Michelle’s Comments (group member since Dec 08, 2021)

Michelle’s comments from the On The Same Page group.

The one about Martin Luther was also interesting but I enjoyed AMAZING GRACE about William Willberforce the most.

No I'm holding off until I finish the book but as soon as I'm done that will be our next binge watch.

Different is the right word Bill. The parts about the circus are unusual and compelling.

“My mind involuntarily keeps repeating the John Updike quote “Celebrity is a mask that eats into the face.”
― Sarah Wynn-Williams, Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism

126 books
11167 pages

100 audiobooks
26 print

#123 Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism An expose about Facebook from a former employee. I would like to use the word shocking to describe this book but in truth it wasn't shocking. Sadly, it was pretty much what you expect. I guess the better word is disappointing. 4 greed, excess, and flagrant moral disregard. Nonfiction-Memoir

#124 Silver Elite A new romantasy series starts with a bang. A young woman hides her telepathic talents as she attempts to infiltrate an elite squadron of soldiers in hopes of avenging the death of her uncle. 4 hot and heavy Romantasy stars. Fantasy.

#125 The Breakaway I'm a fan of Jennifer Weiner. Like many of her books what should be a light little romance is chock full of storylines and issues. A fun read with a lot going on. 3 biking through the countryside not the idyllic trip you were expecting. Romance.

#126 Shunning Sarah A TV news reporter investigates the case of a murdered Amish girl. This one has been on my TBR forever and I'm not sure why. My fascination with Amish murder mysteries I guess. Anyway this was just OK. Ok story. Ok writing. Ok mystery. 3 mediocre stars. Mystery.

Currently:
Moon Tiger Slogging along with this one at the moment.
The Marlow Murder Club This one has potential.
Water for Elephants I should have read this one sooner.

“Silicon Valley is awash in wooden Montessori toys and shrouded in total screen bans. Parents at work talk about how they don't allow their teens to have mobile phones, which only underscores how well these executives understand the real damage their product inflicts on young minds.”
― Sarah Wynn-Williams, Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism

Ioana wrote: "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. Bonhoeffer was definitely a very interesting person. This book ends with one (of 15) attempt to kill Hitler, which failed and meant Bonhoeff..."

Bonhoeffer was a tough read but a good one. Glad you found it interesting. I have enjoyed other books by this author as well.

I'm currently listening to Water for Elephants. I left this book for last and I have to admit that I was not looking forward to it. After the prologue and the first chapter though I have to admit that I am getting more and more interested in this story. It's still early but I'm thinking this may be another hit.

Linette wrote: "I finished my challenge! And read a lot of good books - only 1 DNF from the list.
My two highest rated were The Frozen River , which was excellent - and Magyk - I'm ..."

Congratulations Linette! Looks like you read some great books.

Glad you liked Crooked Letter. That's a great book.

Congrats on reading over 100 books!!

Glad you enjoyed The Spellshop. I thought that one was such a great cozy read.

Alissa wrote: "Started and I love it already!! Very Sleepless in Seattle "

I loved that one! Hope you enjoy.

Yes. I think this is one of those slow series reads that you come back to when you need something dependably good.

“One doesn’t need magic if one knows enough stories.”
― Heather Fawcett, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

122 books
10629 pages

97 audiobooks
25 print

#120 Flowers in the Attic I'm glad I finally read what has become a modern classic but I'll admit I found it a little sickening. I did admire how the author delicately handled descriptions of child abuse and incest. That took some writing skills. 3 well written but not the story for me stars. Fiction.

#121 Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries I was on hold for this book for a very long time, so I'm glad I finally got the chance to read it. It was amusing and I liked the main character's humor and independence. 3 I guess I'm up for the series stars. Fantasy.

#122 What If I Never Get Over You A satisfying romance in the spirit of "An Affair To Remember". 4 vacation lovers and missed meetings stars. Romance.

Currently:
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism So much toxic stuff going on here.
Silver Elite Romantasy with no excuses.

“There is no hate such as that born out of love betrayed- and my brain screamed out for revenge.”
― V.C. Andrews, Flowers in the Attic

“I knew you wouldn’t believe it. Just because you have a heart filled with the dust of a thousand library stacks does not mean everybody does.”
― Heather Fawcett, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

Wow! You are doing great Lillie. So close!

Bill wrote: "I agree with everything that's been said. Some of our Conservative (and I use that word loosely) provinces are now starting to ban books. I think it's disgusting. They don't want kids to be educate..."

You are right Bill. It is so sad that in a world where we can post absolutely anything on social media, we can't just let a book sit on a library shelf in case someone is interested in reading it.

Thanks Lillie and Vikki!!

Vikki, I agree with you. We are making our world and our children's world so much smaller by banning books.

Thanks Alondra!!

Thanks for joining the conversation

So that's it all 16 banned books have been read. This has been one of my more rewarding challenges. The books were great (as forbidden fruit always is), and it's given me a chance to think about book banning which is very much still happening in our current cancel culture world. Unfortunately, book banning is less about banning books than it is about banning ideas. Do we really want to live in that Orwellian 1984 world that tells us all what to think or do we want to be able to think for ourselves? Is there a way to protect our children from content they are not ready to receive without banishing for everyone ideas that can expand the mind? If books teach empathy, don't we want as wide an array of thoughts, ideas, and characters as possible? I still don't know the answers, but I know we all need to keep speaking out against banning books.

Keep up the good fight book lovers! And keep reading!

“Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance.”
― Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak

“Any book worth banning is a book worth reading.”
― Isaac Asimov

Calling this challenge complete with Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews.

Four young siblings are left in the care of a formidable grandmother determined not to let the world know of their existence. Relegated to the attic the children create their own tiny world as they wait for their mother to come and release them from confinement.

Ok even I got why this one was banned. Child abuse, incest, nudity, sexual content- racy stuff especially for 1979 when it was originally published. I didn't read the book back then even though it was one of those that was passed around among my friends. If I had I might have connected better to the characters but reading from my perspective now I was mainly just impatient and slightly nauseated by the entire story. It was generally creepy and not in a good way. I was amazed at the writing from that time period, while the author didn't shy away from taboo topics, she also managed not to be too explicit. Definitely an 80's trait, when we knew about things but did not directly discuss them. The affected voice of the book was that of the still somewhat innocent preteen main character while the grim subject matter was definitely not innocent. The book itself was slightly scandalous at the time but in a way that made more people read it not less. I think this was a case where banning (or in the beginning just social approbation) actually increased the popularity of the book and encouraged more readers. Even though I found that my own 80's sensibilities were slightly offended by this book, I think history here shows that banning is not the answer. Obviously, we are still reading it. If you truly don't want this book to be read the answer might be to drop it from the banned list and let it be forgotten.

3 gosh golly day stars.

“We lived in the attic,
Christopher, Cory, Carrie, and me,
Now there are only three.”
― V.C. Andrews, Flowers in the Attic

“There is no hate such as that born out of love betrayed- and my brain screamed out for revenge.”
― V.C. Andrews, Flowers in the Attic

It is so appropriate to color hope yellow, like the sun we seldom saw. And as I begin to copy from the old memorandum journals that I kept for so long, a title comes as if inspired. 'Open the Window and Stand in the Sunshine.' Yet, I hesitate to name our story that. For I think of us more as flowers in the attic.”
― V.C. Andrews, Flowers in the Attic

I wasn't sure how much further I was going to go with Maisie but this one renewed my interest. A nice mystery.