What are you reading for January 2024?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Working my way through all Ann Patchett books. Just read the Magician's Assistant (loved it!) in the first three days of 2024 after reading Tom Lake and Commonwealth in Dec. 2023 (and others earlier in 2023).

Curious if you enjoyed Tom Lake. I’m reading it for my book club and am finding it very boring. Hope it gets better.

It doesn’t. So boring. I don’t understand the high ratings for this.

You are boring. I (and everyone else I know who read it) couldn't put it down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished "The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennett yesterday.
It is about twin sisters who are light colored black women. One chooses to live her life as a white woman and one chooses to live her life as a black woman. They go their separate ways as young adults and lose touch with each other.
I liked it, but I kept hoping there would be more of a "happily ever after" ending. The book had a good flow even though it jumped around in time between the 1950's and the 1990's.
I listened to it on audio. It was 11 1/2 hours long.

I read this a couple years ago and liked it. Certain aspects of it really stuck with me, especially the stuff from the sister who passes as white, and what it means for her to conceal this aspect of her identify from her family, neighbors, etc. I don't even remember how it ended, though, so I guess that's telling.

I am the person who just finished reading the Vanishing Half. I am so tempted to post a quick little "here's how it ended" summary. But I guess that would be wrong, since that would spoil the story for anyone who has not read it yet.

[Anonymous]

Finished Middlesex. I didn't really enjoy the beginning, but the middle to end was pretty good. The first half was OK, I kept reading it, but found myself skimming certain parts, it felt overstated or something. I think I would have liked it more if I had known half the book was backstory. I'll probably read it again.

Read Yellowface. It was a quick read for me and I enjoyed it well enough to not regret spending my Saturday on it 😅

Reading In 5 Years by Rebecca Serle. Finding it endearing, like the cliches are comforting.

[Anonymous]

Tom Lake is apparently better as an audio book read by Meryl Streep.

[Anonymous]

The Bee Stong was interesting but could have been 200 pages shorter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Bee Stong was interesting but could have been 200 pages shorter.

Yeah, I liked it at first, but then it just dragged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just started “He who Drowned the World” a little late to the party because I didn’t realize the second book was out.

Gets complicated and there's a lot more overt magic than in the first one, but I just read it and enjoyed it.

[Anonymous]

I am trying to finish The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store before it’s due and disappears from my Libby app. I want to like it and yet it’s slow going for me.

I just finished Hello Beautiful because of all the DCUM recommendations. I initially found it plodding, but I’m glad I continued because it really grew on me.

Up next is Beloved. The Bee Sting and North Woods are on my library holds list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tom Lake is apparently better as an audio book read by Meryl Streep.

I listened to the audiobook and really liked it!

[Anonymous]

Just finished the House on the Cerulean Sea. Really enjoyed it.

Up next: Unsheltered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Happiness Falls by Angie Kim and I'm LOVING it

Loved this book! It was the best book I read in 2023, hands-down.

[Anonymous]

Just started The Bee Sting
Just finished Chip War (nonfiction) and The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg (3rd in a series)

[Anonymous]

Just finished The Bee Sting. I really enjoyed it. It dragged a bit—maybe pages 400-550. But the last 100 or so pages were a whirlwind.

[Anonymous]

As I Lay Dying by Faulkner

[Anonymous]

Just finished The Last Applicant. I don’t love intense psychological thrillers so this was good for me. A little bit contrived but a solid 4.5/5