The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,936
Jun 25, 2014 21:50:33 GMT
|
Post by The Great Carpezio on May 16, 2022 1:55:23 GMT
I’m back! I finished two books this week.
🔶 Take my Hand ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This seems like a timely novel. Our protagonist is a nurse in 1973 and a doctor in 2016, and her journey is loosely based on the real-life atrocity of forced sterilization of young black women/girls across the country (and other poor women)
I’m afraid of getting on my soapbox, so I’ll leave it as: it’s an important read and I recommend it.
🔶 Lore ⭐️⭐️⭐️ This technically had a lot of elements that I like in a book: mythology, strong female protagonist, engaging characters, but I really trudged through this book. It took me about three weeks to read off and on, and I admit I skimmed a bit. I felt like a lot could have been cut. It would have been a great 300 page novel.—-just edit 250 pages, and it would have been a winner. 🤣. It was almost a DNF for me, but I “made” myself finish. There were some good twists, but only one was really surprising for me. What did you read this week?
|
|
SabrinaP
Pearl Clutcher
Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,355
Location: Dallas Texas
Jun 26, 2014 12:16:22 GMT
|
Post by SabrinaP on May 16, 2022 2:17:16 GMT
I finished 3 books this week.
The first was The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michelle Richardson. This book came out this week and is the sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. I loved the first book, so I was nervous to read the sequel, but I ended up loving it so much. It follows the story of Cussy Mary's daughter, Honey. I loved the writing and the story telling. 5/5 stars
The next book I read was a short YA book told in verse, Me (Moth) by Amber McBride. I listened to this one. The author narrated the audiobook. This book was beautifully written. I didn't really know what to expect when I picked this book up, but it had an interesting story with a nice twist to it. I ended up finishing it in one day. 4/5 stars
The last book I read After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I didn't enjoy this book as much as the author's other book, Daisy Jones and the Six or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but I did end up liking it overall. There were definitely times I wanted to strangle the main character, but overall the story was pretty good. 3.5/5 stars
|
|
hutchfan
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,158
Jul 6, 2016 16:42:12 GMT
|
Post by hutchfan on May 16, 2022 2:25:39 GMT
I read Mrs. Lincoln's Sisters by Jennifer Chiaverini. It was an interesting read for Fiction. This book was based on Mary Todd Lincoln's sister's views Elizabeth, Ann and Frances and her step sister Emilie. Mary had a sad life with many great losses.
|
|
finaledition
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,896
Jun 26, 2014 0:30:34 GMT
|
Post by finaledition on May 16, 2022 3:00:21 GMT
I listened to a book and it was 5 STARS-will definitely be a contender for best of the year, I loved it so much! Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt-it's a debut novel by this author and this month's Read with Jenna pick and currently has a 4.53 rating on Goodreads. If you choose to go the audio route, Marin Ireland (of Beartown and many others) is one of two narrators and she is excellent. Without giving the complete summary, here we have a book that is told from 3 different points of view: Tova-a widow who is a bit untethered and lost as she approaches the end of her life, Cameron-a 30 year old intelligent young man who seems to lack direction and discipline to keep a job, and Marcellus-an octopus who has been in captivity 1,299 days when this story begins. Yes, one of the characters is an octopus and yes, he stole my heart! From the first to the last page, I enjoyed every word of this story and all the quirky characters in between. So satisfying.
|
|
gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,760
Jun 25, 2014 20:56:09 GMT
|
Post by gottapeanow on May 16, 2022 5:34:12 GMT
finaledition , sold! I just put Remarkably Bright Creatures on hold. It sounds adorable. I only finished one this week: Dream Town by David Baldacci with PI Aloysius Archer. I am not really a fan of this series (this is the third book). It more or less held my interest, but I pushed my way through it. 3/5 stars. Hopefully, this will be a better reading week. Lisa ETA: Oh my. I am now reading Four Treasures of the Sky, and I can't put it down. I am almost halfway done just since last night. FYI: Serious CW and TW. ETA 2: I finished. In two days. It's stunning. Beyond stunning. Full review next week.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 1, 2024 20:32:36 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2022 11:27:05 GMT
The Hilarious World of Depression Author: John Moe
This one was pretty intense for me due to my family member having depression but it's also really good and the podcast is also really good. Has a suicide/ some dark themes, ultimately hopeful.
The Puffin of Death Book by Betty Webb Mystery series about a zookeeper who goes to Iceland this time. I read the anteater one a few years ago. It's pretty good and escapist if you are needing that. No animal deaths.
|
|
|
Post by guzismom on May 16, 2022 12:34:16 GMT
I am about to abandon Booth by Karen Joy Fowler. I don't know why, but I'm just slogging through it.
|
|
|
Post by maryland on May 16, 2022 13:26:01 GMT
I finished Where I Left Her and really liked it. I am now listening to Mother May I - Joshilyn Jackson and it's really good, although I only listened for 30 min. I have to go on a trip today and will listen in the car! I am reading Insomnia - Sarah Pndrosh but just started.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on May 16, 2022 13:48:52 GMT
I read French Braid by Anne Tyler. I haven't read anything of hers in a number of years. Although she wrote one of my very favorite novels (The Accidental Tourist) some of her other books have left me cold. Fortunately, I really loved this one. It tells the story of four generations of a Baltimore family (all of Anne Tyler's fictional families are from Baltimore) from different points in time: 2010, 1959, 1970, 1982, 1990, 1997, 2014, 2020. Each stop along the way is seen through the eyes of a different family member. It really explores the complex relationships in a family and the seemingly small events that can have a big impact on the future. I really was touched by it.
I also read Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. This one's hard to sum up-- it's about a young woman trying to be taken seriously as a scientist in the 1950s, the male scientist she falls for, their young daughter...from the cover, it looks light-hearted, but it's really about difficult topics like grief, depression, loss, and the oppression of women, with humorous scenes here and there. I enjoyed it but didn't love it. There was a brief but violent rape scene in the middle of the third chapter that was very startling after the more humorous tone of the first couple chapters, and that left me feeling on edge for what the author might throw at me later on. I'd still recommend it, just be aware that it's not a romcom or chicklit.
|
|
Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
|
Post by Mystie on May 16, 2022 13:52:52 GMT
I am about to abandon Booth by Karen Joy Fowler. I don't know why, but I'm just slogging through it. It took me quite a while to get into it. I got maybe 25% through it, left it sit for a few weeks, and then just devoured the rest and ended up really liking it. But it does move slowly.
|
|
Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,677
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
|
Post by Rhondito on May 16, 2022 15:16:37 GMT
I have two..
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus - I really enjoyed this book. It was much lighter than what I've been reading lately and it was such a nice break. 5 stars.
Next I listened to The Miranda Obsession which is an Audible Original. This was so good! Rachel Brosnahan (Mrs. Maisel) was Miranda, and other narrators included Josh Groban, John Benjamin Hickey, Harry Lloyd, Morgan Spector, and Milo Ventimiglia. I would describe it as catfishing in the 1980s. It's short, just over 2 1/2 hours, and free from Audible. 5 stars.
|
|
|
Post by quietgirl on May 16, 2022 18:08:07 GMT
I listened to a book and it was 5 STARS-will definitely be a contender for best of the year, I loved it so much! Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt-it's a debut novel by this author and this month's Read with Jenna pick and currently has a 4.53 rating on Goodreads. If you choose to go the audio route, Marin Ireland (of Beartown and many others) is one of two narrators and she is excellent. Without giving the complete summary, here we have a book that is told from 3 different points of view: Tova-a widow who is a bit untethered and lost as she approaches the end of her life, Cameron-a 30 year old intelligent young man who seems to lack direction and discipline to keep a job, and Marcellus-an octopus who has been in captivity 1,299 days when this story begins. Yes, one of the characters is an octopus and yes, he stole my heart! From the first to the last page, I enjoyed every word of this story and all the quirky characters in between. So satisfying. I put myself on waitlist for this at the library after reading a small blurb about it in the free library magazine. Thanks for the awesome review!
|
|
|
Post by fotos4u2 on May 17, 2022 4:33:02 GMT
Two more for me. Oddly I had similar issues with both in that they were more mystery in genre than I expected which took from some of my enjoyment as I'm not a huge mystery fan.
Lost and Found in Paris by Lian Dolan. 3 stars. About a woman who finds out her husband cheated on her so takes up an offer to transport some art from Pasadena to Paris and the trip doesn't go quite as planned. I think the author's description of this book made it sound like it was going to be a rom-com, but it just didn't fulfill that. Oddly her last book is one of my absolute favorites.
The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks. 3 stars. I know a few of read this and liked it, so I had high hopes. About a couple who decide to try therapy with an unconventional therapist. I don't know how else to describe it without giving too much away. I did guess who the killer (I believe it's in the first chapter it's revealed that the couple's friend was killed in high school) was very early on, but there were other surprises which helped me not hate this book.
Currently I'm waiting for some books to come in at the library and once again reading "The Friendship List" while I wait.
|
|
|
Post by mnmloveli on May 17, 2022 17:53:05 GMT
Two for last week………..
MY WIFE IS MISSING (‘May 22) by DJ Palmer : 4 STARS DESCRIPTION: When a woman disappears with her two children, one husband will do anything to find them--even confront the secrets of his own past.
REVIEW: Previous books by this author (both DJ Palmer and Daniel Palmer), The New Husband (‘21), The Perfect Daughter, Delirious, Desperate, Forgive Me, Helpless, Constant Fear and Stolen were all 4 star reads for me. Starts-off as a typical wife escaping with the kids. If I know this author, I’m sure something will change drastically soon! This author always takes the path less traveled or never traveled and he did it again. I can’t say much more without giving away parts of the plot. Another great read!
DEATH OF THE BLACK WIDOW (Apr ‘22) by JD Barker : 2 STARS DESCRIPTION: A rookie mistake turns into a lifelong hunt for the most dangerous killer of all -- a woman who destroys the men she loves. On his first night with Detroit PD, Officer Walter O’Brien is called to a murder scene. A terrified twenty-year-old has bludgeoned her kidnapper with skill that shocks even O’Brien’s veteran partner. The young woman is also a brilliant escape artist. Her bold flight from police custody makes the case impossible to solve—and, for Walter, even more impossible to forget.
REVIEW: Previous books by this author for me were The 4MK Thriller 3-Book Series (The Fourth Monkey, The Fifth to Die and The Sixth Wicked Child) 5 Stars, A Caller’s Game (‘21 - 5 Stars), The Noise (‘21 with James Patterson - 3 Stars) and The Coast-to-Coast Murders (‘20 with James Patterson - 4 Stars). This book was a struggle for me. It just went nowhere fast. I kept hanging on because I love JD Barker’s writing. By 60% I really had no desire to finish it. Everyone just running around in circles. Big disappointment for me. I’m going to think of this book as a bad James Patterson outline that even the great JD Barker couldn’t save!
|
|
|
Post by mnmloveli on May 17, 2022 17:53:31 GMT
|
|
|
Post by mnmloveli on May 17, 2022 18:12:39 GMT
I listened to a book and it was 5 STARS-will definitely be a contender for best of the year, I loved it so much! Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt-it's a debut novel by this author and this month's Read with Jenna pick and currently has a 4.53 rating on Goodreads. If you choose to go the audio route, Marin Ireland (of Beartown and many others) is one of two narrators and she is excellent. Without giving the complete summary, here we have a book that is told from 3 different points of view: Tova-a widow who is a bit untethered and lost as she approaches the end of her life, Cameron-a 30 year old intelligent young man who seems to lack direction and discipline to keep a job, and Marcellus-an octopus who has been in captivity 1,299 days when this story begins. Yes, one of the characters is an octopus and yes, he stole my heart! From the first to the last page, I enjoyed every word of this story and all the quirky characters in between. So satisfying. Definitely my next book ! Sounds awesome ! I watched a movie back in 2020, My Octopus Teacher. It’s a true story about a filmmaker and his rare relationship with an Octopus. The scenery and the relationship were beautiful. If you loved this book, I’m sure you will love this movie.
|
|
Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,677
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
|
Post by Rhondito on May 17, 2022 19:06:18 GMT
MY WIFE IS MISSING (‘May 22) by DJ Palmer : 4 STARSDESCRIPTION: When a woman disappears with her two children, one husband will do anything to find them--even confront the secrets of his own past. REVIEW: Previous books by this author (both DJ Palmer and Daniel Palmer), The New Husband (‘21), The Perfect Daughter, Delirious, Desperate, Forgive Me, Helpless, Constant Fear and Stolen were all 4 star reads for me. Starts-off as a typical wife escaping with the kids. If I know this author, I’m sure something will change drastically soon! This author always takes the path less traveled or never traveled and he did it again. I can’t say much more without giving away parts of the plot. Another great read! I started this a couple of days ago and I'm glad to see that you liked it. I'm not very for along and am not quite hooked yet, I'll keep at it!
|
|
edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,497
Jun 26, 2014 1:03:18 GMT
|
Post by edie3 on May 17, 2022 21:46:02 GMT
I am reading Playing With Myself by Randy Rainbow. If you like him, you will like this book. Several LOL moments in the book. Some sad moments too.
|
|
gina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,228
Jun 26, 2014 1:59:16 GMT
|
Post by gina on May 18, 2022 0:36:39 GMT
I have finished a bunch since the last time I participated in this thread:
Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell. 3 / 5 stars
"Owen Pick’s life is falling apart. In his thirties, a virgin, and living in his aunt’s spare bedroom, he has just been suspended from his job as a geography teacher after accusations of sexual misconduct, which he strongly denies. Across the street from Owen lives the Fours family, headed by mom Cate, a physiotherapist, and dad Roan, a child psychologist. Meanwhile, young Saffyre Maddox spent three years as a patient of Roan Fours. Feeling abandoned when their therapy ends, she searches for other ways to maintain her connection with him, following him in the shadows and learning more than she wanted to know about Roan and his family. Then, on Valentine’s night, Saffyre Maddox disappears—and the last person to see her alive is Owen Pick."
Honestly, I am writing this review 2 weeks after I finished the book and I don't recall any details about it. lol Lisa Jewell is someone I pick up here and there and I just never seem to give her higher than a 3-3.5 rating. Maybe I should reconsider next time.
- - - -
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau. 4 / 5 stars
The year is 1970, the place is Baltimore. Was hovering around the 3.8-4 star mark for this one. I really enjoyed the setting and 14 year old Mary Jane. Right from the beginning, you are immersed in life in the Cone's house. Even without reading the initial blurb, I definitely felt a light Daisy Jones and the Six, sex, drugs & rock & roll vibe in this story. I tried picturing who the famous singer couple would be. Bonus if you listen to the audiobook: a special song at the end!
- - - -
November 9 by Colleen Hoover. 4.5 / 5 stars
Fallon... Ben... November 9th for 5 years in a row. One of my favorite CoHo books to date! I have read a bunch, the last one being It Ends With Us. I was definitely a little harsh with that review but it just wasn't my favorite. This one however I devoured in 2 days.
(If you like the idea of a love story meeting up on the same date every year such as this, I recommend giving 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand a try!)
- - - -
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid. 4 / 5 stars
This book was good and I never wanted to put it down, but I have to knock half a star off just because it wasn't all wrapped in a sunshiny little bow and stressed me out a little. I know, we can't have every book being rosy with no angst or friction. But I can't help it if I like books that have perfect, happy endings. That said, I adore Taylor Jenkins Reid and look forward to my next book!
- - - -
The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain. 4.5 / 5 stars
Honestly, I know I always say this but Diane Chamberlain is just one of my very favorite authors! Pair her audiobooks being read by Susan Bennet? They are knocked out of the ballpark. I always love the dual time periods of Chamberlain's stories. This book jumps back and forth from 1965 to 2010.
1965: Ellie Hockley, a college student, joins a program called SCOPE-Summer Community Organization and Political Education Project, despite protests from her family and friends, many of whom are KKK members. She lives in a white town, has a long-time boyfriend and nobody is happy when she gives that up to live with black families during her Summer.
2010: Kayla Carter and her husband, Jackson, are both architects, who designed their dream home. He dies in a freak house accident and she is left to move in with her 4 year old daughter. Someone stops her one day and tells her, in a threatening manner, that she should not move in. She has no idea who this older woman is.
Both timelines will intersect, the 1965 timeline being the stronger of the two. You learn about the SCOPE project, interracial relationships and the cruelness of the KKK, intertwined with love, loss, heartbreak & perseverance. A fantastic historical read!
- - - -
I am about 70% through with The Maid by Nita Prose and really enjoying it!
|
|
|
Post by pjaye on May 18, 2022 1:17:44 GMT
I just finished a good one - essential reading for all mature women. The Change by Kirsten Miller. Hard to describe as it's a mix of genres with a theme of female friendship & empowerment with a little bit of magical realism (think Witches of Eastwick) thrown in. 3 women living in the same coastal town are drawn together after they discover the body of a teen girl, they are all menopausal and have gradually developed some new strengths...Nessa can hear the dead, Harriet grows all sorts of wild things in her garden and can manipulate nature and Jo can control her hot flushes and use them as a weapon. They use their new powers and empowerment to get revenge on some of the horrible men in their town.
The first part of the book is laugh out loud funny and then as the story of the dead girls unfolds it gradually gets more serious, but so much of it is spot on about women's role is society and how we are still treated. I rated it 4 stars on GR but it was really 4.5. I loved this book!
|
|
|
Post by pjaye on May 18, 2022 1:22:41 GMT
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt-it's a debut novel by this author and this month's Read with Jenna pick and currently has a 4.53 rating on Goodreads. If you choose to go the audio route, Marin Ireland (of Beartown and many others) is one of two narrators and she is excellent. I just bought this in Audio the other day too, based on a GR review. Looking forward to it. I am about 70% through with The Maid by Nita Prose and really enjoying it! I enjoyed this one as well,
|
|
|
Post by fotos4u2 on May 18, 2022 16:35:06 GMT
Does anyone ever get distracted by character names or wonder how an author chose that name to use?
I'm currently reading "The Friendship List" by Susan Mallery and I'm so distracted by her characters' names. The main characters are Unity and Ellen, both supposed to be white women in their early 30s (published in 2020).
Even after the author's description, I can't seem to see Unity as a white woman. I don't know why my mind keeps wanting her to be a person of color and the same happens with her potential love interest, Thaddeus. Without the author's physical description that would've been fine with me, but I just can't see a young white woman who's not Amish or evangelical being named Unity.
Then there's Ellen which I have to keep reminding myself isn't a woman in her late 40s. I can't remember the last time I met someone named Ellen younger than 50. Ellen's potential love is Keith which also isn't really typical of a guy in his mid to late 30s but ironically does sound like he could be dating "Ellen".
Am I the only one that gets bothered by stuff like this?
|
|