. my reactions to it were different than when I first it, in part because someone had decided to add in all these little explanations like "Of course we didn't have smart phones in those days" and "...,.this was before you could book flights online" which brought me right out of the story.

My favourite parts of the plot still worked as well like (view spoiler)[ Mammy Walshes many saying and the part where Claire confronts her cheating hubby. The parts that I found hardest tolerate were when Claire looked like she was going to be taken in by her his lies and agree to suppress her personality and change everything about herself to become the woman he wanted. I suppose I'm struggling to remember what it was like before divorce was legalised in Ireland and how much attitudes have changed. (hide spoiler)]

EDIT: I forgot to say I spent the ides of march at home in Ireland.

The revisits sound like a wonderful idea, Margo.

I'm confused... did they edit the book to add those things in? What a strange thing to do.

I read Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen. It takes place in small town South Georgia on a swamp. I started this last week as we were leaving Middle Georgia for an event in South Georgia. We followed that event with a couple of days on the Georgia Coast which took us through many small towns that were located on a marsh and/or swamp.

I finished the book today. I enjoy Sarah Addison Allen’s books as she is able to weave magical realism into them so that it doesn’t hit you over the head. It was interesting to read this book surrounded by people from the area. Although I live in Middle Georgia, there is such a difference in people and surroundings. My home is surrounded by green hills and waterfalls and not the swampy marshlands full of heat that seems to describe South Georgia. We have dogwoods and they have palm trees. We both share oaks and pines.

I did fall in love with this quote from the book: “The books I read when I was 20 completely changed when I read them at 60. You know why? Because the endings changed. After you finish a book, the story goes on in your mind. You can never change the beginning. But you can always change the end.” Lost Lake, Sarah Addison Allen

That's a great quote, Sharon. It's one that you can sit with and think on.

That is a cool quote, Sharon.
I'm glad you enjoyed your pick.

Thank y’all!

I just finished Sugar Daddy. It is the first book of a romance series that takes place in Texas. The book follows the life of Liberty Jones who lives in Welcome, Texas and later moves to Houston, Texas.

I felt it was a bit slow to get to the romance. I do feel like this is because they were reviewing her life and introducing all the main players of the whole series. I liked it I just wish it was maybe longer to give her a longer romance or written a bit differently. I have been reading some intense books this month so having a light hearted romance was nice. I will probably read at least the next book in the series and hope it is a bit better.

Remember to report your reading!