It's.....Friday! (7/20)

[ufcasey]

What have you read this week? What are you currently reading?

Reminder: Book club discussion for "Warcross" by Marie Lu will be on Wednesday July 25!

QOTW:
What's a quote you like? (Can be about anything, doesn't have to be from a book!)

[msmerymac]

I'm still reading Before We Were Yours. It's... okay. Not exactly what I expected. The story kind of is, but like most people who seem to be critical of it, the timeline switch to the present-day narration and the first person POV are grating, IMO.

[charlatti]

I finished All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin, which was enjoyable but not at all memorable. We had to put our 16 year old dog to sleep last night after a sharp decline, so the rest of the week has been anything non-taxing that would distract me for a few minutes. I’m reading my daughter’s Menagerie series by Tui and Kari Sutherland right now, which is working well enough.

Qotw: “Everyone thinks they have the best dog. And none of them are wrong.” – W.R. Purche

[bex]

charlatti, I'm sorry. Losing a pet is so hard.

[bex]

I finished the Summer that Melted Everything. My goodreads review was basically - "I don't know." LOL. I read the book club discussion on here from last year and it seems that my opinion is consistent with most others in that thread, ha.

I started the Vengeance of Mothers. It's the second novel in what is apparently a series - One Thousand White Women. I read that a few years ago so we'll see how this is.

QOTW:
"Life is to be lived, not controlled, and humanity is won by continuing to play in the face of certain defeat." ~Ralph Ellison

That's always been one of my favorite quotes. I just like the reminder to give up some control and to keep playing.

[rainbowchip]

charlatti I'm so sorry for your loss.

[rainbowchip]

I'm reading Warcross. So far it's ticking all my boxes for something I really like.

QOTW: I'm not great at quotes. I usually don't remember good quotes and am never good at reciting them back.

That being said, a comedian recently said, "I own guns but I don't love guns." Which I think really says what I think about the whole gun situation in this country. Guns have become worshipped. He went on to say that he's not taking pictures with his guns and stuff like that.

[spedrunner]

Read:

The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain
3.5/5 stars
I was so excited to read this one by DC and felt disappointed! This has probably been the least favorite of all of her books! I found the book was very slow for the first half (or more) and i had a hard time really feeling the characters, many actions felt "out of character" for the characters , also I never really felt the true "Love" between Tess and Vincent

Faithful by Alice Hoffman
4/5 stars 

Currently Reading

Commonwealth by Ann Patchet

QOTD:

"Love people. Use things. Not the other way around"

[ufcasey]

Read:
Power of Five by Alex Lidell
2.5 stars/fantasy romance
YA fantasy book written with NA romance scenes, plus some reverse harem stuff going on. No thanks.

Mina Wentworth and the Invisible City (#1.5 in series) by Melijean Brook
4 stars/steampunk romance novella
This ws a good follow-up to the first book, and I think I actually liked this one better (but the first book has to be read first unfortunately)

Ashes (#3 in series) by Suzanne Wright
3.5 stars/paranormal romance
Better than the second book, not quite as interesting as the first book. Human-like demon soulmates is a pretty interesting premise though

If You Deceive Me by Kresley Cole
3 stars/historical romance
Nothing surprising, but still entertaining.


Total so far for the year: 80

Currently Reading:
All In (#2 in series) by Emma Scott - contemporary romance; this is really slow going

The Ghostwriter by Alessandra Torre - fiction/suspense; I like the mystery of what happened, but I don't care for the weird-ness of the main character

Bright We Burn (#3 in series) by Kiersten White - young adult historical fiction; just started

QOTW:
"We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." - Elie  Wiesel (my personal motto for why I stand up for various causes)

[ssmjlm]

Read: Bring Me Back by BA Paris, 2 stars, which was overly nice IMO. My goodreads review was scathing and suffice to say, the author needs to take a step back and stop trying to churn out books. To have Behind Closed Doors be good and then the next 2 be so bad, someone like her publisher needs to step in.

And the idea of the story was pretty good. I’ll give her that. But the execution and poor research took away from a good idea.

[bex]

spedrunner, I loved Faithful. Just thinking about it makes me a little teary-eyed (in a good way.)

[minzy]

This week I read two books:
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan, 4 stars.  It's a dystopian retelling of The Scarlet Letter, somewhat like The Handsmaid's Tale from what I understand.  The lead character's skin is "chromed" red after she was found to have had an abortion and she refused to disclose the identity of the would-be father (her married clergyman).  The story is about her attempt to reenter and survive in a surveillance society.  It's not my usual type of book, but I thought it was pretty well done. 

Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 4.5 stars.  It's only 63 pages so super quick.  It's pretty similar to We Should All Be Feminists, with lots of common sense thoughts about raising a daughter.

QOTW:  I always tell my kids (and have painted on a canvas in their bathroom) "be kind, be grateful, go get it."  It basically sums up my philosophy on life in seven words.

[travella]

I finished Something in the Water, 4*. I am reading Educated by Tara Westover. It's a slower read than what I've been reading lately, but it's good.

[dorothyinAus]

I'm reading Poirot and Me, David Suchet's memoir about becoming Hercule Poirot for the made-for-television adaptations. It's really very interesting. And I just finished the section where he talks about filming my favorite of the series, The Affair at the Victory Ball.

Also, we're working through Anne of Green Gables during our weekly Story-Time and we're going to start the first Harry Potter book this weekend at Story-Time. Neither DH nor I have read the Harry Potter books and my younger brother sent us a Hufflepuff edition of the first one, so we're going to try it out.

QOTW: One of my favorite quotes comes from The Proclaimers song, Sean: 
Sean, I sat awhile on clouds to ask God if He's living;
I should have spent some time on knees in thanks for what He's given.
I just think it's a good reminder to be more thankful in my daily life, especially when things feel like they're falling apart.

[MrsAxilla]

Born A Crime - 5 ⭐️
Yes We (Still) Can - 4 ⭐️
American Princess - 4 ⭐️. This one is a short biography of Allene Tew, one of the richest women in America during the early 20th century.Lots of my picks lately have been set in that time period, and I'm enjoying the varying vantage points. But F S Fitzgerald sounds like an ass in all of them - lol.

QOTD: how am I not myself?

[MrsAxilla]

Okay here's my favorite phish quote, from the song I'm live streaming right now (Sand):

If I could choose my own religion, I'd worship my own spirit. And if he ever preached to me I wouldn't want to hear it. I drop him- a forgotten god; languishing in shame. And then if I hit stormy seas, I'd have myself to blame!

[Nonny]

I had to set aside Code Girls for book club books, so that still in progress and will be for at least another week.  I finished Crow Lake, and started The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, and I'm about 50% through Algeria is Beautiful Like America (and since it's a relatively short graphic novel I'm going to try to power through it tonight because it's about to return to Hoopla any hour now).


QOTW:

“As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods.
They kill us for their sport.”
― William Shakespeare, King Lear

“The cure for anything is salt water. Sweat, tears, or the ocean.”
― Isak Dinesen

[MrsAxilla]

I forgot to mention Station Eleven! 5 ⭐️. I internalized that one as if it were one of my possible futures, which is maybe why I forgot to list it. Highly recommend!

[sassypants]

I'm blasting through Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella. So far the only surprising thing is why I keep reading these books. Her characters are all the same! Oh well. It's light and breezy and good for picking up and putting down during dress rehearsal and performances this week.

I do desire we may be better strangers.--As You Like It by William Shakespeare. Not inspirational, sure, but damn funny.

[sassypants]

I'm so sorry for your loss, charlatti,

[ally]

I have finished:
In the Kingdom of Men, Kim Barnes 3* - it was interesting, but I also think it feel flat in many areas. 
The Venetian Betrayal, Steve Barry (#3 in a series) 4* - formulaic, but I still enjoy them and will continue the series. 

Currently listening to:
Paris for One, JoJo Moyes - I like the story and am trying to find time to listen. 

Will choose between A Man Called Ove and I Will Always Write Back to start reading next as both are currently on loan from the library. 

QOTW:  A current favorite quote is: You can have anything you want, not everything.  

[bookchick]

So...I finished studying for my nursing boards, and I passed! I can READ for PLEASURE again. LOL!!

I read Ashes, by IIsa J. Bick

It was really good. Post apocalyptic kind of novel. There are 2 more, so I can't wait to continue.

Then I started The Kill Artist, by Daniel Silva. I am only a few chapters in. I like it.


QOTW: "If you cannot be kind, then be quiet."

I am not sure if it is a real quote by anyone, but my grandmother said it to me as a child, and it sticks.
Kindness costs nothing, and I try very hard to be that way with everyone I meet.

[MrsAxilla]

Well crap! I don't know if you guys saw, but all of the kindle firsts were free on Amazon prime day, so I downloaded them all. One of them is about Ernest Fucking Hemingway and his third wife, so I guess my exploration of Entitled Narcissistic Assholes of the Jazz Age continues....

[dorothyinAus]

Jul 22, 2018 0:22:46 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Well crap! I don't know if you guys saw, but all of the kindle firsts were free on Amazon prime day, so I downloaded them all. One of them is about Ernest Fucking Hemingway and his third wife, so I guess my exploration of Entitled Narcissistic Assholes of the Jazz Age continues....

I wouldn't read it. I can't stand Hemingway. I went to Hemingway House in Key West strictly to see the cats. In fact the tour guide kept trying me to take the tour, because I'd "learn some great things about the author." I really think I hurt her feelings when after the fifth try, I told her that I was there to see the cats and didn't give a flying fig about the author, who I thought was a third-rate writer at best and a horrible example of a human.

[MrsAxilla]

Jul 22, 2018 0:42:44 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

Jul 22, 2018 0:22:46 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Well crap! I don't know if you guys saw, but all of the kindle firsts were free on Amazon prime day, so I downloaded them all. One of them is about Ernest Fucking Hemingway and his third wife, so I guess my exploration of Entitled Narcissistic Assholes of the Jazz Age continues....

I wouldn't read it. I can't stand Hemingway. I went to Hemingway House in Key West strictly to see the cats. In fact the tour guide kept trying me to take the tour, because I'd "learn some great things about the author." I really think I hurt her feelings when after the fifth try, I told her that I was there to see the cats and didn't give a flying fig about the author, who I thought was a third-rate writer at best and a horrible example of a human.

You read my mind, chica. I've looked for something redeeming and it's not there. I'm done with the Bros!

So...do you have a more feminist recommendations? 😁

[Gato]

I am currently reading Kudos by Rachel Cusk. This is the fourth Cusk book I've read, and I still love her curmudgeonly take on the world.

Next up is The Only Story by Julian Barnes.

ETA: my favorite quotes are:

I was born lost and take no pleasure in being found.

- John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley

and

It costs a lot to be authentic… and one can’t be stingy with these things. Because you are more authentic the more you resemble what you’ve dreamed of being.

- Pedro Almodovar, All About My Mother