The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,920 
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Nov 22, 2021 3:10:04 GMT
Hey readers! What did you read this week?
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Post by cadoodlebug on Nov 22, 2021 3:20:57 GMT
This week I finished Her Dark Lies by J. T. Ellison. Several times I almost stopped reading it but I stuck it out to see how it ended. Some things were glaringly obvious and, in retrospect, I didn’t enjoy it that much. 3/5 stars
Now I’m reading Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alice Feeney. Several Peas recommended it highly so I have great hopes!
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gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,744
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Post by gottapeanow on Nov 22, 2021 4:07:11 GMT
Whipped through The Dark Hours, the latest Michael Connelly book in no time flat. I love the ending as there is a set up for the next book. 5/5 stars. cadoodlebug, have you read this one yet?  I'm alternating between two books right now. Both are okay, but I am not that thrilled with either one so far. Lisa |
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Post by cadoodlebug on Nov 22, 2021 5:35:41 GMT
Whipped through The Dark Hours, the latest Michael Connelly book in no time flat. I love the ending as there is a set up for the next book. 5/5 stars. cadoodlebug, have you read this one yet? No but I just placed a hold on it at my library.  |
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Nov 22, 2021 5:59:52 GMT
A new to me Author.... Melody Carlson
Already read, Christmas in Winter Hill
Currently reading, Christmas by the sea.
Enjoyed them both.
Very similar to Danielle Steel type books. Light easy reading.
Need to browse the synopsis on her other books, and add some to my "to be read" list on the Library website.
I have found several "new to me Authors" in the past year and a half or so, and have happily added quite a few books to my "to be read" list.
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Post by ihaveonly1l on Nov 22, 2021 10:30:14 GMT
I finished Find You First. I enjoyed it. Now reading Last Summer at the Golden Hotel. I’m not that far into it, so not sure yet.
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Post by lgr4 on Nov 22, 2021 12:21:51 GMT
I read Billy Summers by Stephen King. I hadn't read King in forever. Decided to try it based on recommendations from this thread. It was really good.
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paigepea
Drama Llama
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Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Nov 22, 2021 13:39:12 GMT
I’m still reading THE HENNA ARTIST by Alka Joshi. This is a best seller and Reese Witherspoon bookclub choice so I had high hopes. It’s an intriguing story about a woman who runs from her marriage to and becomes a respected henna artist. One day the sister she didn’t know she had shows up. I enjoy the setting as women were / are treated so differently. The writing is easy to read. I like a little more mystery to the writing but I’m intrigued and and want to finish.
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,729
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Post by purplebee on Nov 22, 2021 13:57:13 GMT
I read “Not A Happy Family” by Shari LaPena. Not normally a fan of suspense/crime/thriller writing, but this one was really good! Also read “The Garden House” by Marcia Willett. I love her writing, and this new book didn’t disappoint. She reminds me of Rosamunde Pilcher, with lovely descriptions of family life in the British countryside.
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Post by ~summer~ on Nov 22, 2021 16:25:19 GMT
I finished “Lucky Boy” which I enjoyed - it’s about a young girl who crosses the border illegally, has a baby and a Silicon Valley couple who foster the baby. Lots of different topics explored. Setting was in my hometown so that was cool.
I need a new book - would love to hear the last book anyone LOVED.
I have been considering “Not a happy family” and “the henna artist” actually.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Nov 22, 2021 16:46:29 GMT
I need a new book - would love to hear the last book anyone LOVED. People we meet on Vacation? |
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Post by ~summer~ on Nov 22, 2021 16:50:27 GMT
I need a new book - would love to hear the last book anyone LOVED. People we meet on Vacation? i read that a couple weeks ago!  |
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Post by birukitty on Nov 22, 2021 16:52:50 GMT
It's been a very long time since I contributed to this thread. I've read a few books since then and I'll list them here along with the numbered star rating I gave them on Goodreads.
Surviving the Angel of Death by Eva Mozes Kor I ordered this one from my local library and got the YA version instead of the adult version (there are two different books), my mistake. This one I read in one night. It was good but I still want to read the adult version. It's a story of a pair of twins (Eva being one of the twins) that ended up at Auschwitz during WWII and in the hands of Mengele. I was so impressed with Eva's wisdom and was amazed at her ability to forgive.
The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn. I really liked this one! Two time travelers from the future (the author never gives a precise date) travel back in time to meet Jane Austen, hopefully to improve her health and maybe prevent her premature death, but mostly to retrieve the Cassandra letters and an unpublished novel that was lost. I felt it was well written and I enjoyed every minute of reading it. One is a female doctor and the other a male actor and they are posing as brother and sister. I gave this one 5 stars.
The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal This was the 3rd book in a series called Lady Astronaut Universe. I liked this one the least and almost gave up on it several times while reading it but I wanted to finish the series. I much prefer the first two books and really enjoyed reading those. They are about a meteorite hitting the earth in 1952 in the Chesapeake Bay knocking out all of the Eastern Coast including Washington DC. That triggers climate changes and soon the earth will be uninhabitable, so the race to space and another planet to live on begins. What's really interesting about this is the time frame-the later 1950's and early 1960's. It's a time before computers and a time of anti-feminism and racism. How they work through this is what these books are about and I found that added greatly to the story line since the main characters are women fighting for their chances to be astronauts, coming after spending time in WWII as pilots.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Oh my gosh how I loved this book! It was my favorite book of the year and so far I've read 64 books this year. I almost didn't read it because I am completely not science oriented. My worst grades at school were in science, and I hadn't read any of his other books yet. I thought all of the science in it would go completely over my head. Surprisingly that didn't happen at all because this author does an incredible job of breaking down all of the science and explaining it extremely well. The book starts out with a bang on the very first page and never lets up. I adored this book and this is one I'll buy in hardback to keep for myself. 5 big, big stars. I can't wait to read his previous 2 books.
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Post by fotos4u2 on Nov 22, 2021 17:28:23 GMT
Two more books for me this week, although weirdly I felt like I hardly read.
The Guncle by Steven Rowley. 4 stars. As I said last week, this is my youngest's Xmas gift and I think she'll probably like it (she's not much of a reader, but it was a pretty easy, fun read). I knocked off a star for myself because sometimes I felt Patrick, the main character was a bit of a caricature of a gay man. Also, I'm not a fan of stories where there's a wide age gap in romantic interests (there's a very small subplot about this, I don't care what your gender/sexuality I'm going to be skeeved if the person you're interested in could be your child!).
The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin. 3 stars. About a young boy who remembers a previous life. It was an interesting, new topic but some of the characters were very annoying.
As for up next, I can't quite decide. I have a ton of books in my to-read pile, but none of them are jumping out at me. Here's what I have to pick from:
Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford
The Summer I Met Jack by Michelle Gable
Keeping Lucy by T. Greenwood
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens
Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Saving the World by Julia Alvarez
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gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,744
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Post by gottapeanow on Nov 22, 2021 18:42:23 GMT
I need a new book - would love to hear the last book anyone LOVED. by Joyce Maynard. So many great themes. One of my favorite reads of the year. Lisa |
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Post by catmom on Nov 22, 2021 19:17:37 GMT
I just recently got back from vacation so I read a fair amount. Note: I'm in a reading slump the last 3 months and its making me very grinchy (or is it bah humbug?).
The Switch by Beth O'Leary. I loved The Flatmate by the author and wanted something feel good. This is basically a hallmark movie in book form, but set in the English countryside. Very likeable characters and it features a romance with a woman in her 70's, which is as delightful as it is unusual. Not as good as Flatmate - just a bit too predictable, but if you want some feel good reading I recommend it. 4/5.
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro. I guess its sci fi but also about what makes us human, and seeing human behaviour through the eyes of an artificial intelligence. Not my usual genre but very good. 4/5.
Love is Darkness by Caroline Hanson. A vampire romance beach read situation. You either like them or you don't. Bonus - consent was a thing and handled well (how sad that consent is actually notable in a romance). Main character was kinda dumb. 3/5.
The Therapist by B.A. Paris. A thriller with a unique idea, but the whole time I thought the main character was crazy, which I'm pretty sure I wasn't meant to think. 3/5.
I finally finished Burnout by Drs. Emily and Amelia Nagoski. It's my second reading of the book. Honestly, every woman should own and read this book. 5/5.
Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour bookstore by Robin Sloan. A book store, mysterious visitors, a secret society - sounds great, right? It was only fair. Unless you're interested in reading a lot about Google's inner workings and vision circa 2012, which didn't age well. 3/5 rounded up.
DNF:
People we Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. I read Beach Read and enjoyed it, but 15% in I felt like I knew the story and didn't care so I quit.
Right now I'm reading Unrepentant, a memoir about a Satan's Choice and Hell's Angel biker - it's for book club.
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Post by sawwhet on Nov 22, 2021 21:55:15 GMT
I finished The House we Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell and Party Crasher by Sophie Kinsella I've just started the The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell I might binge on Lisa Jewell novels for a few weeks. I'm really enjoying her writing style.
The Party Crashers was a typical Sophie Kinsella novel, light-hearted, funny and slightly outrageous.
I haven't been a great novel reader for years. I planned in March to set time aside to read and aimed for 20 novels by the end of the year. Right now, I'm up to 38!👏🏻👏🏻
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edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,466
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Post by edie3 on Nov 22, 2021 22:22:28 GMT
I read We Are Not Like Them Told from alternating perspectives, an evocative and riveting novel about the lifelong bond between two women, one Black and one white, whose friendship is indelibly altered by a tragic event—a powerful and poignant exploration of race in America today and its devastating impact on ordinary lives.
It was a good book.
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Post by mnmloveli on Nov 22, 2021 22:31:16 GMT
One good one this week !
THE DISAPPEARING ACT (‘21) BY CATHERINE STEADMAN : 4 STARS
DESCRIPTION: A British actress discovers the dark side of Hollywood when she is the only witness to the sudden disappearance of a woman she meets at an audition.
REVIEW: First 2 books by this author were Mr. Nobody (‘20) and Something in the Water (‘18) and were both 4-star reads for me. Very twisty mystery right from the start. Liked hearing about the perks stars get (if they’re true). I was sure Hollywood’s ugly side would show-up and it did. At 75% I still have no idea what game this mystery girl is playing. Very enjoyable mystery.
Happy Thanksgiving to all !
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Post by epeanymous on Nov 22, 2021 22:31:54 GMT
Our Country Friends, by Gary Shteyngart. This is probably the first artwork I've read/watched/whatever that specifically dealt with COVID. I wasn't a huge fan -- his writing is good, but I don't love a novel with a sad-sack protagonist, and I felt like the supporting characters were underdeveloped. The Taking of Jake Livingston, by Ryan Douglass. Yet more YA horror, because evidently I do one a week. This one was OK. I liked the main character, but I don't like astral projection . The Fast and the Furriest, by Sofie Ryan, and Knit One, Kill Two, by Peggy Erhart. Both mysteries with cats in series that I read. The heart wants what it wants.
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Post by mnmloveli on Nov 22, 2021 22:32:36 GMT
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QueenoftheSloths
Drama Llama
Member Since January 2004, 2,698 forum posts PeaNut Number: 122614 PeaBoard Title: StuckOnPeas
Posts: 5,955
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Nov 22, 2021 23:21:06 GMT
Really enjoying my traditional yearly holiday season reread of the Betsy Tacy series. These books just make me feel good. The author really embraces the seasons and the family traditions are so comforting and cozy. Just what the holidays call for!
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Post by carolynhasacat on Nov 23, 2021 0:00:48 GMT
I want to say a big THANK YOU to the Pea readers who said The Lincoln Highway was good. I was on the fence but I was encouraged by the positive reviews here to add it to my list and I just finished it and wow! One of my favorite reads of the year! It was amazing. LOVED IT. Thank you, Peas!
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Post by carolynhasacat on Nov 23, 2021 0:04:54 GMT
I haven't been a great novel reader for years. I planned in March to set time aside to read and aimed for 20 novels by the end of the year. Right now, I'm up to 38!👏🏻👏🏻 Wow!   |
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Post by cindyupnorth on Nov 23, 2021 0:20:40 GMT
I want to say a big THANK YOU to the Pea readers who said The Lincoln Highway was good. I was on the fence but I was encouraged by the positive reviews here to add it to my list and I just finished it and wow! One of my favorite reads of the year! It was amazing. LOVED IT. Thank you, Peas! Yes, one of those was me! did you get the ending? I know someone else on here didn't. I thought it was genius!! |
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Post by carolynhasacat on Nov 23, 2021 1:31:34 GMT
I want to say a big THANK YOU to the Pea readers who said The Lincoln Highway was good. I was on the fence but I was encouraged by the positive reviews here to add it to my list and I just finished it and wow! One of my favorite reads of the year! It was amazing. LOVED IT. Thank you, Peas! Yes, one of those was me! did you get the ending? I know someone else on here didn't. I thought it was genius!! Yes! I also appreciated the ending. But I want more! Sequel! Though I know he won't do it. |
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Post by maryland on Nov 23, 2021 5:31:44 GMT
I read “Not A Happy Family” by Shari LaPena. Not normally a fan of suspense/crime/thriller writing, but this one was really good! Also read “The Garden House” by Marcia Willett. I love her writing, and this new book didn’t disappoint. She reminds me of Rosamunde Pilcher, with lovely descriptions of family life in the British countryside. I am reading Not A Happy Family now and like it! |
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Post by mnmloveli on Nov 23, 2021 14:53:14 GMT
magenta just posted this great deal on Amazon for Kindle users on a “should I get a kindle thread”. I didn’t want any of our readers to miss it. When I clicked on the link it actually counted a couple of books I bought last week. There is a special going on right now if you want to get him some e-books. Buy $25 worth and get a $6 credit. I don't think you need to be a prime member in order to use it. www.amazon.com/kr/d6e5aa28-fc2d-4f8e-916d-bf49f2a9e6e6
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Post by magenta on Nov 23, 2021 21:09:49 GMT
magenta just posted this great deal on Amazon for Kindle users on a “should I get a kindle thread”. I didn’t want any of our readers to miss it. When I clicked on the link it actually counted a couple of books I bought last week. There is a special going on right now if you want to get him some e-books. Buy $25 worth and get a $6 credit. I don't think you need to be a prime member in order to use it. www.amazon.com/kr/d6e5aa28-fc2d-4f8e-916d-bf49f2a9e6e6 Awesome! So glad you could use it. I was also surprised when I activated the deal and bought a few books totaling about $10. The credit showed up for me right after so it must have counted prior purchases I made weeks ago. I only spent $1.99 late last week and maybe $10 at the beginning of November. Whatever… I’ll take it! 😁 |
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Post by gramasue on Nov 24, 2021 0:31:27 GMT
I read “Not A Happy Family” by Shari LaPena. Not normally a fan of suspense/crime/thriller writing, but this one was really good! Also read “The Garden House” by Marcia Willett. I love her writing, and this new book didn’t disappoint. She reminds me of Rosamunde Pilcher, with lovely descriptions of family life in the British countryside. I'm so glad to hear that Not a Happy Family is so good. I have it on hold at my library and I see on their website that I'm up next. Looking forward to it! I absolutely love Rosamunde Pilcher books, so thanks for the recommendation on Marcia Willett. I don't think I've read any of hers yet, although I might be wrong. Lol. I finished Sleeping in the Ground by Peter Robinson, an Inspector Banks mystery. His books are always good, but have such long, long chapters. I think readers need a bit more of a break once in a while. I started What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty and so far, I really like it. A woman falls. hits her head at the gym and knocks herself unconscious. When she wakes up, she has totally forgotten the last ten years of her life, including having given birth to three children. Really interesting! |
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