What are you reading for January 2024?

[Anonymous]

One in a Millennial. Such a fun, nostalgic ride!

[Anonymous]

After seeing Oppenheimer recently I’m reading American Prometheus. A fascinating man but it may be more than I really need to know.

[Anonymous]

I posted earlier about reading Covenant of Water. Just finished and really enjoyed it. I’d say 4 out of 5 stars. Highly recommend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted earlier about reading Covenant of Water. Just finished and really enjoyed it. I’d say 4 out of 5 stars. Highly recommend it.

Yes, I loved this book too.

I just read Lisa See's Shanghai Girls which I really enjoyed too.

I think I am going to read First Lie Wins next (a twist thriller, likely a quick read)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So far I have read:
-Hello Beautiful-- loved it, 4.5 stars
-The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness-- 5 stars, it was thoroughly enlightening and I admire Elyn Saks' bravery in narrating her struggles with schizophrenia which I think was part of her commitment to spreading mental health awareness/helping others.
-Veil of Doubt-- 3 stars, meh, it was okay. It was part historical fiction/part mystery and not really my type of book but it was an easy read.
-The School for Good Mothers-- got about 35% of the way through before putting it down. I really enjoyed the first section of it but then it turned dystopian, which I'm often not a fan of.

Currently reading:
-North Woods, about 25% of the way through and enjoying it.

Currently listening to on audiobook during my commute: The Women of Chateau Layfayette and enjoying it so much thus far that I wish I was actually reading the book instead.

On my list to read next:
-Between Two Kingdoms
-The Mountains Sing
-The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
-The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions
-The Invention of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt's New World

I'll give this another try then. I started it on Audible and didn't like it. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood. I hate giving up on books (audio or paper) but I've also realized that life is too short and there are too many books out there for me to waste my time on ones I don't like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted earlier about reading Covenant of Water. Just finished and really enjoyed it. I’d say 4 out of 5 stars. Highly recommend it.

Yes, I loved this book too.

I just read Lisa See's Shanghai Girls which I really enjoyed too.

I think I am going to read First Lie Wins next (a twist thriller, likely a quick read)

Are you reading Dreams of Joy after reading Shanghai Girls?

[Anonymous]

I just read a book I loved and that described everything that is wrong with me

Four thousand weeks, time management for mortals by Oliver Burkeman

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So far I have read:
-Hello Beautiful-- loved it, 4.5 stars
-The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness-- 5 stars, it was thoroughly enlightening and I admire Elyn Saks' bravery in narrating her struggles with schizophrenia which I think was part of her commitment to spreading mental health awareness/helping others.
-Veil of Doubt-- 3 stars, meh, it was okay. It was part historical fiction/part mystery and not really my type of book but it was an easy read.
-The School for Good Mothers-- got about 35% of the way through before putting it down. I really enjoyed the first section of it but then it turned dystopian, which I'm often not a fan of.

Currently reading:
-North Woods, about 25% of the way through and enjoying it.

Currently listening to on audiobook during my commute: The Women of Chateau Layfayette and enjoying it so much thus far that I wish I was actually reading the book instead.

On my list to read next:
-Between Two Kingdoms
-The Mountains Sing
-The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
-The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions
-The Invention of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt's New World

I'll give this another try then. I started it on Audible and didn't like it. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood. I hate giving up on books (audio or paper) but I've also realized that life is too short and there are too many books out there for me to waste my time on ones I don't like.

I'm the PP who was listening to the Women of Chateau Lafayette and I enjoyed it until it got to the 3rd character (Beatrice I think?) and then my interest tanked. I may try to pick it back up but we will see..

[Anonymous]

Just finishing “Ascension” — it was longlisted for Booker in 2023. I loved it. (I also love sci fi.) I’m trying to find more books like it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am reading The North Woods. I am not too far into it yet and am undecided. Some of it is poetic and lovely. Some of it is really funny. But I admit I am not sure whether/how this will sustain a whole book. I just finished Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri, which I enjoyed—short stories set in Rome, with a lovely pace and sense of place.

Ok, finished North Woods and am back to say that it is weird and compelling and excellent. Highly recommend. It is not like anything I have read before but it is fascinating and moving. A good kick off to a year of reading!

I also loved North Woods. I’m not even sure how to describe it to anyone else except to say I loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading "Educated" I don't get the hype, and honestly there are times things are hard to belive like a million different pieces. Can't wait for it to be over.

Highly overrated. I hated it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just finished Horse, by Geraldine Brooks. I spent the first half thinking I was enjoying it more than I expected to, but by the end I had soured a bit. I found the modern story re race to be a bit broadly drawn nor did I think the romance was especially persuasive. I did like the discussion of their professional lives and wish there had been more of that. The civil war era story was interesting, but the life of Jarrett, the enslaved groom, with a few fairly short lived exceptions seemed like a suspiciously pleasant life for an enslaved groom. And the 1950s era story re the art dealer seemed entirely tacked on. So, overall it was not uninteresting, but in the end it is not really a recommendation from me.

You make interesting points but I really loved this book and highly recommend it. As historical fiction it really transported me to a moment in time and topic I knew nothing about and grabbed my attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just finished Horse, by Geraldine Brooks. I spent the first half thinking I was enjoying it more than I expected to, but by the end I had soured a bit. I found the modern story re race to be a bit broadly drawn nor did I think the romance was especially persuasive. I did like the discussion of their professional lives and wish there had been more of that. The civil war era story was interesting, but the life of Jarrett, the enslaved groom, with a few fairly short lived exceptions seemed like a suspiciously pleasant life for an enslaved groom. And the 1950s era story re the art dealer seemed entirely tacked on. So, overall it was not uninteresting, but in the end it is not really a recommendation from me.

If you haven’t read “People of the Book,” you should. It’s a better version of Horse.

[Anonymous]

Number Go Up about crypto - great. I wasn’t sure I could get into it (I’m not a techie) then the writing turned out to be excellent, plus it’s a good story with big characters.

Rabbit Hole - mystery about victim family side of true crime phenomenon. I’m half through. I thought it was five stars, now it’s dragging a little. We will see.

[Anonymous]

I just finished all 3 of the Rosie Project books.
I thought they were all pretty good.

The first book was about a 39 year old autistic man who has decided it is time to fine a wife. He types up a 16 page questionnaire and signs up for some speed dating encounters. Of course every woman answers some question wrong and are promptly eliminated. But then by other circumstances he meets a woman named Rosie, who is willing to put up with his quirks.

In the second book, Rosie becomes pregnant just before their first anniversary. Don, the protagonist, spends the next several months researching how to be a parent.

In the third book, their 10 year old son is getting in some trouble at school and Don expends a lot of effort to help his son out.