RC’s Comments (group member since Jan 04, 2017)

RC’s comments from the 2022 ONTD Reading Challenge group.

I’m going to read P.S. I Still Love You this month. I’ll probably try to read To All the Boys I've Loved Before first!

My library just notified me that one day in December is available for pick up. I’m going to get it tomorrow and try to read some before the month is over

I'm not nearly done with my February book, but I want to read The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire for this month. What I want to learn more about is the ways in which the Roman Catholic church changed many things, especially related to Christianity as we know it today. So, if anyone knows of a better book on the subject, do let me know!

Rochelle wrote: "I am planning to read One Day in December!! I hope it delivers a lot of feelings!"
Soooo the queue for this one is LONG! I'll give it about a week or so then i might have to read something else.

I am planning to read One Day in December!! I hope it delivers a lot of feelings!

Rocio wrote: "Finished All The Bright Places last night. Boy, that ending...
I think I’m gonna try The Sun Is Also A Star next."
I'm going to read this because I didn't like "can you keep a secret".

I read Can You Keep a Secret?. I wasn't in love, not in the slightest actually. I was hoping this would be similar to Watermelon, which is basically my standard for good chicklit, but it was nowhere near. Pretty disappointed to be honest. I might pick up something else for this month. I do think it will make a nice romcom though so I'll probably still watch the film.

I have had Can You Keep a Secret? on my want to read shelf for a while now and many of you have written previously about it being very good. now that I'm free from the phd I hope I can keep up with the challenge!

Linsey wrote: "In many ways, I'm so glad I read this book now and not years ago when I first heard about it. The current political environment in the U.S. really put Gilead into perspective, and there were many m..."

I just finished the book for the July challenge. I feel similarly about the book's pacing, and especially about the summary of many important plot points. I would have liked to be taken to some of these places rather than just given an account of what took place. I can't even begin to talk about my feelings about Nick. I felt there was so much left underdeveloped in this story and I wish Atwood didn't shy away from giving the readers more.

I finished the The Handmaid's Tale today and it happens to fit with this month's theme. I meant to read 'Blind Assassin' a few months back, but went another way. In any case, I have to say this was a great introduction to Atwood. I like her writing style, and of course the imagination and execution of such a pointed social commentary, frighteningly applicable today. I think because the strength of the book lies in her creation of a dystopia that seems only but a few paces removed from where we are at any point in any given society, I feel compelled to say I like it. And while I don't dislike it, I feel a bit short changed, as if Offred's story came second to the delivery of the book's important messages. I don't think this was Atwood's intent, but at least in the initial aftermath of reading, this is my impression. I wanted to be taken somewhere, to some conclusion, to some other place, but we never truly go anywhere. Nothing ever truly happens, which I suppose is the point. I suspect the frustration stems from the fact that Atwood did create a believable world, fraught with a set of characters, whose lives I'd like to see unfold. And although I get why it is written this way, I wanted a little bit more.

Lea wrote: "I just finished Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, who's from the UK (Scottish I think?). This was a LOVELY book, very sad but ultimately uplifting. Definitely my..."

i think ill check this out so long as its sad in a good way?

I agree! I like the idea of having a thread for each continent.

After seeing the post yesterday, I'm really excited for this month. Great job, Rachel and Lea! :)

My plan is to read The Other Side of Paradise by Staceyann Chin. It's actually quite sad how little literature I've read from my home country, Jamaica, and I really want to change that. I also plan to read Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. I started a few months ago but things got hectic and I couldn't give it the attention it deserves. I'm loving what I've read so far. If there's time I think I'll also read Stay with Me, which has been on my 'want to read' shelf now for a few months. Finally, I really ought to finish The Handmaid's Tale so I can watch the Hulu series. I've never read Atwood before and I'm wondering if perhaps I don't like her style of writing? I had tried The Blind Assassin a few months back and couldn't get into it.

I hope there will be more discussion threads for this month. Many of you are reading one book per continent and I'd really like to see how that goes!

I finished my May book today. I read To Kill a Mockingbird and absolutely loved it!!! I think it has easily become one of favorite books. I already know I will rely a lot on the wisdom of Atticus Finch for the rest of my life.

IMY wrote: "It's hard to believe this is based on a true story when some of his shenanigans are like something only Hollywood would dream up or something. The kid had balls... or probably because he was a kid ..."

I wonder if it was his youthfulness or the time he was living in, or both?

Eve wrote: "Rochelle wrote: "Eve wrote: "I did! Just got back from vacation and haven't had time to write a proper review for it yet :)

I REALLY enjoyed it. Reading the reviews after the fact, there are a lot..."

That's an interesting perspective! I tend to always read the book, but maybe I should try your approach. Amazon prime has "me before you" and I've been delaying watching until reading the book but now I'm thinking I might watch first then go back to the book.

Eve wrote: "I did! Just got back from vacation and haven't had time to write a proper review for it yet :)

I REALLY enjoyed it. Reading the reviews after the fact, there are a lot of complaints about how unre..."

YAY! So glad you liked it. I felt similarly about the comments. I found the book thoroughly engaging. And even if only a fraction of it is true, it remains a totally wild and unbelievable story.

I tried watching the movie after I read the book, but I just couldn't get into it. There were so many discrepancies in just the first 30 mins that I had to shut it off. The fact that the movie starts with him being "caught" in France was enough for me to pass on watching the rest. Shame too because I know many really love the film.

Rachel wrote: "I read Based on a True Story by Delphine de Vigan and it was awesome! Gave me goosebumps and anxiety lol. Very creepy story."

This book seems really interesting! I might check it out (even though I promised myself to read something light after reading about Clark Rockefeller)

I just finished The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor and I am simply reeling. I'm afraid that I'm about to venture down the Wikipedia hole to see if there are more up-to-date details on this man...
I have to say this was such an engaging story and really adds credence to the phrase, "real life is stranger than fiction".

Have you finished??