@chocolate-chip chooky That looks so awesome! After watching all these k-dramas, DD and I want to go to Korea now so bad! Not just for k-drama stuff, but the country just looks so nice. Maybe someday. ☺️

Makes sense…thanks!

DD and I are still making our way through older stuff on Netflix. We finished Cinderella and the Four Knights and Touch Her Heart (this one is being removed from Netflix soon). We really liked both. I'm still not sure who the "fourth knight" was, but other than that it was all good. 😂 We're going on vacation next week, so we tried to find a short series before we left. (We're total addicts now...can't even go a few days without a show, ha!) Last night we started My Holo Love. So far it's pretty good...although the hologram thing is questionable at times, but we're not too picky when it comes to things being completely realistic. 🤣

Yesterday I finished The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. In the book, we follow Lucy Hart, who is a kindergarten teacher's aid in need of some help. She desperately wants to foster/adopt a little boy in her school but she doesn't have the means to do it. Just when all hope looks lost, her favorite childhood author announces a contest that could be the answer to all her problems. This was a cute story and a fast read. I believe the contest portion was a nod to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There was a bit of a romance, but it was not central to the story. The book is kind of short, so I think some background stuff could have been explored a bit more. Overall, though, I enjoyed this one. (4 stars)

Congrats! 🎉

☀️Happy July! Hard to believe we’re already half way through the year already! Per my Goodreads Reading Challenge, I’ve read 37 books and I’m currently on track for reading my 75 book goal. I feel a bit behind, though, because I’m usually several books ahead of my goal, but oh well. ☺️ I look forward to hearing what y’all have been reading!

Hugs @cintinative...so sorry about your friend. 😔

I hope you get it! 🤞

Last night I finished The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer. This book definitely had an interesting premise, and I loved it! The story is about Clover Brooks, who becomes a death doula after her beloved grandfather dies alone while she is away traveling the world. Because Clover spends almost all her time focused on taking care of the dying she becomes a bit of a loner, never having been in a relationship and not really having any friends her own age. Everything changes when her next client enters the picture and she's faced with all new experiences. (5 stars) I'm sure this topic isn't for everyone, but I found it to be a really interesting concept, plus I really liked Clover. As someone who is introverted and struggles to make friends, I understood her. Also, some of the stuff in the book regarding death reminded of a book I've previously read (twice), which I also really enjoyed...From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty.

That sounds really interesting! ☺️

I think I would love that class!

There are two different references to bangs being heard... The first is on the day the sub imploded. The US Navy (and maybe others) reported what they thought to be an implosion (or an implosion-like noise) only a short time after the Titan started its descent. https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-navy-detected-titan-sub-implosion-top-secret-acoustic-system-day-vessel-went-missing Then, I believe rescuers in the days following reported hearing noises and banging. These bangs are the ones being disputed by Mr. Cameron and others because they believe there was no reason to believe they could've been coming from the Titan.

Yes, I did hear that the equipment to search that deep is very rare. It just seems like such false hope was given to those families when there was never really any to give. 😔 I think it was still important to find the debris...closure for the families is important. I don't know if it was the media or the rescuers, but as Mr. Cameron put it, it did feel like a bit of a charade.

Honestly, I can't think of any other logical reason than this. 🫤

The Netflix movie is the one we watched…it’s really good.

I think the issue I'm having trouble with is why were they searching such an expansive area (two times the size of CT they kept saying). The submersible was on a descent and then lost all comms and GPS. As far as I understand, their location was known up until losing GPS. The loss of comms/GPS, per Mr. Cameron, was a possible indication of a catastrophic failure (like an implosion). Plus, a loud noise in the area was heard. I don't know what they're called, but it sounds like there are underwater microphones all over down there. I believe I read that the US Navy even heard it. So, my question is why didn't they start their search in that specific spot where the comms/GPS was lost? Why were they searching such a large area? The way Mr. Cameron described it, it didn't sound like it would've been that hard to locate that particular location. I believe he even said he knew they'd find the debris right below the spot where the comms/GPS went out. Maybe I'm not understanding correctly, but that's what I got out of what he's saying. Sorry, it's just irking me.

Our family watched the movie a few months ago...it was really good. I definitely had to hold back the tears! I've never read the book, but I probably should.

I have questions about this…why the heck were they searching for days if there were so many signs that the submersible had imploded? Mr. Cameron (and others I, I think) seem pretty certain of this. It makes sense, so it begs the question why all the hoopla and searching when they may have had a good idea where the remains of the ship were? 🤷‍♀️

I haven’t read Britt-Marie, so it’s hard for me to say. I’ve read A Man Called Ove and Anxious People. I don’t feel like those stories were similar. I started My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell She’s Sorry, but I had to stop that one because I could see where the story was going with an animal and I don’t do well with that. (I think Britt-Marie and My Grandmother may have overlapping characters.) In all of them though, I just really enjoy his writing style. I’ve got Beartown on my TBR shelf.

Did you enjoy Britt-Marie Was Here? (I’ve loved a few other Backman books, so I was curious how you liked it. ☺️)

OceanGate Expeditions has said all five crew members on board the Titan have died. “We now believe that our CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have sadly been lost,” a spokesperson told the BBC. “These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans. Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time.” https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/submarine-titantic-missing-submersible-tourists-latest-b2360568.html

A debris field has been located…

Love that!

I finished Weyward by Emilia Hart. Sigh....I really wanted to like this book, but it didn't end up being what I thought it was going to be. I enjoyed the multiple story lines following the three women in the 1600s, early 1900s, and present day. There was some magical realism where the women had a connection to nature, mostly birds and insects. I also liked how the end of each chapter was sort of mini-cliffhanger, so it kept me wanting to read more. But then...... This book should have come with a huge sticker on it with trigger warnings for all sorts of things - domestic violence, s*xual assault, abortion, stillbirths, plus additional abuse. If I'd have known the story was filled with all of that, I probably would not have picked this book up. It was a bit much. I also dislike domestic thriller type books, and it veered into that territory a few times. I didn't hate it, but I don't that I'd actually recommend it to anyone either. (3 stars) I agree with @Kidlit and her assessment back from April. ☺️ Oh also, the author used the word "undulate" at least three times, which is totally unacceptable...I should knock another star off my rating just for that!! 🤣

Can you update us on this one if you continue (or not)?