Friday reading thread 9/15

[charlatti]

What have you been reading this week? Any standouts or recs to avoid?

QOTW: Do you believe people generally choose to do what they think is the moral choice, even when there are not consequences? Or will people act on their baser instincts when they don’t have a reason not to?

[travella]

I finished:

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim - 2* (I was disappointed in this one after reading her first book, Miracle Creek, which I loved.  I found the main character horribly annoying)

Evil Eye by Etaf Rum - 5* (I wasn't sure about the book at first, it was difficult to relate to the main character in the beginning, but I ended up loving this book!  It is definitely one of my all time favorites of the year!)

I am currently reading The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger.  I am really enjoying this book as well. 

QOTW: I think it all depends on the individual person and where they are in life at the time they are tested.  I don't think anyone is always moral or always bad.  I have seen some amazing things (the best of humanity) in my lifetime, but I have also seen the worst of humanity as well.   

[estrellita]

Just finished Fourth Wing. I thought Violet was annoying through the first maybe 1/2-3/4 or so, but the story was good. I get the hype although I don't find it to be the BEST BOOK EVER lol.

I'm also working on Pageboy with a group at work. We had our first discussion on it yesterday and it was interesting. I'm having trouble with the writing bouncing around so much, but others seemed to like it because it feels like he's sitting there telling you the story. I'll get through it, because I'm interested in his story, but I'm not sure I'll love it. We'll see!

Not sure what I'm starting next. I'll probably stare at my bookshelf forever until I finally pick one 😂

QOTW: I think most people tend to do the right thing most of the time. There are some situations I can see people doing the "wrong" thing, especially if it's something minor. I always prep for people to do the worst though. Thanks anxiety!

[charlatti]

I’m reading The Last One by Will Dean, which I think is really dumb but I’m going to finish only because it’s really easy to skim. Also started Evil Eye by Etaf Rum, which should be much better.

QOTW: I think most people generally do what feels like the right thing. Maybe that’s just what I want to believe. And the gray areas for me might be firmly black and white for someone else, so it’s hard to accurately judge motivation.

[tacokick]

The Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves (solid)

Social Engagement by Avery Carpenter Forrey (interesting)

To Name the Bigger Lie: A Memoir in Two Stories by Sarah Viren (the last third was WTF)

Fireworks Every Night by Beth Raymer (sad)

Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City by Jane Wong (scattered)

Lay the Favorite: A Memoir of Gambling by Beth Raymer (didn’t seem truthful)

A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand (fun)

What We Kept to Ourselves by Nancy Jooyoun Kim (good but a little convoluted)

The Guests by Margot Hunt (fun)

Omega Farm by Martha McPhee (eh)

The Split by Kit Frick (bad ending)

Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves (solid)

QOTW I think a lot of people try to do the right thing

[litskispeciality]

I finished "Don't Believe It" 3.5*'s. Could have been a lot shorter, and end was kind of meh, but moved fast. I just started "Chloe Cates is Missing", and I'm excited to really dive in.

QOTW: I hope most people want to do the right thing.

[Vespasia]

I finally finished The Drowned Woods earlier this week after barely touching it last week. It was good so I am not sure why I had such a reading block!

Now I'm reading The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher. She remains one of my favorites.

I have two other library books on my Kindle that are expiring in less than a week so I better get busy! I have the wifi off but there are 2 new books coming out next week that I also want to read asap.

QOTW: I think most people would do the right thing most of the time, unless it was detrimental to themselves.

[Gato]

I am reading I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home and I don't get it so far. But Lorrie Moore is one of my favorites, so I'll stick with it.

Poverty by America was excellent. Five out of five stars.

QOTW: What a thought-provoking question! I'm a feeling a little bit cynical about people right now, so I guess I believe people do THINK they're making moral choices in life, but also, they're happy to completely ignore the harm they do. Case in point, the fact that hardly any of us is really doing enough to avert climate change. 

[dearprudence]

Finished Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, which was fun.

Still listening to The Housekeepers.

Started reading What Moves the Dead which is a retelling of Poe's Fall of the House of Usher. It's good and creepy.

QOTW: Do you believe people generally choose to do what they think is the moral choice, even when there are not consequences? Or will people act on their baser instincts when they don’t have a reason not to? I think I've become cynical since the pandemic and no longer believe people make choices based on morals. With consequences, people make immoral choices that benefit them. Without consequences I think it'd be worse.

[sadie]

I'm late to this post, but I just finished Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen. It'a not a novel, but very useful for parenting tweens/early teens. I'd recommend it.

Next on my list is The Lost Apothecary. I've started and stopped this book a few times and would like to actually get through it!

[Vespasia]

sadie , I would put it down for good and save the time for something else. Lost Apothecary was one of the worst books I have ever read. I don't usually remember much from books but there are several incredibly convoluted parts of that story still seared into my brain a year and a half later.

[sadie]

Sept 19, 2023 13:59:54 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

sadie , I would put it down for good and save the time for something else. Lost Apothecary was one of the worst books I have ever read. I don't usually remember much from books but there are several incredibly convoluted parts of that story still seared into my brain a year and a half later.

Bummer! I just can't get into it, but I've a few friends who loved it.

[estrellita]

Sept 19, 2023 15:12:09 GMT -5 sadie said:

Sept 19, 2023 13:59:54 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

sadie , I would put it down for good and save the time for something else. Lost Apothecary was one of the worst books I have ever read. I don't usually remember much from books but there are several incredibly convoluted parts of that story still seared into my brain a year and a half later.

Bummer! I just can't get into it, but I've a few friends who loved it.

I liked the past timeline, but not the "present" one!