imsirius
Prolific Pea
Call it as I see it.
Posts: 7,661
Location: Floating in the black veil.
Jul 12, 2014 19:59:28 GMT
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Post by imsirius on May 29, 2017 23:37:49 GMT
Sycamore by Bryn Chancellor. A 17 year old girl vanishes in a small town in Arizona in 1991. Years later, remains are discovered. Is it her, and what happened? We hear multiple points of view as the townspeople remember their connections to the girl and examine their lives before and after her disappearance. I really loved this one. I thought it was beautifully written with rich, real characters. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads. This sounds good. Just downloaded it. Thanks!
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scrappyesq
Pearl Clutcher
You have always been a part of the heist. You're only mad now because you don't like your cut.
Posts: 4,032
Jun 26, 2014 19:29:07 GMT
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Post by scrappyesq on May 30, 2017 0:29:09 GMT
I finished Uprooted by Naomi Novik. A fantasy book. The beginning was awesome but after finishing I rate this book 2,5/5. It was an easy and fast read but I was a bit dissapointed after the great start. Right!!!! The beginning was so good. But then the prolonged middle to the end of the book killed me. I did really like the origin of the wood story.
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mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Posts: 5,022
Jun 25, 2014 19:25:50 GMT
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Post by mimima on May 30, 2017 0:32:08 GMT
I finished Uprooted by Naomi Novik. A fantasy book. The beginning was awesome but after finishing I rate this book 2,5/5. It was an easy and fast read but I was a bit dissapointed after the great start. Right!!!! The beginning was so good. But then the prolonged middle to the end of the book killed me. I did really like the origin of the wood story. Agreed. It had such promise. Alas.
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scrappyesq
Pearl Clutcher
You have always been a part of the heist. You're only mad now because you don't like your cut.
Posts: 4,032
Jun 26, 2014 19:29:07 GMT
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Post by scrappyesq on May 30, 2017 0:34:26 GMT
Right!!!! The beginning was so good. But then the prolonged middle to the end of the book killed me. I did really like the origin of the wood story. Agreed. It had such promise. Alas. What I don't get is how so many people raved about it. Made me wonder if I needed to reread it or something.
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Post by auntkelly on May 30, 2017 1:07:35 GMT
I'm reading Deliver Her by Patricia Donavan. It's pretty good, but not great. I thought it was going to be a suspense story, but it's really more a story about a troubled family. The story moves pretty slowly.
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my3freaks
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,206
Location: NH girl living in Colorado
Jun 26, 2014 4:10:56 GMT
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Post by my3freaks on May 30, 2017 4:55:51 GMT
I'm almost done with Beyond Reach, the 6th (and last) of Karin Slaughter's Grant County series. I think I'm 77% through it. I had started the Will Trent series and then found out that there were character crossover, and apparently story lines that would be ruined if I continued with those, so I switched over. I like them, but I'm ready to move on. They're sometimes a little long and drug out, and I find a couple of the characters less than lovable. I was going to move on to # 3 in the Will Trent series, but I might take a break. I think I have the most recent Black Dagger Brotherhood downloaded, so I think that will be up next.
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paigepea
Drama Llama
Enter your message here...
Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on May 30, 2017 12:07:25 GMT
I haven't finished anything. Still reading Unselfie about creating empathy in our kids. I slowed down in this one on purpose because in enjoying it so much and want it to last.
I started THE WOMEN IN THE CASTLE by Jessica Shattuck about 3 widows who live in a castle in germany after WWII, their only connection is the fact that their husbands were in the resistance movement together and planned an attack on Hitler. I'm only 1/3 of the way through but I'm enjoying the story, characters, language and the perspective. Wish I had more time to read. This is a new author for me.
Paige.
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Post by jassy on May 30, 2017 12:29:20 GMT
Just finished To The Bright Edge of the World 5/5. Boy, did I love this book. It seems I've read SO many books lately that are told through correspondence between characters, diary entries, faux historical documents, etc that it's seemed rather gimmicky. But not in this boook - it's the perfect way to tell the story. The love between Allen and Sophie is very real, mature, and deep. I enjoyed the elements of magical realism as well, and it was so beautifully descriptive of Alaska in the late 1800s. Great book!
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,643
Location: The Grand Canyon
Jun 25, 2014 20:18:39 GMT
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Post by pudgygroundhog on May 30, 2017 13:24:46 GMT
I read:
Summer Sisters by Judy Blume. 3.5/5 stars.
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins. 3.5/5 stars.
Currently reading Mississippi Blood by Greg Iles. On deck: American War, The Thirst, The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley, The Patriots, Saints for All Occasions.
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,643
Location: The Grand Canyon
Jun 25, 2014 20:18:39 GMT
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Post by pudgygroundhog on May 30, 2017 13:28:04 GMT
It's been a disappointing run around here. I was excited to read Paula Hawkins' Into the Water but I hated it. I didn't like any of the characters, it jumped around too much and was just boring. I stopped about 1/2 way through and went to the end to see what happened, and sure enough, I didn't like that either. On that same line, I got Caraval by Stephanie Garber and tossed that aside after about 1/3. It was just so.. flat. I like books that can create a sense of magic but this one just felt like it was trying too hard. On the good side though.. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Frank. It's a dark Wizard of Oz, where Dorothy is evil and has taken over Oz with her sadistic sidekicks. There are 4 in that series, so yay, it will keep me busy for a while. The next one is The Wicked Will Rise and it put it on hold tout de suite after finishing the first one. Currently reading The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White. So far, so good. I didn't like Caraval much either. I would recommend Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor instead. I really liked that one. It's not exactly in that genre with the magic element, but it's a fantasy book that is so well written - terrific characters, plotting, and world building. ETA: sgpea I had the same reaction to Caraval. Read this book instead.
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,643
Location: The Grand Canyon
Jun 25, 2014 20:18:39 GMT
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Post by pudgygroundhog on May 30, 2017 13:32:38 GMT
Agreed. It had such promise. Alas. What I don't get is how so many people raved about it. Made me wonder if I needed to reread it or something. I'm one of those people - I really enjoyed it!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 1, 2024 20:39:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2017 13:59:17 GMT
I kind of read I Saw a Man by Owen Sheers. It was so boring I lost interest and skimmed through, it's a short read but not engaging.
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Post by lynnek on May 30, 2017 15:26:51 GMT
I finished All The Missing Girls by Megan Miranda. Two girls are missing from the same small town ten years apart. And they had a connection to each other. Nic is going to find out what happened. This was written so that you read the almost end chapter and then go back in time to reveal the mystery and at the same time what happened. Very unique. I can't imagine trying to write the book! I enjoyed the story and would recommend it. This is in my to read pile. I'm glad you enjoyed it..since it starts off at the end does it jump back and forth? I tend to lose interest fast with books like that. No it just goes backward. It is very strange. At first I couldn't imagine how she would write a mystery backward but she did it. The book starts with a scene that would be toward the end of the book but you obviously don't really know what it means. Then it goes to "present day - day 12 (or something)" you have the main character arriving in the town after being summonsed there by her brother. Then the next "chapter" it called "The day before - Day 11". And it just keeps going backwards and filling in more details. An example that has nothing to do with the story really, is in one chapter they keep talking about her boyfriend being really hung over and how much he drank at the local watering hole the night before. I didn't really think about it as I was reading, but then you move to the next chapter which is the day before and there, lo and behold, is the scene where they go to the bar and he keeps drinking the strong drinks. So, as I was reading I kept thinking I was missing things but then as I read the next chapter the holes would be filled in. I thought it was such a unique book. A fun and different read.
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Post by lynnek on May 30, 2017 15:28:30 GMT
Sycamore by Bryn Chancellor. A 17 year old girl vanishes in a small town in Arizona in 1991. Years later, remains are discovered. Is it her, and what happened? We hear multiple points of view as the townspeople remember their connections to the girl and examine their lives before and after her disappearance. I really loved this one. I thought it was beautifully written with rich, real characters. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads. I just bought this one. I had seen it several places and then it was on sale at Amazon so I got it. Glad to hear it is a good one.
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Post by peano on May 30, 2017 15:31:37 GMT
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance.
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,677
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on May 30, 2017 17:26:01 GMT
I'm reading Orphan Train and I love it so much!! I really enjoy period pieces and this one is fascinating to me. I don't like the current-day portions though and wish the entire book would stay in the early 1900s.
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,228
Jun 26, 2014 1:59:16 GMT
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Post by gina on May 30, 2017 17:38:54 GMT
Sycamore by Bryn Chancellor. A 17 year old girl vanishes in a small town in Arizona in 1991. Years later, remains are discovered. Is it her, and what happened? We hear multiple points of view as the townspeople remember their connections to the girl and examine their lives before and after her disappearance. I really loved this one. I thought it was beautifully written with rich, real characters. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads. This sounds great! I have requested the e-book from my library thanks to your post. I am a little over halfway through with The Good Girl by Mary Kubica.SaveSaveSaveSave
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lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,184
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
Jul 6, 2014 21:50:44 GMT
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Post by lesley on May 30, 2017 17:47:46 GMT
I've read barely anything for months, but it hasn't stopped me from stockpiling books (thankfully digital copies, otherwise I would have run out of space by now). However, in the last three weeks I have completed three books. Yay me! The first was The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena, which held my attention but at the same time really annoyed me. I thought the story was good, albeit somewhat unrealistic, but really didn't like the writing style. Maybe 2/5. The second one I read was the most recent Rebus novel by Ian Rankin Rather Be The Devil. I love Ian Rankin, I love Rebus, and I love how he portrays Edinburgh. 5/5 as usual. The last of the three was Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale. I know I enjoyed it, but even though I finished it just a couple of days ago, I can't remember what it was about! (I think that's more a reflection on me though, rather than the book. ) Ok, I just looked it up on Amazon, and now I remember! 3/5 I've just started Kevin Kwan's Rich People Problems and am enjoying it so far.
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Post by katiescarlett on May 30, 2017 18:55:08 GMT
Sycamore by Bryn Chancellor. A 17 year old girl vanishes in a small town in Arizona in 1991. Years later, remains are discovered. Is it her, and what happened? We hear multiple points of view as the townspeople remember their connections to the girl and examine their lives before and after her disappearance. I really loved this one. I thought it was beautifully written with rich, real characters. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads. This sounds great! I have requested the e-book from my library thanks to your post. I am a little over halfway through with The Good Girl by Mary Kubica.SaveSaveSaveSaveI also added Sycamore to my "to read" list. It sounds really good. And I am also about half way done with the Good Girl. I'm not loving it but want to see how it all turns out so I will continue.
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MsKnit
Pearl Clutcher
RefuPea #1406
Posts: 2,648
Jun 26, 2014 19:06:42 GMT
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Post by MsKnit on May 31, 2017 0:03:17 GMT
How can we be coming up on June already??? I actually finished a book this week so I feel entitled to start the weekly thread. I picked up Pat Conroy's novel South of Broad in an antique mall while we were in Charleston last week. The book begins with the main character biking his paper route in the historical district where my husband and I had just been, so I was intrigued. Alas, it is just not a good novel. Very overwrought, the dialogue and characters were ludicrous. I finished it because I wanted to find out what happened, but it was a bit of a slog. [ I read a bit of this book years ago. That man is beyond verbose. I am not sure I made it a quarter of the way through. I have never picked up a Pat Conroe book since. Rhondito, I completely agree with you assessment of Orphan Train. I adored that book. Let's see... I have read Colson Whitehead's Underground Railroad. Thought it was interesting, though the railroad parts were odd. Also, The Girl With Seven Names. Honestly, I am not sure the name of the book is correct. Never mind remembering the author's name. I apologize profusely to the author. It was the story of the author's accidental escape from North Korea. Her life in China and return to her own identity reclaimed in South Korea. Then her assistance in getting her mother and accidentally her brother out of North Korea. Bravery. Luck. Fear of being discovered and returned. It was so interesting that another escape from NK book is in my near future. Last book finished was Imagine Me Gone by Mark or Matt Someone. I am not sure how I feel about this one. It is about mental illness, suicide, and the effects on family members. The author did a good job in setting one of the characters apart from the rest. The others were only distinguished by the content of their thoughts not their voices. It was not a happy book. I have also been working my way through a book on the origins of different forensics methods and another about eugenics in the early 1900s US and the Carrie Buck case. Next up will be chosen from: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, two escaping NK books, and a book about The Ebola virus.
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,228
Jun 26, 2014 1:59:16 GMT
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Post by gina on May 31, 2017 0:50:28 GMT
This sounds great! I have requested the e-book from my library thanks to your post. I am a little over halfway through with The Good Girl by Mary Kubica.SaveSaveSaveSaveI also added Sycamore to my "to read" list. It sounds really good. And I am also about half way done with the Good Girl. I'm not loving it but want to see how it all turns out so I will continue. Ditto with Good Girl. It is moving along so I am reading, but mostly because I want to see how it ends. I heard the epilogue makes the whole thing so I am intrigued! SaveSave
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Post by lesserknownpea on May 31, 2017 7:35:25 GMT
It's been awhile since I shared here: so bear with me.
Biography kick included " Here's the Story " by Maureen Mc Cormick. Very interesting life playing Marcia Brady and everyone thinking she had a charmed life while in reality she was full of self doubt and had a terrible drug problem. Also, there's a story line about her manipulative brother that made me think you can be famous and have money and lawyers, and still be helpless against crazy family members. 4/5
"My Mother was Nuts" by Penny Marshall. Very interesting life, plenty of things I was surprised to learn, (she aborted Art Garfunkel's baby and considers that her biggest regret. Also, Betty Spaghetti was played by her real life daughter). Only 3/5 because it was formulaic and self serving.
"Coming Clean" by Kimberly Rae Miller, an author, actress and tv personality who grew up in a nasty hoarder's house. 5/5 for the way she openly shared how bad it was without destroying her parent's dignity.
"The Egg and I" by Betty McDonald, which I didn't know was a classic. As a young bride, Betty was hauled off to help her husband try to make a go of egg farming in super primitive conditions on the Olympic Peninsula. She calls her neighbors Ma and Pa Kettle, which I thought was tongue in cheek, until I googled and found out her book was where those characters originally came from. 4/5 because she's a good writer who tells a story with humor.
"My Prison, My Home" by Haley Esfandiari, an Iranian American woman who at 67 was arrested and put in prison as an accused spy. It kept my interest, as she wove her story with the history that resulted in the unstable and unsavory government situation she was persecuted by. Much of the modern history I remember being played out on the nightly news these past decades, but she does a great job of distilling all the convoluted bits into something coherent. 4/4
I'm finally ready to dip my feet into some fiction, I'm reading Code Name Verity
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Post by MorellisCupcake on Jun 6, 2017 2:54:03 GMT
It's been a disappointing run around here. I was excited to read Paula Hawkins' Into the Water but I hated it. I didn't like any of the characters, it jumped around too much and was just boring. I stopped about 1/2 way through and went to the end to see what happened, and sure enough, I didn't like that either. On that same line, I got Caraval by Stephanie Garber and tossed that aside after about 1/3. It was just so.. flat. I like books that can create a sense of magic but this one just felt like it was trying too hard. On the good side though.. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Frank. It's a dark Wizard of Oz, where Dorothy is evil and has taken over Oz with her sadistic sidekicks. There are 4 in that series, so yay, it will keep me busy for a while. The next one is The Wicked Will Rise and it put it on hold tout de suite after finishing the first one. Currently reading The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White. So far, so good. I didn't like Caraval much either. I would recommend Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor instead. I really liked that one. It's not exactly in that genre with the magic element, but it's a fantasy book that is so well written - terrific characters, plotting, and world building. ETA: sgpea I had the same reaction to Caraval. Read this book instead. I actually put "Strange the Dreamer" on hold after you recommended it on another reading thread. I'm really close to the top of the library list now and am looking forward to this one.
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,643
Location: The Grand Canyon
Jun 25, 2014 20:18:39 GMT
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Jun 6, 2017 13:17:39 GMT
I didn't like Caraval much either. I would recommend Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor instead. I really liked that one. It's not exactly in that genre with the magic element, but it's a fantasy book that is so well written - terrific characters, plotting, and world building. ETA: sgpea I had the same reaction to Caraval. Read this book instead. I actually put "Strange the Dreamer" on hold after you recommended it on another reading thread. I'm really close to the top of the library list now and am looking forward to this one. Cool! I hope you like it - I thought it was great. If you like it, you would probably also like her Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy too. And if you don't like it - it wasn't me who recommended it.
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