Book Nook Cafe discussion

madrano wrote: "Hailey wrote: "Hello everyone! For the month of May, I read four books.

The first book I read was The Twelfth Ring by Sam Clarke. My review can be found here. So much like with My Almost Flawless ..."

Thank you, madrano. I'm really glad to hear that you find my reviews insightful. Speaking of reviews, I read your reviews for your May books and based on how you described them, I think you picked some interesting reads.

Thank you, Alias & Hailey. As always, it's just a delight to share & read the posts from other's who share the previous month's titles.

madrano wrote: "And thanks for sharing your May titles with us. We like seeing the direction others here are taking in their reading, as they often give us ideas"

Well, I always get some ideas of new TBRs from reading other posts, so it seems only fair to let everyone else know what I've read and what I thought of it.
Actually,I've just promoted Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers from "maybe" to "borrow from library" after reading your review.

Alias Reader wrote: "I hope June is a better month for you, Kim"

Me, too. I'm on my 2nd attempt of June, though. I just need to make myself sit down a read more than I have been the last few days.

madrano wrote: "Kim, your comment is so interesting, given many of the GR reviews seem to still be haunted by it. "

I've been a horror movie fan for like 40 years, so maybe that's why. LOL! There's not a lot that grosses me out, especially in movies or books (it's mostly smells that do it...certain ones make me gag). I did get grossed out some reading For the Sake Of by Judith Sonnet. But some of the gore in that one is self inflicted, so that's a little different.

Who knows, maybe I'm just screwed up in the head. LOL!!!!!!

madrano wrote: "Since returning from our brief vacation, i've been very slow in writing down what i've read. Part of this is because several were dense with material and, for me, tough to put into words. It may be..."

Deb - thanks for sharing! Several of these sound intriguing.

I've disappeared on here for a bit (busy Spring!), but will try to share my May reads today :)

Hi all! I've been away from GR for a little while but trying to catch up a bit today.
I'm reading through everyone's past reads and growing my TBR accordingly :)

Here are my May reads.
They're a bit inflated, as 2 were DNFs (I got maybe 20% of the way for each, will comment below)


1) The Wishing Game

⭐️⭐️ -
This one was not for me. A few friends highly recommended it, and I see why - it's a great idea for a story. I just found it highly problematic at times and the writing felt a bit... silly for lack of better words.


2) Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This one surprised me. I don't read much fantasy, but this felt modern and believable with a variety of interesting characters. The main idea is that a man shows up at his own funeral and is brought to a sort of halfway house by a Reaper. He confronts the way he lived and considers the way he might have lived if given another chance.


3) Set Boundaries Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a nonfiction / psychology / self-help type of book. Great for the people-pleasers of the world, Type A-ers, etc. who need some tools for saying no / setting boundaries.


4) Almond by Sohn Won-Pyung

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a surprisingly lovely short read. Yunjae is born Alexithymia, a condition that makes it impossible for him to feel emotions like anger or sadness (or understand them from others). This is his story of tragedy and friendship, and an attempt at "normal".

5) The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the same author as #2 above - I enjoyed it, but not quite as much as Under the Whispering Door. It's another fantasy novel in which kids with 'extraordinary abilities' get sent to 'orphanages' to keep them (and the public) safe.


6) Ultra Processed People by Chris van Tulleken

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The author did a (mostly) wonderful job of backing up his claims with actual science. I also appreciated that his intention with this book is to spread information, not judgment. It was also a good mix of science + personal accounts.


7) Pelican Girls - DNF

⭐️⭐️
This could have been such a wonderful novel. The main premise and story idea are fantastic. Women from orphanages and mental institutions in France are sent to the New Louisiana settlements to become wives for the men settling there.
Unfortunately, the writing and character development was completely lacking for me. I could not connect to any of the characters and literally didn't care what was happening, despite being interested in this period of history.

8) Rest Is Resistance - DNF

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I know people love this one, but I just couldn't really get into it. Everything the author is saying is helpful, but I found it got repetitive quickly. I would have appreciated more scientific information in general and specifics when it came to the historical events she mentions and glosses over.

Lindsey wrote: "Hi all! I've been away from GR for a little while but trying to catch up a bit today.
I'm reading through everyone's past reads and growing my TBR accordingly :)

Here are my May reads.
They're a..."

Thank you for sharing your May reads with us, Lindsey. I actually have The House in the Cerulean Sea on by TBR and I hope to read it some time in the near future.

Lindsey wrote: "

6) Ultra Processed People by Chris van Tulleken
Ultra-Processed People The Science Behind Food That Isn't Food by Chris van Tulleken
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The author did a (mostly) wonderful job of backing up his claims with actual science. I also appreciated that his intention with this book is to spread information, not judgment. It was also a good mix of science + personal accounts.
..."

Thanks for this title, Lindsey. I'm going to check it out.

~*Kim*~ wrote: "I did get grossed out some reading For the Sake Of by Judith Sonnet. But some of the gore in that one is self inflicted, so that's a little different.

Who knows, maybe I'm just screwed up in the head. LOL!!!..."

How could that be, since we are friends, Kim? 🤔 Wait a minute, i can see where this is headed!

ANYway, gore didn't much bother me in my younger days. Now, knowing that it isn't just macabre fantasy in today's world. (If it ever was, only that i was ignorant of it.)

Lindsey wrote: "Hi all! I've been away from GR for a little while but trying to catch up a bit today.
I'm reading through everyone's past reads and growing my TBR accordingly :)

Here are my May reads.
They're a..."

I'm glad to see your contribution, Lindsey. You were missed but i fully understand how living gets in the way of sharing about books. Both are a joy but sometimes, one overtakes the other.

Meanwhile, this is a good variety of books you read. I'm surprised "The Wishing Game" wasn't good, as it sounds fun. I mean, with books as a motivating factor, how can it not be? It sounds as though Meg Shaffer managed!

Thanks for the Chris van Tulleken book. I've not heard of him or the book but have come to understand what he means over the years.

We appreciate the time it took to share these titles. And we thank you, Lindsey.

Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1)

Elizabeth wrote: "Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1)"

Hi Elisabeth. Are you currently reading this one or did you finish?

If you finished, did you enjoy it and would you recommend it ?

Thanks for sharing the title !

Elizabeth wrote: "Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1)"

Dark Lover--J.R. Ward. It sounds like a promising book, Elizabeth.

For May I read a few:

All Souls Night by Aislinn Marshall - 4 stars
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Dracula in the cinema by Laura Cremonini - 4 stars
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

LITTLE LOST ANGEL by Michael Quinlan - DNF
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Picture of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by David Kempf - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

What Hides Within by Jason Parent - 4 stars
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Bishop's Legacy by Lincoln Cole - 4 stars
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Missing Stage by Adler Tittle - 5 stars
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Endless Night by Richard Laymon - 3 stars
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


That is my wrap up for May. I had one DNF though but other than that it was a good month. :)

Marie wrote: "For May I read a few:

All Souls Night by Aislinn Marshall - 4 stars
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[book:Dracula in the cinema|534247..."

Thank you for sharing your May reads, Marie. The Picture of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and What Hides Within seem pretty cool to me and I'm considering checking them out soon.

Hailey wrote: "Marie wrote: "For May I read a few:

All Souls Night by Aislinn Marshall - 4 stars
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[book:Dracula in the

Thank you for sharing your May reads, Marie. The Picture of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and What Hides Within seem pretty cool to me and I'm considering checking them out soon...."

You are welcome Hailey! :) Very cool! I really like both authors a lot. Hope you enjoy them when you get around to reading them. :)

Thanks for sharing, Marie !

Marie wrote: "For May I read a few:

All Souls Night by Aislinn Marshall - 4 stars
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"


That first book is ripe for reading next month, for Hallowe'en, Marie! Thanks for the title.

The book about Dracula films is different. I haven't watched many, so it could fill in those like me.

Little Lost Angel sounds like a good start for the epistolary novels i enjoy reading. However, from your comments, it sounds almost too much. The story is sad and i appreciate your comments.

As usual, your reviews help flesh out the stories, which i appreciate. Thank you for sharing here, Marie.

Alias Reader wrote: "Thanks for sharing, Marie !"

You are welcome, Alias! :)

madrano wrote: "Marie wrote: "For May I read a few:

All Souls Night by Aislinn Marshall - 4 stars
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"


That first book..."

You are welcome, Deb. :)

With the book All Souls Night - I was disappointed though that the author doesn't have many books out either - I think just one other book. I would have loved to see more creepy horror stories from that author. But I have owned that book for a long time too.

The Dracula movie book - I have only seen the old black and white movies and I think a couple or so movies with Christopher Lee.

Marie wrote: "The Dracula movie book - I have only seen the old black and white movies and I think a couple or so movies with Christopher Lee...."

I've never found a (strictly) Dracula movie i have liked. It's amazing vampires themselves have thrived so well, given those films.