Anonymous wrote:Just started The Bee Sting. I love it so far!!!

I just finished Skippy Dies by the same author and I really enjoyed it.

Just finished Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter.

Bought it based on recs here. I liked it. Found it relatable in many ways, not all, but enough that little disturbed me. The drugs disturbed me, but only slightly, the whole book had a bit of a surreal edge, like it was over before it started.

Would recommend if you aren't bothered by the reality of some people's human experience, and if you like reading all sorts of stories.

I'm wondering how true the catholic catechism story was, that they passed out small 12 week old plastic fetuses to 8 year olds for them to treasure so they never get an abortion?! But don't really want to google that up. How much did that happen?

Just started The Bee Sting. I love it so far!!!

I listened to "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" by Rachel Joyce.
It was about a newly retired man who decides to go for a 600 mile walk. While walking, he thinks about his life.
I thought it was okay. The reviews said it was a NYT bestseller, named as one of the best books of the year, etc. But for me, I thought it was just okay.
I downloaded it from my library. I was interested in the book because I too am newly retired and I like reading books about what other older people are doing in retirement.
There is a sequel. Maybe I will read the sequel some day, maybe not.

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Anonymous wrote:I’m about a third into Tom Lake. This will be a DNF for me. I just don’t find the story or the characters interesting.

Yes! Everyone loved it but I couldn't get into it at all.

Agree, another NOPE for Tom Lake. I simply did not care about the story. Also what grown children want to hear about their parent’s past?

Count me in too! I ended up quitting two-thirds through. I simply didn’t care about this family. The love affair wasn’t compelling in the least. The daughters all blended together. And doling out the memories bit-by-bit only works if the memories are exciting. Here, they were dull.

Thing of Beauty by Stephen Fried (about the model Gia Carangi)

With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge

Anonymous wrote:Just started The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek. So far, so good. I'm listening on Libby and I chose it, because it was available now. I've got 3 other books on hold and needed something to fill the gap while I wait.

Came back to report that this was very good and I highly recommend it. There's a sequel that I've got on hold now.

Just started Happy Go Lucky by David Sedaris.

Anonymous wrote:Just finished The Women, which I had to make myself finish. I liked Nightengale and Four Winds but couldn’t get into this character. Just started Berry Pickers, which I love so far. Great writing makes such a difference for me.

I agree about the great writing. I’ve been in a slump and had been looking to start The Women but may hold off now. Do you have any suggestions for books with great literary writing?

Starting “The View from Pompey’s Head.” Have long meant to read it.

I am reading the “Murderbot Diaries” - Rogue Protocol (#3 in the series). It is a fun sci-fi adventure romp. I love the lead character’s snarky attitude. It is a Libby borrow. Had it on my TBR list from friends recommendations and GoodReads lists etc.

I hear it is going to be made as a series on Apple TV. Yay!

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m about a third into Tom Lake. This will be a DNF for me. I just don’t find the story or the characters interesting.

Yes! Everyone loved it but I couldn't get into it at all.

Agree, another NOPE for Tom Lake. I simply did not care about the story. Also what grown children want to hear about their parent’s past?

I do - I'm 50 and I love hearing my parents' stories! (I might be weird.)

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Anonymous wrote:Trying to decide between Lincoln Highway or Song of Achilles

If you end up liking this, let me know. I tried listening to it and it was SO slow (and I sped it up!) and eventually I just gave up. I kept wanting to care about the characters and I just didn't.

I'm a DP but I love, love, loved The Lincoln Highway. Then I lent it to a friend and she could not get into it at all. If you don't like the quirky characters, I don't think that will change because I adored them from the beginning. My friend was driven crazy by all of their poor decisions, meanwhile I cared about the characters so much that their decisions made me invested. It is a slow book though, so maybe that doesn't translate well to audio.

PP here. I had that thought. I try to be really picky about what I listen to because a bad narrator or a story that doesn't translate well can ruin an otherwise amazing book. I liked the cast of narrators for this book a lot so I was really hopeful but then I felt like it just droned and droned. I may give it a while and then start it as an actual book (well, e-book) and see if I can enjoy it that way.

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Anonymous wrote:Just finished The Women, which I had to make myself finish. I liked Nightengale and Four Winds but couldn’t get into this character. Just started Berry Pickers, which I love so far. Great writing makes such a difference for me.

This is a beautiful book, I read it basically in one sitting.

I'm a Kristin Hannah fan and The Women was one of her weakest books. It felt gimmicky and cheap.

Agreed. Also super shallow. I never connected with any of the characters.

I just got two volumes from the British Library Tales of the Weird anthology series (the one of stories about coasts and the one of stories about trains) to read on a trip.