What are YOU reading? (Formerly Summer of Books...)

[snapdragon]

Listening to "Winter Lost" by Patricia Briggs 

[Artemis Windsong]

AB She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica

[snapdragon]

I finished my Ivy Morgan mystery series and I have started another series by the same author. So, I am on book 3 of the Harper Harlow mystery series. 

[Artemis Windsong]

Running On the Roof of the World by Jess Butterworth.  2 youngsters escape Tibet for India over the mountains.  A young adult book.

Larger than Life by Jody Picoult.  A short book.  It starts out in Africa.

[Opti]

Jul 21, 2024 21:00:29 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

Running On the Roof of the World by Jess Butterworth.  2 youngsters escape Tibet for India over the mountains.  A young adult book.

Larger than Life by Jody Picoult.  A short book.  It starts out in Africa.

Sounds interesting. I do need to queue up some novels in my library from home stuff.
First one sounds very interesting.

[obelisk]

Michael Connelly, Night Fire.  I enjoy his Renee Ballard detective stories.

[happyhoix]

The Southern Bookclub Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix.

A combination of Steel magnolias and Dracula.

On Good Reads, some people were complaining that it’s actually scary. Yes, it’s a book about a vampire, and not the sparkly kind like in Twilight. He kills kids. There are rats

Others complained the ladies in the book club are totally dominated by husbands that boss them around. This takes place in the late 80’s - these are wives of wealthy southern men - there was a lot of bossing going around.

However, it’s very funny, in the places where the vampire isn’t being scary. My favorite part so far was an argument the book club ladies had about whether the man in the Bridges of Madison County was actually a serial killer.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Jul 24, 2024 20:49:49 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

The Southern Bookclub Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix.

A combination of Steel magnolias and Dracula.

On Good Reads, some people were complaining that it’s actually scary. Yes, it’s a book about a vampire, and not the sparkly kind like in Twilight. He kills kids. There are rats

Others complained the ladies in the book club are totally dominated by husbands that boss them around. This takes place in the late 80’s - these are wives of wealthy southern men - there was a lot of bossing going around.

However, it’s very funny, in the places where the vampire isn’t being scary. My favorite part so far was an argument the book club ladies had about whether the man in the Bridges of Madison County was actually a serial killer.

 I own that book and have read it twice so far.   It was the second time around I picked up more on the themes of the book.

The fact the women are dominated by their husbands is the point of the book it is social commentary.  

I don't find it scary I find it unsettling because it hits too close to home with the suburban American dream, trad wives, alpha males, the repression of women's reproductive freedom/sexuality and all that.

A coworker of mine reading it said the same thing.  She didn't find it scary but the book was leaving her unsettled and she'd have to take a break from it before picking it back up again.

 Which means it is really good writing IMO if it is able to knock me off kilter like that and make me think.

ETA: Okay the rat part where they are running all over did freak me out a little.  Ugh. 

I also had a really strong hope that the husband of the main character was going to end up murdered by the vampire.  I was disappointed he did not because he was such a fucking tool.

[happyhoix]

Jul 25, 2024 8:18:08 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Jul 24, 2024 20:49:49 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

The Southern Bookclub Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix.

A combination of Steel magnolias and Dracula.

On Good Reads, some people were complaining that it’s actually scary. Yes, it’s a book about a vampire, and not the sparkly kind like in Twilight. He kills kids. There are rats

Others complained the ladies in the book club are totally dominated by husbands that boss them around. This takes place in the late 80’s - these are wives of wealthy southern men - there was a lot of bossing going around.

However, it’s very funny, in the places where the vampire isn’t being scary. My favorite part so far was an argument the book club ladies had about whether the man in the Bridges of Madison County was actually a serial killer.

 I own that book and have read it twice so far.   It was the second time around I picked up more on the themes of the book.

The fact the women are dominated by their husbands is the point of the book it is social commentary.  

I don't find it scary I find it unsettling because it hits too close to home with the suburban American dream, trad wives, alpha males, the repression of women's reproductive freedom/sexuality and all that.

A coworker of mine reading it said the same thing.  She didn't find it scary but the book was leaving her unsettled and she'd have to take a break from it before picking it back up again.

 Which means it is really good writing IMO if it is able to knock me off kilter like that and make me think.

ETA: Okay the rat part where they are running all over did freak me out a little.  Ugh. 

I also had a really strong hope that the husband of the main character was going to end up murdered by the vampire.  I was disappointed he did not because he was such a fucking tool.

I totally agree. Most of the husbands are tools.

I think the comments on Good Reads about it being scary were from people who somehow expected a comedy, I guess based on the title, or at worst, twilight vampires. This vampire is a legit monster, killing kids and mindfucking everyone. Don’t be fooled by the title.

By the way, this is going to be made into a series for one of the streaming services. I hope they get the women and the accents right , no cheesy over blown southern accents.

[tcu2003]

I just finished All Roads Lead to Rome by Sabrina Fedel. It was a cute, easy read - YA romance. I wish I’d read it before we went to Italy earlier this month and she mentioned a few spots I would have tried to visit.

Other recent-ish reads I would recommend:

When I Was Your Age by Kenan Thompson - I listened to this audiobook, which the author reads, and really enjoyed it.

The Rome-Commers by Katharine Center

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan

The Magician’s Daughter by HG Perry

The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson

Be a Revolution by Ijeoma Oluo

[happyhoix]

Started on the God of the Woods - good so far.

Fourteen year old daughter of a wealthy family goes missing from camp, starts in the seventies and jumps forward several decades. Having grown up in the seventies it resonates with me.

Good so far, hope the ultimate reveal is good.

[snapdragon]

I have moved on from the Harper Harlow series onto the Hannah Hickock series by Amanda M. Lee. Enjoying the author and series but they start to feel repeative after a bit. after this series I am going to take a break from her for a bit and maybe re-read a Tamora Pierce series as a palate clenser. 

I also have Passions in Death by J.D. Robb as a audiobook listen. 

[happyhoix]

Just finished The Maid by Nita Prose, about a murder in a swanky hotel.

The protagonist is someone on the spectrum, so it’s interesting to read the story from her point of view. However the characters were all two dimensional, either really good or vilians. Life isn’t usually that black and white.

Starting on Doc, by Mary Dora Russell, about Doc Holliday. It’s supposed to be very detailed and historically accurate, hope it’s good.

It’s a book club book. The good thing about book club is I end up reading books I would probably never pick for myself. That’s a good thing, I tend to be in a book rut if left to my own devices.

[steph08]

Sept 19, 2024 18:30:17 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Just finished The Maid by Nita Prose, about a murder in a swanky hotel.

The protagonist is someone on the spectrum, so it’s interesting to read the story from her point of view. However the characters were all two dimensional, either really good or vilians. Life isn’t usually that black and white.

That's so funny because I just finished the sequel last night (The Mystery Guest).

I liked the first one, but this one was okay.

[saveinla]

Reading Covenant of Water - really like the flow

[steph08]

Just finished "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin. 

I have very mixed feelings about it. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Oh! I haven't posted in here since March. 

Let's see: 

The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon
4 stars (of five)--interesting story about college students who are struggling with their life journeys. 

Friends in Napa by Shelia Yasmin Marikar
3 stars--the story was good. The ending seemed like a cop-out. Like the publisher said on a Tuesday, "um, you need to turn this in on Friday." 

What is the What by Dave Eggers
5 stars. While technically classified as novel, it's really a memoir of a man who was born in what is now South Sudan. 

The Curious Secrets of Yesterday by Namrata Patel
3 stars--decent chick lit

Is Everyone really Equal?
5 stars--technically a textbook but an excellent study on what constitutes diversity and equality and opportunity. 

When the World Goes Quiet by Gian Sardar
5 stars--historical fiction for the end of WWI in Belguim

The Truth about Us: The Very Good News About How Very Bad We Are by Brant Hansen
5 stars--Christian commentary by an author, speaker, radio host I listen to/read frequently. 

House Moms by jen Lancaster
3.5 stars --decent chick lit

The Warmth of Other Suns
5 stars --non-fiction though with three narratives woven into it about the Great Migration of Black Americans from the South to the North in the early part of the 20th century

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Sept 27, 2024 14:17:32 GMT -5 steph08 said:

Just finished "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin. 

I have very mixed feelings about it. 

Mixed feeling about the story or the writing?

[steph08]

Sept 29, 2024 18:10:25 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Sept 27, 2024 14:17:32 GMT -5 steph08 said:

Just finished "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin. 

I have very mixed feelings about it. 

Mixed feeling about the story or the writing?

Both.

The writing and some elements of the story felt that they were trying too hard.

[snapdragon]

I listened to The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher and it was wonderful! This is the second book in the Cinder Spire series and if you want a great sorta steampunk, regency and twisty plotted book these are the ones for you.

[Artemis Windsong]

The Printers of Udell's by Harold Bell Wright.  The book was referenced in the movie Reagan as a life-long influence. AB

The Way of the Hermit by Ken Smith.  AB

[kadee79]

I don't normally do any heavy reading so currently am re-reading Stuart Woods books.  I think I have all of his other than his very latest one or two.

I also recently finished Stacey Abrams second release, Rouge Justice.  If you haven't read the first one, While Justice Sleeps, some of the second one may not make sense.  And I just read that she is working on a third in the series...all with her heroine, Avery!

[snapdragon]

I just finished the 18th book on the Tess and Tilly Series by Kathi Daily and it's been a fun ride reading it so far. 

Next up is Partner in Crime by G.P. Robbins 

[countrygirl3]

I read one of the old Elizabeth Peters books and liked it so just bought books 1 and 2. The first is the Street of the Five Moons, if I like it will continue to read hers for awhile.

I love reading all kinds of books, murder mysteries, sci fi, adventure, not so much on love stories though, but a wide variety.

[snapdragon]

Just finished Rift of the Soul by Faith Hunter and it was a great book.

Next up are -

Shameless by Brian Taylor Cohen and

The Mirror by Nora Roberts

A Light in the Dark by Audrey Greene