The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,930
Jun 25, 2014 21:50:33 GMT
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Jan 8, 2024 16:43:34 GMT
I finished two books, but I haven't had the chance to write up reviews yet (I need to make a new spreadsheet for 2024).
I will try and get back to that later. What did you read this week?
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Post by trixiecat on Jan 8, 2024 17:24:43 GMT
My first book of the year I finished was The Collected Regrets of Clover.
From the day she watched her kindergarten teacher drop dead during a dramatic telling of Peter Rabbit, Clover Brooks has felt a stronger connection with the dying than she has with the living. After the beloved grandfather who raised her dies alone while she is traveling, Clover becomes a death doula in New York City, dedicating her life to ushering people peacefully through their end-of-life process.
Clover spends so much time with the dying that she has no life of her own, until the final wishes of a feisty old woman send Clover on a trip across the country to uncover a forgotten love storyāand perhaps, her own happy ending. As she finds herself struggling to navigate the uncharted roads of romance and friendship, Clover is forced to examine what she really wants, and whether sheāll have the courage to go after it.
Probing, clever, and hopeful, The Collected Regrets of Clover turns the normally taboo subject of death into a reason to celebrate life.
This was a five star read for me. And this is a debut novel by the author. I loved the characters and I wished the book could have gone on longer.
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hutchfan
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Jul 6, 2016 16:42:12 GMT
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Post by hutchfan on Jan 8, 2024 18:15:36 GMT
I read Reign by Katherine McGee the last in the series. Love-Princess Samantha has run away with Lord Marshall Davis. Some say love is worth any sacrifice, but to be with Marshall, Sam might have to give up everything even her status as a princess. Duty-With Queen Beatrice in a coma and Samantha MIA, America is in need of a ruler. Can Prince Jefferson rise to the occasion, or will the responsibility prove too much for the spare? Jeff is only the Acting King, but who knows what might happen if Beatrice doesn't wake up... Power-Daphne is closer than ever to getting a ring from Prince Jefferson-a ring that might make her not just a princess, but a queen. The only thing standing in her way? Nina Gonzales, who is never far from the royal family's orbit or from Jefferson's heart.
I enjoyed this series very much, easy rom com book to start the year off.
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gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,752
Jun 25, 2014 20:56:09 GMT
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Post by gottapeanow on Jan 8, 2024 18:35:45 GMT
I read two books this week, both very disappointing.
Where Coyotes Howl by Sandra Dallas: I normally love this author, but didn't like this at all. I won't include spoilers, but I wanted to throw the book across the room when I was done. Super disappointing. 2/5 stars.
Code Name Sapphire by Pam Jenoff: Meh. A weird ending and a weird love triangle and unrealistic scenes. Usually I'm a big fan of this author, but this fell flat for me. 2.5/5 stars
I'm finally reading The Poisonwood Bible. It's my sister's favorite book and my stepdaughter's! I'm long overdue.
Lisa
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edie3
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Jun 26, 2014 1:03:18 GMT
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Post by edie3 on Jan 8, 2024 18:43:50 GMT
I read This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel . It was pretty good. A bit long, but good overall.
This is Claude. Heās five years old, the youngest of five brothers, and loves peanut butter sandwiches. He also loves wearing a dress, and dreams of being a princess.
When he grows up, Claude says, he wants to be a girl.
Rosie and Penn want Claude to be whoever Claude wants to be. Theyāre just not sure theyāre ready to share that with the world. Soon the entire family is keeping Claudeās secret. Until one day it explodes.
Laurie Frankel's This Is How It Always Is is a novel about revelations, transformations, fairy tales, and family. And itās about the ways this is how it always is: Change is always hard and miraculous and hard again, parenting is always a leap into the unknown with crossed fingers and full hearts, children grow but not always according to plan. And families with secrets donāt get to keep them forever.
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The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,930
Jun 25, 2014 21:50:33 GMT
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Jan 8, 2024 18:45:01 GMT
I read:
VenCo Cherie Dimaline āļøāļøāļøāļø A young witch, new to her powers, meets an interesting group of women on a cross-country journey. I was engaged, but the ending seemed a bit rushed. The Wishing Game
The Wishing Game Meg Schaffer āļøāļøāļøāļø This is modern-day retelling of Willy Wonka, with childrenās books (others have said this), and I agree. It is charming and quickly read. It was a nice winter cozy read. It isnāt life-altering, but it was the right read for the right time.
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Post by Linda on Jan 8, 2024 18:45:08 GMT
Lots of reading for me this first week of the year
I finished my family Book exchange book - A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay. DS32 had me this year and he did great. 5 stars - historical fiction set in the cold war
The Boy Who Followed his Father into Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield - hard to read but worth it. 4.5 stars
Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison- there were some interesting parts but not really my type of book (read it for a book challenge) 3.5 stars
A Blessing to Cherish by Lauraine Snelling - a sweet wrapup of a series. 4.5 stars
The Bride's Unexpected Child by Faith Johnson - there was nothing wrong with it but meh 2 stars
Cruel and Unusual by Patricia Cornwell - 4 stars
Kindred by Rebecca Wragg Sykes - this was awesome! a very readable science book - the author made the lines between evidence and hypothesis very clear. Absolutely fascinating. 5 stars
The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell - 4 stars
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styxgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,875
Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Jan 8, 2024 21:03:31 GMT
Thank you for the thread The Great CarpezioI recently joined a REAL LIFE book club that meets in person. I am so excited! The January 2024 Book is, The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe
I just finished it. It was pretty good! Has anyone else read it? I would give it 3.5 / 5 Summary: A mesmerizing novel of historical fiction from New York Times bestselling author Shana AbƩ, The Second Mrs. Astor tells the sweeping real-life Titanic love story of Madeleine Force, who became the teenaged bride of one of the world's richest men, and triumphed over tragedy and heartache.
--- I'm also looking for book suggestions in case I get picked to choose a book for the club. :-) Books that I've recently read that I liked were, Lessons in Chemistry, Remarkably Bright Creatures, The Second Life of Mirielle West, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Last year I read about six books. This year I want to double that! Happy reading!
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Post by Tearisci on Jan 8, 2024 22:11:08 GMT
I'm reading The Maidens by Alex Michaelides and enjoying it. It's a murder mystery set at Cambridge in the UK. I've read a few of his books and enjoyed them.
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Post by Linda on Jan 9, 2024 1:49:17 GMT
The January 2024 Book is, The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe
I just finished it. It was pretty good! Has anyone else read it? I read it last year - it was interesting and I enjoyed it
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breetheflea
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Jul 20, 2014 21:57:23 GMT
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Post by breetheflea on Jan 9, 2024 2:20:43 GMT
I read Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain this past week. I enjoyed it, if you can say that about a book about forced sterilization... It definitely kept me turning pages. Diane Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors.
Then I read Patina, which is the second book (of four) in the Ghost series by Jason Reynolds. Middle-grade. It's about a running team and each book is a different character. I think I liked Ghost more but this one was pretty good. I listened to it on audio.
Then I read, or reread, I'm not sure if I read this one as a kid, Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield. I know it's a beloved classic, but it was kind of boring. Too much talking about how much everyone was getting paid, and I was expecting ballet, because of the title, but it was barely mentioned until 90% through the book.... G.U.M. annoyed me for reasons I won't say because it would be a spoiler (if you can spoil something written in 1939.) Now I am listening to Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan and need to figure out which physical book to read next.
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breetheflea
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Jul 20, 2014 21:57:23 GMT
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Post by breetheflea on Jan 9, 2024 2:23:36 GMT
Lots of reading for me this first week of the year I finished my family Book exchange book - A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay. DS32 had me this year and he did great. 5 stars - historical fiction set in the cold war The Boy Who Followed his Father into Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield - hard to read but worth it. 4.5 stars Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison- there were some interesting parts but not really my type of book (read it for a book challenge) 3.5 stars A Blessing to Cherish by Lauraine Snelling - a sweet wrapup of a series. 4.5 stars The Bride's Unexpected Child by Faith Johnson - there was nothing wrong with it but meh 2 stars Cruel and Unusual by Patricia Cornwell - 4 stars Kindred by Rebecca Wragg Sykes - this was awesome! a very readable science book - the author made the lines between evidence and hypothesis very clear. Absolutely fascinating. 5 stars The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell - 4 stars I read #1 - #10 of the Patricia Cornwell books last year, but am currently taking a break from the series. My favorite was Point of Origin
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breetheflea
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Jul 20, 2014 21:57:23 GMT
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Post by breetheflea on Jan 9, 2024 2:24:30 GMT
My first book of the year I finished was The Collected Regrets of Clover. From the day she watched her kindergarten teacher drop dead during a dramatic telling of Peter Rabbit, Clover Brooks has felt a stronger connection with the dying than she has with the living. After the beloved grandfather who raised her dies alone while she is traveling, Clover becomes a death doula in New York City, dedicating her life to ushering people peacefully through their end-of-life process. Clover spends so much time with the dying that she has no life of her own, until the final wishes of a feisty old woman send Clover on a trip across the country to uncover a forgotten love storyāand perhaps, her own happy ending. As she finds herself struggling to navigate the uncharted roads of romance and friendship, Clover is forced to examine what she really wants, and whether sheāll have the courage to go after it. Probing, clever, and hopeful, The Collected Regrets of Clover turns the normally taboo subject of death into a reason to celebrate life. This was a five star read for me. And this is a debut novel by the author. I loved the characters and I wished the book could have gone on longer. I am adding this to my to-read list
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Post by Linda on Jan 9, 2024 2:46:58 GMT
I read #1 - #10 of the Patricia Cornwell books last year, but am currently taking a break from the series. My favorite was Point of Origin I've read scattered books from the series over the years but am currently working my way through in order
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Post by pjaye on Jan 9, 2024 3:13:35 GMT
Coming To Find You by Jane Corry Set in the UK, in dual timelines, current day & during WW2. In the current day story Nancy has just moved to her grandmother's old house (called Tall Timbers) to get away from the media after her stepbrother killed their parents. This part of the book revolves around what really happened the night of the killings. The second storyline also takes place at Tall Timbers, which was then a guest house run by Elizabeth and her husband, and they have just sent their son off to war. Elizabeth's best friend is Adeline, and Nancy is her granddaughter from the modern day story. This was okay, it kept me reading and interested, but there's only a very tenuous link between the two stories and it felt like the author had two different ideas for novels and then kind of forced them to fit into one book. I found the WW2 story line much more interesting, and I didn't think the other part of the story was very realistic. 3 stars.
Lowbridge by Lucy Campbell Outback noir - set in Australia. Another dual timeline book, in 1987 17yo Tess disappears without a trace, and in 2018 Katherine & her husband move back to the same town after the death of their daughter. Katherine slowly starts to get involved in town life and when she finds out about Tess vanishing 30 years ago she starts to ask questions. It started off quite well, but then gradually got more unrealistic. Disappointing. This was an Audible daily deal that had quite good reviews (66% rated it 4 stars or more) so other people might like this more than I did. 2.5 stars but rounded up to 3 for GR.
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Post by auntkelly on Jan 9, 2024 3:29:53 GMT
I read Unscripted by James B. Stewart and Rachel Abrams. The book follows the last years of Sumner Redstone, the founder of Paramount Global, whose holdings included CBS and Viacom.
Redstone was a heartless father and often humiliated his adult children, telling the press they were unfit to succeed him, despite the fact that they were both respected lawyers. Redstone had a stable of younger women that he dated and often changed his will, to name his latest paramour as the primary beneficiary of his will. At one point, when he was in his nineties and infirm, he was virtually held hostage by two of his girlfriends. They cut him off from his family and convinced him to give them over 100 million dollars.
His daughter Shari eventually emerges as the hero of the story after she takes control of her dadās medical care and business affairs. Her biggest opponent at Paramount was Les Moonves, the head of CBS who was forced to resign after allegations of his sexual misconduct became public during the Me Too movement.
The book confirmed my belief that money doesnāt buy happiness and rich people donāt always make good decisions.
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Bridget in MD
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Post by Bridget in MD on Jan 9, 2024 15:46:52 GMT
I read #1 - #10 of the Patricia Cornwell books last year, but am currently taking a break from the series. My favorite was Point of Origin I've read scattered books from the series over the years but am currently working my way through in order I loved her earlier books, I should re-read.
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Bridget in MD
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Post by Bridget in MD on Jan 9, 2024 15:47:43 GMT
4 Stars for The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary. Dylan and Addie met & fell in love at a French villa while Addie & her sister were summer caretakers. But when they returned to the UK, their relationship fell apart and they broke up. The day before a mutal friend's wedding, they are brought together when their cars crash into each toehr. The car Dylan was driving is wrecked, so, along with Dylan's best friend (Marcus), Addie's sister (Deb), and a random guy on Facebook who needed a ride (Rodney), they squeeze into Addie's tiny car to drive to rural Scotland. Packed tightly in the car basically forces Dylan & Addie to remember what brought them together, how the relationship fell apart, and think about whether that decision was the right one after all. Not quite as gripping as The Flatshare, I enjoyed this first book for 2024. PS Marcus is a real ass.
Currently reading The Violin Conspiracy.
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mimima
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Stay Gold, Ponyboy
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Jun 25, 2014 19:25:50 GMT
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Post by mimima on Jan 9, 2024 21:36:59 GMT
In addition to a couple of days of just lazing around reading, I also had a couple that I was reading a bit at a time finish up, so I started January with a bang.
Your Perfect Year by Charlotte Lucas. Read for IRL Book Club, this romance starts slowly and is predictable and light once it gets going. Having said that, it was translated from the German and there were some interesting aspects that way to see the customs of the country. 2.75/5 stars.
The Guest Book by Sarah Blake. Thought provoking in the idea that those with wealth and money built it on the back of those who aren't what society deems as privileged. However, the writing was very dense, for lack of a better word, and the characters felt interchangeable. 3/5 stars.
Summer Lightning by PG Wodehouse. This is the first Wodehouse that Iāve read, I picked it up for the Close Reads Podcast. It opened so hysterically funny, and I was enjoying the ride until it petered out at the end. Due to the strength of the beginning, I will look for the Jeeves and Wooster books, but I wish that it had ended more amusingly. 3.75/5 stars.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmer. "We are all bound by a covenant of reciprocity." This was read while I brushed my teeth - I loved the idea of remembering that we are connected, and we do not take more than we need. Lovely meditations. 4/5 stars.
Behold a Great Light, by six different authors., This new collection of Orthodox Advent meditations (so it goes through the 12 Days of Christmas,) is destined to be a classic. Using the hymns of the church, each short reading addresses an aspect of the day - the saints, the readings, and the hymns. One that I will use again and again. 5/5 stars.
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert. I really struggled with this one, read for an IRL Book Club. Explicit descriptions, boring storyline, it was easy to put it down. All about all the s&x. It got old. 2/5 stars.
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mimima
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Jun 25, 2014 19:25:50 GMT
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Post by mimima on Jan 9, 2024 21:38:19 GMT
My first book of the year I finished was The Collected Regrets of Clover. From the day she watched her kindergarten teacher drop dead during a dramatic telling of Peter Rabbit, Clover Brooks has felt a stronger connection with the dying than she has with the living. After the beloved grandfather who raised her dies alone while she is traveling, Clover becomes a death doula in New York City, dedicating her life to ushering people peacefully through their end-of-life process. Clover spends so much time with the dying that she has no life of her own, until the final wishes of a feisty old woman send Clover on a trip across the country to uncover a forgotten love storyāand perhaps, her own happy ending. As she finds herself struggling to navigate the uncharted roads of romance and friendship, Clover is forced to examine what she really wants, and whether sheāll have the courage to go after it. Probing, clever, and hopeful, The Collected Regrets of Clover turns the normally taboo subject of death into a reason to celebrate life. This was a five star read for me. And this is a debut novel by the author. I loved the characters and I wished the book could have gone on longer. This is going on my TBR, thank you!
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Post by flanz on Jan 10, 2024 17:33:19 GMT
My first book of the year I finished was The Collected Regrets of Clover. Just started reading yesterday... really enjoying it so far!
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Post by alsomsknit on Jan 10, 2024 17:39:31 GMT
Good Omensby Neil Gaiman and Terry Pritchettā¦Maybe a third of the way through. No opinion yet.
Havenāt been reading much due to new puppy and sheer exhaustion. Now, I am sick. So fun!
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Post by flanz on Jan 10, 2024 17:41:32 GMT
Lots of reading for me this first week of the year I finished my family Book exchange book - A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay. DS32 had me this year and he did great. 5 stars - historical fiction set in the cold war The Boy Who Followed his Father into Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield - hard to read but worth it. 4.5 stars Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison- there were some interesting parts but not really my type of book (read it for a book challenge) 3.5 stars A Blessing to Cherish by Lauraine Snelling - a sweet wrapup of a series. 4.5 stars The Bride's Unexpected Child by Faith Johnson - there was nothing wrong with it but meh 2 stars Cruel and Unusual by Patricia Cornwell - 4 stars Kindred by Rebecca Wragg Sykes - this was awesome! a very readable science book - the author made the lines between evidence and hypothesis very clear. Absolutely fascinating. 5 stars The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell - 4 stars Thanks! I just bought Kindle version of A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay for $2.99
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Post by mnmloveli on Jan 10, 2024 18:03:57 GMT
Great first read for me for 2024 !
COMING TO FIND YOU (ā23 - READ ā24 - 5 STARS) BY JANE CORRY DESCRIPTION : A heart-stopping psychological thriller about a woman running from the aftermath of a gruesome family tragedy--and also from the truth about her part in it. You can run away from your life . . . but you can't hide from murder. Nancy's mother and stepfather have been brutally killed, and after a trial that gripped the nation, her stepbrother has been convicted of the double murders. But the end of the trial is just the beginning of a new nightmare for Nancy: the press is rabid, certain that Nancy isn't the grieving daughter she's presenting to the world. In fact, they believe that she knows more than she's telling about that night at the farmhouse. What really happened that night at the farmhouse? And what will Nancy have to do to keep the truth hidden?
REVIEW : Iāve read 5 out of 7 books by this author which were My Husbandās Wife (ā16 - Read ā21 - 4 Stars), Dead Ex ('18 - Read '20 - 4 Stars), I Made A Mistake ('20 - 4.5 Stars), I Looked Away ('19 - 3 Stars) and Blood Sisters ('17 - 4 Stars).
As of 12/24/23 Janeās last two books were not available on Kindle in the U.S. - THE LIES WE TELL (ā21) and WE ALL HAVE OUR SECRETS (ā22).
So happy this new release was available in the U.S. on Kindle. Iāve been missing her writing and storytelling ability. I love a book that right from the start makes you think of the characters even when youāre not reading. Storylines from two generations which I enjoyed immensely even though Iām not a historical fiction lover. I was riveted to both stories; full of suspense and a glimpse at life during WWII. I also liked the cliffhangers between the two timelines. Perfect read to me!
Hope everyone picks a good read this week !
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Post by Linda on Jan 10, 2024 18:04:06 GMT
Thanks! I just bought Kindle version of A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay for $2.99 I hope you like it as much as I did
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Post by mnmloveli on Jan 10, 2024 18:13:34 GMT
I'm reading The Maidens by Alex Michaelides and enjoying it. It's a murder mystery set at Cambridge in the UK. I've read a few of his books and enjoyed them. Iāve read both of Alex Michaelides books, The Maidens (ā21 - 3 Stars) and The Silent Patient (ā19 - 5 Stars). Iām looking forward to his new book, THE FURY, coming out next week, 1/16/24. Hereās the descriptionā¦.. āThis is a tale of murder. Or maybe thatās not quite true. At its heart, itās a love story, isnāt it? Lana Farrar is a reclusive exāmovie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island. I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time ā it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press sensation: a celebrity; a private island cut off by the windā¦and a murder. We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ā a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered. But who am I? My name is Elliot Chase, and Iām going to tell you a story unlike any youāve ever heard.ā
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Bridget in MD
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Post by Bridget in MD on Jan 10, 2024 18:57:19 GMT
I'm reading The Maidens by Alex Michaelides and enjoying it. It's a murder mystery set at Cambridge in the UK. I've read a few of his books and enjoyed them. Iāve read both of Alex Michaelides books, The Maidens (ā21 - 3 Stars) and The Silent Patient (ā19 - 5 Stars). Iām looking forward to his new book, THE FURY, coming out next week, 1/16/24. Hereās the descriptionā¦.. āThis is a tale of murder. Or maybe thatās not quite true. At its heart, itās a love story, isnāt it? Lana Farrar is a reclusive exāmovie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island. I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time ā it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press sensation: a celebrity; a private island cut off by the windā¦and a murder. We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ā a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered. But who am I? My name is Elliot Chase, and Iām going to tell you a story unlike any youāve ever heard.ā I liked the Silent Patient a little more, but I agree, I am excited for his next book. I didnt realize The Fury comes out next week!
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Post by Tearisci on Jan 10, 2024 20:23:12 GMT
Iāve read both of Alex Michaelides books, The Maidens (ā21 - 3 Stars) and The Silent Patient (ā19 - 5 Stars). Iām looking forward to his new book, THE FURY, coming out next week, 1/16/24. Hereās the descriptionā¦.. āThis is a tale of murder. Or maybe thatās not quite true. At its heart, itās a love story, isnāt it? Lana Farrar is a reclusive exāmovie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island. I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time ā it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press sensation: a celebrity; a private island cut off by the windā¦and a murder. We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ā a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered. But who am I? My name is Elliot Chase, and Iām going to tell you a story unlike any youāve ever heard.ā I liked the Silent Patient a little more, but I agree, I am excited for his next book. I didnt realize The Fury comes out next week! My FB feed has been nonstop advertising for The Fury. I just realized that I had already read The Maidens a few years ago but I don't remember much about it so it's almost like a new book. That's when you know you read a lot!
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Bridget in MD
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Post by Bridget in MD on Jan 10, 2024 20:39:12 GMT
4 Stars for The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb. "Alone, we are a solitary violin, a lonely flute, a trumpet singing in the dark. Together, we are a symphony."
Ray McMillian, a young black man with a passion and talent to play the violin. When his Grandma Nora gives him his great-great-grandfatherās beat-up old fiddle, he discovers it is actually a priceless Stradivarius! As he prepares for a prestigous comeptition in Moscow, his violin is stolen, rocking his world. With the descendants of the man who once enslaved Rayās great-great-grandfather asserting that the instrument is rightfully theirs, a struggle with low self worth, and an unsupportive money hungry family, Ray is alone and wonders if he will ever see his violin again. The backstory of Ray and how he received the violin was compelling. I could not believe how unsupportive his mother and most of his family was, minus Grandma Nora and his aunt. It hurt to read how much racism Ray experienced at every stage of his life, esp in the music world. When you close your eyes, do you really think about the color of a person's skin as you listen to amazing music? I wanted to punch the slave-owner's decendents too. It was heartbreaking bc it still happens today. I also kind of guessed who stole the violin and that all got wrapped up so quickly, but so much focus was drawn away from that part of the story, I didn't mind because Ray's story was so engrossing and you really root for the underdog (Ray) in this book!
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Bridget in MD
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Post by Bridget in MD on Jan 10, 2024 20:40:11 GMT
I liked the Silent Patient a little more, but I agree, I am excited for his next book. I didnt realize The Fury comes out next week! My FB feed has been nonstop advertising for The Fury. I just realized that I had already read The Maidens a few years ago but I don't remember much about it so it's almost like a new book. That's when you know you read a lot!Thats why I need to keep my reviews on GoodReads. I'll be reading a book and think, damn this is familiar! and then go and see I read it years ago, LOL.
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