Amanda’s Comments (group member since Mar 31, 2021)

Amanda’s comments from the EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club group.

The message was so IN YOUR FACE that I found it hard to like. I liked the concept, though. I agree her regrets were just too massive to relate to. And the conclusion was evident from virtually the beginning. It reminded me of The Alchemist, which I really disliked.

That said, I found one passage I could relate to. I have 2 daughters who play sports. The younger is totally committed and is a really terrific player. The older has excelled at every sport she's put effort into, but always quits when there's any pressure. There's a point in the book were Nora talks about how her dad knew how much she'd regret quitting swimming. As a kid, she didn't get it, but as an adult, having lived a life with regrets, it suddenly made sense. Unfortunately, I can't make my kids understand that yet, but I think my older daughter will eventually want to kick herself for quitting things she was good at.

We did end up having a conversation with our kids about our regrets. Most books I read aren't family conversation starters, so I'll hand that to the book!

I just started this, and it's electronically due back to the library Monday! It's not Kindle, so I can't put it on airplane mode and take my time. It's going to be a reading weekend! 3 chapters in, and I'm hooked! Good thing given my timeline!

I listened to the audiobook read by Maggie Gyllenhaal. She did an absolutely amazing job, particularly on the more manic parts. I'm not sure why I've avoided this book for so long. The writing is brilliant. It is a bitter, mean little book, but so worth it. When I consider it in the context of 1963, I really wonder what people thought of it. I can't imagine there had ever been anything like it before. It's brutally honest, and frankly, terrifying. 4 stars!

Truly anything by Michael Lewis. I don't remotely care about baseball or football, but I adored Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game and The Blind Side.

I bought this book last year, and look at it occasionally but have yet to feel "ready" for it. I'm actually reading the Count of Monte Cristo right now, too, so it's obviously not the time! I would love to join in on HOLs with a buddy, if anyone is still interested. I'm way ahead of my reading challenge goal for the year, so I can spare the time!

I'm reading The Count of Monte Cristo which has obsession in every plot line! I'm reading it for the Popsugar prompt "The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list." I was worried I wouldn't like it, despite the outstanding reviews, but I love it! The characters are absolutely fabulous, good and bad. Thank goodness, because it is LONG.

I finished The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit which is about obsession with being left alone! I really didn't like how the author harassed the hermit. But he was obsessed with the story!