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Post by SallyPA on Jun 28, 2023 2:26:49 GMT
A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella- 2 stars- a little too slow and uninteresting. Enjoyed Chuck’s storyline the most.
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger - 5 stars - this was a re-read and I loved it even more than the first reading. Quite the adventure for a group of misfit kids.
Tomorrow, andTomorrow, and Tomorrow - 4 stars - I really enjoyed this. It is a long read but flows easily. I don’t have experience with video gaming and found it a a fascinating part of the story.
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ComplicatedLady
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,083 
Location: Valley of the Sun
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Post by ComplicatedLady on Jun 28, 2023 3:49:49 GMT
I haven’t posted in a while so I’m not sure how far back I should go. I’ll give the last few…
I listened to The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green. The audiobook gets 4.5/5 stars. It took me a few chapters/topics to get into it but once I was in, I was hooked. I finished it last weekend and I still kind of miss it.
I read World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever. 4/5 stars. Makes me want to travel and try new foods. I’m not quite as much of a fan of pork as he was, but some of the food, culture, and experiences sound amazing. It was published after Bourdain died so it’s mostly quotes of his or from his previous shows with gaps filled in but it was interesting to read about places I’d never imagined visiting.
Another read was Paper Names by Susie Luo. 4/5 stars. I enjoyed the story and the intersection of lives. I don’t want to say too much else for fear of spoilers.
I also read The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth and gave it 4/5 stars.
Last one I’ll review here is Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah and gave it 4.5/5 stars. The descriptions of Efe’s struggles with motherhood and marriage were so relatable. I had some challenges as a new mom that I felt many people didn’t understand or that were wrong. (Looking back, it was likely related to extreme exhaustion and some post-partum depression, but at the time, it felt a lot like failure.) I haven’t felt this emotionally invested in a book for a long time.
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Post by mnmloveli on Jun 28, 2023 18:36:55 GMT
BTTT
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,797
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Post by Rhondito on Jun 28, 2023 18:46:16 GMT
I have two for this week. The Long March Home: A World War II Novel of the Pacific by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee - I picked this one after seeing Lisa's ( gottapeanow ) review on Goodreads. It's the story of three high school friends from Alabama who join the army during WWII and their struggle to survive the Bataan Death March. I'm a huge fan of historical war fiction and this one did not disappoint. It's always a wake-up call for me though - to realize what our fathers and grandfathers went through during those times. 4.5 stars Yellowface by R.F. Kuang - When June's friend and fellow author dies, June steals her unpublished book and releases it as her own. This is a storyline that's been told before, but this book really made me feel the anxiety June experienced as she was constantly afraid of being caught. 4 stars
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Post by cadoodlebug on Jun 28, 2023 19:05:05 GMT
Reposting to the correct thread!
I finished Troubles in Paradise, the 3rd book in the Paradise trilogy by Elin Hilderbrand. Too much fluff, too many loose ends that weren’t addressed, too many people falling in and out of love in a short period of time. Glad the trilogy is over. 3/5 stars (The first book was definitely the best in the trilogy.)
Then I finished The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth. Not my favorite by this author but it kept me interested. 3.5/5 stars
Now I’m about halfway through Drowning by TJ Newman. The first few chapters were rough but then it evened out and I’m enjoying it. Well, as much as you can *enjoy* the subject matter. Just don’t read it on an airplane trip.
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,303
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Post by gina on Jun 28, 2023 21:29:32 GMT
Reposting to the correct thread! Then I finished The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth. Not my favorite by this author but it kept me interested. 3.5/5 stars I see a lot of Peas read this this past week. I felt the same as you. Read it a few months back and gave it 3/5. I usually love this author but this wasn't may favorite from her. |
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Post by mnmloveli on Jun 28, 2023 21:51:54 GMT
Reposting to the correct thread! Then I finished The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth. Not my favorite by this author but it kept me interested. 3.5/5 stars I see a lot of Peas read this this past week. I felt the same as you. Read it a few months back and gave it 3/5. I usually love this author but this wasn't may favorite from her. Ditto. I read this a couple of months ago and I was so disappointed, especially since Ms. Hepworth is a favorite author of mine. I was also 3/5 stars. |
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Post by flanz on Jun 30, 2023 21:12:36 GMT
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger - 5 stars - this was a re-read and I loved it even more than the first reading. Quite the adventure for a group of misfit kids. Thank you! Just picked up the Kindle version for $1.99. |
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Post by GamGam on Jul 1, 2023 1:12:39 GMT
I've had such fun reading lately since 3 of my favorite authors released new books within weeks of each other. First up: The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor. I first started reading this author's books with her first book "The Girl Who Came Home" about the Titanic several years ago. Since then she's just gotten better and better in my opinion. I love her books. She writes historical fiction. This book takes place during 1940 starting in England when to escape the Blitz families were offered the chance to send their children to safety overseas to Canada, Australia and other places. The book has two main characters a widow with 2 children and a young woman who signs up as an escort for the children. I adored this book and just devoured it. It was incredible! 5 big stars! Next was another very favorite author Lisa See's new book Lady Tan's Circle of Women. I discovered Lisa See a few years ago when I first read "The Island of Sea Women" (still my favorite) and have loved her books ever since. This newest book was no exception. It's based on the true story of a woman doctor from 15th century China. I loved this book too, although not as much as some of her others. Still it kept me very entertained and I gave it 5 stars-it really deserved it. And lastly the amazing Martha Hall Kelly who wrote "The Lilac Girls" newest book The Golden Doves. This one-on my gosh! This one I could not put down. Literally. I stayed up one night reading from midnight until 7 am! Good thing I'm retired and can get away with that. It was a wonderful book that I really enjoyed. Takes place during WWII and afterwards. Really loved this one! 5 stars but wanted to give it more. I also read To Die Beautiful by Buzzy Jackson. This book was about Hannie Schaft who was a resistance fighter during WWII in Holland. I'd read a non-fiction book about her a couple of years ago and this book was wonderful! I'd been waiting for it to be published and it did not disappoint. Also 5 stars. birukitty, What an inspired review of the books you read. ❤️ Thanks so much for sharing so much detail of your reading experience. I want to read these books. |
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Post by birukitty on Jul 1, 2023 20:02:18 GMT
I've had such fun reading lately since 3 of my favorite authors released new books within weeks of each other. First up: The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor. I first started reading this author's books with her first book "The Girl Who Came Home" about the Titanic several years ago. Since then she's just gotten better and better in my opinion. I love her books. She writes historical fiction. This book takes place during 1940 starting in England when to escape the Blitz families were offered the chance to send their children to safety overseas to Canada, Australia and other places. The book has two main characters a widow with 2 children and a young woman who signs up as an escort for the children. I adored this book and just devoured it. It was incredible! 5 big stars! Next was another very favorite author Lisa See's new book Lady Tan's Circle of Women. I discovered Lisa See a few years ago when I first read "The Island of Sea Women" (still my favorite) and have loved her books ever since. This newest book was no exception. It's based on the true story of a woman doctor from 15th century China. I loved this book too, although not as much as some of her others. Still it kept me very entertained and I gave it 5 stars-it really deserved it. And lastly the amazing Martha Hall Kelly who wrote "The Lilac Girls" newest book The Golden Doves. This one-on my gosh! This one I could not put down. Literally. I stayed up one night reading from midnight until 7 am! Good thing I'm retired and can get away with that. It was a wonderful book that I really enjoyed. Takes place during WWII and afterwards. Really loved this one! 5 stars but wanted to give it more. I also read To Die Beautiful by Buzzy Jackson. This book was about Hannie Schaft who was a resistance fighter during WWII in Holland. I'd read a non-fiction book about her a couple of years ago and this book was wonderful! I'd been waiting for it to be published and it did not disappoint. Also 5 stars. birukitty, What an inspired review of the books you read. ❤️ Thanks so much for sharing so much detail of your reading experience. I want to read these books. Gamgam, thank you so much! I hope you enjoy reading these books as much as I did. Although if you get the hardcover of The Golden Doves I don't recommend reading it for 7 hours straight. I actually got a sore left shoulder for two days afterwards from that  Silly me! I know I could switch to an ereader but I much prefer paper books even though they weigh a ton. |
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Post by Lexica on Jul 1, 2023 22:42:03 GMT
Are we to read the book first and then report here with our review? I have just started out reading two books and will return with a review once I finish them.
One is the latest book in The Hidden Norfolk series by J. M. Dalgliesh, Blood Runs Cold. This series was recommended by a pea, and I apologize because I can’t remember who it was. I’ve really enjoyed them. This is book #14 of the series.
I have also just discovered a book written by my nephew’s wife. I had no idea she wrote books. There are 6 in th.is first series and it looks like she has more. I stumbled upon it accidentally and wasn’t even sure it was her at first. I ended up googling her pen name - using her initials and last name instead of her first name, so I didn’t know for sure if it was her and the photo was quite small. It is her and I’ll read the book and report back only if it is good. I would not want to say anything negative about a family member, even though I have cut all ties with my sister, her MIL, so they would never know my thoughts.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Jul 2, 2023 1:19:25 GMT
Are we to read the book first and then report here with our review? I usually post the book(s) I've read the previous week and then the one I'm currently reading. |
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peaname
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,390
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Post by peaname on Jul 2, 2023 1:30:40 GMT
I read In Sickness: A Memoir by Barrett Rollins. This was a fascinating account of how the author’s wife, a world famous oncologist, dealt with her own diagnosis of breast cancer (You find out at the beginning of the story that she had kept it a secret from her husband and everyone else and self treated it for years). The book is brutally honest not only about how the couple dealt with the wife’s illness, but also about their very complicated marriage. It is beautifully written. I can’t stop thinking about it, which is always the sign of a good book. I just read a review on Goodreads and the reviewer was pissed at her spouse for telling her story when he described her as private and guarded about sharing. Do you fee this way? I refused to read Go Set a Watchman because I felt Harper Lee didn’t want it published. On the other hand he’s telling his own story so I might be okay with it. I read this. I was okay with him telling the story because he was a victim. |
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Silly me! I know I could switch to an ereader but I much prefer paper books even though they weigh a ton. 
