What is everyone reading in May?

[Anonymous]

Just got done listening to "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe" by Fannie Flagg.
It is about the people who live in the tiny town of Whistle Stop Alabama, which is near Birmingham. Published in 1987.
I was a little disappointed in it. So many characters were introduced it was hard to keep track of everyone. And it kept jumping around in time between the 1920's to the 1980's. I always find those books that "jump around between time periods" a little discombobulating.
I wanted to read this book because the author wrote a sequel a few years back and I want to read it. I saw the Fried Green tomatoes movie several years ago and thought it was very good. But since my memories of the movie were fuzzy I decided to read (listen to) the first book before I read (listen to) the sequel.
I downloaded it from my library.
My plan is to next listen to the sequel, which is called "The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colm Toibin's new book, the sequel to Brooklyn, called Long Island.

Its fantastic. I was worried it might not be after having loved Brooklyn so much. But it's great. It will win awards.

Waiting for this one from the library and looking forward to it. I loved Brooklyn! It had a slow start but then picked up and was such a satisfting read. I'm interested to see what happens to the characters.

Yes, by contrast this one starts in the thick of things, not slow at all. I wondered if he had changed his writing style slightly due to all the films made of his work and that idea you should start as far into a scene as possible rather than have a whole build up. I'd be interested to know what you think PP!

Oh, that's so interesting what you note about his style and filmmaking. Definitely possible. Sounds great! Unfortunately there's a long list at the library but I will try to answer back!

PP if you like audio it's showing as free with Audible on Amazon. I think you have to get "audible" as a trial but if you can't wait for the book it might be worth listening to.

[Anonymous]

I just finished "We begin at the End" by Chris Whitaker.
It is a whodunit about a mentally unwell mom with two kids who is murdered.
I thought it was pretty good.
Downloaded it from my library overdrive / libby website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is everyone reading this month?
What is it about?
What do you think of it?
Why did you pick that particular book to read?
How did you acquire the book?

I started listening to "The Idea of You" yesterday. Haven't finished it yet.
It is about a 39 year old divorced woman who has an affair with the 20 year old lead singer of a boy band. She meets him when she takes her 12 year old daughter and two of the daughter's friends to a concert to see the band.
It is deliciously dirty. Oh my. Oh my.
I picked it to read because I saw that they are making a movie about it, and it was available on Libby, so I decided to check it out.

I listened to "The Idea of You" per this review and others. It was more salacious than I expected (listen with airpods). I finished it in three days. It felt like a guilty pleasure. It is one of the most satisfying women's lit books that I've read recently. I'm afraid to watch the movie because I don't like the changes I've read about.

I am so surprised by all the positive reviews on this site. To me it read like a young man wrote the sex scenes. Very little buildup, which is what most women like about those type of books and way too much reference to her… smelling herself on his face/fingers. For women that’s not what’s going to get them going! also so much talk about his size I mean, who cares tell us what he’s actually doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is everyone reading this month?
What is it about?
What do you think of it?
Why did you pick that particular book to read?
How did you acquire the book?

I started listening to "The Idea of You" yesterday. Haven't finished it yet.
It is about a 39 year old divorced woman who has an affair with the 20 year old lead singer of a boy band. She meets him when she takes her 12 year old daughter and two of the daughter's friends to a concert to see the band.
It is deliciously dirty. Oh my. Oh my.
I picked it to read because I saw that they are making a movie about it, and it was available on Libby, so I decided to check it out.

I listened to "The Idea of You" per this review and others. It was more salacious than I expected (listen with airpods). I finished it in three days. It felt like a guilty pleasure. It is one of the most satisfying women's lit books that I've read recently. I'm afraid to watch the movie because I don't like the changes I've read about.

This book grosses me out. If the genders were reversed the way she objectified him due to his youth would have likely not been published. A book I truly regret buying for book club and did not finish. As written there is no way they would have made it a movie.

[Anonymous]

Just finished Family Lore. Not my fave - definitely had some weird stuff in it about an alpha vagina. However, it was written at a higher level than most of the books I have read recently which I appreciate!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is everyone reading this month?
What is it about?
What do you think of it?
Why did you pick that particular book to read?
How did you acquire the book?

I started listening to "The Idea of You" yesterday. Haven't finished it yet.
It is about a 39 year old divorced woman who has an affair with the 20 year old lead singer of a boy band. She meets him when she takes her 12 year old daughter and two of the daughter's friends to a concert to see the band.
It is deliciously dirty. Oh my. Oh my.
I picked it to read because I saw that they are making a movie about it, and it was available on Libby, so I decided to check it out.

I listened to "The Idea of You" per this review and others. It was more salacious than I expected (listen with airpods). I finished it in three days. It felt like a guilty pleasure. It is one of the most satisfying women's lit books that I've read recently. I'm afraid to watch the movie because I don't like the changes I've read about.

This book grosses me out. If the genders were reversed the way she objectified him due to his youth would have likely not been published. A book I truly regret buying for book club and did not finish. As written there is no way they would have made it a movie.

It's a trash sensationalistic book. why did youexpect otherwise? Read here. https://www.amazon.com/Idea-You-Novel-Robinne-Lee/dp/1250353076/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16MNOTV3VLF5Q&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.uqiZ_GRoO01-vzscSaq7_sZ-HVCeJ09tu6swOepCd7-YDJOhsOeC4nRBZFoR_b3bWcP2k1zO3iQVjujgItefbEQWuFuJzSTKVO9_12b3whbLk7-wz4Dpjt4S7Jat4cWqwx6sa939AJsNEbBkuMuKhVoqg9PFRiC8zmqV1ZdEACRh950L0VFl36IJUVhbKsB7xUkz9Q2Um9DSP-2c7kvS837tuPkQoLvHAUDdgF7EoN8.SyMlXQTNPrAGsRqBBXj167VJb2cvp8BUsWycOBOmDmg&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+idea+of+you+book&qid=1717113452&sprefix=the+idea+of+you+book%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is everyone reading this month?
What is it about?
What do you think of it?
Why did you pick that particular book to read?
How did you acquire the book?

I started listening to "The Idea of You" yesterday. Haven't finished it yet.
It is about a 39 year old divorced woman who has an affair with the 20 year old lead singer of a boy band. She meets him when she takes her 12 year old daughter and two of the daughter's friends to a concert to see the band.
It is deliciously dirty. Oh my. Oh my.
I picked it to read because I saw that they are making a movie about it, and it was available on Libby, so I decided to check it out.

I listened to "The Idea of You" per this review and others. It was more salacious than I expected (listen with airpods). I finished it in three days. It felt like a guilty pleasure. It is one of the most satisfying women's lit books that I've read recently. I'm afraid to watch the movie because I don't like the changes I've read about.

This book grosses me out. If the genders were reversed the way she objectified him due to his youth would have likely not been published. A book I truly regret buying for book club and did not finish. As written there is no way they would have made it a movie.

It's a trash sensationalistic book. why did youexpect otherwise? Read here. https://www.amazon.com/Idea-You-Novel-Robinne-Lee/dp/1250353076/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16MNOTV3VLF5Q&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.uqiZ_GRoO01-vzscSaq7_sZ-HVCeJ09tu6swOepCd7-YDJOhsOeC4nRBZFoR_b3bWcP2k1zO3iQVjujgItefbEQWuFuJzSTKVO9_12b3whbLk7-wz4Dpjt4S7Jat4cWqwx6sa939AJsNEbBkuMuKhVoqg9PFRiC8zmqV1ZdEACRh950L0VFl36IJUVhbKsB7xUkz9Q2Um9DSP-2c7kvS837tuPkQoLvHAUDdgF7EoN8.SyMlXQTNPrAGsRqBBXj167VJb2cvp8BUsWycOBOmDmg&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+idea+of+you+book&qid=1717113452&sprefix=the+idea+of+you+book%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1

I mean, if you’re going to be writing hundreds of pages about sex with fuctionalized Harry Styles at least use your imagination and creativity. 40-year-old woman regularly Gettng fingered, having eight orgasms daily, describing how hot it is to taste and smell herself on him… ridiculous. Sorry, but that is not what 40 year old women find as smutty turn ons. It was like someone Harry Styles age wrote it from a male perspective. If I was that authors husband, I’d be like say what!?

[Anonymous]

just finished The Women - about nurses in Vietnam, post-Vietnam treatment of vets in society, PTSD. I was born after Vietnam, so it was informative. Interesting read, I gave it a four of five.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:just finished The Women - about nurses in Vietnam, post-Vietnam treatment of vets in society, PTSD. I was born after Vietnam, so it was informative. Interesting read, I gave it a four of five.

I was born in the early 80s so agree really found this informative, probably my favorite Kristen Hannah book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished Family Lore. Not my fave - definitely had some weird stuff in it about an alpha vagina. However, it was written at a higher level than most of the books I have read recently which I appreciate!!

I read this a while back and agree completely. The weird ruined it for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:just finished The Women - about nurses in Vietnam, post-Vietnam treatment of vets in society, PTSD. I was born after Vietnam, so it was informative. Interesting read, I gave it a four of five.

I was born in the early 80s so agree really found this informative, probably my favorite Kristen Hannah book.

Did you read the one about Alaska?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:just finished The Women - about nurses in Vietnam, post-Vietnam treatment of vets in society, PTSD. I was born after Vietnam, so it was informative. Interesting read, I gave it a four of five.

I was born in the early 80s so agree really found this informative, probably my favorite Kristen Hannah book.

Did you read the one about Alaska?

DP. Alaska one is my favorite of hers. I thought this was good but the writing seemed a little less polished than her usual style and the ending wrapped up a little bit too neatly. Interesting topic though.

[Anonymous]

I'm about halfway through The Paris Apartment. It's fun! I liked The Guest List, too.

I'm writing a mystery novel myself now so it's also fun seeing the craft of it - how the clues are doled out, the cliffhangers, all that.

Before this I read The Unhoneymooners and I just hated it. I think at some point I need to accept that Romance isn't for me - because every time I pick up one of these raved-about romance books I detest the characters, hate the stupid things that keep them apart, don't buy the HEA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finally finished “Babel.” I enjoyed it though it felt a lot like a Secret History + Harry Potter remix in terms of characters and setting. Some of it was also quite heavy handed about the underlying thesis but I suppose it leans slightllllly YA (maybe?) so that’s not so surprising. Overall, I quite liked it.

Babel and the Atlas series are very derivative.

Just finished SPQR by Mary Beard. Will never view history quite the same way! Outstanding!