The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,929
Jun 25, 2014 21:50:33 GMT
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Apr 1, 2024 16:19:06 GMT
This week I completed reading three books. As of today, James is my favorite novel of the year and maybe one of my favorite books in recent years. I have to sit with it for a while before I declare that, but it was so good imo, but I am and English teacher who has taught Huck Finn in the past, so take that with a grain of salt.
Butcher and Blackbeard Brynne Weaver Romance, serial killers, spicy ⭐️⭐️⭐️ This one intrigued me. There were a lot of trigger warnings (listed cheekily). I am not squeamish, but it just didn’t really appeal to me. The characters were fine, but I just felt we didn’t really learn much about them. A lot was alluded to, and I am guessing a lot wasn’t revealed for additional books in the series.
James Percival Everett Historical fiction/retelling of Huck Finn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ As of April 1, this is my favorite book of the year! I loved everything about this as someone who has studied and in the past, taught Huck Finn. This was a treat, but I think those who only remember a little about the original novel will enjoy this retelling as well. If you haven’t read Huck Finn, I would before reading this one, but I think it could be enjoyed no matter what since it is well-written and a solid story on its own…but part of its power comes from knowing the original and seeing the story through Jim’s eyes vs. Hucks. So so so GOOD! I would give it more than five stars!
How to Be a Goalie Parent Brian Daccord Nonfiction/Hockey/How-to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I read this one off and on for the last month. Obviously I am a hockey goalie parent.
Brian was a hockey goalie, has coached goalies at all levels from youth to the NHL, and been a scout for college and the NHL. This is the book I could have used seven years ago when we were first starting out, and I would have read this with my son. As it was, I took many screenshots and sent them to him to read (not sure how many he has read, but he has read “some” I am told)
Although it needs some editing, I would recommend this to all new goalie parents, and I feel any of us can find value no matter where we are in the journey. It made me feel like I didn’t screw it up too bad as we do a lot of the things he mentioned. Whew!
What did you read this week?
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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 Apr 1, 2024 18:48:04 GMT
JamesPercival Everett Historical fiction/retelling of Huck Finn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ As of April 1, this is my favorite book of the year! I loved everything about this as someone who has studied and in the past, taught Huck Finn. This was a treat, but I think those who only remember a little about the original novel will enjoy this retelling as well. If you haven’t read Huck Finn, I would before reading this one, but I think it could be enjoyed no matter what since it is well-written and a solid story on its own…but part of its power comes from knowing the original and seeing the story through Jim’s eyes vs. Hucks. So so so GOOD! I would give it more than five stars! As always, thanks for starting this thread. I read another book by Percivel Everett. It was quite strange. But I'll give this one a try, based on your recommendation here. Thanks. Lisa
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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 Apr 1, 2024 18:55:43 GMT
I'm nearly done with Grants Pass by Leonard Pitts Jr. This man can W R I T E. I have loved all his books. You become totally immersed in the story every time. And the characters are powerful as well. I'll rate this next week.
I read The Absent One, the second book in the Department Q series by Jussi Adler-Olsen, a Danish author. Here's my GR review. Ugh.
I loved the first book, but this was way over the top with All. The. Triggers.
Super violent. Horrible animal ab*se. Su!c!d3 Human trafficking R*pe G@ng r*pe
Honestly, I should've just stopped reading. I'm done with the series. 2 stars because I did finish the book.
I also read The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris. She wrote Sold on a Monday, which I loved.
This book was solid but it seemed like two different books. Part of it happens in NYC while the other part is at Alcatraz. 4/5 stars.
Finally, I whipped through the new Steve Cavanagh book in about 24 hours. K!l! for Me, k!l! for You. Such a great stand-alone. Told from four perspectives and partially based on an old novel, Strangers on a Train. Peter Swanson wrote a novel with a similar concept, but his is quite different.
Cavanagh adds a few great twists. 5/5 stars.
Lisa
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Post by trixiecat on Apr 1, 2024 19:08:02 GMT
The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand. Good five star read. I love her books.
Nantucket is only 11 miles away from Martha's Vineyard. But they may as well be worlds apart for estranged twin sisters Harper and Tabitha Frost.
After not speaking for more than a decade, Harper and Tabitha switch islands - and lives - to save what's left of their splintered family. But the twins quickly discover that the secrets, lies, and gossip they thought they'd outrun can travel between islands just as easily as they can. Will Harper and Tabitha be able to bury the hatchet and end their sibling rivalry once and for all?
Before the last beach picnic of the season, there will be enough old resentments, new loves, and cases of mistaken identity to make this the most talked-about summer that Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket have experienced in ages.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Apr 1, 2024 19:39:17 GMT
Last week I finished reading Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney. It was okay as a mystery but a tad confusing and convoluted. 3/5 stars
Now I am reading The Women by Kristin Hannah. I had classmates die in Viet Nam so, as much as I am loving reading it, it brings back some very sad memories.
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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 Apr 1, 2024 19:41:10 GMT
cadoodlebug, did you see that the Bosch Prime series is bringing on Maggie Q as Renee Ballard? Perfect casting, I think!
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naby64
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,929
Jun 25, 2014 21:44:13 GMT
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Post by naby64 on Apr 1, 2024 20:19:56 GMT
I'm still listening to Circe from last week. Yesterday, I started the physical book Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas. It is book 3 in the Throne of Glass series.
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hutchfan
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,125
Jul 6, 2016 16:42:12 GMT
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Post by hutchfan on Apr 2, 2024 3:24:37 GMT
I read Heart Strings and Other Breakable Things by Jacqueline Firkins. It was an enjoyable, fast read. Mansfield Massachusetts is the last place 17 year old Edie Price wants to spend her final summer before college. It's the home of wealthy suburbanites and prima donnas like Edie's cousins, who are determined to distract her from her mother's death with cute boys and Cinderella style makeovers. Edie has her own plans, and they don't include a prince charming. But as Edie dives into schoolwork and applying for college scholarships, she finds herself drawn to two Mansfield boys who are vying for her attention. First there's Sebastian, Edie's childhood friend and first love. He's smart, sweet and already has a girlfriend. Then there's Henry, the local bad boy and all around player. He's totally off-limits, even if his kisses are chemically addictive. Both boys are trouble. Edie can't help but get caught between them. Someone's heart is going to break. Now she just has to make sure it isn't hers.
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Post by pjaye on Apr 2, 2024 7:48:57 GMT
A good week for me!
Tipping Point (Detective Kate Miles #3) by Dinuka McKenzie Outback Noir. Present day. I've enjoyed the other two in this series about a female detective in a small town. This time the story is about her younger brother and the deaths of two of his best friends from school, only a few weeks apart. Kate gets involved in the investigation and starts to suspect her brother might be involved somehow. 3.5 stars rounded down to 3 for GR, a good series if you like police investigation mystery books.
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera. Set in USA present day, with flashbacks to 5 years earlier. Lucy was found wandering in the woods covered in her dead best friend's blood, but Lucy has amnesia about that night and can't remember what happened. Although she was never convicted, everyone in her town assumed she was guilty. Now there's a new podcast by Ben Owens, who teams up with Lucy's grandmother to finally get Lucy to tell her side of the story. A mystery, but with elements of dark comedy...and I enjoyed it and would recommend. 4 stars
The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson by Ellen Baker. Set in the USA, dual timeline 1924 & 2015 Staring in 1924 when 4yo Cecily is dropped off at an orphanage by her mother, and tells her story of being adopted at 7 and trained as a bareback rider in a small circus. Then in 2015 when Cecily is 95yo, when grandson is doing a family tree project and as a surprise they submit her & her two daughter's DNA to Ancestry. When the results come back, it reveals her past & the tragic love story Cecily has kept a secret for the last 80 years. I really enjoyed this. 4 stars
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Post by jeremysgirl on Apr 2, 2024 10:02:06 GMT
Honestly that book James and your review of it has peaked my interested The Great Carpezio. I'm not much of a fiction reader, but Huck Finn was one of my favs from college. This week I read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. And last night I finished up Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I have to say that I am wholeheartedly enjoying the Harry Potter series. I read the first two out loud to Esther almost 20 years ago. And by the time I was done, she was able to read the rest on her own. But I did see the first 4 movies like 20 years ago. But I had forgotten the story lines and let's face it, a book is always better than a movie. Anyway, I'm glad I'm doing this. I'll head out to the bookstore today for the next one. I also read Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke. I did not think it was very good. It wasn't cited well, as a psychiatrist I thought it was wrong of her to invoke religion as a treatment for a patient, her work relies a lot on those addicted going cold turkey and only those with opioid addictions getting any kind of chemical help, it was a scathing commentary on the increasing rates of antidepressants and anti-anxiety med use. I just didn't get out of it what I thought I might. I would not recommend.
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Post by quietgirl on Apr 2, 2024 13:19:54 GMT
The last couple weeks I read...
Eight Perfect Murders, by Peter Swanson, about a bookstore owner who wrote a shop blog post about the eight best book murders, about 20 years ago, and someone is using that list in present day. There was a bit of suspension of belief, especially how the FBI agent ties these crimes together, as well as some unprofessional behavior. Otherwise, it had good twists, and I liked it. 3 1/2 stars.
Fierce Kingdom, by Gin Phillips, about a mom and small boy trapped in the zoo after hours when gun men storm the entrance near closing time. Good. 4 stars.
The Air Raid Book Club, by Annie Lyons, about a widow who owns a book shop, who decides to take in a refugee teenager and ends up keeping her book shop open, during WWII. 5 stars.
The Vaster Wilds, by Lauren Groff, about a young (16-18) servant girl who runs away from a British settlement in Florida in the late 16th century. This is my jam. Her survival in the wilds, along with her slowly through the book telling her story, and how she ended up where she was. 5 stars. Lauren Groff is a favorite author.
Breach of Faith, by J G Lewis, an Ela, Countess of Salisbury mystery, set in the early 13th Century. There's several, this was my first one, but don't think it was the first in the series. I liked this a lot and will look for others. 4 stars.
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Post by Tearisci on Apr 2, 2024 13:30:33 GMT
I'm almost done with Confessions on the 7:45: A Novel by Lisa Unger and it's a real page turner. Here is the synopsis:
Selena Murphy is commuting home on the train when she strikes up a conversation with a beautiful stranger in the next seat. The woman introduces herself as Martha and soon confesses that she’s been stuck in an affair with her boss. Selena, in turn, confesses that she suspects her husband is sleeping with the nanny. When the train arrives at Selena’s station, the two women part ways, presumably never to meet again.
Then the nanny disappears.
As Selena is pulled into the mystery of what happened, and as the fractures in her marriage grow deeper, she begins to wonder, who was Martha really? But she is hardly prepared for what she’ll discover…
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Post by karenlou on Apr 2, 2024 14:07:08 GMT
I am a reader of this thread, however a lurker...I must say I read The Women and the Assent, that were recommended last month. I Enjoyed both in their very different ways!!!
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Post by mnmloveli on Apr 2, 2024 15:14:12 GMT
Two for me last week …………
KILL FOR ME KILL FOR YOU (‘24 - 5 Stars) BY STEVE CAVANAGH DESCRIPTION : One dark evening on New York City’s Upper West Side, two strangers meet by chance. Over drinks, Amanda and Wendy realize they have much in common, especially loneliness and an intense desire for revenge against the men who destroyed their families. As they talk into the night, they come up with the perfect plan: if you kill for me, I’ll kill for you. In another part of the city, Ruth is home alone when the beautiful brownstone she shares with her husband, Scott, is invaded. She’s attacked by a man with piercing blue eyes, who disappears into the night. Will she ever be able to feel safe again while the blue-eyed stranger is out there?
REVIEW :
I’ve read 2 books by this author, The Defense (Book 1 - ‘16 - READ '21 - 3 Stars) and Th1rt3en (Book 4 - ‘19 - Read ‘19 - 5 Stars). I still have Book 2, The Plea, which I haven’t read. The following books in the series are not available on Kindle and kind of turned me off reading Mr. Cavanagh: Bk 3 - The Liar, Bk 5 Fifty Fifty, Bk 6 The Devil’s Advocate, Bk 7 The Twisted and Bk 8 - The Accomplice. This book seems like a standalone novel so I’ll give it a try. Each time I thought I knew where this book was heading it took another turn. What a thriller this book was for me! So fast paced! I can’t say much more about this book; I don’t want to ruin it for others. Just know this was not your typical “I kill, you kill” plot; so much more!
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DEVLINS (‘24 - 3 STARS) BY LISA SCOTTOLINE DESCRIPTION : TJ Devlin is the charming disappointment in the prominent Devlin family, all of whom are lawyers at their highly successful firm—except him. After a stint in prison and rehab for alcoholism, TJ can’t get hired anywhere except at the firm, in a make-work job with the title of investigator. But one night, TJ’s world turns upside down after his older brother John confesses that he just murdered one of the clients, an accountant he’d confronted with proof of embezzlement. It seems impossible coming from John, the firstborn son and Most Valuable Devlin. TJ plunges into the investigation, seizing the chance to prove his worth and save his brother. But in no time, TJ and John find themselves entangled in a lethal web of deception and murder. T.J. will fight to save his family, but what he learns might break them first.
REVIEW :
I’ve read 12 books by this author most of which have received 4 stars, with After Anna (‘18) and Keep Quiet (‘14) getting 5 stars and Eternal (‘21) getting 2 stars which was historical fiction which I knew in advance was not my cup of tea. This tale jumps right-in ! Easy to read mystery; nothing special and slightly disappointing for me. I did root for TJ the entire way even though it was slow. I saw hints of possibly a book 2; even though I liked TJ, I don’t think I’d read a book 2.
Happy Reading !
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Post by mnmloveli on Apr 2, 2024 15:21:29 GMT
I'm almost done with Confessions on the 7:45: A Novel by Lisa Unger and it's a real page turner. Here is the synopsis: Selena Murphy is commuting home on the train when she strikes up a conversation with a beautiful stranger in the next seat. The woman introduces herself as Martha and soon confesses that she’s been stuck in an affair with her boss. Selena, in turn, confesses that she suspects her husband is sleeping with the nanny. When the train arrives at Selena’s station, the two women part ways, presumably never to meet again. Then the nanny disappears. As Selena is pulled into the mystery of what happened, and as the fractures in her marriage grow deeper, she begins to wonder, who was Martha really? But she is hardly prepared for what she’ll discover… If you enjoyed Confessions on the 7:45, DON’T MISS Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh. My review is above. Similar idea but Steve’s book takes it in a whole different direction !
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Post by Tearisci on Apr 2, 2024 15:25:49 GMT
I'm almost done with Confessions on the 7:45: A Novel by Lisa Unger and it's a real page turner. Here is the synopsis: Selena Murphy is commuting home on the train when she strikes up a conversation with a beautiful stranger in the next seat. The woman introduces herself as Martha and soon confesses that she’s been stuck in an affair with her boss. Selena, in turn, confesses that she suspects her husband is sleeping with the nanny. When the train arrives at Selena’s station, the two women part ways, presumably never to meet again. Then the nanny disappears. As Selena is pulled into the mystery of what happened, and as the fractures in her marriage grow deeper, she begins to wonder, who was Martha really? But she is hardly prepared for what she’ll discover… If you enjoyed Confessions on the 7:45, DON’T MISS Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh. My review is above. Similar idea but Steve’s book takes it in a whole different direction ! Thanks for enabling me I am a sucker for good books!
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Post by monklady123 on Apr 2, 2024 15:30:52 GMT
I've been a slacker on this thread for several weeks now. Over the past few weeks I've read: The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I've read "Hunger Games" years ago, and I must have read "Catching Fire" but I'm not sure I remember it. Lol. Never read "Mockingjay" but it's on my Kindle waiting for me to get to it. I read The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes which is the prequel to "Hunger Games" so that's what got me into reading the other three. I've liked all of them, and it was interesting to see the origins of President Snow and Panem's Hunger Games. I also read several of the Phryne Fisher books by Kerry Greenwood -- Murder on the Ballarat Train, Death at Victoria Dock, and The Green Mill Murder. I love these books and I reread them often. They are a really quick read. This past week I finished The First Ladies by Marie Benedict. I usually like her books well enough, but this one was just "meh" as my kids would say. It's about Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune....their friendship and relationship before and after Eleanor's husband was elected president. The book didn't grab me, although I learned some interesting things that led me down several research rabbit holes. lol. The biggest one was that African Americans were once staunch Republicans. I never knew this, although of course it makes sense since that was the party of Lincoln. So I wondered how it happened that today a large majority of African Americans vote Democratic, not Republican. The book did explain it, but as I said, I went down that rabbit hole of more information. After I finished that I tried reading a few things that I have out from the library and nothing grabbed me. Then I got off the waiting list for Fourth Wing, the first book in the Empyrean series (the second one, "Iron Flame" was just released....I'm #314 on that waiting list, hahahaha). Normally I never read fantasy, except Lord of the Rings, and Narnia, and any other fantasy I've every picked up usually gets put aside after a few chapters. But... "Fourth Wing" just sucked me right in. I LOVE this book! I'm almost done with it and I just love it. Maybe it's the idea of bonding with dragons and being able to fly away on one... who knows, but I love it. Did I mention I really like it? haha 5 out of 5 definitely, and as I said, I don't like fantasy.
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Post by monklady123 on Apr 2, 2024 15:32:34 GMT
Also, as usual when I read this thread, I added two books to my library list: "Confessions on the 7:45" and "Kill for Me, Kill for You".
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Post by epeanymous on Apr 2, 2024 15:35:37 GMT
Hello -- last week I read:
The Resort by Sarah Ochs. I think the writer (who is a law professor) has a lot of promise -- I liked the set-up for the book, which is that mysterious deaths are happening at a Thai resort staffed by expats who are all trying to escape checkered pasts, and it's not clear if those pasts are catching up with one of more of them, or if the deaths are connected to the travel influencer who has shown up and seems to have her own back story. Like a lot of mysteries from relatively new writers, I'm just not sure the ending of this worked -- it seemed too "I'm going to have a big twist!" without enough support for that twist -- but I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Sutanto. I'd describe this as halfway between a cozy and a traditional mystery, and I really enjoyed it -- when a man shows up dead in Vera Wong's tea room, she annoints herself investigator (even as the police classify the death as an accident) and begins to befriend and interrogate all of the possible suspects. Charming, sweet, with a reasonable ending and good personal connections between the characters.
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,662
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on Apr 2, 2024 16:37:31 GMT
Last week I listened to Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle. She is the author of In Five Years, which I liked very much. This book reminded me a bit of the book Ready or Not that I read a couple of weeks ago, but this one was better.
Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man , she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together.
I didn't like this one as much as I did In Five Years; there were some characters that I disliked and relationships I didn't feel the emotional connection that was expected. I gave it 3 stars.
This week I've been trying to get into The Kite Runner but I'm having a hard time...
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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 Apr 2, 2024 18:52:24 GMT
This week I've been trying to get into The Kite Runner but I'm having a hard time... IIRC, it is a slow burn for sure. But give it a bit. So powerful!
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Post by Bridget in MD on Apr 2, 2024 20:30:36 GMT
Also, as usual when I read this thread, I added two books to my library list: "Confessions on the 7:45" and "Kill for Me, Kill for You". Me too! Although I didn't love Fourth Wing or Iron Flame, LMAO
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Post by pjaye on Apr 3, 2024 3:40:03 GMT
I saw this recently and thought other readers would like it:
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Post by katiescarlett on Apr 3, 2024 5:06:25 GMT
Since my last post I read "The Beach House" by Rachel Hanna. Julie's husband of twenty-one years was living a secret life, which ended her marriage and forced her to start over alone at forty-three years old. Faced with a new reality, she decides to rebuild her life on an island off the coast of South Carolina and learn to make it on her own.
I did not like it. Not sure why I kept reading except I love a starting over book and kept thinking it might get better. 1 star.
Next was "Trackers" by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. It's an EMP story. I liked it and will read the next one in the series. 3 stars.
Then I listened to "Inheritance" by Nora Roberts. I liked this one. It was spooky. 1st in a trilogy. 4 stars.
Next was "The Friend Zone" by Abby Jimenez. I liked it but not as much as I did "Life's Too Short" by the same author. 4 stars.
Most recent was "Small Game" by Blair Braverman. This is a reality TV show in the wilderness gone bad. I liked it. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,662
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on Apr 3, 2024 17:14:32 GMT
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mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Posts: 5,019
Jun 25, 2014 19:25:50 GMT
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Post by mimima on Apr 3, 2024 20:35:03 GMT
JamesPercival Everett Historical fiction/retelling of Huck Finn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ As of April 1, this is my favorite book of the year! I loved everything about this as someone who has studied and in the past, taught Huck Finn. This was a treat, but I think those who only remember a little about the original novel will enjoy this retelling as well. If you haven’t read Huck Finn, I would before reading this one, but I think it could be enjoyed no matter what since it is well-written and a solid story on its own…but part of its power comes from knowing the original and seeing the story through Jim’s eyes vs. Hucks. So so so GOOD! I would give it more than five stars! I'm really looking forward to that one - I'm on the Library list. I am in the middle of several books so it looks like I didn’t’ get a lot of reading done, but really I did. Having said that, this one took me a long time. Dyed in Murex by Evgenia Hatzithanasi-Reppi, translated by Sister Rafailia Kaparelis. I don’t know if this is due to being in translation or in the original Greek, but though it was a YA it was very dense and not a quick read at all. It took me a goodly portion of a week to read. Historical Fiction about the iconoclastic controversy in Constantinople, it offered a sweet story and some good history, but never captured me. 3/5 stars.
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