Mary’s Comments (group member since Dec 28, 2017)

Mary’s comments from the CMLE Book Group Podcast Reading Challenge group.

I like this whole series, along with its companion series; and this was not only set in Minneapolis, but one of the main characters is a librarian!

I had not heard this story at all, and it was pretty amazing to hear about all the adventures in coding that Elizabeth had!

This was a terrifying book about a future where ticks have forced humanity back into cities away from nature.

This is the third book in a series about kids who have returned from living in assorted fairy worlds, and really want to return.

This is a fun thriller; if you liked Gone Girl, you would enjoy this book

This was a fun book of essays about life in the desert. I always appreciate books with humor, and the author makes even the prosaic details of life interesting.

I was not too interested when I started this book; but it really got exciting! And I always enjoy a "year-long big project" book.

I really like this series - even though it's not terribly realistic; but I guess that works for a thriller! In this book, the agoraphobic Joe Tesla, and helper dog Edison, manage to go adventuring in a submarine!

Reading this was tough - it definitely made me feel like I've never had a bad day in my life. It is kind of hard to follow sometimes; figuring out what is going on, in a story told by someone who doesn't know what is going on around him all the time, is challenging - but really gives perspective about how confusing everything is to him. (I know this is identified as nonfiction; but several of the reviews I read said it was more fiction than non; I'm adding it here to give it some more exposure - it's worth a read!)

I didn't love this book, and didn't really like the main character; but it was interesting to learn more about hiking the PCT!

I didn't love this one, and the writing was not amazing. But if you want a fluffy, humorous romance, with a side of vampires, this is a good book for an evening.

I read this at our African American Read-In event, and it was so fun!! I'm definitely reading the rest of these books!!

This is a middle-school book, about the kids of Oddity surviving a town run by puppets, while there are all sorts of attacks happening around town and in the school. It starts with the kids being locked in a gym for a safety drill, as a group of hyenas are let loose on them. (It's generally pretty cheerful, and there is a lot of humor.)

This is a cute graphic novel, all about the elite squad of library police who are hunting down stolen library books. Fun stuff!

Lately I've been in a British binge - reading all kinds of books with kick-ass British women who solve mysteries. The Flavia de Luce series (apparently?) wraps up with this book; and it's been great to be reading about this 12 year old chemist/detective for so many years. The Lady Hardcastle Mysteries are told from the perspective of her Scottish maid, who partners with Lady Hardcastle to solve mysteries and break class-based stereotypes, to the pleased admiration of their neighbors. Both are fun!

I love this series! It's kind of dark humor, but the Florida travel, history, and a new mystery every book makes it fun! Serge may kill bad guys, but he comes through for the person in trouble in each book. This one bounces back and forth in time, which seems pointless - but everything has a place in these books, and it all comes together in the grand finale!

This is a cute series of cozy mysteries, all set in a town in Maine that is comfortable with the unusual. Each book is by a different author, and focuses on a different character. This one is about a woman who is cursed, and discovers she is an amazing cupcake baker. Fluffy, fun, romance - and good occupational fiction!

This was a fun book! If you like scifi - it's on a spaceship, in the future so the tech is cool. If you like spy novels, it's that too, with Kangaroo (the main character) as a secret agent on vacation (badly). There is a tone of light humor throughout, to keep it from getting too heavy as the story progresses. Looking at my library for book #2!

I really like this series - Victorian England, with two very cool main characters who are scientists, but keep getting pulled in to solve mysteries! Start with book #1 of the series, to avoid being spoiled by a big mystery there.

This is the fourth book in a series about a guy living under New York City (he's a super-rich guy, not homeless), who has severe fear of going outside - so in this one he is in a submarine! (okay, it's kind of pushing reality; but it's a fun series!)