It's Friday, July 9th!

[ufcasey]

What have you been reading this week? Any ratings/reviews/recommendations?

QOTW:
If you had to play a board game, which game would you choose?

[meowmaps]

The last book I read is People You Meet on Vacation. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it vs. Beach Read. Better characters, plot, setting(s), etc. The only complaint I had is some cheese which is inevitable in a romance. Also, I don’t think Emily Henry is as funny as she thinks she is.

Currently reading Arsenic and Adobo. Very quick, light, and delightful so far.

QOTW: I used to really enjoy Pictionary with a group. It’s been years since I played.

[dontlook]

The House on the Cerulean Sea: 5 stars
The Wife Upstairs: 2.5 stars rounded up. She should have gotten to the twist part faster and explored that more bc not much happened in the book.

Currently reading The Night Swim for book club this month.

QOTW: Sorry. I love card games more than board games.

[charlatti]

Finished two five-star but very different books: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and A Rogue’s Company by Allison Montclair. I keep thinking I don’t really want to read books as long as Pachinko, but then I finally start them and really like them — I’ve had several long books this year that I don’t expect to like but do.

Just started Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby, which is good so far. Gritty is the best adjective for his books, I think.

QOTW: I am definitely not a board game person, but we received Parks as a gift and I really enjoy it: keymastergames.com/products/parks I prefer card games and I really dislike slow, complicated board games, but this one is pretty straightforward and moves quickly. Plus the art is really lovely.

[tacokick]

The Temple House Vanishing by Rachel Donahue

The Fiancée by Kate White (this was a fun old fashioned type mystery)

¡Hola Papi! How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons by John Paul Brammer (not sure how this got a book deal. It was fine but there wasn’t much there)

Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America by Marcia Chatelain (all you ever wanted to know and much more)

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid (she really likes dead husbands)

The Audacity of Sara Grayson by Joani Elliott (unexpectedly took place in Bethesda)

The Spectacular by Zoe Whittall

The Grandmother Plot by Carolyn B Clooney (a little too realistic about aging and memory care facilities)

QOTW: I guess Trivial Pursuit?

[estrellita]

Just finished Where the Crawdads Sing. Loved it, highly recommend!

Currently reading Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. Good so far, but I'm a little biased since it's set in my state 😉

QOTW: I love board games! We have a big Ikea shelf full of games and books. I think my favorites are Mysterium, Avalon, Villainous, Bang, and the classic Scattergories (but no one ever wants to play!). We used to get together with 2 groups of friends for game nights but haven't of course in a while. Hopefully we can start up again soon!

[travella]

I finished Win by Harlan Coben, 2*. I usually like his books, but this was an exception. I'm currently reading The Bombay Prince, by Sujata Massey. I'm not enjoying this book as much as the other two, but it's still a good book.

Qotw: I enjoy Scattegories

[Vespasia]

I'm reading Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. It is the first book of a detective series set in Venice that my dad recommended. So far it is good but not great. I will likely continue with the series if I can keep getting them from the library. 

QOTW: Ubi! I'm the only one who ever wants to play though. It's a weird, very random map-based trivia game that can be really challenging. Especially since it is from the late 80s so several countries/places on there no long exist. I love it!  tacokick , it's from the makers of Trivial Pursuit so you may like it. 

boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1482/ubi

[tacokick]

Jul 9, 2021 14:05:17 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

I'm reading Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. It is the first book of a detective series set in Venice that my dad recommended. So far it is good but not great. I will likely continue with the series if I can keep getting them from the library. 

QOTW: Ubi! I'm the only one who ever wants to play though. It's a weird, very random map-based trivia game that can be really challenging. Especially since it is from the late 80s so several countries/places on there no long exist. I love it!  tacokick , it's from the makers of Trivial Pursuit so you may like it. 

boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1482/ubi

That sounds fun! How did I miss this?!

[minzy]

The last two I read were:
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (pretty good, better than Artemis but not quite as good as The Martian??), and

Punch Me Up to the Gods, A Memoir by Brian Broome (about growing up gay and black in Ohio - wow, can he write!). I thought it was really well done. He is masterful at telling a story.

Currently reading the first Nancy Drew book with my kids, and nephew over the phone. I also just started Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead, per recs here.

QOTW: Another vote for Scattergories. I like quiz type stuff.