[October 2023: What are you reading?]

6 minutes ago, Grace Hopper said:

aka book hangover 😵 

That’s what I call it too ☺️

[October 2023: What are you reading?]

I've finished a few books recently...

• The Connelly's of County Down by Tracey Lange - In this story, we follow Tara Connelly who has just been released from prison after doing 18 months on drug trafficking charges. She lives with her brother, who suffers from a TBI, her brother's son, and her sister. These three siblings haven't had an easy go of it after their mother passed away when they were young and their father left them due to some criminal activity he was involved in. When Tara is released, she tries very hard to rebuild her life, but it is difficult for her. Her siblings are struggling too. However, she finds help from the person she least expects...the police officer who helped put her in jail. I enjoyed the story of this book and all of the different characters, but it was on the shorter side and you could feel it....I wanted more! More backstory, more character building, more interactions. Everything just felt a little thin. This was still a good read. (4 stars)

• A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson - This was our book club's pick for this month. In this one, high school senior Pip is trying to find out more answers regarding a murder/suicide that happened in her town five years prior. She knew the boy accused of committing the murder and she can't believe he would do such a thing. Also, the body of the victim has never been found. Pip works with the accused murderer's brother to find answers. As a thriller/mystery, I really enjoyed this one. It kept me guessing the whole way through and the big reveal wasn't cheesy. There were a few things that bothered me, like the fact that everything just unfolded so easily for Pip. She was able to do detective work better than the actual police detectives. Also, there was one death in the book that I thought was hugely unnecessary. This is a series, but I'm not sure if I'll continue. (3.5 stars)

• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain - DD and I are doing a buddy read of American Literature this year and this was the next book on the list. I thought I'd have a lot more thoughts on this one, but I don't. I didn't love it, didn't hate it. I feel like I should've appreciated it more than I did, but I'm not sure how. I'm still glad we read it and talked about it. I think this author just isn't for me. 

[I'm now a K-drama addict...]

On 9/29/2023 at 10:37 AM, Vintage81 said:

I was thinking about watching this one next, but I was nervous...I'm glad to hear that the ending was okay.

So I finished A Time Called You. They sure did pack a lot into those 12 episodes! It definitely kept me guessing on how they were going to wrap things up, but I was satisfied with the ending. It was pretty heavy…murder, suicide, mystery, etc…it never really had any light moments. It was still good, but if you haven’t watched it, just be aware going in. I really liked all of the actors and the story in general.

@Jann in TX….in regards to the few scenes with Rowoon. I might be off, but I took it as them kind of completely differentiating that iteration of the character. At that moment he was the original, away from all the other characters, so maybe it was a way to make him stand out even more. 🤷‍♀️ Just a thought I had. Also, that car accident was very jarring…I knew it was coming, but boy I was like 😯😳🫢🥺

[Update - shingles probably. JAWM My body is a wreck plus pain where I once had a Covid booster]

I'm so sorry about the shingles! My DH had them when he was 36 or 37. We were building a house at the time, living in a small apartment with two small kids, and he was traveling a lot for work, so we think it was definitely stress induced. We didn't know it at the time, but he was also suffering from a thyroid issue (hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's). He didn't discover that for another year or two, but we've always wondered if his thyroid being out of whack contributed in some way. Anywho...I hope you get to feeling better soon!!

[I'm a medical mess-- sort of a whine]

I'm really sorry Jann...that all sounds really awful. 😔 I hope you can get back to feeling better as soon as possible!

[October 2023: What are you reading?]

1 hour ago, 4kidlets4me said:

I went to the bookstore yesterday to pick up my preorder of Starling House by Alix E. Harrow. I can't wait to read it but also if I read it right away I'll have to wait a year or more for another one from her! 

 

This was my pick this month for Book of the Month…it should be here next week. ☺️ I’ll be honest…I didn’t love The Ten Thousand Doors of January, but this new one sounds interesting. I’m looking forward to it…my TBR stack for October keeps growing! 🤣

[October 2023: What are you reading?]

4 minutes ago, Heartstrings said:

I haven't made any decisions yet, but life is stressful right now so I'm looking for light-hearted fun reads. I'm considering restarting the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich but I haven't decided yet.  I need complete brain candy this month. I'm still reading Jim Butcher with my husband too. 

I’m sorry you’re having a stressful time. 😞 I hope you find that brain candy! 

[September 2023: What are you reading?]

New thread…

 

[October 2023: What are you reading?]

Happy October! 🎃

Fall is finally here…I think I might get out my fall decorations today. ☺️ It’s still been pretty warm, in the 90’s, but I checked the weather this morning and next week it’s supposed to get down in the mid 70’s. Plus rain!! 😱 I’m going to have to pull out my jackets…I’m a big wimp when it comes to cooler/cold weather. 

I’ve been doing better with my reading. I’ve got a nice TBR stack on my nightstand that I’m working through, plus DD and I are continuing our buddy-read of American literature. 

I hope y’all are doing well, having some nice weather, and reading some lovely stories! I look forward to hearing all about them. 

[I'm now a K-drama addict...]

8 minutes ago, Jann in TX said:

Last night I finished A Time Called You--- this one is one of my recently viewed favorites-- kept me thinking until the last episode-- finale was emotional by satisfying...  It did have one very short scene with Ahn Hyo-seop and Rowoon (cameo) that could have been left out-- so a minute of them holding hands in a car...(the preview clip of this scene went viral).  There were also a few scenes of gore/blood/suicide-- so for older teens and up.

 

I was thinking about watching this one next, but I was nervous...I'm glad to hear that the ending was okay.

[Anxiety through the roof, I don't think we are moving]

Hugs Dawn...I hope the buyers agree to these terms and you guys can move forward. 

[September 2023: What are you reading?]

Recently finished My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine. This is a contemporary romance and the title kind of says it all. This book was kind of silly, but it kept me somewhat entertained. The writing was very shallow (not sure if this is the right word, but I can't think of another one). Like it went kind of like this....

"Oh, there's blood in the fridge." 

"Uh...."

"Are you a.....vampire?"

"Um.....yeah, I'm a vampire"

"Oh, okay. Cool."

I'm being a bit hyperbolic, but there really wasn't much detective work regarding the whole vampire thing, nor was there much concern. Oh well, whatever!! I guess it's not supposed to be too deep. (a very generous 3 stars...only because the vampire watched K-dramas!!!! 🤣)

[I'm now a K-drama addict...]

I finished King the Land - It was sweet, not too crazy. Even the "serious" stuff wasn't too deep. The couple was cute together. This was a good fluffy show to watch after It's Okay to Not Be Okay. The finale had some sweet, touching moments. 

I also watched Her Private Life - I really like the k-pop fangirl story line and the art gallery setting. Another cute couple, although I didn't love the lead male actor (I think I'm the only person ever to think this 🫣🤣). I hated the stupid love triangle...wish they would've ditched that and just created a second lead couple. The show dragged/was slow at times so a second couple could've filled in some space. Some of my favorite parts were the scenes with the little kids in the judo studio...so darn cute!! 🥰 This one also had a nice finale.

[I am so sad]

I’m very sorry for your loss 😞 

[Need ideas.....Lego family gift]

45 minutes ago, stephanier.1765 said:

Thanks! I think this is going to be my adult son's Christmas present. I bought him the Mustang last year because he had just bought a new Mustang. He loved it and wanted another Lego set for his birthday, so this is going to be perfect for Christmas this year.

Oh yay! It really is pretty cool…I hope he loves it! ☺️

[Need ideas.....Lego family gift]

I don’t know if you like car racing, but this one is really cool…

https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/mclaren-formula-1-race-car-42141

Our family did it together. It took a while, but with four of us together it wasn’t too bad. It is by far one of the best Lego sets we’ve ever done. It’s very detailed and not only does it roll around, but the suspension even works, plus all the small details. It’s pretty big too. 

[September 2023: What are you reading?]

27 minutes ago, GailV said:

Reverse Meditation by Andrew Holecek. I have an author-crush on Holecek, and I think this is now my favorite book of his.

Author-crush…I like that ☺️

[September 2023: What are you reading?]

Just realized I forgot to post about finishing another book last week...Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman. This one is about what happens in California when a catastrophic drought leads to all of the water supply running out. They call it the Tap Out. It's kind of an interesting thought experiment, and the story definitely took us on a journey (I read this one aloud to DDs). I think there were some plot holes and it was kind of unsatisfying not knowing how or why some things ended up the way they did...they just were. It was still fun, although it made us thirsty reading it! (3.5 stars)

[September 2023: What are you reading?]

Just finished The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry. This is a dual timeline which starts in 1939 when two sisters, Hazel and Flora, are evacuated from London during Operation Pied Piper. The girls ended up living in a charming town with a mother and son. Being 6 years old at the time, Flora would get scared of things, so 14 year old Hazel would comfort her by telling her stories about a magical fairy tale land just for the two of them...Whisperwood. For a while things were going well, until one day the children were playing by the river and Flora suddenly vanishes. She was never found, the police coming to the conclusion the girl probably drowned. Fast forward twenty years and Hazel is still carrying the guilt of losing her sister. Hazel works at a bookstore and one day a special book shows up called Whisperwood and the River of Stars. She's confused because the only other person to know about this magical land was Flora. This gets Hazels mind racing and hoping...could Flora be alive?

I loved the premise of this story...books, fairy tales, magical places, WWII...so many things I love. It didn't suck me in as much as I'd hoped, but it was still a good read. The pacing was questionable at times. The twist/ending happened pretty quickly after a pretty slow-paced story. (4 stars)

[September 2023: What are you reading?]

24 minutes ago, 4kidlets4me said:

I loved that book, and all of his other books as well. My Best Friend's Exorcism is probably my favorite. I'm saving his newest one for later this year.

Oooohhhh yes…this one is definitely on my TBR! 

[September 2023: What are you reading?]

8 minutes ago, KungFuPanda said:

My bookclub read The Southern Bookclub’s Guide to Slaying Vampires. I thought it would be funny or quaint but not was crazy. That book had no brakes at all.  No sexy or sparkly Vampires here. It was intense. 

We read this book for my book club not last year, but the year before. I think I may have been the only person to have really liked it! 🤣

[I'm now a K-drama addict...]

Just now, Murphy101 said:

Not as fairy tale-esque, but It’s Okay, That’s Love was really good too and deals with mental illness/trauma with a happy ending while not entirely glossing over how hard it is to love through that. Probably the most unrealistic is it shows a wonderful healthy support system of good people that probably isn’t reality for most people.  It was the first time I’d seen the male lead actor and I thought he was phenomenal. 

Thanks…I’ll look that one up! 

[September 2023: What are you reading?]

I finished two books recently...

My Antonia by Willa Cather - This was the second book in the American Literature study DD and I are doing. I struggled with the first half of this book. I appreciated the vivid descriptions the author used, but the plot was a little boring. I was glad things started to pick up at the end. I just didn't connect with this one, but I still appreciated the writing. (3.5 stars)

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak - This was our book club's selection for this month. This is a multiple timeline and multiple (sort-of) POV about a couple from the island of Cyprus. They had a forbidden love because Kostas is Greek and Defne is Turkish. I wasn't really too familiar with the conflict in Cyprus, so it was interesting to learn a little bit about that. While the book does mention the conflict/tensions between Greeks and Turks, it's not really the main focus. This book actually tries to bring in lots of topics, which was kind of my issue with it...I wish it would have focused more on the history. The multiple POV comes into play when we get to hear the thoughts of a fig tree....which was weird. I recently read Remarkably Bright Creatures and getting the perspective of the octopus was strange at first, but it was much better than this. This was just strange. (3 stars) 

[I'm now a K-drama addict...]

On 9/7/2023 at 2:35 PM, Murphy101 said:

It’s okay to not be okay was way better than I expected.  It’s a very dark fairy tale and we ended up really loving it. 

I finished It's Okay to Not Be Okay last night....loved it! I loved the dark fairy tale story, love the actors (especially the lead couple and their brother), loved the animations, and loved the focus on mental health/mental illness. I could probably list a hundred more things! Ha!

[September 2023: What are you reading?]

14 hours ago, Kidlit said:

Just finished Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See.  It's a solid 4 🌟read for me.  I enjoy historical fiction a lot, especially when it's set in a time or place unfamiliar to me.  This one is set in China in roughly the 1400s, with women's health and medicine as its major theme.  

This was my choice for Book of the Month this month, and it just arrived a few days ago. I’m excited to get to it!